ã€ŠRedemption In Another Worldã€‹


 1. Regretting The Past

    Chapter 1

    Regretting The Past

    Making mistakes is something that is unavoidable. No matter how we try, none of us can avoid doing something that we end up regretting later. The only question is just how big of a mistake one makes, as it can determine whether one can be forgiven for it.

    However, what if a mistake is so big and damaging that not only are the ones you affected unable to forgive you, but you cannot even forgive yourself?

    In the middle of the night, in the poor side of a city, there was a single apartment with lights still on and the occupant awake. Even if the whole neighborhood was asleep and silent, this one person living alone in their apartment couldn¡¯t sleep. They were simply sitting on their bed, thinking about their past.

    This person¡¯s name was Erin. She was a young woman living on her own in a rather small apartment in the not so good part of the city. She had short brown hair and bright blue eyes that would normally shine like gems. However, her eyes were devoid of any brilliance, almost like they had been depleted of life itself. There were also bags underneath them, a marking of the many sleepless nights she had gone through.

    The reason for Erin¡¯s lack of sleep came in the form of nightmares that kept haunting her dreams. These dreams had been happening for years now and had at one point seemed to have disappeared, only for them to return stronger than ever. Nowadays she was lucky to get even one night of sleep.

    The worst part about her nightmares was what caused them. The thing that had been tormenting her for all these years was something she did years ago. Something she regretted and wished she could undo, but knew was impossible now.

    Erin was holding a picture in her hands. It was a picture of herself and a group of people that she at one point called her friends. In the picture she also had her arm around a boy¡¯s shoulders and was holding him close with a smile on her face.

    However, most people who knew her would never think that these people would be ones that she considered her friends. In fact, they would be surprised that she would even have this picture, as they were under the impression that Erin hated them.

    This was because of a lie that she had told years ago and kept hidden all this time. It was something that she has regretted all this time, as it had ruined the lives of the people in the picture.

    What was this mistake? Well, in order for one to know it, they would have to go back in time a few years, when Erin was still in high school. Back then, she had been hanging out with another group of people and had been a completely different person from what she was now. During those times, Erin wasn¡¯t exactly what you could consider a nice person. In fact, she was everything but that. She was superficial, vain and downright nasty. Everyone else around them was beneath them and had to prove themselves to even be worthy of their attention.

    The group that was in Erin¡¯s picture had also been in the same high school as her and her group of friends at that time. Unlike Erin¡¯s group, the people in the picture were completely different. They were kind, fair and open-minded. Unfortunately, they were treated badly by the more popular students in the school, which included Erin. This was simply out of people seeing them as ¡°losers¡± for having different interests, as they were into things that were part of the geek culture. Due to this, they were often the targets of insults, pranks and bullying. However, they never let this break them down, no matter how hard it got.

    Things seemed to turn for the better, when Erin suddenly seemed to ask out the person that could be considered the group¡¯s ¡°leader¡± in a way. His name was Devin and he was really into things that many would consider geeky. Anime, video games, comic books, roleplaying games, he had an interest in all of them. Because of this, it had been a huge shock not only for his group, but for pretty much everyone in the whole school, when Erin had decided to approach him. With one of the more ¡°popular people¡± now with Devin¡¯s group, the harassment they normally had to suffer dropped dramatically to the point of being practically non-existent. Devin and his friends took this whole thing as a sign of things turning out for the better for them at last.

    Unfortunately, the truth of the whole matter was far different and very cruel. The real reason Erin had approached Devin and his group was not out of pure intentions at all. The real reason she had done so was because of a bet she had lost to her friends. Thanks to her losing, Erin was now forced to go and pretend to be Devin¡¯s girlfriend until her friends would let her stop. In other words, it was all just a big joke at Devin¡¯s expense.

    Once the truth was revealed, Devin had obviously been heartbroken and humiliated. It didn¡¯t take long for the whole school to find out about the whole thing, which made the poor boy into a laughingstock. The abuse he had been going through on a daily basis increased a lot, making his life unbearable.

    Even Devin¡¯s friends got dragged into the whole mess, as they knew just how much their friend must have been hurting. They did their best to defend and help Devin, which only resulted in them getting dragged into the crossfire. The geeky group of friends were no longer just the unpopular kids, but the pariahs of the whole school.

    Erin was honestly surprised that neither Devin or any of his friends didn¡¯t try to get revenge in any way at all. She didn¡¯t know whether this was because they knew it would only lead to bigger troubles for them or whether it was them trying to be the better people, but the most they ever did to her was give her nasty looks. This unfortunately was enough of a reason for Erin¡¯s friends to take things a step further, in order to put Devin and his group ¡°in their place.¡±

    What happened next was that Erin¡¯s friends started to make up stories about how Devin had been abusive towards Erin during their fake relationship. They claimed their friend was too scared to admit anything, which is why she never spoke about it. They even said that Devin¡¯s friends always knew about the whole thing, but never spoke about it, which made them practically into accomplices.

    Thanks to these new lies, Devin and his group were no longer just the outcasts of the school, but hated criminals in everybody¡¯s eyes. Even the few people who originally been sympathetic towards Devin over being tricked by Erin were now downright hateful towards him. This led to the abuse Devin and his friends suffered to get even worse than before, as it was now seen as justified.

    This went on for some time, until Devin and his group suddenly all disappeared. They didn¡¯t come to school anymore and no one, not even their families, knew where they had gone. There were rumors about them running to another country to escape the accusations, but they were never confirmed. However, Erin always knew that the cause of their disappearance was always the treatment they got from the lies she and her friends made up.

    Despite what most people would think, Devin¡¯s group weren¡¯t the only victims of this tragedy. There was still one more. That was Erin herself.

    She had never admitted it to anyone, but the time she had spent as Devin¡¯s fake girlfriend had actually been quite enjoyable. Even if they had a bit of a rocky start, Erin soon warmed up to the geeky group of friends, who also accepted her as part of them. It turned out that the people she had used to look down upon were actually not only nice, but also very fun to hang out with. Erin even got into many of the hobbies they were into and found herself new things to be passionate about, such as gaming and anime.

    But the biggest surprise for Erin had to be Devin himself. At first, she had considered him nothing but a spineless, weak and pathetic waste of time. However, once she got to really know him, she found out that Devin was much more than that and a lot better. Not only was the geeky boy sweet and kind, he was also very thoughtful and considerate of others. No matter what it was, he was always ready to offer help for others and do his best to make those close to him feel better. This charming nature of his eventually did something that Erin could not believe would ever happen. She actually fell in love with him.

    Despite these new feelings that she had developed, Erin decided to go along with the idea that it had all been a prank in the end. This was because she had been scared of what could happen if she didn¡¯t. Before she started hanging out with Devin¡¯s group, Erin was considered one of the most popular kids in her school. If she started to actually date Devin, who was one of the least popular people, what would happen to all her popularity? Not only that, but would her old friends still want to hang out with her? There was also the possibility of her becoming a target of bullying as well.

    Because of all these fears and doubts she had, Erin never admitted the truth that she had actually enjoyed her time with Devin and his group. Instead, she went along with what she had been originally planning with her friends. That the whole thing was just a big prank at the expense of Devin and that she had never cared about the geeky boy or his friends at all.

    There were times when Erin thought about confessing her true feelings and apologizing to the people she had hurt, but the fear of the repercussions from it always scared her into silence. Even when Erin¡¯s friends made up lies about Devin being abusive, which just made everything far worse, the brown-haired girl remained silent. She was obviously horrified by just how bad things had turned out, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak the truth. Her fear of what would happen remained way too strong to allow herself to do what was right, even when she knew this.

    Throughout all these years after the whole thing, Erin had been living a life where she was torn between two things. Her guilt over what she had done and allowed to happen, and the fear of what would happen if the truth were to ever come out. Despite her best attempts to steel her resolve and go public with what had truly happened, she never could do it. Her fear always won in the end.

    When Devin and his friends suddenly disappeared, the guilt Erin felt just got worse. She had no idea what could have possibly happened to the people she had wronged so badly, which caused her mind to go into all sorts of possibilities. Were they dead? Had they moved to another country to start new lives? Thoughts of what sort of things they would be going through plagued her mind to no end.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Erin had obviously tried her best to just get over the whole thing, knowing that there was nothing she could really do to fix the whole mess. Yet every time she felt like she had gotten better, the guilt would come back stronger than before. Even after she had graduated high school, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to confess what she had done. The fear of the repercussions she would suffer had become stronger, as the fate of Devin and his friends was something that haunted her. Erin felt that she was basically a murderer now thanks to what she had done, so she was even more afraid of what would happen to her once the truth was revealed.

    The brown-haired girl had tried to make amends in some capacity, if only to calm her soul. After she had graduated high school, she tried to go and study law in order to become a lawyer or something. Her idea was that she would then help people that had been hurt the same way she had hurt Devin get the justice they deserved. This managed to make her feel better for some time and gave her a goal to pursue, but it didn¡¯t last long. Even if her goal was noble, it still wouldn¡¯t wash away what she had done. The people she had hurt, Devin¡¯s group and their families, would never get the justice they truly deserved, so what difference did her new goal really make? This led to Erin flunking out of her school, after which she started taking up dead-end jobs that didn¡¯t pay all that much.

    The last few years of Erin¡¯s life had been spent pretty much doing nothing but going to work and coming back home to spend the rest of the day in loneliness. She had cut ties with her old high school friends a long time ago already, as she couldn¡¯t stand being close to them anymore. Their horrible attitudes and how they didn¡¯t care about others, like the ones whose lives they had ruined, was sickening to Erin. She hadn¡¯t seen them for years and hadn¡¯t even kept any pictures of them. The brown-haired girl didn¡¯t want to be reminded of what kind of a person she used to be.

    Tonight was pretty much like all her other nights for the past few years. Erin was alone in her apartment, sitting on her bed dressed in a simple T-shirt and sweatpants, as she no longer felt the need to really dress up for anything anymore. Her uniform from the fast food place she worked at had been carelessly thrown to the floor.

    Erin was staring with saddened eyes at the picture she was holding. It showed herself with Devin¡¯s group, back when they had been friends. They were all smiling and happy in the picture, which made the brunette¡¯s heart ache, knowing just what she had destroyed due to her own mistakes. Yet despite the pain and sorrow she was feeling, Erin didn¡¯t cry. All these years of living like this had numbed her body to the point she no longer could cry.

    ¡°If I could, I would make things right for all of you,¡± Erin whispered while still looking at the picture. ¡°Especially you, Devin. If only I just could do it, I would not hesitate even for a second.¡±

    After letting out a deep sigh, the brunette put the picture in her pocket and laid down on her bed. She knew she had an early morning tomorrow, but couldn¡¯t bring herself to sleep at all. Her thoughts were running too much, making it practically impossible to fall asleep.

    Out of the corner of her eye, Erin noticed her laptop that was sitting on her desk. Knowing that she wasn¡¯t going to get any sleep regardless, the young woman decided to use her time on something that could at least take her mind off the things she had been thinking about. It didn¡¯t take long until the laptop¡¯s screen lit up, allowing Erin to go through what the machine contained.

    The brunette¡¯s attention immediately went to a certain icon on her desktop. It was for a computer game called Five Realms that Devin had introduced her to back in the day.

    Five Realms was a highly popular RPG that was known for the freedom and massive amounts of things to do that it provided to the players. For starters, the game had numerous races to choose from to create your character. There were the obvious classics in fantasy that consisted of humans, elves, orcs, dwarves and such, but there were also numerous races that you didn¡¯t see so much. These races included lizardmen, beastmen, undead, elementals, angels and even demons. Not only that, but thanks to constant updates and even a loyal community of people making mods, the amount of possible races grew exponentially. With all the updates and mods, it was actually unknown just how many races there truly were.

    Not only were you given tools to make just about any type of character that you wanted, but the world in the game allowed you to have just about any type of an adventure in it. Players weren¡¯t placed in a restrictive story where you had to complete certain objectives. Instead, you were encouraged to explore the world around you and make decisions based on what you found. You could become the savior of the world, the next evil conqueror or just a wandering mercenary if you wanted to. There were practically no limits to the ways you could play the game.

    The game¡¯s world was a mix of fantasy and science fiction elements. While the different races and things like magic came from more of a fantasy genre, there were also things like cybernetics and futuristic weaponry that provided the world a different feel from your usual games set in a fantasy world. The creative world provided for the players was also something that drew in people.

    The world of Five Realms itself was divided into five different areas, each with their own settings and backstories. These areas were commonly known as Western Continent, Northern Continent, Eastern Continent, Southern Continent and Central Continent, which were then divided into different areas themselves. While players could choose to start their game on almost anywhere, the Central Continent was locked until you managed to fill certain requirements in the game. This was due to the much higher level of difficulty it had compared to everywhere else in the game.

    Since it was practically impossible to keep the game perfectly balanced due to all the things in it, there was no competitive aspect to the game. Instead, the developers made Five Realms based on the idea of providing players with a chance to experience adventures they themselves wanted without restrictions. The only form of multiplayer was through joining your friends as a group to go on quests together. You could still battle each other, but there was no real reward in winning those types of matches.

    Since she was certain that she wasn¡¯t going to be able to get any sleep tonight, Erin decided that she might as well try to entertain herself in order to escape her regretful memories. The brunette was certain that she still had her old character saved in the game, so she could continue playing with it. However, it could also be a good idea to start a new character and see where she would go from there.

    Erin clicked on the game¡¯s icon and waited for it to start up. The screen showed that her laptop was beginning to run the program, so it shouldn¡¯t take long. But instead of the usual window popping up, her screen suddenly went completely dark. For a moment, the brunette began to panic, as it seemed like her computer had suddenly crashed.

    Before Erin could really do anything, the screen lit up again, except this time the lighting was far brighter than normal. Erin had to actually shield her eyes from the light, as it was so bright it actually hurt her eyes.

    As her eyes somewhat adjusted to the brightness, the brunette was able to peek from between her fingers and see something happening on the screen. It was no longer completely white, as a small black spot had appeared in the middle of it. The spot seemed to be slowly growing larger, and as it grew it became clear that it wasn¡¯t a perfect round shape. Instead, it was like a writhing mass of black tar that was slowly gaining size.

    However, once it had grown enough, Erin was horrified to see that the blob had more to it than she thought. Countless faces could be seen in the black shape with numerous pairs of completely white eyes with rows of white teeth beneath them. The brunette then realized that it hadn¡¯t simply been something growing on her screen, rather it was something that had been coming closer to her.

    Before she could truly realize the danger she was in, the black blob of faces had finally reached the screen itself. Suddenly, long black arms appeared from the screen and grabbed hold of Erin. She didn¡¯t even have time to scream, as she was dragged into the screen and into the world beyond it.

    As soon as she had been taken beyond the screen, the brunette came into a world of pitch black nothingness. She couldn¡¯t see anything around her, even as she looked around in a frenzied panic. All she could see were those white eyes, staring up at her while the teeth beneath them were grinning. Erin had no idea what was going on. All she could tell was that whatever this thing was it was dragging her downwards to something.

    Erin screamed and called for help as much as she could, but all that seemed to do was cause her voice to echo wherever she was. Tears of terror fell from her eyes, as she prayed in her mind for someone or something to save her.

    </a>Just as she was about to lose all hope, a voice came out of the darkness: ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t let this continue anymore,¡± a gentle voice of a young man suddenly said. Erin looked around, but was unable to find anyone. ¡°As much as I dislike doing this, I feel like it¡¯s necessary.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡± Erin yelled while frantically looking around. ¡°Please help me!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of the plan here.¡±

    Before Erin could say anything else, a bright light suddenly shined through the darkness. It seemed to drive away the creature that had pulled her into this world, as she felt the arms holding her let go.

    ¡°That should do it for now,¡± the voice said from behind Erin. She turned around only to blinded by light again, but she was able to grasp a glimpse of a man standing there. ¡°It should take a while before another one is sent after you and by then you won¡¯t be here anymore.¡±

    ¡°W-What¡¯s going on!? Where am I!?¡± Erin asked in a panic while shielding her eyes with her arms. ¡°Can you take me back home!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that last request of yours won¡¯t be fulfilled,¡± the shining man replied. ¡°You see, I didn¡¯t help you simply out of the goodness in my heart or anything like that. I actually need you to do something for me, which is why I decided to intervene with what was happening. As for your other questions¡­ Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find the answers to them soon enough.¡±

    ¡°W-What do you want from me?¡± the brunette asked, fearing what the answer might be. ¡°And just who are you even?¡±

    ¡°Both of those things will be answered in due time. If you manage to live up to my expectations, I¡¯m certain we¡¯ll meet again. If not, then I guess this little gamble of mine didn¡¯t manage to pay off all that much. But hey, that¡¯s life for you, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Erin was confused beyond belief at this point. She couldn¡¯t comprehend anything that had happened to her at all and she wasn¡¯t even sure whether this person was a friend or an enemy. He might have saved her life just now, but he seemed to have an ulterior motive. Just what could he be planning?

    ¡°Anyways, I feel like our time is just about to run out, so I should probably drop you off. You shouldn¡¯t be too worried, though. As long as you act smart, I think you should be able to survive. Before I send you on your way, I¡¯ve got a little gift for you first,¡± the shining man said and lightly touched Erin¡¯s forehead. She felt something go inside her, but she didn¡¯t feel any different. ¡°With that out of the way, I think we¡¯re done here. See you again soon!¡±

    Before the brunette could ask another question, she began to fall again. This time, she went at a really fast speed and she was certain she would die upon hitting the ground. The sudden fall caused Erin to start screaming as loudly as she could.

    However, once she did hit the ground, she survived it with only minor bruising. As Erin began to get up, she realized that she was laying on asphalt. She could also hear the hustle of multiple people not too far from where she was, so she must have arrived at a city.

    Once she had fully gotten up, the brunette noticed that she was in an alleyway. There were walls on her left and right side with a couple of trash cans surrounding her. Knowing that she needed to get help as soon as possible, Erin began to make her way towards the sound of people she heard. Maybe she would be able to find a police officer or someone else that could help her get back home.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to get out of the alleyway and make her way to the street. But once she did, she experienced the biggest shock of her life.

    While there were certainly a lot of people around her, not all of them were human. There were all sorts of inhuman characters walking around, such as elves, orcs, lizardmen and many more. They weren¡¯t even some people in costumes, as you could clearly tell by just looking.

    With wide eyes, Erin looked around, hoping to find some sort of a clue as to where she was. Unfortunately, this place didn¡¯t look like any city on Earth. Instead, it looked like something else that was familiar to the brunette.

    This was Rockmoore Town, a place in the Five Realms game. Erin had somehow ended up in the world inside the game.

 2. New Place, Old Faces

    Chapter 2

    New Place, Old Faces

    Erin could do nothing but stare with wide eyes at what she was seeing. A place from a video game that she had played had just become reality all around her, including its inhabitants. Such a thing should have been impossible, only happening in those Japanese comics that Devin and his friends liked and had introduced to her. There should have been no possible way for any of this to real.

    However, no matter how much she tried to deny it, the truth was that what she was seeing was real. There wasn¡¯t going to be any sort of waking up to find yourself in your own bed, with everything having been just a weird dream.

    The brunette knew that she needed to do something, but she had no idea what she could do. The only things she had with her were the clothes she was wearing and the photograph in her pocket. She wasn¡¯t exactly equipped for an adventure through a fantasy game world.

    Looking around herself at the people surrounding her, Erin noticed that almost everyone was carrying a weapon of some kind with them. It didn¡¯t take more to realize that this place was dangerous and that she was most likely going to need something to defend herself. Unfortunately, she had no idea how to do that at all.

    Erin thought back on when she had been playing Five Realms and tried to think of some way for her to survive. In the game, you were allowed to choose some type of starting equipment, which included weapons and armor. However, reality wasn¡¯t so kind as to hand her things for free. Not only that, but the characters in a game worked by going through specific actions they had been programmed to do. Now there was no telling what could happen, as the people around her were actual living beings. The brunette could get attacked by anyone without any warning.

    According to the game, Rockmoore Town was a poor mining town with violent gangs trying to fight over its resources. These types of places were common in the Western Continent, as it had been designed to be a sort of a ¡°Wild West¡± in a way, with inspiration having been taken from Mad Max and other such sources. The whole western area of the game didn¡¯t have much in the form of lush forests or anything like that, as it was mostly barren wastelands. There was a place that was thriving rather well, but that was a city located in the mountains in the upper part of the continent, far away from where Erin was currently located in. If she had to realistically survive in this kind of environment, it would be extremely difficult in many ways.

    Digging through her memories of playing Five Realms, Erin remembered that Rockmoore Town had a central plaza in the middle of it. The place had a large statue dedicated to the person that had founded the town originally, according to the game¡¯s lore. The plaza was also surrounded by all sorts of businesses, like stores, restaurants and bars. It was basically the central hub of the whole town. Perhaps it had some clue as to what was going on or at least it could provide an idea as to what to do.

    It took her some time to navigate through the streets, but Erin eventually managed to get to the central plaza. However, she was in for the biggest shock of her entire life and she had just been transported to another world less than an hour ago.

    The statue at the central plaza was supposed to be that of a human male wearing a rather expensive-looking suit. Instead, that statue had apparently been removed and had been replaced with a total of five statues. The people these monuments were picturing looked very imposing, almost like they were gods looking down on people beneath them. The figures were clad in armor and were carrying weapons, showing anyone that saw them that they were no simple politicians or anything like that, but fierce warriors ready for battle.

    At first, Erin didn¡¯t too much of it and was only slightly surprised by the change. But once she took a closer look at one of the faces of the statues, she realized something that shocked her to the core.

    One of the statues looked just like Devin.

    Upon examining the other statues closer, Erin realized that Devin wasn¡¯t the only one that was being depicted in the monument, but the other four were his friends that she herself had known back in the day. The brunette pulled out the photo from her pocket and kept comparing the faces on it to the faces of the statues. There was no denying that they were the same people. Devin, Gabe, Jonathan, Kent and Rose were all there.

    Erin looked down at the base of the statue and saw a metal plate there. It had text that read, ¡°Dedicated to the wise and powerful rulers of our world. May their reign continue for eternity.¡± After the text, there was a list of five names, most likely belonging to Devin¡¯s group.

    Devinolux the Supreme

    Golorath the Powerful

    Jondole the Brave

    Keneroth the Just

    Roslynn the Kind

    It was obvious to the brunette who these names belonged to. Devin and his group had taken up new identities upon coming to this world. She didn¡¯t know why they would have done something like that, but it didn¡¯t matter at the moment. All that mattered was that there seemed to be some hope in this desperate situation. If she could get into contact with at least one of them, Erin was sure she could get help. While she knew that she had hurt these people a long time ago, she doubted that they would refuse to assist her. After all, they were the nicest people she had ever known. As long as the brunette apologized and explained herself, she was sure they could get past their old grievances.

    Whatever the case, Erin realized that she finally had the chance to make things right with her old friends. Something that she should have done a long time ago.

    However, almost as soon as she started to get really excited, she realized something. Devin and his friends didn¡¯t seem to be your average people. If the statues were any indication, they were now the most important people in the whole world right now. How was she going to get into contact with them? She doubted people would just believe her, if she were to tell them that she used to be a friend of Devin¡¯s group. Not to mention, she had no idea where any of them even were.

    Realizing that she was still in a very difficult predicament, Erin walked up to a nearby building and simply sat on the ground, leaning her back against the wall. She needed to do some serious thinking, if she wanted to get anywhere in this world.

    The brunette would need to somehow locate either Devin or one of his friends and get to them. While she didn¡¯t doubt that she could find the location for at least one of them, actually getting there would be the real challenge. For that she would require money, quite a lot of it most likely. Now the question was just how to do that.

    ¡°Are you alright, dear?¡± a kind and elderly voice suddenly asked.

    Erin looked up and saw an old woman looking down at her with a kind smile on her face. The old lady was a human and also quite short. The only reason the brunette had to look up at her was because she was sitting on the ground.

    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± the old lady asked, now with a bit more concern in her voice, as Erin hadn¡¯t answered her first question. ¡°Do you perhaps need some help?¡±

    ¡°Oh! It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m completely fine!¡± Erin quickly said with an embarrassed blush on her face as she got up. ¡°I was just so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn¡¯t expect anyone to actually speak to me. Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, dear. That happens to all of us,¡± the old lady said gently. The worry and concern that had been in her voice had now left, upon getting the brown-haired young woman to talk. ¡°In fact, my husband did the same thing often. I swear that he could be so lost in thought that even our restaurant could burn down to the ground and he wouldn¡¯t even notice.¡±

    Erin let out a small giggle at the story. It felt good to have a friendly interaction after everything she had been through.

    ¡°Is this perhaps your restaurant?¡± the brunette asked and glanced at the building she had been leaning against, earning a nod from the granny. ¡°Am I bothering your business by sitting here? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m truly sorry and I will take my leave.¡±

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°Not at all, dearie. You can sit here as much as you like, but I¡¯m sure you would feel better sitting inside,¡± the old lady said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come inside and let me fix you something nice to warm you up? It¡¯s getting cold out here.¡±

    The idea of a warm meal honestly sounded great to Erin and it was getting pretty cold. However, there was one issue with her going to a restaurant.

    ¡°Thank you for your offer, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to decline,¡± the brown-haired woman said with a sad smile on her face. ¡°While I could use a meal, I don¡¯t have anything to pay for it.¡±

    ¡°Dear, I might be old, but I can still see perfectly fine. I can tell with just a glance that you¡¯re not exactly wealthy,¡± the granny said with a bit of a smirk. ¡°However, I have always believed that you should always help those in need. That¡¯s why I¡¯m offering to help you.¡±

    With no better options in front of her, Erin decided to take the kind offer. Besides, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no to such a sweet lady.

    As soon as she stepped inside, the brown-haired woman felt the warmth of the restaurant wash over her. The place didn¡¯t look like it was the fanciest place around, but it looked nice enough to give it a welcoming presence. There was also a delicious smell of food in the air, most likely coming from the kitchen, which would make just about anyone hungry. Erin herself was reminded of her own grandparents, who often made her pancakes upon visiting them.

    ¡°Please take a seat, dear,¡± the kind lady said as she walked to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in just a moment.¡±

    Taking up the offer, Erin sat at one of the empty tables and looked around. Much to her surprise, she was currently the only customer. This surprised her, as the place did seem really good, so she had expected there to be at least a few customers around.

    As she pondered this, the brown-haired woman realized that there wasn¡¯t any staff around either. While she didn¡¯t have any actual experience, she did know that one couldn¡¯t run a whole restaurant on their own. Didn¡¯t the old lady have children or grandchildren to help her out?

    ¡°Sorry for the wait!¡± the granny suddenly called out cheerfully, as she walked out of the kitchen while carrying a large bowl of warm soup with her. ¡°Now, this is my very own special recipe, so it should warm you up just nicely!¡±

    Erin thanked the lady for the meal and dug in. Just as the granny had said, the soup did manage to warm her up. It was a thick and rich soup with a bit of spices added to it, but only just enough to give it more taste. In all honesty, the brown-haired woman couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had food this good.

    ¡°This is delicious, ma¡¯am!¡± Erin said in appreciation of the meal. ¡°Thank you so much for making this for me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, it wasn¡¯t a big deal at all!¡± the old lady said happily. ¡°I had a good amount of soup left from when I prepared it for today. Had you not been here to eat it, it would have just gone to waste.¡±

    ¡°Hard to believe that something this good would be left over,¡± the brunette said. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been wondering about something. Why aren¡¯t there any others here? While I can understand a restaurant not having customers every now and then, shouldn¡¯t there at least be some staff here? Don¡¯t you have family or other relatives that could help you out here?¡±

    ¡°I used to have help, but I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not the case anymore,¡± the granny answered with a sad look on her face. ¡°You see, my husband hasn¡¯t been doing all that well lately and has been stuck in the hospital for the last couple of years. I¡¯m still somehow able to pay the medical bills with the money I earn through our business.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry to hear that,¡± Erin apologized. ¡°Aren¡¯t there anyone else here to assist you? Any other relatives that could help?¡±

    ¡°We used to have a son, but he¡¯s no longer alive,¡± the old lady explained. ¡°He was executed along with his family about four years ago.¡±

    The brown-haired woman almost choked on her spoonful of soup. While she had been half expecting there to either not being any other relatives or that some sort of tragedy had happened, execution wasn¡¯t something she would have ever even thought of. Not to mention, the old woman said that her son¡¯s family had also been executed. This most likely meant he had children, who also lost their lives. What sort of a crime could he have committed that just his life hadn¡¯t been enough, but also his children were required? Or better yet, what sort of world could ever justify such a punishment on children?

    ¡°B-But that¡¯s insane!¡± Erin said in shock with her face pale. ¡°What could your son have possibly done to deserve that!?¡±

    ¡°Judging by your reaction and question, you¡¯re not from around here, are you?¡± the granny asked. ¡°The thing is that our town has been under the control of Gibbot for the past few years now. As soon as he took over, he raised our taxes and put strict laws on us. My son was one of the few people who tried to oppose him, but he and everyone else that did so were caught and executed, along with their families.¡±

    ¡°How could something like this happen!?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°I understand that he might hold power over this town, but surely there are people above him as well! Didn¡¯t any of them ever try to put an end to the things he¡¯s doing!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not how things work, I¡¯m afraid. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s different in other places, but that¡¯s how it is here,¡± the granny explained sadly. ¡°Back in the day, Gibbot was nothing more than a poor miner, much like most of this town¡¯s occupants. However, one day he managed to find gold and started using it to bribe high-ranking officials. This allowed him to rise up to the position he¡¯s in. Anyone that¡¯s higher than him is satisfied as long as he provides them with money, while we, the people underneath him, have to suck it up.¡±

    ¡°THAT CAN¡¯T BE RIGHT!¡± Erin yelled as she suddenly stood up, surprising the old lady. The brown-haired woman had been overtaken by emotion, as she was unwilling to believe that a world that was controlled by Devin and his friends would allow cruelty like this to go on. ¡°I just know that there has to be some people! At least one person that wouldn¡¯t allow this to happen! There just has to be¡­¡±

    ¡°I would like to believe that as well, dear, but I¡¯m afraid that isn¡¯t the case,¡± the granny said. ¡°Also, you should be careful about saying such things. With the taxation as high as it is, most people are unable to survive through honest means. A lot of people have taken up a profession of snitching on people that have anti-authority sentiments. If the wrong person were to hear you say the things you just said, you could end up arrested or worse.¡±

    Erin sat back down and held her head in desperation. This was all just so wrong. If Devin¡¯s group were the ones ruling this world, then how could they allow something like this to go on? It just didn¡¯t make sense to her. Something must have gone wrong.

    At the thought of her old friends, the brunette suddenly realized what could be done. While those serving Devin and the others might have been corrupt criminals, surely they were still the same kind people she used to know. As long as she managed to somehow let them know about this, they would surely help.

    Erin felt her body fill up with determination, as she decided on what she would do.

    ¡°No. This isn¡¯t right. Something has to be done,¡± the brown-haired woman said with a strong look in her eyes that hadn¡¯t been there for years. ¡°Or better yet, SOMEONE has to do something about this. This kind of tyranny just can¡¯t be left alone like this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a very nice thought, but I doubt that anyone will help,¡± the elderly woman said. ¡°There isn¡¯t anyone who is either brave enough to stand up to Gibbot, let alone powerful enough to be able to actually do something.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, granny!¡± Erin exclaimed happily with a big grin on her face. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t know just one person, but several people that are not only willing, but also have the power to help out this town! As soon as I get in touch with even one of them, I¡¯m certain this town will be saved!¡±

    The old woman had a look of pure surprise on her face, as she couldn¡¯t help but stare at the young lady in front of her. It had been quite a lot of time since she last heard anyone make such bold claims. The last person to do so being her own son. Once he had died, no one else dared oppose Gibbot.

    ¡°That¡­ sounds reassuring,¡± the granny said with hesitation, unable to believe that a person like that existed. ¡°Mind telling me just who these people are? I would certainly like to know more about them.¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ I hate to say this, but I¡¯m not sure if I should tell you,¡± Erin said with an embarrassed blush on her face. She just realized that the people she was talking about were pretty much the rulers of this world. Most people would think she was crazy, if she were to claim that she knew any of them. ¡°I doubt you would even believe me, if I told you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, dear. No need to feel obligated to tell me,¡± the old lady said with a small smile. ¡°However, I do hope that you will come to trust me enough to tell me more about these people. I promise I won¡¯t laugh or do anything else that would be mean.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. Maybe I will later,¡± the brunette said with a smile.

    ¡°By the way, do you have a place to stay the night?¡± the granny asked. ¡°Forgive me for saying this, but you don¡¯t look like you have a home.¡±

    Erin was about to deny the kind offer, as she didn¡¯t want to be a bother to the person who had helped her. However, she quickly realized that she didn¡¯t really have any better options. The brown-haired woman had been dragged out of her home in the middle of the night without any warning, meaning she only had the clothes she had been wearing at the time along with the photograph of her and Devin¡¯s group. Even if she had been given time to prepare, her situation would have been only a bit better, as she lacked the money this world used.

    ¡°I take it by your silence that you don¡¯t really have a place to go, correct?¡± the old woman asked, although she already knew the answer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I have a spare bedroom or guests, so you can use it as much as you want. I¡¯ll even give you a job at my restaurant to help you get back on your feet.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡­ I¡­ I have no idea how I could ever repay you,¡± Erin said in a low tone.

    ¡°You can worry about that later, dear. Now, you should simply worry about finishing your meal and getting some rest. Tomorrow will be a new day for customers and you will need to be ready,¡± the granny said as she began to walk back to her kitchen to clean up for the night. Just before she entered the kitchen, she stopped and looked back at her guest. ¡°Although, if you really feel like repaying me, a good start would be for you to tell me more about these friends of yours that are going to help us. I am quite curious about them.¡±

    ¡°Maybe later, okay?¡± the brunette replied with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m still not too sure whether even I can believe it myself.¡±

    With that, the old lady entered her kitchen and started cleaning up, while Erin went back to enjoying her soup. As she was eating, a rare and genuine smile made its way to her face, one that had not been there for many years. Despite her rather strange and possibly dangerous situation, the brown-haired woman couldn¡¯t help but feel hopeful about herself. Even with everything that had happened, she was off to a good start thanks to the help of a kind stranger and she already knew how she could repay the kindness shown to her.

    However, the most important thing was that Erin would finally have a chance to meet Devin and the others again and hopefully make up for what she had done. Perhaps her getting transported into this world had been a blessing in disguise, as it would allow her to finally free herself from the guilt she had been carrying all this time.

 3. Speaking The Truth

    Chapter 3

    Speaking The Truth

    It had been a few days since Erin had arrived in this new world and had taken up residence with the kind old woman, who had offered to help her. The lady had introduced herself as Eba and she was running a rather small restaurant that served simple comfort food, like soups and other such meals, called Eba Bowl.

    Ever since she had started to live with Eba, Erin had begun working as a waitress and kitchen assistant in the old woman¡¯s place in order to earn some money and repay the kindness she had been shown. The work didn¡¯t pay all that much, but it was at least progress in the brown-haired woman¡¯s eyes. The main reason for the poor pay was mostly due to the lack of customers. The restaurant wasn¡¯t as high in quality as most of its competitors, which led to only a few people coming there every so often. There was also the small fact that no alcohol was served at Eba Bowl, which further cut down the already small amount of customers.

    However, even with the lack of constant flow of people coming in, the place had managed to earn itself a couple of regulars that came there almost every day. Erin had quickly become familiar with these customers, who in turn had taken a liking to the new addition to the restaurant.

    The regular customers included a father and daughter duo, which was made Ryan Hollings, an older human male, who was still in quite good physical shape despite his age. His daughter was called Holly and she seemed like a regular young lady with flowing blonde hair and a pretty face. These two were especially kind towards Erin, who had told them about her situation of being homeless, and that Eba was now taking care of her. The duo seemed to also have some sort of a special interest in the new waitress, but she herself had no idea what it could be.

    Right now, it was just another day of working as a waitress for Erin, as she welcomed customers, took their orders and brought them their food. The brown-haired woman had a bright smile on her face, as she worked, which helped her earn better tips from the customers. This was important, as she needed to save up quite a bit of money for her future travels to find Devin or one of his friends. Not only was there the cost of travel itself, but Erin was certain that other expenses would surely come up as well. This is why she was carefully saving up almost all of her money, which she made from her work.

    Having made up her mind to find her old friends again in this new world, the brunette had sworn not to give in to any temptations until she did. For her, finding Devin and his group was far more important than anything else in the world right now. She needed to do everything she could to not only help Eba and her town, but to also possibly make up for her past mistakes.

    ¡°Gotta say, Erin, you¡¯re working hard as usual,¡± Ryan said with a smile, as said woman was cleaning tables that weren¡¯t currently occupied. ¡°I was a bit surprised when I saw you for the first time and old Eba said she had hired you as a waitress. I always imagined that she either didn¡¯t have the money or just couldn¡¯t trust anyone.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hollings,¡± Erin replied with a smile as she finished wiping a table clean and picked up some dirty dishes. ¡°I was honestly surprised as well, when Mrs. Eba offered me a job, but I¡¯m not about to complain.¡±

    ¡°What surprises me the most is the work attitude that you show,¡± Holly added. ¡°Most people working in similar jobs as you only care about making a quick buck, but you seem to actually care about doing your best. That¡¯s honestly commendable.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to throw away the chance Mrs. Eba gave me. I feel like in order to repay her I need to give this my all. Besides, I do have experience from doing similar work, so I know that a positive attitude is a key in this business,¡± the brown-haired woman explained while thinking about her experience while working at different restaurants. ¡°By doing my work to the best of my abilities, I am not only ensuring that I¡¯m not getting fired, but I also have a good chance to get some nice tips. That¡¯s important to me, since I really need the money.¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re in the need of money, but don¡¯t let that blind you too badly, okay?¡± Ryan lightly warned. ¡°There are a lot of people who may seem nice and all, but deep down they¡¯re looking to exploit you in any way possible. I¡¯d watch my back, if I were you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the warning, but I think I can handle myself,¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m only working for Mrs. Eba, so I doubt I¡¯m in any kind of danger at all.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so trusting. You never know whom you can truly trust these days.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t really give Ryan¡¯s warning much thought. As far as she knew, she was as safe as one could be. The brunette had a home with a nice old woman who treated her well and she also had a job. All she really needed to worry about was saving up enough money to go and start on her journey.

    The brown-haired woman couldn¡¯t help but have a sad smile spread over her face. While she was happy that she would be getting a chance to properly apologize to Devin and the others, she could only wish that there wouldn¡¯t be any need to apologize in the first place.

    ¡°Erin, may I talk with you for a moment?¡± Eba suddenly called out to her new waitress. ¡°I need to talk to you for a bit.¡±

    ¡°I just finished cleaning the tables in the dining area and I was about to go and start washing the dishes,¡± the brunette answered. ¡°But I think I¡¯ll be able to spare a quick moment, if you need me.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the back for a bit then,¡± the granny said and led Erin to the back of the restaurant where they wouldn¡¯t be bothered.

    ¡°Is something wrong, Mrs. Eba?¡± Erin immediately asked, worried over what could be troubling the old lady. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be losing my job, am I?¡±

    ¡°Oh, heavens no!¡± Eba quickly answered, which calmed down the young woman. ¡°It¡¯s about something else. I was just wondering if you were planning to tell me about those people you knew. The ones you told me could help our town.¡±

    ¡°This is about that again? Like I¡¯ve said already, I would love to tell you, but I can¡¯t,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Not only am I certain that you would think that I¡¯m crazy, I don¡¯t want to possibly cause a scene by letting someone else accidentally hear about it. Not to mention, I don¡¯t want to give false hope, in case I won¡¯t be able to meet up with them.¡±

    ¡°Dear, I understand your reasoning to some degree, but I was honestly hoping that you had a better opinion of me,¡± the old woman said with hurt in her voice. ¡°You should understand that I took up quite the risk when I took you in and decided to trust you. I kind of wish you could show the same amount of trust towards me as well. It probably doesn¡¯t mean that much to you, but it does mean a lot to me.¡±

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    Erin was honestly taken aback by what Eba just said to her. She herself had never seen things like that and had just been focused on earning enough money for her journey, but what the old lady said was true. Eba had taken up quite a risk, as she had no real reason to help Erin when she had arrived in this world with basically nothing on her. Not to mention, the granny had also been trusting enough to let the brunette into her business to earn money, which is something a lot of people would never even consider. Erin owed Eba a lot for her current situation, which could have been a lot worse had they not met.

    If she couldn¡¯t even tell her about her plans, would Erin ever be able to repay the kindness that she had been shown?

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you the truth,¡± the brunette said with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hurting you, but I really felt like I couldn¡¯t tell you. However, I want to make sure no one else hears us, so I¡¯ll tell you the truth after work tonight. Is that alright?¡±

    ¡°That is quite alright, dear. We¡¯ll talk later tonight then,¡± Eba answered happily. ¡°I¡¯m glad I could finally convince you. I hope this doesn¡¯t trouble you too much.¡±

    ¡°Oh, not at all! I just wasn¡¯t confident about what I was supposed to tell you. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Both Erin and Eba went back to the restaurant to finish up work for the day. The day didn¡¯t get all that busy, as most of their regular customers had already visited, leaving only a couple of customers that came for a quick visit. It didn¡¯t take long for the brown-haired woman to finish the tasks set for her, leaving her with only one more thing to do for the day. To tell the truth about herself to Eba.

    Once she had finished cleaning the kitchen, which was her last task in the restaurant, Erin walked back to the dining area to find Eba sitting at a table with a cup of tea in her hands. She also had a teapot along with another cup set on the table as well, waiting for the brunette.

    ¡°I see that my preparations weren¡¯t for nothing,¡± the old woman said with a small smile and took a sip from her cup. ¡°I was worried that you would do something to avoid this conversation.¡±

    ¡°While I originally didn¡¯t want to have this talk, I¡¯m not about to break a promise just to avoid it,¡± Erin said as she took a seat at the table with the old lady and poured herself some tea. ¡°I owe you way too much to just disrespect you like that. I could never do something like that to you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that,¡± Eba said with a smile. ¡°Now, I believe you were supposed to finally tell me the truth about the people you told me about. The ones that are supposed to help our town. I hope you don¡¯t mind me being a bit curious, but I¡¯ve never heard of such people. While there are those who would gladly fight against Gibbot in order to overthrow him, none of the ones I know of are quite like you¡¯ve described.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve heard of the people I¡¯ve talked about. You just never knew that they could actually help you out,¡± the brunette explained as she drank her tea. ¡°My friends are in rather high positions in the government, so I¡¯m certain that they will be able to help out.¡±

    ¡°Are they now?¡± the granny asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Just who are they then?¡±

    ¡°You and I both know them by different names, but I¡¯m certain that they are the same people,¡± Erin explained. ¡°The people I¡¯m talking about are Devinolux, Golorath, Jormulox, Keneroth and Roslynn. The leaders of the world.¡±

    For a moment, Erin simply waited to see what Eba¡¯s response would be, only to receive silence. The old woman simply sat still with no changes happening to her expression. The brown-haired woman started to wonder if her revelation had been so shocking that the poor lady¡¯s heart had stopped.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Mrs. Eba?¡± Erin called out. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Just fine, dear¡­ Just fine¡­¡± Eba finally said as she poured herself some more tea while her hands were shaking violently. ¡°I was just not expecting THAT as your answer.¡±

    ¡°I know what I¡¯m saying sounds crazy, but I swear it¡¯s true!¡± the brunette tried to argue. ¡°I have known those five for years!¡±

    ¡°Say what you will, but it still sounds unbelievable to me,¡± the old woman said while taking a sip of her tea and doing her best not to spill the hot liquid. ¡°Do you have any idea how many people make claims about knowing famous and powerful people, only for them to be complete lies? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re going to do a bit more to convince me about this.¡±

    ¡°I do have actual proof with me!¡± Erin declared and took the picture of herself and Devin¡¯s group from her pocket. She gave it to Eba, who at first didn¡¯t seem to recognize the people on the picture before her eyes went wide and her face turned pale. ¡°Well? Do you believe me now?¡±

    ¡°I-I have to say that this is quite the proof¡­¡± Eba said so quietly that it was almost impossible to hear. ¡°Just how is this possible? Who are you, when you have a picture of the five leaders of the whole world with you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a long story,¡± the brown-haired woman said awkwardly, not willing to tell about the darker parts of her past. ¡°However, you can see that I know them, right? Once I get in touch with them, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to convince them to help this town!¡±

    ¡°¡­Why would they of all people be willing to help this town?¡± the old lady asked with a confused look on her face.

    ¡°Because¡­ that¡¯s the kind of people they are, right?¡± Erin asked in return, somewhat confused by Eba¡¯s reaction. ¡°I mean, I saw the statues in the plaza. Those were made in their honor for all the good they¡¯ve done, right?¡±

    For a moment, there was an awkward silence hanging in the air, as neither person on the table spoke. Eba simply continued to stare at Erin with the same look on her face, until it seemed like she finally realized something.

    ¡°O-OH! Of course! You¡¯re completely right about our great leaders for sure!¡± the granny suddenly said. ¡°Those five sure are great people! Life has never been better than when they took over! That¡¯s for sure!¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m happy to hear that¡­¡± the brunette said, somewhat weirded out by the older woman¡¯s strange antics. It seemed like it was forced for some reason. ¡°Anyways, do you believe me now, when I said that I know people who can help you?¡±

    ¡°I do believe that you know quite powerful people, but this still leaves me confused,¡± Eba answered. ¡°If you are actually acquainted with the leaders of the whole world, how come I found you on the street? If you¡¯re so close to them, shouldn¡¯t you have been in a way better position than that?¡±

    ¡°Things¡­ aren¡¯t exactly the best between them and I,¡± Erin began to explain with an ashamed look on her face, as she thought about the things she had done to her former friends. ¡°You see, back in the day, I did something terrible to them. Something that I¡¯m not sure can ever be forgiven. Because of that, we stopped being friends a long time ago.¡±

    </a>"What did you do?¡± the old woman asked. ¡°Also, if your relationship with them is no longer any good, how are you supposed to get in touch with any of them, let alone convince them to help?¡±

    ¡°¡­I know what I¡¯ve done is unforgivable and I am not expecting them to forgive me easily, if ever at all,¡± the brown-haired woman said while looking down. She then looked back at Eba again with determination in her eyes. ¡°However, I¡¯m tired of living in regret over my past mistakes. I am going to make up for what I did back then and set things right finally. I also know by experience just what kind of people they are. I know that as long as I get to talk to them, even just once, I¡¯ll be able to reach an understanding with them. They are also kind people, who would never let something like the situation in your town go on, if they¡¯re able to help.¡±

    Silence fell over the table, as Eba simply stared at Erin with a look of disbelief. It was almost like the young woman had just made an insane claim, like the planet was flat or something like that. The look on the granny¡¯s face was actually disturbing Erin, as she couldn¡¯t help why there had been such a reaction.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Mrs. Eba?¡± Erin called out to the elderly woman. ¡°Is something wrong? Was it something I said?¡±

    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t you even know-?¡± Eba began to ask, only to stop herself almost immediately. ¡°I-I mean, there¡¯s nothing wrong! I was just a bit surprised over all of this! Nothing else! You are right, though. If there¡¯s anyone that can help our town, it¡¯s those people! I look forward to you meeting again with them!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that...,¡± the brown-haired woman said, still somewhat put off by the elderly woman¡¯s earlier reaction. ¡°So, was there something else you wanted to talk about? It¡¯s getting late and I would like to go to bed.¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s nothing else! Go ahead and get to bed!¡± the old lady said strangely enthusiastically. ¡°The things you¡¯ve just told me have given me hope like nothing else! I may finally look towards the future positively!¡±

    ¡°If you say so¡­.¡±

    Even though she was still somewhat disturbed by the way Eba was acting, Erin decided not to think too much about it and started to head to her room. As she was walking away, she heard the elderly woman say one more thing.

    ¡°But to think you actually knew them¡­ This is way better than what I could have ever anticipated.¡±

 4. Good Times End

    Chapter 4

    Good Times End

    It had been a couple of days since Erin had her talk with Eba and everything seemed to be fine. The only thing that the brunette thought was weird was that her employer had started to act a bit differently. It wasn¡¯t all that much, just a slight change in Eba¡¯s attitude. The old lady seemed to be strangely nervous nowadays and was being even sweeter towards her new employee. All in all, Erin didn¡¯t mind this change all that much, as she thought it was just a result of what she had revealed to the granny and it didn¡¯t seem to be that big of an issue.

    Right now, Erin was preparing for the day. She was setting things up in the dining area and cleaning the place up a bit, just in time before the first customers of the day arrive. Eba herself wasn¡¯t anywhere in sight, as she had told the brunette that she had an important call to make. Erin guessed that it was something related to the restaurant business, like ordering supplies or something like that.

    Just as the brown-haired woman finished cleaning the last of the tables, Eba walked into the dining area with a sweet smile on her face.

    ¡°Mrs. Eba, the preparations are finished,¡± Erin said with a smile on her face. ¡°We are ready to start the day anytime you want.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, dear. Go and open the door, so we can let the customers in,¡± Eba said. The brunette was about to go and open up the restaurant, when the old lady suddenly continued. ¡°However, I need to tell you one more thing before you. We¡¯ll be closing earlier than normal today.¡±

    ¡°Closing earlier? Why? Is something wrong?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing bad, I assure you,¡± Eba quickly answered. ¡°It¡¯s just that there will be a special visitor today, so we¡¯ll need to close up early. Just two hours earlier, so nothing much.¡±

    The brown-haired woman simply nodded in response and went to open the door. She didn¡¯t think too much about who this visitor was going to be. Her best guess was that it would be Eba¡¯s husband coming for a visit from the hospital, but she wasn¡¯t sure.

    The day itself went on without any issues. There weren¡¯t many customers and the ones who did come didn¡¯t cause any problems. It didn¡¯t take long until it was time to close the restaurant and Erin began to clear things up.

    Just as she started to close down the place, Ryan and Holly entered the dining room. Erin was saddened that she would have to tell them to leave, but she had no choice. Her employer had told her that they were closing earlier, so there was nothing she could really do. Eba herself had most likely already cleared the kitchen.

    ¡°Hey there, Erin!¡± Holly called out to the waitress happily. ¡°Can you get us our usual orders?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t,¡± Erin said apologetically, earning confused looks from her two regular customers. ¡°Mrs. Eba is closing earlier today, so I won¡¯t be able to get you guys anything.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s closing earlier?¡± Ryan asked. ¡°This is pretty rare of her. Any idea why she¡¯s doing this?¡±

    ¡°She told me that we¡¯ll be getting a special visitor today,¡± the brunette answered. ¡°I don¡¯t know who it is, but I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s her husband, coming for a visit from the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Her husband? But isn¡¯t he-¡° the gray-haired man began to ask, but stopped himself. ¡°Never mind. We¡¯ll be taking our leave then.¡±

    Erin said goodbye to the two regulars and went on to complete the rest of her tasks. It didn¡¯t take long for her to get all of her work done, after which she went to clean herself up in the bathroom upstairs. She didn¡¯t want to look bad in front of Eba¡¯s guest, after all.

    Just as she finished putting on clean clothes, Erin heard Eba call her from downstairs.

    ¡°Erin, our guest is here!¡± the old woman called out. ¡°Come down here and say hello to him!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± the brown-haired woman replied and began to make her way downstairs quickly. What awaited her there was Eba, standing next to a man Erin had never seen before.

    Judging by the man¡¯s general appearance, he seemed to be an orc. This was easy to tell by his gray skin, large and muscular body, pointy ears and the two sharp canines on his lower jaw. He also seemed to be a member of the police force and a high-ranking member at that. This was because of the uniform her wore, which consisted of a dark gray long jacket with silver highlights, black pants, black gloves with metal plating and black combat boots he was wearing. He also had a badge on the right side of his chest and he was also carrying a gun in a holster by the right side of his waist.

    </a>At first, Erin didn¡¯t think too much about this person and simply assumed he was a friend of Eba¡¯s. However, alarm bells soon started ringing in her head.

    For starters, why hadn¡¯t Eba told her that the person that would be visiting them was a police officer? No matter how many times Erin had asked, the old woman hadn¡¯t even hinted at the guest being a man of the law. Second, why was he still in his uniform and armed? Wouldn¡¯t it have made sense for him to come after his work was over?

    Despite the uncomfortable feeling she was getting, the brown-haired woman made her way to Eba and her guest. As she walked up to them, she realized just how big the height difference between herself and the orc were, as he was towering over her. This difference caused Erin to start sweating nervously, as she felt intimidated by this man.

    ¡°Dear, this here is Officer Harger,¡± Eba introduced the police officer. ¡°He has come here to see you.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ See me?¡± Erin asked, confused over what was happening. ¡°Why would he-?¡±

    ¡°Is this the person you told me about?¡± Harger suddenly asked Eba. ¡°The one you said held dangerous information in regards to the five lords of the world?¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± Erin yelled out of shock as her eyes went wide and face turned pale.

    ¡°Oh yes, she is the one I told you about,¡± Eba replied with a nod while still smiling. ¡°If you interrogate her properly at the station, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find out just how dangerous of an individual she truly is.¡±

    ¡°M-Mrs. Eba, what are you talking about!?¡± the brunette asked in disbelief, not willing to believe that the kind old lady that had been taking care of her was now betraying her. ¡°This has to be some sort of a joke, right!?¡±

    ¡±This isn¡¯t a joking matter, lady,¡± Harger said as he roughly grabbed Erin¡¯s arm, not caring that she let out a pained yelp from the pressure on her limb. ¡±Now come peacefully or I I will have to get rough. I am allowed and more than willing to break all of your limbs in order to take you in.¡±

    ¡±Mrs. Eba, please! You have to say something!¡± Erin desperately pleaded as she was being dragged away. ¡±You know that I haven¡¯t done anything wrong! You can¡¯t let this happen!¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡±I¡¯m sorry, dear, but this is all just business,¡± Eba replied without even a hint of remorse in her voice as she kept smiling. ¡±Just as I prepare warm meals for customers to eat, I also prepare gullible fools with shady backgrounds to be taken in by the government. It honestly pays my expenses quite nicely and you might have just earned me my retirement.¡±

    Shock ran through the brunette¡¯s body as she let the old lady¡¯s words sink in. Eba had not helped her out of the goodness of her heart or anything like that. From the moment she had seen Erin, the granny had been preparing to betray her for money. That¡¯s why she kept pestering the brown-haired woman about her past. It was in order to see if she had anything shady in her past that would amount for a reward.

    The shock was soon washed over by another emotion, anger. Erin felt rage boiling within her body over being used and betrayed. With all her might, she started to struggle against the man holding her. She pulled with all of her strength, hoping to free herself of the hold, and even began to kick at Harger.

    For a second, it seemed like Erin¡¯s struggles had paid off, as the orc let go of her arm. However, this was soon followed by a vicious backhand to her face, which sent her flying. The brunette crashed onto a table that hadn¡¯t yet been cleared of tableware and the sound of plates, bowls and glasses breaking followed the sound of the table itself breaking apart.

    Erin¡¯s body was in pain from the impact. She struggled to push herself up from the floor, when she felt something strange. Some warm liquid was falling down her face and dripping from her chin. The brown-haired woman also couldn¡¯t see from her right eye for some reason, like her eyelids wouldn¡¯t open. Erin brought her hand to her face and touched its right side around the eye. As she brought her hand away from her face, she saw that it was covered in blood. It was at that moment that she realized her eye had been damaged, either by Harger¡¯s hit or by the tableware she crashed into.

    As the realization over her eye hit her, Erin screamed out in horror and shock. This didn¡¯t affect Harger or Eba at all, as they didn¡¯t care at all what happened to the brunette. In fact, the only thing the old lady cared about at that moment was that some of her belongings had been destroyed and she was complaining about it to the orc, who in turn told her that it would all be paid for by the police department.

    However, Harger was more concerned with his captive possibly escaping, so he went to apprehend her again. This time he grabbed one of Erin¡¯s legs and began to drag her out of the restaurant. As this was happening, the brown-haired woman desperately tried to grab something, anything to save her life. She eventually managed to get her hands on a fork and she swung it down onto the hand holding her leg.

    Upon getting stabbed, Harger roared in pain and let go of his captive. He was cursing at the young woman, promising to make her life a living hell in the interrogation. These threats didn¡¯t really matter to Erin, who quickly grabbed a knife and stood up. She stared at the orc with the most hateful glare she had ever had on her face, and with a primal, almost animal-like scream charged at him.

    When thinking about the situation logically, Harger should have been more than capable of handling the situation with ease. He wasn¡¯t a high-ranking police officer for nothing, after all. The orc had seen his fair share of conflicts and confrontations, most of which would have left anyone that had less skills dead.

    However, for some reason, things didn¡¯t go the way they were supposed to at all. Maybe Harger had been too focused on his injured hand, he might have underestimated Erin¡¯s skills or perhaps the adrenaline coursing through the brunette¡¯s system gave her a surprising boost. It might have been a mix of all of these and other reasons, but it still resulted in the same outcome.

    Erin struck the knife into Harger¡¯s neck, causing him to lose large amounts of blood immediately.

    The orc¡¯s eyes went wide as he tried to hold the cut on his neck, desperately trying to hold back the blood flowing out. This was of no help, as he soon fell to his knees and to the floor.

    As her assailant was dying, Erin simply gave him a hateful glare. Rage and hatred had completely taken over, which prevented her from feeling any regret, shock or even surprise over what she had just done. All she felt was justified satisfaction, as she had just defended herself from someone wanting to hurt her.

    What¡¯s more, the brown-haired woman¡¯s rage wasn¡¯t calming down at all. She was still feeling anger over everything that had just happened to her. Being betrayed by Eba, almost getting taken away to be interrogated and having lost her eye had all mixed in together to create a raging storm within her that wasn¡¯t going to calm down until she had taken her revenge on those that had wronged her.

    However, something suddenly happened that stopped her rage. First Erin felt a strange and painful feeling inside her head. Then she saw something. They were visions of Harger, but they were not what the brunette would have expected. In her mind, Harger was nothing more than a brutal and crooked cop, one who abused his power and authority to suit his needs. Instead, the visions Erin was getting showed a completely different person. This Harger was a kind and loving family man. A person that put the needs of his family above everything else. A man that had tragically lost his wife and was now doing everything he could to protect his only son. Someone who was willing to even sell his soul to the devil to keep his only living family happy.

    Having been shown such a touching story brought Erin down to her knees, as tears fell from her remaining eye. Reality soon came crashing down on her, as the visions left as fast as they had come and she was only left with the sight of Harger¡¯s dead body on the floor before her.

    It was at that moment that Erin realized something. Despite what he had done to her, Harger had been just a father trying his best to take care of his son. And now he was dead, having been killed by her very own hands.

    A terrified scream brought Erin back to reality and she turned her eyes to where it had come from. She saw Eba standing there with a horrified look on her face. The old lady had not expected to see the big and strong orc to get killed so easily. Not only that, but now that Harger was dead, was she going to be next?

    Seeing Eba lit the rage inside Erin once again. It was because of her that all of this had happened. It was because of Eba that the brunette had been almost taken away. And it was because of her that Erin had been forced to kill someone.

    The brown-haired woman stood up, still holding the knife in her hands. She began to make her way towards Eba, while glaring at the granny with pure hatred in her one remaining eye. She was going to make her pay for what had just happened here.

    Eba had been frozen in place, like a deer in headlights, and wasn¡¯t able to run away. It didn¡¯t take long until Erin was looming over her, a vicious glare on her face and her hand gripping the knife with all of her strength. The brunette started to slowly raise her weapon up, readying to strike down the one who had betrayed her. As soon as she had brought the knife as far as she could, she brought it down in a fast and violent strike, causing Eba to scream in terror and close here eyes.

    However, despite being sure that her life would end there, no pain ever came to Eba. She slowly opened her eyes to see the knife mere inches away from her face. Erin herself seemed to be frozen in place, like a statue.

    What the old lady didn¡¯t know was that the brown-haired woman was having visions again, like when she had killed Harger, except this time they were about Eba. In these visions, Erin saw her betrayer as a loving person that had built her restaurant together with her husband. How they had worked hard to keep the place running, even when Gibbot had taken over and had imposed heavy taxes on businesses. The hard work and loss of their son had eventually driven Eba¡¯s husband to fall sick and hospitalized, forcing her to sell out people who had revolutionary views to the government in order to cover the medical bills.

    Having seen all these visions made it impossible for Erin to strike down her enemy, no matter how much she wanted. While she was fully aware of the old lady¡¯s betrayal, she couldn¡¯t fully judge her as evil. This was because now she knew Eba had been desperate and had done her best to collect money in order to take care of her sick husband. Had the brunette been in a similar position, she doesn¡¯t know if she had done the same or not. Even if she tried to ignore the things that had been told her through the visions or tried to rationalize the whole situation by focusing on the crimes Eba did, Erin couldn¡¯t bring herself to strike down her betrayer.

    In the end, all that Erin could do was drop the knife and run out of the store while holding her bleeding eye.

    Once outside, all that the brown-haired woman was able to do was stumble around, delirious and confused over what she had just gone through. No matter how much she tried, she couldn¡¯t make any sense of her situation. Why was all of this happening to her? And where did these strange visions come from?

    Eventually, Erin stumbled into an alley, where she finally fell unconscious. The toll on her body and mind had been too great, from the feeling of betrayal, the shock caused by the visions she had seen and the loss of blood from her eye.

    The last thing she saw was someone standing next to her, while looking down at her body.

    ¡°Wow, you look like shit, but I guess I should have expected that much,¡± a strangely familiar female voice said, but Erin was unable to recognize the voice as her mind was too cloudy. ¡°Harger is known for being quite rough with his suspects. Or I suppose I should say that he WAS known for that.¡±

    This was the last thing the brunette heard before everything went black for her.

 5. A Harsh Reality

    Chapter 5

    A Harsh Reality

    Erin woke up with the right side of her face burning in pain. She slowly and carefully brought her hand to feel the are that was hurting and felt some sort of fabric wrappings there. The brunette then realized that she was no longer laying on the alley she had passed out on, but was on an actual bed. Someone had taken her in and treated her wounds.

    Once she realized what her current situation was, Erin slowly got up on a sitting position and looked around herself. The room she had been sleeping in didn¡¯t seem like it belonged to a hospital or, much to her relief, a prison. This meant that the brown-haired woman had not been taken to the authorities, but was being taken care of by some kind individual that had found her. The only questions that remained were who this person was and why they had helped her.

    As Erin was wondering who would have helped her, the door to the room suddenly opened, revealing a very familiar person. It was none other than one of her regular customers, Holly Hollings.

    ¡±M-Ms. Holly?¡± the brunette called out in surprise. ¡±Did you take care of me?¡±

    ¡±Who else do you think did? Santa Clause?¡± Holly asked sarcastically as she walked up to the bed and sat on a chair next to it. ¡±Honestly, I have no idea why dad asked me to do it, though. I think we should have just left you there, seeing as how much of a dumb ass you are.¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the somewhat hostile attitude of the blonde, as she was used to her being very nice all the time. The brown-haired woman had always thought that Holly and her father were some of the kindest people around, so this was unexpected. Then again, she did think similarly of Eba, so she probably wasn¡¯t in a position to make such assumptions.

    ¡°Hey, are you just going to sit there and stare at me like a dumb puppy?¡± Holly asked with a frown. ¡°Isn¡¯t there something you should be saying to me right about now?¡±

    ¡°What are you-? Oh!¡± Erin began to say, only to quickly realize what the blonde wanted. ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit better,¡± Holly said and stood up. ¡°Now, I see that you¡¯re in good enough shape, so get your ass up already and follow me. My dad wants to talk with you.¡±

    Without saying anything, the brown-haired woman got out of the bed and followed the blonde. They went to another room in the house, where Ryan was waiting for them. The room seemed to be the lounge of the house, as the man was sitting on a couch while watching TV.

    Erin noticed that the TV was currently showing the news, where they were actually talking about her. More specifically, they were talking about the murder of Harger.

    ¡±As for the suspect responsible for Officer Harger¡¯s death, the police don¡¯t have many clues. However, a suspicious person that was found at the scene of the crime has been arrested and taken into police custody,¡± the reporter on the TV explained. ¡±So far, they have provided details on the suspect¡¯s appearance, so the police will be on the lookout for her. Any sightings are to be reported to the authorities, so that this murderer can be put behind bars.¡±

    Erin¡¯s eyes went wide as she saw a hand-drawn picture of herself on the screen. Whoever this person that had been taken into custody was, they had given out her looks to the police to look out for. The brunette couldn¡¯t help but feel cold sweat run down her back, as she realized that she was now an outlaw.

    ¡±You know, I always wanted to kill that bastard Harger personally, but I¡¯ll take what I can get,¡± Ryan said as he turned off the TV and stood up from the couch. He turned to look at Erin and Holly. ¡±For someone with no real combat training, that was pretty well-done, even if it was mostly due to luck. My only big problem with the way you handled that was the fact that you left a witness alive. I honestly can¡¯t understand why you would do that, as even the dumbest of morons should understand that witnesses are a problem.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, you¡¯re talking like I planned to murder that police officer!¡± Erin said. ¡°I did that only in order to defend myself! I never wanted to kill anyone!¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case may be, you¡¯ve got blood on your hands now, don¡¯t you?¡± Ryan asked, causing the brunette to turn pale. ¡°You can try to justify your actions as much as you want, in any way you want, but the fact remains that you killed a man and that¡¯s final. Do you think we care about the details relating to the whole thing, let alone the cops themselves? If you want, you can go ahead and try explaining it to them. See for yourself how that turns out.¡±

    No matter how much she wanted to, Erin couldn¡¯t really defend herself. Ryan was right that she was the one responsible for Harger¡¯s death. She herself had even intentionally killed him. Even if it was in self defense, the fact remained she was responsible for someone¡¯s death, and that someone¡¯s child was now an orphan.

    Thinking about Harger¡¯s son almost caused Erin to throw up and burst into tears. She remembered the visions she had seen back when she had killed Harger. The brunette remembered what a loving family they had been, how Harger did everything he could to keep his son safe and how willing he was to sacrifice anything all for the sake of his only child.

    Now Erin had taken all of that from that innocent child. He was now all alone in this world with no one to help him and it was all her fault. The blood that was on her hands wasn¡¯t just from Harger, but also from the young boy, who could lose his life due to her actions.

    ¡°The hell is wrong with you?¡± Holly asked in an annoyed voice. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to cough up your lunch.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just so overwhelmed by all of this,¡± Erin managed to say weakly. ¡°Not only have I killed someone for the first time in my life, but the man I killed also had a son. I just¡­ I just can¡¯t help but think about him.¡±

    ¡°Why? How does that matter to you?¡± Holly asked with a raised eyebrow.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°How does it matter¡­? Don¡¯t yo realized what I¡¯ve done!?¡± the brown-haired woman asked in a shocked tone. ¡°That boy never did anything wrong, but now I have left him orphaned! He is completely alone now that I killed his father! How could that not matter to me!?¡±

    ¡°Because it shouldn¡¯t. It¡¯s that simple,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°Did you think that you¡¯re the only person with family? Every single person in this world has at least some sort of family that is going to be left behind once they die. Is that supposed to stop someone from killing them, if they go around being dicks to people? No. It¡¯s their own damn fault for doing stuff that earned themselves enemies, so they shouldn¡¯t expect any sympathy for themselves or their loved ones. That¡¯s just how it is.¡±

    As much as Erin wanted to argue, she couldn¡¯t. Not only did she know that there was no point to continue arguing over this matter and that it wouldn¡¯t lead to anything, but she also couldn¡¯t really deny the truth behind Ryan¡¯s words. It was true that no matter who you were, you always had some sort of family, yet people would still kill each other through wars and other kinds of conflicts. If one were to pick up a weapon with the intent to kill, there was a good chance they would end up dying themselves.

    Still, Erin couldn¡¯t help but feel like she couldn¡¯t simply brush this all aside with logic alone.

    ¡°...Thank you for helping me,¡± the brunette finally said after a moment of silence and bowed her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave now, so you won¡¯t have to-¡±

    ¡°Hold up a second there, missy!¡± Holly quickly said and grabbed Erin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you really think you can just leave like that, after everything we did for you!? Not only did we use up our own materials to fix you up, but you owe your life to us! Don¡¯t you think you should try to pay us back for all of that!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ What?¡± was all the brunette managed to say.

    ¡°Did you think that we saved you out of goodwill alone? Hell no,¡± Ryan said. ¡°When you owe someone, you have to pay them back, right? We helped you out in the hopes of you providing us with something in return.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be ungrateful or anything and I am willing to repay you,¡± Erin quickly explained as she started to panic. ¡°But I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to repay you. I had to run away from Eba¡¯s place so fast that I couldn¡¯t take anything with me. The only thing that I had were the clothes on me.¡±

    ¡°We are very well aware of that, but I¡¯m sure my dad wants something else from you,¡± Holly said. ¡°I personally have no idea what he¡¯s thinking. If it had been up to me, I would have just left you to die at the alley I picked you up at. No reason to risk our asses to hide a fugitive.¡±

    The brunette turned to look at Ryan, wondering what he had planned for her. All sorts of ideas were popping into her mind, ranging from all sorts of ¡°favors¡± the man could demand from her.

    However, what Ryan¡¯s answer was truly surprised Erin.

    ¡°I want you to take part in our profession,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°We have a lot of work piled up on us and we need some extra help in order to fulfill all of our requests. I feel like you have the possibility of being good at what we do.¡±

    ¡°Hang on! Hang on!¡± Holly quickly yelled. ¡°You want THIS to join our work!? Are you crazy!? Not only are we talking about a completely green idiot, who doesn¡¯t know when to distrust someone, we don¡¯t even know if we can trust her! Why the hell should we take her in!?¡±

    ¡°Say what you will, we need the help,¡± Ryan replied with a shrug. ¡°We can¡¯t handle all of the requests we get on our own, which causes potential customers to go to our competitors. We have already had issues thanks to not being able to handle some of the jobs we¡¯ve been sent, so I want to fix that before it gets too bad. If nothing else, newbie here can take care of at least some of the scrub work.¡±

    Holly was about to voice more of her issues with this, but Erin managed to speak up before her.

    ¡°You want me to come and work for you?¡± Erin asked, earning a nod from Ryan. ¡°Exactly what kind of work are you looking to have me do?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Ryan asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°We are assassins. We kill people and so will you.¡±

    Silence fell over the room as Erin stared at Ryan in disbelief. She looked at both him and Holly, waiting for either of them to tell her that this was all just a joke, only to see that they were completely serious.

    ¡°You¡­ You can¡¯t be serious!¡± the brunette managed to say. ¡°You expect me to kill people for money!? There¡¯s no way I could ever do that! No deal!¡±

    ¡°...But you already have killed, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ryan asked, causing Erin to go wide-eyed. ¡°Like we already discussed, you have killed and there¡¯s no denying that. Sure, it was in self-defense, but you still killed someone. And let me tell you something. That person wasn¡¯t just some random bum no one cared about. He was a police officer and a high-ranking one at that. Do you think the other cops are just gonna turn a blind eye to that? Hell no. They¡¯re gonna make sure you¡¯ll get caught and executed for it, and you¡¯ll be lucky to get away with just that.¡±

    ¡°...So what you¡¯re saying is that I have no other choice?¡± Erin asked after thinking about her situation for a bit. ¡°If I don¡¯t join you, I¡¯ll get caught by the police eventually. Is that it?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much, but there¡¯s also this,¡± Holly said as she pulled out a dagger and placed its blade on Erin¡¯s throat. ¡°You see, we don¡¯t like the idea of someone knowing about our profession. We have a made a good number of enemies in our line of work and wouldn¡¯t want our faces and identities to be known by them. So you¡¯re either with us or we¡¯ll carry your corpse on us next time we go outside. Got it?¡±

    The brown-haired woman considered her situation and realized that she didn¡¯t really have any options. If she didn¡¯t join up with Ryan and Holly, they would immediately kill her. Even if she somehow managed to fight them off and escape, her future prospects were very grim. The police would be looking for her everywhere for what she had done and it wouldn¡¯t take long until she got caught, either by the other cops or people like Eba that would be trying to turn her in.

    With a heavy heart, Erin made her decision.

    ¡°All right, I¡¯m in,¡± the brunette said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll work for you from now on.¡±

    ¡°Good. Glad you could see things our way,¡± Holly said with a smile as she put away her dagger. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, though. I still think it¡¯s a bad idea to have you in our crew. I just don¡¯t want to clean up your bloodstains. Those are a pain in the ass to get out of carpets.¡±

    ¡°So what will I do now?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Am I going to take on an assassination job right away or something?¡±

    ¡°For now, you should just rest,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°You still haven¡¯t healed enough to take on any jobs, so sending you out there would be a suicide. Not only that, but we need to teach you how to do what we do. You might have lucked out against Harger, but it won¡¯t work all the time. With your current level of skill, you won¡¯t last long.¡±

    The brunette gave a nod in response and silently walked back to the room she had been resting in. Once she had left, Holly turned towards her father.

    ¡°Okay, why did you really want to take her in?¡± Holly asked. ¡°You know that this is a big risk to us and that we can¡¯t fully trust her at all. I mean, the idiot let herself get fooled by Eba, after all.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying at all when I said we need more help here,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°This place is crawling with people holding grudges against others to the point of wanting to commit murder. No matter what business you¡¯re in, you need to catch as many potential customers as you can. With just the two of us, we won¡¯t have enough time for all of them, which leads to our competitors taking a bigger chunk of the market.¡±

    ¡°I know that very well, but I doubt that was the only reason for this,¡± Holly said. ¡°I remember how much you objected when I suggested some people as colleagues that even had actual combat experience. You said that they could never be trusted and that they would ruin us. Yet here we are, with a new recruit that is completely green when it comes to assassination and you happily let her become one of us. Either you¡¯re going senile or you have some motive that I can¡¯t grasp at all.¡±

    ¡°First, never call me senile. You know damn well that I¡¯m not old enough for that,¡± Ryan said with a slight frown, not liking the way his daughter was talking to him. ¡°However, I suppose I might as well admit it. There is a special reason as to why I decided to take her in. I might be wrong in doing it and it can very well backfire at us, but I wanted to give it a shot.¡±

    ¡°So what exactly is this reason of yours?¡± Holly asked. ¡°What makes her so different from everybody else?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s her potential,¡± Ryan began to explain. ¡°I¡¯m not referring to potential in combat either, but something different. I saw something in her the very first time we laid eyes on her that made her different from everybody else. Like she was a pure gem in a pile of rocks. I want to see where that can go.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you perhaps getting a bit too poetical here?¡± Holly asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I mean, what is that even supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just the most fitting thing that came to mind. Don¡¯t mind it too much,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°The point is that I got a hunch from her and I have always been able to trust such instincts when it comes to people. It is what convinced me to start training you originally, after all. Now I¡¯m just hoping to see if this girl can become something we couldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t mean-!?¡± Holly said in shock with wide eyes, having realized what her father was referring to. ¡°Are you seriously expecting her to do something like that!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long shot, but I want to try it out. I need to see if there are people out there still willing to fight the good fight, like we did back then.¡±

 6. A Rough Wake Up

    Chapter 6

    A Rough Wake Up

    Next day, Erin woke up in the same bed she had been resting previously and slowly got up. Her mind was a jumbled mess as she was thinking about what she had just gotten herself into. Not only was she being hunted by the police for murder, but the brunette had also joined up with assassins in order to keep herself safe. In other words, she hadn¡¯t just committed a murder, but she was going to do so more for her own safety.

    The thought of killing people made Erin feel sick and she almost wanted to throw up. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought about killing anyone. Even fighting was something she had never wanted to take part of, but now she was forced to do such horrible things.

    The brown-haired woman could only wonder why she had gotten into this mess. Was it a punishment from heaven for the things she did to Devin and his friends? Or was she simply the victim of some freak accident that shouldn¡¯t have had anything to do with her at all? Whatever the case might have been, all she could do was try to survive through it all.

    There was a sudden knock on the door. Whoever was on the other side was obviously not in a good mood, as they banged the door loudly and violently.

    ¡°Hey, you awake there yet!?¡± Holly¡¯s voice yelled. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of work ahead of your sorry ass today, so better hurry up, if you want any breakfast!¡±

    The blonde woman didn¡¯t even wait for an answer before walking away from the door, leaving Erin alone. The brunette began to frantically put on her clothes, knowing that Holly could very well be serious about not leaving any food for her. After all, these people killed for a living. Leaving some stray they had picked up from the street wasn¡¯t exactly something their morals would never allow.

    As soon as she had dressed herself, Erin made her way to the dining room. Despite not knowing the way the assassins¡¯ hideout was built, it was fairly easy to find. The place wasn¡¯t exactly big and the smell of food was rather easy to follow.

    Once in the dining room, the brunette saw both Holly and Ryan sitting at the table. Ryan himself had already finished eating, as his plate was almost empty with only small traces of food left on it. Right now, he was just reading a newspaper while waiting for the others to finish eating. Holly herself was finishing up her breakfast, which seemed to consist of rice, eggs and a bit of chicken.

    Having not eaten anything since yesterday, Erin¡¯s stomach was obviously empty, which grumbled upon seeing and smelling the delicious breakfast in front of her. In the middle of the table, there were three metal kettles, which most likely contained the food. The brown-haired woman grabbed a plate that had been laid on the counter nearby, took a seat at the table and reached for one of the kettles.

    Unfortunately, upon taking off the kettle¡¯s lid, the only thing that was revealed was emptiness.

    ¡°Oh right! I forgot to tell you that we already finished eating the chicken and the eggs!¡± Holly said with a smirk, clearly enjoying Erin¡¯s plight. ¡°Sorry about that! But there should still be some rice left for you!¡±

    Erin frowned, but didn¡¯t voice out any complaints. After all, she was dealing with professional killers here, so angering them wasn¡¯t exactly a good idea. Instead, the brunette just opened the kettle with the rice in it and took as much of it as she could on her plate.

    The amount of rice that Erin got wasn¡¯t large at all, just enough to keep herself from going hungry for some time. The brown-haired woman grit her teeth in anger over the treatment she was receiving, but resumed eating without any complaints.

    Erin¡¯s silence seemed to have a negative effect on Holly, who was annoyed over not getting an actual response. The blonde felt somewhat humiliated over the fact that the target of her bullying wasn¡¯t really showing any kind of a reaction to her antics. Hoping to change that, Holly took the salt shaker and loosened the lid on it before passing it to Erin.

    ¡°Hey. Eating just rice on its own can¡¯t be all that tasty, right?¡± Holly asked as she gave the salt shaker to Erin. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use this? It should make it a bit better.¡±

    Erin gave a simple nod as she accepted the salt and tried to put some of it on her rice, only for the lid to fall off and the shaker¡¯s contents spill out uncontrollably on her rice. There was now a small mountain of salt on top of her rice.

    Seeing the little food she had gotten get ruined like that started to push Erin¡¯s anger over the limit. Her body was now shaking with rage and her face was twisted in an enraged frown, as she wanted to do nothing but simply beat Holly to a bloody pulp right there.

    ¡°Oh you want to go, huh!? Bring it on then!¡± Holly yelled as she stood up, having noticed Erin getting angry. ¡°Go ahead and see just how well it goes! I¡¯ll knock your sorry ass out any day!¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!?¡± Erin yelled, having had enough of the blonde¡¯s mistreatment. ¡°Why are you so hellbent on pissing me off!? It¡¯s not like I like this any more than you do!¡±

    ¡°You think you¡¯re having it hard!? Try being in our shoes for a change!¡± Holly yelled back. ¡°Here we are taking in a completely new and useless clown to be trained by us, when we can¡¯t even trust you yet! Not only that, but we are already facing trouble with just the two of us! Do you think having a third mouth to feed is going to be any help with that!?¡±

    ¡°Hey I didn¡¯t ask to be saved by you guys! That was your dad¡¯s idea!¡± the brunette argued. ¡°I never wanted to be an assassin or anything like that!¡±

    ¡°Think you¡¯re somehow better than us!? Is that it!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Well let me remind you that you¡¯re already a killer! Or did I misunderstand something about what happened between you and Harger!? And before you start making excuses about not having a choice, I¡¯ve heard people say that crap when they¡¯ve betrayed their families and friends, so don¡¯t even bother trying it on me!¡±

    Upon hearing Holly talk about betraying family and friends, Erin¡¯s body froze. Even though the blonde assassin had no knowledge about the brunette¡¯s past, her words managed to remind her of what she had done back in her own world. How she had betrayed Devin and his friends, who then somehow had come to this world.

    With the fight taken out of her, Erin simply sat back down on her chair and ate her food without any complaints, like nothing had happened. Both Holly and Ryan could only stare in confusion over how quickly the brown-haired woman¡¯s mood had just changed.

    Once finished with her meal, Erin got up and began to leave the kitchen, only to stop at the doorway.

    ¡°So, what is the plan for today then?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°You said that you were going to train me to become an assassin, so are we going to start soon?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, but later today,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°There¡¯s something else we need to take care of first, but it does involve you. Be ready to leave soon.¡±

    Erin gave a simple nod and left, walking back to the room she had been resting in. Once she was inside, the brown-haired woman sat down on the bed and pulled the picture of herself and Devin¡¯s group out of her pocket and looked at it, before she began to quietly weep.

    Memories of the better days were going through Erin¡¯s mind, as she sat on the bed crying. She also thought about how bad of a turn her life had taken so suddenly. Even if she had been pulled into this new world, the brunette could have at least taken comfort from the fact that her old friends were here and she could finally apologize to them properly after all this time. However, that comfort had been quickly destroyed, as she had been betrayed by the single person that had helped her, resulting in Erin becoming a wanted fugitive and now having blood on her hands.

    Just why was all this happening to her? Why had Eba suddenly betrayed her? And why had the police been after her in the first place?

    Erin was so caught in her emotional turmoil that she didn¡¯t realize just how much time had passed. Only when the door to the room opened suddenly did she break out of her weeping.

    The brunette looked up and saw Ryan standing at the door, looking at her with an expression that showed no emotion. The man had always been rather stoic, but now he was like a wall of stone.

    ¡°Mind telling me what that was about?¡± Ryan suddenly asked.

    ¡°What was what about?¡± Erin asked in return.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°That whole thing between you and Holly,¡± the assassin explained. ¡°You were about to jump her and tear her throat out before suddenly losing all of your energy in a second. What the hell was that about?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ That was nothing,¡± the brunette lied. ¡°I just¡­ realized that it was a bad idea to fight her. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that bullshit,¡± Ryan said, shocking Erin. ¡°You weren¡¯t thinking anything at all back there. I saw how you were and knew you were just about to throw down. However, something Holly said caused something to snap inside you and take all the energy out of you. Now tell me, what happened.¡±

    For a moment, Erin hesitated, fearing what might happen if she were to tell the truth. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t really have a choice, as Ryan was most likely not willing to leave without an answer. The brunette considered lying, but was afraid of what could happen if she was caught. In the end, she decided to tell the truth to the assassin.

    ¡°It was one of the things Holly said,¡± Erin began her explanation. ¡°She mentioned people that are willing to betray their own friends and families.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but what does that have to do with you?¡± Ryan asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Did you sell out your parents to the government or something?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± the brunette replied. ¡°I did do something similar, though. I betrayed my friends in a way that ruined their lives for good.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± the assassin said as he took out a cigarette and lit it up. ¡°Well, when you do shit like that, you can¡¯t really take it back. All you can do is learn from what you did and try to become better.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I want to meet them and apologize to them properly,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I recently found out where they were and I was planning to travel to them.¡±

    ¡°That might not be a good idea, kid,¡± Ryan said in a somewhat stern tone, like it was a warning. ¡°Depending on how badly you screwed over your friends, they might not be willing to forgive you. Hell, I know from experience that there are just some things you can¡¯t simply let go with a simple sorry.¡±

    ¡°I know that, but I still have to try!¡± the brown-haired woman argued. ¡°I¡¯ve been tormented by my guilt for the last few years and it has driven me almost insane! I can¡¯t take it any more!¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, go ahead. Not my problem,¡± the assassin said with a shrug and was about to leave, when he suddenly stopped. ¡°By the way, who are those friends of yours? In case we come across them, it would be good to know who they are.¡±

    ¡°If I simply told you who they are, you wouldn¡¯t believe me,¡± Erin said as she stood up and handed the picture she had been holding to Ryan. ¡°It will be easier to just show you instead.¡±

    For a moment, Ryan just stared at the picture with a raised eyebrow, before his eyes went wide and the cigarette fell out of his mouth from shock. He easily recognized the people in the picture.

    ¡°Erin, do you have any idea who the people in this picture are?¡± the assassin asked in a shaky voice. ¡°These are the highest authorities in this whole world! Just who are you!?¡±

    ¡°I knew this was going to be a shock, but you have a right to know my true identity,¡± Erin said as she took a deep breath and prepared herself. ¡°I¡¯m actually from another world, where I used to be friends with the people who are now the leaders of your world. This picture is from the time I knew them personally.¡±

    ¡°You goddamn right this is a shock! Never would I have even imagined shit like this to ever be real!¡± Ryan ranted before staring at the picture again. ¡°No wonder the police sent someone like Harger after you! I¡¯m actually more surprised that they didn¡¯t send the whole force after you!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about?¡± the brunette asked, confused over why the police would be looking so much for her. ¡°Why would I be such a big target? Are there people that want to use me against my friends or something?¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ You don¡¯t know!?¡± the assassin asked.

    ¡°Know what!? What are you talking about!?¡± Erin asked in return.

    Silence fell over the room, as Ryan stared at Erin with a dumbfounded look on his face. He was trying to see if she was pretending to be ignorant, but could only see honesty from her eyes. At first, the assassin couldn¡¯t believe that someone would be so ignorant to the world around them, but then realized who he was talking to. Not only had Erin just recently come to this world in the first place, but Eba had most likely kept her sheltered and not told her much about anything. With that taken into consideration, it was no wonder that the brunette didn¡¯t know the truth about her ¡°friends.¡±

    ¡°I guess I need to tell you something very important then,¡± Ryan said with a heavy sigh. ¡°Who do you think is the one who would want you to get arrested the most? In other words, who would benefit most from it?¡±

    ¡°How should I know!?¡± Erin asked in a frustrated tone. ¡°The only person I can think of benefiting from all of this is Eba, but that¡¯s because someone would pay her for getting me captured!¡±

    ¡°Well, do you have any guesses?¡± the assassin asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°My best guess would be Gibbot, but I¡¯m not sure why he would do it either!¡± the brown-haired woman answered before her eyes went wide with realization. ¡°Unless¡­ Do you think Gibbot was going to try and use me against my friends, like a hostage or something!?¡±

    ¡°Gibbot? Nah. He would have benefited from your capture, sure, but not in the way you¡¯re thinking,¡± Ryan explained. ¡°The ones who would have really been happy over you getting caught would have been his bosses. The ones he is serving.¡±

    ¡°Who are those?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Who the hell would be after me?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? It¡¯s those ¡°old friends¡± of yours,¡± the assassin answered.

    For a moment, all the brunette could do was stare at Ryan in disbelief. In her mind, there was no way that what he had said was true at all. She knew Devin and his friends. She had been together with them long enough to know just what kind of people they were, and they were some of the kindest, purest souls in existence. Erin knew that she had harmed them, but there was no way that they would ever do something like this.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Erin finally managed to ask. ¡°There¡¯s¡­ There¡¯s just no way that is true! They would never-!¡±

    ¡°Oh yes they would. They are capable of doing quite a lot, actually,¡± Ryan said with a bitter frown on his face. ¡°For example, they are capable of ordering the deaths of numerous people, including little children. I should know, since I saw my own daughter get killed in public.¡±

    ¡°Okay, now I know you¡¯re lying!¡± the brown-haired woman yelled accusingly. ¡°That lie might have worked, if I hadn¡¯t met Holly-!¡±

    ¡°HOLLY ISN¡¯T MY REAL DAUGHTER, YOU IDIOT!¡± the assassin yelled angrily. ¡°I picked her up from the streets years ago and raised her as my own, but she isn¡¯t actually my own child! My daughter was killed by the order of Devinolux himself! Or should I say ¡°your friend Devin¡±? I was forced to watch helplessly as she was thrown into a pit of fire, screaming for me to come save her!¡±

    Erin¡¯s face turned pale and she was having trouble breathing. She couldn¡¯t believe any of this was true. Devin ordering the death of an innocent child? That seemed completely impossible to her!

    ¡°But¡­ why?¡± the brunette managed to ask. ¡°Why would Devin ever do something like that?¡±

    ¡°It was punishment for ¡°rebelling¡± against his rule,¡± Ryan answered in a broken tone, which spoke volumes of the pains he had gone through under Devin¡¯s rule. ¡°Your old buddies appeared here about eight years ago and started a campaign of world conquest. At first, a lot of countries didn¡¯t think much of them, only to realize the seriousness of the threat too late. I used to be a member of one of the armies that fought against them, so as punishment for my deeds, my whole family was ordered to be executed in public. Many others suffered the same fate as well.¡±

    Erin felt like she had just been punched in the gut twice in succession. One of the punches came from hearing about what Devin and his friends had done in this world. The other one came from how they had come to this world about eight years ago. That time meant a lot to the brunette, as it was the timing of one of the worst things to have happened in her life.

    It was about eight years ago that Devin¡¯s group had disappeared.

    Tears fell from Erin¡¯s eyes as she realized the gravity of her actions back in the day. She hadn¡¯t just ruined the lives of her friends back in their world, but had essentially caused the destruction of countless lives in this world as well. It was because of Erin that Devin¡¯s group had been forced to escape to this world, and it was most likely because of what she had done that they had changed so much. The brown-haired woman was responsible for turning some of the purest souls in the world into ruthless monsters that were now oppressing the innocent people of another world.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Ryan asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry for this,¡± Erin said almost inaudibly.

    ¡°The hell are you apologizing for?¡± the assassin asked, completely confused over what was happening. ¡°It¡¯s not like you killed my daughter or anything like that, right?¡±

    ¡°I may have not done it directly, but I might as well have,¡± the brunette explained. ¡°You remember when I said that I did something horrible to my old friends, who have now taken over your world?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t see how that-¡±

    ¡°It was almost eight years ago that they disappeared from my world, which was soon after what I did to them,¡± Erin answered before Ryan could finish his question. ¡°Do you understand? It was my actions that drove them to come here and begin their conquest of your world. It¡¯s because of me that your daughter, along with countless others, have died or had their lives ruined. It¡¯s all my fault.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re kidding me, right?¡± Ryan asked with wide eyes, hoping to hear a yes but only received silence. ¡°What in the hell did you do to cause all of this? What was it that led to my child dying?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I betrayed them and humiliated them. And then my other friends made up stories of them that caused practically everybody around them to hate them. I essentially destroyed their lives,¡± the brown-haired woman explained as she began to choke up on tears. ¡°I never wanted any of this to happen. I swear.¡±

    ¡°¡­Regardless whether you wanted any of this to happen, it did. It has been done and it can never be taken back anymore. Now I know that you could have never expected an entire world to be ruined because of what you did, but sometimes we make mistakes with consequences that we could never see,¡± Ryan said as dropped the picture he had been holding onto the floor and turned around to leave. ¡°Your mistake just happened to be the biggest possible one a person could have ever made.¡±

    ¡°So what now?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Now that you know I was the one responsible for the death of your daughter, are you still going to have me around?¡±

    ¡°My plans haven¡¯t changed at all. Even if I were to kill you or turn you in to the police, it wouldn¡¯t help me. The ones responsible for me losing everything are still Devinolux and his cronies, regardless of your involvement in their beginnings,¡± the assassin explained. ¡°We will proceed as planned with training you to become one of us.¡±

    ¡°Why? Why are you so insistent on turning me into an assassin?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°Especially after what I just told you.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m doing this because you have potential to do things that no one else is willing to do,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°Even if it was due to luck, you killed Harger of all people. Because of that, I thought you were a person that didn¡¯t fear people of high authority the same way most of the residents in this dump do.¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t know just big of an authority figure he was! I had just come to this world!¡± Erin argued.

    ¡°I know that now, but it¡¯s too late for either of us to be backing down, isn¡¯t it?¡± the assassin stated. ¡°Your hands are now covered in blood and I have let you in on our secret identities. The way I see it, the only way for both of us to survive is for us to work together.¡±

    ¡°Just what do you want from me?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°What is that you¡¯re expecting me to accomplish?¡±

    ¡°What I want is someone who is willing to fight back against the bastards that have destroyed everything we hold dear. Those people are hard to come by these days, so I was hopeful you would be one of them,¡± Ryan explained. ¡°We are still going to try and see if this works out. If it doesn¡¯t, you probably know what will happen, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t need to ask what the assassin meant. It was obvious that if she didn¡¯t perform well enough to their satisfaction, she would be dead. Either the brown-haired woman would get killed on a mission or her trainers would do the job themselves.

    ¡°When do we start the training?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°We won¡¯t begin the actual training just yet. There is something that needs to be done first. Holly will soon come here and take you with her to the town to make some necessary preparations. Once that is done, we will start the actual training here,¡± Ryan answered as he was beginning to leave. ¡°I was originally supposed to come along with you two, but I changed my mind not too long ago. You probably know why.¡±

    Once the assassin had left, Erin picked up her photo and looked at it with tears in her eyes. She could only wait for Holly to come pick her up as her heart was being crushed by regret.

 7. Walk In The Town

    Chapter 7

    Walk In The Town

    After her talk with Ryan, Erin went outside the assassins¡¯ hideout with Holly. Due to her being a fugitive now, she was given a black hoodie to wear and use to hide her face. She also had a face mask to cover the lover half of her face, so that she wouldn¡¯t be accidentally identified by someone walking past them. The rest of the brunette¡¯s clothes were rather plain and simple, most likely so that she wouldn¡¯t catch anyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°You better not complain about the clothing you get, okay!?¡± Holly told her companion with a glare. ¡°You should honestly be grateful we even bother clothing you at all, considering how much of a pain in the ass you are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with this. No worries,¡± Erin replied in an almost inaudible voice. ¡°Where are we headed?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re headed to a place that will help you hide yourself from the law enforcement,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°You won¡¯t be any good for us, if you have to constantly worry about someone seeing your face, even if by accident.¡±

    The brown-haired woman wasn¡¯t sure what Holly meant, but she assumed that they were on their way to find her a disguise of some sorts. Most likely a mask to hide her face with or something similar.

    As the two women were walking, they eventually ended up at the central plaza, the same place where Erin had seen the statues of her old friends and had been picked up by Eba. While the plaza was normally busy, it was practically bursting with people this time. A large crowd had gathered there for some reason, which piqued Erin¡¯s curiosity.

    Ignoring the protests of her companion, Erin began to make her way through the mass of people, hoping to see what they had all gathered there to see. It took a while of pushing and squeezing through people, but the brunette was able to find a place to witness what was so important to so many people.

    What she saw made all the color drain from her face.

    A stage had been set up at the plaza with police officers surrounding it. On the stage was standing a couple more officers as well as two other people. One of these was a rather well-dressed goblin that had two police officers guarding him. This goblin stood out from the other people for a few reasons. First of all, his outfit looked very expensive and was decorated quite a bit. It looked like a military uniform suited for a high-ranking official with a large golden medal on the chest. The jacket was black with red and golden highlights. His pants were white and seemed to be made of a fine material as well. He also had a very fancy looking monocle covering his right eye. The goblin was bald at the top of his head and the rest of his hair had been neatly trimmed.

    The second thing that made the goblin stand out was the expression on his face. While all the police officers had stern and serious expressions on their faces, the small green man had a very noticeable smile on his face, like he was enjoying what was happening at the moment.

    However, the goblin wasn¡¯t the thing that caused Erin to turn pale. The reason for her shock was the other person that wasn¡¯t a police officer, as the brunette recognized this person.

    It was Eba. The old lady that had taken Erin under her wing before betraying her and selling her out to the authorities. However, Eba looked like she had been through hell, as not only was she crying uncontrollably, but she was also covered in cuts and bruises, and her limbs were shackled to prevent any escape attempts.

    Suddenly, one of the police officers on the stage stepped forward in order to speak to the crowd surrounding them.

    ¡°This is the public execution of the criminal known as Gertrude Eba!¡± the police officer told the crowd. ¡°The crimes she has been found guilty of by town magistrate Gibbot are as follows! Assistance of a dangerous terrorist! Withholding important information from the authorities! And assisting in the murder of senior officer Harger¡¯s murder! Due to the serious nature of her crimes, she has been given death sentence not only to herself, but to her immediate family as well! Before we carry out the punishment of this vile criminal, she may have one last chance to speak and beg for forgiveness!¡±

    At this point, Gibbot walked up to the shackled lady with a wide smirk on his face. He was clearly enjoying every moment of this.

    ¡°Yes, ask for us to forgive you, wench,¡± the goblin said mockingly. ¡°If your pleas are genuine enough, maybe we can offer you some sympathy in return.¡±

    ¡°...What the hell do I need your sympathy for?¡± Eba asked angrily before lifting her head to stare down at the crowd around her. ¡°All of you know full and damn well who I am and what I do! Did you think I never heard what you all whispered to each other when I walked by!? Oh, you are all so high and mighty and better than me, aren¡¯t you!? None of you were selling out those who would end up in this position, huh!? Well, I DID! I DID IT SO MANY TIMES I LOST COUNT AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN! MY HEART IS CLEAR, FOR I DID IT FOR MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS TOO WEAK TO EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, WHEN HIS EXECUTIONERS PUT HIM OUT OF HIS MISERY!¡±

    Silence fell over the plaza, as everyone watched the tiny woman, stunned by the words she shouted in defiance to everyone there. Erin herself could feel her face turn pale while listening to her. Even if she had hated the old lady for betraying her, she knew what was the reason behind her actions. Because of that, she could somewhat understand why Eba did what she did. In the brunette¡¯s opinion, the old lady didn¡¯t deserve to be put to death like some criminal.

    ¡°...Are those really your words?¡± Gibbot asked with a sneer on his face. ¡°Had you begged for mercy, I might have considered not making your remains into an example as thanks for all the help you¡¯ve provided so far. With this mockery, you have wasted your chance and your head will surely end up on public display.¡±

    Eba turned to look at the goblin with a peaceful smile on her face and tears falling from her eyes. No longer was there even a hint of the rage and fury she had just displayed for the crowd surrounding her.

    ¡°My body doesn¡¯t matter to me. Do what you want with it once I¡¯m gone,¡± the old lady said. ¡°All I care about is seeing my family on the other side after all this time. If I had any regrets, it would be that the person responsible for my end isn¡¯t here, getting executed right next to me.¡±

    Seeing as Eba wouldn¡¯t have anything else to say, Gibbot walked back and gave a signal to the officers on the stage. One of them nodded and walked up to Eba, as he drew a sword from his waist. The sword was similar to a Japanese katana, except it was made with technology foreign to humanity from Erin¡¯s world. At the back of the blade was a small machine that resembled a battery, which unleashed electricity that coated the sword in what looked like blue lightning. Erin knew from experience that this was a shock blade, a weapon that was used by the law enforcement in some areas of the game Five Realms.

    The officer raised his sword up in the air and readied his stance. As he did this, Eba lowered her head, readying herself for her end.

    Erin felt like time had slowed down as she watched the people on the stage prepare. Her mind was racing, as she thought about the possibility of saving Eba. However, fear and anxiety had frozen her on the spot, forcing her to simply stand and watch as the execution proceeded.

    As the blade began to come down upon its victim, Eba thought about her husband, son and grandchildren. The family she would get to meet after such a long time. They would finally know peace. No longer would they have to struggle and suffer in order to live.

    Before the blade hit her neck, the old lady opened her eyes in order to take one look at the world before her. That¡¯s when her and Erin¡¯s eyes met. Eba immediately recognized the person she was staring at.

    Some of the people that were close enough to the stage could see it as right before her neck was cut, Eba¡¯s expression suddenly changed. What had once been a peaceful smile accepting her fate had suddenly changed into a face that was a mix of shock, rage and hatred.

    Erin saw the change in Eba¡¯s face as well. It was with that expression that the old lady died as her head was cut off.

    While the crowd around her erupted in cheers over the successful execution, Erin no longer even registered it happening around her. Everything had gone silent as her body stood still, frozen in place as she stared into the direction of the execution.

    It was because of her this had happened. It was her fault that Eba was now dead along with her family. And it was clear that the old lady blamed the brunette for her fate as well.

    Had it not been for a hand grabbing her arm, Erin would have most likely stood still like that for hours. She looked behind her and saw Holly standing there, glaring at her like a parent would at a misbehaving child.

    ¡°The hell are you doing, you moron!?¡± the blonde said angrily. ¡°Do you want us to get into trouble!? Let¡¯s get going before you screw things up even more somehow!¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t get a chance to protest, as she was suddenly dragged away from the crowd and into an empty alleyway. The brunette was still in a daze over what she had just witnessed, so she just went along with being dragged around.

    Erin¡¯s downright lifeless state was quickly picked up by Holly, who let out a frustrated sigh and stopped walking.

    ¡°Okay, what is the problem with you now?¡± the assassin asked in an angry tone, clearly not happy with how things were going. ¡°You had a similar reaction earlier today when we were arguing at breakfast. What the hell happened to turn you into a freaking walking corpse!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ That lady¡­ The one who got executed,¡± Erin began to talk, struggling to find the proper words. ¡°She¡­ She was the one who took me under her wing. She let me live at her place and work at her restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know, moron,¡± Holly said. ¡°I am aware of what went between you and Eba, but why the hell are you all moody now that she¡¯s dead? I mean, she betrayed you and tried to sell you to the cops! I thought you would be happy that she got her head chopped off!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I understand what you¡¯re talking about, but it¡¯s not that simple,¡± the brunette began to explain. ¡°I did hate her for what she did to me. I don¡¯t know if I could ever forgive her for what she did. However, she didn¡¯t do it just to earn money. She was trying to help her sick husband. Can I really hate her for doing something like that?¡±

    ¡°For crying out loud¡­ What the hell are you talking about!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Are you trying to tell me that she was somehow innocent and didn¡¯t deserve her fate!? That we should have jumped in there and saved her like some sort of super heroes!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ No, I¡­ I just-¡± Erin struggled to find the right words to say. ¡°I mean, she didn¡¯t deserve what happened to her, did she? Shouldn¡¯t I have at least tried to do something?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a completely helpless moron, aren¡¯t you?¡± Holly said in an annoyed tone. ¡°Look, at the end of the day, all that old hag should have been to you was an enemy, alright? Even if you had saved her, what do you think would have happened? That she would have joined forces with you and helped you take down Gibbot? No. All that would have happened is that she would have betrayed you the moment she got the chance and you would be dead instead. Betrayal was in her nature. Countless other trustful idiots have been killed by her way before you ever even met her. If you get what I¡¯m trying to say, shut your damn mouth and follow me. We have wasted enough time as it is.¡±

    The brunette didn¡¯t argue back anymore and just followed silently. She obviously knew that there was nothing she could have done and any attempts would have only ended in her own death. Still, Erin couldn¡¯t help but regret causing the death of an old lady, who had just tried her best to save her husband.

    It felt like she had just repeated the same mistake she did with Devin and his friends.

    Erin and Holly walked for a bit longer, eventually coming up to a store that was located in an alleyway far from the more populated areas. Erin looked up at the sign hanging over the store¡¯s entrance and her lone eye went wide upon recognizing the name.

    The name of the store was ¡°A Face For All¡±. In the game of Five Realms, it was a cosmetic/customization shop that was meant for players who wanted to change the appearance of their characters. You could do pretty much any type of changes to your character¡¯s look there, from changing the color of your hair or eyes to even restructuring their facial features.

    There was one major difference to this store when it came to the one from the game. These types of stores were normally located at public places, making them easily accessible, yet this one was practically hidden from view. Erin couldn¡¯t help but wonder why this was the case.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Hey, why this store located in such a place?¡± the brunette decided to ask. ¡°I doubt they get all that many customers with such a location.¡±

    ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t know?¡± Holly asked. ¡°These places used to be everywhere, until Devinolux and his posse came in. After they pretty much conquered everything, these places saw a sudden boom in customers due to a lot of people coming in to change their faces. These people were enemies of the new government that wanted to make a quick disappearing act before they ended up on the chopping block. The higher-ups obviously weren¡¯t happy upon finding out about this, so these places were immediately outlawed. Nowadays, unless it¡¯s kept under heavy surveillance, these places have been forced to hide their business, operating only in secret while avoiding the government¡¯s eyes.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ So what are we doing here then?¡± Erin continued asking. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why we are at such a place.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? We are going to change your looks!¡± the blonde answered. ¡°Your current face is known by pretty much everyone, so we need to take precautions in order to avoid having someone accidentally recognize you.¡±

    ¡°H-Hold on a second!¡± the brunette cried out. ¡°You¡¯re not going to restructure my entire face, are you!?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, you dumb asshole!¡± Holly angrily yelled. ¡°We are not about to waste that much money on some greenhorn that hasn¡¯t even been really tested yet! All we are going to do is change the color of your hair and eyes!¡±

    Erin let out a relieved sigh. While she understood that they needed to take precautions in order to hide her from the police, she wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled over the idea of completely changing her facial structure itself. She had heard enough horror stories of what could happen in such operations to know it wasn¡¯t something she herself wanted to take a part in.

    The two ladies were about to enter the store, when the blonde suddenly stopped the brunette. Erin looked at Holly and saw a deathly glare on her companion¡¯s face.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to tell you this, but remember not to tell anyone about this place,¡± Holly said in a low tone. ¡°The guy who runs this place has enough issues as it is and doesn¡¯t need a moron like you to add to them. Not to mention, Ryan and I would like to keep things good between those whose help we might need in the future. Don¡¯t screw this up, okay?¡±

    Erin gave a small nod in response, not able to trust her own speech at the moment. The stare the blonde had given her was one that told her that if she were to go against her order, Holly would kill the brunette immediately. Erin¡¯s instincts told her right away that it was best to give a simple response, as anything else could anger the blonde further, which was not a good idea.

    With Holly¡¯s threat delivered, the two ladies went inside the store. The interior wasn¡¯t exactly as clean and stylish as one would expect of a place that dealt with restructuring one¡¯s appearance. The inside looked like that of any rundown building, as there were cracks on every surface imaginable, the paint on the walls was peeling off and there were pipes that were leaking. The furniture also looked like it had aged considerably and was on its last legs. The tables had visible pieces missing from them and doors to their cabinets were hanging loosely.

    However, what set this place apart from any old building¡¯s interior came in the form of the equipment necessary for the work that was done here. In the middle of the room was a large metal chair, similar to those that one would see at a dentist, except this one had all kinds of straps on it to secure the person sitting on it and preventing them from moving. Next to the chair was a small metal table with all sorts of tools that would be used in operations, like different blades and such. There was also a couple of gas canisters next to the chair, which were most likely used to put the patient to sleep in case it was needed.

    Much like everything else, the equipment wasn¡¯t in the best of conditions. The chair had rust covering it in various parts and it had marks of being worn down all over it. The metal table also had rust on various places and looked like it had been bent from some places, like it had been hit with a baseball bat a couple of times. There was also old and dried up blood on the metal table and even some of the tools, and the gas canisters were rusted with one of them even having a large hole in it.

    There were also pictures covering most of the walls. These pictures showed two different faces next to each other, most likely to compare how a customer¡¯s looks were changed thanks to this place¡¯s services. One would have expected that these pictures would at least look to be in a good shape, but even they had all sorts of dirt and grime all over them. Some pictures were even hanging loosely from the walls or had fallen to the floor.

    All in all, the place made Erin think of it as some sort of a nightmarish dentist, where one wouldn¡¯t get help but would rather have their teeth forcibly pulled out and sold on some kind of a black market. She started to fear what would actually happen to her now.

    Suddenly, someone walked into the room from the backroom. It was a rather tall and thin elf with long golden hair that reached his back. He was wearing dark and plain clothes that consisted of a simple black T-shirt and gray pants. However, there were two things that made him stood out. One was that over his clothes he was wearing a white, bloodstained apron. One of his arms was also not an actual arm, but a cybernetic replacement.

    Since the world of the Five Realms game was set in a futuristic world with fantasy elements, cybernetics weren¡¯t unusual. Such enhancements were normally used for the sake of character customization in the game, rather than due to actual need. Seeing as how the game¡¯s world was now a reality, someone having a part of their body replaced like this was most likely done for a more serious reason.

    ¡°Hey, Holly,¡± the cyborg elf greeted the assassin before looking at Erin. ¡°Is this the new kid Ryan called me about?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her, Lucas,¡± Holly replied. ¡°Ryan already told you what we need you to do with her, right? How long do you think it¡¯s going to take?¡±

    ¡°With such a simple job, I¡¯d say it will take less than half an hour. Depends on how well her body reacts to the chemicals I¡¯ll be dumping in her,¡± Lucas answered. His mechanical arm suddenly changed, turning the hand into a set of blades of varying sizes. ¡°Are you sure all you want is for me to change a couple of colors? I could do quite a bit more, if you want.¡±

    Erin¡¯s face turned pale upon seeing the blades. The thought of being operated on by such tools was not something she was looking towards and she seriously hoped that Holly wouldn¡¯t suddenly change her mind about the changes to her face.

    ¡°Hey, times are tough even for us, okay? No way are we going to start spending such crazy amounts of money just on her,¡± the blonde answered as she went to lean against a nearby wall and took out her phone to play some game on it. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like we are going to be shoving her face at every person we meet. It will be enough that no random passerby recognizes her by accident.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Be a boring customer then,¡± Lucas said with a sigh and started to prepare his equipment.

    Erin let out a sigh of relief before walking to the chair. She guessed that since she was going to have her looks changed, she would most likely be required to take a seat at what was essentially the operating area.

    The brunette sat on the chair, causing it to creak rather loudly. As soon as she had settled herself, Lucas walked up to her with a few bottles in his hands. The bottles contained liquids of different colors, which Erin guessed would be used to change her hair color.

    ¡°Okay, so which one do you want?¡± the elf asked while showing each color. ¡°I¡¯ve got your regular black and blonde colors here for your hair, but I have some more interesting stuff as well. I could give you some bright green or orange or even pink, if you¡¯re into that.¡±

    Erin looked at the colors thoughtfully, wondering which one she should choose. While it wasn¡¯t exactly the most important thing in the world, she still wanted it to look good. Not to mention, she couldn¡¯t go with a color that was similar to her natural color, as that would defeat the whole point of her switching colors in the first place. However, colors like green and pink didn¡¯t sound all that good to her.

    The brunette then noticed a bottle of bright red liquid that caught her attention. For some reason, this color captivated her and she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it. She carefully reached out to it and picked it up in order to inspect it closer.

    ¡°That one, huh? If you say so,¡± Lucas said as he went to put the other bottles back where they had been. ¡°Although, I¡¯m a bit surprised. I was expecting you to choose something that wasn¡¯t as bright as that and more similar to your natural color.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t respond as she simply handed the bottle back to the elf. The reason as to why she chose such a bright color wasn¡¯t simple, such as liking the color itself. In a way, the brunette was trying to change herself in a way that was completely different from how she had used to be. She herself didn¡¯t know this yet, but there was a deeply hidden desire within herself to become something new and better. This desire would be more fully realized, as it was only an instinct at the moment.

    ¡°Lean back and relax. This won¡¯t take long,¡± Lucas instructed, which Erin followed. Two of the elf¡¯s cybernetic arm¡¯s fingers changed into syringes and a part of the arm opened up, revealing an empty container. He poured the red color into the container before closing it again. ¡°Now, this might feel a bit uncomfortable, but it shouldn¡¯t be actually painful. Just bear with it for a moment.¡±

    As Erin was laying back on the chair, she felt how Lucas inserted the syringes into the top of her head and liquid started to flow in. The pouring liquid brought with it a slight burning feel. While it wasn¡¯t too painful, it was still somewhat uncomfortable and it also carried a stinging sensation as well, like the brunette¡¯s head was being poked with numerous needles everywhere. As the liquid spread around, this same feel was carried everywhere in her head.

    However, despite how bad it felt, Erin didn¡¯t make any complaints whatsoever. She didn¡¯t cry, she didn¡¯t let out any pained sounds of any kind and just grit her teeth while taking the whole thing in stride.

    It didn¡¯t take long until Lucas removed his syringes out of Erin¡¯s head and took a step back. They waited for about ten minutes, as the liquid did its thing. After that time had passed, the operation was over.

    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Lucas said as he took out a mirror and handed it to Erin. ¡°See for yourself how it looks. If you ask me, I¡¯d say it went pretty well.¡±

    Erin took one look at her reflection and was amazed by what she saw. While she had never hated her old hair color, the new look she had simply left her speechless. The normal dark brown had now been replaced by a bright red color, making it almost look like her hair was shining.

    ¡°Judging by your reaction, you¡¯re pleased with the results. That¡¯s good for you, as having to change the color again would have cost you extra,¡± Lucas said with a slight smirk. ¡°Next up is the eyes. Any particular color that you¡¯d like? We can do pretty much any color in existence. We could even simply make your pupils disappear, but I have to warn you it might look a little creepy.¡±

    ¡°...Can you make them green?¡± Erin asked carefully. ¡°Something bright green, like emeralds?¡±

    ¡°Sure. That¡¯s no problem at all,¡± the elf said as his cybernetic arm started switching up again. ¡°By the way, nice to hear you speak finally. I was starting to think you were mute or something.¡±

    ¡°If only I was that lucky,¡± Holly commented while her eyes were still focused on her game.

    ¡°...Well, let¡¯s just ignore the mean lady over there and get this on, shall we?¡± Lucas said as one of the fingers in his cybernetic arm had switched into what looked like a laser. ¡°Now, this will get rather uncomfortable, but you¡¯re going to have to bear with it. Luckily you only have one eye, so it won¡¯t take as much as it would normally do.¡±

    Erin was a bit irked by the fact that Lucas referred to her lost eye as lucky, but didn¡¯t say anything. The sooner this was done, the better.

    ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± the ex-brunette asked.

    ¡°Not much. All you need to do is lay back and keep your eye open through the whole thing,¡± the elf instructed. ¡°However, you need to keep your eye open no matter how uncomfortable this gets, okay? It will hurt and won¡¯t feel good, but that¡¯s unavoidable.¡±

    Erin nodded and followed the instructions she had been given. Once she was laying back, Lucas pointed one of his mechanical fingers that had transformed into a laser right into her eye. Erin was staring straight into a green light, which was very uncomfortable. Her eye was hurting a lot from having to stare at a bright light like that, which caused a couple of tears to fall from her eye. Still, no matter how much it hurt, Erin kept her eye open and didn¡¯t do anything that could stop the procedure.

    After a while, Lucas was finished. He turned off the laser in his cybernetic arm and stepped back to admire his work. Although Erin couldn¡¯t help but close her eye and rub it in order to ease the pain, he was still able to get a look at the now finished eye. The elf gave a satisfied nod at the results he saw.

    ¡°Okay, here¡¯s the mirror. See for yourself how it looks,¡± Lucas said as he once again gave Erin a mirror.

    The young woman looked at the mirror and saw that her eye was now a very beautiful shade of green, instead of the normal blue that they had been.

    ¡°Hope you like it. If you don¡¯t, I can always change it into something else, but it will cost you,¡± Lucas said with a small smirk. ¡°Besides, I doubt you want to go through that again.¡±

    ¡°This is completely fine. Thank you very much for your services,¡± Erin said politely and even bowed her head down.

    ¡°...Huh. I honestly didn¡¯t expect such manners from you, seeing as how Holly was the one who brought you here,¡± the elf said with a surprised look on his face, before looking at the blonde assassin with a grin. ¡°You should learn from your friend. Otherwise, I doubt you¡¯ll ever get a boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°Bite me, jackass,¡± Holly said with a glare before walking up to Lucas with some money in her hand. ¡°Here¡¯s the payment for your job. We¡¯ll be in touch with you, in case we need you again.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Pleasure doing business with you,¡± Lucas said as he took the money and put it in his pocket. ¡°If I were you, though, I¡¯d try to get her a cybernetic eye to replace the one she lost. Not only would it hide her identity even better, you can also put all sorts of fun gadgets in cybernetics. My arm is a good example of that. I could recommend a buddy of mine that makes them.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how much those things cost?! We¡¯re not going to waste that much money on her!¡± Holly complained angrily. ¡°If she ever wants one, she can earn the money for it herself! The best she can hope from us is a cheap glass eye.¡±

    With their business concluded, Erin and Holly left the store. Before walking out, Erin gave one final polite bow to Lucas as a way of showing gratitude for his work.

    Now that her appearance had changed, Erin no longer needed to hide herself with her hood and could walk around more calmly. As they were walking, she noticed a small electronic billboard on a wall, similar to movie posters back in her own world. However, this wasn¡¯t showing an ad for a movie or anything like that. It was showing her face.

    Seeing her face shown in such a manner caused Erin to stop in her tracks and stare at it with wide eyes. It was a wanted poster for her and it had a bounty of six million credits written on it. The crimes could be seen written underneath the bounty, which included the assault and murder of a police officer as well as conspiring against the government.

    Erin could feel her face turn pale. She knew she was on the run from the law, but seeing her own face on a wanted poster was still quite a shock for her.

    Holly suddenly walked up to Erin and dragged her by the collar of her shirt away from the wanted poster. Erin could tell that the blonde assassin was angry by the way she was stomping as she walked and the displeased grumbling she made. Once the two ladies were in an alley did they stop.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you!?¡± Holly angrily hissed at Erin. ¡°Why were you just standing around, looking at your own goddamn wanted poster!? Don¡¯t you understand that even if your appearance has been changed, people can still recognize you, especially if they have the damn picture right there for comparison!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I was just taken aback by seeing my own face on a wanted poster. That¡¯s all,¡± Erin explained. ¡°In all my life, I never thought that I would ever see that happen.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m certain a lot of other people thought the same thing, but they weren¡¯t dumb enough to make recognizing them easier,¡± Holly ranted and let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Besides, shouldn¡¯t you have expected something like this? After all, you did kill a high-ranking cop.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so¡­ However, I didn¡¯t expect the bounty to be so big,¡± Erin said. ¡°I mean, my bounty was six million. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much?¡±

    Suddenly, all of the anger in Holly seemed to disappear completely and she turned towards Erin with a surprised look on her face.

    ¡°Did you just say six MILLION?¡± the blonde asked to which Erin nodded. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t get that wrong?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I know you don¡¯t exactly have a high opinion of me, but I can still read just fine,¡± Erin replied. ¡°I know my numbers, and the wanted poster¡¯s bounty was definitely in the millions.¡±

    Holly looked down in thought, a look of confusion and shock on her face. This whole thing had really taken her by surprise, which Erin noticed.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is my bounty really that surprising?¡±

    ¡°You bet your ass it¡¯s surprising!¡± Holly almost yelled. ¡°Do you have any idea just what type of people are given bounties of that level?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Erin answered with a shrug.

    ¡°Your crime was basically the murder of a cop, right? That kind of a crime would normally land you a bounty of about a couple thousand credits. Since the guy you killed was rather high-ranking, you could maybe have it in the tens of thousands as well,¡± Holly began to explain. ¡°However, even big name criminals, like leaders of criminal families and such wouldn¡¯t earn themselves bounties that reached the millions! The only people that get those and above are some REALLY big targets for the authorities!¡±

    ¡°L-Like what?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Enemies of the government itself,¡± Holly answered. ¡°This kind of a bounty is reserved for rebel leaders and terrorists. Basically, if you have a bounty in the millions, you must have done something very serious and pissed off someone very big and powerful. What in the hell did you do to earn this bounty!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I have no idea!¡± Erin replied. ¡°The only thing I can think of is the death of that cop, but that could that really be the reason!? Could he have had some connections or something that is the cause of this bounty!?¡±

    ¡°That could be it. No idea what else could be the cause of it,¡± Holly said thoughtfully. ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s get out of here. It¡¯s best if we don¡¯t stay outside too much, considering what we just saw.¡±

    Erin nodded and the two ladies were on their way back to their hideout. As they were walking, Erin was furiously trying to figure out the reason for her bounty, but was unable to think of anything that made sense.

    Suddenly it hit her. The only people that got such large bounties were ones who had seriously angered those in power. While Harger had been a high-ranking police officer, it was unlikely that anyone closely associated with him had the power to do this. However, there were some people in this world that Erin knew that had a huge grudge towards her.

    Devin and his group of friends, who were now in control of this world.

 8. Getting Dirty

    Chapter 8

    Getting Dirty

    Once she had returned from her trip with Holly, Erin had been put on a tough training regiment from Hell. Every day was pretty much torture that left the redhead¡¯s body in pain and covered in bruises. Erin wasn¡¯t sure if Ryan was trying to train her or kill her, as both seemed like possible goals for him right now.

    The training was divided into three categories. These were assassination knowledge and techniques, physical skills and stealth training. The different subjects were divided in such a way that each day focused on one of the three categories, before moving on to a different one the next day.

    Assassination knowledge and techniques was the only one that felt like a class in a school. Basically it was about learning useful skills, strategies and other such things. In these lessons either Ryan or Holly would be instructing Erin on how to act on different situations while performing assassinations. The redhead was also taught about the weapons she would be using during her missions. These included a silenced pistol, a knife and a garrote wire.

    Physical skills were basically about building Erin¡¯s physique to be better suited for the job. During these lessons, she was forced to do all sorts of exercises, such as running, push-ups, sit-ups and other things. There was also unarmed and armed combat lessons mixed in as well. However, these lessons were grueling and extremely painful, as Erin was hardly offered any chance to even catch her breath. Instead, whenever she fell down from exhaustion, she was forced to get back up, often by Holly using a stun baton on her to get her moving, while the blonde assassin laughed like a maniac.

    However, stealth training was quite possibly the most brutal of the three. In it, Ryan had built up a training ground that was supposed to resemble an area in a city, with alleys and other such things. Erin¡¯s assignment in this training was to use the environment around her to her advantage and get close to either Holly or Ryan, who would be moving around the area. With a lot of different hiding spots, one would think that this was a simple task, but they would be wrong. Both Ryan and Holly were highly skilled assassins, so they could easily spot Erin long before she could even get anywhere near either of them. The could hear the slightest of sounds she made, see her just from the corners of their eyes or even smell her on several occasions. What followed a failed attempt at approaching her target was a painful punch or a kick, which was sometimes several.

    Today, Erin was finishing up her stealth training with Holly. The assassination trainee had tried to attempt to approach her target from behind, only to have the blonde woman grab her arm, throw her to the ground and painfully twist her arm to the point of almost breaking it. While Erin was trying her best not to cry from the pain, Holly was grinning widely.

    ¡±Sloppy. Sloppy! SLOPPY!¡± the blonde assassin ranted happily. ¡±Did you really think you were going to get me with such crap skills? I should be insulted by such antics!¡±

    ¡±W-What did I do wrong?¡± Erin asked in a pained voice. ¡±How did you know where I was this time?¡±

    ¡±Are your ears just for decoration or something?¡± Holly asked in a smug tone. ¡±Didn¡¯t you hear the noise you were making while you were trying to approach me? Seriously, your steps were about as loud as a dire hippo! And your breathing was so loud that even a deaf person would have heard you coming a mile away! Are you seriously this worthless!? I swear, the moment we send you out on the field, you¡¯ll just end up dead!¡±

    ¡±Perhaps we should put that to the test then?¡± Ryan suddenly asked, catching the attention of both Erin and Holly, who had been unaware of his presence. ¡±I¡¯m starting to think that some actual experience could be useful for your training.¡±

    ¡±What do you mean, Mr. Hollings?¡± Erin asked as Holly finally let her go. The now redheaded young woman stood up and held her sore arm. ¡±Also, how long were you standing nearby?¡±

    ¡±For the entire time it took you to fail your last two attempts, so I¡¯d say about 20 minutes, give or take a couple of minutes,¡± Ryan answered calmly, shocking Erin.

    ¡±T-That long!?¡± Erin said out of shock. ¡±But how!? I never even-!¡±

    ¡±This is something we are trying to teach you here, dumbass!¡± Holly angrily yelled at her apprentice. ¡±Real assassins can hide themselves in the middle of a busy street during the day, while you couldn¡¯t hide yourself from a blind and deaf guy! You have absolutely no idea on how to erase your presence in the least!¡±

    ¡±Erase my presence?¡± Erin asked. ¡±What does that mean?¡±

    ¡±I¡¯ll try to explain it a bit more in detail later, but we have other business right now,¡± Ryan replied. ¡±What I¡¯m thinking is that we¡¯ll send you out on a mission to get some real experience on our work. That might let you learn a bit better, since your own life will be on the line and all.¡±

    ¡±Hang on, pops! Are you sure about this!?¡± Holly asked. ¡±Don¡¯t get me wrong, I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing this useless turd get killed, but I¡¯d prefer if it didn¡¯t get us killed as well! If she gets caught, she might spill the beans on us as a means to save her own ass! How can we trust her!?¡±

    ¡±She won¡¯t get the chance to do so, as I will be watching from the shadows,¡± Ryan began to explain. ¡±The job I¡¯m thinking for her is a rather simple one anyways, so I doubt she¡¯ll get into too much trouble. However, in case she does get caught, I¡¯ll be on the lookout, ready to shoot her it seems like she is going to get caught. I won¡¯t let her utter a single word to the wrong people.¡±

    Erin was starting to sweat from nervousness now. It was obvious that she not being given much of a choice in this matter. Either she did the job they were giving her or she would lose her life.

    ¡±So what is the job then?¡± Erin managed to ask. ¡±Is it going to be another cop, like Harger?¡±

    ¡±Hell no. I wouldn¡¯t put you up against someone like that until you¡¯ve shown some skill that¡¯s worth a damn,¡± Ryan answered. ¡±The guy you¡¯ll be going after is an accountant from the local mining company. He has been taking some of the company¡¯s profits for himself, so they want us to go and make an example out of him. There is also a second target. Turns out that the thieving office worker has a mistress that he has been spending his stolen cash on. They want us to also take her out and retrieve as much of the stolen goods as possible.¡±

    ¡±...Are you serious?¡± Erin asked with wide eyes. ¡±You¡¯re telling me that the person I¡¯m going after is no criminal leader, no crooked cop or anything else like that, but some accountant that has been taking some of his employer¡¯s profits and some lady he¡¯s been spending money on?¡±

    ¡±That is correct,¡± Ryan answered. ¡±Is there a problem with that?¡±

    ¡±You goddamn right there is!¡± Erin yelled angrily. ¡±This is possible the most worthless reason to hire an assassin! Why doesn¡¯t the company just call the cops on the guy!? Why do we have to get involved!?¡±

    ¡±You don¡¯t understand how this town operates, do you?¡± Ryan asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡±Anything that is worth money around here is pretty much controlled through one thing. Fear. Once you step out of line even a little bit, you¡¯re lucky to get away with a few broken bones. That is how both the businesses and the town itself are operated. You¡¯ve seen for yourself how Gibbot likes to run things, right? Or did I misunderstand something about you witnessing a public execution?¡±

    ¡°I know that, but this is different! Why would a mining company go this far just to get back at a bad employee!?¡± Erin asked angrily.

    ¡°You think Gibbot is the only scumbag around here? In this town, almost everyone has some amount of blood on their hands, whether from directly killing someone or by doing it indirectly,¡± Ryan began to explain. ¡°Every business here that is worth a damn has made its fortune through blood and bribes. First they eliminate the competition, then they pay the authorities to ignore what happened. That¡¯s how our customer does things as well and has made itself the only mining company in the town. They take out any opposition no matter who they are and then give some of their profits to Gibbot in order to make him happy. They keep those underneath them in control through fear and those above them happy with money. We are simply a tool to make it happen.¡±

    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t-!¡±

    Erin¡¯s defiance was quickly cut short by the feeling of a cold and sharp blade touching her neck. She turned her head just slightly enough to see Holly holding a knife to her throat while glaring at her with hateful eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What were you about to say?¡± Holly asked as she pressed her knife¡¯s blade a bit closer against Erin¡¯s neck. ¡°You won¡¯t what exactly?¡±

    ¡°...O-Okay, I¡¯ll do it,¡± Erin said fearfully. ¡°You can put the knife away.¡±

    ¡°Good. I¡¯d hate having to clean your blood off my clothes,¡± Holly said as she put away her knife. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I want you dead, but I feel that we might as well try to get some use out of you first. Besides, with the old man watching over you, I¡¯m certain you¡¯ll end up dead as soon as you screw up.¡±

    Erin clenched her teeth from frustration. Against these people, she was completely helpless to put up any kind of resistance. It seemed like she was forced to get blood on her hands. She just hoped that the people she was going to kill were worse than she imagined.

    Later that night, Erin was hiding in an alley, waiting for her targets to come into view. She had been told that one of her targets, the accountant, would go to a brothel almost every night before exiting with Erin¡¯s second target, his mistress.

    The alley Erin was hiding in was situated right across from the brothel, allowing her to see exactly when her two targets would come out through the front door. She had been provided with pictures and information on both of them, making it easier for her to identify them as well as get some insight.

    The accountant that was Erin¡¯s first target was an orc by the name of Bedlum. Judging by the picture, he was an older man that was overweight and balding. His background information stated that he used to be a good employee of his company, until he got into gambling and ended up with a ton of debt. He soon paid off his debts, which is suspected to having been done through stolen money from his company. After that, he continued to steal money that he then spent on his mistress.

    Erin¡¯s second target, Bedlum¡¯s mistress, was an elf named Zafleyna. She seemed to be quite young and had long purple hair that reached her back. The information that Erin had received didn¡¯t tell much, besides that she came to the town about four years ago and had been working in the brothel ever since. The only other information provided was that Zafleyna seemed to have a bad habit of spending a lot of money on things such as expensive clothes, make-up and jewelry.

    Reading through the elf¡¯s information caused Erin to let out a deep sigh, as Zafleyna reminded her of herself and her old ¡°friends¡± back in high school. Back then, they had been very similar, as they were only interested in looking as pretty as possible, completely ignoring everything else around them. Erin couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether she would still be like that had she not gotten close to Devin and his friends.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Thinking about her old boyfriend made Erin think about the bounty that had been placed on her. The only explanation she could think of for such a high bounty was that it had been placed by either Devin himself or one of the people from his group. There was no need to think about the reason, as it was completely obvious. They were still angry over what she had done to them and wanted revenge.

    However, how did they already know she was here? Did the information of her arriving to this world get to them through someone like Eba? Or did they know about her coming here even earlier?

    Whatever the case was, Erin didn¡¯t have the time or the resources to figure it out right now. Her two targets were just exiting the brothel, meaning that it was time to get to work. From the way the two were walking, it seemed that they had been drinking quite a bit already. Bedlum had apparently been the heavier drinker, as Zafleyna had to support him while they walked. The orc¡¯s face was completely red and he could be seen smiling widely, while the elf had a small smile on her face as well. Bedlum was loudly talking about all the great things the two of them had ahead of themselves thanks to the money he had and Zafleyna was acting amazed and praising him.

    As the two were making their way through the town, Erin began to follow them, blending into the crowd and not causing any commotion. Her clothing had also been chosen to be something that wouldn¡¯t draw attention. Much like during her trip to ¡°A Face For All¡± with Holly, Erin was wearing very simple and plain clothes, consisting of a hoodie, cargo pants, simple shoes and leather gloves. Her clothes were made to look all worn-out and dirty, which made her look like a homeless person, someone that would be easily ignored. The first-time assassin wore also a mask that covered the lower half of her face and she had her hood pulled over her head to help hide her identity.

    After navigating through the busy streets of the town, the two targets arrived to the a residential area that was populated the more poor people. The streets weren¡¯t lit all that well and there were almost no people walking around, making it the perfect area to strike.

    However, Erin couldn¡¯t attack just yet. She needed to follow both her targets to their living quarters first, as she was also tasked with bringing back any of the property that Bedlum had stolen from his company. Attacking now would only lead to her failing this objective.

    Erin kept following her targets for some time, using the darker parts of the streets and alleyways to keep out of sight. Eventually, her two targets walked up to an apartment, where Bedlum went in without his companion. The assassin made sure to remember the place her first target had gone to, before following after her second target.

    Zafleyna seemed to live around the same area, as it didn¡¯t take long for her to reach what was most likely her own apartment. The elf began to look through her purse for her keys, which proved to be more difficult than normal due to being still somewhat intoxicated.

    After making sure no one else was looking, Erin decided to make her move. She began to approach her target from behind, making careful steps that didn¡¯t cause any noise. Once she was close to her target, she prepared a garrote wire in her hands for a silent kill.

    However, as she was getting ready to go for the kill, images began to flash through her mind. These were about Zafleyna¡¯s life. It showed how she had always known how others considered her to be a beautiful woman and how she had always used it to her advantage. Making men spend fortunes on her just for the chance of getting praise, even if it was completely fake. The elf made use of those who were unfortunate and broken, manipulating their hearts to get whatever frivolous thing she desired, just like with Bedlum.

    For a moment, Erin froze from shock. Then that shock was replaced by burning anger. This manipulator had used others for her own gains without any concern over their well-being. Any possible pity or regret that Erin might have been feeling for her target had completely vanished. She now wanted nothing more than to kill Zafleyna.

    After all, the elf was just like she had been, when she had manipulated Devin and his friends.

    Zafleyna herself had been completely unaware of what was going on behind her, until it was too late. She suddenly felt how a thin wire was wrapped around her throat very tightly, which finally snapped her out of her drunken stupor. The elf¡¯s purse dropped to the ground, as her arms quickly went to struggle against her attacker. She desperately tried to pry the wire off her neck, while also kicking and thrashing around wildly in an attempt to get free.

    However, in the end, it was all in vain for Zafleyna. It didn¡¯t take long until her struggles started to grow weaker and weaker, until stopping completely. The elf¡¯s body went limp as her life was extinguished and she would have fallen to the ground, had she not been held up by the wire still wrapped around her neck.

    Not wanting to make any sound that could possibly alert those around her, Erin gently laid her victim¡¯s body down to the ground. Once this was done, the assassin stood still for a moment, simply staring down at her victim with wide eyes and her body shaking. Until now, she had been caught up in the moment from the anger she felt towards her victim and the fear of being killed by her employers that the fact she was committing murder hadn¡¯t fully registered. Now that she was staring at her victim¡¯s lifeless body, it all came crashing down on her.

    Erin felt something welling up inside her stomach, causing her to run to a nearby trash can. There she pulled down her mask and threw up. Once this was done, she fell on her knees while sweating and shaking. A couple of tears fell from her eyes as she let the fact sink in that she was now an actual murderer.

    The redhead tried to reason with herself how there had been no choice for her, but to do what she did. That it was life or death for her and there had been nothing she could have done. Unfortunately, no matter how much she tried to convince herself, it offered no help in the end.

    After she managed to calm herself somewhat, Erin went to grab Zafleyna¡¯s purse and looked for the keys to her apartment. She needed to quickly get inside to hide the dead elf¡¯s body and to accomplish one of her objectives, recover some of the things Bedlum had stolen. The assassin soon found the key, opened the door and went inside while dragging Zafleyna¡¯s body behind her.

    Once inside, Erin looked around and saw all the things Zafleyna had bought using the money she had gotten from the people she had manipulated all this time. Expensive clothes, jewelry, make-up and other luxurious items could be seen everywhere. However, none of these things mattered to the assassin, as she was looking for something else entirely.

    After looking around the apartment for some time, Erin was able to find what she had been tasked to look for. The things Bedlum had stolen from his company were the rare minerals they were mining. Some of them came in the form of small clumps of ore, while others looked like beautiful jewels. In the right hands, they could be used to make all sorts of things, from accessories to weapons, but for people like Bedlum and Zafleyna they were an easy way to get lots of money quickly. Just a small amount of the things Erin had found could earn you small fortune easily.

    Once she had gathered all the stolen materials, Erin left the dead elf¡¯s apartment and began to head towards the apartment of her first target, Bedlum. Having made sure to remember the way to the orc¡¯s apartment, the assassin arrived there very quickly. She made her way to the front door as quietly as possible, hoping to catch her target completely unaware.

    Erin reached for the handle on the door and found out, much to her surprise, that the door had been left completely unlocked. After quietly opening the door, the assassin made her way inside and readied her silenced pistol.

    As she got inside, Erin noticed a picture hanging from the wall, showing Bedlum with what seemed to be his family. The orc was standing there with a female orc and two young orc children, a boy and a girl. Upon seeing this picture, Erin felt her blood freeze from within, as she feared that she might end up having to kill Bedlum¡¯s whole family as well, if things turned out badly. Zafleyna, in her opinion, had been someone that deserved her fate and Bedlum was most likely going to turn out same. But his wife and children were innocent and undeserving of such fate. Erin could only hope that she wouldn¡¯t have to kill them as well.

    However, upon going further in, Erin realized that the apartment was rather small, not one large enough for a family. It was more like a tiny bachelor apartment instead of an actual family home. The place even looked like a stereotypical single man¡¯s home, as the apartment was a complete mess. Trash and dirty clothes littered practically every possible place and you could even smell the stench of unwashed laundry and dishes as soon as you walked in.

    Erin moved on and soon found Bedlum, laying down on a bed and snoring loudly. The orc hadn¡¯t even bothered to change his clothes and had just fallen asleep in his office worker outfit.

    Seeing as how her target was defenseless, the assassin quietly moved forward and readied her silenced pistol. She raised it up and took aim at Bedlum¡¯s head.

    However, before the trigger could be pulled, Erin¡¯s mind was filled with visions yet again. This time they showed Bedlum¡¯s life. He had been a hard worker at his company, doing honest work and never causing any trouble. This changed when Gibbot took over the town and every major corporation was forced to bend their knees to his oppressive regime. The leaders of his company were soon replaced by those who were allowed to do whatever they liked as long as they kept sending large bribes to Gibbot. This led to the payments of the actual workers being reduced significantly, with some of them even getting laid off. And if any of them complained, they were sent to Gibbot¡¯s men as ¡°traitors¡±.

    If that wasn¡¯t bad enough for Bedlum, things only got worse at his home. His wife had gotten sick and tired of their terrible financial situation, which had led to them struggling to survive. She wanted to join a group of rebels that were planning to challenge corrupt leaders like Gibbot and take them down for good. Bedlum himself wasn¡¯t fond of the idea, as it would put not only him and his wife in danger, but their children as well. In the end, their arguing got so bad that his wife left him with the kids, hoping to find a better life away from the town they had lived in so far. To end this whole tragic tale, Bedlum¡¯s family died on their way out of the town, as the monsters of the wilderness had attacked the transport vehicle they had been in.

    Due to the loss of everything that was dear to him, Bedlum fell into severe depression, causing him to start drinking heavily and to spend time at brothels. It was at one of these places that he eventually met Zafleyna, who became his sole source of comfort, despite the fact that the elf herself couldn¡¯t care less about the orc.

    After seeing Bedlum¡¯s past, Erin almost fell on her knees. Only by leaning on the wall behind her was she able to hold herself up, but it was still hard to do so. The assassin had tears freely falling from her eyes and she was also breathing heavily, as the visions she had seen had taken away her ability to breather momentarily. Erin still somehow managed to hold up her gun and keep it aimed at her target, but her hand was shaking violently. It would honestly be a miracle if she actually managed to hit Bedlum, even if he was completely still.

    However, due to the shock that she was in, Erin had lost all grace in her steps, causing the floorboards underneath her feet to creak loudly. This noise was enough to wake up Bedlum, who grumbled as he slowly lifted his head off the pillow and got into a sitting position. It didn¡¯t take long for him to find the intruder to his home and he was soon staring at his assassin.

    Upon seeing that she had been discovered, Erin went stiff with panic. She might have seen calm on the outside, but on the inside she was practically screaming out of fright. Getting discovered was something all assassins would avoid, as their success would often hinge on this fact. Not only that, but the redhead¡¯s very life was hanging in the balance over her completing her mission.

    As Erin was trying to think of what to do, Bedlum let out a yawn and spoke in a surprisingly calm tone.

    ¡°So my bosses finally decided to send someone after me? They sure took their time. I was beginning to think they didn¡¯t care about what I was doing,¡± the orc stated as he sat on the edge of his bed, seemingly not even bothered by the fact that an assassin was in his home. ¡°I guess they didn¡¯t see me as that big of a problem, as they sent a complete novice after me. Seriously, what kind of an assassin causes such a ruckus and can¡¯t even seem to hold their weapon properly?¡±

    ¡°...Y-You know that I¡¯m an assassin?¡± Erin asked, getting a nod from Bedlum. ¡°Why are you so calm? Don¡¯t you understand that I¡¯m here to kill you?¡±

    ¡°Of course I get that. I just don¡¯t see any reason to panic at all. Like I told you, I¡¯ve been expecting this to happen for quite some time now,¡± Bedlum answered. ¡°No point in worrying over something that I can¡¯t do anything about. Not that it even matters to me whether I die here now or later.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you saying!? How could you not care about getting killed!?¡± the assassin asked furiously. ¡°Isn¡¯t your life worth a damn!?¡±

    ¡°Look at me. Does it look like my mind is worth anything to me?¡± the orc asked with a completely dead look in his eyes that sent chills down to Erin¡¯s soul. ¡°For a couple of years now I¡¯ve practically been waiting for death, while trying in vain to drown myself in booze and prostitutes.¡±

    Bedlum reached for a picture that was sitting on his nightstand next to the bed. The picture was of him and his family when they were still alive.

    ¡°Every person needs something to keep them going. A purpose or something that makes them enjoy living. For me, it was my family. My kids brought me endless joy along with a purpose,¡± Bedlum said with a sad smile, before it quickly vanished and a look of anguish replaced it. ¡°With them gone, the hell am I supposed to live for? A sorry excuse of a paycheck that barely allows me to live in this shit hole? Some bimbo that only talks nice to me to get my money? The reason I started stealing from my boss in the first place was for me to get killed. I only spent it the way I did to squash the pain in my heart.¡±

    Erin stared down at the floor in shock. This had taken a turn that she hadn¡¯t expected at all. Bedlum hadn¡¯t been stealing from his boss in order to satisfy his own desires. This had all been nothing more than an elaborate suicide. Now that she knew all this, would she be able to do her job?

    ¡°Please¡­ End my misery already,¡± the orc begged, causing the assassin to look up at his tear-filled face. ¡°Ever since I lost my family I¡¯ve just wanted to meet them again. Please let me go to where they are. Let me be free from this hell that I call my life.¡±

    Erin¡¯s whole body was shaking. In front of her was a good man that had been brought down simply due to unfortunate circumstances caused by those in power, which had led to the death of his entire family. This broken man was now begging her to end his life, but would she be able to do it? Bedlum might be saying that it would be a mercy for him if his life were to end, but was that good enough of a reason to kill him?

    In the end, Erin came to the realization that she didn¡¯t have much of a choice in the matter. Even if she were to spare Bedlum¡¯s life, it would only delay the inevitable. Some other assassin would just be sent after him or he would simply take his own life through other means. The only difference would be that Erin herself would also be dead, as Ryan would kill her for failing her mission.

    With a heavy heart, the assassin raised her silenced pistol and aimed at her target¡¯s head. Bedlum simply closed his eyes and waited for his end to come.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin whispered before pulling the trigger. The bullet hit its target in the middle of the forehead, ending his life immediately.

    With her work done, Erin left Bedlum¡¯s apartment and began to make her way away from the crime scene. However, she wasn¡¯t walking towards any specific destination, as she was simply moving in a delirium. Before tonight, she had only killed once before and that had been in self-defense. This time it had been an actual murder by her hands. The redhead felt sick in her stomach and wanted to throw up, especially when she thought about one of her targets, Bedlum.

    The visions that she had seen first with Harger and Eba had continued to plague her on her mission. Visions of the lives of the people she was going to kill. Erin couldn¡¯t understand what was causing this to happen to her. Had she been cursed by God as a way to punish her for all her sins or was there something else at play?

    In her delirium, Erin ended up in an empty alley, where she fell on her knees and threw up again. Tears were freely flowing down her face, as she kept asking why this had happened to her.

    ¡°You¡¯re a really lucky one, aren¡¯t you?¡± a familiar voice said, causing the redhead to look up. She saw Ryan looking down on her. ¡°Honestly, the only thing you managed to do right was kill the elf and even then your performance needed work. And then you go and completely screw things up with Bedlum. You should be thankful that he actually wanted to die or else you¡¯d be the one that died tonight.¡±

    ¡°...How long were you watching me?¡± Erin asked as she struggled to stand up.

    ¡°The whole time. Remember that I was going to make sure you don¡¯t screw up, right?¡± Ryan answered. ¡°Anyways, you better shape up for your next job or else you won¡¯t last long. You¡¯ll get your share of the payment for the job later. I¡¯ll see you at the hideout.¡±

    Ryan turned around and walked away, leaving Erin alone in the alley. Once he was gone, the redheaded assassin fell on her knees and began to sob uncontrollably. She cried over how her actions in the past had seemingly ruined this world along with the lives of its inhabitants, she wept over the people she had been forced to kill and she bawled over the visions that would continue to haunt her. All she could do was let her tears fall and pray for better things to come.

    Unfortunately, her hardships were only beginning.

 9. Hands Of Blood

    Chapter 9

    Hands Of Blood

    It had been a couple of months since Erin had accomplished her first assassination job under the tutelage of Ryan and Holly. Ever since then, she had continued her training under the two assassins while every now and then taking up other assassinations.

    The young woman was now completely different from the way she had been when she arrived in this world. Her looks had changed drastically, as she had allowed her hair to grow much longer, with some of her bangs covering her now missing right eye. She was now wearing an outfit suited for assassinations, consisting of a tight black bodysuit, a light gray cloak that had a hood, white lightly armored boots, white fingerless gauntlets as well as a black and white cap on her head. She had also obtained better weaponry, consisting of two swords. One was a lot heavier and bulkier, meant to penetrate through armors. The other one was smaller and lighter, more like a really long dagger, which allowed her to perform quick attacks on enemies. To top this all off, she had a set of throwing knives and a silenced pistol also with her.

    However, while Erin might have become a lot stronger physically, her mental health wasn¡¯t doing so well anymore. The countless of lives she had taken as part of her job of being an assassin weighed heavily on her conscience, which didn¡¯t help the guilt she was feeling over what she had caused to this world through betraying Devin back in her own world. Not only that, but she still kept having visions of the lives of her victims right before she killed them, which led to horrible nightmares haunting her in her sleep.

    Because of the demons in her mind that she was now cursed with, Erin had become an alcoholic. She found it ironic how back in her younger days she had used to drink with her friends like there was no tomorrow for fun. Now she was doing it in order to silence the ghosts that kept haunting her mind at every second. Unfortunately, the taste of alcohol wasn¡¯t much of a comfort, as the liquid tasted like mud on her tongue. The same happened with every food and other drink that she put in her mouth no matter what.

    ¡°What am I even doing anymore?¡± Erin mumbled to herself while pouring another shot of liquor into her glass. ¡°I spend my time on work that kills me from the inside and then spend my time drinking something that tastes like crap. What kind of a life is this?¡±

    ¡°Well, you could switch the drink into something better for starters, but I doubt that will help much. This is some nasty crap they¡¯re selling here.¡±

    The redheaded assassin¡¯s eye went wide and she spun on her seat to see who had just talked to her. Sitting by her right side was a young woman, a couple of years older than her, who was also enjoying her own drink.

    The woman was very tall, a lot taller than Erin. She had short and messy blonde hair and golden yellow eyes. Her outfit consisted of what seemed like a light green sleeveless coat with a high collar that she kept open, allowing people to see the black tube top she was wearing underneath the coat. On her arms were black fingerless gloves that reached up to her elbows that had metal plates on the back of her hands. On her legs she had tight black pants and a pair of bright red boots. She also had a red scarf around her neck.

    What had gotten Erin so alarmed was that this woman had apparently been able to sit right next to her without her noticing at all. Even if the redhead had been drinking, she always made sure that her awareness was in its maximum, as she never knew when someone would come after her life. Yet despite her honed senses, this woman had gotten so close and had only been noticed by Erin when the lady herself spoke up.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with that reaction?¡± the mysterious blonde asked with a raised eyebrow and a hint of annoyance in her voice. ¡°That¡¯s kind of rude, you know! It¡¯s not like I¡¯m some sort of a monster looking to eat you!¡±

    ¡°...Who are you and why did you come to me?¡± Erin asked, somehow being able to keep her voice calm, despite how she was panicking on the inside.

    ¡°Should you be looking the gift horse in the mouth like that? I mean, you looked like you could use someone to talk to and here I am offering myself for that! I think you should be a bit more grateful for me,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°But I guess I should have introduced myself first. Name¡¯s Ryle. Pleasure to meet you.¡±

    Erin allowed herself to ease up a bit, since this person didn¡¯t seem to be hostile towards her. She still kept her guard up, ready to pull out her weapons the moment Ryle made any moves towards her.

    ¡°Alright, so what brought you to talk with me of all people?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Is it normal for you to put your nose into the business of other people or something?¡±

    ¡°Sheesh! You¡¯re not a fun person to be around, are you!?¡± Ryle said. ¡°And no, I don¡¯t make a habit of getting into the personal lives of strangers. Just those I find interesting one way or another.¡±

    ¡°And what is it that made me so interesting?¡±

    ¡°Your smell,¡± Ryle answered with a small grin.

    The blonde woman¡¯s answer surprised Erin, who immediately tried to smell herself, but was unable to pick up any kind of a stench. This did seem to amuse Ryle, who began to laugh.

    ¡°Sorry! Sorry! I didn¡¯t mean it like that!¡± the blonde woman said as she laughed. ¡°I was actually referring to your whole being in a way. I mean, why would a young and pretty girl like you be at a bar like this on her own, while carrying weapons? Not only that, but I heard you mumbling to yourself, which got me a bit curious.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Then say that!¡± Erin yelled angrily at Ryle, who just laughed harder.

    ¡°Yeah, but seeing reactions like yours is just way too fun. It¡¯s always funny to get people like you to act like complete goofballs!¡± Ryle explained while still laughing. ¡°But still, you seemed to be really down for some reason and I couldn¡¯t help but get curious. Now, are we going to actually talk with each other or are you going to keep glaring at me like that the whole time?¡±

    Erin still wasn¡¯t sure whether she should trust this strange woman, but she didn¡¯t seem to be harboring any ill intentions. Ryle simply tapped the seat that the redhead had been sitting at just a second ago, inviting her to get back on her seat, which is what Erin ended up doing. She was still keeping her guard up, in case this was all just an elaborate plot to get her caught off-guard.

    ¡°So¡­ Now that we have finally gotten past that unfortunate introduction, how about you tell me about what¡¯s bothering you?¡± Ryle said as she took a mouthful of her drink, despite having talked bad about it not too long ago. ¡°Let this big sister here offer her wisdom and shoulder to help you out a bit!¡±

    ¡°...How the hell are YOU suddenly my big sister?¡± Erin asked with a deadpan look on her face.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve kind of been an older sibling to certain people, so the idea of me being one has kind of stuck to me. Not that I dislike it or anything like that,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°But enough about me! Let¡¯s get to you already!¡±

    The redhead took a deep breath before she began to tell her story. However, she made sure to exclude certain details, as she didn¡¯t want Ryle to catch onto her identity.

    ¡°Okay¡­ You see, I¡¯m in a pretty bad situation right now. I¡¯m stuck doing a job that I absolutely hate with people that I don¡¯t get along with. Every day I just get up, go do my awful job and then go back to bed hoping that it would all end,¡± Erin explained. ¡°And the worst part is that I think I deserve this fate as punishment for the things I¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°That¡¯s because of something awful I did a long time ago that I¡¯ve regretted ever since,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°I used to have this group of friends that I hanged out with. At first, I didn¡¯t think much of them, but once I got to know them I became great friends with them. But I threw it all away because of something incredibly stupid and I betrayed those friends in the worst way possible.¡±

    ¡°Well, how bad was this betrayal of yours?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, I get it that stabbing your own buddies in the back is one of the worst things one can do, but can¡¯t you just get together and talk it out?¡±

    ¡°You have no idea how much I would like to do just that. Hell, they wouldn¡¯t even need to forgive me at all. I¡¯d just want to get to talk to them once again, just so I could tell them just how sorry I am,¡± Erin said as a couple of tears fell from her lone eye. ¡°I just don¡¯t think that¡¯s a possibility any longer. Not only are they all far beyond my reach, but they have changed for the worse over what I did to them. I suppose I can¡¯t really blame them, as I destroyed their lives through my actions, leaving them with nothing.¡±

    ¡°Geeze, you did them that bad?¡± Ryle said with a wince, trying to imagine what had truly happened. ¡°So what are you going to do now? You gonna try fixing things between you and your buddies?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a possibility any longer. Had I not been such a coward back then, I could have possibly prevented them from going down the path they did. But now they have gone too far for me to do that anymore,¡± Erin answered. ¡°I¡¯ve been living in constant regret of my actions ever since. Through some¡­ complicated circumstances I ended up here, where I met people that my old friends have no hurt, which made me feel even more guilty than before. Not only did I betray and hurt my friends, but now they have gone and hurt others because of what I¡¯ve done. To top it all off, I ended up having to get a job that I absolutely hate just to get by. I don¡¯t even know why I keep on living at this point¡­¡±

    A moment of silence fell over the two women, as Ryle kept taking sips of her drink while Erin sat in silence next to the blonde woman. She was starting to worry over the chance that Ryle had figured out her identity.

    ¡°Sounds to me like you need a reason to keep on going,¡± Ryle suddenly said.

    ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± Erin asked, perplexed over the blonde¡¯s words.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. You need something to motivate yourself to keep going through the days, no matter how tough they become,¡± Ryle began to explain. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be anything too deep or grand. Just something that you really like to do and what would make you happy, like a hobby or something.¡±

    ¡°¡­You mean to tell me that all I need to do in order to get through the day is a goddamn hobby?¡± Erin asked with an angry tone. ¡°Do you have any idea how asinine that sounds!? I just told you about my greatest sins that weigh down on my very soul and you¡¯re telling me to get a freaking hobby!? ARE YOU INSANE!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, no need to yell! I¡¯m sitting right next to you, so I can hear you completely fine without you yelling at me like a lunatic!¡± Ryle said while rubbing her ears, trying to stop the ringing in them from being yelled at so close. ¡°I get that it was a bad example, but I¡¯m still standing by what I said. What you need is something to make you happy and get you through the bad days. It can be a hobby or something else, like a pet or whatever. You just need to figure out something you either really like or something that you want to pursue. When you have that and work towards it every day, your problems will become easier to deal with.¡±

    ¡°...Are you perhaps speaking from experience?¡± Erin asked, still unsure if what she was being told of could work so well.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I am,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°While my job isn¡¯t exactly the most awful thing for me, I¡¯d prefer making my money through other means. However, I have something far too important for me to do that. Just by thinking about it, I can go through pretty much anything.¡±

    The redhead considered what the blonde woman had just told her. While she wasn¡¯t completely sure if it would work for herself, she could still see the logic. Back in her own world, there were countless stories of people facing insane difficulties, yet they were able to get through them because they had something that kept them going. For some it was a dream or a vision, while others had something even more simple.

    If it worked for so many other people, why wouldn¡¯t it work for her? All she needed was something to motivate her to keep on moving forward.

    ¡°Judging by your silence, I¡¯m guessing that you¡¯re thinking about my suggestion, right?¡± Ryle asked with a small smirk. ¡°Have you already figured out something to work towards?¡±

    ¡°I think I have,¡± Erin answered as a fire seemed to be burning in her eyes. One that hadn¡¯t been there for years. ¡°I am going to find my old friends no matter what. When I do so, I will beg for forgiveness over what I did and ask them to change their ways, so that we might be able to go back to those days when we used to be happy together.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a good enough goal in life. You keep holding onto that and you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ryle said before she drank the rest of her drink and got up from her seat. ¡°Now I¡¯ve got some work that needs to be done, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave. But before I do that, mind if I give you some good advice?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. Go ahead,¡± Erin replied with a shrug.

    ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t think you should go and fully blame yourself for what your friends have done. I¡¯m not saying you shouldn¡¯t feel bad over what you did to them, as you totally should. What I¡¯m saying is that at the end of the day, we all make our own decisions. You can always debate circumstances and all that, but I think you need to take at least some responsibility over the things you do with your own two hands,¡± Ryle said. ¡°The point I¡¯m getting at is that while you may have done your buddies wrong, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that everything that happened afterwards is your fault. Take blame for the stuff that happened because of YOU and not the stuff that happened because of THEM.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ think about that,¡± Erin said thoughtfully. ¡°Was there something else you wanted to say?¡±

    ¡°Just one more thing before I go,¡± Ryle answered with a grin and leaned closer to the redhead in order to whisper in her ear. ¡°You really should wash yourself better. That stench of blood on you is what truly caught my attention.¡±

    Erin¡¯s eye went wide and she quickly got up from her seat with her arm on her sword¡¯s hilt. However, Ryle was nowhere to be seen anymore. The blonde woman had left as quickly and silently as she had appeared.

    There were many questions going through Erin¡¯s mind right now. Who was this person that had come to see her like this? Why had she approached her? What was her actual goal?

    Even if Ryle was gone now, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel like she would meet her again in the future.

    With nothing else to do, Erin began to make her way back to the hideout she shared with Ryan and Holly. As she was walking down the busy streets of the town, she kept thinking about what she had just been told.

    Could it be that she shouldn¡¯t blame herself for everything bad that happened in this world? Was she blameless for all the suffering and pain that Devin and the others caused? While it was true that she herself hadn¡¯t forced them to do any of these things, she was the one who caused their lives to be ruined and most likely forced them to escape to this world. Erin didn¡¯t know how things turned out from there on, as their situation could have sent them down a dark path that eventually led to this point. She herself was a perfect example of how a bad situation could lead you to doing things you would normally never want to do. Back home the redhead had been a fast food employee, but now she was an assassin with numerous deaths on her hands.

    Whatever the case was, Erin knew that she wanted to meet her old friends once again and at least try to make things better. She could only hope that some of that kindness that they had shown her back in the day was still in them.

    Erin finally arrived at the hideout and walked inside. The place was located in the basement of an abandoned apartment building and it had been modified into a perfect hideout for Ryan and Holly. Even if the apartment building above the hideout was in a bad shape and on the verge of collapsing, it wasn¡¯t a big issue as there were multiple tunnels that allowed you to enter and exit the place. If the building above were to collapse, they could just use the other tunnels to get in and out.

    Once inside the hideout, Erin noticed Holly sitting on the couch, watching TV. There was a news coverage over some of the recent deaths, which were the assassinations performed by either the redhead herself or one of her two mentors.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t understand why they bother showing this shit on the news,¡± Holly said. ¡°I mean, I like the fact that my work is being recognized, but this is just pointless. People die in this town every day. Who cares if we add a couple of schmucks in the pile? Besides, everybody knows this place runs on blood.¡±

    Erin frowned at the blonde woman¡¯s words, not liking the tone of her voice. The fact that Holly was taking murder so lightly was something she couldn¡¯t accept, especially after all the nightmares she herself had gone through. But while she wanted to yell at Holly for the way she spoke, Erin knew better than to do that. Nothing good would come out of her making enemies out of her mentors.

    ¡°By the way, Ryan wants to speak with you. Said it was important,¡± Holly said to the redhead without looking away from the TV screen. ¡°He¡¯s waiting in the training room.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t say anything in response and simply headed to where Ryan was waiting. Upon reaching the training room, she saw the man standing there while staring at a picture. He seemed to be lost in thought as he hadn¡¯t noticed the redhead¡¯s arrival.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Erin called out to Ryan, who turned to look at her. ¡°You wanted to talk to me?¡±

    ¡°I sure did,¡± Ryan replied as he put the picture he was holding in his pocket. ¡°We just got ourselves a very big job that I think you¡¯ll find very interesting.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s the target this time? Another poor bastard that stole from the wrong people?¡±

    ¡°Not quite. This target is a rather large one. You¡¯ll be going after the person in charge of this town, Gibbot Grandelsmith.¡±

    Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide as her body froze up for a moment from the sheer surprise. So far, none of the people she had killed were anywhere near to being influential people. Most of them were just unlucky individuals that made the mistake of angering people far more powerful than them, with the occasional slightly influential person here and there.

    However, this was completely different. Gibbot wasn¡¯t just any influential person in the town, he was the biggest person without a doubt. Whatever business was done in the town, the goblin had a hand in it. And those who had a problem with how he ran the town would soon disappear by the hands of people like Erin. To go after his life was equivalent to suicide, as you were attacking an official of the ruling government. Not only were you making enemies out of Gibbot and his cronies, but every law enforcement officer in the world would be going after you as well.

    For Ryan to be even thinking about such a risky job was something Erin would have never imagined. Either the pay was incredibly good or he had some other reason for doing this.

    ¡°A-Are you serious?¡± Erin asked, not fully believing her own ears. ¡°We are really going to go after the biggest man in town?¡±

    ¡°Indeed I am,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°I do understand your surprise, though. I would normally never take up any assignments of this type, as the risk often outweighs the pay. However, the people that are hiring us are willing to pay more than enough for us to take this job, so we are going to make sure Gibbot ends in the grave soon.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Erin said, still a bit shaken from her earlier surprise. ¡°Who exactly is the person that¡¯s hiring us?¡±

    ¡°A person who is looking towards replacing Gibbot as soon as he ends up dead,¡± Ryan began to explain. ¡°You see, a man in the type of position Gibbot is doesn¡¯t just make friends, as he mostly makes enemies. These include those who have been wronged by his leadership and those who simply want to get rid of him and take over his position. Our client is from the latter category.¡±

    ¡°Do you think that things could get better for this town once they take over?¡± Erin asked hopefully. ¡°As in they¡¯ll start treating the people here a lot better?¡±

    ¡°While I can¡¯t say for certain, I highly doubt it,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°What we will most likely accomplish will only result in someone else taking over the work Gibbot has been doing so far. In other words, everything will continue to move the same except there will be a different face giving orders to everyone.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ So we aren¡¯t really accomplishing anything in the end?¡± Erin said, dejected by the fact that she wouldn¡¯t be saving the town after all. ¡°Why do we even bother?¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯ve mistaken us for something else. We are assassins, not a group of heroes, okay?¡± Ryan said with a bit of a stern tone in his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve lived in this dump long enough to realize that it¡¯s beyond saving at this point. No matter how often you get rid of the filth running this place, more bastards will just take their place. Might as well just get used to it and make some money out of it.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s all about the money then, huh?¡± Erin asked in a low tone that was barely audible. ¡°I thought you were some sort of a rebel. That you were trying to fight against the people in charge over what they did to this world.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been paying attention to what I¡¯ve had you doing?¡± Ryan asked. ¡°So far, you haven¡¯t been doing any sort of work to throw over the current government. All you¡¯ve been doing is actually help out the ones running this place by fixing their problems.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I sort of thought that it might have been just so we could gather funds or something. When I thought about it that way, it at least made the whole thing a bit easier,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I mean, didn¡¯t you lose your daughter-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ever bring up my daughter, okay!? She is NOT something you should ever mention around me!¡± Ryan yelled angrily, cutting off the redhead, before turning his back to her. ¡°But I do want revenge. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted ever since my little girl was taken away from me. It¡¯s also kind of the reason I recruited you in the first place.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The reason I decided to pick you up from the street was because you were willing to fight back,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°While almost all the people in this town cover in fear and bow down to Gibbot and his goons, you fought back. Not only that, but you took down a pretty big name in his forces as well. Someone like that sounded like a perfect candidate to have around, as they wouldn¡¯t fear going against any big name in the government.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ weren¡¯t you just talking about how we are not heroes or anything like that?¡± Erin asked out of confusion. ¡°Why would you want to recruit someone to fight the government, when you¡¯re not actually planning to do that?¡±

    ¡°Despite everything I¡¯ve said, I still want to fight back and avenge my daughter. I guess deep within me there is still a part that wants to rebel and hasn¡¯t forgotten his life on the battlefield,¡± Ryan explained. ¡°I¡­ I still see her in my dreams. I can still hear her screams as she is thrown into the fire, begging me to save her, as the flames burn her flesh to ash. How can I ever simply put that behind me and go on without any hope for revenge?¡±

    In a strange way, Erin understood what Ryan was saying. Back in her world, despite knowing it was virtually impossible, she always wanted to meet with Devin and the others in order to set things right with them. She also wanted to punish herself and the group of friends that had convinced her to betray Devin in the first place. Even if it was all for nothing, she always wanted to do these things in the hopes of at least allowing herself to sleep at night.

    Because she understood that Ryan was essentially in a similar position as herself, she decided not to question his decision of taking such an assignment. It might ultimately not change anything at all, but it would be worth a shot. Perhaps this could be the start of a change for the better in the end?

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this then,¡± Erin said in a solemn tone. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be moving out tomorrow at midnight. I¡¯m still working out some of the details of the plan, but it should be ready soon,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°Go get some rest for now. I¡¯ll call you when the time comes.¡±

    Erin nodded in response and walked out of the room, leaving Ryan alone. The assassin pulled out the picture he had been looking at earlier. It was a picture of him with his daughter. His real daughter.

    ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t want me to do anything like this, honey, but I can¡¯t help it,¡± Ryan said in a whisper as a lone tear fell from his eye. ¡°The pain is too much to bear without me being able to lash out against somebody.¡±

    The next midnight Erin was running on rooftops towards the location of her target. Ryan had told her that the plan was rather simple. Apparently, one of their client¡¯s underlings had infiltrated Gibbot¡¯s servants and would help her get inside. All she needed to do was make her way to the building that housed the servants, where her contact would be waiting.

    Gibbot¡¯s building was a large mansion located on top of a hill that was on the edge of a large and steep cliff, a natural fortress. There was only one way to get inside, which was the heavily guarded main entrance. Going this way would be a suicide for any would be infiltrator, as they would be reduced to shreds from merciless gunfire the moment anything suspicious was noticed about them. Thanks to the power Gibbot held over the town, he had allowed his guards to shoot anyone for pretty much any reason, as they wouldn¡¯t face any consequences. Quite a few people had lost their lives already due to the guards shooting them for fun. Only important guests, such as high-ranking officials, could walk down this path without any worries.

    On the other side of the mansion was the cliff, which would prove to be almost impossible to climb. Not only would a person climbing it have to fear falling to their death, but there would be armed guards waiting for them at the top. If they were spotted, they would get shot down immediately. And even if they managed to get to the top, they would have to somehow hide from the numerous guards that were patrolling the area, while struggling with the exhaustion from the climbing.

    Gibbot had taken great care to ensure that his life would be guarded well, no matter the cost. Many attempts at taking his life had been made, but they had all ended in failure. It certainly looked like killing him would be impossible. However, the person that would be guiding Erin apparently knew of a secret entrance that she could use to get straight into Gibbot¡¯s main office. It was originally built as an emergency escape route for him to get out of his mansion, in the case attackers somehow managed to get close to conquering his home.

    There were several paths that all led to this escape route, as Gibbot had decided to prepare just in case he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape through one of them. One entrance was located in his office, another one was in the main dining hall and the last one was in the backyard. In the end, all three led to the same exit that Erin would be using in order to get in.

    The redheaded assassin had arrived at the edge of the town close to Gibbot¡¯s mansion. She stopped at the top of one of the buildings and took out her binoculars. She first needed to make sure that her contact was waiting for her. If they weren¡¯t there, then something would obviously be wrong and she would need to return home immediately.

    Erin could see the building complex housing the servants. There didn¡¯t seem to be any lights, meaning that all the occupants had most likely gone to sleep already. Suddenly, a light seemed to appear at the entrance of the building. Erin took out a pair of binoculars and looked at what it was. She saw a human woman standing there dressed as a maid while holding a lit candle. This was most likely their client¡¯s underling that had infiltrated Gibbot¡¯s servants. Just to make sure that this wasn¡¯t any kind of a trap, Erin switched the settings on the binoculars, allowing her to see thermal vision with them and thus see if there were others hiding nearby. Seeing as the maid was on her own, the redhead decided to proceed.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to reach the lone maid, who soon noticed the assassin approaching her. Now that she was a lot closer to the infiltrator, Erin was able to get a good look at what the maid looked like. She was a young woman with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her outfit was a typical maid outfit which consisted of a long black dress, a frilly white apron, a white hat on her head and brown boots. The woman didn¡¯t seem to be even the least bit nervous over being in the presence of an assassin.

    ¡°I take it that you¡¯re the assassin that was hired by my superiors?¡± the maid asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Erin answered. ¡°And I¡¯m guessing that you¡¯re the one who is going to help me get into Gibbot¡¯s mansion, right?¡±

    ¡°That is me. My name is Colleen,¡± the maid replied. ¡°We should hurry to the secret passage. Otherwise we might get seen by the other servants who could inform the guards.¡±

    ¡°Are they perhaps loyal to their master?¡± Erin asked as the two women began to move.

    ¡°No. In fact, at least most of them absolutely hate Gibbot,¡± Colleen answered. ¡°However, they are aware that he rewards those who give him useful information. And what could be more useful than knowledge of assassins after your life?¡±

    The redhead didn¡¯t need to ask anything more, as she understood their situation completely. They weren¡¯t in danger due to their enemy having an army of loyal troops at his command, but because he paid so much that he could turn even those who hated him into allies through the power of money alone. It was fitting, considering how money seemed to be the only thing running the town Gibbot was in charge of.

    The two women continued in silence until the reached the side of the hill that Gibbot¡¯s mansion was built on. Behind the dried up bushes and cacti was a metal hatch that Colleen opened with a key. Behind it was a deep and dark tunnel that had been dug into the earth.

    ¡°I¡¯ll lead you down the path that takes you to Gibbot¡¯s office. Follow me,¡± Colleen said as crouched down and crawled into the tunnel with Erin following right behind her. ¡°This is going to be a bit tight, so I hope you¡¯re not claustrophobic.¡±

    ¡°Just focus on getting to Gibbot. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Erin said in response.

    At first, the tunnel felt like it was level, until it slowly began to go up and turn more and more steep, until it felt like you were climbing up the hill itself. Eventually the tunnel led to a bit more open space that was connected to three other tunnels.

    ¡°Which one do we take from here then?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The one on the left leads to the main dining hall, while the one on the right leads to the backyard,¡± Colleen explained. ¡°The middle one is the one you want to take. It should take you to Gibbot himself.¡±

    ¡°Hang on, aren¡¯t you coming along?¡± the redhead asked, noticing how the maid said ¡°you¡± instead of ¡°we¡±.

    ¡°No. I can¡¯t risk exposing myself to Gibbot or any of his goons,¡± Colleen answered. ¡°In case you fail, I want to keep my real identity a secret, so that I won¡¯t get executed in public.¡±

    ¡°Geeze, thanks for the vote of confidence,¡± Erin said sarcastically. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we would have a better chance at pulling this off if we worked together?¡±

    ¡°I am a freaking maid. What am I supposed to do? Attack the guards with cleaning supplies?¡± Colleen responded and rolled her eyes. ¡°Look, I might be an infiltrator, but I¡¯m not exactly suited for combat. The whole killing thing is something we got YOU here for. Otherwise we would have done it ourselves, wouldn¡¯t we?¡±

    Erin wanted to argue back, but decided against it. Colleen had a point and further arguing was only going to be a waste of time. The longer she stayed here, the less time she would have to take out Gibbot, since she would need the cover of darkness to make her escape.

    ¡°Fine. You stay here or go back to the servants¡¯ quarters. Doesn¡¯t really matter to me either way,¡± Erin said as she began to crawl into the tunnel that would lead to Gibbot¡¯s office. ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t get caught by the security on your way out or something like that.¡±

    Once Erin had disappeared into the tunnel, Colleen began to make her way back. It took her some time, but she was able to get back to the end of the tunnel with no difficulty. The maid carefully opened the hatch and got out.

    However, as soon as her head made its way out of the passageway, a bullet hit it from the side, killing her instantly.

    Meanwhile, Erin had made her way to Gibbot¡¯s office. She carefully opened the hidden door that led to the secret tunnel and took a couple of careful and silent steps. She surveyed the area around her and didn¡¯t notice any other people around her. It seemed like she was in the clear at least for now.

    The assassin looked around, taking in her surroundings. The office was very large and filled with furniture that looked very expensive, like one would expect the home of a wealthy noble looking on the inside. The walls were covered in all sorts of decorations, ranging from high-quality paintings to other fancy decorations, like pelts of wild animals and decorative weapons. There was a larger desk with papers neatly piled on it with a very big and comfortable chair sitting behind it. Behind the chair was a large screen on the wall, which was meant for communicating with people, but could most likely be used for other things as well.

    After she was done looking around, Erin began to walk further into the office, making sure not to make any noise as she did so. If there was one thing Ryan and Holly had taught her, it was to move around unnoticed. The redheaded assassin had gone through many painful training sessions to learn to keep herself hidden. She had full faith in her abilities when it came to stealth.

    Unfortunately for her, no level of stealth was going to help here.

    Suddenly, the monitor behind the desk lit up, showing Gibbot¡¯s face. The goblin had a smug look on his face, as he stared down at the shocked assassin.

    ¡°So, the little rat finally shows herself then?¡± Gibbot said as he chuckled to himself. ¡°You sure took your time. I¡¯ve had plenty of time to prepare for your arrival.¡±

    ¡°What the hell? How did you know I was coming!?¡± Erin asked with panic in her voice, worried over being discovered. ¡°I made sure not to make any noise when I came in!¡±

    ¡°Oh please¡­ You think that would have been enough to keep me in the dark? I have my ways of making sure no one gets the jump on me, no matter what,¡± the goblin explained. ¡°Although, I do have to say that the little maid who helped you really didn¡¯t leave me with any clues. Had I not been aware of an attempt on my life in advance, this could have been dangerous. Lucky for me that I just had to wait for you two to come to me and I¡¯d get both of you in one go.¡±

    ¡°You knew about me? That I was coming?¡± the assassin asked. ¡°How!? How could you have known!?¡±

    ¡°The answer to that is very simple. In the end, what is the most powerful thing a man can possess in the world?¡± Gibbot asked with a smirk. ¡°There is only one thing. Money.¡±

    ¡°Someone sold me out!? WHO!? Who is the bastard that-!?¡±

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t it been made obvious enough to you already or are you really that slow? Think about how many people even knew about this whole operation of yours! There are only a few people who had that knowledge!¡± the goblin explained. ¡°Now, it wasn¡¯t the maid that helped you, as I was just told that she received some extra ventilation to her cranium. It isn¡¯t any of the rebels that hired you, as they are currently being mowed down by my men as we speak. Who does that leave you with?¡±

    Erin thought about it and her eye went wide from shock, as she realized what Gibbot was saying.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ You don¡¯t mean-¡±

    ¡°It seems you figured it out then,¡± Gibbot said with a grin. ¡°Yes. It was none other than your fellow assassins that sold you out.¡±

    ¡°But why!? Why would they do that!?¡± Erin asked desperately. ¡°They¡¯re the one who took me in and trained me! How could they do this to me!?¡±

    ¡°Do you think I know or care? All I know is that one of them called me last night and told me about an attempt at my life. He even told me about the rebels behind it and where they were hiding! Talk about good news for me!¡± the goblin explained happily. ¡°All he wanted was the bounty money placed on your head for his help. A small price to pay, considering how valuable you truly are.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± the assassin asked, fearing the answer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but some very big people want you alive. All I know is that I¡¯m guaranteed to get a promotion, once I deliver you to them,¡± Gibbot explained. ¡°It¡¯s almost too good to be true that a prize like you were delivered to me like this. I guess God has decided to smile upon me!¡±

    Erin was perfectly aware who the people that were looking for her were. She herself had already deduced who it was that placed such a high bounty on her. The current leaders of this world, Devin and his group.

    ¡°Anyways, I would really appreciate it, if you didn¡¯t put up any pitiful resistance,¡± Gibbot said nonchalantly. ¡°I just had my office cleaned and I would hate it if it got dirty again.¡±

    ¡°And just why shouldn¡¯t I resist?¡± Erin asked with a growl. ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone here to take me in anyways.¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Do you really think I¡¯m the only one here aware of your intrusion?¡± the goblin asked with a frustrated sigh before pulling out a microphone. ¡°Attention all guards. Go and take the assassin into custody.¡±

    Before the redhead could say anything, the door to the room burst open and armed guards flooded in. She looked at the secret passage that she had used to get in, only to see guards enter the room through it as well. It didn¡¯t take long until she was completely surrounded with guns pointing at her.

    ¡°Now, I need you alive, so my men only have non-lethal rounds in their weapons. However, getting shot from all sides with them is still going to hurt like hell, so I wouldn¡¯t recommend struggling uselessly,¡± Gibbot explained with a wide grin. ¡°But the choice is yours. Do you want to go quietly and get taken in? Or do you want to struggle hopelessly?¡±

    For a moment, Erin was weighing her options. Neither of them seemed particularly good, as they basically were get taken prisoner or get taken prisoner after getting the beating of a lifetime. It took her just one look to tell her that all the guards around her were trained professionals, and judging by the looks on their faces they were looking forward to making her suffer. It seemed like the best option was to give up and hopefully find a way to escape later.

    However, as she thought about it, Erin decided against simply giving up. This was because she still had things to do and getting arrested here could possibly prevent her from doing them. She still needed to meet Devin¡¯s group and talk to them. She needed to apologize to them for what she had done. And she wanted to do it by walking up to them on her own and not by begging from behind the bars of a jail cell. That would just ruin what she would be trying to do.

    With quick movements, the redhead pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it on the floor, covering herself and most of the room. Before any of the guards realized what had happened, Erin had taken out her sword and drew first blood by decapitating one of the guards. By the time the guards surrounding their fallen comrades began to point their guns at the assassin, they were all cut down by fast and precise strikes from blades.

    Erin¡¯s goal was to cut her way through the guards around the door and get out of the office. The tunnel that she had used to get in was not an option, as it could be simply brought down on her while she was still crawling inside it. Not to mention, the exit was certainly surrounded by armed guards that would shoot her down the second she poked her head out. The door was the only reliable way out of this mess.

    The assassin kept cutting down her opposition with her mind getting bombarded by visions of their lives. Some of them were good people on the inside, while some were simply rotten to the core. However, Erin had no time to waste on thinking about them and pushed the visions to the back of her mind. She needed to focus on escaping and couldn¡¯t spare a single second on anything else. She would have enough time to think about her actions once she had escaped.

    Erin was getting closer to the door. Just a few more steps and she would be outside the office.

    That¡¯s when she was hit on the back with something that sent an electric shock throughout her body, before she fell down to the floor. The redhead silently cursed herself as she struggled to get up. In her focus of getting out, she had completely forgotten to take into her surroundings, which left her back completely exposed. This allowed one of the guards to hit her with a stun baton.

    Before Erin could even get on her knees, the bottom of a boot connected to the side of her face, sending her back to the floor. The smoke was clearing out by now, allowing the rest of the guards to see where she was. The assassin knew that if she didn¡¯t do something fast, she would get beaten until she was unconscious. Unfortunately, she had lost both of her swords when she was struck on her back, so she had to find another way to protect herself and fast.

    With quick reflexes, Erin pulled out her pistol and pointed it at the guards, hoping it would force them to back down. This didn¡¯t work as well as she had hoped, as the gun was kicked out of her hand, leaving her defenseless again.

    The redhead was not allowed to find a way to fight back, as all the guards around her all piled onto her, beating her senseless. Punches, kicks and hits from batons and backs of firearms rained down upon her. Erin tried in vain to shield herself from the attacks, but it was of no use. It didn¡¯t take long until she blacked out and fell unconscious.

    Soon after the assassin was knocked out, Gibbot ordered his goons to stop, not wanting them to kill her. Erin was soon dragged to the dungeon, where she would be imprisoned.

 10. Flavors Of Pain

    Chapter 10

    Flavors Of Pain

    When Erin began to wake up, the first thing she felt was pain all over her body. The many bruises that she had from getting hit all over by Gibbot¡¯s guards felt like they were burning from the agony she was feeling. Despite her training being very rough and brutal, it had not prepared the assassin for anything like this at all.

    Despite the protests of her body, Erin began to move around in order to get a better understanding of her situation. Her equipment had been taken away, which was to be expected. She still had her clothes, but that was about it. Both her hands and feet were shackled together, making it difficult to move. The room she was in only had one light shining above her with no windows and no furniture. It was basically a cube-shaped room carved out of concrete with a thick metal door serving as the entrance.

    With a hard struggle, Erin was able to crawl up to a wall and sit against it. She started to think about her situation, wondering what she could do now. There was no getting out at the moment, as she lacked any tools to make any kind of an escape. The only chance she would get at escaping would come when she was taken out of her cell for questioning or whatever Gibbot had in mind for her. Because of this, the only thing she could really do was try and rest in order to build back her strength. She did have a plan, but she would need to wait before utilizing it.

    As she was sitting down, the assassin began to think back to what had happened. It had all gone just as planned, until she made her way to Gibbot¡¯s office. It was then that everything went to hell, as the goblin¡¯s guards swarmed over her and beat her down until she was unconscious. However, the one point that really stuck in her mind was the reason for her capture. She had been sold out by Ryan and Holly, her supposed allies.

    Erin¡¯s hands balled up into fists as she thought about the people that had betrayed her. As soon as she made her way out of here, she was going to make them pay for what they did.

    After a while of thinking about the traitors, the redhead heard the sound of footsteps approach her cell. Judging by the sound, there were multiple people, at least three. She hoped that Gibbot himself was one of them, as that would raise her chances at escaping by a lot. Unfortunately for Erin, this wasn¡¯t the case, as the three people were all just Gibbot¡¯s guards.

    ¡°Hey there, little lady,¡± one of the three guards, a human male, said with a grin. ¡°We have some business with you. Mind coming along with us?¡±

    Erin began her plan of escape by throwing on an act of helplessness. She averted her gaze from the guards and tried to make herself look as small as possible by curling up into a ball. For added effect, she began to visibly tremble. Her years spent as a bully had shown her how a truly defeated person with no way to fight back would act in front of their oppressors, as she hoped her act would make the guards think that there was no longer any fight left in her.

    ¡°Please¡­ J-Just don¡¯t hurt me,¡± the redhead said in a quiet and meek voice, just loud enough to be heard. ¡°W-What do you even want from me? Can¡¯t you just let me go?¡±

    ¡°Awww. I¡¯m sorry, honey, but that¡¯s just not going to happen,¡± the human guard said as he walked up to Erin with his companions chuckling behind him. ¡°You see, you tried to kill our boss and he doesn¡¯t quite like that. Now we need to show everybody else that might think of pulling a stunt like that why it¡¯s such a bad idea. For this, we need you.¡±

    ¡°I-I know I messed up, but isn¡¯t there any other way?¡± Erin pleaded, keeping up her act. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do anything to be forgiven. Please.¡±

    ¡°Not gonna happen!¡± the human guard said happily as he grabbed the assassin by her arm and lifted her up. ¡°You see, my friends and I happen to like it, when people like you get caught. That¡¯s when we get to have some fun. Now let¡¯s get going!¡±

    Erin was being taken somewhere with the three guards around her. The human guard was holding her right arm with a strong grip and walking beside her. In front of her was another guard, a female elf, and behind her was the last one, a male lizardman. Judging by how relaxed they seemed to be, the three of them had completely bought the redhead¡¯s act of being weak and defeated.

    As they walked, Erin took note of the equipment the three guards had on them. All of them were wearing the uniform of Gibbot¡¯s guards, which consisted of a red shirt and pants, black gloves, black combat boots, a bulletproof vest worn over the shirt and a black helmet. In terms of weapons, they only had their stun batons, either due to Gibbot¡¯s orders or due to confidence in their abilities.

    Erin did her best to keep herself as calm as possible. She would have to wait for the right moment before she could take action on her escape attempt.

    On their way to whatever place the guards were taking the redhead to, the group walked past a room with its door open. On the inside, you could see a female catfolk guard swinging one of Erin¡¯s swords.

    ¡°Meeka, what the hell are you doing?¡± the elf guard on the front of the group asked. ¡°You know you¡¯re not supposed to play with confiscated weapons.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the harm? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to actually hurt someone,¡± the catfolk guard said in a playful tone. ¡°Besides, the stuff she dropped is so good that I¡¯m thinking of asking the boss to let me have them as my bonus.¡±

    ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll get them,¡± the lizardman guard said.

    ¡°A girl can always try!¡±

    With their conversation done, the three guards continued to escort Erin. She herself made sure to keep in mind the place where her confiscated gear was now located. In all honesty, the assassin hadn¡¯t even imagined finding out where her weapons had been taken and that she would have to make do with whatever she managed to get her hands on. It seems like luck was on her side for once.

    After some time spent walking, Erin was finally taken to her destination. The elf guard opened the door to a room that smelled like blood. Once inside, the redhead saw what it was. It was a torture room.

    The room was filled with all sorts of terrifying tools designed to cause pain. There were blades, saws and clubs of different shapes and sizes hanging from the walls and covering the tables set around the room. There were also numerous bottles filled with chemicals in a large cupboard that was on the wall. But the two most eye-catching thing had to be the chair that had straps on it that reminded Erin of an electric chair.

    ¡°Alright, what should we start with then?¡± the human guard still holding onto Erin¡¯s arm asked with a sadistic grin. ¡°Should we start small or do we want to move to the really good stuff right away?¡±

    ¡°I think we should get our little friend comfortable first,¡± the elf guard said as she went to grab the redhead¡¯s other arm. She then along with her human colleague placed Erin on the chair and strapped her down on it with strong leather belts that were part of it. ¡°There we go. Now as for your earlier question, I think we should try to get as much enjoyment out of this one as we can. Not only do we have a lot of time on our hands, but it¡¯s been so long that we had someone to play with that it would be a real shame for them to expire too soon.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I just remembered something!¡± the lizardman guard suddenly exclaimed. ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to go check on the secret passage that they filled in? Gibbot said that we needed to make sure the workers didn¡¯t do a half-assed job with it!¡±

    ¡°Oh, can¡¯t that wait? It¡¯s not like the tunnel¡¯s going away,¡± the elf guard complained.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Gibbot takes these matters pretty seriously,¡± the human guard said. ¡°Better to have at least one of us go check it out, so we won¡¯t get punished by him.¡±

    Since none of the three guards wanted to leave, they decided to play rock-paper-scissors to see who would have to go. In the end, the lizardman was the one who lost and had to leave. Erin hoped that he would be gone for a good amount of time, as this could be the opportunity she was hoping for.

    ¡°Okay then, shall we begin?¡± the elf guard said with a smile. ¡°Gotta be careful, though. Can¡¯t break her too much. For whatever reason, the boss wants her to be kept alive, no matter what.¡±

    From there began the ¡°light¡± torture session for Erin. At first, a towel was placed over her face as water was poured over it, making it feel like she was drowning. After that was done for a bit, needles were stuck into different parts of her body, such as her face and all over her hands and feet. She was also given a couple of hits from the torturers¡¯ fists to the face and her stomach. The last thing they did was give her some electric shocks with their batons.

    ¡°It¡¯s been too long since we got to do this,¡± the elf guard said with a satisfied sigh. ¡°It¡¯s honestly a shame that there aren¡¯t all that many people that are willing to go against Gibbot. We rarely get to play like this any longer.¡±

    ¡°I hear you, but we just have to take what we can get,¡± the human guard said in agreement. ¡°Anyways, what should we do next?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ How about the whip?¡± the elf suggested as she went to get said item. ¡°I¡¯ve always liked it quite a lot.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me. Just hang on a second,¡± the human said as he went to remove Erin¡¯s restraints. ¡°Come on now, the fun isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    It was at this moment that Erin decided to enact her plan. As soon as the restraints were removed, she fell to the floor, like all the strength in her legs had disappeared. She then put on her weak and defenseless act by curling up and trembling.

    ¡°P-Please¡­. No more,¡± the redheaded pleaded quietly. ¡°I-I¡¯ll do anything. Just stop this.¡±

    ¡°Oh really?¡± the human guard asked with a small grin. ¡°And just what are you willing to do in order for us to stop?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I would¡­¡± Erin kept pleading in a more quiet voice, to the point it was impossible to hear her. This forced the guard standing next to her to lean in closer, to the point his ear was right beside her.

    This was just what the assassin had been hoping for, as she suddenly bit down on the guard¡¯s ear, like a rabid animal. The guard had barely realized what was going on before his ear was torn off completely. He fell to the floor screaming in pain while holding the bleeding spot where his ear had been just a second ago.

    The sudden commotion caught the elf¡¯s attention, who immediately turned around to see her comrade fall to the floor. However, before she could really do anything, Erin came charging at her, ramming her body violently into the guard and sending her falling against a table behind her, causing it to collapse and the tools on it to scatter everywhere.

    At this point, the human guard had started to regain his composure, as took out his stun baton and stood up, ready to kill Erin. It no longer mattered whether he enjoyed torture. All that mattered was that the person who had hurt and humiliated him like this paid for her actions.

    Erin noticed the approaching guard and quickly looked for a weapon among the scattered torture tools. Her hand gripped a knife that she managed to find and she threw it at the guard, who couldn¡¯t react in time at all. The blade struck him in the neck, causing him to stumble backwards a couple of steps before falling dead on the floor.

    The elf guard was starting to get up while still a bit dazed from crashing on the table. Knowing she needed to use this moment to her advantage, Erin quickly grabbed the whip the elf had dropped and in one quick motion put it around the guard¡¯s neck. The elf struggled for a while, before her struggles ceased and she fell dead on the floor.

    ¡°Hope you liked that. After all, you said yourself that you enjoyed the whip,¡± Erin said in a cold tone as she spat one the dead elf. While she knew that she would later get visions of the people she just killed later, she didn¡¯t care at the moment. In her eyes, people who toom enjoyment from the suffering of others deserved no mercy.

    With both guards now taken care of, the redhead searched for something that she could use as a weapon. However, all she could find were torture tools. Good for causing pain, not so good for an actual fight. In the end, she settled for one of the stun batons the guards had. While not exactly a lethal weapon, it would help her a lot more than most of the tools she had around her.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Erin was just about to walk out of the room, when the door suddenly opened right in front of her. The third guard, the lizardman one, had returned at the absolute worst of times for the redhead. There was a small moment, barely even a second, where the two of them just stared at each other with wide eyes of shock. It was after that moment that the guard realized what was going on, as he tried to reach for his weapon.

    ¡°You dirty little-!¡± was all the guard managed to say, before he was cut off.

    Unfortunately for the reptilian man, Erin was able to react faster and used her new stun baton to hit the guard right across the face. The lizardman fell to the floor, stunned and dazed by the strike. Before he could regain his composure, the redhead was already upon, locking the baton in her hands underneath the guard¡¯s chin. She then used all of her strength to pull back with both arms holding the weapon. The lizardman quickly realized what was about to happen as the baton began to press against his windpipe, but it was too late. There was a sound of bones cracking, as his neck was crushed underneath the pressure and he joined his colleagues.

    ¡°That should take care of the obstacles,¡± Erin said to herself as she started to head back the way she had been escorted by the guards. ¡°Time to get back my gear.¡±

    The redhead was hoping to get her own weapons back, as they would make her escape a lot easier. She only hoped that the catfolk guard that had been admiring her sword was no longer there, so she could get the weapons back without any further issues. Unfortunately, much to her surprise and frustration, the guard was still there, holding the same sword she had been admiring earlier.

    ¡°Oh for the love of-! Doesn¡¯t she have any work to do!?¡± Erin cursed silently, before turning on her stun baton. ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯re doing this the hard way then¡­¡±

    With careful and silent steps, the assassin slowly crept towards the guard, who was still busy admiring the sword in her hands. Erin was just a couple of steps away from the unsuspecting guard and was soon within striking distance.

    However, while Meeka, the catfolk guard, seemed to be completely unaware of the assassin behind her, the truth was far from that. The guard¡¯s ears had picked up the sound of someone approaching her, before Erin had even come close to the door. When the sound of footsteps suddenly ceased at the entrance of the room without anyone announcing their presence, it got the Meeka¡¯s attention. Had this just been one of her colleagues, they would have at least announced themselves or said something. Whoever was behind her was doing their best to hide their presence and not make any sounds. By using her very sensitive ears to their fullest, Meeka was able to determine how close this intruder was without even looking.

    Because of the catfolk guard¡¯s superior senses, Erin was caught by surprise, when her surprise attack on the guard was suddenly interrupted by her own sword being swung at her. She barely had enough time to bring up the stun baton to block the attack. But while she had managed to avoid a fatal blow, her weapon was destroyed in the process and she was sent tumbling down to the floor.

    ¡°Did you really think it was that easy? Hate to tell it to you, but some of us didn¡¯t win Gibbot¡¯s favor simply by sucking up to him, but by being actually skilled,¡± Meeka said with a cocky grin while staring down at her opponent. ¡°But I guess it¡¯s my lucky day today. Seeing as how you¡¯ve most likely taken out more of the guards, your worth as a criminal has just gone up. As long as I bring you back to Gibbot, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be more than happy to gift me these nice toys of yours as a reward.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t go singing your own praises just yet. You still have to beat me,¡± Erin said with a growl as she stood up.

    ¡°Oh sure¡­ You¡¯re really gonna take me on with that nothing you¡¯re holding in your hands,¡± the catfolk guard said mockingly. ¡°Are you certain that it can block a hit from this sword of all things?¡±

    The redhead knew what the guard meant. The sword that was currently in Meeka¡¯s hands was the bulkier and heavier sword. While it didn¡¯t exactly have the best edge for cutting, it more than made up for it with its weight and durability. If you could swing it well enough, you could break the skull hidden beneath a helmet with ease. Erin had mostly used it on targets that looked tougher, where it was difficult to either hit a vital point or take down the target in a single move. Even then, it was mostly used through surprise attacks and only rarely in actual combat.

    This was the downside to being an assassin. You rarely actually fought your enemies, as you were aiming to take them down before a fight could even start, thus leaving you with a lack of combat experience and prowess.

    However, Erin noticed that on a table just behind Meeka was her other sword. This one was made of lighter materials that made it feel practically weightless. If she could get past the guard, the redhead could have a chance at winning by arming herself with her other sword.

    The two combatants were sizing each other up. Meeka gripped the handle of the sword tighter while carefully approaching her prey, while Erin was preparing herself to lunge past the guard. The assassin¡¯s life would be decided in an instant.

    Finally growing tired of playing around with her enemy, Meeka gripped her weapon and swung it, attempting to cut her opponent in half. This was seen through by Erin, who managed to duck underneath the wild swing and roll past the guard. Meeka was caught off guard by the evasion and quickly turned around in a defensive stance, fully expecting to get attacked from behind. Much to her surprise, her opponent had instead decided not to use this opportunity to attack, but to go for a weapon.

    ¡°Now we¡¯re on an even playing field,¡± Erin said while gripping her sword. ¡°Ready to continue?¡±

    The redhead expected her opponent to either not respond at all or to give some cocky line. What she didn¡¯t expect was for the catfolk guard to burts out laughing, like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

    ¡°You actually think you can take me!?¡± Meeka gloated while still laughing. ¡°I had a hunch that you weren¡¯t exactly a veteran fighter, but this just confirmed it for me! You¡¯re practically an amateur!¡±

    Not feeling like she should waste her time trying to argue with an enemy, Erin simply moved in to attack, using her trained skills to their fullest. However, much to her surprise, none of her attacks would land no matter what she would try. Her blade wasn¡¯t able to even graze Meeka¡¯s body, let alone draw blood. To make matters worse, the catfolk guard was able to avoid every attack with such ease that it looked like she was only playing around.

    ¡°Are you beginning to see how much of an amateur you are? You even made the wrong choice of picking a fight with me, instead of simply running away,¡± Meeka said mockingly. ¡°You might be skilled as an assassin, but once an assassin loses the element of surprise, they¡¯ve pretty much lost. Not only that, but you apparently don¡¯t even understand the difference of our equipment.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Erin asked while panting from being worn out from the fight.

    ¡°Simple. I¡¯m someone that actually fights people head-on for a living, meaning you¡¯re outclassed. Second, the sword I¡¯ve got is made a lot stronger, while yours¡­ Well, let me show you,¡± the catfolk guard explained, before with a quick swing of her sword, she destroyed the redhead¡¯s weapon. ¡°Case in point.¡±

    Erin stared at the remains of her weapon with eyes full of shock. She barely had no time to see the next attack from her opponent, before the blade hit her. Blood splattered around, as the impact of the hit threw the redhead to the floor, where she laid still.

    ¡°That takes care of that,¡± Meeka said happily as she began to walk away while whistling happily. ¡°Time to report and get my reward!¡±

    However, before she could walk out of the room, she heard movement behind her. The catfolk guard turned around and saw Erin standing there, despite the blood dripping from the wound across her chest. Before Meeka¡¯s attack had connected, the redhead had moved her body back just enough to avoid a fatal blow. She was still knocked down, but this had allowed her to play possum in order to fool the catfolk guard and prepare a counterattack.

    ¡°...Okay, I wasn¡¯t expecting you to get back up, but that doesn¡¯t really matter,¡± Meeka said with a smirk as she got into a stance. ¡°It¡¯s not like anything has really changed. You¡¯ll still end up dead on the floor, whether it¡¯s with one attack or two!¡±

    The catfolk guard charged towards Erin with her sword raised up, ready to strike. However, just as she was about to reach the redhead, Erin suddenly threw something at her face. Intense pain burned in her eyes, as shards of the assassin¡¯s broken sword were flung into the catfolk guard¡¯s eyes.

    Erin had decided to play to her advantages and switched to a surprise attack, the core tactic of an assassin. Once she had fooled Meeka, the redhead had gathered shards of her broken weapon and held them in her hand. While a cheap trick, it was something most wouldn¡¯t expect, especially a person like Meeka that was certain of her victory.

    Blinded by the shards of metal in her eyes, the catfolk guard screamed in pain and rage, as she began to wildly swing her weapon around, hoping to hit her opponent. But try as she might, she couldn¡¯t feel her sword connect with any actual person. She did hit walls and furniture, but that was about it.

    Realizing that blind rage wasn¡¯t getting her anywhere, Meeka stopped and calmed down, trying to locate her enemy with her hearing. When that didn¡¯t work, she regretfully opened one of her eyes while ignoring the pain.

    Unfortunately for the catfolk guard, Erin wasn¡¯t there when she opened her eye. Instead, the redhead was right behind her, waiting for her chance, which had just come. Once Meeka had stopped thrashing around wildly, Erin seized her opportunity by grabbing the catfolk guard from behind. Once she had seized her opponent, she wasted no time and in one swift move snapped Meeka¡¯s neck.

    With her opponent now dead, Erin unceremoniously dropped the dead catfolk guard to the floor before picking up her sword. After giving herself some much needed medical treatment, the assassin gathered the rest of her equipment, before resuming her escape.

    While moving around carefully and quietly, Erin was able to get to a garage that was located in the mansion. The place had a few guards walking around as well as two large trucks, meant to transport supplies to the place. The redhead knew that if she were to get out of there, this was the only way to do it.

    One of the trucks was being prepared for departure. A couple of the guards got inside it and turned the engine on. In just a matter of seconds, Erin would be either getting out of there or she would be left behind to deal with the aftermath of the dead guards being discovered and the alarm being raised.

    At the last moment, the assassin noticed her window of opportunity, when all the guards weren¡¯t looking in the direction of the truck she had been watching. Seizing this opportunity, Erin made a fast dash to the truck, its engine covering the sound of her footsteps. She quickly climbed up to the back of the truck, where she hid herself among the containers there.

    After hiding herself in the truck, Erin quietly waited as the truck left the mansion and was heading towards the town. She was also listening to the two guards driving the truck in case the situation changed at all. So far, it seemed like not much was happening, as the two guards simply talked about some random stuff she had no real interest in.

    However, she suddenly heard the radio in the truck turn on and call the guards. It seemed like Erin¡¯s escape had been discovered.

    ¡°I repeat, the assassin that was apprehended last night has escaped! Keep your eyes open for her!¡± the person at the other end of the radio told the two guards. ¡°Also check your cargo in case she is hiding there!¡±

    Once the message was delivered, the truck came to a sudden stop. Erin quickly got her sword prepared as she waited for the two guards to come check the cargo. As soon as the first one came in, the assassin quickly dispatched him with a strike to the head. The second guard barely had enough time to pull out his gun, before even he was cut down. The people around the truck were shocked by the sudden show of violence, forcing Erin to run away from the scene by going to the alleyways.

    Keeping herself hidden from any prying eyes and possible pursuers, the assassin was able to make her way around the town unnoticed. It took her some time, but she was eventually able to get to the safehouse Ryan and Holly had been using as their base of operations.

    Seeing the familiar entrance in front of her caused a surge of rage to build up within Erin. Until now, she had been so focused on escaping that she had completely forgotten about the betrayal she had been through, how Ryan and Holly had sold her to Gibbot.

    After taking a moment to breathe in deep and calm herself, Erin silently entered the hidden base of the two pro assassins. If she were to get back at her two former teachers, she would need to be as silent as possible. It was time to see whether the student had surpassed the teachers or not.

    As she quietly sneaked around the base, the redhead could faintly hear the sound of someone talking. Knowing that this was most likely where her two targets were, she began to head towards their direction.

    However, what Erin saw wasn¡¯t the father and daughter assassin duo only. Instead, it was a group of Gibbot¡¯s goons standing over Ryan and Holly, who were both severely beaten and laying on the floor. It seemed that at least Ryan was still alive, as he was struggling to get back up, while the guards standing around him simply laughed at his attempts.

    ¡°Hey now, shouldn¡¯t you just give it a rest already?¡± one of the guards asked while chuckling. ¡°It¡¯s real admirable how you¡¯re trying to fight back, like some comic book hero, but what¡¯s the point of it all? Even if you do get back up, I doubt you can put up much of a fight, so why bother?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you¡­ get a bit closer¡­ and I¡¯ll show you?¡± Ryan managed to say despite the pain he was in. Judging by the injuries that were visible, Erin was surprised that he was still conscious. ¡°If you¡¯re so sure you¡¯ve won¡­ you can do that¡­ can¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Okay, old man,¡± the guard said as he crouched down in front of the beaten up assassin. ¡°Just what are you supposed to show me?¡±

    The moment the guard got close to Ryan was the moment Erin knew he had just made a big mistake. This was because there were generally two great differences when it came to the fighting styles of assassins and actual fighters. One was that assassins often relied on the element of surprise, choosing to attack from the shadows and other unexpected places to catch their targets off guard and deliver one fatal strike. The second one was that assassins wouldn¡¯t use your typical weapons or tactics. This also played into the whole element of surprise that was so crucial for them, as a lot of assassins used weapons that were hidden from sight or made to look like it wasn¡¯t a weapon at all.

    The guard¡¯s mistake was assuming that Ryan wasn¡¯t just unable to fight back, but that he was also unarmed. He only realized his mistake far too late, once Ryan had pulled out a hidden knife and used it to slash the guard¡¯s throat open in one swift move.

    Enraged by the fate of their comrade, the other guards soon descended upon Ryan and began to beat the life out of him. Kicks, punches and the backs of guns were used to smash every inch of the beaten man¡¯s body, until only a bloodied and broken mess was left behind.

    With their work done, the guards began to leave. Erin hid herself in the shadows, not willing to risk her life against such a group. Once they had left and she couldn¡¯t hear them anymore, the redhead walked out of her hiding place and made her way to the two beaten assassins.

    The state of both Ryan and Holly were quite horrifying. Both had signs of torture and abuse all over their bodies. Cuts, bruises and other signs of injuries were covering them. Seeing how still Holly was, Erin didn¡¯t even need to check her pulse to tell that she was already long gone.

    However, through some unexpected miracle or just sheer stubborn will, Ryan was still breathing, albeit very lightly. Even if he had managed to survive what Gibbot¡¯s goons had given done to him, it was clear as day that he was hanging by a thin thread. It was only a matter of seconds before his life would end.

    Somehow Ryan was able to sense that Erin had walked up to him. He opened one of his eyes very slightly, as that was all he had the strength for anymore, and looked up at her.

    ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s you,¡± Ryan said in what was practically a whisper. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not even allowed to pass away with you taken out as well.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Erin asked as her body trembled from anger and a couple of tears fell from her eyes. ¡°Why did you do it!? Why did you betray me!?¡±

    ¡°It was to avenge my daughter. The real one,¡± the assassin answered, shocking the redhead. ¡°Ever since she died, all I¡¯ve wanted was revenge. I wanted to get back at those bastards that killed her without any remorse. However, I always knew deep inside me that they were far beyond my reach. That I would never be able to make them pay. That was until you came along and told me who you were. While you weren¡¯t the one who had done it, you were the closest thing to my daughter¡¯s killer that I could get my hands on. My desire for revenge would be at least somewhat sated.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you took me in? You made me your apprentice in order to have your revenge against me?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ At first, I had no idea of who you were. I took you in and trained you because I thought you were one of the few people left in this world that was willing to oppose those bastards.¡±

    ¡°You mean-?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Devinolux and the rest of his group. Your old friends. Even as an assassin-for-hire, I¡¯ve always done my best to offer support to those who were opposing them. Deep down I felt like I was building up my forces to finally take them on. That was until I realized how pointless it all was.¡±

    ¡°How could it be pointless to fight back against your oppressors!?¡±

    ¡°Because I could have all the time in the world and I could never come close to taking a single one of them down. People already can¡¯t take out even Gibbot, the most worthless of their pawns. If we can¡¯t even defeat someone like him? How could we ever hope to defeat any of the more powerful warlords and vassals they have? Let alone the big bosses themselves? All the people opposing them are small groups that are barely able to do anything, not actual armies. You haven¡¯t even seen the things Devinolux and his closest aides can do by themselves either. They¡¯re unbeatable.¡±

    ¡°...So because you couldn¡¯t take revenge on the ones who actually killed your daughter, you decided to settle for the next best thing, which was me.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ I don¡¯t give a damn whether you hate me for what I did or not. You said yourself that you¡¯re the one responsible for those monsters coming in and taking over. You¡¯re responsible as well for what happened to my daughter. I will never forgive that.¡±

    ¡°...You don¡¯t need to forgive me anything. I¡¯ve never been able to forgive myself for what I did. Even before I knew what my old friends did to this world. Just know that had you decided to fight back against them, I would have supported you no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Big words¡­. I wonder¡­ if you¡¯re able to¡­ live¡­ by¡­ them¡­.¡±

    Ryan finally closed his eye and passed away, his injuries having been too much for him.

    For a moment, Erin just stood in silence while staring down at the broken remains of the two assassins and contemplated Ryan¡¯s last words. Was fighting back truly pointless? Was there no way to fix things? If that was the case, then what could she do?

    In the end, Erin decided that it was worth fighting. There were just some things that one couldn¡¯t simply abandon, no matter how hopeless the struggle looked like. The redhead was going to fight until the bitter end, as she felt that was her responsibility.

    Now she needed to make some preparations. There was a certain goblin that she needed to pay a visit to.

 11. The Fall Of A Small Man

    Chapter 11

    The Fall Of A Small Man

    The guards posted at the bottom of the hill that led to Gibbot¡¯s mansion were doing their usual routine. This consisted of playing poker, watching TV, drinking and sparing the occasional glance towards the direction of the entrance. A couple of years of no attempts at attacking the place had led to the guards growing lazy, thinking that there were no longer those who would dare to charge towards them.

    This was about to change soon.

    ¡°Huh?¡± one of the guards managed to slur in his half drunken as he noticed something from top of the watchtower he was situated at. ¡°Hey, did we have visitors for today?¡±

    ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± another guard, just as drunk as his colleague, asked. ¡°We ain¡¯t got no visitors and you know that!¡±

    ¡°Then what is that car approaching us?¡±

    It was only then that all the other guards decided to take a look at what their colleague was pointing out. What they saw was a car coming towards them at a high speed, leaving behind a large dust cloud. At first, the guards thought that the car would start to slow down at some point, only for that to not happen. By the time they realized what was going on, it was too late, as the car crashed into the gate.

    The noise got the attention of the rest of the guards, who soon ran there to see what was going on. All of them had their weapons drawn and aimed at the vehicle, ready to blow away whoever had been responsible for this suicidal attack.

    However, when no one seemed to come out of the car¡¯s wreckage, confusion began to spread among the guards. One of them finally worked up the courage to walk to the car and opn the door. But instead of the amed rebels that he had expected to find, there was not a single living thing there. The car had been rigged in such a way that it could drive forward at top speed without a driver.

    Before the guard could tell his colleagues what was going on, he noticed the large pile of explosives on the back seat. This was the last thing he saw before being engulfed in the explosion.

    While this had been going on, the guards had failed to notice another thing approaching them at a high speed. This time it was a lone motorcycle that Erin was riding.

    The initial explosion had taken care of a good number of the guards, leaving the rest either wounded or dazed over what had just happened. Before any of them could even start reorganizing themselves, The redheaded assassin had already broken through them and crashed through the front door of Gibbot¡¯s mansion.

    There were still guards on the inside that hadn¡¯t gotten near the exploding car, thus keeping them safe from the first attack. While Erin¡¯s sudden appearance had taken them by surprise, they quickly got ready to fight the intruder and were firing their guns at her.

    The redheaded assassin was luckily fast on her feet and managed to avoid the gunfire. Using her own pistol, she was able to drop a couple of the guards that were now chasing after her.

    However, Erin was not looking to fight with Gibbot¡¯s hired guns, as the boss himself was her true target. Because of this, she immediately headed upstairs to the second floor of the mansion, knowing that Gibbot was most likely there.

    As she was running up the stairs, the assassin noticed a group of guards at the top with stun batons at the ready. They had most likely been ordered to try and catch the intruder alive, as Gibbot seemed to still want her alive for some reason.

    ¡°If you get out of my way, you won¡¯t be harmed!¡± Erin yelled at the guards. ¡°Your boss is the only one that I want!¡±

    Unfortunately, her warning seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the guars decided to still attack her. With no other option, Erin took out her sword and faced the guards. Had the guards been allowed to use deadly force, the battle would have most likely ended differently. But since the only weapons they could use were simple stun batons, they couldn¡¯t really put down the redheaded assassin.

    Now, this didn¡¯t mean that Erin came out of the fight unscathed. In fact, the hits she suffered put her through quite the pain and her whole body felt like it was on fire at the end of the fight. In all honesty, Erin should have simply collapsed from the sheer agony and exhaustion her body was in, but the sheer amount of willpower she had allowed her to take all the hits that she received and keep on moving.

    After her fight with the group of guards was over, she looked ahead of herself and saw more of Gibbot¡¯s goons up ahead. Not as many as before, but there were still enough of them to be a problem. Seeing the enemies ahead of herself, Erin readied her weapons and got ready to attack.

    However, before she could even take the first step forward, something unexpected happened.

    ¡°Screw this!¡± one of the guards said as he dropped his stun baton and began to run away. ¡°I¡¯m not getting paid nearly enough for this crap!¡±

    The escaping guard was soon followed by his comrades, who all turned around and ran away. Erin wasn¡¯t exactly sure why they decided to just abandon their position, but she could make a guess. The guards most likely were just hired thugs that did whatever Gibbot told them to do for their paychecks and not actual loyal followers or people that considered their work to be their duty to perform. Seeing how much death and destruction the redheaded assassin had already caused, along with the unreasonable demand from Gibbot to capture her alive, they must have thought that the work was no longer worth the money and thus decided to simply leave.

    A small sigh of relief escaped Erin¡¯s lips, as she had been worried that she would have to go through even more guards. Now it seemed like she could make it to Gibbot without much of an issue. She doubted that the goblin had much in terms of fighting skills.

    With no one in her way any longer, the redheaded assassin quickly made her way to her target¡¯s office. Much to her surprise, Gibbot was simply sitting behind his desk, instead of trying to hide or finding a way to escape.

    ¡°I see that you made it past my personnel,¡± Gibbot said with a sigh. ¡°Good help is just so difficult to find these days.¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe if you weren¡¯t a horrible tyrant that treated everyone like crap, you might have some actually loyal followers that would be willing to fight for you,¡± Erin said before she began to walk towards the goblin¡¯s desk. ¡°I have to say that I am pretty surprised. I would have imagined that you would have tried to run away by now or something.¡±

    ¡°Please give me some more credit. I know better than anyone that the only person that will keep me safe no matter what is myself. Things like loyalty and honor are pretty much meaningless in reality,¡± Gibbot said. ¡°No matter what you do, whether try to get followers through being righteous or by simply giving them money, the only one you can ever trust is yourself in the end.¡±

    ¡°I highly doubt you have ever tried winning people over with anything else but money. Not that it matters in the end, I suppose,¡± the redheaded assassin said as she was now standing in front of the goblin. She began to raise her sword up, readying herself to strike down her target. ¡°However, I will respect your determination of staying here by making this as painless as possible.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to decline your offer.¡±

    Before Erin could bring down her sword, a large, metallic hand shot up from underneath the floor and grabbed her before throwing her body against a wall. With her body shaking from pain, the redheaded assassin somehow managed to get up and see a large robotic suit standing behind Gibbot. The goblin had a smug look on his face as a hatch opened on the front of the suit, revealing a cockpit that Gibbot climbed into.

    ¡°Did you really think that I was unable to defend myself!?¡± the goblin asked mockingly. ¡°Fool! For most of my life I¡¯ve been forced to fight for my survival! It isn¡¯t exactly easy for one of my height, but luckily there are tools that make things easier for me!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that thing?¡± Erin asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°Do you like it? It¡¯s my personal customized power armor,¡± Gibbot explained while showing off his suit. ¡°These are normally used by miners and other workers for the more heavier tasks, but I decided to outfit my own armor with things to protect myself and crush people like you. Let me give you a demonstration.¡±

    A missile launcher suddenly appeared from the power armor¡¯s right shoulder that fired one of its projectiles straight at Erin. The redhead only barely managed to get out of the way of the oncoming missile, before it exploded. The force of the blast sent her flying across the room before she crashed to the floor painfully.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°How nice of you to avoid that. I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t get to enjoy myself,¡± Gibbot said with a smug smile before pointing the power armor¡¯s arms at Erin. ¡°Now for my personal favorite.¡±

    Suddenly, holes opened on the palms of the power armor¡¯s hands, which then shot flames. The redheaded assassin¡¯s arm got hit by the fire as she tried to get out of the way, forcing her to quickly tear off the sleeve of her shirt, before the rest of her body burned.

    With no better option, Erin was forced to run away, as Gibbot went after her. The goblin didn¡¯t even care about the damages to his home, as he simply crashed through the door to his office to give chase.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve decided to play tag with me!¡± Gibbot yelled mockingly while laughing. ¡°Hope you do better than the last person I played that game with!¡±

    Erin wasn¡¯t even paying attention to what the goblin was saying, as she was too busy trying to think of a way out of the mess she was in. She suddenly heard the sound of Gibbot¡¯s armor preparing its missile launcher and she jumped down the stairs, avoiding another projectile that blew up at the top of the stairs.

    Wasting no time, the redhead got up from the floor and quickly found a room to hide in. The way she saw it, her best option was to try and catch Gibbot off guard in order to win. Otherwise, it would just be suicide.

    Pressing her body against the wall next to the door, Erin did everything she could to let out as little noise as possible. She listened closely as the heavy footsteps of Gibbot¡¯s power armor walked down the stairs and began to move around the ground floor. The redhead could feel cold sweat run down her back, as she heard the goblin approach her location. She silently prayed in her head that he would just walk past her and move on.

    Much to her relief, this is what happened. Erin listened as the power armor walked past her location and down the hallway without so much as a small pause. Once she could no longer hear Gibbot moving around, the redhead let out a deep sigh of relief. She was safe for now.

    As carefully and silently as possible, Erin opened the door and walked out. She looked around for any signs of Gibbot, but didn¡¯t see any signs of the goblin. Seeing that he was nowhere to be seen, the redheaded assassin felt like it was safe enough for her to start moving again and began to sneak around the mansion.

    Seeing as how much of a disadvantage she was in, Erin knew that she was going to need a plan to win. A surprise attack alone was most likely not going to be enough, especially when considering the difference in weaponry. Gibbot was practically a walking tank, while she herself only had a pistol and a sword. Enough for a more human opponent, but nowhere near enough for something that was a couple of tons of steel and armed up to the teeth.

    Knowing that there was a large amount of dead guards upstairs, Erin made her way to the second floor, doing her best to not cause any noise. The redhead looked through the corpses that had been left there from her initial assault, only to not find anything that she could really use. It seemed like the guards had left their more lethal weapons somewhere else after getting the order from Gibbot to capture her alive. Even if there was something that she could use, most of the equipment had been destroyed from Gibbot¡¯s missile.

    Erin silently cursed her bad luck before a certain familiar sound made her go silent again. The heavy footsteps of Gibbot¡¯s power armor could be heard again, coming towards her from below.

    Immediately upon hearing the sound, the redhead did everything she could to stay silent. She kept her body as still as possible and even held her breath as to not make any sound. From what she could tell, Gibbot was still searching the first floor of the mansion and was now coming up right below her.

    Just as the footsteps came to the spot where Erin was located, they suddenly stopped. Cold sweat began to fall down the assassin¡¯s face, as she wondered why Gibbot had ceased to move right there. Had she made a sound of some kind that had alerted the goblin of her presence?

    ¡°You know, I had hoped that you would do at least a bit better at this,¡± Gibbot suddenly said loud enough for Erin to hear. ¡°I don¡¯t get that many chances to play like this, after all. But I suppose all fun must come to an end.¡±

    Before Erin could do anything, one of Gibbot¡¯s power armor¡¯s hands came through the floor and grabbed her. The redhead was violently pulled back to the first floor and flung down the hallway, where her body tumbled painfully.

    ¡°H-How¡­?¡± Erin managed to ask as she struggled to stand up. ¡°How did you know where I was?¡±

    ¡°My dear, I always knew where you were. Even when I walked past you when you hid in one of the rooms,¡± Gibbot said mockingly. ¡°You see, this suit of mine has been equipped with more than just weaponry. It also come with high-tech sensors of all types. It allows me to see through walls and even the heat of your body. And if I can¡¯t see you, the audio sensors are sure to pick up most sounds you make, even if you can¡¯t hear them yourself.¡±

    Tears of frustration started to fall down the redhead¡¯s eyes as the goblin began to make his way towards her. She couldn¡¯t help but curse the unfairness that she was facing. She had come here to try and do something good for once, but she had been destined to lose no matter what.

    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be upset. This will all be over very soon,¡± Giibot said as he finally finished walking up to his prey. He readied the missile launcher on the shoulder of his power armor and took aim. ¡°Any last words?¡±

    At first, Erin was just going to accept her fate and let it all come to an end. After all, for years now all she had been doing was suffer due to her greatest mistake, so perhaps this could finally bring her the peace she desired. What was the point of trying anymore, if all it led to was more pain down the line? Might as well give up.

    However, as she was about to close her eyes and let it all end, a memory came to her mind from back when things were good.

    Back then, she was still in a relationship with Devin and was just getting out of school, when she noticed her geeky boyfriend get pushed around by some of the other students. Thanks to her intervention, the bullies left before things could get too bad.

    As they were walking home, Erin had asked why Devin didn¡¯t do anything to fight back. He explained that he had already tried everything he could to stop them, only for his treatment to get worse. The only real way for him to survive the constant abuse was to simply grit his teeth and try to bear with it, as there was nothing he could actually do.

    When Erin lamented the unfair situation her boyfriend was in, he suddenly stopped her and explained with a smile that it was all going to be worth it in the end. That things might be hard now, but good things would surely come in the future. He even went so far as to say that their relationship was one such thing.

    Too bad things hadn¡¯t gone so well in reality, but the memory still managed to boost Erin¡¯s will. She remembered what she was fighting for and how important it was for her.

    ¡®That¡¯s right¡­ I can¡¯t give up here,¡¯ the redhead thought to herself. ¡®No matter what happens, I have to keep struggling, until I finally meet you and the others. Not until I have chance to personally ask for your forgiveness am I allowed to quit.¡¯

    ¡°No last words? Such a shame,¡± Gibbot said, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll just-¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ Since I¡¯m already beaten, could you grant me just one small mercy?¡± the redhead suddenly pleaded. ¡°You¡¯ve had this weird obsession over capturing me alive. Why is that?¡±

    ¡°...Very well, I suppose I could tell you,¡± the goblin said confidently, certain over his victory. ¡°Normally I wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths, but powers far above me contacted me and gave specific orders to take you in alive. I don¡¯t know the reason why, but I didn¡¯t really care to find out. All I know is that when those more powerful than you tell you to do something, you do so. This is something I¡¯ve taught this town numerous times.¡±

    ¡°Who exactly gave you that order? And aren¡¯t you disobeying them now that you are trying to kill me?¡±

    ¡°There are far too many higher-ups out there to find out exactly who it was, but considering how strict my orders were, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was one of the Five Great Overlords that rule this world,¡± Gibbot answered. ¡°As for your other question, I¡¯m not too worried over such a thing. As long as no evidence is left behind, nothing can be proven. I can simply lie and tell them that you ran away or place the blame on someone else. After all, only you and I know about this.¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems like you¡¯ve got this whole thing practically planned,¡± Erin said, before smirking. ¡°Unfortunately, you made one mistake.¡±

    ¡°And pray tell what would that be?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t take into account me fighting back.¡±

    Before Gibbot could even react, Erin pulled out her pistol and fired a bullet at the missile launcher, hitting one of the projectiles and causing it to explode. While the explosion had been big enough to not only take out the missile launcher but also one of the power armor¡¯s arms, Gibbot himself was still unharmed.

    However, while the power armor¡¯s pilot was still fine, the bulletproof glass protecting him wasn¡¯t. There were large cracks appearing on it, showing that the destruction of the missile launcher had managed to do quite the bit of damage.

    Using Gibbot¡¯s dazed state from the explosion as an opportunity, Erin drew her sword and charged at the goblin, bringing the blade down on the protective glass. While most swords wouldn¡¯t cause more than a scratch, the redhead¡¯s sword was specially made from tougher materials. With her swinging the blade with all her might at such damaged area, the cracks on it began to get larger with each hit.

    Noticing the assault he was under, Gibbot tried to fight back by bringing his armor¡¯s remaining arm down on his attacker. Unfortunately for the goblin, Erin had anticipated this and ducked under the heavy swing, causing the metallic arm to hit the protective glass and shatter it. Gibbot himself remained unharmed, except for a few shards of glass that managed to cut his face. However, he was now basically unprotected from any attacks that could come at him.

    ¡°Guess you¡¯re not such tough man after all, are you?¡± Erin asked in a mocking tone, similar to what the goblin had been using not too long ago.

    ¡°S-STAY AWAY!¡± Gibbot screamed in panic as he used his armor¡¯s remaining arm¡¯s flamethrower to try and take out his opponent. Much to his growing terror, Erin simply jumped back to avoid the flames. ¡°I won¡¯t¡­ I won¡¯t fall to the likes of you! I¡¯M MIGHTIER THAN YOU THINK! I CAN¡¯T FALL!¡±

    Having lost his confidence completely, Gibbot turned around and began to run away. Little did he know that this was still part of Erin¡¯s plan, as he was now heading straight towards the motorcycle that she had used to crash into the mansion. Taking no chances, the redhead emptied the rest of her bullets into the abandoned vehicle¡¯s fuel tank, causing it to explode just Gibbot had run up to it.

    The blast was strong enough to hit the goblin¡¯s armor with enough force to cause it to fall down. The pilot himself had been burned by the explosion¡¯s flames and he had been rendered almost unconscious. He was weakly trying to regain his bearings, as Erin was walking up to him with her sword at the ready.

    Once the redhead reached the fallen power armor, she climbed on top of it and readied her sword to finish off her foe. She was just about to end the goblin¡¯s life, when suddenly visions began to appear in her mind.

    The images that she saw showed her Gibbot¡¯s life. Since his birth, he had always been the runt of the group, getting pushed around and forced to do whatever others wanted. Still, he had not let this get to him and he had actually tried to bring positive change to the town as an adult. He had attempted to do so by opening a successful mining business that treated its workers well. What the goblin wanted to do was show that despite everything he had gone through, he had come out of it stronger and better.

    Unfortunately, his dream didn¡¯t go the way he had imagined.

    Due to his good nature, he had attracted a lot of ¡°friends¡± who were only trying to use him for their own good. Money, influence and other such things were being taken from him by people that showed fake smiles and gave empty words of friendship. When Gibbot eventually realized that he was being used, he tried to put a stop to it, which led to an incident that would change him for the worst.

    When Gibbot refused to give money to his so called ¡°friends¡± said people quickly turned against him in a very violent manner. Since he was a goblin, Gibbot wasn¡¯t exactly a person of great strength and was therefore unable to defend himself. His former friends easily beat him to the ground and took everything valuable from him without any hesitation.

    It was from that moment that Gibbot decided to never trust anyone and to never let anyone use him. He was one way or another going to become so powerful that he wouldn¡¯t get pushed around anymore. Instead he would be the one doing the pushing this time and he would enjoy every second of it.

    Seeing the goblin¡¯s life flash before her struck Erin like a freight train. She had come here to take down a monster that was oppressing people, but now found out that he had been led astray due to an unfortunate life. In a way, he was like Devin and his group, the people that had been made into monsters by the actions of others. Namely her own.

    As she had been left standing still from shock, Erin didn¡¯t notice Gibbot waking up from being knocked out by the explosion from before. He immediately noticed the assassin standing over him and tried to reach for a pistol that was hanging from his belt. The sudden movement from the goblin snapped Erin from her thoughts, causing her to swing her sword down. The dark blade pierced through Gibbot¡¯s chest before he could fire a single shot. For a moment the goblin stared at the sword in shock before closing his eyes and dying.

    With her target dead, Erin pulled her sword out of the dead body and started to walk away. Her steps were slow and sloppy, as she herself was drained and exhausted both physically and mentally. In all honesty, the redhead was extremely lucky that none of Gibbot¡¯s personal guards were around anymore. Otherwise she would have surely died.

    However, as she was making her way back to the town, Erin couldn¡¯t help but think about what she had just done. While it was true that Gibbot was a horrible person, he hadn¡¯t started out that way, but had been turned into it due to what had happened to him.

    Had this really been justice or just another crime added to her list?

 12. Consequences

    Chapter 12

    Consequences

    A bit over a week had passed since Gibbot¡¯s death. Ever since the news broke out, the town had gone eerily quiet, with people doing everything they could to stay inside. Only few police officers were brave enough to walk the streets in search of Gibbot¡¯s killer.

    The reason for the tense atmosphere was obvious to everyone. Due to Gibbot¡¯s death, there was now a power vacuum in the area that a lot of big shots wanted to fill. At the moment, no one was making a move, as they all wanted to wait for someone else to make a first move. This was due to the fact that no one had made an official declaration in regards to Gibbot¡¯s assassination. If someone were to step up in order to fill the dead goblin¡¯s place, they would become an obvious suspect.

    As one might have guessed, a large scale manhunt was conducted in order to find Gibbot¡¯s killer. Despite their best efforts, no one had been able to find even a clue to Erin¡¯s whereabouts. Thanks to her knowing about all the perfect hiding places Ryan had left behind, she could easily stay hidden up to months. Not only that, but the only ones who really had any idea what she looked like were the surviving personal guards of Gibbot. After their employer had died, they had fled the town out of fear. Not only were there quite a few people in town that wanted nothing but to take personal revenge against them, but there was also a fear of punishment from Gibbot¡¯s own higher-ups. With their future prospects looking grim, they had decided to try their chances at simply running away.

    None of this really mattered to Erin, however, as she was holed up in one of Ryan¡¯s safe houses. The redheaded assassin had hoped to bring a better future for the town or at least improve the lives of the citizens a bit, Unfortunately, it seemed like her actions had the opposite effect, as the town was now far worse than when she had arrived. Not to mention, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like things were about to get even worse.

    ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t even matter who gets to be in charge. In the end, another scumbag will take Gibbot¡¯s place,¡± Erin muttered to herself, as she watched the dead streets from the window of her safe house. ¡°Honestly, why did I even bother trying?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s sad thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she heard the sound of engines from the distant. At firs, she thought that it was just a few gangsters using the chance of empty streets to drive around wildly, but then the sound only got way louder and closer. Soon it sounded like a thunderstorm of motors, as a small army of vehicles made their way through the streets.

    Erin looked down from her window to see the chaos that had suddenly erupted. She had imagined that the people making their way to the middle of the town square were just members of some criminal group, but one look at the people driving told a different story. All the people in the vehicles were wearing a uniform that consisted of a bright red jacket, dark brown pants and black combat boots. The clothes had armor covering them in several places, enough to let the wearer move around while providing protection. They also wore helmets that had red visor to shield their eyes, and despite the race of the person wearing them, the helmets had been modified to fit them.

    The vehicles themselves looked like they were from a post-apocalyptic movie, as they looked like old muscle cars and other similar vehicles that had at some point been abandoned. But while the cars looked old and dusty, the engines spoke a different tune. The Western Continent in the Five Realms game had been designed as a post-apocalyptic badlands type of area, so the vehicles were made to look the part as well. Yet they were not junk that would lose to more advanced-looking cars and such, as the mechanics had made these metal steeds powerful enough to compete with such contraptions.

    However, there was one thing about this group that made Erin¡¯s face turn pale. On different parts of the cars, she could see Gibbot¡¯s former guards tied on them. The guards also looked beaten and bloodied, a clear sign of torture.

    All of the soldiers seemed to be heading towards the center of the town, where the town square was. A lot of the residents in the town were staring out of their windows, wondering what was happening. As the soldiers were starting to finish gathering and were turning off their engines, some of the people began to get out of their homes, hoping to find out what was going on.

    Erin herself had a bad feeling about this, so she put on her mask and draped a cloak over herself, hoping to hide her identity. Considering some of the things that had happened not too long ago, there was no way this was a friendly visit. The redhead got out of the safe house from an exit that wasn¡¯t all that visible, before making her way to the town square using the alleyways to hide herself.

    It took some time, but Erin was able to get close to the town square without drawing much attention to herself. She had climbed up on the roof of one of the nearby buildings to get a better view as well, thus allowing her to keep herself safe in case things turned ugly.

    The area was bursting with people. A small army of soldiers was gathered in the middle with their hands on all types of weapons at the ready. Surrounding the soldiers was a sea of the town¡¯s residents, which was made of civilians, police officers and even some members of criminal groups. All of them wondering what was going on.

    Next to the statue of Devin¡¯s group was a large truck that had a trailer behind it. The trailer suddenly started to open up and changed into what looked like a stage. A single man then walked to the stage and turned to look over the crowd that had gathered around. The man looked like he was either in his late 20¡¯s or early 30¡¯s and was wearing a red uniform similar to the outfit the soldiers were wearing, except his was of obvious higher rank. This was made evident by the lack of armor and the medals hanging from his chest. He had slick hair and a short beard, and glasses over his eyes.

    This man hadn¡¯t even spoken a single word yet, but Erin could already tell that he was someone that she needed to be vary of. There was just something about him that oozed maliciousness, like a venomous snake ready to strike when you least expected it. The redhead knew that this was the type of man that would use any dirty trick to put himself in favorable positions just for his own sake, like a parasite feeding from a host. and he wouldn¡¯t care if he had to betray friends or family to do so. A truly disgusting being if you were to ever encounter one.

    ¡°I am general Milas Lune of Lord Golorath¡¯s army!¡± the man announced as he spoke into a microphone. ¡°It has come to our attention that the previous officer in charge of this town, Gibbot Gibbroz, has been assassinated by a criminal with dangerous intentions towards our benevolent rulers! As you can surely guess, we have come here now to apprehend this menace before anymore horrors can be caused by her! In order to accomplish this, we request the aid of this town¡¯s residents!¡±

    The people in the crowd began to murmur among themselves. Some of them were wondering who the person who had assassinated Gibbot could be, as numerous people had already tried to do so and failed miserably. Others were expressing worry over the soldiers now occupying the town, as the townsfolk had no idea what would happen if the assassin wasn¡¯t apprehended.

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    Hearing the commotion within the crowd caused Milas to smile. While he himself wasn¡¯t a fighter at all, he was an expert when it came to manipulating others. It was thanks to his skills in this field that he had been able to rise so high in the rankings of the military in the first place. The general believed that if given the chance, he could rise as high as The Five Lords themselves.

    However, now wasn¡¯t the moment to think about such things. He had a job to do and he had already laid the foundation for its completion. Now he just needed to make the final push.

    ¡°Of course, we don¡¯t expect any of you good citizens to do this for free!¡± Milas announced, getting the crowd¡¯s attention. ¡°If any of you are able to catch this criminal, you will be rewarded with the position of becoming the overseer of not just this town, but three other towns as well! And you¡¯ll get a high-ranking job as an officer right under the command of yours truly! We hope that this is more than enough to ignite the spark of righteousness within you all for the common good!¡±

    After hearing what the person who found Erin would get, the crowd erupted into cheers and yelling. There were numerous people making promises of being the one to catch the assassin and others who were asking if the soldiers had any information on the criminal. Seeing the crowd¡¯s excitement caused Milas to smile widely. This was just what he needed.

    ¡°I am overjoyed to see so many of you willing to bring justice to this town!¡± the general announced. ¡°Please go talk to one of my subordinates in order to receive a picture of the criminal that was done based on descriptions gathered from eyewitnesses!¡±

    Erin watched with cold sweat running down her back as the soldiers were handing out papers with her picture to townsfolk that approached them. In just one moment, she had become the number one most wanted person around. She needed to either find a place to hide or make a run for it. Whichever she was going to do, she needed to do it very quick.

    With fast and light steps, the redhead was able to get down from the roof of the building she had used to watch over the general¡¯s announcement. Once she was back on the ground, she immediately hid herself in the shadows. Luckily for her, most of the people were still occupied with the soldiers handing out papers, so she could hide herself with relative ease.

    It took some time, but Erin was eventually able to make her way to the safe house. Cold sweat was still dripping from her brow, as she began to think about her situation. Right now, most of the town was out looking for her in the hopes of getting a reward. Some of them weren¡¯t even your average townsfolk either, but trained police officers or armed criminals. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, there was also the soldiers as well that were obviously more dangerous than Gibbot¡¯s goons.

    The way she saw it, Erin had two options. One was to try and hide herself and try to keep herself out of sight as much as possible. Option two was to try and escape the town. While she hated the fact that her options were literally to either run or hide, they were the only ones she really had. When considering her chances, it was safe to say that fighting would only lead to a quick death.

    Hiding seemed like the safest option, but it wasn¡¯t exactly a long-term plan. Erin had no idea how long the hunt for her would go on and there could be those who knew about Ryan¡¯s safe houses. Just the sheer paranoia over fear of someone kicking down the door was going to be the end of her by driving her insane.

    ¡°Guess there isn¡¯t any other option then,¡± Erin said to herself as she stood up. ¡°Now I just need to figure out a way to get out this town.¡±

    Deciding to use the cover of darkness to her advantage, the redhead assassin waited until nightfall, before she went out to conduct some reconnaissance. Using alleyways and rooftops, she was able to avoid anyone walking outside, whether they were soldiers, police officers or just people hoping to get their hands on the bounty on her head.

    Despite being the middle of the night, there was a surprisingly large number of people still walking around. With just one look, it was easy to tell why they were outside, though. Pretty much anyone that was moving during this time had some sort of weapon on them. Erin couldn¡¯t help but lament the fact that the only reason there were people moving about was due to the promise of a great prize.

    Even with the increased amount of population on the move, Erin was able to make her way close to the edge of town. She climbed on top of a sizable building in order to get a better look t her situation. Right after the town ended, there was nothing else ahead but miles upon miles of barren wastelands. She could see some mountains far in the distance, but getting there was not going to be an easy feat. With the land so barren, there wasn¡¯t any type of natural cover she could use for her advantage. Because of this, going on foot was a fool¡¯s errand, even with darkness looming over her.

    However, it seemed like there was a way for her to get out of the town, as there were vehicles parked on the outskirts of the town. These were from the soldiers that had come to apprehend her, but had stayed at the edge in order to watch out for anyone trying to leave. Using her binoculars, Erin was able to get a good idea of their numbers. There were five cars parked there, with at least two soldiers stationed around each of them. If the redhead could get just one of them, she could possibly make it out alive. All she needed was to distract the soldiers long enough so that she could steal one of the cars.

    Erin had an idea for a distraction. With nimble and quick movements she made her way down to the ground. She had work to do.

    Meanwhile, the soldiers that were standing around the cars were keeping a lax guard, not expecting anything to happen on their end. The way they saw it, with most of the town and General Lune¡¯s troops taking part in the manhunt, the assassin would be found in no time. However, they did make sure to have at least two of their group keep a watchful eye over the area, so no one managed to slip by them.

    Just as the two people on the watch were about to return to their comrades to enjoy some warm drinks and gambling, they heard gunshots from nearby, along with the sound of someone screaming. The soldiers took out their binoculars and looked at the direction the sound had come from and saw the light of a fire with smoke rising up from it. It seemed like there was trouble brewing at the town.

    The guards immediately informed their comrades of what had happened and split their group in two. Most of them would go and investigate what had happened, while two of them would remain behind to keep watch. Once their groups had been decided, the soldiers split up to perform their duties. The two troopers that remained in the area watched as the others drove away, leaving them behind.

    Some time passed with no word from the investigating group at all. Eventually, one of the two remaining soldiers got nervous and decided to call the other group on their radio.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on over there!?¡± the soldier called out on the radio. ¡°Did you guys find anything over there at all!?¡±

    ¡°We did find something, but not what we were expecting!¡± a voice on the other end of the line answered back. ¡°There¡¯s nobody here at all, except a burning trash can! It¡¯s like someone pulled a dumb prank on us or something!¡±

    ¡°Wait, what-¡±

    The soldier was unable to finish his question, as the blade of a knife suddenly sunk into his neck. His partner was laying on the ground behind him, having been killed in a similar fashion, without him noticing at all.

    With the two troopers taken care of, Erin quickly searched their bodies and found the keys to their car. She wasted no time in getting in and turning on the engine, and in no time she was speeding away from Rockmoore Town.

    The radio on the car was getting calls from the other soldiers, trying to get an answer from their colleagues that were no longer there. The redhead quickly turned the machine off, hoping to keep them in the dark even a couple more seconds longer. With any luck, she would be able to get enough of a head start from her soon to be pursuers that she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about having to face an actual chase.

    However, Erin knew that this was most likely wishful thinking at best. It wouldn¡¯t take long for the other soldiers to realize what was going on and go on pursuit. The best she could hope for was that she wouldn¡¯t have to face all the people that Milas had brought along with him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten through the first hurdle. Now I just need to see this through to the end,¡± Erin mumbled to herself, as she kept driving away. ¡°All I can do is put my everything into this and-¡±

    Before the redhead could finish her thought, a large explosion boomed behind her, causing her to turn her head. What she saw shocked her to the core. There were explosions going off on the town and the buildings were being set on fire as well. For whatever reason, Milas had decided to let his troops loose upon the town, to burn the whole place to the ground.

    Erin couldn¡¯t understand why this was happening. She asked the question in her mind over and over again, in an attempt to find reasoning for such brutality, but couldn¡¯t figure it out. There was just no way for her to rationalize such an action.

    Despite how much she wanted to find the answer to the question, she didn¡¯t have the time for it. The soldiers that she had distracted to make her escape were starting to gain on her. The redhead had to focus on her escape for now in order to survive.

    Even if it meant pushing back bitter and angry tears.

 13. Badlands Race

    Chapter 13

    Badlands Race

    Erin was racing at top speed, pushing her car¡¯s engine to its limits. The four cars pursuing her were beginning to slowly but surely gain on her. No matter how much she wanted to avoid it, the redhead would have to do something about her pursuers. In this situation, combat was unavoidable.

    Doing a quick check on the area around the steering wheel, Erin was able to get an idea of the weaponry she had at her disposal. At the front, she had two standard machine guns that were meant for shooting down enemies at the front. Besides that, she also had a couple of weapons meant for pursuers. She had three bombs that could be dropped and would explode after a couple of seconds, along with a single smokescreen she could deploy. There was also a single nitro boost she could use to push her car to move at a far faster speed than normal, but would also make it harder for her to control.

    In all honesty, her weaponry was very limited. If she were to take out her pursuers, she needed to make sure not to waste any of them, no matter what.

    With a quick glance at her rear view mirror, Erin was able to get an idea of what she was dealing with. Out of the four cars pursuing her, one was a pickup truck that had a large and powerful machine gun at the back, another one was a dune buggy, one was a heavily armored humvee that had a couple of missiles on top of it and the last one seemed to be a sports car of some sorts.

    Being the fastest in the group, the sports car was the first one to reach their target and opened fire. The bullets from its machine guns shattered the back window of Erin¡¯s car and almost hit her as well. Had she not ducked her head, she would have been killed right away.

    Seemingly bolstered by their success at hitting their target, the people in the sports car began to get even closer behind Erin¡¯s car, hoping to raise their chances of hitting her with their shooting.

    However, getting closer turned out to be a fatal mistake, as Erin deployed one of the bombs she had. The explosive bounced off the ground and hit the pursuing car, going right through the windshield and into the vehicle itself. The people inside barely had time to realize what was going on, before the explosive went off and blew them up.

    ¡±One down, three to go,¡± Erin said to herself. ¡±I doubt the others are gonna get careless now, though.¡±

    The redhead was correct in her assumption, as the other three cars were now positioning themselves in such a way that they weren¡¯t too close to get caught in case she dropped something on them. This of course meant that they didn¡¯t have a clear shot, but they could still do significant damage.

    The pickup truck was the next one to move in, as a soldier riding on the back prepared the machine gun and began firing. Bullets drilled through the ground and Erin¡¯s vehicle, leaving sizable holes. Luckily due to the distance, the gunner wasn¡¯t able to get a direct hit on the redhead herself, but damaging the car itself was also working in the favor of the pursuers. After all, they just needed to stop her from getting away and she would be as good as theirs.

    Erin did her best to move her car in such a way that would get her out of the line of fire, while also positioning herself in such a way that she could drop another bomb on at least one of her pursuers. Unfortunately, they saw through what she was trying to do and kept moving around as well, keeping out of harms way.

    Seeing how she was stuck without a chance to really fight back, Erin was starting to grow desperate. If this kept going on like this, it wouldn¡¯t take long for her car to suffer too much damage to keep moving. She needed to figure out a plan and fast.

    It was then that she remembered something from back in her old life, when the world she was currently in had been nothing but a game. Back then, there had been times she had been having issues while doing quests centered around the Western Continent due to raiders that would chase her down. Thankfully, her friends had given her some hints as to how better survive. One of these hints had been to use the environment to her advantage. What this meant was that she should be on the lookout for any natural traps around herself that she could use to lure her enemies into. These ranged from pitfalls to caves inhabited by large monsters that would attack those who got too close.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    All, Erin needed was to find something she could use to her advantage. And luckily for her, she saw just what she needed.

    With a determined grip on her steering wheel, Erin began to drive toward a cave she had spotted. If her assumption was correct, this would help her get rid of at least one more pursuer. She glanced behind her and saw that the three cars behind her were following after her like cubs their mother. It didn¡¯t seem like they had realized what she was planning, which was exactly what she needed.

    Now as she was getting closer to the cave, she needed to perform a sharp turn at just the right moment. Once she was close enough to spot hungry, glowing eyes with the darkness of the cave, she turned her car sharply, just narrowly missing the claws of a large beast that had come out of hiding to feast on her.

    With a quick glance at her rear view mirror, Erin was able to confirm that two Cave Wargs had just come out of their nest. These were large mammal beasts that, like their name suggested, lived in caves. Their appearances was close to a bear, except their massive bodies were more slender and their heads very large and wide. Their large mouths had two rows of sharp teeth both on the lower and upper jaw. Their large eyes glowed with a faint green light and they had strong horns that curved backwards on their heads.

    However, while the redhead had managed to avoid certain death, one of her pursuers hadn¡¯t been so lucky. The dune buggy tried its best to avoid the hungry beasts, but was unfortunately too slow in doing so. One of the Wargs pounced on the vehicle, knocking it on its side. The people inside were quickly taken out of their vehicle, before being devoured.

    Now half of Erin¡¯s pursuers had been taken down with two still remaining. It seemed like her last stunt had angered the remaining soldiers, as they started to increase speed in order to get closer to their target, hoping to end this chase quickly.

    The humvee seemed to be very keen on ending the chase, as one of its missiles was fired towards Erin¡¯s car. The redhead was luckily quick enough to avoid the explosive, but things weren¡¯t looking all that good for her. She couldn¡¯t see anything in the environment that she could use on her pursuers, so either she would have to survive whatever attacks her enemies would throw at her or she took them out with what she had remaining.

    Neither of Erin¡¯s options seemed good to her. The two remaining cars would certainly be on the lookout for any attacks she could throw at them and her car had suffered so much damage that it was on its last legs. When put on a tight spot like that, all the redhead could do was pick the option that seemed the most likely to get her out of this situation alive.

    The two cars were getting very close. Just a little more and they could tear her vehicle apart with their weaponry. With sweat dripping down her forehead, Erin waited until her remaining pursuers were close enough for her to initiate her plan that would hopefully save her.

    The drivers on the two remaining cars noticed Erin dropping a bomb from the back of her car, similar to the one that had taken out their comrades driving the sports car earlier. Unlike their unfortunate colleagues, the two drivers were able to react fast enough to avoid the deadly explosive. The bomb went off behind them, bringing up a large cloud of dust. The two cars then moved in closer to their target, attempting to finish it all in one swift charge.

    However, this was something Erin had anticipated. Before either of her pursuers could fire even a single bullet, the redhead released a smokescreen from behind. This sudden dark cloud took the two drivers behind her by complete surprise, causing them to panic. They were eventually able to get out of the smoke, but they no longer saw Erin anywhere.

    Before the soldiers realized what had happened, machine gun fire from behind tore into them. It was only then that they realized what had happened. Erin had used the smokescreen to blind and confuse them, before hitting the brakes on her car, allowing her pursuers to go past her. With her enemies now on the front, the redhead could use her own guns to fire at them.

    The bullets immediately tore through the soldier handling the machine gun on the back of the pickup truck. The driver of said car soon followed behind his comrade. The humvee was too heavily armored for the bullets to get through it, but they managed to hit one of the back tires, destroying it.

    With her remaining pursuers seemingly taken care of, Erin used the nitro boost that was in her car. Flames shot out of her vehicle¡¯s exhaust pipe, as it sped through the badlands like a bullet, quickly getting past the humvee and away from it. It seemed like the redhead had finally managed to get away.

    Unfortunately, letting the humvee go with just a destroyed tire was a mistake, as the armored car fired one of its remaining missiles towards Erin. Even with her increased speed from the nitro boost, she was nowhere near fast enough to escape the flying projectile, which hit the back of her car and caused it to flip over. The redhead¡¯s car fell down a small cliff and crashed at the bottom.

    Some time later, the humvee finally made its way to where Erin¡¯s broken vehicle was and found it laying on top of its roof as smoke rose from the underside. Two soldiers got out from the armored vehicle and walked up to the destroyed car with weapons at the ready. One of the two crouched down to look into the driver¡¯s seat, but saw no one there. In fact, the car seemed to be completely empty.

    With the focus of the two soldiers on the inside of the car, they failed to realize that there was still a single bomb hanging from the underside of the vehicle. Normally they would be stored inside and would only hang like this when the driver was preparing to drop them. The reason for this was that Erin had left the bomb like that before crawling out of the damaged wreckage and hiding behind a nearby boulder.

    The soldiers never knew what hit them, as Erin aimed a pistol from her hiding spot and fired at the bomb, detonating it and taking out her last remaining pursuers.

    However, while this gave a her a chance to breathe, her troubles were far from over. In her haste from getting out of the wreckage of her car, she didn¡¯t have any time to take any of the supplies, like food or water, that were in the vehicle. Now they had gone in the explosion that did the same to anything that might have been in the humvee as well.

    In short, the redhead was now bruised and battered with no supplies, armed with the minimum of weaponry, while the rest of General Lune¡¯s troops were most likely hot on her trail and there were vicious beasts roaming around.

    Nonetheless, Erin picked a direction and began walking. She could only try to use her memories from the game to try and find a settlement as fast as possible. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time until someone or something got her.

 14. Enemies Old And New

    Chapter 14

    Enemies Old And New

    For a couple of days, Erin had been forced to journey through the unforgiving badlands of the Western Continent. During this time, she had to avoid violent beasts, roaming bandits and soldiers, while struggling to find food, water and shelter. It was a constant battle for survival.

    While the area in the Western Continent wasn¡¯t particularly hot or cold during the day, the nights were absolutely freezing. A traveler needed to find some way to keep warm during nighttime or else they would easily freeze to death. What made this worse was that you couldn¡¯t build a fire to warm yourself, as it would easily attract predators to your location. This was something Erin had to learn through the hard way, as a large wolf had tried to come and eat her. Had she not been able to lure the wolf to a giant snake, the beast would have certainly made a meal out of her.

    However, while the creatures and cold nights were dangerous on their own, the real danger of the area was in its lack of resources. Finding food and water was a constant struggle, since most of the land was dried up and there were very few edible plants around. Most of the animals themselves were also too fierce and dangerous to be hunted, forcing Erin to catch smaller creatures in the hopes of getting at least something to eat.

    In the end, the redhead had been able to survive and make her way to a town called Grand Ravine. The place got its name from a large and deep ravine that surrounded the place, making it into a natural fortress in a way. On the other side of the town there were large mountains that were close to impossible to overcome, so the town was protected very well.

    The only way into the town was a single bridge that had a pair of guards at the front. If anyone suspicious were to try and get in, they just needed to call the guards on the other side and there would be no chance for the intruder to get in.

    Much like all other travelers, Erin made her way towards the entrance. Despite her exhausted and dirty appearance, the guards didn¡¯t take any chances with the newcomer and approached her like they would with anyone else.

    ¡°Halt! Who are you and what is your business here?¡± one of the two guards asked.

    ¡°...I¡¯m a traveling mercenary by the name of Rachel. I was on my way to a nearby town, when my vehicle was destroyed by a beast,¡± Erin lied. ¡°I was hoping I could come here to rest and get back on my feet.¡±

    ¡°Show me your ID, miss,¡± the guard requested as he pulled out a scanner.

    The redhead took an ID card out of her pocket and handed it to the guard. The card was a fake that Ryan had made for her in case situations like this came up. There were quite a few places that would ask for an ID before letting you in, so having a card was necessary for a person like herself.

    Actual cards were made by government officials that would look into a person¡¯s past, both what they were told and what could be found in any official records. Since Erin couldn¡¯t go and get an actual card, she had to get a fake one. The way the cards worked was that they had your personal information recorded on them that would show up upon being scanned. This information included a picture of your face, name, sex and occupation. Due to her requiring weapons in her actual profession, the redhead¡¯s card showed her occupation as a mercenary, along with a mark that stated she was a registered at one of the guilds as well. Almost all her other information was fake as well.

    The cards had a function where wanted criminals that had been recognized had their cards marked by the people that were operating the system. Because of this, a lot of criminals had to get fake cards made that fooled scanners. Depending on the quality, they could fool most scanners, but the higher the level of security, the more advanced the scanners were, which would catch most fakes easily. So far, Erin¡¯s ID had worked in all the places that needed it, but now she could only pray in her head that the guard inspecting her ID wouldn¡¯t see that it wasn¡¯t a real one.

    She also hoped that these people hadn¡¯t yet been informed about her as a wanted criminal. If her identity was known, there would be no chance for her to survive, if she had to make a run to the wasteland again.

    ¡°All seems to be in order,¡± the guard finally said, as he finished scanning Erin¡¯s ID and handed it back to her. ¡°Enjoy your stay in our town.¡±

    The redhead gave a simple nod in response before walking past the guards. When she was no longer close enough for them to hear, she let out a sigh of relief. It might not have been visible, but she had been extremely nervous through that whole exchange. Erin could feel her heart beating within her chest, as the guard performed the check. Thankfully, all had gone well.

    Walking through the front gate, the redhead took a look at her surroundings. Unlike back in Rockmoore Town, there didn¡¯t seem to be the same type of bustling one would expect from a busy city. There were far fewer people walking the streets and even the police officers seemed to be a lot more relaxed and casual than in the previous town. Judging by some of the outfits and tools she saw on the people she walked by, this place seemed to get most of its income from mining operations.

    As she kept walking aimlessly through the main street, Erin eventually ended up at a walled off area. The wall in front of her was incredibly tall with barbed wire on top. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was on the other side.

    ¡°Hey you! What are you doing here!?¡± a voice called out to the redhead.

    Erin turned towards the source of the voice and saw a pair of guards walking towards her. Unlike the guards at the gate or the police she saw patrolling the streets, these guards were dresses in very flashy and fancy outfits. The redhead immediately became nervous upon seeing them, as she feared they could have recognized her as the wanted assassin that General Lune was chasing.

    ¡°This area is off-limits to the general public. Mind explaining what you are doing here?¡± the guard asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m new around these parts, so I didn¡¯t know this was such a place,¡± Erin quickly explained. ¡°What exactly is on the other side of that wall?¡±

    ¡°That is where the most influential people of the town live,¡± the guard answered. ¡°It¡¯s basically the home of the mayor, as well as his family and closest aides.¡±

    ¡°So in other words, it¡¯s where the cream of the crop is?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Exactly. And the people there don¡¯t want to mingle with bottom feeders like yourself, which is why they had the wall built in the first place,¡± the guard explained in a tone that basically dripped with malice. ¡°Now, we have been ordered to not let anyone suspicious anywhere near this place, so it would be in your best interest to get out of here. Otherwise, we might throw you in jail just to be safe. And you wouldn¡¯t want that, would you?¡±

    Erin simply nodded and walked away, not wanting to get into an argument with the guards. Not only was she far too exhausted from her journey through the wasteland that she didn¡¯t have any strength for a fight, but she didn¡¯t want to draw any attention to herself. That was the last thing anyone trying to run away from powerful people wanted.

    With that in mind, the redhead began looking for a place to get some food from. This proved to be much harder than she had imagined, as a lot of the restaurants and stores had very high prices on their products. Even a simple cup of water cost at least five times more than back in Rockmoore Town.

    Erin was eventually able to get some food bought, but it took a lot more out of her wallet than she would have liked. Not only that, but the moment she stepped out of the store, there were quite a few stares she got from the locals. It seemed like the high prices hadn¡¯t just affected the redhead, as the locals were going hungry as well.

    Not liking the attention she was getting and fearing that she might get attacked, Erin decided to find a more quiet place for her meal. With her brown paper bag full of dry bread and fruits, the redhead found herself a nice alley to eat at.

    Just as she had started biting into a piece of bread, she heard someone walk up to her. With a sideways glance, Erin saw that it appeared to be a child wearing clothes that seemed far too big for them. The cloak that the child was wearing dragged on the ground and covered most of their face as well, making it impossible to tell whether this was a boy or a girl.

    Much like Erin had expected it, the child walked up to her and stood in front of her. The redhead was certain that begging for food would come next.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Hey! Hey, miss!¡± the child called out, revealing themselves to be a girl. ¡°Can I ask you something!?¡±

    ¡°Look, kid, I know you¡¯re probably hungry and everything, but I can¡¯t give you much,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I only got enough food to feed myself here, so I can only give you either one piece of bread or a fruit, okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t looking to get your food, miss!¡± the girl replied. ¡°I wanted to ask something else from you!¡±

    This was a bit of a surprise for the redhead.

    ¡°And what would you like to ask me then?¡± Erin asked back.

    ¡°You seem to be new in town. Are you a bad person?¡± the girl asked.

    ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m bad?¡± the redhead asked, surprised by the quite blunt question.

    ¡°I see a lot of people come in here. Those who are good and nice can¡¯t afford to buy food here, while those who are bad can,¡± the girl explained. ¡°That¡¯s because the bad people got their money from doing bad things. Or at least that¡¯s what I was told.¡±

    Erin was silent for a moment, thinking about herself. While she wasn¡¯t as horrible of a person as Gibbot or Lune, she certainly was no saint. She had plenty of blood on her hands to make that much clear. Not only that, but there was her personal past back in her own world that also showed how she wasn¡¯t exactly a good person.

    ¡°...I suppose that I¡¯m a bit of both,¡± the redhead answered after a bit of thought. ¡°I try my best to do good, but I often get forced to do things that are wrong and I don¡¯t want to do. Not only that, there are quite a few things I¡¯ve done that I simply can¡¯t forgive myself.¡±

    ¡°Does that make you good or bad then?¡± the girl asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But maybe I can answer that at some point,¡± Erin said before digging through her paper bag and pulling out a dried fruit. ¡°Here. Take this and go back to your family. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re worried about you.¡±

    ¡°Wow! Thanks miss!¡± the girl said happily, causing the redhead to smile a bit.

    However, what happened next came as a complete surprise to Erin. Just as it looked like the girl would grab the fruit, she instead grabbed the redhead¡¯s wrist with an insanely strong grip. Before Erin could even yell out in pain, her arm was twisted, causing her to fall on her knee. This was followed by a knee to the guts that knocked the air out of the redhead¡¯s lungs. Finally, she received a kick to the side of her head, knocking her against trash cans.

    Despite being dazed from the sudden beating, Erin got up from the ground. As she did this, she noticed that the little girl that had attacked her was changing. Her body grew in size to that of an adult and she dropped the cloak she had been wearing, revealing a well-toned body from underneath.

    It took a moment for the redhead to realize it, but when she did, she felt her jaw drop open upon recognizing her attacker. It was the blonde woman she had talked to in the bar back in Rockmoore Town, Ryle.

    ¡°Y-YOU!?¡± Erin yelled in shock. ¡°W-What are you doing here!?¡±

    ¡°You remember me? I¡¯m flattered!¡± the blonde woman said with a grin. ¡°As for what I¡¯m doing here, it¡¯s rather simple. You see, I happen to live here. Back in Rockmoore, I was there simply on business. I was going to head out today, but luckily you brought my work to my home.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m here to take YOU to the authorities!¡± Ryle answered with a big grin. ¡°There¡¯s a big bounty on that head of yours and I am gonna make it mine.¡±

    ¡°...So general Lune¡¯s bounty has reached this place then,¡± Erin said as she got herself ready for a fight. ¡°I got careless when I didn¡¯t see any posters in town and no one seemed to recognize me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t feel bad about it! I¡¯ve got my own sources that help me keep a step ahead of others in this business!¡± the blonde said. ¡°But anyways, we should get this party started, shouldn¡¯t we? The way I heard it, the big shots would really like to get you back alive. If you¡¯re dead, I lose on most, if not all, of the money I¡¯m supposed to get. However, that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t give you the beating of a lifetime, so feel free to struggle. I like to play around a bit at work, you see?¡±

    The redhead responded to her opponent¡¯s taunt by quickly pulling out her pistol and firing it at the bounty hunter. However, Ryle easily avoided the bullet and in what seemed like the blink of an eye had closed the distance between the two of them. Before Erin could do anything, her wrist got grabbed and twisted, causing her to drop her gun, before she was thrown on the ground. The redhead then had to roll out of the way as a foot almost came down on her head from above.

    ¡°Man, this is the easiest paycheck of my life!¡± Ryle said mockingly as she picked up the gun Erin had dropped. She then broke the weapon with a single punch. ¡°I¡¯m honestly having a hard time believing you¡¯re worth so much. I¡¯ve caught pickpockets that were harder to deal with!¡±

    ¡°Sorry to disappoint, I suppose,¡± Erin said with barely hidden anger. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be such a nice paycheck in the end. I can¡¯t let myself get caught here.¡±

    ¡°And I can¡¯t let you get away either,¡± the blonde said in a surprisingly serious tone. ¡°I¡¯ve got too much riding on this myself, you know?¡±

    The redhead was a bit taken aback by the tone of voice her opponent had just used, which created an opportunity the blonde immediately used. Erin barely managed to take out her sword fast enough to block the kick that came at her, which sent her flying backwards. The redhead ended up flying out of the alley and landing in the middle of the street, causing the people nearby to run away upon realizing what was happening.

    Erin got up quickly and took a stance with her sword, but it proved to be useless. Ryle was once again right in front of her and threw a punch that connected with the redhead¡¯s stomach. While she managed to hold herself up and attempt at hitting the bounty hunter with her sword, the blade was easily avoided. After dodging the desperate attack, Ryle kicked Erin in the back of her head. The blow was so heavy that it almost caused the redhead to black out, but she managed to stay awake. Apparently, Ryle had expected her attack to knock out Erin, as she almost got hit by the redhead¡¯s sword, when she swung it in response.

    ¡°Gotta admit, you¡¯re holding up a lot better than I thought you would,¡± Ryle commented as she readied herself for her next attack. ¡°But this is where it ends!¡±

    Once again, the blonde closed the distance between herself and her opponent in just a moment. This time, she had both of her arms pulled back, readied for a powerful strike. There was even a faint, golden glow surrounding her hands. With both palms open, she struck at Erin¡¯s chest, causing a shock wave to rip through the air.

    The attack was so powerful that it caused Erin to cough up blood, before getting sent through the window of the building behind her. On the inside, she crashed into a table, where she laid still. The place seemed to be a restaurant, judging by the food that fell from the broken table.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Ryle to come inside the building as well. She looked around for a moment, noting that all the other people seemed to have left, leaving her alone with her target. The blonde bounty hunter wrinkled her nose a bit at the smell that was on the inside of the building, before walking up to the redhead that was seemingly unconscious.

    ¡°Well, that was fun, but you know what they say, right? All good things must come to-¡±

    Before Ryle could finish speaking, Erin suddenly grabbed a handful of the food that had fallen to the floor and threw it at the bounty hunter¡¯s face. This caused Ryle to scream like she was in pain as she furiously wiped away the stuff on her face. Luckily for the redhead, she had remembered that the bounty hunter had quite the keen sense of smell, as she had commented to Erin how she smelled like blood back in Rockmoore Town. Not only that, but the way Ryle wrinkled her nose at the strong smells seemed to confirm this suspicion. It might have been a gamble, but it paid off in the end.

    ¡°You shit! I¡¯ll-¡± the blonde began to threaten, only to go silent upon seeing Erin holding a chair above her head, ready to strike down. ¡°...Oh crap.¡±

    The piece of furniture came crashing down on Ryle¡¯s head, knocking her to the floor. The blow left her nearly unconscious, allowing Erin to go and get her sword, which she had lost upon falling on the table. The redhead walked up to her opponent and readied her sword to strike down the bounty hunter with rage burning in her lone eye.

    However, before the blade could be brought down, Erin was once again plagued by visions. This time, she saw how Ryle had grown up in this town¡¯s poor sections, always struggling to find enough food and water to survive. Not only that, but she had become a sort of a big sister figure to a lot of orphans that she would take care of. There was even one boy, who seemed to be especially important to the bounty hunter.

    The visions caused Erin to drop her sword out of shock and stumble backwards, allowing Ryle to recover from the blow she had suffered earlier. The bounty hunter looked up in confusion at her target, who seemed to be on the verge of tears for some reason now.

    ¡°The hell is up with you?¡± Ryle asked as she got up from the floor, readying herself to continue their fight. ¡°You know I¡¯m trying to take you to the authorities, right? Considering your bounty, you¡¯ll never see the light of day when they catch you. So why not finish me off when you have the chance?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I just-¡±

    Before Erin could explain herself, she heard the familiar sound of guns having their safeties taken off. It took her less than a second to realize what was about to happen.

    ¡°GET DOWN!¡± the redhead yelled before tackling Ryle. Before their bodies hit the floor, machine gun fire opened and tore through the wall, like a wave of destruction.

    Once the firing ceased, a familiar voice that Erin immediately recognized spoke into a megaphone.

    ¡°Do you hear me, miss outlaw?¡± the voice of General Lune called out to the redhead. ¡°This is General Milas Lune of the Golorath Army! You may have managed to escape me back in Rockmoore Town, but we have now tracked you down. I suggest you give yourself up before this has to get any messier.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who creates the mess, you bastard!¡± Erin yelled back. ¡°Why did you have to destroy Rockmoore Town!? It is me that you¡¯re after!¡±

    ¡°Oh, that was nothing but a precaution. Once we heard that you had managed to escape, we couldn¡¯t take the risk of letting those who sympathize with you get away. Had those foolish townspeople brought you to me, they wouldn¡¯t have faced such an unfortunate end,¡± Lune explained with a cocky smile on his face. ¡°Anyways, I was ordered to take you in alive, so I would greatly appreciate it if you simply gave up. Knowing the things you¡¯ve done so far, I was certain you wouldn¡¯t get caught in this type of an attack, but I am willing to use even rougher methods if needed.¡±

    Erin could hear several footsteps approaching the building. It seemed like Lune was planning on having her get overwhelmed with sheer numbers and then take her beaten body back to his boss. Just before the door got kicked down, the redhead threw all of her smoke grenades at the approaching enemies, covering the whole area in a thick cloud.

    ¡°Now! Get out of here while you still can!¡± Erin yelled at Ryle, who was still in shock over what was going on.

    ¡°Why the hell are you doing this!? I¡¯m your enemy, remember!?¡± the bounty hunter asked. ¡°What good does it do for you to help me!?¡±

    ¡°Does it matter!? Just get going before-¡± the redhead began to say, only to suddenly fall to her knees from pain, as she held the right side of her body. ¡°Dammit¡­ I guess they got me now¡­¡±

    For a small moment, Ryle thought about the opportunity she had before her. She could still take the redhead in and claim the bounty for herself. With the kind of money she would get, there would never be a need for her to work as a bounty hunter ever again. All she needed to do was take in a person that was too injured to put up a fight anymore. A bounty hunter¡¯s wet dream basically.

    However, this person had become inured due to trying tp protect Ryle herself. Had Erin not done what she did, the blonde would most likely be dead. That¡¯s what made Ryle do the opposite of what she should have done.

    The bounty hunter quickly picked up the redhead and threw her over her shoulder, before running away with her supposed bounty with her.

    ¡°W-Why¡­? What are you¡­?¡± Erin tried to ask.

    ¡°Shut up! Just shut up!¡± Ryle yelled back as she carried the redhead with her away from the army. ¡°I have my own reasons for doing this, so just shut the hell up for now, okay!? And don¡¯t you dare die on me! Got that!?¡±

    It was then that all the pain and exhaustion finally took their toll on Erin, causing her to black out.

 15. A Place To Stay

    Chapter 15

    A Place To Stay

    When Erin finally woke up, she was greeted with the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling in a rather dark room. By looking around herself a bit, she could tell that she was in a building that didn¡¯t belong to the wealthiest of people. The stone walls were completely barren with the exception of a few cracks here and there. The room itself was mostly empty, with only a few pieces of furniture there. These included the wooden bed the redhead was sleeping on, a small wooden nightstand next to the bed with a candlestick on it and a single wooden chair also next to the bed. The room also had a small wooden window that was closed.

    The door to the room suddenly opened. Erin turned to look who the person was that had arrived and saw two little children. One was a boy that was at best ten years old, while the other one was a girl that was younger and smaller than the boy. The girl seemed to be shy, as she was hiding behind the boy, who had a basket full of medical supplies with him.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake!¡± the boy said with a smile. ¡°Big sister Ryle was worried that she had brought you here too late. Glad to see that¡¯s not the case.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Ryle brought me here?¡± Erin asked as she sat up on the bed. ¡°Where am I? And who are you?¡±

    ¡°Oh right! We need to introduce ourselves obviously!¡± the boy said. ¡°My name is Pete. The girl with me is Beth. We kind of met you before, when you were brought here, but I don¡¯t think it counts when you were unconscious.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it counts either,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°You said that Ryle brought me here and that she was worried about me. Why is that? I thought she wanted to bring me to the police in order to claim the bounty on me.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that was the original plan, but things apparently changed,¡± Pete began to explain as he put the basket of medical supplies he was carrying on the nightstand and started to sort through them. ¡°I don¡¯t know what exactly happened, but I guess big sis took some sort of a liking to you or something. Instead of getting you arrested, she decided to save your life.¡±

    ¡°I see. I guess I should thank her then,¡± Erin said. ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s right outside, waiting to hear about you. She¡¯s been there pretty much ever since you were brought here,¡± the boy explained as he took fresh bandages from the basket. ¡°Just as a heads up, though, she might seem a bit cranky. She¡¯s been cursing about how you ¡°made her lose on a sweet bounty¡± and such, but I don¡¯t think she¡¯s actually angry at you. She just gets all sulky when things don¡¯t go her way.¡±

    ¡°Good to know¡­ I suppose¡­¡±

    Pete and Beth proceeded to change Erin¡¯s bandages and gave her some medicine to ease any pains she might have. With the treatment over, the redhead got up from the bed and began to make her way outside, despite the protests of the two children. Erin told the two that she was feeling fine and felt the need to get moving after spending so much time in bed.

    The redhead was soon outside and could now take a better look at the place she was in. Judging by the buildings and the people, she was in a slum. The clothes the residents were wearing looked dirty and worn out, like they had been wearing them for the last couple of years. The buildings didn¡¯t look all that better, as they were either haphazardly put together from wooden planks or made from stone and looked like they were full of cracks and ready to break down.

    At first, Erin thought the settlement she was at was in a cave, as hard bedrock seemed to surround them from all sides. However, there was plenty of natural light coming from one side of the slum. It was then that the redhead realized where she was. Part of Grand Ravine¡¯s lore was that the poor and unfortunate people lived in the deeper parts of the town, with the large ravine the place got its name from right next to it. Not only was this a dangerous place to live at due to the possibility of falling down, there were also dangerous beasts living at the bottom of the ravine that would sometimes climb up to attack the residents.

    ¡°Hey, about time you woke up!¡± the familiar voice called out. Erin looked behind her to see Ryle walking up to her. ¡°You sure took your sweet time resting. I was starting to think you were going to kick the bucket! Would have made things easier for me, though¡­¡±

    ¡°I heard that you were the one that was worried about me,¡± Erin said with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°WHAT!? Did Pete tell you that!? That little¡­ Always saying things that should be left unsaid!¡± Ryle ranted angrily with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re somehow special or anything, got it? I was just returning the favor for saving my ass back there.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°So what¡¯s going to happen now? Are you going to claim my bounty now that your debt has been repaid and you no longer have any obligation to help me?¡±

    ¡°How low do you think of me? Of course I¡¯m not going to do that! I¡¯m not some disgusting opportunist who stabs people in the back! I¡¯m not General Lune, you know!?¡± the blonde argued angrily. ¡°Although, you sure would have made things easier for me, if you hadn¡¯t saved my ass. Had you been just like any other bounty, I could have tried to claim your reward without any feelings of guilt at all. Why did you have to make this so damn complicated?¡±

    ¡°Are you saying you would have preferred getting shot then?¡±

    ¡°Why you little smart-ass!¡± Ryle said in response to Erin¡¯s remark, before suddenly putting her in a tight headlock and beginning to rub her knuckles against the top of Erin¡¯s head in a painful manner. ¡°You keep that up and I will take you back to that piece of crap general!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, what¡¯s the point of saving someone, if you¡¯re just going to kill them yourself?¡± a new voice called out. Erin looked up to see a boy in his teens walking towards them. ¡°At least keep her alive, so you can collect the bounty.¡±

    The boy was the complete opposite of Ryle. While the bounty hunter was brash and wild as well we a picture of strength, this person had an air of calm and intelligence around them while looking weak, almost sick. In fact, he seemed to be quite pale and thin, which was visible even with the clothes covering his body. He looked similar to Ryle, as he had similar blonde hair, except much longer. He was also considerably shorter, which was most likely due to being younger.

    ¡°Zeke, you shouldn¡¯t be walking around!¡± Ryle suddenly said in a worried tone, dropping her redheaded prisoner from her clutches to the ground, before rushing over to the boy. ¡°You know what the doctor said. You need to rest a lot and not strain yourself too much. It¡¯s important that you follow his instructions, you know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, sister,¡± Zeke said with a warm smile. ¡°Besides, I need to at least walk around a bit. The fresh air does good for me.¡±

    ¡°Still, you shouldn¡¯t take unnecessary risks¡­¡±

    ¡°Says the person who goes around bounty hunting and even ends up bringing the biggest bounty to her home,¡± the teen said with a smirk. ¡°Which one of us is the reckless one here?¡±

    ¡°Oh come on! I had my reasons!¡± Ryle argued.

    ¡°If you say so,¡± Zeke said before turning his attention to Erin. ¡°Hello there, miss. My name is Zeke and I¡¯m the younger brother of Ryle as well as her partner in bounty hunting.¡±

    ¡°A pleasure to meet you,¡± the redhead said in response. ¡°Forgive me if I seem rude, but how exactly are you her partner? I didn¡¯t see you either time I met your sister.¡±

    ¡°That is quite alright. I know I don¡¯t exactly look like a deadly bounty hunter,¡± the blonde boy said with a smile. ¡°The way I¡¯m Ryle¡¯s partner is that I gather her information on potential bounties and prepare some of the equipment she uses. I¡¯m sure you witnessed the effects of the disguise potion that I mixed for her.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°You mean how she looked like a little child at first?¡± Erin asked to which she received a nod. She remembered that the game actually had potions that would make the character affected by them look like a little kid. They were only used to fool around when playing the game, but in this world they seemed to have a practical use. ¡°Did you make that for her?¡±

    ¡°Well, not originally, but with enough trial and error I was able to duplicate its effects. It helps cut down expenses, you see,¡± Zeke explained.

    ¡°It seems you were able to pull it off perfectly,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Also, I would like to thank you for treating my injuries. You really saved me.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think it was me who treated your wounds?¡±

    ¡°Sorry for being blunt, but your sister doesn¡¯t seem to be the type who could do such delicate work.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± Ryle yelled angrily while her brother let out a small laugh.

    ¡°No need to thank me. After all, you did save Ryle¡¯s life, so it was only natural for us to return the favor,¡± Zeke said with a smile. ¡°No need to feel like you owe us anything.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate all the help you¡¯ve given me, but I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay for much longer,¡± Erin said. ¡°With General Lune after me, I¡¯m afraid of what he might do, if he even gets an idea of looking for me here. I¡¯ve seen that monster destroy an entire town for no reason.¡±

    ¡°You must be referring to Rockmoore Town, correct?¡± Zeke asked to which the redhead nodded. ¡°I heard that the town was destroyed recently and the rumors said it was done by him. I guess those stories were true, like I had suspected.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why would he do something like that? What could he possibly gain from causing so much death and destruction?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Nothing aside from his personal satisfaction, I think. That general¡¯s a real piece of crap,¡± Ryle began to explain. ¡°Lune doesn¡¯t have any real combat skills himself, but he does know how to persuade people, a real silver-tongued devil. That¡¯s what allowed him to rise up in the ranks of the military and gather his troops. With the power he now wields, he can effectively do whatever he wants with no repercussions at all. The higher-ups don¡¯t mind as long as he doesn¡¯t cause them problems and those beneath him keep silent in fear of retaliation from Lune. His personal troops don¡¯t mind doing his dirty work, as they often get to loot the poor folk that become his victims.¡±

    ¡°How the hell did such a person ever get into such a high position?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°How does simply being good at talking get you so far?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know all the details, but I heard he has a nasty ability of sucking up to those who can help him reach higher places before turning others against them,¡± the blonde began to explain. ¡°Apparently, he started by finding higher-ranking military personnel that he would then proceed to kiss their asses. This in turn gave him all sorts of bonuses that he would use to his advantage further. In case someone tried to go against him, he would get someone else to handle them for him. This all allowed him to finally reach the rank of general, all due to empty words and kissing up to the right people.¡±

    ¡°No wonder he¡¯s able to do such horrible things without any regrets. He sounds like he has no morals at all,¡± Erin concluded. ¡°All the more reason for me to leave as soon as possible then. There¡¯s no telling what he might do to this place, if I don¡¯t get out of here.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about us so much. I can assure you that we can take care of ourselves, if something was to happen,¡± Zeke said with a kind smile. ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t need to worry about what happened in Rockmoore Town repeating here. The only reason Lune was able to do what he did was because that place held no great significance to anyone that was of similar or higher ranking as Lune himself. Here, on the other hand, the mayor is a relative to one of the military officers above him, so I doubt Lune would be stupid enough to cause a similar ruckus around here, no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Still, you can never be too sure about people like him. There are just some people who do whatever they want without any regards to those around them, no matter what it is,¡± the redhead continued as she started to walk away. ¡°The longer I stay here, the more danger you all will be in, so I should just-¡±

    Erin was suddenly cut off by Ryle giving her a swift punch right in the place her injury was located at. Pain shot through the redheaded assassin¡¯s whole body, causing her to fall to the ground while a couple of tears fell from her eyes.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re going anywhere like that? Take one step outside of these slums and Lune¡¯s thugs will catch you right away,¡± Ryle said in a frustrated tone. ¡°So just stay put and get yourself fixed, got it!? There¡¯s no use in going out there just for you to get killed!¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s about getting her killed, I feel like you are doing a decent enough job at that yourself,¡± Zeke said with a sigh. ¡°Seriously, have you ever heard about being gentle?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m gentle enough! She¡¯s still alive, isn¡¯t she?¡± the blonde woman said as she picked up Erin by the back of her collar and lifted her up. ¡°Look! She¡¯s pretty much the picture of health, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°...If that is your idea of healthy, I fear what an actually sick person looks like to you,¡± the younger brother said bluntly as he looked at the pale and pained expression on the redhead¡¯s face. ¡°At least take her back to her bed, so she can rest properly.¡±

    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll play mommy for her just a bit longer,¡± Ryle said as she rolled her eyes, before walking away while carrying Erin on her shoulder.

    It didn¡¯t take long time for Ryle to carry Erin back to the bed she had been resting in. There the blonde decided to take a look at the redhead¡¯s bandages and tried to change them, only to somehow end up almost strangling Erin with the spare bandages. Luckily for the redhead, some kids came in to see the new visitor, including Pete and Beth, who were able to give her injuries the treatment they needed.

    ¡°Thank you for your help,¡± Erin said with a pale face, having been just rescued from being strangled. ¡°Had you guys not come here to help, I¡¯d be a goner now. I¡¯m starting to think Ryle actually wants me dead after all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need to be worried about her!¡± Pete stated with a big smile. ¡°Ryle¡¯s great at fighting and other things that require a lot of strength, but once a bit of smarts is needed, she¡¯s pretty much useless! Believe me, you¡¯re not the first one she¡¯s almost killed by trying to take care of them.¡±

    ¡°HEY! No need to tell her any of that!¡± Ryle yelled in protest. ¡°Besides, I took care of you that one time you had the flu, right!?¡±

    ¡°I sure remember that! It was the first time in my life that I almost died!¡± the boy yelled back.

    ¡°Ungrateful little prick¡­¡±

    As the children laughed at Ryle¡¯s expense, Erin looked around at the group gathered around her. There were quite a few children there. What surprised her the most, however, was how well they seemed to be handling whatever tasks they had. Whether it was cleaning, preparing food or even helping out with the redhead¡¯s treatment, all of the kids were able to perform the work they had to do.

    ¡°Hey, Ryle, who exactly are all these kids?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Also, while I am grateful for all the help, shouldn¡¯t they be with their own families?¡±

    ¡°They would be, if they had any families to go to,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°The fact is that all these kids, along with me and Zeke are orphans. Pretty much all the people in these slums is someone who either lost their family or got abandoned. We are basically a collection of those no one either can take care of or doesn¡¯t care about.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­ I¡¯m sorry if I was insensitive,¡± the redhead apologized.

    ¡°Meh. Don¡¯t let it bother you too much. We¡¯ve all pretty much come to terms with it already and have taken it upon ourselves to take care of each other. We all use our abilities to help out to the best we can around here and we do get those that offer some assistance to us from time to time. The problem is just that even most of the people that have it better than we do are facing hard times due to the current leadership, so we can¡¯t rely on any outsiders to offer help,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°However, the worst are the rich bastards that like to pretend that they understand us and claim they relate with our struggles. Nothing but empty words to fool those who are dumb enough to believe them.¡±

    ¡°So is that why you were after the bounty on my head?¡± Erin asked. ¡°To help the people of this slum?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much, although I wasn¡¯t simply going to help everyone here. Just those that are important to me, like Zeke and these kids,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°I mean, I could try and help everyone here, but that would just mean less to give to the people that actually matter to me. We might stick together around here, but not to the point where everything has to be shared. Besides, with Zeke¡¯s condition, he needs more help than anyone.¡±

    ¡°He seemed to be ill. Is he sick or something?¡±

    ¡°Wish it was something as simple as that. He has a rare disease that can be transmitted from the beasts that live at the bottom of the ravine. While it can be cured, it requires a lot of money to do so. A lot of the money I manage to get goes to just keeping the symptoms to a manageable level, so he doesn¡¯t die from them. If I can¡¯t get some serious cash, it¡¯s only a matter of time before¡­¡±

    The blonde woman didn¡¯t even need to finish her explanation, as the expression on her face was enough to tell Erin what would happen. The redhead was saddened to learn that things were tough with the people that had decided to help her. She felt like she needed to do something in order to repay them for their kindness.

    ¡°...Hey, are you perhaps going bounty hunting anytime soon?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Huh? Maybe. I mean, it depends if Zeke has any good info gathered,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s any good bounties to be hunted, then I want in,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°I want to work with you to collect some good cash from that.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? Hell no! I work on my own!¡± the blonde woman yelled. ¡°Besides, I need that money myself! Weren¡¯t you listening at all to what I was telling you!?¡±

    ¡°I was listening. Now I want you to do some thinking,¡± Erin began to explain. ¡°With the two of us we¡¯ll have a much easier time taking care of bounties, as we can do much more than by working alone. Not only that, but we can even take on bigger and more dangerous outlaws together instead of going solo. Also, this should ensure that we have a better chance at surviving, which is something you should keep in mind. After all, who is going to take care of Zeke, if you¡¯re gone?¡±

    ¡°Nice try. If you think you can manipulate me that way, you¡¯re-¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea,¡± Zeke said as he suddenly walked into the room. ¡°I¡¯ve been hoping for you to get a partner for some time now as well.¡±

    ¡°ZEKE, YOU CAN¡¯T BE SERIOUS!¡± Ryle shouted at her younger brother. ¡°You should know better than anyone that I can take care of myself! Besides, if I have her go with me, I¡¯m going to have to split the bounty!¡±

    ¡°Well, the money won¡¯t do much good if you end up dead anyways, even if you somehow manage to claim it before that,¡± Zeke said as he walked up to his sister. He then pulled her into a sudden hug that surprised her. ¡°Also, do you think I could live with myself, if you died because of me?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s so not fair. Striking me in such an underhanded manner,¡± Ryle said as she gently embraced her brother in return.

    ¡°I would also like to add that you don¡¯t need to give me half of the bounty. I¡¯m fine with getting less than 20 %,¡± Erin said. ¡°I just want to get some money for when I travel out of here. I honestly simply want to pay you back for helping me out.¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯d like to say that there is no need to feel indebted to us, I have a feeling that you¡¯re not going to back down on this, are you?¡± Zeke asked with a smile. ¡°Very well then. Let¡¯s set up a bounty for the two of you. In fact, I have the perfect target located just nearby.¡±

    ¡°Hang on. Why wasn¡¯t I aware of this?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°This one is quite dangerous, so I didn¡¯t want you going after it on your own,¡± the blonde boy answered.

    ¡°HOW COULD YOU NOT TRUST ME!?¡± the blonde woman cried out.

    As she watched the two siblings argue together, Erin couldn¡¯t help but smile. It seemed like things were finally going for the better for her.

 16. Teamwork

    Chapter 16

    Teamwork

    After receiving the details of a rather large bounty nearby, Erin and Ryle had left the town in the hopes of claiming the prize. Based on the information that Zeke had provided them, there was a rather notorious bandit leader camped rather close, most likely hoping to ambush traveling merchants that were either leaving or arriving to the town.

    The way Ryle¡¯s brother had managed to get this information was through some rather impressive equipment he had built in his home. Zeke was a natural when it came to working with computers and other machinery, which had led to him building his own computer from discarded parts that he managed to get his hands on. Through this, he could look into websites that provided information in regards to bounties and other such information. The sickly boy had even learned to hack, which allowed him to gather even more info for his bounty hunter sister. By using all the sources available to him, he had been able to find out that the bounty they were looking at was in the nearby area. To make sure this was true, Zeke had even managed to get hold of transmissions between the members of the bandit group communicating with each other. With this, finding where the group was located at was an easy task.

    Erin was greatly amazed by Zeke¡¯s skills. While doing such things was possible in the game itself back when she was simply playing it, a lot of players didn¡¯t bother with it. The reason was that it required a lot from the player to accomplish with not only acquiring the necessary components to build the machinery, but also the skills to fully utilize it. The fact that Zeke had accomplished this all on his own through his own ingenuity and hard work was nothing to scoff at in the least.

    With the location of their target, Erin and Ryle soon headed out of the town looking towards claiming the bounty. From what Zeke had told them, the bandit leader was an ogre by the name of Balrus that had once served in the military. However, due to an argument between him and his superior over dividing their ¡°spoils of war¡± he had ended up killing his commander. This was not something that was exactly taken well by the other higher-ups, which led to the ogre becoming a wanted criminal and being forced to run away.

    With most of Western Continent now chasing after him, one would think that him getting caught was only a matter of time, but Balrus was a surprisingly crafty person. It didn¡¯t take him long to gather a gang of criminals around him to become his personal guards to either help him in robbing people, killing those that chased after him or to even become his shields and sacrificial pawns. Due to his greater physical strength, Balrus was able to keep most of his underlings in line with nothing more than the threat of physical violence alone. Anybody else could just be bribed through the money and goods he had managed to get his hands on as a bandit. This also helped him avoid capture, as the ogre knew who to bribe in order to keep himself safe.

    However, now Balrus had two bounty hunters coming for him that wouldn¡¯t take any of his bribes. Both Erin and Ryle were certain that they would be able to claim the bounty on the bandit leader. Unfortunately, they seemed to have a different idea on how that was going to be done.

    ¡°You know this is some bullshit, right? I mean, I could TOTALLY handle this on my own! No need for some bum that got her ass handed to herself by yours truly to come and assist ME of all people! I¡¯d take this whole idea as an insult, had my brother not agreed to this!¡±

    This type of ranting had been coming out of Ryle¡¯s mouth for some time now, as she was voicing her displeasure over being stuck with a partner for the first time in her bounty hunting business. The person this was all directed to, Erin, was doing her best to ignore the blonde woman¡¯s unhinged meltdown, but it was starting to wear her down little by little. Even the most benevolent of people had a limit to such things, and the redhead¡¯s limit was just about to be filled.

    It wasn¡¯t that Erin didn¡¯t understand Ryle¡¯s situation. The blonde woman had important expenses that she needed to cover with her bounty hunting business, particularly her brother¡¯s treatment. Being forced into a situation where you had to give away even a part of your possible salary to someone else would displease practically anyone.

    However, considering how the redhead was willing to take only a small cut of the bounty for herself, she had trouble seeing why Ryle was this worked up over having a partner for the first time. Especially when the bounty they were going after was very large.

    ¡°OKAY! You have made it VERY clear that you don¡¯t like the idea of working together!¡± Erin finally yelled angrily, having grown tired of the older woman¡¯s complaining. ¡°What I don¡¯t get is why this is such a big deal! You have to give a small amount of the bounty to me? Big deal! You are still left with a big pile of cash that you can use to help your brother! Why isn¡¯t that enough for you!?¡±

    ¡°You think this is about the money!?¡± Ryle asked in return, still upset. ¡°The cash is just a small part of this bullshit that I¡¯m being forced to swallow! What really pisses me off is that Zeke has decided to trust some third-rate fighter like you over me!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°How is he supposedly trusting me over you!? And mind explaining what you mean by third-rate!?¡±

    ¡°The reason I¡¯m calling you third-rate is because when we fought, I pretty much handed you your ass on a silver plate! You could barely put up any kind of a resistance at all! How you managed to become one of the biggest bounties ever is a complete freaking mystery to me!¡± the blonde woman explained angrily. ¡°You think I like the idea of some no good loser that can barely fight joining up with me on a job!? Worst case scenario is that you get us both killed!¡±

    ¡°...You just caught me off-guard when we fought. That¡¯s it,¡± Erin said in an attempt at making an excuse for herself. ¡°Besides, wasn¡¯t I basically the winner of our fight? I remember having you at my mercy.¡±

    ¡°YOU JUST GOT LUCKY! THAT¡¯S IT!¡± Ryle yelled with an embarrassed blush on her face. After composing herself a bit, a serious look came over the blonde¡¯s face as the tone of her voice also changed. ¡°But what I can¡¯t accept is that my brother has decided to trust you for no reason at all.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Zeke and I lost our parents when we were very young and we were forced to survive by ourselves. It was¡­ tough, to say the least. Luckily we pretty much complimented each other perfectly. I was the brawn while Zeke was the brains. Thanks to this, we were able to survive in the slums no matter what was thrown at us,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°However, it never really got any easier either. The moment we thought things were looking up for us, life would throw something new at us to bring us down. First we became such known thieves that we could no longer stay around the main part of town and had to move to the slums. Once we started to figure out our way as a bounty hunting duo, Zeke gets sick and I have to worry about him. It¡¯s just one thing after the other. Nevertheless, we could make do because we had each other, and we would only trust ourselves and no one else.¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯ve had it tough for both of you, but is it really a good enough reason to be so distrustful over me as well?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Even if you have trust issues, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit ridiculous to take them out on me? Especially when your brother is the one that trusts me?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it. My brother is the one with the real trust issues here,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°When we were still kids, we were still somewhat willing to trust people. I mean, could you blame us? We were just children that were on their own in a big and scary world. We obviously wanted someone to help us, which led to us getting into all sorts of sticky situations. That, however, changed one day.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°There was this one lady who was really nice to us. She would give us food and let us hide from the police at her house even. We thought that we could trust her no matter what, but that turned out to be a big mistake on our part,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°While I don¡¯t know of the full details of what exactly happened, she had invited Zeke to her home and gave him something that put him to sleep. By the time I realized that he was missing, she had already left the town. I chased after them and found her car crashed into a boulder not too far from town with Zeke walking away from it. He had knife in his hand and blood splattered all over him. But what was truly disturbing was the look on his face that was a mix of rage, horror and shock. When I investigated the car, I found the lady dead inside. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what had happened.¡±

    ¡°Did you ever find out why your brother was kidnapped?¡±

    ¡°Not really. He told me that she was going to sell him as a slave or something. There are a lot of sick bastards that are willing to pay large amounts of cash for kids, especially ones that have talents like Zeke,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°But I doubt that¡¯s all there was to it. Whatever that bitch did to my brother, it broke him. The look on his face when I found him was enough of a hint, but he also said without even looking at me that we were to never trust anyone in such a cold tone that I never thought he could muster. Even after we came back, he was still hurt by what happened, as for a few months he refused to be touched and he was acting all paranoid over everything.¡±

    Upon hearing such a story, Erin went completely silent. She had no idea what she could say after hearing what the two siblings had gone through. It was no wonder that Ryle was having issues with this whole situation. Even if the redhead had saved her life, it didn¡¯t mean that she trusted her. After all, the blonde had just been returning the favor by taking care of Erin¡¯s injuries.

    Suddenly, the redhead realized something odd about the story she had heard. If Zeke was the one who had truly been betrayed by someone he trusted, why was he so willing to trust her? Logically speaking, he should be the one to mistrust the new arrival in town, even if she had saved his sister¡¯s life.

    ¡°...Has your brother been able to trust anyone?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Anyone besides you?¡±

    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m pretty much the only person he trusts at all. Hell, he doesn¡¯t even trust the kids that we live with and he was completely against the idea of us helping them. It took a lot of convincing from my part to allow me to look after them,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°I know that he has some serious trust issues, but there¡¯s no reason to take it out on kids that are in the same position as we are. That¡¯s going too far, right?¡±

    ¡°Back at the slum he seemed to be very kind and friendly. It¡¯s kind of hard to believe that he would be like that,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°He hides it the same way he hides his illness,¡± the blonde began to explain. ¡°Zeke¡¯s always been like that, hiding his true feelings from others. Even when he fell ill, he tried to hide it from me, not wanting to hold me back or some other crap like that. He might seem happy and well on the outside, but I know from experience that he is actually in pain. I just wish he wouldn¡¯t do that, as I¡¯d like it more if he was honest with me.¡±

    This completely confused Erin. If Zeke had such reservations towards trusting other people, then why was he so ready to trust her? With his sister no less. It didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°...Maybe he felt like he could begin trusting people again after I saved your life?¡± the redhead suggested hopefully. ¡°I mean, that should prove to him that I¡¯m trustworthy, right?¡±

    ¡°To a certain degree, I guess,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°I mean, even if you saved my life, it doesn¡¯t mean that you won¡¯t betray us later on. You could be playing the long game for all I know. I¡¯m honestly surprised that Zeke didn¡¯t complain about me bringing you to our home to get treated.¡±

    The fact that Zeke apparently had this darker side to himself that he wouldn¡¯t show others was something that truly worried Erin. If he wasn¡¯t supposed to act the way he had, then what could be the truth behind his friendly attitude? Did he have an ulterior motive or something?

    Whatever the case might have been, the redhead shook those thoughts out of her head. It wouldn¡¯t do her any good to think about things she wouldn¡¯t be able to find answers for. Besides, she needed to focus on the bounty they were after right now.

    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go,¡± Erin said as she resumed walking. ¡°Nothing good will come from us speculating here. Let¡¯s just go and get the bounty were looking for.¡±

    Ryle didn¡¯t say anything outside of some dissatisfied grumbling as she followed behind the redhead. The way Erin saw it, this was at least some improvement over how the blonde was before. It wasn¡¯t much, but at least it was something.

    After a bit more walking, the two bounty hunters made their way to Balrus¡¯s camp. There were some large rocks nearby that Erin and Ryle were able to use as cover, as they scouted out the base of their target.

    Much like most bandits and raiders of the Western Continent, Balrus¡¯s group had a ¡°moving base¡± of sorts, as they used vehicles they had gotten their hands on to move around and conduct their attacks on their targets. These vehicles were now parked in such a way that they formed a protected perimeter, with the largest trucks having been parked sideways at the edge of the camp, while the smaller vehicles were inside the makeshift circle. The only way in was to go between the gaps of the trucks, as crawling under or climbing over them would only make you an easy target, especially with guards stated on top. But even if you were to get inside, you would get into a firefight against opponents that would be hiding behind cover.

    Erin had a pair of binoculars that she was using to scout the are more effectively, mostly to get an idea on the location of their target. In the middle of the camp, there was a large fire that was used to cook food that the bandits had either hunted or stolen. As Erin had suspected, Balrus himself was seated close to the fire, roasting a large piece of meat.

    ¡°So, got any ideas on how to get to the guy?¡± Ryle asked impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m getting sick of simply waiting, while you¡¯re dicking around!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not ¡®dicking around¡¯! I¡¯m trying to find a way to our target!¡± Erin said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Have you never heard of planning before or something?¡±

    ¡°Yes I have! In fact, I have a plan!¡± the blonde said back. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®let¡¯s just go in and kill the fat bastard!¡¯ Do you want me to explain to you how it works?¡±

    ¡°No need for that. I only have one question,¡± the redhead said back with a hint of anger in her voice. ¡°Are you going to use the version where we get slaughtered right at the start or the one where we get taken prisoner?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that my plan is guaranteed to work!¡± Ryle said angrily.

    ¡°Yeah. In their favor. That¡¯s for certain,¡± Erin said as she rolled her eyes before going back to observing the camp. ¡°Now if you would mind, I¡¯d like to avoid a complete disaster. For that, we need something a bit better.¡±

    Ignoring the complaints from her partner, the redhead looked at the camp, hoping to figure out a way in. Considering the number of bandits they were up against, a straight up battle was the last thing they wanted. For them to make this work, they needed to be quick, silent and efficient. Erin knew that she herself had those qualities thanks to her training as an assassin, but Ryle was a different matter. The blonde was more of a ¡°charge in and bash your enemies as hard as you can¡± type of person. She did have at least some amount of trickery to herself, like when she disguised herself as a child, but that was most likely it.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Suddenly, Erin had an idea. She had seen the files on Balrus that shared his criminal activity and other important details. In those files was something that the redhead was sure could be used to their advantage. She just needed one more thing.

    Using her binoculars again, Erin spotted just what she needed. A lone female guard. It was time to put her plan into motion.

    A bit later, Erin and Ryle were back at their hiding spot, except this time the blonde was carrying the body of the guard the redhead had spotted. Having become accustomed to never being attacked while their group had set up a camp had made the guards somewhat lax and not really pay attention to their surroundings. As soon as the guard had looked the other way, Ryle had quickly come up from behind her and snapped her neck in one swift motion. With their first target taken down, the two bounty hunters went returned to their original spot to plan their next step.

    ¡°Okay, so what exactly do you need this for?¡± Ryle asked as she dropped the dead guard on the ground. ¡°I mean, we can take her stuff, but I doubt she has anything that¡¯s all that useful.¡±

    Erin ignored the blonde¡¯s question and started to inspect the corpse in front of her. Once her inspection was done, she began to undress the dead female guard, shocking her partner.

    ¡°Woah! Look, I get that we all have our kinks and everything and I¡¯m not really in a position to judge, but isn¡¯t getting freaky with a corpse just a bit too messed up!?¡± Ryle said with a horrified look on her face. ¡°Seriously, there are better ways to get your needs met! I can show you some places where-¡±

    ¡°Would you shut the hell up!? This isn¡¯t about anything like that!¡± Erin said angrily with a red face. ¡°Look, there is no way for us to get close to our target without getting spotted. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯d prefer not getting killed, so I have an idea. I¡¯ll dress up as one of the bandits and use that to sneak us in.¡±

    ¡°I guess that could work, but what about me?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can just walk in without causing some kind of a ruckus.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. In fact, you will be our key in getting right up to the big boss himself.¡±

    Some time later, one of the guards looking out for any possible intruders spotted two figures walking towards him. He instinctively grabbed his rifle, but soon relaxed upon the two coming close enough for him to see who they were. One was part of the bandit group, judging by her clothes. The other one was a little girl walking behind her with her hands tied together and the bandit was holding the end of the rope in her hand.

    ¡°Hey, who is that kid?¡± the guard asked as he walked up to check on the two arrivals.

    ¡°I was doing my job, when I heard someone sneaking around,¡± The bandit answered. She pulled on the rope she was holding a bit roughly, causing the girl to stumble a bit. ¡°Thought the boss would like her.¡±

    The guard took one look at the prisoner and gave a nod.

    ¡°Yeah, she looks like something he would enjoy greatly,¡± the guard said as he stepped out of the way. ¡°The boss is at the campfire.¡±

    The bandit nodded in response and walked past the guard into the encampment. Most of the other bandits didn¡¯t seem to give them much attention, outside of a few glances. They were either too tired or drunk to really care about the new arrivals.

    ¡°Hey! Do that rope thing again and I¡¯ll twist your neck, like with that guard earlier!¡± the girl whispered angrily. ¡°I might have agreed to do this plan of yours, but it doesn¡¯t mean that you get to treat me like some damn cattle!¡±

    ¡°Oh, grow up, will you? It¡¯s not like I hurt you all that much anyways,¡± the bandit whispered back. ¡°Besides, we need to keep up the appearance of being captor and captive, if we want to get close to Balrus.¡±

    ¡°Somehow I just think you¡¯re taking enjoyment out of humiliating me¡­¡±

    In truth, these two were not what they appeared to be. The bandit was actually Erin, now dressed in the clothes of the guard she had Ryle take out earlier. Said blonde herself was actually the little girl, as she was using the potion made by Zeke to change her appearance.

    With the facade of them being a bandit and a prisoner, the two bounty hunters were hoping to get close to the leader of the bandits. Ryle¡¯s role was especially important in this operation, as Erin had read on their target¡¯s history and found out that he had a ¡°taste¡± for little girls. She hoped that by bringing a girl to Balrus as an offering of sorts, they would be able to get more than close enough to their target.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the two bounty hunters to find Balrus. The ogre was still sitting by the fire, devouring food and drinks like a living black hole. Both Erin and Ryle had to hold back the desire to vomit at the sight, as Balrus didn¡¯t exactly have the best table manners.

    As an ogre, Balrus looked like a mix of orc and human. He had pointy ears, sharp teeth and a more muscular build, like an orc. However, unlike orcs, his skin was similar to that of a human¡¯s. A long, black beard stretched from the lower half of his face that reached his very big and round belly. His hair was long and tied into a ponytail. His clothing consisted mostly out of his old military uniform, which was now quite tattered and torn from all the battles he¡¯d been through, with some added armor pieces here and there. It seemed like the big guy liked to think of himself as some sort of an army commander, despite his current profession.

    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve got something for you,¡± Erin called out to the ogre, making her voice sound a bit gruffer than normal. Balrus stopped eating and turned his attention to the disguised bounty hunters. ¡°I found her sneaking around nearby. Thought you¡¯d like her.¡±

    Standing up, the ogre made his way to the two of them, while keeping his eyes on the blonde girl. Ryle herself was doing her best to act the part of a scared and helpless little girl. Her acting seemed to be working, as a perverse grin spread over Balrus¡¯s face upon looking over the supposed captive.

    ¡°Would ya look at that? A pretty little thing came right over to my camp,¡± the ogre said with a bit of a slur, his breath reeking of alcohol. The smell was so bad that both Erin and Ryle had to hold back the urge to cover their noses. ¡°Seems I¡¯ve gotten a bit lucky here. And ya say she was just sneaking around, huh?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I think she might have gotten separated from her family,¡± Erin answered. ¡°She probably saw the smoke of our campfire and then came here.¡±

    Balrus looked at one of his underlings and gave him a nod. The bandit nodded back before getting up and walking away. The ogre then turned his attention back to Erin.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing ya want something in return then, right?¡± Balrus asked to which the redhead nodded. ¡°Well, follow me to my personal quarters and we¡¯ll see what kind of a deal we can make.¡±

    Erin let out a silent sigh of relief as she followed the bandit leader. Truth be told, she had been quite nervous from the moment she and Ryle had entered the camp, due to being surrounded by enemies. This feeling had only become worse upon meeting their target, as his large and strong build told her that this was no easy opponent. Had the redhead blown her cover, things would have turned quite messy, but it seemed like it was all going according to plan.

    Balrus led the two disguised bounty hunters to a large and powerful-looking truck that had a massive trailer behind it. He opened a door to the trailer and walked inside with Erin and Ryle following behind him. The inside looked a lot better than the outside, as the ogre had brought a lot of quality furniture and art pieces to decorate it. Golden statues and jewels were practically everywhere, and the walls had expensive looking weapons covering them.

    ¡°So, since ya brought me such a lovely present, I was thinking ya should get something equally nice in return,¡± Balrus explained as he closed the door and turned to his two guests. ¡°Now, what might be to yer liking in here? Ya can pick one object out of this here lot.¡±

    ¡°That is a really generous prize. Thank you,¡± Erin said and gave a small bow, before turning her attention to the goods that were spread around. She was mostly just playing along, hoping to keep the bandit leader¡¯s attention on her for now. ¡°This is a bit tough, though. There are so many things to choose from.¡±

    ¡°Well, I hope ya make it fast,¡± the ogre said with a hint of impatience. ¡°I¡¯m kind of hoping to get to sample the gift ya brought.¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle had to hold back their shivers of disgust over Balrus¡¯s comment. Knowing that she couldn¡¯t keep playing her part infinitely, the redhead secretly let go of the rope that she had been holding. This was a signal to Ryle to get ready to act. The blonde began to move back, so that she was behind their target. To keep Balrus¡¯s attention as far away from Ryle as possible, Erin headed to one of the golden statues that decorated the inside of the trailer. This one depicted a dragon with its wings spread out and had small rubies for eyes. The statue was sitting on a shelf with other such treasures.

    ¡°If I may ask for it, I would like this to be my prize,¡± Erin said as she went to grab the statue in order to inspect it closer. ¡°I really like it and would love to have it for myself.¡±

    ¡°I see. Ya really have eye for the good stuff, don¡¯t ya?¡± Balrus said as he stepped closer to the redhead. ¡°Though I hate to say it, ya might want to reconsider. After all, it¡¯s about to get broken.¡±

    ¡°Wha-?¡±

    Erin couldn¡¯t even finish her question, before a massive fist collided to her back, causing her body to hit the wall before her. The dragon statue she had been holding fell out of her hands and broke on the floor with one of its wings snapping off. The redhead tried to get back up, but the ogre was too fast for her. He was soon on top of her with both hands around her throat, squeezing the life out of her.

    ¡°I gotta say, ya bounty hunters just can¡¯t seem to come up with any new ideas at all. I¡¯ve already lost count of how many of ya have tried to disguise yourselves as one of my crew and then try to get close to me. Pretty much all of my closest subordinates can recognize and obvious outsider now,¡± Balrus said with a big grin on his face as he continued to strangle Eris. ¡°Although, I guess I have to thank ya for one thing at least. Ya brought me a little girl to play with for tonight. That¡¯s something no other bounty hunter has ever done before.¡±

    ¡°Too bad for you, I play a very rough game, fatso!¡±

    The ogre turned to where the unfamiliar voice had come from, only to receive a powerful blow to the throat. While he had been too occupied with Erin, Ryle had transformed back to her actual form and had prepared herself to strike at Balrus. This had been the plan of the two bounty hunters all along. Erin would distract their target and then Ryle would strike at him when the opportunity came.

    At first, Balrus simply held his throat as he coughed up blood. His eyes were wide from shock and he was struggling to breathe. The damage to his throat was causing blood to get into his windpipe and thus made it difficult for him to breathe. If the two bounty hunters¡¯ plan worked the way they hoped, then the ogre would choke to death without any further issues.

    However, much to their shock, Balrus proved to be far more tenacious than they had thought, as the ogre charged at Ryle with burning rage in his eyes. The blonde responded by giving her opponent a swift kick to the face. The blow was powerful enough to kill most average people, while leaving tougher fighters staggered. Unfortunately, Balrus was the furthest thing from your average fighter, as he simply brushed off the hit he took like it was nothing and went on to grab Ryle in a bearhug.

    With the ogre¡¯s powerful arms around her, Ryle was lifted up from the floor and she felt how the hold around her was getting tighter and tighter with each second. The blonde could feel her bones creaking under the immense pressure and she had to grit her teeth to hold back her screams. She knew that people like Balrus took immense pleasure from hearing the cries of their victims and she refused to let him have the satisfaction.

    Ryle managed to free her arms and started punching at Balrus¡¯s face with all her might. But despite all the hits she threw at him that managed to even break his nose, the ogre¡¯s hold didn¡¯t falter one bit. Balrus was so engulfed by his own fury that nothing seemed to even faze him. Not even his own struggle to breathe, as he kept coughing up blood even now. Nothing outside of death would even hinder him in destroying the one who had just hurt him.

    Just when things seemed to be hopeless for Ryle, Erin came to her rescue. With Balrus¡¯s attention on her blonde partner, the redhead had been able to sneak up on him from behind and use one of her knives to drive the blade in the back of the ogre¡¯s neck.

    In an instant, Ryle was freed from the crushing grasp, as Balrus was now reaching for the knife stuck on his neck. With shaking hands, he touched the blade a bit, before falling to the floor dead.

    Erin and Ryle stared at their dead opponent for a moment, fearing that he would still get up and attack the again. After a few seconds of waiting, Erin went to check for a pulse and was relieved to find none in the ogre¡¯s body. Their target was now dead.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, he¡¯s dead now,¡± Erin said with a deep sigh. ¡°That could have gone better¡­¡±

    ¡°No kidding,¡± Ryle grumbled angrily as she got up from the floor. ¡°I almost had my internal organs turn into mush thanks to your shit plan! You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m not kicking your ass for this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that this went south! How could I know that he would-!?¡± the redhead began to argue back, but stopped herself. Getting caught in bickering with each other wasn¡¯t going to be of any help. ¡°Forget about it. What do we do now? Don¡¯t we need some type of proof in order to prove that we took him down?¡±

    ¡°Well duh! Obviously we are going to need proof! Otherwise anyone could claim the bounty whenever they wanted!¡± the blonde explained as she walked up to one of the walls that had a bunch of weapons hanging on it. A lot of them seemed to be more for decoration than combat, as they were made from flashy materials like gold and had a bunch of gems in them. ¡°Just hang on a second. I¡¯ll get us the proof we need.¡±

    Ryle picked up one of the axes that was one the wall and walked back to Balrus¡¯s body. Without any hesitation, she decapitated the ogre¡¯s corpse and picked up the severed head by the hair.

    ¡°Ryle, what the hell!?¡± Erin yelled, shocked by her partner¡¯s barbaric actions. ¡°Why did you do that!?¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ To get proof of our kill? Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± the blonde said in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Do you have a better method in mind or something?¡±

    ¡°I get that we need proof, but can¡¯t it be done in a cleaner manner? Couldn¡¯t we just take a picture of his body or something?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Stuff like that can be faked. When dealing with bounties, the people handling them want some reliable physical evidence of the bounty¡¯s death,¡± Ryle explained. ¡°Bringing them a decapitated head is the best way to do this. Other things can work, but there have been cases that they weren¡¯t accepted and I¡¯d rather not risk it.¡±

    Erin felt sick about having to carry a person¡¯s head with them, but couldn¡¯t find a way to argue against it. Like it or not, they needed proof and Ryle had experience in this business. Still, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but think how much nicer this had been back when it all was just a game she played on her computer.

    ¡°Anyways, we should get ready to leave. Hopefully our fight didn¡¯t cause too much noise, so we can get out of here without any issues,¡± Erin said as she walked up to the trailer¡¯s door. She opened it a bit and peeked outside. ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t good.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ryle asked as she walked up to the redhead and looked outside as well. ¡°Oh crap¡­¡±

    Right outside the trailer, a large group of bandits was waiting with their weapons at the ready. Balrus had most likely prepared this in case intruders came into the camp and they tried to escape.

    ¡°What are we gonna do now? I doubt we can exactly talk these guys out of killing us or intimidate them to back away,¡± Ryle asked as she looked at the opposition they had ahead of them. Judging by the numbers they were facing, their chances weren¡¯t good. ¡°If nothing else, I guess we can try to bust through them.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s going to work out for us all that well,¡± Erin said, as she looked at the group of bandits waiting outside. It seemed like they didn¡¯t think their leader would lose, as they seemed to be quite easygoing at the moment. ¡°While we sort of have the element of surprise on our hands, it won¡¯t take long until this whole place is going to be crawling with these guys. It would be better to avoid confrontation as much as possible.¡±

    Ignoring her partner¡¯s displeased cursing, the redhead went on to look for a way for them to escape. Unfortunately, their options seemed to be quite limited, as there didn¡¯t seem to be any alternatives to simply fighting their way through. Erin looked through the weapons gathered at the trailer, but couldn¡¯t find anything that offered a solution to their problem. There were a couple of explosives, but they would be nowhere near enough to mount an escape from the camp.

    As she was beginning to lose hope, the redhead noticed something on the ceiling. There was a hatch that led to the roof of the trailer. This led to an idea.

    ¡°Hey, I think I have something,¡± Erin called out to her partner. ¡°It¡¯s a bit risky, but I¡¯d say it¡¯s the best option we have so far.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ryle asked and followed the redhead¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t see how going through there is going to help us all that much. I mean, we¡¯re still going to end up fighting.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of fighting. I¡¯m thinking of switching places,¡± Erin explained as she went to Balrus¡¯s body and picked something out of his pocket. ¡°Help me up there and then follow after me. And try to be as quiet as possible.¡±

    The blonde had the redhead climb on her shoulders, which allowed Erin to reach the hatch. She then carefully pushed it open as to not make a sound before climbing through it to the roof. Erin then helped Ryle get there as well. Without making a sound, the two bounty hunters climbed down from the trailer to the other side where there were no bandits waiting. The duo then proceeded to the front of the trailer, where it was attached to a large truck. Erin, who had just taken the key from Balrus, opened the door, allowing them to get it.

    ¡°Fasten your seat belt, because this is going to be a rough ride,¡± Erin said as she put the key in the ignition.

    ¡°Wait¡­ Hold on¡­ You¡¯re not going to-?¡± Ryle began to ask with a pale face as she was beginning to see what her partner was planning.

    ¡°Here we go!¡± the redhead exclaimed as she turned the engine on, which practically roared. As soon as this happened, she pressed her foot on the accelerator and drove through the camp, catching the bandits that had been waiting completely off-guard.

    ¡°YOU CRAZY ASSHOLE!¡± the blonde screamed in terror, as the truck smashed through bodies and smaller vehicles.

    Thanks to the initial surprise, the two bounty hunters were able to drive out of the bandit camp with relative ease. As one would have expected of their leader, his truck was the most powerful vehicle in the whole group. The truck was practically a metallic beast that tore trough flesh and steel, leaving only destruction behind.

    However, it didn¡¯t take long for the bandits to get out of their shock and begin chasing after the two infiltrators. Soon a small army of engines roared behind the two bounty hunters, as they were being chased after.

    ¡°We need more speed! Get rid of the trailer!¡± Erin said.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Ryle said back as she used a control panel on the inside to detach the load they were dragging behind them. The massive trailer crashed into some of the bandits that were behind them. ¡°Ha! We got a few of the bastard as well! Shame about the stuff though. Could have gotten some nice cash from that.¡±

    ¡°Money is no good once you¡¯re dead. Besides, we got our bounty already,¡± the redhead said as she began to make some preparations. ¡°Not to mention, it was necessary for our escape.¡±

    ¡°What do you-?¡± the blonde began to ask, only to realize what her partner was planning. ¡°Oh no¡­¡±

    ¡°HOLD ON TIGHT!¡±

    With a simple flick of a switch, Erin activated the nitro boost that was on the truck, causing the vehicle to launch like a rocket and speed away from their pursuers. In just a matter of seconds, the bandits that were chasing after them disappeared beyond the horizon.

    ¡°Look at that! We lost them!¡± Erin exclaimed happily upon seeing their pursuers get left in the dust. ¡°If we keep this up, we¡¯ll back at the town in no time!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s great,¡± Ryle said as she was still in shock of the sudden increase in speed. ¡°I guess I owe you an apology, though.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°For¡­ not being exactly a nice partner through this whole thing,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ I¡¯m just not used to working with others, you know? And the fact that Zeke was so ready to trust pretty much from the beginning might have made me a bit jealous in a way. At the end of the day, it was thanks to you that we were able to pull this off. Thanks.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Erin said with a smile, happy that her partner was finally warming up to her. ¡°I should thank you as well. If you hadn¡¯t been there, I don¡¯t think I could have made it out alive either. Now let¡¯s get back and collect our reward. I¡¯m sure Zeke will be happy to see us return.¡±

    Ryle simply nodded and smiled in response. It looked like things were finally turning for the better for both of them.

    Unfortunately, Erin failed to notice a pothole ahead of them. One of the truck¡¯s wheels sank into it and was damaged so badly that the truck went out of control and crashed into a large boulder. The two bounty hunters were lucky to not get hurt, but the vehicle itself was now unusable, forcing them to walk back the rest of the way.

    ¡°...Maybe we shouldn¡¯t work together anymore,¡± Ryle said in a deadpan tone.

 17. Deals Behind Others

    Chapter 17

    Deals Behind Others

    The guards posted at the outside of Grand Ravine were expecting a regular day on the job with nothing interesting happening. However, the two guards were shaken out of their boredom by the sight of Erin and Ryle walking up to them while looking worse for wear. Even if wandering around the area wasn¡¯t usually a big deal, the two bounty hunters were carrying a decapitated head with them. The scent of blood attracted beasts to them from afar, forcing them to fight for survival more than once.

    Without even saying a word, the two ladies stopped in front of the guards and pulled out their ID cards, hoping to get the whole checking thing out of the way so they could get home and rest.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Thank you for your cooperation,¡± one of the guards said awkwardly as he checked the cards before looking at the bag that Ryle was carrying. ¡°I do have to ask, though. What is in that bag? It smells strange.¡±

    The blonde woman let out a frustrated sigh as she pulled out Balrus¡¯s head without saying a word. At first, the guards were shocked by the sight of a decapitated head, but upon recognizing who it belonged to they relaxed somewhat.

    ¡°O-Oh my! You actually managed to take out quite the notorious bandit leader!¡± the guard said as he remembered who Balrus was. ¡°You¡¯re free to enter! Thank you for taking care of that criminal!¡±

    Erin and Ryle didn¡¯t even say a word in response as they walked past the guards and entered the town. They stopped at a more quiet place in order to discuss their next course of action. The two of them might have been very tired, but they still needed to bring Balrus¡¯s head to the proper authorities. They could do it later, but te idea of carrying a decapitated head around wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasing thought.

    ¡°We should go to whatever place it is that we need to bring this head to and collect our bounty,¡± Erin said. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I don¡¯t want to have that thing with us any longer.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t like this thing anymore than you do. Not only does it smell like blood, but it has the horrible stench of its owner mixed in it as well. And remember, my nose is way stronger than yours,¡± Ryle said as she glared at the bag she was carrying. ¡°But can¡¯t we do that tomorrow? It¡¯s not like the bounty office is going to suddenly disappear, right?¡±

    ¡°Okay. Let me ask you this then,¡± the redhead said in a somewhat stern tone. ¡°Do you want to sleep next to that smelly thing and not only risk having the smell get stuck on you, but also having someone steal it? Personally, I¡¯d rather avoid both of those things as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°Fine! You take it to the bounty office then, since you¡¯re so concerned,¡± the blonde said as she offered the bag to her partner.

    ¡°I would, but I have no idea where the bounty office is!¡± Erin stated. ¡°Look, let¡¯s just go there together and get this whole thing cleared out. Then we can go back and get some rest finally.¡±

    Ryle cursed under her breath as she began to lead the way with Erin following behind her. The two bounty hunter didn¡¯t walk far, until they met Zeke on their way, who seemed to be waiting for them.

    ¡°Hello, you guys. I¡¯m glad to see that you¡¯re both alright,¡± the blonde youngster said with a smile. ¡°I was starting to get worried when you weren¡¯t returning. It¡¯s a relief that neither of you seem to be badly hurt, even if I can tell things didn¡¯t exactly go easy with you.¡±

    ¡°Awww¡­ You don¡¯t need to worry about me! You know I can-,¡± Ryle began to say as she stepped closer to hug her brother, only for him to back away.

    ¡°Sorry, sis, but you kind of smell,¡± Zeke said while still smiling. ¡°What exactly happened with you two?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit too harsh to your sister!?¡± the blonde woman whined. ¡°Besides, we just went through a lot of trouble in order to get this bounty. Not only did Balrus turn out to be much more difficult to handle than we thought, but we had to run from all sorts of beasts just to get here! The freaking blood from the head had all the animals in the area coming after us!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate and I would love to make you feel better, but I¡¯d prefer to keep the smell of blood and whatever else is mixed in that off my body,¡± the boy said before turning his attention towards Erin. ¡°Thank you for helping my sister. I wouldn¡¯t have ever let her take on such a task on her own.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. She helped me out quite a bit as well,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°The way I see it, I owe her just as much as she owes me. In other words, we¡¯re even.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! You should have totally seen us in action, Zeke!¡± Ryle exclaimed happily as she put an arm around Erin¡¯s shoulders and pulled her close. ¡°We were totally kicking ass out there! I doubt those bandits are going to continue in their line of work after what we put them through!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I completely agree with that statement, but I¡¯d say we did pretty well,¡± the redhead said with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear that. By the way, were you two about to go to the bounty office?¡± Zeke asked to which he received a nod from both women. ¡°Actually, Ms. Erin, could you go back to our place ahead of us? We¡¯ll take care of the bounty.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any issue with that, but why do you want me to go to your home first?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I come to the bounty office with you two?¡±

    ¡°This is just a precaution on my part. I just don¡¯t want anyone to recognize you and try to claim the bounty on your head,¡± the blonde boy explained. ¡°I also wish to discuss something with my sister in private. Is that alright with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that,¡± the redhead replied and started to walk back to where the two siblings lived. ¡°I¡¯ll see you two later then.¡±

    After waving goodbye to her friends, Erin began to think about some of the things she had learned about Zeke from Ryle. The blonde woman had claimed that her brother had serious trust issues due to a rough past. However, from what she could tell, this didn¡¯t seem to be the case at all. In fact, Zeke had been nothing but kind and polite towards her. Not to mention, he had even trusted her with his sister¡¯s life. The redhead didn¡¯t know whether Ryle had exaggerated her stories or if Zeke was simply being trustful towards her due to some circumstances. Whatever the case, she couldn¡¯t help but smile, as she felt like things were finally looking good for her.

    As she was walking, Erin suddenly stopped upon noticing a sweet smell in the air. She turned her head and saw a bakery that seemed to be offering all sorts of sugary goods. It was then that an idea hit her. The redhead still had some money on her, so she could buy something nice for Ryle and Zeke in order to show just how grateful she was for their hospitality. Not only that, but she could get something for the kids that had helped her when she had been recovering as well.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    With a smile on her face, Erin entered the bakery, not knowing that this one decision was going to save her life.

    Back with Ryle and Zeke, the two siblings were walking together. The older of the two was waiting for her younger brother to start talking, as he claimed to have something he wanted to talk about with her, but had been completely silent so far. The silence was starting to get a bit awkward, so she decided to break it.

    ¡°So, Zeke, what did you want to talk about?¡± Ryle asked her brother with a smile. ¡°You know that you can talk to me about anything that¡¯s on your mind, right? No need to be shy about it. Also, why did you need to speak with me alone? I¡¯m sure whatever it is, I doubt having Erin around would be such a big issue.¡±

    ¡°Actually, this is a bit of a personal thing for just the two of us, so I¡¯d say it¡¯s better for her not to be there,¡± Zeke replied. ¡°After all, what I want to talk to you about is in regards to her.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± the blonde woman asked with a raised eyebrow before an idea popped up in her head. ¡°Oh Zeke¡­ Don¡¯t tell me that this is about your trust issues. Take it from someone that has not only been saved by her but also worked with her, you don¡¯t need to fear betrayal from her at all.¡±

    ¡°That isn¡¯t the thing I wished to discuss with you,¡± the younger sibling said. ¡°While this does concern her, it would probably be more accurate to say that this is more about the two of us. Erin just happens to be connected to what we need to talk about.¡±

    ¡°Okay? I¡¯m not sure I completely-¡± Ryle began to say, only for her to notice that they had just walked past the bounty office. ¡°Hey, slow down a bit! We just passed the office and I need to bring this head there to get the reward!¡±

    ¡°Oh right. The bounty on Balrus,¡± Zeke said calmly before taking the bag from his sister and dumping in a nearby trash can. ¡°No need for that anymore. Come on.¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL, ZEKE!?¡± the older sibling screamed angrily. ¡°Do you have any idea how much trouble Erin and I went through to get that!? You might be my brother, but I¡¯m not about to forgive something like this easily!¡±

    ¡°You will. Right after you see what I have prepared for us,¡± the younger sibling said with a smile. ¡°What I¡¯ve got for you will make the bounty on Balrus look like pitiful pocket change in comparison.¡±

    Ryle was confused by what Zeke had just said but followed him regardless. She wasn¡¯t sure what he exactly had planned, yet went along with him anyways. After all, he was the one person in the world she could trust no matter what.

    Eventually, the two siblings arrived to the walled off area where the town¡¯s elite lived. Ryle wondered for a moment if her brother had gone in the wrong direction or something, as she couldn¡¯t imagine either of them ever being allowed inside. However, Zeke surprised her by walking up to the gate and speaking to the guard.

    ¡°Hello. Could you contact General Lune?¡± the blonde boy asked the guard. ¡°Tell him that Zachary Rafford is here with his sister to discuss business.¡±

    The guard nodded and went inside the guard post where the gate was controlled. Moments later, the gate began to open, allowing the two siblings to walk in.

    ¡°Come on, Ryle. Let¡¯s go inside,¡± Zeke called out to his sister. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t make the general wait. I¡¯ve heard he isn¡¯t exactly a patient man.¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re going to meet with Lune?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes. ¡°Why!? What¡¯s going on!?¡±

    ¡°It will all become clear soon enough. You just need to trust me, okay?¡± the younger sibling answered and offered a hand to his sister. ¡°You do trust me, right?¡±

    Despite hesitating for a moment, Ryle took her brother¡¯s hand and allowed him to lead her inside the walled off area of the town. The blonde bounty hunter couldn¡¯t help but be worried over whatever her younger sibling was planning, but she still trusted him above anything else and couldn¡¯t help but follow along.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the two siblings to find the residence at which Lune was staying at. The general himself walked up to his two guests while offering a smile that sent shivers down Ryle¡¯s spine, as she could tell just how fake it was.

    ¡°If it isn¡¯t Zachary! I¡¯ve been hoping to hear from you ever since our little talk,¡± Lune said happily to Zeke. ¡°I trust that you have the person I¡¯m looking for at your home right now?¡±

    ¡°That is correct, general,¡± the blonde boy replied with a smile. ¡°Your men should be able to get her easily. Not only is she unaware of your attack, but she is also quite tired right now and the slums don¡¯t have any viable escape routes. She won¡¯t be able to slip through your fingers again.¡±

    ¡°Excellent! I am happy to hear that!¡± the general exclaimed with a wide smile. ¡°With this, I am sure to get promoted to the highest position possible! I might even become a personal aide to one of our five lords themselves.¡±

    Zeke was about to say something, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He was turned around to stare into the horrified eyes of his older sister.

    ¡°Zeke, what the hell is going on!?¡± Ryle asked in a panicked tone. ¡°What is this deal that you¡¯re talking about!? Just what have you done!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve just secured our future, sis. That is all,¡± the younger sibling said calmly with a gentle smile on his face. ¡°Turns out Erin is quite the wanted person. I looked into information regarding her and her bounty was actually recently doubled, due to her escape from Rockmoore. With that much money, we won¡¯t have to worry about making ends meet ever again. That¡¯s why I got into contact with General Lune and made a deal with him.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You sold out Erin to him?¡± the older sibling asked in disbelief before grabbing the front of her brother¡¯s shirt. ¡°HOW COULD YOU!? SHE NOT ONLY TRUSTED US BUT HELPED US AS WELL! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY HER LIKE THAT!?¡±

    ¡°HOW CAN YOU BE SO DAMN NAIVE!?¡± Zeke yelled back, shocking Ryle. She had never been yelled at by her brother before in her life. ¡°In this world, the only people we can trust are each other! She might not have harmed us yet, but who knows what she would have done in the future!? Even if she would never do such a thing, betraying her was more than worth it.¡±

    ¡°Zeke, this isn¡¯t right! Can¡¯t you see what you¡¯ve become!?¡± Ryle pleaded with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how we were betrayed for just a few bucks!? How money was more important to people over our lives!? You¡¯re basically the same!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m NOT the same! I just hold YOUR life far more important than anything else!¡± the younger sibling said, causing his sister¡¯s eyes to go wide. ¡°Do you have any idea how it felt for me? To know that you were going to all those dangerous jobs, hunting down vicious criminals for my sake, while all I could do was provide only very little to help you? Every time I saw you return with wounds and bruises on your body, I felt like my heart would break apart! All I wanted was for you to stop doing such work, but I knew you would never do so! Not until I was cured at the very least! But now we will have all the money we could ever need! You don¡¯t have to risk your life anymore! Isn¡¯t that a good thing!?¡±

    Ryle tried to argue back, but she couldn¡¯t. While she knew what they were doing to Erin was wrong, she could imagine herself doing the same in Zeke¡¯s position. If her beloved brother was going around, risking his life for her sake, she would do anything she could to make him stop.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt your little family discussion, but I¡¯d like for us to return to the business at hand,¡± Lune suddenly called out to the siblings. ¡°Now, Zachary, I believe you told me that the person I was looking for was at your home, correct? And that my men would have no trouble getting her?¡±

    ¡°That is correct. She will most likely go rest at our house after her journey,¡± Zeke replied. ¡°I can give you directions and an accurate description of the building, so your men won¡¯t have to waste time looking for it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± the general waved off the offer. ¡°After all, my men will simply burn the whole slum to the ground anyways, so why bother?¡±

    Upon hearing what Luna said, both siblings went wide-eyed instantly and pale. They turned to stare at the general in absolute shock, hoping that he had just not said what they think he said.

    ¡°E-Excuse me, General Lune, sir? I don¡¯t believe that was part of the deal!¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I believe you agreed to only arrest Erin and that¡¯s all! No one else was supposed to get hurt!¡±

    ¡°I know that! I¡¯m going to do exactly what I told you when we made our deal,¡± Lune said with a smirk. ¡°I will only arrest Erin. That is what I promised you, isn¡¯t it? I won¡¯t arrest anyone else, but I never said anything about any other things I might do.¡±

    ¡°Why you dirty son of a-!¡± Ryle began to curse the general and was about to attack him had it not been for her brother holding her back.

    ¡°Wait, Ryle! Wait! I get that you¡¯re angry, but that won¡¯t do anything at this point!¡± Zeke told his sister. ¡°I feel bad for the people in the slums as well, but there¡¯s nothing we can do about that now! If we act up now, all that will do is make us more enemies than we could ever handle!¡±

    ¡°Yes, listen to your brother. He is quite smart, unlike you are,¡± Lune taunted the blonde woman, who was gritting her teeth from sheer anger. ¡°If you were to strike me, the two of you would just end up dead, instead of becoming slaves.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± the younger of the two siblings yelled out of shock. ¡°General, what the hell-!?¡±

    Before Zeke could do anything, Lune pulled out a gun and shot the blonde boy in the leg, causing him to fall to the floor while screaming in pain. Ryle immediately went to check up on her brother, before looking up at the general with hatred burning in her eyes.

    ¡°YOU FILTHY BASTARD! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL!?¡± the blonde woman shouted angrily. ¡°DIDN¡¯T ZEKE HOLD HIS END OF THE DEAL!?¡±

    ¡°Indeed he did, like a good boy. However, why would I have to do the same?¡± Lune asked. ¡°Did either of you two really believe that you were somehow equal to me or some other nonsense like that? Let me tell you that trash like you are far beneath someone like me. I have absolutely no obligation to do anything for you, no matter what it is. You were just being used by me for my own convenience and that¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna-!¡± Ryle began to say, only to stop upon hearing several firearms get readied. She looked around her and saw several of Lune¡¯s men with rifles pointing at her.

    ¡°Now, I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you. Even if you are fast enough to avoid all the shots aimed at you, I doubt your brother is, especially in his condition,¡± Lune said in a mocking tone. ¡°Besides, I¡¯d hate to harm either of you any further. I know some people that would pay good money for you, so I¡¯d like to keep the damage to a minimum.¡±

    Despite wanting nothing more than to go and smash the general¡¯s head into bits, the blonde woman had to surrender. She knew that even if she was able to escape this predicament against all odds, Zeke wouldn¡¯t make it through. All she could do was surrender and hope for a chance to escape.

    As the handcuffs were put on her and she was taken away, Ryle hoped that Erin would be able to escape Lune¡¯s men.

 18. The Two Siblings

    Chapter 18

    The Two Siblings

    Erin was getting ready to leave the bakery she had entered in the hopes of bringing treats to the people that had taken care of her in the slums. Her order had taken some time to be completed, as the bakers didn¡¯t have enough treats at the ready, but this didn¡¯t bother the redhead. She knew that things like cakes and other baked goods tasted best when they were still fresh.

    Looking down at the paper bag of baked goods she had, Erin couldn¡¯t help but smile a bit. She knew it wasn¡¯t much, but she hoped that it would make the children happy and hopefully make Zeke trust her more. Even though the blonde boy hadn¡¯t shown it initially, after hearing Ryle¡¯s story, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel like she still had to do some work in order to get on his good side.

    As Erin was making her way to the slums, she started to notice some strange things. First there were sounds that even when distant were clearly gunfire. Second there was an odd smell, like something was burning in the distance. It didn¡¯t take long for the redhead to realize what was most likely happening, which was soon followed by her dropping the bag in her hands and running to the slums like her life depended on it.

    ¡°No no no¡­ Don¡¯t tell me this is what I fear it is,¡± Erin muttered to herself as she was running. The closer she got to the slums, the louder and clearer the sound of gunfire became. The smell of smoke also became stronger and was now mixed with the smell of blood. ¡°Dammit, not again!¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin¡¯s fears to be confirmed. Once she had made her way to the slums, she immediately saw buildings that were on fire, along with the dead bodies of the residents littering grounds everywhere. Not only that, but familiar people were responsible for all the destruction and death, as she saw General Lune¡¯s troops going around and causing havoc with smiles on their faces.

    Despite being horrified by what she was seeing, the redhead kept herself calm and began to move around the place, using the fires and smoke to her advantage in order to keep herself hidden from enemy eyes. Her first destination was the house of Ryle and Zeke, as she wasn¡¯t certain if the two siblings had actually made it there before her. While the chance of that happening was slim, she needed to confirm it with her own eyes.

    Eventually, Erin arrived at the home of her two bounty hunter friends, only to see a group of soldiers surrounding the building. The house itself seemed to be still fine, as it hadn¡¯t been set on fire yet, unlike the other ones in the area. Just as the redhead was thinking about how she was going to get inside to see if her friends were alright, a couple of soldiers walked out.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything,¡± one of the soldiers exiting the building said in a frustrated tone. ¡°We looked everywhere, but we couldn¡¯t find anyone. This place was probably abandoned or something.¡±

    ¡°Either that or it belonged to those two bounty hunters the general had arrested,¡± one of the soldiers that had been waiting outside said, causing Erin¡¯s eyes to go wide. ¡°Whatever the case, it¡¯s no use for us to waste time here. Burn the place down like all the others.¡±

    Somewhat relieved that her friends were at least alive for now, Erin began to move away from the home of the siblings and decided to look for other survivors. Most importantly, the kids that had taken care of her when she first arrived at the slums.

    With silent movements, the redhead was easily sneaking around the soldiers currently burning down the whole area. While the soldiers were numerous, they were not exactly the most attentive people around. Most likely used to easy victories, the troopers were moving around the slums in a relaxed manner, not really paying too much attention to their surroundings. Instead of taking their work seriously, the soldiers were simply laughing at the atrocities they were committing.

    Erin wanted nothing more than to go and make these people pay for what they had done, but pushed those feelings aside. She knew that there were more important things to worry about.

    With some difficulty, the redhead managed to finally find the house the children were staying at. Much to her horror, the building was on fire, like all the others. Still hoping that she hadn¡¯t arrived too late, Erin went inside the burning building to look for any of the children.

    What she found made her cry tears of anguish.

    In the middle of the living room, she saw all the poor orphaned children, laying in their own blood. The monsters parading around as soldiers hadn¡¯t even bothered to show innocent kids any mercy, whose only crime was to be involved with her. Erin grit her teeth as her sorrow was transformed into rage and she swore to make the people responsible for this pay.

    Suddenly, the redhead noticed slight movement among the bodies. Upon further inspection, she realized that it was Beth, whom Pete had shielded with his own body. Erin felt hope swell in her heart, as the little boy could have possibly saved the girl¡¯s life with his sacrifice.

    ¡°Beth! Beth! Can you hear me!?¡± the redhead called out to the girl as she held her in her arms. Slowly, Beth opened her eyes and looked up at her. ¡°Thank God you¡¯re okay! Just hold on! I¡¯ll get you out of-!¡±

    Erin was suddenly cut off, as the little girl weakly grabbed her hand. She felt how Beth was trying to guide her own hand to something. Allowing the little girl to do this, the redhead¡¯s hand was placed to Beth¡¯s side, where a bleeding bullet wound could be found. It was obvious that the child wouldn¡¯t survive this, as it was already a miracle that she was still alive.

    ¡°Dammit¡­!¡± Erin cursed as tears fell from her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Beth! This is all my fault! Had it not been for me, you all would-!¡±

    The redhead was stopped in her pleas when she felt the little girl¡¯s hand touch her face. Despite what she had been through, Beth still somehow managed to put up a small smile.

    ¡°Big sister Ryle¡­ and big brother Zeke¡­ they weren¡¯t here when the soldiers came,¡± the girl struggled to say. ¡°You can¡­ help¡­ them¡­¡±

    With that, Beth¡¯s hand fell down as the last embers of life left her body. Before leaving, Erin gave the child she was holding a hug and whispered a single promise to her.

    ¡°I swear, Beth¡­ I¡¯ll find those two and I¡¯ll make sure that they are safe,¡± the redhead whispered as she laid the girl back on the floor. ¡°That¡¯s a promise.¡±

    Leaving the burning house behind, Erin began to sneak around the burning slums. This time, however, she wasn¡¯t trying to simply avoid the patrolling soldiers. Now she was moving around more like a hunter, hoping to catch unaware prey. The redhead needed information and the best way to get it was from one of the soldiers. She just needed to find one who was all alone and vulnerable.

    Eventually, an opportunity presented itself, as Erin saw one of the soldiers break away from the group he was traveling with. It seemed like the heat was getting to him and he wanted to take a moment to cool off, away from all the fires. This one decision sealed his fate, as Erin had soon sneaked up on him and had the blade of a knife placed on his throat.

    ¡°If you want to live, you better talk!¡± the redheaded assassin whispered angrily to the terrified soldier, who nodded. ¡°I heard some of your buddies mention two bounty hunters that your boss arrested. Where are they?¡±

    ¡°T-They¡¯re at the closed off area of the town! You know, the place with the big wall!?¡± the soldier answered nervously. ¡°The general is s-staying at the place that belongs to the mayor! It has a small dungeon for people that his guards might catch trying to sneak in! I bet that they¡¯re locked up in there!¡±

    ¡°You better not be lying,¡± Erin said as she pressed her knife against the skin of the soldier¡¯s throat. ¡°If you are, I will make you greatly regret it.¡±

    ¡°I-I swear that it¡¯s true! There¡¯s no other place they could be at!¡± the soldier pleaded desperately.

    ¡°Fine. Thank you for your assistance,¡± the assassin said. ¡°Unfortunately, you still have to pay for what you did to all those innocent people.¡±

    Before the soldier could even attempt at uttering a protest of any kind, his throat was sliced open by Erin¡¯s swift use of her knife. The dead trooper was then simply dropped to the ground like trash, before the redhead left the slums entirely in the hopes of finding her two friends.

    The walled off area of the town was easy enough to find, but a way inside was another thing entirely. The wall was so tall that climbing it would be very difficult, especially without the proper equipment. To make matters worse, there were guards patrolling the area everywhere. There were guards stationed on top of the wall itself, at the gates as well as patrolling the surrounding area. Getting through such defenses was not going to be an easy task in the slightest.

    While she would normally wait for nighttime so she could use the darkness to her advantage, Erin wasn¡¯t sure she could do so in this situation. Even if she had been told that Ryle and Zeke were being held prisoner by Lune, there was no telling what a monster like him would end up doing. He had already caused two mass killings, after all.

    Spotting two guards on patrol, Erin decided to go on the move. There was too much at risk for her to take things slow and calm.

    Tricking the two guards wasn¡¯t all that difficult. All Erin needed to do was make some noise in an alley and they came right in to investigate. Taking down the guards was a bit more difficult, especially with what the redhead was planning to do, but she managed to accomplish her goal just fine. A twist of the neck on one guard and a bullet to the head from her silenced pistol made short work of the two of them. With the other guard¡¯s uniform not stained with blood also provided Erin with a disguise that she put on herself right away.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    With her new uniform on her, the assassin could walk up to the gate without raising much suspicion. None of the guards seemed to make notice her now that she was dressed as one of their own. However, things took a turn for the worse, when she needed to actually get through the gate itself. The elf lady stationed at the guard post looking over the gate seemed to look at Erin with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before,¡± the elf asked as she looked over the redhead before her. ¡°Are you a new recruit or something?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Yes. I only started recently,¡± Erin quickly lied, hoping that it would fool the guard. ¡°So far I¡¯ve been only working on the other side of the wall and only today started patrolling on the outside.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s strange. Usually they have people do at least three months of patrolling on the outside before they let you guard the inner parts,¡± the elf stated, causing the redhead to sweat a bit under her disguise. ¡°Then again, I don¡¯t know what the higher-ups are thinking half the time anyways. Guess they must have made a mistake or something. Wouldn¡¯t be the first one. Could you hand me your key card?¡±

    Erin almost let out a sigh of relief as she took out her card and gave it to the guard. The elf was about to enter it into her computer to read it, when she read the name and stopped in her tracks.

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ Ayanaz Gerdez? But you¡¯re not¡­¡± the guard mumbled to herself in confusion. ¡°Then who are-?¡±

    By the time the elf came to realization of what was going on, it was already too late. With a single leap, Erin flew into the guard post through the open window. With one hand over the guard¡¯s mouth all possible calls for help were immediately silenced, as the two of them tumbled to the floor. Before the elf could put up any type of a resistance, her neck was twisted, ending her life.

    With the guard taken care of, Erin gave a quick look around to see if anyone had heard the commotion and was coming over. Upon seeing that there seemed to be nobody coming over, the redhead hid the body and used her card to open the gate, before making her way to the walled off area of the town.

    Once inside, Erin began to walk around, making it look like she was patrolling, when in actuality she was trying to find the place where Ryle and Zeke were being held. From what she had been told, her friends were being held at the mayor¡¯s home by General Lune. If she found the general, she would most likely find her friends as well.

    After looking around for some time, the assassin saw a very familiar truck parked close to a certain building that was rather large. Erin recognized the truck as the one Lune had arrived on to Rockmoore Town, so this was most likely where the general himself could be found as well.

    Sure enough, upon further investigation, Erin saw none other than General Lune sitting at a table on the balcony, enjoying a nice meal with the person the redhead assumed to be the town¡¯s mayor. Both powerful men also had two guards behind them, ensuring that neither side would do anything uncalled for or that any outside attackers would get to them.

    As much as Erin wanted nothing more than to kill Lune right then and there, she knew she couldn¡¯t do that. What she needed to do was find Ryle and Zeke more than anything else.

    Moving around calmly and in an orderly manner, the redhead got to the building without raising any suspicions. She entered through the front door and took a quick look around the interior of the building. As one would have suspected of a mansion belonging to a mayor, it was fully decorated in a manner that spoke volumes of the owner¡¯s wealth. Every wall had at least one high quality painting on them and there were furniture that was fit for royalty. Expensive decorations that had gold and jewels in them could be seen covering tables in every direction. Even the floor itself was made of polished and expensive materials, with carpets made of the finest silks money could buy.

    Erin almost wanted to throw up at the blatant showing off that the mansion¡¯s owner was obviously doing, but held it back. She couldn¡¯t afford to make any mistakes within enemy territory.

    Imitating some of the other guards she saw walking around, the assassin pretended to be patrolling the mansion while without anyone¡¯s notice she investigated the whole place. She tried to look for places that seemed suspicious in any possible manner, as they could lead to Ryle and Zeke. While there weren¡¯t many, Erin made not of a couple of places that seemed to have guards stationed at them specifically, meaning that they were being watched over extra carefully. Now she just needed to find out which one was the one she wanted to get into.

    Through carefully observing these places and listening to the guards talk, the redhead eventually found the place she was looking for. On the first floor was a door that led to an underground dungeon, where the guards would take intruders to. The door itself had a single guard looking over it, which was something Erin was sure she could handle. However, she wanted to make as little noise as possible, so she decided to approach this in a calmer manner.

    ¡°Hey, I was told to come over here to take over. You are relieved of your duties,¡± Erin called out to the guard as she walked up to him.

    ¡°Relieved? But my shift won¡¯t end for another hour,¡± the guard responded. ¡°How come I get to go home already?¡±

    ¡°Something about wanting to send some of the people home early in order to save on costs,¡± the redhead answered with a shrug, doing her best to act her part. ¡°Apparently, with General Lune¡¯s people here, the mayor decided that he doesn¡¯t need as many guards here as normal and wants to save money by not having to pay too much.¡±

    ¡°What a freaking prick¡­ Still, I guess it¡¯s not too bad. At least I get to go home early,¡± the guard said as he began to walk away. ¡°Have fun watching over this place.¡±

    Once the guard was out of sight, Erin tried her stolen key card and used it to open the door. Behind the door was a flight of stairs that took you downwards on a narrow path. The assassin didn¡¯t hesitate for a second to go down the stairs to where her friends could be.

    At the end of the stairs, she came to what was essentially a wide corridor with jail cells on the right. There was also a round table with three guards sitting at it, playing poker. As she hadn¡¯t been noticed yet, Erin took out her pistol and hid it behind her back before moving towards the guards.

    ¡°Hey, you guys seem to have a nice game going on!¡± the redhead called out to the guards, who turned to look at her. ¡°Mind if I join in as well?¡±

    ¡°That depends. Do you think you have enough to bet here?¡± one of the three guards asked as they turned to look at their cards again. ¡°While we are having fun here, we are also playing for money. And we are not taking in any small amounts over here. How much are you ready to bet?¡±

    ¡°Is three enough?¡± Erin asked, causing the guards to start laughing.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid three credits isn¡¯t anywhere close enough,¡± the guard replied while still chuckling. ¡°Come back when you¡¯ve got more than your allowance to bet.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t speaking of credits. I was talking about three lives,¡± the assassin said before taking out her gun and quickly shooting all three guards in the head. ¡°Specifically, your lives.¡±

    After doing a quick search of the bodies, Erin was able to find key cards from the guards. Since she wasn¡¯t certain her own card would open the jail cells, she needed to take the cards from the guards to make sure she would be able to get her friends out. Now she just needed to find the right jail cell.

    ¡°Hey! What the hell is going on over there!?¡± Ryle¡¯s voice called out from one of the cells, revealing where the two prisoners were being held.

    Erin walked up to the cell and looked through the bars to see Ryle standing there with shackles on her arms that connected to the wall behind her. Zeke was in a similar situation, except he was sitting on the floor. Both were staring at the redheaded guard in front of them with worried looks, until they recognized the person.

    ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°Is that any way to greet a friend?¡±

    ¡°No way¡­ Erin?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes. ¡°How did you get in here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story and I don¡¯t have the time for that. We need to get out of here and quick,¡± the assassin answered as she opened the cell door and went in to open the shackles on the two siblings. ¡°I¡¯ve been able to get by without causing an alert so far, but it¡¯s only a matter of time before the alarm starts ringing. We better get going if we want to have any hope in getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°Erin, why did you come here!?¡± Zeke asked as his shackles were removed. ¡°You had no reason to come help us, yet you risked your life for us! Why!?¡±

    Taken aback by the sudden outburst, the redhead couldn¡¯t answer immediately. After a couple of seconds, she smiled at the blonde boy and gave a simple, honest reply.

    ¡°I¡¯ve lost too many friends due to my bad mistakes already, so I don¡¯t want to lose more,¡± Erin answered. ¡°Besides, aren¡¯t friends supposed to help each other, when they¡¯re in trouble?¡±

    Zeke stared at the redhead in front of him in disbelief, attempting to find any signs that she was lying. Upon seeing nothing of the sort, a feeling that he had never thought to be possible for him began to grow within him. It was the feeling of guilt, as he had betrayed someone that had not only saved his sister, but had now even come to save his life. Because of his misplaced distrust, he had done something completely unforgivable.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Erin asked in a concerned tone upon noticing the change in the blonde boy¡¯s mood. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about getting out of here, I¡¯m sure we can-¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that, Erin,¡± Ryle said, cutting off the redhead. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something else on his mind.¡±

    ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Erin asked, growing more concerned upon seeing the blonde woman look down in shame. ¡°Ryle, what is wrong?¡±

    ¡°Zeke sold you out to General Lune,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°He told him where you could be found.¡±

    The assassin¡¯s eyes went wide as she looked at the blonde boy, hoping that what she had heard wasn¡¯t true. When she saw that Zeke wasn¡¯t even trying to deny the accusation, it told her that what Ryle had just said was true.

    ¡°...Why?¡± Erin asked in a shaky tone. ¡°Why would you do that?¡±

    ¡°For the money,¡± Zeke answered without looking at the redhead. ¡°I was hoping to claim the bounty on your head and use it to make our lives better. With the amount of money I could have gotten, getting treatment for my illness wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. We could have even moved out of this horrible place and lived comfortably for the rest of our lives wherever we wanted. Something like that was an opportunity I couldn¡¯t simply pass.¡±

    Erin¡¯s hands balled up into fists that began to shake. All she wanted to do at that moment was hit the boy in front of her and keep hitting him until her own knuckles were bleeding. Only through some incredible willpower and restraint was she able to hold herself back.

    ¡°If you want to kill me, then go ahead. You have the right to be angry with me and seek revenge,¡± Zeke suddenly said in a calm tone. ¡°I won¡¯t make any excuses for myself, but I would like to ask one thing from you. Please spare my sister from your wrath and help her get out of here. What happened to you was entirely my fault and she¡¯s innocent. I beg of you to not make her suffer for my crimes against you.¡±

    Suddenly, Ryle stepped between Erin and her brother. She faced the redhead as she got on her hands and knees while looking up at Erin with pleading eyes.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt my brother! He did this all for my sake!¡± the blonde woman asked with tears in her eyes. ¡°I know I don¡¯t have any right to ask you for anything, but please spare him and help him escape! Lune shot him in the leg, so he can¡¯t walk on his own! If you have to take someone¡¯s life to satisfy your anger, take mine!¡±

    Zeke was about to tell his sister to stop her pleas, when a simple order from Erin silenced both siblings immediately.

    ¡°Shut up, both of you,¡± the assassin said in such a stern and cold tone that both Ryle and Zeke froze up. ¡°As much as I am angry over being betrayed, I am not going to take my anger out on either of you. I have no right to do so after what I¡¯ve done myself.¡±

    Ryle and Zeke felt relief as they looked at each other, glad to hear that neither one of them was going to be harmed. However, this was soon replaced with fear, as Erin glared at the two siblings.

    ¡°But I cannot and will not forgive you for what you did. Not because of myself, but because of all the people that were hurt because of you,¡± the redhead said with anger dripping from her words. ¡°By the time I got back to the slums, Lune¡¯s people had already destroyed everything. Everywhere I looked I saw fire and death. Even innocent kids like Pete and Beth were not spared. So know that while I may not seek retribution, you do not deserve forgiveness for what you¡¯ve done.¡±

    Zeke could only look down in shame as a couple of tears fell from his eyes. All he had wanted was to keep his sister safe, yet his efforts had not only put both of them in danger, it had also become a mistake that led to the deaths of numerous innocent people. The blonde boy honestly wanted nothing more than to break down into tears and beg Erin to end his life, but he knew he had no right to ask for it.

    Suddenly, Zeke felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, causing him to look up. He saw the face of his sister looking at him with barely contained tears, yet her expression was both stern and kind at the same time.

    ¡°Zeke, listen to me. We will get through this, okay?¡± Ryle said to her brother in a tone that was calm, stern and kind all at the same time. ¡°The two of us have always been there for each other, no matter what life has thrown our way. I know things look bad, but as long as we keep at it, I¡¯m sure that we can make it through this together. Just know that you¡¯re not alone and that I¡¯m there for you, got it?¡±

    At that point, the blonde boy finally let go of holding back his tears, as he latched onto his sister and let his tears fall freely. Ryle simply held her brother in a gentle embrace to let him know she was there for him. Meanwhile, Erin turned her gaze away from the two siblings, as she was feeling conflicted over what she should do. On one hand, she wanted to give support to her friend, Ryle, while another part of her wanted to be angry at Zeke.

    After a moment, the group had managed to compose themselves, allowing them to continue with their escape. Ryle took a rifle from one of the dead guards and helped Zeke walk by letting him lean on her. With their preparations ready, the three escapees walked up the stairs that led to the dungeon and into the hallway of the mansion.

    As soon as Erin opened the door, she saw guards on both ends of the hallway with guns pointed at them.

 19. Family

    Chapter 19

    Family

    Erin and her companions were frozen in place as they looked at the guards surrounding them from both sides. There were at least six guards on both ends with rifles pointed at the three of them and could turn them into mincemeat at any second. If she had the time to think about that, the redhead would have questioned why they weren¡¯t being fired upon.

    ¡°Throw down all your weapons and put your hands in the air!¡± came a command from one of the guards. ¡°You have no chance of escaping! All the guards and soldiers stationed here have been notified of your presence and are ready to take you all out, if need be!¡±

    Finally snapping out of her frozen stupor, Erin sprang into action by taking a quick step backwards while simultaneously closing the door to the dungeon. However, she knew that it was only a matter of time before the guards came busting down the door in pursuit of them. In preparation for that, the assassin took out one of the smoke bombs she had and turned towards her companions.

    ¡°Get ready to run like hell!¡± Erin told Ryle, who nodded in response.

    As soon as the door was kicked open, the redhead threw the smoke bomb at the guards. The sudden cloud of smoke caught them off guard, allowing Erin to charge them with her knife drawn out. Ryle followed close behind while carrying Zeke on her back.

    Thanks to the confusion caused by the sudden smoke, the guards became easy pickings for Erin and Ryle, who were able to fight their way through them. It also helped that the guards had all tried to go down the stairs to the dungeon at the same time, thus making them helpless as they couldn¡¯t use their rifles for fear of hitting one of their own.

    With the first wave of guards taken care of, the escapees tried to get to the mansion¡¯s entrance, only to find that the place was swarming with guards. Neither Erin or Ryle were able to fire even one shot at their enemies, before being forced to retreat.

    ¡°Dammit, there¡¯s too many of them!¡± Erin cursed while hiding behind a wall in order to shield herself from the enemy fire. ¡°We need to find another way out! We¡¯re not getting through here without a tank at least!¡±

    ¡°Where the hell are we supposed to go then!? I don¡¯t know any other exits!¡± Ryle said while doing her best to return fire to the guards.

    ¡°We could try the garage on the other side of the building!¡± Zeke suddenly suggested, getting the attention of his companions. ¡°When I first visited this place, I made sure to get a good idea of the layout of this place, in case I¡¯d have to make a run for it. I can hot wire one of the vehicles there and then we can drive out of here.¡±

    ¡°You think you can lead us there?¡± Erin asked to which the blonde boy nodded. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    With the guidance from Zeke, the trio of escapees were able to navigate their way through the mansion easily. They still had to face large amounts of guards, but thanks to the blonde boy¡¯s help Erin and Ryle could either move around them or simply fight through them.

    The group soon made it to the garage, where a small collection of cars could be found. It seemed like the town¡¯s mayor had a thing for expensive vehicles, even if he himself wasn¡¯t driving them around.

    ¡°Okay, so what¡¯s our next move!?¡± Ryle asked as she closed the door and used a nearby table to barricade the entrance. ¡°I doubt this will hold them for long, so we better get moving and fast!¡±

    ¡°Take me to one of the cars and I¡¯ll be able to get it to work,¡± Zeke said as he was leaning on a nearby wall. ¡°I¡¯ve done hot wiring a few times, so I should be able to do it here as well.¡±

    Erin helped the blonde boy get to an impressive looking muscle car. She chose it instead of the fast sports cars, as they would need strength more than speed in order to make their escape. Not to mention, driving a really fast car in an area that didn¡¯t have all that much space wasn¡¯t the best idea.

    ¡°Alright. Just give me a moment to pick the lock and-¡± Zeke began to say, only for Ryle to smash her fist through the window and then unlock the door that way. ¡°Or we could do that, I suppose¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Zeke, but we don¡¯t have all that much time on our hands,¡± the blonde woman said while holding her bleeding fist. ¡°If we take our time with this, we won¡¯t even get to sit inside the car, let alone get out of this place.¡±

    The blonde boy didn¡¯t respond to his sister and simply went inside the car to do his work. He quickly got his hands on the wires and started to cut and re-connect them in the hopes of getting the vehicle¡¯s motor started. While he was doing this, Erin and Ryle had their rifles pointed at the door, waiting for the guards to come through.

    At first, the pursuing guards had been trying to break the door down with simple brute strength, but that suddenly stopped as the sound of people moving away from the door could be heard. It was when Erin heard the sound of a single person walking up to the door that she realized what they were planning.

    ¡°Watch out! They¡¯re going to blow up the door!¡± the redhead yelled at her companions, who did their best to protect themselves from the blast.

    As soon as the door was out of the way, several guards swarmed into the garage with guns at the ready. Erin and Ryle were quick to react and began to fire upon their enemies, managing to take out quite a few of them right away. However, this initial success didn¡¯t last long, as the guards quickly took positions and began firing back.

    While the fierce firefight was going on, Zeke was furiously working on hot wiring the car. Sweat ran down his face as he was trying his best to make the vehicle start as soon as possible. He finally got his hands on two wires and connected them, causing sparks to fly out. This was soon followed by the sound of the engine starting.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°It¡¯s ready! Get in, you two!¡± the blonde boy yelled at his two companions.

    ¡°Great work, Zeke!¡± Ryle yelled back with a grin as she shot another guard. ¡°I knew you could do it!¡±

    ¡°Good job! Now we can finally get out of here,¡± Erin said as she began to make her way towards the car.

    Zeke was about to move out of the way to allow the two ladies to get inside. But as he was doing this, he noticed something. One of the guards that had supposedly been shot was still alive and was aiming at Erin. Almost like he was moving automatically, the blonde boy dashed towards the redhead, ignoring the pain in his leg to push Erin out of the way. He managed to save the assassin, as the bullet went past her without even touching a hair on her head.

    Unfortunately, it hit another target, as it pierced through Zeke¡¯s chest.

    Ryle screamed her brother¡¯s name in horror and rage, before turning her attention towards the guard that had shot him. Without any hesitation, she emptied the clip on her rifle onto the guard, who fell dead. With her enemy now dead, the blonde woman could rush to her brother¡¯s side, gathering his small body in her arms, as she held him gently.

    ¡°Oh God¡­ No no no no¡­ Zeke, stay with me,¡± Ryle said while holding her brother. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get you out of here and fix you up, okay? You¡¯re going to be fine. Just hang in there for me, got it?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, we need to get going!¡± Erin shouted as she fired a couple of shots at guards that tried to get to them. ¡°The longer we stay here, the less of a chance he will have!¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle got in the car with the blonde still holding Zeke. The redhead took the driver¡¯s seat and put her foot on the accelerator, causing the car to practically launch like a rocket through the garage door.

    As one would have expected, the yard was full of guards, along with Lune¡¯s own soldiers. All were running towards where the car of the three escapees was in the hopes of catching them and getting rewarded. But despite their best efforts, they were unable to stop Erin when she was behind a wheel. Back when she had been hanging out with the friends who made her betray Devin¡¯s group, she had been taken to all sorts of activities that a lot of people would deem as ¡°inappropriate¡±. These activities included the usual things like drinking and smoking, but also some more extreme things like gambling and vandalism. While Erin hadn¡¯t come to enjoy most of these things, the one thing she did take a liking to was street racing, where she had proven to be quite skillful at.

    Thanks to her driving skills, the redhead was able to easily drive through the guards and soldiers trying to stop them, before getting through the main gate itself. The trio was soon riding through the streets of the town itself, until they felt like they had managed to shake off their pursuers. It was then that they abandoned the vehicle and continued on foot, using the narrow alleys to hide themselves from any prying eyes.

    The trio hid in an abandoned, rundown building after making sure none of their pursuers were around. Once there, Erin and Ryle could finally tend to Zeke¡¯s wounds in peace. The blonde boy was gently laid on the floor with Erin¡¯s jacket under his head as a makeshift pillow. Zeke¡¯s breathing was shallow, slow and sounded painful, like it caused him pain to simply breathe in. His face was pale, even more than usual. He also seemed to be struggling to stay awake and was coughing up blood. It was now that the two ladies realized the severity of their younger companion¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Oh God¡­ Zeke, stay with us here, okay?¡± Ryle asked as hints of panic and desperation could be heard in her voice. ¡°W-We¡¯re gonna fix you up, got it? No need to worry. Just hold still and we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re alright. Right, Erin?¡±

    Erin gave an unsure nod to the blonde woman¡¯s question. As much as she wanted to deny it, Zeke was in a really bad condition. The redhead doubted that they would be able to keep the blonde boy alive much longer, let alone save his life. She still wanted to keep up a strong front for Ryle, who was desperately grasping onto any hope that her brother would survive.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, sis¡­ I know I¡¯m as good as gone,¡± Zeke said weakly as he coughed up more blood. ¡°The bullet penetrated my lungs. I can tell that this is it for me,¡±

    ¡°No no no no NO! You can¡¯t die, Zeke!¡± Ryle begged as tears were now freely falling from her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s still a chance you can be saved! You just need to hold on, until we-!¡±

    ¡°Ryle¡­ Can I talk to Erin real quick?¡± the blonde boy asked. ¡°I need to say something to her.¡±

    Despite her desire to stay by her brother¡¯s side, the blonde woman relented and stepped back a bit, allowing Erin to come forward. The redhead leaned closer to Zeke, so that the boy wouldn¡¯t have to struggle to be heard.

    ¡°I-I know what I did to you was wrong, but I did it in order to protect¡­ my sister,¡± Zeke said as he struggled to speak. ¡°Nothing else mattered to me, but to see her safe. I didn¡¯t plan for the others to get caught in this mess¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand, Zeke. If I was in your situation, I¡¯m not sure if I had done things any differently from you,¡± Erin said gently. ¡°Save your strength. There¡¯s no need for you to-¡±

    ¡°N-No! There¡¯s s-still something I have to a-ask you,¡± the blonde boy said in agony as he coughed up more blood. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t be asking you for anything, but can you promise something to me?¡±

    ¡°Of course. What is it?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°I¡­ I want you to look after Ryle,¡± Zeke said. ¡°While she might be tough, she has a tendency to get into trouble. She goes into fights headfirst without thinking. I always made sure to look after her the best I could, but I won¡¯t be able to do so any longer. C-Can you do that for me? P-Please?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Of course,¡± Erin answered a bit hesitantly, taken aback by the request. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to keep her safe. You don¡¯t have to worry about her anymore.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Erin,¡± the blonde boy said with a smile before turning his attention to his sister and struggling hold up his arms towards her. Ryle responded to this by pulling her brother in for one last hug, as tears were now freely falling from her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t help you more, sis.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say something like that! I knew I could always rely on you to help me with things I couldn¡¯t handle myself!¡± Ryle said as she held Zeke close. ¡°I should be the one apologizing to you¡­¡±

    ¡°I wish¡­ that you get to¡­ be happy¡­ like you deserve¡­¡±

    With his final words, Zeke¡¯s heart stopped beating. The blonde boy was no longer alive.

    As Ryle screamed in anguish over the death of her little brother, Erin turned away from the two siblings while crying her own tears.

    Some time later, both Erin and Ryle were standing at a cliff outside the town. There was now a small grave in front of them, marking the spot where Zeke¡¯s body had been buried. Ryle was sitting on the ground with her face buried in her knees, while Erin was standing behind her.

    Feeling that her friend needed some time alone, the redheaded assassin began to quietly walk away. She was hoping to leave for good in order to make sure Ryle wouldn¡¯t be endangered by being associated with her ever again.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± the blonde woman suddenly asked, stopping Erin in her tracks.

    ¡°I¡­ I just thought you¡¯d like some time alone and-¡± the redhead tried to explain.

    ¡°You¡¯re not answering my question,¡± Ryle said in a forceful and stern tone. ¡°Let me ask you again. Where are you going? Are you going over to Lune to kill that bastard?¡±

    ¡°...Yes,¡± was the simple answer of the assassin.

    ¡°...Take me with you,¡± the blonde woman suddenly demanded in a tone that sounded way too calm. ¡°I want to get my hands on that son of a bitch, too.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But I can¡¯t take you with me,¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°I promised Zeke that I wouldn¡¯t get you into danger.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit. That¡¯s not what you promised him. He knew way too well that I would never be able to keep myself out of trouble, so he simply asked you to look after me when that happened,¡± Ryle said. ¡°What he wanted was for you to take his place as the person who worries over me and helps me out.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you want this?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°By joining up with me, you may end up becoming a wanted criminal. Are you ready to face that?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t be harder to face than this!¡± the blonde woman said with fury finally showing in her voice. She turned to look at Erin, showing her a teary face that was twisted in rage and grief. ¡°Lune took everything from me! The people in the slums and my only family! You think I¡¯m going to let that slide!? Would you!?¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the last question. For a moment, she thought about herself in Ryle¡¯s situation. Her family and friends lost because of a man like Lune. Had something like this happened to her back when she was still friends with Devin¡¯s group, the redhead was certain she would desire revenge the same way Ryle did.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get going,¡± Erin said with a determined look on her face.

    The two women began to walk away from Zeke¡¯s grave, swearing to get revenge on the man responsible for his death.

 20. Looking For Revenge

    Chapter 20

    Looking For Revenge

    Back at the mayor¡¯s residence, the guards were still somewhat shaken over what they had gone through. Never had any of them imagined that someone would not only be crazy enough to actually attack them, but live to tell the tale. Since they had numerous armed sentries patrolling almost every possible place, most of the attacks to the area where the mayor lived at were stopped at the outer wall. If anyone actually managed to get inside, it usually didn¡¯t take long for them to get caught.

    However, now they had met someone who had managed to actually leave them as the losers. It was a tough thing to swallow for people who had been enjoying a perfect win record so far.

    One of the guards, Berdo, a male dwarf, had never expected something like that to ever happen to them. Ever since he was a little child, he had been taught the importance of weaponry in war. The general rule was that the side that had more of the better guns would win easily. This worldview had been shattered in one day. Now the dwarf could only hope that he wouldn¡¯t have to go through anything like that again.

    ¡°Goddamn it all¡­ What a freaking mess this has become,¡± Berdo muttered to himself as he lit himself a cigar and puffed some smoke from it. ¡°Maybe I should look for another job? I hear it¡¯s pretty nice in the Eastern Continent in more than one way¡­¡±

    The dwarf¡¯s musings had taken his attention so much that he didn¡¯t notice another guard, an elf by the name of Lyandel, sneak up behind him. The elf was grinning as he got close to his colleague, before enacting his plan.

    ¡°INTRUDERS! THE INTRUDERS ARE HERE! SOUND THE ALARM!¡± Lyandel yelled right into Berdo¡¯s ear, causing the dwarf to fall to the ground from shock before scrambling to ready his rifle to defend himsel.

    Upon seeing who it was that had scared him, Berdo¡¯s face turned into a furious scowl aimed at the prankster. This was a common occurrence between the two of them, where the elf would do his best to scare the dwarf ever since they were kids.

    ¡°Dammit, Lyan! How many times do you have to keep pulling that shit on me!?¡± Berdo yelled angrily at Lyandel, who was busy laughing at his friend¡¯s expense. ¡°What does it take to stop you from doing this!? Death!?¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about me or yourself?¡± the elf asked with a smirk.

    ¡°Pick your choice¡­ At the rate you¡¯re going, I¡¯m sure I¡¯m going to have a heart attack one of these days,¡± the dwarf said as he got back up. ¡°Honestly, what the hell is wrong with you? This shit you keep pulling isn¡¯t even funny.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, you gotta lighten up a bit!¡± Lyandel cheerfully said to the dwarf and patted him on the back. ¡°This job might pay pretty good, but everything else about it sucks, so we might as well try to have some fun. What¡¯s the harm in that?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps the fact that we just had people infiltrate this place and leave a few of us dead! How you can be all chipper and shit after all that is a goddamn mystery to me!¡± Berdo answered angrily. ¡°Do you have any idea what you could have caused if someone else heard your moronic gag!? There would be panic!¡±

    ¡°Meh. I¡¯d say it was worth it just to see your reaction,¡± the elf said with a shrug, causing the dwarf to sigh. ¡°Anyways, I think I heard you say something about wanting to move to the Eastern Continent?¡±

    ¡°Just a thought that¡¯s worth considering. It could be a change for the better, after all,¡± Berdo replied. ¡°While I can get work that pays well around here, what¡¯s the point? All the fat bastards in charge take all the good stuff for themselves while we are barely left with anything. I hear people working for the higher ups there at least get to enjoy themselves.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I hear the prostitution is really great around there. Any possible taste can be satisfied, as long as you¡¯ve got the coin,¡± Lyandel said with a smirk. ¡°That¡¯s the reason you¡¯d like to go, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°THAT¡¯S NOT IT, YOU ASSHOLE!¡± the dwarf yelled angrily. ¡°The reason I want to go there is because I¡¯m sick of all the crap I have to deal with around here! Just going couple of feet outside of the town¡¯s limits is practically a gamble with your life, not to mention trying to go any further! To make this just the perfect of shit places to be, now we¡¯ve even got people breaking in here! For the last few years, that had never happened!¡±

    ¡°I know it was a shock and all, but aren¡¯t you exaggerating a bit?¡± the elf asked. ¡°I mean, I get that they left quite the mess behind, but that was just a case of bad luck for us. Hell, thanks to General Lune, we almost got them. They might have gotten away, but they¡¯ll probably never come back here.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to all the guys that got killed,¡± Berdo said. ¡°Besides, I wouldn¡¯t talk so highly about that asshole general. His idea to not sound the alarm upon finding out something was wrong might have worked as a means of drawing the people in for an ambush, but it cost the lives of way too many of our own. Not to mention, we didn¡¯t really gain anything from it, did we? With the exception of a few more bodies to bury¡­¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but try to look on the bright side. At least you¡¯re not in the Northern or Southern Continent,¡± Lyandel tried to cheer up his friend. ¡°I hear all sorts of nasty stuff happens around those areas.¡±

    ¡°If that is supposed to brighten up the mood, it didn¡¯t work,¡± the dwarf said with a grumble. ¡°Of course even this crap hole would seem like a paradise when compared to those places.¡±

    ¡°Hey, just trying to put things in perspective,¡± the elf said with a shrug as he began to walk away. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m gonna go back to my post. But if you¡¯re serious about going to the Eastern Continent, let me tag along. I wouldn¡¯t mind a change in scenery.¡±

    As Lyandel disappeared behind a corner, Berdo went on to resume his watch. Suddenly, there was a scream that came from where the elf had gone to, but the dwarf didn¡¯t bother to go check. His friend was most likely just doing one of his usual pranks anyways.

    ¡°Goddamn jackass should grow up already,¡± Berdo said to himself as he shook his head.

    Little did he know that Lyandel was actually laying on the ground with a hole through his gut the size of a fist. The elf had unfortunately come upon a certain pair of intruders that had been sneaking around the area.

    ¡°Shit! This went south right from the start!¡± Ryle cursed as she and Erin were running through the darkness of night. ¡°Why the hell did that guy have to come back at that moment!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more curious as to why no alarm seems to have been raised yet. That dwarf definitely heard that guy¡¯s scream,¡± Erin said before looking at the key card they got from the elf. ¡°Still, at least we now have this.¡±

    The two women made their way to the main gate that would allow them to enter the area. The guards, having not expected another attack so soon, were completely caught off guard and were thus easily taken care of. Erin and Ryle then used the key card they had to open the gate and get inside.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Using the cover of darkness to their advantage, the two infiltrators were able to move around the walled off area with ease. This became a big advantage for them, as they soon started to hear the sound of the alarm blaring. In seconds, the whole place was in complete chaos with guards running around, like a panicked herd of animals.

    ¡°Well, there goes our element of surprise,¡± Ryle muttered. ¡°What do we do now? There are people swarming all around the place.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I think we can use this to our advantage,¡± Erin suggested, surprising her partner. ¡°They might know that we are here, but nit our exact location. If we play our cards right, we might be able to draw most of them away from the mayor¡¯s home.¡±

    ¡°How are we gonna do that?¡± the blonde woman asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of it right now¡­ What we need is to create some big diversion to draw their attention. Maybe even several,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully, before noticing something. There was a car meant for the guards with a couple of gas canisters next to it. ¡°And I think I just got an idea.¡±

    While the two infiltrators were busy plotting their scheme, the town¡¯s mayor had finally decided to come outside and see what the commotion was about. Said man was a rather rotund dwarf dressed in a very expensive bathrobe at the moment. A large cigar was hanging from his mouth, as he ran outside, his face red from anger and exhaustion, not being used to running even a bit.

    ¡°The hell is going on here!? You¡¯re running around like a bunch or headless chickens!¡± the mayor yelled angrily at one of the guards. ¡°Don¡¯t you idiots understand that my very expensive customers pay me to pay you in order to get peace and quiet around here!?¡±

    ¡°Our apologies, sir! But we have intruders here!¡± the guard answered as he had stopped by the mayor to explain the situation. ¡°We are currently trying to find them, but-¡±

    ¡°No goddamn buts here! I don¡¯t pay you idiots to run around playing grab ass with each other! Do

    you have any idea how badly my important friends were scared by what happened earlier today!?¡± the mayor kept ranting. ¡°If this keeps up, you¡¯ll all be without a job in no time! Unless you want to end up in the slums, you better find those bastards and kill them! Understand!?¡±

    Before the guard could say anything in response, one of the mayor¡¯s special friends ran up to them. He was a distinguished commander in the military who had decided to take an early retirement after earning more than enough to support himself through his salaries and from pillaging their enemies. Said man was now barely dressed up, as he was approaching the mayor.

    ¡°General Malfer! I¡¯m so sorry about the noise, but I assure you that my men are-¡± the mayor began to make excuses to his friend, when said man cut him off.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your bullshit right now, you fat pig!¡± Malfer said angrily. ¡°Do you have any idea how badly you have messed up!?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, I know things look bad, but-¡±

    ¡°LOOK BAD!? If only that was the case!¡± the general continued to rant. ¡°While your people have been uselessly running around, someone set my house on fire! What are you going to do about it!?¡±

    ¡°I-I-I am terribly sorry! I will make sure that the situation is handled right away!¡± the mayor said before turning his attention back to the guard he had been berating earlier. ¡°YOU! Get some people together and go put out the fire at General Malfer¡¯s house! Then I want you to go and-¡±

    Before he could finish giving his orders, another one of the mayor¡¯s customers ran up to him. This time it was a female elf that was a famous singer back in the Eastern Continent. After becoming a very rich person, she had taken up quite a few hobbies that most people would frown upon. When this was discovered, she had been forced to run to the Western Continent to escape being targeted by angry mobs of people.

    ¡°M-Miss Zaldanas! What a pleasure to see-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even bother with that crap! You promised me that I could live here in luxury and safety from any kind of danger!¡± the elf yelled, cutting off the mayor. ¡°As if the gunfight earlier wasn¡¯t bad enough, now I¡¯m a victim of an arsonist! You call getting roasted in your own home safety or something!?¡±

    Just as the mayor was about to order some of his guards to go and put out the fire at Zaldanas¡¯s house, more people started to arrive at the scene. All of them were wealthy customers of the mayor and all had the same complaint about their house being on fire. The complaints were so constant that portly dwarf was quickly overwhelmed by them and he soon found himself unable to even give fake condolences to all his ¡°friends.¡±

    Hoping to escape the angry mob of people, the mayor ran back into his own house, praying in his mind that the whole mess would be taken care of before he needed to come back out. As he ran past guards that were in his home, he quickly told them to go outside and help fix whatever was going on there. He was so panicked in giving orders that he didn¡¯t even realize that he was leaving himself unprotected.

    Having finally gotten to his room, the dwarf quickly locked the door behind him and put a chair against it, fearing that someone was going to come chasing after him. At that time, he had been thinking about the angry mob that he had just faced, completely forgetting about the intruders, who were already in his room waiting for him.

    ¡°You run pretty fast for a fat dwarf, you know?¡± Ryle called out to the mayor, who turned around to see the blonde woman sitting on his desk with Erin standing next to her. ¡°I gotta say that I didn¡¯t think it would be this easy to get this guy on his own.¡±

    ¡°It was quite easy, actually,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I could already tell by how luxuriously he was living compared to the normal townsfolk that he appreciated money more than anything. Once you threaten that, you get these people to do pretty much anything you want.¡±

    ¡°W-W-Who the hell are you two!?¡± the mayor demanded as he tried to back away from the two intruders. ¡°What the hell do you want from me!? Haven¡¯t you already caused enough damage!?¡±

    ¡°We will decide when we¡¯ve done enough. Not you,¡± Erin said as she took a couple of steps closer to the terrified dwarf. ¡°As for what we want, we want someone. General Lune. Where is he?¡±

    ¡°Not here anymore! Didn¡¯t you notice that none of his people were around when you came in!?¡± the dwarf yelled. ¡°He and his people took off soon after you left here from your first mess! Go look for him somewhere else, okay!?¡±

    ¡°We want details,¡± the redhead demanded. ¡°Where exactly did he go? Where can we find him?¡±

    ¡°How the hell would I know!? If I knew where he was going, I¡¯d bechasing after him myself, since the bastard never paid me for all the-¡±

    The mayor¡¯s rant was cut off by Ryle suddenly grabbing him by his throat and slamming his back against a wall. The dwarf nearly wet himself upon seeing the look in the blonde woman¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get something straight. We don¡¯t give a damn about any deals or grudges that the of you have between each other. You could be disgruntled ex-lovers for all we care. What we want to know is where that bastard Lune is, so we can pay him back for what he did to my brother,¡± Ryle said with a menacing growl. ¡°Now, tell us. Where. Is. LUNE!?¡±

    ¡°M-Moonstone City!¡± the mayor answered fearfully. ¡°That¡¯s one of the biggest cities in the continent and it has a large military base there! If there¡¯s any place for you to start looking, that¡¯s your best bet!¡±

    ¡°Alright, we got what we needed. Let¡¯s get going,¡± Erin said as she began to walk towards the window she and Ryle had used to get inside.

    ¡°Hang on! Are we just going to let this bastard go!?¡± Ryle asked while pointing at the mayor. ¡°While he wasn¡¯t directly responsible, he did assist Lune! The way I see it, he¡¯s just as guilty of his death!¡±

    ¡°True, but he did assist us,¡± the redhead said with a small smirk. ¡°I think we should return that favor to him by at least dropping him off as we go.¡±

    Outside the mayor¡¯s home, several guards were running around, trying to get the situation under control, when suddenly their employer fell out of a window and smashed into the pavement below. For a moment, all the guards could do was stare at the mayor¡¯s dead body, before they noticed his residence also start burning. The guards soon understood that they no longer had an employer and any riches the dwarf had were most likely going up in flames at the moment.

    With the death of the mayor, chaos soon took over, as the guards began to do one of two things. Some fearing what the intruders might do to them began to run away from the area, while others wanted to gain something for themselves began to run into the buildings of the residents, taking anything that was valuable. Some looters even began to attack the mayor¡¯s guests, taking anything that was worth money on them.

    On top of the wall surrounding the area, Erin and Ryle were watching the chaos unfold below them. The duo knew that no matter what, there was nothing that could be done to stop the destruction. It was only a matter of time before the regular townspeople found out about the mayor¡¯s death and the crumbling of his guard. This would cause more people to rise up in search of either revenge on the ones that used to stand above them or to get their hands on some of the remaining wealth that could be taken.

    ¡°I fear that we might have gone too far here,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°After what happened here, I don¡¯t think this town will ever be able to recover.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling bad over what we did, you shouldn¡¯t. This town is getting what it deserves,¡± Ryle said. ¡°While the regular people weren¡¯t exactly bad, a lot of them were just cowards that hid when things got bad, not even bothering to lift a finger to help those that tried to bring change. The guards working for the mayor and his rich friends were nothing but leeches that used this town to make themselves wealthier, while leaving others to suffer. All I can say is that karma is a bitch and she has finally arrived.¡±

    ¡°...So, are we going after Lune next? Do you know the way to Moonstone City?¡± the redhead asked as she and the blonde turned around and began to make their way out of the town.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve been there a couple of times on bounty hunting,¡± Ryle answered. ¡°It¡¯s a nasty place, but one can earn some good money there.¡±

    ¡°By the way, I¡¯m¡­ sorry for what happened to your brother,¡± Erin said apologetically. ¡°I understand if you blame me for what happened to him and that you don¡¯t want to travel together any-¡±

    The redhead¡¯s apology was cut off by fist that bumped her on top of her head.

    ¡°OW! What was that for!?¡± Erin asked angrily while holding her sore head.

    ¡°That¡¯s my line! What the hell gave you the idea that I was blaming you for Zeke¡¯s death at all!? The only one at fault for that is Lune and I¡¯m gonna make sure he pays for what happened to my brother!¡± Ryle replied angrily. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t have anything left in this place anymore. Might as well travel with someone I know I can trust.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you. Not just for not blaming me, but for being willing to go with me,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°It would be nice to finally travel with some company for once.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what best friends are for!¡± the blonde woman said with a grin as she put an arm around Erin¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go find that bastard Lune and make him pay!¡±

    The two ladies headed to the edge of town, where they then began to make way towards their new destination, Moonstone City.

 21. Picking Up The Trail

    Chapter 21

    Picking Up The Trail

    Moonstone City was one of the biggest cities in the entirety of the Western Continent. In the lore of the Five Realms game, the city got its name from an asteroid that was believed to be part of the moon that had landed there. Due to the numerous uses the ore taken from said asteroid, people began to gather around in hopes of making a fortune out of it, which eventually led to a large settlement being built in the crater that the asteroid left behind.

    Nowadays, most of the original asteroid had been carved up with only a small amount of it remaining as a monument dedicated to the birth of the city. However, before it hit the planet, several chunks of it had broken off and landed into the area surrounding the city. This still drew in travelers, as even small quantities of moonstone were valuable.

    While the city had started as a simple mining settlement, it had grown into a booming metropolis that held almost all possible forms of trade within it. This of course included illegal activities as well that you could find by just looking at the right back alley.

    The crater that the city was built into was surrounded by a large metal wall so tall that only the mightiest of beasts could ever hope to climb it. Luckily, such creatures were far away from there, so the citizens could sleep at peace, not having to worry about wild monster attacks. There was only one entrance to the city, a large metal gate that had several city guards watching over it.

    The guards most of the time didn¡¯t really have to worry about anything, outside of the occasional beast that wandered to their location. Due to the harsh journey that travelers would have to face when going by land, most new arrivals came to the city via airships. There was always the rare adventurer or two that would somehow manage to survive the wastelands and arrive there, but such sights were rare.

    Because it was such a rare occurrence, the guards posted at the gate were quite surprised when they saw a figure approaching them. One of the guards immediately grabbed binoculars and took a look at who this new arrival was. It was a lone woman that seemed to be carrying a small child in her arms.

    Despite the fact that these two were most likely unfortunate wanderers, the guards still had a job to do. They would have to stop these people at the gate and give them a check up, just to make sure they weren¡¯t dealing with anyone dangerous.

    ¡°Hold it right there, miss. Let us see the ID cards for both of you,¡± the leader of the group of guards said. ¡°We need to make sure to identify any and all people that come into the city.¡±

    ¡°Here you go, officer,¡± the woman complied and gave her ID to the guard. He checked it out and saw that everything was alright.

    ¡°Good. Now I¡¯ll just need to see your daughter¡¯s ID,¡± the guard said, which caused the woman to strangely tense up. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ This isn¡¯t my daughter. I don¡¯t have any kids,¡± the woman explained as she motioned to the child she was holding. ¡°I found her during my travels. I think her family fell victim to bandits or something.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That is terrible,¡± the guard said in a sympathetic tone. ¡°So does she still have her ID with her or has that been lost?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, when I found her, she didn¡¯t have it.¡±

    The guard looked at the scared child and thought about it for a second. While he knew that he technically wasn¡¯t allowed to let anyone in without the proper ID, what harm could a little girl cause?

    ¡°Alright, just make sure that she gets a new ID issued for herself by the proper authorities,¡± the guard said. ¡°It should be alright for you to take her with you, as you¡¯re essentially her guardian at the moment.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, sir!¡± the woman said as she bowed to the guard in gratitude.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Also, little miss?¡± the guard said as he turned his attention to the child. He had a gentle smile on his face and gave her a piece of candy. ¡°I know things have been rough for you, but you just have to keep going and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be alright. After all, you do seem to have a new mommy who will be looking out for you now.¡±

    At the mention of being a mother, the woman tensed up again, but none of the guards noticed. The girl simply smiled and nodded at the guard in response to his encouragement.

    With the ID check completed, the woman and little girl were allowed into the city. Once they had passed through the gate, the woman took the girl to a more secluded place, where she suddenly threw the child on the ground.

    ¡°Ow! What¡¯s the big deal!?¡± the girl complained before her appearance changed to that of a young woman, revealing herself as Erin. ¡°My plan worked, right!? So why are you dumping me like a bag of trash!?¡±

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    ¡°Perfectly, my ass! Didn¡¯t you hear what that guy said!? He called me your mom! Twice!¡± the woman explained, revealing herself to be Ryle. ¡°I am not that old, okay!? No one should be able to get away with calling me that! This is a matter of pride, you know!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, take your pride and shove it where the sun doesn¡¯t shine! Is it really that terrible a thing to be called!?¡± Erin asked angrily as she got up and dusted herself. ¡°Besides, had it not been for my idea, the two of us would have been stopped at the front gate!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but unlike you, I¡¯ve still got a pretty clean record on my ID, so this only really helped you out, Ms. Wanted by the whole government,¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just sneak in from some other place?¡±

    ¡°Because the gate was the easiest place to do so, if not the only place!¡± the redhead argued back. ¡°Anyways, since you¡¯ve been here before, do you know where that bastard Lune is most likely? The mayor back in Grand Ravine mentioned a military base.¡±

    ¡°I know the place. I¡¯ve brought some bounties there when I¡¯ve been here on business,¡± the blonde said. ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll show you the way.¡±

    As the two started to make their way to the military base, Erin took the chance to take in her surroundings. Moonstone City was for the most part similar as to how it had been back when she had just been playing the game. The buildings looked shabby, built from what seemed to be mostly junk metal with no real understanding of architecture, as it looked like upper floors were just hastily assembled on top of the ones underneath them. It honestly amazed the redhead how these buildings were able to stay intact and not collapse. There were also shaky looking metal bridges here and there, connecting buildings to each other over alleyways or across streets.

    However, despite how bad the buildings looked, the city was quite lively. All around them were people walking around, going from place to place by either walking down the streets, using the bridges or navigating the alleys that were like a maze. There were also roads with vehicles driving on them, although the messy design of the city made the roads curve here and there. Bright neon signs could be seen everywhere as well, advertising the numerous businesses that could be found.

    ¡°Hey, would you mind and stop looking around so much?¡± Ryle suddenly asked, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°You look like a total hick. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    The redhead was about to say something in response but held it back. Getting into an argument with her companion wasn¡¯t going to help either of them.

    ¡°So, how much longer until we reach this military base?¡± Erin decided to ask. ¡°We¡¯ve been going on for quite some time already.¡±

    ¡°Just a bit more. We will be there soon enough,¡± Ryle answered.

    As the two continued walking, Erin noticed a wanted poster on the wall of one of the buildings they walked past. When looking around a bit more, she saw that the same poster had been posted on nearly any possible place it could be put on. The wanted poster itself was for someone called ¡°The Midnight Thief¡± who had a very large bounty of 30 000 on him. From what little the redhead was able to gather while walking past the posters, the thief had apparently become quite notorious for robbing people directly related to the government and military. What was strange, though, was that there was no proper picture of the thief, as it only had a picture of someone wearing a mask and a hood that covered their face almost completely.

    Erin felt that this was something she would need to look into later, so she decided to keep it in mind.

    Suddenly, Ryle walked up to a nearby building and began to climb the ladder on its side. Erin, while confused, didn¡¯t voice any complaints and simply followed behind her partner. The two of them were soon on top of the building, looking over the city below. Ryle motioned for Erin to walk up to her, which the redhead did. The blonde then pointed at the direction of a walled off area of the city, where the buildings were completely different from what they had seen so far. Unlike in the city, the buildings there were obviously well designed and built from proper materials, instead of being put together from whatever parts could be found.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to notice the soldiers walking around the area. There were numerous troopers patrolling the wall, up in watchtowers or just walking around the yard. Different types of military vehicles could also be seen, ranging from cars to tanks and helicopters. Needless to say, this was the military complex they were told about.

    ¡°So that¡¯s where our target is then,¡± Erin mumbled, looking over the place. ¡°Any ideas as to how we can get in?¡±

    ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s bust down the front door, go in and kill them all,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Does it even need to be more complicated than that?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s amazing how you¡¯ve managed to survive for so long,¡± the redhead said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Honestly, do you want us both to get killed before we can even get our hands on Lune? If we want to succeed, we¡¯ll need an actual plan!¡±

    ¡°Well, that stuff isn¡¯t my specialty!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°While I occasionally know how to be a bit more ¡°clever¡±, I mostly left such things to Zeke. He was always the smart one of us.¡±

    ¡°How was he able to give you advice when you were not even in the same town?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Did you have some way to communicate with each other over long distances?¡±

    ¡°We sure did. Before I started going bounty hunting outside our hometown, he gave me some equipment that he had managed to salvage from junk that the guards had tossed out,¡± Ryle explained. ¡°He got me a radio, so I could contact him for more information, along with these special binoculars that had a connection to his computer. Thanks to that, he could see what I was looking at through them and help me with making plans and such.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ honestly amazing,¡± the redhead said, impressed by Zeke¡¯s skills. ¡°So do you still have those things on you?¡±

    ¡°No. They got destroyed along with my home, when Lune¡¯s goons burned it to the ground,¡± the blonde answered in a saddened tone.

    There was a moment of awkward silence, as the two ladies thought about everything that had been lost dues to Lune¡¯s actions.

    ¡°...We can¡¯t do this. Not yet at least,¡± Erin suddenly said, breaking the silence and surprising her partner. ¡°If we are to get in there and take on Lune, we¡¯ll need some better equipment and possibly even some additional help.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get the equipment part, but how are we supposed to get anyone to join our side on this gig!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I doubt we can put up an advertisement on the local freaking newspaper asking people to storm a military base in order to kill a general!¡±

    ¡°While that is true, we have to at least try to find someone,¡± the redhead said. ¡°We have been lucky to survive with just the two of us so far, but that is very unlikely to work here. We are going to need at least some form of assistance if we are to stand a chance against whatever is awaiting for us in there.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you might have a point, but the issue of how to do this still stands,¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Not only is it very unlikely for us to find people willing to join us, but we can¡¯t exactly go around openly asking for help on this!¡±

    ¡°You would be surprised by how many people there are who don¡¯t like those in charge. Rebels, those who want to get rid of Lune in order to further their own careers and those with simple grudges like us are plenty, especially for people like him. It¡¯s only a matter of finding them,¡± Erin explained. ¡°If nothing else, we can always try to hire mercenaries on our side.¡±

    ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve got a point, I guess. But where are we going to start our search?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°I think I have an idea. Follow me,¡± the redhead replied before leading her partner down from the rooftop and back to the street. There she grabbed one of the wanted posters she had seen earlier and showed it to the blonde. ¡°I believe this might be something worth looking into.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re kidding me, right?¡±

 22. Midnight Chase

    Chapter 22

    Midnight Chase

    It was nighttime in Moonstone City and most people were either sleeping in their homes or working late on their jobs. The latter was in a way true for Erin and Ryle as well, although most people would probably argue that what they were doing wasn¡¯t work at all. The so called work that those two were doing was sit on top of a rooftop, overlooking another building while waiting for the famous Midnight Thief.

    Erin had looked into the cases related to the thief in question and found something very interesting. All of the robberies carried out by him had been on officials and facilities related to the government or the military. The cases varied from the homes of high ranking individuals getting broken into, which was often followed by large amounts of cash and valuables being taken away. But what really stood out were the cases where the thief had actually broken into heavily guarded facilities that were under military control. Valuable technology, important documents and other such things would vanish upon the visit of the Midnight Thief.

    Most people would think twice before even considering going after even one of these targets. However, not only had the Midnight Thief the guts to go through with such plans, but he had done so multiple times and seemed to be continuing to do so. To people upset with the government and many others, the Midnight Thief had become practically an idol to them.

    But great fame and adoration often don¡¯t come on their own, as those things are usually followed along by hatred and resentment. Many of the thief¡¯s victims were quite furious over what had happened to them and wanted retribution, which led to an increase in the actions of the local police and military. Not only that, but there were numerous bounty hunters in the city as well, hoping to claim the reward for themselves.

    Because of all these people chasing after him, the Midnight Thief had faced his fair share of encounters with them. On more than one occasion, the thief had almost been caught, but always managed to find some way to escape. Because of this, all sorts of wild rumor regarding the Midnight Thief had begun to go around. Some claimed that the thief was immortal, as they insisted on having shot him, yet he wouldn¡¯t fall down. Others said that he was a vengeful ghost, as he was able to disappear the moment no one was looking, only to appear shortly afterwards to taunt those who were foolish enough to chase him.

    Such tales piqued Erin¡¯s interest greatly. While she had very little interest, if any at all, in the bounty placed on the thief, these strange rumors affirmed her belief that they were dealing with an exceptionally skilled individual. Such skills would be of great help for her and Ryle in their quest for revenge against Lune, at least when it came to breaking in to the military complex he was in. Not only that, but he seemed to be someone with a great dislike towards the government. If she was correct on her assumptions, the Midnight Thief could be a potential ally for them. It was at least worth trying to get into contact with him and hear his opinion on the matter.

    Unfortunately, there was someone who didn¡¯t share the redhead¡¯s belief. That someone was Ryle, who was constantly making her opinion on the matter known.

    ¡°So let us go through this brilliant plan of yours again, okay? You intend to catch a skilled thief and then try to persuade him to join our side in attacking a heavily guarded military base?¡± the blonde woman asked in a mocking tone. ¡°Are you out of your mind or have you been smoking something that shouldn¡¯t be smoked?¡±

    ¡°For the last time, I¡¯m completely serious about this!¡± Erin yelled back at her partner. ¡°You saw the places that he has been hitting! No regular thief, even if skilled, would dare to make the government into their enemy! He has to be someone with a grudge against them, like ourselves! Why else would they risk their lives doing this!?¡±

    ¡°Good question! Maybe it¡¯s for the sake of¡­ Oh, I don¡¯t know. GETTING MONEY!?¡± Ryle argued back angrily. ¡°Seriously, what in the hell makes you think that a freaking thief of all people would be interested in attacking a military base!? In order to kill a general no less!¡±

    ¡°Look, we are in need of help and this guy seems like someone that has a similar opinion on the ones in charge as we do! If he simply wanted to get rich, there are literally dozens of safer targets for him to choose!¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Besides, what harm could there be from simply asking him? If he doesn¡¯t want to join us, we¡¯ll just respect his decision and leave him be.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ WHAT!? We¡¯re just gonna let him go!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t we at least get the bounty on him!? You said yourself that we need better equipment!¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m not a dirty backstabber, I¡¯m not going to do that! We are here to talk and negotiate, not to kill him!¡± Erin answered. ¡°Unless he tries to attack us himself, we won¡¯t be hostile towards him either! Have some morality, Ryle!¡±

    ¡°Seems to me that you¡¯re just making this more complicated than it needs to be¡­¡±

    With their argument over for now, the two ladies settled down. Erin kept watching over the building that she was certain was going to be the next target of the Midnight Thief, while Ryle simply laid down and tried her best to get comfortable.

    ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask something from you,¡± the blonde suddenly said, getting her partner¡¯s attention. ¡°Why are we watching over this place specifically? I mean, why are you so sure this will be the next target of the guy we¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡°I looked into the places that he had attacked and I noticed something interesting. It seems our thief is a bit obsessive when it comes to his targets,¡± Erin began to explain. ¡°You see, he seems to think that he needs to hit every possible target this city has, not allowing any of them to escape unharmed. These include nobles and officials simply passing through the city. Before they could leave the city, the Midnight Thief would hit them and take some of their goods for himself. That¡¯s where the target we¡¯re looking over comes in, as he seems to be getting ready to leave this city in order to avoid being robbed.¡±

    ¡°I guess that makes sense¡­ But how do you know he¡¯ll strike tonight?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I might be willing to stay here a couple of nights at most, but if this turns into a week long thing, you can forget about me spending that much time here. I¡¯ve got better things to do.¡±

    ¡°No you don¡¯t. As for the answer to your question, our thief seems to be keeping up a rather tight schedule,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°If you look at all the cases that he is involved with, you¡¯ll notice that he has taken time off for a week at most, before striking again. Luckily for us, it has been exactly a week since he was last active.¡±

    ¡°Guess luck hasn¡¯t completely forsaken us then, huh?¡± the blonde mused. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to take a nap. Wake me up if our little thief appears.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re willing to help me, but could you take this a bit more seriously?¡±

    Time went on as Erin kept watching over the building belonging to a wealthy government official and Ryle kept snoring. There were a couple of times that the redhead felt like waking up her partner in order to stop her loud snoring, but she held back such desires. She didn¡¯t want to get the blonde anymore upset than she already was.

    However, Erin was slowly starting to have her own doubts about her idea now. While she was confident in her own investigation, there was always the chance that she had missed something. Not to mention, there was also the chance that the Midnight Thief had either retired or gotten killed. After all, no one knew what he looked like, so his death could go unreported without evidence tying him to the crimes being discovered.

    Just as the redhead was about to put away her binoculars and give up for the night, she noticed movement near the building. Upon a closer look, she saw that it was a person wearing dark clothing that had their identity hidden underneath a mask and a hood.

    The Midnight Thief had arrived.

    ¡°Ryle! Ryle, wake up!¡± Erin called out to her partner in a whisper as she shook her. ¡°He¡¯s here! The Midnight Thief is actually here!¡±

    ¡°Wha-? Are you serious!?¡± Ryle asked as she got up. ¡°You mean to tell me that your idea actually worked!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to ignore that last part for now, but yes! Just look for yourself!¡± the redhead said as she handed the binoculars to the blonde. ¡°Just look at the right side of the outer wall! There he is!¡±

    Ryle did as she was told and soon spotted the thief in question. The building that they had been watching over was very large and had been built properly, unlike the buildings around it. It was a stylish mansion with three floors, a wide yard and a tall wall with electrical barbed wire on top of it. The Midnight thief was currently sneaking alongside the wall and moving towards the front gate, which had a control panel on it for people to insert a code in order to enter. There were no guards outside the wall and were instead patrolling the yard or the inside of the mansion. The yard itself was filled with all sorts of statues and other such ¡°art pieces¡±, which made most people question the owner¡¯s sanity.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re right! He really is there!¡± Ryle said in an excited tone after noticing the sneaking thief. ¡°Although¡­ Are we sure it¡¯s him?¡±

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    ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, I hate to be all judgmental over someone¡¯s appearance, but isn¡¯t he a bit short?¡± the blonde asked in return as she handed the binoculars back to her partner. ¡°I mean, just take a look for yourself.¡±

    Erin took the binoculars back and took a closer look the Midnight Thief. It was then that she noticed what Ryle had just pointed out. The thief in question was honestly quite short. While he wasn¡¯t the size of a kobold or a goblin, he was on the smaller size. It wasn¡¯t even a case where the person in question was a dwarf, since his body would have been more bulkier in that case.

    ¡°Well, that is a bit¡­ strange,¡± the redhead said. ¡°However, you know what they say about beggars not being choosers, right? Besides, we¡¯ve come this far already, so we might as well meet up with him.¡±

    ¡°Fine. But if they¡¯re not worth the trouble, I¡¯m claiming the bounty, got it?¡± Ryle said with a frustrated sigh.

    Erin simply nodded in response as the two of them got ready to meet their thief. For now, they were just going to observe how he would perform his burglary and then come in when it seemed like it was safe. After all, their main priority was to talk with him, nothing else.

    The redhead watched through her binoculars as the Midnight Thief approached the front gate. She was expecting him to hack into the console that controlled it, but was surprised by what she saw. The thief simply held up his hand towards the console and a pale, silver light came out of his hand and entered the machine. This was soon followed by the gate unlocking and opening slightly. Enough for a person to go through, but not enough to be visible in the dark of the night.

    ¡°What the-!? How did he open the gate so fast!?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes, as she saw the thief get inside in practically no time at all. ¡°Even the best hackers out there need some time in order to do their job!¡±

    ¡°I saw something. He had this pale light come out of his hand as he held it towards the console,¡± Erin said. ¡°I think it was magic.¡±

    ¡°Magic? That¡¯s a rarity around the Western Continent,¡± the blonde said thoughtfully. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of people that can use magical abilities in order to control machinery, but I never thought it was actually real.¡±

    Upon hearing her partner mention magical abilities, the redhead remembered something. Back when Five Realms had just been a game that she played, Devin had told her about a special skill that you could obtain. Apparently, there was a way to use magical abilities on machinery, which could be used to get past hacking and to shut down enemy machinery. If her guess was correct, the Midnight Thief was someone with such an ability.

    Erin immediately became more interested in joining forces with this person.

    ¡°He seems to have some really good stealth skills as well,¡± the redhead commented as she watched the Midnight Thief sneak around the yard, using the numerous statues for cover to get past the guards patrolling the area. ¡°We could use such skills in our plans.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure,¡± Ryle said in agreement, before frowning. ¡°By the way, mind giving me the binoculars again? I want to take a look, too.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a zoo. You don¡¯t need to watch this so closely,¡± Erin responded as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Besides, if you wanted to use binoculars, you should have just brought your own.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be stingy! Let me have a look, too!¡± the blonde whined as she tried to take the binoculars from the redhead. The two of them ended up wrestling each other for the control of the item like a duo of bickering children.

    While the two were arguing, they failed to watch over the Midnight Thief as he managed to get into the mansion and come out a bit later. This was soon followed by the sound of an alarm, as the guards tried their best to scramble after the intruder. It was only at that point that Erin and Ryle stopped their arguing just in time to see the thief run through the front gate, followed by a large group of guards.

    ¡°Oh goddammit! He¡¯s getting away!¡± Erin cursed as she got up and started to chase after the thief herself. ¡°Come on! We must not let him get away!¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m right behind you!¡± Ryle said as she ran after her partner. As she was running, she gave a big smile as she looked down at the binoculars she had managed to snatch from the redhead, before whispering to herself, ¡°Victory!¡±

    As the guards were running after the thief through the streets, Erin and Ryle did the same by using the rooftops and bridges connecting the surrounding buildings. By doing this, they were able to easily keep up with their target, as they didn¡¯t have to worry about all the obstacles on the ground level.

    Looking down, Erin noticed that the guards were starting to get closer to the Midnight Thief. While she was fairly certain that he had a way to get away by himself, it was a good idea to make sure he wouldn¡¯t get captured. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to show him that they weren¡¯t a threat themselves.

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re dropping down. Get ready for a fight,¡± Erin called out to Ryle, who grinned and nodded in response.

    Back on the ground, one of the guards leading the group was grinning as he was almost with reach of the famous Midnight Thief. He was starting to imagine all the fun he was going to have with the reward he was surely going to receive after bringing in the intruder.

    Unfortunately for said guard, those dreams were quickly crushed, as the sole of a boot came crashing down on his head, knocking him out. His companions were about to retaliate against the people that suddenly attacked them out of nowhere, but they were soon all knocked out by the combined efforts of Erin and Ryle.

    With the guards taken out, Erin felt like it was the perfect opportunity for them to talk with the Midnight Thief himself. She turned around to see said thief standing still, completely dumbstruck by what had just happened.

    ¡°Alright then. You¡¯re the famous Midnight Thief, correct?¡± Erin spoke to the masked thief, who seemed to flinch upon hearing his name. ¡°We have something that we¡¯d like to discuss with you. I assure you that we mean no harm. We just-¡±

    The redhead was cut off as the thief turned around and started running away again, except this time he was moving faster than before. The two ladies that had just helped him were left to stare after him with dumbfounded looks on their faces.

    ¡°...Well that was rude,¡± Ryle said, breaking the silence.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! Go after him!¡± Erin yelled angrily as she began to chase after the thief, followed behind by her partner.

    The two pursuers ran after the thief, who was putting his all into running away. Despite his best efforts, Erin and Ryle were getting closer and closer, no matter what he did. The thief would knock down trash cans, climb over fences and even dropped shards of broken glass on the ground, but it didn¡¯t deter his pursuers at all.

    ¡°I hate to say this, but this guy is really starting to get on my nerves!¡± Ryle said while jumping over another trash can that was used as a makeshift obstacle. ¡°Even if we do catch up to him, I fear I might kill him just to relieve some of the stress!¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re angry, but control yourself!¡± Erin said back to the blonde. ¡°Doing that won¡¯t help us in the long run! Besides, this just shows how resourceful he is!¡±

    Suddenly, the Midnight Thief took a sharp turn behind a corner. The two ladies followed after him, but were shocked to find the alleyway completely empty. Not a single living thing was anywhere in sight.

    ¡°What the-!? WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO!?¡± Erin yelled in shock while furiously looking around. ¡°We were right behind him! Where the hell could he have gone!?¡±

    ¡°...He didn¡¯t go far. In fact, he¡¯s still here,¡± Ryle said as she seemed to sniff the air a bit. ¡°Oh yeah. He¡¯s still alright.¡±

    ¡°Huh? But¡­ Where is he then?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see him anywhere.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing. You need to use something other than your eyes,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°Let me show you what I mean exactly.¡±

    Ryle then proceeded to sniff the air a bit more, before walking up to a nearby wall. She then suddenly slammed her fist against it, causing the metal to dent. The blonde seemed to stare down at someone before her, even though Erin couldn¡¯t see anything.

    ¡°How about you quit hiding already?¡± Ryle said in a threatening tone. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of these freaking games.¡±

    It was then that the figure of the Midnight Thief seemed to appear out of thin air in front of Ryle with his back against the wall. The small thief seemed to be terrified of the woman before him, as his whole body seemed to be trembling.

    ¡°So that¡¯s where he was! He used an invisibility spell to hide himself!¡± Erin exclaimed as she realized what had happened. ¡°But how did you know!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rather simple really. I already had some suspicions when we heard some of the rumors surrounding him, like the ones about him being able to disappear suddenly. The thought of him using spells to hide himself only grew once we actually saw him use magic. There are a lot of thieves and other such people who like to use items or spells to turn invisible in their line of work, since it greatly helps. But while such methods can fool eyes, they can¡¯t fool other senses,¡± Ryle explained with a grin before lightly tapping her nose. ¡°The nose knows.¡±

    The redhead let out a satisfied sigh, as the whole case seemed to have been solved. However, she noticed that the Midnight Thief was still trembling terribly, most likely thinking that the two of them were bounty hunters chasing after him for the reward. She realized that she needed to quickly explain the situation, so that there would be no misunderstandings.

    ¡°Hey now, no need to be worried, okay?¡± Erin said in a calm tone, hoping that it would show that she and her partner weren¡¯t a threat. ¡°All we want is to simply talk with you. That¡¯s it. I believe that we share a mutual interest with you. Would you listen to us?¡±

    The Midnight Thief didn¡¯t respond at all and simply remained silent.

    ¡°Hey, she asked you a question, pal! Are you deaf or something!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily, irritated by the thief¡¯s lack of response. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up against the wall as a show of force, causing him to reflexively grab her arms in turn. ¡°Now you better start talking and fast or else I¡¯m gonna-!¡±

    The blonde¡¯s threat was cut off, as electricity suddenly shot from the Midnight Thief¡¯s hands, shocking her and causing her to scream from pain. The electric shock was strong enough to cause Ryle to let go of thief and fall on her backside, allowing him to make a hasty escape and run away.

    ¡°Ryle! Are you okay!?¡± Erin asked as she quickly ran up to her partner, more worried about her well-being than their target escaping.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine! It hurt like hell, but I¡¯ll live,¡± Ryle said as she got back up. ¡°Little bastard had more tricks up his sleeves than I thought! That was the shock grasp spell!¡±

    ¡°Dammit! He¡¯s getting away!¡± the redhead said as she looked back at the Midnight Thief and saw him running a good distance away from them. ¡°At this rate, we won¡¯t be able to catch up to him!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± the blonde said with anger practically dripping from her voice. ¡°It¡¯s a technique that ensures we¡¯ll catch up to him right away.¡±

    ¡°Really!? What is-!?¡±

    Erin¡¯s question was cut off by Ryle grabbing her by the shirt and throwing the redhead¡¯s body with as much power as she could muster. Erin screamed as she flew through the air like a missile and straight towards the thief they had been chasing. The Midnight Thief was only able to look behind him at the last second to notice the human projectile coming at him, before they both crashed down to the ground rather painfully.

    With her target down, Ryle whistled to herself happily as she skipped over to her partner and target, both laying on the ground in a heap.

    ¡°Hey, you okay, Erin?¡± the blonde asked innocently, upon reaching the two. ¡°Get up already. We don¡¯t have the luxury of sleeping while on a job, you know?¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL, RYLE!?¡± Erin yelled as she stood up, still feeling sore all over her body from the rough treatment she just received. ¡°What¡¯s the big idea of throwing me like that!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, we managed to stop him, didn¡¯t we?¡± Ryle said defensively. ¡°The way I see it, you should be more grateful to me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, trust me¡­ Once we get the chance, I¡¯ll show you just how grateful I am,¡± the redhead muttered before turning her attention to the Midnight Thief. ¡°It seems that you managed to knock him out. Let¡¯s take him with us to our motel room. Once he wakes up, we can-¡±

    It was then that Erin noticed that the thief¡¯s hood had fallen down, revealing a pair of cat ears on top of silver hair. Not only were the ears and hair of the Midnight Thief now visible, but the lack of hood also showed the upper half of his face. Upon seeing this, the redhead knelt down to remove the mask that covered the lower half of his face. What she saw made her eyes go wide.

    ¡°Hey, something wrong?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°You suddenly went completely quiet.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m okay, but I¡¯m no longer sure about us joining up with this guy,¡± Erin replied.

    ¡°Huh!? After all the trouble we went through!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Why!?¡±

    ¡°Well, just look for yourself,¡± the redhead said.

    Ryle looked down at the unconscious thief and was shocked by the revelation as much as her partner was. They now understood why the famous Midnight Thief had seemed so short, as he was only a young catfolk boy.

 23. A Thieféˆ¥æªš True Face

    Chapter 23

    A Thief¡¯s True Face

    Erin had been so sure of her plan regarding the Midnight Thief that she hadn¡¯t thought of all the possible things that could go wrong. At worst, she had been a bit concerned over the thief¡¯s real goal. Had he been just a greedy bastard hoping to use his popularity to his advantage to run away with his spoils, the redhead was more than ready to simply turn him over to the authorities and claim the bounty. No use in passing up an opportunity to make some cash, especially when you wouldn¡¯t have to feel bad about it.

    However, one thing she had failed to consider was the true identity that was hid behind the mask. While it was obvious that the Midnight Thief wasn¡¯t an adult human as his size clearly showed, there was always the chance that he was simply a member of a race that was naturally shorter than most others. This wouldn¡¯t have been an issue in regards to recruitment in the least in her eyes.

    What Erin had failed to consider was that the famous Midnight Thief didn¡¯t belong to such a race at all and was instead just a young boy. A skilled one, but still not the experienced adult one was expecting.

    Said boy was currently still unconscious from having the redhead¡¯s body crash into his. He was tied to a chair with a cloth covering his mouth, as the two women who had brought him to their motel room without anyone noticing didn¡¯t want him to cause any unwanted noise upon waking up.

    The boy looked to be in his teens and had a rather slender built, which was common for most catfolk like himself. He had short silver hair with a pair of cat ears on top of his head. He was still dressed in his thief¡¯s outfit, which consisted of dark clothes along with a black cloak that had a hood. He also had a silver cat tail that had been hidden during the chase.

    In all honesty, Erin couldn¡¯t help but feel dirty over what she and her partner had done. While she knew that she wasn¡¯t exactly innocent and was certain that Ryle had her fair share of blood on her hands as well, their victims so far had been adults that were either capable of defending themselves or deserved their bloody ends. This time, they had attacked an innocent child. He might have been a thief, but that was hardly a crime deserving such a punishment. Especially when the people he stole from were nothing but corrupt government officials.

    ¡°This did not go as I had imagined,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Had I known this was behind the mask, I wouldn¡¯t have gone with my plan at all.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh. Sure. Whatever you say,¡± Ryle replied in a voice that sounded completely disinterested.

    The redhead glanced at her partner and felt incredibly worried. She was certain that Ryle wanted nothing more than to tear the boy apart for all the trouble he had caused, no matter how calm and composed she was acting. Ever since the two of them had discovered the true identity of the Midnight Thief, the blonde had been strangely silent, tense and cooperative. Not only that, but she had kept her eyes on their captive almost the whole time ever since he had been unmasked. If Erin were to make a guess, Ryle was most likely slightly conflicted, since she wanted to kill the boy but now knew the true face underneath the mask that made her hesitate. Even still, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel like the boy¡¯s life was hanging on by a thin thread.

    Suddenly, the boy began to stir in his seat, showing signs of waking up. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around before attempting to move, only to find himself restrained. Once he realized the situation he was in, the catfolk boy began to violently struggle against his restraints in the hopes of escaping.

    Knowing that letting him go on like this would most certainly cause a lot of noise, which in turn would bring unwanted attention, Erin decided to try and calm their young captive, even if it was very unlikely to work.

    ¡°Hey, calm down, okay? We don¡¯t want anyone hearing any weird sounds coming from here, got it?¡± the redhead said in a gentle yet stern tone while holding the boy¡¯s face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. The boy immediately stopped struggling, but still looked terrified. ¡°All we want is some answers out of you and that¡¯s it. Give us what we want and nothing bad will happen. Alright?¡±

    The boy gave a small nod in response before staring down in defeat, as even his ears fell. It seemed like he had completely given up hope and succumbed to his fate.

    ¡°Hey, no need to look so down,¡± Erin said as she gently grabbed the boy¡¯s chin and lifted up his head so they were looking each other in the eye. The redhead was trying to be a bit more gentle this time with their captive in the hopes of showing him that they were not a threat. ¡°We honestly don¡¯t want to hurt you. The only reason we sought you out was so we could speak with you and nothing else. I¡¯m sorry for how we¡¯ve treated you so far, but we had no choice. So take it easy and work with us, okay?¡±

    The boy nodded in response. The motion had more resolve and strength behind it this time.

    ¡°Good boy. Now, I¡¯m gonna let you speak, so please don¡¯t scream or yell,¡± Erin said as she took the cloth off that was covering the catfolk thief¡¯s mouth. ¡°First of all, you are the famous Midnight Thief that is on wanted posters everywhere, right?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ That¡¯s me,¡± the boy answered somewhat meekly. ¡°Although, I d-didn¡¯t make the name m-myself. I-It was made by some of the people that were r-reporting on my crimes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I figured out that much. You don¡¯t seem like the type that would declare their name in the middle of robbing someone¡¯s home,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°Anyways, what¡¯s your real name?¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Arkay¡­ Although, friends and family tend to call me Arnie,¡± the boy answered.

    ¡°Alright, Arnie it is then,¡± Erin said with a more upbeat tone, hoping to clear some of the tensity in the atmosphere. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you seem to only target people affiliated with the government. Why is that? You do know that is incredibly dangerous for you and those close to you, right?¡±

    ¡°I-I know that! But I just can¡¯t sit back while they keep doing the things they do! The people are oppressed with more and more of their rights and belongings being stripped from them every day! How could I just stay still and not try to do something with my own power!?¡± Arkay said before looking down sadly. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like there is anyone out there that would be in danger because of me¡­¡±

    ¡°...Did you lose your family?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ My family lived in a small village not too far from here, when suddenly a group of bandits attacked us. Most of the people were slaughtered, while the survivors were taken captive and sold to someone living in the Eastern Continent. My mom was among those who were sold, but she killed herself before they could transport her. My dad died as he hid me from the bandits that attacked us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Erin said with a sad look in her eyes. ¡°But why are you attacking people affiliated with the government? Shouldn¡¯t you be going after the bandits that attacked you?¡±

    ¡°Because it was the government officials that were behind the whole thing,¡± Arkay answered, shocking the redhead. ¡°A lot of the higher-ups like to make some extra money, like their big paychecks aren¡¯t enough for them. Some have illegal gambling operations, others run underground fight pits and some sell people to slavery. The ones above them don¡¯t really care, unless whatever they do becomes an issue somehow. One of the people stationed here hired the bandits to attack my village, so he could have merchandise to sell.¡±

    Erin looked down with a sad frown on her face. Yet another person had been harmed due to her actions.

    In all honesty, the redhead could no longer even think about recruiting this person to aid them in attacking the military base in the city. While he was definitely skilled and had abilities that would certainly prove useful, Arkay was still a child. It was also clear that he had no actual combat experience, so bringing him with them would put him at great risk of losing his life. It seemed like they had ended up wasting their time.

    ¡°Erin,¡± Ryle suddenly called out to the redhead.

    Erin sighed. This was not going to go over well with her partner.

    ¡°Ryle, I know you¡¯re upset and all, but-¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re keeping him.¡±

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°We HAVE TO keep him!¡± Ryle exclaimed in an extremely happy tone with a huge smile on her face as she walked over to Arkay. She put her arms around the cat boy before proceeding to rub her cheek against the top of his head, while she had an expression of pure bliss. ¡°He¡¯s just so cute and precious! I mean, look at these ears and tail! And he has magical abilities as well! How could we pass up on making him a member of our group!? He¡¯s just perfect!¡±

    For a moment, Erin could only stare at her partner with wide eyes, having not expected such a joyous outburst from her. At first, she wondered what this was about, before she remembered something from back when she used to play Five Realms with Devin and his group.

    The developers had actually made it possible for you to marry almost any NPC that you could find. This included characters that were younger, which caused quite the controversy. Luckily the game didn¡¯t have any too risky content, so it never got too out of hand. It was explained in the lore of the game that the age for marriage was lower in the game¡¯s world than in the real world.

    It seemed like this had carried over to this real version of the game world. While Erin knew that the laws and customs were different here than her own world, she couldn¡¯t help but be somewhat disturbed by how Ryle was acting.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Ryle? I¡¯m not sure about ¡°keeping him¡±, as you put it,¡± Erin said as she tried to get her partner to back down on her desire to recruit the young catfolk boy. ¡°I know I was the one who originally wanted to make him part of our group and all, but think about it more rationally. This really isn¡¯t a good idea.¡±

    ¡°What!? How could this NOT be a good idea!?¡± Ryle asked in a shocked tone as she hugged Arkay tighter, who blushed furiously at the contact. ¡°We need help and he obviously has the skills we need! What suddenly made you change your mind about him!?¡±

    ¡°Well, for starters, he¡¯s too young to be doing this. I honestly doubt he has enough experience.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was around the same age as him when I started bounty hunting! I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be able to keep up with us and won¡¯t hold us back! Besides, you¡¯ve seen how he handled himself during his robbery. He almost got away from you!¡±

    ¡°I know that, but what we are doing is on a whole different level! We won¡¯t be breaking into the home of some random noble, but into an actual military base! Taking him along will only-!¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Excuse me?¡± Arkay suddenly called out, getting the attention of both women. ¡°Are you talking about the military base in the city? Why are you trying to break into there?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because we have a bone to pick with General Lune, so we need to-¡±

    ¡°RYLE!¡± Erin yelled, angered by the fact that her partner had so easily revealed their plans.

    ¡°Did you just say Lune!?¡± Arkay asked with wide eyes. ¡°Take me with you! Please!¡±

    ¡°W-What?¡± the redhead asked, taken aback by the sudden request.

    ¡°Do you have a grudge against him as well?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Yes. It was him who hired the bandits to attack my village and sold off the survivors,¡± Arkay said while gritting his teeth in anger. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was him who caused my mom to kill herself. I watched as the people were being handed to the human traffickers that would take them to the Eastern Continent. Before being taken away, mom used to be a beautiful and bright woman, but after Lune got his hands on her, she was nothing like she used to be. She looked more like a zombie than the person I remember her being. And when they were moving her, she¡­ She¡­¡±

    ¡°She what? What happened?¡± Erin asked, already fearing the answer.

    ¡°She collapsed on the ground with blood falling from her mouth after biting off her tongue!¡± the cat boy yelled as tears were now falling from his eyes. ¡°After she died, Lune just left her body there before leaving! I had to bury her myself!¡±

    Arkay began to quietly sob as he thought about the loss of his mother. Ryle tried her best to comfort him with her hug, as Erin could only look at him in sympathy.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just that-¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. We understand,¡± Ryle said with a small smile, cutting off the cat boy¡¯s apology. ¡°We have all suffered losses by the hands of Lune, which is why we are here now.¡±

    ¡°...Arnie, I understand your desire for revenge, but are you sure about this?¡± Erin asked. ¡°If you join us, you will be putting yourself in far more danger than ever before. Do you still wish to come with us?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ I can¡¯t forgive Lune for what he has done. Besides, I¡¯ve already tried to get inside the military base a couple of times,¡± Arkay answered, surprising both women. ¡°I managed to make my way through some of the defenses, but never got in all that deep. The security measures get tighter and tougher the deeper you go. But with you two, I feel like we can make it happen.¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s decided!¡± Ryle exclaimed happily. ¡°Arnie will become our new member and together we will make Lune pay for what he has done to us!¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Erin said with a nod before looking at Arkay with a smile. ¡°Welcome aboard. It¡¯s good to have you with us.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t fail you,¡± the cat boy said with a smile. ¡°Although, can I ask for something?¡±

    ¡°Sure. What is it?¡±

    ¡°Can you untie me already?¡±

 24. Darker Business

    Chapter 24

    Darker Business

    With Arkay as a new addition to their group, Erin and her companions were walking through the bustling streets of Moonstone City. While the cat boy gave them some much needed additional abilities that would assist them greatly in their quest for revenge against Lune, they still weren¡¯t completely certain of their chances. After all, they were looking to infiltrate a high level military base that was crawling with guards and some of them were most likely very powerful individuals as well. In other words, the odds were clearly against them.

    Erin felt the that they needed more help in order to make their attack successful, but that was easier said than done. People that would be willing to risk their lives on such a battle weren¡¯t exactly common and openly asking others to join them would most likely get them in trouble with the local law enforcement very fast. Thanks to Arkay¡¯s actions against the government officials being widely known through his Midnight Thief robberies, it had been easy to pin him as a potential ally. Others wouldn¡¯t be so easy to find, though.

    Since they didn¡¯t have any better options, Erin figured that they would try to hire mercenaries to their aid. Unfortunately, this would require a lot of money on their part, which they didn¡¯t have. Even though Arkay had managed to steal a lot from his targets, he didn¡¯t have much left for himself. This was because he liked to donate most of his spoils to the less fortunate people in the city, while only keeping enough for himself to pay for his own necessities.

    However, the cat boy was able to provide his comrades with information that would help them make a lot of money very fast. Due to him having to sell a lot of the things he had stolen in order to get money for his robberies, Arkay had become knowledgeable with some of the shadier parts of the city. This led to him finding out about things like gambling venues, secret slave trades and underground fight arenas. The last one of these was something that got the interest of Erin and Ryle, who immediately asked their young companion to show them the way to such a place.

    The fight arenas were essentially illegal venues, where people could earn money by either participating in the fights themselves or by betting on the results. Despite them being officially outlawed, such things were able to operate without trouble, as the owners had bribed the correct people to turn a blind eye to the whole thing.

    The fights themselves were very brutal that often led to the death of the loser. The only rule was that while inside the ring, none of the fighters could receive any help from the outside. This meant that pretty much any method of fighting was allowed, whether you used your own physical strength, magic or weapons. Only very powerful explosives were banned for obvious reasons.

    Even though she didn¡¯t like the idea of taking part in such a thing, Erin saw no better way for them to get the money they needed. Bounty hunting relied too much on them being lucky that wanted criminals were in the area and even then their bounties could be small. For them to get the money they needed as fast as they needed it, they would have to take a very big risk.

    ¡°A-Are you guys sure you want to do this?¡± Arkay asked his companions as they were making their way to the shadier part of the city. ¡°While I get that we need money, I¡¯m sure there are a lot safer ways to do so.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the concern, Arnie, but we don¡¯t have many options,¡± Erin said. ¡°The fact is that we need a lot of money and fast, so this is the only option we have. As much as I¡¯d like to take my time slowly collecting the amount we need, we don¡¯t know if Lune is going to stay in the city for long. He could get sent to another place at any moment, if we don¡¯t hurry.¡±

    ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t need to be afraid!¡± Ryle added with a big grin. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure no creep gets their hands on you while we¡¯re in there, so don¡¯t you worry about a thing! Just leave everything to these two big sisters! Especially me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not worried about myself!¡± Arkay quickly said. ¡°It¡¯s you two that I¡¯m worried about¡­¡±

    ¡°Awww! You¡¯re just precious!¡± the blonde woman said happily as she pulled the cat boy into a strong hug, causing him to blush. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to worry about us! We can handle ourselves! Right, Erin!?¡±

    ¡°We sure can,¡± the redhead replied with a smile. ¡°However, would you mind letting him go? He is our guide after all.¡±

    Reluctantly, Ryle let go of Arkay, who proceeded to lead the way to the underground fight pit. At first, they would need to stop by a black market merchant, who often bought the things the cat boy had stolen. This was because Arkay didn¡¯t know the location of the fight pit himself, only that it existed in the city. The merchant was someone that could point them in the right direction.

    As the three of them kept moving, the lively bustling streets of the city started to become less and less crowded, until they came to a part of the city that seemed completely abandoned. But while it appeared to be devoid of people living in it, the place was anything but empty. While they were making their way through the narrow streets and alleys, Erin and Ryle kept noticing people that were keeping an eye on them from the shadows, whether it was from behind dark corners or small cracks in walls and closed windows. Both could tell that they were being sized up by the local residents.

    Luckily, there weren¡¯t any incidents, as the trio made it to a large staircase that led them underground. At the bottom of the stairs was a closed gate that was guarded by two armed men. Upon noticing that they had visitors, both guards at first grasped their weapons before relaxing when they saw Arkay. Without saying a word, the cat boy gave one of the guards a few coins before the gate was opened and they were allowed inside.

    The sight behind the gate was something that caused both Erin and Ryle¡¯s eyes to go wide immediately. The entrance had somehow been able to completely muffle the storm of noise that accompanied the scene before them, as what appeared to be a busy market was now in front of their eyes.

    The place was bustling almost as much as the busy streets of the city itself, as different vendors were trying to call out for potential customers and dozens upon dozens of people were walking through the streets, going through the businesses around them. Lights were set up on the ceiling, which illuminated the place enough to make you think you were still walking above ground. Even without the lights above, there were more than enough brightly flashing signs to give you more than enough light.

    The vendors around varied from all sorts of different businesses. There were places that seemed normal enough, such as bars, weapon stores and such. However, one only needed to look around for a second to find slave merchants, illegal narcotics and even assassins for hire to tell you that this was no ordinary market square, but a den of sin where money could get you anything.

    But it wasn¡¯t just the businesses there that warned you of the dangers around you, as the people themselves were practically oozing with an aura that put you on edge. Ryle in particular could smell the stench of blood on almost everyone there. If one were to look for someone without a criminal record on them in this place, they probably would end up spending an eternity doing so without ever finding a single one.

    Much to the surprise of both Erin and Ryle, Arkay seemed to be completely fine while walking through such streets. The cat boy was very shy and timid, so they would have expected him to be more scared. It seemed like he was used to coming here, most likely due to his profession as a thief.

    The three companions continued their journey in silence, hoping to not catch the attention of anyone. Luckily for them, this area had its own set of rules that ensured safe passage for them. They were soon standing in front of a store called ¡°Lady Luxley¡¯s Mixed Goodies¡±.

    ¡°This is the place,¡± Arkay said to his companions. ¡°I often brought some of my stolen goods here to be sold. The person who owns this place is someone who has been living here for decades, so if there is anyone that knows anything about the things going on around here, it¡¯s her.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Lead the way,¡± Erin said. ¡°We¡¯ll be right behind you.¡±

    The cat boy opened the door and the trio went inside. The inside of the store was surprisingly well kept with all the items organized neatly. The things being sold there were mostly all sorts of fancy items, such as vases, jewelry, golden trinkets of all sizes and so on. There were very few actual weapons and they were mostly meant for decoration, as they were covered in gold and all sorts of jewels.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    There was a counter that had the owner sitting behind it. She was an older fox person with red hair. Despite her age, she still looked quite beautiful, giving off the aura of a more mature and dignified woman. She was reading a book when the three companions came in, upon which she quickly put away her book and switched into customer service mode right away.

    ¡°Welcome to Lady Luxley¡¯s Mixed Goodies, my dear friends! How can I-?¡± the fox lady called out happily to her customers, before stopping upon seeing Arkay. ¡°Oh Arnie dear! How nice of you to visit me! Did you perhaps get your hands on some interesting items again?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ N-Not this time, madam,¡± Arkay answered nervously. ¡°This time I¡¯m here for other type of business.¡±

    ¡°Other type of business you say? What could that possibly-?¡± Luxley began to say before noticing the cat boy¡¯s companions. A grin spread across her face immediately. ¡°Ah! I see! You decided to take my advice and quit all that dangerous thieving business and went to get a job at the Maiden¡¯s Nest! I see you¡¯ve even managed to get your first two customers. You work really fast, don¡¯t you? So what kind of items do you need for your new profession?¡±

    Both Erin and Arkay blushed heavily at the implication. Ryle was the only one not affected, as she didn¡¯t know what the fox lady was talking about. She gave confused glances at her two companions, wondering why they were reacting in such a way.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with the two of you?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Am I missing something?¡±

    ¡°Are you for-!?¡± Erin began to ask, only to stop herself. ¡°Never mind! Just lend me your ear for a moment.¡±

    Ryle leaned towards the redhead, who then whispered into her ear. Once Erin was done, the blonde¡¯s eyes were as wide as possible and her whole face was flushed red. It seemed like she finally understood what Luxley had been implying.

    ¡°Just to clear things up, I haven¡¯t exactly changed my occupation. Especially in that way¡­ But I do need your help for my next job,¡± Arkay began to explain to the merchant. ¡°My companions and I are in the need of money and we need it fast. I¡¯ve heard about a fight pit that¡¯s being held here. Can you tell us where it is?¡±

    ¡°The fight pit? Dear, you shouldn¡¯t go into such a horrid place. It doesn¡¯t suit a gentle soul such as yourself,¡± Luxley said. ¡°There are safer ways to earn a lot of money fast. I can tell you about them, if you¡¯re interested.¡±

    ¡°N-No no! That¡¯s fine!¡± the cat boy quickly said with a blush, imagining the things the fox lady had on her mind. ¡°Besides, I won¡¯t be the one fighting. One of my friends will do it, while I simply earn some extra through betting on the fights. Could you tell us where the place is?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ I suppose I could, but that alone won¡¯t do you much good,¡± Luxley answered thinking to herself. ¡°You see, not just anyone is let inside the fight club. Only those who are determined either strong enough to offer good entertainment or those who have enough money to gamble are allowed to enter.¡±

    ¡°How do gain entrance then?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is there some sort of a test that we need to take or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing of the sort! What you need is a special card that shows you are recognized as worth their time in that place,¡± the fox lady explained. ¡°However, only very few people can give these cards, so you¡¯d need to first find a person who can do this and then convince them to enter the fight pit.¡±

    ¡°Well, where do we find one of these people then!?¡± Ryle asked, as she was starting to get frustrated over the conversation seemingly not going anywhere. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day here and we need to start making some cash quick!¡±

    ¡°Now now, no need to lose your temper, little miss. The answer to your problem is much closer than you might think,¡± Luxley answered as she pulled something out of her pocket and put it on the table. It was a white card that had a red picture of a grinning devil on it. ¡°As it happens, I can give you one of such cards to let you inside.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you so much!¡± Arkay said happily as he went to grab the card, only for the fox lady to take it away.

    ¡°Not so fast, darling! I never said I was going to give it to you for free, did I?¡± Luxley said playfully. ¡°Not only is the card itself very valuable, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll need quite a bit of money as well, right? The fight pit isn¡¯t some little kids¡¯ gambling area, but a den for real gamblers that bet on the lives of people. If you show up there with your pocket money, you¡¯ll only get laughed out of there. However, I might be willing to give you enough money along with this card, if you provide me with something on your end.¡±

    ¡°So it is a trade that you want from us then?¡± Erin asked with narrowed eyes, suspicious over the merchant¡¯s intentions. ¡°What is it that you want? Do you want us to steal something for you or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need to do something like that!¡± Luxley replied nonchalantly, before looking at Arkay. ¡°What I desire from you is something that you actually already have in your possession.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re NOT handing Arnie to you!¡± Ryle shouted angrily as she put the cat boy in a protective hug, trying to shield him from the fox lady. ¡°If you think we are willing to sell him just for some stupid card, you¡¯ve got another thing coming your way!¡±

    ¡°Calm yourself! I¡¯m not going to ask for him! That would be far too unfair of a deal and I would never imagine any of you agreeing to it!¡± Luxley said while giggling to herself a bit, amused by the blonde woman¡¯s protective antics. ¡°Although, what I desire is related to him.¡±

    ¡°W-What is it then?¡± Arkay asked, blushing a bit over the hug he was in. ¡°What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. I want one piece of your clothing from when you were acting as the Midnight Thief,¡± the fox lady answered. ¡°You have a surprising amount of fans, you see. Some of them would be willing to pay me incredible amounts of money for almost anything related to you. You give me a piece of your clothing and you¡¯ll be getting the card from me. Deal?¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle felt disgust and anger welling up inside themselves at Luxley¡¯s offer. Both of them knew well just what type of people would be looking to buy such an article from her. Had it not been for the sudden response from Arkay, there is no telling what the two of them would have done to the merchant.

    ¡°Is that all? You have a deal!¡± the cat boy said happily. ¡°Is there any specific piece of clothing you want from me or is anything fine?¡±

    ¡°Almost anything is fine, as long as it is part of your Midnight Thief outfit,¡± Luxley replied with a wide smile, already looking forward to the profits she would be making. Without even a sign of hesitation, Arkay took off his cloak and put it on the counter and received the card along with some money. ¡°Thank you for your continued patronage. Also, if you¡¯re ever in the need of some money, don¡¯t hesitate to get in touch with me.¡±

    ¡°I-I will keep that in mind¡­ Thank you,¡± the cat boy said meekly before leaving the store followed by his two companions that shot glares at Luxley before leaving.

    Once they were outside, Erin and Ryle noticed that Arkay seemed to be shivering and was breathing strangely, like he was having a panic attack. Both women immediately rushed to his side to offer help and comfort to their distraught friend.

    ¡°Arnie, are you alright?¡± Erin asked with a worried tone as she put her hand on the boy¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve just seen a ghost or something!¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s because of that creepy fox hag, I can go and take care of her!¡± Ryle said as she stood to the left of Arkay while gently rubbing his back in a comforting manner. ¡°Just say the word and I will-¡±

    ¡°No! I mean¡­ There¡¯s no need for that,¡± the cat boy quickly said in order to stop his companions from acting out. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I just get a bit overwhelmed whenever I visit Luxley. I just need a moment to compose myself and I¡¯ll be alright.¡±

    ¡°If you get like this every time you visit her, why not just go to someone else?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure that there are others out there that could offer the same services.¡±

    ¡°No there are not. Luxley is the best merchant for me, even if I don¡¯t like it,¡± Arkay said as he shook his head. ¡°Even if she scares me with all of her comments and requests, I get a much better price for the things I¡¯m selling from her when compared to others. Not only that, but I¡¯m sure that no one else would have been willing to sell us the card we got for the fight pit.¡±

    ¡°But how can you go to someone like her? What makes you so sure she won¡¯t suddenly betray you and do something horrible to you?¡± Ryle asked in a worried tone.

    ¡°Not only is she the closest thing to a trustworthy merchant around here, I also know that she wouldn¡¯t betray me all so suddenly unless she was forced to. This is because she sees me as an investment,¡± the cat boy began to explain. ¡°The more I continue my work as the Midnight Thief, the more my worth rises as well. This isn¡¯t just in the bounty one can claim from me, but also from selling me to someone on the black market. There are people out there who like to make collections out of notorious criminals and other famous people, and Luxley knows she can make far more money from someone like that than from the bounty on my head. However, she is patient enough to let my fame grow, so she can get even more money from when she finally decides to sell me. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she wanted a part of my outfit in order to test how much she could get.¡±

    ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t have come here in the first place!¡± Erin said. ¡°If you¡¯re in such danger, we should have just looked for other options and-¡±

    ¡°There aren¡¯t any other options for us, I¡¯m afraid. But don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t regret coming here at all,¡± Arkay said as she looked up at his friends with a small smile on his face. ¡°Even if I had to sell myself on the black market, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do so for you two.¡±

    ¡°W-Why would you say that?¡± the redhead asked with wide eyes. ¡°What could possibly make you think that sacrificing your own freedom would be worth it to help us?¡±

    ¡°Because unlike me, you two are willing to fight back against Lune and his troops,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°While I have always hoped to avenge my parents and my village, I always knew in the back of my mind that I would never be able to achieve it on my own. In all honesty, some of my latest robberies were done more for the sake of allowing me to ignore the fact that I could never achieve my revenge. Then suddenly, you two came and announced that you were looking to do that which I had practically given up on. Even if I could only help you a bit, I¡¯d be willing to die-¡±

    Arkay was suddenly cut off by Erin pulling him into a tight hug. The redhead couldn¡¯t stand to listen to the cat boy saying such things any longer and needed to stop him somehow.

    ¡°Stop saying such things. Don¡¯t speak like your life doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Erin whispered while holding back tears in her eyes. ¡°Do you think we would like it if you were to sacrifice yourself for our sake? We could never live with that, so don¡¯t say anything like that ever again.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what she said!¡± Ryle said as she joined the redhead in hugging the silver-haired boy. ¡°Arnie, you¡¯re our friend and comrade. There¡¯s no way we would ever allow anything bad to happen to you! And that includes bad things happening from your own actions as well! So don¡¯t you ever even think about putting your own well-being in risk for our sake no matter what! I¡¯m sure that no matter what the issue is, we can solve it together, so just trust us!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Arkay said, taken aback by the love and support he was given. ¡°Thank you¡­ Thank you both so much.¡±

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s what friends are for, aren¡¯t they?¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Now let¡¯s go find that fight pit, okay? Might as well get some use out of our recent purchase.¡±

    The redhead let go of her young friend so that they could search the area, but Arkay was having issues moving around. This was because Ryle still had her arms around him in a tight hug.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Ms. Ryle? Could you let go of me?¡± the cat boy asked a bit awkwardly with a blush on his face.

    ¡°No,¡± was the simple reply from the blonde. ¡°I¡¯m keeping you safe for as long as we are here.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I know you want to protect him. I feel the same way,¡± Erin said. ¡°But don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going a bit overboard?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just taking necessary precautions!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°After all, if I was given the chance, I would kidnap him and- I MEAN IF I WAS ONE OF THE CRIMINALS HERE!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m starting to think he might need protection from YOU.¡±

 25. The Fight Pit

    Chapter 25

    The Fight Pit

    It took some searching, but Erin and her group were eventually able to find the underground fight pit that they had heard about. Thanks to the card they had received from Luxley, they were able to get the information they needed just by asking the right people. Apparently, the red devil card was more than a simple pass into certain areas, but a status symbol of some sort. While there were some people that didn¡¯t seem to know what it was, the ones who did immediately became helpful and told the redhead¡¯s group as much as they could.

    The building that held the fight arena didn¡¯t seem like it held anything within it. It looked like a small apartment that had been abandoned for years and had fallen into ruin. Most of the windows had been sealed shut with planks of wood and graffiti was covering most of the walls. There was a single person sitting in front of the front door, dressed in rags that covered most of his body.

    Erin shared a confused look with her companions before shrugging and walking up to the entrance. Since they had come here, they might as well see if they had followed the directions correctly.

    ¡°Excuse me. My friends and I are looking for the fight pit,¡± the redhead said to the person sitting at the front door. ¡°Are we at the right place?¡±

    ¡°...You got the card?¡± the man in rags said in a voice that sounded like he was half asleep and half drunk. Erin simply nodded in response before showing the red devil card to the man. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    The man stood up shakily before going inside the building while swaying heavily, followed by Erin¡¯s group. Once inside, the man in rags seemed to suddenly change. He was no longer swaying from side to side and was standing completely straight. The man also seemed to grow in size, as his head was almost up to the ceiling now and his broad shoulders made him look like a human wall. After correcting his posture, he took off the rags he had been wearing, revealing a wolfman with bulging muscles. Erin and her friends could only stare in awe at the massive beast of a man that was now in front of them.

    The huge wolfman walked up to a metal door that led underground at the back of the building, where he knocked on the door and whispered something. The door was then opened from the inside. The wolfman then stood to the side in order to let his guests walk in.

    ¡°Have nice day, dear customers. May fortune favor the people you place your hopes on,¡± the wolfman said before walking back to his post in guarding the entrance.

    Without saying a word to each other, Erin and her group walked down the entrance before them. As they walked through the door, they saw the person that had opened the door from the inside, a large orc armed with a shotgun. The orc didn¡¯t say anything as the three newcomers walked past him and simply closed the door once they were inside.

    Erin¡¯s group walked down the stairs until they reached another metal at the bottom. This one had the word ¡°WELCOME¡± crudely written on it in red paint. Before she even touched the handle, Erin stood still for a moment, as she heard something. It was the muffled sound of loud cheering that came from behind the door. The redhead looked back at her companions who seemed to have heard it as well.

    After a nod from Ryle, Erin grasped the handle and opened the door in front of them.

    The sight before the three of them was one that was the complete opposite to what was on the outside. While the building that held the entrance looked like it was about to collapse from being left to rot, the inside was everything but that. Bright lights hit your eyes right after opening the door and loud cheering echoed throughout the place. Just one look at the occupants was enough to tell you that this was a place for the extremely wealthy, as no one was dressed in cheap clothing. It was like a private club meant only for the extremely wealthy.

    However, once you took a few steps deeper, the true purpose of this place became obvious. In the middle of the room was a large ring that was surrounded by a cage, which ensured that no one got out too early. The ring had bloodstains on it, both new and old. The stench of blood was somewhat covered by the other odors that came from the drinks and tobacco, but it was still easy to pick up by anyone.

    The reason for the cheering came from a fight that was going on at the moment. Two fighters, a human male and a male orc were in the ring with their weapons drawn and ready. The human had metal gloves on his hands, while the orc was wielding a large metal club. Both fighters were covered in bruises, which told of the long and tough fight they had been locked in for some time now. The two combatants were currently circling each other, seizing up each other and pondering their next move.

    Suddenly, the human dashed towards his opponent, using his smaller and faster build to his advantage by ducking under the orc¡¯s wild swing and the landing a few blows onto his opponent¡¯s exposed side. The orc grunted in pain, but didn¡¯t falter. He kept swinging his club around, hoping to crush his opponent with a single blow. The human knew that a single would easily break his bones, so he kept using hit and run tactics by quickly dashing in, landing a few blows and then retreating.

    It seemed like the human¡¯s tactics were working, as the orc was slowly but surely being worn down. His breathing was very ragged, there was a pained expression on his face and his sides were discolored from all the bruising. The human smirked to himself as he moved in to finish their fight. The orc futilely tried to swing his club down on his opponent, only for the attack to be easily avoided. This allowed the human to land a powerful hook right into his opponent¡¯s guts. Everyone watching was certain that this match was now over.

    But just as the onlookers were sure that the fight was over, the orc had a sudden second wind and fought back. Letting go of his club, he used his now free hands to grab his opponent by the arms. Before the human could fight back, the orc bashed his head into his opponent¡¯s face. He repeated this move a few times, before finally letting go. The human¡¯s face was completely covered in blood, as his nose was broken and some of his teeth fell from his mouth. The human was unconscious before he hit the floor.

    The crowd erupted in cheers as the fight was now over. Medical personnel rushed inside to help the two fighters out by carrying them out on stretchers. It didn¡¯t take long for them to disappear in a backroom where they were treated.

    ¡°...Well, that was certainly brutal, to say the least,¡± Erin said after witnessing the brutal fight before them. ¡°I guess we just need to go and figure out how we can make money around here.¡±

    ¡°Y-You know we don¡¯t have to do this, right?¡± Arkay said awkwardly. ¡°We can still leave and figure out some other way to earn money. There¡¯s no need for either of you to risk your lives here.¡±

    Erin was about to tell her young friend how his concern was unnecessary and that he should calm himself, when a certain blonde beat her to it.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about us, Arnie!¡± Ryle declared with a big grin as she put an arm around his shoulders. ¡°If you had seen how tough I truly am, you would know better than to worry about me! Trust me when I say that there is not a single person here that is tougher than I am! I¡¯m going to be kicking ass in that ring soon enough, so just get ready!¡±

    ¡°...While I appreciate your enthusiasm, aren¡¯t you forgetting about someone?¡± Erin asked with a slight frown while pointing at herself. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should take ME into account? Or did you expect me to stay out of the ring entirely?¡±

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ How honest and blunt do you want me to be?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Ryle!¡± the redhead shouted back, angered by her friend¡¯s apparent lack of confidence in her.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not trying to be mean or anything! I¡¯m just speaking the honest truth here, which is that you¡¯re not suited in the ring at all, Erin,¡± Ryle began to explain. ¡°You might be skilled in sneaking around and getting the jump on your enemies, and you are capable of handling your average grunts. However, this is entirely different. The people that go into arenas like this are those who dedicate themselves to fighting while fully facing their opponents. They don¡¯t wait in the shadows for the right opportunity to come, but take on whoever they¡¯re up against in the open. If you go in there, Arnie and I will be scraping you off the floor with a mop.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence,¡± Erin grumbled unhappily. ¡°Are you really saying that I¡¯m so unskilled that I can¡¯t be trusted to go in there?¡±

    ¡°No one said anything about you being unskilled or not trustworthy. This just isn¡¯t your specialty,¡± the blonde answered in a calm yet serious tone that surprised her companions. ¡°Just let me handle this, since this is my specialty. Trust me when I say that both of you will be doing work that I can¡¯t handle myself. I swear.¡±

    Erin wanted to argue, but had to admit that her friend was completely right. She might have been a skilled assassin, but not a fighter. It was obvious who was more suited for this, when you thought about the fight that happened between the redhead and Ryle, as there was a clear winner in that one.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave this to you,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°But don¡¯t go too crazy out there, okay? If things start to get too dangerous, it¡¯s better for you to give up and get out of there. We can¡¯t afford to lose you.¡±

    ¡°Awww, no need to be worried about little old me! I can handle myself well enough!¡± Ryle said with a big grin as she put her arms around her two companions. ¡°Now, how about we get in there and make ourselves some money!?¡±

    Despite being in a place filled with danger and smelling of blood, Erin and Arkay couldn¡¯t help but smile at the enthusiasm of their companion. With renewed hope, the trio began to look for a person that could give them a rundown of how things worked in the arena.

    A bit later, the three companions managed to find the manager of the fight pit, who was a rather portly dwarf dressed up in fine clothing. Luckily for the three, the dwarf hadn¡¯t been all that busy, so he was able to spare some time for the newcomers. The plan was for Ryle to get in the ring and earn money through winning fights, while Erin and Arkay earned some extra on the side by betting on her, thus maximizing their profits.

    Unfortunately, their plan soon came crumbling down.

    ¡°Sorry, fellas. I can¡¯t let ya enter just like that,¡± the manager said while puffing on a cigar. ¡°Things don¡¯t work that easily around here.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Ryle yelled, like she was offended by her request being denied. ¡°Why the hell can¡¯t I enter the ring!? Don¡¯t you need fighters in order to give your guests a good show!?¡±

    ¡°I do need a good show, miss. But I don¡¯t need any more fighters. I¡¯ve already got a whole lot of of ¡®em lining up. What I need are good quality fighters that can deliver on giving a real show,¡± the manager began to explain. ¡°Ya see, no one is gonna put up any cash just to see some no name amateurs have a slap fight in the ring. They want some real, hardcore killers up in there beating the living hell outta each other. With no real fame on ya, I¡¯m not letting ya into the ring, okay?¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ve got the skills you want! I¡¯ve been a successful bounty hunter for a few years now and I wasn¡¯t hunting some cheap, easy as hell bounties either!¡± the blonde tried to argue. ¡°Just put anyone you¡¯ve got in the ring with me and I can take them on! I swear!¡±

    ¡°Ya think ya are the only one to say such crap? Ya aren¡¯t even the first one today alone,¡± the dwarf answered. ¡°I get people like ya by the dozens every damn day. Some greenhorn clowns looking to make themselves famous. Now if it was a slower day, I might consider it, but I¡¯m not about to disappoint my customers with some trash show, got it? Why don¡¯t ya try again after making some noise taking down bounties or getting into street fights? In a few months, ya might be worth something.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have months! I need money now!¡±

    ¡°Then why the hell are ya trying to fight? If ya want money, you only get it from gambling, not fighting.¡±

    ¡°...Come again?¡±

    ¡°Fighters here don¡¯t get paid. Not unless they work underneath someone who pays ¡®em to fight,¡± the manager explained. ¡°Ya see, this whole thing is more of an exhibition of sorts. The fighters get to show their skills in front of some big name people, and if they¡¯re good enough they might get hired by ¡®em. Once they have someone backing ¡®em, they most likely get paid to fight in the ring along with whatever work they do on the side.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ the only way to really make money is through gambling then?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± the dwarf replied with a shrug. ¡°Ya would be surprised by how easy it is to get people to fight it out in the ring just for some fame and a chance to find real good employment. In the end, it works out quite well for everyone involved. Our guests get some good entertainment for their money, the fighters get the attention they crave and the people running this place get to pocket some major profits without much of a cost. Everybody wins. Except ya, I guess¡­¡±

    ¡°...Guys, what are we gonna do now?¡± the blonde asked her two companions with a hint of worry in her voice. ¡°I had no idea it would be this hard to just get into the ring, not to mention earn money fighting. How are we supposed to earn some good cash around here?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°Our whole plan was pretty much based on you getting to fight. While we could gamble on the results of the fights, I¡¯m not so sure about that. We have no knowledge about the skills of any of the fighters here, so we would be placing our bets blindly.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s what¡¯s worrying ya, don¡¯t sweat it. The owners of this place made an arrangement so that newcomers like ya could get an idea of who to trust with bets,¡± the manager suddenly said, getting the group¡¯s attention. ¡°There are machines at the back where ya can watch some of the older fights that we¡¯ve had. It should give you a good enough idea on who to bet on.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think I saw those things when we came in!¡± Arkay chimed in happily before he began to head towards the place where he had seen them. ¡°I¡¯ll go check them out and report back. I¡¯ll be back soon!¡±

    Erin and Ryle tried to call back their young friend, but he had already disappeared into the sea of people. The cat boy soon managed to break through the crowd and found the machines the manager had mentioned. They were basically touch screen TVs in the walls with chairs placed in front of them. There was also a small slot meant for inserting money in order to operate them.

    With a bright smile on his face, Arkay practically skipped towards one of the screens in the hopes of having good news for his friends. However, just as he was about to reach the screen, he accidentally bumped into someone.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m terribly sorry! I wasn¡¯t looking where¡­ I was¡­ going,¡± the cat boy began to apologize, only for the words to turn almost inaudible upon seeing who he had bumped into. Arkay could only stare up at the person with wide eyes as he began to slightly tremble from fear.

    The reason for the youngster¡¯s terror was obvious from first glance, as the person he had bumped into practically radiated danger. The person was a massive female orc, taller than anyone Arkay had ever seen before. Not only that, but her whole body was completely toned up with huge muscles that spoke volumes of her strength. Not only that, but the few scars that could be seen here and there made it clear that this wasn¡¯t just some bodybuilder, but an experienced warrior.

    The orc looked down at the boy that had bumped into her and smirked in a sinister manner. Upon seeing this, Arkay almost let out a scared yelp.

    ¡°Well, hello to you. That wasn¡¯t exactly nice of you to bump into me, now was it?¡± the orc lady asked in a mischievous tone. ¡°Even if I wasn¡¯t hurt badly, it¡¯s still very rude to do such a thing to somebody. Bad things could happen from something like that, so you should really apologize, you know?¡±

    ¡°Y-Y-Y-Yes! You¡¯re right! I¡¯m terribly sorry for what I did!¡± Arkay said quickly as he bowed his head, hoping that he would be forgiven. ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t looking where I was going, so I¡¯m completely at fault here! I was just trying to-!¡±

    The cat boy¡¯s apology was suddenly cut off, by a strong grabbing him by the front of his shirt and lifting him up. Arkay was suddenly on eye level with the orc, as she had lifted him up easily with one arm. Said orc was grinning widely, while the cat boy was trembling in fear from being at the mercy of this gigantic person.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get what I mean by apologizing,¡± the orc said. ¡°You see, simply saying sorry isn¡¯t exactly much of an apology around these parts. In order for you to truly be forgiven, you need to do a little bit more for me.¡±

    ¡°W-W-What exactly do I need to do?¡± Arkay asked, fearing what the answer to his question would be.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got some time before my next match is up, so how about we got to my waiting room and-¡±

    Before the orc could finish talking, a powerful kick landed on the side of her head that sent her flying. As she was getting and swearing to kill whoever had the nerve to strike her, she saw Ryle standing there. The blonde had a furious expression on her face as she was holding Arkay in her arms and glaring at the orc woman.

    ¡°How dare you lay your hands on Arnie!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°You ever lay so much as a finger on him and I swear I will tear your goddamn head off! Got that!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be pissed here,¡± the orc grumbled as she got up and glared at the one who had dared to strike her. ¡°Do you have any idea who I am? I¡¯m one of the top champions of the arena around here. What you just did just earned yourself an execution in the ring by my hands.¡±

    ¡°Oh really now!? An ugly pig like you is a top fighter here!?¡± Ryle said as she handed Arkay to Erin, who had managed to catch up to her friends. ¡°Well, you certainly didn¡¯t get your position with your looks, so I guess your skills must be at least decent! But the one who will get killed in the ring is going to be you!¡±

    When it looked like the two women would come to blows at any second, Erin decided to step in before it came to that. Having a fight break out was not going to help their situation one bit.

    ¡°Stop it, you two! This will only get all of us in trouble!¡± the redhead said in a commanding tone. ¡°Besides, you can¡¯t fight it out in the ring, since one of you isn¡¯t a fighter!¡±

    ¡°That can be arranged,¡± the orc said with a smirk. ¡°You see, top champions like myself hold certain special privileges. One of these is the ability to set up our own fights through challenges. That way even rookies like you can enter the ring right away. So how about it, blondie? You got the guts to face me and not run away?¡±

    ¡°You goddamn right I¡¯ve got them. And I¡¯ll soon have your guts once I tear them out of your stomach,¡± Ryle said while gritting her teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s get it on.¡±

    Meanwhile, Erin and Arkay could only stare at their friend with worry. While they had managed to find a way for her to compete, they couldn¡¯t help but feel like this was far more dangerous than they had thought. Both could only hope for Ryle to pull through in her match.

 26. A New Champion

    Chapter 26

    A New Champion

    Erin had expected the whole fight between Ryle and the female orc to not happen at all. After all, the manager had told them that no one without any real fame would be allowed to step in. Not to mention that they most likely already had a full schedule planned.

    However, much to the redhead¡¯s surprise, the manager seemed to be completely fine with the idea and even let the two of them get in the ring right away. The reaction from the crowd seemed to be mixed, as some found it amusing that someone who was essentially a complete rookie in their eyes was challenging one of their champions, while others were annoyed by the fights they were looking forward being delayed.

    Erin herself couldn¡¯t help but be worried over the well-being of her friend. This might have been their plan, but she hadn¡¯t expected what seemed to be a veteran champion to get in the ring with the blonde. She had hoped that they could earn some decent money from her fighting newcomers, while she and Arkay made some extra through gambling. To be perfectly honest, Erin just wanted to stop the whole thing and drag Ryle out of the ring, but one look in the blonde¡¯s eyes told her that there was no way that it would be possible. Ryle was more than determined to see this through, no matter what.

    ¡°S-Shouldn¡¯t we stop them!?¡± Arkay asked the redhead. ¡°If I just apologize properly, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be let go without any incident!¡±

    ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to avoid this myself, I fear that¡¯s no longer a possibility. Both Ryle and that orc are so enraged that nothing will sway them,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Also, I¡¯m not going to lie, I don¡¯t like the idea of you doing whatever services that woman had in mind. You do know that she isn¡¯t going to just have you do household chores for her, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I know¡­ I¡¯m fully aware of what she wanted from me,¡± the cat boy said in a sad tone that nearly broke the redhead¡¯s heart. ¡°But even if that is the case, I would prefer it over Ms. Ryle getting hurt because of me. Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be the first time-¡±

    Arkay was suddenly cut off as Erin put a hand on his shoulders and gripped it in a tight but gentle manner. The cat boy looked at the redhead and saw that the expression on her face had hardened and she seemed to be gritting her teeth.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things. Just trust that Ryle will pull through this,¡± Erin said as she stared at the ring. ¡°If there¡¯s anyone that can get through this, it¡¯s her.¡±

    Back in the ring, both fighters were currently standing in their respective corners, glaring at each other. While Ryle had an expression of pure anger on her face, the orc was smirking. The way she saw it, the blonde was most likely nothing but a hotheaded amateur that had made the mistake of thinking too highly of herself. It wasn¡¯t the first time that this had happened and it wouldn¡¯t be the last either. It seemed like the world had an infinite supply of idiots that thought they were the greatest of fighters and were just waiting for someone to give them a rude awakening.

    While the people managing the fight pit had been preparing for the unexpected match, Erin and Arkay had taken the chance to learn about Ryle¡¯s opponent. Her name was Garza and she was not joking when she said she was one of the top fighters in the arena. The orc had an impressive record of over fifty victories and only five losses in total. What was most concerning was that Garza had a tendency to brutally kill her opponents by breaking their bones with her top level strength. There had even been cases where she had bent her opponents in half, like their bodies were made from cardboard. This was her favorite method of finishing a fight.

    Garza was considering of doing that with Ryle as well. This was because she often reserved her infamous finishing move for those that had angered her in some way. It could range from someone insulting her to just having a face that she didn¡¯t like. All that mattered to the orc was that she got to make sure those who had greatly angered her would stay dead.

    The fight was finally starting, as a referee walked up to the middle of the ring and called for both combatants to walk up to him. The referee was there mostly to determine if one of the fighters was unable to continue, as pretty much all methods were allowed in these fights. However, they did have the authority to stop the match in case it looked like the audience might be in danger, which was so that the ones who brought in the money wouldn¡¯t fear for their safety when coming there. You had to look out for your source of income in order to keep a business running, after all.

    ¡°Alright, the two of you are aware that this fight can lead to either of you getting killed, right?¡± the referee asked the two fighters, who nodded in return. ¡°Well, since you know the risks, let¡¯s get it on!¡±

    With that, the gong rang and the fight started. Both Ryle and Garza got in their stances and started to slowly circle each other. They were starting slow, as they were only sizing up each other for now and seeing which one of them would make the first move.

    The orc had actually expected her opponent to rush straight at her from the start, but it seemed like Ryle was able to keep her calm for now. Garza grinned as she had an idea of how to break the blonde¡¯s cool.

    ¡°Hey, that cute kid with you. What is he exactly?¡± the orc asked, getting Ryle¡¯s attention. ¡°Is he your little brother or something? Or did you perhaps buy him from the Maiden¡¯s Nest?¡±

    ¡°None of your damn business!¡± the blonde answered with a growl.

    ¡°Oh my, how scary¡­ I was just curious,¡± Garza said mockingly. ¡°After all, once I¡¯m done with you, I¡¯m going to have him serve me quite well. Too bad for him that you got in the way you did, though.¡±

    ¡°The hell are you saying?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°You see, after I¡¯m done with a match, I have trouble getting myself to calm down,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Had this not happened, he would have a better chance at surviving what I¡¯m gonna do with him. This isn¡¯t the first time that has happened, although this time it might not be completely unintentional.¡±

    Hearing such things caused Ryle to see red and she charged towards her opponent. This was all according to Garza¡¯s plan. She wanted Ryle to get angry and to attack recklessly, since she would become an easy target. Those who let their emotions take hold of them were often easy targets, which is why the orc taunted her opponent the way she did. Garza grinned as she readied her arm for a punch that launched towards Ryle the second she was in range.

    However, the attack never landed.

    Garza had to blink for a moment at her opponent suddenly disappearing from sight. Her gaze soon went downwards, where Ryle had ducked underneath the orc¡¯s punch and was now preparing her counterattack. The blonde¡¯s fist was readied for an uppercut that soon came flying upwards at Garza¡¯s chin.

    The orc tried to block the oncoming attack with her left arm, but it was too late. She couldn¡¯t stop the fist heading towards her like a missile, as it simply pushed past the defending arm and hit its target, launching Garza into the air. The orc soon fell onto the floor with a loud bang.

    Though she had been shaken quite a bit, Garza was not completely out yet, as she started to get back up. This was proving to be quite difficult, as the blow she had received had shaken her throughout her whole body rather violently. The orc was expecting her opponent to charge towards her and attempt to follow up on her first successful attack. Much to Garza¡¯s surprise, this wasn¡¯t the case at all. Instead, Ryle was standing still, glaring down at the orc.

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    ¡°Get up,¡± the blonde said in a venomous tone. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you go this easy after the shit you tried to pull.¡±

    For a moment, Garza¡¯s body seemed to freeze, as the threat just now brought something to the orc that she thought had long since disappeared. For the first time in years she felt fear course through her body. This was something she had last felt when she had only been a rookie in the ring, but now that feeling had suddenly come back.

    Garza was brought back from her frozen state upon hearing loud cheering from outside the ring. She hadn¡¯t been the only one to freeze, as the entire audience had gone silent upon seeing their famous champion receive a blow powerful enough to knock her down. All the people that had been looking at Ryle like she was some arrogant beginner had their views completely destroyed. While they still believed Garza would win in the end, they could now expect a truly spectacular match from the blonde fighter.

    ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t get cocky over a single lucky hit, you bitch!¡± Garza said angrily as she finally stood up. ¡°I was going to take my time and play with you, but now you¡¯ve pissed me off big time! I¡¯m just going to butcher you!¡±

    ¡°Stop talking and get to it, you goddamn boar!¡± Ryle yelled back.

    Garza wasted no time in going after her opponent, fully intent on making her pay for the humiliation she had faced so far. The orc launched a furious storm of punched and kicks towards Ryle, but they weren¡¯t landing. The blonde was easily avoiding all of the attacks with little effort, as Garza¡¯s original plan was now being used against her. With the orc angered, her attacks were furious and powerful, but sloppy and easily avoidable. The way her attacks were being dodged so easily also served to further anger the orc, who was starting to tire herself out.

    As Garza was swinging wildly, Ryle was awaiting for her opportunity. The moment she saw it, she seized it by landing a powerful right into the orc¡¯s throat. The sudden blow caused Garza to stop in her tracks as her eyes went wide. With shaking hands she grasped her throat as she began to cough up blood and fell on her knees. Her breathing was shallow and ragged, as she tried to desperately gasp for air.

    Despite her opponent¡¯s perilous situation, Ryle wasn¡¯t about to stop attacking and soon delivered a powerful kick to the side of Garza¡¯s head, which sent her to the floor. Once down, the blonde followed her attack by mounting the orc and launching a storm of punches at her helpless opponent. Garza could hardly defend herself as the attacks rained down on her, turning her face into a mess.

    After brutally pounding on her opponent¡¯s face for what felt like an eternity to Garza and the audience, Ryle finally stopped her vicious attack. She stood up, leaving the barely breathing and conscious orc on the floor. But when everyone thought that the blonde was done with her opponent, she wasn¡¯t. In one swift move, Ryle grabbed Garza by the hair, lifted her up and stared at her straight in the eyes.

    ¡°Listen here, you ugly bastard. And make sure you listen well,¡± the blonde said while glaring at the orc as hatefully as she possibly could. ¡°I¡¯m going to stop it here for now, but if I ever see your face ever again, I will finish this. Got it?¡±

    Unable to speak, Garza simply nodded weakly. She was then unceremoniously dropped to the floor like a piece of garbage.

    With that, the match between Ryle and Garza was over, as the referee announced the blonde as the winner. The audience erupted in cheers over the brutal and surprising match, having not expected an unknown fighter to come in and defeat one of the favorites in the arena.

    Both Erin and Arkay had also been quite surprised by the skills of their blonde companion, as they had expected her fight to be a lot tougher than it turned out to be. Regardless of their expectations, both were obviously very happy over Ryle¡¯s victory and were cheering her with smiles on their faces.

    ¡°Way to go, Ryle!¡± Erin yelled happily as she called out to her friend. ¡°You really showed her!¡±

    ¡°T-That was incredible, Ms. Ryle!¡± Arkay said as he cheered for the blonde. ¡°You were simply amazing!¡±

    Picking up the voices of her comrades, Ryle turned her attention towards them. A bright smile immediately appeared on her face, as she ran to the side of the ring closest to her friends and began waving at them.

    ¡°Hey, Arnie! Did you see just how awesome I was!?¡± Ryle asked happily with a goofy smile. ¡°I did that to protect you! I promise that no creep like that ugly orc is ever going to get to lay their hands on you for as long as I¡¯m around!¡±

    ¡°...Well, I guess she might have ruined the mood, but she did still win in the end,¡± Erin muttered with a sigh, embarrassed over her friend¡¯s antics. ¡°Too bad that we didn¡¯t place a bet on this fight. We could have made a nice a profit from it.¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ A-Actually, right before the match started, I went to place a bet on Ryle,¡± Arkay said, surprising the redhead. ¡°I felt like it was only appropriate, as she was risking her life for our sake.¡±

    ¡°You did!? That¡¯s great!¡± Erin said happily. ¡°What were the odds?¡±

    ¡°It was ten to one. We just made ten times the money we had when we came here,¡± the cat boy answered.

    The redhead¡¯s eyes went as wide as possible as she thought about all the money they had just earned in one go. While she did feel that it was reckless of her friend to place all of their money on the fight, he did have a point about Ryle risking her life for their sake. Even if it was only one of them really¡­

    ¡°Amazing! With that much money, we might have enough to hire the mercenaries we need!¡± Erin said happily. ¡°Let¡¯s call Ryle back and get going. No need to risk ourselves by staying here longer than necessary.¡±

    Meanwhile, said blonde woman was about to step out of the ring, when a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned around and saw a large man with a big ax strapped to his back. This was obviously one of the fighters in the arena.

    ¡°Not so fast there, lady. I¡¯m afraid that you can¡¯t just leave like that,¡± the man said with a small smirk. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve just done? You¡¯ve pretty much ashamed all of us gladiators through that little stunt of yours. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit unfair for you to simply walk out on us without giving us a chance to reclaim our honor?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s sad and all. My heart bleeds for you,¡± Ryle said sarcastically, not even trying to sound sympathetic. ¡°But I¡¯ve got better things to do than to worry about your hurt egos. So would you mind leaving me alone? I doubt you want to get your ass handed to yourself the same way the orc did.¡±

    Instead of being angered by the blonde¡¯s taunting, the gladiator simply chuckled. He then turned his attention to the audience to address them.

    ¡°My good visitors! Guests in our palace of violence and excitement! We have seen something truly amazing by witnessing one of our beloved champions face a surprise defeat at the hands of a warrior that is unknown to us all! I am by no means going to make light of her achievement, as she won fair and square against Garza! Such a feat deserves respect!¡± the man began his speech. ¡°However, I now ask of you, my friends, is it okay to leave things in such a way!? Are we, both fighters in the ring and you in the audience, not entitled to reclaim our honor!? Not only was one of us defeated by someone who didn¡¯t struggle the same way I and many others did in order to just step in this ring, but I am sure many of you were hurt by this incident as well! A lot of you were fans and loyal supporters of Garza and some of you even bet money on her defeating this newcomer! Don¡¯t you all agree that we all deserve a chance, just a small opportunity, to settle the score!? FOR I SAY WE DO!¡±

    The crowd erupted in roaring cheers and calls for Ryle to stay and continue fighting. All sorts of insults were thrown her way, calling her a coward and several other nasty things. The blonde looked around and saw several people that were clearly fighters looking at her with smirks and grins, hoping to get a chance to take her down.

    ¡°Tch! You¡¯re a real piece of work, aren¡¯t you!?¡± Ryle said as she glared at the man with the ax. ¡°You don¡¯t have the balls to come after me yourself, so you work the crowd on your side!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just showmanship, dear,¡± the man said with a smirk. ¡°You learn it in order to get ahead in these circles. Along with the skill to spot good opportunities.¡±

    Meanwhile, Erin and Arkay were staring at what was going on around them in horror. They had thought that the danger had already come to pass, but it seemed like the worst was yet to come.

    ¡°B-But Ryle won fairly! Why does she have to keep fighting!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Besides, it was Garza who started this whole thing!¡±

    ¡°I-I fear that none of these people care about the details anymore!¡± Arkay said in a frightened tone, getting the redhead¡¯s attention. ¡°The fighters are hoping to get an easy victory that will boost their reputation by getting to fight an opponent that is already tired from a previous match. The people watching probably lost a good amount of money by thinking this was an easy bet to make, so they¡¯re looking for revenge on Ms. Ryle in return! And if we don¡¯t comply, I fear what might happen!¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR!¡± Erin yelled as she pushed her way past the crowds of people in front of her and made her way to the side of the ring. ¡°Ryle, don¡¯t listen to their bullshit! There¡¯s no need for you to continue risking your life like this! Let¡¯s just collect what we won and leave!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that isn¡¯t possible, little lady,¡± the man with the ax said with a smirk. ¡°You see, while every place has its rules that you need to follow, sometimes those rules are bent to satisfy the masses. With the amount of upset people in the audience, do you think that the people running this whole operation aren¡¯t going to give in to their demands?¡±

    ¡°You dirty son of a-!¡±

    ¡°Erin, that¡¯s enough,¡± Ryle said in a surprisingly calm yet stern tone. ¡°I appreciate that you are trying to look out for me, but you shouldn¡¯t worry about me. I can handle this easily.¡±

    ¡°B-But you already had a match!¡± the redhead tried to argue. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re up for this!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on. You know me better than anybody else here!¡± the blonde said with a big grin. ¡°Just sit back and watch as I mop the floor with these losers!¡±

    Seeing as there was nothing she could say to change Ryle¡¯s mind, Erin decided to trust her on being able to handle the situation they were currently stuck in. However, she was going to at least show her friend just how much faith she had in her.

    ¡°Understood. But we won¡¯t simply sit back while you¡¯re fighting,¡± the redhead said. ¡°We will place all of our money on you, as you fight. That way, we¡¯ll taking the risk along with you.¡±

    ¡°D-Don¡¯t lose, Ms. Ryle!¡± Arkay cheered. ¡°Show them what you¡¯re made of!¡±

    ¡°Oh! You know, Arnie, it would really give me some great motivation if you gave me a kiss before my next match!¡± Ryle suddenly said with a goofy smile on her face. ¡°Just the cheek is enough!¡±

    ¡°...Well, that certainly ruined the mood,¡± Erin said in a deadpan voice, now worried if her friend was truly going to be okay.

 27. A New Challenger

    Chapter 27

    A New Challenger

    Most of the people watching, including Erin and Arkay, didn¡¯t have all that much confidence in Ryle coming out on top with the current group of challengers that were looking to beat her. Even professional athletes needed some form of a break after putting their everything in whatever sport they were competing in, but Ryle at best had a couple of minutes to catch her breath before the next fight came up. In all honesty, this was just a glorified execution that Erin hoped her friend would be able to survive.

    However, much to the surprise of everyone watching, Ryle hadn¡¯t just managed to survive, but she was dominating her competition. No matter what her opponents threw at her, the blonde was able to maneuver around it and defeat whoever she was facing in just a few hits.

    Her firs opponent had obviously been the man with the ax that had decided to turn to crowd against her. He had expected to win by simply cutting down his opponent, but Ryle had surprised him by not just jumping over the swing. She had actually landed on the weapon and used it as a foothold to kick her opponent in the face, breaking his nose and knocking him out as a result.

    The next opponent had been a female catfolk, the same race that Arkay was. She was armed with a whip that left large gashes on the floor of the ring with each swing. The cat woman tried to keep her distance by swinging wildly with all her strength, hoping to land one successful blow that could then be followed by a storm of similar attacks. This, however, was put to a stop when Ryle grabbed the whip with her bare hand and then used it to pull her opponent closer. The cat woman barely had time to react, before the blonde had wrapped her own whip around her neck and used it to choke her out. The cat woman soon fell to the floor unconscious.

    From there on, Ryle simply kept beating all the challengers that came to face her. It seemed like nothing could beat her. Whether physical prowess or magical abilities, all of her opponents ended up knocked out on the floor. The latest three opponents had even tried to take her on together, but it simply ended with the trio getting beaten down instead.

    ¡°OH YEAH! WHO¡¯S BAD!? WHO¡¯S BAD!?¡± Ryle cheered as she did a victory lap around the ring. ¡°I¡¯M TOO FAST! TOO TOUGH! AND TOO BUSY LOOKING GOOD TO BE TAKEN DOWN BY YOU! WOO!¡±

    On the side, Erin and Arkay were watching their friend with mixed emotions. Arkay was mostly overjoyed by seeing Ryle do as well as she was, with a small bit of awkwardness creeping in due to how the blonde was behaving. Erin was relieved that Ryle had been able to handle all of her opponents with relative ease, but that feeling had some time ago been replaced with a feeling of exasperation. The way the blonde didn¡¯t seem to be taking this seriously at all was honestly concerning to the redhead.

    ¡°That idiot¡­ Doesn¡¯t she have any survival instinct or something?¡± Erin said with a sigh as she watched Ryle do a silly dance now. ¡°Even if she has won all her matches so far, she is slowly getting drained of stamina. If this keeps up, it won¡¯t take long until someone who can beat her comes up. And I fear what they will do to her.¡±

    ¡°We might not have to worry about that,¡± Arkay said. ¡°It seems like her overwhelming victories have put doubt in the minds of the other fighters. While they know Ms. Ryle is starting to tire out, none of them can say for sure that she is completely out of energy yet. They¡¯re afraid that they¡¯ll just get added to her list of victories, like the others before them.¡±

    Erin looked around at the gladiators that were gathered there in the hopes of getting to fight and defeat Ryle, and saw that the cat boy was right. Fear and doubt could be seen on their faces, as they were weighing their chances at victory against the blonde. It seemed like no one was willing to take the risk anymore.

    ¡°I see what you mean¡­ It seems that those guys have lost the will to fight. Guess we can call for Ryle to step out of the ring now,¡± the redhead said before turning her attention to her friend in the ring. ¡°Ryle, it¡¯s over! No need to keep this up anymore! Let¡¯s just leave already!¡±

    ¡°Awww¡­ And I was starting to have fun!¡± Ryle said in a mock whining tone, before looking at the fighters gathered around the ring. ¡°Guess you suckers missed your chance! Too bad you decided to turn tail and run, but I guess that was smart on your part!¡±

    ¡°Okay, enough already!¡± Erin yelled, noticing that the blonde¡¯s taunting was starting to get the fighters riled up again. ¡°We already have what we came for! Let¡¯s get out of here before things take a turn for the worse!¡±

    Ryle turned around and began to walk up to her friends, when a sudden voice stopped her.

    ¡°WAIT JUST A MOMENT!¡± someone yelled, causing the blonde to stop and turn around as a new person was entering the ring. ¡°I would like to take my chance in beating her.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Arkay couldn¡¯t believe their eyes at the sight of this new challenger. They were expecting some sort of powerful-looking warrior that was armed up to the teeth. Instead, what they got was a tiny kobold.

    Kobolds were a race in the world of Five Realms that mostly lived in underground cave systems. They were incredibly small reptilian humanoids that even at their largest could barely reach the knees of an adult human, if even that. In the lore of the game, they mostly took part in mining activities, selling rare minerals to those willing to buy. In combat, they mostly used their small size to their advantage by specializing in quick movements and stealth, which made them good spies and thieves. Some were also skilled in engineering and magic.

    However, this type of physical combat was far beyond the abilities of your typical kobolds and the one that had stepped into the ring didn¡¯t seem to be any kind of an exception to that. Much like others in his race, he was very small, at best reaching up to Erin¡¯s knees in height. His scales were colored red for the most part with some of them black on top of his head and the back of his neck, most likely continuing down his back. His outfit didn¡¯t give the impression of a fighter either, as he looked more like a wannabe detective or businessman. The kobold¡¯s outfit was made of a dark gray vest that was over a white shirt with a red tie around his neck. Over the vest he had a long, light brown coat that almost reached the floor, and he was wearing simple black pants with a brown belt. To top off his outfit, he had a dark gray fedora on his head and no shoes on his feet, leaving his clawed feet exposed.

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    Complete silence fell over the room, as everyone from the regular audience members to the fighters were staring at the kobold with completely dumbstruck looks on their faces. No one could comprehend how this tiny person could ever think of himself as being capable of taking down Ryle, who had just defeated every skilled fighter so far.

    Said blonde woman was finally the one who ended up breaking the silence as well, as she burts out laughing like a mad hyena.

    ¡°A-ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS!? IS THIS SOME SORT OF A JOKE!?¡± Ryle said while laughing madly. ¡°YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE ONLY OPPONENT LEFT FOR ME IS A KOBOLD DRESSED UP IN FANCY CLOTHING!? BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!¡±

    ¡°Well, seeing as no one else is willing, I felt I might as well take the challenge,¡± the kobold said with a shrug and a smug smirk on his face. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that? Were you hoping for something else?¡±

    ¡°Oh you bet your ass I was expecting something else! I was expecting someone that could at least reach above my waistline! Not someone the size of a freaking toddler!¡± the blonde said while still laughing. ¡°Seriously, if this was supposed to be a joke, it was a good one! Now why don¡¯t you go back to the baby carriage you crawled out of!? I¡¯m pretty sure you need to have your diapers changed soon!¡±

    ¡°How the ignorant are the eternal burden of our world¡­ You seriously think that I came here without some method of defeating you?¡± the kobold said with an overly dramatic sigh, like he was acting in a play. ¡°You must be dumber than you look, if you¡¯re convinced beating me is easy. And I already considered you to have less intelligence than an ape.¡±

    ¡°Hey now, I don¡¯t like that tone of yours,¡± Ryle said while there was still a smile on her face, but you could tell from her tone that she hadn¡¯t taken the insult well. ¡°You better watch your mouth or else I might end up kicking you out of this ring like a football. You get me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no worries! I completely understand!¡± the kobold said mockingly as a smirk came to his face. ¡°After all, you¡¯re scared of being beaten by a little kobold that¡¯s obviously better than you. Of course you¡¯d want to run away.¡±

    The smile on Ryle¡¯s face immediately disappeared right then. She had never been one to take insults lightly, which had gotten her into numerous troubles in the past. Now she had someone that couldn¡¯t even reach her shoulders without a ladder picking a fight with her and throwing insults at her way. There was no way she was about to let it end without wiping the floor with his face.

    ¡°Ryle, don¡¯t listen to him. It¡¯s not worth it,¡± Erin said trying to talk some sense to her friend. ¡°We have what we came for, so let¡¯s end this here and get going already.¡±

    ¡°The hell are you trying to say!? You actually think I might lose to this shrimp!?¡± the blonde asked angrily.

    ¡°No! I¡¯m just-¡±

    ¡°Just you watch! I¡¯m going to teach that punk a quick and painful lesson!¡± Ryle said as she began to make her way to the middle of the ring. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Picking a fight with the wrong person 101¡¯! And we¡¯ll be dealing with how you get your ass kicked by doing exactly that.¡±

    ¡°This is NOT the time to act all macho!¡± Erin yelled, but was ignored by the blonde. ¡°For the love of¡­ Even if the outcome of this match is obvious, there¡¯s no point to this fight! So he said a couple of insults, big deal! Is it really worth beating up someone!?¡±

    ¡°Someone is going to get beat up, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s who you think it is,¡± Arkay said, getting the redhead¡¯s attention. ¡°There might be a good reason as to why that kobold is willing to take the risk of facing Ms. Ryle.¡±

    ¡°Hang on, are you serious?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to doubt you or anything, but I can¡¯t see how this is even a fair fight. Ryle can just step on that guy and win! How is she in any danger?¡±

    ¡°Due to being born with magical abilities, I have certain special abilities of my own. One of them is my ability to use magical energy to manipulate machinery,¡± the cat boy began to explain. ¡°Another one is my ability to sense magical energy.¡±

    ¡°You can sense magic?¡± the redhead asked to which she got a nod as an answer. ¡°Are you saying that kobold has magical abilities?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. He himself doesn¡¯t seem to have much in terms of magic, but I sense a lot of magical energy on him,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°This most likely comes from magical tools he is carrying on himself. Whatever those are, I can¡¯t tell. I just know that they are powerful.¡±

    ¡°...Guess we just have to wait and see, huh?¡± Erin said as she turned her attention back to the fight.

    Back in the ring, both fighters were now in the middle with the referee standing by them. Despite having witnessed countless battles to the death that were nothing but one-sided slaughters, the referee couldn¡¯t help but give a somewhat worried look at the kobold. It just felt too unfair to have such an obvious difference in physical abilities between two combatants.

    Even the audience was mostly quiet with some of them voicing small murmurs of disapproval for letting a fight with an obvious outcome happen in the ring. The other fighters that were gathered had hoped for someone to teach the cocky blonde upstart a lesson, but it seemed like that wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    Ryle herself was glaring at the kobold, who was like a toddler compared to her. But while she was obviously angry, the blonde martial artist wasn¡¯t actually going to give a full beating to her opponent. All she was going to really do was slap him around a bit to teach him a lesson. She wasn¡¯t some schoolyard bully looking to use violence on someone who was smaller and weaker than her.

    While most of the spectators had expected the kobold to show at least some hints of fear or regret by now through his body trembling or his facial expression twitching, nothing of the sort was happening at all. In fact, he still had a cocky smirk on his face, like everything was going according to plan for him. This only served to further infuriate Ryle.

    Seeing as both combatants were ready, the referee called for the match to start and stepped back to allow them room to move around. Everyone had expected Ryle to simply start pounding her enemy into the ground, but nothing of the sort happened. Both fighters just stood in the middle of the ring, staring at each other.

    ¡°So you¡¯re really gonna go through with this, huh?¡± Ryle asked while glaring down at her opponent. ¡°I was kind of expecting you to start pissing your pants by now. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re brave or insane, but it¡¯s not gonna help you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not all that brave. In fact, I¡¯d consider myself more of a coward,¡± the kobold said. ¡°It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t really need to be all that brave in this situation. After all, who would be scared when they¡¯re going to obviously win?¡±

    ¡°Okay, that freaking does it!¡± the blonde woman yelled angrily, as the last remnants of her patience had run out by now. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and show me what you¡¯ve got huh!? Come on! I¡¯ll give you the first shot for free! After that, your ass is grass!¡±

    ¡°How generous of you! I¡¯ll gladly take that offer of yours,¡± the kobold said happily as he began to rummage through the insides of his coat. ¡°Just wait a second, would you? I wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint you.¡±

    Before Ryle could ask her opponent what he was doing, the kobold pulled out a small vial with a dark gray liquid inside of it. He then took off the cork and poured the liquid on the ground.

    ¡°The hell is this shit!? It freaking stinks!¡± Ryle complained as she held her nose in disgust. ¡°I told you to take your best shot at me, not make this place smell like an outhouse!¡±

    ¡°If you think the smell is bad, wait until you see what it does,¡± the kobold said as he took a step back. ¡°You see, I¡¯m not your typical fighter. I¡¯m something a bit more special¡±

    ¡°Really now? So just what are you supposed to be?¡± the blonde asked in a sarcastic tone, before noticing that the gray liquid had suddenly started to bubble violently and seemed to be growing. ¡°What the hell!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. I am an alchemist,¡± the kobold answered as the small puddle of liquid had now grown in a tall figure made of the murky substance. ¡°And this is how I fight.¡±

    Everyone in the room was stunned into complete silence over what they were seeing. Even Ryle could only stare with wide eyes at the creature that had suddenly appeared before her, as all of her previous bravado was now completely gone.

    In the middle of the ring now stood a third figure. It¡¯s body was made completely of a dark gray liquid that slowly dripped onto the floor. A long, round mouth was hanging loosely from the spot that apparently held its face, with two red glowing orbs as eyes shone above its maw. It also had two large arms on its sides, but no legs at all. Instead, the lower half of its body was made of a single mass that dragged across the ground, leaving a dark trail behind.

    ¡°The name is Lexton Gibber. I run a store called Lex¡¯s Alchemist Wonders,¡± the kobold said with a grin. ¡°And I thank you for helping me market my products.¡±

 28. Bruised All Over

    Chapter 28

    Bruised All Over

    The fight between Ryle and Lexton hadn¡¯t been a match, as it was essentially just a one-sided beating. All of the blonde¡¯s attacks were rendered practically useless, as the liquid body of the golem she was forced to fight just reformed after being damaged. In worst cases, her limbs could also get caught up in the slimy mass, leaving her open for attacks. Ryle had tried to go for the golem¡¯s master himself, but wasn¡¯t fast enough to take the kobold out.

    In the end, the fight ended with Ryle knocked out and covered in the dark gray sludge of the golem. Luckily for her, the fight pit did have an infirmary, where she could get treated for her injuries. While having such a facility in an underground fight club where the competitors could get killed seemed odd at first, it did make sense once you thought about it. If all the fighters were dead, what kind of a show could there be any longer? Not to mention, there were some fighters that had become quite popular, so it only made sense for the people working there to try and keep them alive to the best of their abilities.

    Erin and Arkay had obviously been very worried over the well-being of their friend, even if the doctors working there assured them that the blonde was going to be fine. Once her treatment was over, the two of them went to wait for Ryle to wake up. Both Erin and Arkay were sitting next to her bed, hoping to see some sign that would tell them their companion was alright.

    ¡°She¡­ She¡¯s going to be fine, right?¡± Arkay asked in a desperate tone. ¡°I-I mean, the doctors told us that Ms. Ryle would make a full recovery, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Yes. I¡¯m certain she¡¯ll be okay,¡± Erin said, trying to comfort the cat boy. ¡°After all, she¡¯s the toughest person in this whole place. You saw how easily she handled all of those people, before that kobold showed up? Someone that strong can easily recover from this!¡±

    The two of them were so caught up in their conversation that they failed to notice Ryle stirring slightly upon hearing the word ¡°kobold.¡± It didn¡¯t take long from that until her eyes shot open and she suddenly sat up on her bed, like she was possessed.

    ¡°WHERE THE HELL IS THAT LITTLE LIZARD BASTARD!?¡± Ryle shouted, causing her two companions to fall to the floor from surprise. ¡°ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON HIM, I¡¯LL TURN HIM INTO A GODDAMN HANDBAG AND-! ¡­.Where the hell am I?¡±

    ¡°Ryle! You¡¯re awake!¡± Erin called out to her friend happily. ¡°I was starting to get worried!¡±

    ¡°Worried? Why? I don¡¯t-¡± the blonde began to say only to suddenly stop. She sniffed herself a bit, which caused her face to turn into a disgusted grimace. ¡°EW! Why do I smell like shit!?¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s because you ended up covered in the slime of that golem you were fighting, Ms. Ryle,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? That kobold named Lexton created a golem from some strange liquid he kept in a vial. A good amount of that stuff ended up covering your body from the fight.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ That explains the stench then,¡± Ryle said with a somewhat sad sigh, before grinning widely. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter! I mean, as long as I kicked his ass in the end, what¡¯s the harm in getting a bit dirty in the process, right!?¡±

    Erin and Arkay shared an awkward look with each other, before looking at their friend. Both knew this wasn¡¯t going to go well.

    ¡°Guys, what¡¯s with the silence?¡± Ryle asked in a slightly nervous voice. ¡°I mean, I did beat that kobold bastard, right? I just ended up here from exhaustion due to kicking his ass so hard, right?¡±

    ¡°Actually, Ryle¡­ You sort of¡­ Well, not sort of. You totally lost,¡± Erin said, deciding that it was better to just be straightforward instead of beating around the bush. ¡°You ended getting knocked out by him and had to be taken to the infirmary.¡±

    ¡°...Did I at least go out like a total badass?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Define badass,¡± the redhead said awkwardly. ¡°I mean, you fought until the end with all you had, but it didn¡¯t amount to much. You pretty much got wrecked. Hard.¡±

    ¡°...And the kobold bastard?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ryle, but you couldn¡¯t even manage to touch him,¡± Erin answered. ¡°As a matter of fact, he wasn¡¯t even the least bit concerned over you. Throughout the whole match, he was reading a book while you were battling the golem.¡±

    It took a couple of seconds for the information to register in Ryle¡¯s head, after which she fell back on her bed. The blonde woman let out a groan that spoke volumes of her feelings, which were mostly embarrassment and humiliation. She had gone up against an opponent that she had thought was going to be an easy opponent, yet had ended up facing a humiliating defeat instead. It was a hard pill to swallow for her.

    ¡°This is one of the worst days of my life,¡± Ryle muttered to herself. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the arena has a new champion then? Good for him, I guess¡­¡±

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    ¡°N-Not actually, Ms. Ryle,¡± Arkay said awkwardly, fearing what the news he was about to tell his friend were going to cause. ¡°It seems that he wasn¡¯t interested in being a fighter in the ring at all. It was more of a means to an end.¡±

    ¡°...What do you mean by that?¡± the blonde asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°You see, the guy you fought apparently had an ulterior motive,¡± Erin began to explain. ¡°Once you were out cold, he made a speech about the golem he used and told the people that were watching that they could get their own and much more from his shop. In other words, the fight with you was most likely a marketing event.¡±

    Upon hearing the real reason behind Lexton¡¯s challenge, Ryle¡¯s body froze and she simply stared at her companions with wide eyes. The silence was deafening as no one seemed to dare to make even the tiniest of sounds, like it would trigger a calamity of some kind.

    However, that calamity soon came, as Ryle exploded in rage.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT COCKY BASTARD CAME UP TO ME, TALKED SHIT AND MADE MY ASS INTO A PUNCHING BAG JUST FOR A GODDAMN COMMERCIAL!?¡± Ryle roared in sheer anger as she got up from her bed, not caring that she was only wearing a thin hospital gown. ¡°I¡¯m gonna put my foot so far up his ass that it will look like I¡¯m wearing a kobold boot!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, hold on!¡± Erin called out to her friend, hoping to stop her from going on a rampage. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get up just yet! You¡¯re not fully recovered!¡±

    ¡°Not fully recovered, my ass! I don¡¯t have time to just lay in bed while some punk is getting away with disrespecting me!¡± the blonde yelled back. ¡°Just give me couple of hours! I¡¯ll be done with that guy by then!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the issue! Have you forgotten why we came here in the first place!?¡± the redhead yelled back, starting to get angry as well. ¡°Our real objective is to get back at Lune! Not to start petty rivalries with some merchants! Do you think we have time for such things!?¡±

    Upon being reminded of their real goal, Ryle¡¯s anger went down immediately. She also quickly remembered a certain promise that had been made back in the ring, which caused the blonde warrior to fall on her knees from shame.

    ¡°M-Ms. Ryle?¡± Arkay called out to the blonde, concerned over her change in mood. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright. I just¡­ I just realized how badly I messed this up,¡± Ryle said in a sad tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, guys. I let you both down.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Erin asked, confused by the sudden change in tone and demeanor. ¡°Just because you lost some fight isn¡¯t a reason to feel ashamed. In all honesty, we should have done a better job at getting you to stop fighting.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just that. I gave you guys all that boasting about how tough I was. How I wasn¡¯t going to lose and all that crap. Yet here I am, a beaten loser,¡± the blonde explained as a couple of tears fell from her eyes. ¡°How can I ever make such promises to either of you anymore, when I can fail you like that? Not to mention, you guys trusted me so much that you actually bet all you had on my victories. Now all of that money is gone because of me.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, we all make promises that we fail to keep. However, what is important to realize whether it was broken because of your own actions or due to something that was out of your hands,¡± the redhead said in a comforting tone as she walked up to her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°At the end of the day, what really matters is that you never ran away or left us. Instead you faced overwhelming and unfair odds without any hesitation. That more than anything tells me that we can trust you to have our backs no matter what. Instead of being ashamed of yourself, you should be proud.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but¡­ We still lost all of our money,¡± Ryle said. ¡°That¡¯s not something that will be so easy to fix.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s more important is that you¡¯re safe. No amount of money could ever replace you,¡± Erin said with a smile before turning around, so she was no longer facing the blonde. ¡°Also, we didn¡¯t exactly¡­ lose all of our money¡­ In fact, we still have it all.¡±

    ¡°¡­.What?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°You see, before your match with Lexton started, Arkay said that he was carrying some powerful magical items on him. Because of that I got this nasty feeling in my gut,¡± the redhead explained awkwardly while scratching the back of her head. ¡°Acting on instinct, I actually placed a bet on him winning. Turns out we got a nice sum of money from it.¡±

    Silence once again fell over the room, as Ryle stared at Erin with wide eyes, while the redhead tried her best to not look her friend in the eye. Arkay was standing to the side, watching both of his friends in worry over what was going to happen. In just a few seconds, the silence was broken again by Ryle.

    ¡°ARE YOU SERIOUS!? YOU GODDAMN BACKSTABBER!¡± Ryle roared angrily as she went to grab Erin by the front of her shirt. ¡°You mean to tell me that you were actually making money on my loss!? What happened to that talk about taking the risk with me!? HUH!?¡±

    ¡°L-Look, I know you¡¯re pissed, but I was just following my instincts, okay?¡± the redhead tried to explain despite being scared for her own well-being. ¡°I mean, it would have been worse for us to lose everything we had, right? Besides, it all turned out okay in the end, so there¡¯s no need to get angry.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I have PLENTY to get angry over! The bullshit you pulled just happens to be at the top of the freaking list!¡± the blonde continued to rage. ¡°You two gave me a promise that you¡¯d practically be facing the dangers I did with me through gambling! Then you go and pull shit like this!? How the hell could I let something like that pass!?¡±

    ¡°A-Actually, it was just me. Arnie had nothing to do with it,¡± Erin quickly corrected, hoping to save her young friend from Ryle¡¯s wrath.

    ¡°...Is that true?¡± Ryle asked as she turned her attention towards Arkay.

    ¡°Y-Y-Yes. It¡¯s true,¡± the cat boy answered, scared of what the blonde might do to him if he upset her any further. ¡°I was too focused on what was going on in the ring that I never noticed Ms. Erin go and-¡±

    Arkay was suddenly cut off, when Ryle let go of Erin and tackled the boy in a hug that was so tight it was almost crushing him. The cat boy had a pained expression on his face, while the blonde was practically beaming with joy.

    ¡°Oh, Arnie! I knew I could count on you!¡± Ryle said cheerfully as she spun around while holding Arkay, who was struggling to breathe. ¡°Ever since we met, I¡¯ve felt like we¡¯ve had this connection, you know!? Like a special thread that binds us together! We are destined to be the greatest of companions! I know it!¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m glad to see that your mood has improved and everything, but don¡¯t you think you should ease up on him a bit?¡± Erin asked while staring at Arkay, whose face was beginning to turn blue. ¡°I know you care about him and all, but you might be a bit too forceful in showing it¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, piss off! I¡¯m not even going to talk to you any longer!¡± the blonde said angrily at the redhead and stuck out her tongue as well. ¡°In fact, who even are you? I don¡¯t associate with jerks like you!¡±

    ¡°...What are you? A child?¡± Erin asked with a sigh. ¡°Anyways, seeing as how you¡¯re full of energy, I think we should get going.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Why are we in such a hurry right away?¡±

    ¡°Because there is someone that I would like to talk to and I don¡¯t want to miss my opportunity in making a deal with him,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°We are going to meet that kobold you fought, Lexton.¡±

    ¡°Oh! We are going to go see that scaly bastard after all!?¡± the blonde asked happily, finally letting go of Arkay, who fell on his knees and was gasping for air. ¡°If you were going to kick his ass, you should have said so in the first place! I¡¯m ready and looking forward to my round two with that shitty little lizard!¡±

    ¡°I hate to tell you this, but we aren¡¯t going to fight him. We are going there to see his merchandise,¡± Erin explained with a sigh. ¡°That golem he showed was really powerful and I¡¯m willing to bet that he has other useful stuff for sale as well. If we are going to take our revenge against Lune, we need all the possible advantages we can get.¡±

    ¡°¡­WHAT!?¡± Ryle screamed angrily, as the redhead let out another sigh, feeling a headache coming along.

 29. Alchemist Lexton

    Chapter 29

    Alchemist Lexton

    In all honesty, Erin had a really good reason for wanting to see Lexton. The kobold had shown in his match against Ryle that he had some very powerful equipment for sale, if his golem was anything to go by. Getting even one of such creatures on their side would prove to be a great advantage for numerous reasons. While Erin had originally planned to hire mercenaries to assist them in taking down General Lune, having golems would prove far more useful. Not only were such beings far more powerful than most people, but they also lacked human elements that would carry a great risk in mercenaries. Simple hired help could betray you or run away when things were getting tough, which didn¡¯t come in golems. Even if they came with their own issues, the pros most likely would outweigh the cons in this case. In other words, getting to talk to Lexton was an ideal thought that shouldn¡¯t be ignored at all.

    However, that didn¡¯t mean a certain blonde fighter was going to see things in the same way, as she had loudly voiced her protests over such an idea.

    ¡°This is some big load of bullshit!¡± Ryle complained loudly, as she and her companions were walking through the underground area of Moonstone City, looking for Lexton¡¯s store. ¡°You really intend to purchase some of that useless junk from that little bastard lizard that managed to cheap shot me in the ring!? How the hell is that a good idea!?¡±

    ¡°As I¡¯ve already told you SEVERAL TIMES, we need good equipment as well as help in order to take down Lune! Whether you like it or not, that golem of his was really powerful and having just one of them on our side would be a great advantage!¡± Erin explained in a frustrated tone, annoyed by her companion¡¯s childish attitude. ¡°Also, he didn¡¯t cheap shot you. He beat you fair and square.¡±

    ¡°Fair and square, my ass!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°That was a two against one in the ring! How in the hell was that allowed!? I call bias on the side of the people who were behind that whole place!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, the golem Lexton used was basically a weapon. A weapon that moves on its own, but a weapon nonetheless. It was no different from using a sword or anything else. What is this bias crap you¡¯re talking about?¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°Anyways, would you mind and stop whining already? I¡¯m not going to change my mind no matter how much you complain.¡±

    ¡°Well, I say we put it to a vote! And since you¡¯re obviously voting for us to go see the scaly bastard and I¡¯m against it, the deciding vote falls on Arnie!¡± Ryle argued, before turning towards the cat boy with the sweetest smile she had ever put on. ¡°Arnie dear, you don¡¯t want to go see the meanie kobold either, do you? I¡¯m sure you know a weapons merchant whose at least a hundred times better that you can take us to, right?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Ryle, but I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know anyone better,¡± Arkay said awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m not really one for weapons, so I didn¡¯t really deal with merchants who specialize in them. Not only that, but I¡¯ve never even heard of someone who could sell things that Lexton has. If we want anything even closely similar, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s our best hope.¡±

    ¡°So I take it that you vote for us to go see the ¡°meanie kobold¡±, as Ryle put it?¡± Erin asked with a smirk, before Ryle could try to persuade their young friend on her side. ¡°That¡¯s at least what it sounds like to me.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I do think that¡¯s the best option,¡± Arkay said with a nod, crushing Ryle¡¯s hopes of getting her way. ¡°While I can¡¯t say we¡¯ll find what we¡¯re looking for, it won¡¯t do us any harm to at least take a look. After all, if we don¡¯t find anything we want, we can simply leave.¡±

    ¡°...Well, I doubt we¡¯ll find anything useful,¡± Ryle said while pouting like a child.

    ¡°Will you shut up already and get moving!?¡± Erin yelled having had enough of her friend¡¯s behavior.

    With the argument over, the group continued their journey in search of Lexton¡¯s store in silence, except for the dissatisfied grumbling of a certain blonde. It took them some time and asking for directions from the locals, but they were eventually able to find the place they were looking for, Lex¡¯s Alchemist Wonders.

    The store wasn¡¯t exactly a building, as it seemed to be more of a hole that was dug into the wall, with two large curtains covering the entrance. A large sign with the name of the store painted on it sat on top of the entrance. Light could be seen shining from underneath the curtains as well, telling onlookers that the place was open for business.

    ¡°This seems to be the place,¡± Erin said as she was about to go in. ¡°No use standing here. Let¡¯s-¡±

    ¡°Hang on a moment, Erin!¡± Ryle suddenly called out, stopping the redhead in her tracks. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I swear, if this is more whining about your loss, I¡¯m going to-¡± Erin began to say angrily, only to be cut off.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that! I¡¯m honestly concerned about this place,¡± the blonde said in a serious tone. ¡°I mean, just look at it. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen a shadier place in my life and I¡¯ve seen plenty of those.¡±

    ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked, now curious as to what her companion was going to say.

    ¡°You see, there are a lot of merchants who are nothing but scummy con artists that try to get your money by selling you useless trash with big promises. Sometimes the stuff they sell can even be dangerous for you to use,¡± Ryle began to explain. ¡°However, there are often certain signs that can show you a con artist. Just looking at this place gives me the vibe that this is no legitimate business at all.¡±

    ¡°And those signs would be?¡±

    ¡°Well, since scammers get their money by fooling people into buying their junk, you can bet that they aren¡¯t exactly liked all that much. Not to mention, it doesn¡¯t take long for people to learn about the true nature of their business, since word travels around fast,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°Because of this, a lot of these types of people don¡¯t have actual buildings as their stores. At best they might set up a tent for themselves, if even that. Most of them, however, operate through more mobile ways, such as having their store in a cart or a large enough vehicle. This allows them to quickly pack up and get out, before the people they¡¯ve pissed of come chasing them.¡±

    ¡°I see your point, but does that apply here?¡± Erin asked. ¡°From what I can tell, this guy has built an actual store for himself, instead of trying to stay mobile.¡±

    ¡°Erin, that¡¯s a hole in the wall, with curtains covering it. You think that can be counted as an actual building?¡± Ryle asked in a slightly sarcastic tone. ¡°As much as I hate to admit it, this guy has access to some powerful golems. He probably had them dig out this spot, where he then quickly set up shop.¡±

    Erin thought about what the blonde had told her and it seemed to make sense. Back in her own world, there had been scammers that did their best to fool people. They often targeted those who were vulnerable and desperate, thus willing to believe anything as long as it offered them help in whatever was bothering them. And while Lexton had shown that he had some really powerful equipment, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean he would sell them. He could always offer useless fakes for his customers before leaving.

    ¡°...What do you think, Arnie?¡± the redhead asked, turning her attention to her young friend. ¡°You have way more experience around these parts than either of us do. Do you think there¡¯s any merit to what Ryle just said?¡±

    ¡°I-I think she might be onto something,¡± Arkay said. ¡°I¡¯ve been to these parts quite a few times, but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a store like this. Most merchants have at least a tent of some kind where they do their business. This seems almost way too simple.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Anything else?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, while scammers are obviously not looked upon favorably, doing such business around here isn¡¯t exactly prohibited, as this is a place where anything illegal can be bought,¡± the cat boy continued. ¡°Even if the people that run this place heard about it, there¡¯s a high chance they wouldn¡¯t act, as they have allowed anyone to sell their stuff. The only fear a scammer would have is the loss of revenue once the word goes around about their merchandise. Not to mention the fear of revenge once they walk out of here.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Still, I can¡¯t help but feel like we should take the chance,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully, not wanting to miss on the opportunity to get some very useful equipment. ¡°Let¡¯s at the very least take a look and see what we can get.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, if you say,¡± Arkay said, as Ryle shrugged. ¡°However, I think I should warn you about something.¡±

    ¡°And that would be?¡±

    ¡°I can sense a lot of magic from inside and it¡¯s the dangerous type as well. Whatever he has set up there, he has taken care to make sure he¡¯s protected well. The place could also have a bunch of traps set up for those who enter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Erin said as she was starting to have second thoughts about her idea. Still, she thought it was a good idea to at least have a look. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The three companions pushed the curtains aside and went into the store. Once they were in, they came into what seemed to be a waiting area or a lobby, as there was another entrance covered by curtains before them. There was also a pair of lanterns hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the area. However, there was also a sign in the middle of the room that said ¡°DON¡¯T CROSS THE ROPE. YOU¡¯VE BEEN WARNED.¡±

    Erin looked at her friends with a questioning gaze, but the two of them simply shrugged, not sure of what it meant either. Seeing as they wouldn¡¯t be getting anywhere without stepping further in, they decided to go through the entrance.

    Just as the redhead was about to push the curtains aside, someone else stepped outside from the other side. It was a rather rotund man dressed in fine clothing, who was accompanied by two bodyguards. The man gave a questioning look at the trio, like they had no business being there.

    ¡°And what might you three be here for?¡± the well-dressed person asked in a haughty tone. ¡°If you¡¯re here to see me, then I would ask you to make an appointment with my secretary. Although, I doubt you¡¯ll get anywhere even then.¡±

    ¡°Why the hell would we want to-?¡± Ryle began to ask in an angry tone, only to be cut off by Erin.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t come here to meet you, sir!¡± the redhead quickly said, hoping to prevent her blonde friend from getting them into trouble. ¡°We are just here to see what this store has got to offer.¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you now?¡± the man asked with a chuckle, before walking past the group. ¡°I suppose you can always have a look, but don¡¯t feel too bad if you walk out of here empty-handed. After all, not everyone has the blessings that people like me do.¡±

    ¡°The hell was that supposed to mean, you-!?¡± Ryle began to curse at the well-dressed man again, only to be stopped by Erin again. This time by the redhead grabbing her by the ear and pulling on it very painfully.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need anymore problems, Ryle!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°Let¡¯s just go in and get this over with!¡±

    The three companions walked inside the shop, leaving the wealthy man behind. Before going further into the shop, Ryle stuck out her tongue at the man while he wasn¡¯t looking.

    Once inside, the group was in for a sight. The store was basically one hallway with a red carpet on the floor. Both sides of the carpet were marked by a rope barricade, much like a display in a museum. On the other sides of the ropes were different golems, including the one that had fought Ryle back in the arena. There were five others besides that one, each made from a different material. All of the golems were standing still, with the exception of small motions that showed they were activated.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    At the other end of the red carpet was a simple table that could be folded and moved around. Behind said table, sitting on a chair, was none other than Lexton, counting a thick stack of bills while whistling a happy tune to himself.

    ¡°Oh! New potential customers!¡± the kobold said happily as he noticed the newcomers. He quickly put away the money he had been counting and switched to his customer service mode. ¡°Welcome to Lexton¡¯s Alchemist Wonders! How may I help you?¡±

    Erin was about to speak up, but was cut off by Ryle, who didn¡¯t look happy at all.

    ¡°Hey! Remember me!?¡± the blonde said as she stepped up to the front to give Lexton a better look at her face.

    ¡°...I apologize, dear customer, but am I supposed to recognize you?¡± the kobold asked with a confused look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we haven¡¯t met before.¡±

    ¡°EXCUSE ME!? HAVEN¡¯T MET BEFORE!?¡± Ryle asked with her face red from sheer anger. ¡°Here¡¯s a hint! The underground fight arena!¡±

    Lexton looked thoughtful as he tried to remember where he had met the blonde woman. After a couple of seconds, he snapped his fingers upon making the connection.

    ¡°Oh! Now I remember! You¡¯re that person who got beat by my golem in the ring!¡± the kobold said happily, which further angered Ryle. ¡°You really helped me out in showing the people there just how good my stuff was! Thanks for being the crash test dummy for that! I would pay you for your help, but since there was no contract made between us, I¡¯m under no obligation to do so. But I do have some candy for you, if that¡¯s alright.¡±

    ¡°Why you scaly little-!¡±

    ¡°Enough, Ryle! We didn¡¯t come here for a fight, remember!?¡± Erin quickly said, stopping her friend from potentially strangling Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. My friend is a bit¡­ passionate, to say the least. We have no desire to start a fight with you. We came here to see what you have for offer.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t you come here to see my merchandise, seeing as you know just how good it is?¡± Lexton said while nodding knowingly, not at all bothered by Ryle¡¯s show of hostility. ¡°Now, is there anything that you are particularly interested in? Or would you like me to show what other things I have for sale? Whatever your need is, I¡¯m certain I¡¯ve got just the thing for it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m certain you do,¡± the redhead said, doing her best to appear as friendly as possible. ¡°You see, we are mercenaries and we have a rather dangerous job coming up. We saw your golem in the arena and thought that something similar would be of great help for us. Do you think we could get some?¡±

    ¡°Why certainly! What sort of a merchant would I be if I wouldn¡¯t sell to paying customers?¡± the kobold said happily. ¡°Although, I do have to warn you that such things don¡¯t come cheap. I trust you have enough money for a purchase?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we should have more than enough,¡± Erin claimed with a smile before turning her attention to Arkay. ¡°How much do we exactly have right now, Arnie?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ It should be quite a bit, considering how many times we won,¡± the cat boy said as he took out a wallet and started counting the money within it. ¡°All in all, we have 750 000 credits on us right now. How many golems would we be able to get with that?¡±

    Upon hearing how much the trio had on them, Lexton leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. There was a smile on his face as he mumbled something to himself that neither Erin or Arkay was able to hear, but Ryle¡¯s ears were able to pick up parts of it. The blonde glared a bit at the kobold, as she heard him mutter ¡°desperate idiots¡± along with something else.

    However, not wanting to appear paranoid or irrational, she decided to hold back from reacting to this and let things play out for now. Ryle was sure that if Lexton was trying to scam them, there would be something that would reveal it soon enough. After all, they could always get back at him afterwards.

    ¡°It of course depends on what type of golem you¡¯re looking to buy. Some are more expensive than others, you see,¡± Lexton finally said after thinking about the possible deal before him for a moment. ¡°When it comes to the type of golem you saw in the ring, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯d only get two of them, as they cost 350 000 per piece.¡±

    ¡°W-What!?¡± Erin squeaked out upon hearing the price as her eyes went wide. Both Ryle and Arkay had similar shocked expressions, although the blonde woman looked more angry than anything. ¡°How come the golems are so expensive!? Aren¡¯t golems basically magically created automatons whose bodies are made of simple materials!?¡±

    ¡°That would be the case normally, but I¡¯m afraid my golems are far from normal,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°You see, their bodies aren¡¯t made of just your simple everyday materials anybody can get their hands on, but rather complex chemical compounds that I¡¯ve made. Not only that, but there are even microscopic runes that not only act as a core, but allow others to take ownership of them. This is crucial, as the golems otherwise wouldn¡¯t listen to their new owners and would go on a blind rampage. I trust that you now see why they are so expensive?¡±

    Erin grit her teeth as she couldn¡¯t really make any argument as to disprove Lexton¡¯s logic. Even when she thought about it in terms of it being the game she used to play, there wasn¡¯t a way to rally argue back. When it came to companions you could get in the game to assist you, golems were among the top, only losing to some of the most powerful summons and robots. They were very resistant to most attacks and also immune to things like poison or mind control. This was due to their bodies being completely made of simple elements that left very little in the ways of weak points and no actual minds that could be dominated through magic.

    The lore of the game explained that golems were created through people with magical abilities by first summoning a core that was then surrounded by the chosen element, such as fire, earth or water. The core would then act as the ¡°heart¡± of the golem, which would allow it to move around and receive orders from its master. It was also the weak spot of the golem, since the magical being would perish once the core was either destroyed or ran out of magic.

    Considering what Lexton had just said, it seemed like the cores of his golems could be taken over by a new owner through the runes on their cores. Runes and other enchantments were complex magical scriptures that made the objects imbued with such things not only extremely powerful, but also very valuable. In the game, one of the best ways to make money was to learn enchanting and then use it on pretty much any trash you could find, as the value would immediately jump greatly.

    Thinking about it rationally, it made sense as to why such beings would be so expensive. Erin thought of the ups and downs of the opportunity before her as hard as she could. On one hand, having even one of these things on their side would be a great advantage, but would it be worth the price? For that amount of money, they could hire mercenaries or buy other tools that they could help them greatly as well. There was also the possibility of buying two, but that would take most of their money in one go.

    The redhead now understood why the man they had met upon entering the store had such an attitude towards them. He knew that they wouldn¡¯t have the money to buy as many as he did.

    ¡°Miss, I understand that this must be a difficult choice for you to make, but I do have to warn you about taking too long to decide,¡± Lexton suddenly said, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°You see, these golems aren¡¯t just high quality, but there¡¯s a pretty high demand for them as well. I¡¯m afraid that if you don¡¯t buy yours soon, you won¡¯t have another chance.¡±

    As Erin was starting to panic internally, Ryle glared at the kobold. She recognized the scamming technique that he was using. By claiming that there was a high demand and low supply, they could put pressure on potential buyers by giving them the idea that they had to make a decision right away. Since the customer most likely wouldn¡¯t know how well the products are actually selling or how much there is available, the mental pressure would push them towards making a purchase based more on feeling than rational thought.

    ¡°Guys, what should we do?¡± Erin asked as she turned to her friends with a worried expression on her face. ¡°On one hand, I don¡¯t want to miss this chance, but the price is so steep¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just leave this damn place!¡± Ryle said without any hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s no telling if the things this guy¡¯s selling would even be all that useful in the first place!¡±

    ¡°I-I agree!¡± Arkay said with a nod. ¡°I get that you¡¯re worried, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to make purchases based on emotion alone. It¡¯s better for us to calmly think what is best for us and make a decision based on that.¡±

    ¡°...I see. Thank you, guys,¡± Erin said with a small smile, as she seemed to finally calm down. She then turned her attention back to Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it seems that we won¡¯t be buying anything from you today. Thank you for your time.¡±

    As the trio began to make their way out of the store, Lexton frowned. While these weren¡¯t the wealthiest of customers, they still had the potential to buy his products and any sale no matter the size was always welcome to a merchant. He wasn¡¯t about to let potential customers walk away without a fight.

    ¡°Wait just a moment!¡± the kobold suddenly called out, stopping the group in their tracks. ¡°I get that my prices aren¡¯t exactly low, but I¡¯d hate to see you all walk out of here without anything, so how about I make you a special offer?¡±

    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°For 500 000, I will give you two golems, so you basically get a discount on the other one. Not only that, but I will also give you a third one for free,¡± Lexton explained with a smirk. ¡°How does that sound?¡±

    ¡°That sounds great!¡± the redhead said happily. ¡°You¡¯ve got yourself a-¡±

    ¡°Hold up, Erin! Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions just yet!¡± Ryle said, holding back her friend before glaring at the kobold. ¡°What exactly are you trying to pull here? Just a moment ago you gave us all this crap about how these things were of high quality and why they were so expensive. Why are you suddenly willing to not only sell one at a cheaper price, but even willing to give one to us for free? It doesn¡¯t really make sense.¡±

    ¡°I can understand your confusion, but you need to look at things from a bigger perspective,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°You see, a real merchant never passes on a sale, no matter if it¡¯s big or small. Not every transaction needs to involve dozens of my products being moved, as even someone simply buying one of my products is a plus. Not only that, but I hope to leave a positive impression on you guys and thus possibly create customers that will come to me again and even tell others about my services. Besides, I guess I do feel a bit bad about what I did to you back in the ring. You were obviously not good enough to face off against my golem.¡±

    ¡°YOU SCALY LITTLE-!¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH, RYLE!¡± Erin shouted, stopping her friend from attacking the kobold, before turning her attention to the merchant. ¡°Your deal sounds great. We accept it. Arnie, could you give me the wallet?¡±

    The cat boy handed the group¡¯s money to the redhead, although a bit hesitantly. He watched as Erin pulled the correct amount of money from the wallet and handed it to Lexton, who in turn took out three vials from a box that was under the table. However, upon seeing the vials, Arkay¡¯s eyes went wide as he realized something.

    ¡°DON¡¯T BE FOOLED, MS. ERIN!¡± the cat boy suddenly yelled, surprising everyone. ¡°Those are not the same vials he used back in the arena! There¡¯s no magic in them at all!¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± Erin said, before grabbing one of the vials from Lexton and smashing it on the ground. Unlike back in the ring, nothing happened. There was no golem or even bubbles, just a smudge of dark liquid on the carpet. ¡°...Mind explaining this?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ You see¡­ There are some procedures that need to be followed,¡± the kobold tried his best to explain, but the nervousness in his voice revealed that he was obviously lying. ¡°I was going to give you the instructions as to how properly use them, but you just suddenly grabbed one of them and-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the most obvious bullshit I¡¯ve ever heard in my life!¡± Ryle yelled as she began to stomp her way to Lexton, fully intent on making him pay for trying to fool them. ¡°Now you better say your prayers, because I¡¯m going to-!¡±

    Before the blonde could finish her threat, Erin noticed movement from the side that Ryle didn¡¯t see. Her instincts immediately told her that this was dangerous and her body reacted according to it.

    ¡°RYLE, WATCH OUT!¡± the redhead yelled as she tackled her friend out of the way of an incoming gigantic fist that smashed the ground where Ryle had just been.

    Both Erin and Ryle looked up to see that two of the golems that had been on display were now standing before them, shielding their master from the attackers. One of the two was similar to the one Lexton had used in his fight against Ryle, while the other one looked mostly similar, but had a different coloring.

    ¡°You little bastard, give back our money!¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°Or at least stop hiding behind your disgusting pets, like a little bitch!¡±

    ¡°Oh my, what a terrifyingly stupendous argument. I am going to do exactly as you told me NEVER,¡± Lexton said with a tone that was dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Seriously, do you ever think before you open your mouth?¡±

    ¡°Enough with the arguing! You were about to sell us completely useless junk that was nothing like the product you said it was going to be!¡± Erin yelled, angered over being fooled. ¡°Unless you want to get into trouble, I suggest that you give us back our money right now!¡±

    ¡°And what are any of you supposed to do?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Do you think the people who run this place care? Let alone the authorities back above ground? And before you say anything about ruining my reputation here, do you seriously believe anyone will listen to you, let alone believe you? I can tell just by looking at you three that you have no reputation nor anyone powerful backing you up. Just face the truth and admit that you got played by someone better than you.¡±

    ¡°H-How can you do this to people!? Don¡¯t you know what kind of an image you¡¯re creating of your people!?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°There are all sorts of nasty rumors about kobolds not being trustworthy! They¡¯re seen as nothing but thieves and con artists by a lot of people! How can you enforce such an image!?¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t you talk to me about images. I know damn well just how I¡¯m viewed by others,¡± Lexton said in an angry tone that surprised Erin and her group. ¡°I am fully aware of us kobolds not being trusted by pretty much anyone out there. But have any of you ever considered what is the real cause of all that?¡±

    ¡°Huh? The hell are you talking about?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Last I checked, you¡¯re the one trying to screw us over, so-¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT HAVE FORCED US TO BE LIKE THIS!¡± the kobold suddenly shouted, shocking the trio. ¡°Do you have even the slightest idea what it¡¯s like to be small and weak!? Powerless against pretty much anyone around you!? How just about any person can push you around and do whatever they want with you!? People like myself, the kobolds, the goblins and other small races don¡¯t get to call the shots in this filthy fucking world! The moment we have something, it gets taken from us! And if we try to fight back, we get beaten to the ground for ¡°not knowing our place!¡± You think I¡¯m cowardly for hiding behind golems!? You¡¯re the one who is the coward for trying to beat up someone who can¡¯t even fight back!¡±

    An image of Gibbot flashed in the back of Erin¡¯s mind. What Lexton was saying wasn¡¯t untrue, as she herself had seen the results of such treatment with her own eyes. While she was still angry for being scammed, some of her anger towards the kobold disappeared.

    ¡°So you had a tough life? Big freaking whoop! Join the club and maybe you can get some sympathy!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°But right now, I don¡¯t give a damn about any of that! Now you give back our money or-!¡±

    ¡°Stop it, Ryle. There¡¯s no point to continue this,¡± Erin said calmly, surprising the others. ¡°We should just leave.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? YOU CAN¡¯T BE SERIOUS!¡± the blonde yelled with a shocked expression. ¡°We can¡¯t just walk away from this little asshole! He took most of our money! We have to get it back somehow!¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t. One of those golems was able to easily beat you and now there are two of them. Not only that, but I¡¯m sure he has more equipment at his disposal. No matter what we do, there¡¯s no way we can win this,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°We lost a lot today, but we will only lose far more, if we start a fight here.¡±

    ¡°B-But Ms. Erin, what are we going to do?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°This was such a big loss for us that it won¡¯t be easy for us to recover from this.¡±

    ¡°We can make the money back through other means. What I¡¯m not willing to lose is either one of you two,¡± Erin said as she gave a sad smile to her two friends. ¡°That¡¯s one thing I¡¯m not willing to sacrifice, no matter what.¡±

    Both Ryle and Arkay were taken aback by Erin¡¯s words and tone. Both immediately lost all will to argue against their redheaded friend right away.

    ¡°Well shit¡­ If you put it like that, I guess we just have to take L on this one,¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°Even if it does piss me off big time.¡±

    Lexton, although happy that he didn¡¯t have to risk getting his store damaged, was surprised by how rational the redhead was being. He had honestly expected the three of them to try some sort of a plan in order to defeat him, but it seemed like at least one of them could see that it would have been pointless.

    Sending the golems back to their positions, Lexton sat back on his chair, hoping to see new customers soon. However, before Erin walked out, she turned back to the kobold.

    ¡°Listen, I¡¯m not going to blame you for being forced to do bad things for your own survival, as I have no right to judge you for that,¡± the redhead said. ¡°But you should know that there comes a point where you aren¡¯t doing such things out of necessity, but for your own convenience. You might want to change your ways, before things go bad. And you should really consider this, as I am speaking from experience.¡±

    ¡°Your advice is noted and appreciated,¡± Lexton said somewhat sarcastically, not believing that Erin was at all genuine with her words. ¡°Now would you please leave? There might be other customers waiting to get inside and I need to make some money here.¡±

    With that, Erin and her group walked out of the kobold¡¯s store. But as Lexton was getting ready to take in his next customers, he managed to hear a conversation between the redhead and her friends.

    ¡°GAH! This still pisses me off to no end!¡± Ryle complained. ¡°To think that we got taken for such suckers by that guy! I need to punch something in order to calm myself!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure we can find you something to wreck,¡± Erin said in an attempt to calm her blonde friend. ¡°Just imagine you¡¯re hitting Lune and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll feel much better. Think of it as practice for when we finally get our revenge on him.¡±

    ¡°Did she say Lune? As in General Lune!?¡± Lexton said to himself with wide eyes.

 30. An Unexpected Offer

    Chapter 30

    An Unexpected Offer

    It was safe to say that things weren¡¯t going well for Erin and her friends. After being scammed by Lexton, most of their funds had been lost and there didn¡¯t seem to be a good way for them to make it back. The fight pit was currently closed, since Ryle put a good amount of their fighters in the infirmary, which also meant that there was no way for them to go and gamble on the fights either.

    The trio had tried to go into bounty hunting, but that hadn¡¯t worked out as well as they had thought. It quickly became clear that Ryle¡¯s previous success as a bounty hunter had been mostly due to the assistance from her brother, who could gather all sorts of information through his connections. Without the help of Zeke, the group couldn¡¯t gather information as effectively at all, not to mention cheaply. Erin and Ryle had tried a couple of times to catch some bounties by listening to rumors and asking people questions, but that only got them mostly useless info, if not just absolute lies. To make matters worse, they were sometimes forced to pay for such things, which further hurt their financial situation.

    Arkay had tried to step in and help by suggesting that he would go back to stealing or he could sell some of his belongings to Luxley, but that idea was quickly shot down by both Erin and Ryle. Neither of the two women were willing to see the cat boy put himself in any danger for their sake, so they refused to even consider such ideas.

    To say the least, the group was in some very dire financial troubles and the longer they couldn¡¯t find a solution, the worse it would get. Costs like food and other necessities were slowly but steadily draining the remains of their finances, and it wouldn¡¯t take long until they were completely out of money.

    The trio was currently sitting at their room in a rather sketchy motel. It was definitely a place you didn¡¯t want to stay at, unless you were completely desperate. And these three were in that state.

    ¡°This freaking sucks,¡± Ryle grumbled as she sat on a rather worn-out and dirty couch that was in their motel room. ¡°Why did they have to close the fight pit? I¡¯m tired of eating canned beans and sleeping on a tiny bed that¡¯s not even fit for a goddamn dollhouse.¡±

    ¡°Hey, we can¡¯t really go splurging on five star hotels here, now can we? Besides, you don¡¯t need to tell me about how small the bed is, as I share it with you,¡± Erin said with a glare aimed at the blonde. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that you kick the crap out of me while asleep, but you turn the whole bedroom into a gas chamber! Could you cut down on the beans, by the way!?¡±

    ¡°Well, if there was something else that was worth eating, maybe I would!¡± Ryle yelled back, glaring at the redhead. ¡°Unfortunately, the only thing we can afford is canned food and the only canned food I¡¯m willing to stomach is beans! Unless you can pull steaks or something out of your ass, I don¡¯t see this being fixed anytime soon!¡±

    The two women glared at each, while Arkay was standing nervously at the side. He was hoping to find some way to stop the hostility that was currently taking over his friends.

    ¡°Umm¡­ I know it¡¯s not much, but I could swap sleeping arrangements with one of you, if it helps?¡± the cat boy suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping on the couch by myself for now, so if either of you wants to have it, you can switch with me.¡±

    Ryle immediately perked up at the suggestion, but was cut off by Erin before she could speak.

    ¡°Arnie, you¡¯re a real sweetheart and we love you, but I cannot in good conscience allow that,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, causing Ryle to seethe with anger. ¡°If you sleep in the same bed with Ryle, I¡¯m afraid of what might happen to you.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure what you mean by that, but alright,¡± Arkay said innocently, not understanding the meaning behind Erin¡¯s words. ¡°But if it¡¯s not okay with Ms. Ryle, how about you and I share the bed? That way Ms. Ryle can have the couch all for herself.¡±

    The redhead already knew without even looking that her blonde friend was furious at the mere thought of what the cat boy had just suggested. Still, she glanced at Ryle to find her glaring at her with enough murderous intent to scare even the worst serial killers.

    ¡°Again, I appreciate that you wish to help, but I¡¯m afraid I must decline again,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°If we were to do that, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d wake up the next morning.¡±

    Arkay was once again left confused over what the redhead was saying, but let it go as the situation seemed to have calmed down finally. Their original issue of lacking finances still remained, though, which meant that they had to get back to work on it.

    ¡°So, either one of you got any ideas as to how we can get us some cash? Cause I don¡¯t have any,¡± Ryle stated bluntly. ¡°At this point, I¡¯d be willing to sell my own clothes, if it meant we¡¯d get some decent money out of it.¡±

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m pretty sure Luxley would be willing to pay for mine, if you-¡± Arkay began to say, only to get cut off.

    ¡°NO,¡± came the stern reply from both Erin and Ryle simultaneously.

    ¡°Arnie, we¡¯ve been through this already. We are NOT going to let you put yourself through whatever disturbing ideas that woman might have for you, no matter how much money she might offer,¡± Erin explained with a sigh. ¡°Your safety and well-being is far more important for us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Don¡¯t you worry yourself over this little cash issue we have! I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll come up with something that will make us rich!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°Heck, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the solution to our problems was right around the corner!¡±

    At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. The three companions froze still for a couple of seconds, as they all stared at the door with slightly widened eyes. After that, Erin and Arkay turned their gazes to Erin, who just looked dumbfounded.

    ¡°...Okay, to be fair, I said that it would be around the corner and not right behind the door,¡± the blonde said. ¡°Did one of you order pizza or something?¡±

    ¡°With what money?¡± Erin asked in a slightly sarcastic tone, before turning her attention back to the door and taking out her pistol. ¡°Let¡¯s be careful. It could be Lune¡¯s people for all we know.¡±

    Ryle and Arkay nodded in response as they both got ready in case a fight would break out. The blonde got behind Erin, ready to jump in and assist her friend if someone was going to try attacking them. Meanwhile, the cat boy readied a firebolt in his right hand. While he didn¡¯t have much in terms of offensive skills, he had a couple of tricks up his sleeve to help him in tricky situations.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    With silent steps, Erin moved up to the floor and pressed herself against the wall next to it in case whoever was on the other side would start shooting. She got her pistol at the ready, before speaking up.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°A wise man bearing gifts to the terminally stupid that live here,¡± a rather familiar tone said in an overly sarcastic tone. ¡°Would you just open the damn door? I¡¯d like to get inside, before somebody mugs me.¡±

    A surprised expression came over Erin¡¯s face, as she recognized who it was on the other side of the door. She looked at her friends and saw that they were equally surprised, even if Ryle¡¯s expression had a hint of growing anger on it. Seeing no visible complaints from her companions, the redhead opened the door to reveal Lexton standing there with an annoyed look on his face.

    ¡°About time you opened. I was starting to wonder if you all had suddenly died or something,¡± the kobold complained as he entered the room and took off his coat. ¡°Honestly, are you like this with all of your visitors? No wonder you don¡¯t have any other friends.¡±

    ¡°YOU SCALY LITTLE FUCKER! YOU¡¯VE GOT SOME BALLS COMING OVER HERE!¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she tried to make her way over to Lexton in order to beat him senseless. It was only thanks to Erin and Arkay holding her back that this didn¡¯t happen. ¡°YOU BETTER GIVE US BACK THE MONEY YOU SCREWED FROM US OR I¡¯LL KICK YOUR ASS ALL OVER THE DAMN CITY!¡±

    ¡°...What an elegant and classy individual. Just like I remember you being,¡± Lexton said sarcastically, not at all threatened by the blonde woman. ¡°I do hope that your more intelligent friends will be able to calm you down, as I highly doubt you want the local residents to pay attention to us.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, cut it out! Killing him isn¡¯t going to help us out at all!¡± Erin said sternly to the blonde, who seemed to calm down at least somewhat. ¡°We should see for now what he wants with us. It can¡¯t make things any worse than they already are.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re just gonna ignore how he screwed us over!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°That¡¯s not how I do things!¡±

    ¡°Neither do I, but we¡¯re only going to hear him out for now,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°No saying what happens after that.¡±

    A moment later, the group was waiting for their new guest to speak, as he sitting on the only chair in the room. Ryle and Arkay were sitting on the couch while Erin was leaning on a wall. All three had their eyes on Lexton, as they were looking out for him to do anything even remotely suspicious. They all knew the kobold had plenty of tricks up his sleeves, so they couldn¡¯t be too careful.

    ¡°So, what exactly brings you here?¡± Erin asked, breaking the silence. ¡°I do not mean to sound rude or anything, but you do realize that we aren¡¯t exactly on good terms with you after scamming us. I honestly can¡¯t think of a single reason as to why you¡¯d want to speak with us.¡±

    ¡°Your confusion is understandable, but I assure you that I have a good reason to be here,¡± Lexton answered, before taking something out of his pocket. ¡°However, first things first. I believe that this should help convince you that I am not here to make enemies.¡±

    Before the redhead could ask what he meant, the kobold a small stack of money to her. She looked through it and her eyes went wide with realization that this was the same amount he had scammed from them.

    ¡°It¡¯s the money you took from us!¡± Erin said, surprising her two friends. ¡°But why would you give it back to us? You told us yourself that there was nothing we could do against you.¡±

    ¡°Like I said, this is just to show you that I¡¯m not here to be your enemy,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The reason for this is that it seems we both have similar goals and I would like to offer my assistance to your little group.¡±

    Silence fell over the room, as Erin¡¯s group could only stare at the kobold with wide eyes. Having him come over to them was already a big enough surprise, but for him to not only return the money he scammed from them but also offer assistance was beyond all of their expectations.

    ¡°SAY WHAT!? I CALL BULLSHIT!¡± Ryle yelled as she stood up, breaking the silence. ¡°Guys, don¡¯t listen to this scaly asshole! There¡¯s no way he¡¯s actually offering to joing our group! I¡¯m sure what he really wants is to screw us over for some quick cash or something!¡±

    ¡°If money was my goal, don¡¯t you think there would be a better way for me to achieve it?¡± Lexton asked in a slightly angry tone. ¡°Also, let me make one thing clear right away. I am NOT joining your little idiot group. I¡¯m only interested in sharing the same goal, so once that is done, it¡¯s back to the way things were from the start.¡±

    ¡°So you want something that we also want then?¡± Erin asked to which the kobold nodded. ¡°While I am curious about this sudden proposition, I can¡¯t help but wonder what you¡¯re-¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s cut the bullshit right here,¡± Lexton said, having grown tired of beating around the bush and just wanting to get to point. ¡°I know you three are after General Lune¡¯s life. I want in.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, that settles it!¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she started to make her way to the kobold. ¡°I can tell what this guy is planning now! He plans to sell us to Lune in order to get a hefty reward for himself! Let¡¯s squash his ass before he talks!¡±

    The blonde woman would have most likely gone through with her threat, had it not been for Erin stepping in front of her and preventing her from doing so.

    ¡°Hold up, Ryle! I get why you¡¯re angry and suspicious, but we shouldn¡¯t jump to such conclusions yet,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I hate to admit it, but we honestly don¡¯t have anything better going for us right now. We desperately need resources and help, if we want to take out Lune. So let¡¯s hear what Lexton has to offer and then make our decision.¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Ryle said in a bitter tone as she went to sit back on the couch. ¡°Just know that if he does anything even remotely suspicious, I¡¯m turning him into a handbag or something, so we can sell his ass for some extra cash.¡±

    ¡°How scary,¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m just shaking in my scales over here. I mean, who wouldn¡¯t be terrified over threats made by someone whose ass they¡¯ve already kicked?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s cut this out on both sides, okay!?¡± Erin quickly said, as she noticed Ryle getting furious over the kobold¡¯s comment. ¡°Now, you said you wanted to assist us in getting revenge against General Lune, correct? Mind telling us how you found out about what our goal here was?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ I did this thing called LISTENING, as you three were walking out of my store,¡± Lexton said in a tone that was dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Seriously, do you three have any idea what could have happened to you? You were lucky that it was me who heard your conversation. Had it been someone else, they could have sold you out to Lune for a fat reward.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ We didn¡¯t think about that,¡± the redhead said with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°I suppose we have a lot to learn still¡­¡±

    ¡°Understatement of the century, ladies and gentlemen,¡± the kobold said as he shook his head slightly. ¡°Luckily for the three of you, I¡¯m available as a teacher to show you how to survive in this place. And it comes at a low price of simply making an alliance over mutual interests! Now, if that doesn¡¯t sound like a great deal, I have no idea what is wrong with you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I think we¡¯ll pass on that,¡± Ryle said as she continued to glare at Lexton. ¡°We have done well so far, so I doubt we¡¯re in any real need of your help.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes! You¡¯re obviously doing incredible for a small pack of morons that have zero idea what the hell they¡¯re doing!¡± the kobold shot back at the blonde. ¡°I do honestly think it¡¯s amazing that you all have managed to survive this long! I¡¯ve known you three for less than a week and in that time, I¡¯ve managed to kick the shit out of your strongest fighter, scam you out of most of your money, find out about your true goals that would easily get you arrested and managed to find where you are hiding without any trouble. Was that all or did I miss anything?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m gonna put my foot up your ass, you scaly little-¡±

    ¡°Ryle, stop it!¡± Erin said to her friend, before looking back at Lexton. ¡°I can see your point, but I do have to ask one thing. What is it that you can offer to us? While you do seem to have some powerful golems at your use, I do have to wonder if that is all.¡±

    ¡°Lady, the golems you¡¯ve seen me use so far are just the tip of the iceberg of the things I can offer for your group,¡± Lexton replied with a smirk. ¡°As you can probably guess, I have many different tools for numerous uses that I can lend to you. Not only that, but I have the skills to make them as well, so any gear you need can be made for you by myself, saving you in costs. If that wasn¡¯t enough for you, I know how to handle deals of any kind. With me by your side, you don¡¯t have to worry about paying too much ever again and I can sniff out the best possible deals out there. How does that sound?¡±

    ¡°Like crap,¡± came Ryle¡¯s bitter response, but the blonde was quickly silenced with a single look from Erin, who was done with her antics.

    ¡°I see no reason to turn down your offer. If you¡¯re willing to offer us your assistance, we¡¯ll be happy to have you,¡± the redhead said to the kobold, who got up from his seat and walked up to her, offering a hand to seal the deal. ¡°However, before we close this deal, I do have to point out that what we are doing is extremely dangerous. If you go along with us, there¡¯s a good chance you might end up on a wanted list or dead. Are you sure you¡¯re willing to go through with this?¡±

    ¡°I know this doesn¡¯t mean much coming from me, but I¡¯ve never been more certain of anything in my whole life,¡± Lexton said in a serious tone that was devoid of any jokes or sarcasm. ¡°We may not be all best buddies nor am I willing to take any bullets for any of you, but to see Lune pay for the things he has done? That I am willing to die for.¡±

    Seeing the kobold¡¯s resolve, Erin shook his hand, marking the start of the alliance. The redhead couldn¡¯t quite explain how nor could she make any sense of it herself, but somehow she felt like she had just made one of the best decisions of her life and had made a truly dependable ally.

 31. Materials

    Chapter 31

    Materials

    After forming their temporary alliance with Lexton, Erin¡¯s group found themselves walking through the city, looking for a good place to buy equipment for some of the members. It apparently took only a single look from the kobold to tell that they were very ill-equipped to go against a general, so he offered to get them a much needed upgrade.

    ¡°Excuse me, Lexton?¡± Erin called out to the kobold. ¡°What type of equipment are we going to be looking for exactly?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much the usual. Better weapons, better armor and some other stuff,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Also, please call me Lex. No need for full names now that we are working together.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, Lex,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°So where are we going to first? Do you perhaps know a good weapons shop that has quality equipment at a reasonable price?¡±

    ¡°Oh please. Only those who don¡¯t know better simply go to such stores. What kind of a merchant would I be, if I did such a thing?¡± the kobold said with a chuckle. ¡°Nah. What I¡¯m going to show you is much better and way more profitable for us.¡±

    ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± Ryle asked bluntly before looking around, noticing some stores that they had completely passed by that had a sale going on. ¡°Those places don¡¯t seem too bad. They even have a sale going on.¡±

    ¡°Sales are for those who are in desperate need and we aren¡¯t desperate,¡± Lexton said with a knowing smirk. ¡°Besides, do you really think those shopkeepers are going to put anything worth our attention on sale? No, they only put the stuff that¡¯s not worth a damn thing on sale, as they simply want to clear out their store for something better. Any weapon bought through such means is bound to break after just a couple of uses.¡±

    ¡°Hmph! Alright then, Mr. Merchant! Tells us what you¡¯re actually going to do!¡± the blonde said in an irritated tone. ¡°Since you¡¯re such a hot shot, maybe you can get us top quality weaponry for what is essentially pocket change!¡±

    ¡°That is EXACTLY what I plan to do,¡± the kobold said with a grin. ¡°However, before we proceed, I would like to ask you all something first.¡±

    ¡°A-And what would that be, Mr. Lexton?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°You know what, Arnie? So far, I like you the most out of this group. Not only do you seem to be the smartest, but you are also respectful. I appreciate that. But you can stop with the whole ¡°Mr.¡± thing. I don¡¯t need that,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°As for what I¡¯d like to ask from you all is rather simple. What kind of fighting styles do you all use? Or at least what type of weaponry do you prefer?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m not much of a fighter, but I do have some offensive spells that I can cast. Mostly, though, I try my best to avoid combat, as it¡¯s not my specialty,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°The rest of my spells actually help me with staying unnoticed, like invisibility.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ While I completely understand the desire to not get into physical altercations, I¡¯m afraid that is something you¡¯re going to have to face sooner or later, considering what we¡¯re doing,¡± the kobold said thoughtfully. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m sure we can find useful gear for you. If nothing else, we can look into growing your list of magic spells.¡±

    The cat boy was still nervous over the idea of getting into combat, but there was a small smile on his face due to Lexton reassuring him that it would be alright.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t think too much about such things, Arnie,¡± Ryle suddenly said in a comforting tone as she put a hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You just leave all the fighting to me and Erin. No need for you to risk your life doing such things.¡±

    ¡°You do know that type of attitude isn¡¯t going to help him at all?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically. ¡°In fact, sheltering him from all the bad things is only going to make things far worse for him in the future.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut your mouth, you stupid-!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I hate to say this, but Lex is right,¡± Erin said, cutting off the blonde. ¡°Whether we like it or not, we are all going to have to get our hands dirty, if we want to take down Lune. We can¡¯t afford to shield any members of our group, no matter who it is.¡±

    The group came to a sudden stop, as Lexton stopped walking. The kobold was holding his face and let out a groan.

    ¡°Here¡¯s some good advice for you guys. When talking about such delicate subjects as what you¡¯re planning to do in city, DO IT WHEN NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU. I¡¯m honestly amazed that none of you have been arrested or killed yet, seeing as how openly you discuss your plans,¡± Lexton said and let out a deep sigh. ¡°From now on, when any of you plans to mention ¡°you know goddamn well what,¡± how about using something a bit less damming? Call it your holiday plan or future endeavor or something! Anything but the actual truth!¡±

    ¡°...No need to be a dick about it,¡± Ryle mumbled.

    ¡°Ryle, be nice. He is correct in what he said on both accords,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°We need to be more careful as to not let the wrong people know about our project, so it¡¯s a good idea to not mention it. As for Arnie, it¡¯s very likely that he¡¯s going to have to take part in combat, considering what we¡¯ll be working on. The least we can do is prepare him, so he has a better chance at getting out of it alive.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The blonde woman wanted to argue, but Arkay stopped her.

    ¡°I-It¡¯s alright, Ms. Ryle. I understand that I can¡¯t just sit back and let you guys face all the danger on your own,¡± the cat boy said with a gentle smile on his face. ¡°Besides, I wouldn¡¯t want that either. I hate the idea of not doing anything to help when you¡¯re in trouble, so I¡¯m honestly glad that there¡¯s something that can be done about it.¡±

    ¡°...Fine. I guess I¡¯ve lost this argument,¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°But I¡¯m going to demand at least one thing from you, Arnie!¡±

    ¡°W-What is it?¡± Arkay asked nervously.

    ¡°I WANT YOU TO STOP WITH THAT ¡°MS.¡± STUFF!¡± the blonde woman yelled. ¡°Why do you have to speak to me in such a way, when we¡¯re already buddies!? I don¡¯t like it!¡±

    ¡°I agree with Ryle, Arnie. I¡¯d like it if you dropped that way of speaking to us,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°I appreciate that you want to be polite to us and all, but it makes it feel like we aren¡¯t friends. You wouldn¡¯t want that, would you?¡±

    ¡°O-Of course I don¡¯t want that!¡± Arkay said in a panicked tone. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to seem rude, so that¡¯s why I used Ms. When I was speaking to you two, Ms. E- I mean, Erin!¡±

    The cat boy¡¯s sudden panic was found amusing by both Erin and Ryle, who laughed at Arkay¡¯s attempt at explaining himself. The two women laughed at him, while the boy himself blushed in embarrassment.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Arnie. We know what your intentions were,¡± Erin said with a smile as she gentky ruffled the cat boy¡¯s hair. ¡°We just don¡¯t like such formal speech, as it feels unnecessary. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s why Lexton wanted you to drop it as well.¡±

    As Erin was having this touching moment with Arkay, the sound of someone clearing their throat caught their attention. It seemed like Lexton wanted to get back on their main topic of conversation.

    ¡°Anyways, back to business,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I now know what kind of a fighter Arnie is, but what about you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I am-¡± Ryle began, but was quickly cut off.

    ¡°Not you. I don¡¯t need you to tell me,¡± Lexton said with an exasperated sigh. ¡°Just from what little I¡¯ve seen, I can tell that you¡¯re one of those morons whose preferred way of fighting is to punch and kick at their opponent until they stop breathing. And if that doesn¡¯t work, you just hit it harder.¡±

    ¡°HEY! I¡¯ll have you know that it¡¯s a perfectly valid method!¡± the blonde yelled angrily. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t just punch and kick. There are other methods as well, like strangling, breaking bones, gouging out eyes-¡±

    ¡°Okay, we get the picture. No need to give us the whole rundown,¡± the kobold said. ¡°The point is that I already know what your specialty is, so I have an idea as to what I should get for you. But I still need to know what Erin¡¯s fighting style is.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Mostly I use stealth to sneak up on my opponents to take them by surprise. I often use things like knives and pistols to get the job done in such cases,¡± Erin said thoughtfully. ¡°However, I do have some skill with swords. Not much, but it¡¯s something.¡±

    ¡°Your skills might not be much, but at least I have an idea that I can work with,¡± Lexton said before he began to walk again. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s time I show you guys how a real merchant like myself does work around here.¡±

    Erin and her friends followed the kobold, as he kept walking past more stores. He kept doing this until he seemed to reach a place that satisfied his standards. However, while he had a confident smile on his face, his companions didn¡¯t seem to share his thoughts.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold. ¡°I get that you don¡¯t want to spend too much money and everything, but don¡¯t you think this is going a bit too far?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this place?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy to answer!¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°IT¡¯S A GARBAGE DUMP!¡±

    ¡°I am very well aware of that, thank you very much,¡± the kobold said with a frown as he rubbed his ears that were now sore and ringing slightly from the blonde¡¯s yell. ¡°And just what in the world is wrong with that? Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m trying to help you save money?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but you were supposed to get us some new equipment as well!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that garbage is essentially stuff that can¡¯t be used anymore!? Or were you going to arm us with empty cans and used diapers!?¡±

    ¡°Oh Lord, give me the strength to make it through the asinine arguments of those who don¡¯t know any better,¡± Lexton mumbled with a sigh. ¡°Look, anything can be used, if you just use your brains a bit. I know this must be a foreign concept for one of you three, but if you just trust me I can show you a way to get quality equipment nice and cheap. Okay?¡±

    Ryle was about to blow up from rage, but luckily Erin stepped in.

    ¡°Well, trust you on this. I¡¯m sure you must have a plan of some kind,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So do you need us to do anything?¡±

    ¡°Nah. It¡¯s best if I handle this on my own. I¡¯ve got the eye for the things that we need from there, after all,¡± Lexton answered and he was about to go to the garbage dump, when he suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot! I do need you to do something for me.¡±

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Give me your cash,¡± the kobold said as he put up his hand to take the wallet.

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just give it back to us in order to gain our trust after scamming us!? Why the hell would we give it back to you!?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re afraid that I¡¯m taking it and running away, even you should realize that¡¯s not my intention,¡± Lexton said in a frustrated tone. ¡°If all I wanted was money, why would I have gotten in contact with you at all? Especially since I could have just kept what I got from you and continued scamming other gullible people?¡±

    ¡°Look, I get what you¡¯re saying, but this is kind of a sudden and big request from you,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I mean, why do you need our money? Don¡¯t you have more than enough on your own?¡±

    ¡°That is true, but why should I use my own money to pay for your equipment?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°I already told you that this is just a temporary alliance due to us having similar goals. Once this is over, we most likely will never see each other again. I don¡¯t want to gift you all with stuff that is going to cost me not just in terms of time and effort, but money as well. Instead, don¡¯t you think it makes more sense that you¡¯re investing in a service that will help you further down the line?¡±

    The redhead thought about Lexton¡¯s explanation and understood what he meant. While they might be allies now, that would not last forever. In fact, they could even be enemies in the future, like they had in a way been not too long ago. When you thought about it like that, it didn¡¯t really make sense to spend money on making your possible future enemies stronger.

    Erin took a deep breath and steeled her resolve. This was no time to hesitate.

    ¡°Alright, you can have it,¡± the redhead said, which shocked Ryle and Arkay. ¡°However, I do expect some really good quality weapons from you in return.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I might make a living by scamming people, but when I actually put effort in my work, it will be worth every bit you spent and more,¡± Lexton said with a smirk, as he was given the wallet with the money Erin¡¯s group had. ¡°Trust me when I say that I¡¯m worth investing into.¡±

    Once he had the money, the kobold walked into the garbage dump and spoke to the owner. It seemed like they came to an understanding quickly, as he soon went further in and disappeared behind the piles of trash that the place was filled with.

    Meanwhile, Erin and her group waited outside for Lexton to return. Ryle was pacing back and forth, cursing to herself about ¡°untrustworthy kobold bastards¡± and Arkay was desperately trying to calm down the upset blonde to no avail. Erin herself hadn¡¯t taken her eyes away from the entrance to the garbage dump, as she kept waiting for Lexton to return.

    After some time had passed, Lexton came back. He was carrying a rather large sack for his size that was filled with junk he had bought. The owner of the dump was walking behind him, carrying larger bags that were also completely full.

    ¡°Glad to see that you¡¯re all still waiting for me here! I was afraid that I would have to find a way to transport all of this on my own,¡± Lexton said with a bright smile, as the garbage dump owner put the bags he was carrying on the ground before leaving. ¡°In all honesty, I found far more than I had expected. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to make some really good stuff with this haul.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Anyways, where are we going to be heading to next?¡± Erin asked, somewhat impressed by the amount of junk the kobold had bought.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Lexton asked with a smirk. ¡°We now have the materials, so what we need to do is make something out of them. Next we go to my workshop.¡±

 32. Lexéˆ¥æªš Workshop

    Chapter 32

    Lex¡¯s Workshop

    Carrying the load of junk Lexton had bought proved to be a bit of a task for Erin and her group. Mostly due to the fact that the kobold lived a good distance outside the city. Not only that, but he refused to hire any kind of transport to help them in their task, as he saw it as a ¡°waste of money.¡±

    While Erin and Arkay might not have liked the idea, they were still willing to go through with it, as they were more focused on the overall goal. Both were willing to go through troubles now in order to achieve what they wanted. However, a certain blonde was not in agreement with her two friends at all.

    ¡°This is some complete bullshit!¡± Ryle complained loudly as she followed her friends and Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be a badass bounty hunter! Not some damn pack mule! How the hell did I get into this!?¡±

    ¡°Look, Ryle, I get that you don¡¯t like this. I don¡¯t really enjoy this any more than you do,¡± Erin said with a small sigh, hoping to get through to the blonde. ¡°But the fact is that we can¡¯t go and accomplish our objective here, unless we get help from someone like him. So far, he has shown to be willing to offer us a helping hand, so we shouldn¡¯t push it away. Just bear with it for now and I¡¯m sure it will be worth it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say, seeing as you have a far lighter load than I do,¡± Ryle said while carrying a large bag of junk on both her hands, along with a larger one on her back. Meanwhile, the redhead only had one bag slung over her shoulder. ¡°Mind telling me what that is about, huh?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, it can¡¯t be helped, can it!? You¡¯re the strongest one of us all here!¡± Erin quickly said with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°The rest of us are carrying as much as we can over here!¡±

    ¡°As much as you can, my ass¡­¡±

    ¡°R-Ryle? If you¡¯d like, I could try carrying one of those bags for you,¡± Arkay suddenly suggested, hoping to help out the blonde. ¡°I think if I try really hard, I should be able to do it. Besides, if I get left behind, you guys can go ahead without me.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks for the offer, Arnie. You¡¯re a real sweetheart and all, but I don¡¯t think that would work out,¡± Ryle said with a small smile. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re barely able to hold yourself up as it is. If you were to take any of this load off my back, your body would probably get crushed under the weight.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I understand,¡± the cat boy said in a saddened tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I can¡¯t be more of a help.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about it! Your consideration is more than enough!¡± the blonde said happily, hoping to cheer up her young companion. Then an idea came to her mind. ¡°Although, if you do wish to help me out, you could give me a ki-¡±

    Ryle¡¯s request was stopped by a rock hitting her on the side of her head. The blonde had a furious look on her face as she stared at the person that had thrown it, Erin.

    ¡°What the hell was that all about!?¡± Ryle asked angrily.

    ¡°I could ask the same from you,¡± Erin said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Could you not do things like that for at least until we reach Lex¡¯s place? Besides, I don¡¯t want you corrupting Arnie.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you corruption as soon as I get my hands on you¡­¡±

    ¡°Would you guys mind and stop with the comedy antics for a moment? We¡¯re here,¡± Lexton said as he came to a stop and motioned towards a place ahead of them. ¡°Welcome to my workshop, ladies and gentlemen. And whatever Ryle can be defined as.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± came the yell from a certain blonde, who was not too happy by the last comment the kobold made.

    Meanwhile, Erin and Arkay were looking over the so called workshop. While they had expected it to be a small hut in the outskirts of the city, it was actually a RV. An old one, but still in a good enough condition. The redhead guessed that since Lexton¡¯s ¡°business¡± most likely didn¡¯t leave behind many happy customers that he most likely had to stay mobile. This is why even his workshop was such that it could be moved around. All in all, it seemed like a smart decision.

    However, upon getting closer to it, Erin realized something troubling.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Lex? I think there might be a bit of an issue with your workshop,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°What do you mean? It can hold all the tools and materials I need, and I can just pack up and leave right away when things get too hot for me to handle,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I don¡¯t see any problems with it.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but I was kind of referring to us,¡± Erin said as she placed her body next to the door, showing that she would have to bend down in order to fit in. ¡°I think it¡¯s a bit too small for us.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s pretty large for me and I¡¯m the one who owns it, right? I don¡¯t see why I have to worry about your freaking comfort,¡± Lexton said with a shrug as he walked up to the door. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m just showing this place to you. I¡¯m not expecting you to live here. Just leave the stuff outside, while I go and prepare to do my work.¡±

    ¡°Alright, but do you need help with anything else?¡± the redhead asked as she put the bag she was carrying on the ground. ¡°I mean, I know I don¡¯t know anything about making runes or even weapons themselves, but if we can offer any assistance, I¡¯m sure we would all be willing to do so.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, but no,¡± the kobold said without any hesitation. ¡°This type of work is very delicate and requires a lot of skill, so I¡¯d appreciate it if you stayed away from it. I don¡¯t want this to get messed up.¡±

    Erin frowned, not all too happy about the tone Lexton had just used. It was clear to her that he was looking down on them.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not just going to go back to the city after carrying all that heavy junk!¡± the redhead stated in a tone that told everyone listening that she wasn¡¯t going to change her mind no matter what. ¡°I¡¯m at least going to take a look at the inside of your workshop!¡±

    ¡°Wha-? Hang on a second! You can¡¯t just come inside the home of somebody else without permission!¡± the kobold said, having not expected any of the three to actually come inside his workshop. ¡°Don¡¯t you guys have any manners or something!?¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s permissions that we need, that can be easily solved,¡± Erin said as she walked up to the entrance of the RV and stared down at Lexton. ¡°All you need to do is give us a permission to enter and that should resolve that issue.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, except the issue is that I don¡¯t want any of you into my home!¡± the kobold argued back. ¡°Why are you suddenly so interested in what goes on inside my place anyways!?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be interested? After all, you are working on equipment that my friends and I will be using,¡± the redhead argued. ¡°I¡¯d say that¡¯s more than good enough of a reason of wanting to see what¡¯s going on inside.¡±

    Lexton was going to try and keep arguing, but Arkay and Ryle stepped up to support their friend.

    ¡°A-Actually, I¡¯d like to see the work you do up close,¡± Arkay stated. ¡°The golems you make are simply amazing, so I wish to see how you do work like that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I¡¯d like to see it myself as well!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°I mean, you¡¯ve been telling us how great it is and all, so why would you need to hide it from us? It¡¯s not like we can steal anything from you!¡±

    Judging by the look on the blonde¡¯s face, Lexton was fairly certain that she was only joining the other two in their demands just to spite him. However, that didn¡¯t make much of a difference, as Erin was obviously headstrong in her desire to get in and Arkay seemed to be genuinely interested. Because of this, the kobold could do nothing else but relent.

    ¡°Alright, since you all want it so bad, come on in,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°But don¡¯t touch anything inside! I¡¯m serious about this. Some of the things in my workshop are quite valuable, so I would like it if you didn¡¯t break them.¡±

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    Having reached an agreement with the kobold, Erin and the others went inside the RV, even if it was a bit difficult for them. Due to the place not being designed for regular humans, the redhead was forced to bend down slightly in order to get through the door. The ceiling was luckily far enough that she didn¡¯t have to continue doing so, but if she did something like jumping her head would immediately hit the ceiling.

    Arkay was luckily small enough that he could fit without any issues. The same couldn¡¯t be said about Ryle, though, as she was the tallest member in the group. Not only was she forced to crouch down in order to get through the door, but had to keep bending forward on the inside so that she could fit. The blonde was obviously very displeased over this, as she was grumbling in an upset manner.

    The inside of the RV was kind of spacious in a way. Had Erin and her friends been dwarfs or some other shorter race, they could move around quite nicely. In fact, she could almost imagine the four of them living in this place rather comfortably in such a case. Unfortunately, since none of them belonged to any of such shorter races, the situation was quite different, as was evident by Ryle¡¯s struggles to fit in. The blonde kept hitting things with every little motion, which of course didn¡¯t brighten her already sour mood all that much.

    There was also another issue when it came to the inside of the RV. A lot of space was taken up by what Erin guessed were Lexton¡¯s tools and materials. Any possible surface was almost completely covered in bottles and boxes of different sizes, holding all sorts of exotic looking objects. There were numerous minerals, ranging from ones that looked like regular rocks to shiny metals and even some jewels. Plants could also be spotted here and there, as either simply dried up leaves hanging from walls or healthily growing from small pots. Some moss could also be spotted in jars, along with more leaves of different sizes and colors. Even pieces of wild animals and beasts seemed to be here and there, although nowhere near as many. Fangs, claws and scales were littered around the place. Lastly, jars of what seemed to be chemicals were neatly stacked on the end of one of the tables as well, but Erin couldn¡¯t tell what they were at all. With no other place to go, a lot of the walls were covered in papers that had blueprints for weapons and armors drawn on them, as well as guides for making different potions and other chemical concoctions. One could only imagine how full all the cabinets were, seeing as how full everything else was.

    But while all of this was very impressive, all these different ingredients brought a rather unpleasant side effect that Erin and her friends quickly discovered. They left behind a very nasty smell.

    ¡°Goddamn, this place stinks!¡± Ryle complained while holding her nose in disgust. ¡°I¡¯ve been to all sorts of shitholes in my life, but this one takes the cake in the stench contest! Have you ever thought about cleaning this dump!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not the one who insisted on you three coming inside! I would have been just happy leaving you all outside!¡± Lexton yelled back at the blonde. ¡°Besides, the smell comes from my materials, so it¡¯s just something you have to get used to. I¡¯m not getting rid of them.¡±

    As Ryle was grumbling about the smell, Erin watched the kobold getting ready to work. After hastily clearing enough room on a table, he went to one of the bags of junk he had brought and dug through it. He soon found what he was looking for, which appeared to be a large old knife. The blade was chipped in multiple places and it had rust on some places, yet Lexton looked at the blade with a satisfied smile, like he was holding a prized artifact.

    ¡°Lex, can I ask you something?¡± Erin called out to the kobold, who simply gave a small grunt as a sign that he had heard her. ¡°What are you going to do with a knife like that? It doesn¡¯t look like it can be used for much.¡±

    ¡°You see, that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong,¡± Lexton replied without stopping in his work for even a second, as he now had set up all sorts of tools on the table to start his work. ¡°While all materials have their inherent qualities, it¡¯s not often a case of picking the right material, but rather a case of utilizing it correctly. Even something that most would regard as trash can be of great use with enough work and skill.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me for saying this, but I call bullshit,¡± Ryle said in a mocking tone. ¡°Judging by just the rust, I doubt you could use that thing to dig up rocks from dirt, let alone for defending yourself.¡±

    Before Erin could scold the blonde for her rude behavior, Lexton stopped in his work for a moment to look at Ryle with a knowing smirk.

    ¡°Oh really? You think so?¡± the kobold said with a small chuckle. ¡°I would ask how much you¡¯re willing to bet on that, but since I know you guys don¡¯t have anything left, I¡¯ll just be enjoying the look on your face when I prove you wrong.¡±

    Erin and her two companions watched as Lexton began to work. First he took out a plastic bottle that had a clear liquid in it. By carefully dropping just a couple of drops of it on spots that had rust, it began to sizzle and smoke. The onlookers¡¯ eyes went wide as the rust seemed to just melt off the blade, before falling harmlessly as small grains on the table. Lexton repeated this process a few times, until all of the rust was gone.

    Next, the kobold took out a stone that was black in color, but seemed to have a strange blue glittering on its surface. With all of his strength, he dragged the stone over the blade, causing sparks to fly. He did this a few times until the blade was no longer chipped. Instead, it was now glistening with a sharp edge, like it was brand new.

    The handle was the next thing Lexton decided to work on. The handle basically just had some leather wrappings over a metal core that was part of the blade itself. The wrappings were now dirty, loose and worn, which made the handle very uncomfortable and difficult to hold properly. To fix this, Lexton took off the old leather wrappings and went to one of the cabinets. From the inside, he pulled out what seemed to be a large roll of leather from some kind of an animal. With special scissors that were in the cabinet as well, he cut a few strips of it and then put some type of adhesive on them, before he tied them tightly around the handle of the knife.

    Erin thought that his work was already done by now, but instead it still continued. Lexton went to look for something and soon came back with a large circular object that looked like a tablet of some kind. He laced the tablet on the table, allowing the people watching to see a bunch of symbols drawn on its surface, surrounding what seemed to be a clear gem of some type.

    ¡°What is that, Lex?¡± Erin asked, looking at the tablet in curiosity.

    ¡°This? This is my enchantment tablet,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°By applying the right catalysts and the right amount of magic on an object, I can create enchanted objects with magical properties that pretty much anyone can use.¡±

    ¡°How does that work?¡± the redhead asked, wondering how such objects could be made.

    ¡°Just observe,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±

    Erin watched as the kobold placed the knife in the middle of the tablet and then took out some new tools. One of these looked like a long and thin needle that seemed to be heated at the end, which he used to make small carvings on the side of the blade. Once this was done, he grabbed some other objects. One of these was a plastic jar full of dark gray liquid that he then poured over the knife, completely covering it. The other one seemed to be a small blue gem. The gem was placed on a hole that was made on the side of the blade, where it fit perfectly. Once this was done, Lexton placed his hands on the tablet and it soon began to glow in a bright blue light. The symbols and the gem in the middle of the tablet all had a bright blue glow that was almost blinding, forcing the onlookers to cover their eyes. The glow soon disappeared, leaving behind a knife that had blue carvings on it and a gem attached to it.

    Lexton grabbed the knife, looked it over quickly and nodded in a satisfied manner. It seemed like his work was finally done.

    ¡°Here you go, Arnie,¡± the kobold said as he handed the knife to the cat boy. ¡°A brand new enchanted knife just for you.¡±

    ¡°Woah¡­ This looks amazing! Thank you so much!¡± Arkay said happily as he looked over his new weapon. ¡°But¡­ may I ask what these symbols and the gem are?¡±

    ¡°These symbols, my friend, are runes,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°By using them, one can bring forth magical properties into objects. The ones I gave your knife aren¡¯t really anything special, though. Besides a basic thunder rune, they are there to simply improve the durability of the knife, so it won¡¯t break as easily as a normal knife would.¡±

    ¡°No, that is incredible! You¡¯re really talented!¡± the cat boy praised the kobold with sparkling eyes. ¡°You said something about a thunder rune, though. What does that do? Does it give the knife electric powers?¡±

    ¡°You catch on quick,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Yes, what I put on that knife allows you to add electrical properties into the blade by channeling just a tiny bit of magic into it. If you want to, you can give it a try.¡±

    Following the kobold¡¯s instructions, Arkay held the knife in his hands and took a deep breath, before he began to concentrate. He then began to channel his magical energies into the weapon and soon after that electricity began to surround the blade, sending small sparks of light to the surroundings. The sudden appearance of such an effect surprised the cat boy quite a bit, causing him to break concentration and stop giving magical energy to the weapon. The knife quickly returned normal after that.

    ¡°Pretty neat, huh?¡± Lexton asked with a small grin as he saw the wide-eyed looks on the faces of his guests. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, though. At best, the rune allows you to bring forth enough electricity to be on the same level as a taser.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still a very impressive piece of work. Especially considering how easily you were able to make it,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Mind if I ask about the blue gem that you added into the blade? What is it exactly?¡±

    ¡°That is a small mana stone. One specifically imbued with the powers of thunder,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Like I said, the thunder rune that I carved into the blade was a basic one. Such a rune doesn¡¯t give you much in terms of power. At best you can use them to basically make tasers or clothing that can resist electrical shocks. However, that¡¯s where the mana stone comes into play. By channeling your power through it, you can create much larger electrical attacks. I placed it there just in case Arkay ever got into a situation that would require a bit more firepower.¡±

    Arkay stared at the blue gem in the knife with awe, amazed by the object he had received. Upon looking at the gem closer, he could lightning sparkle inside it. This made him wonder just what he could possibly do with it.

    ¡°However, I do have to tell you to be cautious when using it,¡± Lexton suddenly said in a serious tone. ¡°Even if that stone can bring great power, it has it¡¯s limits. You should never try to force it beyond those limits. If you do that, you might overload the gem and cause it to shatter in a violent explosion. So keep that in mind, okay?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, of course!¡± Arkay quickly answered.

    ¡°Hang on, you mean to tell me that thing can blow up!?¡± Ryle asked in a worried tone. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we should put such dangerous stuff in his hands. I mean, I obviously trust Arnie and everything, but I don¡¯t want to put him at any risk here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be fine, Ryle,¡± Erin said in a calming tone as she gently ruffled the cat boy¡¯s hair. ¡°The way I see it, he¡¯s smart enough not to do anything stupid with the knife anyways, so what¡¯s the harm of letting him have it? Besides, he needs to be able to defend himself.¡±

    ¡°I get that he should be able to fight back, but does he need something so dangerous for that?¡± the blonde asked, still worried over her young companion. ¡°I could see the logic in him having something like that if he was on his own, but he has us protecting him now. Can¡¯t he just leave the fighting to us?¡±

    ¡°I doubt he likes that idea, you know? Also, we are a pretty small group going up against a large enemy. It¡¯s very likely that we won¡¯t be able to look after him at certain points and he is going to have to fend for himself,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°When that time comes, it¡¯s best for him to be able to actually fight back, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Also, I¡¯d hate to waste my time on a weapon that doesn¡¯t get used,¡± Lexton added, before Ryle could say anything. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, the only one that can really use this knife is Arnie, so it¡¯s best to give it to him.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m pretty sure I could use it!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°At least when it comes to stabbing and slashing¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, any idiot with a working hand can do that, but I¡¯m talking about the magical aspects here,¡± the kobold argued back. ¡°I know just by looking at you that you wouldn¡¯t be able to get a tiny spark out of that knife, let alone use it effectively in a fight.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit! I¡¯m sure I could use it just fine!¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    ¡°Then how about you give it a try?¡± Lexton asked with a smirk. ¡°If you¡¯re so sure of yourself, you should just show us all, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Ryle looked at Arkay as if to ask for a permission to which the cat boy nodded. He handed the knife to the blonde woman who held it in her hand and stared at it intensely. However, nothing seemed to be happening, no matter how hard she was concentrating. Ryle¡¯s face even turned as red as a tomato, as she tried her best to make even a bit of electricity appear, yet it was all for nothing.

    ¡°I gotta say, I am impressed by how much effort you are putting into this, despite how futile it is,¡± Lexton said as he chuckled at Ryle¡¯s desperate attempts. ¡°But I think it¡¯s about time you gave up and gave the knife back to Arnie, okay?¡±

    The blonde handed the weapon back its owner with a disappointed and embarrassed look on her face. Arkay tried to offer words of comfort to her, but it didn¡¯t seem to do much. However, this attempt by Ryle had raised a question in Erin¡¯s mind.

    ¡°How did you know that she wouldn¡¯t be able to use the knife?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. She is not a magic type individual,¡± Lexton answered.

 33. Lessons In Magic

    Chapter 33

    Lessons In Magic

    ¡°Magic type individual?¡± Erin asked, wondering what the kobold meant by such a term. ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm? Oh, you probably never had any lessons when it comes to magic, huh?¡± Lexton asked, to which the redhead simply shook her head. ¡°I see. I suppose it¡¯s not that surprising. There isn¡¯t that much decent education around there parts and magic isn¡¯t all that common either.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this magic type individual stuff either,¡± Ryle stated in a slightly smug tone. ¡°Not that I think I¡¯ve ever really needed it. I mean, I¡¯ve turned out just fine as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡±

    ¡°Well, that is obvious. All you¡¯ve ever needed to do is know what to punch really hard!¡± the kobold said in an annoyed tone. ¡°Honestly, if you were born in any other place, I doubt you would have survived for long.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean!?¡± the blonde asked angrily.

    ¡°I mean that in most other places you require this thing called intelligence,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°In those places, you can¡¯t simply punch at your problems and hope they go away. But I suppose you could have made a living as a professional toilet cleaner. That or as a test subject for scientific experimentation.¡±

    Ryle looked like she was about to blow off and get violent, so Erin decided to step in and defuse the situation. Besides, she still had some questions.

    ¡°Could you tell me more about this magic type stuff?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I would like to know more.¡±

    ¡°I-I would like to hear more as well!¡± Arkay chimed in. ¡°My parents taught me some stuff, but it wasn¡¯t much.¡±

    ¡°...I suppose I could teach you. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s any kind of a loss for me,¡± Lexton said after thinking it over for a moment. ¡°However, I think this is going to require some setting up. And we should probably do this outside. It would make it quite a bit easier.¡±

    Erin agreed to the kobold¡¯s suggestion and all four of them were soon outside, ready to start their lesson. Lexton had brought a whiteboard along to use for his lesson and also lit a couple of lamps as well, since it was starting to get dark.

    ¡°Alright, welcome to my class, Lessons In Magic 101,¡± the kobold started with a smile on his face. For some reason, he enjoyed getting to teach others about stuff, which was the main reason he had agreed to the whole thing. ¡°Now, are you all ready?¡±

    Erin, Arkay and Ryle were sitting on some large rocks before Lexton, like they were students in a class. Both Erin and Arkay nodded at the question, looking very eager to start their lesson. Ryle, however, seemed to be rather disinterested, as she was staring off into the horizon.

    ¡°Okay then. How about we start from the very basics themselves when it comes to magic?¡± Lexton asked, not paying attention to the disinterested blonde. ¡°For starters, can anyone tell me what magic is?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t magic the spells and other such things you can do?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°While such things are often broadly referred to as magic, it¡¯s nowhere near correct calling it in such a way. Spells and other magical abilities are more like magical procedures that use magic itself. What I¡¯m asking about is that last part. What is magic itself? And where does it come from?¡±

    ¡°I think I know the answer!¡± Arkay said excitedly. ¡°Magic is a force that surrounds our whole world and is within every living being. It¡¯s a mystical energy that is constantly a part of our lives.¡±

    ¡°Correct! I see you¡¯ve learned a thing or two,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Magic itself is kind of an energy that exists in every part of our world. Most of the time it is invisible and some may even forget that it exists. However, it¡¯s existence is a proven fact of our world. And because it is in every part of this world, it has become a part of us as well. You might not realize it, but we all have magic within ourselves.¡±

    ¡°We do?¡± Erin asked to which the kobold nodded. ¡°But if it¡¯s a part of all of us, how come Ryle wasn¡¯t able to use Arnie¡¯s knife?¡±

    ¡°Even if we all have magic within us, it doesn¡¯t mean we all can use it,¡± Lexton answered as he pulled out a marker and began to draw one the whiteboard. He drew a human figure on it with a small circle in the middle of the body. ¡°We all have what is commonly referred to as a ¡°magical core¡± within our bodies. This is what gives us the ability to use magical skills, like spells. However, this doesn¡¯t mean we all have the same amount of ability from the start, as the level of your magical core is determined by numerous different factors.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by the level of a magical core?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Do magical cores come in different shapes and sizes or something?¡±

    ¡°The level of your magical core refers to your ability to use magic,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°In a basic sense, the better the quality of your magical core, the better you are at using spells. Not only will you be able to cast more spells overall, but the overall effectiveness of your spells also raises. However, like I said earlier, we don¡¯t all have the same level of quality for our magical cores from the start. Things like the genetics of your parents, your species and even the place you are born in can affect this very heavily.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ryle asked while scratching her head from confusion. ¡°You mean to tell me it¡¯s the fault of my parents that I can¡¯t use magic? Also, why would the place where I¡¯m born affect it as well?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m certain your parents did have an effect on how you turned out, since I¡¯m certain you were dropped on your head when you were a baby,¡± Lexton said as he rolled his eyes. ¡°What I meant was that if your parents had a high quality magical cores themselves, that would naturally pass on to you in some capacity as well. When it comes to where you¡¯re born, there are different levels of density of magic flowing through the different areas of the world. So a place with a higher level of magic is more likely to bring about children with far higher magical skills than others, as the magic energy is more likely to flow into them in a larger quantity. As for species, some species, like elves, have a better natural born ability to utilize magic, while others, like orcs, do not have this. They can still use magic, but their innate ability isn¡¯t as high as with others.¡±

    Erin looked down at her hands in deep thought, wondering if she would be able to use magic? She knew that it was probably not possible for her, as she hadn¡¯t even lived in this world for a full year. It seemed like the only way for one to even have a chance to use magic in this world, they would need to be born here.

    ¡°Can¡­ Can those without any magical powers ever learn how to use magic?¡± the redhead asked, wanting to find out if she had any hope to learn such skills. ¡°I¡¯ve never had any training in the area and I wasn¡¯t born in an area that provided much magical energy, so¡­¡±

    ¡°It is possible. It might be difficult, but possible,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Even if one doesn¡¯t have a high innate ability for magic, that doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t become very proficient in the use of magical abilities. There are numerous cases of people who had very poor skills in magic at the start who then became some of the most highly-regarded magic users in the world. It took them a lot of hard work, but they were able to achieve it. It¡¯s mostly a question of whether one has the determination to put themselves through far more work than others.¡±

    ¡°So even Ryle and I can do it, if we work hard enough?¡± Erin asked with a glint of hope in her eye.

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    ¡°Why are you dragging me into this?¡± Ryle asked, confused by the redhead¡¯s choice of words.

    ¡°Well¡­ I suppose even miracles can happen with enough effort,¡± Lexton said while staring at the blonde, who in turn flipped him off. ¡°There are of course those rare cases of people that can¡¯t use magic at all. The reason for this is still unclear and there are numerous theories flying around, but some rare individuals can¡¯t use magic even for the simplest of things.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I see,¡± Erin said in a somewhat saddened tone, which didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the others.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look so down! It¡¯s not like it¡¯s the end of the world or anything!¡± Ryle exclaimed cheerfully as she put an arm around the redhead¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I mean, who needs stupid magic anyways, when you can simply kick ass without it!? I mean, just look at me! No magic, yet all badass still!¡±

    ¡°While I don¡¯t fully agree with the idiot, it¡¯s true that you don¡¯t necessarily need magic in order to become powerful,¡± Lexton said. ¡°There are numerous tools that provide just about the same level of power as spells, but they don¡¯t require any magical powers for their use. Not only that, but if magic doesn¡¯t work out, you can always go for the use of ki, like Ryle over there.¡±

    ¡°Huh? The hell you¡¯re talking about?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of that. How am I using it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not really surprising. You just use ki unknowingly,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°You see, a person can manifest their innate magical powers in two ways. One is magic, which is used for spells and numerous other things. However, there also exists another way for your innate magical power to manifest. This is called ki, which is a power that manifests from your body¡¯s magical powers by using it as a conduit of sorts.¡±

    ¡°Wait, if it uses the same power source, then how is it any different from magic?¡± Erin asked. ¡°So far it sounds the same.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually very different in many ways,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Let me ask you a simple question. Has there ever been a magic user that can lift a tank with just their bare hands?¡±

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Ryle replied as she was picking her nose. ¡°No one could do such a thing! It¡¯s impossible!¡±

    ¡°While such a feat is impossible to most, you shouldn¡¯t go calling it impossible right away,¡± the kobold said with a chuckle, earning confused looks from the people that were listening to him. ¡°In fact, you¡¯re the type of person that might be able to pull it off in the future.¡±

    ¡°...Huh? Hey, I know I¡¯m all cool and badass, but I think you¡¯re putting way too much faith in me here,¡± the blonde said. ¡°A feat like that is going to require the strength of an insane monster, not a human like myself.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m putting faith in you, as it¡¯s rather just a prediction based on observing your barbaric talent in fights,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°There¡¯s a general difference between those who are strong in magic and those who are strong in ki. Magic users are often logical and more academic by nature, while ki users are more instinctive and passionate. This kind of goes into what type of powers these two sides of the same coin bring about.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s a question of personality whether you can use magic or ki?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Not exactly. It¡¯s more like a general rule that¡¯s come about from a long time of observation by numerous scholars,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°However, it goes to show just how different these two forces can be.¡±

    Lexton began to draw with his marker again. This time he added lines that went from the human figures magic core to its hands, where he then drew an image of a fireball.

    ¡°This is how magic works theoretically. By bringing up magical power from within your magic core, you can use it to bring different effects outside your body¡¯s limits,¡± the kobold explained, as he traced the marker from the magic core, down the lines and to the fireball. ¡°Basically, everything you do with magic, happens from the outside of your body. You bring out the magical energy and then change it¡¯s nature to suit your needs. Whether it¡¯s to turn it into flames, electricity, ice or anything else, you need to first bring it out and then change the very nature of the energy you¡¯re using to suit your needs. Even healing magic works in a similar way, as those who can heal, have to first bring magic to their and change its nature, before it can work at all.¡±

    ¡°Does ki work differently then?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re catching on quick!¡± Lexton said happily, as he began to draw on the figure once again. This time he drew differently colored lines moving from the figure¡¯s magic core, but instead of going to the hands, they went straight to the surrounding areas of the body. ¡°Now, with what you¡¯ve learned so far, can you guess what¡¯s happening here?¡±

    The redhead looked at the picture and thought very carefully about it. Thinking back on what she had just learned about magic and then applying that to the picture, she was able to figure it out.

    ¡°So¡­ If magic is a power where you affect the outside of your body, then ki is a power that affects your body on the inside?¡± Erin said with wide eyes as she realized it. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re getting at?¡±

    ¡°Correct! You are a smart one, Erin!¡± Lexton said with a smile, before pointing his marker at the recently drawn lines. ¡°As you can see here, the magical energy doesn¡¯t move outside the body like before. Instead, it moves into the body itself. Where magic operates in changing the world around you, ki changes you. Things like strengthening muscles to accomplish incredible physical feats, making your body as hard as steel and many other feats can this way be achieved through the use of ki.¡±

    ¡°So you mean to tell me that through this ki thingy, I could do crazy comic book stuff like breaking metal with my bare hands or lifting tanks!?¡± Ryle asked with an excited glint in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Where do I learn this stuff!?¡±

    ¡°...I really wish you wouldn¡¯t use words like ¡°thingy.¡± It sounds so stupid,¡± the kobold said with a small sigh. ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t really show you how to do any of the ki stuff myself. While it¡¯s possible for anyone to learn it with enough work, you need to know what to actually work on. All I can tell you is that a lot of times, in order for you to fully utilize ki, you need to have a very strong body. As such, I¡¯d suggest that you work on physical exercises for now, until you can find someone that can teach you more.¡±

    ¡°What!? So you¡¯re telling me that you¡¯re completely useless then!?¡± the blonde shouted in disappointment and frustration. ¡°Also, how is simply working out going to give me cool super powers!? The way I see it, all that is gonna do is make me able to lift tanks without any supernatural junk!¡±

    ¡°First of all, it¡¯s not supernatural! Second of all, have you ever seen someone perform crazy feats of physical strength without the aid of some sort of a cybernetic implant or special power!?¡± Lexton shouted back, angered by the disrespect shown towards him. ¡°No matter what you¡¯re born as, no matter how much natural talent you might have, there are some limits that your body just can¡¯t surpass no matter what. That¡¯s when you have to turn your attention to other sources of power. Some go to science and use things like cybernetics and gene manipulation, while others turn to magic or ki. If you want to get stronger than you are now, I suggest you pick your choice and stop whining!¡±

    Ryle was about to yell back at the kobold, but was stopped by Erin. The redhead didn¡¯t want to lose her chance at learning more important information.

    ¡°I apologize for Ryle¡¯s behavior, Lex. She¡¯s just a bit¡­ headstrong. May I still ask one thing?¡± Erin asked to which the kobold nodded. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve learned anything in regards to magic or ki. How would I go about learning more?¡±

    ¡°The best way would be to either find someone who could teach you how to use either or to simply get your hands on books or other written texts and go forward from there,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The problem is that it can be very difficult to find either of those. Ever since The Five Overlords took over the whole world, all magic and ki institutions were forced to obey their will. The ones who do so are under constant watch by the authorities, so I doubt we could get in. And the ones who decided to resist were either wiped out or forced to go into hiding.¡±

    A small, sad frown made its way to Erin¡¯s face upon learning about this. She once again had to come face to face with the consequences of her past actions.

    ¡°...What about books and other materials that can teach us about the use of magic or ki?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Kind of the same issue. The Five Overlords knew how powerful one could get from stuff like that, so they have put very strict regulations on such material,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Only those with special permission are allowed to get their hands on such things, let alone sell them. We¡¯d need an official license to handle them and those aren¡¯t easy to get. We could try to find such books on the black market, but not only is that very hard and expensive, you are not guaranteed to get anything that could be of actual use. There are a lot of con artists out there selling fake magic books.¡±

    ¡°Takes one to know one, huh?¡± Ryle asked with a smirk.

    ¡°Yes. But I only sold fake magical tools. Not magic books,¡± the kobold answered.

    ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. A magic tool only has one use, while a magic book gives you far more,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The selling of magic tools is still somewhat allowed, as long as you don¡¯t make anything too powerful. Besides, magical weapons are often a quick method to gain power that doesn¡¯t help much in the long run. Even if you had the greatest magic sword in the world, it wouldn¡¯t mean much if you can¡¯t use it properly and you¡¯d most likely get yourself killed.¡±

    ¡°So what are we supposed to do then?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How can we get stronger, if we cannot get better at using magic or ki?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m afraid there isn¡¯t much that can be done about that,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°While I can make you some enchanted weapons, that¡¯s about it. I¡¯ve pretty much taught you all there is that I can teach you about the use of magic. If you want to learn more, I think your best bet is to go to Arnie for lessons.¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle turned to look at the cat boy with surprised looks on their faces. Arkay himself was wide-eyed over being suddenly declared a magic instructor.

    ¡°M-Me? But how?¡± the cat boy asked. ¡°I¡¯ve only been taught very little about magic by my parents. I don¡¯t understand how I could teach others.¡±

    ¡°Those lessons you¡¯ve received are more than any of us have,¡± Lexton began to explain with a smile. ¡°Not only that, from what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯ve been born with a natural gift for magic. You should have an understanding on how magic works and you should be able to pass that knowledge to others.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure I can do that,¡± Arkay said in a sad tone as he looked down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    The cat boy suddenly felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at the gentle smile of Erin.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just do what you can and we¡¯ll pick it up from there,¡± the redhead said. ¡°We are not going to demand you to do more than what you¡¯re able to. Even if you can¡¯t teach us magic, you¡¯re still a valuable member of our group.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no need to sweat the details, Arnie!¡± Ryle said happily as she put a hand around the cat boy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You just do your thing and we¡¯ll do ours! That¡¯s how this team rolls and kicks ass!¡±

    ¡°Besides, Arnie, if you fear being useless, that shouldn¡¯t worry you,¡± Lexton added. ¡°I¡¯m sure the blonde dumbass next to you has that role filled.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS, YOU GODDAMN SCALY BASTARD!¡±

    As Erin had to help Arkay in holding back the irate Ryle, she thought about the things she had just learned. While it was certain that tough times were ahead, she at least had grasped at a possible method of getting stronger in this world. Now all she needed was the first step and then work things out from there.

    Hopefully things would turn out for the better.

 34. A Looming Wall

    Chapter 34

    A Looming Wall

    It was the day after Lexton had given Erin and her group their lesson in magic. As it had gotten pretty late by the time the kobold was finished with teaching them about magic, they had decided to spend the night at his place. Despite protests from Ryle and Lexton, it was ultimately the best choice for the group. Not only would it have taken a long time for Erin¡¯s group to get back to their apartment, but they no longer had any money, due to the kobold spending it all. Seeing as how it was essentially his fault that his allies were in a financial predicament, Lexton soon relented and provided his guests with blankets and pillows to sleep with.

    Ryle had still opposed the idea, stating that the stench of Lexton¡¯s workshop would keep her awake, but faced with majority votes had to suck it up. She had tried to make the best of it by ¡°accidentally¡± rolling over to Arkay as they were sleeping, but a few sharp rocks carefully placed by Erin put a stop to that.

    Now that they had rested, it was time for the group to decide what to do for the day. Unfortunately, their options seemed to rather limited.

    ¡°Thanks to scaly over there, we¡¯re completely broke!¡± Ryle complained as she looked at their empty wallet with a furious glare. ¡°How the hell could a pile of junk cost that much!?¡±

    ¡°I actually had to haggle quite a bit. Why do you think it took me so long to get back to you?¡± Lexton said calmly as he was moving around his workshop, getting things ready. ¡°As long as you know what you¡¯re selling and to whom, you can get pretty good cash from pretty much anything. My father taught me that quite well.¡±

    ¡°Well isn¡¯t that just freaking cute, huh!?¡± the blonde yelled angrily at the kobold. ¡°Too bad your daddy didn¡¯t teach you any morals, as you make your living by scamming others! What a real role model you had!¡±

    ¡°You watch your damn mouth when you talk about my father, you ass!¡± Lexton yelled back. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that he was an honorable man and a true merchant! I will not have someone who earns their pay through killing others slander him!¡±

    ¡°An honorable guy!? I guess the apple does fall far from the tree!¡±

    ¡°Why you brainless-!¡±

    It was at this point that Erin stepped in between her arguing companions. She could tell that if someone didn¡¯t put a stop to this, there was a good chance that one or both of them would end up getting hurt.

    ¡°Alright, calm down you two! Remember that we are supposed to be working together, okay!?¡± the redhead said as she stood between the two, hoping to keep them from exchanging blows of any kind. ¡°I get that things have been less than ideal for you, Ryle, but we can¡¯t do much about it. We need to make some sacrifices in our own comfort, if we are to fulfill what we came here to do. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Hmph! Fine!¡± Ryle said as she turned away. ¡°Just remember that if us trusting that guy comes back to bite us, I called it from the start!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to remember that,¡± Erin said with a roll of her eyes before turning her attention to the kobold. ¡°However, Lex, what Ryle said isn¡¯t entirely untrue. While I am happy that you¡¯re making equipment for us, you never said that it was going to take all of our money. We are now broke thanks to your purchases and can¡¯t even afford food, let alone renting an apartment to stay the night.¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that I might have gone a bit overboard with the spending, but I assure you that it was all for the sake of helping out our group,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°However, I am willing to help you out in getting some money. I just need to make a few preparations first, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good. But what are we going to do about food, though?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°We need to at least have some sort of a meal, before we can really start doing anything.¡±

    ¡°I have some stuff in my fridge that you can have,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°It¡¯s nothing fancy, but it should get you started on your day.¡±

    Erin thanked Lexton for the offer and went inside the workshop. She soon found the fridge and looked inside it to see it was completely full. However, the fridge wasn¡¯t packed with food like one might expect. There were some food items, but there were a lot of things that were definitely NOT meant to be eaten. Parts of wild beasts and liquids that looked toxic were put there along with food items, like it didn¡¯t matter. It seemed like Lexton had run out of space with all of his materials and was forced to use something not meant for storing such things.

    Somewhat disturbed by the sight before her, Erin quickly grabbed a couple of cans of beans and closed the fridge, hoping that the cans would prevent whatever else was in the fridge from affecting them.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope I don¡¯t have to take stuff from there ever again,¡± the redhead mumbled to herself as she walked up to Ryle and Arkay.

    ¡°Something wrong, Erin?¡± Ryle asked, noticing the look on her friend¡¯s face. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost or something.¡±

    ¡°I feel like I would have preferred that over what I actually saw¡­¡±

    Erin and her two friends started a fire outside and heated up the canned food they had. Once they were eating, the redhead decided to ask something that had come to her mind during their lesson in regards to magic.

    ¡°Hey, Arnie. Can I ask you something?¡± Erin said, getting the cat boy¡¯s attention. ¡°You know how Lex said yesterday that you would be able to teach us about magic, right? Could you do that?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Arkay said awkwardly. ¡°Learning and using magic is one thing, but actually teaching it is a bit different.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Arnie! It can¡¯t be that bad!¡± Ryle said in an encouraging manner. ¡°Just give it a shot and I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to pick up at least something of use!¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Besides, what¡¯s the harm in trying?¡± Erin asked with a gentle smile. ¡°The way I see it, it can only benefit us.¡±

    ¡°...A-Alright. I¡¯ll see if I can teach you something,¡± Arkay said as he looked down thoughtfully, before an idea came to his mind. ¡°That¡¯s it! I think I have something that could be a good start for learning about the use of magic!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± the redhead asked as she and Ryle looked at their young companion curiously.

    The cat boy was digging through his pockets, looking for something, before finally taking out what looked like a round stone. It was about the size of a baseball and had a misty light gray color. Before either Erin or Ryle could ask what the object was, it suddenly began to glow brightly in Arkay¡¯s hand. The glow soon ended and the stone returned to its normal state again.

    ¡°This is called a Glow Stone,¡± the cat boy began to explain with a smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s a very common low-grade magic item. As it¡¯s name suggests, it begins to glow when you put magical energy into it.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Erin stated as she stared at the stone. ¡°Are we going to be using that for practice?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You see, when my father first taught me about magic, he actually did it by using this stone,¡± Arkay began to explain. ¡°Since all it does is glow and only requires you to put magical energy into it, it¡¯s a safe and easy method of starting to train in magic.¡±

    The cat boy then handed the stone to Erin, who stared at it for a couple of seconds, before looking at Arkay again.

    ¡°So what exactly am I supposed to do?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Try putting some magical energy into it by concentrating on your hand,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°If you manage to get even the tiniest bit of magical energy into it, we should be able to see some sort of a glow.¡±

    Following the instructions given to her, Erin held the Glow Stone tightly in her grip and began to concentrate on it. She stayed still like this, trying to feel the magic that was coursing through her body, which she then tried to focus on her hand.

    Nothing happened.

    Erin stood still like this for a couple of minutes without anything happening at all. She looked at both Ryle and Arkay to see what kind of reactions they had on her poor performance. The blonde had a look that was a mixture of boredom and irritation on her face, while the cat boy seemed to be surprised and confused.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Nothing seems to be happening,¡± Erin said awkwardly. ¡°Is that normal?¡±

    ¡°Hell if I know,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve never done this magic stuff myself.¡±

    ¡°To be perfectly honest, no,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°This is honestly very strange. Pretty much anyone should be able to get even the tiniest of lights to appear for a second. It¡¯s almost like you don¡¯t have any magic at all.¡±

    ¡°W-Well, I¡¯ve never used magic before, right!?¡± Erin said nervously, hoping that this wasn¡¯t a case where she wouldn¡¯t be able to use magic at all. ¡°I mean, you had at least some experience with it before you started training, didn¡¯t you? Maybe I just need to start from the very basics and move from there!¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not how this is,¡± the cat boy said as he shook his head. ¡°The Glow Stone might be a low-level magical item, but it reacts very easily to magical power. Besides being used as a source of light, it¡¯s often used to measure the level of magical power you have by seeing how strong the glow you can produce is. By you doing what you did just now, you should have been able to have some sort of a reaction.¡±

    The redhead was starting to panic on the inside. Maybe because she had come from another world she wasn¡¯t able to use magic at all? After all, magic was an aspect of this world that all living beings were born with, but such things were only fantasy in her world. She feared that she wouldn¡¯t be able to become stronger any longer.

    It was at that point that she realized something.

    ¡°Hey¡­ The Five Overlords, do they use magic?¡± Erin asked. Since Devin and his group came from the same world as she did, they should be the same as her when it came to magic. ¡°Do they use something else than magic?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? Those five are all insanely powerful magic users!¡± Ryle replied. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it myself, but I hear they¡¯re all able to use crazy powerful spells that make them pretty much unbeatable!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard such stories as well,¡± Arkay added. ¡°They say that those who oppose them can¡¯t even get to see the eyes of the Five Overlords, as they will die way before that from the magic they use.¡±

    Hearing this, Erin was furiously trying to think how this was possible. How come Devin¡¯s group could use magic very effectively, yet she couldn¡¯t even do the simplest of things? There had to be a way for her to achieve the same results as they did.

    ¡°Hey, enough about this pointless chatter! Let me have the stone!¡± Ryle suddenly said as she grabbed the Glow Stone from the redhead. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make this thing glow like the sun itself!¡±

    The blonde held the stone tightly in both her hands and began to concentrate on it. However, nothing happened, much like with Erin. Ryle was starting to turn red in the face as she was trying in vain to make the stone glow.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Ryle? Maybe you should stop,¡± Erin said as she looked at her friend. ¡°I¡¯m worried you might hurt yourself. And it¡¯s not glowing even slightly.¡±

    ¡°¡­.Arnie, is this thing broken?¡± Ryle asked after finally stopping with her attempts. ¡°Neither of us can make this thing glow at all.¡±

    Arkay took the stone from the blonde and immediately made it light up. Just in case, he changed the intensity of the glow to show that it was working perfectly.

    ¡°Seems to be working just fine,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°This is odd, though. How come neither one of you could make even the slightest of glows?¡±

    ¡°When it comes to the blonde moron, I¡¯m not surprised,¡± said Lexton, who had been observing the trio from afar. ¡°I already told you all that she¡¯s not the magic using type. Expecting her to make that stone glow is like expecting a pig to fly. It¡¯s just not happening.¡±

    ¡°YOU WANNA SAY THAT AGAIN TO MY FACE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°I DOUBT YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO-!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say it as many times as you want, wherever you want,¡± the kobold replied as he walked up to the blonde and stared straight into her eyes. ¡°You are a complete moron and you have no ability in the use of magic at all.¡±

    Ryle¡¯s whole body was violently shaking from the sheer rage that she felt and her face was completely red as well. However, while Erin and Arkay were worried that she would turn to violence targeted at Lexton to relieve herself of such feelings, she instead stomped away from him before stopping next to a large boulder.

    ¡°You know, I really want to kick your ass. I really do. I want to punch my fist down your throat and kick you around this place like a scaly football. And that would just be the start,¡± Ryle said while gritting her teeth. ¡°However, I¡¯m not going to do that. You know why?¡±

    ¡°Please do tell me,¡± Lexton said in a bored and disinterested tone.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m a team player, got it? I get that no matter how much I hate you, you¡¯re still part of our group. And I know that you¡¯ve got skills that will be very useful for us. Just you making Arnie¡¯s new weapon is more than enough proof of that,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°And since you¡¯re part of the team and overall very helpful, I am willing to put up with all the crap you keep throwing at me.¡±

    Erin and Arkay were surprised by how level-headed their friend was being. They completely understood her anger and frustration, and had been worried that her limit had finally been reached, but it seemed like they no longer had to worry about it.

    ¡°However, I¡¯ll have you know that not only have you pissed me off big time, but I also won¡¯t forget all the things you¡¯ve done to do so. So just keep in mind that the moment you¡¯re no longer with us or you even become our enemy, I¡¯ll pay you back for everything,¡± Ryle said before turning her attention to the boulder she was standing next to with her hand clenched into a fist. ¡°AND THIS IS WHAT I¡¯LL DO TO YOU!¡±

    Erin¡¯s eyes went wide as she immediately realized what the irate blonde was going to do and she was about to tell her friend to not do it, but was too slow to do so. However, her brief worry was proven unnecessary, when Ryle¡¯s fist connected with the boulder. Instead of her hand being broken like anyone would have expected, a large chunk of the large rock was broken into small pieces.

    Silence fell over the group as Erin and Arkay stared at their blonde companion with wide eyes, while Lexton still had a bored and disinterested look on his face. Meanwhile, Ryle was glaring at the kobold, not even acknowledging what she had just done.

    Suddenly, as she seemed to finally calm down, the blonde looked at her fist before crying out in pain.

    ¡°YEEEEOWCH! MY HAND! MY FREAKING HAND!¡± Ryle yelled as loud as he could while holding her sore fist. ¡°WHY THE HELL DID I DO THAT!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more interested in knowing HOW the hell did you do THAT,¡± Erin said while pointing at the boulder the blonde had destroyed a part of. ¡°I know you¡¯re tough and everything, but I didn¡¯t know you were THAT strong!¡±

    ¡°What? Did I¡­?¡± Ryle mumbled in confusion as she looked at the boulder and her own fist. ¡°I¡­ I did that? But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever done anything like that.¡±

    ¡°Like I keep telling you. You¡¯re not the magic using type,¡± Lexton said in a frustrated tone. ¡°Blondie over here is obviously better suited for the use of ki, instead of magic.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re making it sound like you knew something like this would happen,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Were you perhaps¡­?¡±

    ¡°I see that you¡¯re catching on, Arnie. You¡¯re a smart one,¡± the kobold said with a smirk. ¡°Yes. I was purposefully trying to get under her skin so that she could properly manifest her ki. The use of it is often driven more by instinct and raw emotions, which is why I pushed her towards unleashing her pent up monkey rage. This basically allowed her to finally manifest her ki and¡­ Well, you all saw what happened.¡±

    ¡°But how did you know this was going to happen?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How did you know that she wasn¡¯t going to simply break her hand?¡±

    ¡°Because we have all seen her use ki already, although without knowing about it,¡± Lexton answered. Upon seeing the group¡¯s confused looks, he began to explain what he meant. ¡°Think about it. How could a single fighter like her beat all of those fighters at the fight pit? She must have been using ki without realizing. Her life of tough battles and harsh training must have at some point unlocked her ability to use it without her knowledge. Now she of course has her own physical abilities that are really good, don¡¯t get me wrong on that. But what truly gives her an edge in battles is her innate ability to use ki.¡±

    Both Erin and Arkay turned their gazes back to Ryle, who was still staring at her fist in wonder. The blonde had heard stories of people that were strong enough to break boulders and other hard objects with nothing but their bare hands. She herself had often dreamed of reaching such a level, but never even in her wildest dreams had she thought it would be possible. Now, however, it just might not be all that impossible.

    ¡°...You do realize that we aren¡¯t cool over the things you said to me, right?¡± Ryle asked as she glanced at Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m still going to hold a grudge over the things you said to me.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t really expecting anything less from you. The way I see it, if you can be at least a bit less useless for me, it¡¯s a worthy trade,¡± Lexton answered, causing the blonde to seethe. ¡°Now, I hope you can keep that up until you end up being actually useful.¡±

    Before Ryle could yell at the kobold, Erin ran up to her with a look of excitement on her face.

    ¡°That was amazing, Ryle!¡± the redhead exclaimed happily, catching the blonde off-guard. ¡°Do you think you can teach me how to do what you just did!?¡±

    Ryle was somewhat taken aback and even a bit freaked out by the sudden change in her friend¡¯s attitude. Despite this, the blonde wouldn¡¯t mind teaching what she knows to someone she considers a friend.

    Unfortunately, there was a bit of an issue with that¡­

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Sorry, Erin, but I don¡¯t think I can,¡± Ryle said awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ve honestly never given much thought to how I do what I do. Even now, this thing happened more on an instinct than anything else. I could try telling you how I did it, but I fear you would only end up with a broken hand.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I see,¡± the redhead said in a saddened tone, before she turned her attention towards Arkay. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you can help me, right!? You can teach me how to do magic by starting from the very basic of it all!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can,¡± the cat boy said in a tone that was like a child ashamed of doing something bad. ¡°The use of magic came sort of¡­ naturally for me. Most likely because my parents were magic users themselves. Of course I needed to actually study to actually learn how to properly use magic, but I honestly have no idea how to teach someone how to manifest magical energy from the start.¡±

    Ryle, noticing the tone in Arkay¡¯s voice, was about to put a hand on his shoulder and offer words of comfort, but something she hadn¡¯t expected happened. She thought that Erin would have been on the same page as she was when it came to the cat boy teaching magic, not considering it a big issue. However, the redhead suddenly grabbed Arkay by the shoulders and stared straight into his eyes with a look of desperation, almost like it was a question of life or death.

    ¡°But you have got to be able to teach me something!¡± Erin said in a desperate tone while holding the cat boy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°If I can¡¯t manifest even the tiniest bits of magic, then how am I supposed to-!?¡±

    ¡°E-Erin! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Arkay said s he felt his shoulders get squeezed.

    Noticing the discomfort of her young friend, Ryle stepped in and pulled Erin off him. The redhead herself was shocked that she had actually hurt Arkay, even if it was by accident.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell is wrong with you, Erin!?¡± Ryle angrily shouted at the redhead. ¡°It¡¯s not Arnie¡¯s fault that you can¡¯t use magic, so don¡¯t take it out on him!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin apologized, deeply ashamed of how she had acted. ¡°I don¡¯t know what came over me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s alright,¡± Arkay said, still a bit shaken over what had happened.

    ¡°I have to say myself that you surprise me, Erin,¡± Lexton suddenly said. ¡°Glow Stones should be possible to be used by just about anyone. I was certain that you could use at least enough magic to make it glow.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping to be able to do it as well,¡± Erin said in a sad tone. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m more of a ki user, like Ryle?¡±

    ¡°I hardly doubt that. Not only I haven¡¯t seen you display any signs of that, but you also don¡¯t seem like one,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°While there is nothing stopping people with magical abilities from learning to use ki and vice versa, people usually have a tendency to have an affinity towards one of the two. However, you don¡¯t seem to have any affinity for either one.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m a hopeless case then?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that, although you are a special case for sure,¡± Lexton answered before his face turned stern. ¡°Whatever the case, that does NOT excuse the way you acted towards Arnie! Even if you can¡¯t use either magic or ki, there are still methods to get stronger. I already told you that you can get cybernetics or gene-mutation to help you with that. A lot of people do so, because they don¡¯t want to put in the effort to learn magic or ki. There are of course risks to it, but it¡¯s always an option worth considering.¡±

    Erin thought about it, but wasn¡¯t exactly fond of the idea. Being forced to replace parts of her body or having to put the genes of other creatures into herself didn¡¯t sound like an option she wanted to go through. However, if she couldn¡¯t use magic or ki, what other choice did she have?

    ¡°...I think I¡¯m going to need to think about this for some time. On my own, that is,¡± the redhead said before looking at Arkay. ¡°Can I take the Glow Stone with me, Arnie?¡±

    The cat boy simply nodded in response before handing the stone to Erin. She thanked him and began to walk away from the group towards the wastelands that surrounded them.

    ¡°Hey, before you leave, I should probably say one more thing about magic,¡± Lexton called out to the redhead. ¡°Ki is more of an instinctive ability that is often guided by raw emotion. However, magic often requires more thought and introspection. I have heard that some magic users meditate in order to hone their abilities better.¡±

    Erin gave a simple wave as thanks for the advice as she continued walking. The others could only stare in confusion, wondering what was up with their companion.

 35. Introspection

    Chapter 35

    Introspection

    Erin had walked away from the place where Lexton¡¯s workshop was for a few minutes. By now, she was quite far away from it, but not so far that she wouldn¡¯t be able to make her way back in a reasonable amount of time. The redhead just wanted some time alone and didn¡¯t want to risk one of her companions walking in on her while she was in deep thought.

    She finally stopped after walking for so long and looked around herself. There were rocky mounds all around her. Not large enough to be called mountains, but not small either. A couple of these mounds had caves in them as well.

    Truthfully, Erin shouldn¡¯t have been on her own in such a way. While she could take care of herself, the wastelands were a home to numerous deadly beasts, both small and large. If she were to get attacked like this by anything she couldn¡¯t take on her own, the redhead was very likely to end up in the belly of some beast.

    However, that wasn¡¯t the problem that was bothering her the most at the moment. What she was mostly worried about was whether she would have the abilities she needed to accomplish her goals in this world. Not just when it came to taking revenge on Lune, but also getting to meet Devin and the others.

    The Five Overlords, as her old friends were known as in this world, would surely have all sorts of powerful underlings that the redhead would need to get through before even having a chance to confront any of the five. Because of this, she needed to find a way to get stronger in order to have any hope of surviving whatever they threw at her. Magic and ki would have been obvious solutions for this, but that seemed to not be possible for her.

    There were of course other options for Erin to turn to in order to get stronger, like Lexton had explained. After all, The Five Realms game was known for its wide variety when it came to customizing your character. Thinks like cybernetics and genetic-enhancements were definitely options that were still possible and could possibly work.

    However, unlike in the game where you simply walked into a store, used some in-game currency to buy the thing you needed and that was it, Erin couldn¡¯t help but worry about what it would be like to actually go through these procedures with your own body. There was no telling if she would even survive anything like that. Not to mention all the other problems that would come after the operations themselves were done. What would her life be like after getting cybernetic or genetic augmentations? Would she be able to live like normal or would there be side-effects? And what if she managed to return to her own world? How would she go on living at that point?

    Because of all these possible issues, Erin wanted to avoid such drastic modifications to her own body. But with no other options seemingly available, what else would she be able to do?

    If she couldn¡¯t avoid things like cybernetics or gene-manipulation in order to reach her goals, the redhead wouldn¡¯t avoid them. She still wanted to try and see if she could use magic, which is why she had borrowed the Glow Stone from Arkay. She hoped that perhaps some time alone could help her find a way to get past her inability to use magic.

    ¡°Well, here I am, so might as well give it a shot,¡± Erin muttered to herself as she looked at the Glow Stone in her hand.

    Much like before, she tried to make it glow by concentrating on it, hoping that she had magical energy in her body that would move into the stone. Unfortunately, the stone remained the same.

    ¡°...I don¡¯t even understand why I thought it would be different this time,¡± the redhead said with a sigh as she put the stone in her pocket and continued walking.

    Erin thought about what Lexton had told her just before she left. She hadn¡¯t done any meditation before, so it was honestly an unknown thing for her. But seeing as how her options weren¡¯t exactly numerous, she decided that it was worth a try at the very least. The redhead though about what she knew about the art of meditation, which wasn¡¯t a lot, but she did know that you needed peace and quiet for it.

    Looking around for a place that was more quiet, she picked one of the caves that was around. It didn¡¯t take long for her to climb the rocky hill and reach the cave, where she then walked inside a bit before sitting down on the ground.

    Now that she had her meditation spot, Erin took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She wasn¡¯t sure how to do meditation correctly, but she decided to go deep into thought for now, hoping to find the solution to her issue through it.

    Some time passed and it didn¡¯t seem like the redhead was making any progress at all. All she had done so far was just sit on the ground with her thoughts wandering everywhere.

    ¡°...What¡¯s the point of this?¡± Erin eventually said in a slightly frustrated tone. ¡°I have no idea what I¡¯m even doing here, let alone how to solve my problem. All I¡¯ve done so far is just sit on my ass for God knows how long¡­¡±

    ¡°About three hours, give or take a couple of minutes,¡± a voice suddenly said. ¡°I was honestly expecting you to quit way earlier. Glad I wasn¡¯t making bets with anyone.¡±

    Erin¡¯s eyes went wide as she quickly stood up and pulled out her gun. She furiously looked around, but couldn¡¯t see anyone. It looked like she was still alone.

    ¡°What the hell? Am I losing my mind or something?¡± the redhead said to herself as nervous sweat was starting to fall down her face. ¡°I could have sworn I heard someone¡­¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you did hear someone,¡± the voice said again. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re nowhere close to losing your mind, yet you¡¯re already jumping to conclusions?¡±

    Erin now realized that the voice had come from right behind her and she whipped around, ready to shoot whoever was there. However, what she saw caused her body to freeze. She was staring a dark humanoid figure, who seemed to be made of a black mist of some kind. It was almost like shadows themselves had formed a human body.

    ¡°Really? Is that the way to greet someone?¡± the shadowy figure asked in a sarcastic voice. ¡°Especially someone who saved your life.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking-?¡± Erin began to ask, but she then recognized the voice of the figure. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re the one who spoke to me when I was first transported into this world!¡±

    ¡°And she finally gets it, ladies and gentlemen,¡± the shadow said mockingly. ¡°I¡¯m honestly very disappointed in you. I know it¡¯s been some time, but not that long. You already forgot about me, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Well, in my defense, I¡¯ve been quite busy with just trying to survive!¡± the redhead argued. ¡°But enough about that! Who are you and what do you want from me!?¡±

    ¡°Who I am is not important right now. I might reveal my identity to you later, but you have to prove something to me first,¡± the shadow answered. ¡°And that actually has something to do with what I want from you specifically.¡±

    ¡°What would that be?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°To put it in simple terms, I want you to be the hero of this world,¡± the shadow answered. ¡°You can probably see for yourself that this world desperately needs someone to rescue it. That¡¯s where you come in.¡±

    ¡°You want ME to be a hero!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! How am I supposed to do something like that!? I don¡¯t have any special powers or anything! Hell, I can¡¯t even use basic magic!¡±

    ¡°I will admit that it¡¯s not exactly the most airtight of plans. It was honestly just a small part of me that expected you to take up such a path. If someone would have asked for my expectations, I would have said that you¡¯d just hide in a hole somewhere,¡± the shadowy figure said in a nonchalant tone. ¡°However, you already have become quite the hero by fighting against some of the people behind the oppression of the poor people of this world. Of course there have been some major setbacks, but no true hero knows only success. The greatest of men and women have all come from nothing, before they struggled through painful paths in order to reach the greatest of heights. I¡¯m sure even you can accomplish this.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, let¡¯s say that¡¯s possible for me. I still need to know something,¡± Erin said, still not willing to believe the idea that she would become some sort of a hero or savior. ¡°Why me specifically? Doesn¡¯t this world have anyone that would be better suited for this? After all, unlike me, they are at least born in this world.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re talking about that issue you¡¯re having with magic, correct? Such a thing can easily be fixed. Besides, I have seen many promising candidates for saving this world, but sadly none of them were exactly up to the task,¡± the shadow explained. ¡°You see, they all lacked something special that would keep them on the right path. That is something you have. And I¡¯ve put on a bit of an insurance to make sure you never lose it.¡±

    The redhead was confused for a moment, until her eye went wide with realization.

    ¡°The visions¡­ The ones I see when I¡¯m about to¡­ The ones that show me a person¡¯s past!¡± Erin said as she started to understand what had been done to her. ¡°You¡¯re the one behind those!? Why!? Why would you do something like that to me!?¡±

    ¡°I told you already, to make sure you don¡¯t lose that one thing that keeps you on the right path,¡± the shadow answered and the redhead could swear that she saw a smirk on his face. ¡°We both know that you¡¯re not just anybody, but someone with a rather special connection to the Five Overlords. That is why I chose you.¡±

    ¡°You know about-?¡± Erin began to ask before cutting herself off and pointing her gun at the figure. ¡°Just who are you!? How do you know so much about me!?¡±

    The shadow didn¡¯t say anything in response. Instead, he let out a frustrated sigh, before suddenly appearing right in front of the redhead. Before she could so much as blink in response, he had knocked the gun out of her hands and grabbed her face by the mouth. Erin felt like the blood in her veins froze, as she stared into the face of this figure, even if she couldn¡¯t see any eyes or other facial features.

    ¡°THAT is what you get for threatening me. Understood?¡± the shadowy figure said in a venomous tone. ¡°Do not make a mistake in thinking that I¡¯m your friend or something like that. In fact, I¡¯m mostly doing this out of my own interest. And if you fail to meet my expectations, I will drop you before you¡¯ll even know what hit you.¡±

    Seeing as how she was completely at the shadow¡¯s mercy, Erin simply remained silent. She could tell just by this brief exchange that if she were to anger this person, it wouldn¡¯t end well for her. Just a bit more pressure and he could crush her head in his hand. That wasn¡¯t even taking into account all the possible magical powers this person most likely had.

    ¡°Anyways, I believe you were whining about not having magic. Shall we fix that for you?¡± the shadowy figure asked as he pulled out a small blue stone that had a faint glow. ¡°Seeing as how this worked for the Five Overlords, it should do it for you as well. Unless you dies, that is.¡±

    Before the redhead could ask what the shadow meant, he violently thrust the gem into her body. Her lone eye went wide as possible, as a scream died in her throat due to the shock from the horrifying pain that she was feeling in the area she had been punched. This agony soon became much worse, as she felt the pain suddenly intensify and move throughout her whole body. This finally caused her to scream as loud as she could.

    After letting out a scream with all her might, Erin¡¯s body dropped to the ground. She closed her eye as she was certain that this was her end.

    ¡°Oh, would you quit being so dramatic and get your ass off the ground? It¡¯s not like I did anything that bad to you,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Hell, I even went so far as to mend your clothes for you!¡±

    Not believing what she was just told, Erin slowly opened her eye and looked down at the part she had been punched. She was expecting a large hole oozing blood, but instead it was like nothing had even happened. With a shocked expression on her face, the redhead began inspecting the area that had been hit, only to find out that nothing was wrong with it at all.

    ¡°What the-? I was certain that I was going to die!¡± Erin exclaimed in shock before turning her attention back to the shadow. ¡°What did you-?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing big. I just got tired of your whining that I decided to fix your problem for you,¡± the shadowy figure said nonchalantly. ¡°Now, this isn¡¯t some big cheat power that I¡¯ve granted you. It¡¯s basically just a small push to get you started. From this point on, it all depends on you whether you get anywhere with this. In short, don¡¯t get lazy and start slacking off.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? What did you do to me exactly?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself. You don¡¯t need me to explain every damn thing for you,¡± the shadow said before he began to vanish. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ve done what I came here to do, so I¡¯m out of here. I have some other business to attend to and can¡¯t stay here helping your ass out all the time. But before I go, you might want to hold onto that stone your friend gave you. It¡¯s going to be very useful for you very soon. Also, get ready to run. Very fast.¡±

    Before Erin could voice any kind of a protest, the figure had completely vanished into the darkness it had come from. The redhead was left confused as to what was truly going on. The answer she had received had only brought up more questions in the end.

    It seemed like she had been brought into this world for a reason, but who was the one who had actually summoned her? Who was this mysterious shadowy figure and what was he planning? And how did he know her?

    All these questions would have to remain unanswered for now, as Erin heard something moving behind her, where the entrance to the cave was. It was at that point that she remembered the last things the shadowy figure had told her. It seemed like it had been a warning about something heading to this cave.

    The redhead turned around and felt cold shivers of terror run down her spine, as a giant spider was now blocking the entrance to the cave.

 36. A Shimmer Of Hope

    Chapter 36

    A Shimmer Of Hope

    Erin could feel her heart beating faster, as she stared at the monstrosity before her. It was a giant spider the size of a truck. Eight long legs carefully moved it¡¯s large body towards its prey, as the numerous eyes observed her. Two large fangs dripping with venom were raised up, as the monstrosity was was getting ready to pounce and devour the redhead.

    The monster¡¯s body was so large that it blocked the whole entrance to the cave, making it impossible for Erin to simply run past it. If she wanted to get out of there alive, she would somehow have to fight her way through it.

    Cold sweat ran down the redhead¡¯s back, as she tried to think of a way to get out of this situation. She only had one small knife to protect herself with, as she had lost her gun during her encounter with the shadowy figure. Going in for the attack was obviously not an option, as it would just be suicide.

    It was then that Erin remembered what the shadowy figure had told her. He had said that she should hold onto the Glow Stone she had gotten from Arkay. The redhead wasn¡¯t sure why he had told her to do so, since she couldn¡¯t use magic at all. The stone wouldn¡¯t give even the faintest of glows no matter how hard she would try.

    The spider had finally gotten close to its prey. It was now standing still, ready to pounce at any second. Erin¡¯s body was frozen still in terror, as she stared into the numerous eyes of the beast that was looking to turn her into its meal.

    Just as the arachnid monster was about to tackle Erin, she raised up her hand holding the Glow Stone. Upon doing this, a blinding light appeared from the stone. The spider screeched and quickly backed away out of the cave, before tumbling down the cliff the cave was a part of.

    Erin looked down at the stone in shock, before running to the cave¡¯s entrance and looking down. The spider seemed to be struggling to get up, most likely from being disoriented by the blinding light it had been subjected to. Realizing that this was her opportunity to make a run for it, the redhead quickly made her way down the cliff and started to run as fast as she could in the hopes of escaping from the spider.

    Just as she was starting to think that she had escaped, Erin heard something heavy running after her. She didn¡¯t even need to look behind her to tell that the spider was now chasing after her. The redhead looked at the Glow Stone she was holding, wondering if she could use it to blind the spider again, but that idea was immediately crushed by her only being able to bring out a very dim light.

    Erin could hear the sound of the spider coming closer and closer. The beast was much faster than her and would be catching up soon. The redhead tried to desperately run faster, but it was nowhere near enough. The monster was right behind her now.

    Suddenly, just as the spider was about to sink its fangs into Erin¡¯s back, a small ball of fire hit the monster right in its mouth. The redhead looked up at the top of a nearby cliff and saw Arkay standing there, smoke rising from the palm of his hand.

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    Lexton was there with the cat boy. Once Erin had gotten far enough from the monster, he took a glass bottle out of his jacket and threw it at the spider. There was a bright yellow liquid inside the bottle that turned into yellow smoke once the glass shattered. Whatever it was, the gas caused the spider to screech in agony.

    ¡°NOW, RYLE!¡± Arkay shouted as soon as the spider had gotten out of the cloud of gas.

    Just then, said blonde woman jumped down from a cliff and landed on top of the arachnid. Before it could do anything to shake her off, Ryle plunged her fist through one of its numerous eyes and inside its head. The spider let out one last screech before falling to the ground dead.

    With the threat dealt with, Erin started to make her way towards her friends, happy to see them. However, unlike her, the three didn¡¯t look all that happy.

    ¡°Thanks, you guys!¡± the redhead said happily as she ran up to her friends. ¡°You really saved me back there. I owe you all.¡±

    ¡°You sure do, but what the hell were you doing here!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°I know you needed time alone, but I didn¡¯t think you were gonna make a long-ass journey to the middle of the wasteland!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin apologized, somewhat taken aback by the hostility from her blonde companion. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that things like that could come so close to the city.¡±

    ¡°Erin, we aren¡¯t that close to the city anymore. In fact, it¡¯s these areas that wild beasts like to wander around the most, as they are preying on those leaving the safety of the walls,¡± Arkay said. ¡°When you took so long to return, we tried to look for you around Lex¡¯s workshop, but couldn¡¯t find you. It was only thanks to Ryle¡¯s tracking abilities that we were able to find you in time.¡±

    ¡°These two were pretty worried about you,¡± Lexton said as he pointed at Ryle and Arkay. ¡°You should thank them for saving your ass.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m truly sorry,¡± Erin said as she looked down in shame. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to worry any of or cause harm. I just wanted some time alone.¡±

    ¡°Well, to be fair, you didn¡¯t really cause any harm to us. That wasn¡¯t even close to the biggest thing I¡¯ve face,¡± Ryle said nonchalantly as she put a comforting hand on the redhead¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Besides, as long as we¡¯re all okay, I¡¯d consider that a win.¡±

    Erin smiled back in response and nodded. It was good to see that her companions weren¡¯t too upset with her.

    ¡°Anyways, did you manage to figure out how to use magic?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°After all, that was the whole reason as to why you decided to walk all the way here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can fully use magic yet, but I¡¯d say I¡¯m making some progress,¡± Erin replied as she showed them the Glow Stone, which had a faint glow in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but I¡¯d say it¡¯s at least a start.¡±

    ¡°...Hang on a second. You mean to tell me THAT is why you risked your life coming here?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be mean or anything, but I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve seen bugs that have a more impressive glow in their asses!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised that your few working brain cells can¡¯t seem to comprehend this,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°The problem wasn¡¯t how much magic power Erin could use, but the fact that she couldn¡¯t use any at all. This is a big thing for her, as this shows that she has potential for the use of magic. Even if it isn¡¯t all that much now.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I know it isn¡¯t really much yet, but with enough work I think I can make it up to a point where I can use it efficiently,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Lex?¡±

    ¡°Correct. You have a long way ahead of you, but I¡¯d say the biggest and hardest obstacle has been overcome now,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°No matter how long a journey is, it always begins with a first step. And this is you taking that first step. Now you need to train yourself and you¡¯ll be able to become an able magic user.¡±

    ¡°And I know just the person to help me with that,¡± the redhead said as she turned her gaze to Arkay, before giving him a small bow. ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care, teacher.¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ Okay¡­ I¡¯ll be glad to help,¡± the cat boy said with an awkward blush on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve never done anything like this before, but I¡¯ll do my best for you.¡±

    Just as the group was about to return to Lexton¡¯s workshop, Ryle decided to voice her thoughts.

    ¡°Awww! I was hoping to get a chance to teach you all my cool martial arts and ki abilities!¡± the blonde said. ¡°I know I¡¯m still learning on that latter part, but I¡¯m sure I would have been an awesome teacher! Or a sensei! Or even better! Your grand master!¡±

    None of the others in the group responded to Ryle¡¯s proclamation. They all just let out a sigh before walking away.

    ¡°Hey! What was with that reaction!?¡± the blonde yelled as she ran after her companions. ¡°Hey, wait for me!¡±

 37. A Bad Path

    Chapter 37

    A Bad Path

    It had been a couple of days after Erin had become able to use magic and the group was going to the city. While the redhead would have wanted to continue practicing the use of magic, she had to face the reality that her group¡¯s financial situation wasn¡¯t exactly the best. Even if Lexton had a good amount of money, he had clearly stated that he was only a temporary member. Once their common goal of taking down Lune was over, he wouldn¡¯t be associated with the others any longer.

    Because of this, Erin knew she needed to get some cash for her group. Luckily, Lexton had promised to assist her in doing so. That was why she had decided to put her training in magic on pause for now.

    ¡°So Lex, what exactly are we going to be doing at the city to earn some cash?¡± Erin asked. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to be doing anything illegal, are we?¡±

    ¡°My word! Hearing you say such things about me just breaks my heart, Erin!¡± the kobold said in a mock hurt tone. ¡°What would ever make you think that I-?¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. I already have more than enough reason to dislike you. No need for you to remind me why I have them in the first place,¡± Ryle suddenly said as she glared at Lexton. ¡°Or do YOU need to be reminded that I plan to kick your scaly ass one of these days?¡±

    ¡°Fine. Be a killjoy, why don¡¯t you?¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°As for your question, Erin, we are not going to be doing anything criminal. We are just going to be selling some small potions that I¡¯ve cooked up in my workshop. They¡¯re a good way to earn some money, as a lot of regular people are willing to pay a good price for them and they¡¯re easy to make.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Also interesting,¡± Erin said. ¡°What kind of potions are you going to be selling exactly?¡±

    ¡°Nothing major. Just some cures for common ailments, like colds, coughs and itchy skin. The very basic stuff there is,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Anything bigger than that would require far better ingredients and would force us to sell at a higher price. However, since these are pretty cheap items and quite commonly used, we should be able to make a good profit with them. There is always a person looking for a cure for a common ailment, after all.¡±

    ¡°So what will we be doing then?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°Since I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be handling some of the more business side of things, what should we do to help out?¡±

    ¡°For you and Erin, I was hoping that you would be helping out in promoting our products,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Every business needs a friendly face at the front to help sell it, whether at a street stall, behind a counter or in a large business room. That¡¯s something I think the two of you could handle. Also, I could use some extra hands in handling the merchandise and setting up shop as well.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m guessing my job is to be pack mule then, huh!?¡± Ryle complained, as she was pulling a large wooden cart behind her that had all the potions they were planning to sell. ¡°You know, I might be more brawn than brains, but I think you¡¯re pushing your luck with me!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a surprise. You can actually think,¡± Lexton said in a mocking tone. ¡°Besides, shouldn¡¯t you be grateful for me? I¡¯m giving you a job that completely suits you. No need for you to strain that bean-sized brain of yours.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna shove this cart right up your-!¡±

    ¡°By the way, Lex, are these new outfits also a part of this whole business plan of yours?¡± Erin asked, cutting off Ryle before she could make good on her threat.

    Both Erin and Arkay had been provided with new clothes by Lexton. Apparently, this wasn¡¯t the first time he had been doing business like this with other people. So while the others were busy practicing the use of magic, he had gone to the city to buy some new clothes for them.

    Erin had a tight sleeveless black top, loose white pants, red leather boots and loose fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows. Arkay had a sleeveless white jacket with a black T-shirt underneath it, loose cargo pants and a long red scarf around his neck.

    ¡°Pretty much. Your normal clothes made you look like criminals, which isn¡¯t exactly all that welcoming to your average citizen. That¡¯s why I had the two of you change into something that¡¯s a bit less suspicious,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°These outfits make you look like some average youngsters that are trying to earn a bit of cash by helping out at a store. Hope you like the clothes I provided you with. You can keep them after we¡¯re done, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I love them!¡± Arkay said happily as he looked over himself. ¡°To this day, I¡¯ve always been wearing clothes that helped me disappear into the shadows. It honestly feels nice to wear something that normal people would wear.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ It looks nice as well,¡± Ryle said in a dreamy voice while staring at the cat boy, which earned her displeased looks from both Erin and Lexton.

    ¡°Would you mind and put such thoughts away, before you end up crashing the cart into something?¡± Lexton asked in an annoyed tone. ¡°I¡¯d prefer to be able to sell my merchandise intact. Thank you very much.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll do my job. Don¡¯t twist your damn panties,¡± the blonde grumbled in response.

    ¡°Speaking of outfits, you have had a change of wardrobe as well, Lex,¡± Arkay pointed out. ¡°What¡¯s with the new look?¡±

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    Like the cat boy had pointed out, the kobold was also wearing different clothes. Instead of his regular outfit that made him look more like a merchant, he was now wearing dark gray robes that covered most of his body. He also had a hood that he had pulled over his head, hiding his face from view.

    ¡°Oh, this? Don¡¯t you mind it. It¡¯s just¡­ my merchant persona,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be the mysterious medicine seller that brings miraculous cures to the needy ones. Don¡¯t you think that sounds good?¡±

    ¡°In all honesty, I¡¯d say that people would rather buy from a person that is willing to show their face,¡± Erin said as she walked up to the kobold and leaned in to pull down the hood. ¡°Now let¡¯s just-¡±

    Instead of being allowed to pull the hood down from her small companion, the redhead was stopped by a scaly hand slapping her hand away. Not only that, but for a very brief moment, Erin could have sworn that she saw Lexton be scared.

    ¡°NO! I mean¡­ There¡¯s no need for that, I assure you,¡± the kobold said, trying to mask his nervousness. ¡°Let¡¯s just get going and set up shop, alright? This stuff isn¡¯t going to sell itself, after all.¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Okay?¡± Erin said awkwardly, still somewhat taken aback by the reaction she got from him.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Ryle asked, having noticed the weird outburst. ¡°I thought you¡¯d want to appear all proper for your customers so you could-¡±

    The blonde stopped herself, as her eyes suddenly went wide with realization and a big grin spread across her face.

    ¡°Oh, now I see,¡± Ryle said with a mischievous tone. ¡°No wonder you want to hide your face, huh?¡±

    Both Erin and Arkay looked at the blonde in confusion, before looking at Lexton, who was trying his best to hide his face. The two then turned their attention back towards Ryle.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why does Lex want to hide his face?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Remember what he sold to us when we first met him?¡± Ryle asked as she began chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet that we aren¡¯t the only people he has sold useless junk to. He¡¯s afraid that some of his other customers might have found out about what they really got and are not exactly happy with him. Am I right or am I right, huh?¡±

    ¡°Yes! You are correct! Happy!?¡± Lexton said in a quiet, yet angry voice, clearly not happy to be talking about such a subject. ¡°Look, you need my help and I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want some pissed off mobsters to come after me while we¡¯re trying to sell our stuff, right!? So just let me keep a low profile and we¡¯ll get through this a lot richer without any problems!¡±

    Erin could only let out a sigh, wondering if this was such a good idea, while Ryle only kept laughing to herself.

    The group soon made their way to the city and began to look for a good place to set up their shop. As they walked through the city¡¯s busy streets, they came upon a crime scene at a restaurant. The area had been closed off from the citizens, as police officers were either guarding the premises or investigating the place. One could see signs of a battle just from the outside of the restaurant, as bodies were being carried out.

    ¡°What could have happened here?¡± Erin asked as she looked at the crime scene. ¡°It looks like a war zone.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not far from the truth, to be honest,¡± Ryle said. ¡°There are quite a few criminal groups in the city that are not exactly on friendly terms with each other. Judging by the smells coming from that place, either a disagreement between some of those groups got heated or the menu is made of some REALLY nasty ingredients.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, whatever happened there doesn¡¯t really involve us, does it? So why bother gawking at a crime scene where there is nothing for us to do?¡± Lexton said. ¡°I say we leave this to the police and just keep on moving. We have work to do.¡±

    Just as the group was beginning to leave, Erin noticed something shocking. She recognized one of the bodies that was being carried away. It was the same wealthy man they had met when they had gone to visit Lexton¡¯s store.

    Realizing that this was most likely not a subject that should be voiced out too loudly, the redhead waited until there weren¡¯t too many people around them, before walking up to Lexton in order to talk with him.

    ¡°Hey, I recognized one of the people that had died at that crime scene,¡± Erin whispered to the kobold. ¡°He was one of your customers.¡±

    ¡°Really now? What a shame, I suppose,¡± Lexton said in a completely calm tone that shocked the redhead. ¡°Luckily for me, I don¡¯t get many repeat customers anyways, so it¡¯s not a big issue.¡±

    ¡°Hold on a second here! Why are you acting like this is no big deal!?¡± Erin whispered angrily. ¡°One of your customers is dead! Isn¡¯t that the least bit concerning!? Especially when you consider that-!¡±

    ¡°That I sold him useless junk that most likely made him think that he was no insanely powerful and unbeatable? Why should I be concerned about that at all?¡± the kobold asked in the same uncaring tone. ¡°The way I see it, this was only a good thing not only for us, but the city as well. We don¡¯t have to worry about him ever coming after us for revenge and the city has one less scumbag to deal with. I¡¯d say that¡¯s a good thing.¡±

    ¡°How can you just-!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you dare start lecturing ME about any morals!¡± Lexton began to angrily rant, cutting off the redhead and putting a stop to the group. ¡°So a few criminals died! What do you expect me to do!? Shed a tear or something!? Well, don¡¯t waste your time waiting for that, because it¡¯s not happening, okay!?¡±

    ¡°Woah, what got into you all of a sudden?¡± Ryle asked, having not heard the conversation between her two companions. ¡°What could have Erin said to piss you off that badly?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Erin said to the blonde before turning her attention back to the kobold. ¡°Look, I get that those guys weren¡¯t exactly good people, but you¡¯ve sold your stuff to numerous people! What happened back there might not be the only case and the next victim might not be some crook like those guys!¡±

    ¡°Do you really think there were any good people in that place!? The underground lair of crooks and criminals!? Why do you think I was selling my stuff there in the first place!? All of those people deserved to get screwed over, as they do worse things on a regular basis!¡± Lexton ranted. ¡°Not that anybody else in this garbage pile of a city is any better¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Why would you have such a grudge against everyone here?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Because they¡¯re all the goddamn same!¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°You think the criminals are the only ones harming others around here? Well, the people in charge are no better! Just like the mobsters, they beat down on people like me and rob us! The only difference is that they do their shit under some made up pretense that is supposed to justify them acting like robbers! And before you have the nerve to say that the regular people in this city are good and honest people, when have they helped!? When a poor kobold like me is getting kicked to the ground, they act like it¡¯s no big deal or find it entertaining! So why the hell shouldn¡¯t I hate them all!? Tell me that!¡±

    Erin was taken aback by Lexton¡¯s emotional outburst, especially when she saw that there were tears falling from his eyes. Apparently, the kobold had faced his fair share of unjust treatment that had left him very bitter and angry at the world around him. He was essentially lashing out at the world around him over the unfairness he had to face on a daily basis.

    This reminded redhead of a certain someone and it didn¡¯t end well.

    ¡°Lex¡­ I¡¯m sorry to hear that you¡¯ve had to-¡±

    ¡°Save it. I don¡¯t want to hear any halfhearted sympathies anymore. I¡¯ve heard that crap way too many times to ever believe it again,¡± Lexton said coldly as he turned away from his companions. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this whole thing over with. The sooner I¡¯m done working with you all, the quicker I can cut all ties from you all and go back to working alone, like I should.¡±

    ¡°Hey now! There¡¯s no need for that kind of attitude!¡± Ryle began to yell angrily, not liking how the kobold was talking to her friend. ¡°Where do you even get off talking to-¡±

    ¡°Ryle, it¡¯s alright. He has his reasons,¡± Erin said, stopping the blonde. She then turned her attention back to Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you can¡¯t trust us due to not being kobolds like you?¡±

    ¡°Why bother even trying? I¡¯ve been betrayed by others so many times that I¡¯ve already lost count,¡± the kobold said in a bitter tone. ¡°The only ones I can trust are my own kind and that¡¯s about it.¡±

    ¡°¡­You can trust us, you know?¡± the redhead suggested hopefully. ¡°If you give us a chance, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to trust us in the end. All I ask is that you give us a chance.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll consider that.¡±

    As the group continued looking for a place to set up their shop, Erin couldn¡¯t help but worry about Lexton. She could tell that he was currently walking down a bad path, one full of deceit, distrust and betrayal. If she could help him, then maybe he wouldn¡¯t end up in such a terrible end.

    Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t end up like Devin and the others.

 38. The Bad and The Good

    Chapter 38

    The Bad and The Good

    Erin¡¯s group had finally managed to find a place for them to set up their store and things seemed to be going rather well for them. Thanks to Erin and Arkay¡¯s enthusiastic and friendly approach towards potential customers, they managed to get a steady stream of people coming in and buying their goods. While the medicines they were selling weren¡¯t exactly flying off the shelves, they did get enough sales to make the endeavor worth their time.

    However, if there was something that was turning away customers, it was Lexton. Erin didn¡¯t know why, but some of the people she and Arkay managed to get interested in their products would turn away as soon as they saw the kobold. The redhead guessed that Lexton simply looked too suspicious with the robes he was wearing.

    The kobold was doing his work from the back of the cart they had used transport their merchandise. He had spare change as well as a device that allowed card payments on him, along with a calculator just in case. From what Erin had heard, he was still giving out the similar sales pitch speeches that he had used back in the underground arena when they had first met him.

    But while the others were working hard, Ryle wasn¡¯t doing anything like that. After dragging the cart, the blonde woman had found a nice and cool alley nearby to sit down and take a nap. Erin had expected Lexton to tell her to get to work, but it seemed like he didn¡¯t have anything planned for her at all. Instead, it seemed like he was content with letting Ryle slack off.

    Erin spotted another potential customer, a human woman that seemed to be having neck pains, as she kept rubbing it. Putting on a friendly face, the redhead skipped over to the woman, ready to tell her about Lexton¡¯s medicines.

    ¡°Excuse me, madam, but it seems like you¡¯re in pain,¡± Erin said in a friendly tone, catching the woman¡¯s attention. ¡°Would you be interested in a cure that could take it away instantly?¡±

    ¡°As a matter of fact, yes. I would like that very much,¡± the woman replied. ¡°But does such a convenient cure even exist?¡±

    ¡°Of course it does! Just follow me!¡± the redhead said as she began to lead the potential customer to where Lexton was waiting. ¡°I promise you that what my employer sells you is more than enough for that!¡±

    Upon reaching the kobold waiting at the cart, Erin gave a bright smile to the woman, who gave a questioning look at Lexton. The redhead guessed that she was a bit put off by the merchant¡¯s appearance, but didn¡¯t mind it too much.

    ¡°Just tell him what you need and he¡¯ll provide you with the cure you need!¡± Erin said happily, introducing the merchant to the new customer. ¡°Customer satisfaction guaranteed!¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me that the stuff you¡¯re selling can cure what I have then?¡± the woman asked. ¡°Can it cure neck pain as well?¡±

    ¡°Oh, absolutely, my good lady!¡± Lexton said happily as he took out a bottle filled with green liquid. ¡°Just rub this one the area that¡¯s sore and-¡±

    ¡°Hang on a second! Are you a kobold!?¡± the woman suddenly asked angrily, cutting off Lexton. She then turned around and began to walk away. ¡°Like hell I¡¯m buying anything from your kind! Anybody with a brain knows not to trust kobolds! They¡¯re just a bunch of con artists and thieves, the whole lot of them!¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the rude outburst, before getting angry at the woman. She herself had tried the medicine Lexton was selling earlier and it had worked like a charm. There was no reason for him to be doubted just for his race alone.

    ¡°Hey, what is your problem, you-!?¡±

    ¡°Erin, stop!¡± Lexton shouted, stopping the redhead from going after the woman. ¡°Nothing good will come from you chasing after him! Just go look for another customer and forget about this.¡±

    ¡°But Lex, what she just did was horrible!¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°How can you be calm after what she did!?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t force someone to change their mind, no matter what it is. This is just something we have to accept,¡± the kobold said calmly. ¡°In fact, if we try to do something, we¡¯ll only reinforce whatever image she has of me and other kobolds. It¡¯s best to just focus on what we can do and move on.¡±

    Erin wanted to keep arguing, but she noticed something. While Lexton acted and sounded calm, he was anything but that. This was evident from him clenching his hands as tightly as possible while also looking away. The redhead guessed that the latter was done to hide any possible tears from her.

    Realizing the truth behind the kobold¡¯s words, Erin decided to let the whole thing go. Causing a scene would only bring further problems to them, so it was for the best. However, she couldn¡¯t help but regret that she hadn¡¯t been able to help her companion.

    The group continued doing their business for some time, managing to sell some of Lexton¡¯s medicine, while others refused to buy it. Despite the setbacks, they were making a decent amount of money, so it was far from fruitless.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been doing pretty well so far, haven¡¯t we?¡± Erin asked Lexton with a smile, hoping to brighten his mood a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should take a break, though? We¡¯ve been going at it for quite some time now, after all.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I¡¯ve been feeling hungry for some time now,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I guess we should get something to eat.¡±

    ¡°So are we going to pack up and leave to find something to eat?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Absolutely not. We can¡¯t leave the merchandise unguarded, as someone could come and steal it while we¡¯re away,¡± Lexton said as he turned his attention to the last member of the group. ¡°I have a better idea.¡±

    ¡°Huh? The hell are you staring at?¡± Ryle asked, noticing the kobold looking at her.

    ¡°Someone completely useless,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°While the rest of us were busy working, you were sitting on your ass, not doing anything. Mind making yourself useful for a change and go get us something to eat?¡±

    ¡°Why do I need to-?¡± the blonde began to ask, only for her to notice Erin and Arkay staring at her as well. ¡°...Alright! I¡¯ll go get some grub for us! Can you give me some cash for it, though?¡±

    ¡°Good girl. Here you go,¡± the kobold said as he handed Ryle some money. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of extra for you. Use it to get yourself a lollipop or something as a reward.¡±

    ¡°Smart-ass little¡­¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Without further complaints, aside from her unhappy grumbling, the blonde walked away from the group. With nothing else to do, the others decided to go back to doing business, hoping to earn some more money before Ryle came back with the food.

    Some time passed and the blonde hadn¡¯t returned yet. Erin was starting to consider going after her friend, when a sudden commotion caught her attention.

    ¡°Stop! What are you doing!?¡± a kobold screamed in a sacred tone, as three people were standing over him and pushing him around. ¡°I swear I don¡¯t know anything about what you¡¯re talking about! Just leave me alone! Please!¡±

    The three people harassing the kobold were obviously not the law-abiding type of people. Two of them seemed to be thugs belonging to a criminal group, a male orc and a male human, both very muscular and tall. The third member of the group that was most likely the leader was an overweight elf woman, who was dressed up in expensive clothing and jewelry. The woman was holding what seemed like a very small dragon in her arms, petting it like one would a cat.

    ¡°This the punk that scammed ya, boss?¡± the orc in the group asked. ¡°Seems he don¡¯t know ya.¡±

    ¡°I suppose it isn¡¯t. These damn kobolds are hard to tell from one another,¡± the elf said in an unhappy tone. ¡°However, they¡¯re all the same trash in the end. Might as well teach this one a lesson as well, just in case.¡±

    Realizing what the three criminals were planning to do to the innocent kobold, Erin was about to walk up to them and step in. However, a scaly hand grabbed her wrist before she could do so.

    ¡°Stop! What do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡± Lexton asked in a whisper. ¡°If you go there and pick a fight with them, we¡¯ll only get into trouble!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Erin whispered back angrily. ¡°We can¡¯t just let them beat up that poor kobold! How can you-!?¡±

    ¡°Because I know who those people are!¡± the kobold answered. ¡°The fat elf is Zidaya Dezzen, leader of the Dezzen family! An influential criminal group that is protected even by the police! If we pick a fight with her, this whole city will become our enemy!¡±

    ¡°How do you know these people?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Because¡­ I sold them my fake golems before you guys came to my shop,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°They obviously didn¡¯t get the real ones, so once they found out I had screwed them over, they came after me.¡±

    ¡°Huh? They were after- Then that¡¯s just more of a reason for us to help him!¡± Erin said after getting over her initial shock. ¡°How can you just let someone else take the fall for what you did!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it anymore than you do! I want to help him out as much as you do, but it will only cause bigger issues for us!¡± the kobold said. ¡°Not only would we get their group after us, but we could also draw the ire of the people around us. Just look around you. No one cares about what happens to us kobolds.¡±

    The redhead looked around and just as Lexton had said, the people around them didn¡¯t seem to be bothered by the thugs attacking an innocent kobold. In fact, she could hear some of them muttering some rather nasty things as well, such as how ¡°kobolds were always causing trouble¡± or how ¡°this one was getting just what they deserved¡±. It seemed like they couldn¡¯t even hope for someone else to step in and help.

    As this was happening, a certain blonde woman entered the scene.

    ¡°Man, why do I have to take the place of food delivery?¡± Ryle was mumbling to herself, as she was carrying bags take out in her hands and sucking on a lollipop at the same time. ¡°I swear, that scaly bastard better watch out or else I¡¯m gonna¡­¡±

    The blonde trailed off in her thoughts, as she noticed the scene of the two toughs beating up the kobold. This caused her to stop in her tracks and stare at what was happening with wide eyes.

    Meanwhile, Erin and Lexton had both noticed their companion¡¯s arrival.

    ¡°You see? Not even your friend cares about what happens to people like me,¡± Lexton said in a bitter tone. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s going to enjoy the sight because she hates me.¡±

    ¡°No way¡­¡± Erin mumbled, not willing to believe that her friend would be okay with something like this happening.

    Suddenly, Ryle put the bags she had been carrying gently on the ground, before doing something that surprised everybody there.

    ¡°THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE DOING, YOU PUNK!?¡± the blonde yelled as loudly as she could, as she kicked the orc thug in the head so hard that it sent him straight to the ground and knocked him out. ¡°What kind of losers are you!? Picking on someone who can¡¯t even fight back is just pathetic!¡±

    ¡°W-What the hell do you think you¡¯re-!?¡± the human thug began to ask, but was cut off as a small bolt of lightning hit him on the back. The electrical shock caused him to fall to the ground unconscious.

    All eyes turned to where the lightning had come from and saw Arkay with his arm stretched out, indicating that he had just fired a spell.

    ¡°I¡¯m not all that fond of bullies either,¡± the cat boy said as he glared at the criminals.¡±

    ¡°Nice teamwork, Arnie!¡± Ryle exclaimed happily as she ran up to him and scooped him up in a tight hug. ¡°Man, the two of us are just the best together, aren¡¯t we!? We need to do this more-¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ Excuse me?¡± a quiet voice that almost went unheard by both Ryle and Arkay said, belonging to the kobold they had just saved. ¡°T-Thank you both for helping me¡­¡±

    ¡°No biggie! No biggie!¡± Ryle said with a big grin. ¡°Just try to avoid people like that, okay?¡±

    The kobold gave one last bow of gratitude before running away. Meanwhile, the boss of the two thugs that had been knocked out cold, Zidaya, had been watching the whole thing before her with wide eyes, unable to believe that someone would have the guts to get in her way.

    ¡°H-H-HOW DARE YOU!?!¡± the overweight elf screamed angrily, getting all eyes turned on her. ¡°DON¡¯T YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? I¡¯M-!¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut the hell up!¡± Ryle shouted as she whacked Zidaya over the head, knocking her down to the ground. ¡°The hell even are you? Some sort of a mutant breed of a pig and a troll?¡±

    ¡°Y-Y-You dare strike me!?¡± the elf said in shock. ¡°I-I¡¯m going to have your heads by the end of the day! Trash like you should know not to-!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this now? It seems the pig has quite the attitude,¡± the blonde said as she grabbed Zidaya by her hair and lifted her up, causing her to squirm in pain in the process. ¡°Maybe I should take this to a butcher and see what they can turn it into? Bet we could get a lot of quality meat from it.¡±

    It was at that point that two police officers came to the scene. Apparently, someone in the crowd had decided to call them upon seeing things escalate.

    ¡°This is the police! What is going-!?¡± one of the police officers began to ask, only to stop upon noticing Zidaya¡¯s predicament. ¡°M-M-Mrs. Dezzen! W-What is going on!?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you idiots tell just by looking!? I¡¯m being assaulted by this thug!¡± the overweight elf screamed while pointing at Ryle. ¡°And that cat boy over there is her accomplice! Get them both!¡±

    As the police got their batons ready, Ryle was preparing for the new opponents by throwing Zidaya aside and taking a stance. Arkay was trying to talk the blonde out of fighting the local law enforcement, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. This battle was going down no matter what.

    Suddenly, a bottle smashed on the ground in front of the police, producing a thick red smoke cloud that caused the police to cough and rub their eyes from stinging.

    Before either Ryle or Arkay had fully understood what had happened, they heard Lexton yelling at them from behind.

    ¡°WHAT ARE YOU TWO STANDING AROUND FOR!?¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°WE NEED TO RUN! NOW!¡±

    Almost instantly, Ryle grabbed Arkay and began to run with the cat boy in her arms. She quickly made her way to her other two companions, who were ready to start running as well. However, before either Erin or Lexton could even start moving, Ryle grabbed both of them and threw them along with Arkay on the back of the cart they had used to move the medicine they had been selling.

    ¡°Ryle, what are you-!?¡± Erin began to ask, only to see the blonde give her a big grin as she got ready to pull the cart behind.

    ¡°Get ready to ride!¡± Ryle said before going into a crazy sprint, dragging the cart behind her at the same time.

    Erin, Lexton and Arkay were all terrified over the speed they were moving at. It didn¡¯t help that Ryle lkept narrowly dodging different objects, such as pedestrians, cars and other objects. All three were showing their terror at their situation in different ways. Erin was screaming with tears falling from her lone eye, Lexton¡¯s eyes were wide and his red scales had turned pale white, and Arkay had actually passed out.

    After what had felt like an eternity to the three passengers, they finally came to a stop at an alley that didn¡¯t have anyone around. Ryle was panting and sweating from the workout, but she had a satisfied look on her face.

    ¡°Well, that was fun!¡± the blonde said with a grin to her companions. ¡°Does anybody want to go on another ride?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­ No more¡­¡± Erin managed to say, as she got off the cart with her whole body trembling. ¡°I never want to go through anything like that again¡­¡±

    ¡°I agree!¡± Lexton said angrily as his scales were returning to their normal color. ¡°I¡¯ve been chased by horrifying beasts in the wastelands and all sorts of dangerous criminals, but NONE of them were as horrifying as what I just went through!¡±

    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be such a-!¡± Ryle began to say, only to notice the state Arkay was in. ¡°AH! What happened to Arnie!?¡±

    ¡°I wonder what¡­¡± the kobold muttered sarcastically. ¡°Seriously, why did you have to put us in such a predicament in the first place? Why didn¡¯t you just leave those thugs alone?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You mean the fat elf and her buddies?¡± the blonde asked as she was just about to give the unconscious cat boy mouth to mouth. ¡°They were bullying that kobold kid. What other reason did I need to kick their asses?¡±

    ¡°...No one cares about us kobolds,¡± Lexton said almost inaudibly. ¡°Had you not helped him out, no one in this city would have looked at you badly.¡±

    ¡°So? Doesn¡¯t mean what those three were doing wasn¡¯t wrong,¡± Ryle stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world, causing the kobold to stare at her with wide eyes. ¡°When someone does something that is simply wrong it doesn¡¯t matter what the majority thinks. There are just some things that shouldn¡¯t be accepted like it¡¯s normal.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re all too much for me to comprehend,¡± Lexton said as he turned away from the rest of the group.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking for you to do that anyways,¡± the blonde stated, before looking at the unconscious Arkay in her arms and grinning widely. ¡°Now back to work¡­¡±

    ¡°I doubt that would actually help him,¡± Erin said, pulling Ryle away from the cat boy, despite the blonde¡¯s protests, before turning towards Lexton with a smile on her face. ¡°You think you could give us a chance then?¡±

    ¡°...I suppose you¡¯re not all bad,¡± was all the kobold said in response.

 39. New Tricks

    Chapter 39

    New Tricks

    The group¡¯s plans were coming along well, despite their recent setbacks. While Ryle and Arkay could no longer go to the city to sell medicine in order to earn money, Erin and Lexton were more than able to make up for it. During that, the wanted duo would hone their skills in the use of either magic or ki. Whenever they weren¡¯t selling medicine in the city, Erin and Lexton would also be working on their personal projects, with the redhead concentrating on learning to use magic under Arkay¡¯s tutelage and the kobold working on new equipment for his companions.

    Right now was one of those days that the whole group was gathered at Lexton¡¯s workshop to hone their skills. Arkay was trying out new spells, while Ryle had gone to do some training in the use of ki a bit further away from them. Erin was still trying to get the basics of bringing out her innate magical power out and Lexton had retreated to his workshop to work on another one of his projects.

    The method of training that Erin was using was very simple. She was holding onto the Glow Stone that she had gotten from Arkay and did her best to pour magical energy into it to make it glow. The redhead was currently trying to make the stone glow as brightly as possible, like Arkay had done upon demonstrating it¡¯s use to Erin and Ryle. Unfortunately, while she had gotten better, the glow was still far from what she hoped to achieve.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Erin cursed as sweat was dripping down her forehead. ¡°This isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far. You¡¯ve been making steady progress with each day,¡± Arkay said with a small smile as he stopped his experiment of bringing out flames in different shapes. ¡°The use of magic isn¡¯t an easy road to travel, which is why a lot of people simply turn to weapons or even cybernetics. But I¡¯m sure that as long as you keep working on it, it will be more than worth it.¡±

    ¡°I get the sentiment, but I don¡¯t have all that much time on my hands to spend on this,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, as she stopped putting magical energy into the stone. ¡°We never know when Lune might just leave the city, so I need to get a handle of this before it happens. Besides, we never know when we might get into danger again and I would like to be able to help out. Unlike last time¡­¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about that time with the spider, you need to stop punishing yourself over it,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°We already forgave you for it, after all.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just that!¡± Erin shouted, taking Arkay by surprise. Realizing that she had just lashed out for no reason, the redhead calmed herself before continuing. ¡°I get that I can¡¯t expect to become a master at using magic right away and that there are limits to what I can do. However, the people that I¡¯m going up against aren¡¯t going to be beaten just because I did my best in practicing. I need to be actually strong in order to win and make sure none of you guys get killed in the process.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t concern yourself with us all that much, Erin. We can take care of ourselves just fine,¡± the cat boy said in a comforting tone. ¡°Not to mention, I¡¯m sure if either Ryle or Lexton heard that, they would be more offended than anything else.¡±

    ¡°I can imagine that. Those two can be surprisingly similar in certain aspects,¡± Erin said with a small laugh. ¡°But it still doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m not going at a pace that I wish I was. At this rate, I fear I have to forget about using magic when we go after Lune.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s take a bit of a closer look at what you¡¯re doing. Maybe I can give you some pointers as to what you should be doing,¡± Arkay said as he walked up to the redhead to observe her.

    Erin nodded in response before she began to pour her magical energy into the Glow Stone in her hand. As soon as she did this, the stone started to flicker with a very weak light, until it slowly grew into a dim light. However, after that the light didn¡¯t seem to get any stronger at all, except for very brief moments that were followed by the light going weak right away.

    ¡°I think I see the problem,¡± Arkay said after observing Erin¡¯s efforts for a bit. ¡°You¡¯re being too forceful with how you handle your magic.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Aren¡¯t I supposed to push magical energy out of my body in order to use it?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°While that is somewhat true, there is a correct way to do it,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°Simply using force isn¡¯t how you¡¯re supposed to do it.¡±

    ¡°Then what am I supposed to do?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Try to imagine the place you push the magical energy into as a small hole, okay?¡± Arkay began to explain. ¡°Now imagine magical energy as an assortment of seeds, pebbles or other small objects. What do you think happens when you grab a handful of such things and try to forcefully shove them through a hole smaller than the tip of your finger?¡±

    ¡°...With the exception of very few, they don¡¯t go through?¡± Erin answered, not exactly sure about her own answer.

    ¡°Correct. While some get through, the hole gets mostly clogged up, not allowing the rest of your magic to travel through properly,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°Instead of just using force, you should use a more gentle approach, where you allow all of your magic to go through in a fine line. With time and practice, the pathway that your magic travels through will get wider and will allow much more magic to go through, like a small stream that eventually becomes a large river.¡±

    ¡°But how do I know how to push the magic out in the correct way?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°It¡¯s not like I can see the magic moving inside my arm.¡±

    ¡°When using magic, you should be able to feel it moving through your body. When you try to forcefully push put too much, you¡¯re getting an uncomfortable feeling in your arm, right?¡± Arkay asked to which Erin nodded. ¡°Try to find your limit by using different amounts of force, until you find the amount that feels the most comfortable for you. That should allow you to figure things out.¡±

    Following her young friend¡¯s advice, Erin began to experiment again. She held the Glow Stone tightly in her hand as she began to move magical energy into. The redhead could feel the magical energy coursing through her body, as it began to move up her arm and towards the palm of her hand. At first, this sensation felt unpleasant, as she was using too much force. However, once she began to ease up on it, the uncomfortable feeling disappeared, leaving behind a comforting and warm sensation.

    Upon finding what seemed like the correct way to push magical energy within her body, Erin began to concentrate on guiding it to the Glow Stone. It didn¡¯t take long for a dim light to appear within the stone, which began to slowly burn brighter and brighter with each second. It took some time, but the redhead was eventually able to get the stone to shine the same way Arkay had.

    ¡°Look, Arnie! I did it! I DID IT!¡± Erin said excitedly with a big smile on her face. ¡°Thanks to your help, I was able to make it shine as brightly as you were!¡±

    ¡°Yes, but it was mostly thanks to your own efforts that you were able to do this,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°I only gave you little advice. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Well, that advice helped me out greatly!¡± the redhead said as she pulled the cat boy into a tight hug, causing him to blush. ¡°The way I see it, it was only thanks to you that I was able to achieve so much in such a short time!¡±

    Arkay was about to say something in response, but the sound of someone clearing their throat cut him off. The two of them turned to see who it was and saw Ryle standing there with a displeased expression on her face.

    ¡°So when I go out to work my ass off, you use the opportunity to have fun with Arnie?¡± the blonde asked as she gave a slight glare to Erin. ¡°I¡¯m getting kind of jealous over here.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± the redhead quickly argued in her defense. ¡°I was just thanking him for helping me out with learning how to use magic! Honest!¡±

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Relax. I know that¡¯s what this obviously was about. I was just messing with you,¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°Still, it would be nice if I had someone to work with and give me pointers, too. It¡¯s not exactly fun to bust my ass off on my own, you know? Sometimes I have no idea whether I¡¯m making progress or not.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you specifically state that you wanted to work alone because you were going to ¡°amaze us with your awesome skills¡± or something like that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You can¡¯t really get mad at us for doing what you asked.¡±

    ¡°...Well, aren¡¯t you a real smart-ass,¡± the blonde grumbled. ¡°Anyways, seeing as you¡¯re not moping around for once, I¡¯m guessing your training is going fine?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t moping!¡± the redhead argued, only to get blank stares from her two companions. ¡°Okay, so I might have been a little down due to my lack of progress, but that¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°Sure didn¡¯t seem like that to me,¡± Ryle stated while picking her nose. ¡°I was honestly tempted to tell you to go pour your whining into poetry or something, so we wouldn¡¯t have to hear it all the time.¡±

    ¡°ANYWAYS, to answer your question, I have made some great progress at last,¡± Erin said, hoping to change the subject quickly. ¡°I have finally learned how to properly manage the output of magical energy, which I¡¯m willing to believe is a huge step forward.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say it¡¯s more of a good start,¡± Arkay said. ¡°There is still a lot more work for you to do, such learning how to properly manage your magic naturally, not to mention actually using it for spells and such.¡±

    ¡°...There goes my sense of accomplishment,¡± the redhead muttered.

    ¡°Oh boy, here we go again with the moping,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°I-I might have been a bit too blunt with what I said!¡± Arkay quickly stated, hoping to cheer up his friend. ¡°While we are still in the basics, this is a good step forward in you learning more about magic. I¡¯m just saying that there is still much more work ahead of you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie. I appreciate it,¡± Erin said with a small smile, before turning her attention to Ryle. ¡°How about you? How has your work been turning out?¡±

    ¡°Well, pretty awesome, I¡¯d say!¡± the blonde replied with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve come to learn quite a cool trick in my time working on this ki thingy! Wanna see?¡±

    Both Erin and Arkay nodded in response, interested in seeing what their friend had learned during all her training. They watched as Ryle walked up to a large boulder and took a stance next to it. In one quick move, she destroyed the top of the large rock with a single kick, causing tiny rubble to fly through the air.

    Satisfied with her work, the blonde turned to look at her audience, who were giving her a round of applause, happily clapping their hands together. In return, she gave a bow to them, as if she were a performer at a circus.

    ¡°That was incredible, Ryle!¡± Erin said excitedly. ¡°You¡¯re practically a human weapon now!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! That was awesome!¡± Arkay said in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s good to have someone like you on our side! I doubt there¡¯s anyone who can take you on any longer!¡±

    ¡°Thank you! Thank you! You¡¯ve been a wonderful audience!¡± Ryle said with a laugh. ¡°Honestly, you should have seen my practice grounds. I¡¯m pretty sure that there isn¡¯t a single solid rock there anymore.¡±

    ¡°So this is why you kept asking for my medicine for wounds and bruises,¡± a new voice stated. Everyone turned to where it came from and saw Lexton coming out of his work shop. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t really expecting anything else. Seeing as how all you know is to hit things really hard, I was sure you were going to come up with something like this sooner or later.¡±

    Erin was about to scold the kobold over his choice of words, but a chuckle from Ryle stopped. She had been certain that the blonde would have gotten furious over the insult thrown her way.

    ¡°I knew you were going to say something like that, so I came prepared with something even better!¡± Ryle boasted, which earned curious looks from the others. She turned back towards the boulder she had just broken the top part of and smirked. ¡°Feast your eyes on this move!¡±

    The others watched as the blonde got really close to the boulder, to the point her body was almost making contact with it. After she was in place, she took a deep breath before starting her preparations. Ryle help up her right hand in a fist close to her chest and held her left hand over it. She kept taking deep breaths almost like it was some sort of a ritual in preparation of something.

    Just as Erin was about to ask what the blonde was doing, she saw something that caused her and the other¡¯s eyes to go wide. A golden yellow aura began to gather around her fist. At first, it was barely visible and could have been passed off as light playing tricks with your eyes. But as time went on, the glow got stronger gradually, until it looked like golden flames were surrounding her fist.

    After she was done preparing, Ryle unleashed her attack. It was a point blank punch that hit the boulder with incredible destructive force, making it look like the large rock suddenly exploded on impact. Once the dust had cleared out, the boulder was no longer there. Only very tiny pebbles could be seen scattered around as the only clue that the rock had ever been there.

    ¡°So¡­ How about that trick?¡± Ryle asked while panting heavily with her whole body drenched in sweat. ¡°Was that good enough?¡±

    ¡°...Holy shit. Ryle, that was AWESOME!¡± Erin cheered for her friend. ¡°You gotta show me how to do some of those moves at some point!¡±

    Arkay also joined the redhead in cheering their blonde companion, amazed by her skills. However, Lexton wasn¡¯t cheering at all. In fact, he was frowing as he analyzed what he had just seen Ryle perform down to the smallest of details.

    ¡°Are you kidding me!? Why are you two cheering for her!?¡± the kobold shouted angrily, causing the others to go completely silent. ¡°Can¡¯t you see just how useless that move of hers truly is!?¡±

    ¡°Useless?¡± Erin asked in a disbelieving tone before getting angry. ¡°How can you say something like that!? Didn¡¯t you see what she just did to that boulder!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that her little trick has very impressive destructive power. I¡¯m certain that most opponents wouldn¡¯t be able to survive something like that at all,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°However! It also has a ton of weaknesses that completely overshadow any use it might have!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Really now?¡± Ryle asked with a snort, not taking the criticism well. ¡°And just what might these weaknesses be?¡±

    ¡°For starters, I noticed how you had to get very close to your target before using that technique. I doubt any opponent is going to let you get close enough for you to hug them, so that already makes that move very unreliable,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°Second, you needed quite a bit of time to gather your ki before you could use it. During that time you could easily get killed numerous times.¡±

    Ryle could only frown as Lexton pointed out the faults in her technique. As much as she hated to admit it, he was completely right. She had tried to perform her move at more of a distance, but even a small amount of distance reduced the power behind it. She had been able to cut down the time it took to gather the energy needed, but it was only by a very small margin. If she had more time, she could possibly reduce it a lot more, but that might not be an opportunity available for them.

    ¡°And lastly, I can tell that¡¯s a one shot move that¡¯s used only as a trump card,¡± Lexton continued. ¡°Seeing how winded you are, you needed to put pretty much all of your energy into that attack. Not only that, but your hand isn¡¯t in a good condition either.¡±

    It was only after the kobold mentioned it that Erin and Arkay noticed that Ryle¡¯s hand was bleeding and looked to be bruised all over. It seemed like there was a price to pay for her new special move.

    ¡°This? This isn¡¯t such a big deal,¡± the blonde said as she hid her damaged hand behind her back, trying to put on an act that she was completely fine. ¡°Trust me on this. I¡¯ve dealt with far worse.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an obvious lie!¡± Erin yelled as she walked up to Ryle. ¡°We need to treat that hand right away or it might get worse!¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get all touchy with me!¡± Ryle said as she tried to keep her hand away from the redhead. ¡°When I say I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine! How hard is that to understand!?¡±

    Erin was about to continue demanding to get to treat her friend¡¯s injuries, but Arkay managed to beat her to it.

    ¡°T-That¡¯s no good, Ryle!¡± the cat boy said in a somewhat stern tone as he walked up to the blonde as well. ¡°The only way your injuries will heal properly is if we give them proper treatment! Now could you please show your hand to us, so we can help you!?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you insist, I guess it can¡¯t be helped,¡± Ryle said with a big smile as she immediately melted to the idea of being treated by Arkay and offered her injured hand to the cat boy. ¡°Please be gentle with me.¡±

    ¡°This looks pretty nasty¡­ But I think we should be able to treat it,¡± Arkay said as he examined the blonde¡¯s injuries. He then turned towards Lexton and said: ¡°Can you give us some of the medicine you¡¯ve made? And some bandages as well?¡±

    ¡°What? Doesn¡¯t the blonde dumbass have enough, seeing as how she¡¯s been stealing them from me?¡± the kobold said with a frown, earning shocked looks from the others. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t give those eyes, any of you! For some time now, I¡¯ve noticed my stash getting smaller than it should with the sales I¡¯ve been able to do. Besides, how else do you think she¡¯s been able to keep up with her training, considering the injuries she must have been getting?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, it¡¯s true,¡± Ryle admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t want any of you guys to get all worried over me, so I tried to keep it a secret.¡±

    ¡°Do you still have any left?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It would really help out with fixing that hand of yours.¡±

    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve run out,¡± the blonde said. ¡°And it looks like I need to get through this without it.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I¡¯m sure Lexton can-¡±

    ¡°No, Erin. That¡¯s not how this works,¡± Ryle said, cutting off the redhead, before turning to look at Lexton. ¡°The fact is that I¡¯ve stolen from him. Hell, I didn¡¯t even try asking for a permission, as I didn¡¯t think he would give me any. We might not like each other, but we¡¯re still allies for now. And now I¡¯ve gone behind his back and screwed him over big time. That¡¯s not something we can just forget and pretend never happened.¡±

    The blonde then walked up to the kobold and surprised everyone by actually giving a deep bow to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ryle said in a completely sincere tone. ¡°I got way too caught up in my own hype and didn¡¯t think things through at all. I know this doesn¡¯t make up for it at all, but I promise to pay you back as soon as I can.¡±

    The blonde was about to lift her head up, when she saw a scaly red hand holding a bottle of medicine appear before her view. She looked up at Lexton and saw that the kobold was completely serious about giving her the bottle.

    ¡°You¡¯re a hopeless moron, you know that?¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°Didn¡¯t it ever occur to you that I might need you in our plan to take down Lune? Since we are in this together, I would have offered you medicine to keep you healthy, so that we may win. From now on, as long as we work together, I don¡¯t want you to pull this type of stuff behind my back ever again. Okay?¡±

    Ryle could only nod, as she was too dumbfounded by what had just occurred. Once she had taken the bottle from the kobold, he turned around and headed back to his workshop. But just as he was about to walk in, he stopped to say one more thing.

    ¡°Just to make this clear, I still think you¡¯re a complete idiot. You¡¯re far more brawn than brain and your stupidity is beyond belief,¡± Lexton said. ¡°However, I do see that unlike many others, you¡¯re at least a far better person than most others. I know I can trust you, not just by what you did today, but by your actions back in the city as well. It¡¯s good to be working with you.¡±

    ¡°...And I think you¡¯re a complete smart-ass and a damn con artist,¡± Ryle said, before she smirked and added: ¡°But I can see that you can be a good guy as well. I suppose when it comes to con artists, you¡¯re not so bad after all.¡±

    With that, Lexton went into his workshop to work on his latest project, while Ryle went to get her injuries treated by Arkay.

    Meanwhile, Erin couldn¡¯t help but smile, as she saw her friends getting along better. It reminded her of the better times. Back when she, Devin and others used to hang out together.

 40. The Day Before The Attack

    Chapter 40

    The Day Before The Attack

    A couple of days had passed since Ryle had demonstrated her newfound abilities. The group was currently on the rooftop of a nearby building, looking over the military base that Lune was staying at. They were hoping to make plans for infiltrating and to see if there was anything they could use to their advantage.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t look too good for us,¡± Lexton said while using binoculars to look over the place. ¡°That place is pretty much crawling with soldiers. It¡¯s almost impossible to get in without getting noticed.¡±

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t we just bust right in?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°If going in quietly doesn¡¯t work, we can always go in with some noise.¡±

    ¡°What a great idea. I¡¯m sure we won¡¯t get filled with hundreds of bullets the moment we get through the gate,¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°How about we get some input from a person who can actually use their brains a bit more?¡±

    While Lexton and Ryle got into another argument, Erin took a moment to look over the base with her binoculars. As Lexton had said, the place was heavily guarded. Not only were there several guards patrolling around, there were also several watchtowers placed in key areas. There were also cameras placed here and there, and what seemed like guard robots moving around as well. Not to mention, once the alarm started ringing, the redhead was certain that there would be more guards pouring out from the inside of the base as well.

    ¡°Could there be another path?¡± Erin asked. ¡°For example, could we use the sewers to get inside?¡±

    ¡°I know from experience that it wouldn¡¯t work,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The sewers close to the base have explosives rigged there to take out any would be intruders, along with more guard drones as well to finish what¡¯s left of them.¡±

    ¡°Have you tried to get in before?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ About two years ago,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°I tried to get as close as possible, but when I realized just the sheer size of the opponent I was facing, I couldn¡¯t help but turn around and give up. For some time, I kept thinking about how to get in, but I couldn¡¯t come up with anything that would actually work. In the end, I was forced to give up and pretty much forget about the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°...What changed your mind so suddenly?¡± Erin asked, earning a questioning look from Lexton. ¡°If you decided it was impossible back then and gave up trying, why is it that you¡¯re willing to risk your life now?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say¡­ After I heard you guys talking about it, I just felt like trying again,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I guess it was thanks to you that I was reminded why I tried it in the first place.¡±

    ¡°By the way, we never learned why you have a grudge against Lune in the first place,¡± Ryle said, joining the conversation. ¡°We know why the rest of our little group wants to kill the prick, but you never told us your reason.¡±

    ¡°Do you need me to?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Not really,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to go through with this and not screw us over, I don¡¯t think it really matters all that much. I mean, we¡¯re all working together to achieve the same goal in the end, right?¡±

    ¡°...I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± the kobold said. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t be so trusting of others. It can come back at you when you least expect it.¡±

    ¡°Meh. If you were planning on betraying us, I feel like you would have done so already. No need to go through so much trouble, right?¡± Ryle said. ¡°I doubt a guy like you would bother going this far just to screw us over.¡±

    ¡°Good point.¡±

    With the conversation over for now, Erin returned to observing the base through her binoculars. She tried to think of any possible way that they could get inside, but nothing seemed to be plausible. Getting over the fence was out of the question, as the top of it was covered in barbed wire and was also electrified, as a bird that had flown too close to it had shown. Going under it wouldn¡¯t work either, as they lacked the equipment for it. And if they tried to come from above, the base had anti-air weaponry that would shred them to pieces before they could land.

    It seemed like the main gate was the only way in, but that was not an option the redhead liked all that much. The main gate was heavily guarded and every person and vehicle that came through was heavily inspected. The moment anything out of the ordinary was spotted, alarms would start ringing and there would be dozens of soldiers.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to good, does it?¡± Lexton asked, noticing Erin pondering over their current predicament. ¡°It honestly looks like the front door is our only way in, but no one would be crazy enough to try that. Especially since we need to get four people in.¡±

    ¡°...Not necessarily,¡± Erin said as an idea came to her head, earning surprised and curious looks from the others. ¡°Only one of us needs to get inside. Once that is done, they could shut down the electricity on the fence and thus allow the others to get inside as well.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s possible¡­ But I¡¯d hate to be the one that goes inside solo,¡± the kobold said after thinking it over. ¡°Not only will that person be completely on their own inside enemy territory, but they also don¡¯t know where the mechanism is that turns off the electricity. They would have to search the whole place for it on their own.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I think I know where it is,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I think it¡¯s in the guard station that¡¯s looking over the main gate. I saw through the window that whenever someone is either entering or exiting the base, one of the guards goes to a panel on the wall before the gate itself is opened. I¡¯m guessing they turn it off in order to avoid someone getting accidentally shocked.¡±

    ¡°That makes things a bit easier for the one sneaking in, but they¡¯d still be going at it on their own. Just which one of us could pull off something like that?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Just for the record, I¡¯m not doing it.¡±

    ¡°No worries. You wouldn¡¯t have been my choice in the first place,¡± Erin said. ¡°There is one person among us that I think would be best suited for this, but I really don¡¯t like the idea of sending them on their own¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it yourself?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do it, I can-¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of myself. In fact, I would prefer going there over sending the person I¡¯m thinking about,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°That person is Arkay.¡±

    Silence fell over the group after Erin gave her answer. The others were staring at her with wide eyes, waiting for her to take back what she said by claiming it was a joke or something. But as the redhead kept silent herself and didn¡¯t even change her expression, it became clear that she was completely serious.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she grabbed Erin by the front of her shirt. ¡°What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull by sending Arnie as a sacrifice!? Have you lost your goddamn mind or something!?¡±

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    ¡°Trust me, I do not like this any better myself. I wish there was another way to do this,¡± the redhead answered calmly. ¡°However, Arnie is the only one of us that can accomplish this, no matter how much any of us might dislike it¡­¡±

    ¡°Would you mind and explain yourself then?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I doubt you¡¯d make such claims without good reason at the very least.¡±

    ¡°The thing is that Arnie has all the abilities needed to get inside and help the rest of us get in as well,¡± Erin began to explain. ¡°His magical abilities should allow him to get past the security by first turning himself invisible and sneaking in while the gate is open. After that, he could use a special ability that he has to access the control panel that controls the electricity of the fence to turn it off, giving us a chance to sneak in as well.¡±

    ¡°What special ability!? What are you talking about!?¡± Ryle asked, still angry over the idea of sending the cat boy on such a dangerous mission.

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen it as well, Ryle,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Remember when we first met Arnie? Before we got to meet him face to face, we watched as he sneaked into that mansion. He used some strange magical ability to open the main gate, like he was able to manipulate it with magic.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ You mean to tell me that Arnie¡¯s a technomancer!?¡± Lexton asked with wide eyes, as he glanced at said cat boy. ¡°That¡¯s an incredibly useful and rare ability¡­ To think that we have someone like that in our team.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s a tekkymoncer?¡± Ryle asked with a confused look on her face.

    ¡°...A technomancer, you knuckle-dragging imbecile,¡± the kobold said while gritting his teeth from annoyance. ¡°Basically, he can use magic to control machinery.¡±

    ¡°...Huh. That¡¯s pretty neat,¡± the blonde said. ¡°But what¡¯s so special about that type of ability? I mean, can¡¯t just about anybody control machines, if they have the controls?¡±

    ¡°A technomancer can take control of a machine without any controls and even bypass all the security measures it might have!¡± Lexton said. ¡°They can basically make things like tanks, drones or even computers work against their owners without so much as putting a finger on them! There are stories of skilled technomancers controlling entire armies of different mechanical weapons on their own!¡±

    ¡°Wait, Arnie can do something like THAT!?¡± Ryle exclaimed out of surprise as she turned to look at said cat boy with wide eyes. ¡°I knew you were capable, but to think you¡¯re badass on top of being cute¡­¡±

    ¡°N-N-Now hang on! I can¡¯t do anything like that!¡± Arkay said quickly. ¡°While I can control machinery with my abilities, I can only manipulate a couple at the same time at most! Not to mention, the more complex a machine is, the harder it is for me to control it! I can¡¯t control an army of robots or anything like that!¡±

    ¡°You might not be able to now, but you can in the future. The thing about magical powers is that their potential is practically limitless,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t control an army at once, it¡¯s still an incredible ability. Do you have any idea about the potential you hold in your hands when there is machinery pretty much everywhere? You can turn practically anything into your weapon or get your hands on any information you could ever want. And that is just the start of the things you could do.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure I can live up to such great expectations, but I¡¯ll do my best,¡± the cat boy said with a slight blush.

    ¡°Whatever the case is, it¡¯s your special ability that is needed this time,¡± Erin stated, getting everyone¡¯s attention on her again. ¡°With your ability to control machines, you should be able to take control of the panel inside the guard post and turn off the electricity to the fence. Once that is done, the rest of us can get inside.¡±

    ¡°Hold on! Arnie might have an ability suitable for this, but I¡¯m still not okay with the idea of sending him on his own!¡± Ryle protested. ¡°Besides, I doubt he even could use his ability to do what you¡¯re suggesting! I doubt the guards are just going to let him come in and do what he wants!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he needs to be right next to the control panel to use his ability on it,¡± Lexton said thoughtfully. ¡°Since magic doesn¡¯t have a physical form, he could send magical power through an open window or a crack in the wall to the control panel and take it over that way. I believe that¡¯s how technomancers are able to operate.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but-!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, whatever you might say, the fact of the matter is that Arnie is our best way of getting in. There¡¯s no question about it.¡± the kobold said, cutting off the blonde. ¡°However, it¡¯s not up to you, me or Erin whether he agrees to do it. It¡¯s Arnie himself who can decide upon that.¡±

    The other members of the group all turned their attention to the cat boy, who was nervously staring at them. In a way, it almost looked like a group of bigger kids bullying the smaller one, even if that wasn¡¯t the case at all.

    ¡°Arnie, I¡¯m going to be completely honest with you. What I am asking you to do is very dangerous and there is a good chance that you may lose your life. This plan isn¡¯t even guaranteed to work perfectly,¡± Erin said while looking Arkay straight in the eyes. ¡°Despite this, you are the only one of us that can do this. You have the abilities needed to pull this off, so we really need you for this.¡±

    As Arkay stared down at the ground nervously while contemplating what he had just been told, both Ryle and Lexton were glaring at Erin. The kobold didn¡¯t like how the redhead seemed to be pressuring the cat boy into doing something he might not agree to, while the blonde felt her protective side take over and make her want to tear Erin apart.

    ¡°However, if you don¡¯t want to, you don¡¯t need to go through with this,¡± Erin suddenly said, surprising everyone. Arkay looked up to see the redhead smiling at him. ¡°I am in no way going to force you into doing something that you do not want to. That would make me just as bad as the people that we are trying to defeat. If you don¡¯t want to do this, we can come up with another plan entirely. The choice is yours.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll do it,¡± Arkay said after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to sneak in and help the rest of you get inside.¡±

    ¡°Arnie, no!¡± Ryle protested. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this! Just let us figure something out and-!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thankful for your concern, but I¡¯ve made up my mind,¡± the cat boy said, silencing the blonde¡¯s protests. ¡°Besides, considering what we are trying to accomplish, I shouldn¡¯t just leave all the dangerous work to you guys. I need to do my part for the team as well.¡±

    Erin walked up to Arkay and put both hands on his shoulders. She looked at him straight in the eyes in order to see if there were any signs of bluffing, before asking a question from him.

    ¡°Arnie, are you sure about this?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I know I told you that we need your abilities for this, but you can still back out if you¡¯re not certain. The choice is yours. So are you absolutely certain that you want to go through with my plan?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the cat boy answered without even a hint of hesitation. ¡°Please trust me with this.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. I believe you,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°But don¡¯t worry about simply going out there on your own. We¡¯ll be right behind you and we¡¯re going to help you out in case things go bad, got it?¡±

    Arkay gave a nod in response, before he was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace by a certain blonde.

    ¡°Aaaah! That was so cool of you, Arnie! You¡¯re way manlier than I thought!¡± Ryle said as she rubbed her cheek on the top of the cat boy¡¯s head. ¡°Even if I want to, I can no longer bring myself to stop you! I don¡¯t know whether I should be happy or sad!¡±

    The sudden show of affection was brought to an end by the sound of Lexton clearing his throat. It seemed like the kobold had something to tell the group.

    ¡°While I¡¯m happy that we have a plan, there are still some details that we need to go through, so let¡¯s not get too comfortable just yet,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Also there are some things that I need to show you all.¡±

    ¡°What would those be?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The latest pieces from my workshop,¡± the kobold answered with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will both like them quite a bit.¡±

    Lexton walked up to a bag that he had brought along and opened it. From inside the bag he pulled out two weapons and handed them to Erin and Ryle. For the redhead it was a two-handed sword that had a chamber where the sword¡¯s hand guard would have been. The chamber looked like one for a pistol, where the bullet would be located in. The blade itself was only on one side of the sword, leaving the other one blunt, and the side of it had runes covering it. As for the blonde, she received what seemed to be a long whip, but it seemed to be made of a metallic material and had a small switch where the handle was.

    ¡°So, what do you guys think about your new equipment?¡± Lexton asked with a smile. ¡°Am I great or am I great?¡±

    ¡°This is very impressive work, Lex!¡± Erin said as she stared at her sword in awe. ¡°Could you explain some of the things in this sword, like this chamber and the runes, though?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to. The chamber is meant for magical stones, like the one I put on Arnie¡¯s knife,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°Depending on the type of stone you use, it will bring out different effects on the blade itself. I unfortunately only have a basic fire stone, so that will have to do for now. As for the runes, they¡¯re there to give basic upgrades to the sword, such as making it more durable and such. Do you like it?¡±

    ¡°Quite a lot. Thank you very much,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad we partnered up with you.¡±

    ¡°Nice that you¡¯re seeing just how good I truly am,¡± Lexton said with a grin, before turning his attention to Ryle. ¡°How about you? What do you think about the weapon I gave you?¡±

    ¡°...Since when did I ever give you the impression that I was into kinky stuff like this?¡± Ryle asked while scratching her head in confusion, as she stared at her weapon. ¡°Do I really give that kind of a vibe to people?¡±

    ¡°...That is NOT why I made that weapon for you, you goddamn pea-brained mongoloid!¡± the kobold yelled angrily. ¡°The reason I made you a whip is because you could use something with more range than just your arms and legs! Not to mention, you can use it to restrain opponents, so you can use that big finishing move of yours on them!¡±

    ¡°Oh! That makes sense!¡± the blonde said with a happy look on her face, as she started to consider what she could actually do with such a weapon. ¡°By the way, what is this switch?¡±

    ¡°I built a mechanism into it that allows you to send an electric shock to an enemy through the whip,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°However, since you can¡¯t use magic, it¡¯s powered by a battery that will require recharging after three-¡±

    ¡°YEE-OUCH!¡±

    ¡°...Two uses,¡± the kobold finished with a sigh as he rubbed his snout out of frustration. ¡°Please try not to waste them any more.¡±

    ¡°Noted¡­¡± came Ryle¡¯s reply.

    With their equipment and idea for infiltration ready, the group began to work on the finer points of the plan. They would commence their attack tomorrow, once the sun had set.

    That¡¯s when they would get their revenge on Lune.

 41. Attack In The Night

    Chapter 41

    Attack In The Night

    It was the next night after the day the group had made their plan of attack and they were hiding behind the corner of a building near Lune¡¯s military base. All four of them were on the lookout for any vehicles that would be heading towards the base for them to initiate their plan.

    ¡°Alright, you remember the plan, Arnie?¡± Erin asked. ¡°As soon as a vehicle gets close to the gate, you need to activate your invisibility spell and run over there. Then you just have to sneak in as quietly as possible and deactivate the fence once the guards have gone back to their normal stations.¡±

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll make sure no one notices me,¡± the cat boy said confidently.

    ¡°Remember, if you think this is getting too risky even for a second, I want you to run back here and forget about the mission,¡± the redhead added. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to risk your own life unnecessarily.¡±

    ¡°Erin, even before we met each other, I was risking my life,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°Remember that I¡¯ve been robbing heavily guarded mansions and military buildings. Risk is something I¡¯m used to. The only difference now is that I¡¯m targeting someone far bigger than before.¡±

    Despite not liking the idea of sending her young friend to such a dangerous place, Erin couldn¡¯t help but smile at the cat boy¡¯s confidence. She just hoped that she wouldn¡¯t come to regret asking him to join their group.

    ¡°Awww man! I was thinking about asking you to not go through with this, but how can I do it now that you¡¯ve shown such a cool side of yourself!?¡± Ryle whined as she pulled Arkay into a hug, causing the boy to blush. ¡°I was going to tell you to leave this whole matter to big sis here, but now I can¡¯t bring myself to do it!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I think that¡¯s enough,¡± Lexton said as he pulled Arkay away from the blonde. ¡°Our friend here has a big job ahead of him.¡±

    ¡°Jerk!¡± Ryle whined as she stuck her tongue out at the kobold.

    ¡°Yeah, whatever¡­¡± Lexton mumbled before turning his attention towards Arkay. ¡°You can do this, Arnie. Just remember to stay calm and this will be an easy job for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°Thanks, Lex.¡±

    Just as the group finished their talk, a military truck suddenly came into their view, approaching the gates of the base. It was now time for them to initiate their plan.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your chance!¡± Erin said to Arkay.

    As soon as he heard it was time to act, the cat boy nodded and cast his spell before running out of their hiding spot. Just as he stepped out into the street, Arkay¡¯s body seemed to completely vanish, like he was never there to begin with. The only one who could still tell that the cat boy was anywhere near them was Ryle, whose nose was able to pick out Arkay¡¯s scent.

    However, just as the cat boy disappeared from view, Lexton noticed something that made his eyes go wide from shock. There was a special logo on the side of the truck that had just arrived. The logo itself depicted a shield that had four emblems on it. These emblems were a halberd, an icicle, a wolf and a tiger.

    As soon as he saw the logo, the kobold recognized it and realized the danger they were. He tried to stop Arkay from going, but by then it was already too late. The cat boy had gone in and they could only hope for the best.

    ¡°Man, that spell of his is really something. I doubt they¡¯ll even realize what¡¯s happening, when Arnie gets into action,¡± Erin said with a smile, before noticing the distressed state the kobold was in. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°I fear we might have made a terrible miscalculation,¡± Lexton said with a horrified look on his face. ¡°Arnie¡¯s in grave danger now.¡±

    ¡°What!? The hell are you saying!?¡± Ryle asked upon hearing that the cat boy was in danger. ¡°I thought you were onboard with this plan and said he could pull it off!¡±

    ¡°I was, but I didn¡¯t think that truck would be coming here,¡± the kobold said as he pointed at the vehicle that had just arrived. ¡°If I¡¯m right about who are in there, then we probably should have just forgotten about this whole mission completely.¡±

    ¡°...Who are they?¡± Erin asked, fearing what they might have gotten themselves into. ¡°Some sort of a special unit?¡±

    ¡°I guess you could say that. They are called The Four War Maidens,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, they used to serve another lord, who was a true nobleman that helped his subjects. However, when The Five Overlords began their conquest, he was betrayed by one of his closest servants, Lune.¡±

    ¡°Hang on, you mean to tell me that those four got screwed over by Lune as well!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Why are you afraid of them!? Can we just ask them to join us, so we can go after Lune together!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunately no longer possible,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°Once Lune took over, he put those four through a special training regiment designed to break their spirits and turn them into his loyal dogs, which consisted of physical and mental torture, along with mind-altering drugs. None of those four are the noble warriors they used to be, but mad dogs looking to cause death and destruction whenever their master orders it.¡±

    ¡°If such people were here, why didn¡¯t you tell us about it!?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I heard that they were sent to suppress an uprising away from here, so I didn¡¯t think that they would be here any longer,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°They must have finished their campaign much earlier than expected! To think that they would return now¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, what the hell are we gonna do now!?¡± Ryle asked with a hint of panic in her voice as she was worried over Arkay. ¡°Arnie has already gone there! How can we get him back!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s nothing we can do, except hope for the best,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that Arnie either doesn¡¯t get noticed or that he realizes the danger and comes back to us.¡±

    Erin cast a worried look towards the gate, knowing that somewhere in that area her young friend was risking his life for them. Even though she knew that it was pointless at this point, she couldn¡¯t help but regret coming up with this plan in the first place.

    Meanwhile with Arkay, the cat boy was using his invisibility to get close to the truck as it stopped right in front of the gate. The sound of the vehicle¡¯s engine was enough to cover most sounds he made, but Arkay still made sure to be as silent as possible. At this point, one minor mistake could easily get him detected and possibly cost his life.

    As soon as the gate opened and a guard walked up to the truck¡¯s driver, Arkay began to hold his breath in order to create as little sound as possible. His spell might deceive sight, but people¡¯s other senses wouldn¡¯t be so easily fooled, so he had to do his best to avoid being detected by them.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    As the guard was talking to the truck¡¯s driver, the cat boy put his experience as a professional thief into use by quickly and quietly sneaking past the guard. Once he had done that, he easily made his way pas the gate and inside the base.

    Now that he was inside, Arkay began to quickly look around himself for a place to hide. His spell wasn¡¯t going to last much longer, so he needed to find a spot where he wouldn¡¯t be noticed. The cat boy spotted a dark space between two of the nearby buildings with a couple of trash cans as well. He then quickly sprinted over there and hid behind the cans before letting his invisibility go, as he was now hidden in the shadows.

    With the cover of darkness now shielding him, Arkay started to analyze his current situation and how to accomplish his next objective. He needed to get back to the guard station, so that he could turn off the electricity to the fence and allow the others to get in. For a moment, he simply hid in the darkness, memorizing the positions of the guards, cameras and watchtowers that were around him. After he got the hang of the routine these were moving in, he waited for the best moment to move out. Once it came, he cast his invisibility spell again and took off running.

    Navigating through the patrolling guards and spotlights from the watchtowers, Arkay made his way to the guard station at the gate. As soon as he reached it, he pressed his body against the wall and began to slowly move closer towards the window. When he got there, he started to prepare his techomancer magic and had it move inside through the cracks in the window.

    Now came the tricky part, as Arkay couldn¡¯t tell where the fence¡¯s control panel was exactly. He was used to using his sight to direct his magic, but now he was basically moving blind, forced to rely on his knowledge of the guard station from what he had seen. It took him a bit of time, but he was finally able to make a connection with an electric device. Once this happened, information rushed into his head, showing him everything he was now connected to. He had gotten what he was looking for.

    The guards themselves didn¡¯t notice anything happening, being too occupied with their card game and conversation. From what Arkay could tell, they were talking about some special new arrivals at the base, who were apparently very scary to them. That was unfortunately all the cat boy could gather, due to being preoccupied with his magic and couldn¡¯t hear all that well due to the window being closed.

    Whatever the case was, Arkay had accomplished his mission. The electricity of the fence had been turned off without anyone noticing. With his first objective accomplished, he sent out a signal to his comrades by lighting a small flame on his hand to tell them that he had succeeded, before rushing back to his hiding spot.

    Looking around, Arkay quickly spotted his companions getting over the fence. With the electricity off, they could now touch it without being fried. First, they sent Lexton out with a pair of cutters to cut some of the barbed wire at the top. Once this was done, he got down on the other side, thus allowing the next one to follow up behind him. After the kobold, it was Ryle¡¯s turn, who was then followed by Erin, who also place the barbed wire back in such a way that it wouldn¡¯t look like it had been cut through.

    The three newcomers quickly spotted their young friend and rushed to his side. Now the whole team was gathered and they could get to the next phase of their plan.

    ¡°Awesome work, Arnie!¡± Ryle whispered with a big grin as she hugged the cat boy tightly. ¡°You¡¯re the real MVP today!¡±

    ¡°I agree with Ryle. Good job, Arnie,¡± Erin said quietly with a smile. ¡°I was worried over you, but I¡¯m glad to see that it was unnecessary. You¡¯re a really amazing guy.¡±

    ¡°T-Thanks,¡± Arkay said with a blush on his face.

    ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to join the celebration, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have the time,¡± Lexton said in a serious tone. ¡°We may have passed our first obstacle, but there¡¯s still a lot ahead of us.¡±

    All eyes turned on the kobold, as he said this. Being reminded of the struggles ahead brought them back to reality and they started to make plans for their next move.

    ¡°Alright, so how do we move from here then?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I¡¯m all for busting through the front door and taking down everyone that gets in the way, but I doubt the rest of you are fine with that idea.¡±

    ¡°Good to see that you¡¯re at least somewhat learning. Luckily, we won¡¯t have to run around completely blind, as I managed to get my hands on this a couple of days ago,¡± Lexton said as he pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket and began to unfold it. ¡°It cost me quite a bit, so we better make the best use of it.¡±

    Once he was done unfolding it, the kobold put the paper on the ground for everyone to see. On it was a map of the military base. While it didn¡¯t have that many details on it, it gave you a general idea of where everything was.

    ¡°You would be surprised by how many people want Lune dead and are willing to pay a lot of money for even the smallest pieces of info that could help them,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°These things sell very well, so I was lucky to get my hands on one.¡±

    The map had the watchtowers and buildings marked on it, along with a few other important spots. There were simple descriptions for all of the locations, which included things like main building, vehicle storage, training grounds and so on. Even if it didn¡¯t go into too much detail, one could get a good idea as to where everything was.

    ¡°Alright, so where¡¯s that Lune bastard then?¡± Ryle asked as she cracked her knuckles in anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m looking towards getting a hold of him.¡±

    ¡°He should be in the main building, but we can¡¯t simply march in there,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°The main building is the most heavily guarded place in this whole base. Going there right away would only get us killed.¡±

    ¡°Should we get some uniform to disguise ourselves?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I doubt that would work. Security is pretty tight around there, so simple disguises wouldn¡¯t work,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Not to mention, with The Four War Maidens there, us getting discovered would only be a matter of seconds.¡±

    ¡°The four what?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°...Oh right. You weren¡¯t there,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°Please listen closely and try not to panic¡­¡±

    The kobold went on to explain just what type of people had been inside the truck he had sneaked past and just how much danger he had been in. The cat boy was, to say the least, quite shocked by what he learned, which turned his face pale.

    ¡°Y-Y-Y-You mean to tell me monsters like that were right next to me?¡± Arkay managed to squeak out. ¡°I had no idea¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you were kind of in the middle of infiltrating, so we couldn¡¯t really call out to you,¡± Lexton said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. ¡°Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now, though. We got inside thanks to your help and we are just a few steps away from completing our mission here,¡± Erin said with an encouraging smile. ¡°You can leave the rest to us from this point on.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Don¡¯t you worry about a thing, Arnie!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°We can handle those ¡°Four Battle Girlies¡± or whatever they are! You just hang tight and leave it to us!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m afraid that he won¡¯t be able to simply sit back and watch,¡± Lexton said in a serious tone, getting the attention of his comrades. ¡°If we face those four together, we will only face one thing for certain. Death. The Four War Maidens have gone through countless battlefields, bringing death and destruction everywhere they go. Not only are all four incredibly powerful, but they are most lethal when working together. Facing them all would be a suicide.¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that you¡¯re all worried about them and all, but aren¡¯t you overestimating them a bit?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, they couldn¡¯t notice Arnie sneaking past them, which I could do easily. I doubt they¡¯re as good as you say they are.¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯ll admit that I am surprised they didn¡¯t notice him, especially since one of them, Blair, is apparently an incredible tracker, we cannot underestimate them,¡± the kobold said. ¡°What I propose is that we try to at least separate some of them from Lune. For that we need someone to cause a large enough distraction to draw the attention of those four.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that you already have a plan for this?¡± Erin asked to which Lexton nodded. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Arkay is going to sneak into the vehicle storage. There should be things like robots and power armors there. Once he finds them, he will use his technomancer powers on them to make them move and start attacking the base,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°With all the chaos he will surely cause, it will certainly draw the attention of The Four War Maidens. With them distracted, Lune should be defenseless, thus allowing others to go and finish him off.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°I¡¯m not putting Arnie into any more danger than he already has!¡±

    ¡°I have to agree with Ryle. What you¡¯re asking in unreasonable,¡± Erin said with a glare. ¡°Even if your plan works, it would make Arnie into a sacrifice! If you don¡¯t think all of us together could take those four down, then I doubt he would be able to do it on his own!¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ I-I did come here expecting danger, so-¡± Arkay tried to speak up, only to be shut down.

    ¡°NO,¡± both Erin and Ryle said sternly in unison, silencing the cat boy.

    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about him facing The Four War Maidens alone, you don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± Lexton suddenly said, getting the attention of the others. ¡°You see, while Arnie is doing his part, there will be another distraction happening around the prison. Not only will this prevent all four of them from going after Arnie, but he should have a pretty good chance of sneaking away as well, seeing as how he is skilled in that area.¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s at least a bit better,¡± Erin said, thinking about the plan. ¡°But who is going to be causing that other distraction near the prison?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the kobold asked with a smirk. ¡°That will be my job.¡±

    While the four companions were discussing their plans, they didn¡¯t realize that there was actually someone looking for them. And this person was being followed by their own group of companions as well.

    ¡°Blair, what got into you suddenly?¡± one of the members of the group asked the person looking around the base. ¡°As soon as we got to the base, you¡¯ve been weirdly on edge and you¡¯ve been constantly sniffing the air. Did your nose finally get messed up from sniffing around the ground all the time?¡±

    ¡°Hey, lay off her, Yin!¡± another one said to the first one, this one sounding a bit younger and more energetic than the first. ¡°You know that her nose has never failed us, so we should see what she¡¯s trying to find! It could be something fun!¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Your barbarian intellect may not realize it, but catching someone sneaking into the base would surely please General Lune greatly,¡± another one said, this one having an arrogant and cold tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯d rather not waste a good opportunity. So would you mind and cease your brainless complaining? It gives me a headache.¡±

    ¡°Up yours, Schwarz!¡± the one called Yin yelled at the one with the cold tone. ¡°And Ray, why are you so into this? Wouldn¡¯t you rather go and play with the prisoners or do something else that¡¯s fun? We just got back from a long mission!¡±

    ¡°You forget that the most fun thing for me is to kill people with my baby! So if a chance for that comes up, I¡¯ll gladly take it!¡± the one called Ray said happily. ¡°Anyways, what are we exactly looking for, Blair?¡±

    ¡°I smell a cat. And it¡¯s a very big one,¡± the one called Blair answered in a monotone voice.

 42. Hunting

    Chapter 42

    Hunting

    Two small figures moved through the shadows of the military base, avoiding guards and cameras with expert skills. The soldiers stationed at the base were so certain of their security measures and overwhelming military might that none of them would ever consider the idea that someone would try, let alone succeed, in breaking in. This lax attitude helped the small infiltrators in moving unseen, although they still had to be extremely cautious. One slip would immediately have them noticed, which would be followed by the alarm ringing and soldiers swarming the place.

    Lexton and Arkay were both currently moving together. They were heading for a point where they could break off towards their separate destinations.

    After finding a pile of crates that they could hide behind, the two stopped there to take one last look at their map. The kobold unfolded it on the ground so that they could both have a look at it.

    ¡°Alright, so here¡¯s the plan,¡± Lexton said as he began to point at certain spots on the map. ¡°You head towards the vehicle storage. There should be something over there that you can take control over and cause some massive chaos. While you¡¯re doing that, I¡¯ll head over to the prison and use my golems and other trinkets to do the same there. Does that sound good?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But can I ask you something?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°What is it about the prison that makes you want to go there so badly?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s in another spot of the base, so we can use it to divide Lune¡¯s special guard better,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Isn¡¯t that good enough reason for me to do this?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s not the real reason,¡± the cat boy said, surprising his companion. ¡°The moment you brought it up, your tone of voice has changed. Even the look in your eyes is different. So could you tell me what¡¯s in there that is so important to you?¡±

    ¡°...I can¡¯t. Sorry,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Just know that there is someone important for me there that I want to save.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for me,¡± Arkay said with a small smile. ¡°I hope that you¡¯ll find the person you¡¯re looking for and get out of here safely.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie. I hope you stay safe as well.¡±

    With that the two ran off into different directions, their goals clear for both.

    Making his way past the security, Arkay made his way to the vehicle storage. Using his invisibility again, he was able to get through a door that had an electrical lock on it. Now that he was inside, he could start looking for something to use for causing a distraction. It didn¡¯t take long for him to find something that was perfect for it.

    Before him stood gigantic power armors that were taller than most houses. Both arms had large gatling guns and missile launchers on the shoulders. There were a total of three of them, which was more than enough for the cat boy.

    Climbing up a ladder that took him to a walkway that led to the cockpits of the power armors, Arkay got ready to perform his spell and take control of one of the armors. He stood behind one of the three metallic giants, as he took a deep breath and got to work.

    Lifting his hands up, the cat boy began to cast his spell. Soon, silver light began to come forth from his palms, like a small glowing cloud. Like a gas seeping through every opening, the magic entered the power armor and began to take ot over from within. Sweat began to fall down Arkay¡¯s face as he strained himself to take over the giant made of metal.

    Suddenly, the power armor began to light up as it¡¯s engines turned on. The takeover had been a success.

    A couple of soldiers below had noticed the sounds coming from the machine. Confused as to why such a powerful war machine was suddenly activated when no one seemed to have been alerted to it, they began to loudly ask questions as to who was operating the machine. However, their questions fell on deaf ears, as the power armor soon began to move, causing the soldiers to scatter in a panic.

    Luckily for Arkay, he didn¡¯t have to remain in control of a machine he had taken over. He could essentially leave his magical energy into a machine and give it a simple command to follow. By doing this, he could leave it to perform whatever duty he had assigned to it and leave. The downside was that doing this required quite a bit of magic and could even prove dangerous, if he wasn¡¯t careful. He could only give out simple orders, after all. If he happened to get in the way of a machine performing those simple orders, he would get killed just like anything else.

    The cat boy wasn¡¯t planning to stay close to the mechanical monster he had unleashed, though. With his job of providing a distraction to his friends fulfilled, he could run away and hide, hopefully as far away as possible from the chaos that was currently unfolding.

    Climbing down the ladder from the platform, Arkay got a good view of just how much destruction he had caused and he felt cold sweat run down his back. Smoke and fire was everywhere, as the large power armor had gone into a complete rampage, shooting everywhere blindly with all of its weaponry. Screams of panic and pain could be heard between the sounds of gunfire and explosions, as the power armor continued its one machine war against the base.

    Seeing the death and destruction he had caused almost caused Arkay to vomit. This wasn¡¯t his first time using his magical abilities in such a way, but he had never done anything to this extent. He had never even seriously harmed a person before, let alone killed somebody. But now? With one action, he had essentially created a scene from hell itself and the realization of this made his whole body tremble.

    However, he knew that this wasn¡¯t the time to be thinking about such things. His friends needed him to do this, so that they could avenge the things Lune had done to all of them. He could cry about this later.

    Steeling his resolve, Arkay left the vehicle storage, slipping away unnoticed due to the chaos. Just as he thought he had gotten away, he heard someone speak to him. And it wasn¡¯t anyone he knew.

    ¡°Oh my, what do we have here?¡± a female voice asked playfully, causing Arkay to stop in his tracks and turn to where the voice had come from. ¡°It looks like we have a naughty little kitty here, causing mischief.¡±

    Before the cat boy stood two young women. One was a woman with very long black hair and a pair of dog ears on top of her head. She was dressed in a gray trench coat with a white shirt underneath it, black pants and a black bow tie, along with black high-heeled boots. For weaponry, she was wielding two long katana swords and had a pistol strapped to her side. Her expression was stoic and her eyes seemed to lack any emotion.

    The other one had a spiky wild mane of blonde hair and was dressed in what looked like biker attire, which consisted of a black leather jacket, black pants and brown boots. On her hands were a pair of large golden gauntlets that covered her hands. She had a wide grin on her face that looked insane.

    Arkay immediately knew that these two were part of The Four War Maidens. His face turned pale as soon as he realized this.

    ¡°It seems like we need to teach this bad kitty some manners, huh?¡± the crazy blonde said with a chuckle as she cracked her knuckles, before turning to her partner. ¡°What do you think, Blair? How long do you think he¡¯s going to last playing with us?¡±

    ¡°Yin, you know the answer to that already,¡± Blair answered with a small smirk as she took out her swords. ¡°They never last long enough for us to be satisfied.¡±

    Back with Lexton, right after he had parted ways with Arkay, the kobold had made his way to the prison that was located in the base. This place didn¡¯t hold ordinary criminals, but those specifically caught by the military. These included rebels, military traitors and other people that were deemed high-risk by those in charge. Getting sent here mostly meant that you would never live a single day as a free man ever again, as you would first be questioned through the use of some of the most brutal methods possible. If you gave the information the military heads wanted, depending on the case you¡¯d either be executed right away or you¡¯d get sent to a labor camp. Both of these were essentially a death sentence, but staying in the military prison was often seen as the worst option, as you would be continuously tortured until you would break.

    The reason Lexton had come here was because there was someone he knew should still be in there. For as long as he had been in Moonstone City, he had used his resources to keep track of the people that were taken out of there, just so he could have a chance to break out that single person.

    The person in question was Lexton¡¯s father. The man who had taught him how to make weapons and armor, along with runes.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Thanks to his father¡¯s guidance, the young kobold had been able to get the skills necessary to start his own businesses. Unfortunately, before he could learn all that the older kobold could teach him, Lune had come into the picture. The general knew about the high-quality equipment the kobolds could make and wanted his hands on it. The general had asked Lexton¡¯s father to write down all information in regards to runes and other secret techniques he had in manufacturing weapons and had offered an enormous amount of money. However, Lexton¡¯s father knew that doing so would come at a great cost to his people. Not to mention, he didn¡¯t trust the general at all. Because of this, he refused the offer.

    This sadly led to a tragedy that would scar Lexton forever, as Lune¡¯s men tracked down where he and his father were. It didn¡¯t take long for the soldiers to attack them and take the older kobold prisoner, leaving his son all alone.

    Gathering as much as he could from their ruined workshop, Lexton set out to start his own business in the hopes of earning money to free his father. At first, he had tried to be a legitimate businessman, selling only authentic products that were worth the price. This hadn¡¯t worked out as well as he had hoped, as persecution towards kobolds was strong in the area, reducing the customers willing to pay for his wares greatly. If that hadn¡¯t been bad enough, there were also those who took advantage of a kobold¡¯s naturally weaker build and would rob him of all the valuables that he had.

    Because of this, Lexton became very bitter against against other people that weren¡¯t kobolds like himself. Going through the notes his father had left him before being taken away, Lexton learned as much as he could about runes and creation of golems. This led to him creating the products that he began to market to people, only to sell them completely useless junk instead.

    With the money he had gathered, Lexton got his hands on as much information in regards to the military base his father was held in. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t get much in regards to this and what he did get basically told him that his endeavor was fruitless. Eventually, he pretty much gave up on the whole thing, but remained in the area in the hopes of possibly getting a chance to fulfill his goal.

    Upon meeting Erin¡¯s group, the hope of possibly rescuing his father returned. And now he had gotten very close to actually making it true.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming, father,¡± Lexton muttered to himself. ¡°Sorry for making you wait for so long.¡±

    Suddenly, a lot of the soldiers seemed to panic and start yelling, which was followed by sounds of explosion and gunfire. The kobold immediately realized that Arkay had started his part of the distraction.

    ¡°Wow, he went way above my expectations,¡± Lexton chuckled to himself, as he watched in slight awe at what the cat boy had done. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t just sit here on my ass. I gotta get to work as well.¡±

    Taking four vials out of his jacket, the kobold poured their contents on the ground. Three of them were similar golems to the one he had used to defeat Ryle in the underground arena, while the third one had a lighter color. With his manufactured monsters released. He sent them out to cause destruction and chaos.

    Two of the darker colored ones simply went to cause mayhem around them, catching a couple of soldiers off-guard, before the others began to fight against them. The lighter colored one went to the entrance of the prison, breaking down the door and moving inside the building with the last of the darker ones following behind. Before any of the guards inside the prison could do anything, the lighter colored golem blew up like a bomb, destroying the entire front lobby with it. There were still guards remaining, but the last of the darker golems soon came upon them.

    With this, Lexton had managed to achieve his two goals. One was to cause a massive distraction, so that his other comrades could go after Lune. The other one was to secure entrance into the prison, so that he could go look for his father.

    The kobold searched the bodies left behind by his golems and soon found a working key card. This would be the method for him to open the cell door to his father. He still needed to figure out where the older kobold was being held precisely, but luckily for him there was a way for him to do that as well. The computer used by the receptionist at the front lobby was still operational, so he could use that to access the prison¡¯s database. After some searching, he found the cell his father was in and started to run towards it.

    There were still some guards in the prison that were only now heading to the chaos outside, but thanks to their attention being drawn to the golems, Lexton was able to avoid them easily. It didn¡¯t take long for him to locate the cell of his father and he was soon opening the door with the key card.

    Lexton held his breath in anticipation as the large metal door opened and let him into the cell. The inside was pretty much what one would expect. There was a simple bed on the left side of the room, a toilet in one of the corners and a desk with a chair. Much to the kobold¡¯s joy, a familiar figure was sitting on the chair with his body slumped over the desk.

    ¡°F-Father¡­ It¡¯s been a while,¡± Lexton managed to say as he struggled not to start crying, even as a couple of tears fell fom his eyes. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry I took so long to get you¡­ I swear I never forgot about you! That¡¯s not why it took so long! This place was really hard to get to and-!¡±

    It was during his explanation that the kobold finally realized something that made his blood freeze. There was a horrid smell in the air that was familiar to him. Not only that, but his father wasn¡¯t moving at all. His body was completely still.

    ¡°...No,¡± Lexton said almost inaudibly, not willing to believe what his mind had just realized. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ Please, tell me it isn¡¯t¡­! FATHER!¡±

    With tears falling freely from his eyes, the young kobold ran up to his father, only to confirm what he hoped wasn¡¯t true. The older kobold was dead. And judging by the state of his body, he had been dead for a long time already.

    ¡°NO! NO! No! No¡­! No¡­¡± Lexton screamed in anguish with his voice becoming a whisper at the end. Falling on his knees, he began to sob uncontrollably. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. If I only had been faster¡­¡±

    ¡°No need to blame yourself too much. There wasn¡¯t really anything you could have done,¡± a female voice suddenly called out to Lexton, causing him to look up. ¡°Even if you had gotten in here a couple of years ago, it would have been the same. That kobold was already dead by then.¡±

    The person that had spoken was a rather short young woman with white hair pulled into a long ponytail. She was dressed in what looked like a combination of a blue regal dress and a knight¡¯s armor, as she had metallic coverings on her shoulders, stomach and legs. In her hands was a long staff that was made of metal with a shiny blue crystal on the end. She also had a cold aura surrounding her body and the gaze in her blue eyes could freeze you from the inside.

    ¡°You¡­ What did you just say?¡± Lexton asked as he stood up. ¡°What do you mean by my father being already dead? What did you bastards do to him!? ANSWER ME!¡±

    ¡°So vulgar¡­ I see that your kind are truly the lowest of the low,¡± the white-haired woman said as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°But seeing as you¡¯re that thing¡¯s spawn, I suppose it¡¯s only to be expected. Too bad I doubt I can expect you to simply kill yourself, like he did.¡±

    ¡°He¡­ What?¡± the kobold asked in shock. ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­ You have to be! Why would my father kill himself!? He¡¯s not someone that would be afraid of any methods you bastards would use for torture!¡±

    ¡°Are even your brains of low quality or are you just too stupid to see why?¡± the white-haired woman asked with a frustrated sigh. ¡°While it¡¯s true that he never broke under any of our questioning methods, he apparently changed his mind when he heard his son get mentioned. General Lune was planning to use him as a way to get to you, thinking that you would try to save him at some point.¡±

    ¡°My father¡­ killed himself in order to protect me?¡± Lexton asked as he began to see what had happened. ¡°So that¡¯s why his body was never transferred¡­ Lune wanted to keep up the illusion that my father might still be alive, so that I would actually come to him. And now I have played right into his hands¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly. You¡¯re finally catching on,¡± the white-haired woman said. ¡°Now, will you surrender willingly or will I have to get rough with you? I¡¯m sure General Lune would like to have you brought to him alive. I don¡¯t even know why, as I doubt anything your kind could offer us would be of any use at all. Still, orders are orders and all that. So what will it be?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I promise you that what we¡¯ve got to offer is far from useless,¡± the kobold said as he glared at the woman and got ready for battle. ¡°In fact, you¡¯re in luck. For the first time in my life, I honestly just want to kill someone, so you get to experience first hand just what my people are capable of.¡±

    ¡°So I¡¯ll have to get rough then¡­ What troublesome beings you kobolds are,¡± the white-haired woman said as she got in a battle stance herself. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m Schwarz, one of The Four War Maidens in service to General Lune. Now that you know who I am, you might want to surrender and make this easier for both of us.¡±

    ¡°That just got me more pumped up, lady,¡± Lexton said as he took out a vial from his jacket. ¡°After all, it was my job to handle at least one of you.¡±

    Meanwhile, with Erin and Ryle, once the two had heard the sounds of Arkay and Lexton causing chaos at their own ends, they started to make their way to the main building of the base. Thanks to the distraction caused by their friends, they were able to get there without encountering too many guards.

    However, neither one of the two, especially Ryle, could help but worry about their two friends. The problem with being the one to cause a distraction was that all attention would be on you. Not only would they have the whole base looking in their direction, but there was also the case of The Four War Maidens as well. In the worst case scenario, either Arkay or Lexton might end up having to deal with all four of them at once, which no one in the group believed was something any of them could handle.

    But at the end of the day, all of them had to take a risk and see through it. The success of their whole operation depended on it.

    Despite knowing this, Ryle kept glancing towards the direction where the battles were happening. All she wanted to do was run there and see if the others were alright, especially when it came to Arkay.

    ¡°Ryle, I need you to focus,¡± Erin called out to her friend, having noticed her getting distracted. ¡°You need to think about what¡¯s ahead of us right now. All of this will be for nothing, if we don¡¯t take down Lune.¡±

    ¡°I know that, goddammit!¡± the blonde cursed. ¡°But how am I supposed to not think about Arnie or Lex right now!? Those two are basically taking on an army on their own out there! How long do you think they can survive against such odds!?¡±

    ¡°You seem to forget that both of them are very capable at taking care of themselves. Arnie is very good at hiding himself when he needs to, which allowed him to sneak into places that were about as hard to get in as this base. Lexton, on the other hand, has been able to go on screwing over the crime bosses of this city for who knows how long, which is something most wouldn¡¯t even dare to think of. And need I remind you of how strong his golems are?¡± the redhead said before giving her companion an encouraging smile. ¡°Trust me. Those two can handle themselves better than we can. Besides, we just need to finish up here and then we can go help them out.¡±

    ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll be finishing anything here!¡± a voice called out to the duo, who stopped in their tracks. ¡°Not while I¡¯m here, that is!¡±

    Before Erin and Ryle stood a girl in her teens. She had short bright red hair with a part of it pulled into a small ponytail on the side. She was wearing clothing made from leather, most likely in order to offer protection while keeping it light. She also had a red cape on her back, a red skirt, black boots and an eye patch covering her left eye. In her hands she was holding a long halberd where the blade was very large. Her face had a large grin on it that would have normally looked cute on a girl like her, but the insanity that shined from her lone eye made it more disturbing than anything.

    ¡°I gotta say, I wasn¡¯t expecting to be this lucky!¡± the redheaded girl said cheerfully. ¡°I was certain that I would only get one person here at best, but I actually get to kill two! Who knew drawing the short stick was going to be lead to the best spot!¡±

    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Erin asked, although she could already guess the answer.

    ¡°You mean you don¡¯t actually know me? That¡¯s surprising! I didn¡¯t think there would be any more yokels like you who don¡¯t know about The Four War Maidens!¡± the girl said with a laugh. ¡°But I might as well introduce myself. I¡¯m Ray, leader of The Four War Maidens and your executioner.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll be executing a damn thing after I shove that pole up your ass and turn you into a human lollipop!¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Ryle! Don¡¯t you know what this means!?¡± Erin said, stopping the blonde from charging at the redheaded girl. ¡°If only one of those four is here, then that not only means they knew about us being here, but that the other three are-!¡±

    ¡°Outside hunting your friends,¡± Ray finished for Erin. ¡°They should be done pretty soon, unless they decided to play with their prey a bit. Nasty habit, I know. But who am I to deny someone their fun? Especially when I enjoy it myself.¡±

    Erin grit her teeth in anger that was directed at herself. The worst outcome for Arkay and Lexton had come true, as they were facing three powerful killers. She cursed at herself for not turning around back when they found out about The Four War Maidens being there. Had she only realized the level of danger they had put themselves at, she would have turned back and waited for a better opportunity.

    However, this was the mess they were in now and Erin needed to figure out how they could get out of it. Or else they would all end up dead.

 43. Four Against Four (Part 1)

    Chapter 43

    Four Against Four (Part 1)

    Cold sweat dripped down the back of Erin¡¯s head as she realized just how bad their situation was. Their plan might have been to distract The Four War Maidens into leaving Lune¡¯s side, but this wasn¡¯t what they had hoped for. Since their opponents had known about their infiltration, it meant that their enemies had quickly realized what the plan had been and acted according to it.

    The plan of The Four War Maidens was most likely to send out most of their group to take out the ones causing a distraction quickly, so that the damage to the base itself could be minimized. Once that was done, they could all gather together to finish of the remaining members of the group that were aiming for Lune¡¯s life.

    This might have worked out otherwise for Erin and her friends, but the problem was that there were now three highly skilled killers chasing after the two members of their group that weren¡¯t exactly strong fighters. While both Arkay and Lexton were capable of taking care of themselves, their abilities weren¡¯t the best suited for one on one matches, especially when it came to the cat boy.

    They needed to figure out how to send help to those two and fast, before it was too late.

    ¡°How did you know we were here?¡± Erin asked the crazed girl before her. ¡°We got in here without raising any alarms. I thought that our infiltration was successful.¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no doubt about that! I¡¯d say you guys did a really good job at sneaking in here!¡± Ray said with a slight giggle. ¡°The thing is, though, that your plan apparently didn¡¯t take us into account, did it? You see, one of my teammates, Blair, has a rather keen nose. When we were stopped at the gate, she picked up the smell of a cat for some reason. After sniffing around a bit more, she was able to figure out that there were more of you as well.¡±

    ¡°Then-! Does that mean she chased after that cat smell now!?¡± Ryle asked, increasingly worried over Arkay.

    ¡°I guess¡­ It¡¯s kind of hard to say without being there myself, you know?¡± the redheaded girl said with a shrug. ¡°The other three went to hunt the infiltrators while I stayed here. However, Schwarz did say something about sensing some odd magic in the base, so I¡¯m guessing Blair and Yin are now going after the cat, while she¡¯s investigating that weird magic she sensed or something.¡±

    Erin immediately realized what this meant. Two of their enemies had gone after Arkay by tracking his scent, while the third one had somehow sensed Lexton and gone after him.

    ¡°But does it really matter? I mean, you¡¯re all going to die either way,¡± Ray said as a psychotic smile spread across her face. ¡°I¡¯m personally going to take my time killing you both by cutting you apart piece by piece. Oh, I can hardly wait to hear you two scream and beg for mercy! I¡¯m sure your buddies are currently crying and pleading for death right now as well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that, you one-eyed piece of crap!¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she got ready for battle.

    ¡°Ryle, wait! Don¡¯t fight her!¡± Erin suddenly said. ¡°Go help Arnie instead!¡±

    ¡°Huh!? What are you saying!? You¡¯re gonna take her on by yourself!?¡± the blonde asked with wide eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! You might be tough, but this one¡¯s on a whole different league!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I know that my chances are very slim better than anybody,¡± the redhead said in a surprisingly calm tone. ¡°However, how well do you think Arnie or Lex are going to do? Arnie is especially in trouble, as he¡¯s facing two of these at the same time. So you go help those two out and I¡¯ll see what I can do over here.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll do as you say,¡± Ryle replied, despite obviously being hesitant over it. Just as she turned around to leave, she added, ¡°But don¡¯t you dare get yourself killed, alright!? Once I¡¯m done crushing the other three, I¡¯ll come back with Arnie and Lex to stomp that bitch as well! So hold on until then, got it!?¡±

    ¡°Hey now¡­ Am I being ignored here or something?¡± Ray asked in a deadpan tone as her smile vanished and an irritated look came to her face. Suddenly, she made an insanely fast dash towards Ryle, who could barely react to the crazed girl coming at her with her large halberd readied for a swing. ¡°I¡¯M GONNA KILL BOTH OF YOU HERE! RIGHT NOW!¡±

    The blade of the halberd came down at the blonde, but was intercepted at the last moment by a sword blocking its path. Erin had just barely been able to pull out her new sword and put it in the path of the attack, saving her friend¡¯s life.

    ¡°GET OUT OF HERE, RYLE!¡± the redheaded woman yelled as she tried to push back at Ray.

    ¡°Don¡¯t have to tell me twice!¡± Ryle yelled back as she decided to take a faster route and jumped through a nearby window. Thanks to her learning how to use ki, she was able to strengthen her body enough to survive the fall without taking much damage.

    However, this still hurt like hell, though, which the blonde made obvious by the colorful words she let out upon her landing.

    ¡°Hey! Hands up, you-!¡± a soldier that had been near the area Ryle had landed at yelled at her as he took aim with his gun, only to get his head smashed into the ground.

    ¡°Oh, shut the hell up!¡± Ryle cursed at the soldier. She shot one last glance at the window she had jumped through, before running towards the place Arkay was at. As she ran, she whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare die now, Erin.¡±

    Back with said redhead, she was staring down at her opponent, who seemed to be having some sort of a strange mental breakdown at the moment. Ray was scratching the left side of her face furiously while gritting her teeth. Her face was twisted in a horrible grimace of insanity and fury that would terrify even some of the most hardened of veterans.

    ¡°Hey hey hey¡­ This shit isn¡¯t funny at all, you know? What the hell did you just go and do, huh?¡± the psychotic girl said as her nails drew a bit of blood from her left cheek. ¡°Here I was, actually being happy over losing a game of drawing sticks, as I thought I had gotten super lucky. I mean, I¡¯d actually get to kill two opponents that looked to be decent! And then you go and pull this kind of crap? The hell is up with that?¡±

    ¡°...Is killing really that enjoyable for you?¡± Erin managed to ask, as nervous sweat dripped down the side of her face.

    ¡°Of course it is! It¡¯s what I have always wanted to do!¡± Ray yelled angrily. ¡°For as long as I can remember, all I¡¯ve wanted was to be an awesome and strong warrior! That¡¯s what the four of us set out to do! And what is it that warriors do? Kill people! We kill, kill, kill and kill some more! We burn villages and cities down to the ground and pain the ground red with blood! If I¡¯m not supposed to enjoy all that THEN WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING!? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE FIGHTING FOR!?¡±

    After hearing the insane rant, Erin felt something that she didn¡¯t think was possible. Pity towards the crazed girl. Based on what Lexton had told her, The Four War Maidens had once been noble warriors that were turned into these monsters by Lune. It seemed like they no longer even understood themselves why they were doing the things they did.

    ¡°...I can¡¯t give you any kind of a satisfying answer to your question,¡± Erin said as she got ready with her sword. ¡°But one thing I can say is that I¡¯m not letting you get past me. No matter what.¡±

    ¡°Oh? We¡¯ll see if you can keep up that confidence once I¡¯ve chopped of your limbs!¡± Ray said as she readied herself for battle as well.

    Meanwhile, Lexton was engaged in combat with Schwarz. The kobold smashed one of his vials on the floor, causing a golem to form out of the liquid. The recently created monster immediately went to attack the white-haired woman, but was quickly stopped in its tracks. Schwarz usedher magic to freeze the liquid monstrosity with ease, turning it into an ice statue in just a couple of seconds.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any idea who I am?¡± the spell caster asked with a sigh. ¡°I am Schwarz of The Four War Maidens, also known as The Mistress Of Cold. I¡¯ve frozen entire groups of people without so much as lifting a finger with just my magical abilities alone. Did you think your artificial pet was going to get anywhere near me?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I just expected it to take your attention,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°And I¡¯d say it accomplished that rather well.¡±

    Before the white-haired woman could ask what he meant, an explosion from behind the frozen golem caused it to shatter into numerous sharp pieces that flew at her. While this didn¡¯t really hurt Schwarz, some of the icy shards managed to cute her skin at a couple of places, leaving behind small cuts that were bleeding.

    This caused the spell caster to get quite angry. Not only was a being that she considered lower than herself trying to fight back, but it had actually managed to damage her. This was an offence that she was not about to let slide.

    ¡°Why you impudent little maggot! How dare you cause me harm!?¡± Schwarz cursed as she prepared another spell, this time in the form of icicles that formed in the air, waiting to be launched at her target. ¡°I¡¯m going to make an example of you for the rest of your filthy kind by skinning you alive and hanging your dirty corpse from the city¡¯s outer wall! Maybe then no more of you will dare to-!¡±

    The spell caster¡¯s rant came to an end as she noticed a strange smell. It was a very bitter and burning smell, which could have only come from a really strong chemical of some kind.

    Realizing that this could be a poison gas that her opponent might have released into the air in order to kill her, Schwarz immediately covered her mouth and nose. Her eyes scanned the room before her for any signs of the kobold, but there was still dust and smoke from the earlier explosion blocking her vision. In order to counter this, the white-haired woman canceled her previous spell and instead released a cold burst of air that blew away the dust and smoke.

    Once this was done, the sight before Schwarz made her eyes go wide. The back wall of the room now had a large hole in it, caused by some sort of an acid burning through it. Having used the smoke of the explosion to his advantage, Lexton had then thrown a vial of extremely powerful acid at the wall, which had then melted a hole there for him to escape through.

    This served to anger Schwarz even more.

    ¡°You¡­ YOU¡¯RE RUNNING AWAY!?¡± the spell caster yelled in rage. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this! After all that big talk, you escape like a coward!? I didn¡¯t have a high opinion of your kind before, but now I absolutely despise you! When I¡¯m done with you, I¡¯m setting off on my own crusade to wipe your filthy species off the face of the world!¡±

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    Once done with her declaration, Schwarz stomped her way through the newly made hole, following after her opponent. The cold aura around her body was intensifying as her anger flared up her magical powers. She looked around at where she had ended up at and saw it was another section of the prison with another set of cells. Much to her disappointment and rising fury, though, Lexton was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Hiding like a coward? I guess I shouldn¡¯t be too surprised,¡± the white-haired woman said as she prepared another spell. ¡°Well, it won¡¯t matter much. I¡¯ll find you soon enough and then I¡¯ll-¡±

    The threat was quickly interrupted, as Schwarz failed to notice a rune on the wall next to her. This was a special one that imbued the powes of fire in an object. However, Lexton had made a few adjustments on it, causing it to be unstable, something he had learned back when he had been trained by his father. This gave him enough time to get away from what came after, but that wasn¡¯t the case with Schwarz, who was engulfed in flames that blew out of the rune in an uncontrollable inferno.

    ¡°And that should take care of that,¡± Lexton said with a cocky smirk as he watched the roaring flames. ¡°I honestly thought one of The Four War Maidens would have been a lot more dangerous opponent, but I suppose the stories I heard were exaggerated. Or maybe she just got a bit too careless.¡±

    The kobold started to walk away, certain that his opponent was dead. However, he stopped in his tracks upon noticing something. For some reason, even with such flames raging out of control, he didn¡¯t feel any of the heat. In fact, he didn¡¯t even feel warm. Instead, he felt a bit cold.

    Lexton¡¯s eyes went wide upon realizing what this meant. He quickly pulled another vial out of his jacket and smashed it onto the floor before him, just in time to create a golem that could shield him from the freezing wave of ice magic that washed over the entire area. The flames were immediately extinguished and his newest golem was turned into a frozen statue like before as well.

    Despite wanting nothing more than to run away from the intense cold, Lexton leaned his shivering body enough to peek out from behind his frozen golem to see what was going on. He had to shield and squint his eyes a bit, as there was a strong wind blowing towards him, carrying freezing coldness and bits of snow along. But even with this, he was able to make out what was causing the storm and it made his insides freeze with terror.

    Schwarz was standing there, the flames having barely done anything to her. The cold aura had now practically become a blizzard that was now raging without any restraint. The floor and walls close to her were now covered in a sheet of ice that was slowly growing.

    The white-haired woman herself looked like some sort of a demonic witch as well. Her eyes were now glowing in a cold blue light and an expression of absolute hatred and fury was plastered on her face.

    ¡°I¡¯ll commend you for one thing, filthy creature! No one has EVER managed to make me THIS ANGRY!¡± Schwarz roared like a raging beast. ¡°Not only do you not know your place, you mock me, injure me, play tricks with me, but you also have audacity to try and engulf me in fire!? Were you something I¡¯d find somewhat respectable, I might accept this! But this coming from a kobold!? YOU WILL NOT DIE FAST OR PAINLESSLY!¡±

    ¡°...Seriously, all because I¡¯m a kobold? What¡¯s the deal with people like you?¡± Lexton asked in a whisper, not wanting his likely executioner to get angered even further. ¡°I don¡¯t even see what you¡¯re mad about. I¡¯m the one freezing my ass off here.¡±

    With slow steps, Schwarz began to move forward. As she did this, the frozen area surrounding her seemed to move along with her, covering more of the floor and walls in ice. Not wanting to wait around and see what she had planned for him, Lexton quickly got up and began to run away. This didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the white-haired woman, who immediately prepared another spell to fire at him.

    As Lexton was running for his life, avoiding the icicles flying through the air, he could hear screams from the cells around him. The prisoners inside were not protected from the intense cold brought on by Schwarz¡¯s magic, and judging by the sounds of the screams intensifying and dying out, the unfortunate jailbirds were soon killed as soon as the spell caster came close to their cells. The kobold didn¡¯t even want to imagine the terrifying fate of being frozen to death like that.

    Looking at what he had on him, Lexton had to admit that he was not exactly confident in his chances at winning. While he had more than enough to take on your everyday soldiers and other simpler enemies, this foe was far beyond what he could do. He still had two regular golems and an exploding one. He also had a few bottles and vials of miscellaneous chemicals on him that could be used for different purposes, along with a gas mask to protect him from the toxic fumes. Besides that, he also had a simple pistol and could carve runes, if given enough time.

    However, what he was facing was essentially a walking snowstorm that froze anything it touched. To make matters worse, it could also shoot icicles like missiles at him. This wasn¡¯t something any simple tricks were going to beat. He would need a plan in order to win this.

    Then it hit him. Lexton had an idea as to how he was going to win this. It would be risky and could possibly get him killed, but it was all he had.

    Snapping back into action, the kobold deployed his two regular golems. Once the had grown, he pulled out one of the bottles he had and spilled its contents on his newly-made creatures. The liquid reacted with the the bodies of the golems and set them on fire. This didn¡¯t seem to hinder them, as they simply moved towards Schwarz, who had taken notice of the new monstrosities.

    ¡°I see. You intend to protect your little pets from my ice magic by setting them ablaze, huh? Not a bad idea for your kind, but it¡¯s not good enough for me,¡± the white-haired woman said as she stabbed her staff on the ground. Instantly, two large armored knights made of ice were formed that charged at the golems with swords held high. ¡°Freezing my opponents isn¡¯t the only thing I¡¯m capable of.¡±

    The newly created ice knights charged at the burning golems and a battle between the two sides quickly broke out. While an onlooker could have considered it an even battle, one with a more analyzing mind could see that the golems were losing. This was due to not just the better quality of Schwarz¡¯s created servants, but also because of her ice magic empowering her knights further. The battle between these two sides was not going to last for long, after which the white-haired woman could go back to pursuing her target.

    However, what she had failed to notice was that Lexton had created a third golem as well. This was one of the exploding ones and it had traveled along the ceiling towards her. Once it was close enough, it detonated, bringing down tons of rubble on top of the spell caster, who was buried underneath the falling debris.

    Despite having seemingly won the battle, Lexton knew better than to let his guard down. His opponent might have been arrogant and overly-confident, but she was still a powerful and experienced warrior. This wasn¡¯t going to be enough to take her down, but it would buy the kobold time for his next move, which he desperately needed.

    Without waiting even a second to see how his opponent was doing, Lexton ran away to begin the next part of his plan. Almost as soon as he had left, the pile of rubble covering Schwarz blew away, revealing the white-haired woman with two new knights that she had summoned to protect her. Said knights soon disappeared, having taken too much damage from the debris, leaving their fuming master on her own.

    Now Schwarz was absolutely furious, over what had happened to her. The way she saw it, this had been nothing but a complete embarrassment for her and she considered herself lucky that there was no one around to witness her in such a state. Once she was done with the kobold responsible for all this, she was going to first kill everyone in the building to make certain that her shame wouldn¡¯t be shared with anyone else, before exterminating a local kobold population to appease her fury. Only then would she allow her anger to calm down.

    With fury resonating in every step she took, Schwarz began to stomp after Lexton, hoping to find him as fast as possible. It took some time, but the spell caster eventually heard sounds that revealed the location of her enemy. It was the sound of something burning, which immediately caught her attention.

    ¡°Trying to beat me with fire again? I see that you don¡¯t learn all too well,¡± Schwarz mumbled as she headed towards the sound of the burning fire, soon coming up to room. ¡°I¡¯ll simply put out any flames you create, before I deal with you.¡±

    Using a magical gust of cold wind to break down the door, the white-haired woman stepped in, ready to launch more icicles to skewer the kobold. However, much to her surprise, there was no one in the room. Instead, some of the furniture had just been collected into piles and set on fire, like a collection of bonfires.

    Not wanting to waste her magical powers in simply putting out irrelevant fires, Schwarz left the room in search of Lexton. As she looked around the building, all she kept finding these small fires here and there. This served to confuse and further agitate the spell caster. For some reason, it didn¡¯t look like the kobold was trying to burn down the whole building. He seemed to be only setting fires randomly around the place.

    It seemed like the only thing he was accomplishing besides possibly burning the place down was that the temperature was rising rapidly. This was something that Schwarz disliked greatly, as she was more accustomed to colder temperatures.

    ¡°Does he think he can somehow disable my ice magic through petty tricks like this?¡± the white-haired woman said as she wiped sweat off her brow. ¡°Idiotic¡­ This just makes me want to kill him even more¡­¡±

    Schwarz continued to look for the kobold, until finally seeing him go around a corner. A wicked smile came to her face, as she thought about the things she was going to do to him as punishment for everything he had put her through.

    Following Lexton to another room that had smoke coming out of it, the spell caster blasted the door off its hinges and walked in. With her knowledge of the building¡¯s layout, she knew that the kobold had backed himself to a corner. There was only one way in here and she was not about to let him get past her.

    ¡°Finally caught up to you¡­ You bastard¡­¡± Schwarz said while panting heavily with sweat dripping down her face. The heat had taken more from her than she had realized. ¡°Now you have nowhere to run! Just surrender and I might kill you quickly!¡±

    In response to her threat, Lexton fired his pistol from the cover of the flames, keeping himself hidden from the sight of the white-haired woman. Schwarz had anticipated something like this and had deployed a basic magical barrier around herself before entering the room. While it wouldn¡¯t have deflected any major impacts, it was more than enough to handle simple bullets.

    Seeing as her prey was not going to go down without a fight, the spell caster summoned more of her ice knights and sent them out to hunt down the kobold. However, the icy warriors suddenly melted after taking only a couple of steps forward, much to the shock and anger of Schwarz.

    ¡°This¡­ This cannot be!¡± the white-haired woman growled as she looked on in disbelief as her summoned warriors disappeared into this air. ¡°To think that I would be driven to such a point! ME! Schwarz of The Four War Maidens! This is not possible!¡±

    Gathering as much magical energy as she could, Schwarz sent out a blast of cold air that was powerful enough to put out the surrounding fires. The temperature immediately dropped to a freezing level, leaving only thick smoke as a sign that the flames had ever been there.

    The spell caster was now completely spent in stamina and was forced to lean against her staff for support. Her breathing was heavy and her body was covered in sweat. If she were to be attacked now, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do much to defend herself. Stamina was important to both ki and magic users. If you were low on stamina, you would have trouble in performing spells correctly, even if you had plenty of magical energy left.

    This was an opportunity Lexton was going to seize, as he aimed his pistol at the worn out War Maiden. Unfortunately for the kobold, he was dealing with someone who had years of experience on battle fields, so his attempt at finishing this battle didn¡¯t go unnoticed at all.

    Before he could fire his pistol, Lexton had to avoid getting impaled by an icicle sent flying at him by Schwarz, who used what little magic she could still muster to launch one more attack. The kobold barely managed to avoid the frozen projectile, but it managed to cut his side, leaving large wound there.

    Lexton fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding side in pain. He began to crawl away, hoping to find cover in the smoke and burnt furniture, but was stopped by an armored boot stepping down on his back. The kobold knew without looking who was using his as a makeshift carpet.

    ¡°You¡¯ve really done something worth recognizing¡­ I have NEVER been this angry before,¡± Schwarz said coldly as she began to push her magical energy into Lexton¡¯s body, causing him to cry out in pain as he felt his body start growing colder. ¡°I have had my fair share of difficult people to deal with, people who insulted my very character. Yet out of all of them YOU are easily the one that angered me the most. Prepare yourself, as your end won¡¯t be easy!¡±

    In one swift move, the spell caster used her foot to turn the kobold on his back before stepping down on his chest. She was about to continue her torture session, but then she noticed something that confused her. For some reason, Lexton was wearing a gas mask over his face. Before she could ask why he had it on, she began to notice other things. This time in regards to herself.

    Her head was hazy and it felt like the whole room was spinning around her. Her chest was also hurting, almost like it was being stabbed with a large needle. She was also finding it difficult to breathe.

    Suddenly, all strength seemed to leave her body as she fell to the floor. Her vision was getting blurry and it was starting to get difficult to stay awake. Through clouded vision, she watched as Lexton got up while fighting against the pain on his side. The kobold was soon standing over her with his pistol aimed at her head.

    Was she going to die here? Was this truly the end for Schwarz of The Four War Maidens? To be killed by a kobold of all things? These were the questions that were plaguing the white-haired woman¡¯s mind as she laid on the floor, awaiting for her end to come.

    She began to think back to simpler times. Back when she had first began training in the use of magic and how she eventually met her friends. Ray, Blair and Yin, who became practically sisters to her. The comrades that she had made a vow with to become great warriors that would protect the peace of the world. The ones she had gone on all sorts of adventures, helping those in need.

    Even kobolds.

    ¡°...How did we come here? What happened?¡± Schwarz managed to ask in a whisper as she closed her eyes and let darkness wash over her.

    A single shot ran through the air, ending one of The Four War Maidens.

    Lexton looked down at his now dead opponent, wondering what had happened at the end. For some reason, it seemed like she had returned back to the way she used to be, before Lune had corrupted her mind. Despite this, the kobold still took the shot, as he couldn¡¯t risk such an opponent coming after them at a later time. Even if he didn¡¯t she was most likely going to lose her life from the trap he had laid out on her.

    What Lexton had done was poison his opponent. Except, this wasn¡¯t anything that he had carried on him. It was a poison that exists in the air people breather every day, carbon dioxide, which was also made from the fires that the kobold had set everywhere.

    The plan was to use the carbon dioxide from the fire to poison Schwarz. Thanks to the being in an enclosed space, the concentration of the gas had become dangerously high, making it potentially lethal to stay in the area for too long. Had she realized what was happening, she could have left the building, thus avoiding the danger and completely ruining Lexton¡¯s plan.

    However, he had gambled on her arrogant personality. The kobold theorized that someone like Schwarz, who looked down on kobolds wouldn¡¯t allow herself to be humiliated by retreating from one. This, along with infuriating her through his tricks, had ensured that she wasn¡¯t going to turn around and leave, which had been the key to his victory. Lexton himself could risk staying in the area for as long as he needed, due to the gas mask he had. It had a built in oxygen tank that allowed him to breathe without issues until the very end of the battle.

    With his foe now vanquished, Lexton looked down at his side where the wound was. Ironically, Schwarz had saved his life by using her magic in an attempt to freeze him, as it had slowed down his bleeding. Had she not done so, the kobold could have faced a death by loss of blood.

    With painful and weary steps, Lexton began to make his way out of the burning building. It wouldn¡¯t be long until soldiers came swarming the place and he needed to get out while he still could.

    Not only that, but he knew that there was still work to be done.

 44. Four Against Four (Part 2)

    Chapter 44

    Four Against Four (Part 2)

    While Lexton was fighting his battle against Schwarz, Arkay was having his own battle for survival. While the cat boy was capable of handling himself in difficult situations and had survived some truly dangerous situations, this was completely out of his league. Surviving against regular guards was one thing, but this was far from that. Now he wasn¡¯t dealing with just one but two elite warriors from The Four War Maidens. To put it in perspective, it was like a tiny mouse taking on two fully grown lions.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a nice surprise, huh? Our bad infiltrator turned out to be a cute little kitty,¡± Yin of The Four War Maidens said with a sadistic grin on her face. ¡°I wonder how he will cry when I break his bones slowly¡­¡±

    ¡°Stand back, Yin. This one is mine,¡± Blair of The Four War Maidens said while directing a small glare at her comrade. ¡°Remember that it was me who sniffed him out in the first place. I believe it is only appropriate that I get to enjoy killing him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be like that. You know you have a natural advantage for detecting people with that nose of yours, so it isn¡¯t fair,¡± Yin said in a grumpy tone. ¡°How about we make it a contest? The one who gets him first, gets to do whatever they want with him. Sound good?¡±

    ¡°...Fine.¡±

    As the two War Maidens were having their discussion, Arkay was listening to them while trembling in fright. He had heard stories about The Four War Maidens and how terrifying they could be. In a way, he would be lucky if he was simply killed by these two, as surviving would mean that he would suffer horrifying torture for days, to the point death would be a mercy.

    Knowing that there was no way for him to actually win, Arkay decided to go for the best option he had, which was running away. Without wasting a single second, he cast invisibility on himself and began running away.

    ¡°Hey! Our toy is trying to escape!¡± Yin shouted. ¡°Not fair! If you¡¯re gonna play, play until the very end!¡±

    ¡°Stop whining. The toy won¡¯t get away from us,¡± Blair said as she took off running after Arkay. ¡°Besides I know exactly where he is.¡±

    Blair of The Four War Maidens was of the canine people, a race similar to Arkay¡¯s except she was a god person. This gave her better senses than other races, especially when it came to the sense of smell. Thanks to her ability, she was able to track Arkay with absolute ease.

    The dog woman took out one of her swords and swung it at a low angle. The place she was aiming her blade was where Arkay¡¯s legs were, but the cat boy was able to jump over the slash, thus avoiding the loss of one of his limbs.

    However, he was far from safe, as Yin soon came at him as well. The blonde had a crazed smile on her face as she threw a punch at Arkay, hitting him right in the gut. The blow was powerful enough to send him flying to a nearby wall, where he landed on the ground and coughed up blood.

    ¡°Hey! Hey! Don¡¯t break on me just yet!¡± Yin said mockingly while chuckling to herself. ¡°We¡¯ve only just gotten started! Try your best to give us at least a bit more entertainment before you go dying on us, okay?¡±

    The blonde brawler proceeded to walk up to Arkay before proceeding to step on him. The cat boy knew that his tormentor only wanted to hear him cry out in pain, so he simply grit his teeth and did his bear it.

    ¡°Ooooh, a tough one, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yin said while laughing. ¡°I wonder what it will take to finally break you? Perhaps I should break one of your fingers? Or maybe even tear out one of your eyes?¡±

    ¡°Yin, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t stay here and play around,¡± Blair suddenly said. ¡°We need to finish up here quickly.¡±

    ¡°What? Where the hell is this coming from now?¡± Yin asked, annoyed over her fun being possibly interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re trying to stop me from enjoying myself just because I won our little contest!¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m saying this because this isn¡¯t the only intruder we have,¡± the dog lady answered. ¡°Judging from the smells I¡¯m getting from him, there are at least three others out there. While Schwarz could have encountered the other three, we don¡¯t know that for certain. There could be at least two others still sneaking around somewhere. We should go and find them before they cause anymore destruction.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Really? Can¡¯t we just leave that to Ray? I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t mind getting a chance to play as well,¡± the blonde suggested. ¡°I wanna take my time playing with kitty over here.¡±

    ¡°As much as I¡¯d like that, we can¡¯t. Remember last time we let our playing get in the way of our work?¡± Blair asked. ¡°We were forced into guard duty for a month. No missions. No battles. Just guarding the general while hoping something interesting would happen. Do you want that to happen again?¡±

    Yin frowned, but knew her comrade was correct. If they messed up here, they would have to face such a horrid punishment again. As much as she hated it, she needed to wrap things up here quickly or she would risk not getting any fun for a while. She wasn¡¯t so shortsighted as to ignore future prospects for enjoyment, just to have a bit of fun today.

    ¡°Alright. Alright. You win,¡± the blonde said with a sigh before looking down at the cat boy she was stepping on. ¡°But can I at least take care of this? I promise it won¡¯t take long.¡±

    ¡°Fine. But it better be quick,¡± Blair responded with a sigh.

    Grinning madly, Yin took her foot off Arkay¡¯s back and picked him up with one arm. She dangled him up in the air while he tried his best to ignore the pain he was in and glared at her.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good look you get there, pal. Shame I won¡¯t get to enjoy it more. I really like to take my time with the cute ones,¡± Yin said before suddenly wrapping her arms around Arkay in a tight bearhug. ¡°But I¡¯m at least gonna do my best to enjoy this!¡±

    With her declaration made, Yin began to tighten her hold on Arkay, squeezing him tighter and tighter. The cat boy could feel how he was slowly starting to get crushed as the pressure increased. He could feel his bone beginning to creak and internal organs starting to get squished, which resulted in pain shooting through his body. Despite his best efforts to not show it, Arkay¡¯s face ended up twisting into an expression of agony and fear, as a cry of pain escaped from his mouth.

    ¡°Yes¡­ That¡¯s what I like to see and hear. Good to see you didn¡¯t disappoint my expectations,¡± Yin said while licking her lips in sadistic satisfaction. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long until you begin to-¡±

    The threat was suddenly cut off, as a large stone flew at the War Maiden, hitting her right at the side of her face. While it didn¡¯t manage to cause too much damage, the shock and pain were enough to cause Yin to stagger enough for her to let go of Arkay, dropping him to the ground.

    ¡°OW! What the-!?¡± the blonde War Maiden yelled in pain as she held her face. ¡°WHO THE HELL HAS THE GUTS TO DO THAT TO ME!?¡±

    ¡°That would be me,¡± came the reply from a voice that Arkay recognized. All eyes turned to see Ryle walking towards them, who was shooting a murderous glare at the two War Maidens. ¡°You two have some nerve picking on Arnie.¡±

    ¡°Why you little¡­¡±

    ¡°Yin, stand back,¡± Blair suddenly said as she stepped forward and drew her swords. ¡°You already have the cat to play with. Let me deal with this one.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get in my way here!¡± Yin shouted back. ¡°That punk just threw a rock at me! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m gonna let that slide!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get it. You¡¯ve already claimed the cat as yours. One of the rules in our group is to divide playthings equally,¡± the dog lady said before giving a slight glare at her companion. ¡°Our would you like me to tell Ray how you tried to hog all the fun for yourself?¡±

    For a brief moment, Yin¡¯s face turned pale at the mention of their group¡¯s leader. Whatever it was that had happened with her, it made the blonde War Maiden terrified of the consequences of what might happen, if she didn¡¯t back down now.

    ¡°...Fine. But you better make her suffer for what she did,¡± Yin grumbled.

    ¡°I was planning on doing that, regardless,¡± Blair replied before charging towards Ryle with both swords drawn.

    ¡°Hey now, I think you¡¯re both underestimating me a bit here,¡± the blonde fighter said, a bit annoyed by the way the two War Maidens seemed to not think of her as much of a threat. ¡°If you do that, you¡¯ll just end up dead!¡±

    Ryle ran towards the canine woman, aiming to give her a roundhouse kick to the head. However, just when they were only a couple of meters away from each other, something happened that took the blonde fighter by surprise.

    What looked like another person seemed to suddenly rise up from Blair¡¯s shadow that swung two swords at Ryle. It was only be mere millimeters that the blonde was able to avoid the blades of shadows, but the sudden attack had thrown her off. This gave Blair an opportunity to strike at her opponent. This time Ryle wasn¡¯t able to fully avoid the attack, as one of the blades was able to leave a cut on her forearm. She also fell on her back, leaving her vulnerable to attacks from Blair, who wasted no time in going for the kill.

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    A flurry of slashes and stabs were aimed at Ryle, who only barely able to avoid any deep wounds. Her body was still left with numerous smaller cuts, almost one for every attack that had been aimed at her. The attacks would have kept coming, had Ryle not been able to give a swift kick to her opponent that caused her to back off a bit, thus allowing Ryle to get back up.

    ¡°I gotta say, you¡¯re quite the pain in the ass. The worst one I¡¯ve had in my life,¡± Ryle said as she was trying to catch her breath. ¡°But I¡¯m not about to go down that easy!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Blair said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m about to prove you wrong on that.¡±

    Before Ryle could ask what the canine woman meant, she heard something approach her from behind. She did her best to avoid the attack from behind, but was too late to do so. The blonde let out a pained scream as two blades slashed at her back, leaving a large bleeding cross mark behind.

    ¡°What the hell!? Who-!?¡± Ryle asked as she looked behind her to see the figure that had appeared from Blair¡¯s shadow earlier. Now that she could take a good look at it, she realized that it looked just like Blair herself. ¡°The hell is that thing!? Your weird twin or something!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my doppelganger spell. Do you like it?¡± Blair asked in a cocky tone as she went to stand next to her shadowy clone. ¡°They say that there is strength in numbers. Thanks to this, you don¡¯t face just one opponent with me. Instead you face two at the same time.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re a coward that doesn¡¯t want to face their battles alone then? Fine by me,¡± Ryle asked as she got up despite the pain her body was in. ¡°Doesn¡¯t really matter all that much, though. Put as many losers together as you want, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that they¡¯re still losers.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s some big talk coming from someone who is almost dead,¡± the canine woman said with a chuckle.

    ¡°I might be hurting, but I¡¯m far from dead. I¡¯ve still got a lot of power here,¡± the blonde fighter said as she got into a stance. ¡°Besides, the only reason you ever got any hits on me is because you caught me by surprise. That won¡¯t be happening again.¡±

    Not believing Ryle¡¯s tough words, Blair charged at her with her clone. A storm of expertly handled sword strikes rained upon the blonde, aiming to cut her into tiny pieces. But much to Blair¡¯s shock, none of her attacks were landing at all. Instead, Ryle avoided each attack with ease, only making small movements to get out of the way of an oncoming strike.

    Having not expected this much difficulty in her fight, Blair was starting to get agitated. This caused her to attack more wildly and uncontrollably, which made avoiding said attacks easier for Ryle. Eventually, this led to an opening that Ryle was able to use to strike at the doppelganger by first ducking underneath a slash before delivering a powerful open hand strike to the shadowy figure¡¯s jaw, knocking it down. Without giving her opponent a chance to recover, Ryle delivered a powerful kick to its head, crushing it and causing the doppelganger to disappear into black mist.

    Seeing her copy get destroyed put the brakes on Blair¡¯s attack, who finally realized just how dangerous her opponent actually was. Taking a few steps back, the canine woman started to think about her next move more carefully.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You sad that I took out your little backup dancer?¡± Ryle asked with a cocky smirk. ¡°Well, you shouldn¡¯t feel too bad. Judging by its moves, it wasn¡¯t really worth much in the end. Guess you should have gotten one based on someone better, huh?¡±

    Despite the mockery directed at her, Blair kept herself calm and composed. She knew that getting riled up by an opponent¡¯s trash talk was only going to get herself killed. Besides, this wasn¡¯t her first time in a battle nor was it the first time someone was trying to provoke her. She had plenty of experience to keep her cool.

    Instead, the canine woman surprised Ryle by smirking. Before the blonde fighter could ask why she had such a confident look on her face, Blair summoned a new doppelganger that rose up from jer shadow and stood next to her.

    ¡°What the-!? Didn¡¯t I just crush that thing!?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°You did. It was honestly rather impressive,¡± Blair replied. ¡°However, even if it has a body, a doppelganger is still just a spell, not an actual living being. Did you really think that I wasn¡¯t going to be able to simply summon a new one?¡±

    ¡°Geh! You¡¯re starting to remind me of a certain scaly smart-ass!¡± the blonde said in an annoyed tone. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be getting too cocky just yet! I broke your little life partner once and I can very well do it again!¡±

    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to change tactics a bit.¡±

    Instead of charging towards Ryle, this time Blair sent out her doppelganger to circle around their opponent, until it was standing behind the blonde fighter. With their preparations now completed, both Blair and her doppelganger got ready and began slowly inching closer to the enemy between them, until coming to a sudden stop at a certain distance.

    Ryle glanced between her two opponents and cursed under her breath as she realized what they were doing. The distance they had taken was just enough for either of them to make a quick dash towards her to get into attack range, but far enough for them to quickly pull back as well. As for Ryle, if she were to try and attack either one of them, it would leave her back open for an attack from the other one. In short, she was trapped.

    As Ryle had suspected, her two opponents, began to use hit and run tactics. Right after one attacked, they would back away, letting the other one go for the offensive in turn. To make it worse, Blair and her doppelganger were quite fast on their feet. If Ryle tried to break out of their flanking, they would simply follow her and continue their attacks. While no major injuries had been suffered, Ryle was slowly starting to lose her stamina. A prolonged fight was clearly in the favor of her two opponents, so she needed to find a way to end things fast.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Having some trouble?¡± Blair taunted with a smirk. ¡°If you give up, I¡¯ll grant you swift death. How does that sound?¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline,¡± Ryle said as she glared at the canine woman. ¡°Giving up is for losers and I¡¯m not about to become one.¡±

    ¡°Brave words! I wonder if you can keep up the act for long!?¡± Blair kept taunting as she once again dashed towards her opponent with blades swinging.

    Avoiding the sword strikes was starting to take its toll on Ryle, who was trying her best to come up with an idea for a counterattack. An idea suddenly came to her mind, but it was going to be a gamble, as she hadn¡¯t tried anything like it before. Not to mention, there was also one other opponent that she was going to have to worry about. Still, Ryle knew that she needed to do something or else this would only end in her own defeat.

    Much like her special move that she had shown to her comrades, Ryle began to gather her ki, but not into her arms this time. Instead, she began to gather it into her legs. Once the gathering of ki was done, she launched herself like a missile at Blair, aiming a powerful kick at the canine woman¡¯s body. Blair could just barely bring up her swords to block the oncoming attack, strengthening the blades with magical power. This allowed her to not get hit by the attack, but the kick was so powerful that it sent her flying backwards to a wall behind her.

    Blair fell to the ground as she coughed up blood. She looked up to see Ryle charging towards her, intent on finishing the job, but the sight of her doppelganger coming up from behind the blonde made her smirk. Blair was certain that her shadowy clone would cut down her opponent before she got too close.

    However, the canine woman was shocked to see Ryle suddenly turn around and give a powerful roundhouse kick to her doppelganger that blasted off its head. Just like before, the summoned copy disappeared into a dark mist, leaving nothing behind.

    Wasting no time, Ryle continued with her charge towards Blair, but the canine woman still had some tricks up her sleeve. This time it came in the form of her body seemingly sinking into the shadow of a nearby building, almost like it was water.

    ¡°Wha-!? Hey! No running away!¡± Ryle yelled as she saw her enemy disappear before her eyes. She immediately began to look around, desperately trying to find her. ¡°Did you get scared from me kicking your ass or something!? Show your goddamn face and I¡¯ll make you wish you had never shown it to us in the first place!¡±

    Blair didn¡¯t show up, as she was using her ability to move through the shadows. This was a unique spell that she had learned, which had made her a very deadly opponent in The Four War Maidens.

    All four members each had their specialty. For Schwarz, it was the use of magic. For Blair, her specialty was not just tracking, but also stealth. Numerous people had fallen to the canine woman¡¯s blades without ever even knowing what happened. Because of this, Blair was often sent out alone as an infiltrator and assassin to take out key targets, before the other three arrived on the scene.

    Moving around inside the darkness, Blair found the perfect place to strike at Ryle, which was right below the blonde fighter¡¯s feet through her own shadow. The canine woman had learned from experience that often the last place anyone would expect an attack to come from was below themselves. Anticipating an easy victory through this method, Blair prepared her blades to strike at Ryle¡¯s legs.

    However, as she swung her swords, they hit nothing but air, as Ryle simply jumped over the attacks and landed behind Blair. The canine woman turned around to strike again, but was too slow with her attack, as her opponent used another kick to break her swords in half. Blair could only stare in disbelief at what had happened to her weapons.

    ¡°H-How¡­?¡± was all the canine woman could mutter, still in shock.

    ¡°How did I know where you were? That¡¯s easy. When I can¡¯t see them, I use my nose. It never fails,¡± Ryle said in a cocky tone. ¡°Trying to be all sneaky against me was a big mistake.¡±

    Unwilling to take such humiliation, Blair raised what was left of her swords for another attack and with a feral roar tried one last desperate attack. Unfortunately for her, it was all for nothing, as Ryle proceeded to give her the beating of a lifetime, starting with a hook to the face, followed by a kick to the gut, before being finished with a powerful roundhouse kick that sent Blair flying.

    The damage from those last few hits had done a number on the canine woman, who struggled to get off the ground. Blood was dripping from her head and her vision was blurry as she tried to steady herself.

    Seeing how her opponent was still alive, Ryle decided to go and fix that. She began to move closer to her downed opponent, but was stopped in her tracks by Blair¡¯s comrade.

    ¡°HALT! Don¡¯t even take a step closer to her!¡± Yin yelled from the side while holding on Arkay. She had one arm wrapped around his body to hold him still, while her other hand held his neck, ready to tighten its grip and crush his windpipe. ¡°If you don¡¯t want anything to happen to your little friend here, I recommend you don¡¯t make any sudden moves!¡±

    ¡°You cheap dirty-!¡± Ryle cursed before quickly calming herself, knowing that lashing out would only get Arkay killed. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do as you say. Just don¡¯t hurt him.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get it. You¡¯re not in the position to make demands,¡± Yin said with a grin as she tightened her grip on Arkay¡¯s throat just slightly, causing him to wince in pain. ¡°Make just one wrong move and little kitty here won¡¯t have enough lives to save his ass.¡±

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think YOU get it,¡± Ryle said as she glared at the War Maiden. ¡°You so much as harm a hair on him and I¡¯ll make sure that you both will be begging for death.¡±

    Despite being a powerful veteran of several battles to the death, something about the threat sent slight shivers down Yin¡¯s back. For some reason, Ryle seemed to be a lot more dangerous opponent than any other she had ever faced before. Regardless, Yin knew that they had the upper hand, so she wasn¡¯t about to let a slight feeling of unease to hinder her.

    ¡°Talk tough all you want, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that we¡¯ve got your friend at our mercy,¡± Yin said with a grin, before turning her attention to her partner. ¡°Hey, Blair! Get off your ass already and finish her off!¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ get to that,¡± Blair said as she struggled to stand up. She pulled out her pistol and with a shaky arm tried to take aim. ¡°Just¡­ hold still¡­¡±

    As the canine woman was taking aim, Arkay looked on in horror as his friend was about to die because of him. Realizing this, the cat boy decided to put his own life on the line, so that Ryle would survive. With a determined look on his face, Arkay put his hands on Yin¡¯s arm and used all the magical power he had to shoot electricity into the War Maiden. Yin screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through her whole body, causing her to loosen her grip on her prisoner.

    However, due to their bodies touching, Arkay was also affected by his spell. With Yin¡¯s hold on him now lost, his body fell to the ground and laid still.

    The cat boy¡¯s electric attack had taken the attention of both Blair and Ryle, who stared at what happened with wide eyes. But while the canine woman was simply shocked to see her companion get struck in such a manner, the blonde fighter felt a storm of emotions. At first, there was surprise at what happened, which soon turned into shock and horror over seeing Arkay fall to the ground, seemingly dead. Finally, pure burning rage took over, as she wanted nothing else than to kill the ones responsible for what had happened to her young friend.

    With a primal roar, Ryle dashed towards Blair, who was completely unable to put up any kind of a defense. The punch that connected with the canine woman¡¯s head sent her flying to a wall with such force that her body smashed through. After that, she remained completely silent and still.

    Once her enemy had been taken care of, Ryle immediately rushed to Arkay¡¯s side and began to shake him, praying in her head that he would still wake up.

    ¡°Arnie! ARNIE!¡± Ryle desperately screamed while shaking the cat boy. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t do this to me! Please wake up!¡±

    ¡°U-Ungh¡­ R-Ryle?¡± Arkay finally said, as he began to open his eyes. ¡°Are you¡­ okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be asking that!¡± Ryle said with a smile, relieved to see her young friend wake up. ¡°That¡¯s was some crazy stunt you just pulled. Please never-¡±

    Before the blonde could finish speaking, a powerful punch connected with the side of his face and sent him down on the ground. Before she could even try to get up, a pair of hands grabbed hold of her and her through the wall into the building Blair had flown into.

    Fighting through the pain her body was in, Ryle took a look at the one who had attacked her walking through the newly made hole in the wall.

    ¡°You two have proven to be quite the pain in the ass!¡± Yin said as she gave a furious glare at Ryle. ¡°Time to finally put an end to this!¡±

 45. Four Against Four (Part 3)

    Chapter 45

    Four Against Four (Part 3)

    Ryle stood up and faced her opponent, who had somehow managed to become an incredibly imposing figure. The blonde fighter knew that she should have been around the same height and have about the same build as Yin, so what was it that was sending shivers down her spine?

    A strange aura seemed to be surrounding Yin¡¯s body, like barely visible flames dancing around her frame. Other physical changes included her muscles seemingly growing larger and her height increasing slightly, But the most terrifying change had to be her eyes, which were now glowing red, making her look like an enraged demon that had come straight from hell to cause death and destruction.

    It was upon observing this monster of a woman before her that Ryle came to a sudden and horrifying realization. Her opponent was a berserker, a warrior who uses their rage to increase their physical abilities.

    There were different ways that these rage-fueled warriors could achieve their heightened abilities. Some needed to ingest special herbs or potions to activate this stage. Others needed to be put under hypnosis for it to work. And others could just activate their furious state through their own abilities, which seemed to be what Yin could do.

    However, the one common thing about berserkers was that upon achieving this state, they became almost unstoppable. Their bodies hardened so much that almost all attacks could only do so much as the bite of a mosquito and their strength became so terrifying that even wild beasts larger than man could be torn apart with just their bare hands. But the worst of all was that these monsters would fight furiously until the very end and beyond. Even if one of such warriors had a spear or a sword pierce through their body, they would still keep on fighting like nothing had happened, only succumbing to their wounds once all others around them were dead.

    While some would ignore such stories as mere tall tales, Ryle knew far better. There had once been a bounty that she had tried to claim, but had immediately given up on after seeing what her target was capable of. A group of around ten other bounty hunters had come to claim the man¡¯s head, only to end up torn apart or crushed into paste, along with most people that had been unfortunate enough to be close when it all happened.

    Ryle herself had been lucky enough to hide fast enough in a nearby alley, but she had still witnessed the massacre that happened right before her eyes. It had been a sight that would haunt her in her nightmares for many days afterwards and still be a memory that brought terror to her very core.

    Now someone with that same power that had traumatized her back then was standing before her, except this time she couldn¡¯t hide. Ryle not only doubted that she would be able to get away if she tried, but she couldn¡¯t risk Yin turning her rage towards Arkay. She¡¯d rather die than let that ever happen.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter!? Where¡¯s all that spunk you had not too long ago!?¡± Yin asked in her enraged state while staring down the opponent before her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re now starting to piss your pants and realize what sort of a mistake you made! Or should I go and skin that kitty for you!? Would that get you back into the fight!?¡±

    In one go, all fear washed away from Ryle as soon as Arkay was being threatened.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry¡­ I¡¯m not regretting a damn thing here,¡± the blonde fighter said as she got herself ready. ¡°With the exception of letting you lay a finger on Arnie, I¡¯m all good over here. So why don¡¯t you bring it on!?¡±

    In her berserker state, every form of irritation would send Yin off into a bloodthirsty rage. Whether it was someone attacking her or even just a slight insult, the offending party would receive no mercy from her. So it was no surprise that Ryle¡¯s taunting would get the same reaction from her, which was to charge towards the perceived enemy like a raging beast.

    When it came to The Four War Maidens, Yin was the powerhouse of the group, able to perform insane feats of physical strength. Her role in any battle was often to pulverize the defenses of the enemy lines with overwhelming force, reducing the opposition into bloodied paste. This was something she could often do without activating her berserker state, which was why her ability was mostly left as a trump card that would only be activated if necessary.

    The problem with the berserker state was that the user often wouldn¡¯t be able to differentiate between friend or foe, making them as much of a threat to their allies as well as their enemies. But now there was no one around that Yin really needed to look out for, as the few random soldiers that might get caught in the destruction were of no concern for her. The only people she ever worried about were the other War Maidens and possible higher-ups in the military. With no one from either group no longer around, she could let loose without any worries.

    Yin¡¯s attack had been very fast and powerful, to the point that it left a small crater to the ground where her fist collided with it. Had Ryle not moved out of the way, she wouldn¡¯t have survived such an impact.

    Knowing that she was at a disadvantage when it came to fighting up close, Ryle opted for a method that she had hoped to avoid. Pulling out the whip Lexton had made for her, she gripped it tightly in her hand, readying to finally try it out in actual combat. The reason she didn¡¯t want to use it was because she didn¡¯t have enough time to practice using it, which meant her skills with it weren¡¯t exactly the best.

    Not to mention, the idea of using a weapon made by Lexton, a person she wasn¡¯t exactly all that fond of, wasn¡¯t a tempting idea in the least. She could just imagine the smug boasting she would have to endure from the kobold, if he were to ever find out that she actually used the whip.

    However, this wasn¡¯t a situation where she could afford to be picky, so Ryle swallowed her pride and got ready for a really dangerous field test.

    ¡°Hope this is as good as you made it out to be, Lex,¡± the blonde mumbled to herself as she gripped her new weapon tightly. ¡°It¡¯s the best I¡¯ve got right now.¡±

    After taking a deep breath, Ryle used all of her might to swing the whip. There was a loud crack that echoed through the air, followed by a scream of pain as the weapon made contact with soft flesh.

    Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t the War Maiden that was crying out in pain from getting whipped, as it was Ryle herself. Thanks to her lack of experience, she had accidentally hit herself on her cheek with her whip, leaving her holding the sore part of her face while letting out a stream of some rather colorful language.

    ¡°GODDAMMIT! SON OF A BITCH!¡± Ryle yelled between her screams of pain. ¡°What kind of an asshole makes a weapon like that!? I¡¯m gonna kick his all after I¡¯m done here!¡±

    Meanwhile, Yin could only stare at her opponent in confusion and mild annoyance, not sure whether she should be laughing at Ryle¡¯s antics or getting angry over her not taking their fight more seriously.

    ¡°...What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Yin asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Were you dropped on your head as a baby or something?¡±

    ¡°My brother asked the same thing. Don¡¯t know why,¡± Ryle muttered before calming herself with a deep breath. ¡°Anyways, no use crying now. I just need to make this work on my second try now.¡±

    With another attempt at swinging the whip, Ryle was able to make the weapon fly towards her opponent this time. However, Yin barely moved in response, as she simply raised her arm to block the attack. The whip wrapped itself around the War Maiden¡¯s forearm, as didn¡¯t even look a bit phased over the attack.

    ¡°Was that it? This is the best you can do?¡± Yin asked with a growl, her anger beginning to rise once more. ¡°This isn¡¯t a goddamn game were playing here, but a fight to the death! Would you mind taking this at least a bit more seriously!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve been serious the whole time,¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ll just realize that way too late.¡±

    Clicking the switch on the handle of her weapon, Ryle sent an electric shock traveling through the whip and right into Yin. Sparks of electricity flew everywhere, as the energy coursed through the War Maiden¡¯s body.

    ¡°Ha! Take that you cocky bastard!¡± Ryle yelled, seeing how her plan had apparently worked. ¡°Guess you shouldn¡¯t look down on your opponents too much or else they might kick¡­ your¡­ ass¡­¡±

    The blonde fighter¡¯s taunting died down as she saw the electricity stop, yet her opponent remained standing. In fact, had it not been for the small amount of smoke rising from her body, one would think that nothing had even happened to Yin at all.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Ryle had hoped to use the electric charge from the whip to knock out or at least momentarily incapacitate the War Maiden, so that she could have moved in to finish the fight. It seemed as though that she herself had done what she had accused Yin of and had severely underestimated her opponent.

    ¡°So¡­ That tickled quite a bit,¡± Yin said while gritting her teeth in fury. ¡°Allow me to pay you back for that.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Oh shit¡­ This did not go the way I planned at all,¡± Ryle said with a nervous chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m going to assume that you¡¯re not going to just forget about-¡±

    Before the blonde could finish her question, her body suddenly lifted off the ground, as Yin used her insane strength to pull on the whip, causing the one holding the weapon to rise up in the air. Ryle barely had time to let out a surprised scream before her body collided with crates stored in the building.

    ¡°Ow¡­ I¡¯m going to take that as a no¡­¡± the blonde fighter muttered weakly, as she got up despite the pain her body was in. ¡°Seriously, crates full of canned fish? Couldn¡¯t I have landed on something a bit tastier at least?¡±

    Ryle¡¯s complaints came to a sudden end, as she noticed a shadow appear over her. Acting on instinct, she quickly rolled out of the way, as Yin landed there with her fist connecting to the spot Ryle¡¯s head had been at just seconds ago.

    ¡°Are you not done mocking me!?¡± Yin roared in rage as she chased after her prey. ¡°I will not have some wannabe trash warrior come and insult me like this!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, insulting you isn¡¯t exactly my objective here!¡± Ryle said as got back just in time to avoid a foot trying to stomp on her head. ¡°In all honesty, right now I¡¯m just doing my best to survive!¡±

    The blonde fighter did her best to avoid the oncoming attacks from the enraged War Maiden, which she had been able to do with relative ease. Due to her being stuck in a state that let sheer rage control her movements, Yin¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t exactly executed with a lot of finesse. All of her punches, kicks and other moves were predictable, allowing someone like Ryle to dodge and avoid them. The berserker state was most likely used against more regular opponents, who didn¡¯t have the skills to avoid such attacks, or as a surprise tactic to catch your enemy off guard before turning them into a bloodied mess on the ground.

    However, despite this, Ryle knew that she was at a serious disadvantage. Even if she was able to avoid all the attacks thrown at her, she could still feel the sheer power behind them and could tell that just one hit would be enough to kill her. To make it worse, the wounds she had suffered in her previous battle with Blair were taking their toll on her. While none of the injuries were fatal, the loss of blood that was accumulating from her wounds was draining her strength. It wouldn¡¯t take long, until she would be unable to avoid a fatal blow and she¡¯d end up dead.

    Taking a look at her surroundings, Ryle started to think of what she could do to turn the situation around. As luck would have it, she found something that she could use just for that.

    Spotting a pile of large metal supply containers, Ryle quickly made her way towards it while avoiding Yin¡¯s attacks. Once she had reached it, she stood close to it and turned her attention towards the War Maiden.

    ¡°Hey moron! Are you even trying to hit me at all!?¡± Ryle yelled in a mocking tone. ¡°So far, your attacks have been so easy to dodge that I¡¯m having a hard time staying awake! Guess the famous Four War Maidens aren¡¯t worth shit in the end, huh!?¡±

    With her mind clouded by the berserker state, Yin could only respond to the mockery aimed at her in one way, which was violent fury. While taunting might not have been necessary to get the War Maiden to act in such a way, it did put a lot more energy into her charge.

    Letting out a primal roar, Yin charged at Ryle and threw a punch that would turn even the mightiest of warriors into a gory mess. By just a few inches, Ryle managed to move out of the way of the fist, letting it collide with the pile of containers she had been standing by. The shock from the blow was so powerful, that the entire pile shook violently, causing some of the containers on top to fall down.

    And just like Ryle had planned, a couple of them fell on top of Yin.

    Even if a normal person would have been killed by such a heavy object falling down on them, Yin was far from normal. The collision with such things still hurt a lot and she was even brought down on one knee for a short time, but overall all that had happened to the War Maiden was that she was left a bit disoriented and with a bad headache.

    This was still going according to Ryle¡¯s plan, who had expected her opponent to survive the falling containers. What she had hoped for was to get a small pause in Yin¡¯s attacks, allowing her to initiate the second part of her plan.

    Using her whip, Ryle grabbed a hold of a nearby barrel and used her strength to throw it at Yin, who was still recovering from the earlier hits. Seeing as how she was completely defenseless, she couldn¡¯t put up much of a protection against the barrel coming at her. The metallic surface of the barrel soon connected with Yin¡¯s face, whose nose was left bleeding from the hit.

    ¡°Y-You little bastard!¡± the berserker yelled angrily while holding her bleeding nose. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make you pay for-!¡±

    Yin¡¯s threat was cut off by another barrel smashing into her, knocking her down to the floor. She quickly got back up, only to be forced to block an impact from a crate this time. This was followed by more heavy objects being thrown at her by Ryle.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, asshole!?¡± Ryle taunted as she kept grabbing and throwing things at her opponent. ¡°You were gonna what!?¡±

    This was the blonde fighter¡¯s plan. Since close combat was out of the question due to high risk it carried, her best option was to keep her distance and use long range attacks to eventually wear down Yin. But since she wasn¡¯t all that proficient with using her whip yet and her opponent was someone that could easily free herself or pull Ryle towards her if she were ever entangled by the weapon, the blonde fighter had decided to make the objects around them into her projectiles.

    Ryle¡¯s battle plan seemed to be working, as she was able to keep throwing things at Yin fast enough to not allow her to get back on the offensive. Even if she was an incredibly powerful berserker, her stamina wasn¡¯t limitless and she eventually began to show signs of fatigue. This was also true for Ryle, who was also starting to run low on energy. At this point, both fighters seemed to be about equal in terms of remaining fighting prowess.

    It seemed like Ryle was finally presented with an opportunity to finish the fight, as Yin¡¯s berserker state ran out, causing her body to go back to normal. This was great news to Ryle, as the people who finally returned to normal after such a huge boost in power, were left exhausted and vulnerable. The blonde fighter¡¯s knowledge had come out on top in this fight, as Yin fell to her knees.

    ¡°Looks like I wasn¡¯t the only one getting tired,¡± Ryle said with a grin while she was panting from exhaustion. ¡°Too bad you¡¯re more worn out than I am! This win goes to ME!¡±

    Once she declared her victory, the blonde fighter dashed towards the exhausted War Maiden and aimed to give a powerful roundhouse kick to Yin¡¯s head to finish her off. However, just as her attack was about to hit, the War Maiden suddenly grabbed her leg in a powerful grip, before giving her a glare that sent shivers down her spine.

    ¡°You think you¡¯ve won¡­ you little shit?¡± Yin growled as she threw her opponent away before pushing herself up on her feet. ¡°I¡¯m not about to lose¡­ Not yet! I¡¯ve got too much riding no my shoulders! This will only be over once one of use is dead! AND IT WON¡¯T BE ME!¡±

    Ryle quickly got up from the ground, before Yin could take advantage of her downed state. The War Maiden still had enough energy to put up a fight, so the battle wasn¡¯t over just yet.

    Yin quickly closed the distance between herself and Ryle, leading to an all out brawl, as the two warriors were locked in a last desperate struggle. Punches and kicks were thrown. Some of the strikes were blocked, while others connected. Blood was splattering on the ground, as neither of the two was backing down a bit.

    Finally, an opportunity to end the fight to the death when Ryle noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Yin¡¯s right leg seemed to be hurt from her earlier assault, allowing her to hit it with a kick that brought the War Maiden to the ground. Yin tried to respond by grabbing at her opponent, but Ryle managed to jump back and put distance between them.

    Yin tried to get up fast enough to put up some kind of a defense, but her damaged leg was hindering her too much. Because of this, she was unable to do anything, as Ryle¡¯s whip wrapped around her body and pulled her close. All the damage and fatigue had built up so much that Yin couldn¡¯t break out of her bindings fast enough, leaving her unable to prepare for what was to come.

    Despite not having anywhere near the same amount of time as when she first demonstrated her special move, Ryle had managed to gather enough ki in her fist to unleash a powerful enough blast straight into Yin¡¯s chest. The War Maiden coughed up blood as her body fell to the ground.

    With her opponent down and no longer moving, Ryle started to head back out. She still needed to make sure that Arkay was alright. She also didn¡¯t know what Lexton¡¯s situation was, as he was most likely facing one of the War Maidens as well. Not to mention, Erin was definitely fighting a tough battle right now, so she needed to get back to her as fast as possible.

    However, the sound of someone standing up behind her stopped Ryle in her tracks. She turned around and her eyes went wide upon seeing Yin actually stand up, even after getting hit by Ryle¡¯s most powerful attack.

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ think this is¡­ over yet!¡± Yin said while coughing up blood. ¡°I won¡¯t¡­ fall down¡­ like this! I WILL KILL YOU!¡±

    Roaring like a wild animal, the War Maiden went for another charge with her fists held ready for combat. Ryle, too taken aback by the sight before her eyes, was too unprepared to put up a proper stance. The blonde fighter was beginning to panic, as she had used everything she had and her opponent was still standing. She was starting to think that she would lose, as the War Maiden seemed to be a truly unbeatable threat.

    However, just as Yin was about to reach Ryle, she fell to the ground. The blonde fighter could only stare in dumbfounded shock, wondering if what she had just seen was reality.

    Ryle¡¯s shock and surprise only grew as she suddenly heard the sound of crying come from her downed opponent. Knowing how brutal and cruel The Four War Maidens were she would have never thought that one of them would be able to shed tears.

    ¡°No¡­ Not like this¡­ I can¡¯t let it end like this!¡± Yin said weakly while sobbing. ¡°I can¡¯t just die like this! I still need to¡­ look after Ray!¡±

    Directing her tear-filled gaze at Ryle, the War Maiden decided to grasp at the only hope she had.

    ¡°Please¡­ Do what you will with me¡­ But don¡¯t harm Ray!¡± Yin begged. ¡°That girl is innocent! She doesn¡¯t deserve to die like this! Please let her live! Please!¡±

    For a moment, Ryle¡¯s resolve was shaken a bit, as she saw herself in the War Maiden a bit. Had she been in a similar position with her brother, she didn¡¯t have any doubts that she would be acting the same way.

    However, as much as she could relate with Yin¡¯s plight, she still knew what kind of people The Four War Maidens were and the things they had done. Even if they had been turned into these monsters by the hands on Lune, there was no denying the blood on their hands.

    ¡°You know that¡¯s not possible,¡± Ryle said in a calm and cold tone. ¡°The things you four have done are not something you can just brush aside. None of you are innocent by any means at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I know what we¡¯ve done! There¡¯s nothing that can ever take away all the horrible crimes we have committed! Even if I now realize what Lune did to us and made us do, it still doesn¡¯t make it right!¡± Yin screamed as she sobbed. ¡°But Ray¡­ She was always the best of us! She¡¯s like a little sister to me and it was thanks to her that we four set out to become warriors in the first place! I know that kind and loving girl is still there, buried underneath the monster Lune created! Just let her have a chance! That¡¯s all I ask! Please!¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Ryle knelt next to Yin and looked at her straight in the eyes.

    ¡°I can¡¯t speak for others, but the girl you¡¯re talking about is currently facing someone who I know is too kind for her own good,¡± Ryle said while thinking about Erin. ¡°If there¡¯s anyone in this world who would be willing to forgive Ray, it¡¯s her. So you have nothing to worry about. I swear.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡­ Now¡­ I¡­ can¡­¡± Yin said with a smile on her face as she closed her eyes for good.

    Seeing that the War Maiden had passed away, Ryle turned around and began to walk back to where Arkay was. While a part of her felt somewhat guilty over lying to someone who was dying, she knew that there was no way any of the members of The Four War Maidens could be forgiven and let go. No matter how much one of them might beg and cry, there was far too many sins on the four of them, even if Lune was ultimately at fault for what they had become.

    Still, Ryle had at least decided to let Yin pass away in peace, thinking that the person she saw as her sister would be safe. It was a mercy most wouldn¡¯t have given. And mercy was something that was hard to come by these days.

 46. Four Against Four (Part 4)

    Chapter 46

    Four Against Four (Part 4)

    With sluggish and tired steps, Ryle walked out of the storage building that had just been the setting for the battle to the death between herself and Yin of The Four War Maidens. Despite the pain and exhaustion her body was in, the blonde fighter still kept pushing forward, knowing that there were people that were counting on her.

    At the moment, Ryle was very concerned over Arkay¡¯s well-being. While the cat boy had still been alive before her battle with Yin, he was still pretty badly beaten up from the attack of two War Maidens and the electric shock he had used on Yin. If some soldier happened to come across him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do much in order to defend himself. The blonde fighter wanted to make sure that it wouldn¡¯t come to that.

    Just as she had taken her first step outside, Ryle heard a noise behind her and turned around. Seeing no one around, she considered the noise she had heard just her mind playing tricks on her and moved forward.

    This turned out to be a mistake.

    ¡°I¡¯VE GOT YOU NOW, YOU BASTARD!¡± a familiar voice screamed, causing Ryle to turn around.

    The blonde fighter¡¯s eyes went wide upon seeing Blair, one of The Four War Maidens she had defeated earlier, charging at her with a crazed look on her face and the remains of one of her swords held in her hand.

    The canine woman was badly injured and bleeding from the beating Ryle had given her. One of her eyes was swollen shut, her face was covered in blood and bruises, along with the rest of her body, and her left arm was limply dangling at her side from being broken. Despite all of this, she still had enough energy to go for one last attack with her broken sword. While the weapon might have not been in the best condition, it was still more than enough to finish off an injured opponent.

    Ryle, too tired and worn out from all the battles she had gone through, could only stare in shock as time seemed to slow down right before her eyes. She wouldn¡¯t be able to defend herself in time to avoid the attack that was coming down, so she reflexively closed her eyes in anticipation of the oncoming pain.

    However, the pain never came, which confused Ryle. She slowly opened her eyes to see Blair still standing before her, weapon raised up and ready to strike down. Something was different, though, as the crazed look on the canine woman¡¯s face was now one of shock and she wasn¡¯t staring at Ryle anymore. Instead, she slowly and painfully turned her head around to look behind her, where Arkay was now standing. The cat boy was holding the knife he had gotten from Lexton in his hands.

    And the blade of the weapon was buried deep into Blair¡¯s back.

    ¡°Y-You little¡­ bastard!¡± Blair cursed as she coughed up blood. ¡°H-How dare you-!¡±

    The canine woman never got to finish her threat, as Arkay activated the magical ability in his knife, causing electricity to surge through the blade and into Blair¡¯s boy. She screamed in pain, until the magical attack stopped. She soon fell to the ground, now just a lifeless and charred corpse.

    ¡°...Woah, nice save, Arnie,¡± Ryle said with a smile as she began to make her way towards her young friend. ¡°Maybe I should have you protect me instead.¡±

    The blonde¡¯s jokes stopped as she noticed how Arkay was acting. He was standing still with his hands trembling terribly. His grip on his knife was incredibly tight, like his life depended on the weapon. But the most noticeable thing about him was his face. The cat boy¡¯s expression was one of wide-eyed terror and shock, as he stared at the bloodied blade he was holding. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes.

    Ryle knew what this was. Arkay was in shock from killing someone for the first time in his life. It had been the same for herself when she first killed someone. It might have been for self-defense, but the shock was still huge.

    With gentle hands, Ryle took the knife out of Arkay¡¯s hands and then turned his face to meet hers. The cat boy still had a pale and horrified expression, and his breath was shaky. Without saying anything, Ryle wrapped her arms around his small body and held him in a gentle embrace.

    ¡°I-I¡­ I just¡­ I had to-!¡± Arkay tried to speak but ended choking up on his words. ¡°She was going to kill you¡­ I-I had to kill her! Or else she-!¡±

    ¡°Shhh¡­ It¡¯s okay, Arnie. It¡¯s okay. I know,¡± Ryle said in a soothing tone, which seemed to finally stop the cat boy¡¯s trembling. ¡°What you did wasn¡¯t wrong. You saved my life. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that. You did what you had to do and you did very well. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±

    Upon hearing such comforting words, tears began to fall down Arkay¡¯s face. These were soon followed by quiet sobs, as he held onto Ryle and began to silently cry.

    ¡°I¡­ I know I shouldn¡¯t be like this¡­ Not only did I need to stop her, but I already used magic to take control of that suit. I¡¯m sure that a lot of people were hurt, if not killed,¡± Arkay said while sobbing. ¡°But this¡­ This time I felt it all. Her blood falling on my hands and the life leaving her body. It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s just-!¡±

    ¡°I know, Arnie. I know. It was tough for me as well,¡± Ryle said gently. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t stay here like this. Erin and Lex still need our help and you might have to do something similar again, okay? We can¡¯t afford to be picky about our methods now.¡±

    Arkay gave a simple nod in response as he wiped away his tears. He took a deep breath to steel his resolve, before breaking their hug.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ We still need to go and help those two,¡± the cat boy said with a determined look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I just did.¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s nothing for you to be sorry about! Like I said, I know what you¡¯re going through,¡± the blonde fighter said with a smile as she gently ruffled Arkay¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯m just going to need you to be strong for me and the others right now, so we can all get out of here. You think you can do that?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the cat boy replied without any hesitation.

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°Now let¡¯s go find those two! I bet they¡¯ll be needing us to save their asses!¡±

    With that, the two of them started to head towards the prison, hoping to find Lexton.

    However, had they known what Erin was going through, they would have decided to go to her side first, before worrying about the kobold.

    Back with Erin, right after Ryle had left, the redheaded woman was locked in a standstill with her opponent. Ray, the leader of The Four War Maidens, was far from an easy opponent for just about anyone to take, let alone someone with very little in terms of skills as Erin. She could tell just from their earlier clash that her strength, speed and skill were below her opponent¡¯s. In all honesty, this was more like glorified suicide.

    However, Erin wasn¡¯t planning on actually defeating her opponent. What she hoped to do was hold her off long enough for Ryle to return with the others. Once all four of them were together, she was certain that they would be able to defeat Ray.

    Or she hoped so at the very least.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    A determined look was on Erin¡¯s face as she prepared to face off against the leader of The Four War Maidens. Said person, on the other hand, seemed to only be annoyed. She stared at Erin straight in the eyes and seemed to be getting angrier by the second, causing her grip to tighten on her halberd so much that blood started to drip from the palm of her hand.

    ¡°Hey hey now¡­ What¡¯s with that look, huh? Are you seriously thinking that you¡¯re more than enough to take me on? Is that it?¡± Ray asked with her anger dripping from each and every word she uttered. ¡°You gotta be shitting me here¡­ You actually have the balls to think YOU are enough to take on ME!? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, ASSHOLE!?¡±

    ¡°Someone with a plan that will see it through,¡± Erin answered with surprising calm, considering how anxious and stressed out she was feeling on the inside. ¡°Now, come at me. Or do you wish to simply talk big all night long?¡±

    Ray looked like she was about to go on another insane and anger-filled tirade, but stopped herself at the last second. Instead, a wide and wicked grin spread across her face, which sent chills down Erin¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Hand on a moment¡­ I think I see how it is now,¡± Ray said as she began to giggle a bit. ¡°What you¡¯re trying to do is simply buy time. Is that it? It is, isn¡¯t it? You think your friends will come and actually save your ass at some point, right? So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡±

    ¡°Even if it was, what about it?¡± Erin asked as a drop of nervous sweat rolled down the side of her face. ¡°Let¡¯s say that I am hoping to face off against you with my whole group in order to defeat you, why would you laugh? Do you think you¡¯ll be able to take on all of us by yourself? I think you might be underestimating us a bit¡­¡±

    ¡°Me? Underestimate you?¡± Ray asked in mock surprise before laughing. ¡°Oh you naive little shit¡­ You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I¡¯m not underestimating anyone. It¡¯s YOU who is overestimating yourself and your little friends!¡±

    ¡°What do you-¡±

    Before Erin could finish her question, the War Maiden suddenly shot towards her like a bullet with her halberd held high. She managed to bring up her sword just in time to block the sideways slash aimed at her, but the blow was so powerful that it sent her flying backwards and hitting a wall behind her. Erin could only stare with utter shock at the person before her, who had just done this to her.

    ¡°Surprised? I guess you would be,¡± Ray said as she let out a giggle. ¡°You probably thought that what you had seen so far was the best I could do. Well, sorry to say, but I¡¯ve only been holding back for now, as I hate to end my fights too quick! But you should know that ever since The Four War Maidens were formed, I¡¯ve been the boss simply because I was THE STRONGEST!¡±

    Ray dashed again at Erin and began a storm of powerful blows with her halberd. Erin could barely keep up with the onslaught of attacks, as she was desperately doing all she could to block them. Some of the attacks managed to get past her guard just enough to draw blood. Even if it wasn¡¯t much, these wounds still drew blood and were a clear indication over who had the upper hand over the other.

    To make matters worse, Erin could tell that Ray was far from going all out. The redheaded girl was still holding back at least a little bit, most likely for the simple fact that she wanted to kill her enemy slowly and to enjoy every little bit of agony they were going through. Even worse, despite all of the attacks she had thrown at Erin, Ray didn¡¯t look even a bit tired.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter!? Not feeling so good about yourself anymore, are you!?¡± Ray asked while cackling like a lunatic. ¡°Did you really think it was going to be that easy!? That you were going to survive against me!? THINK AGAIN, STUPID!¡±

    As Erin was getting pushed back by the flurry of strikes from Ray, she tried to desperately look for a chance to break out of the disadvantaged position she was in. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side, as she ended up tripping and falling to the floor while getting pushed back.

    ¡°AND NOW YOU¡¯RE DONE!¡± Ray yelled gleefully, as she aimed her halberd to slice off one of Erin¡¯s legs.

    Luckily for the redheaded assassin, she was quick enough to avoid losing her leg, but the blade of the halberd still managed to leave a cut on the side of her right leg. Ray wasn¡¯t about to let one missed swing of her trusty weapon to leave her without a prize, so she kept going after Erin¡¯s legs with maniacal passion and insistence.

    This chase across the floor continued for a moment, until Erin was able to swing her sword at Ray well enough to force her to block and take a step back. This small moment allowed her to get back up and take up a proper stance.

    ¡°Damn¡­ You are a tenacious one, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ray said with a small hint of frustration in her voice. ¡°I was hoping to get at least one of your legs. That way I could have taken my time with the rest of your body.¡±

    ¡°You sick bastard¡­ Do you think this a game!?¡± Erin yelled angrily while she was panting heavily. ¡°The lives of people aren¡¯t some toys to be used as you wish for whatever your twisted mind thinks of!¡±

    ¡°People say that, but it¡¯s so much fun!¡± Ray said in a mock whine, like a spoiled child. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m a good girl who does all her chores dutifully. Can¡¯t I play at least a bit and have some fun?¡±

    ¡°Why you sick monster!¡± Erin cursed.

    ¡°Oh, at least say something original! I¡¯ve heard people call me that so many times that it has lost all meaning to me,¡± Ray said with a sigh. ¡°Although, I doubt you¡¯ll have much time to come up with anything all that original anyways. Just looking at you should tell us that you won¡¯t be alive for much longer.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t even need to take a look at herself to know what her opponent was talking about. She might have avoided having her legs sliced off in their last scuffle, but every attack thrown her way managed to leave at least some kind of a cut. Because of this, Erin¡¯s legs were bleeding a lot, putting her in a bad place. Not only would her movements be hindered from all of her injuries, but the loss of blood was basically a timer. Unless she found a way to end this quickly, it would end up as the War Maiden¡¯s victory.

    ¡°I still hope that you¡¯re going to amuse me to at least some degree!¡± Ray suddenly yelled with a grin, as she charged towards Erin, her halberd held high. ¡°I wanna play some more!¡±

    Stepping out of the way of the downwards slash of the halberd allowed Erin to avoid taking the blow. The massive blade hit the floor where she had just been, causing debris to fly everywhere from the powerful attack.

    Erin was about to use this opportunity to go for the offensive, but this proved to be a mistake. Ray was very skilled in handling her halberd, so after she finished executing one move, she almost seamlessly moved onto the next one. Th next attack came in the form of a sideways slash that Erin was able to intercept with her sword. Unfortunately, the defense she had put up was sloppy at best, so she ended up getting sent flying again, except this time with a lot more force. Erin¡¯s back collided with a wall, leaving cracks on it and causing her to cough up blood. The redheaded assassin was certain that some of her bones were left cracked from the impact.

    She didn¡¯t have time to check if her assumption was correct, as Ray was soon upon her with the deadly blade of her halberd coming down. This time, the only thing Erin was able to avoid was getting cut in half, as a very deep cut was left on her side.

    ¡°I¡¯d say that about does it,¡± Ray said smugly, as she took a relaxed stance with her weapon while watching Erin struggle on the floor. ¡°You might not be dead yet, but it won¡¯t take long until you¡¯re at that stage. That cut is nothing to laugh at. That along with your other wounds are going to bleed you dry in a few minutes.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± Erin asked while gritting her teeth from the pain. She was pressing her hands down on the place where the wound was in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. ¡°If you¡¯re so sure that all hope is lost for me, why don¡¯t you come and finish me off? I¡¯m certain your boss would be delighted to see you bring my head to him on a silver platter or something.¡±

    ¡°Well, I did think of that, but now I¡¯m not so sure,¡± Ray replied as she was picking her nose with a bored look on her face. ¡°The thing is that we are often told to try and bring people in alive, as we can then get valuable information from them. If you surrender now, I can quickly take you to the medical wing for treatment. They should be able to save you in time.¡±

    ¡°So I can live as a prisoner that¡¯s getting tortured for the pleasure of your boss? No thanks,¡± the redheaded assassin said as she managed to stand up. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure death is a much better option compared to that.¡±

    ¡°Maybe so, but there is always a small chance that thing for a lot better,¡± the War Maiden said. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to give you false hope, but if you¡¯re good enough in the eyes of General Lune, he might actually not only spare your life, but he might even make you a part of his army. Look at me for example! I actually fought against him with my group at first, but now I¡¯m one of his top fighters!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard. Apparently, you used to serve someone who had high morals and was loved by the people,¡± Erin said. ¡°How is it that you can serve scum like Lune now without any shame?¡±

    ¡°How? That¡¯s easy! General Lune allows me to follow my dream!¡± Ray said excitedly. ¡°Thanks to him, I have now become what I¡¯ve always wanted to be! A great warrior in service of the greater good! Ever since I was a little child, I¡¯ve wanted to become a hero of the battlefields! Now thanks to him, I have just become that!¡±

    ¡°A hero? You? Don¡¯t make me laugh!¡± the redheaded assassin said in a disgusted voice. ¡°The way I see it, you¡¯re the furthest thing from a hero. All you are is a glorified murderer that takes enjoyment in the suffering of her victims! Is this what you really dreamed of all along?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Murderer? Me?¡± the War Maiden questioned. ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. For as long as I can remember, I have done my all to become a great honorable warrior, along with my friends. Like the day we all joined the-¡±

    Ray suddenly cut herself off, as flashes of her past started appearing in her mind. She saw herself as an innocent young child, getting inspired by stories told to her by her parents. She remembered the talks she used to have with her friends, while they were all training to become warriors in the service of the lord of these lands. The pride she and her friends felt when they were accepted into his service. And that man was not Lune.

    Suddenly, Ray¡¯s mind was bombarded with images of her much more innocent past. Of the time she and her friends had actually been helping and protecting people. Back when violence wasn¡¯t a fun hobby, but rather an unfortunate tool for the sake of the greater good.

    But once these images of happier times appeared, they soon started to become twisted with flashed of blood and death. Of visions and memories that were the complete bastardization of everything they had stood for, even including the execution of the man they had been in service of.

    And it was all due to Lune.

    ¡°This¡­ I¡­ No¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ That¡¯s not what happened!¡± Ray began to mutter to herself in an insane delirium. Her head started to feel like it would split open as two different images of herself appeared in her mind at the same time, almost as if fighting for dominance. ¡°I¡¯m not a killer! Not a murderer! I¡¯M NOT THE VILLAIN!¡±

    Erin could only stare at her opponent in shock, as she went through her mental breakdown. The redheaded assassin couldn¡¯t have ever expected something like this to happen. She could only wonder if this would change the situation for better or the worse for her.

    ¡°I¡¯M A GOOD PERSON! I¡¯M A HERO! I SERVE MY LANDS LIKE A TRUE WARRIOR WOULD! I AM NOT THE BAD ONE!¡± Ray screamed at the top of her lungs, her mind unwilling to admit the truth about her.

    After the War Maiden¡¯s little outburst had ended, Erin watched as the redheaded girl was left panting heavily from ranting like a lunatic. Ray then took a deep breath before looking up at the redheaded assassin, who felt her blood freeze at the look she was given.

    Ray¡¯s eye was completely devoid of any humanity. It was like a corpse was staring right into her soul. The only thing that remained there was a calculative and ice cold desire to kill whatever was right before her sight.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to make you pay for this,¡± Ray said in a cold and emotionless tone. ¡°You will not die easily today.¡±

    It was then that Erin received the answer to her question. This had definitely gone for the worse.

 47. Four Against Four (Part 5)

    Chapter 47

    Four Against Four (Part 5)

    Ryle and Arkay were moving towards the prison complex of the military base, hoping to find Lexton there. Despite wanting to go there as fast as possible, they had to stay in the shadows, as neither of them was in any condition to fight any longer. While Ryle might have been able to defeat two members of The Four Maidens, the battles had left her injured and exhausted. Taking on even one of the regular guards wasn¡¯t something she was confident she could do now.

    Luckily for the two of them, the place was in absolute chaos. Not only had there been the destruction caused by the distractions of Lexton and Arkay, but it seemed that news regarding the deaths of some of the War Maidens had reached the ears of the regular soldiers, causing even more panic among their ranks. Apparently, some had been so terrified about the idea of facing an opponent strong enough to take on their base¡¯s best that they had decided to run away. Pure chaos was rampant, as soldiers were running around, not knowing what to do. Some thought that putting out the fires came first, others considered finding the ones responsible to be more important and some just wanted to get the hell out of there. In the end, no unified front was made, leaving them running around like headless chickens.

    Thanks to the state the soldiers were in, Ryle and Arkay were able to get to close to the prison complex without too many issues. Now they just needed to get inside and find their missing comrade.

    ¡°So this is where Lex went?¡± Ryle asked while eyeing the building. ¡°Any idea why he wanted to get here specifically?¡±

    ¡°None, I¡¯m afraid. I originally thought that he wanted to free some of the prisoners in order to cause a commotion, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°However, what we need to do now is find a way inside, as that¡¯s where he¡¯ll most likely be. While you wait here, I¡¯m going to use invisibility on myself and-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m gonna stop you right there. I¡¯m not about to let our group break up again, okay?¡± the blonde said in a tone that left no room for arguing. ¡°Either we both go there or neither of us goes, okay? I¡¯m not going to let you put yourself at risk again.¡±

    The cat boy was about to say something, but he spotted movement behind one of the nearby buildings. While he wasn¡¯t able to say for sure, he could have sworn that the person was someone of Lexton¡¯s height.

    ¡°Hey, I think I saw Lexton over there!¡± Arkay said as he pointed at the place he had seen the movement at.

    ¡°Good job, Arnie! Let¡¯s get going!¡± Ryle said with a small grin, as the two began to make their way to where their comrade was at.

    As they approached the back of the building, the saw a trail of blood on the ground. This immediately worried both of them, as Lexton could have been seriously injured.

    Finally getting behind the building, both Ryle and Arkay were relieved to see Lexton there, sitting against the wall and still breathing. However, their relief immediately turned into worry upon noticing the wound on his side.

    ¡°Lex! Are you okay!?¡± Ryle asked worriedly as she and Arkay rushed to the kobold¡¯s side.

    ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s you two¡­¡± Lexton said with a small smile, despite the pain he was in. ¡°Glad to see you two are okay¡­¡±

    ¡°This is not the time to be concerned about us! You¡¯re the one who has been bleeding everywhere!¡± the blonde said as she tried to look over the kobold¡¯s injuries. ¡°What the hell happened with you!? Did you get attacked by a dragon or something!?¡±

    ¡°Come on, nothing that bad. I just had to take on one of the War Maidens on my own,¡± Lexton answered, surprising his two comrades. ¡°It was a tough fight, but I managed to win in the end.¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, you had to fight one of those hard-asses as well!? That¡¯s impressive,¡± Ryle said with a tone of amazement. ¡°I had to take on two of them myself, so I know how tough they are.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Did you say you fought- OW!¡± the kobold began to ask, only to yelp in pain, as the blonde began to inspect his wound, causing pain to shoot through his body. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡±

    ¡°What does it look like!? I¡¯m trying to treat your injuries!¡± Ryle said as she looked over the wound on the kobold¡¯s side. ¡°This is a nasty wound. We need to stop the bleeding and fast.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to need something to tie it down, right!?¡± Arkay asked, hoping to be of help. ¡°Use my shirt. That should be enough for now.¡±

    ¡°As tempting as that sounds having you take your shirt off, I¡¯m going to have to say no,¡± the blonde replied, as she began to take off her coat. ¡°Mine is pretty much worthless after what I¡¯ve been through, so I¡¯ll use it instead.¡±

    Ryle began to tear her jacket into smaller pieces that she then started to tie around Lexton¡¯s wound. She finished her makeshift first aid by tightening the cloth strips, causing the kobold to let out a pained yelp.

    ¡°Ow! Would you mind and be a bit more gentle!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to get killed by the one treating my goddamn injuries!¡±

    ¡°Oh, stop being such a baby!¡± Ryle said with a roll of her eyes, as she stood up. ¡°Anyways, you should be fine for now. Let¡¯s go find Erin, so we can get the hell out of here already.¡±

    Before the kobold could even attempt to get up himself, the blonde grabbed him by the back of his jacket and lifted him up and put him over her shoulder. Despite the protesting from Lexton, Ryle simply went on carrying him as they headed over to where their last comrade was.

    <hr>

    Back with Erin, the battle had turned for the worst for her, as she had basically become a glorified punching bag for Ray. The redheaded assassin was barely able to keep herself alive from the onslaught coming from the War Maiden, without any chance to really fight back.

    After her mental breakdown, Ray had become much more aggressive in her fighting style, not allowing her opponent even a second to breathe. Using her impressive speed to her advantage, the War Maiden began to sprint around the area, like a speeding red bullet. By the time Erin was able to get her eyes on Ray in one place, the speedster was already moving to another. This wild fast movement included moments when Ray would dash at Erin, bringing her massive halberd at the assassin. Erin was barely able to keep up her defense by bringing up her weapon, but every blocked blow had massive force behind it. Even if she managed to block it, the hits rocked her to the core and almost brought her to the ground. It was like Erin was stuck in the middle of a massive red tornado that kept throwing boulders at her.

    The redheaded assassin needed to find a way out of her current predicament and needed to do so fast. Her injured legs were practically screaming in pain from every shock that ran through them as she blocked one blow after another. It wasn¡¯t going to take long until she would be on the floor again, at the mercy of Ray¡¯s halberd.

    Just as all hope was starting to disappear, Erin noticed something that she could use. For just a brief fraction of a moment, she saw Ray take a deep breath as sweat was running down the side of her face. Apparently, going full throttle wasn¡¯t something the War Maiden could do forever and she was starting to run out of stamina. The redheaded assassin just needed to wait for her moment to strike and she just might get out of this alive.

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    The moment she was hoping for appeared sooner rather than later, as Ray stumbled a bit in her next dash towards Erin in the hopes of delivering a killing blow. This window of opportunity lasted at best a bit over a second, but it was enough.

    Pouring as much strength as she could into her arms, Erin swung her sword at Ray. The War Maiden was able to block the attack, but the impact was powerful enough to shook her tired body enough to make her fall to the floor. This created a chance for Erin to put some distance between herself and her opponent, before throwing a smoke bomb at Ray. The obscuring cloud managed to catch the War Maiden by surprise, leaving her confused for a moment.

    ¡°What the-!? The hell is this!?¡± Ray yelled angrily while coughing from the smoke. ¡°You damn coward! Stop using such cheap tricks and fight me like a true warrior!¡±

    Erin wasn¡¯t affected by the taunts of the War Maiden at all. Instead, she decided to accomplish the next step of her plan. This was to load a magic stone into the chamber her sword had. The stone she had used in particular was the fire stone she had received from Lexton. Immediately upon activation, bright flames began to surround the blade.

    Almost as soon as Erin was done with her preparations, the cloud of smoke surrounding Ray dissipated. The War Maiden was first a bit surprised by the sudden transformation of her opponent¡¯s weapon, but didn¡¯t think too much about it. This wasn¡¯t her first time dealing with someone who had magical equipment.

    ¡°What the hell is this? Is this your big plan? This? Really?¡± Ray asked with a frustrated sigh. ¡°I feel kind of offended here. Do you really think I haven¡¯t faced people who have magical weapons before? This isn¡¯t anything new to me at all.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I have no doubts that you¡¯ve seen weapons like this before,¡± Erin said. ¡°But it¡¯s not the only thing I¡¯ve got and it¡¯s also not the thing you should be worried about right now.¡±

    ¡°Really now? Well, isn¡¯t that interesting,¡± the War Maiden said with a low chuckle. She then looked at the redheaded assassin with an insane grin on her face. ¡°LET¡¯S SEE ABOUT THAT! IF YOU CAN REALLY BEAT ME WITH WHATEVER YOU¡¯VE GOT! I¡¯D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT!¡±

    With a bullet-like dash, Ray flew towards Erin, holding her halberd high. The War Maiden was planning to bring her weapon down and split her opponent in half, weapon included. This was something that Ray was more than capable of and Erin knew it.

    Yet despite the oncoming death, the redheaded assassin remained calm, only taking a deep breath in the small amount of time it took Ray to reach her. Her lone eye shined with unbreakable resolve, showing no signs of her wanting to run.

    The massive halberd came down at Erin, who had brought up her flaming sword in defense. Time seemed to slow down for both of them, as the two blades were going to connect with each other. However, just as the halberd touched the sword, it didn¡¯t simply break underneath the power of the far larger weapon. Instead, it seemed to move along with with it, while simultaneously pushing it to the side just a little bit.

    Ray¡¯s eye went wide upon realizing what was happening. While Erin was no master swordsman by any means, she had the basics of sword fighting drilled into her head like her life depended on it. This included things like parrying, which had been very difficult for her to use. Yet it seemed like this one technique that she had been afraid to use due to the difficulty of it, had just saved her life.

    The halberd connected with the floor, just inches away from Erin. Even though she was incredibly skilled in using her weapon, Ray was unable to lift such a massive instrument of death fast enough to defend herself from what came next.

    Seizing her opportunity, Erin moved in to slash at Ray¡¯s arms. Not wanting to lose any of her limbs, the War Maiden was forced to let go of her beloved weapon and take a step back. She quickly pulled two knives from underneath her skirt and took a stance. These might not have been her preferred weapons, but it was way better than nothing.

    Now it was Erin¡¯s turn to go on the offensive, as she began a violent assault against her opponent. Ray was now getting frustrated and panicked, as it was her turn to be on the defense and try to deflect numerous oncoming attacks. This was made difficult by the flames that were surrounding Erin¡¯s sword. Even if Ray managed to block the attacks from the sword itself, the heat from the flames would singe her hands and other parts of her body. While no major damage had been taken yet, the redheaded War Maiden was finding it difficult to go on any kind of offensive, due to the pain from the flames, as well as having to close her lone eye because of them as well.

    However, Erin knew that her flames wouldn¡¯t last for long and once they were out, Ray would be coming at her on full force. Luckily, they were only a part of her overall plan and she had succeeded in utilizing them the way she had intended.

    With Ray¡¯s attention drawn by the flaming sword, the redheaded assassin could dig through her pockets and pick up a certain stone. The War Maiden didn¡¯t have any time to protect her lone eye, as a blinding light suddenly hit her. Ray yelled from pain, as her sight was momentarily taken from her. Knowing that she was vulnerable now that she was effectively blind, she began to furiously swing her knives all around her in the hopes of driving away any possible attacks from Erin.

    Realizing that she was only wasting her own energy, Ray quickly calmed herself and instead focused on her hearing. Her sight might have been gone for now, but she could still hear anyone approaching her. She only needed to strike at where the sound of footsteps was coming from and she would emerge victorious.

    Much to the War Maiden¡¯s shock, there weren¡¯t any sounds of footsteps. No one was either coming towards her or running away. Confused as to why her opponent would apparently remain still during such an opportunity, Ray tried to pick up on any sounds that could possibly tell her what was happening in the darkness currently surrounding her, yet she heard nothing.

    As sight began to return to her eye, Ray felt relief wash over her. It seemed that whatever her opponent had been planning had failed. Once she could see properly, she was going to make the redheaded assassin suffer for all she had been put through.

    However, almost as soon as she opened her eye, it was covered in darkness again. This time it was done through what seemed like a large cloth that was thrown over her. Before Ray could get an understanding of what had just happened, she felt strangely hot. Panic spread through her body, as she realized that whatever it was that had been thrown over her had been set on fire. The War Maiden, afraid of being burnt herself, started to struggle against the cloth in an effort to get it off, which was made difficult due to her panicking.

    After some struggling, Ray was able to get the burning cloth off and throw it to the ground. But as she was about to turn around and face her opponent, she felt sharp pain shoot through her chest. With her lone eye wide, she looked down at the tip of a sword that had pierced through her body.

    Erin¡¯s plan had been leading up to this one moment of carelessness from Ray. All of her attacks had so far been nothing but elaborate distractions. The flames of her sword had only been meant to draw attention to the blade, allowing the redheaded assassin to get a hold of her Glow Stone and use it to blind the War Maiden. Once Ray was momentarily incapacitated due to her loss of sight, Erin could use the dying flames of her sword to set her cloak on fire, before throwing it over the War Maiden. Once she was panicking with the burning cloak, the redheaded assassin could sneak over to her opponent in a position that would allow her to deliver the finishing blow, thus ending their fight to the death.

    As soon as Erin¡¯s blade pierced through Ray¡¯s body, images of the War Maiden¡¯s life began to flash through her mind. Ray had started off as nothing more than a pure child who idolized heroes, wishing to one day become one herself. Because of this, she had started to hone her skills as a fighter with her hard work eventually paying off, as she was accepted along with her childhood friend and surrogate big sister Yin into the service of a noble lord. There she met Schwarz and Blair, whom she soon befriended and formed The Four War Maidens. They would then go on to perform numerous heroic deeds, such as defeating groups of bandits and marauders, as well as strengthening relations between other factions and races in the area, such as the persecuted kobolds. In short, she had been nothing less than a real hero, like she had hoped to be.

    However, once Lune came into the picture, it had all changed. The young heroes were no more, as only bloodthirsty monsters remained.

    Despite how much she wished that all of this could have been avoided, Erin knew there was no other way. No matter what her enemy might have been at one point, that girl no longer remained. The Ray that had done all those heroic deeds was dead, taken over by the monster before her. She needed to be stopped, so that there wouldn¡¯t be anymore bloodshed through her hands. The redheaded assassin thus steeled her resolve, not just for her own sake, but for the sake of her friends and everybody else in the world that was living under the threat of Lune and his servants.

    ¡°You were too confident in your skills to ever consider what kind of tricks I could be readying myself to use against you. You thought that you could simply overpower me and claim victory like that,¡± Erin said before pulling her sword out, allowing Ray¡¯s body to fall to the floor. ¡°In the end, it was your arrogance that killed you. Nothing more.¡±

    The redheaded assassin turned away from her fallen opponent, intending to find the man responsible for all of this and putting an end to him once and for all. But just as she was about to walk away, a weak voice stopped her in her tracks.

    ¡°Wait¡­¡± came the almost inaudible plea from Ray. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t¡­ go¡­¡±

    Erin turned to look at the War Maiden, wondering what she could have wanted. She stepped closer to the dying girl in order to hear her better.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­ It wasn¡¯t¡­ It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this¡­¡± Ray said weakly as she coughed up blood and cried. ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to be a hero¡­ Someone who helps others¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t want us to become like this¡­ Not like this¡­¡±

    Despite having just fought a battle to the death with the dying girl, Erin couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with her. Ray hadn¡¯t started off as anything bad at all and had become twisted thanks to the actions of the real monster. In a way, she saw her own actions reflected in what had happened to The Four War Maidens.

    ¡°I know¡­ I¡¯ve been bad¡­ Really bad¡­ But I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Ray said as she began to choke on her tears and blood. ¡°Am I¡­ Am I going to hell? For the things I¡¯ve¡­ done?¡±

    Erin knelt next to Ray and pulled her into a gentle hug, hoping to offer the War Maiden at least some comfort in her final moments. She knew that she had no obligation to do it, but she still wanted to. No matter how illogical or foolish it may have been.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything,¡± Erin whispered gently. ¡°I¡¯m sure that whoever is out there knows what you truly are deep down. If they have any sympathy, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll forgive you. So go in peace. You don¡¯t have to suffer anymore.¡±

    Ray let out a couple of weak sobs, as her vision was getting blurry. She then saw something that made her fears disappear, as all of her friends suddenly stood before her. Yin, Schwarz and Blair all stood there, looking at her with gentle smiles, welcoming her over.

    A small smile spread over Ray¡¯s lips, as she let out her last breath.

    Erin saw that the girl in her arms had passed away, so she gently laid her on the floor, before using her hand to close Ray¡¯s eye. The redheaded assassin gave her fallen opponent one last look, before turning away and heading towards Lune.

    An expression of pure fury and hatred had taken over Erin¡¯s face, as a few tears escaped her eyes. She would not let Lune get away with this easily.

 48. Cold, Sweet Revenge

    Chapter 48

    Cold, Sweet Revenge

    Erin approached the door to General Lune¡¯s room with strong steps. Despite all the wounds and exhaustion weighing her down, the redheaded assassin moved like she was full of energy. The truth was that her body was practically screaming in pain from all it had gone through, but sheer determination and willpower kept pushing her forward. She wouldn¡¯t allow herself to rest until she had finished her business with Lune.

    It didn¡¯t take long for her to reach the door to the office. She gripped the doorknob tightly, as she slowly opened it and walked inside. She looked around the room and wasn¡¯t surprised to see it decorated with expensive-looking furniture and other objects. Fancy paintings lined the walls, most of them depicting Lune himself in various glorified situations, and there were all sorts decorations covering table made from exquisite and expensive metals, with large jewels sunk into them. At the end of the office was a large desk that had been decorated with intricate carvings and a large leather chair behind it. The room reminded Erin a lot of Gibbot¡¯s mansion, with how much wealth was being displayed.

    There was a person sitting on the chair behind the desk, but their back was turned towards the intruder. Instead of looking over who had just walked in, they seemed to be more interested in watching some movie on a large TV that was on the wall.

    ¡°Is that you, little Ray?¡± the familiar voice of Lune called out, not even bothering to look behind him. ¡°Did you take care of those pests that came here uninvited? The noise was so bad a few times that I couldn¡¯t hear the dialogue! Is there no good help around here anymore!?¡±

    Erin felt her blood boil with rage. She and her friends had risked their lives in coming here, and The Four War Maidens had faced them with their own lives on the line. The utter disregard to the people around him made the general an even more despicable person than before.

    ¡°Ray¡¯s not coming back. She¡¯s dead,¡± the redheaded assassin said as calmly as she could, causing Lune to turn around immediately. ¡°And you¡¯re next!¡±

    ¡°What the-!? How is this possible!?¡± the general asked in a panicked tone as he stood up from his seat. ¡°What happened to The Four War Maidens!? They were supposed to stand guard! What are those idiots doing!?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be worrying about them right now. What you need to worry about is yourself,¡± Erin said as she began to slowly move towards her target. ¡°You¡¯ve done quite a lot of bad things, you see. And now is the time to pay for everything you¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°Y-Y-Y-YOU FOOL! DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯LL BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER YOU¡¯RE PLANNING TO DO TO ME!?¡± Lune screamed while trying desperately to hide his fear. ¡°I am not just some small time magistrate, like Gibbot! I¡¯m an actual general! I respond directly to one of the three warlords of the Western Continent! The moment you so much as touch me, is the moment you sign your own execution! All of the armies of the world will be coming after you! There isn¡¯t any hole dark enough for you to hide in! You will simply-!¡±

    The general¡¯s rant was interrupted, as Erin suddenly ran up to him and punched him right in the face. Lune fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding and broken nose, while overcome with disbelief over someone having the nerve to actually hit him.

    He looked up to see Erin stare at him with a cold look in her lone eye. This wasn¡¯t someone scared of anything he could throw at her. There was simply a desire to cause him as much pain and misery as possible.

    ¡°Do you really think I care?¡± Erin asked coldly, making the general shiver. ¡°Let me put this as simply as possible for you. Tonight you are going to die here and there is not a damn thing that you can do to save yourself from that fate.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay, I can see that there happen to be some¡­ issue between the two of us,¡± Lune said in a trembling voice, finally realizing how much the redheaded assassin hated him. ¡°But I¡¯m sure we can solve this without anymore violence, okay? I can offer you pretty much anything you could ever want! Do you want money? Power? Or-¡±

    A kick to the face cut off the general¡¯s offers.

    ¡°No. No offers. No pleas. No more talking,¡± Erin said while gritting her teeth in anger. ¡°Just shut up and get ready to die.¡±

    ¡°Gah! I tried to be nice and reasonable! Tried to make you a good offer!¡± Lune cursed as he grabbed a pistol out of his jacket. ¡°GO TO-!¡±

    The general tried to point his gun at the assassin, only to have his hand cut off with one swift movement of Erin¡¯s blade. Lune watched with wide eyes as his hand fell to the floor, before screaming in pain and holding his bleeding stump.

    ¡°Do you even remember all the people that you¡¯ve killed!? People that never did anything wrong!?¡± Erin yelled in sheer rage. ¡°The people of Rockmoore Town!? The people from the slums of Grand Ravine!? DO YOU REMEMBER ANY OF THEM!?¡±

    ¡°I do! I do! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Lune apologized while weeping openly from fear. ¡°I¡¯m only a member of the military! All I do is what I¡¯m told to do! I never wanted to hurt anyone! Please!¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t even need the visions that started to appear in her mind after cutting off Lune¡¯s hand to tell that he was lying. All the horrible crimes that he had done were simply for his own pleasure. He had never taken others into consideration and only saw people in terms of how much use they could be to him.

    In short, Lune was nothing more than a monster that deserved his punishment.

    However, while Erin wanted nothing more than to cut the general into pieces, she had to hold herself back. She knew that her friends had far more resentment towards him than she did. The redheaded assassin could only hope that they would arrive there soon, before she lost control over herself.

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    Just as she was starting to lose control, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

    ¡°Hey, Erin! We saw that you managed to beat Ray!¡± Ryle yelled as she, along with Lexton and Arkay ran to the office. ¡°Pretty damn impressive, but are you-?¡±

    The blonde stopped herself upon seeing the man on the floor in front of Erin. She immediately recognized the person who was responsible for the death of her younger brother.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Erin, is that who I think it is?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes as she stared at Lune.

    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s Lune,¡± Erin answered. ¡°Glad you guys arrived here in time. I was starting to lose control of myself.¡±

    The redheaded assassin turned around and walked past her friends, who were all simply staring at Lune with wide eyes. Just as she got past them, she looked back at Ryle and said one thing.

    ¡°He¡¯s all yours.¡±

    Almost as if on command, Ryle, Arkay and Lexton walked up to the general, who was still sobbing over his lost hand. He looked up to see three faces staring at him with barely contained anger. It didn¡¯t take long for Lune to realize what they were after.

    ¡°I-I get that you all might be a bit upset with me and I¡¯m sorry for whatever I might have done to you,¡± the general tried to plead for his life. ¡°B-But I¡¯m sure we can make a deal! All you need to do is help me and-¡±

    A kick to the jaw from Ryle cut off Lune¡¯s bargaining.

    ¡°Not gonna work this time, asshole,¡± the blonde said coldly, before turning to her two companions. ¡°So, who wants to go first? Arnie?¡±

    Upon being called, the cat boy stepped up to Lune. For such as a gentle soul as himself, Arkay had a shockingly furious look on his face. He took out his knife and held it tightly in his grip.

    ¡°Kid, I can give you anything you want!¡± the general pleaded. ¡°Just name it and you¡¯ll have it! I swear!¡±

    ¡°Can you bring me my parents that you killed?¡± Arkay asked as a couple of tears fell from his eyes. Upon hearing the question, Lune went completely silent. ¡°I thought so.¡±

    Without any warning, the cat boy plunged his knife into Lune¡¯s shoulder, causing him to scream out in pain. The pain was soon intensified by the electrical shock that ran through his body, courtesy of Arkay¡¯s magical weapon.

    Now it was Lexton¡¯s turn to get his bit of revenge. He walked up to Lune and stared at him with cold, hateful eyes.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t enough for you and your goons to persecute and abuse my kind, but you even went so far as to jail my father! All just to get your hands on our knowledge in regards to runes and enchanting!¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°What the hell do you have to say for yourself!?¡±

    ¡°F-For love of God, that wasn¡¯t my fault! It was your fault!¡± the general yelled in desperation. ¡°If your kind hadn¡¯t been so freaking stubborn and had just given us what we wanted, we wouldn¡¯t have-!¡±

    Upon hearing the excuse, Lexton pulled out a small vial from his jacket. This was something he had been saving up just for Lune specifically. It was very potent acid that would leave some very bad burns on anybody that was unlucky enough to have it poured on them, which was something the kobold did to the general without hesitation. Lune screamed in agony as the acid burned the right side of his face.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be enough to kill you, but it will leave you with a nasty scar for the rest of your life,¡± Lexton said coldly as he stepped back. ¡°Not that it¡¯s going to be all that long.¡±

    Lastly, it was Ryle¡¯s turn. She walked up to the man responsible for the death of his younger brother and stood over him, staring down at him like a piece of garbage.

    ¡°Okay, what did do to you!?¡± Lune asked desperately. ¡°What the hell could I have done to you to piss you off this badly!?¡±

    Asking that question was a big mistake, as it only served to make the blonde even angrier than before. She grabbed the general by the throat and lifted him up. He was starting to struggle to breathe, as his throat was being constricted by Ryle.

    ¡°You¡­ YOU BASTARD! YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE NERVE TO FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TO ME!?¡± the blonde roared in anger. ¡°Does the name Zachary Rafford even ring a bell!? As someone you made a deal with!? Someone you betrayed!? SOMEONE YOU HAD KILLED!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ remember¡­ everyone!¡± Lune managed to choke out despite being strangled. ¡°Do you think¡­ I bother¡­ remembering¡­ everyone I¡­ meet!?¡±

    Upon hearing the general¡¯s answer, Ryle slammed him to the floor. Lune coughed up blood and one could hear his bones breaking from the impact.

    ¡°Wrong answer, asshole,¡± Ryle said, before turning her attention to Arkay. ¡°Arnie, you think you could light him up for me?¡±

    The cat boy only gave a nod in response, as he summoned flames on his hand and shot them out at Lune, whose clothes immediately caught on fire. The general began to scream in horror as he tried to desperately put out the fire with his arms.

    However, this was not the end of what Lune¡¯s three executioners were planning to do to him, as Ryle once again moved in to attack. This time, the blonde used her whip to wrap it around the general¡¯s neck, before using her weapon to throw him through the window.

    Lune managed to let out one final scream, before hitting the ground and losing his life.

    It was done. The group finally had gotten their revenge. Despite this, there was no joy, cheer or celebration. Just silence, as Erin and the others looked at what remained of their hated enemy.

    ¡°Is¡­ Is it over now?¡± Arkay asked, breaking the silence. ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say the first thing for us to do is to get out of here,¡± Erin replied. ¡°While the soldiers of this base might be distracted for now, it won¡¯t take long for them to-¡±

    Almost as if on cue, they heard the sound of troops approaching the door. Lexton and Arkay quickly went to take a peek and see what they were dealing with. To their shock and horror, the force sent to apprehend them was quite big.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not going to sugarcoat this at all. We¡¯re screwed,¡± Lexton said bluntly. ¡°Not only did we see at least a dozen armed soldiers, but they also had a battle armor with them that¡¯s pretty much covered in weaponry.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ Sounds very bad for us,¡± Erin stated, as she tried to think of a way to get out of their predicament, while Ryle went to take a look at the oncoming force. ¡°Arnie, do you think you could take over the battle armor and use it to attack the other soldiers?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ It might be risky, but I¡¯m willing to try,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°If I use my invisibility spell to sneak behind them, I could possibly have enough time to take it over with my technomancer ability.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s way too risky. You¡¯d be going on a suicide mission,¡± the redheaded assassin said sternly. ¡°Not happening.¡±

    ¡°B-But we might not have any other-!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Arnie. I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± Ryle suddenly said while looking at her companions with a smirk. ¡°You guys just wait by the window, while I get this done.¡±

    Despite not knowing what their blonde friend was planning, the others did as they had been told and got close to the window. The confidence Ryle had spoken with had somewhat convinced them that she did indeed have an idea, so they were now waiting to see what she had planned.

    Ryle herself got ready to put her plan into action. She pulled out her whip, before suddenly kicking open the door. The soldiers were taken aback by this for a very small moment, having not expected one of their enemies to come charging at them like that. Despite being able to regain their composure very quickly, it was too late for them. That small moment had been all Ryle had needed.

    She quickly swung her whip at the battle armor. It wrapped around a rocket launcher on its shoulder, where she then sent the last electric charge her weapon had into. The shock caused the weapon to explode, which not only took out the battle armor but some of the other soldiers as well. The troopers were now in complete panic, as fire and smoke from the explosion had taken over the hallway they were in.

    However, knowing that this would only hold them off for a moment at best, Ryle put away her weapon and ran towards her companions. None of them managed to say anything, before getting picked up by the blonde, who then jumped through the window and protected herself from any damage from the fall by using her ki.

    ¡°Holy freaking shit, Ryle! Would you mind and warn us next time you¡¯re going to do something like that!?¡± Erin yelled angrily as she was being carried by the blonde. ¡°You scared the crap out of me and I¡¯m pretty sure Arnie and Lex have both fainted!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be such a baby! I got us out of there, didn¡¯t I!?¡± Ryle said back as she kept carrying all of her companions. ¡°With the way I¡¯m going, we¡¯ll be out of here in a matter of seconds!¡±

    Erin hated to admit it, but her blonde friend¡¯s plan had worked and they soon made their way out of the base. However, as they were escaping, the question Arnie had asked earlier came to her mind.

    Now that Lune was dead, what was next?

 49. Whatéˆ¥æªš Next?

    Chapter 49

    What¡¯s Next?

    It had been a couple pf days since Erin and her group had succeeded in their mission of assassinating General Lune. For the time being, they had been mostly staying hidden, keeping a low profile in order to avoid getting found out by the authorities. Lune might have been a scummy person, but he was still a high profile person within the military. His death, along with The Four War Maidens, wasn¡¯t going to be taken lightly by either the military or the police.

    However, much to the surprise of the group, while the news of the general¡¯s death had been made public knowledge and there was a search for the ones responsible, no information in regards to them being the ones behind the assassination had come up. There was even a very large bounty offered to the ones who managed to capture the assassins or could come up with information on them, yet nothing about the four of them had been released at all.

    Erin had been sure that at least some of their faces would have been known, but that wasn¡¯t the case. It was almost like someone had wiped any and all traces leading to them.

    During their time hiding, the group had been doing their best to recover from their injuries. Erin had a number of cuts on her body, with a rather deep one on her side. Lexton also had a similar cut on his body and had to recover from almost freezing to death. Arkay had some bad bruising across his body, along with some cracked bones here and there. Ryle had gotten the worst out of all of them, as bruises all over her body, along with some pretty bad cuts as well. With such injuries, everyone was put on rest for the time being.

    Thankfully for all of them, Lexton had some herbs and potions that were very useful in taking care of their injuries. While it wasn¡¯t anything special compared to healing magic, all of them were able to recover very quickly thanks to it. Some scars would still remain, but overall the end result wasn¡¯t bad at all.

    At the moment, Erin, Ryle and Arkay were sitting around a campfire they had set up outside of Lexton¡¯s workshop, where they were grilling some animals they had managed to catch, such as small rodents and other similar creatures. Lexton had gone to the city to see what the situation was in regards to their recent activities, especially if any information in regards to any of them was out yet.

    ¡°Man, I know it has been a few days already, but I¡¯m still having a hard time believing that we managed to pull it off. It seems almost surreal,¡± Ryle said as she took a bite out of a rabbit she had managed to catch. ¡°Still, I¡¯m relieved we managed to pull it off. I know you¡¯re not supposed to celebrate someone¡¯s death, but that bastard had it coming. Considering all the things he did, no way did he deserve to live.¡±

    ¡°I doubt there are a lot of people who would disagree with that statement,¡± Arkay said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, Lune wasn¡¯t exactly popular even among his own troops. He liked to abuse his power quite a bit, so it¡¯s no surprise that people would dislike him.¡±

    ¡°So, in other words, we did a service to the public, huh? Guess the people should be thanking us for our deeds!¡± the blonde said in a joking tone, hoping to lighten up the mood a bit. ¡°All jokes aside, it¡¯s weird that none of our faces seem to be know. Considering how much we were running around the base and all the surveillance equipment they had, you¡¯d think at least one of our faces would end up on a poster with a bounty on it. You think luck was on our side or is there something else at play?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say, but whatever the case is, I¡¯m relieved because of it,¡± Erin said. ¡°Life is hard enough as it is, so I don¡¯t need a bunch of bounty hunters chasing after me. With the way things are, we¡¯ll at least get to go about our business in peace for now.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t disagree with that!¡± Ryle said happily.

    The three continued eating their food and making small talk, while waiting for Lexton to return. Eventually, the kobold returned, getting the attention from all of his companions.

    ¡°Lex, you¡¯re back!¡± Erin said happily. ¡°So, how was it? Has any news in regards to us been released?¡±

    ¡°Surprisingly, nothing at all,¡± Lexton answered as he took a seat close to the fire and took some of the grilled meat. ¡°From what I can tell, no one knows about us being behind Lune¡¯s assassination. I even went so far as to walk past the police station and bounty hunter office, yet no one reacted to me at all. They have no idea about who was behind the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°...You really shouldn¡¯t have risked yourself like that, you know?¡± the redheaded assassin said disapprovingly. ¡°Had there been any suspicion towards any of us, your little stunt could have gone south immediately.¡±

    ¡°Meh¡­ It was a calculated risk at best,¡± the kobold said with a shrug as he took a bite out of his food. ¡°I tried looking into the reason as to why there was no information in regards to the ones responsible and I found something interesting.¡±

    ¡°What would that be?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°From what I heard, despite the large amount of surveillance equipment that base had, no recordings were left behind from the night of the attack,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°It¡¯s almost like all of the recordings from that night were suddenly deleted.¡±

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Arkay asked with wide eyes. ¡°That seems hard to believe. None of us went to the room that held the recordings to delete them and I doubt any of the damage we caused could be behind it either.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right about that. Especially when you consider that places like that have backups for data,¡± the kobold said. ¡°However, not only were all of the recordings erased, but there wasn¡¯t a single person that could give even the faintest of descriptions of us.¡±

    ¡°Well, shouldn¡¯t that be obvious? We sneaked inside and most of us were only discovered by the War Maidens,¡± Ryle said in a somewhat smug tone. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s the point of sneaking in, right? To not get seen by anybody. Sounds to me that we just did our job better than we expected ourselves!¡±

    ¡°I think the point Lexton was making was that things went a bit too good for us,¡± Erin said. ¡°Think about it. We went into a military base crawling with soldiers that had numerous security cameras set around, yet no one got even a glimpse of us? When you take into account that we were locked into fights to the death with their top guards and couldn¡¯t watch out for cameras, not to mention that Lex¡¯s golems were seen, doesn¡¯t it seem odd that not a single detail that could link us as the assassins wasn¡¯t leaked?¡±

    ¡°...Okay, when you put it like that, it does seem rather weird,¡± the blonde said after thinking about it for a second. ¡°But should we really be concerned about that? You said yourself that you were relieved that we weren¡¯t revealed as the ones responsible! The way I see it, this is all just a big win for us!¡±

    ¡°For now it might be,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I¡¯m sure that everyone here with a functioning brain has already figured out that there was most likely someone out there, who manipulated things behind the scenes to prevent us being outed as the ones responsible. If so, then who are they and why did they decide to help us? And most importantly, do they have any other plans for us?¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re getting at, but aren¡¯t you being a bit too paranoid? I mean, Lune had a lot of people that didn¡¯t like him. So what if one of them decided to help us? I can¡¯t see what the problem with that is,¡± Ryle said, before realizing something. ¡°Hey! You just insulted me, didn¡¯t you!?¡±

    ¡°Look, everyone. She¡¯s learning,¡± the kobold said with a chuckle. ¡°As for why we should be worried, is because we don¡¯t know what the person assisting us wants. What if they expect us to do more work for them? Or what if they just want to be the ones who finally capture us, after we¡¯ve done enough dirty work like this for them? Did you ever think about that?¡±

    Silence fell over the group as each of them were deep in thought. On one hand, things had gone far better for them than they had thought, but their lack of information on things surrounding them couldn¡¯t be ignored. While they were safe for now, who knew when that would change?

    ¡°...I¡¯m going to go take a walk,¡± Erin said as she stood up from her spot. ¡°I need some time to think on my own.¡±

    ¡°Hate to say this, but remember what happened last time?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve learned my lesson since then. I won¡¯t wander off too far,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I don¡¯t want another spider encounter.¡±

    With that, Erin walked away from the group, looking for a more secluded area for herself to be alone with her thoughts. It didn¡¯t take long, until she found herself on a cliff overlooking the area.

    The redhead took a deep breath as she allowed the gentle breeze of the wind to wash over her. Her hair flowed along with the air, as she stood there, enjoying a moment of peace and calm.

    But just as she was starting to relax, a familiar voice called out to her.

    ¡°You know, coming out here on your own isn¡¯t really smart,¡± the voice said, causing Erin to turn around and see the shadowy figure that she had met a few days ago. ¡°I suppose this is at least a bit better. After all, now you aren¡¯t inside a cave, with your back against a wall. That was pretty dumb. Maybe we could call this progress of some kind?¡±

    ¡°...I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised about you suddenly appearing behind me,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°By the way, I didn¡¯t get a chance to thank you.¡±

    ¡°Thank me?¡± the shadow asked. ¡°For what exactly?¡±

    ¡°For¡­ helping me out,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°Not only did you save me from¡­ whatever it was that attacked me and dragged me into this world, but you¡¯ve helped me out after that as well, by giving me the ability to use magic and by warning me about that spider.¡±

    ¡°Meh. No need to thank me really. After all, I have my own interests in mind,¡± the shadow said with a shrug. ¡°You do remember what I told you last time, right? About what I want from you?¡±

    ¡°You mean how you wanted me to essentially become the hero of this world? Yeah, I remember,¡± Erin replied. ¡°But are you serious about that? I might have succeeded in taking down Lune, but the people in charge of this world are far more dangerous. Do you really think I can win against them?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always a chance for an unlikely win. Whether it¡¯s because of a good plan or just sheer luck, one can win against overwhelming opposition,¡± the shadow said. ¡°Still, even if you don¡¯t succeed, I can always find someone else. I just feel like you should be the one to do this job. What do you say?¡±

    Erin thought about it for a moment. While she didn¡¯t see herself as a hero of any kind, but she knew the people responsible for this world turning into the mess it was. The redhead knew she wanted to meet them once again, if for nothing else but to at least speak with them just one more time. Not only that, she wanted to stop them from causing anymore misery and pain for others, even if that was just for her own sake.

    ¡°...I doubt I¡¯ll ever be a hero, but I¡¯ll do what I can to set things right here,¡± Erin answered after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t let people like Lune to keep on doing such horrid things any longer. They need to be stopped.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear that. Had you decided not to do this, I¡¯d have been doing nothing but waste my time,¡± the shadow said with a hint of relief in his voice, before turning around to leave. ¡°See you around.¡±

    ¡°Wait! Before you leave, can you tell me something?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°The fact that there isn¡¯t any information tying us to the assassination of Lune¡­ Was that done by you?¡±

    ¡°Oh that? Yeah, that was me. Considering how much I¡¯m expecting of you, I¡¯d say it¡¯s only expected that I¡¯d do that much,¡± the shadow answered. ¡°Although, next time, would you mind and try not to leave so many traces? It¡¯s not exactly a small feat to not only wipe out recordings, but to also manipulate memories.¡±

    ¡°Just who are you?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°That will be a secret, for now,¡± the shadow answered. ¡°I will tell you the truth, when the time is right.¡±

    The shadowy figure suddenly disappeared right before the redhead¡¯s eyes, almost as if he was scattered into the wind. For a moment, all Erin could do was stare at where the mysterious figure had been mere seconds ago.

    However, the things that the shadow had said had left the redhead in deep thought. Whoever this person was, he had high expectations for her. She was expected to take on people like Lune, except even more powerful. This would include the Five Overlords, her old friends.

    Was that something she could accomplish? Was it even something she herself wanted to do?

    In the end, Erin decided that it didn¡¯t matter so much. The thing she truly wanted was to meet and talk to her old friends at least one more time. Maybe she could be able to help the world itself along the way? Who truly knew, though?

    It was a goal she felt was worth fighting for.

 50. Something Worth Fighting For

    Chapter 50

    Something Worth Fighting For

    It had been a couple of days since Erin had her meeting with the mysterious shadowy figure. After she had talked with him, the redhead had started to focus on preparing for her journey to meet with The Five Overlords one by one.

    However, this was unknown to Erin¡¯s friends, who just noticed a strange change in her attitude. She suddenly became more serious and focused, not letting herself get distracted by anything. The redhead was practicing the use of her sword and magical abilities a lot more, to the point that she would at times almost pass out from exhaustion. And when she wasn¡¯t practicing her combat abilities, Erin would be working with Lexton in the city, trying to earn some money.

    Even if they didn¡¯t show it, all three of Erin¡¯s friends couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about her behavior. As far as they knew, the redhead¡¯s battles were over with the death of Lune, so they didn¡¯t understand why she was pushing herself in such a manner. Despite their concerns, Arkay and Lexton decided not to bother their friend over it. The cat boy was too shy and intimidated to speak with Erin about it, while Lexton felt that it wasn¡¯t his place to question her actions.

    This left only one person who could take their concerns up to Erin. Ryle, who didn¡¯t hold back at all, when she finally decided to confront the redhead.

    ¡°Hey, Erin, you mind talking with me a bit?¡± the blonde asked, as she walked up to the redhead, who was in the middle of practicing her swordsmanship. ¡°Or are you too busy trying to kill yourself through exhaustion?¡±

    ¡°I can spare a moment to talk,¡± Erin replied, putting her sword away for the time being. ¡°Also, I¡¯m not trying to kill myself. I¡¯m just trying to improve a bit.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Say that to me when you haven¡¯t almost passed out from exhaustion close to a dozen times,¡± Ryle said sarcastically while rolling her eyes. ¡°Seriously, what has gotten into you? I could understand you doing this before, since we were going after Lune and all, but this is crazy! I get that it¡¯s a tough world out there, but you can ease up a bit! It¡¯s almost like you¡¯re preparing to fight the devil himself or something!¡±

    ¡°...Somehow I don¡¯t think that¡¯s too far from the truth,¡± the redhead muttered almost inaudibly, but the blonde managed to catch it.

    ¡°Excuse me? Are you for real?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°What the hell are you trying to do?¡±

    ¡°Tell me something, Ryle. Has there ever been something in your life that you were willing to risk everything in order to achieve?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Some goal that you could happily give your life for without a second thought?¡±

    Ryle was a bit taken aback by this sudden question, but she soon found her answer. Her mind went to her younger brother and the kids back at the slums. Her family that was no longer in this world.

    ¡°...I did have that once,¡± the blonde answered in a solemn tone. ¡°But I¡¯ve lost it now. I¡¯m honestly not sure what my goal is anymore.¡±

    ¡°Whether you have it or not, you should be able to understand me a bit better. You should understand that I need to do anything I can to achieve my goal. And one of the things I need to do is get as strong as possible as fast as I can,¡± Erin said as she walked past Ryle, stopping momentarily next to the blonde in order to say one more thing. ¡°I hope you find your reason to move forward as well.¡±

    ¡°Just what are you trying to do?¡± Ryle asked, as the redhead was walking away. ¡°What is pushing you onward so much?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll tell you in a couple of days,¡± Erin answered. ¡°And not just you, but Arnie and Lexton as well. I want to tell all of you about what I¡¯m going to do.¡±

    Despite wanting to know what the redhead was talking about, the blonde decided to let it go for now. After all, she would eventually find out about it along with Arkay and Lexton.

    With nothing better to do, Ryle decided to head to the city and spend some time there. Thanks to the work she had been doing in helping Lexton sell his medicines, she had a nice amount of spare money to use and there were quite a few places that would like to have her as a customer.

    Once she made her way to the market district of the city, Ryle began to put her money to good use. First, she decided to have a nice lunch at a steakhouse, before getting some dessert at an ice cream shop. Finally, she decided to finish her day at an arcade by playing a few games.

    The blonde was whistling a happy tune, as she was sucking on a lollipop she had won at the arcade¡¯s claw machine. As she was skipping along the road, she happened to notice a familiar feline companion of hers walking out of a nearby bookstore. A small grin spread across her face, as she decided to play a little prank on her young friend by sneaking behind him. Arkay was so absorbed in one of the books he had bought that he never noticed Ryle, until she suddenly put her hands on his side and began to tickle him.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡± the blonde cheered happily, as she commenced her stealthy tickle assault, causing Arkay to burst out in laughter. ¡°You got taken by the Great Tickler! Your sides are never safe around her!¡±

    ¡°R-R-Ryle!?¡± the cat boy managed to say through his laughter. ¡°W-What brings y-you here!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask the same thing from you!¡± Ryle said, finally letting go of Arkay, so he could catch his breath. ¡°I had no idea you were in the city. Had you told me, I would have invited you to come along with me! It would have been a good time!¡±

    ¡°Sorry about that. I only needed to come here for a short moment to check some bookstores and I wasn¡¯t sure if anyone was going to be interested in that,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°Erin has been very determined to learn more about magic, so I thought about getting some books that might help her in that regard.¡±

    ¡°Books about magic? Weren¡¯t those banned?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°How could this place be selling such things to just about anybody?¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t exactly buy magic books. What I bought were memoirs written by known magicians,¡± Arkay began to explain. ¡°You see, a lot of magic users are scholars at heart that spend a lot of time studying magic and how to utilize it in different manners. While not directly focused on their work in regards to magical studies, I think these books could still have some hints in regards to magic, if you look close enough.¡±

    ¡°Not a bad idea, but do you think you¡¯ll find anything useful in them?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°After all, wouldn¡¯t the government officials have pulled any books that could be used in such a manner off the shelves already?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily. There are numerous cases when books containing ¡°banned material¡± end up in the hands of regular citizens. This is due to the offices responsible for checking such material being rather lazy in their work,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°One of the best examples of this is a book called ¡°The Five Stooges.¡± It was seen as simply a comedic story about five goofy characters and it quickly became a hot seller after being released. However, what the people responsible of inspecting it failed to realize was that it was actually a story that heavily parodied and criticized The Five Overlords themselves.¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°...Woah. Talk about a major screw up,¡± the blonde said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m going to assume the big guys on top weren¡¯t exactly pleased about that?¡±

    ¡°Not in the least. As soon as this blunder was discovered, all the people in the office that had let that book get published were publicly executed, along with many others that had a hand in distributing it. Not only that, but it was made illegal to possess the book at all and being caught carrying it would land you a hefty prison sentence,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°The police were mobilized to confiscate all the books that hadn¡¯t been sold yet, which were then burned. Most people who bought it got rid of it in fear of being punished by the authorities, but a some copies still exist. I¡¯ve heard they sell very well in underground auctions and other such deals.¡±

    ¡°...Wow. To think one book could cause such damage,¡± Ryle said with a nervous chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m going to guess that the author himself got wrecked pretty hard as well?¡±

    ¡°Actually, the author was never discovered,¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°While the person who submitted the book to the publisher was caught, they were soon discovered to be nothing but a local crook that had been paid to do it. The actual author himself knew that he would face severe consequences over what he had written, so he made sure to cover his tracks. Several other written works later appeared under the same pen name he had used, all criticizing the government and other authorities. He hasn¡¯t released anything for some time now, so it¡¯s unknown whether he was finally caught or if he has simply stopped writing. All sorts of theories exist about him, but nothing has ever been confirmed.¡±

    ¡°Considering the things he has done, he probably doesn¡¯t want his identity to ever be discovered,¡± the blonde said. ¡°By the way, you mentioned that he used a pen name. What was it?¡±

    ¡°...Ulik Dix,¡± Arkay replied with an embarrassed blush on his face.

    ¡°...Seriously?¡±

    ¡°I assume that he wanted to see just how bad the people behind censoring books truly were. Publishers apparently thought it was an orc name.¡±

    The two of them continued walking for some time, talking about all sorts of mundane things. Ryle was greatly enjoying Arkay¡¯s company. The cat boy might have been very shy and cautious, but he was a really good and kind person. She had also seen herself that if he needed to, he could be very brave even if it put his own life at risk. All in all, Arkay was someone that she could greatly rely on, like her brother.

    Thinking about her now deceased younger brother saddened Ryle. While she knew that he had betrayed Erin, which had then led to the deaths in the slums as well as his own, Zeke had done so out of worry for Ryle. He had just wanted to make sure his only living family wouldn¡¯t be lost due to her dangerous profession. Unfortunately, he had not expected Lune to stab him in the back.

    Now that she had avenged her brother¡¯s death, Ryle had to wonder what was next for her? In the short time she had been hanging around with Erin, Arkay and Lexton, she had gotten very used to their presence. If she was completely honest with herself, she didn¡¯t want it to end. Not just because she deeply cared for her companions, but because there wasn¡¯t really anything else out there for her.

    But now that they all had achieved their common goal, were they going to keep sticking together?

    ¡°I should probably leave now,¡± Arkay suddenly said, breaking the blonde out of her thoughts.

    ¡°W-What?¡± Ryle asked, somewhat shocked of what the cat boy had said.

    ¡°I want to look through some of the books I bought and possibly find some of the more important parts in them that could help in learning more about magic,¡± Arkay answered, having not noticed the slight panic in his friend¡¯s voice. ¡°That way, both Erin and I will have an easier time in our studies.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh¡­ That sounds like a good plan,¡± Ryle said as she let out a small sigh of relief.

    ¡°Yeah. I guess I¡¯ll see you later then,¡± the cat boy said as he began to walk away, only to stop suddenly and turn back to the blonde. ¡°Oh! I almost forgot! I managed to find this as well!¡±

    Arkay dug through his bag and took out one of the books he had bought, which he then handed to Ryle.

    ¡°It¡¯s the autobiography of a famous martial artist that knew how to use ki. I don¡¯t know much about it, but I thought you might be able to find something out of it,¡± the cat boy explained, before leaving. ¡°See you later!¡±

    Ryle couldn¡¯t help but smile at the kind gesture from her young friend. While she would have never thought about using books as a way to get stronger, she still appreciated that someone cared about her enough to do something like this for her.

    Putting the book in her pocket, the blonde began to go her own way, but decided to give one last look at Arkay. It was then that she noticed something that immediately set off alarm bells in her head.

    In a nearby alley were two people watching Arkay from the shadows. Ryle quickly recognized both of them thanks to her previous encounters with them. One of them was Luxley, the fox person that Arkay used to sell the items he had stolen as the Midnight Thief. The other one was Garza, the female orc Ryle had beaten at the fight pit.

    While the blonde would normally not bother sparing a thought at either of the two, the fact that they were watching over Arkay was something she couldn¡¯t ignore. There was something about it that spelled danger in her head, so she was going to make sure that nothing bad would actually happen.

    Almost as if to strengthen her fears, the two suspicious people followed after Arkay by moving through the nearby dark alleys, trying to stay hidden. Ryle in turn followed the two of them by moving through the same alleys, making sure to never get discovered by them.

    After getting close enough to eavesdrop on the two, Ryle heard that they were talking. What she heard made her blood boil.

    ¡°So when are we going to move and take him away?¡± Garza asked while eyeing the unsuspecting Arkay. ¡°I¡¯m starting to get tired of this sneaking around crap.¡±

    ¡°Not yet. There are way too many people around,¡± Luxley replied. ¡°While you can often get away with pretty much anything in this city by giving enough money to the right person, it might not work always. Not to mention, I¡¯d like to avoid spending money needlessly.¡±

    ¡°All I want is to get back at that bitch who ruined my reputation,¡± the female orc growled. ¡°I was on my way to become one of the biggest champions ever and that damn bimbo hanging around that kid ruined everything. One bad fight and all of it was gone! I want some goddamn payback!¡±

    ¡°I get it already. No need to keep telling me the same thing over and over,¡± the fox woman said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve never understood that ¡°fighter¡¯s honor¡± junk. All I¡¯m looking towards is my big paycheck that will finally allow me to retire. Most of my business was done by selling things stolen by the Midnight Thief. Now that it seems like that¡¯s about to end, I might as well sell the person himself to someone for a good price.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still getting my cut from the deal, right?¡± Garza asked. ¡°While I care about my honor and pride, I still have a rent to pay.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you will get your cut!¡± Luxley replied in a frustrated tone. ¡°Now follow me! He¡¯s about to enter an area that isn¡¯t all that active. We can grab him there.¡±

    Ryle felt rage course through her veins upon hearing the plans of the two women. She wasn¡¯t going to let them go through with it and was going to make sure that the two people planning to abduct her young friend were going to pay for it.

    A bit later, all four people were in the area where the planned kidnapping was supposed to happen. Arkay was still unaware of the two people following him, who in turn didn¡¯t know about Ryle following them.

    ¡°Alright. There¡¯s no one else around,¡± Luxley said with a smirk on her face. ¡°Once I give you the signal, I want you to walk out there and grab him. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Garza said in response with a smirk of her own.

    The orc didn¡¯t notice a certain blonde brawler sneaking up behind her.

    ¡°Okay, he should be at the right place¡­ Now! Get him!¡± Luxley whispered to the orc that was behind her, only for nothing to come of it. Seeing her partner not move according to their plan, the fox lady turned around with a furious look on her face. ¡°What the hell are you waiting for!? You need to-!¡±

    All the anger soon disappeared from Luxley, along with the color on her face, upon seeing just who was behind her. Standing there was Ryle, staring down at the fox with a cold look in her eyes, as Garza laid against a nearby wall with her head twisted around in an unnatural way.

    Before Luxley could utter even a single sound, a strong hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. She was then quickly pulled into a tight hold, as Ryle hid herself and the fox lady from view. The two of them stayed silent, as Arkay walked past them, completely unaware of what had just happened.

    Once the cat boy had gone far enough, Ryle turned her attention towards Luxley, who was trembling in fear. The fox knew better than to even attempt at fighting back. If this person was strong enough to take out Garza that easily, there was nothing she could do to save herself. In fact, fighting back could anger her attacker further, which was the last thing she wanted. All Luxley could do was hope that she could get a chance to somehow bargain for her life.

    ¡°You know, I almost should be grateful for you. You know why?¡± Ryle said in a calm tone that only served to further terrify Luxley. ¡°I was honestly a bit confused about myself and where I was going, you see? Then I see the two of you stalking Arnie and the answer to my issues becomes so clear. It¡¯s funny how you can find good things in the weirdest of places, huh?¡±

    Luxley had no idea what the blonde brawler was talking about, but it didn¡¯t matter. If she could figure out what Ryle¡¯s issue was, she was certain she could make an offer of some kind. A person such as herself had her ways of getting her hands on things that many desired and needed, so she was certain a deal could be made.

    ¡°However, I still can¡¯t forgive either of you for what you were about to do. I¡¯m going to need to protect Arnie from the nastiest scum in the world and that obviously includes you,¡± Ryle said with a hint of anger, causing Luxley to start panic and attempt to escape in vain. ¡°So go to hell!¡±

    In a single quick motion Ryle twisted Luxley¡¯s neck. A crack was heard, before the fox woman went limp and lifeless.

    With the two people that had been stalking Arkay now dead, Ryle could return to her friends knowing that they wouldn¡¯t be in danger from them.

    The blonde brawler now knew what she wanted to do. She might have lost her family from before, but she had gained a new one in the friends she had made. And she was going to make sure that she wouldn¡¯t lose them, no matter what.

 51. Departure From Moonstone

    Chapter 51

    Departure From Moonstone

    It had been a few days since Erin had been asked about her intentions in regards to her sudden intensive training. During that time, the redhead had greatly improved her physical abilities, along with her skills in swordsmanship.

    Her magical abilities had also improved a lot, thanks to the guidance from Arkay and the books he had bought her. The cat boy had even helped her learn to use electricity and flames. At the moment, she couldn¡¯t shoot fireballs out of her hands, but she could still summon flames from her palms, which was sure to become useful. Erin had managed to learn the lightning grasp spell, which Arkay had used on Ryle when they first met. While not as powerful as the cat boy, the redhead could use the spell to give a decent shock to someone or even fry electronics.

    However, Erin hadn¡¯t just been building up her combat abilities, as she had also bee making other preparations as well. Thanks to working with Lexton to sell medicine, she had gathered a decent amount of money for herself. The redheaded assassin had also managed to get her hands on some useful equipment, such as medical supplies, knives, smoke bombs, flash grenades and even a couple of magical stones to be used with her sword.

    All in all, Erin had done a lot of work to make sure she was prepared to go and take on the forces of her former friends, The Five Overlords. But the most difficult task was still ahead of her, which was to break the news to her friends and basically disband their group.

    Whether she liked it or not, her new friends had only joined her in order to take down a common enemy. With that task accomplished, there was no need for any of them to stick together. Even if she wanted to continue traveling with them, Erin knew that she had no right to think that any of them would be willing to join her on her quest to take on the most powerful people in the world. In fact, she didn¡¯t want them to join her either. The mere thought of any of them being hurt due to her own actions was something the redhead doubted she could live with. So no matter how much it would hurt, she would have to say goodbye to them soon.

    Taking a deep breath, Erin prepared herself for the announcement she was going to make to her friends. She made her way to the place where Lexton¡¯s workshop was parked, as she had told the others to meet her there.

    Arriving at the place, the redhead noticed that all three of her companions were already there, talking with each other. While she couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, she was certain that they were all talking about what she was going to tell them.

    ¡°Hey, Erin¡¯s here!¡± Arkay exclaimed, having noticed the redheaded assassin walking towards them.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s about damn time she got here,¡± Lexton said in a bit of a joking tone. ¡°I¡¯m up to my ass in all kinds of work that needs to get done, so I really need to get this over and done as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Nice to see your caring side, Lex,¡± Ryle said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes, before turning her attention to Erin. ¡°So what did you need to tell us? Judging from the way you¡¯ve been acting, it has got to be something pretty big and important.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s something like that,¡± Erin said with a small smile. She was going to miss the upbeat attitude of her blonde friend quite a bit. ¡°You all know that I¡¯ve been practicing my skills lately and you¡¯ve been wondering what it¡¯s for, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just that you¡¯ve been practicing a lot lately, but it¡¯s clear you¡¯re preparing for something,¡± Lexton stated. ¡°Not only are you trying to improve your combat skills, but you¡¯ve been doing a lot more work as well. I¡¯ve also noticed some of the things you¡¯ve been buying. In all honesty, either you¡¯re even more paranoid than I am when it comes to your own security or you¡¯re getting ready to go to war. And I have a hunch that it¡¯s the latter. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°...I guess I should have expected this from you, Lex,¡± the redheaded assassin said, confirming the kobold¡¯s suspicions. ¡°You¡¯re right with your assumptions. I am preparing myself for a great battle ahead of me.¡±

    ¡°What battle are you talking about? We already beat Lune!¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Now I can understand that if you¡¯re looking to get into bounty hunting-¡±

    ¡°No, Ryle, I am not talking about bounty hunting,¡± Erin interrupted the blonde. ¡°I am going to take on The Five Overlords.¡±

    To say that the redhead¡¯s three friends were shocked would be an understatement. While they all had their guesses as to who her new enemies might be, none of them had even the slightest idea that she was talking about the most powerful beings in the whole world themselves. Many great men and women had made proud proclamations about opposing the five on top of the world. Not a single one of them had lived for long after making such claims.

    For them, this was like Erin was announcing her own suicide.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°You¡¯re going to take on the five biggest and baddest bastards out there by yourself!? That¡¯s like an ant picking a fight with the biggest dragon out there! You¡¯ll only end up dead!¡±

    ¡°S-She¡¯s right, Erin! This is way too reckless!¡± Arkay joined in on trying to stop the redhead. ¡°We might have been able to defeat Lune, but he is nothing compared to some of the most powerful people within the armies of The Five Overlords! And that¡¯s not even taking into account the Overlords themselves! Please don¡¯t do this!¡±

    ¡°I have to agree with Arnie and the idiot. What you¡¯re saying is absolutely insane!¡± Lexton stated. ¡°I do hope you haven¡¯t gotten some crazy idea in your head just because we managed to beat Lune and his War Maidens. Even if you got anywhere close to even one of them, The Five Overlords are all insanely powerful monsters that no one could hope to defeat! It was due to their sheer overwhelming powers that they were able to conquer the world in the first place! Do you really think you can stand up to something like that!?¡±

    Erin had been expecting these types of reactions from her friends. After all, what they were saying was the undisputed truth. The opponents she was planning to take on were far beyond her capabilities. She would need all of the miracles in the universe not to end up dead.

    However, despite the odds being against her, the redheaded assassin knew that this was something she would have to do. Not just for the sake of the world, but for her own sake as well.

    ¡°I know it sounds crazy, but I¡¯m not going to change my mind about this,¡± Erin said. ¡°Just know that I have my own reasons for doing this and that I have to at least try. Even if I am going to die because of it, I cannot simply let this go.¡±

    ¡°Well, you certainly are going to die¡­¡± Lexton muttered in a slightly frustrated tone.

    ¡°Hey, scaly-ass, shut the hell up for a second, okay?¡± Ryle said angrily at the kobold before giving a stern look at her redhead friend. ¡°Alright, so you want us to go after the biggest guys in the yard then? Where do we start?¡±

    ¡°You misunderstand something. You guys are not coming along,¡± Erin replied. ¡°I am going to do this on my own.¡±

    ¡°...EXCUSE ME!? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY!?¡± the blonde yelled angrily. ¡°You actually have the freaking nerve to leave us behind!? You think we¡¯re not good enough or something!? Do you think you could have gotten anywhere to the point you¡¯re at without any of us!?¡±

    ¡°Again, you¡¯re misunderstanding things,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°I am not saying that any of you aren¡¯t good enough. In fact, I¡¯d say the opposite. All three of you are the best companions a person could ask for and I am forever grateful that you all have been there for me so far.¡±

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    ¡°T-Then why don¡¯t you want us to come along?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°We might not be able to do much, but we should still be able to help you!¡±

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want you guys getting hurt because of me,¡± Erin answered. ¡°I don¡¯t know if any of you feel the same way, but I consider all three of you my friends. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want any of you to get involved in my mess. Please try to understand me.¡±

    After finishing her explanation, the redhead turned around and began to walk away. She had placed a backpack filled with all of her equipment nearby and picked it up, ready to go on her journey.

    However, before leaving, she turned around to look at her friends and said one more thing.

    ¡°If it¡¯s worth anything, I would like to say that being together with you all has been great. I had fun and enjoyed my time together with you all,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°I hope you all get to live happily from now on.¡±

    The redheaded assassin was about to walk away, when a hand grasped her cloak, stopping her in her tracks. She looked behind her and saw Arkay grasping her cloak as tightly as he could.

    ¡°What is it, Arnie?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...Can I¡­ Can I come along?¡± the cat boy asked, before looking up at the redhead with a determined look in his eyes. ¡°I want to join you on your journey. So can I come with you?¡±

    ¡°Arnie!?¡± Ryle cried out in shock.

    ¡°Are you serious!?¡± Lexton asked, shocked by Arkay¡¯s sudden request. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand just what kind of insane and dangerous task Erin¡¯s trying to accomplish!? You are sure to get killed!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fully aware of the danger. In all honesty, a part of me just wants to run and hide just from thinking about it,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°But I know that if it wasn¡¯t for The Five Overlords that people like Lune wouldn¡¯t be in power! It¡¯s ultimately because of them that the world has become such an awful place to live! I don¡¯t want anyone to go through what I had to! So if I can help prevent people like Lune from getting into power, I¡¯ll do it!¡±

    Before Lexton could argue against Arkay¡¯s point, Ryle surprised him by walking up to the cat boy. The blonde stared down at her young friend with an intense look that made Arkay shiver a bit.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Arnie?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°You know that the people you¡¯re going after are far beyond Lune and The War Maidens, right? Even then, do you still want to challenge them?¡±

    ¡°I know how powerful they are.. And I am scared of them,¡± Arkay said nervously, before looking up at Ryle with a strong and determined gaze. ¡°But I still wish to do this. Nothing will change if someone doesn¡¯t stand up to them. And I know that if I didn¡¯t do this, I¡¯d regret it for the rest of my life.¡±

    For a small moment, Ryle simply stared into Arkay¡¯s eyes, looking for any signs of hesitation or regret, but found none. The cat boy was completely serious with his words and there was no way to change his mind.

    ¡°Alright, I guess that settles it then,¡± Ryle said. ¡°I¡¯m going as well.¡±

    ¡°Now hang on a second!¡± Erin quickly called out. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear that I was going to go on my own!? Why are you two trying to join me all of a sudden!? You don¡¯t have to!¡±

    ¡°Of course we don¡¯t have to! Do you think we¡¯re doing this out of some dumb obligation or something, you moron!?¡± the blonde yelled at the redhead, who was taken aback by the outburst. ¡°We are doing this because we want to! Nothing else! What Arkay said was true, you know? Had it not been for those five, my brother and I would have probably been way better off! The way I see it, I¡¯m just paying them back for all the crap they¡¯ve caused me!¡±

    Erin was desperately trying to think of something to say against Ryle, but couldn¡¯t find the right words. Her fumbling was put to a stop, as the blonde put a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Also, you should know that Arnie isn¡¯t going to back down either, no matter what. And if he¡¯s going, I¡¯m definitely coming along,¡± Ryle whispered into Erin¡¯s ear. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, if you think I¡¯m letting him slip away from me just like that.¡±

    The redhead still wanted to argue against her two friends¡¯ decision of wanting to join her, but one look into their eyes told her that it was futile. She could tell that both Arkay and Ryle were determined to join her and there was absolutely nothing she could do or say to change their minds. Her solo adventure had become an adventuring trio.

    ¡°...Alright. I can tell that I¡¯ve been beaten,¡± Erin said with a sigh, before a smile came to her lips. ¡°Although, I do have to say that I am a bit glad that you¡¯re coming along. I honestly was dreading this day, because I didn¡¯t really like the idea of going on my own. Thank you both.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be all sappy like that! You know that we couldn¡¯t just let you go on your own!¡± Ryle said with a grin as she gave a playful slap on the redhead¡¯s back, almost knocking her to the ground. ¡°No way is this merry band gonna split up so soon! We¡¯re gonna stick together whether you want it or not!¡±

    As the three of them were happily talking among themselves about the great things their team was going to accomplish, a certain kobold remained standing to the side. It wasn¡¯t until Ryle noticed him that did he voice his opinion on the matter.

    ¡°Hey, Lex, what about you?¡± the blonde called out to the kobold. ¡°You gonna join us or not?¡±

    ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± Lexton said in a surprisingly bitter tone. ¡°Do you really think that I¡¯m as stupid as you all are?¡±

    ¡°What the hell do you mean by that!?¡± Ryle yelled back angrily.

    ¡°Exactly what I said. Do any of you really think you have a chance of getting close to any of The Five Overlords, let alone beat them?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°You¡¯d be lucky to get close to where one of them lives! What you¡¯re all doing is essentially suicide! Why the hell would I want to risk my life on something like that!?¡±

    ¡°We are fully aware of the risks, but we are still going to go for it. Not because it¡¯s the smart thing to do, but the right thing to do,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°You know as well as we do that a lot of the bad things in the world are caused by the influence of The Five Overlords. Unless something is done about them, things won¡¯t get any better. In fact, they might get worse for all we know.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly as Arnie says, Lex! We all hate how things are, so we might as well try doing something about it! Even if we end up dead, we can at least die knowing that we gave it a shot, unlike cowards who just sit around wishing for things to change!¡± Ryle said with a big grin. ¡°Besides, aren¡¯t we all a team? Why wouldn¡¯t we do this together?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to correct something about that. We WERE a team,¡± Lexton stated. ¡°Remember that I only joined up with you all because we all shared the same goal. Now that it has been fulfilled, there¡¯s no reason for us to associate with each other. In short, this is goodbye. Try not to get yourselves killed right away, at least.¡±

    ¡°Why you little-!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, please. There is no need for that,¡± Erin said before walking up to Lexton. The kobold expected her to plead him into joining her group for good, but instead was surprised to see her smile at him while offering a handshake. ¡°It was great working with you, Lex. I hope all the best for you in the future.¡±

    ¡°...Likewise,¡± Lexton said as he took the offered hand. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I understand as to why you are doing what you¡¯re doing. I just consider the risks far too high for my tastes, alright? It¡¯s just simple logic.¡±

    ¡°I understand completely. I am not about to try and force you to come along against your own will,¡± the redhead said. ¡°You take care of yourself, okay? Hopefully we¡¯ll meet again in the future.¡±

    With that, Erin¡¯s group made their final preparations, before walking away. Lexton was left behind to watch, as his three former companions eventually disappeared beyond the horizon.

    ¡°...Well, there they go now! On a quest that¡¯s going to get them all killed!¡± Lexton ranted to himself as he started to make his way back to his workshop. ¡°In all honesty, why should I care? It¡¯s no skin off my back! I work better on my own anyways!¡±

    The kobold was about to enter his workshop, but gave one last glance at the direction Erin and the others had gone to, before going inside.

    Back with Erin and the others, the three friends were walking in silence. Their departure from Lexton had left them silent, along with the knowledge of what they were aiming to do. With the mood being what it was, no one really had anything to say.

    ¡°So¡­ I spy with my eye something that begins with the letter R,¡± Ryle suddenly said, hoping to end the awkward silence. ¡°Can you guess what it is?¡±

    ¡°Is it a rock?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Correct! Good going, Arnie!¡± the blonde said happily. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps because there is literally nothing else around us except rocks?¡± Erin asked sarcastically.

    ¡°Oh please! It¡¯s all about a matter of being able to notice the small details around you that makes this game fun, as it gives you more options!¡± Ryle said. ¡°For example, I hear something that begins with the letter C! Do you know what it is?¡±

    Upon hearing what their blonde friend said, both Erin and Arkay stopped in their tracks and turned towards her.

    ¡°Is it something that we should be worried about?¡± Erin asked, wondering if it was some vicious beast.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ No? It¡¯s a car,¡± Ryle answered, before realizing what she herself had said. ¡°Hang on a second¡­ A car?¡±

    The trio turned around and saw a vehicle driving towards them. Once it had gotten close enough, they recognized it as a very familiar RV. Erin and the others could only watch in stunned silence, as Lexton pulled up next to them in his vehicle. The kobold had a solemn look on his face, as he sat behind the wheel of his car.

    ¡°Lex, why are you here?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m happy to see you, but I was under the impression that you would remain in that city for at least a bit longer.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what brings you here?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Did your scamming ass finally get kicked out or something?¡±

    ¡°Ha ha. You¡¯re a real comedian,¡± Lexton said sarcastically, before looking at Erin. ¡°Look, the thing is that¡­ business can be tough without helping hands, you know? And when we worked together I managed to make a pretty nice profit from it.¡±

    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...I still think that what you guys are doing is a bad idea. But I think I can stick around for at least some of the journey,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Think you guys could use me as a part of your group for a little longer?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Happy to have you along!¡± the redhead said happily.

    With the group together again, the four continued their journey, which was made easier thanks to the vehicle they now had. Unfortunately, there was still a bit of an issue.

    ¡°Hey, Lex, would you mind and get rid of some of this shit!?¡± Ryle called out to the kobold, as she, Erin and Arkay were sitting in the cramped space of the small RV. ¡°It¡¯s already tight as hell over here, we don¡¯t need all this smelly crap making things worse!¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut your mouth! Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to get all that!?¡± Lexton yelled back from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°All those ingredients are worth a fortune, so you better not even think about throwing any of it out!¡±

    Erin could only let out a deep sigh, as a slimy piece of monster flesh fell out from one of the cupboards on top of her head. Maybe going on her own would have been better?

 52. A Meeting Of Lords

    Chapter 52

    A Meeting Of Lords

    Within the Western Continent¡¯s center, surrounded by a high mountain range on all sides, laid the central city of the entire continent. This was called the High Rock Peak and was the base of one of The Five Overlords, Golorath the Powerful.

    Before The Five Overlords had come to this world, this city had been a marvelous sight, as it served as a base for only the most powerful and honorable of warriors. Because of this, it had been called the city of true warriors by some. Only once you had proven yourself worthy of entry would you even be allowed to take one step inside.

    However, the once proud settlement of heroic fighters was no more. Once The Five Overlords had taken over, they had executed most of the population due to them not swearing loyalty to their new rulers. Those who were spared, depending on their dedication to their new masters, were imprisoned, publicly humiliated or forced to live like animals. Only those who showed absolute loyalty were allowed to remain as warriors withing the courts of their new master, Golorath.

    Those who knew what the city had used to be would weep upon seeing its state now, as people that could only be described as inhuman brigands were now the citizens with the former citizens acting as no better than their slaves.

    In the middle of this city stood a giant fortress, called Behemoth Fort. This was now the residence of Golorath, who gave orders to his generals from his throne room, never bothering to leave. After all, he had thousands of loyal subjects just waiting to do his bidding. Why should he bother with any of the menial work?

    Said overlord was currently having a meal at his dinner table. The table itself could hold dozens of people seated at it at the same time, yet said table was currently reserved only for this lone diner. All sorts of delicacies were covering the table. These were almost all made from some sort of animal meat through the hands of expert chefs. Grease glistened and the rich smell of fat had covered the whole room. The few plates that didn¡¯t have meat on them were reserved for sweeter foods, such as pies or cakes, and even they were made of only the most expensive of ingredients.

    While for most people this type of setting was fit for a royal feast of a great celebration, to Golorath it was just his typical dinner that he would have every day. One could only wonder how one person was able to simply devour such large quantities of food by himself.

    The overlord¡¯s peaceful meal was suddenly interrupted by one of his guards barging through the door. The man had a panicked look on his face and was panting heavily, a sign of him having run all the way there.

    ¡°L-Lord Golorath! An urgent message!¡± the guard said as he knelt in the presence of his master while trying to catch his breath desperately. ¡°There is an urgent message that requires your immediate attention!¡±

    ¡°What is it? Can¡¯t you see that I am eating?¡± Golorath asked in a tone that told just how displeased he was by the sudden interruption, as he continued eating. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you fools that unless it¡¯s an extremely important matter that I am not to be disturbed? You better not have come here for a pointless death¡­¡±

    The guard shuddered for a moment, knowing dull well what happened to those who had upset Golorath. The lucky ones were simply killed on the spot, while others faced horrid punishments that would turn even the most vile of people pale. Some were even added into the overlord¡¯s menu.

    ¡°I-I swear that this is something that had to be brought to you directly!¡± the guard said, hoping to walk out of this encounter alive. ¡°In fact, I was told by the sender themselves that this must not go to anyone else no matter what!¡±

    ¡°What is it then?¡± Golorath asked, growing more frustrated with this nuisance. ¡°Spit it out already or I¡¯ll just squash you right now without listening to whatever it is.¡±

    ¡°The other overlords-! They are calling for an audience with you!¡±

    Upon hearing this, the overlord immediately stopped biting down on his grilled dragon¡¯s leg. He put the food down on the plate and turned to look at his servant with a surprised look on his face.

    ¡°Are you certain that it¡¯s them?¡± Golorath asked. ¡°If you have mistaken some impostor for any of them, you do know what will happen to you?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, my lord! I am certain that it¡¯s them!¡± the guard said, thinking of the last and only time another servant had been fooled by a fake message. All the other servants saw the horrifying sight in their nightmares for weeks. ¡°We made every possible precautionary check and have confirmed that the message was indeed real. Not only that, but it carried the authentic seal of Lord Devinolux himself!¡±

    Golorath frowned. While it was nothing new for any of his fellow overlords to send him a message in regards to some issue, it was not normal to receive a call for an audience with all of them present. There had never been anything that required the attendance of all five of them. Not after they had conquered the world at least. Whatever this meeting was about, it must have been about a rather serious issue.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll be going to my throne room then,¡± Golorath said as he stood up to the table and began walking towards the door, causing the floor to shake with every step. ¡°Tell the chefs to feed what¡¯s left on my table to the guards and prepare a new meal for me before I return. I hate eating cold food.¡±

    The guard could only nod as sweat began to drip down his face. Preparing the overlord¡¯s dinner was practically a battle of life and death for the kitchen staff, as the massive feast required them to put everything they had into it. To make it worse, if there was even a single mistake, whether it was something that wasn¡¯t warm enough or not cooked properly, someone would have to face Golorath¡¯s wrath. When this happened, it was up to the kitchen staff to find someone to place the blame upon, and this time it might very well be the guard himself. All he could do was pray that the chefs wouldn¡¯t mess anything up.

    Just as Golorath was about to walk past the guard, he turned to look down at his servant, his massive frame easily towering over the terrified man.

    ¡°As a token of gratitude, you may take something of my leftovers for yourself,¡± the overlord said before resuming his walk to his throne room. ¡°I recommend the hydra stew. It was absolutely marvelous.¡±

    <hr>

    Once the loud thumps of Golorath¡¯s footsteps had disappeared into the distance, the guard allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. His life seemed to be safe for now. Upon receiving the message and making sure it was authentic, there had been a lot of arguing over who should deliver it. All of the servants within the castle knew how dangerous it was to interrupt the overlord¡¯s dinner, so it was essentially a suicide mission. The unlucky person had been decided by drawing lots and the guard had been the one who ended up as the loser.

    Seeing as how he was in the clear for now, the guard decided to heed his master¡¯s advice and walked up to the table. Drool began to fall from his mouth, as he was now allowed to fully take in the massive feast before his eyes without the fear of death looming over him. Cooked dragon meat, Rock Boar skewers, Tornado Eagle steak and many other luxurious foods were spread before him. Normal people could only dream of tasting just one of these, yet they were all right before him.

    Upon trying to choose what to try, the guard noticed a large bowl of stew to the side. The broth of the stew itself was green in color with grilled chunks of meat floating in it. This was most likely the hydra stew that Golorath had spoken so highly of.

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    Grabbing a spoon, the guard scooped a good chunk of the stew and put it in his mouth. As soon as it touched his tongue, an explosion of flavor exploded in his mouth. An involuntary moan escaped from the guard¡¯s mouth over just how delicious the food was.

    He was about to have another spoonful, but suddenly stopped. A horrible pain suddenly spread across his body, forcing him on his knees. The guard tried to struggle in order to stand up, but it was all in vain. All he ended up doing was throw up blood before collapsing to the floor and flying.

    The thing about the meat of the particular hydra in the stew was that it had poison running through it. Only the most skilled of chefs could ever hope to handle such an ingredient, as the slightest of mistakes would make the meat inedible with the poison contaminating the whole thing.

    Golorath had never even noticed the poison due to his natural immunity. No poison could ever so much as hurt him, let alone kill him. It wasn¡¯t known if one of the chefs had prepared the stew in such a manner that they hoped the overlord would perish, or if Golorath knew about the poison when recommending it to the guard, but it wouldn¡¯t matter. With the guard dead the kitchen staff wouldn¡¯t receive the overlord¡¯s order and wouldn¡¯t be able to make the necessary preparations. This would lead to a further tragedy, once Golorath unleashed his fury upon his servants.

    <hr>

    Back with said overlord, he had made his way to his throne room. His throne was huge, as it needed to hold his massive body. The throne was made of black onyx and was decorated with the bones of some of the most ferocious beasts the Western Continent had to offer.

    Golorath sat down on his throne before snapping his fingers. Upon doing this, a large holographic screen appeared out of nowhere before.

    ¡°Bring up the other lords,¡± the overlord commanded and the screen was divided into four equally sized screens, each showing a different person on them. These were the other Overlords. ¡°Hello, my good friends. I heard you wanted to talk with me. What is it that would require all of us present?¡±

    ¡°You should know well enough, what this is about, Golorath,¡± one of the people in the screens said in a clearly displeased tone. ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s going on in your area?¡±

    ¡°I tend to leave smaller matters to my servants. Not everything needs my special attention, does it?¡± Golorath said with a shrug. ¡°Is this about another resistance group that I should be aware of? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m sure my people will be more than capable of-¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t about some trivial nuisance, you fool!¡± another one of the overlords yelled, clearly upset with Golorath¡¯s nonchalant attitude. ¡°This is about you not fulfilling on your promise between the five of us!¡±

    ¡°Watch your mouth. I am not one to tolerate insults,¡± Golorath said with a low growl, not liking the fact that accusations were now being thrown at him. ¡°What the hell do you even mean by me not fulfilling a promise? Last time I checked, I¡¯ve done everything that you wanted from me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play stupid. You should know exactly what we are talking about,¡± a third overlord said. ¡°You know damn well that Erin is running around in your territory and you have done nothing to catch her!¡±

    ¡°Her face is known pretty much everywhere, so her getting caught is just a matter of time,¡± Golorath said, waving off the accusation. ¡°I do have to admit that she has been able to avoid capture for surprisingly long, but I¡¯m sure it will come to an end soon. After all, what is she supposed to do?¡±

    ¡°Are you certain about that?¡± the first overlord asked. ¡°Because it seems to me that YOU are the one in trouble.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Golorath asked with his anger slowly rising. ¡°I think I misheard you. Do you want to repeat that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly as he said. You¡¯re the one in trouble from what we¡¯ve seen,¡± the second one said. ¡°Two towns in the Western Continent have faced some serious damage, with one of them getting completely destroyed! Not only that, but I heard that one of your generals, Milas Lune, has been killed! Seeing as how this all started to happen soon after Erin came to this world, it¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s the one behind all of this!¡±

    ¡°Milas¡­ Who? Who the hell is-?¡± Golorath wondered out loud, not remembering the name of the fallen general right away. ¡°...Oh right. That worm. Not much of a loss there...¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the least bit concerned that one of your generals has been murdered?¡± the third one asked. ¡°This is an open declaration of war against us!¡±

    ¡°I understand that much, but I don¡¯t see why we should be worried,¡± Golorath answered. ¡°Lune was just a tool. It was mostly the people working for him that were really worth something. Besides, are we even sure that this was done by Erin? I¡¯ve ordered my people to keep me informed of everything in regards to her and I haven¡¯t heard all that much about her. Hell, there¡¯s a good chance that she died when Rockmoore was destroyed.¡±

    The three overlords that had been speaking so far were about to speak up again, but the fourth one who hadn¡¯t said anything up to that point finally spoke up. When this happened, all the others went silent, as he was the leader of the group, Devinolux.

    ¡°Or maybe there is something else at play,¡± Devinolux said in a completely calm tone devoid of any emotion that sent chills down the spines of the others. ¡°There could be someone working behind the scenes, helping Erin out and thus leaving you in the dark. After all, we do have enemies of our own.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah, that¡¯s true, but who in the world could it be then?¡± Golorath asked, somewhat shaken up by hearing Devinolux speak. Their leader was far more powerful than any of them, so no matter what conflicts The Five Overlords got into with each other, the other four made sure to keep their leader happy at all costs. ¡°To be able to hide her that well, she would need the backing of a very powerful organization or-¡±

    Golorath¡¯s eyes went wide upon realizing what Devinolux was talking about. At one point there had been a group of very powerful individuals in this world that had stood against them, but had given up the fight after witnessing the power of The Five Overlords.

    I see that you have finally realized who I was referring to,¡± Devinolux said.

    ¡°Y-Yes, I understand what you¡¯re saying, but could it really be them? They should know just how powerful we are and that it¡¯s better not to mess with us!¡± Golorath tried to argue. ¡°After we killed one of them, the remaining four swore never to bother us as long as we didn¡¯t bother them! Would they really break their promise like that!?¡±

    ¡°Whoever it may be, they should be about as powerful as them,¡± Devinolux said. ¡°Keep in mind that someone was able to intercept our spell that was meant to pull Erin into my domain, only for her to fall into your lands. Now they seem to be doing their best to keep her hidden from our sights so that we can¡¯t catch her.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ It does make sense,¡± Golorath said. ¡°Does this mean that we have a new war on our hands?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. But I suspect it won¡¯t be long until that is upon us,¡± Devinolux replied. ¡°For now, we should look into the remaining four and see if they¡¯re making any suspicious moves. Roslynn, Jormulox and I shall look into the ones tied to our realms.¡±

    ¡°Got it. You want me to do the same here on my lands as well, right?¡± Golorath asked with a smirk, excited about the thought of going against their old enemies once again.

    ¡°No. Keneroth will be doing that, since his area has been completely freed from their influence, he can look into your lands,¡± Devinolux answered. ¡°What I want you to do is hold up your promise and deliver Erin to me like you promised.¡±

    ¡°Now hold on a second! You can¡¯t just let somebody else come into MY lands like that! It goes against our agreement!¡± Golorath protested, not liking the idea of another overlord¡¯s agents messing around in his lands. ¡°I know that you want Erin in your hands real bad. Believe me, I understand the feeling completely. But you can¡¯t just-!¡±

    ¡°If you do, then you understand just how furious I am with you,¡± Devinolux said as he narrowed his eyes, shutting up the other overlord¡¯s excuses. ¡°We all made a deal in regards to the people we want revenge against and how we would split then among ourselves. Currently, I am the only one who hasn¡¯t received that which was agreed upon and now she¡¯s in YOUR lands. You promised me that she would be delivered to me soon, yet I haven¡¯t seen any progress whatsoever. If you realize just how bad this looks on you, I¡¯d suggest you stop with your excuses and endless feasting and get to work. Do I make myself clear?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ Absolutely,¡± Golorath replied meekly. The fact that a person as powerful as him was reduced to such a state spoke volumes of how terrifying their leader truly was. ¡°I will send my best people after her right away. Not only that, but I have an idea on how to get her.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I believe this meeting is over,¡± Devinolux stated. ¡°We will all now go back to our duties as agreed. And I do hope to see some results next time we are talking to each other.¡±

    ¡°You will see results. I promise,¡± Golorath said. Three of the four overlords that had contacted him cut off communications right away, leaving only Devinolux with him. Just as he was about to leave as well, Golorath decided to ask one more thing. ¡°Before you go, can I ask one more thing?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°What about that special request I made?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s being prepared as we¡¯re speaking. You should receive them fairly soon.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much! I¡¯ll make sure not to fail you!¡±

    With that, the meeting was over and Devinolux cut off communications as well, leaving Golorath alone. He allowed himself to let out a small sigh of relief, as he had gotten quite worried once his master had displayed a sign of unhappiness with him. The overlord knew that he had gotten lucky, but he would need to start showing some truly positive results if he wanted to keep things the way they were.

    However, not only did Golorath have plenty of skilled people working under him that could get the results he needed, but he also had a plan. And to top it all off, he had the perfect tool for said plan.

    A sadistic grin spread over his face as he stood up from his throne and walked up to a small cage located in the corner of the room. Within the cage was a single person. A young woman with long blonde hair dressed in rags. Her body was shriveled and malnourished as well as covered in bruises from the tortures she was forced to endure on a daily basis. The woman looked up fearfully at the overlord towering over her just outside the cage.

    ¡°Well, it looks like the more things change the more they stay the same, huh? Erin seems to still be causing problems for me and my friends, so why don¡¯t you help me out a bit, Stacey?¡± Golorath asked in a mocking tone. ¡°After all, you are old friends from high school.¡±

 53. Rough Trip

    Chapter 53

    Rough Trip

    It had been a couple of days since Erin and her group had left Moonstone City. So far, their trip hadn¡¯t met all that many obstacles. Lexton knew how to keep most beasts away through the use of materials that drove them away, so they were left in relative peace. They traveled during the days and slept during the nights, while having someone stay up in watch. This ensured that no bigger beast that wouldn¡¯t have minded the unpleasant smells managed to surprise them.

    However, while no life-threatening dangers had come up, there were still a few issues that were making the trip difficult. Primarily, the unpleasant living conditions that they were stuck in for the time being.

    ¡°Lex, are you really sure we can¡¯t get rid of some of this crap!? This smells worse than a freaking sewer!¡± Ryle complained as she was pinching her nose in disgust at the materials that the kobold had gathered in his mobile workshop. ¡°Seriously, how the hell are you able to live in this disgusting dump!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Might I remind you that not only is this ¡°dump¡± your best way of getting around, but those smelly things you love to complain about are what keeps us safe from all the nasty creatures out there!¡± Lexton yelled back. ¡°If you don¡¯t like the smell, why don¡¯t you ride on the roof or something!?¡±

    ¡°I would love that! But wasn¡¯t it you, who told me not to climb on top of your trash can!?¡± the blonde yelled back. ¡°I believe you said something about it being too reckless and stupid!?¡±

    ¡°That and I don¡¯t want to wash whatever stains you¡¯ll leave on my car, once you inevitably fall off from there!¡± the kobold replied. ¡°But I¡¯m willing to take that risk, as long as it means that I don¡¯t want to listen to your goddamn whining any longer!¡±

    ¡°Fine by me!¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s just try to calm down, you two!¡± Erin called out, hoping to put a stop to the argument. ¡°Maybe we should take a quick break? I¡¯m sure we all could use some time to rest from our long trip.¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ If that helps make things at least a bit less annoying,¡± Lexton said as he began to slow down. ¡°Seriously, I give you guys a ride and provide protection from the wild, and this is the thanks I get?¡±

    ¡°Look, it¡¯s not that we don¡¯t appreciate all the help from you. It¡¯s just that the trip has been less than¡­ pleasant, to say the least. I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all just tired and cranky,¡± the redhead said, hoping to make the mood at least a bit better. ¡°By the way, how far are we from our destination?¡±

    ¡°You mean where one of The Five Overlords is? That¡¯s still far off from us, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the kobold answered as he pulled the vehicle into a stop. ¡°In fact, if we are going there by driving like this, we¡¯ll be stuck traveling for at least over a week. That¡¯s why I was hoping to actually go to a place called Burrow¡¯s Deep.¡±

    Upon hearing the name, Erin began to think back to the days when Five Realms had been just a game for her. The place called Burrow¡¯s Deep was familiar, as it was one of the places one could travel to. From what she could recall, you could purchase creatures that you¡¯d normally see in the wild as pets to be used in various manners. Some could be made into mounts, some could be used as partners in combat and many others such uses.

    The most popular and useful beats one could find were the large underground creatures. While expensive, they had a lot of uses. These included tough armor that made them great in combat and the ability to dig underground for treasures and other things. This naturally led to the redheaded assassin making a guess as to why Lexton wanted to go there.

    ¡°Are we going to be getting something that can help us dig underground?¡± Erin asked. ¡°That could be useful.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, you¡¯re talking about the old animal companion thing that was going on there back in the day,¡± Lexton said knowingly. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you haven¡¯t been there or heard what¡¯s going on there for quite some time then.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°That whole business has been pretty much shut down entirely. While some of the smaller critters are still sold around there, the ones you¡¯d really want are now controlled by government officials. Only very few get a permission to handle things like Diamond Moles or Granite Larva,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Nah, what we are going there for is completely different.¡±

    ¡°What would that be then?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Are you looking to get your hands on some of the rare minerals that can be found there?¡±

    ¡°While tempting, unless I can find a good deal through some black market seller, that¡¯s not happening either,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The thing I¡¯m looking forward to get is in the way that place made itself known after its original business dried up. By using magic and some of the creatures they had in their control, they¡¯ve actually built an underground network that will help us move a lot faster to our destination.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so like an underground railroad? That sounds great!¡± the redhead said happily. ¡°But won¡¯t we be forced to leave your car back here?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. I think I know what you¡¯re thinking it¡¯s like, but the underground network isn¡¯t exactly a railroad,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Anyways, you¡¯ll see it once we get there.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll trust your judgment,¡± Erin said with a smile.

    ¡°You know, you shouldn¡¯t be so trustful towards others. You could easily get scammed over by someone,¡± Lexton said as he got into a more relaxed posture on his seat. ¡°I know it¡¯s kind of ironic coming from me, but I think the point is still valid.¡±

    ¡°I know I can trust you. You haven¡¯t misled me yet,¡± the redhead said, only to receive a slight frown from her companion. ¡°Okay, with the exception of the first time we met¡­¡±

    ¡°...Seriously, you are one strange case, you know?¡± the kobold said. ¡°I¡¯m not just taking about how you¡¯re so trustful towards others to the point it¡¯s dangerous, but so many other things about you that are just odd. On one hand, it seems like you don¡¯t seem to know anything about the world around you, but at the same time you do. You know about Burrow¡¯s Deep, yet only what it used to be. You also don¡¯t seem to have any reservations towards those of different races at all, whether positive or negative. And you are willing to take on some of the most dangerous people in this world, which is pretty much suicidal. Just who are you really?¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the sudden question. In all honesty, she wanted to tell her friends the truth about who she and The Five Overlords were. However, she knew from experience that it was a risk she shouldn¡¯t take. At least not yet.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but I can¡¯t tell you much,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll tell you my story one day, but not today.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. It¡¯s not like I have told you everything about myself either,¡± Lexton said as he pulled down his hat so that he could take a nap without worrying about the sun. ¡°Wake me up when you guys are ready to continue, okay? I¡¯ll try to catch up on some sleep in the meantime.¡±

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Erin replied before walking outside, hoping to stretch her legs a bit and get some fresh air.

    Once she got outside, the redhead noticed that Ryle and Arkay were there already. The blonde was simply looking around at the surrounding scenery, while the cat boy was placing small bags filled with herbs around the area. The herbs were used to ward off some of the beasts that were around, so they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being attacked.

    ¡°How you doing, Ryle?¡± Erin asked, walking up to her friend.

    ¡°A bit better now that I don¡¯t have be stuck inside that smelly box of crap,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I swear, Lex needs to do something about that stuff. How anyone can stay inside that place for more than ten seconds is a freaking wonder!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad, once you get used to it. Besides, beggars can¡¯t be choosers. Lexton is the only one with a ride and that¡¯s the ride we¡¯re getting from him,¡± the redhead said with a shrug. ¡°Besides, we should honestly be thankful that he¡¯s helping us out. Without him, we¡¯d be stuck walking all the way there.¡±

    ¡°Sure, but it still doesn¡¯t change the fact that his ride smells like shit and is cramped like hell,¡± Ryle retorted. ¡°Seriously, would it have killed him to get something with a bit more space!?¡±

    ¡°Actually, it probably would have. Remember that it¡¯s specifically made for a person of his size,¡± Erin said. ¡°If it was made for people like us, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the pedals.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he could have found a way around that. Besides, thanks to that, he is the only one who can drive the damn thing!¡± the blonde complained. ¡°The only one besides him that fits in the freaking seat is Arnie and he could do it just barely! Need I remind you of how terrible it was for me?¡±

    All the members of the group had tried to take seat behind the wheel in order to see if someone other than Lexton could drive. However, this had yielded less than favorable results, as only Arkay was able to fit there. This wasn¡¯t much of help, as he had no idea how to drive at all. Erin was only barely able to sit down, but she couldn¡¯t move her legs to use the pedals and her upper body was squeezed between the wheel and the seat in a rather painful manner.

    The worst result had been with Ryle, who had to crouch on the seat like some gargoyle. While it was impossible for her to drive, the sight provided a great deal of amusement to the others.

    ¡°Well, I did tell you that if I couldn¡¯t fit in it, you most likely wouldn¡¯t either,¡± Erin said as she had to hold back her giggles due to the funny memory. ¡°Still, we should be thankful that Lex has decided to help us out so far. Without him we would be much farther away from our destination than we are now. And we would be sleeping on the ground while worrying about local beasts.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about that repellent crap he has, do you really-¡±

    Ryle was cut off, as a horrid smell entered her and Erin¡¯s noses. This was due to Arkay planting the repellent he had gotten from Lexton near them. While he wasn¡¯t doing this next to Erin and Ryle, he was still close enough that the wind was easily able to carry the stench to them.

    ¡°Sweet merciful crap! Arnie, could you take that stinky shit somewhere far away!?¡± Ryle pleaded while holding her nose. ¡°I swear I¡¯m gonna lose my sense of smell at this rate!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ryle, but I can¡¯t,¡± the cat boy replied apologetically. ¡°Lexton told me that I need to place this stuff close enough to our camp. Otherwise it won¡¯t do it¡¯s job of driving away the beasts around here.¡±

    ¡°Goddammit! Can¡¯t I escape this terrible smell no matter where I go!?¡± the blonde whined.

    ¡°Just bear with it, Ryle. It¡¯s for the better,¡± Erin said while holding her own nose.

    ¡°Bullshit! I can¡¯t believe this crap actually helps!¡± Ryle complained as she stomped away. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get away from here, so I can actually breathe some clean air for once!¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go too far! If you get attacked, we might not be able to help you!¡± the redhead called out.

    ¡°Who do you think I am!? You!?¡± the blonde yelled back as she was walking away. ¡°I know how to handle myself out here!¡±

    Now away from their camp, Ryle was able to take a moment to relax herself. She found a nice shade to sit in as she simply enjoyed not being stuck in a cramped and smelly place for once.

    However, little did she realize that there was a looming threat nearby, as a beast was quietly observing her from a distance. A large canine beast with blazing red fur was bearing its fangs, hoping to turn the blonde woman into its next meal. This was a Badlands Wolf, a tough beast that liked to stalk its prey for days, waiting for the best opportunity to attack. Now that opportunity had presented itself with the wolf slowly and quietly getting closer and closer.

    The wolf had gotten on top of a nearby cliff, looking down at its next meal. Saliva dripped from the hungry beast¡¯s mouth, as it tensed its body to jump down and kill the prey before its eyes. With a powerful leap, the wolf lunged towards Ryle and opened its massive jaws to sink its teeth into her neck.

    Just as it was doing this, Ryle¡¯s nose twitched. She had picked up a strange smell not too long ago, which often meant danger. With reaction speed of a skilled and experienced fighter, she quickly rolled out of the way of the oncoming wolf. The beast smashed into the rock that had been behind the blonde, who wasted no time in retaliating. A swift and powerful kick to the creature¡¯s neck was more than enough to put down the wolf, who could do nothing to protect itself.

    ¡°Bad dog! Down!¡± Ryle said to herself with a cocky grin. ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you think you can make the legendary badass Ryle into a meal! You get put down before you can even say ¡°I¡¯m screwed!¡± Should have picked a better target, you furry bastard.¡±

    The blonde¡¯s gloating was suddenly interrupted as she began to hear growling from around her. Taking a look around, she noticed that there were now multiple wolves surrounding her, all with their teeth being bared at her.

    The most dangerous about Badlands Wolves wasn¡¯t their strength or ferocious nature. It was the fact that they liked to hunt in large packs.

    ¡°Oh shit¡­¡± was all Ryle could mutter at her situation.

    Back with the others, the three members of the group were each doing their own thing to pass the time. Lexton was still in the middle of his nap, Arkay was practicing his magic and Erin was reading the books the cat boy had gotten her.

    However, their peaceful time was brought to a sudden end, as a scream caught their attention.

    ¡°AAAAAAH! HELP ME!¡± Ryle screamed at the top of her lungs while running towards the camp, a large pack of wolves running right behind her. ¡°GET THESE DAMN ANIMALS OFF MY ASS!¡±

    It took a moment for Erin and Arkay to break out of their stupor at what they were witnessing, but soon sprung into action. The redhead grabbed her sword, hoping to offer assistance to her friend, while the cat boy began to prepare spells in order to give support.

    ¡°What are you two panicking over?¡± Lexton asked the two of them, showing no signs of distress at all. ¡°Why waste your energy attacking those things at all?¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Ryle is being chased by them! Isn¡¯t that reason enough!?¡± Erin asked, shocked that the kobold didn¡¯t seem to be even the least bit bothered by what was going on. ¡°We need to help her or she might die! Don¡¯t you care at all!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you two already know better than to distrust my skills?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°You¡¯ll soon see what I mean.¡±

    Meanwhile, Ryle was still running for her life away from the hungry beasts chasing her.

    ¡°HEY! ARE NONE OF YOU ASSHOLES GOING TO HELP ME!?¡± the blonde screamed, noticing how none of her friends seemed to be going to assist her in the slightest. ¡°IF YOU GUYS DON¡¯T HELP ME, I SWEAR I¡¯M GOING TO-!¡±

    Just as she was about to let out her threat, Ryle noticed that the wolves had suddenly stopped chasing after her completely and seemed to be backing away. They still had their sights set on her and were growling in hunger, still desiring to feast on the prey before them, yet not taking a single step forward.

    Realizing that her life had apparently been saved, Ryle slowed her run down to a jog as she reached her friends. Everyone except Lexton were staring at the wolves with wide eyes, wondering just what was going on.

    ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± Erin asked, as she stared at the wolves in disbelief. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they coming closer at all?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Lexton said as he walked out of his RV and joined his companions. ¡°They aren¡¯t getting any closer due to my repellents. The smell has a certain quality to it that drives these creatures away. Even if they want to come here and tear us into pieces, they can¡¯t help but stand there.¡±

    ¡°Amazing¡­ I understood that the repellents were meant to drive beasts away, but I never would have imagined that they would work this well,¡± Arkay said. ¡°You are incredible, Lex.¡±

    ¡°Yup. That I am,¡± the kobold said with a smirk.

    ¡°...I still can¡¯t believe all that stinky shit managed to do this of all things,¡± Ryle said, still in disbelief over the whole ordeal. ¡°By the way, are they just going to stay there or will they leave at some point?¡±

    ¡°They should leave eventually. No animal is going to try go after a meal it can never get,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter if time until these things give up as well and leave us alone.¡±

    Almost as if on cue, the wolves began to turn around and ran away, leaving the group alone.

    ¡°And there you have it. I am once again correct,¡± the kobold said happily, before he went back inside the RV. ¡°Now, if we are done here seeing my amazing skills at work, I¡¯d like to return to my nap. Also, Ryle, I understand that you don¡¯t like the smell of any of my products. You have made that very clear to all of us. But would you mind and not walk outside the range of my repellents? Next time you might not be fast enough.¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t know which is worse,¡± the blonde said with a sigh.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°The fact that Lex got to flex with all this junk he has,¡± Ryle answered, before glancing at Erin. ¡°Or the fact that I just pulled an Erin.¡±

    ¡°Okay, we are NOT going to use my name like that,¡± the redhead said angrily.

    Meanwhile, the wolves were moving away from Erin¡¯s camp, hoping to find a new prey. They soon discovered a single humanoid figure nearby, just waiting to be attacked. The leader of the pack let out a howl and the wolves ran at top speed to surround their new prey.

    However, instead of panicking or even showing the slightest sign of distress, this new person simply stood calm, despite the pack of hungry wolves surrounding them. They simply dug into their pockets and pulled out an ocarina.

    Just as the wolves were about to attack, the person began to play a calming melody that immediately had an effect on the hungry beasts. As soon as the sound came from the ocarina, the wolves seemed to calm down and turn docile. With the beasts now calm, this person smirked to themselves, as they looked over their newly recruited help.

    ¡°Not bad. This should help me in getting started at least,¡± the person said to himself.

    The first of Golorath¡¯s assassins had arrived.

 54. The Beast Tamer (Part 1)

    Chapter 54

    The Beast Tamer (Part 1)

    Erin and her group were having their break at the same place they had stopped at. Everyone was doing their best to pass the time with the redheaded assassin was practicing her swordsmanship, Arkay reading his books and Lexton napping. Ryle was also trying to relax, but was apparently unable to do so. The blonde brawler was simply laying in the middle of their camp site while holding her nose. This was due to Lexton¡¯s repellents having quite the stench to them.

    ¡°This sucks¡­ Why the hell does this have to happen to me?¡± Ryle whined. ¡°Why am I forced to stay in the middle of this stinky circle?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I know it isn¡¯t exactly ideal, but aren¡¯t you complaining a bit too much? I mean, you saw how well those repellents work,¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I know the smell isn¡¯t exactly nice, but aren¡¯t you being a bit too melodramatic? It¡¯s not that bad.¡±

    ¡°Easy for you to say! Your nose is completely normal!¡± the blonde complained. ¡°Remember how much stronger my nose is!? What I¡¯m smelling is at least a hundred times worse than you!¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ right,¡± the redhead said, having forgotten about her friend¡¯s special attribute. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, how do you do that? How is your nose better than a human¡¯s? It¡¯s almost like you have the nose of a bloodhound or something.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kind of close with that,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Years ago, I paid for a gene-splicing that gave me a stronger sense of smell. I needed it in order to be better at tracking down bounties. Taking down a bounty isn¡¯t often the big issue, but locating them is.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ What animals genes did you get spliced with?¡± Erin asked. ¡°A wolf? A bloodhound?¡±

    ¡°Well, it was kind of a wolf, to be honest,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I actually got a special deal that got me the genes of a werewolf in me.¡±

    ¡°...Seriously? A werewolf?¡± the redhead asked with a wide eye, only to receive a nod in response. ¡°Have there been any¡­ you know¡­ side effects?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re asking about me getting transformed during a full moon, then no. I even tried to activate it by staring at the damn thing for a couple of hours and nothing happened,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m pretty sure I got screwed over.¡±

    ¡°For once, you¡¯re saying something intelligent,¡± Lexton suddenly called out from the RV¡¯s driver¡¯s seat, where he was still doing his best to relax. ¡°Considering how rare and dangerous werewolves are, the idea of you being able to buy the essence of one of them just like that sounds completely moronic. Something that isn¡¯t all that new when it comes to you, unfortunately¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, the hell do you mean by that!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t know about how rare a werewolf is or anything like that, but I do know that they¡¯re badass as all hell! When I was give the opportunity to have that kind of ass-kicking power, do you think I would pass on that!?¡±

    ¡°And there goes any sign of intelligence you were showing just now¡­¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°Ryle, do you know just how rare it is to see a werewolf? There are numerous people who dedicate their lives to them yet never even see them. The fact is that werewolves are among some of the top predators of the world. Not because of their strength, but because of how intelligent they are. They know how to keep hidden, which is why you only ever hear about them from the very few that have managed to survive an encounter with them.¡±

    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that Ryle didn¡¯t actually get werewolf genes?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What do you think she got instead?¡±

    ¡°Most likely a regular wolf¡¯s. Whatever the case, it doesn¡¯t really matter all that much. In all honesty, I¡¯d say it¡¯s for the best,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°One of the things that make werewolves really dangerous is their insatiable thirst for blood. I¡¯ve heard of a couple of cases where gene-splicing ended up turning people insane due to the fact that they couldn¡¯t handle the natural instincts that came along with it. If Ryle had something like that put in her¡­ Well, you can probably imagine what would happen.¡±

    ¡°Up yours, scaly! I¡¯m not some bozo who would lose to some dumb genes!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Just you wait! If I ever get a chance to take in real werewolf genes, I¡¯ll take them and become the most badass person you¡¯ve ever seen!¡±

    ¡°Sure you will¡­ Just so you know, that full moon stuff in regards to werewolves is bullshit,¡± the kobold said. ¡°If werewolves only appeared during a full moon, then people would be able to avoid them more easily. If there was something that would wake up the powers of a werewolf in you, it would be the innate bloodlust.¡±

    Ryle was about to say something back, only to stop upon hearing something approach their camp site. She turned around to see a pack of Badlands Wolves approach them. The beasts were growling in a mixture of anger and hunger, staring down at the people before them as their next meal.

    ¡°Huh? Are those the same wolves we saw not too long ago?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why are they back here?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°They probably weren¡¯t able to find food, so they came back to see of they could get to us. Too bad for them, they¡¯re not gonna walk past my little barrier.¡±

    ¡°If by barrier you mean stink field, I guess that¡¯s about right! No one with a working nose would ever want to come close to the damn thing!¡± Ryle complained before glaring at the wolves. ¡°And what the hell are you mutts looking at!? If you¡¯re not gonna come here, then piss off! We¡¯ve got better things to do than to stare at your slobber-filled jaws!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, maybe you shouldn¡¯t try to agitate the hungry beasts looking to tear us apart?¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Just a suggestion.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on! You saw how they acted earlier! They¡¯re not coming anywhere near us, as long as Lex¡¯s stuff is still in place!¡± the blonde said. ¡°We¡¯re completely safe just standing here!¡±

    Much to the shock of everyone present, the wolves kept advancing past the repellents.

    ¡°...Or maybe not,¡± Ryle managed to say as she stared at the wolves with wide eyes.

    ¡°EVERYONE IN THE CAR! NOW!¡± Erin quickly yelled, as she, Ryle and Arkay quickly got inside. ¡°START THE ENGINE, LEX!¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me twice!¡± the kobold yelled back as he turned on ignition and pressed on the gas pedal.

    The RV was soon speeding away from the pack of wolves, who in turn chased after the escaping vehicle. While left at a distance at first, the beasts began to slowly but surely gain on their prey.

    ¡°What the hell, Lex!? Wasn¡¯t your stinky crap supposed to keep those things away from us!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°That was pretty much the only reason we tolerated that goddamn smell in the first place! Now you¡¯re telling me it doesn¡¯t actually work!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! It worked before, didn¡¯t it!? You saw how those wolves backed away the first time they came to our camp!¡± Lexton argued as he kept driving. ¡°I don¡¯t understand this myself! I¡¯ve seen that being used all my life and never once has a single wolf come close! This doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case is, we need to figure out a way to get away from those things!¡± Erin quickly said. ¡°Do you think we can outrun them with your car, Lex!?¡±

    ¡°Hell no! This thing wasn¡¯t exactly made for speed, you know!?¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Not only that, but this thing is carrying quite the load on it! There¡¯s no way we¡¯re going to beat those things in terms of speed!¡±

    ¡°Oh, so we just have to throw some of this smelly crap off and we¡¯ll be faster!?¡± Ryle said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so before!? I¡¯ll happily do that!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! Do you have any idea how expensive and hard to find most of this stuff is!?¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°You throw so much as one bottle out, I¡¯ll throw your ass out myself!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try, scaly-ass!¡± the blonde yelled back. ¡°But I think throwing this crap out is a better alternative than having our asses chewed on by those things!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you better not even-!¡±

    ¡°Lex, Ryle is right! We have to look at the bigger picture here!¡± Erin yelled, putting a stop to the argument. ¡°I understand that you don¡¯t want to lose the stuff you¡¯ve worked hard to get, but it¡¯s our only option right now! It¡¯s better to live to gather your riches again than to die a wealthy man!¡±

    ¡°...God-freaking-DAMMIT!¡± Lexton screamed out of sheer frustration. ¡°FINE! YOU CAN THROW MY STUFF AT THOSE DAMN WOLVES! JUST THROW AWAY ALL THE HARD WORK I¡¯VE DONE FOR YEARS!¡±

    ¡°Happily!¡± Ryle said as she rushed to grab something to throw at the wolves.

    ¡°Thank you, Lex. We will pay you back for this, okay?¡± Erin said with a smile as she placed a comforting hand on the kobold¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You won¡¯t have to suffer your sacrifice on your own.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­ whatever¡­¡± Lexton said in a saddened tone. ¡°Just¡­ try to hold back on throwing away the most expensive stuff, okay? I¡¯d like to have at least something left for myself as I start building back my fortunes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to do that!¡± the redhead replied before joining her other friends in fighting back against the wolves. As she walked away from the kobold, she mumbled to herself, ¡°Not that I¡¯d know which is the most expensive here¡­¡±

    Meanwhile, Ryle and Arkay were at the door on the side of the RV, already in the middle of fighting back against the Badlands Wolves. Both were grabbing whatever they could get their hands on and throwing it at the wolves in the hopes of them being at least slowed down. So far, the success of this had been minimal to say the least.

    ¡°GO TO HELL, YOU MANGY MUTTS!¡± Ryle yelled, as she threw a glass jar filled with a yellow liquid at the wolves. It smashed against the face of one of the canine beasts, but didn¡¯t seem to do much except anger it further. ¡°Dammit! This crap is useless! How are we supposed to get rid of these damn wolves!?¡±

    ¡°You just gotta use it the right way!¡± Arkay said as he threw a jar with a dark brown liquid inside and shot a small fireball out of his hand at it. Once the flame connected with the glass container, it caused an explosion that took out a couple of the wolves. ¡°Sometimes you gotta do more than just throw something at them!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, I¡¯m starting to have a better opinion on all this junk Lex has,¡± the blonde said.

    While Ryle and Arkay were trying their best to push back the wolves from the door, Erin climbed to the ceiling where a hatch was located. She managed to climb through it and take a place on top of the vehicle, where she could start dropping stuff she had taken with her beforehand.

    ¡°Here goes nothing!¡± the redhead said to herself, as she grabbed a shiny rock that was most likely some sort of an expensive mineral and threw it at the wolves. The rock connected with the head of one of the beasts, but did little to slow it down. ¡°Not the best result¡­ Let¡¯s try something else then!¡±

    The battle between the people in the RV and the pack of wolves continued like this for some time with Erin¡¯s group getting a few good hits at their pursuers. However, these successes were very minimal in terms of effectiveness, so the situation wasn¡¯t looking good for the group.

    Suddenly, Erin managed to hear the sound of some sort of a musical instrument being played. Once this happened, the wolves seemed to change their behavior right away. Instead of simply running behind the vehicle, the wolves began to organize with some of them staying behind and some of them moving to the side of the RV.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Erin wondered out loud. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Ha! Stupid wolves! You¡¯re just making this easier for us!¡± Ryle yelled with a grin. ¡°Now you¡¯ve just made it easier for us to hit you!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I don¡¯t think this is a good thing,¡± Arkay said nervously, as he watched the wolves in confusion. ¡°I think they¡¯re planning something.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Arnie! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re giving them too much credit!?¡± the blonde said. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of dumb animals! I doubt they have an actual plan!¡±

    Just as soon as Ryle said that, some of the wolves that had run up to the side started to overtake the vehicle. When they got on front, Lexton was forced to do a fast turn to the side, as the wolves tried to get right in front of them. With so many wolves, the RV would have been brought down by running into them.

    The turn was so fast that it caused Erin to almost fall off the roof, only barely managing to grab hold of the side of the hatch she had used to get there. Ryle had to grab a nearby cupboard in order to not fall out. Arkay almost fell out and was about to be snatched by one of the wolves, but luckily Ryle was able to pull him back in before the beast¡¯s jaws caught on him.

    ¡°Lex, what the hell!? What¡¯s with the reckless driving!?¡± the blonde yelled angrily while holding the cat boy close, not wanting to risk him falling out again. ¡°We nearly died over here!¡±

    ¡°Hey! This isn¡¯t exactly easy for me here either!¡± Lexton yelled back. ¡°These damn wolves are trying to put a stop to us even if it kills them! Had I not made that turn, we would have become glorified dog food!¡±

    ¡°Lex, there¡¯s something weird going on with these wolves!¡± Erin said as she climbed back inside and walked up to the kobold. ¡°I think I heard an instrument being played nearby!¡±

    ¡°An instrument!? Are you sure!?¡± Lexton asked, receiving a nod from the redhead. ¡°In that case¡­ It could be that we are dealing with a beast tamer!¡±

    Erin knew what this meant. Beast tamers were people within the game that could use magic abilities to take control over wild animals. If such a person was behind all this, it would explain how the wolves were behaving in such a strange manner. They were being forced into it.

    ¡°So it¡¯s some guy behind this that we gotta beat!? Perfect!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°Once I find that asshole, I¡¯m going to feed him to those wolves of his!¡±

    The blonde¡¯s boasting was cut off by another sharp turn that caused her, Erin and Arkay to fall over. The wolves were still trying to get in front of the vehicle, forcing it to keep turning.

    ¡°GODDAMMIT, LEX! COULD YOU AT LEAST WARN US FIRST!?¡± Ryle shouted angrily.

    However, the blonde¡¯s angry shouts fell on deaf ears, as Lexton was too busy focusing on driving, while also trying to figure out what their pursuers were trying to do.

    ¡°What are they trying to do? If they simply wanted to stop us by jumping in front of us, then why aren¡¯t they coming from both sides?¡± the kobold muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s almost like they¡¯re trying to force us to go in a specific direction¡­¡±

    Just then, Lexton realized where they were heading. The wolves had forced the vehicle to drive down a path that was next to a large cliff. It was then that he knew what the plan of the one controlling the wolves was.

    ¡°Oh shit¡­¡±

    Upon saying this, the wolves running by the side of the vehicle suddenly rammed their bodies into the RV, causing it to shake violently. They repeated this a few more times, until the vehicle fell down the cliff. The people inside could only scream as they tumbled and crashed down at the bottom.

    For a moment, the only sound that came out of the crashed RV was the sound of something burning, as smoke was slowly rising from it. The silence was suddenly broken as the side door was kicked off its hinges, allowing the people inside to climb out. The first one to come out was Ryle, who was carrying Arkay over her shoulder, followed by Erin and Lexton. All four of them were bruised and hurt due to the crash.

    ¡°What the hell kind of wolves are these!?¡± Ryle asked as she gently put Arkay on the ground. The cat boy was starting to regain his bearings from hurting his head during the fall. ¡°When did wolves start using tactics like this to take down cars!?¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the wolves that were behind it. It¡¯s the guy controlling them,¡± Erin said as she stared up at the top of the cliff. ¡°And I think that¡¯s him.¡±

    Upon hearing the redhead point out their enemy, the rest of the group turned their eyes towards where she was looking. On top of the cliff with the wolves, there was a male elf sitting on top of the biggest wolf in the pack. The elf had tanned skin, white short hair and red eyes. He was dressed in light armor, like a bandit, giving him protection while not restricting his movements. He was also wearing a fur cloak and a large straw hat on his head.

    ¡°Hello there,¡± the elf said with a grin. ¡°Hope my little pets didn¡¯t hurt you too much.¡±

 55. The Beast Tamer (Part 2)

    Chapter 55

    The Beast Tamer (Part 2)

    Erin¡¯s group stared at the assassin before them, ready to move at a single moment¡¯s notice. In contrast, the beast tamer was completely calm and relaxed, simply sitting on top of the large wolf he had taken control of as the rest of the pack surrounded him. The ocarina he used to control the animals was in his hands, ready to be played when necessary.

    ¡°No need to look so tense, ladies and gentlemen,¡± the beast tamer said with a chuckle. ¡°After all, this won¡¯t have to end badly at all. The only thing you need to do is simply surrender and this will become far easier for all of us.¡±

    ¡°And what exactly do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°By this becoming easier, what does that imply?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, really. For most of you, it means that you get to die quickly, as I will instruct my wolves here to kill you swiftly,¡± the beast tamer answered. ¡°The only one to be left alive is you, my dear. My boss made it very clear that you are to be brought to him alive. And since I rather like where my head is right now, I would like to not disappoint him.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a pretty deal to me,¡± Ryle said while glaring at the assassin. ¡°You expect us to just roll over and take that shit?¡±

    The beast tamer simply smiled as he played a quick tune on his ocarina. Immediately, all of the wolves surrounding him, except the large one he was riding, jumped down from the cliff and surrounded the four people at the bottom. There was nowhere for them to go.

    ¡°Are you certain it¡¯s a bad deal? If I give the signal, these puppies will tear you apart in any manner I want them to,¡± the elf said with a small grin. ¡°And believe me when I say this, I can make them kill you as slowly and painfully as possible.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Erin asked, trying her best to stay calm. ¡°You said that your boss ordered you to come after us. Is that person some general, like Lune?¡±

    ¡°Oh please¡­ Do you really think I¡¯d work for some small-time trash, like him?¡± the elf said as he held back a few chuckles. ¡°I work for far bigger people. And this time I got my order from the biggest person around.¡±

    Erin¡¯s eye went wide as she realized what this meant. This person had been sent by none other than one of The Five Overlords themselves, Golorath.

    Or as she used to know him, Gabriel ¡°Gabe¡± Porkins.

    ¡°I guess you¡¯ve come to realize just how big of a person is behind me. Yeah, you guys must have really pissed him off big time for him to personally request this of me,¡± the beast tamer said with a grin. ¡°As for who I am, the name is Dryzal the Beast Lord. One of the top warriors within Golorath¡¯s troops. And the last person most of you will meet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see you back up that big talk!¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°Just for the record, we¡¯re the ones who beat The Four War Maidens, before sending their boss after them! We¡¯ll be more than happy to give you the same service, pal!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be more than happy to do that. Just because you asked,¡± Dryzal said before playing another tune on his ocarina. This got the wolves tensed up and ready to charge the prey before them. ¡°Just

    so you know, I did offer you all the chance to make this easier for you all.¡±

    Suddenly, one of the wolves jumped towards Arkay with its fangs ready to bite down on him. The cat boy had no way to defend himself, but thankfully Ryle was more than ready to protect him by delivering a powerful kick to the head of the wolf. The hit crushed the beast¡¯s skull and killed it instantly.

    ¡°You okay, Arnie!?¡± Ryle asked to which the cat boy nodded.

    ¡°Thank you, Ryle. I-¡± Arkay began to say, only to stop upon noticing something. ¡°WATCH OUT!¡±

    The blonde turned around just in time to see another wolf lunging at her with its jaw open. She barely had the time to put her arm in front of her, thus preventing the beast from taking a bite out of her face. However, the wolf still had its jaws on her forearm and was now mounted on top of her, as its massive size brought both of them down to the ground.

    Seeing his friend in trouble, Arkay went to assist her by pouring as much magic as he could into killing the bloodthirsty beast. He fired off fireballs, small enough to not harm Ryle but large enough to harm the wolf, in a rapid succession to take the beast down. Despite this, the wolf remained standing with its teeth dug deep into the blonde¡¯s arm. It was clearly on its last legs, as the barrage of fire had done its job of harming it, but through the magic controlling it the wolf was not going down easily.

    ¡°GET YOUR DAMN TEETH OUT OF ME, YOU FREAKING ANIMAL!¡± Ryle screamed in rage that was fueled by pain, as she slammed her fist into the wolf¡¯s skull, finally killing it. ¡°Take that, you damn mutt¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Ryle! I¡¯m coming over to help!¡± Arkay shouted as he began to run towards his friend, not realizing that another wolf was coming at him now.

    ¡°Look out, Arnie!¡± Erin yelled, as she jumped in to save the cat boy, burying the blade of her sword deep into the beast. ¡°Keep your attention on the wolves! The moment you take your eyes off them, they will come at you!¡±

    ¡°R-Right! Thank you!¡± Arkay replied as he prepared to fire more spells, while standing before Ryle, ready to protect her from more oncoming wolves.

    Lexton also joined the others, allowing the group to form a defensive circle. He dug through his jacket and pulled out a bottle filled with his healing elixir, which he then tossed to Ryle.

    ¡°Get your ass up already, Ryle!¡± the kobold yelled at the blonde. ¡°We are all going to need to put in the work, if we want to get out of this alive! You don¡¯t get to slack off now!¡±

    ¡°Slack off, my ass!¡± Ryle cursed as she poured the healing elixir on her wounded arm, causing the wounds to start closing up. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we¡¯re too busy dealing with the wolves! Otherwise, I¡¯d be kicking your ass instead!¡±

    With the group now back at full fighting power, a brutal fight for survival started between Erin¡¯s group and the pack of wolves surrounding them. Erin and Ryle were respectively cutting down and beating up the wolves that came at them, while Arkay and Lexton were doing their best to offer support. The cat boy was firing as many spells as he could at the surrounding beasts, while the kobold was using everything he had to keep the wolves at bay. Bottles and vials filled with all sorts of chemicals went flying at the beasts, which then burst into flames, exploded or burned their targets with acid.

    However, the enemies were far too numerous for Erin¡¯s group to defeat all by themselves. The pack that they were facing was massive and the wolves themselves didn¡¯t go down easily. It was a struggle to take down just one, let alone multiple.

    The prolonged fighting was starting to take its toll on the group as well. Erin and Ryle were running out of stamina as bruises covered their bodies. Arkay was barely able to stand, let alone summon any magic due to overexerting his abilities. There was even a trickle of blood falling down his nose and mouth because of this. Lexton was also starting to run out of weaponry to throw at the wolves. Only a bit more and the kobold would be completely defenseless.

    As the group was struggling, Dryzal was leisurely sitting on his wolf while playing his ocarina every now and then to give his other beasts further orders. The elf had a smug smile on his face as he was thoroughly enjoying the desperate struggle before him. For him it wasn¡¯t a battle to the death, but simply entertainment.

    Erin was trying her best to think of a way to get them out of this alive, but it didn¡¯t seem possible. The wolves were far too numerous and tough, and the one controlling them was too far away for the them to reach.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Anybody got any ideas? I¡¯d be more than happy to hear any and all suggestions right about now!¡± the redhead said, hoping that her friends had at least something.

    ¡°We need to get the one controlling these damn things! This isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± Lexton replied. ¡°Once the beast tamer is taken out, the beasts under their control break free! It might not be much, but at least it would give us a better chance at getting out of here!¡±

    After hearing the kobold¡¯s suggestion, Erin took her pistol and aimed it at Dryzal. She fired a single shot, but it was intercepted by one of the wolves, which used its body as a shield. The beast tamer himself wasn¡¯t even the least bit bothered by the attempt at his life, as he knew the wolves under his control would protect him.

    ¡°Damn¡­ I guess I should have expected that much,¡± Erin muttered to herself, before cutting down another wolf that tried to bite her.

    Despite her failure, the redhead tried to think of a way to get to the beast tamer. Trying to shoot him down wasn¡¯t going to work due to the wolves, but getting close could give them the chance to finally beat him. The problem was that he was on top of the cliff they had fallen down and there was no way the wolves were just going to allow any of them to climb up, if that was even possible.

    Suddenly, an idea came to Erin¡¯s mind. It could work, but she first needed to make sure that she had the necessary tools for it.

    ¡°Lex, what kind of stuff do you have left!?¡± the redhead quickly asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve still got one golem and a very powerful smoke bomb that also sends out particles that affect the nose and eyes!¡± the kobold replied while using his pistol to fend off the wolves.

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you used that stuff yet!?¡± Ryle asked angrily as she crushed another wolf¡¯s skull with a brutal kick. ¡°We could have used a golem here to help us out! Not to mention, smoke that blinds the wolves sounds pretty good!¡±

    ¡°The golem is literally the last good thing I have! I can¡¯t just waste it without a thought!¡± Lexton yelled back. ¡°As for the smoke bomb, it covers such a wide area that we would just get caught in it ourselves!¡±

    ¡°Whatever the reason is, I¡¯m glad you have those!¡± Erin said. ¡°Can you get the golem to clear us a path to the car!?¡±

    ¡°Huh!? Yeah, I can do that, but why would you want me to-!?¡±

    ¡°Just do that!¡± the redhead said, cutting off the kobold¡¯s question. ¡°Also, get ready to drop the smoke bomb the moment I say! And I want all of you to follow me, okay!?¡±

    ¡°Alright, if you say so!¡± Lexton replied.

    ¡°Understood!¡± Arkay said.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Ryle said.

    Acting upon the instructions given to him, Lexton dropped the vial holding the golem on the ground, releasing it. The liquid monster immediately charged at the wolves, pushing them out of the way, creating a path to the broken RV. As soon as this happened, Erin began to run towards the vehicle, with her group following close behind. The wolves were soon behind them, but this was all according to Erin¡¯s plan.

    ¡°NOW!¡± the redhead shouted, signaling Lexton to drop the smoke bomb.

    As soon as the bomb was dropped, it exploded into a dark green mist that caused the wolves to sneeze and howl in pain. The beasts were also forced to to stop their chase, as their senses were now overwhelmed from the smoke bomb¡¯s contents, leaving them completely disoriented.

    While the pack of beasts was left unable to give chase, Erin¡¯s group was able to climb on top of the RV. There Erin put forth the next phase of her plan.

    ¡°Ryle, throw me at the top of that cliff!¡± the redhead commanded. ¡°After that, follow with the others as soon as you can!¡±

    For a couple of seconds, Ryle looked at Erin like she was crazy. While she could get to the redhead¡¯s side fairly fast, there was a moment when she would be facing Dryzal and his wolf on her own, something that the beast tamer was surely going to use to his advantage. However, upon seeing the determination behind Erin¡¯s eyes, the blonde immediately knew better than to argue. She just had to trust her friend.

    Without any complaints or arguing, Ryle grabbed Erin by the back of her shirt and used all of her power to throw the redhead to the top of the cliff.

    ¡°HERE YOU GO!¡± the blonde yelled as she let go of Erin, allowing her to fly through the air.

    This sudden turn of events took Dryzal by surprise, as he had thought that he would just be able to sit back and watch the wolves do all the work. Despite this, the beast tamer wasn¡¯t the least bit threatened by the sudden appearance of the redheaded assassin on the same cliff. He still had his large wolf to protect himself with and was more than certain that it would be enough.

    Erin landed on top of the cliff in a harsh tumble, but was soon up on her feet. She had her sword at the ready and was staring down her opponent, who was still leisurely sitting on his wolf.

    ¡°I have to admit, you¡¯re proving to be tougher than I thought,¡± Dryzal said. ¡°But aren¡¯t getting ahead of yourself a bit too much? You can¡¯t honestly think you¡¯re enough to take on both me and the alpha wolf I¡¯ve got here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t planning on beating either of you. I was just thinking of making a deal with you,¡± Erin said with a smirk, before she placed the blade of her sword at her own neck. ¡°You better think carefully, before you make any sudden moves now.¡±

    ¡°Is this a joke?¡± the beast tamer asked. ¡°How are you supposed to threaten me by taking yourself hostage? Have you lost your mind or something?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the orders you got from your boss? You needed to take me in alive,¡± the redhead replied, causing Dryzal¡¯s eyes to go wide. ¡°I see that you¡¯re finally realizing what I¡¯m getting at. Now you either take your pets and leave us alone or I kill myself and you¡¯re going to have to explain that to your boss. Either way, it¡¯s your loss, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°N-Now hold a moment here! Let¡¯s not do something that we might end up regretting!¡± Dryzal said as he began to slightly panic. ¡°Think about this rationally! If you kill yourself here, then there won¡¯t be anything to stop me from doing whatever I want to your friends! So put the sword down and-¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re misunderstanding your position here. You¡¯re not the one making the rules. I am,¡± Erin said. ¡°The way I see it, your best option is to leave us alone or else you¡¯re going to have a very upset overlord coming after you. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Get real! If I do that, I can kiss my ass goodbye anyways!¡± the beast tamer yelled. ¡°My job was to kill the others, while taking you in alive! As long as I don¡¯t have you with me, I cannot return at all!¡±

    ¡°...Alright, then you can have me,¡± the redhead said, surprising Dryzal. ¡°As long as you get me, you have nothing to do with my friends, right? Promise me that they won¡¯t be harmed and you can take me with you.¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re serious? You¡¯re actually surrendering yourself?¡± the beast tamer asked and received a nod as an answer. ¡°I mean, that sounds like a good deal, but I was still ordered to-¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t say anything in order to retort the argument. She simply pressed the blade of her sword closer to her neck, just enough to cause a bit of blood to drop. This act immediately changed Dryzal¡¯s tune.

    ¡°Alright! Alright! You win! I won¡¯t hurt your friends, okay!?¡± the beast tamer said in a hurry. ¡°I¡¯ll just say I killed them and claim they fell off a large cliff or something! Is that alright!?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good, but you need to do a bit more to convince me,¡± the redhead said. ¡°That ocarina is what you use to control the wolves, right? I want you to throw it away, so I know you can¡¯t send your wolves after my friends once you have me.¡±

    Dryzal frowned but complied. He took his ocarina threw it on the ground not too far from Erin. Seeing the beast tamer get rid of his instrument, the redhead lowered her sword away from her neck.

    However, just as she did this, Dryzal pulled out a small whistle and blew into it, giving his wolf a command. Immediately, the wolf ran to Erin, tackling her to the ground and holding her down. The redhead dropped her sword from the impact of the wolf hitting her, leaving her defenseless.

    ¡°You fool! Did you think I was actually going to do as you said!?¡± Dryzal said mockingly. ¡°Once I¡¯ve made sure you can¡¯t screw me over any longer, I¡¯m going to butcher those buddies of yours and feed them to the wolves!¡±

    Much to the beast tamer¡¯s surprise, Erin didn¡¯t try to fight back or even complain. Instead, she chuckled.

    ¡°What the hell are you laughing about?¡± Dryzal asked. ¡°Were you planning to get captured or something?¡±

    ¡°Nah. But I did accomplish what I was planning,¡± Erin answered with a smirk. ¡°I managed to keep you occupied long enough.¡±

    Before the beast tamer could ask what the redhead was talking about, a loud yell cut him off.

    ¡°GO LONG, LIZARD BALL!¡± Ryle yelled as she tossed Lexton at Dryzal. The kobold screamed in shock and horror, before colliding with the beast tamer¡¯s face and knocking him off his wolf.

    ¡°Urgh! You little bastards!¡± Dryzal cursed as he went to grab his ocarina, only for a fireball from Arkay to blow it up into pieces.

    Meanwhile, the wolf was still holding down Erin, as it was unable to move without further orders by its master. This allowed Ryle to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick into the beast¡¯s head, killing it.

    Seeing that he was now practically defenseless, Dryzal decided that the best option for him was to make a run for it. However, his escape was cut short by Lexton grabbing onto his leg, causing him to fall. The beast tamer immediately turned his attention to the kobold and began to viciously beat him in order to get him off.

    ¡°Get the hell off me, you damn lizard!¡± Dryzal yelled while swinging his fist at Lexton, who refused to let go. Seeing as how his punches weren¡¯t working, the beast tamer took out a knife to get rid of the kobold. ¡°Alright! You asked for it!¡±

    The blade of the knife never hit anything, as Dryzal¡¯s hand was suddenly cut off. It took a moment for him to realize what had happened, but upon seeing his bleeding stump and severed hand on the ground, the reality finally hit him. The beast tamer screamed in pain while holding his bleeding arm.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t start crying now. You asked for it,¡± came the commanding voice of Erin. Dryzal looked up to see the rest of his targets now standing over him while glaring at. ¡°You¡¯re the one who started this fight, remember? You should have been ready to get hurt.¡±

    ¡°D-Do¡­ Do any of you have any idea¡­ WHO I AM!?¡± Dryzal yelled angrily. ¡°I work directly under the top brass of this continent! By doing this, you¡¯re pretty much attacking-!¡±

    A swift kick to the face stopped the beast tamer¡¯s tirade.

    ¡°Do you think we care?¡± Erin asked in an angry tone. ¡°We have already done so much to earn the scorn of your bosses. Do you really think your threats mean anything to us at all?¡±

    ¡°...O-Okay, maybe I put that incorrectly. Let¡¯s calm down and try to talk this out, alright?¡± Dryzal said with a nervous and forced smile. ¡°I get that we aren¡¯t exactly on friendly terms after what I did, but think about this for a second. I¡¯m much more valuable to you alive, okay? If you spare me, I can promise that-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we have this shit before and we didn¡¯t care then!¡± Ryle said, cutting off the beast tamer¡¯s bargaining. She and Erin went to grab him and drag him to the edge of the cliff. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing we want to see from you!¡±

    ¡°W-W-What is it!?¡± Dryzal asked as he began to panic. ¡°Just tell me what you want and I¡¯ll make sure that you¡¯ll get it! Just say what it is!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re wondering if you can fly,¡± Erin answered, before she and Ryle threw the beast tamer off the cliff.

    Dryzal tumbled down and landed roughly at the bottom. The fall had left his whole body bruised and even a few bones broken. However, he was still alive and he desperately struggled to get up. Unfortunately for him, he was now before the wolves he had been controlling earlier, except it had been long enough since he had used his ocarina that the wolves had already broken out of the beast tamer¡¯s control. They were now a pack of wild and hungry beasts, with a potential meal right before them.

    Dryzal screamed as the wolves tore him apart.

 56. Bruised, Battered and Broke

    Chapter 56

    Bruised, Battered and Broke

    To say that the battle against Dryzal had been rough to Erin and her group would be an understatement. The fight had left all of them tired and roughed up. It was only thanks to Erin and Lexton having some medical knowledge that they were able to treat their injuries at all, as Lexton¡¯s healing elixirs had all been either used or lost.

    Speaking of the young kobold, he was technically in the worst shape. Not only had he suffered some pretty nasty hits from his RV crashing, but the fight itself had also bruised him quite a bit. However, the physical injuries were the least of Lexton¡¯s concerns, as he was mostly devastated by the loss of all of his equipment and materials in his RV.

    While the wolves had been busy with devouring Dryzal, Erin and most of her group had decided to use the opportunity to run away, not wanting to face the remainders of the large pack of beasts. The only one who had been against this idea had been Lexton, as he would be losing everything he had spent most of his life building up. Unfortunately for the kobold, his protests were easily ignored, as Ryle simply picked him up and carried him along as they made their escape.

    But while they had managed to get rid of a deadly assassin and escape from the hungry beasts, the group wasn¡¯t completely safe from troubles yet. Without their vehicle, they were now forced to walk through the wastelands, hoping to reach some form of a settlement at some point. This wasn¡¯t exactly a well-liked idea, as this meant they would have to bear with the terrible heat of the day and the bitter cold of the night without much of a cover, as well as whatever other creatures the wilds might provide. Yet this was the only option available to them, so they had no choice but put one feet in front of the other and keep moving.

    ¡°Anybody got any idea how far we are from the next town or city?¡± Ryle asked while walking. ¡°I hate to be a whiner, but I¡¯d like to find a place to rest my feet. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re covered in blisters by now.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve still got quite a distance to make, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Erin said while looking over a map, one of the few thing that were saved from the attack. ¡°The closest place is a town called Hangman¡¯s Post, but it¡¯s going to take us a few days until we¡¯re getting there.¡±

    ¡°Just freaking great! Like this whole situation wasn¡¯t enough of a nightmare for us!¡± the blonde said with a groan. ¡°You know, I almost miss the stinky dump that Lex called a car. At the very least I can finally travel while being able to breathe properly¡­¡±

    Upon hearing his RV get mentioned, Lexton¡¯s body seemed to twitch and he balled up his hands into fists. Erin could even hear a faint sound coming from the kobold that she could only assume was from him gritting his teeth.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Ryle? Maybe you shouldn¡¯t mention Lex¡¯s RV anymore,¡± Erin said, worried about her friend¡¯s sudden behavior. ¡°I think he has had a bit of a rough day and we should really give him some time to calm down.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? The hell you mean by that!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you actually believe all that crap he said about that stinky crap he had in that dump of his!¡±

    The redhead was about to respond, but the kobold was much faster. With a furious look on his face, Lexton turned to the blonde and let all his pent up aggression flow out freely.

    ¡°FOR THE LAST TIME, THAT ¡°STINKY CRAP¡± WAS ALL VERY HIGH QUALITY INGREDIENTS AND MATERIALS!¡± the kobold yelled at the top of his lungs. ¡°Seriously, do you have any idea how much I went though to gather even a fraction of all that stuff!? The blood, sweat and tears I¡¯ve shed to get my hands on even one of those things!? I doubt you¡¯ve ever even imagined how hard it is to get a jar full of Stone Titan urine or the silk of a Mountain Spider Queen!? I¡¯VE NEARLY LOST MY LIFE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE!¡±

    ¡°...What fun hobbies you have,¡± Ryle said. ¡°So what¡¯s the big deal? Just go and collect all that junk again or something.¡±

    ¡°I CAN¡¯T, YOU ASSHOLE! I HAVE NOTHING LEFT!¡± Lexton yelled. ¡°Before I even started my own business, I had a lot of tools left from my father that I used to collect materials! Not only did I lose those valuable materials, I¡¯ve lost all of my tools as well! In short, I HAVE NOTHING! I¡¯M FREAKING BROKE!¡±

    Before Ryle could say anything to further anger the kobold, Erin decided to speak up.

    ¡°Lex, I understand that this has been a hard hit on you, but you must not let this bring you down,¡± the redhead said in a comforting tone. ¡°I know that things are looking bad right now, but this isn¡¯t the end yet. You¡¯re an incredibly talented and skilled person, and I know that you can build yourself up from this again. Trust me.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± Lexton said in a somewhat sad tone. ¡°There could be a way for me to start again from scratch. It¡¯s going to be hard, but it should be possible¡­¡±

    Erin smiled, seeing her friend calm down and starting to move past his losses. It looked like things were finally turning for the better.

    Unfortunately, it was at that moment that Ryle had to open her mouth again.

    ¡°Yeah, and maybe you can this time collect stuff that doesn¡¯t stink like shit!¡± the blonde said.

    This was the last straw for the kobold.

    ¡°GAAAAAHHH!¡± Lexton screamed as he threw himself on the ground and started to throw his arms and legs around, like a child throwing a tantrum. ¡°IT¡¯S NOT SMELLY SHIT! THEY WERE VERY VALUABLE MATERIALS! MATERIALS, GODDAMMIT!¡±

    The rest of the group just watched for a moment as their friend was having his meltdown. Erin then turned her attention to Ryle.

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re going to have to deal with this,¡± the redhead said simply.

    ¡°What!? Me!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Why do I have to deal with this!?¡±

    ¡°Because YOU are the one who opened her mouth again and again, finally bringing him to his breaking point!¡± Erin said angrily, causing Ryle to back down a bit. ¡°Now that you left him in this state, you¡¯re going to have to do something to get him moving again! Get to work!¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± the blonde grumbled as she walked up to Lexton. ¡°Honestly, we should just let him tire himself out. Doubt it would take all that long¡­¡±

    Erin was expecting that Ryle would apologize and try to calm down Lexton by talking to him. However, she was in for quite the shock, as instead of saying anything the blonde did an elbow drop on the kobold, knocking him out. She then simply picked him up like a sack of potatoes and carried him over her shoulder.

    ¡°...WHAT THE HELL, RYLE!?¡± Erin yelled, finally breaking out of her shock.

    ¡°What!? You told me to deal with this!¡± Ryle said. ¡°You didn¡¯t specify any kind of a method!¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s still-! Never mind¡­ Let¡¯s just get moving already,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, giving up on the argument. She was about to start walking again, but she noticed the youngest member of their group looking rather tired. ¡°Arnie, are you okay over there?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ I¡¯m alright,¡± the cat boy said while panting a bit. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit tired, as I haven¡¯t ever walked this long before¡­¡±

    Deciding to help her young friend a bit, Erin walked in front of him and knelt on the ground with her back towards him.

    ¡°Hop on. I¡¯ll carry you for a bit,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°W-What!?¡± Arkay squeaked, a bit surprised at the sudden offer. ¡°N-No need for that! I can walk by myself!¡±

    ¡°I appreciate that you wish to do your best, but I can tell that you¡¯re pushing yourself. So just get on and let me help you out,¡± Erin said with a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay to accept help from others when necessary. Besides, it will only be for a bit.¡±

    Seeing how serious the redhead was, the cat boy decided to accept the kind offer and got on Erin¡¯s back, who the effortlessly carried him.

    The rest of the trip was done in relative peace, with the exception of Erin feeling the jealous glare of Ryle burning against her back. To say the least, the blonde wasn¡¯t exactly happy with who got to carry who.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    It took them a couple of days of hard travel, but the group was eventually able to make their way to the nearest town, Hangman¡¯s Post.

    Back when this whole world had just been a game, Hangman¡¯s Post had just been a small town for players to go and stock up on things like potions and other necessities. There wasn¡¯t anything all that special in regards to it, except for one thing. Due to its location, the town often had all sort of criminals staying there, almost like a central base for criminal activity. A lot of bounty hunting missions often led to this town, as the ones you were hunting were often staying there, trying to keep a low profile. You would also find a lot of other work there, if you were playing as a less than law-abiding character.

    Upon getting closer to the town, Erin¡¯s group saw the landmarks that were familiar to those who used to play Five Realms. These were corpses hanging metal poles with ropes around their necks. This was done to deter those who wanted to cause trouble, such as chase bounties, away from the area. It was a marking that it belonged to the criminals and wouldn¡¯t welcome anyone else.

    However, Erin was in for two big surprises. First was the fact that the amount of hanging bodies was much larger than what she remembered from the game. The second was the town itself, as it had changed completely.

    What used to be a small town with haphazardly built houses that looked like they could break at any moment had been replaced with tall, meticulously designed buildings that were now reaching for the skies. There were bright lights of different colors everywhere, turning the area into a shining sea ocean, as numerous neon signs shined on just about every single place. And the town was now practically bursting with life, as the sounds of people moving about could be heard from far away.

    Erin could only stare at the sight before her with a wide eye, while her companions didn¡¯t look all that surprised. They did notice the state the redhead was in and got curious about it.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Erin? You look like a dragon or something just popped out of the ground,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Is this your first time in Hangman¡¯s Post?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ Well¡­ Kind of, I guess,¡± the redhead said, struggling to find the correct words. ¡°It¡¯s just that the last time I was here, this place was nothing like THIS.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you didn¡¯t know about the renovations Golorath did around here?¡± the blonde asked, getting a nod in response. ¡°I guess I can see why you would be surprised then. It¡¯s true that this place used to be pretty much a dump just waiting to fall down. However, the gracious overlord himself decided to turn this place into a gambling paradise. Pretty much any criminal group with any power has a branch here and they rule over this place however they see fit. In return, Golorath gets a small percentage of the profits.¡±

    Erin could only let out a small sad sigh upon hearing this. To think that one of her old friends had gone and created something like this. A safe haven for the worst the Western Continent had to offer, just so he could get some cash.

    It was all the more heartbreaking, when considered which of her friends specifically was the one doing all this, Gabriel ¡°Gabe¡± O¡¯Donnel.

    If there was ever a person that embodied kindness, it would have to be him. When Erin had first ¡°befriended¡± Devin, her integration to his group of friends hadn¡¯t been easy. After all, back then she had been one of the ¡°popular people¡±, so her even associating herself with people like Devin and his friends was completely unheard of. Pretty much everyone else in the group had been wary of her upon their first meeting.

    The only one who wasn¡¯t like that had been Gabriel, who welcomed her with open arms. In a way, it was only thanks to him that the rest of the group accepted her as part of them. At that moment, she had been grateful to him for making her job of getting into the group easier. Later on, she was grateful that he had been such an open-minded and great guy that was willing to accept her. Not to mention for being her friend.

    Besides his overwhelming kindness, there was one other thing you would soon learn about Gabriel. It was that he had a passion for food. This wasn¡¯t due to the fact that he was overweight, but the fact that he really loved to cook and learn more about cooking. Erin couldn¡¯t even count the times she had been surprised by the delicious snacks and other things the rotund boy had made for them when they were hanging out. Gabriel was also interested in the same hobbies as his friends, but cooking was easily his top hobby.

    Unfortunately, his kindness wasn¡¯t enough to keep him safe from the torment of others. Not only was Gabriel a constant target for bullying due to his weight and interests, but he also faced similar torment from home. The overweight boy¡¯s mother might have been a kind person, much like her son, but the father was another deal entirely. Gabriel¡¯s father considered his son a disappointment and would often rage at him for his poor physical condition, which in turn deflated any confidence he might have had. Because of this volatile atmosphere around the house, Devin¡¯s group came there very rarely.

    Erin might have only seen the way Gabriel was treated by his father a couple of times, but she had witnessed plenty of times how he was bullied in school. Looking back on it all, the redhead could only regret the fact that she had decided to betray such a kindhearted person, especially after everything he had been through.

    Now that same kind boy had turned into a monster, who ruled over this part of the world around them, making it into a living hell. Had she been told that Gabriel of all people could do something like this before seeing it for herself, Erin would have never believed it.

    ¡°Erin, are you okay?¡± Ryle asked, breaking the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°You seemed to get all sad suddenly. Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m fine,¡± Erin quickly answered. ¡°Just¡­ reminiscing on some things¡­.¡±

    The others decided to not push further on the subject, so they simply decided to go into the town. As one would have guessed, there were all sorts of gambling dens all around. From regular card and dice games to the more extreme ones that would normally be illegal, this place had everything one could use to make a quick fortune.

    The people walking around the town were also a sign of the wealth it had, as people dressed in glamorous and expensive clothing with tons of jewelry covering them were walking around, surrounded by well-dressed bodyguards. Just one look at one of these local monarchs was enough to plant the idea in your head that you could rise to the same level of wealth here.

    However, one only needed to glance into one of the darker alleyways to see the other side of this glowing paradise. The alleys were filled with those who had bet all they had on a chance to make it big, only for them to end up losing it all. Dirty and ragged figures were lining up the darker places of the city, out of the sight and minds of those who had yet to taste bitter loss for themselves.

    Erin¡¯s group wasn¡¯t fooled. They knew that not only could you win a lot, but you cold lose a lot as well. And the latter was the most likely outcome for most people.

    ¡°So, what do you guys think? Should we try our luck at something here?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, we are in need of some money after all that just happened.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that, Ryle. While I do agree that we should try and earn some money for the future, I don¡¯t like the idea of using gambling for it,¡± Erin said, disapproving of the risks they would have to face by playing this town¡¯s games. ¡°I think it would be better if we simply stick with Lex, as he seems to have a good idea as to how we can make some money.¡±

    Upon hearing this, said kobold suddenly stopped in his tracks. The others turned to look at him, confused as to why he was acting like this.

    ¡°Lex? Is everything alright?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...How the hell do you expect me to make a damn thing here?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the redhead asked in return.

    ¡°Let me repeat myself. HOW IN THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE ANY GODDAMN MONEY AROUND HERE!?¡± the kobold yelled angrily. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been paying any attention to what has happened to us!? TO ME ESPECIALLY!? I have nothing on me anymore! NOTHING! I can¡¯t just pull a magic wand out of my ass or something to suddenly summon money out of thin goddamn air!¡±

    ¡°Woah, Lex! Calm down!¡± Erin said awkwardly, hoping to not cause a scene. Some of the people around them were already looking their way. ¡°It¡¯s just that you have a knack for business and how to earn money, so I thought you¡¯d be our best option as to getting us out of this issue that we¡¯re in!¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so freaking sweet of you! My heart is so goddamn touched by that!¡± Lexton kept ranting angrily. ¡°Too bad it doesn¡¯t actually provide ME with a single freaking thing! Don¡¯t you realize that in order for me to make us any money I need to have something of my own!? Like potions, enchanted items or just something! Anything that I could make into something that I could sell! But do you know where all of that stuff is now? IN THE CAR WE ABANDONED! SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ANYTHING WHEN I HAVE NOTHING!?¡±

    Taken aback by their friend¡¯s outburst, the others were looking at each other in awkward silence, afraid to say anything in fear of upsetting the kobold further. Unfortunately, Ryle got over such feelings quickly and decided to open her mouth yet again.

    ¡°Well, do you even really need anything?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re a con artist, right? Isn¡¯t taking money from people while giving them nothing kind of your specialty?¡±

    Both Erin and Arkay turned to stare at Ryle in horrified shock, before looking back at Lexton. Both were expecting to see him blow up again over getting insulted in such a manner. However, they were surprised to see him only let out a very deep and sad sigh, as his shoulders slumped and he stared at the ground at his feet.

    ¡°Sure¡­ That¡¯s all I do¡­ Screw people over,¡± Lexton said in a broken tone, before walking over to a wall and sitting against it. ¡°I never did anything else, except sell actually helpful medicine and even made you guys new weapons. All I do is give people nothing¡­¡±

    For a moment, the only thing the others could do was stare at the kobold in an awkward silence while wondering if there was something they could do. After all, they couldn¡¯t just abandon their friend and leave him sulking on his own.

    ¡°...You want me to handle it this time as well?¡± Ryle asked while looking at Erin.

    ¡°How about no?¡± the redhead asked sarcastically while glaring at the blonde. ¡°I doubt having you break his bones is going to make things any better.¡±

    Before an argument could break between the two of them, Arkay walked up to Lexton and sat next to him.

    ¡°Hey, Lex. What exactly do you need in order to start any sort of a business around here?¡± the cat boy asked. ¡°If we can get it for you, do you think you could do what you¡¯re best at?¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t know. Maybe I could do something, if I got my hands on some decent materials at the very least,¡± Lexton answered with a sigh. ¡°Even then, I¡¯d need a bunch of tools to at least make something halfway decent to be sold. The problem is that I have no tools nor any materials.¡±

    ¡°Do you think we can buy the tools you need here?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°We have some money of our own. Maybe we could get the tools for you? After that, we could all go hunt beasts and do other such things to get the materials.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that could work¡­ But I wouldn¡¯t be able to do much,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°You see, before we lost everything along with my workshop, I had every possible tool I would have ever needed because I inherited them from my father. Besides that, I spent days upon days of gathering those rare materials I had. I honestly doubt that we¡¯ll be able to get the same results in the short time we spend here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure we can manage at least something. Besides, we are in a gambling town, so we can turn what little we do make into something much bigger,¡± the cat boy said with a smile. He then took something from underneath his clothes. ¡°In the meantime, this should get you started.¡±

    Lexton looked at what Arkay had taken out and his eyes went wide upon seeing that it was the knife he had made for the cat boy.

    ¡°Why are you giving that back to me?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you need it anymore?¡±

    ¡°Of course I would like to keep it, but I know that there are currently more important things that we need to take care of. And those are things that only someone like you can handle,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°Letting go of a great weapon like this is just a small price to pay for that.¡±

    Before Lexton could say anything in response, Erin and Ryle had walked up to him, offering their own specially made weapons to him.

    ¡°Arnie¡¯s right, Lex. We can always get something new and better, especially if it¡¯s from you,¡± the redhead said. ¡°If this can help you out in getting a new business started around here, I¡¯m more than willing to sacrifice this much for it. You shouldn¡¯t be the only one giving up your belongings.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Besides, as good as this thing is, I can work without it,¡± the blonde said. ¡°I¡¯m more than enough with just my hands alone.¡±

    Lexton stared at his companions with wide eyes, having never imagined that someone would be willing to give up on something of their own for his sake. All of his life had been nothing but a contest of taking from others before getting taken from. Now, for the first time in his life, he had met those who were willing to actually help him out in his time of need.

    The kobold smiled confidently as he stood up. He stared at his friends and spoke up.

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, you guys, but that¡¯s not necessary. I gave those things to you and I don¡¯t intend to take them back,¡± Lexton said proudly. ¡°Besides, I already have an idea on how to start a business here. So let¡¯s get to work already! Time is money!¡±

    Erin smiled at the enthusiasm show by the kobold as well as at Arkay¡¯s kindness. With companions like these, she was certain that they would get past any obstacle they might come across on their journey.

 57. From the Rock Bottom

    Chapter 57

    From the Rock Bottom

    Having lit a fire within Lexton, Erin and the others were now following the kobold, as he was getting started on building back their finances. All of them were wondering just what type of a plan Lexton had on his mind this time.

    ¡°So, Lex, what exactly are you thinking about doing?¡± Erin decided to ask. ¡°Are we going to head outside the town and hunt monsters in order to turn them into those potions we were selling back in Moonstone?¡±

    ¡°While that wouldn¡¯t be too bad of an idea, we¡¯re going to have to pass on that,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Not only would we have to struggle to find all the ingredients for them, but this isn¡¯t exactly the right market for that. The reason why the medicine sold well back in Moonstone is because it was full of regular working people with normal issues. This place is an entertainment center that is directed to the super wealthy. If you try selling common medicine around here, at best you¡¯ll get laughed at.¡±

    ¡°So what are we going to be selling here then? Those golems of yours?¡± Ryle asked, causing the kobold to visibly wince, like he was struck with sudden pain.

    ¡°...I¡¯d prefer it if you didn¡¯t remind me of them right now,¡± Lexton said in a slightly solemn tone. ¡°Those things are my greatest masterpiece and I have nowhere near the tools necessary to make anything even remotely similar.¡±

    ¡°So what exactly are we going to be doing then?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I doubt we can make any kind of luxury items for these people.¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, my friend. That¡¯s exactly what we are going to be making,¡± the kobold replied with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just not the type of things on your mind right now.¡±

    ¡°Huh? If we¡¯re not selling medicine, then what exactly are we going to be selling?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I mean, aren¡¯t you kind of limited with what you can make?¡±

    ¡°In terms of materials, yes. However, one thing that I am not limited with is something that no businessman can do without,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°And that, my friends, is imagination.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Okay?¡± Erin said, not understanding what her friend was getting at. ¡°What exactly does that mean?¡±

    The redhead felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned to look behind her and saw Ryle staring at her with a deadpan look on her face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? He¡¯s obviously thinking about doing another scam or something,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°That¡¯s why materials aren¡¯t that big of an issue for him, as he can just get cheap trash to make whatever he needs.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± Erin squeaked before glaring at Lexton. ¡°Lex! You¡¯re not seriously thinking of doing that, are you!?¡±

    ¡°That depends,¡± the kobold said with a shrug. ¡°I mean, am I really scamming people, if they actually believe that the stuff they get from me are legit?¡±

    The redhead wanted to argue and complain, but Ryle simply looked at her and shook her head, telling her that it was no use. With the argument over and done, Erin could only let out a deep sigh as she continued to follow the kobold. She just hoped that they wouldn¡¯t be getting into too much trouble from whatever Lexton was planning.

    <hr>

    It didn¡¯t take long for the group to get the tools that Lexon needed for them to start their new business venture. However, what was surprising to Erin and the others was that the kobold didn¡¯t seem to buy any tools for making things like weapons or medicine. In fact, the tools he bought seemed to be far different from what he would normally use, as he got himself brushes, different colors of paint and small carving tools.

    ¡°Lex, what exactly are you planning?¡± Erin asked, somewhat worried over what her friend might have in mind. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be picky or anything like that, but these don¡¯t seem like the type of tools that you¡¯d usually use.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite observant of you. And true. I normally wouldn¡¯t use tools like these for the type of work I do,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°However, when times are tough, one needs to look for different ways to survive. And that is what we are going to be doing.¡±

    ¡°So what kind of a scam are you running now?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°It¡¯s obvious to all of us that you aren¡¯t going to be doing anything legal, so why don¡¯t you just come out and say what it is?¡±

    ¡°...You know, for people who have committed murder, you have an awfully strict moral compass,¡± the kobold said. ¡°As for what WE are going to do is sell some very expensive antiques.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Arkay looked at each other in confusion, before turning their attention back to Lexton. One look into his eyes told them that the kobold was completely serious.

    ¡°How are we supposed to do that, Lex?¡± Erin asked. ¡°We don¡¯t have anything like that on our hands.¡±

    ¡°That is correct. We don¡¯t have any antiques on us at the moment,¡± Lexton said. ¡°That¡¯s why we are going to be making some for us to sell.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re right in the head, Lex?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t antiques supposed to be like¡­ really old? If we make something, doesn¡¯t that make it new instead of old?¡±

    ¡°Clearly you are the brightest of minds in our world,¡± Lexton said sarcastically with a sigh. ¡°That isn¡¯t what I¡¯m talking about at all. What I mean is that we are going to make things look like antiques. I¡¯m sure Arnie has already figured out what I¡¯m getting at.¡±

    Erin and Ryle both turned to look at Arkay, whose eyes had gone wide with realization.

    ¡°Lex is planning to make forgeries of antique items,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°He¡¯s most likely going to buy cheap junk at some small corner store that he is then going to make look like an actual antique with the tools we got for him.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Lex!¡± Erin called out to the kobold with a shocked expression on her face. ¡°Is this true!? You¡¯re really going to make fake antiques!?¡±

    ¡°I would really appreciate it if you didn¡¯t shout my plans so that the whole neighborhood hears them,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°But yes. That is essentially what I am going to have us do. I¡¯ve done it before and it¡¯s a pretty good way to make money.¡±

    ¡°And this isn¡¯t going to come back to bite us because of what exactly?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I know you had a system for selling fake bottles of those golems of yours, but how are you going to convince people to buy faked antiques? I mean, can¡¯t people tell if it¡¯s a real one or not?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps not. I think I¡¯m seeing how Lex¡¯s plan works,¡± Arkay said, getting the attention of the others. ¡°Antiques and pieces of art are mostly bought as symbols of status. It¡¯s not about them liking it or anything sentimental like that. A lot of people that buy them simply want to flaunt their wealth by showing something expensive they were able to buy. I probably don¡¯t need to point out that a lot of people in this town fall into that category. Add the fact that a good amount of them are riding the high of winning big in games of chance and they will probably jump at the chance to buy something to show off to their friends.¡±

    ¡°Arnie, you are exactly correct! I knew you would be the one to realize the true beauty of my plan!¡± Lexton said happily as he put an arm around the cat boy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You know, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d make into a great con artist, like yours truly! Maybe I can teach you a few tricks?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ quite the compliment. Thank you,¡± Arkay said a bit awkwardly. ¡°But doesn¡¯t this plan carry a huge risk? If we get found out, I doubt we¡¯ll get to walk away with just a stern talking. I fear that we might end up joining the unfortunate souls we saw outside the town.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! Remember, you¡¯re with me, right?¡± the kobold said confidently. ¡°I¡¯m a master of scamming people. As long as you follow my instructions, you¡¯ve got nothing to worry about!¡±

    The brotherly interaction between Arkay and Lexton was suddenly cut short, as Ryle pulled the kobold away from the cat boy, not liking just how close the two were. She then pulled Arkay closer towards herself in a protective manner, like she was trying to shield him from Lexton.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try putting Arnie on the wrong path here!¡± the blonde said angrily as she kept holding the cat boy. ¡°He¡¯s got a much better future ahead of him than being your pupil!¡±

    ¡°I swear, you¡¯ve got some very screwed up morals,¡± Lexton muttered. ¡°Anyways, since we are all on the same page as to what we¡¯re going to do, I suggest we go and buy ourselves some junk we can turn into valuable antiques! We also need to pick a few other things along the way as well¡­¡±

    Erin let out a deep sigh. While she was glad that they had a way to earn money for their travels, she wasn¡¯t exactly fond of the method they were going to use. She only hoped that things wouldn¡¯t end up too badly.

    <hr>

    After a few other purchases and some work, the group¡¯s new ¡°antique business¡± was set up and ready to go. They had gone to a few places, like pawn shops and a back alley flea market to buy the products they would be selling. Once they had bought these things, Lexton used his new tools to make them look older and more withered, giving them a look of antiquity. He also put some fake signatures and other such things to make them look more legit. In a few moments, they had a whole catalog of paintings, sculptures and other art pieces that they were now selling as antiques for the people in the town.

    The whole operation was simple, yet almost genius in a way. The way the group was going to sell their items was by pretending to be a black market shop for rare art pieces that were either stolen or acquired through other such manners. Their actual shop was located in an abandoned warehouse, which served multiple purposes. For one, it was away from the bustle of the town, thus limiting the amount of prying eyes that might come about. Another one was that it gave their facade of being an illegal shop some credibility. The town might run on gambling that was being kept alive by individuals of less than legal activity, but no one was dumb enough to talk about such things out in the open. Lastly, if there were any issues with customers, they could be dealt with without drawing too much attention, although they hoped it wouldn¡¯t come to that.

    Each member was given a role to play in order to keep up the fact. While most were expecting Lexton to act as the store owner, he was actually going to play the part of a lowly servant dressed in ragged robes. His job was to find potential customers and coax them into coming to their store and see what they had to offer. This was due to the fact that prejudice towards kobolds was still prevalent in this town, so him taking on the role of store owner would drive away customers. As much as he hated to admit it, he would have to pass the role of shop owner to Erin instead.

    The redhead was given the task of being the owner of the shop, as the others were unsuited for the role. She was acting as a seller of stolen goods with ties to numerous criminal groups. Lexton had even provided her with terms and names that she could use to make her act more believable. The biggest issue was that she wasn¡¯t exactly familiar with the world¡¯s antiques and works of art, but Lexton had luckily seen to that as well. By giving her a small notebook, she could read up on whatever they were offering in order to keep the act strong. Her outfit consisted of a black suit, along with a scarf and a fedora. She also had her hair swept back and an eye patch to cover her lost eye.

    Ryle took in the role of the bodyguard by standing next to Erin and looking menacing. Much like the redhead, the blonde¡¯s hair was swept back and she was given a gray suit with shades to make her look like an actual criminal group enforcer. While she didn¡¯t have any speaking roles, she was tasked with keeping an eye on their customers and to be ready in case there were any issues.

    Since all the necessary roles had been fulfilled, Arkay was given the role of a servant that was closer to a slave. While the slave trade was technically illegal, a lot of people with influence and power could purchase people for themselves to do as they pleased. This helped keep up the image of Erin¡¯s character, as people in their line of business often had such servants around them. Arkay also didn¡¯t really get to speak in his position, as he was mostly just there to sell the illusion that Erin was truly a black market merchant. He did help Lexton in getting the items that their customers were looking for. The cat boy¡¯s outfit consisted of a suit fitting for a butler, except it had been modified to be more ¡°pleasing to the eyes¡± so to speak. While nothing too risky, as the others didn¡¯t want their youngest member to feel too uncomfortable, it was still obviously designed with a certain aesthetic in mind.

    Stolen story; please report.

    To top it all off, each of the members were tasked with acting out their roles. While this meant for Ryle to stay as silent and stoic as possible, the others had to put a bit more effort into their roles. Lexton would speak with an accent and a manner that was common among some of the less fortunate people in society, which gave an image of an uneducated individual. Arkay would act all meek and frightened, especially towards Erin. The redhead had to play the part of a confident businesswoman, along with using certain terms and mannerisms to convey a more shady background.

    The way the group operated was that Lexton would go and find suitable targets to sell their products to. He would then approach them and try to convince them to follow him to the warehouse, where Erin would play her part and seal the deal.

    In just a couple of days, the group had managed to use this method to sell almost all of their merchandise, earning a huge profit along the way. Erin hated to admit it, but Lexton¡¯s scam was working miraculously. She jusy hoped that it wouldn¡¯t backfire on them.

    At the moment, they had just managed to sell a painting supposedly made by an accomplished artist. This was obviously a lie, as the signature was a fake and it was essentially the work of an amateur artist. However, thanks to the play they acted out, the customer bought into their scam and purchased it nonetheless.

    ¡°Yus, soor! Thenk ya ver much!¡± Lexton said in his faked accent, as their latest customer walked out of the warehouse. Once they were far enough, the kobold allowed his act to finally drop. ¡°Ugh¡­ I hate doing this voice. It¡¯s like I¡¯m some sort of a cartoon character.¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who came up with the characters here, so don¡¯t complain!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Besides, you at least get to talk! I only get to stand here and stay quiet!¡±

    ¡°If only you would stay that way¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that!?¡±

    ¡°Lex, don¡¯t you think we¡¯ve earned more than enough already?¡± Erin decided to ask, cutting short the argument that was about to start. ¡°Some of these people have paid us far more than we imagined, so we are no longer really hurting for money.¡±

    ¡°While we have the money we need, why stop now?¡± Lexton asked with a smirk. ¡°The thing about money is that you can never have too much, so I¡¯d say we keep going until all our products are sold!¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but this is seriously risky business!¡± the redhead tried to argue. ¡°Every time we do this, we take a chance of getting caught! Wouldn¡¯t it be smarter to just quit while we¡¯re ahead?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so dramatic! We¡¯ve been doing perfectly fine so far, so I see no reason as to why we should even think about stopping!¡± the kobold said happily as he began to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll go find us another customer! You guys get ready to play your parts!¡±

    As Lexton left, Erin couldn¡¯t help but get a bad feeling about this. For some reason, she felt like things were going to turn for the worse really soon.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile with Lexton, the kobold was hiding in the alleys, hoping to spot a potential target that they could scam with their fake antiques. He eventually found the perfect person for his needs. It was a very wealthy-looking young woman who seemed to be very fond of flaunting her wealth. These types of people would pay handsomely pretty much for the opportunity to buy something expensive to show their friends.

    With a smile on his face, Lexton got his act ready as he quickly skipped over to the wealthy lady. It was showtime.

    ¡°Excuuses me, maam!¡± the kobold called out to the wealthy woman, who turned around to look at him. Her nose immediately wrinkled a bit in disgust at the sight of Lexton, but he ignored it in order to keep up the act. ¡°Ya seems ta be be¡¯er of then mos of us fellers har, ain¡¯t ya? Wul ya be intaresed in sum finner stuff?¡±

    ¡°I might¡­ Depends on what you mean by ¡°finner stuff¡± that is,¡± the wealthy woman said. ¡°Are we talking about something really valuable or-?¡±

    ¡°Ah yus! Ah yus! Only tha finnest o stuff me boss has! Yus!¡± Lexton replied enthusiastically, cutting off the potential customer. ¡°Ya see, me boss, she hav tha bestest o best stuff aruund! Picters made by tha finnest o artsmen! Ol an bootiful stuff o all kin, like fancee jars an such! Ya wan sumthin noice, ya gotta see wha me boss hav! Yus!¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± the wealthy woman said with a raised eyebrow, as she began to take interest in what the kobold was saying. ¡°This boss of yours, she wouldn¡¯t happen to have any pictures done by the great Giorea Pevello?¡±

    Lexton had to hold back the smile that almost spread over his face. He knew for certain that they had a bunch of paintings with that name on them. Not because the artist himself had put his name on them, of course.

    ¡°Ah yus! Ah yus! Me be surtain tha me boss hav sumthin o tha kind!¡± the kobold said excitedly. ¡°Follo me an ya get to see fer yaself!¡±

    With that, Lexton began to lead their next customer to where the rest of the group was waiting, never realizing that they were being followed by someone.

    <hr>

    It didn¡¯t take long until the kobold had led the wealthy woman to the warehouse, where the others were ready to put on their act. Lexton let their newest customer walk inside first, before quickly making his way to Erin.

    ¡°See? See, boss? Me gots ya a nu customer!¡± the kobold said, keeping up the act. ¡°Ya see ho usful me am?¡±

    ¡°Good work,¡± Erin replied with a smile, putting on her act. ¡°Wait until I call for you again. I¡¯ll see if I can offer something for our esteemed guest here.¡±

    Lexton nodded and walked to the side, letting the others do their business in peace. Erin turned her attention to the new customer and prepared herself to do some business. She was currently sitting at a simple table with two chairs set up on it. This was the spot where they made their deals, while their fake antiques were stored up deeper into the abandoned warehouse behind her.

    ¡°Hello there, my good lady! The name¡¯s Gina Lovesung and I love making good deals!¡± the redhead said, introducing herself by getting into her character. She also beckoned for their guest to take sit at the empty seat across from herself. ¡°I¡¯ve got some really nice stuff that everybody would love to have! Mind telling me what you might be looking for?¡±

    ¡°...Good day. My name is Grazia and I am looking for paintings by Giorea Pevello,¡± the wealthy woman introduced herself. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have any?¡±

    ¡°Giorea Pevello, you say?¡± Erin said as she glanced at Lexton, who gave a simple nod in response. ¡°Ah, yes! We should have one of those! Dion!¡±

    Upon hearing his fake name called, Arkay walked up to Erin and gave her a respectful bow.

    ¡°Dion, would you mind being a sweetie and go help Speck bring the painting our dear customer is interested in?¡± the redhead asked, keeping up the act. The cat boy nodded without saying a word in response. ¡°Good boy. Now, go bring the painting here, would you?¡±

    Both Arkay and Lexton left to get the requested item, leaving Erin and Ryle alone with Grazia. The wealthy woman had been eyeing the cat boy ever since he walked up to them. Once he had left, she turned her attention from the servant to the merchant and smiled.

    ¡°You know, even if you don¡¯t have anything in your stock that I would like to buy, I wouldn¡¯t mind paying for that adorable little kitty you¡¯ve got there,¡± Grazia said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure we could strike a very good deal.¡±

    Erin could hear Ryle grit her teeth as she tried to hold back her anger. Truth be told, the redhead herself was also quite furious at the wealthy woman¡¯s suggestion, especially when you considered what it implied. However, she knew that she needed to focus on her job and that letting anger get the best of her would only make things worse.

    ¡°Oh, I see you¡¯ve got an eye for quality, my good lady!¡± Erin said with a fake laugh. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to say that Dion is not for sale, though! He¡¯s just too precious for me to let go of!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? I do have quite a bit of money to offer for him,¡± Grazia asked. ¡°I would love to have him attend to me in more than one way.¡±

    The redhead had to ball up her hands into fists as tightly as possible in order to stop her from jumping over the table and strangling the woman before her. Ryle also had to turn her face away from them, as her anger was rising.

    ¡°Trust me, I know better than anyone else just how good he is,¡± Erin replied with a forced smile, just barely managing to hold back her anger. ¡°Without him, my operations would suffer greatly.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? How unfortunate,¡± Grazia said with a disappointed sigh. ¡°Oh well. Maybe I¡¯ll take a look at the ¡°servant market¡± and see if I can find anyone like him. I could use a new one after the previous one went out of commission.¡±

    Erin was honestly surprised by the fact that she and Ryle had managed to hold back their anger at that point. She really needed to close this deal and fast, before either of them did anything rash.

    Almost as if on cue, Arkay and Lexton came back with the painting that they were going to sell. The redhead had to hold back a relieved sigh from escaping her lips, as it could have blown their act.

    ¡°Good work, Dion. This is exactly what our esteemed guest is looking for,¡± Erin said with a smile, checking out the painting that had the forged signature on it. She then gently ruffled Arkay¡¯s hair a bit as a show of gratitude. ¡°You can step back now and let me handle the rest. Okay?¡±

    The cat boy simply gave a slightly confused nod in response, unsure as to why he was being sent away. Little did he know that the redhead wanted to avoid giving Grazia anymore ideas that would push her and Ryle over the edge.

    With Arkay out of harm¡¯s way, Erin turned her attention to their customer and smiled.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the painting that I told you about,¡± the redhead said with a smile as she handed the faked piece of art to Grazia. ¡°If you look closely, you can see the painter¡¯s signature in the corner. I can guarantee that this is an authentic piece of work.¡±

    The painting was nothing but an amateurish attempt at a portrait. In all honesty, no one in the group was even sure whether it was supposed to be a person or something else. However, thanks to Lexton doing some touching up, along with the faked signature, the amateur picture was now a piece of art made by a famous painter. The kobold had even been careful enough to only select items that he knew could be forged into convincing fakes by taking into account things like artistic styles of certain artists and so on. His life of scamming people had given him plenty of experience in this type of work.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ It does look legitimate,¡± Grazia said thoughtfully. ¡°It does seem a bit¡­ crude when compared to some of Pevello¡¯s other works. I assume that this is one of his earlier pieces?¡±

    ¡°What good eyes you have! Yes indeed! This is one of the earliest works of the great Pevello!¡± Erin said as she secretly looked at her notebook that Lexton had written instructions as to how sell their items. ¡°It was originally supposed to be in his first exhibition, but being the passionate man that he was, Pevello refused to let it be shown! He considered it a failure, even though I¡¯m certain that you can tell as well as myself that this is the furthest from failure!¡±

    The wealthy woman nodded in response as she kept inspecting the picture. After a moment of silence, she looked up from the picture and said something that confused Erin and her group.

    ¡°I do have to admit that I am very interested in it,¡± Grazia said. ¡°However, I think I¡¯m going to have to ask for my companion to look it over first, before I make any actual purchase.¡±

    ¡°Your companion?¡± Erin asked. She looked at her friends and saw that they were just as confused as she was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, but are you going to call for someone? If it¡¯s going to take too long for them to come here, I¡¯m afraid that-¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need to worry about that! In fact, he should be right outside,¡± the wealthy woman said, before looking behind her where she had entered the warehouse. ¡°Durge! Would you mind and come here!?¡±

    At that moment, the door opened and a large orc walked inside. His body was very tall and muscular, making him look like a giant. He had black hair that reached his chin and dark gray skin. His clothing consisted of a simple white sleeveless shirt, black cargo pants and combat boots. He also had tape wrapped around his hands and forearms, along with a red cloak draped over his shoulders. There were two tusks poking out from his lower jaw, which had a couple of scars over it. As for a weapon, he was carrying what seemed like a gigantic warhammer on his back.

    Erin and her group were shocked by this new arrival, as he not only looked to be someone incredibly strong, but he had gone completely unnoticed so far. However, the one who was in the biggest shock of them all was Ryle, who had actually turned pale upon seeing the orc.

    ¡°Let me introduce you to Durge Knocks. He is my personal bodyguard assigned to me by my father. He follows me in the background while I go about my day,¡± Grazia said, introducing the newcomer. ¡°He is a bit of an uncultured brute, but he does come in hand quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°Uncultured? If I am so uncultured, then why are you having me look over a painting you¡¯re planning to buy?¡± Durge asked in a deadpan tone with a bored look on his face, obviously not happy with his job. ¡°Also, haven¡¯t you been shopping quite enough already? I¡¯m sure ¡°daddy¡± won¡¯t like it when his ¡°princess¡± goes over the budget.¡±

    ¡°T-That is none of your concern!¡± Grazia said with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°Just look over the painting and make sure it¡¯s authentic.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say, princess¡­¡±

    As Durge was looking over the painting, Erin turned to Lexton to whisper to him without their guests noticing.

    ¡°You were followed!?¡± How!?¡± the redhead whispered. ¡°That guy is built like a truck! How could someone like that stay hidden!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just as shocked as you are!¡± the kobold whispered back. ¡°I had no idea that there was anyone following behind me! Let alone someone like him!¡±

    Durge was finally done with inspecting the picture and turned his attention to the ¡°merchants¡± before him.

    ¡°Oh yeah. It¡¯s authentic alright,¡± the orc said.

    Erin and the others felt relief and excitement take over them. For a moment, they had been worried that this newcomer might see through them.

    ¡°An authentic piece of crap, that is,¡± Durge said as he crushed the painting with his bare hands without any effort, shocking Erin¡¯s group.

    ¡°What the-!? Why the hell did you do that!?¡± Erin yelled angrily. ¡°That was an authentic piece done by Giorea Pevello himself! You better have the money to pay for that!¡±

    ¡°Oh please¡­ That thing wasn¡¯t even worth wiping my ass with,¡± the orc said as he rolled his eyes. ¡°It was obviously a fake. For starters, Pevello used only specific types of paint in his paintings. The quality of the paint in this one is completely different. Pevello is also known for his darker themes in his works that twist a person¡¯s body in nightmarish ways. This is obviously just an amateur artist trying to paint a person. Lastly, Pevello puts two signatures on his works. One in the corner where it¡¯s visible and another hidden somewhere in the picture itself.¡±

    ¡°...You gotta be freaking kidding me. A cultured thug?¡± Lexton said in shock. ¡°Now I¡¯ve seen everything¡­¡±

    ¡°What the hell happened to your accent?¡± Grazia asked, looking at the kobold.

    ¡°So, since you guys are obviously nothing but a bunch of con artists, I believe now is a good time for you to beg for forgiveness,¡± Durge stated, looking over the group of scammers before him. ¡°Not that it will help you out all that much.¡±

    With their cover blown, Erin looked over her friends and the two people before her while judging the situation in her mind. Should they run? Should they fight? They did have the advantage in numbers, so they should be able to win. Especially when Grazia didn¡¯t seem to be a fighter at all.

    ¡°Seems the act is over,¡± the redhead said, before turning her attention to Ryle. ¡°What do you think, Ryle? Should we take them on?¡±

    Erin was fully expecting her blonde friend to be more than willing to start swinging. Not only did she have quite the aggressive personality, but Grazia¡¯s comments had angered her quite a bit. So it was quite a shock for the redhead to hear her response.

    ¡°...We should run,¡± Ryle answered meekly.

    ¡°...Huh?¡± was all Erin could say in response to the unexpected reply.

    Without giving anybody a moment to react, Ryle suddenly flipped the table towards Grazia and Durge. While the wealthy woman was quite shocked and caught off-guard by this, the orc wasn¡¯t shaken in the least, as he simply shattered the oncoming piece of furniture with a single punch, leaving himself and Grazia unharmed.

    However, while the table might have failed to hit its targets, it bought Erin enough time to take out a smoke bomb and throw it between the two sides. The cloud of smoke blinded Durge and Grazia momentarily, allowing the redhead¡¯s group to run away.

    ¡°Durge, you idiot! How could you let them escape!?¡± Grazia yelled angrily while coughing from the smoke. ¡°We can¡¯t just let them make a fool out of me and get away with it!¡±

    ¡°As if making a fool out of you is difficult,¡± Durge muttered to himself so that the wealthy woman wouldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I took precautions while following you.¡±

    Meanwhile, Erin and her group were running for their lives out of the warehouse. They had been lucky enough to grab their belongings, along with the money they had made so far, during the chaos caused by the smoke.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with you, Ryle!?¡± Erin asked as they were heading to the exit. ¡°You¡¯re the one who is always ready to start a fight, yet now you¡¯re suddenly the one who wants to run! How did this happen!?¡±

    ¡°Trust me! If you knew what I knew, you would have ran way before I even suggested it!¡± the blonde answered.

    ¡°Enough chatting you two! Whatever it is that got the idiot scared doesn¡¯t matter right now!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°What we need to focus on right now is getting the hell out of here! Once we¡¯re outside, we need to split up and meet close to the town¡¯s entrance later!¡±

    The group finally made it outside, but were forced to stop in their tracks. An army of mobsters, all visibly armed, was surrounding the warehouse. There was simply no place to run.

    ¡°Now, since you guys like to make deals, how about this? You all surrender right now and none of you die,¡± Durge said as he walked up to the group. ¡°It¡¯s a crappy deal, but so were the stuff you were trying to get us to buy.¡±

    ¡°...Goddammit! Why didn¡¯t we quit while we were ahead!?¡± Lexton cursed. ¡°We had made more than enough already, yet we had to bring in one more customer! Whose idea was that anyways!?¡±

    The others turned to glare at the kobold, who wisely decided to stay quiet after that.

 58. The Warrior Durge

    Chapter 58

    The Warrior Durge

    Since they were completely surrounded with no chance of escaping alive, Erin and the others surrendered to the mobsters and were taken captive. While they knew that what awaited them was a horrid punishment of some kind, it was better to at least live for now and look for a chance to escape later than waste their lives on a pointless struggle now.

    All of them were forced to kneel on the ground as rope was tied around them, preventing them from fighting back. The mobster were laughing among themselves over the ¡°fools¡± who had tried to screw them over. They were taking great enjoyment from pushing around people that had apparently taken them lightly, even if none of them had even known that the people had belonged into any kind of a criminal group.

    Lexton had taken notice of the outfits that the gangsters were wearing and recognized the logo on the backs of their jackets. It was a simple round design of a monster¡¯s head that had two horns and a mouth open in laughter. The kobold immediately realized that these people belonged to the Laughing Ogre clan.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good,¡± Lexton mumbled. ¡°We really got on the wrong side of some bad people this time¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you know who these guys are?¡± Erin asked, having heard the kobold speak.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ The Laughing Ogre clan is no laughing matter. While you can often reason with them through money, they have some really twisted hobbies,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°If the rumors are true, they like to hold all sorts of ¡°performances¡± for their amusement with the performers often being people like us.¡±

    ¡°Are these shows of theirs arena fights, like in Moonstone?¡± the redhead asked. She was thinking about the possibility of them being able to survive, if it was a simple contest like that. After all, she and Ryle were pretty good at fighting and Arkay could help them out with magic.

    ¡°If only they were that simple. I¡¯m afraid that these guys find amusement in far more twisted things,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°While they often do force people to go through deadly contests, they aren¡¯t simple fights. From what I¡¯ve heard, they make you run through obstacle courses full of lethal traps, make you eat food that could be poisoned and run from the most horrifying beasts they have captured. We can only hope that we figure out a way out of this without having to take part in any of that or whatever they¡¯re planning is something we can manage.¡±

    Erin felt cold swear trickle down the side of her face. Just imagining the horrors they might be forced to face was more than enough to scare her.

    The group watched as Durge suddenly walked up to them and stared down at them with a look that was a mixture of pity and annoyance.

    ¡°Hate to tell you this, but you guys really screwed up. No one has ever crossed us and gotten away with it alive,¡± the orc said. ¡°On one hand, I kind of feel sorry for you, as I can see that you¡¯re all just a bunch of losers trying to make it in life. However, life itself is pretty brutal and you should be more careful when dealing with people like us.¡±

    ¡°Look, you seem like a reasonable guy. Think we can make a deal?¡± Lexton suddenly asked.

    Erin, Ryle and Arkay turned to look at the kobold in shock, fearing that he might be trying to selling them out in order to save his own life. Durge looked at Lexton with a slighlty curious look, wondering what kind of a deal he was trying to offer him.

    ¡°Really now?¡± the orc asked. ¡°And just what might you be offering?¡±

    ¡°Just take me, okay? Let the others go,¡± Lexton answered, surprising everyone. ¡°This whole thing was my idea. The others just got dragged into it because of me. They shouldn¡¯t be punished because I screwed up. Please let them go and take me. I swear I¡¯ll make it worth your time.¡±

    ¡°...Now this is honestly surprising. I was honestly expecting you to try and save your own ass without caring about your companions at all,¡± Durge said. ¡°Mind telling me why you¡¯re trying to do so?¡±

    ¡°Look, I know someone is going to have to face the consequences of what we did here. I¡¯m not stupid enough to think that we¡¯re getting out of this with a slap on the wrist,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°If someone is going to have to face the punishment from your group, it should be me. Like I said earlier, this whole thing was my idea. These guys just got dragged into this because of me, so you shouldn¡¯t even bother with them. I¡¯m the one you guys want.¡±

    ¡°You said something about making it worth our time. Care to elaborate?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°The thing is that I have some very useful skills that I¡¯m certain your group would love to have access to,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°You see, I¡¯m not just a great con artist, but I also have skills in alchemy and enchanting. As long as you get me the materials I need, I can make sure all of your enforcers will have enchanted weaponry as well as other equipment.¡±

    ¡°...And in order for us to get your cooperation, we just have to let your friends go?¡± Durge asked. ¡°You do realize that even if we agree to it, you¡¯d end up becoming a slave to our group. Are you ready to live your life like that?¡±

    ¡°We all have to take responsibility for our mistakes. This is me doing just that,¡± the kobold replied.

    Silence fell over, as the orc seemed to be deep in thought, considering the deal he had been offered. Erin and her group were also silently waiting for Durge¡¯s response.

    In all honesty, the redhead didn¡¯t know whether she wanted him to take Lexton¡¯s offer. While it would save her, Ryle and Arkay, they would be essentially abandoning their friend for their own sake. On the other hand, if they were let go, they could try to find a way to rescue Lexton later. The obvious issue was that they didn¡¯t know if they would be able to do so, which could force them to abandon the kobold completely.

    Durge seemed to have finally thought things through and turned his gaze at Lexton.

    ¡°You do offer quite a good deal. If it were up to me, I¡¯d probably take you up on that deal, even just out of respect towards you,¡± the orc said. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m afraid these types of decisions are not up to me and are only made by our leader. However, I will do my best to argue for your sake. I can¡¯t guarantee anything, but I give you my word that I¡¯ll do everything I can to help your offer come true.¡±

    Having finished talking to the prisoners, Durge turned his attention to nearby enforcers of their clan.

    ¡°Get these people loaded in the truck,¡± the orc ordered. ¡°We should get them to the headquarters as fast as we can.¡±

    ¡°Oh, look at the great warrior giving orders to the ¡°lowly miscreants¡± here,¡± one of the thugs said while snickering. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t do it yourself or something?¡±

    ¡°Give him a break, bro. You know he¡¯s the type who can¡¯t dirty himself doing this type of work,¡± another one said with a chuckle. ¡°He probably calls a servant or something to come and wipe his ass for him, you know? Can¡¯t dirty his hands doing dirty work and all.¡±

    The thugs began to laugh among themselves, until Durge grabbed the two that had just been joking at his expense by their throats and lifted them off the ground. All of the gangsters went silent immediately and just stared at the furious orc that was glaring at the two grown men he was dangling up in the air.

    ¡°Get this through your damn skulls already. I know damn well that none of you like me and I don¡¯t care. I couldn¡¯t care less of how you think of me. However, we are working together and that¡¯s the end of it,¡± the orc said as his grip tightened. ¡°I was put in a position where I am the one giving orders to you goddamn bums. And when I give and order, I expect you morons to follow it. Got it?¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Y-Yeah, we get it!¡± one of the two thugs said while struggling to breathe. ¡°C-Cool it, dude! We were just messing with ya!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! It was just a joke! Nothing more!¡± the other thug said, also having trouble breathing. ¡°Nothing but some harmless fun! No need to take it so seriously!¡±

    Seeing that he got his message through, Durge dropped the two thugs on the ground and walked away. Having watched what had just happened, Erin couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was the problem the other gangsters seemed to have with Durge.

    Nevertheless, the redhead and her group was taken to a van, where they were forced to sit at the back while being transported by their captors.

    ¡°Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold, getting his attention. ¡°About what happened over there. I-¡±

    ¡°No need to say it. I know already,¡± Lexton said, cutting off the redhead. ¡°This whole mess is my fault. That¡¯s why I was trying to take responsibility for it back there. Even if it wasn¡¯t certain to work, I wanted to do at least something to make up for it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I was going to say at all!¡± Erin said with a bit of anger in her voice, surprising the kobold. ¡°Why the hell were you trying to sacrifice yourself!? That makes no sense!¡±

    ¡°W-What?¡± Lexton said, baffled at the redhead¡¯s outburst. ¡°But the whole plot was my idea! Not to mention, I insisted that we continue with it, despite having made enough money already! And to make it worse, I¡¯m the one who brought those people to us!¡±

    ¡°You know, when he puts it like that, it kind of was his fault,¡± Ryle said nonchalantly.

    ¡°Shut up, Ryle!¡± Erin shouted at her blonde friend, before turning her attention back to the kobold. ¡°While I get what you¡¯re saying, you¡¯re not the only one at fault! We all went along with your plan and everything, so we carry some of the responsibility as well! Besides, how could you have known that lady had her huge babysitter following her from the shadows!?¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but-¡± Lexton began, only to get cut off again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself too much! Besides, we¡¯re a team, remember?¡± the redhead said, hoping to cheer him up. ¡°We¡¯re in this thing together and we need each other to get through, right? Without you, I¡¯m sure we wouldn¡¯t have made it out of Moonstone alive. How do you think we are going to get by without you? The fact is that our best option is to stick together.¡±

    After giving her speech to Lexton, Erin turned her attention to her other friends, hoping that they would agree with what she had said.

    ¡°Erin¡¯s right, Lex,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re no strangers when it comes to getting into trouble. If anything, your help has probably kept us much safer than normal. I¡¯m sure that with your help, we can get out of this as well.¡±

    With the cat boy having finished giving his encouragement, all eyes were on Ryle now. The blonde looked awkward for a moment, before letting out a deep sigh.

    ¡°...Yeah, you¡¯re honestly a real pain and I do think that this whole mess is mostly your fault,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. Erin was about to yell at her, but then she continued. ¡°However, it¡¯s also true that you¡¯ve got some serious skills that we lack. And I gotta admit, what you did there took some balls. I have to respect that.¡±

    ¡°You see? You¡¯re an important part of our group and we need you,¡± Erin said to Lexton with a smile. ¡°So please don¡¯t throw your life like that again or blame yourself like you do. We will figure something out together.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks. I do appreciate it,¡± the kobold said with a small smile, somewhat taken aback by the sudden show of support. ¡°However, this is going to be a very difficult one. These guys are pretty crazy from what I¡¯ve heard. I¡¯d say our best option is that Durge guy, but it seems like he doesn¡¯t have all that much respect in their organization, if the way all the other members seem to treat him is any indication.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something that caught my attention as well,¡± the redhead stated. ¡°Why would the others act like that towards him? He seems to be a capable leader with a good personality, yet they were openly mocking him. Is it something like the way you get treated by people that are prejudiced towards kobolds?¡±

    ¡°Kind of, but not simply because he¡¯s an orc. I¡¯m sure you noticed that several of the gang members around us were also orcs, yet they were laughing at him as well, right?¡± Lexton asked to which Erin nodded in response. ¡°Well, I suspect that he¡¯s from a warrior tribe.¡±

    ¡°A warrior tribe?¡± the redhead asked, before remembering something. ¡°Oh right! Those small settlements that are scattered around the world! Basically communities of people that live outside the larger towns and cities with no connection to the world at large. You¡¯re talking about those, right?¡±

    In the game world of Five Realms, there were small villages scattered throughout the world, often hidden deep within the wilderness. These places were populated by people who had decided to cut themselves off the society and live by their own terms, becoming their own tribes. These people would dedicate themselves to combat and magic arts, making them fierce opponent or powerful allies depending on how you interacted with them. Players would often first have to do some sort of favors for them before being allowed to enter their territories, let alone do any kind business with them. However, once you had won a tribe over, you could hire its members as mercenaries, learn new abilities from them or simply buy and sell different products with them.

    ¡°Exactly. Apparently, there used to be quite a few of them in the Western Continent alone,¡± Lexton said. ¡°However, only a couple of them exist anymore at best. I wouldn¡¯t be too surprised if those have all been wiped out by now as well, though.¡±

    ¡°Why? What happened?¡± Erin asked, already fearing the answer.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? The Five Overlords happened,¡± the kobold answered, confirming the redhead¡¯s fears. ¡°They didn¡¯t like the idea that there were people unwilling to bow down to their rule with enough strength to be a great asset to their enemies. Once they had conquered every major city and put all five continents under their rule, they began to systematically wiping out the tribes.¡±

    ¡°Why would they go that far?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I mean, from what I understood, the tribes only want to be left alone. Why would the Five Overlords waste time and resources in conquering them?¡±

    ¡°Well, some tribes had special resources that they wanted under their control. Whether it was magic spells, weaponry or fighting techniques, the overlords only cared that it belonged to them and no one else,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°However, it was mostly about control. The idea of powerful soldiers that could pose a potential threat to them in the future was not something they liked, so they decided to cut down the problem before it managed to become one at all.¡±

    ¡°Something tells me that the tribes didn¡¯t go down without a fight,¡± Ryle said, having listened to the conversation.

    ¡°Not at all. In fact, the soldiers who managed to survive the battles claimed that the tribes fought back like the most terrifying of beasts,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Even though the media tried to hide how badly the military was getting wrecked, the truth managed to leak to the public.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Didn¡¯t you say that the tribes were wiped out?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It sounds like they won against the armies of the overlords.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how many battles you win, if you end up losing the war,¡± Lexton said. ¡°The tribes might have been fierce opponents, but it didn¡¯t matter much in the end. The overlords had practically limitless resources they could just throw at their enemies, so they simply ran down their opposition with sheer numbers. You can be the greatest warrior ever, but even you will eventually fall after going on for days without any rest.¡±

    ¡°But surely the military suffered huge losses, right!?¡± Arkay asked, joining the conversation. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the tribes as well and if even half of those things were true, then they would surely be a terrifying opponent to face!¡±

    ¡°That was indeed the case. Like I said earlier, stories about the huge losses they took became known, despite the attempts at silencing them,¡± the kobold said. ¡°However, besides large amounts of armed forces, the overlords also had a lot of wealth. When they realized that simply using their own armies wouldn¡¯t be enough, they started recruiting other forces, such as mercenaries and even criminals. This allowed them to lessen the burden on their own troops and made the losses more bearable. After all, who cares if a bunch of crooks and mercenaries get killed?¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ The people that Durge is working for are the same people that were forced to fight his tribe?¡± Erin asked with a wide eye.

    ¡°Possibly. Whatever the case is, there aren¡¯t all that many people who look upon members of the tribes in a positive manner,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only do the people who fought them have an obvious grudge against them, but so do a lot of other people. A lot of people died in those wars, so there are many who lost loved ones in those battles.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s not like Durge or any of the people from the tribes wanted to fight! They were the ones who were invaded and had to defend themselves!¡± the redhead shouted. ¡°Why should he or anybody else be hated because of it!?¡±

    ¡°For a lot of people, it doesn¡¯t matter what actually happened and who was at fault. All they care about is that someone caused them grief and that¡¯s it,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Think about it for yourself. If someone were to kill or seriously hurt one of your loved ones, would you be able to ignore it? Would you be able to look at the one responsible without any hatred at all?¡±

    Erin wanted to argue, but couldn¡¯t. She knew from her experience and from what she had seen that grudges and hatred doesn¡¯t simply go away. Those things may die down with time, but they will always remain there. And sometimes, they would grow stronger with time, as she could only imagine from Devin and her other old friends.

    ¡°However, what really surprised me was that Ryle decided not to fight for once,¡± Lexton said, bringing the group¡¯s attention to the blonde. ¡°I was sure that you would be more than happy to start swinging at that guy when he revealed our operation to his boss, yet you were the first one that called for a retreat.¡±

    ¡°So what!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°I¡¯m smart enough to know that sometimes it¡¯s best to run instead of fighting!¡±

    ¡°We understand that, but it seems almost like you knew Durge or something,¡± Erin said. ¡°Why is he so scary to you?¡±

    ¡°...A couple of years ago, I was going after a bounty. It was really big sum as well, so I couldn¡¯t simply pass it without giving it a shot. I tracked the guy down to pub, where he was sitting at the counter. I was planning to make my move, when another group of bounty hunters suddenly came in and surrounded him. A fight obviously broke out and the newcomers were doing pretty good against the guy I was hunting, even managing to bring him down to the floor,¡± the blonde began to tell the tale from her past. ¡°However, when it looked like it was over in favor of the bounty hunters, the tables were suddenly turned on them big time.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°The guy we had all been hunting suddenly changed. His eyes began to glow, his skin changed color to a deep dark red and this strange aura began to glow around his body. But the scariest of all was his face, which now had this horrifying look on it, like an enraged demon or something,¡± Ryle continued her story. ¡°It was then that all hell broke loose. He began to attack the people around him like a raging beast, smashing, crushing and tearing any unlucky bastard that he could get his hands on. At that point, it wasn¡¯t a fight of any kind, but a one-sided massacre. I was lucky enough to sense that something was wrong and hid myself before he could get his hands on me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a scary story, but what does that have to-?¡± Erin began to ask, only to stop as she realized what the blonde was talking about. ¡°Wait¡­ You mean to tell me that-?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ The guy that I had been hunting? That was Durge,¡± Ryle said. ¡°That¡¯s why I chose to run instead of fighting. Even if we all had been fully armed and ready, I doubt we could survive against him. Let alone win.¡±

    Erin was in shock over the things she had just heard. The only person that seemed anywhere near moral in the gang that had captured them was actually such a horrifying killer? It seemed completely unreal.

    Still, the redhead knew that the best way for them to regain their freedom and get out with their lives was most likely through him. She could only hope that he had changed from the time Ryle had encountered him.

 59. Into the Maw of the Beast

    Chapter 59

    Into the Maw of the Beast

    Erin¡¯s group was finally brought to the headquarters of the Laughing Ogre clan. It was a very tall skyscraper with gold decorations, which told anyone who saw it that only wealthy and influential people were living in there. There were even two large gold statues of ogres with big grins on their faces on both sides of the front door. All of this was obviously a show by the gangsters who lived there that told the people around them just how wealthy and powerful they truly were.

    As Erin and the others were forced out of the back of the truck they had been riding in, the redhead noticed a few people passing by merely glance at them before going back to their own business. It was clear that whatever the gangs, especially the big ones, did around here was not something that the people cared about and had most likely become a common occurrence. This meant that there was no outside help coming for them, such as police. Although, Erin wasn¡¯t exactly sure if getting assisted by the law enforcement officers would be a good idea, seeing as how she and her friends were most likely wanted people.

    Once they got inside, the group was taken to an elevator that brought them up to the top floor of the building. Durge was with them through the whole walk, along with Grazia. No one spoke at all during this and only moved in complete silence. Erin and her friends didn¡¯t think that speaking up at this point would really help and could make things worse, while the gangsters didn¡¯t have anything to say.

    As soon as the elevator reached the top floor, the whole group stepped outside of the elevator and came to a large decorated door with a group of armed guards before it. The guards were all dressed in the Laughing Ogre outfits and were all armed. Upon seeing Durge and Grazia, one of the guards walked up to the door and knocked on it.

    ¡°Boss? Durge and your daughter are here,¡± the guard called out to the person behind the door. ¡°They¡¯re here with some of our guys and some people they¡¯ve captured.¡±

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ve been expecting them,¡± a voice on the other side answered. ¡°You can send them in.¡±

    The guard opened the door, allowing the whole group to get inside. As one would have expected, the room was decorated in a manner that showed the wealth of the one residing there. Expensive furniture and decorations, a cabinet full of the finest wines in the world, the biggest TV possible on the wall and a large window that allowed the occupant to stare down at the city below, like they were staring at insects crawling on the ground.

    In the middle of the room was a large table that had an open bottle of wine along with a couple of plates with high quality food on them. Surrounding the table were four couches and a man was sitting on one of them, enjoying his luxurious meal, while a male elf was standing behind him.

    Judging by the appearance of the man sitting on the couch, he was obviously the leader of the Laughing Ogre clan. He was wearing a coat similar to his underlings, as it had the same color and the same logo on the back. The only difference was that his coat was much longer, unlike the regular jackets the underlings wore, and it was also lined with white fur. There was a golden necklace wrapped around his neck with a large red ruby at the end of it. The man had a tattoo that covered the right side of his face, along with piercings on different places. His hair was shaven into a tall mohawk that was colored bright green.

    The man behind the leader of the gang seemed to be a dark elf, but Erin wasn¡¯t sure about it. From what she could remember about the lore, all elves were supposed to be beautiful no matter what, but this person was honestly quite ugly. His face seemed to be elongated and his nose was small and pushed up, making it look like he had the snout of a pig instead of an actual nose. His skin was also very pale, almost like a vampire, and his whole body was thin and looked extremely weak. He was wearing a regular uniform of the Laughing Ogre clan and he also had glasses.

    However, while he might have looked weak, one look into this man¡¯s eyes told you that he was not someone to be taken lightly. Behind his glasses laid a sharp and calculative gaze that was analyzing every little bit of information that they gathered. What this man lacked in strength was clearly made up for with intelligence.

    ¡°So¡­ You¡¯re the punks that apparently tried to screw over my little girl, huh?¡± the man who was the leader of the gang said as took a sip of his wine. ¡°Either you guys are completely new here or you¡¯ve got some massive balls. Honestly, I don¡¯t know whether I should just kill you right here as a reward for having the guts to pull off something like that or if I should torture you all to death like we normally do.¡±

    ¡°Daddy, we can¡¯t let them get away easily!¡± Grazia said as she walked up to her father and sat on one of the couches. ¡°Guts or stupidity aside, these people tried to screw me over! We can¡¯t let something like that go by without some form of punishment!¡±

    ¡°I know, honey. I know,¡± the gang leader said with a sigh. ¡°I was just a bit impressed by them. It has been a while since anyone was crazy enough to actually try anything against us. It kind of got me a bit nostalgic about the old times, you know? Back when we used to cut people apart and send their body parts to enemy bases as warnings and all¡­ Those were fun times indeed¡­¡±

    Erin couldn¡¯t help but sweat nervously. The man before them was talking about violent gang wars and killings like he was reminiscing about his time in high school. The thought of them being able to negotiate with these people was starting to look very unlikely.

    ¡°Now¡­ Back to the topic at hand,¡± the gang leader said, having stopped reminiscing about the old times. ¡°Anyways, I should probably introduce myself now, so you guys at least know who you¡¯re dealing with. The name¡¯s Grandall. I¡¯m the leader of the Laughing Ogre clan and the person you tried to screw over was my one and only daughter, Grazia. You can probably see why I¡¯m a bit upset with you guys over what you did, right? Now, if you guys have anything at all that would make me not kill you all in horrible ways, I¡¯m curious to hear it.¡±

    ¡°Actually, boss, the kobold here actually has an interesting proposal,¡± Durge said, stepping forward. ¡°He has actually offered his services for us in exchange for his companions.¡±

    Upon hearing that Lexton had given them an offer, Grandall simply glanced at the kobold with a raised eyebrow. However, the dark elf behind him seemed to be at least a bit more curious, as his gaze implied that he wanted to hear this offer.

    ¡°Durge, what is a kobold supposed to offer us?¡± the gang leader asked with a sigh. ¡°If you¡¯re telling me that scrawny lizard is supposed to become a skilled fighter among us, I need to ask you to quit with the jokes and stick to being an enforcer.¡±

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what he was offering. What he has are some special skills that I¡¯m sure our group would have use for,¡± the orc explained. ¡°He told me that he has skills in alchemy and enchanting, which could prove very useful to us. In fact, we-¡±

    ¡°Durge, please, stop talking,¡± Grandall said as he was gently rubbing his temples, like he was trying to ease up a headache. ¡°Who told you that you were put here to even think about such things? Last time I checked, the only thing we want from you is to smash things with that hammer of yours and not a goddamn single other thing, right? Why the hell would an enforcer, who is nothing but muscle for our business, consider such things? Is that your job?¡±

    ¡°Apologies, sir,¡± Durge said with a frown on his face and a slight growl in his voice. He was clearly unhappy with the treatment he was getting. ¡°I was just trying to say that-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Say. Anything. Okay?¡± the gang leader said, almost like he was speaking to a child, clearly mocking the orc further. ¡°People like me and other smart people will do the thinking and talking. You just wait until we tell you to break something or someone and you do that. Got it? Is that simple enough for you or do you need me to write you instructions? I¡¯ll use colorful crayons, if that makes it easier for you.¡±

    Durge decided to simply stay silent as he stepped back, not wanting to face any more mockery. Erin could hear him clenching hist fists and gritting his teeth out of anger.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the business at hand with the people who are actually supposed to talk about it,¡± Grandall said as he turned his attention to the prisoners again. ¡°So, what should we do with you people? What method of torture would you guys like to get killed with? We¡¯ve got quite the selection for you to choose from.¡±

    ¡°Just a moment, sir,¡± the dark elf behind the gang leader said. ¡°I think we should take Durge¡¯s offer into consideration. We could use someone with skills in alchemy and enchanting. Maybe we should take a moment to hear more about this?¡±

    ¡°...Driz, did I ask for your opinion?¡± Grandall asked as he glared at the dark elf. ¡°If I want to hear your opinion, I¡¯ll ask for it. Got it?¡±

    ¡°But sir! We should at least-!¡±

    ¡°Driz. I¡¯m warning you. Quiet down. NOW.¡±

    The elven man, seeing as how his boss wasn¡¯t going to listen to him, decided to stay quiet. He knew better than to anger Grandall.

    ¡°Seriously, what the hell is wrong with today? Everyone is trying to either screw me over or step over my authority,¡± the gang leader said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Anyways, even if the kobold over there had some impressive skills in alchemy or whatever, do we even need his help? We are the number one gang in town and we¡¯ve got more than enough money and power than we know what to do with. Why should we take a risk in employing some lizard that tried to screw over my daughter, thus screwing over my gang itself? The way I see it, we can only lose by employing such a person. Might as well just get rid of him, while trying to have fun with it? The only question is how to do it¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! How about we put these people into our games, daddy?¡± Grazia asked excitedly. ¡°Not only will it be more fun, but we can also earn a bit on the side.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ I suppose that would be good,¡± Grandall said thoughtfully. ¡°We have been having issues in getting contestants.¡±

    The gang leader looked at Erin¡¯s group and noticed that they were both worried and confused. It seemed like he would need to explain what he meant.

    ¡°I see that you guys are pretty new around here,¡± Grandall said as he grabbed a remote control for the large TV in the room and pointed it at the screen. ¡°Let me show you what we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    The TV was turned on and the screen began to show something that looked like a game show on it. Erin remembered having seen shows like it from time to time back in her world.

    However, it didn¡¯t take long for the show to turn into something that she had never seen before and it horrified her.

    On the screen, they watched as a group of contestants dressed in orange jumpsuits were running through what looked like an obstacle course. The obstacles, though, were not something that anyone would have liked to run through, as they ranged from moving blades, pools of acid, bloodthirsty beasts and other lethal contraptions. The people that failed to avoid them were cut apart, impaled, burned or torn apart while screaming in pain.

    Erin could feel the color drain from her face, as she realized just what she and her friends would be facing soon.

    ¡°Lovely, isn¡¯t it?¡± Grandall asked with a smirk, as he looked at the expressions on the faces of his prisoners. ¡°This is one of our best sources of income. Our competitors have to play these types of games and try to make it to the end alive. Not only that, but our viewers get to gamble on the results as well. The people watching get entertainment, the people competing get a chance to survive and we get to make money! Everybody wins! Aren¡¯t we just the nicest?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m going to guess that our participation is mandatory?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Not at all! Not at all!¡± the gang leader replied with a chuckle. ¡°You do have a choice. It¡¯s just that your other option isn¡¯t exactly the greatest. Either you take part in our show or you get killed right away. So what do you choose?¡±

    The members of Erin¡¯s group were all obviously scared and worried over their situation. All of them were thinking of their chances at making it through such trials and it didn¡¯t look good for any of them. The gangsters, with the exception of Driz, seemed to notice their internal plight and took great enjoyment from it, judging by the smiles on their faces.

    However, while Grandall, Grazia and their thugs were enjoying the despair their prisoners were in, there was at least one person who didn¡¯t take pleasure in it. That was Durge, who decided to speak up again, despite his boss not liking it.

    ¡°Mind if I ask something, boss?¡± the orc asked, getting everyone¡¯s attention on him. ¡°Can we simply let this one go?¡±

    Durge asked this question while pointing at Arkay, surprising everyone in the room.

    ¡°Durge, what did I tell you about thinking and talking?¡± Grandall asked in an angry tone, clearly upset with the orc. ¡°What does it take to get it through your thick skull that I do not expect you to think or even talk? Do I need to glue your damn mouth shut or something so that you¡¯ll finally understand!?¡±

    ¡°I know what you¡¯ve said, but I need to speak up about this,¡± Durge began to explain. ¡°I get that we need to punish those who try to mess with us, even if it¡¯s a small thing like this, as we need to save face and make it clear that we are not to be taken lightly. However, while I can see the others deserving this punishment, I think punishing the kid is too much. Let him at least go. I doubt he¡¯s a threat of any kind.¡±

    ¡°Really now? And may I ask why should we even consider letting him go?¡± the gang leader asked as he glared at the orc. ¡°Like you said, we have to show people that we are not to be messed with, yet you¡¯re telling me to let someone that did so go free? Don¡¯t tell me that this is some stupid warrior tribe¡¯s code of honor crap.¡±

    ¡°You know that I¡¯ve forsaken that long before I joined your group,¡± the orc said with a frown. ¡°I just think that harming a child is going too far. In fact, it might even get people to resent us and start conspiring against us. I it would be best to play it safe than risk having countless people talking about us angrily in secret, sharpening their knives for the opportunity to use them against us.¡±

    ¡°Really? And just what are you going to do with the kid, even if we decide to go grant your request?¡± Grazia asked with a cocky smirk. ¡°You know well enough that he will only end up dead in some alleyway with his body covered in trash. Unless you are going to keep and raise him yourself?¡±

    ¡°I know how tough it is out there. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll first make sure that he gets somewhere, where he can have a fresh start,¡± Durge replied. ¡°All I¡¯m asking for is that we show at least a bit of decency-¡±

    ¡°Watch your damn mouth, Durge!¡± Grandall yelled angrily. ¡°You¡¯re the last person to talk to any of us about any goddamn decency! Learn your damn place already and shut the hell up!¡±

    ¡°...My apologies,¡± the orc said with a frown.

    ¡°While I don¡¯t fully agree with what he said, I do think it would be a waste to kill the cute kitty in the games,¡± Grazia said, turning her attention to her father. ¡°How about you give him to me, daddy? I feel like I could get a lot of good use out of him.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton tensed up simultaneously and glared at Grazia. They knew even without being told that whatever she had planned for their friend was probably worse than whatever he would face in their sick games.

    ¡°Right¡­ Your last pet expired not too long ago, huh?¡± Grandall said as he leaned back in his couch in thought. ¡°Still, people like him do bring in quite a few viewers. At least in certain events. I¡¯ll have to think about that a bit. For now, let¡¯s lock these people up, until I come to a final decision.¡±

    With the gang leader making his decision, Erin and her group were taken out of the room and escorted to the jail cells at the bottom of the building. The redhead and others could only wonder what was in store for them.

    However, there was something that no one noticed, which was the stern look on Durge¡¯s face. The orc clearly had something on his mind, but no one knew what.

 60. No Pride, No Honor

    Chapter 60

    No Pride, No Honor

    Under the orders of Grandall, Erin and her group were taken to the jail cells located at the basement of the building. Escape was pretty much impossible, as not only were they locked behind bars made of special metal that even a person like Ryle couldn¡¯t break with all of her strength, but they wouldn¡¯t be able to far beyond that. The only door leading to the cells was made from the same material as the bars and was far thicker as well. Not only that, but the moment they so much as got one foot outside their cells, the guard standing next to the door would ring the alarm, calling in every armed guard on the upper floors. They would be forced to face off against the entire gang while trying to get up a long flight of stairs, which wasn¡¯t exactly the most ideal situation for anyone trying to get out.

    In the end, the group was forced to accept their fate and wait for a better opportunity. They could only hope that something would come up later that would allow them to escape.

    ¡°Man, this is some bullshit!¡± Ryle cursed loudly as she hanging onto the bars of the cell she was sharing with Erin and Lexton. ¡°Bad enough that they have to go so far just to get back at us over a little scheme, but they can¡¯t even have the decency to put as all in the same cell!? That¡¯s just them being petty!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, aren¡¯t we sharing the same cell right now?¡± Erin asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t see what you¡¯re so mad about.¡±

    ¡°I said ALL of us, dumbass,¡± the blonde said bluntly. ¡°Did you lose your ability to count or something?¡±

    Once she had it pointed out to her, the redhead realized what her friend was talking about. Their group had been divided into two cells. While she, Ryle and Lexton were in one, Arkay was sitting alone in the cell across from them.

    ¡°This is so unfair,¡± Ryle whined. ¡°How come Arnie has to sit all alone in a cell? Those bastards are just too cruel¡­¡±

    ¡°I doubt it¡¯s Arnie that they¡¯re being cruel towards. It¡¯s you,¡± Lexton said. ¡°In all honesty, I think it¡¯s for the better to keep you away from him.¡±

    ¡°What was that, scaly ass!?¡±

    While her two friends were stuck in an argument, Erin turned her sight on the youngest member of their group.

    ¡°How are you doing over there, Arnie?¡± the redhead asked in a gentle tone.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just a bit overwhelmed by all of¡­ well, this,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°I mean, earlier today we were just trying to think of ways to build up our finances and now we¡¯re stuck in a jail. It¡¯s a bit wild how things changed so suddenly, you know?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean,¡± Erin said. ¡°Think any of your magic could help us get out of here?¡±

    ¡°Not really. My technomancer ability only works on technology that¡¯s a bit more advanced than a simple lock like the ones on our cell doors,¡± Arkay answered as he shook his head. ¡°As for destroying the bars or the locks with my other spells, that also wouldn¡¯t work. None of my other spells are strong enough for that.¡±

    ¡°You still have the invisibility spell, right?¡± the redhead suggested. ¡°If nothing else, it might create you a chance to get out when they come to take a closer look at the ¡°empty cell¡± when they can¡¯t find you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only if they actually decide to open the door. Not to mention, I still would have to sneak through this whole place, which isn¡¯t exactly a challenge I think I can take on,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°Besides, I couldn¡¯t just leave you guys behind like that.¡±

    ¡°While I appreciate that you want to help us, I do not want you to sacrifice yourself for our sake, okay?¡± Erin said. ¡°If you get a chance to escape, I want you to take it. Even if it means leaving us behind. Understood?¡±

    ¡°...Sorry, but that¡¯s not going to happen,¡± Arkay said in a serious tone. ¡°I would rather die than abandon any of you. And there is no use telling me to do otherwise.¡±

    Erin was about to argue back, only for the door leading to the cells to suddenly open. She, along with the rest of her group, all looked from between the bars of their cells to see who it was. Much to their surprise, it was Durge.

    ¡°The hell are you doing here?¡± the guard stationed at the door asked rudely, showing clear disrespect towards the orc. ¡°I wasn¡¯t notified that you or anybody else was going to come here!¡±

    ¡°...Sorry about that, but this is a rather sudden visit that was meant to be a surprise,¡± Durge said with a small smirk. ¡°You see, there¡¯s a new position open and you¡¯ve been chose as the one to receive the promotion.¡±

    ¡°A promotion? For me?¡± the guard asked, taken aback by the sudden news. Upon seeing the orc nod, he broke into a wide smile and cheered. ¡°OH YEAH! Finally my worth is being recognized! So what is this new position and when do I start!?¡±

    ¡°It starts right away. As for what it is,¡± Durge replied before suddenly grabbing the guard¡¯s head and smashing it into the wall, killing him instantly. ¡°There were open spots in hell, so you¡¯ve been promoted from a guard to a corpse. Hope you enjoy.¡±

    After killing the guard, the orc took the keys from him and walked up to the cells. The members of Erin¡¯s group, wary of the warrior¡¯s abilities, took a step back while keeping their eyes on him.

    ¡°You guys can relax. I¡¯m not here to harm any of you,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°If I wanted any of you dead, I¡¯d just let Grandall do whatever he wants with you.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you here all of a sudden?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I doubt you came here just to have a chat with us.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the keys give you enough of a hint?¡± the orc asked sarcastically while holding said items up and jingling them a bit. ¡°I¡¯m here to set one of you free.¡±

    ¡°...Oh! Well, that¡¯s great! I honestly didn¡¯t think that-¡± the redhead began to say happily, until she realized something about what Durge had just said. ¡°Hang on. Did you say ¡°one of us¡±?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m letting the kid go,¡± Durge said while pointing at Arkay. ¡°The rest of you are out of luck, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    There was a moment of silence as everyone was letting what the orc said sink in. After a couple of seconds, all hell broke loose.

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Lexton yelled angrily as he grabbed the bars of his cell. ¡°Why the hell are you only letting one of us out!? That¡¯s some total bullshit!¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t just abandon my friends!¡± Arkay tried to argue. ¡°Please let them out as well!¡±

    ¡°You asshole! You obviously have some sick interest in Arnie!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°Just come a bit closer and I¡¯ll make you regret even laying eyes on him!¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Durge yelled, shutting everyone up. ¡°There. That¡¯s better.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Erin called out to the orc, who turned his attention towards her. ¡°While I don¡¯t mind you saving Arnie, could you at least explain why you¡¯re only helping him?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. He¡¯s a kid,¡± Durge replied. ¡°While I think that morons who pick fights that they cannot fight should face some consequences, I don¡¯t think he should. Punishing someone like him is going way too far.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re much different from the other members of your gang, you know?¡± the redhead stated. ¡°The others seemed more than willing to do whatever they wanted, but you seems to at least have some decency and morals.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious why he¡¯s like that?¡± Lexton asked, getting Erin¡¯s attention. ¡°Remember that he¡¯s from a warrior tribe. This is probably in line with his code of honor or something. I¡¯m guessing that one of the rules of his tribe was to never harm kids or something.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I guess that makes sense,¡± Erin said with a small and sad smile. While she was disappointed that she, Ryle and Lexton weren¡¯t going to be saved, at least one of her friends would. ¡°Good thing that at least one of us is getting out¡­¡±

    ¡°I agree. And I sure as hell am glad that it¡¯s Arnie,¡± Ryle said with a small grin. ¡°If anyone here deserves to get out, it¡¯s him.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m personally a bit offended here,¡± Lexton suddenly stated, surprising his other cellmates. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly old enough to be passed on the basis of age. Seriously, why the hell am I getting left here?¡±

    ¡°Maybe his code of honor prevents him from helping total assholes?¡± Ryle asked sarcastically. ¡°I could see that as a code worth following.¡±

    Before an argument could break out, Durge spoke up, bringing everyone¡¯s attention to him again.

    ¡°First of all, when it comes to the kobold, I believe YOU were the one who wanted to sacrifice himself for the sake of the others, right? Not to mention, from what little I¡¯ve seen, I can tell that you¡¯re no innocent angel at all,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Second, I am not doing this for any moronic code of honor bullshit, okay? I don¡¯t believe in any of that crap.¡±

    ¡°Huh? But aren¡¯t you from a warrior tribe?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you follow the code of your people?¡±

    ¡°The reason as to why I don¡¯t follow something so stupid, is because I¡¯ve seen what it causes,¡± Durge began to explain. ¡°Since you¡¯re all so familiar with the types of people that I used to live with, mind telling me how you see them? I bet that you all have some grand image of glorious people, abiding by strict rules of honor to uphold justice or some other crap, right?¡±

    Erin only nodded in response. That was indeed the image she had of the warrior tribes. She could only wonder where the orc¡¯s tale was going to go.

    ¡°Well, let me tell you all that stuff couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. The people of the warrior tribes might not be warmongering conquerors, but they are the furthest thing from benevolent, noble or just,¡± Durge continued with a bitter tone. ¡°The moment you are born into one of these tribes, you are put under strict training to become a warrior. As soon as you can walk, you are taught how to kill, even before teaching you how to freaking read. You won¡¯t even reach your tenth birthday without killing at least someone to ¡°make your spirit stronger¡± or for some other excuse. You have absolutely no choice as to what you can become and what you want is not allowed, unless it has to do with fighting and killing.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t the warrior tribes have magic users, blacksmiths and enchanters?¡± Lexton asked, curious about this new side to the tribes he was learning about. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, it doesn¡¯t seem like the tribes are only concerned with physical strength.¡±

    ¡°There are two assumptions that are wrong. First, it¡¯s not that the warrior tribes only strive for physical strength. What they desire is to be more efficient killers. It doesn¡¯t matter if it comes in the form of physical prowess or arcane might, as long as it makes you powerful on the battlefield. The enchanters, blacksmiths and other such people are just a means to an end in that regard,¡± the orc answered. ¡°Also, you seem to assume that they are treated the same way as the actual warriors themselves, when the that¡¯s far from truth. The people that are there to provide the means for the warriors to get stronger are essentially nothing but servants. As long as they do a decent job, they are tolerated, but they do not get anywhere near the rewards they should.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like it sucks,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Why don¡¯t they just leave then? I mean, are they being stopped from that?¡±

    ¡°It depends. If you have knowledge of some very potent enchantments or other such secrets, you might be killed for treason. Same goes to warriors that are seen as successful ones. Their departure is seen as treason and a shame to the tribe that can only be washed away with blood,¡± Durge explained. ¡°However, even if your departure isn¡¯t seen as a loss of any kind, you are still facing terrible odds of survival. The tribes often live in remote areas that are surrounded by dangerous beasts and violent bandits that will gladly tear you apart. Even if you manage to survive that, your prospects for living aren¡¯t exactly great. Imagine that you have lived your whole life to become a killing machine. What are you supposed to do with that when you step foot in one of the civilized settlements? You can barely count or read, let alone do anything else that requires more than hitting something as hard as you can. Unless it¡¯s a life of crime, your chances at making a living are very slim. So no offense, but screw the tribes and their codes and other crap.¡±

    An uncomfortable silence fell over, as Erin and the others thought about what the orc had just told them. For a long time, they had all imagined the warrior tribes as these noble groups surrounded in mystique. Turns out that there was a lot of darkness hidden beneath their image.

    ¡°...Then how did you end up working for the Laughing Ogre clan?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It seems like they don¡¯t like you very much and even have some sort of a grudge against you, yet you¡¯re actually employed by them. How did you end up here?¡±

    ¡°If you survive what Grandall has in store for you, I might tell you my story,¡± Durge replied with a slight smile. ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have the time. Who knows when someone might come down here and see the guard with his head smashed like a tomato. I need to get your friend out of here now, before that happens.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to do that,¡± Arkay suddenly said, getting everyone¡¯s attention turned towards him. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving here. Not without my friends at least.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? No, Arnie! Just go! Get out of here!¡± Erin yelled, shocked at her young friend¡¯s defiance. ¡°You need to get out of here when you get a chance! This is what I was talking about earlier!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Just get going and save yourself!¡± Ryle said in agreement. ¡°You don¡¯t need to even worry about us! I¡¯m sure we can handle whatever they throw at us!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no use for heroics here, Arnie! Get out of here while you can!¡± Lexton added. ¡°At times like this, you should think about your own survival first!¡±

    ¡°You should really listen to your friends here, kid,¡± Durge said. ¡°Even getting you out of here is going to be tough, but all four of you? Not a chance. I¡¯m not willing to take a risk I¡¯m certain will only backfire.¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re all saying, but I¡¯m not changing my mind. If the others aren¡¯t leaving with me, I¡¯m not leaving either,¡± Arkay said in a surprisingly strong tone of voice that none of the others would have expected from him. ¡°Even if get out of here, what¡¯s the point? I would never be able to live with myself, knowing that I abandoned my friends and only saved myself.¡±

    ¡°...You know I can just use brute strength to drag you out of here, right?¡± the orc asked with a frown. ¡°I doubt you can exactly put up a fight against me.¡±

    ¡°Wanna bet?¡± Arkay asked as he glared at Durge, before summoning fire on one hand and lighting on the other. ¡°I know I won¡¯t win, but I will give you a fight to remember. And I¡¯m sure your colleagues would notice a scorch mark on your face.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton could only stare with wide eyes at the cat boy¡¯s show of defiance. He was always so meek and shy, yet here he was getting ready to fight an opponent far bigger and stronger than him. Just where had he been hiding this side of him all this time?

    ¡°The choice is yours. Either we all go or you will have to take everything I can throw at you,¡± Arkay said. ¡°I might not be much, but I will at least take one of your eyes with me.¡±

    Durge stared down at the cat boy before him and saw no hesitation in him. Arkay was ready and willing to go through with his threat. Even if the outcome was ultimately clear, the orc knew that this wouldn¡¯t end nicely for him.

    ¡°...I must be losing my goddamn mind or something,¡± Durge muttered to himself with a deep sigh.

    <hr>

    A bit later, Durge was walking up the stairs that led to the upper floors from the jail cells. He was followed by Arkay, along with Erin, Ryle and Lexton. Having seen the unwavering resolve in Arkay, the orc had been forced to go along with his demands.

    ¡°Way to go, Arnie!¡± Ryle said with a big grin. ¡°You showed some real guts back there! I was honestly surprised by it!¡±

    ¡°I agree. That was quite the willpower you had there,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d hate to make an enemy out of you.¡±

    ¡°While I am also proud of you for standing your ground the way you did, I still disapprove of your decision,¡± Erin said with a slight frown. ¡°You really should have just taken Durge¡¯s offer and saved yourself. Not only am I certain that your chances would have been better, but there was no guarantee that he would give in to your demands. It was honestly an unnecessary risk.¡±

    ¡°It may have been unnecessary or even stupid, but I honestly do not regret it at all,¡± Arkay said with the same determined look on his face. ¡°And aren¡¯t you supposed to live without any regrets? That¡¯s at least what I believe.¡±

    Erin was once again taken aback by the look of determination on the cat boy¡¯s face. While she did know that he had a good amount of bravery within him, as no coward would have been willing to do even half of the things he had, she would have never expected this of him.

    The redhead had to wonder, was she a bad influence on him or something?¡±

    ¡°You guys are celebrating way too early,¡± Durge said suddenly. ¡°We¡¯ve still got a long way to go before we can consider ourselves to be safe. And that way is filled with armed guards that want nothing more than to put a bullet through my skull.¡±

    ¡°So what has really changed now?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Now I¡¯ve given them a good reason to actually do it,¡± the orc replied.

    The door leading out of the jail cellar finally came to view. Once this happened, Durge suddenly stopped and turned towards his new companions.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s at least try to do this without causing a scene, okay?¡± the orc asked. ¡°I know we are most likely going to have to fight our way through, but let¡¯s do everything we can to avoid it. The further we get before all hell breaks loose, the better. I¡¯ll check the situation first and then we try to come up with a plan of action. Got it?¡±

    Erin and her friends nodded in response. Durge then carefully and as quietly as possible walked up to the door, readying himself to take a quick look behind it.

    However, upon reaching the door, the orc suddenly stopped in his tracks, almost freezing on the spot. He then let out a frustrated sigh before simply opening the door and walking through it.

    Erin was about to ask what he was doing, but soon realized what the problem was. Right behind the door was a small army of Laughing Ogre goons, waiting with their guns pointed at them. Their escape attempt had been stopped already.

 61. Enemies For Friends

    Chapter 61

    Enemies For Friends

    With their escape attempt prevented, Erin and the others were quickly taken back to their cell with Durge now sharing the cell with the redhead and her friends. The only one who wasn¡¯t there was Arkay, who had been taken somewhere else, much to the displeasure of Ryle. The blonde had almost charged at the gangsters in sheer rage, but the cat boy had managed to stop her by telling her that he was going to be alright. Even with his reassurance, the others had to make sure to hold back Ryle, as her boiling anger could have still blown up at any moment.

    For a couple of days, the group was forced to simply wait inside their cell, as there was nothing they could do for themselves. Every so often a guard would come and give them some food that consisted of dry bread and tasteless soup to keep them alive. It seemed Grandall was still going to put them through the games he had in mind and wasn¡¯t about to change his mind.

    Finally after waiting for a couple of days, a large group of armed guards came to take them to where the games would be held. All of them were put in handcuffs as they were escorted to a truck that then transported them to another building. Once inside, they were taken to a large room, where the handcuffs were taken off and the guards left, locking the large door they had walked through as the made their exit.

    Erin and the others took a look around at their new surroundings. The room they were now inside looked like a locker room that you would see at school gymnasium¡¯s and sport stadiums. While almost completely empty, there were rows of benches on the floor, allowing people to take a seat. On the left side of the room against the wall were large plastic containers that seemed to have some sort of red cloths inside. On the left side was a large screen on the wall, like a very big TV. Besides all of this, the only things were the dim lights on the ceiling and a door on the opposite end of the room.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It looks like a locker room without the lockers.¡±

    ¡°This is the preparation area for the participants in the games hosted by the Laughing Ogre clan,¡± Durge replied as he walked up to one of the plastic containers and started rummaging through its contents. ¡°People who take part in the games are taken here to prepare themselves before the games begin.¡±

    ¡°Prepare? What do you mean by that?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see much to prepare myself with!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough,¡± the orc replied without taking his eyes off what he was doing. ¡°Goddammit. It¡¯s always hard to find stuff that¡¯s my size¡­¡±

    Before any further questions could be asked, the screen on the right side of the room suddenly lit up, bringing up the face of Grandall. Erin, Ryle and Lexton immediately turned their eyes on the screen, while Durge simply kept looking through the plastic containers.

    ¡°Glad to see that you all have finally arrived!¡± the gang leader said with a smirk. ¡°I was afraid some of you might have killed yourselves by now. Good to see that we have some gutsy contestants this time.¡±

    ¡°None of us would ever do that,¡± Erin said as she glared at the screen. ¡°We are going to beat your game and get our friend back.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! What she said!¡± Ryle yelled in agreement. ¡°Where¡¯s Arnie!? You better not have harmed him in any way! Otherwise there will be hell to pay!¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s fine. Trust me. My daughter shouldn¡¯t have gotten bored of her newest toy yet,¡± Grandall said nonchalantly. ¡°Anyways, judging by the way you are all still dressed in your own clothes, I¡¯m going to assume that Durge hasn¡¯t told you what you¡¯re supposed to do there. Go to the containers and pick up clothes that fit you. All contestants in our games wear the same outfits, so you all need to look the part as well.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton turned their attention back to Durge, who had finally found clothes that fit his massive physique. He was almost done changing into the contestant outfit that reminded Erin of a prison inmate. The clothes consisted of a simple red shirt and red pants, along with dark gray shoes.

    ¡°I have to say, Durge, I always had a feeling that your employment underneath me was going to end abruptly, but I never imagined that it would be like this!¡± the gang leader said with a laugh. ¡°Honestly, what made you suddenly decide to betray me? Was it that warrior¡¯s pride or honor or whatever the hell your people call it?¡±

    ¡°I told you already a long time ago that I don¡¯t believe in such crap. Nothing good comes from following codes of pride or honor, so I couldn¡¯t give a damn about my tribe¡¯s rules or even my ancestors. All of them can rot in hell for all I care,¡± Durge said as he glared at his former employer. ¡°However, I do believe that there are limits to what even the worst scum should be willing to do. And harming kids is way over that limit.¡±

    ¡°Oh my, how noble of you. You¡¯re a real hero, aren¡¯t you?¡± Grandall said in a tone full of mockery. ¡°Too bad it won¡¯t be of much use to you soon. Now tell your new friends to get dressed or else I¡¯ll have some of my guys do it for them! And I can promise you that they won¡¯t be gentle¡­¡±

    Having delivered his threat, the TV screen turned off, leaving the group on their own again. With no other choice before them, Erin and her friends simply walked up to the plastic containers and began to look for clothes that were the right size for them.

    ¡°So, Durge, what can we expect from these games?¡± Erin decided to ask, hoping to gain useful information. ¡°Are we going to be fighting against something or face some other challenge?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the exact details of what we will be up against, as the details in regards to these change every time the game is held,¡± the orc answered. ¡°However, there is often some form of an obstacle course, along with some opponents that we have to defeat. We will only know the full details once the whole thing starts, though.¡±

    ¡°Well, that certainly sucks! You mean to tell me that despite having stood by watching these things numerous times you don¡¯t have any useful information?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Some help you are turning out to be already¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, the rest of the Laughing Ogre clan might like these sick games, but I don¡¯t,¡± Durge said with a frown. ¡°I don¡¯t take pleasure in this type of pointless brutality.¡±

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°Oh, is that supposed to make you look like some sort of a hero then!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°You don¡¯t like harming kids and you don¡¯t enjoy these sick games, yet you¡¯re working for people who do! Not only that, but I¡¯ve seen the way you fight! You¡¯re a bloodthirsty monster that will kill anyone who gets in your way! How the hell is anyone supposed to look at you as anything but the criminal scum that you are!?¡±

    Erin and Lexton were both taken aback by Ryle¡¯s sudden outburst. They turned to look at Durge, fearing how he might retaliate in anger over such accusations. However, much to their surprise, the orc didn¡¯t even look angry. Instead, it seemed like he was sad.

    ¡°...I¡¯ve never considered myself a good person,¡± the orc said in a low tone. ¡°Nor do I even intend to make you believe such things about me.¡±

    Without saying another word, Durge walked to the door that led to the area where the game would be held and walked through it. Erin and her friends were left in shocked silence, as they could only stare where the orc had just been.

    ¡°...You¡¯re a real asshole, Ryle,¡± Lexton said, finally breaking the silence. ¡°That was honestly uncalled for and kind of cruel as well.¡±

    ¡°Oh, bite my ass!¡± the blonde yelled at the kobold. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to take his side, since you don¡¯t know him the way I do! Had you seen the massacre he committed, you would be singing a different tune!¡±

    ¡°You say that, but I¡¯m starting to have a hard time believing Durge would ever be able to do anything like that,¡± Erin said with a slight frown. ¡°I mean, not only did he support Lex¡¯s offer that could have saved us, but he was even willing to risk his own life by trying to free Arnie. That doesn¡¯t seem like the violent monster that you¡¯ve described to us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Sure. Because NO ONE EVER has put on an act to throw people off, before stabbing them in the back,¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°Besides, even if he wasn¡¯t the same guy, he still worked for the people that are putting us on a death show, while doing whatever horrifying things they can think of to Arnie! Say what you will, he was still willingly working for these types of people!¡±

    ¡°You heard him yourself. People like him have a hard time making a living, unless it¡¯s through a life of crime. I¡¯m willing to bet that he has his reasons for working for these people,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like any of us are saints either. I¡¯m a trained assassin and Lex was scamming people to make a living. You as well, Ryle, were a bounty hunter that tried to kill me. No matter how you look at it, none of us has a right to go judging anybody here.¡±

    ¡°...Fine. If you want to put your trust in that guy, then go right ahead. However, I¡¯m going to make sure to keep my distance from him, because I¡¯ve seen what he can do with his bare hands alone,¡± the blonde said in a frustrated tone, as she finished putting on her new outfit and began walking to the door leading to the game grounds. ¡°Just don¡¯t come crying to me, once he has his hands around your necks. Got it?¡±

    Once the blonde had left, Lexton turned towards Erin with a question on his mind.

    ¡°Do you think we can possibly trust Durge with helping us out?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°While I¡¯m sure we could use all the help we can get, the guy has a shady past. I can¡¯t believe that I¡¯m saying this, but Ryle does have a point.¡±

    ¡°I wish I could say yes without having doubts about it myself, but I don¡¯t think we have a choice. Whatever awaits us is undoubtedly going to be a tough challenge and we could use his help. I just hope that Ryle¡¯s outburst didn¡¯t ruin our chances with forming even a temporary alliance.¡±

    Once Erin and Lexton had finished putting on their new outfits, they followed after Ryle and Durge into a much larger room that only had lights on the ceiling and a very large metal door on one end. The door was so heavy that it was obviously made to be opened through remote control only, so for now they were locked there.

    Besides Erin, Ryle, Lexton and Durge, there were a lot of other people, all wearing the same red clothes thus meaning that they would also be taking part in the games. From what Erin could tell by looking at the people around them, most of them were just normal people with no combat skills at all. The redhead assumed that they had either been kidnapped for this specific purpose or had some big debts towards the Laughing Ogre clan that led to them being brought here. Besides the ordinary people, Erin also noticed some who were most likely not your average law-abiding citizens, as they had gang tattoos and battle scars on their bodies. They were also much calmer than the normal people, who were all terrified, if not panicking.

    Erin quickly spotted Ryle leaning against a wall and walked up to her with Lexton. She didn¡¯t want their group to get separated as that would only make things harder for them.

    ¡°Ryle, where¡¯s Durge?¡± the redhead asked, looking around for the orc. ¡°I think we might be able to work together in order to get through this.¡±

    ¡°You seriously want to work with that guy? Even after all I¡¯ve told you?¡± the blonde said with a snort. ¡°Go ahead, but I¡¯m not going to find him for you. I think that¡¯s a terrible idea and I¡¯m not about to help with it.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I get that you have a problem with the idea of working with him, but we could use the help,¡± Erin said with a slight frown. ¡°We have no idea what¡¯s going to happen next. Having a few extra hands wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°Even if those hands are going to strangle you? Sure. That¡¯s really helpful,¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°Maybe we can recruit some of the other people here? I¡¯m pretty sure I saw a couple of serial killers and cannibals over there. I¡¯m sure you would love them.¡±

    Knowing that further inquiries from the blonde would only result in similar responses, the redhead decided to go look for Durge herself. She quickly told Lexton to stay with Ryle so that they wouldn¡¯t have to risk her going on her own, before going in to search for the missing orc. It didn¡¯t take long until Erin found Durge, as a lot of people were apparently keeping their distance from him. It seemed like he wasn¡¯t unpopular only among the Laughing Ogre.

    ¡°Durge. I¡¯m glad I was able to find you,¡± Erin said as she walked up to the orc. ¡°I see that your popularity isn¡¯t any different here either.¡±

    ¡°Meh. I wasn¡¯t exactly expecting much,¡± Durge replied with a shrug. ¡°After all, not only am I from a warrior tribe, but I was also part of the group that got these people here. I¡¯m not exactly expecting to make many friends around here.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ You might have some potential friends here. Temporary ones at the very least,¡± the redhead said, getting the orc¡¯s attention. ¡°Would you like to form an alliance with us? It can only be until we get through this, if you want. We are not going to force you to-¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Durge replied, cutting off the rest of the offer.

    The sudden reply caught Erin completely by surprise, as she hadn¡¯t been expecting it at all. She had already imagined different outcomes, such as Durge bursting out into laughter, getting angry or begrudgingly accepting the offer. However, she had not foreseen him accepting her offer so fast like it was no big deal.

    ¡°I¡­ What?¡± was all that the redhead could utter due to her shock.

    ¡°I said I accept forming an alliance with you. Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re the one who brought it up, so I thought you¡¯d be happy to get a quick response.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ a bit taken by surprise here,¡± Erin said, finally pulling herself together. ¡°I honestly wasn¡¯t expecting that you¡¯d accept my offer so quickly, if at all.¡±

    ¡°Hey, knowing what we¡¯re up against, I need all the resources I can get my hands on, okay? And since no one else here is exactly rushing over to make any offers, I¡¯d say yours is the best one on the table right now,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Might as well take what I can get to improve my own chances.¡±

    ¡°...I see. You¡¯re more of the logical type, huh? I was honestly afraid that I would get caught up in an argument, trying to get you to accept my offer,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°Although, I still can¡¯t help but wonder, if you base your decisions on logic, why would you betray the people you¡¯re working for just to save Arnie? I hate to say this, but that didn¡¯t seem like a smart move.¡±

    ¡°I might do my best to be logical and reasonable, but there are times when that doesn¡¯t cut it and you have to do things that are honestly kind of stupid,¡± Durge answered. ¡°Like I said, there are limits to what you should be willing to do.¡±

    With their new alliance made, Erin walked back to Ryle and Lexton with the orc following behind. The kobold was somewhat surprised by the redhead¡¯s new companion, while the blonde simply glared at the new arrival.

    ¡°So, you decided to go and make friends with the guy I kept warning you about, huh?¡± Ryle said as she shot a glare at Erin. ¡°Just remember to keep him away from me and that I will say ¡°called it,¡± when he inevitably screws you over.¡±

    ¡°I see that your friend isn¡¯t exactly fond of the idea of having me around,¡± Durge said. ¡°By the way, mind telling me what exactly I did to her specifically to earn such scorn?¡±

    ¡°Think there might have been a mistake?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Nah. I¡¯ve done a lot of nasty shit in my life, so I¡¯m sure she¡¯s pissed off at me for a good reason,¡± the orc said. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve done so much that most of it I¡¯ve pretty much forgotten about by now.¡±

    The redhead let out a sigh and was about to answer, when the large door began to open. It seemed like the games were about to begin.

    Erin and her group began to move towards the game area along all the other participants. Whatever personal grudges and issues they had with each other would have to wait for now, as they didn¡¯t have time to solve any of them. Right now, they would need to focus on the challenges ahead or they would surely all die. The redhead could only hope that they could all work together until this was all over.

 62. The Games Begin

    Chapter 62

    The Games Begin

    As Erin walked through the open door, the first thing that hit her eyes was an incredibly bright light that blinded her for a moment. Once her eyes had adjusted to the sudden brightness, what she saw before her appeared to be a colorful arena in the shape of an octagon. All sides of the arena had a large iron door on them and with the exception of the door that she and the others had walked through were numbered from one to seven. The walls were also incredibly high, to the point it was impossible to climb over them. Despite this, there was still barbed wire placed on top of the walls, just to make sure no one was able to escape.

    She hadn¡¯t realized it at first due to the commotion caused by the other participants around her, but Erin soon realized that they were being watched by a live audience, as she could hear people cheering close to them. However, she was unable to see where they were seated at, due to the lighting and the obscuring walls.

    Suddenly, a large TV screen was lowered from the ceiling so that all the participants could see it. The screen turned on, revealing none other than Grandall, sitting on a very comfortable couch along with his daughter. His personal assistant, the elf named Driz, was also there, standing behind the gang leader.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to another exciting round of the Laughing Ogre¡¯s popular game show, Prisoner Survivor!¡± Grandall announced with a big smile, causing his audience to erupt in cheers. ¡°Today we have something very special for you. As you can see, we have a full set of competitors gathered from all sorts of places. We have people who tried to screw over our clan, members of enemy gangs and even plain old servants bought from the market! However, today we have someone participating that I¡¯m sure you all will be happy to see! It¡¯s none other than the ¡°mighty warrior¡± himself, Durge Knocks!¡±

    The screen suddenly switched to showing Durge, as the audience erupted into boos. The orc was a seriously unpopular person, as there didn¡¯t seem to be anyone rooting for him at all.

    ¡°I see that you are quite the fans of him as well! Honestly, I¡¯ve always wanted to have an excuse to throw him in here. Unfortunately, he proved himself quite useful as hired muscle. I honestly thought I¡¯d never see the day that he would screw up so bad that I¡¯d get to throw him here!¡± the gang leader explained. ¡°That is until a couple of days ago, he decided to try and stab me in the back! Quite surprising coming from an ¡°honorable warrior¡±, don¡¯t you all agree?¡±

    Laughter erupted in the audience as they were having fun at the orc¡¯s expense. Durge simply rolled his eyes at this, not all too bothered by the mocking.

    ¡°Wow, he really has a grudge against you!¡± Erin whispered to the orc. ¡°What did you do to piss him off so badly?¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t me specifically that he has a grudge towards. Rather it¡¯s my tribe,¡± Durge replied. ¡°Back in the war, my tribe ended up fighting the Laughing Ogre, who were hired by the Five Overlords to fight us, along with several other criminal groups. From what I heard, Grandall lost his family and friends in those battles. He then went on to take over the group through a rather violent negotiation between himself and the previous leader. Since then, he has done all he can to hunt down the survivors of my tribe as a way to get back at us for what he went through.¡±

    ¡°But then how did you end up working for him, if he hated you so much right from the start?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. I proved myself to be too valuable to just kill,¡± the orc replied. ¡°No matter what kind of an organization we are talking about, it will always need skilled and talented people to keep it going. Driz was able to recognize my skills and was able to persuade Grandall into making me into a part of his gang, instead of killing me. The deal was that as long as I proved to be useful, I would get to keep my life and even got a hefty paycheck.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel like that wasn¡¯t easy,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°it sure wasn¡¯t. Not only was Grandall constantly on the lookout for me screwing up even one bit, he was actively trying to get me to mess up just so he could have a reason to get rid of me. Because of that, I ended up building up skills in nearly every possible aspect of the criminal underworld to keep myself from getting killed,¡± the orc explained. ¡°It didn¡¯t help that almost all the other members of Laughing Ogre had a grudge towards my tribe and wanted to see me mess up and get killed as well.¡±

    The conversation between Erin and Durge was cut short, as Grandall began to speak again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that he has a lot of friends among the other contestants as well. Let¡¯s all hope that they play nice with each other. Wouldn¡¯t you all agree?¡± the gang leader said, getting another round of laughter out of the audience. ¡°Now, how about we get this party started? My technicians have just informed me that the preparations are almost fully completed! Once done, we can finally enjoy seeing our ¡°honorable warrior¡± and his friends go through the special games that we have prepared specially for them!¡±

    The crowd erupted in cheers. Erin could only wonder just what they would be facing. If Grandall was this ecstatic over what he had planned, she could only worry that they would be going up against trials that were made impossible to win.

    ¡°About time we get on with this shit,¡± Durge grumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why he has to make such a big show of everything. It¡¯s just a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Your boss is an egotistical asshole,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Personally I don¡¯t care what his goons have built, I¡¯ll bust through it no matter what. The only thing I¡¯m concerned with is where Arnie is being held. I¡¯m not leaving without him.¡±

    ¡°I agree with that sentiment, but we have got to focus on what¡¯s ahead,¡± Erin said. ¡°Arnie can handle himself. He¡¯s surprisingly tough. Right now, we need to think about how we can get through this and-¡±

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Guys? I think I know where Arnie is,¡± Lexton suddenly said while pointing at the TV screen.

    The others immediately turned their attention back to the screen and they felt anger course through their veins at what they saw. Grandall¡¯s daughter, Grazia, had brought Arkay with her, but he had been hidden from the camera until now. The gang leader¡¯s daughter had now pulled the cat boy into view by a rope that was attached to a collar that was wrapped around his neck.

    ¡°...That bitch is so going to die,¡± Ryle said as she gritted her teeth and glared at the screen, specifically at Grazia.

    ¡°For once, it seems that you and I agree on something,¡± Durge said with a frown on his face.

    Erin and Lexton didn¡¯t say anything, but they also agreed with their blonde friend. They were not going to let Grazia get away with what she had done.

    ¡°I¡¯ve just been informed that the preparations are complete! You all know what that means!¡± Grandall announced with a big smile. ¡°LET THE GAMES BEGIN!¡±

    Once the announcement had been made, the gates surrounding the contestants began to open. Everyone began to run towards the gates like their lives depended on it, except for Erin¡¯s group, as they were unsure as to what they should do.

    ¡°Where do we go!? Which gate do we choose!?¡± Lexton asked in a panic. ¡°They all look similar to me!¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter which you choose! All of them have some type of a danger behind them!¡± Durge shouted as he began to move towards one of them. ¡°Just pick one and go towards it!¡±

    Not wanting their group to get broken up, Erin started to run after the orc, followed by Ryle and Lexton. They were making their way towards one of the gates when one of the other contestants ran into Lexton in the middle of the chaos, knocking him to the floor. Upon realizing what had happened, Erin quickly turned around and went to help her friend.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go get him! You guys keep running!¡± the redhead shouted at Ryle and Durge, who had just realized Lexton¡¯s predicament. ¡°We¡¯ll catch up to you two soon!¡±

    Once Erin had reached the kobold, she noticed that he was having trouble standing up. He had most likely hurt his leg upon getting knocked down.

    ¡°Lex, are you okay!?¡± the redhead asked, worried over his well-being.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine! I just twisted my ankle a bit. That¡¯s all,¡± the kobold said in a pained tone. ¡°You go to the others! I¡¯ll get there as soon as I can.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not happening! I¡¯m not going to leave anybody behind!¡± Erin said defiantly. She then noticed some armed members of the Laughing Ogre moving on top of the surrounding walls. ¡°Besides, it seems that we¡¯re running out of time.¡±

    Without further words, the redhead put Lexton on her back, carrying him with her. She started to run towards the gate where Ryle and Durge had already gone to, hoping to reunite with them.

    ¡°Come on! Get over here already!¡± Ryle shouted as she waved at her two companions from the gate. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day over here!¡±

    Suddenly, the blonde felt some force pull her from behind and throw her against the floor. She soon realized that it had been Durge and she was about to give him a piece of her mind, when something happened that took all the anger out of her and replaced it with shock and horror.

    The gate she and Durge had just gone through closed, leaving Erin and Lexton on the other side.

    ¡°...No. No. No! NO!¡± Ryle yelled as she ran to the gate and started hitting it with her fists. ¡°ERIN! LEX! YOU TWO STILL OUT THERE!? ANSWER ME!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy! You can¡¯t help them anymore!¡± Durge shouted. ¡°The gates stay open only for a limited amount of time before closing up. If you haven¡¯t gone through them before that happens, the guards on the walls will shoot you.¡±

    ¡°So we¡¯re just going to leave them behind!? That might be easy for you, but those guys are my friends and I¡¯m not leaving without them!¡± the blonde yelled back at the orc. ¡°Now you can either help me get to them or you can piss off!¡±

    ¡°Get real! Nothing you can do is going to help them! You¡¯ll only put yourself in a worse situation!¡± Durge said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not telling you to abandon them. I¡¯m just saying that you should focus on what you can do right now. If they are any good, they should be able to handle themselves out there. You¡¯ll get your chance to help them later.¡±

    Ryle wanted to continue arguing, but knew that it wasn¡¯t going to change anything. The fact of the matter was that Erin and Lexton were now beyond her help and there was nothing she could do about it. The best she could hope for was that they kept themselves alive long enough for them to meet up later.

    Without saying another word, the blonde walked past Durge with a frown on her face. The orc could only sigh as he wondered how he was going to survive this, before following after her.

    <hr>

    While Ryle and Durge were having their argument, Erin and Lexton were stuck at the starting area, as the gate between them and their two companions closed up. The redhead¡¯s lone eye went wide in shock and horror, as she felt her hopes get crushed by the gate closing.

    However, she quickly realized that there was no time for her to stand around dumbfounded. She needed to find another gate and go through it before it was too late. Looking around, she noticed that most of the gates were either already closed or in the process of closing. There was only one that seemed to be open enough for them to get through, so Erin did the only thing she could. She began to sprint as fast as she could towards the gate in hopes of making her way through it.

    As she was running, Erin saw how the guards on the walls had already started to shoot some of the other participants that had been left behind like herself and Lexton. It was only a matter of seconds before their sights would be turned towards them.

    Seeing the last gate slowly closing down caused the redhead to pick up her speed even more. The whole world around her seemed to disappear as she focused only on the gate and nothing else. Once she finally got close enough, she skidded along the floor and barely made it through.

    Having pushed her body to its limits, Erin had to take a moment to catch her breath. She could still hear sounds from behind the gate as the guards were shooting the left behind participants, ignoring their pleas for mercy.

    ¡°Freaking bastards are enjoying this¡­ How the hell does somebody become this sick and twisted?¡± Lexton muttered as he got off from the redhead¡¯s back and sat on the floor. ¡°Thanks, Erin. You really saved me back there. And I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry for what?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±

    ¡°It was because I screwed up that we got separated from Ryle. Now we won¡¯t be able to help her if she gets into trouble,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Not only that, but I doubt I¡¯ll be of much use to you here. Now that I don¡¯t have any equipment, I won¡¯t be able to put up any kind of a fight or help in any other way.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, Lex. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to help me out here, despite how bad the situation might seem right now,¡± the redhead said with a smile as she stood up. ¡°It¡¯s not just your alchemy and enchantment skills that make you a valuable member of our team. Those are just a bonus. You have knowledge and experience that I lack entirely, and I¡¯m sure those alone will be of great help for me here. So don¡¯t look down on yourself that much!¡±

    ¡°...You seriously never cease to surprise me,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Most of the people I¡¯ve known would have abandoned me without a second thought.¡±

    ¡°Well, lucky for you, I am not like most people you¡¯ve known!¡± Erin said with a bright, encouraging smile. ¡°Also, you should know that Ryle and Arkay are the same. And to be honest, I have this feeling that Durge wouldn¡¯t have left you behind either.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of him, do you think Ryle¡¯s going to be okay working with him?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Even if we can trust him like you say, she certainly doesn¡¯t trust him at all. I fear that those two might kill each other before anything here has even a chance to do that.¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but we can only trust those two to handle themselves. Same with Arnie,¡± the redhead said. ¡°All of us are survivors, so we should be able to handle whatever is thrown at us. What we can do is push forward and do our part.¡±

    As Erin and Lexton moved forward to take on the challenges of the game ahead of them, the redhead thought about all of her friends that were now spread out. While she believed the words she had just said, she couldn¡¯t help but worry about each member of her group. So far, the main reason they had been able to survive most of the things they had faced was due to their group sticking and fighting together. Now that they were no longer together, would they be able to handle this as well as she hoped?

    Still, all Erin could do was move forward, while placing her faith in her companions.

 63. Climb For Your Life (Part 1)

    Chapter 63

    Climb For Your Life (Part 1)

    Ryle and Durge were making their way through the game show trials ahead of them. The gate they had gone through had led them to a wide hallway that seemed to be empty. However, once you took a step in, you would learn that this was far from the truth. The hallway was covered in pressure plates that would trigger hidden doors to open on the walls, floor and ceiling. From with these hidden doors would then come out wild beasts that the Laughing Ogre had captured and stashed in these places in anticipation of these games.

    Most of the other contestants didn¡¯t stand a chance against the bloodthirsty beasts, as they were quickly torn apart by the animals that had been kept hungry specifically for this purpose. The ones who managed to make it out alive either used other contestants as bait to distract the monsters so that they could escape. There were those who were either skilled enough to avoid the beasts completely or strong enough to fight them, but they were quite few in number.

    Both Ryle and Durge were able to make their way through the beasts in their way with relative ease, as they weren¡¯t the most dangerous creatures nature could offer. Despite their capabilities of taking on the beasts, they still chose to avoid and run away most of the time. This was because both Ryle and Durge knew that getting locked into combat was only going to be a problem for them in the long run. Not only was there a chance that while they were dealing with one opponent another one could sneak up behind them, but just fighting overall would prove to be a big disadvantage in the long run. This was just the first trial ahead of them and any lost stamina was going to be an issue later on. They would need to conserve their strength for the latter, tougher challenges, if they were to have any hope of winning.

    ¡°Goddammit! These things are really pissing me off!¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she kicked at a Badlands Wolf that tried to bite down on her. ¡°Seriously, wolves again!? Is this becoming a thing with me or something!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother fighting these things!¡± Durge shouted as he kept running forward. ¡°You¡¯re only going to make things more difficult for yourself in the long run! Just focus on running forward and try to avoid them!¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You think I don¡¯t know that!?¡± the blonde yelled back as she followed after the orc. ¡°This isn¡¯t my first time getting chased, you know!¡±

    ¡°Well, excuse me then,¡± Durge said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were a pro at pissing people off, but I guess I should have suspected that!¡±

    ¡°BITE MY ASS!¡± Ryle shouted angrily in response to the insult. ¡°Besides, do you even know what¡¯s ahead of us!? You should have at least some experience with this shit!¡±

    ¡°Like I¡¯ve told you already, I do not enjoy these games like the clan does! I¡¯ve only seen some of them due to my former job, but that¡¯s about it!¡± the orc said in a frustrated tone. ¡°The only guess I can make is that we are most likely going to have to face some even more dangerous monsters ahead, since that might be the theme here. However, it¡¯s your two friends that I¡¯d be more worried about.¡±

    ¡°Erin and Lex!?¡± the blonde said out of shock. ¡°Why!? How do you know that they are in trouble!?¡±

    ¡°While a lot of the challenge in these things change to keep it more interesting for the audience, I have noticed a certain pattern that Grandall seems to follow,¡± Durge began to explain. ¡°These things always start the same way. The contestants are brought into an area with seven gates that open up for a limited time. They then start to close down and anyone left behind is killed. However, there is always one gate that stays open for longer than the others and your friends might have unfortunately gone through it.¡±

    Ryle felt her heart sink, as she could only fear what her friends were most likely facing right now. Not only that, but the fact that she wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything to help, made things worse. The blonde could only hope that whatever it was that Erin and Lexton had ahead of them was something they would be able to handle.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Erin and Lexton were going down another hallway, except they didn¡¯t have any obstacles waiting for them. It was just an empty pathway with nothing or no one in sight. This obviously confused them, as they were expecting something life-threatening to come at them, such as a wild beast or a masked murderer, yet there was nothing.

    ¡°What is up with this?¡± Erin asked, as she kept running while carrying Lexton on her back, as the kobold¡¯s leg was still injured. ¡°Knowing hiw sadistic these people are, I was expecting some crazy death traps or something. Did we get lucky and get thrown in the ¡°free pass¡± gate or something?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. These people don¡¯t seem like the type to give mercy on anyone,¡± Lexton said as he looked around, confused by this recent development. ¡°There has got to be something hidden here that we are not seeing. Be careful.¡±

    The redhead nodded in response and kept pressing forward. There was no way this was going to be so simple as to nothing actually happening. They just hadn¡¯t figured out what the danger was.

    Suddenly, there was a loud clicking noise that echoed in the hallway and a large trapdoor opened right beneath Erin and Lexton. They both fell down it while screaming as loud as they could.

    However, as the two of them were certain that death had come for them, they realized that they weren¡¯t simply falling down a pit. They were going down a long slide that seemed to go on forever.

    The fall finally ended, as Erin and Lexton landed into a large pile of cushions, that stopped them. While fighting the dizziness that they were feeling, the two of them got up from the cushions and did their best to regain their bearings. Once they had managed to do so, they were able to take in their surroundings and see where they had ended up.

    The room they were in was round in shape and the ceiling was so high that they couldn¡¯t see it. In the middle of the room was a large round hole that was so dark one couldn¡¯t see what was at the bottom of it. There were also other contestants there, nervous and scared over what they had ended up in.

    However, as far as Erin and Lexton could tell, nothing was really going on yet, so this was most likely a waiting area of sorts for whatever game that was going to begin soon.

    With nothing better to do, Erin walked up to a more secluded area with Lexton on her back and decided to see what would happen. As she did this, she tried to listen to some of the conversations to find out what was happening.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    However, not only was the redhead unable to learn any valuable information, as the other contestants seemed to be just as much in the dark as she was, but some people took notice of her and approached her.

    ¡°Hey, you there. Why are you carrying that kobold on your back?¡± one of the other contestants asked. She appeared to be a female human with a build almost as imposing as Durge. She was wearing the same outfit as the other contestants and had a long wild mane of hair that reached her lower back and scars all over her body. She was accompanied by two other people, a male dwarf and a male orc. ¡°Are you planning to use him as a shield or something? Carrying him is just going to be a waste of energy, so you should just drop him already.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not planning to use him,¡± Erin said as she glared at the woman. ¡°He¡¯s my friend and he can¡¯t walk. That¡¯s why I¡¯m helping him.¡±

    ¡°Helping him!? Here!?¡± the dwarf said with a laugh. ¡°You must be a total idiot to do something like that over here! No good comes from helping others around here!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re only saying that because you don¡¯t know any better. He¡¯s actually a very helpful guy,¡± the redhead said as she felt her anger start to rise. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s my friend. What other reason do I need to help him?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not about you having a reason to help him. It¡¯s more about you having a reason NOT to help him,¡± the orc said with a smirk. ¡°Like sis here already said, carrying him around is only a waste of energy. You should just abandon him and save your own ass. No use carrying useless weight around. Besides, what is a kobold supposed to do for you?¡±

    Erin could feel Lexton¡¯s grip on her tighten in response to the cruel insults. This only served to further anger her, but she managed to keep her calm. Starting a fight was the last thing she needed.

    Still, the redhead was not about to let such comments simply pass.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, but I can¡¯t promise that I¡¯ll take it all that seriously,¡± Erin said with a small smirk of her own. ¡°After all, judging by the stench, I doubt any of you have ever had any friends before. Especially ones worth risking your own life for.¡±

    ¡°Why you mouthy little-!¡±

    The dwarf and the orc were stopped in their tracks by the woman, who signaled for them to stay put. Unlike her companions, she didn¡¯t seem to be angered by Erin¡¯s insult at all.

    ¡°That¡¯s one tough act you¡¯re putting on. But how long will you be able to keep it up?¡± the woman asked with a chuckle. ¡°I can tell just by looking that this is your first time taking part in these games, so you obviously don¡¯t know just how dangerous these things can be. If you did, I¡¯m certain you would have already abandoned that friend on yours.¡±

    ¡°I disagree, but that doesn¡¯t matter. There¡¯s nothing that could ever make me abandon my friend,¡± Erin said as she glared at the woman. ¡°And what makes you say that about me? Do you know something that I should about these games?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know? Too bad for you, I¡¯m not one for sharing,¡± the woman said with a grin. ¡°You see, some of us have gone through these games more than once already. If you really need to make friends around here, you should aim for people like me, who can actually get you through this alive. My two associates here seem to at least understand that much, which is why we are now working together.¡±

    ¡°Not interested. I have a different way of choosing my allies,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Besides, while someone like you might have useful skills and knowledge, it would come at the cost of getting stabbed in the back.¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself. It¡¯s not like I need you,¡± the scarred woman said with a shrug before she began to walk away. ¡°Just remember that you turned down an offer from Goldiana, the most known champion of these games. Don¡¯t come crying to me later, when you¡¯re in trouble.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t respond as she only watched Goldiana leave with her two companions. She could tell just by looking that these people were guaranteed trouble, so avoiding them was the best option when it came to dealing with them.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t exactly wrong, you know?¡± Lexton said now that Goldiana and her cronies had left. ¡°I am not going to be all that useful to you here. Even if my leg wasn¡¯t injured, I¡¯m not all that strong anyways. You would be better off with leaving me behind.¡±

    ¡°Again with this bullshit from you! How many times do I need to tell you that no matter what happens, I never want to abandon you!?¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, you might not be able to help me out during these challenges, but there are a lot of things I can count on you to do things that I have no idea how to do. Believe me when I say this, I seriously need your help. That¡¯s a simple fact.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± the kobold replied with a smile on his face. He then added a ¡°thank you¡± in such a quite tone that the redhead almost didn¡¯t hear it.

    A smile crept up Erin¡¯s face, as she wordlessly acknowledged her friend¡¯s gratitude.

    Some time passed, yet nothing seemed to be happening at all. Erin was starting to worry if they had all run into a trap where there was no escape and they were all fated to die here. However, since Goldiana seemed to stay completely calm, she assumed that this was just a regular thing in these games.

    Suddenly, the sound of some large mechanism moving around began to ring throughout the room and it seemed to be coming from the hole in the middle of the room. A couple of the contestants went to peer over the edge to see what was happening, but couldn¡¯t see anything.

    The people peering into the darkness suddenly died, as a large structure shot up from the hole, decapitating those who tried to catch a glimpse of it.

    Erin and Lexton stared up in awe, as what seemed like a tower kept rising up, to the point that no one could see the top. After it finally stopped moving, the contestants noticed that there was a set of stairs carved to the side of the tower that circled around it and went up to the top.

    With the tower in its place, a voice from a speaker began to speak up.

    ¡°Alright, may I have your attention, contestants?¡± the voice coming from the speaker said. ¡°Unless you¡¯re blind, you have probably seen the tower that just rose up in the middle of the room. Your task is very simple. You have to climb up the tower and get to the top. That¡¯s it.¡±

    Upon hearing the game explained to them, several contestants began to talk among each other. They were obviously confused over the very simple task set ahead of them. They had all been expecting some sort of a monster to rise from the hole or for the whole room to get filled with poison, yet it was nothing like that at all. In all honesty, this seemed far too easy and simple to be real. There wasn¡¯t even any type of a time limit or rule about eliminating other contestants.

    Erin watched as some of the contestants walked to the stairs and began to make their way up. Since there was no need to rush, they were all walking in a calm manner in order to save stamina, as it was still a long way for them to climb up.

    ¡°What do you think, Lex?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Should we go there and get to climbing?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s stand back and wait a while,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°If we start rushing in, we might risk agitating the other contestants and get into fights with them. I¡¯d say it¡¯s best to do the best we can to save strength for now.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t there also a risk that the ones ahead of us will set up traps or something?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I¡¯d say that¡¯s highly unlikely. Not only do we all lack the materials to do so, but with the way this whole thing is set up, you won¡¯t be able to do so,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°So far, I¡¯d say the biggest threat is the psychological pressure we¡¯re in. I¡¯m sure everyone here thinks this is far too easy and is wondering what the real threat is. I¡¯m certain we are going to start seeing people start fighting each other to the death in order to be the first one to reach the goal, just to make sure they survive. We should try to avoid getting caught in those fights.¡±

    The redhead nodded at her friend¡¯s explanation. It seemed to be solid logic, as there so far didn¡¯t seem to be anything out there that really defied his theory. It was going to be for the best to stand back for now and then climb up in a calm and orderly manner in order to avoid the worst outcome.

    The contestants continued either climbing the stairs of the tower or standing back and observing, as everything proceeded in a calm manner. Suddenly, a scream broke the calm, as all contestants turned to a horrifying sight before them.

    While everyone¡¯s focus had been on the tower, secret doors had been opened, releasing what seemed to be former contestants judging by the outfits they wore. However, while these people might have looked human at first, one quickly realized that they were far from that, as their eyes glowed red and their skin had taken a dark purple color. Their bodies also had sunken features, like they hadn¡¯t eaten anything for weeks. These creatures did have an appetite, though, as was evident from the unlucky contestant that three of these things were devouring.

    Erin¡¯s eyes went wide at the horrifying sight before her. She was able to immediately recognize these creatures as ghouls, undead monstrosities that were a grade above regular zombies. While they shared a lot of similarities with their more known counterparts, ghouls had better physical capabilities, allowing them to move much faster, use a lot more strength and they even possessed many unnatural abilities that made just a single one of them a dangerous opponent. Now there was a small army of said monsters right before the contestants, who were terrified by the horrors that had just been unleashed upon them.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! I forgot to tell you all that you will need to avoid our little friends here while you make your way up the tower. Silly me!¡± the person that was talking to the contestants through the speakers said mockingly and laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t get too upset with me, okay? We need to make this at least a bit interesting, after all!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, forget everything I said earlier! Just run as fast as you can!¡± Lexton said as he stared at the ghouls in horror.

    Erin didn¡¯t need more convincing as she immediately took off running, hoping to get away from the bloodthirsty creatures.

 64. Climb For Your Life (Part 2)

    Chapter 64

    Climb For Your Life (Part 2)

    With the ghouls released, it became a race to see who got up the tower fastest. Every contestant was in a state of pure panic, as they tried to desperately get away from the flesh-eating monstrosities chasing after them. People were getting shoved out of the way, thrown into the ground and even trampled to death as it became a game of survival.

    The stairs that led up the tower were quite narrow, only wide enough to allow two people to walk side by side. Because of this, once someone who was faster reached someone slower before them, it became practically a fight to the death to see which one was allowed to continue moving up, while the other was left as food for the ghouls. Some tried to trip people or push them down just so that the ghouls would be occupied with someone else, allowing them to move safely.

    What truly made the whole thing terrifying was that the ghouls were able to climb up the tower much faster than the contestants. This was due to their better physical abilities. The ghouls were able to climb on the side of the tower as well, which allowed them to get up the tower to chase after their prey much faster.

    Much like every other contestant, Erin was also in a complete panic as she kept running up the stairs in the hopes of getting away from the monsters chasing her. She kept running past all the other contestants she could, including those that were caught by the ghouls and were now screaming for help. While it stung her heart to abandon people to their fate, she knew that she couldn¡¯t do anything to help. Stopping to help would only leave herself and Lexton open for an attack, so all she could do was keep running.

    ¡°Erin, up ahead to the right!¡± Lexton suddenly warned the redhead, breaking her out of her thoughts.

    Erin quickly noticed what the kobold was warning her about. There was a ghoul climbing up the side of the tower up ahead. The undead monster tried to grab at her legs, but she managed to jump over the attack and move onward.

    ¡°Thanks for the heads up, Lex!¡± the redhead said as she continued running. ¡°That thing might have otherwise dragged us over the edge!¡±

    ¡°Not to be a jerk, but I think it¡¯s too early to be celebrating!¡± Lexton said in response. ¡°We still have a long way ahead of us before we¡¯re even close to being safe! In fact, I think we¡¯ve got trouble up ahead!¡±

    Just as the kobold gave his warning, Erin saw none other than Goldiana up ahead with her two goons. The three were fighting against a group of ghouls that had managed to surround them. While the dwarf and the orc were struggling to push the undead monsters away, Goldiana wasn¡¯t having any issues with doing so. Instead, she was able to handle the ghouls like they were nothing, as she punched them, threw them over the edge and even tore some of them apart.

    Suddenly, the orc companion of the barbarian woman screamed in pain, as two ghouls managed to overpower him and bring him to the ground. One of them sunk its teeth into his left arm, while the other began to devour his right leg.

    ¡°HELP! GET THESE THINGS OFF ME!¡± the orc pleaded as he struggled against the monsters.

    Almost instantly, Goldiana jumped in to seemingly help her companion. She grabbed the ghoul that was biting down on the orc¡¯s arm and punched it so hard that the monster¡¯s head blew off. The barbarian woman then took the other ghoul and smashed its head into the ground, killing it.

    ¡°T-Thank you¡­ I was afraid those things were going to eat me!¡± the orc said with a smile as a couple of tears escaped his eyes.

    ¡°Oh, no need to thank me,¡± Goldiana said with a grin. ¡°After all, you¡¯re going to do me an even bigger service.¡±

    Before the orc could ask what she meant, the muscled woman picked him up and threw him down the stairs, towards where Erin and Lexton were. The redhead barely managed to duck underneath the orc flying over her, as he screamed in terror. The orc then crashed into a large group of ghouls that had gathered behind them, pushing them over the edge and falling to their deaths.

    ¡°Well damn¡­ I was hoping to hit the two of you as well,¡± Goldiana said in a somewhat disappointed tone. ¡°Oh well. Can¡¯t get everything right all the time.¡±

    ¡°What the hell was that, you heartless bastard!?¡± Erin yelled angrily. ¡°How could you do that to your own friend!?¡±

    ¡°Friend? You really think that guy was my friend?¡± the barbarian woman asked with wide eyes, before bursting into laughter. ¡°That¡¯s freaking hilarious! You actually believe crap like friendship actually exists in this place!? You¡¯re even more of an idiot than I thought!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he helping you get up this tower!? What was he to you then!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy. He was a tool,¡± Goldiana replied easily, shocking Erin. ¡°The only reason we decided to work together in the first place was so that we could both benefit from each other. However, now that he was no longer useful, I might as well do what I need to do in order to ensure my own survival. It¡¯s that simple.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re a monster,¡± the redhead said as she glared at the barbarian woman. ¡°To think that you are willing to sacrifice others, those who trust you even, just to help yourself!¡±

    ¡°A monster? How unoriginal. If you¡¯re going to insult me, try at least being a bit more creative with it,¡± Goldiana said before turning around and continuing her climb up the tower. ¡°You should take my words into consideration, though. It will give you a better chance at survival. Not that I think it will do much for someone like you.¡±

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Erin watched as Goldiana and her dwarf companion ran up the stairs, leaving her and Lexton alone. The redhead soon ran after them, hoping that she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with any further antics from the barbarian woman.

    ¡°Try not to think too much about what she said, Erin,¡± Lexton said while being carried by the redhead. ¡°Just because she thinks the correct way to survive here is by sacrificing others, doesn¡¯t mean you have to. Everything has their good sides and bad sides, and I¡¯m sure she will have to come face to face with the consequences of her actions at some point.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lex. Although, it is a bit surprising hearing that from you of all people,¡± Erin said with a small smirk. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one hoping to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the rest of us? What happened that suddenly made you change your tone in such a way?¡±

    ¡°Oh, just shut it!¡± the kobold said with an embarrassed blush on his face. ¡°I¡¯m just saying that she will get paid back for the things she has done one way or another! I still think it would have been best for you to leave me behind!¡±

    ¡°Sure. If you say so,¡± the redhead said with a giggle, causing Lexton to grumble unhappily.

    Just as the two of them had finished their conversation, another ghoul managed to climb up to them and jumped towards them. This time, both Erin and Lexton were taken by surprise, leaving them defenseless as the monster attacked them. The ghoul grabbed hold of Lexton, prying him off Erin and taking him away from the redhead. The kobold tried to struggle, but it was futile. All he could do was stare into the monster¡¯s red eyes, as it moved in closer to the kill.

    ¡°GET OFF HIM!¡± Erin yelled, as she tackled the ghoul, freeing Lexton in the process. She wrestled with the monster for a moment, but was ultimately pinned on the ground by the undead creature. Now she was the one in danger.

    The ghoul was just about to bite down on the redhead¡¯s neck, but something else came between the creature¡¯s jaws and its prey. Erin¡¯s eye went wide with shock, as she saw the ghoul bite down on Lexton¡¯s arm, as the kobold screamed in agony.

    Feeling rage build up inside her over what had happened to her friend, Erin tackled the monster and pinned it to the ground. This time, she made sure not to give it any chance to fight back, as she grabbed its head with both of her hands and smashed it into the ground several times, killing the creature.

    With the ghoul taken care of, Erin quickly rushed over to Lexton, hoping that he was alright. However, she was horrified to see him laying on the ground, holding his bleeding arm in pain as his body seemed to shiver uncontrollably.

    ¡°Lex! You okay!?¡± the redhead asked in a worried tone, looking over the kobold. ¡°Oh my God¡­ Your arm¡¯s bleeding badly! We need to stop it quick!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother¡­ The bleeding isn¡¯t the real issue,¡± Lexton said weakly. ¡°Ghouls have venom in their teeth¡­ Unless I get the antidote, I¡¯m just as good as dead¡­¡±

    ¡°T-There has got to be a way! Some way we can fix you up!¡± Erin said as she was starting to panic. ¡°I know! The people behind these games! They must have it stashed somewhere! If we make it to the top, maybe we can-!¡±

    ¡°Even if they do have it, do you really think these people would ever give it to me?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Please stop it¡­ You know better than that¡­¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But I can¡¯t just-!¡± the redhead tried to argue.

    ¡°Yes, you can¡­ And you must,¡± Lexton said as he offered his companion a weak and sad smile. ¡°Come on¡­ We both know I¡¯m as good as dead here¡­ Don¡¯t let me drag you down with me¡­¡±

    Erin looked up from the kobold and saw that other ghouls had now reached them. She knew that carrying Lexton on her back while trying to fight off these monsters was going to be practically suicidal.

    The redhead steeled her resolve and made her choice

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, further up the tower, Goldiana¡¯s dwarf companion was laying on the ground, bleeding to death. One of the ghouls had managed to sneak up behind him and had managed to bite down on his neck. Despite being able to use the last of his strength to kill the undead creature, the wound was too severe and the dwarf had fallen to the ground.

    As he laid there, he managed to get one last look at Goldiana to see that she was climbing up the tower, not even giving a second of attention to her fallen companion. The dwarf couldn¡¯t help but curse his misfortune. Despite knowing just what type of a person the barbarian woman was, he had hoped that she would have at least given some form of acknowledgment towards him in his final moments at the very least. Alas, no such thing was given to him at all.

    The dwarf was sure that he and Goldiana were the last ones remaining in the game, as most of the noise coming from the other participants had already ended. Because of this he was surprised to hear the sound of regular footsteps approach him. He was even more surprised to find out that the person in question was none other than Erin, the person they had mocked earlier.

    The redhead looked like she had been through hell, as her clothes were torn and her body was covered in cuts and bruises from the attacks of the ghouls. She had luckily avoided getting bitten, thus she hadn¡¯t been affected the by the venom the ghouls had.

    However, despite all the punishment and abuse she had gone through, Erin was still carrying Lexton on her back. Besides the bite mark on the kobold¡¯s arm, he hadn¡¯t suffered any other injuries, as the redhead had done everything she could to protect him. She had even torn off one of her sleeves in order to stop the bleeding of his arm.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Aren¡¯t you Goldiana¡¯s buddy?¡± Erin asked as she stared down at the dying dwarf on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m guessing she abandoned you as well then?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right about that¡­ She left my ass the second I was no longer useful for her,¡± the dwarf answered. ¡°You¡¯re different¡­ You¡¯re still carrying that kobold¡­ Even though he¡¯s only a burden¡­¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not a burden. In fact, he has helped me before greatly,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Besides, even if he wasn¡¯t useful, I would still help him. That¡¯s what friends do for each other.¡±

    ¡°Friends, huh? Sounds nice¡­¡± the dwarf said, as his life was starting to fade away. ¡°Wish I had¡­ friends like that¡­ when I¡­ came here¡­¡±

    Erin watched as the dwarf closed his eyes, never to open them again. For a moment, she wondered what he meant by his last words. Had he been betrayed by people he had trusted? Was that how he ended up here in this mess? Maybe if things had turned out at least a bit differently, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have been like Goldiana?

    This line of thought made the redhead reflect back on her own life. What if she had chosen to act differently back then? What if she had decided not to betray Devin and the others? Could this all have been avoided by that one single decision? Would Ryle, Arkay, Lexton and Durge have ended up living better lives as a result as well?

    However, Erin didn¡¯t spend much time on such thoughts. What was done was done and couldn¡¯t be changed. What she needed to focus on right now was saving Lexton. So with determination coursing through her body, she walked past the dead dwarf and headed up the tower. She would make sure that her friend would make it out of this alive.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the redhead to reach the top of the tower from that point. She soon made it there, a circular open area with a single ladder lowered down from the ceiling at the middle. Goldiana was also there, looking at the new arrivals with a cocky smirk on her face. Erin noticed that unlike herself, the barbarian woman looked like she was in almost perfect condition. There were a few scratches and bruises, but for the most part she was perfectly fine. In fact, she wasn¡¯t even breathing heavily.

    Realizing just how good Goldiana¡¯s condition was set off alarm bells in Erin¡¯s mind. If the barbarian woman had already reached the top, why was she still here? Shouldn¡¯t she have already gone on to clear the challenge? The redhead couldn¡¯t help but fear that Goldiana was waiting for her to arrive. If that was the case, then why did she do so?

    Whatever the reason, the redhead hoped that it wouldn¡¯t come down to a fight. There was no chance she could beat her in her current condition.

    ¡°Well, color me surprised,¡± Goldiana said with a small grin. ¡°You actually made it out alive! Not only that, but you even managed to carry that useless thing with you all the way here. Looks like it wasn¡¯t easy on you, though. Was it worth it?¡±

    ¡°More than you could ever imagine,¡± Erin replied while glaring at the barbarian woman. ¡°Might I ask why you¡¯re still here? Somehow I doubt you were waiting for your friends to come here, considering how you abandoned them.¡±

    ¡°You got that right about me,¡± Goldiana said with a chuckle. ¡°This might surprise you, but I was actually waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Why would you wait for me? What the hell do you have to do with me?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunately something that needs to be left for a later time. We don¡¯t exactly have the luxury to stay here and talk,¡± the barbarian woman answered. ¡°You see, that exit won¡¯t stay open forever. Even the Laughing Ogre people know better than to let monsters like ghouls roam free, so that hatch will be closing pretty soon. I¡¯m going to climb through it while I have the time and I suggest you do the same. We¡¯ll have plenty more chances to get to know each other better.¡±

    Erin watched as Goldiana walked up to the ladder and climbed it up, disappearing through the exit in the ceiling. With nothing else to do, the redhead simply followed after her. She could already hear some of the ghouls get closer to the top, attracted by the scent of living flesh. There was no time to waste and no use in doing so.

    As she climbed up the ladder, Erin¡¯s only thought was about seeing her friends safe. Nothing else mattered to her.

 65. A Moment To Rest, A Moment To Plan

    Chapter 65

    A Moment To Rest, A Moment To Plan

    Climbing up the ladder, Erin came to a large open area with six doors. Looking around, she saw that there were other contestants surrounding her. All of them had some form of injuries on them, most likely due to whatever hellish obstacles they had to overcome in order to get there. Some, like Goldiana, only had a few scratches, while others were seriously injured and barely able to keep going.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to realize that this was the place where all the contestants that had survived their trials had come to. She immediately began to look around in the hopes of finding Ryle and Durge, who she had been separated from. When she wasn¡¯t able to find them in the crowd, panic and worry began to take over.

    ¡°Erin! Over here!¡± came the call from a familiar voice, causing the redhead to turn around and feel her body wash over with relief, as she saw Ryle and Durge hurrying towards her. ¡°I was starting to think you had kicked the bucket or something! What the hell took you so long!?¡±

    ¡°It got close to that, I can say that much,¡± Erin said with a small chuckle, happy to see her friend safe and sound. ¡°As you can see, I didn¡¯t exactly have an easy time.¡±

    ¡°Sheesh! No kidding! You look like you went through hell itself twice!¡± the blonde said, looking over the redhead¡¯s injuries. ¡°What the hell did they send after you to leave you in such a mess!?¡±

    ¡°Ghouls. A lot of them,¡± Erin replied. ¡°What about you guys? You don¡¯t seem to be too badly injured at least.¡±

    ¡°It was basically a simple obstacle course that had a bunch of wild animals on it,¡± Durge replied with a shrug. ¡°As long as you didn¡¯t panic and knew what you were doing, you could avoid most of them.¡±

    ¡°Avoid, my ass! One of those things almost bit a chunk out of that certain part of my body!¡± Ryle yelled angrily at the orc. ¡°It¡¯s honestly a miracle even one of us got out of there in one piece!¡±

    ¡°I did say ¡°as long as you knew what you were doing,¡± didn¡¯t I?¡± Durge pointed out. ¡°YOU obviously didn¡¯t know, which is why I almost lost my arm saving your ass. And I literally mean your ass in this case.¡±

    ¡°Bite me, asshole!¡± the blonde yelled as she flipped off the orc, who just rolled his eyes in response.

    ¡°Durge, thank you for looking after Ryle,¡± Erin suddenly said with a bow, surprising both Durge and Ryle. ¡°I know that she must have been difficult to deal with, which is something I know from experience, yet you risked your own safety for her sake. I will do my best to repay you for that.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ It¡¯s quite alright. No need for that,¡± Durge said, somewhat flustered by the humble act made by the redhead. ¡°The way I see it, I was just doing my part. After all, we did join forces in order to get through this, right? Would be kind of shitty of me to just abandon an ally, even if only a temporary one.¡±

    ¡°Still, you did help her out, which in turn helped me,¡± Erin said. ¡°I know when I should be grateful and this is one of those moments. So once again, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Geeze¡­ You¡¯re really making this awkward for me,¡± the orc said as he scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed by the whole situation he was in. ¡°If you really feel that strongly about this, I guess you could buy me a drink once we get out of here¡­¡±

    ¡°Consider it done,¡± the redhead said with a smile.

    ¡°...Anyways, grossly sweet friendship between us aside, what¡¯s up with Lex?¡± Ryle asked, having realized that the kobold had remained silent through their whole conversation. ¡°He hasn¡¯t made any witty remarks at all. He seems almost dead or something.¡±

    Upon hearing Lexton¡¯s name get brought up by the blonde, Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide, as she remembered the one thing she should have been worrying about. She immediately started to look around for someone who wasn¡¯t a contestant but a staff member of some kind. The redhead knew that her only hope of saving her friend¡¯s life was if the people behind these sick games had an antidote for the ghoul venom currently coursing through Lexton¡¯s body. If she could only get them to give her that, the kobol¡¯s life could be saved.

    Erin noticed that there was a balcony overlooking the area the contestants were at. There were members of the Laughing Ogre standing there, keeping their eyes on the people who had survived so far, ready to pull out their guns and shoot any troublemakers. The redhead knew it was going to be risky, but if she was going to save Lexton, she would have to go to these people.

    ¡°Hey! Please help me!¡± Erin yelled at the people on the balcony, catching their attention. ¡°My friend was injured during the game and got bit by a ghoul! He needs help!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, we¡¯ll help ya!¡± one of the armed thugs said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Oh, thank God! You have the-!¡±

    ¡°Just put him on the ground and step back a bit!¡± the guard said as he readied his rifle. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to pump him so full of bullets that he won¡¯t have any chance to get back up as a ghoul!¡±

    Erin could feel her face turn pale, as the thugs on the balcony began to practically roar with laughter. Her only chance at saving Lexton¡¯s life seemed to be slipping away from her hands.

    ¡°B-B-But he survived the game! Doesn¡¯t that mean he gets to continue!?¡± the redhead desperately tried to argue. ¡°Just give him the antidote and he can keep going! It¡¯s only fair that he is allowed that much!¡±

    ¡°Idiot! Do you think we give a shit about what¡¯s fair!?¡± one of the guard¡¯s asked mockingly as he kept laughing. ¡°The only things we care about here is that we get paid and that we get to enjoy a good show while doing our job! We couldn¡¯t care less about some worthless kobold that¡¯s about to drop dead!¡±

    ¡°You bastards sure like to talk a big game standing there with your guns, but what will you do when your boss hears about this!?¡± Ryle yelled, having followed after Erin and listened to the current situation. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s gonna be happy once he hears you idiots let one of the contestants just die like that!? I¡¯m sure he will be freaking pleased to hear you screwed up his show!¡±

    ¡°Do you really think this is the first time some loser bastard has come to us begging for a cure!?¡± another guard asked, laughing even harder than before. ¡°The way we see it, if you¡¯re too shit to get through the game without getting injured like that, you can only blame yourself for sucking so hard! We could let a dozen of you die here and it wouldn¡¯t matter one bit!¡±

    Erin and Ryle were about to keep arguing, but Durge came in and gently pushed them to the side. He looked up to the balcony in order to speak with the guards.

    ¡°Listen here, you guys. I get that the kobold over there doesn¡¯t seem much in your eyes, but is it really okay to just dump him like this?¡± the orc asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure the people watching this crap would greatly enjoy watching him struggle more in these games of yours. So instead of doing it for him, why not do it for the ratings? I¡¯m sure your boss wouldn¡¯t mind that.¡±

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    Ryle, angered by the fact that Durge talked about Lexton like he was just some object, was about to lash out at him. She was stopped by Erin, who put a hand on her shoulder to keep her in check.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, but we have to focus on what¡¯s actually important. And that¡¯s saving Lex,¡± the redhead said quietly so that only the blonde could hear. ¡°Durge is trying to get the antidote we need by persuading those guys using logic that should work on them. Let¡¯s swallow our pride for now and hope that it works, okay?¡±

    Despite not liking it, Ryle knew that Erin was right and that getting worked up would only serve to make things worse. This was something they couldn¡¯t afford, as Lexton¡¯s life was on the line, so the blonde wisely decided to stand back and let Durge do his thing.

    Unfortunately, the orc¡¯s words weren¡¯t getting through to the guards.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t big man Durge himself. How the tables have turned,¡± one of the guards said as he grinned at the orc¡¯s predicament. ¡°You know, we always hated you. You were always acting like you were so much better than the rest of us. Now look at you. The mighty warrior at the mercy of some lowly thugs. Life has a funny sense of humor, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Look, you can hate me all you want. I don¡¯t give a crap about that. Just get the antidote for the ghoul¡¯s venom to the kobold over there,¡± Durge said as he tried his best to remain calm. ¡°I can guarantee your boss will be pleased with your actions, so-¡±

    ¡°SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU ARROGANT PRICK!¡± the guard yelled in a sudden burst of anger. ¡°You¡¯ve got some balls coming up to us and making any demands! We should just shoot you right here, except that would be too kind for you! Do you have any idea how many of our buddies got killed by your tribe!? The fact that you¡¯re not bowing down and begging us not to kill you is already arrogant enough, so don¡¯t push your luck!¡±

    ¡°If you want to talk about casualties of the war, let me remind you that my tribe was nearly wiped out by your people. There¡¯s blood on the hands of both sides, so I don¡¯t see how you get to act like you¡¯re victims,¡± the orc said in tone that barely managed to contain his anger. ¡°Besides, that has nothing to do with this. I¡¯m trying to suggest something that will benefit both sides-¡±

    ¡°Screw your benefits! We are done listening to your crap, so get out of our faces, before we decide to-!¡±

    Something was suddenly thrown from the balcony towards Durge, who caught it easily with his hand. He looked at what it was and saw that it was a small vial with a green liquid in it. He knew right away that it was the antidote used to counter the venom from a ghoul. The orc looked up to see who it was that had given the vial to him and was surprised by who he saw. It was Driz, the dark elf right hand man of Grandall. The dark elf was standing there, looking over Durge and his group with his personal guards.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the antidote you asked for,¡± Driz said. ¡°Take it and use it on that kobold you want to save so badly.¡±

    ¡°S-Sir! Why are you helping them!?¡± one of the guards asked, shocked that the second in command of their gang was helping a traitor that was hated by every member of the group. ¡°It¡¯s only for the best if that scum dies! We have no obligation to-!¡±

    ¡°Gentlemen, there seems to be a noisy creature that has managed to make its way here,¡± the dark elf said without even looking at the guard. ¡°Could one of you please handle it?¡±

    At once, one of the people Driz had brought with him pulled out his gun and shot the guard that had been complaining in one quick and fluid motion. The guard didn¡¯t have any time to react as the bullet pierced through his forehead. He then fell to the ground lifeless, terrifying his colleagues that were still trying to process what was going on.

    ¡°Now, is there anybody else who would like to voice their complaints and question my actions?¡± Driz asked without even looking at the guards surrounding him. ¡°I assure you that I will deal with any issues you may have swiftly, so they can be handled right away.¡±

    The remaining guards wisely kept their mouths shut, knowing better than to further anger the dark elf.

    ¡°Glad to see there are no further issues,¡± Driz stated upon hearing no other complaints.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any complaints, but I would like to ask something,¡± Durge called out to the dark elf while he handed the antidote to Erin. ¡°Can I ask you why you¡¯re doing this? Unless the order came from Grandall himself, I can¡¯t see why you would bother helping anyone here. So why do it now?¡±

    ¡°You leave worrying about Grandall to me. What I am doing is purely for beneficial reasons alone,¡± Driz said. ¡°There are some big plans going on. Very big plans that YOU are a part of, along with those new friends of yours. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t allow any of you to die just yet. Not until you¡¯ve fulfilled your use to me.¡±

    The orc, knowing better than to possibly make his situation worse than it already was, decided to simply accept the explanation he had been given and move along. He had his suspicions as to why Driz was suddenly helping him out, but dared not to voice out such thoughts. It wouldn¡¯t do him any good.

    However, if his suspicions were correct, something interesting would be happening very soon. For now, he needed to focus on surviving and seeing what the future would bring forth.

    While Durge had been focused on Driz, Erin and Ryle were focused on giving Lexton the antidote to the ghoul venom in his body. Almost as soon as they got their hands on the vial, they had laid the kobold on the ground and proceeded to force the liquid into his mouth and down his throat. They made sure that he drank the whole thing to the last drop, so as to make sure he didn¡¯t drink too little of it.

    At first, there didn¡¯t seem to be any change in Lexton, causing the others to fear that they had been too late in giving him the cure. Just when they were about to lose hope, the kobold started to show signs of waking up. He coughed a bit before his eyes slowly opened.

    ¡°Lex! You¡¯re awake!¡± Erin exclaimed happily. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Like crap¡­ I think I¡¯m going to vomit,¡± the kobold said as he sat up slowly. ¡°Honestly, what the hell was I thinking? Remind me never to do anything like that again.¡±

    ¡°Do what again?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°What is he talking about?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Nothing. It¡¯s nothing important,¡± Lexton quickly said, hoping to avoid the subject. ¡°Anyways, do you guys know what-¡±

    ¡°He actually got bit by a ghoul while protecting me,¡± Erin said with a smile, causing the kobold to glare at her with an embarrassed blush on his face, while Ryle stared at him in surprise. ¡°The ghoul was about to bite down on me, but he put himself in front of me. That¡¯s how he ended up with the ghoul venom in him.¡±

    ¡°Dammit, Erin! No one else needed to know that!¡± Lexton said angrily.

    ¡°Awww¡­ Is our little asshole of a con artist actually a sweet guy on the inside? That¡¯s adorable,¡± Ryle said in a teasing tone. ¡°You know, I could almost kiss you. Too bad you¡¯re nowhere near my type.¡±

    ¡°Believe me, that feeling is mutual. Never even joke about such a thing again,¡± the kobold said.

    While Erin and Ryle were laughing at Lexton, Durge couldn¡¯t help but smile a bit at their antics. He could tell by the way they acted that these were good people, unlike the types he usually interacted with. In a way, he was glad that these were the ones he was teamed up with in these games, but also saddened by it. People like them shouldn¡¯t be taking part in the twisted entertainment of people like the Laughing Ogre. All he could do was hope that as many as possible of them would survive through these games.

    Meanwhile, Grandall was sitting with his daughter, observing the games through multiple large screens. They had been able to witness Driz giving the antidote to Erin¡¯s group as well, which had left them quite upset.

    ¡°The hell is Driz doing out there?¡± Grandall asked, as he watched said dark elf walk away after giving the antidote. ¡°He could have just let the damn kobold die. It wouldn¡¯t have been a loss of any kind to us at all. Now we just wasted an antidote.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s one of his weird financial schemes or something?¡± Grazia suggested as she pulled on the leash that was attached to the collar wrapped around Arkay¡¯s neck, forcing him on his knees. ¡°You know how he is. Always looking at whatever data he has collected from somewhere and making decisions based on it, hoping to maximize our profits. My only guess is that this is one such plan.¡±

    ¡°Most likely¡­ But I can¡¯t see how this is going to make us any more revenue,¡± the gang leader said. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s a freaking kobold¡­ What is it supposed to do for us?¡±

    ¡°Well, he did seem to be interested in Durge¡¯s suggestion of making use of the kobold¡¯s skills. Maybe that¡¯s what he¡¯s after?¡± the gang leader¡¯s daughter suggested, as she kept pulling at the leash to force her new ¡°pet¡± to go to his new master. ¡°Come on! When your owner wants you to go to their side, you¡¯re supposed to simply do so! Why is that so hard!?¡±

    ¡°...Sweetie, do you have to train your new pet while we are watching the games?¡± Grandall asked with a sigh. ¡°Can¡¯t you do that some other time?¡±

    ¡°Daddy, you know it¡¯s best to start as early as possible and keep at it, until you get results. You know as well as I do that it won¡¯t be too long until he¡¯s a good boy that listens to my commands properly. It just takes some time,¡± Grazia said before a smirk appeared on her face. ¡°Besides, I have all the necessary tools to make it happen.¡±

    The gang leader¡¯s daughter pulled a small remote from her pocket that had a single button on it. Upon pressing it, the collar around Arkay¡¯s neck sent an electric shock to him, causing him to fall to to the floor.

    However, despite the terrible pain he was in, the cat boy didn¡¯t scream. No matter what Grazia did to him, he refused to give her that satisfaction, which served to further frustrate her.

    ¡°Dammit, stop being so stubborn already!¡± the sadistic lady yelled angrily. ¡°Just give me what I want and you don¡¯t have to suffer! Why is that so hard to understand!?¡±

    ¡°Honey, can you take your new pet to your room and leave him there?¡± Grandall asked with a frustrated sigh. ¡°I get that you want to train him and all, but you doing it here is really distracting. I¡¯d like to observe the games in peace, okay?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, daddy,¡± Grazia said in a clearly unhappy tone. Grabbing the leash, she pulled on it to signal for Arkay to follow her, as she led him to her room.

    In the gang leader¡¯s daughter¡¯s room, there was a small dog¡¯s bed on one of the corners with a metal hook that the leash could be attached to, thus preventing Arkay from escaping. Grazia was planning to leave the cat boy there on his own, while she would proceed to watch the games with her father.

    ¡°Alright then! Be a good pet now and wait here until I return. I don¡¯t want to hear or see anything that would even hint at you acting up, got it?¡± Grazia said as she was about to leave her room. Before she walked out, a sadistic smirk appeared on her face. ¡°Just to make it clear¡­¡±

    The sadistic lady pulled out the remote she had used earlier and pressed on its button, causing another shock to go through Arkay¡¯s body. The cat boy fell on his bed in pain, but remained silent, not even letting out a whimper. With her order now clearly sent, Grazia left, locking the door behind her.

    Once the door closed, Arkay listened carefully to the sounds of her footsteps. Once she was gone, he sat up and put his hands on the collar around his neck.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that if you don¡¯t treat your pets well, they will simply leave you,¡± the cat boy said as he began to channel magic from his hands into the collar. Thanks to his technomancer abilities, he was able to get the collar to open up and fall to the floor harmlessly. ¡°And I think it¡¯s time for this cat to get back to his original owners.¡±

 66. Doubts

    Chapter 66

    Doubts

    Back with Erin¡¯s group, things were looking up, as Lexton was no longer in danger However, he was still weakened from the whole ordeal and couldn¡¯t move properly. It was obvious that if he was left on his own, he wouldn¡¯t make it through whatever the next challenge was going to be. Even if the kobold put up a strong front, the others knew that he was simply bluffing.

    ¡°Guys, I¡¯m telling you, you don¡¯t need to worry about me!¡± Lexton said with a small smile, hoping to convince the others of his condition. ¡°Now that the antidote has taken effect, I am in no danger of losing my life. You can trust me to handle myself!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m calling bullshit on that. No way are you in any good shape at all!¡± Ryle said, calling out the kobold¡¯s bluff. ¡°Honestly, with the way you look, I¡¯m not entirely sure if you haven¡¯t turned into a ghoul yourself!¡±

    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t really matter even if I¡¯m not in good shape, because I have to keep going, don¡¯t I!?¡± Lexton argued. ¡°It¡¯s not like I can just ask those Laughing Ogre goons to let me leave because I¡¯m not feeling too good. Like it or not, I have to keep going with this damn game of theirs!¡±

    ¡°We realize that much. What we are worried about is the idea of you going on your own,¡± Erin said. ¡°If you try to go at it by yourself, your chances of surviving are very low. That¡¯s why I will continue to carry you, like-¡±

    ¡°LIKE HELL YOU WILL!¡± the kobold yelled at the redhead. ¡°I appreciate the thought, but have you taken a good look at yourself!? You¡¯re honestly in a worse shape than I am! No way am I going to put you through that again! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°But Lex, we can¡¯t just-¡±

    ¡°Lex is right, Erin. You¡¯re already in a pretty bad shape, so putting him on you isn¡¯t exactly the best idea,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Instead, as much as I don¡¯t like the idea, I¡¯ll carry his scaly ass for now.¡±

    ¡°Not a good idea, Ryle,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only do I doubt I¡¯d be able to survive the way you handle me, having you carry me is a bad idea in these circumstances. Both you and Erin rely on your speed and quick movements in combat, and having me hang on your back will slow you down considerably. You would end up just like Erin, so I refuse to take part in such a plan.¡±

    ¡°What the hell do you mean you doubt you¡¯d survive my handling!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Look whatever the case is, your scaly ass isn¡¯t in good enough shape to move on its own, so somebody needs to-!¡±

    Just then, without saying a word, Durge walked up to Lexton and picked him up with one hand and placed him on his shoulder.

    ¡°There. Is that better?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°I¡­ guess this could work,¡± the kobold said a bit awkwardly. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t be hindered by me hanging onto you, though?¡±

    ¡°No worries. You weigh practically nothing,¡± Durge said. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t cover my eyes or grab my ears, this should go well.¡±

    ¡°Hey, now wait a minute! We never agreed to this!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can trust you to handle Lex! Put him down right now!¡±

    ¡°Seriously, what is your problem?¡± the orc asked with a sigh. ¡°Look, he couldn¡¯t move properly on his own and we needed someone to carry him. The two of you weren¡¯t exactly the best choices, so I took up the job. Problem solved. What¡¯s the issue?¡±

    The blonde was about to yell at Durge to tell him just what her problem was, but she was stopped by Erin, who stepped in.

    ¡°Thank you for your help, Durge. I¡¯ll trust you to keep Lex safe,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure nothing bad happens to him,¡± the orc replied. ¡°You have my word.¡±

    Erin smiled at Durge¡¯s response, before being suddenly pulled by the back of her shirt. Ryle dragged her a small distance away from the others in order to talk to the redhead in private.

    ¡°Erin, what the hell!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°How the hell can you just trust that guy so easily!? There is absolutely no reason for us to do so in the slightest! What are you thinking!?¡±

    ¡°Look, do we have a better option?¡± the redhead asked in a frustrated tone. ¡°One of us needs to help out Lex, but neither one of us can do it. With Durge¡¯s help, the problem is solved and we can keep moving forward. The way I see it, we found a solution to our problem.¡±

    ¡°The problem is that I¡¯m not sure the problem has been solved! I actually think that it was just made worse!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°How the hell can we trust that guy to look after Lex!? For all we know, he might drop him the first moment he can! We can¡¯t just blindly trust him and act like this is all just freaking perfect!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, enough of this. I get that you have history with Durge and that makes you distrust him. You have made that very clear to me,¡± Erin said. ¡°However, you seem to forget that people can change, and I don¡¯t see Durge as this horrible monster that you claim he is. Besides, unlike you, I think we can trust him.¡±

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    ¡°Oh really!?¡± the blonde said in a tone that didn¡¯t hide her disbelief at all. ¡°By all means, thrill me and give me just one reason as to how you came to that conclusion! I¡¯d really like to freaking hear it!¡±

    ¡°I will happily give you several,¡± the redhead said. ¡°First, he was willing to help Lex, when he tried to bargain for our release when we got captured.¡±

    ¡°Come on, that¡¯s not a good reason at all and you know it!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Even if it was about us getting released, he would have still kept Lex as their gang¡¯s prisoner! I bet he was just trying to better his status or something!¡±

    ¡°By putting himself at risk of angering a boss that openly dislikes him? Doesn¡¯t seem very likely to me,¡± Erin said in return. ¡°Second, he tried to save Arnie, remember? Durge was more than willing to risk his life to save him.¡±

    ¡°Well, that might have been a legitimately nice thing of him to do, but how do we know that he didn¡¯t have an ulterior motive even then!?¡± the blonde kept arguing. ¡°I mean, he could be like that pervert gangster girl, who made poor Arnie into her personal pet! Did you ever think about the possibility that Durge is just like her!?¡±

    ¡°I sincerely doubt that Durge is anything like her,¡± the redhead said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Or you for that matter¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that last part!?¡± Ryle asked angrily.

    ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s just move on,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Besides all the examples I¡¯ve given you, there are still two that happened during these games. First, he helped Lexton by trying to get the antidote for the ghoul venom. You saw it for yourself that he tried his best to help him.¡±

    ¡°Again, he could have an ulterior motive!¡± the blonde kept arguing. ¡°Seriously, I cannot believe that you¡¯re unable to see that! Durge could be hoping to use Lex as bait or a shield to ensure his own survival! Hell, he might even use him as a weapon of some kind! Why else would he volunteer to carry him around!?¡±

    ¡°Okay! Since YOU are so stubborn and unwilling to accept any of the good things he has done for others as proof, maybe you¡¯ll finally listen when it¡¯s about YOU specifically!¡± the redhead yelled, having grown tired of her friend¡¯s stubborn attitude. ¡°Remember that HE saved YOU at the start of this whole thing!¡±

    ¡°W-What!?¡± Ryle asked, taken aback by the point now presented to her. ¡°When did that happen!?¡±

    ¡°For the love of-! When this whole game thing started, we were at that one arena with the different doors, remember!?¡± Erin reminded her friend. ¡°Back then, Durge had to pull you through the one you were at, otherwise you would have been left behind! You would have been forced to go through the same thing Lexton and I went through at best! At worst, you might not have made it to the door and the guards patrolling the walls would have killed you! So how about you get real, stop being childish and start trusting him!? Especially when he has been nothing but a truly great ally so far!¡±

    With their argument seemingly over, the redhead turned around and was about to walk back to the other members of their group. However, Ryle¡¯s voice suddenly caused her to stop in her tracks.

    ¡°...If you had seen Durge mercilessly massacre innocent people, including kids, just because they happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, would you still have such a positive look on the guy?¡± the blonde asked in a solemn tone that Erin would have never expected out of her. ¡°I have. And that is why I refuse to blindly trust him.¡±

    Erin turned around to see if there was any sign on Ryle¡¯s face that she was lying even a bit. She was shocked to find no such signs on the blonde¡¯s expression. In fact, if anything, she was being completely serious.

    ¡°You have no idea of what kind of horrors he¡¯s capable of. So don¡¯t start judging me like you know everything,¡± Ryle said as she walked past Erin. ¡°Just remember that the moment he turns on us, the blood will partially be on your hands as well. So think carefully before you take that risk.¡±

    The redhead wanted to argue and attempt to deny the blonde¡¯s claims, but found herself unable to utter a single word. It was true that she didn¡¯t know Durge at all, she just felt like she knew him in a way. The way the orc had been acting so far had given her an impression of someone with a good nature and a trustworthy personality. That¡¯s why she had been able to trust him with taking care of Lexton.

    However, what if she was wrong after all? While she hadn¡¯t given it much thought at first, it was still possible that Durge had just been putting on a show the whole time. Even if he had been acting like the nicest guy in the world so far, it wouldn¡¯t be that far from the realm of possibility that he was actually a homicidal maniac on the inside. Back in her world, Erin had heard stories about the most vile serial killers, who were able to appear as the nicest people on the outside, only to be monsters in disguise. There was no telling if that¡¯s what Durge actually was.

    With somewhat shaky steps, Erin walked back to her group. She could feel the stares she got from the others. The glare from Ryle, the somewhat concerned look from Lexton and the completely confused stare from Durge. The redhead could only wonder what they were all thinking.

    ¡°Erin, are you alright?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost or something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m okay,¡± the redhead quickly lied. ¡°Just got some stuff on my mind. That¡¯s all.¡±

    The kobold decided to let it go, as he didn¡¯t want to possibly make things worse by being too pushy. While it might have looked like the issue had been averted for now, Erin couldn¡¯t help but still have her doubts, as she kept glancing towards Durge, wondering who he really was in the end.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Durge suddenly asked, surprising the redhead.

    ¡°W-What? No!¡± Erin quickly said. ¡°What makes you ask something like that?¡±

    ¡°Because you keep looking at my direction in a way one would stare at a dragon that hasn¡¯t noticed them yet,¡± the orc explained before turning his gaze towards the redhead. ¡°Now, I might not be sharpest tool around, but I can easily tell when someone has an issue with me. So would you mind telling me what it is, so we can go about solving it?¡±

    Seeing as how she was caught, Erin¡¯s mind started to work overtime in finding the correct way to approach the issue at hand. On one side, she could try to pass the thing as something that didn¡¯t matter so much and simply let it slide. This would ensure that Durge would still be on their side as far as she knew, but it would also put Lexton into possible danger. On the other hand, she could tell the truth or some variation of it and request that the kobold was given back to either her or Ryle, thus ensuring his safety. However, this could also break the temporary alliance they had with Durge and even turn him against them, which was a prospect the redhead didn¡¯t like at all.

    In the end, Erin had to face the facts and decide based on what was truly important to her.

    ¡°Durge¡­ I would like you to-¡±

    Just as the redhead was about to ask the orc to hand her friend back to her, a siren suddenly blared, signaling the continuation of the games.

    ¡°Whatever it was that you needed from me, it¡¯s going to have to wait,¡± Durge said. ¡°Looks like we just ran out of free time.¡±

    Erin could only give a weak nod in response. Her only opportunity to take back the trust she had placed on the orc had just slipped away from her. The redhead could only hope that she was worried over nothing and that Lexton would be okay with Durge.

    ¡°Attention to all contestants!¡± a voice spoke from the speakers. ¡°We had some trouble setting up the next game, but the preparations for it have now been completed! So get off your asses and start moving! It¡¯s time to continue!¡±

    Suddenly, the sound of machinery starting up and moving could be heard from one of the walls of the room. The contestants close to area immediately moved away, afraid that whatever was getting set up there might kill them.

    Stairs began to rise up from the floor, as a large door opened one the upper part of the wall where the new stairs led. It didn¡¯t take much for everyone in the room to figure out that this was the place they were expected to go for the next game.

    ¡°Well, what are you all waiting for!?¡± the voice from the speakers said to the contestants. ¡°Get your asses moving, before our people come in and blast your sorry asses away!¡±

    Right away, all the contestants began to run to the stairs. It didn¡¯t take long, until they had all reached the top and went through the open door. Once there, a sight that surprised and confused all of the contestants opened up before them.

    Right in front of their eyes was a large room with small tables set neatly to cover the entire floor. The tables were set in such a manner, that one could comfortably walk between them without bumping into one. On each table was a small plate with a piece of cake on it.

    The sight was so unexpected that the same question going through the minds of every contestant was easily voiced out by Ryle.

    ¡°...What the hell is this?¡± the blonde asked bluntly.

 67. A Taste of Death

    Chapter 67

    A Taste of Death

    All the contestants stood still in a dumbfound silence, as they stared at what seemed to be a cake buffet in front of them. After the hellish obstacles and trials they all had gone through, the thought of a room full of tables with sugary sweet foods on them seemed like an idea that was so ridiculous that it would have made any of them burst out in laughter. Yet here they were, looking right at such a seemingly impossible sight.

    ¡°Is this¡­ Is this a lunch break or something?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s the only thing this could be, right? There¡¯s no other explanation.¡±

    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t, you idiot. Do you really think that the people behind these sick games would just have a room with cake in it for us to enjoy?¡± Lexton said. ¡°There¡¯s obviously some sort of a trick to this.¡±

    ¡°Well then what the hell is it!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Unless those cakes are some sort of messed up monsters that you¡¯d make in your freaky lab, I don¡¯t see how they could pose a threat to any of us!¡±

    Erin wasn¡¯t paying much attention to the argument going on next to her, as she herself was trying to figure out what was going on. For all intents and purposes, the room before her made no sense. Why would a contest of life and death meant to amuse twisted minds have something like this? The more the redhead thought about it, the less sense it made.

    Suddenly, the voice from the speakers called out to the contestants.

    ¡°Alright, it seems like you¡¯ve all made it to the room of our next game!¡± the voice said. ¡°You¡¯re all probably wondering what it is that you need to do here in order to get through, right? Well, take a look at the other end of the room.¡±

    All eyes were now on the wall opposite of them. There they could see a large door with something in front of it. Right by the sides of the door were two tower-like machines that rose from the floor. Both were about the size of an average man and had a red light on top of them.

    ¡°The task you need to accomplish is very simple. Within each of the cakes that you see before you is a very small microchip. All you need to do is eat one of the cakes and get the chip in your body. Once that is done, you can get the sensors to open the door to let you proceed to the next stage,¡± the voice coming from the speakers explained. ¡°Simple, isn¡¯t it? Though I do have to warn you, not all of the cakes are what they appear to be! Hope you enjoy!¡±

    Silence fell over the contestants, as they all processed what they had been told. None of them could believe that the task they had to accomplish was so simple. The contestants were looking at each other, wondering if this was real.

    ¡°If it¡¯s that simple, then might as well get done with it!¡± one contestant suddenly declared loudly as he walked towards one of the cakes. Two other soon followed after him, each going to a table of their own.

    Erin and Ryle were about to follow the lead of the three contestants, but were stopped as Durge put his arm in front of them.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just go and get this done?¡±

    ¡°Wait for a moment,¡± the orc said as he kept his eyes on the three contestants. ¡°Let¡¯s see just what is going to happen first. If my instinct is correct, this is much tougher than you¡¯d think.¡±

    Deciding to listen to Durge¡¯s warning, Erin and Ryle stepped back and waited. A few other contestants were about to go and join the three that were eating their own cakes. However, they all stopped upon seeing what happened to the three that had gone to try out the task.

    The first one managed to take a couple of bites before suddenly dropping the piece of cake he was holding. He then held his throat in agony as he began to cough up blood. Soon after this he fell over on the floor and died.

    The second one didn¡¯t even get a chance to touch the cake before him. As soon as his hand got near the sweet treat, a spider burst out of it and bit him. The venom acted quickly, shutting down his entire nervous system and killing him.

    Upon seeing the other two die, the third one hesitated for a moment but decided to go for it regardless. After all, he needed to complete the task at hand in order to survive, so he might as well go for it here. Unlike the other two, he was actually able to eat the whole piece of cake and seemed to have passed the task. Just as he was about to go and proceed to the next room, however, his stomach exploded from the inside.

    All the remaining contestants stood in stunned silence and horror at the terrible fate that had fallen over the three who had tried their luck. It was only by Lexton voicing his thoughts that the silence was broken.

    ¡°Explosive ruins inside a cake? I¡¯ve never thought of that myself,¡± the kobold said in a somewhat impressed tone. ¡°I need to remember that.¡±

    ¡°Lex, are you freaking serious!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°Three people just died in front of us! What the hell was that about!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the challenge, Ryle. We should have known this was way too easy to be true,¡± Erin said as she didn¡¯t take her eyes off the room before her. ¡°We need to pick the right cakes out of all of these in order to survive.¡±

    ¡°But how the hell are we supposed to do that!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°All these damn cakes look exactly the same! How are supposed to know which ones are the right ones!?¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s the point. It¡¯s all a game of luck,¡± the redhead replied.

    ¡°The red lady is correct!¡± the voice from the speakers spoke up. ¡°This wouldn¡¯t be much of a game, if there was no chance to lose, would it? You have to do your best to pick the right one in order to proceed! The other ones have different types of surprises in them! They still have the microchip that you need, but you have to face the risk of what else is within.¡±

    The contestants looked at each other in a panic, wondering what they should do. Suggestions as to what could be done to get through the challenge were flying around wildly, as the contestants were starting to lose themselves to their fear. It wouldn¡¯t be long until total chaos would erupt.

    ¡°Oh right! I almost forgot to mention one important thing. Don¡¯t try to dig through the cakes in the hopes of getting the microchip itself. They are so small they are practically invisible, so messing up the cake runs the risk of you losing the chip itself,¡± the voice from the speaker spoke up. ¡°Make sure you every last bite!¡±

    Erin and her group were not doing well for themselves, as they all couldn¡¯t figure out what to do. It seemed like this was truly a game with nothing but luck as your only chance for survival.

    ¡°This is bullshit! How are we supposed to get through this!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Besides, how do we know any of these cakes are safe!? They could all be poisoned for all we know!¡±

    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± Erin stated. ¡°After all, this is a show they put on to entertain people. No game is exciting, unless there is a chance for you to win or to lose.¡±

    ¡°Oh come one! You think we can trust these types of people!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Hell, even if all of these things don¡¯t have some sort of a trap in them, how do we know that the whole thing about the microchip is true!? We could end up eating all of these, yet no one gets out!¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know that, which is why we are going to have to find out for ourselves,¡± Durge suddenly said as he lifted up Lexton off his shoulder and handed him to Ryle. ¡°Hold onto him, would you? I need to go check something out.¡±

    ¡°W-What!? Check out what!?¡± the blonde asked as she took the kobold in her hands.

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s true that what they said about the microchips is true or not,¡± the orc answered as he walked up to one of the tables.

    Much to the surprise of everyone there, Durge walked to the table where one of the three who had gone first had died at. It was the cake that was poisoned. The orc looked at the corpse and noticed certain symptoms that were caused by the poison. The contestant had coughed up blood and his eyes were bloodshot as well. His veins had also bulged in certain areas and turned red.

    After he was done with his investigation, Durge shocked everyone that was watching by grabbing what remained of the cake and ate it in one go. It happened so fast that Erin was completely taken by surprise and was unable to do anything to stop the orc. The effects of the poison soon began to appear, as Durge began to cough up blood while holding his throat. He soon fell to his knees as he kept coughing violently.

    However, just as everyone watching had been certain that the orc would die, they were shocked to see him suddenly rise up. Besides the heavy breathing and the small amount of blood at the corner of his mouth, Durge seemed to be completely fine.

    ¡°...What the hell? That was the poisoned cake, right?¡± Ryle asked in disbelief as she stared at the orc with wide eyes. ¡°How did he survive that? Is he immortal or something?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I think this is due to his orc heritage,¡± Lexton said, sounding just as shocked as the blonde, despite having figured out how Durge had survived. ¡°Orcs as a race have a better resistance against poisons than others. It seems to have allowed him to survive whatever poison was in that cake.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just that, Lex,¡± Erin said. ¡°He¡¯s also a very hated person within the criminal underground. My guess is that he has been poisoned more than a few times in his life, so his natural resistance to such things has evolved quite a bit. That¡¯s why he checked the corpse in order to recognize the symptoms and thus determine what poison it was. That¡¯s how he knew he would survive.¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Meanwhile, Durge simply wiped off the blood near his mouth and walked to the door that would lead out of the room. Once he got in front of the sensors placed in front of it, the lights on them turned green and the door opened.

    ¡°Well, it looks like the thing about the microchips was true,¡± the orc said. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡±

    ¡°Hey, hang on a second!¡± Ryle suddenly called out to Durge, who stopped in his tracks. ¡°Didn¡¯t you make an alliance or something with Erin!? How can you just abandon her like this!?¡±

    The orc was about to reply, but was stopped by Erin.

    ¡°Ryle, stop that. You¡¯re honestly embarrassing yourself,¡± the redhead said in a stern tone. ¡°Just because we may have agreed to help each other out doesn¡¯t mean we are supposed to needlessly sacrifice ourselves. Since he got past this challenge, he should be free to go on.¡±

    The blonde obviously wanted to keep arguing, but knew that it would be pointless. She knew that her friend had made up her mind and was not going to budge.

    ¡°Thank you for being so understanding,¡± Durge said with a nod to Erin. ¡°While I will be leaving you three on your own, I will say one thing. I believe that you all have a method of getting through this at your disposal. You just need to figure out what it is. I know the kobold there at least has a certain method he can use.¡±

    Before anyone could ask what he meant, the orc walked through the door, letting it close behind him.

    With Durge now gone, panic began to slowly build up once again among the contestants. They now knew that the only way to win was by playing the game set up before them, but the risks were very high and not in their favor. Arguments over what was the best way to clear the challenge began ignite everywhere.

    ¡°I say we just go in, grab the first cake we see and try our luck!¡± one contestant proclaimed. ¡°There¡¯s really no other way out of this, so might as well go for it, right!?¡±

    ¡°Really!? Why don¡¯t you show us how it¡¯s done, so we can follow your lead!?¡± another contestant asked sarcastically. ¡°After all, you¡¯re the one who suggested it!¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll sit back for now, actually¡­¡±

    ¡°OH REALLY!? I WONDER WHY!?¡±

    Fights began to break out, as some contestants tried to force others to try out the cake for them first, while others began to fight over pieces that ¡°seemed safe¡± in their eyes. It was obvious that no one had a clue as to what needed to be done.

    ¡°...Idiots. All of them. They are doing exactly what the Laughing Ogre wants,¡± Lexton said. ¡°They wanted to force us into a situation where we would fight each other, like a bunch of rabid animals. Saves them the trouble of having to kill us.¡±

    ¡°So what should we do?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Should we just go for it and try our luck? I mean, the longer we wait, the less there are going to be any safe cakes.¡±

    ¡°The opposite is also true for that,¡± the kobold added. ¡°If we go right away, there are more of those that have a trap of some kind in them. No matter how you look at it, we don¡¯t have any solid method of getting through this.¡±

    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t just sit around here!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Like it or not, we need to try something!¡±

    While her two friends were having their argument, Erin was observing the room deep in thought. Durge had said that they all should have a method of beating this challenge, but what did he mean by that? The redhead tried her best to figure out what the orc had tried to tell them.

    As she was lost in thought, Erin noticed Goldiana walked around the room in complete calmness despite the chaos erupting around her. The barbarian was halfheartedly looking over the cakes, until one caught her eye. This she immediately picked up and ate without hesitation. Not only that, but there was no trap in the cake at all.

    ¡°You-! How did you-!?¡± Erin asked with a wide eye, as she was unable to believe what she had just seen.

    ¡°Oh, this? Nothing much,¡± Goldiana said with a smirk as she began to make her way to the exit. ¡°It just helps to have friends in certain places.¡±

    As the barbarian woman went through the exit, Lexton spoke up to answer the question on Erin¡¯s mind.

    ¡°She probably knows someone in the crew that prepares these games. They must have marked one of the safe pieces for her, so she knew what to do,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°That¡¯s why she was never worried at all, when we came to this room.¡±

    ¡°What a freaking cheater!¡± Ryle complained. ¡°How is it fair that she has friends on the other side helping her out, while we have to struggle!?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, in these situations, it¡¯s not about what¡¯s fair. It¡¯s about you having the abilities you need in order to survive,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°With that type of logic, you could say it was unfair that Durge has a natural resistance to poison!¡±

    It was at that moment that something clicked inside Erin¡¯s head.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s what Durge was talking about!¡± the redhead said, earning confused looks from her two friends. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? We all have special abilities that can help us get through this! Lex, you have knowledge of runes and other such things that can be used to trap people. And Ryle, you have your enhanced senses! That¡¯s how we can get through this!¡±

    ¡°...I see. Why didn¡¯t I think of that myself?¡± Lexton said to himself thoughtfully. ¡°This will be easy for me.¡±

    Before either Erin or Ryle could ask what the kobold meant, he starting to walk around the tables, looking for something. He eventually stopped at one of the tables and looked at the piece of cake placed on it.

    ¡°This is the one,¡± Lexton said with a small smirk. ¡°I can tell that they used runes for it.¡±

    ¡°How can you tell that?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Runes have a faint sign of magical energy. Once you¡¯ve worked with them as much as I have, you can pick up on it,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°This will be my ticket to getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°How? Didn¡¯t you say that it has runes within it?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°How is a cake that¡¯s going to kill you going to help you in any way?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. I just need to disarm the runes,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°It can be very risky, though, so I recommend stepping back a bit. Otherwise, you two might get caught in the blast.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Lex, maybe you shouldn¡¯t-!¡±

    ¡°Let him be, Ryle,¡± Erin said, cutting off the blonde. ¡°I¡¯m certain he knows what he¡¯s doing.¡±

    Despite not liking the idea, Ryle decided to watch with Erin as Lexton got to work. To start, the kobold bit one of his fingers so hard that he drew blood from it. He then moved his hand around the cake without touching it, almost like he was trying to sense something. After doing this for a moment, he plunged his bleeding finger into a couple of spots in rapid succession. Once this was done, a strange mist-like vapor seemed to rise up from the cake and disappear. With his work done, Lexton picked up the cake and ate it without hesitation.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ What just happened?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°I think he sort of disarmed the runes or something along those lines,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°That¡¯s one way of putting it,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with the details, but certain runes can be disarmed by using a medium and just enough of magic power. I got a feeling of the general locations for the runes and used my own blood as the medium, through which I then sent magic power into the runes, effectively disarming them. Luckily the one who placed them was either an amateur or just didn¡¯t take their job seriously. Otherwise, that would have ended badly for me.¡±

    ¡°...Huh. Good to see you know what you¡¯re doing for once,¡± Ryle said, dumbfounded by how easily the kobold was able to pass the challenge.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to ignore the insult in that comment,¡± Lexton said in a slightly frustrated tone. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to go ahead. You guys probably know now what to do in order to pass as well.¡±

    With the kobold now gone, Erin and Ryle were left to figure out what to do. However, the blonde of the two wasn¡¯t exactly confident on how to do that.

    ¡°Okay, so scaly-ass could figure out a way from this candy nightmare, but what the hell am I supposed to do!?¡± Ryle complained in desperation. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about magic or any bullshit like that! I¡¯m completely screwed!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, calm down!¡± Erin said. ¡°You had gene-splicing done to you, remember? All you need to do is use the senses given to you by your dog genes-¡±

    ¡°Werewolf!¡±

    ¡°...Werewolf genes and sniff out a cake that¡¯s safe,¡± the redhead finished explaining. ¡°That¡¯s something you can do, right? I know that even dogs have insanely good noses, so you should have one as well.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! Like it¡¯s going to be that-!¡± Ryle was about to complain further, only to stop upon her nose picking up something. ¡°Hang on a second¡­ This odor¡­ It couldn¡¯t be¡­¡±

    Before Erin could ask what she was talking about, the blonde walked up to one of the tables while sniffing the air. Once there, she sniffed the cake as closely as possible in order to confirm her suspicions.

    ¡°...There¡¯s no doubt about it. This has got to be the one that gets me out of here!¡± Ryle declared before shoving the cake in her mouth and swallowing it.

    At first, Erin thought that her friend had found one that was completely safe. However, when the blonde began to show signs of being in pain, the redhead panicked over the cake actually being poisoned or something.

    ¡°Ryle!¡± Erin called out as she quickly ran to the blonde¡¯s side. ¡°Quick! Spit it out! Maybe you can still-!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine! I¡¯m fine!¡± Ryle said, causing the redhead to stop in her tracks, as the blonde¡¯s voice sounded strange. Almost like she had bit her tongue. ¡°I just¡­ have to deal with the side effects a bit¡­¡±

    Ryle turned around to face Erin, who was surprised by how the blonde looked. Her lips were red and swollen, and her tongue seemed to have gotten bright red as well.

    ¡°...Ryle, what was up with that cake you just ate?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? It was full of extremely hot spices,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I recognized the smell of the spices, so I figured that it was the trap on the cake. Freaking painful still¡­¡±

    ¡°...ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?¡± the redhead asked angrily. ¡°Why would you think that some chili was a trap set up by the lunatics behind this!? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s stupid as hell!?¡±

    ¡°Woah! Relax a bit, okay!?¡± Ryle quickly said, a bit taken aback by Erin¡¯s sudden outburst. ¡°It was actually completely reasonable of me to think that there was nothing else wrong with it. You know how Durge was able to survive the poison he ingested? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s because it wasn¡¯t the most potent stuff out there, so he had a good chance of getting through it. He even confirmed it himself, by checking the corpse of the guy who had died from it first. There are probably cakes with way stronger poison in them. The same logic applies to these traps overall. Some are less lethal than others. With the right person, extreme spices can lead to severe issues or at least drive away people. That¡¯s probably what they were thinking.¡±

    ¡°Might be so, but it still doesn¡¯t take away the fact that what you did was completely reckless and idiotic,¡± the redhead said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re alright. Just try not to do something like that ever again.¡±

    The blonde gave a simple shrug as a response before walking to the exit. Now it was only Erin who needed to pass the challenge.

    However, once Ryle had left, the redhead realized something. While she had an idea as to how her friends could get through this, she had no idea how she could do so for herself. While Lexton was familiar with runes and Ryle had her superhuman senses, Erin had no such skills at all.

    To put it in terms that Ryle would use, the redhead was completely and totally screwed.

    Since there was no actual certain method for her to pass this challenge, all Erin could do was take a blind guess. She turned to look around the room to find a cake to try her luck on, but what she saw around her didn¡¯t fill her with confidence. Most of the pastries had already been either eaten or thrown to the floor. There were dead bodies everywhere, as the different traps had claimed their victims. Some contestants had been lucky enough to survive the challenge and had gone to the next room. There were still a few remaining people, all now in complete panic as they saw their chances of survival get slimmer.

    Seeing as how there was nothing else she could do, Erin moved towards the closest piece of cake and decided to try her luck with it. She moved in to put the pastry to her mouth, when a hand suddenly stopped her.

    ¡°If you eat that, you¡¯ll have a swarm of scorpions dig their way out of your internal organs,¡± a familiar voice said disapprovingly. ¡°That is unless I manage to kill you myself first out of sheer frustration. I mean, I put my faith in you to get things done, only for you to die like this? You gotta be kidding me.¡±

    The redhead¡¯s eye went wide as she saw the shadowy figure standing next to her, holding her arm in place. While he had no facial features, she could somehow tell that he was glaring at her.

    ¡°You! But¡­ Why!?¡± Erin asked, completely confused as to why the shadow had suddenly appeared before her like this. ¡°What are you doing here!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m trying to stop you from screwing everything up,¡± the shadow answered with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Seriously, you do such a good job so far, yet this is where you end up? What the hell kind of a joke is this? Also, drop that damn thing already.¡±

    The redhead did as she was told and dropped the cake to the floor. Once it had fallen, very tiny scorpions began to dig their way out of the pastry. Erin gulped audibly at the thought of what would have happened, had she not been stopped.

    ¡°Thanks for the save,¡± the redhead said. ¡°But this still doesn¡¯t solve the main issue at hand. I still need to find a cake to eat that will allow me to go to the next room.¡±

    ¡°Oh my freaking everything that¡¯s holy in existence¡­ Do I have to do everything for you?¡± the shadow said in a tone dripping with frustration and anger. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll point you to one that is safe, so you can join your buddies. You better not be this useless in the future, though. Understood?¡±

    Erin gave a simple nod in response, afraid that if she spoke up, she might further anger the shadowy figure. Seeing her response, the shadow then pointed at one of the cakes that had remained untouched so far. With his work done, the shadow then disappeared by simply walking into the darker part of the room.

    Now that her mysterious helper had left, the redhead quickly made her way to the cake that he had pointed out for her. She was just about to pick it up and eat it, when someone tackled her from behind. It was another contestant, a female elf, who had lost her mind from the panic. She had apparently seen Erin move towards the pastry and decided to take it for herself instead. The elf¡¯s hands were soon around the redhead¡¯s throat and began to squeeze with all their might.

    The redhead tried to pry the hands off her throat, but was unable to do so. She could feel her consciousness beginning to slowly fade with the lack of oxygen. She needed to find a way out of this and fast.

    Out of the corner of her eye, Erin spotted another piece of cake on the floor very close to her. She quickly grabbed it and smashed it on the elf lady¡¯s face, who soon began to scream in pain. Once the grip on her throat had lifted, the redhead could see what was causing her attacker so much pain, as numerous beetle-like insects crawled out of the pastry and began to attack the elf¡¯s face. Sharp mandibles and venomous stingers assaulted her face, as she tried to desperately get rid of the insects.

    With her attacker now occupied, Erin was free to go and get her ticket out of this room. She quickly shoved the cake into her mouth and swallowed it without much chewing. Not wanting to waste anymore time and possibly get attacked again, the redhead ran to the exit. Relief washed over her, as she saw the door open with her friends waiting on the other side.

    ¡°Took you long enough! We were starting to get worried!¡± Ryle called out with a smile on her face, happy to see her friend alright. ¡°What took you so long!?¡±

    ¡°Do me a favor and don¡¯t ask,¡± Erin replied with a tired smile.

 68. The Last Challenge Begins

    Chapter 68

    The Last Challenge Begins

    Erin and her group were currently waiting in the room they had just walked in after surviving the previous challenge. The amount of other contestants had been dropped significantly when compared to the amount of people they had started with. Besides the redhead and her friends, there were only about a dozen other contestants left, including Goldiana.

    ¡°Guess these games have really cut out a lot of people,¡± Erin said as she looked at the other contestants. ¡°How does the Laughing Ogre keep finding people to throw into this nightmare?¡±

    ¡°They have many ways,¡± Durge replied. ¡°A lot of people are poor souls who crossed the gang one way or another, whether by borrowing money or by being a member from an enemy group. Some are former Laughing Ogre members that made too many mistakes and others are just unlucky bastards that got kidnapped by them.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re certainly well-informed,¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m guessing your experience from your previous job has a lot to do with that.¡±

    ¡°Ryle!¡± Erin hissed at the blonde, not liking the way she was antagonizing the orc.

    ¡°...As much as I wish I could deny it, you¡¯re right,¡± Durge said as he looked down in shame. ¡°I¡¯ve taken part in most of the activities of the Laughing Ogre, many of which I¡¯m not proud of at all.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ You didn¡¯t have a choice, did you?¡± the redhead asked, hoping to ease things up. ¡°I mean, had you disobeyed the orders you got, you would have ended here much sooner, if not killed. Besides, knowing how you tried to help us, especially Arnie, I¡¯m sure you did the same for many other people as well.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the comfort, but I fear it¡¯s in vain,¡± the orc said. ¡°I¡¯ve been making those excuses in my mind for a long time already. They might offer some comfort for a moment and allow me to forget about what I did for some time, but the fact still remains that I committed those horrible crimes. No matter what I say to myself or what others may tell me, those facts will always remain.¡±

    Erin wanted to say something, to tell Durge that he was wrong, yet she couldn¡¯t. He was right about what he said. No matter what excuse was made, what had happened would still remain the same.

    ¡°And I always did have a choice. I could have chosen to fight for what I knew was right, despite how much it would have cost me, or I could simply do what I¡¯m doing now. Living in shame and empty excuses,¡± the orc continued before looking at the redhead in the eyes with a sad, broken look. ¡°Tell me something. What do you think I really should have done?¡±

    Erin wanted to say that he had done the right thing. That he had tried his best against unfair circumstances. Yet she held those words back, knowing that they would only sound hollow if she said them.

    An awkward silence fell over the group, as no one really had anything left to say in regards to their conversation. Luckily, Lexton managed to find it in himself to break the silence and steer the conversation into a new direction.

    ¡°So Durge, what do you think the next challenge is going to be?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Can you make some sort of a prediction based on what we have faced so far?¡±

    ¡°Tough to say exactly. They like to change things up in order to keep their watchers interested,¡± the orc replied. ¡°The only thing that I know for certain is that it will be the toughest out of all the challenges we have faced so far.¡±

    ¡°Any idea what it could be?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Do we have to face a giant monster of some kind? Like a dragon?¡±

    ¡°A dragon!? You gotta be kidding me! There¡¯s no way the Laughing Ogre could ever get something like that!¡± Durge said with a small laugh. ¡°However, that is something the last challenge has sometimes been. Most of the time they just buy some terrifying freak of nature that some black market loonies cooked up in a lab.¡±

    ¡°What else can the challenge be besides a bloodthirsty monster that wants to eat us?¡± Lexton asked, hoping that whatever other options there were would be better.

    ¡°Technically, those things don¡¯t usually eat people. Rather they just seem to enjoy tearing people apart,¡± the orc said thoughtfully. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ve heard that sometimes they like to set up a war game between the remaining contestants and some mercenary or bandit group they¡¯ve hired.¡±

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well... There is another thing I¡¯ve heard happen, but it¡¯s not something you guys would be happy to face,¡± Durge said. ¡°Sometimes, they just force the remaining people into a battle royal, where the last one left is declared the winner.¡±

    The redhead could feel her face turn pale at the thought of being forced to fight her friends. Not only did she know that she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Durge or Ryle, but there was no way in hell that she could bring herself to harm any of them. Whatever the challenge ahead of them might be, she prayed in her head that it wouldn¡¯t be that.

    ¡°I should probably point out that battle royals are pretty rare. After all, just having the people remaining fight each other is something that would turn boring very quickly, which is why they mostly do it only on special occasions,¡± Durge quickly said. ¡°However, there is something else we should be worried about. Or rather someone.¡±

    ¡°Who is that?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°That blondie over there,¡± the orc replied as he motioned towards Goldiana, who was leaning against a wall and relaxing. ¡°I¡¯ve had a bad feeling about her for some time now.¡±

    ¡°Why? Do you know her?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Probably one of his fellow serial killers or something,¡± Ryle said with a venomous tone.

    The redhead gave her blonde friend a glare that told her to be quiet, before turning her attention back to Durge.

    ¡°...I actually have no idea who she is or who she works for. She actually got thrown into these games weeks before any of you even showed up in this town,¡± the orc answered. ¡°From what I heard, she apparently picked a fight with some of the Laughing Ogre thugs that ended up with them dead. But when people got sent after her, she simply surrendered without a fight. Not only that, but she even requested to be thrown into these games.¡±

    ¡°She wanted to be here?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why the hell would anybody want to end up in this living hell?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but it seems that she¡¯s doing this for her own enjoyment or something,¡± Durge explained. ¡°In fact, after she survived her first time, she actually told me that she was disappointed and had hoped for more of a challenge. I wanted to have her executed as a possible threat, but the boss and many of our customers had taken a liking to her, so she was allowed to go on.¡±

    ¡°If she finds this easy, I¡¯d hate to see what she considers an actual challenge,¡± Lexton said in a slightly scared tone.

    ¡°There¡¯s even more weirdness regarding her,¡± the orc added. ¡°Around the time you guys were coming to town, she received this visitor. He didn¡¯t say his name or who he worked for. All he did was request to get to talk to Goldiana and paid us very handsomely for it. The strange thing is that the amount of money he was ready to drop just so he could have a conversation with her was something only those under the direct command of The Five Overlords could do.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    This really caught Erin¡¯s attention. From the start, Goldiana had seemed somewhat strange when compared to the other contestants. While most were either nervous or even completely terrified over where they had ended up, the blonde barbarian seemed entirely calm, like this whole thing was not a big deal for her. Besides that, she was also very strong from what the redhead had seen and seemed to have very beneficial connections. For someone like that to end up as meat for the slaughter that would just entertain some gangsters seemed impossible.

    But what if there was something else behind this? Such as a powerful ally backing her up from the shadows? And if that was the case, what was her ultimate goal?

    ¡°Hey, Erin,¡± Ryle whispered to the redhead. ¡°If what he¡¯s saying is true, then do you think that Goldiana could be working for the big five themselves?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say,¡± Erin whispered in response. ¡°If that is the case, then why would she be here? I don¡¯t understand how she ended up here? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit weird that someone of that caliber would end up as a prisoner of some thugs?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but it seems like she wanted that to happen,¡± the blonde added, still whispering. ¡°You heard what Durge told us, right? Seems to me that she picked a fight with these bozos just to get in here.¡±

    ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, why would she do that?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? To get her hands on you.¡±

    Upon hearing Ryle point this out, Erin¡¯s eye went wide as she thought about the conversation she had with Goldiana at the end of the first challenge she had gone through. The barbarian woman had said that she had been waiting for her near the exit. Had Goldiana planned to kill her there, only for the plan to be ruined due to them running out of time?

    If that was the case, the redhead had been truly lucky. With the wounds and exhaustion weighing down her body, as well as her being busy looking after Lexton, it would have been a one-sided fight in the barbarian¡¯s favor.

    However, now that the last challenge of these games was coming up, the moment Erin would have to face Goldiana would come soon. She doubted the barbarian was going to miss her last chance for the day.

    Suddenly, the speakers turned on, signaling the start of the last challenge.

    ¡°Hello to all of the remaining contestants!¡± the voice called out. ¡°I would like to first congratulate all of you who were able to make it this far. There are a lot of people interested in seeing how well some of you do, even when it comes to the last game of the day. Now, I would be lying if I were to tell you that they were all in support of you, because some of them want you guys to die horribly, but we won¡¯t let something like that bother us, will we?¡±

    ¡°Speak for yourself, you jackass,¡± Ryle muttered as she glared at the speakers, as Erin and the others shared the blonde¡¯s feelings on the matter.

    ¡°Anyways, you all get the drill by now, don¡¯t you?¡± the voice from the speakers spoke up as a door began to open. ¡°Now you go in there and give us a good show!¡±

    With the door open, the remaining contestants began moving there one by one. Erin looked up and saw guards walking on top of the surrounding walls, ready to shoot anyone who wasn¡¯t complying.

    ¡°Guess we might as well get this over with,¡± the redhead said as she motioned for her group to follow her, who did so.

    Walking through the door, the remaining contestants ended up in a large round arena that was suspended in the air by strong chains coming from the ceiling. You couldn¡¯t see below, as it was too dark for that, but one could hear movement from there. A few large metal barricades had been placed around the arena, most likely to provide some sort of cover to the ones who would be fighting for their lives there.

    The contestants had entered the arena via a bridge that had been set up for them beforehand. Now that all of them were on the arena, the bridge was pulled back, leaving them with nowhere to run from whatever they would be facing.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Sorry to keep you waiting for so long! Our preparations for the final game are finally ready, so let¡¯s get this party started!¡± the announcer exclaimed happily. ¡°Our remaining contestants have done quite well to survive this far, but will they be able to handle what we have in store for them!? Let¡¯s find out!¡±

    Erin and her group could only wait in tense silence, fearing what it would be that the Laughing Ogre had in store for them.

    ¡°Our last game will be a simple one! All the contestants need to do is slay the monster that we have prepared for them!¡± the announcer continued. ¡°However, they need to be careful and try not to fall! If they do, it won¡¯t end well for them!¡±

    The area below the arena was suddenly lit up, revealing what was hiding there in the darkness. All eyes looked downwards to see what was there. The contestants were horrified to learn the truth about the sounds they had been hearing so far.

    Right beneath them were numerous ghouls, all trying to reach the platform above them in order to devour the flesh of the people there.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ How the hell did they gather so many ghouls in one place?¡± Lexton asked as he stared down at the sea of undead monsters with wide eyes. ¡°There has got to be hundreds of them!¡±

    ¡°Well, all you really need is a couple of them to start. After that, you just need to let them infect a few unlucky bastards and eventually, you have this on your hands,¡± Durge explained. ¡°These things are surprisingly low on maintenance, when you know how to handle them.¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case, that closes one possible way of getting out of here,¡± Erin said. ¡°Hopefully whatever we have to face here is at least something that we can beat.¡±

    ¡°That should be possible,¡± the orc said as he shifted his sight towards the ceiling, where a large metal container was being lowered down on the arena. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, most of these things are dangerous, but are mostly bought due to looking impressive rather than because they actually are. They often have certain weaknesses that can be exploited, so we should be able to win this as long as we are careful.¡±

    ¡°What kind of weaknesses do you mean?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Like I told you earlier, most of the time the Laughing Ogre buys some artificially created monster that was created by some crazed black market scientist,¡± Durge explained. ¡°Because they are often a mismatch of different creatures, you can spot where the different pieces are held together. By attacking those areas, we can basically make them break apart.¡±

    ¡°Got it. We¡¯ll follow your lead on this,¡± Erin said before looking at her other two companions. ¡°You guys ready?¡±

    ¡°As ready as I can be,¡± Lexton said with a nod.

    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Ryle replied.

    The container had finally been lowered to the arena floor, where all contestants had their eyes locked on it, waiting for whatever horrifying monstrosity within it to burst out. However, nothing seemed to be happening as the container stayed still, with only a low growling coming from within it.

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s taking that thing so long?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that it¡¯s already dead or something!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably sedated or something,¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, you can tell that it¡¯s not dead. You can hear that thing growling.¡±

    While everyone was focused on watching the container in anticipation of what was to come, Lexton was closely listening to the sound of the growling. For some reason, it sounded familiar to him. He just couldn¡¯t quite figure out where he had heard it before.

    Upon realizing what the sound was, the kobold¡¯s eyes went wide and his face turned pale. Images of a horrifying memory came flashing through his mind, when this hit him. They were all in grave danger.

    ¡°Guys,¡± Lexton said in a terrified tone, catching the attention of his companions. ¡°We need to hide. NOW.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Alright, my good people! We are finally ready to get things started over here! Thank you all for your patience!¡± the announcer spoke up, cutting off the kobold before he could answer. ¡°Now, we have something very special prepared not just for our dear viewers, but our contestants as well! Are you ready to hear what it is!?¡±

    Silence fell over the contestants as they waited to hear what they were up against.

    ¡°For some time now, we¡¯ve had complaints over the kind of creatures we bring in to these final battles and we have heard your pleas for a change!¡± the announcer said. ¡°Today, we won¡¯t be having the usual lab-grown monster facing our contestants! Instead, we have brought you a real majestic beast! One that only very few get to see with their very own eyes!¡±

    Suddenly, the growling within the container started to grow louder as the beast within began to move around, banging on the metal walls surrounding it. The container itself moving in response to the force of the creature.

    ¡°Now, feast your eyes on this sight!¡± the announcer exclaimed as the monster burst out of the container with a primal roar.

    The creature was large, easily bigger than a tank. It¡¯s massive body was bulky and muscular, a sign of the fearsome power the beast held. It had dark gray scales covering the upper part of it¡¯s body, like an impenetrable armor. The scales underneath were grayish brown in color and looked much softer than the upper ones, but only a fool would mistake them as something one could easily break. A massive tail was dragging along the ground behind it, as it moved around with heavy steps that shook the arena. Its mouth was large enough to easily swallow people whole and was lined with sharp teeth that were half the size of an adult man. From within the mouth, a clear white liquid was dripping to the floor, burning whatever it touched. Two large yellow eyes were looking around its surroundings, holding behind them a fury that promised death and destruction to those they found.

    Every contestant knew before the announcer said anything what this creature was.

    ¡°Your eyes are not deceiving you, folks! That¡¯s the real deal right there!¡± the announcer exclaimed. ¡°For the first time, we have a real dragon in the arena!¡±

    Erin and her companions stared at the monster before them with wide eyes, utterly terrified at the mere idea that this was something they would have to face.

    ¡°...There¡¯s no way the Laughing Ogre could get a dragon, huh?¡± Ryle asked in a tone that was a mix of sarcasm and fear.

    ¡°I stand corrected,¡± Durge said. ¡°Although, I really wish I wasn¡¯t¡­¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, a couple of Laughing Ogre thugs were watching the games unfold from a screen on a nearby wall. Despite being on duty, they felt so confident in their status as the biggest group in the area that the thought of anyone that could pose a threat coming there seemed ridiculous. This sense of security meant that they could slack of in their guard duties and simply enjoy the show.

    ¡°Man, I can¡¯t believe they actually managed to get a dragon!¡± one of the thugs said with a whistle. ¡°I thought that the guys over at the game preparation were lying when they said they got one.¡±

    ¡°Same here. But now that I see it with my own eyes, I can¡¯t do anything except be amazed!¡± another thug said with a chuckle. ¡°Although, should we continue watching this? I don¡¯t want the boss to catch us away from our posts.¡±

    ¡°Like the boss is even gonna come here!¡± a third member said. ¡°Besides, how often do you think we get a chance to see a dragon? A freaking dragon! I¡¯m not gonna miss a single second of this!¡±

    The other thugs murmured in agreement, not wanting to miss even a moment of what they were about to witness. However, due to their negligence, a certain cat boy was able to sneak his way past the guards, following signs that said ¡°CONTROL ROOM.¡±

 69. Imagine Facing Dragons

    Chapter 69

    Imagine Facing Dragons

    Dragons are a classic and often used staple of the fantasy genre. Depending on the creator¡¯s interpretation, they could range from mindless raging beasts to almost divine intellectual beings. Since they are such a big part of fantasy, Five Realms also had them. These creatures were very sought after, as the loot one could get from even the lowest level dragon was very valuable Not to mention, if one managed to tame a dragon, it would be a very powerful ally that would serve you through all of your endeavors. There were even places where you could get the genes of dragon spliced into your character, giving them numerous powerful skills, like breath attacks or high levels of resistance to different elements.

    However, in order for one to gain any of these great rewards, they would have to come in prepared even when dealing with a lower level dragon. Even then, victory wasn¡¯t a guarantee. Erin had only once seen Devin and his friends face off against a mid-level one, which ended with the whole group getting wiped out in a matter of minutes.

    Back then, it had been a simple video game with no real life dangers to the players. Now, there was an actual dragon right before the redhead. And there was no way in hell that she or any of her companions were prepared for this at all.

    ¡°So¡­ That¡¯s a dragon. An actual dragon,¡± Ryle said with a slight tremble in her voice, as she tried to fight back the fear. ¡°Any of you got experience when dealing with these things? Because I don¡¯t have any.¡±

    ¡°Not me,¡± Durge replied. ¡°The only thing I was ever told was to avoid them as much as possible, as facing them would only mean certain death.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ sort of saw people I know face one,¡± Erin said. ¡°It didn¡¯t end well.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just fantastic. Guess this leaves only you, Lex,¡± Ryle said before glancing where the kobold was, only to find him missing. ¡°Uhh¡­ Lex? Where are you?¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you idiots doing!?¡± Lexton called out to the others. They looked where the sound of his voice had come from and found him hiding behind one of the barricades placed around the arena. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand in the open when a dragon is on the lookout!¡±

    ¡°LEX! YOU COWARDLY SCALY BASTARD!¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    The shout was so loud that it caught the dragon¡¯s attention. The scaly beast turned its sights on Erin, Ryle and Durge, who could see flames start to build up in the monster¡¯s maw.

    ¡°Oh crap¡­¡± Ryle muttered.

    With a mighty roar, the dragon opened its mouth, shooting out a stream of fire that would turn anyone unlucky enough to get caught in its path into ashes. Erin and her companions had luckily been quick on their feet and had moved out of the way of the oncoming flames just in time. Had they been even a second too slow, nothing would have remained of them.

    After avoiding the flame breath of the dragon, Erin and the others regrouped behind the barricade Lexton had been using as a hiding spot. They needed to come up with some sort of a plan of action if they wished to defeat this monster.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m open for any possible suggestions here!¡± Erin said in a panicked tone. ¡°Anybody got ideas!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got one!¡± Ryle said. ¡°How about we let that thing eat everybody else!? Maybe after that it will be too full to come after us! If we¡¯re lucky, it might choke on one of them as well!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s happening anytime soon,¡± Durge said as he took a peek from behind the barricade to see the dragon burning the other contestants to ashes with its breath. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be all that hungry. Just very pissed off.¡±

    ¡°How is anyone even supposed to beat that thing!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°That monster is built like a tank that has a giant flamethrower at the front! There¡¯s absolutely no way we can take on a dragon of all things!¡±

    ¡°Technically we can beat it. We just need the right tools and a good plan,¡± Lexton said as he observed the dragon. ¡°That thing is actually a Lower Earth Dragon. They¡¯re pretty much at the bottom of the hierarchy when it comes to dragons overall. Not only are they much weaker than other dragons, but they also lack the intelligence the greater dragons have, making it just a simple beast. We should be able to use that to our advantage to maybe lure it into a trap of some kind or-¡±

    The kobold¡¯s speech was cut short, as the dragon took notice of him, turning its gaze and flaming maw in his direction. Knowing what was coming next, the group quickly ran away as the dragon¡¯s flames came out and hit the barricade they had been using for cover. The metal melted from the incredible heat of the dragon¡¯s flaming breath, turning it into a pile on the ground.

    Having managed to once again escape the dragon¡¯s attack, Erin¡¯s group had taken cover behind two other barricades. Erin and Lexton were hiding behind one, while Ryle and Durge were behind another.

    ¡°Hey, Lex!?¡± Ryle called out in a whisper that was loud enough for her companions to hear. ¡°Next time you want to do a freaking nature documentary, maybe do it when we aren¡¯t running for our lives from a horrible monster!¡±

    ¡°I was just trying to tell you guys that we can beat that dragon!¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for your lack of knowledge, you moron!¡±

    The blonde responded back to the kobold¡¯s insult with a middle finger, not wanting to possibly alert the dragon to their presence again.

    ¡°Lex, you said that we could beat that thing, right?¡± Erin decided to ask. ¡°How can we do that?¡±

    ¡°Well, that thing might be armored like a tank, but it still has certain weaknesses that can be exploited,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°For example, if we can get our hands on something long and sharp, like a spear, we should be able to pierce its eye all the way to its brain. The underbelly also isn¡¯t as protected as its back is, making it an optimal weak point. The last and most effective thing we could do is use its flame breath against it by somehow lighting the flammable liquids at the back of its throat and thus blowing it up from the inside.¡±

    ¡°Oh great! Our options are just fantastic, aren¡¯t they!?¡± Ryle complained. ¡°We can go for the eyes, thus letting it see us and kill us or we can go under its belly and get crushed! If all of that fails, we can try shoving a matchstick down its throat! Anybody want to go and try any of our options!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! At least I¡¯m giving us some options here!¡± Lexton said back. ¡°I don¡¯t see you doing anything!¡±

    ¡°I still stand by my plan of letting it kill itself through eating too much!¡±

    ¡°Both of you, enough!¡± Erin said, stopping the argument between her two companions. ¡°While I appreciate that you came up with something, Lex, we can¡¯t really utilize any of those ideas. We don¡¯t have any tools necessary for it.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± the kobold asked in response. ¡°I think we just got something delivered to us.¡±

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Before the redhead could ask what he was talking about, metal crates fell from the ceiling and landed on the arena floor. A couple of the contestants tried to make their way to them, only to get killed by the dragon.

    ¡°Are those-?¡±

    ¡°Weapon crates? Yeah. That¡¯s exactly what those are,¡± Lexton said before Erin could finish her question. ¡°It kind of makes sense. They want to make things exciting for their viewers, so they can¡¯t simply let the dragon kill us. They need to give us something to defend ourselves with so there¡¯s at least a small chance that we can win.¡±

    ¡°Unless they have a plasma cannon in those things, I highly doubt we actually have a chance!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Besides, how are we supposed to get them? May I remind you that we have a small fire-breathing issue in the way!¡±

    Erin took a peek at the situation with the dragon and observed it for a short moment. The beast didn¡¯t seem to be all too intelligent, as it appeared to simply attack whatever living being caught its eye at the moment. This gave the redhead an idea.

    ¡°Alright, here¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do,¡± Erin said, getting the attention of her companions. ¡°Ryle and Durge, I want you two to go and keep that thing occupied, while I go with Lexton to look through those crates.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Ryle screamed, before clamping a hand over her mouth. The group waited for a moment to see if the dragon had heard her, but was luckily occupied chasing other people. ¡°Are you nuts!? You¡¯re telling us to go and throw ourselves into the jaws of that thing!? Why don¡¯t you just tie steaks on us while you¡¯re at it!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to sacrifice yourselves! Just distract that thing, if it starts to move towards me and Lex!¡± the redhead said. ¡°You two are easily the most physically fit here, so you have a better chance at surviving! Besides, I need Lex in order to pick out the right equipment for the job!¡±

    ¡°Still not exactly the best plan-!¡±

    ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± Durge suddenly said, cutting off the blonde¡¯s angry response. ¡°Basically, you¡¯re telling us to keep that fat lizard¡¯s attention elsewhere? I should be able to handle it.¡±

    The orc got up and began to make his way towards where the dragon was, leaving the others speechless.

    ¡°...Well, since he¡¯s on the job, I guess he won¡¯t need me to help him out, right?¡± Ryle asked, only to receive glares from Erin and Lexton. ¡°...Oh screw you both! Why do I have to work with that guy anyways!?¡±

    ¡°Because we¡¯re in this together! You ass!¡± Lexton said angrily. ¡°He has a better chance at survival with your help, which in turn will help the rest of us get out of here alive!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t have a good chance at survival when I have to work with him!¡± the blonde argued back. ¡°Haven¡¯t you two listened at all when I-!?¡±

    Ryle¡¯s complaining was interrupted by a slap in the face from Erin, who had quickly run up to her before anyone had realized it. For a moment, the blonde could only stare in shock at the redhead, having been completely caught off-guard by the sudden strike.

    ¡°Enough¡­ I¡¯ve had enough of this!¡± Erin said in a low and angry tone that sent chills down Ryle and Lexton¡¯s spines. ¡°Do you have any idea how bad our situation is right now!? We are facing the biggest monster any of us have ever seen in our lives, yet all you can do is complain like a spoiled child! Meanwhile, the man you keep accusing of all sorts of evil deeds is risking his life out there and has been helping us out all this time! If there is any decency in you, then I suggest you go and help us out already!¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Ryle said as she stood up. ¡°I know when I¡¯ve lost. Besides, it would totally suck if that guy actually managed to be more useful than me. However, I¡¯m still not going to let go of what I¡¯ve said about him. And I¡¯m sure you will see his true colors soon enough.¡±

    The blonde ran towards where the dragon was, using the barricades to keep herself out of the monster¡¯s sight. With her now gone to do her part, Erin could get to work on what she needed to do.

    ¡°Are you ready to go, Lex?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Do you still need me to carry you?¡±

    ¡°No need for that. While my foot is still a bit sore, I should be able to move around just fine,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t have time to worry about that right now. Ryle and Durge might be tough, but there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll last long against a dragon.¡±

    Erin nodded in response before the two of them set out to find a weapon that could help them kill a dragon.

    While Erin and Lexton were on their way to search the crates, Ryle was doing her best to calm down her furiously beating heart. The reason for the erratic rhythm going in her chest was the fire-breathing beast, also known as a dragon, that was right next to her.

    Had it not been for the metal barricade between them, the dragon would have most likely already swallowed the blonde in one go. But while the beast couldn¡¯t see its prey, it could smell that something was nearby, so it was only a matter of time before it found what it was looking for.

    ¡°Shit! Shit! SHIT!¡± Ryle cursed to herself silently. ¡°Why can¡¯t that fat lizard go somewhere else!? Why did it have to come after me especially!?¡±

    The dragon kept inching closer and closer towards the blonde. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the beast found what it was looking for. A couple of tears escaped from the blonde¡¯s eyes, as she was now certain that she wouldn¡¯t live to see another day.

    However, just as the dragon was about to discover Ryle, something happened that caught the monster¡¯s attention and made it turn away from her.

    ¡°HEY! YOU FAT LIZARD!¡± Durge called out to the dragon, getting its attention. ¡°Come and get me, if you can!¡±

    While the dragon didn¡¯t possess the ability to understand speech, it was intelligent enough to know when it was being taunted. The mocking of the orc greatly angered the beast, as it began to prepare another breath attack in its mouth.

    Seeing how his attempt at drawing the monster¡¯s attention had worked, Durge began to run to the nearest cover. He got behind one of the metal barricades just in time, as the flames from the dragon¡¯s mouth collided with the cover, leaving the orc unharmed.

    With the dragon¡¯s attention now focused elsewhere, Ryle was able to move away from the monster safely. She quickly made her way behind another barricade, where she sat back and observed the beast¡¯s movements. Right now, it seemed like it was focused entirely on Durge. The orc was actually in a bad situation, as he didn¡¯t have anywhere to run, much like the blonde earlier.

    This became a somewhat of a predicament to Ryle. On one hand, she honestly wanted nothing more than to let the dragon eat Durge, as she still saw him as a person that was too dangerous to keep around. Yet on the other hand, he had saved her earlier and she didn¡¯t like the idea of not repaying such a debt. Not only that, but Erin and Lexton wouldn¡¯t be too happy, if they found out that she had simply left him to die.

    ¡°...Goddammit, this is not fair,¡± Ryle muttered angrily, not happy over the decision she was forced to make.

    ¡°You tell me!¡± another voice chimed in. ¡°You work for the Laughing Ogre a couple of years and then do one mistake and this is how it ends!? It¡¯s just not fair!¡±

    The blonde turned to where the voice came from to find a human woman sitting against the barricade, also hiding from the dragon. She had gone completely unnoticed from Ryle, as she had been far too focused on the dragon.

    ¡°Since when have you been there!?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Ever since before you came here!¡± the woman answered. ¡°So if you¡¯re going to cause trouble, I¡¯d like to ask you to go to hell and leave me out of it!¡±

    ¡°And just who the hell are you to tell me what to-!?¡± Ryle began to say, only to stop herself. It wouldn¡¯t help her to get worked up now. ¡°Never mind. Doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re here or not.¡±

    ¡°Well, it should! I used to be in a pretty high position within the Laughing Ogre!¡± the woman said. ¡°In fact, I was so trusted that I actually used to be the boss¡¯s secretary! You don¡¯t get into such a position with mediocre skills, you know!?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s not exactly something worth bragging about, if you only used to have a good job. Normal people brag about a job they actually have,¡± the blonde said. ¡°Anyways, how did you end up here? Did you try to save one of the gang¡¯s prisoners, like Durge?¡±

    ¡°Hah! I¡¯m not that stupid! My only mistake was to make a comment that the bitch that¡¯s known as the boss¡¯s daughter didn¡¯t like!¡± the woman complained. ¡°All I did was say that her new slave boy was very cute and that I wouldn¡¯t mind having one for myself! Can you believe me that she actually had me thrown in here because of something like that!?¡±

    Ryle didn¡¯t say anything in response at all. She simply turned to stare at the woman with a cold glare in her eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

    During this, the dragon had been getting closer towards Durge. The orc could only close his eyes and hope for the best, whether it was something else catching the dragon¡¯s attention or that his end would be swift and painless.

    Suddenly, there was a very loud scream that echoed through the arena. This immediately caught the dragon¡¯s attention and it hurried to where it had come from. It soon found the woman Ryle had just met, who was barely able to let out another scream before the fire-breathing beast had devoured her.

    ¡°...Well, that was certainly fortunate. For me that is,¡± Durge mumbled to himself.

    ¡°Yeah, you better be thankful for that!¡± Ryle said, as she suddenly sat next to the orc. ¡°Don¡¯t go expecting me to pull stunts like that more in the future!¡±

    ¡°When did you get here?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Just now. As soon as I did my thing there, I pretty much ran here while avoiding that thing¡¯s line of sight,¡± the blonde replied. ¡°It wasn¡¯t fun. Even if that damn lizard was focused on someone else, the mere thought of it turning its sight towards me at the worst time was enough to get my heart pounding.¡±

    ¡°So what exactly did you do anyways?¡± the orc continued to ask. ¡°Judging by the way you¡¯re speaking, it seems like you had a hand in whatever caught the dragon¡¯s attention.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t do much. I just broke some lady¡¯s leg in order to make her scream loud enough to catch that thing¡¯s attention,¡± Ryle said nonchalantly. ¡°And before you ask, she deserved it.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t really going to go there, but whatever. I suppose that¡¯s good to know,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°Hopefully we can keep this up, until your friends find something we can use to get this over with. I¡¯d hate to become either ashes or dragon shit.¡±

    ¡°You know, not only do you keep putting up this good guy act, but you¡¯re also seriously holding back. What¡¯s up with that?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Out of all of us, you¡¯re the only one who actually has a way to kill that damn thing.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Also, you¡¯ve had this weird problem with me that your friends clearly don¡¯t have. What is your issue with me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know¡­ Perhaps the fact that you¡¯re a cold-blooded murderer!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°You try to hide it, but I know your true nature! A couple of years back, you went on a rampage, where you killed anyone you could get your hands on! No matter if they were an enemy or not, even little kids were crushed by your hands!¡±

    The blonde had expected Durge to get angry and maybe even try to deny her claims. What she hadn¡¯t expected was to see the orc pale in the face with a horrified look, like he had seen a ghost.

    ¡°How¡­ How do you know about that?¡± Durge asked.

 70. Dragon Slaying (Part 1)

    Chapter 70

    Dragon Slaying (Part 1)

    Erin and Lexton had managed to reach the metal crates that had been dropped from the ceiling. The two of them began to immediately go through them in the hopes of finding weapons that they could use against the dragon, but it wasn¡¯t looking too good for them.

    ¡°Hey, I found a rifle!¡± Erin said as she picked up said firearm. ¡°Do you think this is good enough?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. Against that beast, it¡¯s about as effective as a peashooter,¡± Lexton said. ¡°The dragon¡¯s armor is way too thick to get pierced by that, so you¡¯d only end up annoying it.¡±

    ¡°Goddammit¡­¡± the redhead cursed as she dropped the rifle and continued her search for something better. ¡°This is even tougher than I thought. Is there really anything here that can help us kill that damn thing?¡±

    ¡°Trust me. We can find something. While I¡¯m not expecting these guys to give us the perfect tools for the task, I¡¯m sure there is something that can get the job done,¡± the kobold said as he continued his search. ¡°It¡¯s more about figuring out how to use what we¡¯ve got, instead of being provided what we need. Some outside of the box thinking is all we really need. And that¡¯s my specialty.¡±

    Having finished searching through the crate he had been at, Lexton moved on to the next one. However, just as he was about to reach it, he stopped in his tracks upon noticing it move. There was something inside the crate that was moving around. Something alive.

    Before the kobold could move away, the crate was broken from the inside and two creature appeared from within. One was a large spider, while the other one was a monstrous wasp. The shock from the sudden appearance of these monsters, caused Lexton to panic and fall on his back.

    Spotting easy prey nearby, the spider moved towards the kobold, intent on sinking its venomous fangs into the small lizard. Lexton closed his eyes, expecting his life to come to an end.

    Before the spider was able to bite down on its prey, a shot from a firearm echoed through the arena and a bullet pierced through the arachnid¡¯s body. The monster fell to the ground while oozing purple blood.

    ¡°Lex, are you okay!?¡± Erin called out to her friend, holding the rifle she had found not too long ago.

    ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m fine¡­ Just a little shaken,¡± Lexton answered as he wiped off the purple spider blood that had splashed on his face. The kobold then noticed the other beast, flying around the redhead. ¡°Watch out! The other one is still nearby!¡±

    Erin quickly spotted the wasp, flying close to her and clearly aiming to attack. Wasting no time, the redhead took aim with her rifle and began firing towards it. Unfortunately, the beast was too fast and erratic in its movements, making it a very difficult target.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to run out of bullets, which didn¡¯t seem to go unnoticed by the wasp. Now it was starting to move towards her with its stinger at the ready. Realizing the danger she was in, the redhead began to desperately look for another weapon to defend herself with.

    Seeing this as the perfect opportunity for an attack, the wasp began to fly towards Erin, stinger positioned for stabbing into its target. As the monster came closer, the redhead¡¯s hands managed to grab something.

    Taking hold of what she found, Erin thrust her new weapon towards the oncoming wasp. Right away, blood was spilled to the ground, as a sharp object pierced itself through a body.

    The redhead slowly opened her eyes and saw that she had just managed to find a crude spear in time to defend herself, as the wasp¡¯s body futilely struggled at the end of the weapon¡¯s pole. It soon ran out of the strength, stopped moving and died.

    ¡°Erin! Are you okay!?¡± Lexton asked worriedly as he ran up to the redhead.

    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ I¡¯m fine,¡± Erin answered. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit shaken up by the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°For good reason, as well. That thing is a Canyon Stinger,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Had you not been able to kill it, I doubt you would have survived. The venom in their stingers is so potent that most creatures actually avoid them on instinct.¡±

    ¡°...Good to know I was close to death, I guess,¡± the redhead said bluntly, as she shuddered at the thought of getting stung by the wasp monster. ¡°What¡¯s really upsetting, though, is that we have pretty much just wasted our time here. Not only were we not able to find any weapons that could help us defeat the dragon, but we now have to face other creatures as well. Talk about unfair.¡±

    Lexton didn¡¯t respond to Erin right away. Instead, he looked at the spear the redhead was holding and the two dead beasts in thought.

    ¡°Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°In fact, I think we might have just found our tools for dragon slaying.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± the redhead asked.

    Instead of replying to the question, the kobold simply held out his hand, waiting for Erin to hand him the spear. Once she did so, he jabbed the tip of it into the part of the wasp that contained its venom. The tip was now coated in a yellow liquid that had a somewhat bitter smell.

    ¡°There we go,¡± Lexton said with a proud nod as he handed the spear back to Erin. ¡°That should be enough.¡±

    ¡°...Seriously?¡± the redhead asked, staring down at the spear with a look of disbelief on her face. ¡°You honestly think we can kill a dragon with just this thing?¡±

    ¡°Not just that, you moron!¡± the kobold said angrily. ¡°That spear is only meant for weakening it, as the venom is potent enough to even harm a dragon!¡±

    ¡°Okay, I guess that makes sense,¡± Erin said, still not fully behind her friend¡¯s idea. ¡°Although, how am I supposed to injure it with this? That thing is built like a tank.¡±

    ¡°There are still soft spots in its body, like the belly, the eyes and the inside of its mouth,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Personally, I¡¯d recommend aiming for one of the eyes. Not only will you affect its ability to see, but the venom should spread faster.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll try my best, but I hope you understand that I¡¯m not exactly fond of the idea of trying to go for that thing¡¯s eyes,¡± the redhead said. Before she left, she had one more question. ¡°By the way, you said that this was meant to weaken it, but not actually kill it. How are we actually going to kill that thing?¡±

    ¡°You just leave that to me,¡± the kobold said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯ve got just the idea.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, on the other end of the arena, Ryle and Durge were hiding behind a barricade, while the dragon was prowling the area in search of more victims. The argument between the two had come to a sudden halt upon the blonde mentioning the incident in which she had seen the orc for the first time. It was also the time when she had developed somewhat of a fear towards berserkers, due to the horrifying carnage she had witnessed back then.

    However, while Ryle had expected to see anger, denial or some other form of defiance from Durge, what she got was completely unexpected. Instead of the orc showing even a hint of anger, he seemed to be completely terrified, like he was facing a ghost. Gone was the warrior that would face the most ferocious of beasts, replaced by a pale man that looked like he was close to getting a heart attack from the slightest scare.

    ¡°How¡­ How do you know about that?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Ryle asked in return, confused by the whole situation. ¡°You mean the incident from a couple of years ago?¡±

    ¡°What else do you think I¡¯m talking about!?¡± the orc asked in a panicked tone. ¡°I thought there weren¡¯t anyone left¡­ That I had left that part of me behind¡­¡±

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°...Well, to answer your question, I was there myself. I saw the whole thing with my own two eyes,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I hid under some of the bodies in fear. I guess since you were in your uncontrollable berserker rage mode, you didn¡¯t notice.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Makes sense,¡± Durge said with a hollow chuckle. ¡°I guess even though I had turned myself into a monster, I lacked the instincts of one. I¡¯m not sure whether I should be happy that someone survived or not¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh!? What the hell are you on about!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Why would that be a hard choice for you!? Didn¡¯t you go into that state just so you could kill everyone around you!?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly¡­ But I suppose that¡¯s not entirely untrue either,¡± the orc replied. ¡°If you actually saw that, then I do not blame you for hating me. In fact, I¡¯m more surprised that you haven¡¯t tried to kill me.¡±

    ¡°Okay, what the hell is up with you?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°You¡¯re acting like you¡¯re actually ashamed of yourself. I thought people that used things like the berserker state out of their own free will. If you didn¡¯t want to do what you did, why would you use such a technique at all?¡±

    ¡°Because it isn¡¯t the same thing as a berserker state,¡± Durge began to explain. ¡°There¡¯s a special thing inside me that gives me a boost of strength. Mostly it just allows me to have above normal physical abilities, but if I allow the seal on it to be released, I will turn into a bloodthirsty monster that kills everything around it.¡±

    ¡°How is that different from the berserker thing?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Those who use the berserker state still have some level of control over themselves. Only when they allow their rage and power fully consume them do they turn on their allies and other people they don¡¯t wish to harm,¡± the orc replied. ¡°The thing in me grants far greater strength, but there is no control over it at all. I pretty much just black out and wake up to whatever horrors I¡¯ve caused. Like that time years back that you saw¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay, so that does sound bad¡­ But we still need that strength of yours,¡± the blonde said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen just how powerful you can be, so why not use it quickly to deal with the dragon?¡±

    ¡°No! You don¡¯t understand!¡± Durge said while looking visibly distressed, which once again surprised Ryle. ¡°I can¡¯t simply turn it on and off, like some sort of a switch! Once I change, I won¡¯t turn back until everything around me is dead! I cannot allow that to happen!¡±

    Before the blonde could say anything else in return, the orc looked at her in a way that was almost pleading with her.

    ¡°Please¡­ I don¡¯t want more innocent blood on my hands due to my own stupidity,¡± Durge practically begged.

    Ryle was completely taken aback by this. She had always imagined the man she had seen back then to be nothing more than a monster, not caring about who or what he destroyed. Yet here was that same man, who had not only helped her and her friends, but was now acting like a scared child. Could they truly be the same person?

    The blonde¡¯s thoughts were cut off upon hearing the dragon roar. She looked from behind the barricade to see that the beast had taken notice of Erin, who was now trying to make her way to it while holding a spear in her hands.

    ¡°There might not be much of a choice for you, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Ryle said. ¡°It seems we are moving in to kill that damn thing now!¡±

    Erin had wanted to take the dragon by surprise from the behind. This would have allowed her to get close enough to actually use her spear the way Lexton had instructed her to do. That had all gone out of the window, as the beast had now spotted her first and was moving in for the attack. The flames could be seen building up within its maw, as another breath attack was being charged.

    Luckily for the redhead, there was another barricade close that she could use as cover, allowing her to avoid the flames. The barricade melted from the heat, having taken the full power of the monster¡¯s attack.

    However, Erin was now left completely defenseless, as her cover had been melted into a puddle and there was nothing else in sight to hide behind. She could only stare in horror, as the dragon prepared another breath attack in its mouth.

    Just as the dragon was about to unleash its flames, Ryle came in to save her friend. As the flame-breathing beast was too focused on Erin, the blonde was able to run up to the dragon and deliver her special move on it. By gathering as much ki as she could in her fist, Ryle unleashed the attack that she had used in her battle against Yin, one of The Four War Maidens. The attack unleashed a massive impact that could be felt throughout the whole arena.

    Yet against a dragon, it was all for nothing. It might have stopped from charging its fire breath, but the beast was mostly left undamaged. All that was really accomplished was that the dragon now had a new target. One that was exhausted and hurt from using a devastating attack.

    The dragon was about to go for the kill and bite down on Ryle, who had been forced down on her knees from the toll her attack had taken on her body, but the fire-breathing monster was stopped once again. This time the interference came in the form of Erin using her spear. With the dragon distracted by Ryle, the redhead had been able to quickly run up to the beast and jab the weapon through its eye.

    What followed then was chaos, as the dragon roared in pain and began to violently thrash around, causing the whole arena to shake. A couple of the remaining contestants were actually shaken so badly, that they fell over the edge and down to the awaiting ghouls.

    Ryle would have been crushed underneath the wildly rampaging dragon¡¯s feet had it not been for Durge coming to the rescue. The orc had quickly grabbed the blonde by the back of her shirt and dragged her away, so that she was no longer in immediate danger from the dragon.

    However, the same couldn¡¯t be said about Erin. The redhead had tried to make a run for it, but was struck by the dragon¡¯s tail. The blow was very powerful and sent her flying backwards, before tumbling painfully across the arena floor.

    ¡°ERIN!¡± Ryle yelled, horrified over what had happened to her friend. ¡°I have to-!¡±

    ¡°No! You can¡¯t!¡± Durge said, holding back the blonde. ¡°You can¡¯t just rush in there in your condition! You¡¯ll only get yourself killed!¡±

    ¡°Screw you! I¡¯m not going to abandon her!¡± Ryle yelled back. ¡°I don¡¯t care even if there¡¯s a hundred dragons! I am not going to just leave my friend like that!¡±

    ¡°...Then let me handle the dragon first,¡± the orc said in a grim and serious tone.

    ¡°Huh!? What are you talking about!?¡± the blonde asked, until her eyes went wide in realization. ¡°Are you-!?¡±

    ¡°Just hide for now. Once you see an opportunity to go help your friend, then make your move,¡± Durge said as he turned to face towards the dragon. ¡°Ironic that the thing that put so much blood on my hands is what will help atone for my crimes.¡±

    The orc took off his shirt and bit his thumb, drawing blood from it. He then smeared the blood over what seemed like a tattoo on his chest. The tattoo then lit up and disappeared from sight. Once this was done, Durge took a deep breath and got himself ready.

    At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then the changes came.

    A sickening cracking sound could be heard coming from Durge, as his body began to bulge and grow larger in different places. It was like his body was breaking apart from within to build itself back bigger and stronger. His teeth also changed into sharp fangs and his hair grew into a long mane. The pupils of his eyes disappeared, leaving back empty orbs that glowed with a pale yellow light. Finally, his skin turned into a dark red color, almost like he was some sort of a devil.

    Ryle watched with wide-eyed horror at the monster Durge had just turned into. It was the exact same thing she had seen years ago.

    With his transformation now complete, Durge let out a roar filled with rage that shook the arena. This also caught the attention of the dragon. The beast immediately recognized the orc as the most dangerous being in the area and made eliminating it its priority.

    The two massive beasts rushed towards one another, before colliding like two freight trains that were moving at top speed. It became a vicious and chaotic brawl, as the two combatants used everything they had to try and kill each other. Durge threw powerful punches that landed with the force of missiles, while the dragon would use its jaws, claws and even tail to wound the raging orc. They were now locked in combat that would only end once the other one was dead.

    Using this opportunity to her advantage, Ryle rushed over to Erin to see of she was alright. The redhead had not moved at all ever since she got hit by the dragon¡¯s tail, which immensely worried the blonde. She only hoped that her friend could still be saved.

    ¡°Erin! ERIN!¡± Ryle desperately called out while holding the redhead¡¯s body in her arms. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t do this shit to me! Wake up already!¡±

    ¡°...Please, not so loud,¡± Erin finally answered in a pained voice. ¡°I have a bad enough headache as it is.¡±

    ¡°Screw your headache! I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re still alive!¡± the blonde said happily. ¡°The hit you took scared the hell out of me! I honestly thought you were dead!¡±

    ¡°He he¡­ Sorry to disappoint,¡± the redhead joked. ¡°But while I¡¯m still alive and my arms and legs are okay, that thing still did a number on me. I¡¯m sure I have a few broken ribs.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure we can fix those, as long as we get out of here,¡± Ryle said as she put Erin¡¯s arm over her shoulders in order to help her walk. She the looked back at the fight between Durge and the dragon to see how it was going. ¡°Getting out of here might be the hard part actually¡­¡±

    Erin¡¯s eye went wide with shock as she saw how Durge had transformed and how he was fighting the dragon. He reminded her of a comic book character Devin had once showed her long ago, who transformed into a powerful and massive beast whenever he got angry, except far more terrifying and beastly.

    ¡°Is that¡­ Is that Durge!?¡± Erin asked, horrified by the orc¡¯s new form. ¡°How did he-!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not completely sure, but it seems he¡¯s a bit of a special case,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Turns out he has some type of a berserker form, except not the usual kind. I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s the same thing I saw him use a couple years back.¡±

    ¡°W-We have to help him!¡± the redhead said. ¡°He might have gotten stronger, but I doubt he can take on a dragon!¡±

    ¡°Are you out of your mind!? No way are we going to get mixed up in that!¡± the blonde said as she pointed at the brawl between the two monsters. ¡°Not only are we unable to actually help, but Durge no longer sees us allies! The moment he notices us, he¡¯s going to kill us!¡±

    ¡°GODDAMMIT, RYLE! ARE YOU STILL ON WITH THAT CRAP!?¡± Erin yelled angrily. ¡°EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR US, ARE YOU STILL SAYING THAT-!?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s angry rant was cut off by a slap across the face by Ryle. Erin was about to yell at the blonde angrily, only to see an expression on her face that caused her to stop. Instead of being angry and defiant, it seemed like Ryle was sad and regretful.

    ¡°...I know that I was wrong. I just couldn¡¯t shake the image of what happened back then out of my mind, even after everything he has done for us,¡± the blonde said. ¡°However, while I do want to help him like you do, the problem is we can¡¯t. Not just because we are too powerless to do anything, but because it would leave his sacrifice in vain. He turned into that monster in order to help us. We shouldn¡¯t make his effort meaningless by our own actions.¡±

    Erin looked back at the battle between Durge and the dragon. It was clear even without anyone stating it, but it was a fight that they had no place in. It was two massive monsters going at each other, making all of their previous battles seem like nothing in comparison. Was there really nothing that they could do?

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, the control room in charge of the games looked like it was a party, as the Laughing Ogre thugs in charge of it were having the time of their lives. They essentially got the best view of the show, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for them to bring in food and drinks to liven things up. As long as they did their job, there were no issues, so they took full advantage of their position.

    ¡°Wow. Who knew that bastard Durge had something like that up his sleeve?¡± one of the thugs commented, impressed by the orc¡¯s transformation. ¡°Do you think he could actually kill the dragon?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, idiot!¡± another one said mockingly. ¡°He might have gotten a bit stronger, but that¡¯s nothing against an actual dragon! He¡¯ll just end up as lunch for that thing!¡±

    ¡°He better! I bet money on all of the contestants dying!¡± a third one commented, getting a laugh out of the whole group.

    As they were watching the battle unfold, one of the monitors suddenly went dark. The thugs were so focused on the battle with the dragon that it almost went completely unnoticed.

    ¡°Hey¡­ One of the screens just went dark,¡± one of the thugs said, noticing the problem.

    ¡°Probably just a malfunction. It¡¯s been a while since the equipment got a maintenance check,¡± another one commented, not really concerned over what had happened. ¡°As long was we have most of the screens available, it shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue.¡±

    However, just as the thug said this, the rest of the screens began to shut down one after another. The control room crew immediately jumped into action, trying to find the issue, but weren¡¯t able to fix it no matter what they did. They then tried to use the communicators in the room to contact someone outside in order to report the issues, but even that wasn¡¯t working. With no other options, they tried to get out only to find the electric door not moving. The control room crew was now effectively cut off from the outside completely, unable to do anything.

    This was all caused by a certain cat boy right outside the control room, who had a smirk on his face. It was time to get into action.

 71. Dragon Slaying (Part 2)

    Chapter 71

    Dragon Slaying (Part 2)

    The battle between Durge and the dragon was getting more and more heated, as the two kept throwing everything they had at each other. The arena trembled from the clash of these two titans, making the area anywhere close to them something no one normal could ever hope to approach. If they did, they would only end up dead for their foolishness.

    ¡°Yeah! Kick the shit out of him, Durge!¡± Ryle cheered as she watched the battle go on. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s crazy strong! Maybe we can actually win against an actual dragon after all!¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible,¡± Erin said with a grim expression. ¡°If we don¡¯t do something soon, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll just end up dead.¡±

    ¡°Are you still on about that!? Didn¡¯t I already tell you that we can¡¯t do anything to help him!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Besides, what makes you think that he will lose!? He¡¯s been kicking that lizard¡¯s ass this whole time!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s been getting slower and slower as the fight has gone on. Not only that, but you can see that he¡¯s breathing heavily,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I fear that whatever this form of his is uses up a lot of energy. Even if the dragon doesn¡¯t kill him, he might end up dead from exhaustion alone!¡±

    Ryle took another look at Durge and realized that Erin was right. While the orc had been able to put on a strong fight before, his attacks were now sluggish and easily avoidable by the dragon. Not only that, but he was breathing like he had just run two marathons in a row without pause. It was a painful sight to behold.

    ¡°...Y-You¡¯re right! He¡¯s barely holding on!¡± Ryle said, understanding just how bad the situation truly was. ¡°But what the hell can we do!? If we just run in there, we¡¯ll end up getting trampled or eaten!¡±

    Erin hated to admit it, but her friend was right. There was virtually nothing they could actually do. A battle of this level was way beyond their capabilities, but they still needed to do something. The redhead was desperately looking around for anything they could use to assist Durge, but nothing came to mind. It looked completely hopeless.

    Suddenly, Durge managed to land a powerful uppercut to the dragon¡¯s jaw, knocking it to the floor. It looked like the tide of the fight had finally turned in the orc¡¯s favor.

    ¡°Yes! He got that thing!¡± Ryle cheered, thinking that this was the end of the battle. Erin also watched with anticipation, hoping that Durge would win.

    However, the hope that Erin and Ryle had was quickly crushed, as the dragon fought back viciously by using its claws. Blood was spilled on the floor, as the claws tore through Durge¡¯s flesh, leaving large wounds on his body.

    ¡°DURGE!¡± Erin screamed, horrified over the orc¡¯s fatal injuries. Just as the redhead thought that it was over for him, the wounds began to close in an incredibly fast rate. ¡°What in the¡­?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s regenerating¡­ His body is actually healing itself!¡± Ryle said, as she stared at the sight before her with wide eyes. ¡°Whatever it is that allowed him to transform has some incredible abilities packed into it.¡±

    The joy of seeing Durge survive his wounds didn¡¯t last long, as the orc was still in a very bad state. His wounds might have healed themselves, but he was now utterly exhausted, as he couldn¡¯t even find the strength to even stand up. The dragon saw this and decided to use the opportunity it had been given by charging its breath attack once again. The flames that shot out from the beast¡¯s mouth washed over Durge, as Erin and Ryle could only watch in horror.

    However, before the dragon managed to turn its opponent into ashes, it suddenly stopped its attack. With the flames no longer burning him, Durge¡¯s charred body simply fell to the floor. As Erin and Ryle wondered what had happened, they saw that the dragon was acting strangely, like it was getting lightheaded and was having trouble breathing.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with that thing?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°It almost looks like it¡¯s sick or something.¡±

    ¡°...Or maybe it¡¯s poisoned,¡± Erin said as she realized what was going on. ¡°The tip of the spear I used to pierce it through the eye had venom on it. It¡¯s finally starting to take effect on it. This might be our chance to beat that thing.¡±

    ¡°Maybe so, but how?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Poisoned or not, that is still a dragon and I don¡¯t think we should be getting close to it.¡±

    The redhead cursed as she realized that her friend was right. Even if it was being affected by the venom, it was still a very dangerous monster that could easily kill both of them. It seemed like their situation hadn¡¯t changed much at all.

    Just as all hope seemed to be lost, more metal crates fell from the ceiling, landing close to the dragon. Before anyone could do anything, the crates opened, letting out all kinds of beasts. These included wolves, giant reptiles, spiders and insects.

    Being caught in a full panic, the beasts began to attack those close to them, which included the dragon. Even though it was poisoned, the dragon still showed just how mighty of a beast it truly was and easily annihilated the lesser creatures that dared challenge it. But while it could easily deal with its new enemies, the venom running through its veins took its toll. This allowed more and more of the beasts to attack the dragon, leaving their marks on its body.

    Erin and Ryle could only stare in awe at the carnage that was unfolded before their eyes. It was truly a picture of hell, as the beasts did all they could to tear each other apart.

    ¡°Erin! Ryle!¡± Lexton suddenly called out to the two, as he ran towards them. ¡°What is happening here!? Why did those monsters suddenly get dropped on the arena!?¡±

    ¡°We are just as clueless as you are in regards to that, Lex!¡± Ryle answered. ¡°All of a sudden, crates full of monsters just dropped right next to the dragon and all hell broke loose! I don¡¯t know if this is lucky or unlucky for us!¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s definitely lucky!¡± the kobold said. ¡°With the rate those things are going at it, there won¡¯t be much for us to worry about soon! Even that dragon might get killed, if we¡¯re lucky enough!¡±

    ¡°By the way, where have you been?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You said that you were going to make something that could actually kill that dragon. What exactly did you make?¡±

    ¡°Well, you see-¡±

    Lexton¡¯s reply was cut off, as a loud roar, filled with primal rage that desired blood, echoed through the arena. They turned to see that the dragon had finished killing off all the beasts that had attacked it and was still standing. Despite the numerous wounds covering its body and the venom still going through its body, the dragon still refused to fall down and instead stood tall and prepared for battle.

    In fact, it had just put its sights on its next target. More precisely three of them. Flames were slowly building up in its mouth, as the beast prepared to wipe out its targets in one go. The dragon began to move towards them with heavy steps, as its injuries slowed it down.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°...Okay, no time to explain!¡± Lexton said as he quickly handled a metal cylindrical object to Ryle. ¡°Hey, remember when we were fighting against that guy who used an ocarina to control animals!?¡±

    ¡°Sure, but what does-?¡±

    ¡°And remember how you threw ME at him!?¡± the kobold continued, cutting off the blonde. ¡°By the way, NEVER do that again, asshole!¡±

    ¡°No promises! Still what are you getting at?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Once that thing opens its mouth, I want you to throw that in it!¡± Lexton said. ¡°Get ready to do that the exact moment it opens its mouth or else we¡¯re all toast!¡±

    Ryle gave a quick look at Erin, who simply shrugged. With no other options, they decided to simply put their faith in their friend and prepared to face the dragon.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the beast to get into optimal distance from its targets. While its eyes were hazy from loss of blood and the effects of the venom, one could still tell that it was determined to see whatever its gaze fell upon dead. Its breath attack had also built up and all it needed to do now was unleash it and let the fire wash over those before it.

    As its maw opened, Ryle used her good arm to throw the weapon Lexton had given her. The metallic object flew through the air and hit its target, landing right in the middle of the flames within the dragon¡¯s mouth.

    Before anyone could do anything, a loud explosion erupted inside the dragon¡¯s mouth, causing smoke and flames to fly in all directions. The blast was strong enough to knock down Erin and Ryle, who had not expected such a thing to happen.

    Once the smoke finally cleared out, they saw the dragon swaying from side to side. Its mouth had smoke rising up from it, as the explosion had done its damage. The beast¡¯s tongue had been torn apart and several of its teeth had been sent flying out. Blood was dripping down like a fountain, as it tried to remain standing, only to fall down with no more strength in its body.

    For a moment, Erin and Ryle could only stare at the dragon¡¯s corpse, unable to believe that it had actually died. Once they were sure it was dead did they allow themselves to relax.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ That was quite something, huh?¡± Ryle said. ¡°Hard to believe that big lizard is actually dead.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean,¡± Erin said. ¡°But what actually happened? What was that thing you gave her, Lex?¡±

    ¡°Pretty effective, wasn¡¯t it!?¡± the kobold proudly called out to his two companions. However, instead of standing next to them like they had thought, he was hiding behind one of the metal barricades, having ran there after giving the weapon to Ryle. ¡°I guess this just goes to show how much of a genius I truly am!¡±

    ¡°Lex, you cowardly little bastard!¡± Ryle yelled angrily at the kobold. ¡°You actually hid yourself and left us to face a freaking dragon on our own!?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, just let it be. It¡¯s been a rough day for all of us,¡± Erin said with a deep sigh, not in the mood for any arguing. ¡°But still, what was in that thing you gave Ryle?¡±

    ¡°I told you that we had the perfect tools available to take on the dragon, right? What I meant by that was that I could build us a bomb that would be effective in taking that thing down,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°You see, the spider you killed wasn¡¯t just any spider, but a creature known as the Bombardment Spider. The venom it uses doesn¡¯t affect your nervous system or anything like that. Instead, it actually heats up and explodes. Once I found something that I could use as a container, I carefully extracted the venom into it and sealed it with its web, thus creating a bomb perfect for dragon slaying.¡±

    ¡°You came up with that so fast?¡± Erin asked in an impressed tone. ¡°You really are quite something.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. A real jackass,¡± Ryle said, still sounding upset. ¡°Would it have killed you to warn us first?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly have the time, did I!?¡± Lexton argued. ¡°Besides, what are you upset about? The dragon is dead and we¡¯re alive! I¡¯d say that¡¯s a pretty good end result-¡±

    A new roar echoed throughout the arena, as the dragon suddenly stood back up with renewed energy. Despite its body being torn and battered all over, the beast still somehow found the strength in it to move again. It wasn¡¯t certain if this was pure willpower, an animal instinct for survival or just sheer anger at the ones that had harmed it, but the dragon was once again showing just how much of a terrifying monster it was.

    With its body up again, the beast set its sights on the ones who had put it in this state, Erin and her friends, before making a mad dash towards them.

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton had been so caught off guard that they were unable to do anything in response. Time seemed to slow down for them, as the dragon rushed towards them with a bleeding maw open and ready to tear them apart.

    Just as the dragon was about to reach the three, something came in and stopped it. This was none other than Durge, who was still alive. As soon as the orc had woken up, he had seen the dragon running towards Erin and her friends. This forced him to get up and run to stop the beast.

    Now Durge was holding the dragon by its jaws. The monster tried to desperately fight back, but it was completely futile, as the orc simple bent the dragon¡¯s jaws until a sickening crack was heard. Upon this happening, the dragon finally stopped moving and went completely silent, as its last remaining embers of life were snuffed out.

    With the dragon finally dead, Durge dropped its body onto the ground before falling on his knees, having used up all the energy he had. While he was still in his transformed state, his regeneration was no longer working as effectively as it was before. The orc had also shrunk a bit and his eyes were starting to look more normal. These were all signs that his transformation was most likely getting undone.

    Despite fearing that she might get attacked by him, Erin slowly moved closer towards Durge. They might not have known each other all that long, but he had done a lot to help her and her friends. She needed to at least make sure that he was okay.

    ¡°Durge?¡± the redhead called out to him. ¡°Are you-?¡±

    ¡°Kill¡­ me¡­¡± the orc said in a weak tone. ¡°Please¡­¡±

    ¡°W-What!?¡± Erin said out of shock.

    ¡°I can barely¡­ hold it back¡­¡± Durge said. ¡°The urge to kill¡­ It¡¯s still strong¡­ If I¡¯m not stopped¡­ I will¡­ kill again¡­ without any control¡­ Please¡­ Kill me before it happens¡­¡±

    The redhead was taken aback by the sudden request and didn¡¯t know how to respond. Seeing her hesitation, Ryle stepped up.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do it,¡± the blonde said. ¡°I¡¯ll make it quick and painless.¡±

    A small grateful smile appeared on Durge¡¯s face, as he gave a glance at Ryle. However, before the blonde could finish off the orc, Erin stepped in front of her.

    ¡°Ryle, what are you saying!?¡± the redhead asked in a mix of shock and anger. ¡°How can you just kill him after everything he has done for us!? Don¡¯t you still understand how much he has done for us!?¡±

    ¡°I do. And it¡¯s exactly because of how much he has helped us that I am willing to do it,¡± the blonde said without any hint of hesitation or wavering. ¡°I now know that he isn¡¯t the monster I made him out to be. He¡¯s a good person and we owe him for helping us.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you-!?¡±

    ¡°BECAUSE I DON¡¯T WANT TO MAKE HIM SUFFER!¡± Ryle yelled, cutting off Erin. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that he is suffering!? He doesn¡¯t want to live like this anymore! Whatever it is that gives him his powers also causes him to attack friends as well! That¡¯s why he is asking us to put him out of his misery, so that he won¡¯t harm others again! Including us!¡±

    ¡°...I-Is there nothing we can do?¡± the redhead asked on the verge of tears. ¡°Can¡¯t we help him somehow?¡±

    ¡°...We can make it painless. That¡¯s about it,¡± the blonde answered.

    With nothing to argue against Ryle¡¯s decision, Erin regretfully stepped aside, allowing her friend to get in a better position to grant Durge¡¯s wish. The blonde had a sorrowful look on her face, as she stared down at the transformed orc before her, begging for death.

    ¡°I know we didn¡¯t exactly start on good terms, but¡­ I¡¯m honestly grateful for what you¡¯ve done for us. The fact that you tried to save Arnie even at the risk of your own life and even helping me out. I just¡­ wish we didn¡¯t have to end things on such a shit note,¡± Ryle said. ¡°I just hope you can find peace and maybe even look after my brother in whatever it is you end up in, okay?¡±

    With her last words for Durge said, the blonde began to gather her ki in her good hand, making it into a dedly weapon that could break stone easily. Even though he was transformed, Durge was so weak that a powerful blow like that would easily put him down for good. The orc closed his eyes and waited for death to claim him.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Lexton suddenly called out. ¡°What the hell are we doing here?¡±

    ¡°What the-!? CAN¡¯T YOU FREAKING TELL!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°I¡¯m about to kill Durge obviously!¡±

    ¡°...Why?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Are you¡­ Are you for real?¡± the blonde asked in half anger and half disbelief.

    ¡°Lex, the thing is that whatever this transformation that Durge uses is very dangerous and he could lose control at any time,¡± Erin explained in a sad tone. ¡°He himself doesn¡¯t want to hurt us accidentally, so he¡¯s asking us to put him down.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t get it. Why does he have to die?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°All he really needs to do is allow the transformation to wear off and that¡¯s it.¡±

    Before either Erin or Ryle could make any arguments, the kobold walked up to the orc and stabbed him on the shoulder with a knife. The two women at first thought that Durge would attack Lexton in retaliation, but were shocked to see him simply fall over. Upon taking a closer look, they saw that the orc¡¯s eyes had rolled to the back of his head and that he was foaming at the mouth.

    ¡°...Lex, what did you do to him?¡± Erin asked while staring at Durge with a wide eye.

    ¡°Nothing much. I just used some of that wasp¡¯s poison on him,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°It¡¯s a very powerful neurotoxin, so it should keep him down until his transformation wears off.¡±

    ¡°You mean you poisoned him!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°How is that any better than what I was going to do!? You¡¯re just making him suffer a more painful death!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, idiot. It was just so that he wouldn¡¯t run around causing havoc,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I noticed how well his injuries had healed, so there has got to be some sort of a healing factor tied to his transformation. The venom I used on him might be potent, but it was a relatively small amount. I¡¯m sure his body will be able to fight through it, before the rest of the energy in his new form is completely burnt out.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ Are you saying that he doesn¡¯t have to die?¡± Erin asked in a hopeful tone. ¡°We can actually save him?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Have I ever lied to you?¡± the kobold said back with a smirk.

    The redhead let out a sigh of relief as a couple of happy tears escaped her eye. They had done it. They had gone against a dragon and not only did they defeat it, but they managed to do so without losing anyone. It was the best possible outcome she could have ever imagined.

    However, none of them realized that the danger was far from over.

 72. One Last Game

    Chapter 72

    One Last Game

    While Erin and her group were celebrating their victory, things were far from happy when it came to the Laughing Ogre. Every member of the gang had expected the dragon to wipe out most, if not all of the remaining contestants, especially when it came to Durge. Yet because of the redhead¡¯s group that hadn¡¯t come to pass. Instead, the beast that they had paid a huge amount of money for was now dead and their show was essentially ruined.

    Not only were the members of the gang upset, but so were a lot of the people watching. The people handling complaints were getting a lot of angry messages from viewers, who were not happy with how things had turned out. A lot of them felt cheated, as they had put money on how things would turn out for some of the contestants with many of them thinking the dragon would kill quite a few. Now there were suspicions that the Laughing Ogre had intentionally made the dragon lose for better revenue on their part. This was only enforced by the numerous beasts suddenly getting dropped on the fire-breathing monster.

    However, if there was anybody who was truly upset, it was none of other than the gang¡¯s leader himself, Grandall. Not only had the one person he had wanted to see die survived, but the game wasn¡¯t supposed to end in such a manner at all. The contestants this time had a lot of enemies of the Laughing Ogre among them and he had planned to get rid of them all in one go. To say the least, the gang leader was quite livid.

    ¡°W-What the hell just happened, daddy!?¡± Grazia asked as she stared at the screen showing the arena in front of them. ¡°How could a dragon get beat by a bunch of bums we put against it!? It makes no sense!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, honey. I don¡¯t know,¡± Grandall said in a low tone that was calm but one could easily detect pure anger emanating from it. ¡°All I know is that somebody screwed things up for me big time. And that somebody is going to pay for this with added interest.¡±

    The gang leader picked up a radio in order to contact the control room to ask what was going on, only for it to not work. Seeing as how he needed to go there personally, he stood up from his seat and was about to walk out of their personal room, when the door suddenly opened. To his surprise, Driz was standing there, blocking his way.

    ¡°What the hell do you want, Driz?¡± Grandall asked angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your bullshit right now.¡±

    ¡°We have something urgent to discuss, Grandall,¡± the elf responded.

    Back in the arena, Durge had reverted back to his normal self. However, he looked drained, like he hadn¡¯t eaten for days, and was in a very weak state. Despite this, the others were just glad that their companion was still alive.

    ¡°How are you holding up, Durge?¡± Erin asked, concerned over his health. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve certainly been better, but I¡¯ll live,¡± the orc answered. ¡°And while I¡¯m grateful that my life was saved, I wish you guys had found another way to do so.¡±

    ¡°Hey, beggars can¡¯t be choosers, you know?¡± Lexton said. ¡°Besides, it all worked out in the end, didn¡¯t it? I think you guys should show me some respect here!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be sure to show you respect, if you ever do that to me,¡± Ryle said as she glared at the kobold. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a one way trip up in the sky with my foot up your ass. How about that?¡±

    ¡°You guys are so unreasonable,¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°Anyways, what do we do now? We might have gotten rid of the dragon, but we¡¯re still stuck inside the Laughing Ogre¡¯s game show.¡±

    ¡°Well, since we won, I¡¯m guessing we¡¯ll be allowed to at least get out of here. The real question is what will happen after that,¡± Erin said as she looked around the arena. She then spotted something rather important. ¡°Look! One of the gates is open!¡±

    The rest of the group turned to look where the redhead was pointing and indeed one of the gates leading to the arena was open. Upon looking around a bit more, they saw more of the gates open and the bridges leading to the arena itself get lowered, thus allowing people to leave.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! I guess we can finally get out of here!¡± Ryle said. She then turned towards Durge and offered a hand to him. ¡°Come on, big guy. I¡¯ll help you walk.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. But I think you all might be getting excite a bit too early,¡± Durge said as he took the hand that was offered to him and leaned against the blonde for support. ¡°There is something weird going on right now. From what I understand, once the games are over, they simply open one of the gates to send some of the goons in to do the clean up. Now all the gates are open and there is no one coming here. I can¡¯t help but feel like something is going on.¡±

    ¡°Who cares about that right now?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°The way I see it, we need to get out of here and we have a perfect chance for that right in front of us! Besides, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?¡±

    ¡°I have a hard time believing this, but I agree with Ryle,¡± Lexton said. ¡°We should be focusing on our number one priority right now, which is getting out of here. No point staying around here for nothing.¡±

    The kobold began to run towards the gate before them, soon followed by Ryle and Durge. Erin was about to follow after her friends, but stopped upon noticing something. At first, she wasn¡¯t sure it had been real or if her eyes were simply playing tricks on her, but upon seeing it again she knew it was real.

    There was something moving before them that was almost completely invisible. Only a thin outline where the light bent in a strange manner telling you that anything was there at all.

    ¡°GUYS, GET BACK!¡± Erin yelled at her friends upon realizing the danger they were in. ¡°THERE¡¯S SOMETHING OVER THERE!¡±

    Upon hearing the redhead¡¯s warning, Ryle and Durge stopped in their tracks. Lexton was too focused on getting out that he kept moving forward. However, his escape was cut short, when some sort of an invisible force suddenly struck him, sending him flying back to the others.

    ¡°LEX!¡± Erin yelled, worried over her friend. ¡°Are you okay!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± the kobold answered in a pained voice as he held his chest. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit shaken from getting the air knocked out of me.¡±

    ¡°Guess you¡¯re not as weak and useless as I thought you were,¡± a familiar voice called out. ¡°That¡¯s the only reason you¡¯re still alive, though.¡±

    Right before the group, a person seemed to appear out of thin air. This was none other than Goldiana.

    ¡°You!?¡± Erin shouted, shocked to see the barbarian woman. ¡°How are you still alive!? Didn¡¯t the dragon get you!?¡±

    ¡°Obviously it didn¡¯t. I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re so surprised, though. It¡¯s not like you saw me get eaten by that thing,¡± Goldiana said with a smirk. ¡°And before you ask how I managed to avoid it, let¡¯s just say that it helps to have friends in the right places.¡±

    At that moment, Lexton noticed a device strapped on the barbarian¡¯s wrist. He had only seen similar items once, but he was still able to recognize it.

    ¡°So you got someone to send you a cloaking device that allowed you to turn yourself invisible,¡± the kobold said. ¡°That¡¯s how you were able to hide from the dragon.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just that. She also did something to her own body odor,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Even though she¡¯s standing right in front of me, I can¡¯t smell her at all.¡±

    ¡°You two have good eyes. Or a nose in the case of one of you,¡± Goldiana said. ¡°You¡¯re right on the money. I got some useful little tools to help me out. As you can see, they¡¯re pretty high quality. It really pays to have friends in high places.¡±

    ¡°Alright, so you¡¯re not just some random that crossed the Laughing Ogre, but someone far more dangerous. But who the hell are you actually?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You¡¯ve had your eye on me this whole time, but I¡¯ve never met you before.¡±

    ¡°Well, we haven¡¯t seen each other, but you did meet my colleague not too long ago,¡± the barbarian woman said. ¡°You guys did a number on him as well. I doubt even his mother would recognize him after what you did to him.¡±

    The redhead didn¡¯t understand what Goldiana was saying, but it then clicked in her head. Her eye went wide as she realized who they were dealing with.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°...You¡¯re talking about Dryzal, the beast tamer we faced before coming here. You¡¯re one of Golorath¡¯s top troops like he was,¡± Erin said, earning shocked looks from her companions.

    ¡°Correct! Glad to see you finally figure it out. I was afraid that this would take all day,¡± Goldiana said with a chuckle. ¡°As you¡¯ve probably guessed by now, I¡¯ve come here to deal with you all. Especially you, red.¡±

    ¡°Judging by what Dryzal said, I¡¯m guessing you mean to take me to your boss for whatever he has planned for me,¡± the redhead said as she glared at the assassin before her. ¡°Well, you can go back to him and tell him to just be patient. I¡¯m planning to come meet him myself very soon.¡±

    ¡°Afraid I can¡¯t do that. You see, the big boss is very strict when it comes to following his orders. If you decide to go against them even slightly¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say that you¡¯re lucky, you die fast,¡± Goldiana said. ¡°So I¡¯m going to assume by your previous statement that you aren¡¯t exactly going to come willingly then?¡±

    ¡°You can bet your ass that she isn¡¯t!¡± Ryle shouted angrily as she stepped closer to her friend. ¡°And none of us are going to just let you take her away either! So you either back off or we¡¯re going to throw down!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine by me,¡± the barbarian said with a shrug. ¡°I was instructed to kill everyone else except for your redheaded friend anyways, so this will just make my job easier for me.¡±

    Ryle got herself ready for a fight, only for Erin to gently push her away. The redhead then gave her blonde friend a stern look that left no room for argument.

    ¡°Ryle, you need to get out of here. Durge is in no condition to fight and Lex isn¡¯t suited for this type of a battle either,¡± Erin instructed. ¡°Go find Arnie and then try to come back and help. I¡¯ll hold her off on my own until then.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! You¡¯re not-!¡± the blonde tried to argue, but realized that there was nothing she could say, so she relented. ¡°...Okay, but you better not get yourself killed, got it? Once I get these two somewhere safe, I¡¯m coming back with Arnie. Just hold on until then!¡±

    Ryle, Durge and Lexton turned around and began to head for one of the other now open gates. However, Goldiana wasn¡¯t about to just let them go like that.

    ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re all going?¡± the barbarian asked with a grin as she began to chase after them. ¡°I¡¯m not going to just-¡±

    The rest of her threat got cut off, as Erin got in front of her with fists raised and ready to fight.

    ¡°You think you have time to worry about them!?¡± the redhead yelled as she swung her fist. ¡°I already beat one of you, so I¡¯ll-!¡±

    Erin¡¯s threat was cut short as her fist connected with Goldiana¡¯s face. Intense pain shot through her hand and she had to hold back a scream. It had felt like she had punched an iron wall with all her might.

    ¡°You actually insult me,¡± the assassin said with a grin as she stared down at her pained target. ¡°You actually think you can compare me to that loser Dryzal? I¡¯m far stronger than he ever was.¡±

    <hr>

    While Erin was stuck with facing off against the assassin, Ryle was busy with getting the rest of the group out of the building. This was proving to be far easier than they could have imagined, as they hadn¡¯t met with any Laughing Ogre thugs at all. If it wasn¡¯t for the noise they kept hearing, they would have assumed that the place had been suddenly abandoned.

    ¡°Seriously, are we lucky or what!?¡± Ryle said excitedly. ¡°We¡¯ve been going through this place for¡­ I don¡¯t even know how long and yet we haven¡¯t seen a single guard! I wonder if our luck is good enough to get us an empty hot dog place? I¡¯m kind of hungry¡­¡±

    ¡°While I have no doubt that you have some truly deep thoughts going through your empty mind, I would like you to focus on the situation at hand!¡± Lexton shouted at the blonde. ¡°We have no time to think about snacks! Erin is going up against one of Golorath¡¯s top warriors right now and I doubt her chances at winning are good!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, about that whole Golorath business,¡± Durge said while being supported by Ryle. ¡°Just what exactly-¡±

    ¡°Come on, Lex! You gotta be hungry as well!¡± Ryle said, completely cutting off the orc. ¡°Besides, you can¡¯t fight a war on an empty stomach! Not to mention, it¡¯s not like we aren¡¯t safe already. Or are you going to tell me that all the goons suddenly turned invisible or something?¡±

    ¡°While I will admit that I¡¯m quite famished, I at least have the brain power to focus on the important things!¡± Lexton yelled. ¡°Also, perhaps you have failed to notice this, but the lack of security isn¡¯t due to some arbitrary luck! Haven¡¯t you seen all the closed metal doors!?¡±

    Upon having it pointed out to her, the blonde looked around and saw that the kobold was speaking the truth. There were a lot of corridors surrounding them that were now sealed through thick metal doors. Sounds of battle, such as gunshots and shouting could be heard from behind them.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I never noticed,¡± Ryle said. ¡°But is that such an issue? I mean, it only makes things easier for us.¡±

    ¡°It might only look like that for now! Did you ever think that there might be something bigger going on!?¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°This whole thing took a weird turn back at the arena as well, when they suddenly dropped those crates full of beasts right next to the dragon! There¡¯s someone pulling the strings behind the scenes and we have no idea what their goal is at all!¡±

    ¡°...Think this has anything to do with that lady Erin is fighting now?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I mean, she was sent by Golorath himself.¡±

    ¡°Funny you should bring up Golorath again,¡± Durge spoke up. ¡°I was hoping to ask-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s entirely possible,¡± Lexton replied to Ryle¡¯s question, once again cutting off the orc. ¡°Having such a high profile person here can only mean that something big is going on, after all.¡±

    ¡°Okay, are you guys ignoring me on purpose or something?¡± Durge asked in a slightly annoyed tone. ¡°I just want to ask about-¡±

    ¡°So what exactly do you suggest we do then?¡± Ryle asked, ignoring the orc yet again. ¡°If there is some big nefarious plot going on, how do we deal with it?¡±

    ¡°Oh forget about it¡­¡± Durge mumbled, giving up on his question.

    ¡°Right now, we need to focus on getting all of us out of here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Let¡¯s try to find Arnie. That way we¡¯ll have more strength in our group to take on Goldiana. If we¡¯re lucky, we might even find some useful weapons for that.¡±

    Ryle simply nodded in response. With their mission clear in their minds, the trio went on to look for their missing companion.

    However, they didn¡¯t have to look for long, as Arkay suddenly appeared from behind a corner, almost colliding with Lexton.

    ¡°ARNIE!¡± Ryle and Lexton shouted happily.

    ¡°Guys?¡± Arkay said in disbelief, surprised to see his friends so suddenly. ¡°How did you-?¡±

    The cat boy didn¡¯t get a chance to finish his question, as he was pulled into a tight hug by Ryle.

    ¡°God, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay! I was worried over what that freaky bitch might have done to you this whole time!¡± the blonde said as a couple of happy tears escaped her eyes. ¡°But don¡¯t worry any longer! I¡¯m here now and you¡¯ll never have to go through something like that again!¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Ryle? I get that you¡¯re hapy to see him, but I think you need to loosen your grip a bit,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I think he¡¯s turning blue from the lack of oxygen right now.¡±

    The blonde looked at Arkay¡¯s face and he was indeed turning blue. His eyes had also rolled to the back of his head from the constriction on his body. After letting the cat boy breathe normally for a moment and regain the color on his face, the newly reunited friends could once again talk with each other.

    ¡°How did you get here, Arnie?¡± Lexton asked the cat boy. ¡°We were just on our way to rescue you, but it seems to me that you did that by yourself.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s basically what happened,¡± Arkay replied. ¡°Since they didn¡¯t know I was a technomancer, I was able to use my ability to escape. Once I did that, I went to their control room and used my ability to help you guys out.¡±

    ¡°So that explains the crates dropping on the dragon back at the arena,¡± Durge said, impressed by the cat boy¡¯s abilities. ¡°I was wondering what that was about. I guess it was thanks to you then?¡±

    ¡°Yup! I was also able to shut down their security cameras, so we should still be in the clear,¡± Arkay said. ¡°However, we should hurry. I¡¯m not sure how long it will take until they get their systems back online.¡±

    ¡°Hey, good job out there, Arnie!¡± Ryle said with a big smile as she ruffled the boy¡¯s hair. ¡°Thanks to you, not only were we able to take down a dragon, but we might be able to get out of here as well! Talk about a real pro!¡±

    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m happy to see that things worked out well enough,¡± Arkay said. ¡°But how did you guys get here?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°You opened the doors leading to the arena, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do that,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°All I could do was turn off the cameras and drop the crates on the dragon. Had I tried to do more, I would have run out of energy and gotten caught. I was actually trying to get to the arena, so that I could find a way to help you out of there.¡±

    ¡°...Then if you didn¡¯t open the doors, I¡¯m guessing you also didn¡¯t have a hand in closing these?¡± the kobold asked, while pointing at one of the closed metal doors. Arkay simply shook his head in response. ¡°But if weren¡¯t the one behind that, then who was it? And why?¡±

    ¡°Judging by the sounds that came from behind them, it¡¯s someone that¡¯s not exactly on good terms with the Laughing Ogre,¡± Durge said. ¡°While it¡¯s quiet now, I could hear someone fighting there. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a rival gang or something, but we shouldn¡¯t assume that they are our friends.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Anyways, what we should do now is either find some weaponry or simply go back to where Erin was and do what we can to help her out,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Durge, do you know a way to an armory or something like that?¡±

    ¡°There is a place where they keep the equipment of the guards, but I doubt we can get there,¡± the orc replied. ¡°Judging by how these doors are closed, I¡¯m guessing the only ones left open are ones that lead to the exit. Not only would we have to spend time in finding our way there, but opening each and every door in our way will take a lot of time.¡±

    ¡°Guess that settles it then,¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°I hate to go into a fight that I have not prepared for at all, but we don¡¯t have any other options. Erin might be tough, but she won¡¯t last long against someone like Goldiana.¡±

    ¡°Hey, before we get going, what are we going to do about Durge?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°The guy can barely move, so we can¡¯t just drag him into a battle, can we?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡± the orc said with a slight smile, feeling somewhat happy that there were people concerned over him. ¡°If you think I¡¯ll slow you down, you can just leave me here. I¡¯ll figure out a way out for myself.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re in a real bad shape!¡± Arkay said in a worried tone. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going to be okay?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, you don¡¯t need to worry about me,¡± the orc replied. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve been ready to lose my life for quite some time now, so-¡±

    ¡°SCREW THAT!¡± Ryle suddenly yelled angrily, shocking the others. ¡°You think we¡¯re going to just feel all fine and dandy over you getting killed!? Well, here¡¯s a newsflash for you, WE ARE NOT!¡±

    ¡°...I thought Ryle had issues with him,¡± Arkay whispered to Lexton. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± the kobold whispered back. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that she sees him in a different light now.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m happy that you care about me, but you shouldn¡¯t feel too concerned,¡± Durge said after getting over his shock. ¡°I know I¡¯m not in the best shape right now, but I should still be able to hold my own, if the need for that comes.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t like that idea at all! We need to make sure you¡¯ll be safe while we go get Erin! And in order to do that we just need to hide you! We just need the right place,¡± Ryle said as she looked around. ¡°A-ha! Perfect!¡±

    The others turned to look at what the blonde had found and saw a food stall, most likely meant for the guests and guards. Right now, there was no one there, as the people that would normally work there had most likely ran away due to what was happening.

    ¡°How are you supposed to hide someone as big as Durge there?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Just watch,¡± Ryle replied with a grin as she walked to the stall. One of the things at the stall was a large clear container full of popcorn. With a swift kick she took off the top of the container, before turning back to her friends. ¡°See? Perfect place to hide him!¡±

    ¡°...Hang on, you¡¯re not actually planning to-?¡± Durge began to ask nervously as he figured out what the blonde¡¯s plan was. However, he was once again cut off, as he got dragged to the container and thrown inside of it with all the salty snacks inside. ¡°Yeah, just like I guessed¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay, you just wait here, while we go get Erin. Once we have her with us, we¡¯ll come back for you, okay?¡± Ryle said as she used the popcorn to cover up Durge. ¡°Also, try not to eat any of that. You wouldn¡¯t want to ruin your cover, would you?¡±

    While Lexton and Arkay weren¡¯t exactly convinced of the blonde¡¯s idea, they simply went along with it, as they had no better ideas themselves. With the orc now hidden, the three of them started to make their way back to the arena to help Erin.

    ¡°...What has become of my life?¡± Durge said with a sigh, thinking about his current predicament. He then took some of the popcorn and chewed it for a bit before spitting it out. ¡°This stuff tastes like crap anyways. No need to worry about me eating it.¡±

 73. A Beast of a Barbarian

    Chapter 73

    A Beast of a Barbarian

    Erin was staring at her opponent while holding her throbbing right hand. While she couldn¡¯t tell how badly she had just injured herself, she could guess that the bones in her hand had fractured at least in a couple of places. While she could still somewhat use it, it hurt like hell and wasn¡¯t an idea she liked to think about.

    However, the opponent before her was someone that was going to take a lot to beat. Her hand was most likely not going to be the only thing broken in the end, provided that she survived.

    ¡°You just had to go and do that, didn¡¯t you?¡± Goldiana said with a sigh. ¡°You just had to ruin my fun.¡±

    ¡°Fun? Is that how you see killing people?¡± Erin asked as she grit her teeth in anger. ¡°Is every single on of Golorath¡¯s people a sick murderer that just takes pleasure in hurting others?¡±

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t speak for all of them, but there are quite a few people like me,¡± the barbarian woman replied with a shrug. ¡°I mean, what¡¯s the harm with loving your job? My job is to kill those that oppose Lord Golorath and I happen to find that fun. I¡¯d say that¡¯s a pretty good deal.¡±

    ¡°...How did you find us?¡± the redhead decided to ask, hoping to give her friends more time and possibly obtain some valuable information. ¡°The last person was able to track us by following us from Moonstone City and by using wild beasts. How did you know we were here?¡±

    ¡°Just a lucky coincidence. That¡¯s all,¡± Goldiana answered with a smirk. ¡°You see, life can get pretty boring, when you don¡¯t have much to do. These days those who would ever dare oppose any of the Five Overlords are very few and rare, so people like me are left with very little to do. I just happened to learn about some crazy deadly game show that some gang here was holding and decided to check it out. I haven¡¯t had this much fun in quite a while.¡±

    ¡°You came here for fun?¡± Erin asked, shocked by the response she had gotten. ¡°So you never knew we were anywhere near at all?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much. But you can imagine how surprised I was, when I heard about you guys,¡± the barbarian woman explained. ¡°I was just minding my own business, when one of our spies came to visit me. He told me that Lord Golorath¡¯s most wanted targets had not only gotten into the same town I was in, but that they would be taking part in these games as well! Man, I had a good laugh at that! I mean, what are the odds!?¡±

    The redhead thought back to what Durge had told her in regards to Goldiana. She recalled the story about someone with a lot of money coming over to meet the blonde barbarian and how the orc had suspected them to be working for one of the Five Overlords.

    ¡°Dryzal wanted to take alive, though. Are you sure you¡¯re doing your job properly?¡± Erin asked in a slightly mocking tone. ¡°If your boss wants me alive, should you really have just allowed me to come here and risk losing my life? Seems to me that you¡¯re doing a pretty shitty job.¡±

    ¡°Meh. The guy who gave me the mission seemed to understand at least somewhat what kind of a place this was. Had you died by your own lack of skill, it wouldn¡¯t have been blamed on me,¡± Goldiana said. ¡°We might call him Lord Golorath, but we only work for him in order to get paid. We couldn¡¯t care less if he or his friends were to drop dead.¡±

    ¡°So when you were waiting for me at the top of that tower you were just waiting to see if I had actually survived or not?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Pretty much. If I¡¯m gonna do a job, I might as well do it well,¡± the barbarian woman said. ¡°Now, I think we¡¯ve wasted enough time talking. It¡¯s time to get to work. Just as a heads up, I¡¯ll be breaking your arms and legs. If you don¡¯t resist, that will be all. But do try to make this at least a little fun for me.¡±

    Erin prepared herself by getting into a stance. While she was nowhere near Ryle¡¯s level of skill, she still knew how to somewhat handle herself in a hand-to-hand fight. Unarmed combat was one of the things that had been taught to her in her training to become an assassin.

    She knew just by looking that her opponent was far stronger than her and was most likely specialized in unarmed combat as well. This wasn¡¯t an ideal fight for her, but the redhead knew that even in situations like these there existed a chance for victory. It was all about using what you had to your advantage in the best possible way.

    Erin¡¯s plan was to be on the defense, doing her best to avoid Goldiana¡¯s attacks and using the openings created by them to launch counter attacks. If her assessment of the barbarian was correct, then her fighting style was most likely something that utilized her physical strength, which was something the redhead could counter with her own skills.

    However, Erin was taken by surprise, when Goldiana suddenly appeared right before her and delivered a powerful punch to her gut. The redhead¡¯s body was sent flying backwards before it collided with the floor. The pain was so horrible that she was unable to get up right away. She could only hold her stomach and cough up blood.

    She managed to break out of her shock just in time, when foot came from above and almost shattered one of her legs. Rolling out of the way of the attack, Erin stood up with shaky legs and stared down at her opponent, who was grinning like a lunatic.

    ¡°Hey, not bad! I was worried you might end up dead from that single punch, but it seems you¡¯re way better than I thought!¡± Goldiana said. ¡°Let¡¯s see just how long you can last!¡±

    The barbarian woman laughed loudly as she rushed towards Erin, both hands ready for breaking her opponent¡¯s bones. Now that she knew the difference in strength between them, the redhead was forced to back away, as she had no way to actually handle her opponent. Any attempt to block an attack or even strike back would simply result in her breaking her own body.

    Seeing as she needed something more than just her bare hands, Erin made a desperate dash towards the place where the crates full of weapons had dropped. Goldiana quickly realized what the redhead was planning, but wasn¡¯t the least bit threatened. In fact, she seemed to be only mildly amused by this.

    ¡°Trying to arm yourself, huh?¡± the barbarian woman said with a chuckle. ¡°Alright. I might as well see what you can come up with. I doubt it will matter all that much in the end.¡±

    Once she reached the crates, Erin began to feverishly search the scattered weaponry for anything that could be useful. In her desperation, she grabbed a sword and turned to face her opponent, only to find her standing before her in a relaxed manner.

    ¡°A sword? I figured you would go for something like that,¡± Goldiana said, not the least bit bothered by the weapon that was now pointed at her. ¡°Go ahead and use it to your hearts content. I¡¯ willing to bet you won¡¯t even put a scratch on me.¡±

    ¡°What!? What the hell are you saying!? You¡¯re letting me attack you!? Have you lost your mind!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°Besides, judging by the scars on your body, you¡¯ve already had this done to you before you even met me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean these?¡± the barbarian woman asked while looking over the scars covering her body. ¡°Lady, I got these marks from things far above your level. Upper level beasts and master fighters. All of whom I ended up killing easily. Don¡¯t even compare yourself to any of them. To me, you¡¯re nothing.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± the redhead yelled as she charged towards her opponent with her sword raised high for a downwards slash. As soon as she was in range, she brought down the blade, connecting it with Goldiana¡¯s shoulder.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    However, instead of blood being spilled to the ground, pieces of metal flew into the air, as the sword was shattered to pieces while the barbarian woman remained completely unharmed.

    Erin could only stare at her broken weapon in utter shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend how it had simply shattered the way it did. Only the sound of Goldiana chuckling broke her out of her daze.

    ¡°See what I mean?¡± the blonde barbarian said in a cocky tone. ¡°I¡¯ll let you have that one for free. You have now three chances to lay just one scratch on me. Fail that and I will take my time breaking your limbs.¡±

    Deciding not to waste any time, Erin quickly went to look through the remaining weapons. For the most part, it didn¡¯t seem like there was anything that could do the job of even harming Goldiana, as most of them were basic blades, spears and other melee weapons. These were only meant for providing the bare minimum of a fighting chance in the arena and not something that the Laughing Ogre was expecting the contestants to use in order to actually win. It was only thanks to Lexton¡¯s knowledge that they were able to utilize any of them.

    Finally deciding on a weapon that was worth using, the redhead grabbed a rifle she found among the scattered weaponry and took aim. She pulled the trigger and the bullet flew at Goldiana, landing right in the middle of her forehead.

    But before Erin could even consider celebrating a victory, she was horrified to see her opponent simply shrug of the bullet, letting it fall to the floor.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit that hurt a bit. Had it been a better rifle, I might even have a headache now,¡± Goldiana said, still smirking. ¡°Still you gotta do better than that to beat me.¡±

    Dropping the useless firearm, Erin went to desperately look for something else. Anything that might prove to be useful, even if it just meant harming the barbarian woman. The problem was that there seemed to be nothing around that was worth even trying out.

    In her desperation, the redhead¡¯s hands grabbed the handle of a large warhammer, despite knowing well enough that she lacked the strength to wield such a weapon. It was only through sheer willpower that she was able to lift the massive weapon and swing it at Goldiana. The attack itself was slow and lacked any true strength behind it. In all honesty, only a complete amateur would have been hit by such a swing. It was only thanks to the barbarian woman standing completely still that the weapon ever struck its target.

    However, much like before, the attack didn¡¯t do anything, as the warhammer seemed to just bounce off from Goldiana. The recoil from her desperate attack caused Erin to lose her grip on her weapon and drop it, not that she would have been able to wield it for much longer anyways.

    ¡°Okay, are you trying to kill me by making me laugh?¡± Goldiana asked while laughing loudly, finding her opponent¡¯s latest attempt highly amusing. ¡°That was just pathetic. I doubt you could even kill a child with such a lousy attack. You better use your last chance well or you¡¯re going to find out what life is like without working limbs.¡±

    Instead of rushing to find a new weapon, Erin just stood still in fear, looking around her in a vain attempt at finding something to help her out. Yet no matter how much she looked and tried to think of something, nothing came to mind. She was now facing a monster she truly had no idea on how to beat.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Not feeling like trying your luck anymore?¡± Goldiana asked, noticing the redhead¡¯s lack of movement. ¡°That¡¯s boring. I was hoping you¡¯d at least amuse me a bit more. Guess it can¡¯t be helped¡­¡±

    Before Erin could even blink, she felt a powerful fist hit her in the gut. She could feel her bones crack and her organs get pressed down by the weight of the blow. The redhead threw up blood as she was once again sent flying backwards. Once she landed, all Erin could do was cough up blood as she held her stomach in pain.

    ¡°What a disappointment you are,¡± Goldiana said with a sigh. ¡°When I heard that there was someone willing to go after one of the generals, I was sure that I¡¯d find at least some fun out of this whole thing. I mean, you obviously didn¡¯t have much in terms of brains, but you sure had guts pulling off something like that! Yet here you are practically dead from a simple tap from me! Could you be more pathetic!?¡±

    Hearing the barbarian woman¡¯s insults lit something within Erin. It wasn¡¯t necessarily because she had just been called weak, but because of Goldiana¡¯s overall attitude. This whole thing was nothing more than a game to her and that greatly angered the redhead, who had been struggling with her life on the line ever since she came to this world. For someone to look down on the things she and her friends had accomplished and all the horrible things going on was something she couldn¡¯t forgive.

    While gritting her teeth in pain, Erin looked around herself for a new weapon. However, this time she wasn¡¯t going to be satisfied with just anything. This time she was going to find something that would put Goldiana in her place.

    The redhead suddenly spotted her weapon at the corpse of the dragon. Despite the her desperate situation and the agonizing pain her body was in, Erin managed to actually grin over what she had found.

    Goldiana had been expecting the fight to be over now. All she needed to do was make sure her target wouldn¡¯t be able to run away and then just take her to Golorath. If she was lucky, she might even be able to find her target¡¯s companions and kill them as well. She was certain that she would be rewarded handsomely.

    However, what she hadn¡¯t expected was for the redhead to start furiously crawling towards the dragon corpse in the middle of the arena. One might have assumed that she was trying to escape, but the blonde barbarian knew better. She had seen plenty of people crawl away from her in fear, desperately hanging onto their lives. This wasn¡¯t that type of desperate and panicked escape, but a determined move by someone with a goal in mind.

    Goldiana grinned as she realized her target still had some fight left in her.

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re not completely dead yet?¡± the barbarian asked with a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s good. Maybe I¡¯ll get to have at least a bit more fun before this is all over.¡±

    Goldiana followed after Erin, who was now leaning against the dragon¡¯s corpse, specifically its head. While the barbarian couldn¡¯t figure out what the redhead was planning as there seemed to be nothing around that she could use as a weapon, there was still a fire burning behind the strong gaze of Erin¡¯s lone eye. She clearly hadn¡¯t given up or lost her mind, but was instead still planning to fight to win.

    ¡°So what exactly are you going to use here?¡± Goldiana asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t see what good can a dead dragon do for you.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come a bit closer and see for yourself? Or are you too lazy to walk the last couple of steps?¡± Erin asked as she smiled despite the pain her body was in. ¡°You were so polite before, when you stood still and let me take a shot at wounding you.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m curious to see what you¡¯re planning, little lady,¡± the barbarian said as she walked up to her target, now standing right in front of her. ¡°So? What is this new weapon you found to use against me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see soon,¡± the redhead said as she grinned while the hand hidden behind her back took hold of something. ¡°But you won¡¯t be seeing anything for long after that!¡±

    Before Goldiana could react, Erin threw something at her face, causing her to scream in agony. She had no idea what it was, only that it was some kind of liquid and that it burned her terribly. To make it worse for the barbarian, it had gotten into her eye as well.

    What Erin had done was reach inside the dragon¡¯s mouth, as it still held the flammable liquid it used for its flame breath. She had seen it burn the floor of the arena, so she could only imagine what it would do to the flesh of anyone unlucky enough to have it spilled on them. The redhead did end up burning her hand as well in the process, but she considered it a small price at this point.

    While she may have burned her hand, Erin had managed to not just wound her opponent, but also blind her. This was something that the barbarian wasn¡¯t going to easily recover from.

    ¡°YOU BASTARD! I¡¯LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT!¡± Goldiana roared in rage and agony, as she held her burning face. ¡°WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, I WILL MAKE YOU BEG FOR DEATH! AND THEN I¡¯LL SKIN YOU ALIVE AND FEED YOU TO THE GHOULS, YOU LITTLE SHIT!¡±

    ¡°Come and get me then, sucker!¡± Erin shouted mockingly, as she ran away from the barbarian. ¡°By the way, I guess you¡¯re not all that great, considering how I blinded your ass!¡±

    ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll freaking kill you! Definitely kill you!¡± Goldiana said as she gritted her teeth in anger and held the side of her face that was burnt. ¡°Screw Golorath and his orders! I won¡¯t rest until you die!¡±

    The blonde barbarian charged after the redhead, fully intent on making good on her threat. Her left eye was now completely useless due to corrosive liquid that was thrown on it. Her right eye still worked, but either her sight was somewhat hazy from the pain or her rage was blinding her so badly that she didn¡¯t realize what Erin was planning.

    Only when it was too late did Goldiana realize the trap she had been lured into. Just as she was about to reach and grab Erin, the redhead ducked down, causing the barbarian woman to trip and fall forward. While this normally would have only been an annoyance to her, she had failed to notice where Erin was, which was the edge of the arena.

    Only as she was falling down did Goldiana realize her mistake. She had not taken Erin as a threat at all, which had allowed the redhead to lure her into a trap. The barbarian woman could only blame herself for what had happened.

    Landing on the floor of the area below the arena, Goldiana quickly got up, knowing that she wasn¡¯t safe at all. She was now completely surrounded by ghouls and she would have to fight her way through them in order to get out alive.

    As soon as she had dropped there, the undead creatures immediately charged towards their new prey. What followed was a bloodbath, as Goldiana used her martial arts prowess to defend herself from the numerous monsters.

    The barbarian woman wasn¡¯t just a simple brawler with an impressive physique. She was actually a martial artist with a high level of using ki to her advantage. The reason Erin¡¯s attacks hadn¡¯t worked was because she had mastered a technique that strengthened her body to the point no normal weapon could harm it. Because of this, ghouls weren¡¯t that much of a threat for her and why she had passed the tower game so easily. The undead monsters couldn¡¯t break her skin, so there wasn¡¯t any way for their venom to get into her body through their bites.

    However, this wasn¡¯t an ability that could last forever and constant attacks would eventually drain it. So when Goldiana was getting swarmed by an army of ghouls, it was only a matter of time until she became vulnerable and would get bitten. Once this happened, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the undead monsters to finish her off.

    Despite the odds being completely against her, the barbarian put up a valiant struggle, crushing as many ghouls as she could, creating a scene of pure carnage. Only after having exhausted all of her strength did she even allow herself to fall on her knees, as the venom from the ghouls was coursing through her veins. Combined with the loss of blood from her numerous injuries, it was impossible to save her life anymore.

    With the very last bits of strength left within her, Goldiana managed to look up and see two familiar faces within the army of ghouls advancing towards her. These were her two companions that she had abandoned during the game.

    ¡°You gotta be kidding me¡­¡± the barbarian said with a weak chuckle. ¡°This has got to be the lamest joke ever¡­¡±

    The last thing she saw was the hungry mouths of ghouls coming towards her.

 74. Games Over

    Chapter 74

    Games Over

    Ryle, Lexton and Arkay were running through the hallways of the arena, hoping that they would get to Erin in time. While they were unaware of just how dangerous Goldiana was, they did know that Dryzal, whom they fought before, was a very tough opponent that needed all of their help in order to take him down. If the barbarian woman was anything like him, their friend was in trouble.

    However, they were surprised to not find the assassin anywhere upon coming to the arena. Instead, they saw Erin laying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.

    ¡°Erin!¡± Ryle called out to the redhead, hoping to get a response, as she ran towards her. ¡°You okay over there!? Just hang on, we¡¯re coming to-¡±

    The blonde stopped once she reached Erin and saw the state she was in. Besides the injuries she had seen on the redhead before they had parted, there were now other more severe ones. There was blood dripping from Erin¡¯s mouth, indicating at an internal injury of some kind, but the worst was her right hand. It had been horribly burned, like it had been dipped in acid or something similar.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ Erin, what happened to you?¡± Ryle asked as she stood still in shock, staring at her unconscious friend.

    ¡°Ryle, snap out of it!¡± Lexton yelled, getting the blonde out of her daze. ¡°We need to help her out fast or we might lose her!¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Any idea what we can do for her!?¡±

    ¡°Right now, not much. I don¡¯t have any of my equipment on me, so I can¡¯t help out. She needs some serious medical attention and fast,¡± the kobold said, assessing the situation. ¡°Especially her hand. Unless we get some very powerful potions or healing magic, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to have to be amputated.¡±

    The blonde could feel the color drain from her face. To think that her friend had been injured so badly that she would lose a hand was mortifying.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t use healing magic,¡± Arkay apologized as a couple of tears fell from his eyes. ¡°If I only could do that, then maybe¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Arnie,¡± Ryle said as she put a comforting hand on the cat boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I should have known better than to let her fight such a tough opponent on her own. I should have been here for her.¡±

    ¡°HEY! Both of you quit that right now!¡± Lexton shouted, getting the attention of both of his companions. ¡°We can figure out who is at fault at what after we have gotten out of here, okay!? Let¡¯s focus on that for now! That¡¯s the best way for us to help Erin right now!¡±

    Realizing that the kobold was right, Ryle steeled her resolve and picked up Erin, carrying the redhead on her back. With their friend now secured, the three began to run back to where they had left Durge in order to get their group back together.

    ¡°Where do we go, once we get Durge!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Also, it just occurred to me, but how will we move him!? I¡¯m already carrying Erin, so I don¡¯t think I can carry that heavy as hell guy as well!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s probably some area for vehicles to park in this building! Like the one we were brought here with! If nothing else, we just have to get outside and figure something out! The main thing is that we get the hell out of here!¡± Lexton answered. ¡°As for Durge, unless he¡¯s able to move again, I assumed that you¡¯ll just have to carry him along with Erin! I mean, you¡¯re the only one with the muscles for that¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a goddamn pack mule!¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    ¡°I think I saw some of the signs point towards a garage, when I was sneaking around the place!¡± Arkay said. ¡°If we follow them, maybe we can find something to help us escape!¡±

    ¡°Great work, Arnie!¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Things are finally looking better for us!¡±

    Soon after their conversation, the group reached the place where they had hidden Durge. Ryle then walked up to the popcorn machine and knocked on the glass.

    ¡°Durge? You still in there?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°...No. In fact, I¡¯ve become one with the popcorn and I no longer exist,¡± the orc replied sarcastically.

    ¡°Okay. I suppose we¡¯ll leave you here to enjoy your new corny life,¡± Ryle said as she rolled her eyes, before helping Durge get out of the container. ¡°No need for sarcasm when we¡¯re only trying to help you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll keep that in mind, next time I get the chance to drop your ass into tub full of greasy and salty crap,¡± the orc said. ¡°I see that you managed to get your friend back. Is she doing okay?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s still breathing, but that¡¯s the best we can say about her. She must have taken a horrible beating. Not only has she coughed up blood, but I can tell by the sound of her breathing that she has suffered some terrible internal injuries,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°However, the worst is her right hand. If we don¡¯t find someone to treat her soon, I fear that she might lose it for good.¡±

    ¡°...I should be able to find a doctor that is capable and willing to treat her, without the worry of our location leaking to the Laughing Ogre,¡± Durge said after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°First we need to get out of here, though.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s our plan as well,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Arnie said that he saw signs pointing to a garage. Do you know how to get there?¡±

    ¡°It might be difficult with whatever the hell is going on here, but I should be able to lead the way for you,¡± the orc answered. ¡°Just follow behind me.¡±

    ¡°Are you able to move on your own again?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°You were pretty worn out when we left you here.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been able to rest enough to move around at the very least,¡± Durge answered. ¡°Just don¡¯t ask me to actually fight someone. I fear even a complete amateur could take me on right now.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just try to avoid fighting for now. It¡¯s not like the rest of us are in any better shape to go to battle anyways,¡± Lexton said. ¡°If we are forced to go into battle, we at least have a blonde mountain troll with us to handle that.¡±

    ¡°Mind telling me just who you¡¯re referring to with that last comment?¡± Ryle asked angrily.

    ¡°Maybe later.¡±

    Deciding not to waste anymore time, the group started to move towards the garage, led by Durge. Much like before, they didn¡¯t face any resistance from Laughing Ogre guards, who seemed to have completely disappeared. The only sign that there were other people were the sounds of battle that could still be heard from behind some of the closed metal doors, but such sounds were becoming increasingly rarer. It seemed that whatever battle was going on was coming to an end.

    After some time, they finally reached a large door that had a sign over it that said ¡°garage.¡± Durge walked up to the control panel next to it and pressed a button, but nothing happened.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°Dammit! It¡¯s locked!¡± the orc cursed. ¡°We need to find a security pass from one of the guards in order to get through!¡±

    ¡°Or we can just use the tools we have at our disposal,¡± Lexton said, before turning towards Arkay. ¡°Arnie, if you don¡¯t mind?¡±

    The cat boy nodded and walked up to the control panel. Using his technomancer powers, he was able to open the door without any issues.

    ¡°...I know the kid mentioned that he was a technomancer, but I wasn¡¯t sure if I should believe him,¡± Durge said with wide eyes. ¡°Guess it was the truth, after all.¡±

    ¡°Heh! Surprised?¡± Ryle said with a cocky smirk. ¡°Our Arnie isn¡¯t just any bum mage you can find on the street! He¡¯s a talented and magnificent magician! Our group wouldn¡¯t be anything without him! So you better not underestimate him!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re bragging,¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about if I had underestimated him or anything like that. I was more glad that this wasn¡¯t found out by the Laughing Ogre people,¡± Durge explained. ¡°Had they known that he had such a rare and useful ability, then I fear what they might have done to him. Forget about making him Grazia¡¯s pet, he probably would have ended on some crazed doctor¡¯s table to be experimented on. Either so that they could replicate his ability or to mind control him as their servant.¡±

    Ryle and Lexton were shocked to hear about what might have befallen their young friend had his secret ability been revealed. But when they looked at Arkay, the cat boy only had a saddened look on his face, like he knew that this could have happened to him.

    ¡°It¡¯s true¡­ Even back in Moonstone, I was almost turned into a science experiment by some crazy guy, who found out about it. I was luckily able to escape, but I knew ever since then that my ability should remain a secret,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°I¡¯ve even heard that someone with my abilities can be sold for insane amounts of money in the black market. If I was ever captured and my ability was discovered, only a fate worse than death would await me.¡±

    The cat boy felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Lexton staring at him with a determined look in his eyes.

    ¡°Look, Arnie, I know things can be hard for you and that you¡¯re in danger, but believe me that I won¡¯t allow something like that to happen to you,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I will personally put my own life on the line, so that you won¡¯t have to suffer such a fate. I swear.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah! What he said!¡± Ryle said as she tried to put on a strong front, while tears were falling from her eyes. ¡°I will also do the same, so you shouldn¡¯t fear anything bad happening to you! And while she can¡¯t say it right now, I¡¯m sure Erin feels the same way!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, guys,¡± Arkay said with a smile.

    The touching moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. This was done by Durge.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt this moment that you¡¯re having, but I think we should get moving already,¡± the orc said. ¡°While we haven¡¯t seen any Laughing Ogre thugs, we can¡¯t expect things to keep going so well for us.¡±

    ¡°...Can¡¯t have just one moment, can we?¡± Ryle muttered unhappily, as the group proceeded into the garage.

    Once inside the garage, the group had thought that they would be able to quickly find a suitable vehicle for themselves and make their escape. However, this was turning out to be much more difficult, as the garage was completely dark.

    ¡°Hey, why aren¡¯t the lights on in here!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Are you guys trying to save on electricity or something!? I can¡¯t see anything in front of me!¡±

    ¡°This must be what it¡¯s like inside your head,¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°THE HELL WAS THAT, SCALY!?¡± the blonde shouted angrily.

    ¡°N-Now now, you guys. Let¡¯s not get into a fight,¡± Arkay said, hoping to calm down the arguing pair.

    ¡°To answer your question, I have no idea why this place is so dark. It honestly doesn¡¯t make much sense to me,¡± Durge said. ¡°Also, the kid is right. You two should calm yourselves, instead of bickering like children. I doubt it will do us any good to have you two cause so much noise.¡±

    ¡°Not that it would matter all that much in the end,¡± a new voice suddenly called out, as the lights suddenly turned on.

    Once the garage was lit up, the group were greeted with the sight of a bunch of Laughing Ogre thugs that were completely armed, led by Driz, the second-in-command of the gang.

    ¡°...Oh shit. This just went south big time,¡± Durge said as he stared at the group of armed thugs in front of them. ¡°Guess this is the end for me now, huh?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. This is the end,¡± Driz said, as he dug into his pocket and took something out. ¡°The end of our partnership that is.¡±

    The dark elf threw what he had taken out of his pocket to the orc, who caught it with his hand. He looked down at what it was and saw that it was the keys to a car. More specifically, one of the larger ones that was used to transport supplies of large groups of people.

    ¡°...What¡¯s this about?¡± Durge asked, unsure over the actions of the dark elf. ¡°You¡¯re planning to just let me go?¡±

    ¡°Not just that. Your equipment, as well as your friends¡¯, is also loaded into the car,¡± Driz stated. ¡°I want you to take the car, drive out of here and never come back.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re actually doing this?¡± the orc asked in surprise. ¡°Why though? Aren¡¯t you afraid that Grandall will have your head, when he finds out about this?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not something I¡¯m too worried about, seeing as he has other things to worry about,¡± the dark elf stated as he snapped his fingers and one of his goons threw a sack on the floor. Durge looked inside it and was shocked to find the heads of Grandall and Grazia inside. ¡°Most importantly, how he is going to be spending his time in hell.¡±

    Ryle, Lexton and Arkay quickly caught up on what was going on. It wasn¡¯t exactly a hard thing to figure out.

    ¡°You mean to tell us that you betrayed your own boss!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Why the hell would you do that!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? You saw how he was running our organization,¡± Driz answered. ¡°He was acting out on emotional impulses, never doing anything with any logic at all. He was willing to pass up on beneficial deals, as long as it meant he could spite those he despised, like you, Durge. Not to mention, these ridiculous games he set up just for the amusement of himself and his friends.¡±

    ¡°I thought these things made you guys a big amount of money?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°If only¡­ Do you have any idea how much it costs us to maintain most of these facilities?¡± the dark elf said with a sigh. ¡°Not only just the building itself, along with all the equipment, but all the creatures we keep locked up here. And don¡¯t even get me started on how much we have to pay to get new monsters or contestants. Honestly, if it wasn¡¯t for our other enterprises, we would have gone bankrupt a long time ago already just because of this.¡±

    ¡°So you wanted to take over because you see yourself as a better leader then?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I suppose that makes sense, but weren¡¯t you two old friends or something? Doesn¡¯t seem like you were all that close, if you are more than willing to take his head.¡±

    ¡°...The Grandall that started this gang with me has long since disappeared,¡± Driz said in a sad tone. ¡°And that was all because of you.¡±

    ¡°Me? What are you talking about?¡± the orc asked. ¡°I never even met him before I came to the Laughing Ogre!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. You never met him before, but you did meet someone close to him. His wife,¡± the dark elf replied, causing Durge¡¯s eyes to go wide from shock. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you now realize what Grandall¡¯s issue with you was, correct? You became quite famous on those battlefields, when the Laughing Ogre was hired by the military to take on your tribe. There weren¡¯t many warriors like you, who could transform their bodies. And no one else other that could do anything similar to your ability.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t like me all that much. I always thought it was just because of all the people he lost in that war,¡± the orc said. ¡°But why did he decide to hire me and put me in such a high position? Why not just try to kill me right away?¡±

    ¡°I managed to convince him not to. Unlike him, I didn¡¯t let my emotions cloud my judgment. I knew that as long as I brought you in, we could use you as a powerful enforcer, which turned out to be true. As for Grandall, I simply promised him that the moment you stepped out of line, you would be dealt with in any way he wanted,¡± Driz explained. ¡°However, you turned out to be very careful, never going against any orders given to you and always keeping your head low. It was honestly quite admirable how you were able to keep yourself controlled and never giving a good enough reason for Grandall to get rid of you.¡±

    ¡°...So what happens now?¡± Durge asked. ¡°You¡¯re in power now and don¡¯t seem to hold a grudge against me. Why are you simply telling me to leave?¡±

    ¡°While I might be able to ignore any feelings of resentment towards you, I know for a fact that a lot of people in the gang won¡¯t. They will do whatever they can to either get rid of you or me, just so they get a chance to get at you. The gang is now at a weakened state as well, which only makes that threat worse,¡± the dark elf explained. ¡°And before you ask, the reason I¡¯m letting you go is because I know just how strong you are. Even if I were to send all of my soldiers at you, we would only suffer heavy casualties for no good reason, possibly including myself. The way I see it, enough blood has been shed and we should avoid conflict as much as possible.¡±

    The orc thought about what Driz had told him and it made sense. Why pick a fight that doesn¡¯t bring you much in terms of victory? Especially when you can just let the troublesome element you¡¯re worried about go and never have to worry about it again? Might as well accept the gift that was given.

    ¡°Thanks, Driz,¡± Durge said as he began to move towards the direction the car he had been given the keys to was parked. ¡°I won¡¯t forget this.¡±

    ¡°Save me the useless sentimentality,¡± the dark elf said with a hint of venom in his voice as his calm demeanor cracked slightly. ¡°I might have been able to push away my hatred towards you, but it still exists within me. I¡¯ve just always aimed to do what is best for the Laughing Ogre and nothing more. I might be letting you go, but you better not show your face here ever again. Understood?¡±

    Durge took one look at Driz and immediately saw that he wasn¡¯t lying. The dark elf might have been able to hold back his rage admirable, but one could tell that he was straining to keep his face in a neutral expression. Same was with the goons he had brought with him. All of them were struggling to hold back their urge to kill the orc.

    Seeing as it wasn¡¯t a good idea to stick around, the group went to the car they had been given, got inside and drove away. As Driz had told them, their equipment was located inside, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about getting it back.

    However, there was still one issue that they needed to solve somehow.

    ¡°This is bad,¡± Lexton said as he looked at Erin¡¯s damaged hand. ¡°Her injury is getting worse. We have to do something quick, if we want to save her life.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you waiting for!?¡± Ryle asked in a panic, worried over her friend¡¯s well-being. ¡°Use one of your potions! That should fix her, right!?¡±

    ¡°Even if I had the ingredients for those, it wouldn¡¯t be of much help!¡± Lexton responded. ¡°While they could fix your hand after you injured it in your training, that¡¯s the best it can do! Healing potions essentially boost your body¡¯s natural healing processes to make you heal! Wounds and broken bones can be healed with relative ease, but anything beyond that requires far more! We need a master of healing magic or one of the most expensive healing potions out there in order to fix this!¡±

    ¡°Lex is right,¡± Arkay said in a low voice, getting the blonde¡¯s attention. The cat boy¡¯s face was pale as he stared down at Erin¡¯s injured hand in horror. ¡°There¡¯s far too much damage to the tissues in her hand. Not only that, but the flesh has already started to rot.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ What are we going to do?¡± Ryle asked, desperately hoping that they could help the redhead.

    ¡°Only one thing we can do,¡± Lexton said. ¡°We have to amputate her hand.¡±

 75. Burdens and Relief

    Chapter 75

    Burdens and Relief

    To say that Erin felt awful when she woke up would be an understatement. Her whole body felt like it was in constant pain and every tiny movement only made it worse. Despite wanting nothing more than to stay asleep and hope that the pain would simply go away, the redhead forced herself awake. She slowly opened her lone eye to the sigh of an unfamiliar ceiling above.

    ¡°Hey, she¡¯s finally awake!¡± came the loud voice of Ryle, who had been sitting next to Erin. ¡°How are you feeling, Erin? You doing okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I said I was fine,¡± the redhead replied in a groggy voice. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re in a vehicle we got from the Laughing Ogre,¡± the blonde replied, as the others were coming closer to check up on their injured friend. ¡°You¡¯ve been unconscious ever since you had your fight with that muscle lady at the arena.¡±

    ¡°The arena¡­ That¡¯s right!¡± Erin said as she began to remember what had happened before she had blacked out. ¡°The others! Are the others alright!?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re okay, Erin. Thanks to you,¡± Lexton said with a smile as he finally got close to the redhead. ¡°Compared to you, we all got away with practically nothing.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ You¡¯re all fine,¡± Erin said as she saw the faces of her friends around her, allowing her to relax herself. ¡°It¡¯s all good then¡­¡±

    Just then, the redhead noticed her companions awkwardly looking away from her, like children who had done something naughty and were now in front of their parents.

    ¡°Hey¡­ What¡¯s the matter?¡± Erin asked, worried something bad had happened. ¡°Why are you guys looking around like that? Did something bad actually happen?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Yes,¡± Lexton answered. Upon seeing the redhead get more worried, he decided to clarify things up a bit. ¡°Before you ask, we are completely fine. There¡¯s nothing wrong with us at all and we aren¡¯t being held captive by the Laughing Ogre either.¡±

    ¡°Then what is-?¡± Erin began to ask, but she noticed something as she moved her body around. Her eye went wide as she stared at the blanket that was draped over her. Particularly the area where her right arm was. ¡°Arnie¡­ Can you move the blanket for me a bit?¡±

    The cat boy hesitated, as he didn¡¯t know if he should do as the redhead had asked him or not. Upon looking at the others and seeing them nod at him, he gently took hold of the blanket and moved it away, revealing Erin¡¯s right arm.

    While she had her suspicions upon moving her body a bit and feeling it to be somewhat different, actually seeing what had happened to her was still a complete shock. Once the blanket was moved, her eye went wide and her face turned pale, as she stared at a stub that used to have her right hand on it.

    ¡°W-Wha-!? What happened to me!?¡± Erin asked as her breathing became uneven from the shock. ¡°Where-!? Where is-!? What happened to my hand!?¡±

    ¡°Erin, calm down!¡± Ryle said as she took hold of the redhead by her shoulders. ¡°Panicking won¡¯t help you at all!¡±

    ¡°How am I not supposed to panic!?¡± Erin shouted. ¡°My hand is missing you¡¯re telling me to-!?¡±

    The sound of a slap echoed through the vehicle, as the blonde decided to take a more extreme measure to calm down her friend. It seemed to work, as the redhead stopped shouting and panicking.

    ¡°Calm down, Erin. Your hand is lost and there is nothing that can be done about it, okay?¡± Ryle said in a stern yet calm voice. ¡°It was in a really bad share when we found you. We wanted to take you to someone that could have treated you, but sadly we couldn¡¯t do that. In the end, it got so bad that we had to cut it off in order to save your life.¡±

    Now coming to the realization that her hand was lost for good, Erin had no other choice but to accept the bitter reality. She wanted to cry and scream, but knew that it wouldn¡¯t do anything for her, so instead she held it back, holding back the bitter tears.

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, Erin,¡± Arkay suddenly apologized while looking down in shame. ¡°If only I knew healing magic, maybe this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Arnie,¡± Lexton said as he placed a comforting hand on the cat boy¡¯s shoulder while looking down as well. ¡°I should be the one apologizing. If only I had prepared more medicine for cases like this, then I might have been able to help you.¡±

    Both Arkay and Lexton were surprised, when suddenly Erin put her arms around both of them in a gentle embrace. They had been prepared for the redhead to get angry at them and start screaming at them, perhaps to even get a little violent. However, nothing like that ended up happening at all.

    ¡°None of you guys are at fault here,¡± Erin said as she kept hugging her two friends. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that I ended up like this. I should have known what I was doing was stupid, but it was the only thing I could think of to defeat Goldiana.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s right. We forgot to ask you about your fight against that woman,¡± Durge said. ¡°How did you exactly beat her? From what we could tell just by looking at your injuries, it wasn¡¯t an easy victory.¡±

    ¡°...In all honesty, it was nothing but pure luck that I beat her,¡± the redhead began to explain. ¡°Her powers were nothing like we had seen before. Anything I did to her barely even hurt her. In fact, if it wasn¡¯t for her overconfidence in her abilities, I¡¯m sure I would have lost.¡±

    ¡°Then what did you do?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°How did you end up winning?¡±

    ¡°Remember that liquid that was dripping from the dragon¡¯s mouth? I noticed how it was able to burn even the floor of the arena,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I took some of that on my hand and threw it at her face. This blinded her, which allowed me to trick her to move closer tp the edge of the arena and fall to her death.¡±

    The redhead¡¯s companions all stared at her with wide eyes in complete silence for a moment. It went on long enough to make her feel quite awkward about the whole situation.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Guys?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is everything okay?¡±

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING AS STUPID AS THAT!?¡± Ryle, Lexton, Durge and even Arkay all yelled angrily at the same time.

    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t really have any other options!¡± the redhead tried to defend herself, completely taken aback by the sudden outburst from her friends. ¡°Was it really such a bad idea!?¡±

    ¡°Erin, that stuff melts through metal!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°I¡¯m honestly surprised there was anything left of your hand when we found you! You could have easily killed yourself!¡±

    ¡°B-But I didn¡¯t really have any other options!¡± Erin kept arguing desperately. ¡°Goldiana was such a tough opponent that I had to figure something out! I mean, how else was I supposed to beat someone whose body is so tough that swords shatter upon hitting it!?¡±

    ¡°Look, we get that she was a tough one and all! It¡¯s just¡­ Goddammit, Erin¡­ To go that far was just way too reckless,¡± Ryle said as she was finally calming down. ¡°Seriously, and people say I¡¯m reckless and stupid. Honestly, what you just did has got to be a record of some kind¡­¡±

    ¡°I suppose so¡­ If even you¡¯re saying that,¡± the redhead said with a slight chuckle.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s exactly a laughing matter,¡± Lexton said in a slightly scolding tone. ¡°Still, this leaves you in a pretty bad spot. We need to find some way to fix it and as fast as possible. I doubt the next time we encounter one of Golorath¡¯s assassins that they¡¯re going to go easy on you because you¡¯re handicapped.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lex, but you shouldn¡¯t worry about me too much,¡± Erin said as she looked down at the spot where her hand used to be with a sad look in her eyes. ¡°I guess this is just the price I had to pay for being reckless. Maybe we¡¯re getting way over our heads even? I mean, we have been pretty lucky so far, but how long will that last? At this rate, there won¡¯t be much left of my body by the time I reach even one of the Five Overlords¡­¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re not going to go and tell us to leave you on your own, are you?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°Get this through your thick head already, Erin! We are NOT going to leave you! Got it!? If you want that, then you¡¯ve got another thing coming!¡±

    ¡°As much as I can¡¯t believe it, I agree with the brute,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Did you think we weren¡¯t prepared for any danger, when we set out with you? We all knew just how dangerous this could get, so you can forget about us turning tail like a bunch of cowards.¡±

    ¡°Not sure if that means a lot or very little, seeing as how it¡¯s coming from an actual coward,¡± the blonde said with a slight grin.

    ¡°Bite me, you moron!¡± the kobold yelled back angrily.

    Erin laughed at the antics of her friends a bit, before she turned her attention to the youngest of their group.

    ¡°What about you, Arnie? Are you still willing to go with me on this journey?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°You¡¯ve already faced plenty of danger from just being together with me. You even got captured and almost got made into a slave for some twisted rich girl. Do you still wish to come along?¡±

    ¡°...Do you even need to ask?¡± Arkay responded with a smile. ¡°You guys are all I have in this world. There¡¯s no way that I wouldn¡¯t be going along with you.¡±

    Erin looked at the faces of her friends and saw that they were all serious. None of them were going to back down and they were planning to stick with her through this no matter what.

    ¡°...Thank you, guys,¡± the redhead said as a couple of tears escaped her lone eye. ¡°However, it¡¯s clear that we need to make some preparations in order to continue this journey. Just so we have a better chance at winning against whatever is thrown at us next.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry. We all have an idea as to what we should do in order to achieve that!¡± Ryle said confidently. ¡°We still have a couple of the books Arnie bought back in Moonstone for us to use as a reference to train our skills. You and him can work on your magic, while I work on my awesome skills in kicking ass!¡±

    ¡°Eloquent as always¡­ While you guys do that, I am going to be looking for some stuff to make more potions and other useful items,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Even if I can¡¯t make my best stuff yet, I should be able to make stuff that will still prove to be useful for us. Hopefully I can also earn us some money, so I can get us some much needed equipment.¡±

    ¡°Right. We did end up losing quite a bit when that beast tamer attacked us,¡± Erin said. ¡°I should also get up and-¡±

    The redhead tried to get up from the floor, only for a horrible feeling of pain to shoot through her body, forcing her to lay down again. She had completely forgotten about just how bad her injuries were.

    ¡°Maybe you should stay down for now, Erin?¡± Ryle suggested. ¡°You got wrecked pretty hard, so you¡¯re nowhere near ready to be out and walking about.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but I can¡¯t just sit here doing nothing,¡± the redhead said with a pained expression on her face. ¡°If everybody else is putting in the work, I should join in as well.¡±

    ¡°Erin, you getting up and killing yourself by making your injuries even worse isn¡¯t going to make things better for anyone,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Just lay down for now. You¡¯ll have plenty of chances to run around, once you¡¯re all healed up.¡±

    ¡°I guess so¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go looking all sad now. You can still read the books Arnie got for you,¡± the kobold said with a small smile. ¡°Also, don¡¯t worry about your lost hand too much. I happen to know how to make some pretty damn good prosthetic limbs, so once I get the chance, I¡¯ll make sure to make you something so good that you¡¯ll forget all about losing your hand!¡±

    ¡°Not sure if I exactly like the way you worded that, but I¡¯m still grateful.¡±

    As the group was making plans for their next move, Arkay noticed that a certain orc was no longer with them. Worried over their new friend, the cat boy walked out of the vehicle, hoping to find him as soon as possible. Luckily, Durge was still nearby, even if he was walking away from them.

    ¡°Durge!¡± Arkay called out to the orc, making him stop in his tracks. ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°Just for a walk, kid,¡± Durge answered. ¡°No need to worry. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re not actually coming back, are you?¡± the cat boy asked while knowing the answer. ¡°You¡¯re going to leave us and never see us ever again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± the orc said with a small sad smile. ¡°I¡¯m not a good person to hang around with, especially now that the seal is gone from me. Not only are there a lot of people who want me dead, but I could go crazy at any point in time. It¡¯s best for you guys if I¡¯m not around.¡±

    ¡°But we can handle whatever might come our way!¡± Arkay argued. ¡°You saw us take down a dragon together and survive the Laughing Ogre! Things are certainly going to get tough, but we are more than capable of handling it all! Besides, I know that you¡¯re a good person, so we can trust you! I mean, you tried to save me at the risk of your own life, didn¡¯t you!?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m nowhere near as good as you might think,¡± Durge said. ¡°And I do know just how tough you all are. Like you said, I saw it with my own eyes how you handled yourselves. But that¡¯s just even more of a reason for me not to stay close to you. None of you need the problems I bring with me added to what you¡¯re already dealing with.¡±

    The cat boy wanted to argue and tell the orc that he was wrong. That he wouldn¡¯t be a burden to them at all and would be a great help. However, he could tell that there was nothing he could say to change his mind, no matter how desperately he wanted to try.

    Luckily, there was someone else who not only had the courage to speak up, but knew the correct words.

    ¡°You¡¯re just gonna run away from your problems then?¡± Ryle asked, as she walked up to the scene. ¡°Or is it suicide you¡¯re looking for? You know you can¡¯t go go on your own, so you just plan to face some fight you can¡¯t win and end up dead? Is that the master plan?¡±

    Arkay had a horrified look on his face as he stared at Durge, hoping that he would deny what the blonde had said. Unfortunately, the orc simply tried to avoid his shameful gaze from meeting with his accuser. He had been completely caught.

    ¡°So what? Why should any of you worry?¡± Durge asked. ¡°You saw what I am. The world would be better without me in it, so-¡±

    ¡°YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT!¡± Ryle suddenly shouted as loud as she could, shocking the others. ¡°Are you so pathetic that you¡¯re this afraid of your own power!? Or are you just too lazy to put your ass to work and make it better!? WHICH IS IT!?¡±

    ¡°B-But it¡¯s not about that!¡± the orc tried to argue. ¡°What I¡¯m afraid is that I might end up hurting any of you, so-¡±

    ¡°WELL THAT JUST PISSED ME OFF EVEN MORE, YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS ASS!¡± the blonde yelled as she stomped up to Durge and grabbed him by the front of his shirt roughly. ¡°You think we are the type of losers that would actually be scared of YOU!? Or such wimps that we wouldn¡¯t be able to handle you!? Don¡¯t get full of yourself! The things that we are planning to face make you look like nothing, so don¡¯t you freaking dare looking down on us!¡±

    The orc was completely stunned by Ryle¡¯s aggressive declaration. He was so taken aback that he could hardly formulate any type of a counter argument to defend his position.

    Most of all, he just couldn¡¯t comprehend how and why she was so adamant that he should stick with them.

    ¡°What Ryle says is true,¡± Erin suddenly said, as she joined the others. She was being supported by Lexton, so she could move around. ¡°We have no reason to fear you at all. Not only have you proven yourself to be a trustworthy companion, but we could really use your help. Would you be willing to join us?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Besides¡­¡± Ryle added, as she offered a closed fist to Durge. ¡°Aren¡¯t we already a team anyways? Might as well stick together, like a team should!¡±

    The orc thought about the offer he had been given. On one hand, he still had reservations about endangering others because of his past and his unfortunate condition. However, he had to admit that going by himself, things wouldn¡¯t end well for him. There were plenty of people that would love to see him dead due to his background and he could end up losing control at the worst possible time. Having those willing to help around would lover the risks that he would be facing and they could possibly keep him from going berserk. They had shown that they were more than capable of handling themselves in tough situations.

    Seeing as he didn¡¯t have any good reason to refuse, Durge smiled as he gave Ryle a friendly fist bump.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to join you guys,¡± the orc said. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask something. You don¡¯t seem to be just any average traveling group, since you¡¯ve got people after you sent by Golorath himself. Are you perhaps part of a resistance group or something?¡±

    ¡°We are not part of any organization,¡± Erin answered. ¡°However, we are planning to take on the Five Overlords themselves.¡±

    ¡°...Come again?¡±

 76. Building Up

    Chapter 76

    Building Up

    It had been a few days since Erin¡¯s group had escaped from the Laughing Ogre and Durge had joined them. By now, Erin had managed to recover enough to the point that she could walk around and do other physical tasks. Her body still hurt from all of her injuries she had gotten in her fight with Goldiana, but she was able to handle.

    A good amount of the redhead¡¯s recovery was due to Lexton, who had started to build up his collection of potions and other such things. The kobold would often go along with either Ryle or Durge to the wilderness to hunt for creatures and plants to bring back with them and use as ingredients for potions. Because of this, what would have normally taken Erin weeks to recover from was done in days.

    However, because he still lacked a lot of his equipment, Lexton wasn¡¯t able to do anywhere near as much as he used to. He still lacked the proper tools to make things like golems, enchanted weapons and other such equipment. The kobold hoped that he would be able to start building up his workshop at some point, but right now he had to make do with what little he had on his hands.

    While Erin was focused on recovering and Lexton was focused on making potions, the others were working on getting stronger. Arkay had started to push himself into getting better at using his magical abilities and learning new spells. Ryle and Durge had started sparring together in order to help the blonde become a better fighter. Due to the orc having more experience than her, he could point out issues that she needed to work on and guide her in better ways of using ki.

    Right now, the two fighters were engaged in another sparring session. Ryle was aggressively striking at Durge with a barrage of blows, but the orc was able to defend against them. After weathering through the attacks, Durge saw an opening and used it to strike at the blonde, knocking her down to the ground.

    ¡°Dammit! I was sure I had you there!¡± Ryle cursed as she sat up while breathing heavily. ¡°Seriously, what are you made of!? It¡¯s like I¡¯m fighting a living boulder or something!¡±

    ¡°My tribe had me trained to build up muscles as soon as I could walk, along with giving me special drugs that helped in that regard. Not only that, I¡¯ve been taught ki techniques that also enforce my physical toughness to the point that regular punches don¡¯t really do it anymore,¡± Durge explained. ¡°Also, you shouldn¡¯t feel too disheartened about your loss. It¡¯s more of a case of me having more experience than you. You¡¯re quite the tough one already. You just need to refine your movements and you¡¯ll be on the same level as me in no time.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re not just trying to make me feel better, are you?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Maybe a bit,¡± the orc replied with a shrug.

    ¡°Cocky son of a¡­ You just wait until I get better. Once I¡¯ve gotten some better moves, I¡¯ll leave you on the floor!¡± Ryle bragged with a smirk. ¡°Although, it is nice to have an actual sparring partner for once. I¡¯ve never actually been taught fighting techniques by anyone nor have I had anyone to practice them with.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite something, honestly,¡± Durge said, sounding genuinely impressed. ¡°A lot of people need proper guidance to get anywhere near your level in just basic combat skills, yet you can even use ki in a fight. If you didn¡¯t have any guidance, how did you reach your current level?¡±

    ¡°Simple. I just fought and survived,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°The world isn¡¯t exactly kind to those born under shittier circumstances. You gotta make a living somehow, which often puts you near death a lot of times. When that happens, you either sink or swim. I¡¯m sure you know about it yourself, right?¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± the orc said, thinking back on his past within his warrior tribe. ¡°Back when I was still simply being trained by my tribe, I saw quite a few kids who didn¡¯t measure up to the expectations placed on them. Some were taken in to be experimented upon, like myself. While the rest were placed into what was essentially servant work, which was no better than being a slave. If that didn¡¯t work, they were either sold, kicked out or outright killed. In a way, life for me was nothing more than one big fight for survival, which didn¡¯t change once the war between our tribe and the armies of the Five Overlords began.¡±

    ¡°Well, luckily we don¡¯t have to live like that any longer!¡±Ryle said with a smile as she stood up. ¡°After all, now we get to work with some pretty cool people! And I¡¯d say that¡¯s a nice change!¡±

    ¡°...I can¡¯t help but agree,¡± Durge said with a slight chuckle.

    As the two fighters were having their conversation, a certain kobold stepped in while being followed by Erin.

    ¡°Hey, Ryle, while I¡¯m happy that you¡¯ve found someone else to get interested with instead of Arnie, I need you two to break off your flirting,¡± Lexton said bluntly. ¡°I need someone to back me up, while I go gather some materials. And I am NOT taking Ms. Lefty here with me, no matter how much she¡¯s going to whine!¡±

    ¡°But Lex, I keep telling you that I¡¯m fine already!¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°While I might be missing a hand, I can still help you out! I can¡¯t just sit around, while everybody else is working!¡±

    ¡°You can and you will! May I remind you that you¡¯re not fully healed yet and I will not bother helping you, if you go and get injured out of your own stupidity!? Sit this one out!¡± the kobold said angrily, before turning his attention back to the two fighters. ¡°So which one of you two is going to come and help me out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go! I¡¯ll go!¡± Ryle said as she walked up to Lexton. ¡°Also, we were NOT flirting and I¡¯m NOT interested in him in such a manner!¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s too bad, since you have so much in common,¡± the kobold said. ¡°You¡¯re both more muscle than anything else and you both stink.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you little-!¡±

    As Ryle chased after Lexton, Erin walked up to Durge in order to talk with him. She had some things she wished to discuss with the orc and this was the perfect opportunity for it.

    ¡°So¡­ You¡¯re not going to chase after him?¡± Erin asked. ¡°He did insult you as well.¡±

    ¡°Oh please. I¡¯ve had far worse insults thrown at me,¡± Durge replied. ¡°Besides, if I were to attack someone over every little insult and nasty comment, I¡¯d have died a long time ago. It¡¯s best to pick your battles, when it¡¯s actually necessary.¡±

    ¡°That sounds pretty smart. I think Ryle should learn more from you than simply fighting skills,¡± the redhead said with a small smile, getting the orc to chuckle a bit as well. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something.¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing really keeping either of us occupied now. Ask away,¡± Durge said.

    ¡°Why did you decide to join us in the end?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m more than happy to have you as part of our team, as we could use someone with your strength in our team. But the thing that confuses me is that you don¡¯t seem to have that much of a personal reason to stick with us.¡±

    ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°You know we are going after the Five Overlords themselves, right? We are basically picking a fight with the most powerful people in the entire world. That¡¯s not exactly something just anybody is willing to do. Only a very few, in fact,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°I could understand if there was a something personal driving you forward, but with what little I know about you, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything like that. You weren¡¯t exactly all that fond of your tribe and the Laughing Ogre wasn¡¯t friendly towards you either. So what is it? What made you accept our invitation?¡±

    ¡°...Do you know what is it that makes life worth living?¡± Durge asked in return. ¡°It¡¯s your ability to enjoy living. It¡¯s simple as that. Now, I¡¯m not going to go and say anything holier than thou crap about what it is that makes one enjoy living. There are plenty of people who like to talk about it being religion, family and so on. I¡¯m not saying those can¡¯t be the reason one enjoys living. In fact, I can completely see many people name those exact reasons as to why they go on about their day.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ What are you getting at?¡± Erin asked.

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    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that all of us have our own ideas as to what makes life worth living. For some people it¡¯s family, others it¡¯s religion and others simply want to get drunk a few times a week and pass out while playing video games,¡± the orc said. ¡°One might never understand why another one enjoys their thing the way they do, but that¡¯s just how it is. We are all on a quest to find that which pushes us to go on and enjoy it as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°...So what is it for you?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°What¡¯s the thing that makes life worth living for you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, but I¡¯m hoping to find out. At the very least I know that traveling with you guys should prove to be enjoyable. The way I see it, my best chance at finding my reason to go on is to join you in your quest to defeat the Five Overlords,¡± Durge answered with a small smile. ¡°Besides, if nothing else, I¡¯ll at least die for a good cause.¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that at the very least,¡± Erin said.

    With their conversation over, Erin decided to move away from their makeshift camp a bit. Just enough to have some privacy, but not so far that she¡¯d be in danger of getting attacked by any wild beasts in the area. Once she had found a secure spot, she pulled out one of the books Arkay had gotten her and opened it.

    The book was the autobiography of a famous magic user who was known for using ice magic. It had detailed descriptions of his accomplishments and lessons he taught to aspiring mages. If she was able to grasp at how he used his powers from these texts, she might be able to learn some useful spells for herself.

    A couple of the key concepts for ice magic were the idea of drawing away heat from the area you wished to use your spells at, while also gathering water from your surroundings. While the latter could be difficult depending on where you were, there would essentially always be water anywhere you were. It just required you to know where to look.

    Deciding to try out at least one of the basics, the redhead sat on the ground and brought her remaining hand close to her chest. She took a deep breath and began to concentrate.

    Focusing on the palm of her hand, she imagined taking away all the heat and warmth there, and the chill that would be left behind as a result. It took some time, but eventually these thoughts began to materialize. At first, she felt the warmth slowly leave. Then she could feel a refreshing coldness wash over her palm, like an autumn breeze. It was slowly getting colder and colder, until it felt like her hand was in the middle of a winter night, while the rest of her body was still underneath the scorching heat of the sun.

    However, this was only the first step to using ice magic. If one truly wanted to use it effectively, they would actually need to materialize ice itself and shape it into useful forms. Despite her best efforts, Erin was unable to do more than make a couple of tiny shards that melted away almost immediately.

    Seeing as how she hadn¡¯t made much progress, the redhead let out a sad sigh and stopped her spell.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯re working hard in your own way,¡± the voice of Durge suddenly called out, surprising Erin. ¡°Sorry if I surprised you. I just saw you walk away from the campsite and wondered where you were going.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I just thought that with Lex and Ryle away I could do some form of training for once. Those two are really determined to keep me resting,¡± the redhead said before looking down sadly. ¡°Not that it really matters, though. I¡¯ve tried to use ice magic for a couple of days now and this is all I¡¯ve managed to accomplish.¡±

    ¡°Not that it matters? Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve actually managed to do?¡± the orc asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Most people require days of tutoring from actual masters to get where you are, yet you¡¯ve managed to do so on your own by simply reading on some book about it.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ never thought about it like that,¡± Erin said. ¡°However, it¡¯s not like I was working completely on my own. Arnie has been giving me pointers and was the one who got me really started.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but it was still you who put in the work and effort to get to where you are. That¡¯s nothing you should be looking down on,¡± Durge said. ¡°And don¡¯t take this as me looking down on Arkay either. You are all honestly quite the impressive group. Each and every one of you has shown some incredible talent and dedication that most can only dream of.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°But I think you are forgetting someone. You¡¯re just as impressive as the rest of us.¡±

    Erin had expected the orc to smile at her remark, but was surprised to see a sad look in his eyes. It was like he was looking back on a full life of nothing but regret.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing impressive about being made into a monster,¡± Durge said in a low voice that was almost inaudible.

    ¡°What do you-?¡±

    ¡°Ah! I should have freaking known!¡± the loud voice of Ryle suddenly shouted, as she and Lexton walked up to them. ¡°I should have known that you would be getting self-destructive ass out and about like this! Are you seriously trying to get yourself killed or something!?¡±

    ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t doing anything too straining!¡± Erin tried to defend herself desperately. ¡°I was just practicing magic! I wasn¡¯t in any risk of injuring myself! Honest!¡±

    ¡°Erin, any kind of exercise can damage your body, if you do it too much!¡± Lexton added in an accusing tone. ¡°Not to mention, you walked away from the camp! What if some beast had attacked you!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! What would have happened, if you pulled an Erin, Erin!?¡± Ryle added.

    ¡°We are NOT making that a thing, okay!?¡± Erin yelled at the blonde. ¡°Besides, you guys are being way too cautious! I wasn¡¯t that far away and I could have gotten help from Durge or Arnie! It wasn¡¯t like I was completely defenseless!¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t drag me into this,¡± Durge said with a sigh.

    Ryle and Lexton were about to continue the argument, but they both suddenly realized something.

    ¡°...Now that you mentioned him, where is Arnie?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°We didn¡¯t see him at the camp when we came back.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him since this morning,¡± Durge said with a shrug.

    ¡°He¡¯ll probably be back soon enough. He¡¯s far more responsible and mature than one would think,¡± Lexton said, before looking up at the sky. ¡°Although, I do hope he gets back soon. It looks like it might rain soon.¡±

    The others looked up and saw that there were dark clouds hanging above them. Not only that, but one could hear faint rumbling, idicating that there would be thunder as well.

    However, Erin noticed something strange about the clouds.

    ¡°Hey, is it just me or are the clouds moving in a strange manner?¡± the redhead pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s almost like they are gathering to a single spot.¡±

    Almost as soon as she said it, bolts of lightning began to rain down from the accumulated clouds. The sight was such a shock to the group that their hearts skipped a beat in unison.

    ¡°W-What the hell is this!?¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a thunderstorm like this before!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because this isn¡¯t a normal thunderstorm!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no way something like this happens naturally! There has got to be someone behind this! Most likely a magic user!¡±

    ¡°Could it be one of Golorath¡¯s assassins!?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Wait¡­ That¡¯s not it,¡± Erin said as she realized something. ¡°Didn¡¯t Arnie say that he was going to practice his lightning magic!?¡±

    Upon realizing this, the whole group became worried over the safety of their youngest member. They all started to run towards the place where the storm was raging, hoping to find the cat boy still safe.

    What they found was so unbelievable they thought they were seeing things.

    In front of them stood Arkay with his arms held up high, seemingly struggling to keep himself up as a barrage of lighting bolts was raining down upon him. Some of the bolts struck the ground around him, leaving it burnt, while others hit his hands. But while the bolts struck him, they didn¡¯t hurt him. Instead it seemed like they were gathering into a ball of energy he was holding above his head.

    Seeming to finally be done with gathering the energy, the cat boy decided to target a lone boulder and unleashed the energy he had collected towards it. The large rock was easily blasted into tiny pieces. With his attack done, Arkay seemed to stop his magic casting, which one could tell by the thunderstorm ending and the clouds dispersing.

    However, while he had managed to perform an impressive feat, it had taken a toll on his body. There were light burn marks all over Arkay¡¯s body and there was even smoke rising up from him. The crackling of electricity could be seen coming from his hands and he was trembling a lot, like it took all of his remaining strength just to stay standing.

    ¡°Arnie!¡± Erin finally called out to the cat boy, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. She began to rush to his side, soon followed by the others. ¡°What was that just now!?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, you guys were here? I didn¡¯t notice,¡± Arkay said with a weak smile on his face. ¡°Nothing much. I was just practicing a new spell.¡±

    ¡°What kind of a spell was that!?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Did you just summon lightning from the skies and gather it in your hands to use as a weapon!?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± the cat boy replied as he stood up with some difficulty. ¡°I learned from my books about the act of draining electricity from your surroundings to be used as a weapon. I decided to try it out for myself and it seems to have worked.¡±

    ¡°You went straight into using actual lightning?¡± Durge asked with wide eyes. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you have practiced with something less dangerous first?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ honestly would have, except¡­ the only thing that had electricity that I could have drawn for myself was the car,¡± Arkay explained with an embarrassed blush on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to upset you guys by accidentally breaking it¡­¡±

    ¡°Screw the car, Arnie! You¡¯re far more important to us!¡± Ryle said. ¡°How do you think we would have felt, if you had gotten yourself seriously injured practicing this new spell of yours!?¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but remember what we¡¯ve been through?¡± the cat boy asked in return. ¡°Our opponents are going to be tougher in the near future, so we all need to get stronger and fast. I was just trying to-¡±

    Arkay¡¯s explanation was cut short by a slap in the face from Erin. The cat boy stared at her in stunned silence with the others, as the redhead had an expression that was a mix of sadness and anger.

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s a good enough reason to do something this reckless!?¡± Erin asked as a few tears fell from her eye. She then pulled her young friend into a tight embrace. ¡°Listen here, while I want us all to get stronger in order for us to face the challenges ahead, I don¡¯t want it to come at the expense of any of us! No one is going to be happy, if you get hurt or even killed trying to get stronger!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± Arkay apologized as he felt ashamed of himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. As long as you¡¯re okay and you understand,¡± the redhead said with a smile as she pulled away from the hug. ¡°Just¡­ Try not to be too reckless with whatever you¡¯re doing. Or at least talk to one of us before attempting it, okay?¡±

    The cat boy gave a nod in response, having understood Erin¡¯s point. The redhead then playfully ruffled her younger friend¡¯s hair, as they walked up to the others.

    ¡°I honestly agree with you, Erin. Getting stronger doesn¡¯t mean much, if you simply injure yourself by doing so,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Thanks for getting that through to Arnie.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit rich coming from you? After all, you were getting yourself pretty banged up back in Moonstone, while you were practicing your own moves,¡± the redhead said with a chuckle. ¡°Still, I¡¯m happy that-¡±

    Erin was suddenly cut off, when the blonde suddenly grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her close to glare at her.

    ¡°HOWEVER, I would appreciate if YOU followed the things you preached!¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°So until you¡¯re all healed up, I better not see you running around again! GOT IT!?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh come on! I¡¯m not in that bad of shape nor was I even doing anything that dangerous!¡± Erin tried to argue, but to no use.

    As the blonde dragged the redhead back to the car to continue resting, while Lexton followed along in order to lecture Erin about her reckless actions, Arkay and Durge were left behind in stunned silence.

    ¡°...Sometimes I can¡¯t help but wonder what kind of a group I ended up in,¡± the cat boy said.

    ¡°Funny you should say that. I was just thinking the same thing,¡± the orc said.

 77. A Tough Road Ahead

    Chapter 77

    A Tough Road Ahead

    Erin¡¯s group had been steadily continuing their journey. With the exception of being attacked by a few beasts, their trip had been going well. During this time, Erin had managed to recover enough for Ryle and Lexton to allow her to resume practicing her magic and other combat skills. The redhead was now able to form small balls of ice that she could shoot at her targets to freeze them. While the area they covered wasn¡¯t large, as it was a bit bigger than the size of a hand, it was still great progress and possible very useful as well.

    The others had been getting better as well. Ryle¡¯s experience in fighting and her level in using her ki had greatly improved thanks to Durge¡¯s guidance. The orc himself was able to also build up more experience and get better stamina by fighting the blonde on an almost daily basis. Arkay had also gotten more skilled in using his lightning magic, even though he had been forced by the others to use far less effective methods, but a lot more safe, in training.

    However, there was one person among them, who hadn¡¯t been making as much progress as he had hoped. This was none other than Lexton, who was furiously trying to build up his arsenal of acids, potions and other such items. Yet despite his best efforts, he was still far from his ideal level, as he no longer had all the tools and equipment he used to have. One of the things that he greatly missed was his enchanting table, as it allowed him to make the most powerful tools he had ever crafted.

    While it was clearly not the kobold¡¯s fault that he couldn¡¯t reach the goal he had set for himself, he couldn¡¯t help but blame himself. He was constantly agonizing over his inability to do anything better, driving himself towards despair. The way he saw it, he was only barely able to make basic potions to help his comrades and nothing more. Even if the others were always grateful for his services, it did very little to calm his anxiousness and despair.

    At the moment, it was nighttime and the group had set up campfire to roast some animals they had managed to catch for dinner. They were sharing stories about what they had been doing the whole day and fun stories in order to keep their spirits high. Ryle was currently telling a tale about her time as a bounty hunter.

    ¡°So I¡¯m sitting on the roof of this building, looking towards the bar that my target was at, right? I¡¯ve got the picture in my pocket and I¡¯m constantly checking to see if she has left the building and after what felt like an eternity, she finally walks out,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°Since I don¡¯t want to cause a scene that could get me or some poor bystander into trouble, I start following her by using the rooftops and dark alleys. I¡¯m fully expecting her to go to a motel that¡¯s in the less busy area of the town, but instead she takes a turn and goes to the entertainment district!¡±

    ¡°Why was that so surprising?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Because it was something that didn¡¯t seem like she would do!¡± Ryle answered. ¡°Why would a professional thief that had a big bounty on her head and had been careful not to get noticed suddenly go to such a busy and public place? It made no sense to me! It was almost like she wanted to get caught by getting spotted by so many people!¡±

    ¡°I see. I guess that would be strange,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So what happened next?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was expecting her to go see a movie or something like that, but I was in for a surprise! She actually went to an arcade!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Not only that, but she didn¡¯t go there to play any games! She just found a spot to stand and look around!¡±

    ¡°Did she go there to meet an accomplice or something?¡± Durge asked, interested to hear what happened next.

    ¡°Nah! What she went there for was hunting!¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°...Hunting?¡± all the others asked at the same time.

    ¡°Oh yes! And I soon found out what!¡± the blonde said as she was getting excited. ¡°It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life!¡±

    ¡°What was it? A priceless art piece?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°A statue made out of gold?¡± Durge asked.

    While most of the listeners were now eagerly waiting for the big reveal, Lexton seemed to have figured it out. A grimace came over his face, as he feared he was right.

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Please don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± the kobold muttered just loud enough for the others to hear, but it didn¡¯t bother Ryle, as she went on with her story.

    ¡°IT WAS THE CUTEST ELF BOY I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!¡± the blonde suddenly shouted excitedly with a blush on her face and a weird look in her eyes. ¡°Just the perfect face, the beautiful eyes, soft hair and a frame one could only want to hug! I was in heaven just from a single glance alone!¡±

    The others simply gave blank stares at their friend, except for Arkay who seemed to be more concerned even though he didn¡¯t know why.

    ¡°...So is this like a regular thing with her or something?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so. This is why I try to get between her and Arnie,¡± Erin answered with a sigh. ¡°Anyways, what happened then?¡±

    ¡°This is where I honestly became very troubled! On one hand, there was a big bounty right before me, but at the same time she was one of my people!¡± Ryle explained while twisting her face in mock anguish to play up to her performance. ¡°Oh the cruel fate! To have to choose between my paycheck and sisterhood!¡±

    ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± Lexton said as he shook his head in frustration.

    ¡°So what did you do?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Did you two shake hands and become the best of friends?¡±

    ¡°Well, that did cross my mind, except I decided not to do that in the end,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°You see, it was at that moment that I remembered something about my target. Not only was she a very skilled professional thief, but she had also ties to slave trafficking! Upon realizing what she was actually trying to do, I knew I had to protect one of the treasures of this world and charged in! Thanks to the element of surprise, I was able to beat her down with little issue and claim my the bounty placed on her!¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°So all¡¯s well that ends well?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...Not exactly,¡± the blonde said as she scratched the back of her head in slight embarrassment. ¡°I accidentally broke one of the machines when I apprehended her and I had to give up most of the bounty to pay the damages. Not only that, but the elf boy ran away from me for some reason. Kind of sucks, huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s more fortunate than anything else,¡± Lexton muttered as he stood up. ¡°I gotta go now. I¡¯ll see you guys later.¡±

    The others watched as the kobold walked away from the campfire and disappeared into the darkness surrounding them. Once he was gone, they turned to each other with the same question on their minds.

    ¡°Is it just me or was there something up with him?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I know I haven¡¯t been part of this group for all that long, but I can¡¯t help but feel like he was acting in a weird manner.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I think you¡¯re right,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Lex can be pretty grumpy and all, but this is a bit too much even for him. If he was acting normal, he wouldn¡¯t have just suddenly left like that.¡±

    ¡°M-Maybe someone should go talk to him?¡± Arkay suggested. ¡°If there is something wrong, we might be able tp help him out. We just need to know what it is and then we can figure out how.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to him,¡± Erin said as she stood up and started to follow after the kobold. ¡°I might have an idea as to what is bothering him as well.¡±

    The others didn¡¯t question the redhead and simply wished her luck. She walked a decent distance away from the campsite, but not too far away. You could still see the campfire and the three people sitting around it fairly well, but you couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying. It was the perfect distance to keep safe, while also get some privacy.

    Erin found Lexton sitting on top of a large boulder, looking up at the stars in the sky. The light coming from the moon was able illuminate his face enough for the redhead to see a rather saddened look on the kobold¡¯s face.

    ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡± Erin called out to Lexton, who turned to face her. ¡°You seem rather troubled. Maybe I could help you out with whatever it is?¡±

    ¡°...If you¡¯re thinking that it¡¯s the story that idiot told us, then you¡¯re dead wrong,¡± the kobold muttered as he turned his gaze back to the night sky. ¡°She might give me a headache with her stupidity, but I have far bigger issues to worry about than whatever nonsense she might spew.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on. Give me some credit, would you?¡± the redhead said as she climbed on top of the boulder and sat next to her friend. ¡°I know you far too well to ever think that one of Ryle¡¯s antics could bother you that much. So mind telling me what is really the problem?¡±

    Lexton remained silent for a moment, as he wasn¡¯t still completely used to laying out his heart to others. Having lived a life of prejudice and discrimination, he still had issues when it came to trust and seeing things in a more positive manner. Because of this, the kobold was able to scam others without any issue, as he saw most people as nothing more than potential enemies. In short, it was better to hurt them first, before they had the chance to do so to you.

    However, now that he had traveled in Erin¡¯s group for some time, he couldn¡¯t help but have a more positive outlook on things. Maybe it was okay to trust and believe others? At least none of the people he had been traveling with had shown any signs to contradict that.

    While the logical side of him wanted to just keep the whole issue to himself, his heart made the choice for him.

    ¡°...For the lack of a better term, lately I¡¯ve just been¡­ frustrated,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°I¡¯m just sick of how I can¡¯t seem to make any progress at all. Meanwhile, you and the others are constantly moving forward and advancing. You¡¯re all learning new skills and abilities, yet all I can do is give you some potions to help heal whatever injuries you might have gotten.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look down on yourself like that!¡± Erin said with a smile, hoping to cheer up her friend. ¡°After all, it¡¯s thanks to your potions that we can keep practicing and-¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s not enough!¡± the kobold said, cutting off the redhead. ¡°You all have your different abilities that will help us take on whatever is going to come after us next, but not me! I don¡¯t know how to fight, I can¡¯t use magic or ki and now I don¡¯t even have the tools that made me even worth noticing! Now I have nothing¡­¡±

    ¡°...Look, I get that you¡¯re frustrated that you can¡¯t do the things that you used to, but that doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t change in the near future,¡± Erin said. ¡°All the potions, enchantments and even golems you make are still with you. Once you get the tools you need, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to once again open up shop and you¡¯ll be a force to be reckoned with! I mean, remember how you were able to beat Ryle?¡±

    Meanwhile, a certain blonde felt a sudden surge of anger come over her, but didn¡¯t know why.

    ¡°The way you handled her back in that arena was nothing short of amazing!¡± the redhead continued. ¡°Those skills are still with you, right!? You just need your tools and that¡¯s it!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easier said than done,¡± Lexton said with a snort. ¡°Most of the stuff I had was inherited from my dad and wasn¡¯t easy to come by. In fact, the enchantment table I had was like a family heirloom that had been passed down through multiple generations! Ever since the Five Overlords took over, only select few can even buy them.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That might make things¡­ difficult,¡± Erin said a bit awkwardly. ¡°But I¡¯m sure we can find a way around it! I know we might not be able to get back the precious heirloom you lost and I¡¯m sorry about that. However, we can always go to the black market and buy one from there! It might not be able to replace what you lost, but it will be better than nothing!¡±

    ¡°As much as I hate that the enchantment table I lost is most likely gone forever, that isn¡¯t the biggest issue. Even in the black market they are very rare and also very expensive, even if you¡¯re buying a low quality one. At the rate we are going, I doubt we¡¯ll ever even have the money to buy one,¡± the kobold explained before looking away in shame. ¡°But what really bothers me is that¡­ I can¡¯t help you now that you need it from me.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been a great help to all of us ever since you joined our group! How are you not able to help me now?¡±

    ¡°I should be making you a new prosthetic hand to replace the one you lost, yet I can¡¯t even get my hands on the basic materials,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Back when I told you that I would make you a new one, I hadn¡¯t thought about our current situation. I¡¯ve gotten so used to the feeling of having more than enough tools and materials on hand to make anything I can, but now I can¡¯t do even half of them. If I still had everything I used to have, you¡¯d already have a new hand and everything would be good.¡±

    ¡°Lex, I¡¯m¡­ happy that you want to help me out that badly, but you shouldn¡¯t let it bother you too much, okay?¡± the redhead said. ¡°You¡¯re much more than just the stuff you build, so-¡±

    ¡°BUT THAT IS ALL I AM!¡± the kobold suddenly yelled as a couple of tears fell from his eyes. ¡°The only thing I¡¯m good for is making items for others to use and that¡¯s all! Without my tools¡­ I¡¯m practically nothing¡­¡±

    Erin was a bit taken aback by the sudden outburst from her friend, so for a moment all she could do was stare at Lexton. She was only shocked even more, when she realized that the kobold was even crying. Knowing that he needed some comforting, the redhead decided to give her all to help him and destroy the doubts he had about himself.

    ¡°You¡¯re completely wrong, Lex,¡± Erin said. ¡°There is much more in you than just making items for us to use. You have helped us in far more ways than you can even imagine.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Lexton asked in a sarcastic tone, not believing the redhead at all. ¡°Tell me just one thing that I¡¯m actually good for, besides making things.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s actually quite a few things that you are more than good for,¡± Erin said. ¡°You understand how the criminal underworld works and can guide us around it. You can set up a business for us to gather money and keep our finances in check and you know how to deal with the wildlife around here. But most importantly, you can keep a cool head during heated situations and find a solution that most of us wouldn¡¯t have even considered. Like that time with that dragon and how you helped us defeat it.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Wasn¡¯t it Durge who beat the dragon?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Well, he might have dealt the finishing blow, but I¡¯m pretty sure that it wouldn¡¯t have survived for much longer after it ate the bomb you made for it,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Nonetheless, I still stand by what I said. You¡¯re not just here to build stuff for us. You are far more skilled than you¡¯re giving yourself credit for. Believe me.¡±

    ¡°...I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Lexton said after thinking about it. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was just telling the truth. I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you,¡± Erin said as she stood up. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to head back now. You coming along?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay here for a bit longer. I just want to clear my mind properly,¡± the kobold answered.

    ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t stay here for too long,¡± the redhead said as she hopped off the boulder and started to walk towards the campsite. ¡°See you later.¡±

    ¡°...Just one more thing,¡± Lexton said, causing Erin to stop in her tracks. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll make you the best prosthetic hand as soon as I can, okay?¡±

    ¡°I know you will,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡±

    With the redhead now gone, the kobold was left alone to his thoughts. He looked up into the stars glowing in the night sky, thinking about what she had just told him. He also considered their current situation, especially the problems they were facing, but he also thought about how they could be fixed.

    For all of his life, Lexton had been a realistic person that always put focus on the more negative sides before him. Yet right now, he somehow couldn¡¯t help but be filled with hope and positiveness, despite the challenges they were facing.

 78. Bandit Chase

    Chapter 78

    Bandit Chase

    A couple of days had passed since the talk between Erin and Lexton. While the kobold was still obviously somewhat depressed by his lack of equipment, which in turn affected his ability to perform his duties, he was doing better than earlier. He was now more motivated when it came to acquiring materials and making potions. He had even started to make different sorts of items as well, such as many types of bombs.

    Erin was glad to see her friend doing better, but knew that doubts that you might have managed to suppress for now could come up later. Because of this, she hoped that they could find a way to rebuild Lexton¡¯s workshop as soon as possible. Not only would this help keep his spirits up, but it would be a great asset to the whole group as well.

    Right now, the group was driving towards their next destination, Burrow¡¯s Deep. Due to the attack by Dryzal, they had been forced to take a detour and had lost their original vehicle. Now they hoped to get to their destination without any interruptions.

    The group was taking turns in who would be in the driver¡¯s cabin, as their job was to keep an eye on things while also driving. While Lexton and Arkay couldn¡¯t drive, they would accompany the driver in order to keep them company and keep a lookout on their surroundings. Erin had at first had issues with driving due to the loss of her hand, but after some practice and a simple prosthetic being provided to her by Lexton, she managed to handle it.

    Erin and Durge were currently in the driver¡¯s cabin, while the others were in the cargo compartment. The orc was handling the wheel, while the redhead sat next to him, looking out the window to see if anything was happening out there.

    ¡°Anything new on your side?¡± Durge asked in a bored tone. ¡°I¡¯m not seeing anything except an endless wasteland before us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty much the same over here. With the exception of some rocks here and there,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Any idea if we are going to be reaching Burrow¡¯s Deep anytime soon?¡±

    ¡°Well, if I understood the map correctly and according to Lexton¡¯s explanation, we should get there around nighttime today,¡± the orc answered. ¡°I hope that the information is right. I¡¯m getting sick of these repetitive sights and would love to sleep in an actual bed for once.¡±

    ¡°Same here, although I¡¯m not sure if that last part will be possible,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Remember that our finances aren¡¯t exactly in the best shape right now. Not only do we need to restock on our supplies, but we need to start thinking about building up Lex¡¯s workshop as well.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­ I guess I¡¯m still going to have to choose between hard rock or cold metal as my sleeping place,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°Are you sure about helping Lexton build up his workshop? I hate to tell you this, but that will be a really expensive investment.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. It¡¯s more than worth it,¡± Erin replied. ¡°You haven¡¯t gotten to see much yet, but the things he can make with the right equipment are simply amazing. Once he has what he needs, he will be the greatest possible ally to us all.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound distrustful or anything, but some of the stuff you told me that he can create sound way too good to be true. I mean, golems that can be carried around in your pocket? That sounds crazy and too good to be true.¡±

    ¡°Believe me, they are real. I saw them in action with my own eyes,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Once you see someone drop goo out of a vial that turns into a giant monster that then proceeds to beat the crap out of your strongest ally, you tend to see what that guy sells as the real deal.¡±

    ¡°...So he basically gave a thrashing to Ryle?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°A very bad one, yeah,¡± Erin said.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, in the back of the vehicle, a certain someone was getting riled up.

    ¡°Son of a-!¡± Ryle said angrily.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Arkay asked in a worried tone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just felt this sudden anger take over me,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°I feel like someone just insulted me big time and needs to get their ass kicked.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, Ryle. If you were to fight everybody who insults you, you¡¯d have to fight about 90 % of the world¡¯s population,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Even that¡¯s kind of a low ball, seeing how much of an imbecile you are.¡±

    ¡°Why you little-!¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and Durge, the two were continuing their drive in silence, keeping their eyes on the road ahead of them.

    ¡°You know, I almost hope that something comes and attacks us,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I fear that if nothing happens soon, I might fall into a coma or something.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. We should be grateful that we are only bored and not in actual danger,¡± the orc said. ¡°I promise that once we end up meeting anything dangerous, you¡¯ll be regretting making that wish.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know. That why I said almost,¡± Erin said. ¡°I just wish there was something that could keep us awake.¡±

    It was then that the redhead took a look to the side and saw dust clouds in the distance. Upon noticing this, she grabbed a pair of binoculars to get a better look at them. To her surprise, it was a group of vehicles driving towards their direction.

    ¡°Hey, we might have some company,¡± Erin called out to her partner. ¡°I just spotted some cars coming towards us.¡±

    ¡°Do they look dangerous?¡± Durge asked.

    The redhead used the zoom on the binoculars to get a better look. Since there were no signs of any military emblems, she could rule out them being part of the army. However, it became very clear to her quickly that these weren¡¯t your average travelers either. This was made evident by all the people being completely armed and looking rather crazed. What also helped establish this were the dead bodies of their victims hanging from some of the vehicles, like macabre trophies.

    ¡°...Yeah, these guys look dangerous alright,¡± Erin said. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re bandits or something along those lines.¡±

    ¡°Ever heard about being careful what you wish for?¡± Durge asked with a slight frown. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ve seen us?¡±

    ¡°I did say almost,¡± the redhead said sheepishly, before looking through the binoculars again. ¡°As for your other question, let me see about that.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to notice one of the bandits looking directly at them with their own binoculars.

    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ve seen us alright,¡± the redhead told her partner.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Just great¡­ This is just what we needed,¡± Durge said sarcastically. ¡°Inform the others that this is going to be a bumpy ride.¡±

    Erin nodded before knocking on the back wall of the cabin and then opening a small sliding window that allowed her to see and talk to the people on the back. Ryle, Arkay and Lexton immediately turned their attention to her, wondering what was going on.

    ¡°Hey, heads up over there!¡± the redhead called out. ¡°We¡¯ve got company! Some bandits are heading our way!¡±

    ¡°Thank God! There¡¯s finally something happening!¡± Ryle said. ¡°I swear, I was getting so bored that I was about to fall into a coma over here!¡±

    ¡°Hey, being bored is better than being in danger!¡± Lexton scolded the blonde. ¡°You should be careful what you wish for!¡±

    Erin wisely decided to keep her mouth shut and not get dragged into the argument of her two friends.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± the redhead asked Durge. ¡°Does this car have any means for us to defend ourselves with?¡±

    ¡°Nope. This is pretty much a simple transportation vehicle that¡¯s meant to be used only in controlled areas. Any weaponry would be just a waste of money at that point,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Our best option is to find a way to lose them before we get an actual fight going on.¡±

    Just as Durge said that, a large explosion erupted ahead of them. The bandits had started firing explosives at them.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s too late for that!?¡± Erin asked as more explosions erupted around them.

    Due to the bombardment from the bandits, Durge was forced to go from side to side in order to avoid getting hit. This caused the people in the back to get thrown around, which was something Ryle loudly voiced her complaints about. Luckily, they didn¡¯t get hit, but this had sowed them down long enough for the bandits to catch up to them.

    Seeing as their pursuers had gotten close, Erin took out her pistol and got ready to shoot. While she wasn¡¯t left-handed, even giving some form of fire at the bandits was better than nothing. The redhead took aim at a bandit on a motorcycle that was trying to get next to her side of the cabin and fired at him. Thanks to him being so close, her shots were able to land on their target and take him down easily.

    But while one might have been taken care of, there were still plenty left. This was far from over.

    ¡°Heads up at the back!¡± Erin yelled as she hit the back wall of the cabin to notify the others. ¡°Our new friends just arrived!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! We noticed!¡± Ryle yelled back angrily. ¡°Also, is Durge drunk or something!? What the hell was up with his driving earlier!?¡±

    Before the blonde¡¯s question could be answered, a harpoon impaled itself through the backdoor of their vehicle. The door was soon torn off, revealing the gang of bandits chasing after them.

    With the door gone, one of the bandits decided to take his chances and jumped off one of the vehicles. He landed one the inside of the back area and pulled out an axe, a wicked smile on his face as he was looking forward to the violence he was about to unleash.

    However, Ryle prevented him from doing anything by landing a powerful kick right in his face, sending him flying out of their car. The bandit¡¯s body hit one of their own cars, before falling on the ground and getting run over.

    ¡°Get ready, you two!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Looks like we are not going to be able to just sit this one out!¡±

    Both Arkay and Lexton got ready to defend themselves from the attackers. The cat boy prepared his spells, while the kobold pulled out his pistol and had some of his vials at the ready.

    Seeing what had happened to their comrade, the other bandits decided to try and take out the defenders by shooting at them. The trio was able to get down and avoid the bullets, after which they decided to counterattack.

    Arkay launched a small fireball at the driver of one of the cars. The fiery projectile smashed through the window, setting the person behind it on fire. The bandit screamed as he lost control of his vehicle, crashing it into another one.

    Lexton pulled out one of his vials and threw it at another car. The liquid inside exploded on impact, blowing up the front part of the vehicle and taking it down. He then spotted one of the bandits preparing a firebomb and fired his pistol at him. The bandit was struck down by the bullets, causing him to drop his explosive and taking out the other bandits that were in the same car.

    ¡°...Why do I feel like I¡¯m the useless one here?¡± Ryle muttered, as she watched her companions defend themselves.

    The blonde didn¡¯t get to mope for too long, as she heard something land on top of their car. Upon realizing just what spot the sound had come from, her eyes went wide before she made a quick dash towards Arkay. She managed to pull the cat boy out of the way of an incoming spear that had pierced the roof.

    ¡°T-Thanks, Ryle!¡± Arkay said while still in somewhat of a shock over almost dying. ¡°T-That almost got me!¡±

    ¡°Not when I¡¯m around!¡± the blonde said loudly as she ran to where the backdoor used to be. ¡°Just wait a moment, guys! I¡¯ll take care of that guy!¡±

    Spotting a pickup truck with a few bandits riding on the back that was very close, Ryle charged up her ki in her legs and jumped towards it. The bandits had not been prepared for someone to actually come to them, so they were caught completely off-guard by the blonde. In just a matter of seconds, she had taken care of the people riding on the back with blows enhanced by ki. Once she was done with them, she took a grenade that was dropped by one of them and dropped it inside the driver¡¯s cabin, before jumping off the truck and back to their vehicle.

    As the pickup truck blew up, Ryle landed on the roof of their vehicle, where a bandit armed with a spear was trying to stab at Arkay and Lexton below. He stared at the blonde with fearful wide eyes, as she simply grinned.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you don¡¯t have a ticket for this ride,¡± Ryle said in a threatening tone. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to ask you to get off.¡±

    The bandit tried to defend himself with his spear, only for the blonde to grab his weapon and throw him off. She then threw the spear at one of the cars chasing them, impaling the driver and causing the vehicle to crash into another one.

    With her work done for now, Ryle climbed back inside, where Arkay and Lexton were waiting. Both had wide-eyed looks on their faces after witnessing the blonde¡¯s actions.

    ¡°How about that!?¡± Ryle asked with a big grin. ¡°Was I cool or what!?¡±

    ¡°...How reckless,¡± Lexton said. ¡°You were lucky not to get shot over there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut your mouth!¡± the blonde yelled back at the kobold.

    ¡°Y-You were really cool back there, Ryle!¡± Arkay quickly said, hoping to prevent a fight from breaking out. ¡°I was completely amazed by what you just did!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie!¡± Ryle said happily. ¡°At least someone appreciates my help!¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and Durge, the two of them were doing their best to defend themselves from the bandits as well. The orc had been driving as fast as their car could make them move in order to get away from the people chasing them, every so often using the car itself to ram into some of the bandits that got too close. Meanwhile, Erin was doing her best to fight back against their pursuers with her pistol, but she was starting run out of money. They needed to escape, as they wouldn¡¯t be able to keep this up much longer. While they were able to repel their attackers, the damage being caused to their car was beginning to build up and it wouldn¡¯t take long for it to be completely useless.

    ¡°I¡¯m running low on ammo!¡± Erin said as she reloaded her pistol. ¡°Do you have any spare bullets!?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a firearm on me!¡± Durge said. ¡°I only have my hammer with me!¡±

    ¡°Seriously!? You should consider carrying a gun on you!¡± the redhead said as she began to fire her gun on the pursuing bandits. ¡°It helps a lot to have something that allows you to deal with enemies from afar!¡±

    The orc was about to respond, but another bandit jumped on their vehicle, hanging on the door to his side. Before the intruder could get in, Durge grabbed his warhammer and thrust it through the widow, striking the bandit right in the face so hard that his head flew off.

    ¡°You were saying?¡± the orc asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°...Okay, point taken,¡± Erin grumbled.

    As Erin¡¯s group prepared to continue fighting back against their pursuers, something odd happened. Suddenly, all of the bandits stopped, before turning around and riding away.

    At first, Erin thought that they might have been scared off by some sort of a large monster, but nothing like that seemed to be around them. The redhead looked in every possible direction she could, only to see nothing threatening anywhere.

    ¡°What suddenly got into them?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Just a moment ago they were willing to put their lives on the line in order to get us, but then they suddenly leave. Why would they give up like that?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say. That doesn¡¯t make sense to me either,¡± Durge said. ¡°They pretty much had us at their mercy, so why leave after sacrificing so much?¡±

    While they were wondering the sudden change in the attitude of the bandits, the orc noticed something. There was rumbling sounds in the skies and he looked up to see dark clouds right above them. It didn¡¯t take long for rain to start falling on them.

    ¡°Would you look at that. It¡¯s raining,¡± Durge said as drops of water landed on the windshield. ¡°Think that drove the bandits away?¡±

    ¡°A little rain? I doubt that,¡± Erin said. ¡°I mean, how could it-?¡±

    The redhead was cut off, as Lexton began to suddenly hit the wall behind them and yell in a panic.

    ¡°Is it raining outside!?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°We need to get out of here and fast! Turn the car around and go the other way at full speed! NOW!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you getting so scared over?¡± Erin asked as she opened the window that showed the passengers in the back. ¡°It¡¯s just rain. It¡¯s not like we are getting attacked by some sort of a monster.¡±

    ¡°We might as well be getting attacked by a monster in this area! Hell, that would probably be better than dealing with rain!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°The ground close to Burrow¡¯s Deep is special in the way it absorbs water! If we stay here for too long, it will so wet that we-!¡±

    Just as the kobold was about to finish his explanation, the car came to a sudden stop. Durge took a look outside and noticed that their tires had sunk into the ground.

    ¡°Well, this is going to be a pain in the ass,¡± the orc muttered. ¡°We¡¯re stuck in mud. I¡¯ll try to get us out of here.¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T!¡± Lexton yelled.

    Upon trying to get the car out of the mud by stepping on the gas, it only led to the car sinking deeper. Now the tires had almost completely sunk.

    ¡°What the hell!?¡± Durge shouted in shock. ¡°How the hell are we sinking so fast!?¡±

    ¡°I tried to tell you! The ground here has a special characteristic, where it absorbs water and turns into one big sinkhole! They even call it the Badlands Sea because of this!¡± Lexton explained. ¡°This is why the bandits left! They realized it was going to rain soon and they would be stuck here the way we are now!¡±

    ¡°How do we get out of here!?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Not much we can do here, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t move, we might be able to avoid sinking even deeper. Luckily the rain isn¡¯t too bad. If it was truly pouring, then-¡±

    Just as he said that, the rain got much worse. It was now pouring on them.

    ¡°Oh, son of a bitch!¡± the kobold cursed.

    ¡°You just had to say it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Shut up, Ryle...¡±

 79. Muddy Entrance

    Chapter 79

    Muddy Entrance

    Erin¡¯s group was doing their best not to move around at all in order to prevent themselves from sinking any further. However, this only prevented them from sinking faster, as the heavy rain was causing them to slowly sink deeper and deeper.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Guys? Hate to tell you this, but I don¡¯t think that whatever we¡¯re doing here is really working,¡± Ryle called out to the others. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that unless we actually do something, we are all going to be taking a full body mud bath soon.¡±

    ¡°I know, asshole! You don¡¯t need to point out the obvious here!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°Had the rain stayed the way it was at the beginning, we could have gotten through this by just staying still and waiting for the weather to clear up. Now that it¡¯s pouring, we¡¯ll sink no matter what we do!¡±

    ¡°There are some large rocks over there,¡± Erin pointed out as she looked out of the window. ¡°How come they¡¯re not sinking any deeper?¡±

    ¡°Those aren¡¯t just rocks. They¡¯re mountains that have sunk years ago,¡± the kobold answered, causing the others to look at him with wide eyes. ¡°The reason they¡¯re not sinking any deeper is because there isn¡¯t any further depth they can sink to.¡±

    ¡°Is there a way for us to get there?¡± Durge asked. ¡°If that¡¯s a spot that won¡¯t sink no matter how hard it¡¯s going to rain, we could wait for the rain to stop there.¡±

    ¡°That would work, except how are we going to get there?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°None of us can fly or even jump that far. Even if one of us could, what about the others?¡±

    While the others were trying to come up with ideas on what to do, Erin kept her eyes on the mountains that were sticking up from the mud. Knowing that something had to be done and fast, she leaned out from the window and held out her left hand. She started to concentrate on summoning ice magic from her palm and soon felt a gentle coldness wash over her palm.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s Erin doing?¡± Arkay asked, having noticed her leaning through the window.

    The others turned their attention towards the redhead, wondering what she was trying to do. However, only Durge was able get a decent look at what she was doing. Upon realizing what it was, his eyes went wide with realization.

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to freeze the mud!¡± the orc said. ¡°She¡¯s been practicing ice magic and is now trying to put it to use!¡±

    ¡°What!? Really!?¡± Ryle asked with some excitement in her voice. ¡°That¡¯s great! Maybe she can help us get out of this mess!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bet on it,¡± Lexton said with a frown. ¡°She only recently started practicing the use of ice magic, so I doubt that she¡¯s yet a master. Not only does she lack the skills necessary for this,

    but there¡¯s also one other thing that will prevent us from getting out of her using that method.¡±

    ¡°B-But at the very least she¡¯s trying to do something!¡± Arkay said. ¡°It might not be the thing that will save us, but it might help us, right!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Lex! We should give her a chance!¡± Ryle said.

    The kobold remained silent, but was obviously doubtful over the success Erin was going to have with her plan.

    Back with the redhead, the ice magic coming from her left hand had started to freeze the mud around the door on her side. While it wasn¡¯t fast, there was a visible change in the area she was trying to affect. Slowly but surely the wet mud was starting to solidify and form a platform for them.

    Erin¡¯s plan was very simple. She was going to freeze the mud and keep doing it until she had created a path from their sinking car to the mountain. Once there, they could just wait for the rain to stop and continue their journey.

    However, much like Lexton had predicted, her efforts were in vain. Soon after she had frozen an area, it soon melted into mud again. No matter how much she tried, the redhead was unable to create the makeshift bridge out of ice that she had planned to do.

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ It¡¯s no use,¡± Erin said in a saddened tone, as she finally gave up. ¡°It¡¯s too much for me. I don¡¯t have enough power to get us out of this.¡±

    ¡°Hey, at least you tried,¡± Durge said in a comforting tone. ¡°We just need to figure something else out.¡±

    While the others were busy comforting and encouraging the redhead, Lexton noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It was movement within the mud surrounding them. He immediately realized what this meant.

    ¡°Erin, get away from the window!¡± the kobold shouted.

    The redhead was too tired from using a large amount of magical power, so she was unable to immediately react to the sudden command. Luckily, Durge was quick to react and pulled her away from the window.

    As she was pulled back, Erin saw a massive fish-like creature jump up from the mud and close its massive jaws at the area her head had been at just a second ago. The monster looked like it was a barracuda from hell, as its body was built simply for killing. The most striking feature it had was the lack of eyes on its head.

    The monstrous fish quickly disappeared underneath the mud that it had come out of, leaving the members of Erin¡¯s group shocked, with the exception of Lexton.

    ¡°W-W-What the hell was that!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°How the hell are there monster fish living under the ground!?¡±

    ¡°Those things are known as Mud Stalkers,¡± Lexton said. ¡°They only appear in this area, when it¡¯s raining. Otherwise, they just hibernate underground and wait for a chance to come and hunt again.¡±

    ¡°Dammit, Lex! Couldn¡¯t you have told us about those things a bit earlier!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°One of the nearly took my head for lunch!¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain if they would appear,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Much like you guys, this is my first time here. I had heard that they only appear during heavy rains, but I wasn¡¯t sure if this was enough to bring them out.¡±

    ¡°So what!? We were just some sort of bait to test it out!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°How about next time you dangle yourself in their reach and see what happens!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I wasn¡¯t looking towards meeting those things! I was hoping that they wouldn¡¯t appear at all!¡± Lexton said. ¡°As long as they didn¡¯t come up, I believe we would have a chance to get out of here!¡±

    ¡°So what are you suggesting? That we just wait here and hope for the best?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°That seems like a pretty shit plan, if you ask me!¡±

    ¡°Well, do you have a better one!?¡± the kobold asked angrily. ¡°Like it or not, we are stuck here now! The best we can hope for is that the rain stops before we sink completely!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s an option,¡± Durge said. ¡°We are still sinking. It might be slow, but it won¡¯t take long for us to end up completely covered in mud.¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The others took a look outside and saw that the orc was right. At the rate they were sinking, they would be completely submerged in mud in just a few minutes. Not only that, but there was movement around them, which indicated that the Mud Stalkers were looking forward to their new prey.

    ¡°Shit! If only I could use ice magic properly, then we could get out of here!¡± Erin cursed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that this is how it is going to end!¡±

    While the others were racking their brains, trying to find a way for them to escape their current predicament, Lexton wasn¡¯t thinking about a plan. The truth was that the kobold had something prepared for a case like this, but he didn¡¯t like the idea of using it. There was a great risk involved that he wasn¡¯t sure they should take. However, with their situation as dire as it was, it seemed like there was no other choice.

    ¡°Erin, can I ask you something?¡± Lexton suddenly called out to the redhead, getting everyone¡¯s attention turned on him.

    ¡°Sure. What is it?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Are you willing to risk your life to save everyone here?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Are you willing to go through the most agonizing pain imaginable to save us all?¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you asking that for right now!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that we are in the middle of-!?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Erin answered to Lexton¡¯s question without hesitation. ¡°If it means that you are all going to be safe, I am more than willing to do it.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Also, do you trust me?¡± the kobold asked further. ¡°Are you ready to put your life in my hands?¡±

    ¡°Lex, I would never doubt you,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°Whatever you tell me to do, I am willing to go through with it.¡±

    ¡°...Then take this,¡± Lexton said as he took a vial out of his jacket and gave it to Erin. ¡°This might just save us.¡±

    Erin took the vial that was offered to her. Inside was a clear blue liquid of some sort that she had never seen before. The most striking thing about it was that the liquid seemed to glow slightly.

    ¡°What exactly is this stuff, Lex?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Some type of a potion?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of a potion, yes,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°It greatly boosts the magical powers of those who drink it. I was able to make it from some of the ingredients I managed to gather, in case we didn¡¯t have enough magic power on our side. This could allow you to use such powerful ice magic that making the bridge you were planning to do, might just be possible.¡±

    ¡°Really!? That¡¯s great! Why didn¡¯t you give this to me earlier!?¡± Erin said excitedly, as she was getting ready to drink the potion.

    ¡°WAIT!¡± Lexton shouted, stopping the redhead. ¡°You should know something before you take even a sip of it!¡±

    ¡°...What is it?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°This thing is highly dangerous,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°It essentially forces all magical power out of your body, damaging it in the process. If you drink it, I can promise you that it will be an agonizing experience that will probably make you wish you were dead. In fact, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it did end up killing you.¡±

    Silence fell over everyone as they let this new information sink in. They had been handed a method for them to get out of their predicament alive, but it might come at the cost of Erin¡¯s life. It wasn¡¯t a deal that any of them wanted to take.

    ¡°ARE YOU INSANE!?¡± Ryle screamed angrily. ¡°Why would you make something like that!? No way are we going to trade Erin¡¯s life just to save our asses! You might not agree with that, but-!¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T YOU EVEN DARE SPEAK LIKE THAT ABOUT ME!¡± Lexton shouted angrily at the blonde. ¡°I only made this in case we might end up in a situation it¡¯s needed! I never wanted to use it, but any decent businessman knows that you need to prepare for the worst as well! And right now, we are in the worst possible situation imaginable!¡±

    Silence came over once again, as everyone thought it over. No one liked the idea of sacrificing one of their own in order to save the others, but it might just be the only option to make sure the whole group didn¡¯t end up dead. It was a decision no one wanted to make, but they might just have to.

    ¡°...Can this really do it?¡± Erin asked after thinking about it. ¡°Can I really save you all, as long as I drink this?¡±

    ¡°Erin, no!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t even-!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain, but it¡¯s the best option we currently have,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I wish I could promise you that it will succeed with this, but the best I can give is about 50 % chance.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying this might not even work!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Forget about it! Erin, just throw that thing out of the window! No one wants you to be a suicidal martyr!¡±

    ¡°...I know what Ryle thinks about this. But what you guys?¡± Erin asked as she looked at Arkay and Durge. ¡°What do you guys think I should do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to force you to make either choice,¡± Durge replied. ¡°Whether you choose to drink that or not, it¡¯s up to you. All I can say is that I don¡¯t see any better options, even if I do hate to admit it.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want you to sacrifice you either,¡± Arkay said in a sad tone. ¡°B-But I understand that we can¡¯t just sacrifice everybody else! And I want to be saved as well! I-I just don¡¯t know what to say!¡±

    ¡°...What about you, Lexton?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°Much like Durge, I¡¯m not going to make the choice for you,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°However, if I were you, I¡¯d probably take it. There¡¯s pretty much no other way to save us.¡±

    Having heard Lexton¡¯s answer, the redhead smiled as she took the cork off the vial.

    ¡°That¡¯s all I had to hear,¡± Erin said before looking at her friends. ¡°Get ready to start moving. I don¡¯t want to stick around for long.¡±

    In one quick gulp, the redhead drank the potion before handing the empty vial back to Lexton. After she was done, Erin leaned out of her window and began casting her ice magic once again.

    At first, it didn¡¯t seem like there was any change in her magic, but it didn¡¯t take long for the potion¡¯s effects to show. Suddenly, the ice magic Erin was casting exploded in power, causing the mud she was aiming at to freeze right away. The others watched in amazement, as the redhead created a platform of ice in a matter of seconds right before their eyes.

    With the platform completed, Erin wasted no time to climb out of her window and continue her work. The ice bridge was being created like she had planned to.

    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Ryle said as she watched the redhead work. ¡°She¡¯s actually doing it. And so fast, too!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s unbelievable,¡± Durge said.

    ¡°What are you all standing around for!?¡± Lexton suddenly yelled, getting their attention. ¡°Erin¡¯s currently risking her life for our sake out there! We can¡¯t just waste time by staying here! Besides, we need to protect her from the Mud Stalkers, while she¡¯s focusing on her magic!¡±

    Realizing that their friend needed help, the others quickly climbed out of the car and got on the recently formed ice platform. Almost as soon as they did that, the vehicle sunk into its muddy grave.

    The group didn¡¯t have any time to stand around or rest, as the Mud Stalkers were coming for them now. The fish-like monsters were jumping out of the depths and flying towards them like missiles with sharp teeth at the ready.

    However, now that Erin¡¯s friends were able to properly defend themselves, the bloodthirsty beasts were easily pushed back. Thanks to the amount of experience they had in facing dangerous foes, the Mud Stalkers were not too big of a deal. Ryle used her martial arts skills to send the beasts back to the muddy depths they had come from, while Durge was batting them around with his hammer. Arkay also provided assistance with his magic by shooting down the creatures and even Lexton was able to help by using his pistol.

    This type of one-sided fighting went on for some time as they were getting closer to the mountain they had noticed earlier. They were already halfway there, so they only needed to hold out for a bit longer.

    ¡°Things are looking great, guys!¡± Ryle said happily, as she kicked another Mud Stalker away from Erin. ¡°Only a bit more and we can- WOAH!¡±

    The blonde¡¯s boasting was cut short, as she slipped and fell on the frozen ground. Knowing that staying down in a battle was a bad idea, she was about to get up quickly, only for her hand to touch something wet and thick. Upon inspecting what it was, Ryle¡¯s eyes went wide as she realized it was blood. Not only that, but it was from a trail of blood that Erin had left behind. Even if the redhead wasn¡¯t letting out any pained sounds, blood was constantly falling from her mouth, as she struggled to keep her concentration on making the ice bridge.

    Knowing that drawing attention to Erin¡¯s painful situation wasn¡¯t going to help anyone, Ryle simply grit her teeth and continued to fight back against the attacking Mud Stalkers.

    This battle continued for a while, until Erin finally reached the mountain, having completed her ice bridge. Upon touching solid ground with her feet, she finally stopped casting her magic and fell.

    However, the redhead¡¯s body didn¡¯t connect with the solid rock beneath her, as she was quickly grabbed by Ryle, who carried her away from the edge of the mountain, so she wouldn¡¯t be attacked by the Mud Stalkers. The others quickly followed after them, escaping from the beasts and the muddy trap they had almost gotten caught in.

    Once at a safe spot, Ryle carefully laid Erin on the ground so that they could check up on her. The redhead¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t looking too good, as she had a very bad fever, she was constantly coughing up blood and her breathing seemed very strained as well.

    ¡°Oh God¡­ Erin, how the hell could you do this to yourself?¡± Ryle said almost inaudibly. ¡°She needs help! Quick! Do something!¡±

    ¡°Hang on!¡± Lexton said as he rushed over. ¡°I¡¯ve got something that might-!¡±

    However, the kobold was pushed away by Ryle, who gave him the most murderous glare.

    ¡°You¡­ YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!¡± the blonde screamed in fury. ¡°This is all your fault! It¡¯s because you forced her to drink that potion of yours that she¡¯s in this state!¡±

    Lexton looked at the others, hoping to see at least some support, but found none. Arkay was looking away, saddened over Erin¡¯s state, and Durge just looked at him blankly, most likely because he was torn between blaming the kobold and focusing on Erin.

    Seeing as he wasn¡¯t wanted anymore, Lexton stood up and turned around, before walking away. But before he could take even a single step, a hand grabbed his leg, preventing him from leaving. He looked down to see Erin holding onto him with a smile on her face.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Where are you going?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Our group still needs you around. Besides, didn¡¯t you have something that could help me?¡±

    ¡°Erin, you can¡¯t be serious!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°This is all his fault! Had it not been for him, you would still be-!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, I drank the potion fully aware of the risk I was taking,¡± Erin said. ¡°I did it in order to save all of you, which I was able to do thanks to Lex. No one had any better plan anyways, did they? So why should we be getting angry at him, when he found a way to save us and was completely honest with us?¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But you¡­¡± the blonde tried to argue, only to not find any words for it.

    ¡°You know that I¡¯m right as well, don¡¯t you? Had it not been for Lex having that potion, all of us would be dead now,¡± the redhead said, before looking back at Lexton. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t blame yourself either. I don¡¯t regret what I did at all.¡±

    Lexton, completely taken aback by Erin¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything. Instead, without saying anything, he knelt next to the redhead and gave her one of his potions, which she happily accepted. Despite trying to hide it, the others could see a couple of tears fall from Lexton¡¯s eyes.

    The kobold suddenly felt a strong hand gently grip his shoulder, as Durge sat next to him.

    ¡°Sorry about earlier,¡± the orc said. ¡°It was just a lot going on at the moment.¡±

    Lexton looked at Arkay and Ryle, who both gave him apologetic looks. It seemed like they had realized that it was only thanks to the kobold¡¯s help that all of them were still alive.

    ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Nothing much there for us to do, but wait for the rain to stop,¡± Erin said as she drank the healing potion that had been given to her. ¡°Once that has happened, we simply continue our journey.¡±

 80. Looking For A Healer

    Chapter 80

    Looking For A Healer

    It had taken some time for the rain to end, but Erin¡¯s group was eventually able to continue their journey. However, with Erin¡¯s condition, she was unable to walk, which forced the others to look after her.

    Durge was able to hunt down a large beetle-like creature, whose shell Lexton was able to make into a makeshift stretcher. Durge and Ryle took turns in dragging the stretcher with their friend on it, this allowing the other one to be ready in case another attack came their way.

    Lexton had also increased his efforts in making healing potions, which was turning out to be much harder due to the area they were at. He was still able to make a decent amount of them, so that they could take care of any possible injuries and provide some relief to Erin.

    Despite all the healing potions, though, the redhead¡¯s injuries were so bad that simple potions couldn¡¯t fix them. All they could do was provide some relief for the pain she was in, but ultimately it wasn¡¯t really helping. The redhead needed to see an actual healer, who was specialized in this type of work. The problem was finding one, as it turned out that they couldn¡¯t just walk into a clinic and expect treatment.

    ¡°Guys, I don¡¯t think Erin¡¯s getting any better,¡± Ryle said in a worried tone as she looked over the redhead she was dragging on their makeshift stretcher. ¡°Haven¡¯t you given her plenty of your healing potions, Lex? How the hell aren¡¯t they helping her?¡±

    ¡°Because the potions I make are just your average basic healing potions,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°While they can help your body heal, they can only do very little in the end. At best, they can cure bruises and wounds, but anything beyond that requires far more advanced methods.¡±

    ¡°What would these methods be?¡± Arkay asked, worried over Erin¡¯s well-being.

    ¡°Either better healing potions or high-level healing magic,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°My skills are not good enough to make better potions, even if I did have the materials for them. And healing magic is something only very few people can do at all.¡±

    ¡°...So which one should we look for?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Do we look for a healer or a better potion?¡±

    ¡°Either one would be ideal. But if I had to choose, I¡¯d say that we should look for the potion,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only are healers very rare, but they often charge insane amounts of money for their services. While there are those who simply want to help the people around them, they are so rare you might as well expect to bump into a golden unicorn. Our best bet is to find some black market vendor selling high-level healing potions and either buy or steal one.¡±

    ¡°Wow, you did not hesitate at all in going down the criminal path, did you?¡± Ryle asked sarcastically. ¡°You do know that the last time we listened to one of your criminal schemes, we ended in a death game run by a bunch of psychos?¡±

    ¡°Do you have a better idea!?¡± the kobold asked with a hint of anger in his voice. ¡°Erin needs treatment as soon as possible and we are not exactly financially secure here! Besides, we can¡¯t go to a hospital, as we are wanted people! We¡¯d only end up arrested or killed!¡±

    Silence fell over, as no one knew how to respond to Lexton. They all knew that what they needed to do was going to be very risky, no matter how they went about it. It seemed like they were stuck in a situation with no other way out.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Don¡¯t worry about me, guys. I¡¯ll be alright,¡± Erin called out in a weak voice, while trying to give a reassuring smile to her friends. ¡°I¡¯m sure with enough rest, I¡¯ll be just as good as new. No need for you to risk yourselves for me.¡±

    ¡°You are the furthest thing from alright!¡± Ryle said. ¡°If you think we are just going to ignore the state you¡¯re in, you¡¯re mistaken big time!¡±

    As the blonde was lecturing the redhead, Lexton motioned for Durge to follow him, as they walked away from the rest of the group. This was so that they could talk to each other, without the others hearing.

    ¡°We are really going to need to do something about this or it could get bad,¡± the kobold whispered. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t get proper treatment as soon as possible, there might be irreversible damage to her body. In the worst case scenario, she might even die.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that bad, huh?¡± the orc asked with a slight frown. ¡°How much time do we have?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, I have no idea. While I can make potions, the actual workings of a body are mostly unknown to me,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°I just know from what I¡¯ve read and heard that the after effects of the potion I gave her are very serious. I was hoping that she would have gotten over the worst of them, as that would indicate the damage wasn¡¯t so bad. But seeing as how she can¡¯t even walk, I fear the worst.¡±

    ¡°...So what do we need to do?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you have a plan of some kind.¡±

    ¡°I do, but I don¡¯t really like it myself either,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Once we get to a town, we¡¯ll look for the black market there and try to find either a merchant selling high-level potions or a healing mage selling their services. If we can¡¯t purchase their services, we either steal a potion or force the mage to heal Erin.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re thinking about doing?¡± the orc asked. ¡°If things go wrong even slightly, it could mean that the whole criminal underground is coming after us. Not to mention, I can¡¯t help but have suspicions as to how you¡¯ll force a mage to give their services to us¡­¡±

    ¡°I know I¡¯m risking a lot, but I can¡¯t think of anything else!¡± Lexton explained. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to prevent Erin¡¯s condition from getting worse with the potions I can make, but what if we run out and I can¡¯t make more!? She needs proper treatment as fast as possible, so we can prevent the worst from happening!¡±

    ¡°...And you¡¯re willing to risk it all in order to do so?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°I owe her that much¡­ So I¡¯m willing to go through with this,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I know that I¡¯m going to need help with this, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you. I can¡¯t ask the others, as Ryle doesn¡¯t like the type of plans I have and Arkay shouldn¡¯t be involved in anything like this. That¡¯s why I have to ask you. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    Lexton was surprised when Durge knelt before him and put a hand on his shoulder before looking at him straight in the eyes.

    ¡°Lex, You don¡¯t need to apologize for asking my help in this. I also owe Erin, so I want to help her out,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Just tell me what the plan is and I¡¯ll do my best to see it through. Okay?¡±

    The kobold nodded, before the both of them rejoined the rest of the group, so they could continue their journey.

    <hr>

    It took some time from there before the group had reached their destination, Burrow¡¯s Deep. By the time they arrived there, it was already evening.

    As much as Erin had suspected, the place had changed from the way it was back when Five Realms was nothing more than a game. Originally, Burrow¡¯s Deep looked like one big animal farm with different vendors selling all sort of creatures for you to use. However, with that business having been shut down, the place seemed almost dead with only a few people walking about. Most of the stores that she could see were your typical bars and motels, and they looked very rundown. Besides them, there were only a couple of street vendors with assortments of random goods that looked more like junk than anything.

    But while the town did look rundown, there was one large structure that could be spotted at the other side of town. From what it looked like, it seemed to be a metal tunnel that was big enough for a dragon to walk through, but it seemed to end almost as soon as it began.

    ¡°Hey, Lex. What¡¯s that thing?¡± Erin asked as she weakly pointed towards the large structure. ¡°It looks like a tunnel that doesn¡¯t go anywhere.¡±

    ¡°That? That¡¯s the reason why we came here in the first place,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be using it until we get some more money. And get you cured first.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Oh, you shouldn¡¯t worry too much about me,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can handle-¡±

    ¡°Stop. Just¡­ stop that,¡± the kobold said without even looking at Erin. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. We are going to get you fixed and that¡¯s it, okay?¡±

    Knowing that she was in no position to argue, the redhead decided to stay silent. With that, the group moved in to look for a place to rest.

    It didn¡¯t take too long for them to find a motel to rest at. While they didn¡¯t have much money on them, they could afford at least a couple of nights there, even if it meant that they would have to share one room together. But when you don¡¯t have much in terms of options, you can¡¯t really afford to be picky.

    ¡°Well, at least it¡¯s better than the stinky RV we had to live in at one point,¡± Ryle said as she inspected their room and saw just how bad the condition was. ¡°Although, it¡¯s not much of an improvement¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll soon think of my old RV as a freaking palace when compared to this dump,¡± Lexton grumbled as he opened the door to a closet, causing several insects to scurry into any hole they could find. ¡°Hopefully more of us won¡¯t get sick. We already have one person out of commission¡­¡±

    ¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, as they say,¡± Durge said as he lifted Erin up and placed her on the only bed in the room. ¡°Think of the bright side. At lest we won¡¯t have to worry about getting attack by bandits or beasts here.¡±

    ¡°We might not get killed by bandits or beasts, but we might get killed by this place itself!¡± Ryle complained as she gave a light punch to a wall, causing a brick to fall out of it and go through the floor. ¡°See what I mean?¡±

    As the group was getting settled in, Lexton looked at Durge and gave him a slight nod. The orc understood the signal and the two of them started to make their way out.

    ¡°Where are you two going?¡± Erin asked, just as they were about to walk through the door.

    ¡°We¡¯re just going to take a look around,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°We won¡¯t be long. You just try to rest in the meantime.¡±

    ¡°...Please don¡¯t go do anything stupid,¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want you two to take unnecessary risks.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t, so don¡¯t worry,¡± Durge said with a small smile. ¡°You just take it easy.¡±

    With that, Lexton and Durge walked outside. Their mission was clear, as they went to look for the local black market.

    <hr>

    It turned out to be much easier to find the black market of Burrow¡¯s Deep. All they had to do was ask one of the street vendors and they were pointed in the right direction. Because of this, Lexton couldn¡¯t help but feel like it had been far too easy. This feeling only grew stronger, as they found the actual place itself.

    It turned out that the black market of Burrow¡¯s Deep was inside an old hotel that looked like it was on the verge of collapsing. Not only that, but the front door of the building had a crudely made sign above it that said ¡°Black Market.¡±

    ¡°...This can¡¯t be it, right?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°There¡¯s no way this is the place we are looking for.¡±

    ¡°Well, the sign does say that this is it and we did follow the directions,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°My guess is that this whole town is in such a sorry state that it even affects the criminals. Not only that, but any law enforcement that is here probably can¡¯t be bothered to come here.¡±

    ¡°I hope what they¡¯re selling is at least a bit better¡­¡±

    Much to the kobold¡¯s disappointment, things didn¡¯t look much better on the inside, especially when it came to the merchandise. In total, there were only three shops. These included a weapon shop, a potion shop and one that seemed to just sell random merchandise. All of the things that were being sold looked like they were either picked up from a landfill or were made by a complete amateur.

    ¡°So, what do you think? Does any of this stuff seem like it¡¯s worth buying?¡± Durge asked as he picked up a sword to inspect it, only for it to break in half right away. ¡°The way I see it, we¡¯d be better off making our own stuff.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d have to agree. This is nowhere near the level of stuff we need right now,¡± Lexton said as he inspected a vial that was supposedly a potion with a frown on his face. ¡°Not only can I make all of this stuff and do it even better, but I¡¯m pretty sure most of these ¡°potions¡± will only kill you. We already have more than enough issues as it is, so might as well not waste money on this crap.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re not buying, then get the hell out of here already!¡± one of the shopkeepers shouted angrily. ¡°This place is for paying customers only!¡±

    ¡°Oh yes! Please forgive us, as I can see the hordes of invisible customers just waiting to get their hands on all this junk!¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°I can see why you are so busy all the time!¡±

    Lexton and Durge simply ignored the curses of the shopkeepers as they walked outside. With their investigation of the local black market ending up fruitless, they needed to find another way to get Erin the help she needed.

    ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Durge asked as they walked down the streets. ¡°You got any ideas?¡±

    ¡°Not really. The black market was honestly our best shot at finding what we need,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°In all honesty, our best hope at this point is to find a traveling healer and get them to-¡±

    The kobold was cut off by the sound of a heated argument. Deciding to investigate it further, both of them walked towards where the sound was coming from and found a street vendor talking with a man who appeared to be suffering from a stomach pain, as he was holding it with a pained expression on his face.

    ¡°You have got to help me! The pain¡­ It¡¯s unbearable!¡± the man begged as he was holding his stomach. ¡°I heard that you were the only healer in town, so can you please help me!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course I can. My personally made elixir is sure to cure anything that hurts you,¡± the healer said. ¡°But I do have to ask for a small payment¡­¡±

    ¡°Urgh! Just name your price! I¡¯ll pay it!¡± the man said. ¡°Please just give me the elixir! PLEASE!¡±

    The healer smiled as he took out a bottle with a clear liquid in it. The man with the stomach ache practically threw all of his money on the ground for the healer, before he was handed the bottle. The man wasted no time in opening it and drinking it empty. As soon as he did so, his pained expression melted away, getting replaced with a look that could only be described as pure bliss. He then happily walked away, as Lexton and Durge watched.

    ¡°Well, this is certainly convenient for us,¡± Durge said. ¡°Seems like we found our healer, huh?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, it seems that way,¡± Lexton said as he observed the now healed man, before turning his attention to the orc beside him. ¡°Hey, Durge, mind kneeling down for a bit?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What for?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s for a bit of an experiment,¡± the kobold answered.

    Durge shrugged, as he knelt next to his short companion. Once he had done so, Lexton took out his pistol and hit the orc in the face with the back of it in one swift move. Durge was taken completely by surprise, as he grabbed his now bleeding nose with both hands.

    ¡°OW! WHAT THE HELL!?¡± the orc yelled angrily. ¡°What was that for!?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s an experiment of sorts,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Now follow my lead.¡±

    With his preparations ready, Lexton walked up to the healer with Durge following close. Said healer appeared to be an older human with a gray beard, wearing white robes that one would affiliate with healers. Seeing potential customers walking up to him, the healer immediately put on a friendly smile and got his customer service skills ready.

    ¡°Why hello there!¡± the healer greeted the newcomers in a friendly manner. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you fine sirs? I see that one of you has a bit of an issue that I might be able to help with¡­¡±

    ¡°Why yes! Thank you!¡± Lexton replied in an equally friendly manner, putting forth his best performance that was normally meant for customers. ¡°As you can see, my friend here has a bit of an issue with his nose. He kind of walked into a wall while not paying attention. What a clumsy fellow, am I right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why Ryle has issues with you, you asshole,¡± Durge mumbled just loud enough for the kobold to hear, which earned him a quick kick to the shin.

    ¡°We were hoping to find something to help him, but have been unable to find a proper place to buy anything for it. We were just about to give up, when we happened to see you sell your elixir to that poor fellow with the aching stomach,¡± Lexton explained, making up as believable of a story as he could. ¡°Do you think it could help my friend here?¡±

    ¡°Why of course! Just one sip of my elixir will surely make your friend feel a lot better right away!¡± the healer said happily. ¡°I can guarantee that with the help of my elixir, any possible ailments will be no longer an issue to you!¡±

    ¡°That sounds marvelous!¡± the kobold said happily. ¡°How much for a bottle?¡±

    The healer showed the price tag on one of the bottles. Lexton took out the exact amount of money and handed it to him, receiving the bottle in return. Durge, thinking that the elixir was for him, got ready for the bottle to be handed to him, yet the kobold did no such thing. Instead, he opened the bottle, dipped his finger in the liquid inside and licked it.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Lex?¡± the orc called out to his companion. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that meant for-?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like a moron to you?¡± Lexton suddenly asked in a tone that had no trace of its previous friendliness.

    ¡°Huh? Good sir, what are you-?¡± the healer tried to ask, but wasn¡¯t allowed to finish.

    Before anyone could react, Lexton smashed the bottle of elixir against the healer¡¯s face, making him cry out in pain. Before he could do anything to defend himself, the kobold had grabbed him by the front of his robes, pulled him close and held a gun against his forehead.

    ¡°I ASKED DO I LOOK LIKE A MORON TO YOU!?¡± Lexton yelled angrily while pressing the gun against the healer¡¯s head. ¡°The fact that you have the goddamn nerve to even try screwing me over with such garbage is so outrageous that I should just blow your goddamn brains out!¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, Lex! Calm down!¡± Durge said, shocked by his companion¡¯s sudden change in behavior. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you!?¡±

    ¡°The fact that you think you can just sell some shit diluted drugs as an actual potion should earn you a bullet to the freaking head!¡± the kobold ranted, ignoring his companion. ¡°You actually have the balls to ask such outrageous amounts of money for this shit as well!? I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re just stupid or ballsy!¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ What?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Diluted drugs?¡±

    ¡°You saw the guy with the stomach ache, right? Right after drinking his ¡°elixir¡±, he stopped feeling the pain and acted all dazed, almost like he was drunk,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°The reason for that is because this bastard used the nectar you can get from an insect called the Sweet Beetle. In high concentrations, it can leave predators confused and unable to act, sometimes even kill them. When diluted with water, it makes for a simple yet effective drug. We saw the symptoms for ourselves. Slight dizziness and a dazed look, lack of pain that was caused by a sudden feeling of pleasure. Once I tasted it, I knew right away what it was.¡±

    ¡°P-Please, good sir¡­ Have mercy on me,¡± the fake healer tried to beg. ¡°I¡¯m just an old man, trying to make a living. There¡¯s no need for-¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH WITH THE BULLSHIT!¡± the kobold shouted angrily as he tore the faker¡¯s beard off, revealing him to be much younger than he actually was. His facial hair had just been a fake that was used to throw people off. ¡°You¡¯re not a helpless old man and you sure as hell are not a healer! Why should we have any sympathy for your sorry ass!?¡±

    ¡°P-P-Please sir! Be merciful!¡± the fake healer begged with tears in his eyes. ¡°I-I had no other choice! You can see how poor this place is with your own eyes, right!? I had no other choice but to-¡±

    Lexton¡¯s response to the pleas was to simply put the gun inside the fake healer¡¯s mouth as he glared at him.

    ¡°And just WHY should I even consider that?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°You¡¯ve just wasted my time, which I don¡¯t have all that much to begin with, and tried to take my money. What can you offer to make up for it?¡±

    The fake healer tried to say something, but the gun in his mouth made ot very difficult. Despite this, while Durge couldn¡¯t understand a single word that was just uttered, Lexton¡¯s eyes went wide as he managed to pick up what was said.

    ¡°Mind repeating that?¡± the kobold asked, as he took his gun out of the man¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°I-I said that if you¡¯re looking for a healer, there is one,¡± the fake healer said. ¡°I know where you can find a real one.¡±

 81. Nightmare Message

    Chapter 81

    Nightmare Message

    ¡°So mind telling us why we are on the move again, when we just found ourselves a place to stay?¡± Ryle asked in a grumpy voice. ¡°I thought we needed rest! Especially Erin!¡±

    The blonde was airing out her grievances, as Erin¡¯s group was on the move yet again. As soon as Lexton had learned about a healer that was close from the fake one, he decided that it was best for them to take the gamble and go see her. Right now, Erin¡¯s condition was getting worse with every passing moment, so the kobold knew that whatever chance they had they needed to take it.

    Although, it didn¡¯t mean it was going to be pleasant, which was something Ryle had made evidently clear.

    ¡°Like I said back at the motel, we are going to see a healer to help Erin!¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Are you deaf as well in addition to being freaking stupid or something!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! I was just making sure that we aren¡¯t wasting time here!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not my fault that you didn¡¯t explain things clear enough!¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah! It was obviously MY fault! I wasn¡¯t being nearly clear enough on what I was going to do!¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°The fact that I said ¡°we heard about a healer and we are taking Erin to her¡± was obviously far too vague! Next time I¡¯ll make sure to have a long ass lecture to explain it for your thick goddamn skull!¡±

    ¡°BITE MY ASS!¡±

    ¡°Guys, I get that you two have issues with each other, but would you mind and cut it off for now?¡± Durge asked in a tired tone, having had enough of dealing with the constant bickering. He was currently dragging Erin on their makeshift stretcher. ¡°If you two need to argue, can you do it AFTER we have reached the healer and gotten Erin fixed?¡±

    Both Ryle and Lexton looked at the injured redhead, who was currently asleep but still in pain. She had a terrible fever and was sweating a lot, indicating that her condition hadn¡¯t gotten better. She also had a pained expression on her face, as she was being tormented by nightmares fueled by her deteriorating condition in her dreams.

    Upon looking at their friend in agony, both arguing parties felt shame. They were bickering like children, while someone important to them was in such a horrific state and suffering.

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ryle apologized. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s just been a rough few days, okay? It all just kind of burst out.¡±

    ¡°I get it. And I apologize as well,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I¡¯m just looking to fix my mistake. I still think it¡¯s my fault that Erin ended up like this and I want to make things right.¡±

    ¡°I understand, but it wasn¡¯t your fault, Lex,¡± the blonde said. ¡°Erin knew what she was getting into when she took that potion of yours. Not only am I sure that she would do it again if need be, but I know I would have done the same thing in her position. I can¡¯t blame you for that.¡±

    As the two bickering sides were making up, the other members of their group were watching them with slight smiles. Only Erin wasn¡¯t doing that, as she was still asleep.

    ¡°It¡¯s so nice to finally see them get along for once,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Usually they just continue, until they both get tired and stop for the day.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve seen this happen a fair amount then?¡± Durge asked with a small smile. ¡°I guess their personalities might not mix all that well, but deep down they both still have some form of appreciation for one another and want the same thing right now.¡±

    ¡°LIKE HELL I¡¯D APPRECIATE THAT ASSHOLE!¡± Ryle and Lexton yelled at the same time after hearing what the orc said about them.

    ¡°...And there goes the progress they made,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s just keep moving. The sooner we get this done the better.¡±

    The group continued on their way to the healer, unaware of two things. One was that they were not alone, as someone was actually following them. The second was the battle that Erin was having within her dreams.

    <hr>

    Inside the redhead¡¯s dreams, she was walking through what seemed like typical Western Continent wilderness, which came in the form of barren badlands. However, something was wrong with her surroundings, as these were far too barren even for the area she was at. It was only rocky harsh plains everywhere as far as the eye could see, with nothing breaking up the monotonous view at all. One should have been able to see hills, mountains or even large rocks somewhere to give nature at least a bit of variation, but there was literally nothing. It was almost like an empty canvas stretching out to no end.

    The strangeness of Erin¡¯s surroundings didn¡¯t stop there, as the skies were also very odd and quite frightening. Thick and dark clouds covered the skies, leaving no room for light to come through. The clouds also seemed to move very violently with the wind that felt like it could blow you over, if you weren¡¯t careful. In addition, there seemed to be something like mist or fog everywhere, making it harder to see if there even was anything around you.

    With no other choice, Erin moved forward, hoping to find someone or something. She was worried over her friends, as she had no idea where any of them were.

    ¡°Hello!? Is anybody there!?¡± the redhead called out into the emptiness before her, hoping to get an answer of some kind. ¡°Ryle! Arnie! Lex! Durge! Any of you guys here!?¡±

    Upon calling for her friends, Erin hoped to get at least something. Some sound to indicate that she wasn¡¯t alone. Yet to her disappointment, there was only the sound of the wind.

    Suddenly, the redhead heard something from behind her. It was the sound of footsteps coming up from behind. Thinking that it must have been one of her friends, she turned around with a hopeful look in her eyes.

    Once she saw what it was that approaching her from behind, all of her hopes were crushed and replaced with the feeling of sheer horror. There were people coming towards her, but they were not her friends. They were walking corpses of all the people she had killed ever since she came to this world.

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    Erin was able to recognize a good amount of the people coming after her. She saw the people she had killed back when she had worked as an assassin under Ryan and Holly. She saw Gibbot with a massive gash in his chest, Lune with his missing hand, Dryzal¡¯s torn body body struggling to move without falling apart and Goldiana with her burnt face and body covered in bite marks from ghouls. All of these and many others, all having fallen by her hands were there.

    All of the walking corpses were also speaking, letting out angry moans where they cursed Erin for what she had done to them. Saying that she had no right to take their lives and that they would drag her to hell with them.

    Erin¡¯s fight or flight instinct activated almost right away upon seeing these nightmarish things and she tried to run away. However, for some reason, her movements were very slow. It was almost like her body was suddenly made from lead and she had to struggle to make even the slightest of movements.

    With her ability to move taken away from her, the walking corpses soon caught up to her. The redhead could feel the cold and rotting flesh of their hands grab onto her body. The smell caused by their decomposing corpses infiltrated her nose and made her want to vomit.

    Once caught, Erin felt her body starting to sink into the ground, like it was some kind of a swamp. She was sinking deeper and deeper, as the dead bodies held onto her while cursing her for what she had done.

    The redhead felt like she was starting to drown, as she was now completely submerged underneath the ground below. Seeing as there was no possible way for her to escape, she began to curl up and closed her eye, waiting for death to come.

    ¡°Oh please¡­ You get spooked a bit and you immediately give up like this? I¡¯m honestly a bit disappointed in you.¡±

    Erin¡¯s lone eye snapped wide open upon hearing the familiar voice taunting her. She looked around and saw that she was back on solid ground, the same barren and nightmarish scenery around her. The only difference was that the walking corpses of her victims were nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Would you mind and at least turn your dumb gaze towards me? I didn¡¯t come here to speak to your back,¡± the voice called out, causing the redhead to turn around to face the shadowy figure once again. ¡°That¡¯s better. I would really appreciate it if you started to get a bit quicker on the uptake. It would make these meetings of ours a lot more comfortable.¡±

    ¡°You again!?¡± Erin said in shock. ¡°But I was¡­ I wasn¡¯t even¡­ Where am I!? Just what is this place!? And where are the people that were here just a moment ago!?¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Could you please try to figure things out for yourself at least a bit?¡± the shadowy person said with a sigh as he shook his head. ¡°Where do you even think we are? Do you honestly think places like this exist? This is obviously your dream, idiot.¡±

    ¡°My dream? But how?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Since when were you able to appear in my dreams? I thought you needed to actually come and meet me in person.¡±

    ¡°Why would I ever reveal everything I can do to you? I never needed to do this in order to talk to you, so I never did this,¡± the shadow explained. ¡°However, after you decided to mess yourself up with that little energy drink your friend gave you, I wasn¡¯t left with much of a choice, was I?¡±

    ¡°...So why did you come to see me now?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is there something important you need to tell me?¡±

    ¡°No pleasant banter? Fine. I suppose I might as well get to business,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°You see, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that you beat Lune that I even gave you a bit of a gift. Can you guess what it is?¡±

    The redhead simply shook her head.

    ¡°Oh dear almighty¡­ You seriously can¡¯t get good help these days,¡± the shadow said with a sigh. ¡°Okay then. Let me present you with a bit of a riddle.¡±

    The shadow held up his hands, creating what seemed like black portals on the ground. From those rose two figures. One was Lune and the other one was Goldiana. Both looked the way they had just moments ago, when they were chasing Erin, except now they weren¡¯t moving and simply hung limply in the air as the shadow held them.

    ¡°Now, here is the riddle. What is the difference between these two?¡± the shadowy figure asked. ¡°And please don¡¯t point out obvious things, like one is a general and the other is an assassin, or anything else that¡¯s really dumb. What I¡¯m looking for is something that is very much connected with you. Both of them have something in common, but differ greatly in a certain way. Can you guess it?¡±

    Erin thought about it hard. Both were enemies that she was responsible for taking down, yet what was the difference between the two? And how was it connected to her?

    The redhead thought about everything. How she had met them, fought them and ultimately defeated them. At first, no answer seemed to be in sight, until it suddenly struck her. Her eye went wide as she realized what the shadow was getting at.

    ¡°When they died¡­ I saw the history of one of them, but not the other one,¡± Erin answered. ¡°When Goldiana died, I didn¡¯t see her past, unlike with other people I killed.¡±

    The shadowy figure made a sound that was mimicking a buzzer at a game show, as the two corpses sank back into the shadows.

    ¡°And you just got it right! I was afraid I was going to have to wait here for hours to get that answer out of you!¡± the shadow said. ¡°What you just said was indeed the correct answer. You see, after you defeated Lune, I decided to do you a bit of a favor. If you are to beat the Five Overlords, I can¡¯t have you freezing on the spot, thinking about the sob story behind every goon you take down on the way. That¡¯s why I installed a bit of a safety measure for you. Think of it as an ad blocker of sorts, preventing those pesky and annoying pop-ups from ruining your day.¡±

    ¡°But I though there was a reason for me to get those visions all those times,¡± Erin said. ¡°Am I not going to see them anymore at all?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you will see stuff, don¡¯t you worry about that!¡± the shadowy figure replied. ¡°It just won¡¯t be as constant as it used to be. There will be times when it activates when you REALLY need to see something. Can¡¯t really say more than that, but you should be prepared for it to happen from time to time.¡±

    ¡°So other than these¡­ special moments, I won¡¯t be seeing the pasts of those that die by my hands?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I just thought that I didn¡¯t see what happened with Dryzal and Goldiana, since I didn¡¯t kill them¡­¡±

    ¡°And just what in the hell do you mean by that?¡± the shadow asked. ¡°Are you saying that since you didn¡¯t give the final blow that you¡¯re somehow not responsible for their deaths? May I remind you that you literally caused both of them to fall to the monsters that ended up killing them. Saying that you weren¡¯t responsible for those, would be like shooting somebody and blaming the gun.¡±

    ¡°...Point taken,¡± Erin said, feeling a bit ashamed of herself.

    ¡°Good. Now I also came here to tell you one thing,¡± the shadowy figure said before grabbing the redhead by the throat and lifting her up in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t EVER do anything as stupid as using drugs that will kill you, got it? I don¡¯t care how noble you think you are or what you can save by doing so, but you better not even think about it. I¡¯ve invested far too much into you to let you kill yourself over some stupid stunt like that. You can risk your life obviously, as that comes with the job, but taking something that is pretty much guaranteed to kill you is now officially OFF THE TABLE. Understood?¡±

    Erin could only give a slight nod in response. This seemed to be good enough for the shadow, as he let go of her right after that.

    ¡°Excellent. We are making some good progress here,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Now, I should probably be on my way. You should also consider getting your ass up. I just took a peek at the real world and your friends seem to be in a bit of trouble. Not sure what your half-dead and completely useless self can do, but who knows? Maybe you can surprise me.¡±

    ¡°The others are in trouble!?¡± the redhead asked with a shocked expression on her face. ¡°What happened!? Are they alright!?¡±

    ¡°Goddammit¡­ Why do you expect me to tell you everything? Just look around when you¡¯re awake,¡± the shadow said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°But before we depart, I should remind you of one thing.¡±

    The shadowy figure pointed at something behind Erin, causing her to turn around. There she once again saw the moving corpses of her victims, all staring at her with angered expressions.

    ¡°The blood that you spill will always be on your hands. Even if you don¡¯t see any glimpses of their lives, they will always be there. Waiting for you to come and to see what you¡¯ve taken,¡± the shadow explained. ¡°As a demonstration, let¡¯s have you see some stories from your latest victims. It might actually send you back to your buddies as well.¡±

    Before the redhead could ask what he meant, the shadowy figure suddenly pushed her towards the walking corpses, all of whom reached their hands towards her.

    Upon being touched, the tortuous sensation that she hadn¡¯t experienced for some time now came back, showing her the stories of the lives of those she had killed. She saw how Dryzal started off as a simple nature-loving child, who loved animals with all of his heart. How Goldiana had started training at an early age to become a great martial artist to help those in need. And then she saw how they and others fell into tough times with the arrival of the Five Overlords. Once the tough times started, they went on to become the monsters Erin faced.

    <hr>

    The raging torrent of visions was so violent and vicious that it caused the redhead to have a nosebleed in the real world as her body started to visibly convulse. Soon after that, she finally woke up from her dream. Erin had to take a couple of deep breaths, before her body had calmed down enough that she could actually observe her surroundings. But once she had calmed down, she could feel cold shivers run down her spine, as she realized what was going on.

    She saw her friends locked in a battle to the death with what seemed like a group of assassins.

 82. Unending Assassins

    Chapter 82

    Unending Assassins

    A few moments earlier, before Erin had her dream encounter with the shadowy figure, the other members of the group had been transporting the injured redhead towards the place where an actual healer was supposed to be located. From what they had been told, this healer had secluded herself to a nearby hill that had an actual forest.

    While seeing any kind of plants was very rare in the Western Continent, there were areas where grass, trees and other plants would grow. The most likely reason for the healer to set up her home there was so that she could use the plants for medicines, as healing magic wouldn¡¯t always be able to cure the things that might be affecting your body.

    Whatever the reason might be, Erin¡¯s friends knew that if they wanted to save her, they needed to find professional help for her. So far, this healer was the only option they had.

    Having made it to the bottom of the hill, the group began the long climb up. For some of them, the sight of actual natural plants was so rare that they couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the nature surrounding them. This was at least the case with Ryle and Arkay.

    ¡°Wow¡­ You know, I always knew about forests and such, but seeing one for real is different,¡± Ryle said in amazement. ¡°I guess you can look at pictures and hear descriptions all your life, but it never beats the real thing?¡±

    ¡°You said it. I¡¯ve lived pretty much my whole life in the badlands, so I never saw actual plants outside of the few that were grown for crops and such,¡± Arkay said as he knelt next to a flower to observe it more closely. ¡°Do you think the other continents have far more plants than the forests here?¡±

    ¡°Definitely. My tribe actually lived in a forest area, but there wasn¡¯t much variety when it came to the plants that we had around,¡± Durge said with a small smile. ¡°From what I understand, only the toughest of plants can survive in these parts. The other continents have much more to offer in terms of nutrition, so there are way more plants than what we have.¡±

    ¡°I hate to break your little plant club meeting, but can we please focus?¡± Lexton suddenly said in an irritated tone. ¡°May I remind you all that we need to get Erin treated as soon as possible? Every moment we waste is going to hurt her chances of survival so we don¡¯t have time to waste!¡±

    While Arkay looked down in shame, both Ryle and Durge glared at the kobold a bit, having found his tone and attitude unnecessary and rude. But while the orc was willing to let it go, the blonde didn¡¯t feel like doing so.

    ¡°Hey, no need to be a dick!¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°We are well aware of what Erin¡¯s going through, so you don¡¯t need to remind any of us! We were just admiring the scenery a bit and nothing else! What¡¯s wrong with that!?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it is that we have to focus everything we have to saving Erin¡¯s life!¡± Lexton shouted back. ¡°Don¡¯t you idiots understand that with every second we waste, we are getting one step closer to losing her!?¡±

    ¡°We are more than aware of that! It still doesn¡¯t mean you get to treat any of us like shit!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Who the hell are you to talk to any of us like that anyways!? You might have a better understanding of the situation than the rest of us, but it doesn¡¯t put you in a higher position or anything like that!¡±

    ¡°...No. It doesn¡¯t,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I just know how bad my mistake was. And why it needs to be fixed as fast as possible.¡±

    Hearing Lexton¡¯s reason took the others by surprise. Despite everything that they had told him, including Erin herself, it seemed that there was still someone blaming him for the redhead¡¯s condition. That was none other than Lexton himself.

    ¡°Lex, I know this must be tough for you, but it wasn¡¯t your fault,¡± Durge said. ¡°We all know that it was a desperate situation and that you did what needed to be done so we all could be saved. Hell, Erin herself knew the risks, since you told her yourself! No one here should be blaming you for what happened. Okay?¡±

    ¡°I know that, dammit!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°I know fully well that none of you blame me! You all told me that yourselves!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but there is still someone who does blame you. Isn¡¯t there?¡± the orc said. ¡°So now that we aren¡¯t doing that, could you possibly stop blaming yourself? Or at least consider forgiving yourself?¡±

    ¡°...There¡¯s a damn good reason why I can¡¯t do that,¡± the kobold said as he grit his teeth, holding back his tears.

    Ryle was about to join the conversation, but she noticed something strange. Her nose had picked up a scent that was not natural and wasn¡¯t coming from any of her companions. It was a bad stench that she was all too familiar with.

    It was the smell of blood and it was all around them.

    ¡°Guys, I think we have company,¡± the blonde said as she carefully eyed their surroundings.

    The others, now alert to the new threat, were also looking around, wondering what they were up against this time. However, all they could see was the forest surrounding them.

    While the others couldn¡¯t spot anything out of the ordinary, Ryle had managed to use her heightened sense of smell to locate one if their enemies. Without alerting any of the surrounding hostiles, she prepared her body for a quick lunge and began to gather her ki. In an explosion of power, the blonde dashed towards a nearby tree, breaking it in half with a powerful kick that connected with someone hiding behind it. Their body was sent flying to another tree, hitting it with such an impact that it was broken in half as well.

    Seeing as their cover had obviously been blown, the other enemies came out of hiding. Ryle and the others looked around themselves in shock, as they were now surrounded by at least two dozen opponents. All of them were wearing dark cloaks that covered their bodies completely, so you couldn¡¯t tell anything about their appearances. They all also had the same weapons, a pair of iron claws that extended from their sleeves.

    ¡°Well¡­ This isn¡¯t looking good,¡± Durge said as he set down the stretcher Erin was on and grabbed his warhammer. ¡°Think these guys were sent by the Five Overlords?¡±

    ¡°Probably. They don¡¯t look like your average bandits or thugs to me,¡± Ryle said as she took out her whip. ¡°Do these guys have a tracker stuck to our asses or something?¡±

    ¡°I doubt that. Considering who they¡¯re working for, they probably have a very wide information network,¡± Lexton said as he took out his pistol and even got a few of his vials ready. ¡°When you take that into account, we have probably gone past at least a couple of their informants, who let them know where we would be.¡±

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    ¡°I guess that makes sense,¡± Arkay said as he prepared his magic spells to be thrown at the enemies. ¡°I just hope that this will go better than our previous battles.¡±

    Everyone stood still, waiting for someone to make the first move. The all of a sudden, chaos broke loose, as the battle began.

    Ryle quickly dashed towards the nearest assassin, delivering a powerful punch to his face and sending him to the ground. While she did this, she used her whip to ensnare another opponent around the neck. This allowed her to give him an electric shock and also to flung him at another group of assassins, causing them to tumble to the ground. From there, the blonde proceeded to make quick hit and run attacks on their enemies. Thanks to her fast movements and reflexes, she was able to go in for an attack and leave before she got into any real danger.

    In contrast to Ryle¡¯s more aggressive approach, Durge took a more defensive position next to Erin. Not only did he know that the redhead needed to be watched over as she was defenseless, but he also lacked the speed to fight in a similar manner as his blonde comrade did. Instead, he waited for the assassins to come to him, when he would proceed to either push them away or crush them with his overwhelming strength.

    Arkay took a somewhat similar approach to the battle as Ryle did, opting to go on the offense. Through the use of either the nearby trees and vegetation or by using his invisibility spell, the cat boy moved around the battlefield while firing off spells at his targets. This not only allowed him to offer support to the others, but to also catch some of the assassins completely off guard.

    However, while all the others had figured out an effective way to assist in the battle, Lexton wasn¡¯t able to do much. Due to his lack of equipment compared to what he would normally have, the kobold could only stick close to Durge and try to help him in defending Erin. He fired his pistol at the assassins and threw the few vials he had, but that was the full extent of what he could do. This greatly frustrated Lexton, as he felt completely useless for the first time in his life.

    Despite any struggles they were having, the battle seemed to be going in the favor of Erin¡¯s friends, as they kept beating back the attackers. While numerous, their opponents were nowhere near the same level of ability as any of their previous opponents. At the rate they were going, the battle would be won soon.

    Yet this was only how it seemed, as the assassins seemed to never come to an end. No matter how many of them got shot, hit with magic or was simply blown back, their numbers didn¡¯t show any signs of decreasing. It was almost like they just kept replenishing their forces constantly. This had an obvious negative effect on Ryle and the others. Even if your opponents weren¡¯t too tough, no one was able to go on forever. Eventually they would run out of stamina and exhaust themselves.

    ¡°Goddammit! Where the hell do these bastards keep coming from!?¡± Ryle cursed as she gave a roundhouse kick to one of the assassins. She was now breathing heavily, as she was starting to get exhausted. ¡°I swear I¡¯ve taken out almost 20 of these guys already! How many could they have sent here!?¡±

    ¡°Not just that, but they don¡¯t seem to have any kind of a reaction to watching their buddies get killed. You¡¯d think that at least a few of them would have gotten a bit shaken over seeing that,¡± Durge said, equally exhausted. ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re fighting a bunch of emotionless dolls or something!¡±

    While the others were busy trying to keep up the fight, Lexton was trying to figure out what was going. The whole situation was truly bizarre, like Ryle and Durge had pointed out. Not only did the number of enemies not seem to decrease at all, but they were far too calm considering what they were being put through. There had to be something strange at work here and he needed to find out what that was.

    It was then that the kobold managed to see something that started to shed light on things. He watched as another one of the assassins got hit by Durge¡¯s warhammer and was sent flying, crumbling on the ground away from the group. But as he watched the seemingly dead assassin, his eyes went wide as he saw the cloaked body start moving again and eventually rise up.

    Upon seeing this, Lexton looked around, analyzing more of their surroundings and finding out something else. Outside of the wounds he and his friends had suffered, there was no blood on the ground at all. Their mysterious attackers didn¡¯t bleed at all. Once he realized this, the answer to what was happening came to the kobold like a bolt of lightning from the sky.

    ¡°I understand what¡¯s going on now!¡± Lexton shouted, getting the attention of his companions. ¡°We aren¡¯t fighting actual people! These are some type of puppets!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Ryle asked as she dodged an attack from one of the assassins before giving them a kick. ¡°How are puppets attacking us!?¡±

    ¡°There are people who can control man-sized puppets and use them for combat. It seems like you¡¯re fighting a real person, but you¡¯re actually facing just a weapon!¡± the kobold explained. ¡°The reason why their numbers don¡¯t seem to decrease at all is because they haven¡¯t gone down at all! We have just been fighting the same opponents all this time! Whenever we manage to beat one, they just get back up and continue!¡±

    ¡°That would explain a lot. This whole fight has felt weird from the very beginning. And the reason Ryle was able to sniff them out was probably due to their weapons having traces of their victims¡¯ blood on them,¡± Durge said as he thought about Lexton¡¯s explanation. ¡°But how do we beat them? If we can¡¯t truly kill these things, then what are we supposed to do?¡±

    ¡°We need to find the people that are controlling these things!¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Once we take them out, these things will stop moving as well!¡±

    However, this was easier said than done. While they might know what they were dealing with, they were still locked in combat with the puppets. The attackers were so numerous and coordinated that one couldn¡¯t simply slip past them and go look for who was controlling them. This was especially difficult now that the one behind it all was more aware of the abilities if his targets. Not only that, but with their drained stamina, none of them could hope to simply bust through the puppets surrounding them. It looked like all hope was lost.

    But while Ryle and the others were focused on the puppets surrounding them and the one controlling said puppets was focused on the four of them, they all failed to notice that Erin had woken up. The redhead had just come back from her nightmare conversation with the shadowy figure and had managed to learn what was going on.

    After hearing Lexton¡¯s explanation, Erin started to look around for any signs of the one controlling the puppets. While she didn¡¯t spot anyone right away, she did notice something odd when it came to the movements of the puppets. There was one area that seemed to have a couple more of them at all times, almost like the one controlling them was afraid to have fewer of his weapons there. It was almost like they were guarding something.

    With this new discovery, the redhead decided to use the fact that no one was paying attention to her to her advantage. Without anyone noticing, she managed to crawl into the bushes, from where she started to make her way to the place she had spotted earlier. Just as she had suspected, the person behind controlling the puppets was there, not too far away from the battlefield itself.

    The person controlling the puppets was most likely one of the assassins sent by Golorath, much like Dryzal and Goldiana. This assassin was crouched behind bushes in order to hide himself from his targets. He seemed to be a goblin wearing green robes with camouflage patterns on them so that he could better hide himself. There were a large number of extremely thin wires coming out of his sleeves that he controlled through the movements of his fingers and arms, as well as magic.

    With the assassin completely focused on her companions, Erin was able to get close to him. While she didn¡¯t have her sword on her, she had managed to grab one of her knives before going to hunt for their attacker. By mustering up all of her remaining strength, the redhead managed to stand up despite the horrible pain coursing through her body.

    It was far too late for the goblin, once he realized that there was someone behind him. With his weapons deployed to fight Erin¡¯s friends, he had no way to defend himself. The redhead plunged the knife deep into his back, causing him to scream in pain. With her work done, Erin fell to the ground as she no longer had the strength to stand up.

    Once the assassin had been defeated, the puppets he had been controlling fell down lifelessly. Ryle and the others could only stare at them in wide-eyed surprise, as they couldn¡¯t comprehend what had just happened.

    ¡°W-What the hell got into them?¡± Ryle asked, as she carefully poked at one of the fallen puppets with her foot. ¡°Did their owner just give up and leave or something?¡±

    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± Lexton said, equally perplexed. ¡°Whoever was controlling them clearly had the upper hand. I don¡¯t see any reason for them to give up so suddenly.¡±

    ¡°...Did anybody else hear a scream just now?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°I think I heard it right before the puppets fell.¡±

    Realizing that the cat boy was right, Ryle began to look around, wondering where the sound had come from. As she did this, she noticed something that made her blood run cold.

    ¡°Guys¡­ Where¡¯s Erin?¡± the blonde asked, upon seeing the empty stretcher.

    Knowing that the redhead wasn¡¯t in any condition to defend herself, the group began to furiously look for her, hoping nothing bad had happened to her. Luckily, it didn¡¯t take long for them to find their missing friend, as she was not too far from their battlefield. However, seeing her laying on the ground, seemingly unconscious next to the body of some goblin they had never seen, did cause them to worry over her again.

    ¡°Erin! You okay!?¡± Ryle called out as she began to run to the redhead, but didn¡¯t get any kind of a response.

    Just then, the body of the goblin suddenly stood up. As he was coughing up blood, he pulled the knife out of his back and got ready to stab the unconscious redhead.

    ¡°You bitch¡­ For me to suffer such humiliation¡­!¡± the assassin cursed as he raised the knife up in air. ¡°Regret what you did in hell!¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± Ryle screamed as she tried to run to help her friend, but was too far away to make it in time.

    Just as the assassin was about to bring down the blade he was holding, he suddenly stopped. Everyone present froze in place, as the goblin was now coughing up more blood. This was due to the scalpel that was sticking out of his throat.

    ¡°Geeze, can you people keep it down over here?¡± a new voice suddenly said, as more scalpels flew at the goblin, hitting him in his throat, chest and face. This finally brought him down for good. ¡°I¡¯m trying to get over a bad hangover here and you assholes are causing an insane ruckus over here. Do you really need to have your little arguments right next to my home?¡±

    Ryle, Arkay, Lexton and Durge turned to wards where the voice had come from and saw a female elf there. She was wearing what seemed like a nurse¡¯s uniform, consisting of a red jacket that had crosses on the shoulders, black pants, white gloves and red boots. She also had a small red hat on her head with the red cross on it, sitting on top of her silver mane of hair.

    The group immediately knew that this was the healer they had been searching for.

 83. The Worth of Oneéˆ¥æªš Work

    Chapter 83

    The Worth of One¡¯s Work

    Ryle, Arkay, Lexton and Durge could only stare at the strange elf before them. Despite having come to a battlefield and having just killed somebody, she seemed to think of it as nothing more than a mere annoyance. In fact, she seemed to be mostly relaxed, as she was leaning against a nearby tree with signs of a hangover all over her face.

    However, while she might have looked like a normal elf to most people, one needed to only look a bit closer to realize she was anything but that. Even as she was casually leaning on a tree, her arms were readied in case fighting would resume. Her left hand was holding three scalpels and her right hand was close to her jacket¡¯s pocket, where more weaponry was most likely located. Not only that, but her hazy sight that was clouded by her hangover, still held a sharp gaze that was carefully analyzing everything around her.

    No one dared make a move, as it could easily be their last. The speed and precision she had used to throw her scalpels at the assassin was on a level none of them had seen before. They all knew almost instinctively that this was so far the most dangerous opponent that they had ever faced.

    ¡°Hey, is THIS the healer you guys were talking about?¡± Ryle whispered to Lexton and Durge. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t mind her helping us out and all, but are you sure she¡¯s the one we¡¯re looking for? She seems more like an assassin than someone who heals people.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean, but this should be the place,¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°The guy we got this information from told us that she¡¯s a bit of a recluse, as she is a bit of an unorthodox healer. I think we¡¯ve just seen what he meant by that.¡±

    ¡°Besides, just because you are a healer doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t learn how to defend yourself,¡± Durge added. ¡°While a lot of healers focus only on fixing people, it leaves them helpless in combat. That¡¯s why ones who operate alone have at least some level of skill when it comes to fighting. I suppose her level in that regard is just very high.¡±

    Ryle was about to ask another question, but she was cut off by something flying past her head so closely that it left a cut on her cheek. Upon looking at what it was, it was a scalpel that was now sticking out of a nearby tree.

    All eyes turned back on the elf, who was obviously the one behind the scalpel.

    ¡°Damn¡­ I missed. Trying to do this with a hangover really sucks,¡± the elf mumbled to herself, just loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Would you mind and quit whispering? It¡¯s annoying as hell and hurts my ears. If you want to say something, say it properly.¡±

    Not wanting to put their group in anymore danger, Lexton decided to speak up, hoping that his negotiation skills as a merchant would be able to help them.

    ¡°Greetings, madam! My name is Lexton Gibber and I-¡±

    The kobold was cut off by a scalpel hitting him in his shoulder and knocking him to the ground.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get it, do you? I have a HANGOVER,¡± the elf said with a sigh as she rubbed her temples. ¡°What I want is for you assholes to speak in what is called a normal tone. That means no annoying whispering or any boisterous greetings like you did before. Keep the volume to a normal level and everything will be fine. Got it?¡±

    The warning didn¡¯t really register with Ryle or Durge, as they now viewed the elf as a threat and were now grasping their weapons, ready to attack.

    ¡°Why you-!¡±

    Ryle¡¯s threat was held back, as Lexton held up his hand, signaling her and the others to stand back. Even with his shoulder bleeding after getting struck, he didn¡¯t want there to be anymore conflict.

    ¡°Guys, I¡¯m okay. There¡¯s no need to escalate this. Remember what we came here for in the first place, okay?¡± the kobold said. ¡°Just let me do my thing and I promise you that this will end in the best possible way.¡±

    Realizing that their friend was right, Ryle and Durge reluctantly put away their weapons and took a step back. Like Lexton had said, the reason they had come there was to help Erin and that was their current top priority. If they missed their chance with this healer, then everything they had done so far by coming to this place was for nothing.

    However, the two fighters gave each other a look and nodded. Without saying a word, they had agreed that if this elf were to endanger any of them, they would make sure that she would regret it.

    ¡°Good to see that at least one of you is smart. Even though your volume control is crap,¡± the elf said. ¡°Now, I believe you were in the middle of introducing yourself, mister¡­ I¡¯m sorry, what the hell was your name again?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Lexton Gibber, madam,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°First, I would like to thank you for helping us out just now. You really saved our lives.¡±

    ¡°No need to thank me. And I really do mean that, this is none of that humility stuff,¡± the elf said as she yawned. ¡°The only reason I killed that goblin bastard was because I assumed it would quiet things down a lot faster. After all, one of the best ways to end a conflict is to get rid of one of the sides in it, right? Not to mention, all that creaking and cranking that came out of those puppets of his was really tearing into my ears.¡±

    Lexton could feel a bit of sweat go down the side of his face as he thought about how lucky they had been. It seemed like this person didn¡¯t care for one bit who they or the goblin that had been sent after them were. All that mattered to her was that one of them was making more noise than the other.

    Although, this did lead to a question on the kobold¡¯s part.

    ¡°May I ask you something about that?¡± Lexton asked to which the elf gave a small nod. ¡°You say that he was causing more noise than we were, but we didn¡¯t hear any noise come from his puppets, outside the ones from combat. Mind telling us how he was the more noisy one?¡±

    ¡°You might have already guessed it, but my ears are a bit special,¡± the elf said as she pointed at said parts of her body. ¡°I can hear a lot better than most people, which includes sounds that some of you can¡¯t hear at all. That¡¯s how I was able to hear the sounds coming from the puppets.¡±

    ¡°I see. But still, why did you decide to target him?¡± the kobold asked further. ¡°While I hate to admit it, I think we were far more loud. Was it just because he was alone and our group had multiple members in it?¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°That is somewhat of a factor, but not the main reason,¡± the elf said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s more of about the type of sounds you all were making.¡±

    ¡°The type of sounds?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what I meant. Sometimes it¡¯s not about how loud something is, but how irritating it can be,¡± the elf answered. ¡°As much as the loud barking of a dog can annoy me, it¡¯s nothing compared to dealing with door hinges that let out a horrible creaking sound every time they move. One might be louder, but the other has this horrible quality to it that just cuts you to the soul. As loud as you guys might have been, the sound of that goblin using his puppets was something I found far more annoying, which is why I decided to kill him instead of you.¡±

    Lexton had to wipe a bit of sweat off his head. If such a thing was enough to turn this person against you, then they were truly walking on the edge here. One slip up and it would be over.

    ¡°But enough of me. What brings you all here?¡± the elf suddenly asked. ¡°I seriously doubt that you came all the way over here just to look at the scenery.¡±

    ¡°Right. That is something I was meaning to bring up,¡± Lexton said. ¡°As you may have already figured out, we actually came here to see you. You see, we-¡±

    ¡°You have someone that needs my special healing abilities or else they will die,¡± the elf finished for the kobold as she let out a yawn. ¡°Seriously, it¡¯s always the same damn thing with you people. Every time somebody has gotten badly injured or has a horrible disease that can¡¯t be cured by your average doctors or healers, so you come running over to me. I¡¯ve heard the same sob story so many times that I no longer can even bother to act slightly interested.¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ I see¡­¡± Lexton said, having been taken aback by the healer¡¯s unexpected response. ¡°Could you¡­ still help her? She is in critical condition and needs immediate medical assistance.¡±

    ¡°...Where is soon to be corpse?¡± the elf said with a sigh.

    The kobold guided the healer to where Erin was laying on the ground. The elf turned the redhead¡¯s body so that she was laying on her back and began to inspect her much closer.

    ¡°Yeah, this one is in a bad shape alright,¡± the healer said without even a hint of sympathy in her voice. ¡°From what I can tell, she¡¯s suffering from her body starting to destroy itself from within after having her magical power forced out. Did she take some sort of a drug for that?¡±

    ¡°...Y-Yes. It was a potion that I made,¡± Lexton answered, not really keen to talk about said subject.

    ¡°Wow. I don¡¯t know if you did good or crap work,¡± the elf said without even looking up from Erin, as she continued her inspection of the redhead¡¯s body. ¡°On one hand, you made a steroid that didn¡¯t kill the user right away, but at the same time I can¡¯t help but doubt it was all that effective. Some of the most powerful magical power boosting drugs kill the user in less than an hour.¡±

    The kobold simply grit his teeth and held back any anger he wanted to unleash. Now was not the time for that.

    The healer continued her inspection for a bit longer, before finally standing up. All eyes were on her, waiting for her diagnosis.

    ¡°...Well?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Well what?¡± the elf simply asked in return.

    ¡°Can you heal her or not?¡± the blonde asked as she held back her own anger.

    ¡°Oh that? Of course I can. It¡¯s a pretty simple job in the end,¡± the healer said, causing the faces of those around her to light up. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Lexton shouted, much to the surprise of the others, as he had been the one to act calm and rational so far. ¡°What the hell do you mean you¡¯re not going to!? If it¡¯s about money, I¡¯m sure we can-¡±

    ¡°

    ¡°

    ¡°Because you guys are boring,¡± the healer stated bluntly. ¡°These days I only give my services to those who I find interesting, which you obviously are not.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about!?¡± Lexton shouted, as his companions were holding him back, fearing what he might do in his angered state. ¡°Is saving lives some sort of a game to you!? How can you look at someone who needs help as boring and just leave them to die!?¡±

    ¡°

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Durge asked, as Lexton continued to seethe while being held back.

    ¡°I joined those who fought against the forces of the Five Overlords and got to heal countless people that tried to fight back. It pretty much became a daily occurrence for me to have someone on my operating table that was on the verge of death after challenging them,¡± the healer explained. ¡°I still did my work perfectly, allowing them to continue fighting. They would always thank me with smiles on their faces and tell me how they would soon defeat the tyrants that had conquered our world. But do you know what happened? None of them even got close to making a bit of difference. In the end, all the work I did was for nothing, as they simply ended up dying in the next battle. I might as well not have even bothered helping any of them.¡±

    ¡°How can you say something like that!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°Healing people is one of the most admired and appreciated professions out there! There are countless of unfortunate victims who would like nothing more than to be allowed to continue living just for a little bit longer, yet they are denied that! How can you look at something like that as pointless!?¡±

    ¡°I can because it is. Does the work I do really matter, if the end result is pretty much the same? Is it worth it to save someone and make them happy, when their family ends up heartbroken and miserable soon anyways?¡± the elf asked in return. ¡°I can¡¯t even count the number of people I saved from death that would proclaim that they were going to ¡°defeat the tyrants oppressing us¡± and save the world. I saw so many such people, yet all of them ended up dead, making my work pointless.¡±

    ¡°But how does that relate to us?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious to me what you guys are. You¡¯re just another hopeless group of wannabes that are trying to make the world a better place,¡± the healer answered. ¡°The puppet guy was obviously an assassin in the service of Golorath, so you guys must have done something quite big to upset him of all people. Not only that, but I can just tell by looking at you all that each one of you has some sort of a grudge against the current rulers, like the oppressed kobold and the warrior tribe orc.¡±

    ¡°If you know that we are fighting against the Five Overlord, why not help us!?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°You apparently did so in the past, so why not now!?¡±

    ¡°How many times do I need to tell you that it¡¯s pointless?¡± the elf asked in a frustrated tone. ¡°You¡¯re all just going to end up failing to make any type of a change and die needlessly. Why should I waste my time with that?¡±

    Erin¡¯s companions couldn¡¯t just accept this. They had gone through so much together and there was still so much they needed to do. There had to be a way to get treatment for their friend. But how? Judging by what she had just said, there seemed to be no way to get this person to help them.

    ¡°I see that you get it, so we¡¯re done here,¡± the healer said. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I would like for all of you to pack your crap and leave. I don¡¯t want to waste anymore time with any of you.¡±

    The elf was about to walk away, when a hand grabbed her ankle. She looked down to see Erin holding onto her and staring up at her with a surprisingly strong gaze.

    However, while the healer had expected the redhead that was at death¡¯s door to stare at her with anger, she was surprised to see confidence behind her lone eye.

    ¡°Hold on just a second,¡± Erin said as she was breathing heavily due to her condition getting worse by the minute. ¡°I believe you said something about giving out your services only to those who you find interesting, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. Only those with a story that catches my interest get my treatment,¡± the elf answered. ¡°But I doubt you have that. You seem like any other walking hero complex I¡¯ve seen in my life, so-¡±

    ¡°I might have something that will interest you and it¡¯s not just your typical wannabe hero stuff,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Mind giving it a try?¡±

    ¡°...Might as well,¡± the healer said with a shrug. ¡°Go ahead. Tell me your story.¡±

    ¡°Not yet. I need to make one thing sure first,¡± Erin said before looking at her companions. ¡°Would you guys mind and leave us alone for a moment? I¡¯d like to talk with her in private.¡±

    Ryle, Lexton and Arkay were about to protest, but Durge stopped them.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have much of a choice. Erin¡¯s the only one who might be able to convince her,¡± the orc said. ¡°Let¡¯s have faith in her.¡±

    Although reluctantly, the others walked away, leaving the redhead on her own with the elven healer.

    ¡°So now that you have your privacy, mind telling me this story of yours?¡± the elf asked with a hint of impatience in her voice. ¡°This better be good.¡±

    ¡°Oh trust me¡­ It will be worth your time,¡± Erin said with a small, confident grin.

    <hr>

    Time passed as Erin¡¯s friends waited to see whether their friend was successful or not. They all desperately hoped that she would be able to convince the healer to help them, but couldn¡¯t help worrying that it would all be in vain.

    After what felt like and eternity for them, they finally heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them. They all looked up to see the elf carrying Erin on her back.

    ¡°Congratulations to you all. You have earned my services,¡± the healer said with a small smile on her lips. ¡°Zeldana the Holder of Life will help you out.¡±

 84. Brutal Healing

    Chapter 84

    Brutal Healing

    Erin¡¯s group, now led by Zeldana, whose services they had managed to acquire, were now heading towards said healer¡¯s house. Erin had once again been placed on the stretcher that was being dragged be Durge.

    As they were walking, the redhead¡¯s companions began to talk among themselves, wondering what had happened between her and Zeldana.

    ¡°So any idea what Erin might have told her?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°It must have been quite the story to get Zeldana¡¯s help.¡±

    ¡°No idea, but it must have been quite something. She doesn¡¯t seem the type to be moved just by any sob story,¡± Lexton said before turning his attention towards Ryle. ¡°You¡¯ve known her longer than any of us, Ryle. Do you have any ideas?¡±

    ¡°None at all. I¡¯m just as stumped as you guys are,¡± the blonde answered with a shrug. ¡°In all honesty, I don¡¯t know all that much about her. The only reason I ever met her was because I was after the bounty on her head.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s strange. Those who are hunted don¡¯t usually befriend their hunters,¡± Durge said. ¡°How were you two able to cross that bridge?¡±

    ¡°Well, she kind of saved my life and I owed her, so I took her to where I was staying with my brother. After that, we kind of ended up working together, eventually moving on to our mutual revenge quest against Lune,¡± Ryle explained. ¡°I guess you could say that we were made into friends by the situation that we found ourselves in and just rolled with it. There¡¯s not much else I can say about it.¡±

    ¡°Has she ever talked to you about herself?¡± Arkay asked, curious to find more about his friend. ¡°Like about her own family or where she is from?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± the blonde answered, until she remembered something. ¡°Although¡­ I did meet her once, before I really went after her bounty. That time we simply talked with each other without knowing who we were.¡±

    ¡°Did she say anything back then?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Not much. She was mostly lamenting her situation at the time. You know, the basic ¡°my life sucks right now¡± type of stuff,¡± Ryle said. ¡°But she did say something else. She said something about having betrayed some friends of hers in such a way that it could never be forgiven.¡±

    ¡°Any idea who those friends are?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Not a clue,¡± the blonde replied as she shook her head. ¡°Outside of us, I don¡¯t know any other friends that she has ever had.¡±

    Having heard Ryle¡¯s story, all of Erin¡¯s companions began to think about it. Could it be that what she had told Zeldana be related to what she had told Ryle? And if that was the case, a lot more questions rose up. Who are these friends that Erin had mentioned? How did she betray them? And what were they doing now? Not to mention, what was it that made their whole story so interesting to Zeldana?

    ¡°You know, it¡¯s pretty impolite to try prying into the business of someone else,¡± Zeldana suddenly called out, snapping Erin¡¯s companions out of their thoughts. ¡°What happened between me and your friend was a conversation meant for just the two of us. Whatever we discussed is supposed to stay between us. Got it?¡±

    ¡°We understand that, but we cannot help our own curiosity, Ms. Zeldana,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Erin is our friend, yet we know only very little about her. Surely you can understand it, if we would like to know more.¡±

    ¡°Sure. But you should take note of the fact that she herself wanted to keep it between the two of us,¡± the elf said. ¡°In other words, she was worried that whatever she said could have been bad, if it was heard by any of you.¡±

    ¡°What the hell could she ever say that would be that bad?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Once again, that is only for your friend and I to know,¡± Zeldana said with a somewhat smug smile on her face. ¡°However, I will tell you all this much. I am sure that if you keep traveling with her, she is sure to tell you all one of these days what she told me.¡±

    Erin¡¯s companions shared concerned looks for a moment among each other. While they had seen their friend put herself at risk for their sake, to hear that she had some secret she was afraid to share with them was honestly concerning. She was able to entrust her life with them, yet one secret was something she couldn¡¯t share? It didn¡¯t make much sense to any of them.

    However, despite feeling a bit disappointed over something like this, Ryle soon said what they were all feeling.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell us something so obvious,¡± the blonde said. ¡°We¡¯ve risked our lives together with Erin and faced deadly situations one after another. Of course she will one day tell us what she told you. And I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was soon.¡±

    ¡°Good for you. Now I hope that you don¡¯t need to keep talking among yourselves like a group of gossiping teen girls,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Anyways, we¡¯re finally here.¡±

    The others looked at the place they had arrived at and saw a rather large mansion ahead of them. Despite the fact that it was being used, one would mistake the building for being abandoned, as the signs of neglect would lead you to believe that. The paint was falling off, some of the structures were visibly on their breaking point and the whole place was covered in dust and grime. In all honesty, it looked your typical haunted mansion.

    ¡°...Are you sure we should go in there?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°That place looks like it could fall on top of you at any second.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that bad!¡± Zeldana said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit underwhelming, but I can assure that this place is more than capable of operating as a decent home!¡±

    To emphasize her words, the elf lightly punched the wall. However, this caused one of the roof tiles to get dislodged and fall down right next to her, just narrowly missing landing on her head.

    ¡°...Okay, that was just a coincidence,¡± Zeldana said.

    ¡°Coincidence, my ass! That place is nothing but a giant death trap!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°Not only that, but it looks like a goddamn haunted house! I bet there a tons ghosts and spooky shit in there!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! There are obviously no ghosts here!¡± the elf shouted back.

    ¡°Oh really!? How can you be so sure!?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Because I am easily far scarier than any ghost could ever be,¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°If they¡¯re smart, no ghost would ever get even near where I live.¡±

    Erin¡¯s companions shared looks of concern with each other, not feeling all that confident over trusting this person with the redhead¡¯s treatment.

    ¡°...Lex, are you sure this is the person we were looking for?¡± Arkay whispered to the kobold. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel like she isn¡¯t a healer at all.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I agree with Arnie,¡± Durge whispered. ¡°She feels more like a murderer instead of a healer.¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re both saying, but this is the place we were told about. Remember what that con artist we busted said, Durge?¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°Apparently, she¡¯s a very famous healer, but not exactly for the right reasons. While she can heal pretty much any injury or illness, she also had some¡­ eccentric qualities to her, which made her an outcast among the community of healers.¡±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°Those eccentric qualities wouldn¡¯t happen to include murdering those she¡¯s treating, would they?¡± Ryle asked in a sarcastic tone. ¡°I¡¯m starting to get the feeling that she was made an outcast for a very good reason.¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that she¡¯s a bit¡­ odd, to say the least,¡± the kobold responded, struggling to believe his own words. ¡°However, what else can we do? Erin needs a skilled healer and this is the only person we can get. All we can do is place our faith in her and hope for the best.¡±

    Despite still having doubts, the others couldn¡¯t help but agree with Lexton. Their friend¡¯s life was on the line and they couldn¡¯t risk trying to find anybody else to heal her. They would have to take their chances with Zeldana, no matter how much they might dislike it.

    ¡°Hey, if you want me to actually help your friend, I suggest you bring her inside before she ends up dead,¡± Zeldana called out to Lexton and the others, having already gone inside her house. ¡°Also, could you please stop whispering about others behind their backs? You¡¯re acting like a bunch of mean girls in high school.¡±

    After being called out by the elf, Erin¡¯s friend quickly brought their unconscious friend inside the house.

    Once inside, they saw that the place looked a lot worse there than it did outside. Everything was covered in dust and cobwebs, showing years of neglect. Some of the wallpaper seemed to be peeling off, revealing holes left by pests that were scurrying around. The mist disturbing thing, however, was the fact that there were signs of battle all around. Furniture was smashed and broken, holes left by bullets could be found in different spots and there were even old bloodstains of different sizes in various places. It seemed like whoever used to live in this place had perished in violent manner.

    ¡°...Yeah, this just became a million times creepier!¡± Ryle said as she covered her nose to block the smells that came from the horrible condition everything had been left in. ¡°Are we sure that this place isn¡¯t actually haunted!? I¡¯m sure the people that left their marks here are probably pretty pissed over what happened to them!¡±

    ¡°Well, if they are still here, I sure haven¡¯t seen them,¡± Zeldana replied nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying here for quite some time now and the only tenants are all the little nasty critters that like to run on the floors and inside the walls.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever considered cleaning up a bit?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I doubt living surrounded by all this filth is exactly healthy.¡±

    ¡°If there are any health related problems, I can easily fix them,¡± the elf answered. ¡°Besides, I have always hated housework, so I¡¯d rather live like this than even touch a broom or any other such tool.¡±

    ¡°And my brother always told me that I needed to get better at household chores. I finally see why¡­¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°At least now I know there¡¯s someone worse than me. Besides Lex, that is.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°And just what the hell do you mean by that!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how stinky that car of yours was? I can¡¯t believe you were able to live in that moving garbage pile!¡±

    ¡°For the last time¡­ It was full of INGREDIENTS AND MATERIALS!¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°I need those things in order to make things like potions and weapons!¡±

    ¡°Here we go again¡­¡± Arkay said with a sigh, as Ryle and Lexton got into another argument.

    ¡°I take it that this is not the first time this subject has come up between those two?¡± Durge asked as he watched the argument break out between his two companions.

    ¡°You have NO idea,¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°Ever since Ryle was introduced to Lex¡¯s mobile workshop, this argument came up almost every day. I was hoping for it to be over and done with the destruction of his car, but I guess I was naive to think that¡­¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± the orc said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what either of you are complaining about. This seems kind of entertaining,¡± Zeldana said as she watched the argument while eating what seemed to be peanuts. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve had this much entertainment since I read that book by Ulik Dicks.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re having fun,¡± Durge said as he rolled his eyes, before looking at what the elf was eating. ¡°Hang on a second, what the hell are those?¡±

    ¡°Not sure. I just grabbed the first thing that looked like a snack I could find and started eating them,¡± the elf explained as she kept putting the ¡°peanuts¡± in her mouth and chewing on them. ¡°They have a surprisingly nice bitter taste to them.¡±

    ¡°...Shouldn¡¯t you be preparing for Erin¡¯s treatment?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°Oh right. That was a thing I was supposed to do,¡± Zeldana said as she threw away her snack. ¡°Alright, enough goofing around! Your friend isn¡¯t going to last much longer, so let¡¯s get to work with her!¡±

    Erin¡¯s friends watched as the elf proceeded to prepare her ¡°work station¡±, which didn¡¯t fill them with confidence in her skills. Zeldana walked up to a nearby dinner table and simply tipped it, so that everything on it fell to the floor. Plates and glasses shattered, yet the elf didn¡¯t seem to be bothered at all. Instead, she just went on to put a white cloth over the table, as if to mask it as a real hospital bed. She also put on surgical gloves and a mask.

    ¡°Alright. We are ready for business over here,¡± Zeldana said in a voice that sounded a bit proud, like she was admiring the way she had set things up. ¡°Bring your friend on the table, so I can start working.¡±

    Ryle and Durge looked at each other, still feeling a bit unsure about the whole deal, but decided to obey the elf¡¯s command. They carefully lifted Erin¡¯s body up and carried her over to the table.

    ¡°Okay. First things first,¡± Zeldana said as she proceeded to take off Erin¡¯s shirt. She undressed the redhead, until she was only wearing a bra to cover the upper half of her body. ¡°Hmmm¡­ Not too bad looking, but I¡¯ve seen better. I¡¯d say she¡¯s still a solid seven.¡±

    ¡°W-What the hell are you doing!?¡± Ryle asked angrily with a blush on her face, as she covered Arkay¡¯s eyes with her hands. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be healing her! Not checking her out like some pervert!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just making some casual observations here. Nothing more,¡± the elf said nonchalantly, as she suddenly took out a red suitcase. ¡°Now we can get to the real fun part.¡±

    Lexton took note of the suitcase and immediately got curious about it. After all, healer¡¯s mostly used simple healing magic to treat their patients, so tools were largely unnecessary.

    ¡°Ms. Zeldana, what is that suitcase for?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the elf asked in return, as she took out a scalpel. ¡°This is for all my tools.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty much my point, though. Why do you need tools?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I thought healers simply use their magical powers to treat their patients. That doesn¡¯t require tools.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only true for total amateurs,¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°A lot of healers simply pump healing magic into a patient¡¯s body, until they are all fixed. The problem is that this can have long term issues. Think of it like pouring more than the needed amount of medicine into a body. If you¡¯re doing it recklessly, you can end up causing more harm than good. The symptoms might not appear right away, but the overuse of healing magic can lead to your body degrading from within.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the kobold said thoughtfully, having heard of such a thing for the first time. ¡°So how exactly do you heal patients then?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very simple,¡± the elf said with a maniacal grin, as she looked at her scalpel in glee. ¡°I get my hands on the problem itself.¡±

    Without any warning, Zeldana used her scalpel to cut open Erin¡¯s torso. What followed after that was a nightmarish show of blood and guts, as the elf proceeded to inspect every internal organ she could get her hands on. The elf was like a hyperactive child in a toy store, grabbing anything she could and looking at it with a gleeful look on her face.

    Meanwhile, the redhead¡¯s companions were absolutely horrified by what they saw. Their faces were pale and frozen in terror, like they were facing their worst nightmares right in front of them. Even Durge and Ryle, who had seen their fair share of violence and brutality, couldn¡¯t help but be shocked by what they witnessed. Lexton was so disgusted by the show of gore that he was struggling not to throw up. Arkay simply stood frozen still, as he watched the horror show before his eyes, unable to move or say anything.

    The most terrifying aspect about Zeldana¡¯s ¡°treatment¡± was that she hadn¡¯t done anything to ensure that Erin was unconscious. In fact, there were a couple of moments where the redhead seemed to wake up briefly, only to black out soon. Most people would die from the sheer shock, but there was a certain aspect in the way the elf treated her patients that prevented this from happening. While one of her hands was looking through the patient¡¯s body in an effort to find what was wrong with them, her other hand was continuously pumping healing magic into their heart, thus keeping them alive.

    After what felt like an eternity to the ones watching, yet just a brief moment to the one performing the treatment, it was finally over. Zeldana put everything back to where they were and used her healing magic to close up the wound, making it look like nothing had happened at all. Once it was all over, Lexton couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore as he threw up in a nearby trash can. Arkay had also reached his limit and passed out. Ryle somehow managed to catch his body, despite the shocked state she herself was in.

    ¡°There we go! A job well done!¡± Zeldana said with a satisfied smile on her face. ¡°God, it feels good to get back to work once in a while.¡±

    ¡°THERE¡¯S NOTHING WELL ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST DID, YOU FREAKING PSYCHOPATH!¡± Ryle yelled angrily, as she was still holding Arkay. ¡°What the heel did you just do to her!? You opened her up and played with her organs like some sort of a maniac!¡±

    ¡°What was wrong with that? I told you that I get my hands on the problem itself,¡± the elf stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Your friend¡¯s magical within her body was damaged due to the drug she took. I had to get my hands on it in order to repair it. That thing isn¡¯t exactly all that easy to get your hands on, unless you get your hands a bit dirty.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think what you just did constitutes getting your hands ¡°a bit dirty.¡± I saw you holding her lungs and other organs,¡± Durge said as sat on the floor, feeling weak in the knees. ¡°And I thought the people in my tribe were ruthless¡­ None of them would even think about doing what you just did.¡±

    ¡°Oh grow some balls!¡± Zeldana said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Besides, I got the job done, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°BULLSHIT YOU DID!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t think anybody could survive-!¡±

    Right then, Erin sat up on the table, shocking everybody other than Zeldana, who simply gave a smug look at the people that had just questioned her work. The redhead had a slightly bewildered look on her face, but seemed to be otherwise fine.

    ¡°E-Erin?¡± Ryle called out to the redhead. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Erin replied. ¡°In fact, I feel really good! I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve felt this well ever before in my life!¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lexton asked, having finally composed himself. ¡°You don¡¯t feel wrong at all? Even slightly?¡±

    ¡°No. Like I said, I feel really good,¡± the redhead said as she got up from the table. ¡°It¡¯s almost like my body works far better than before. Like there were these invisible weights attached to me that are now gone.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I took the liberty to fix a few things here and there,¡± Zeldana said a bit smugly. ¡°Hope you like it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much for your help, Ms. Zeldana,¡± Erin said as she bowed to the healer. ¡°You¡¯ve been a great help to us and saved my life.¡±

    ¡°Meh. It wasn¡¯t much, but you¡¯re welcome,¡± the elf said with a shrug. ¡°Also, you can just call me Zel.¡±

    The redhead nodded, before turning her attention to her friends.

    ¡°Thank you guys as well. Had it not been for all of you, I wouldn¡¯t have survived,¡± Erin said, before she noticed that her companions didn¡¯t look to be doing all that well. ¡°Although, are you guys okay? You all seem a little pale¡­ And why is Arkay passed out?¡±

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Do you remember anything about what just happened?¡± Lexton asked awkwardly.

    ¡°Well¡­ I sort of have these hazy images in my head, like I was halfway between awake and unconscious,¡± the redhead said as she struggled to recall said images. ¡°However, when I try to remember them, I get this feeling of terror, like I¡¯m about to witness something horrifying and-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s actually best if you don¡¯t remember it,¡± the kobold said.

 85. Inspecting the Haunted

    Chapter 85

    Inspecting the Haunted

    Despite being perfectly healed, Erin¡¯s friends still demanded that she¡¯s take some time to rest. The redhead tried to protest this, but was ultimately forced to comply. In fact, her companions were so insistent on it that they actually scared her a bit. When asked about why they wouldn¡¯t budge on the subject, they all would only say that it was better for her not to know.

    Luckily, there were some edible plants and animals in the woods that surrounded them, providing them with food. They also had shelter thanks to Zeldana¡¯s house, although some of them, particularly Ryle, weren¡¯t exactly all too keen on staying there.

    On the subject of shelter, Erin and her companions had expected Zeldana to not be all too keen on having people staying at her home, considering how she had been upon their first meeting. However, the elf surprisingly didn¡¯t have any issues with them staying over. While she hadn¡¯t given any reason, Erin suspected that she simply found their group entertaining, as Zeldana would often watch the arguments between Lexton and Ryle unfold with snacks at the ready.

    However, her friends thought differently about the subject.

    ¡°Erin, didn¡¯t we just tell you that you need to be resting!? You almost died not too long ago! And you¡¯re trying to put yourself in danger right away!?¡± Ryle ranted at the redhead. ¡°Seriously, what will it take for you to understand that you have to rest!?¡±

    ¡°Guys, I get that you¡¯re concerned about me, but you¡¯re overreacting far too much,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m feeling fine! Why is it so hard for you to believe? Besides, practicing magic isn¡¯t all that physically demanding. What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°The problem is that your magical core was almost destroyed recently!¡± Lexton yelled. ¡°It might have been fixed, but you shouldn¡¯t go putting any strain on it! Do you want to get yourself killed or something!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honestly a bit offended,¡± Zeldana said as she watched the arguing between the three. ¡°You¡¯re actually suggesting that my treatment wasn¡¯t good enough. I¡¯ll have you know that once I¡¯m done with a patient, they¡¯re as good as new!¡±

    ¡°

    ¡°I get that you guys are worried and I do appreciate it, but I think you¡¯re all overreacting a bit too much,¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t just lay around all day. We still have a long way ahead of us and it¡¯s going to be full of dangers. I need to prepare myself so that we can face them better.¡±

    ¡°And you won¡¯t be facing them, if you get yourself killed by your own hands!¡± Lexton said. ¡°What if you just end up in the same state you were in before!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem!¡± Zeldana stated. ¡°I can just-¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± both Ryle and Lexton yelled at the same time.

    ¡°Seriously, what happened while I was unconscious!?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t ask. It¡¯s seriously better if you don¡¯t know,¡± Lexton quickly replied. ¡°But we are not changing our minds on this subject. You need to rest up as much as possible, before we can allow you to strain yourself in any manner. And that¡¯s FINAL.¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°FINAL!¡±

    Seeing as there was no chance for her to win this argument, Erin decided to give up. Neither of her friends were going to be relenting, so further arguing would be pointless.

    With nothing better to do, the redhead decided to go and look around the house they were staying at. While it was very creepy and dirty, it was still worth checking out. After all, who knew what she would find? For all she knew, there might even be a hidden treasure somewhere.

    The mansion had two floors, as well as an attic and a basement. On the first floor was a lounge, a kitchen and a dining room. So far, they had only stayed on this floor, so the group was fairly familiar with it. Because of this, Erin decided to focus her investigation on the other areas instead, starting with the second floor.

    Walking up the stairs to the second floor was not a pleasant experience, as the floorboards on each step creaked loudly. Once she reached the top of the stairs, she came to a hallway that went to left and right with doors on both sides. In total, there seemed to be five rooms.

    For a moment, Erin debated as to which one she should check out first, but soon noticed something rather disturbing. On the hallway floor was a large blood stain that seemed to go into one of the rooms, like someone was murdered and the dragged there. Knowing that she would be constantly scared of it, she decided to go there first. This would allow her to get her mind out of any thoughts of supernatural beings haunting the place.

    The redhead took hold of the doorknob and took a deep breath to calm herself before opening the door. The room that was revealed to her appeared to be a library of some sorts, as there were numerous bookshelves on the walls. Besides those, the only other furniture were comfy chairs and a carpet stained in blood. It seemed like whatever had been dragged in there had been removed a long time ago.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    While there didn¡¯t seem to be really anything useful, Erin did notice a picture hanging from the wall. It was a portrait of the family that used to live there. From that she was able to tell that the family had four members, a father, a mother, a daughter and a son. Each of the family members in pictured had been shot with a pistol, so whoever had attacked them had really disliked them.

    Moving on to inspect the remaining rooms, the redhead next saw what seemed to be the rooms for the children. Judging by the furniture and objects inside, she could deduce which room belonged to which child. Much to her relief, the scariest things about these rooms were simply the amount of dust, filth and cobwebs that had gathered from years of neglect. The idea of bloodstains inside the rooms belonging to children wasn¡¯t something she wanted to imagine.

    However, when she found the master bedroom that most likely belonged to the parents of said children, her mind soon began racing with all sorts of horrifying images of what had most likely happened. The whole room was a mess and looked like a homicidal maniac or a bloodthirsty monster had caused havoc in there. All of the furniture was either knocked over or destroyed, making it look like very messy robbery. But the most horrific thing was the amount of bloodstains that covered the place. The floor, the walls and even parts of the ceiling were completely covered in old stains of blood. It was a scene taken straight out of a nightmare.

    A lone tear escaped from Erin¡¯s eye due to the two raging emotions within her. One was the feeling of terror that overcame her from seeing such a horrible sight before her. The other was grief, as she could only imagine what the people living in this building must have gone through.

    Leaving the master bedroom behind, the redhead moved on the check the last room, which was at the end of the corridor. The door wasn¡¯t hard to open, as it had been broken down, allowing her to get in without any trouble. What was behind the door was a flight of stairs, leading to the attic.

    With nowhere else to go, Erin walked up the stairs and entered the attic, where another terrifying discovery was waiting for her. In the middle of the attic, hanging from the ceiling were two ropes that were tied into nooses. It seemed like that at least two people had managed to escape the initial blood bath on the lower floors, only to be trapped here until the attackers got to them.

    The redhead shook her head in disbelief. What could the people living in this house possibly have done in order to earn such hatred from somebody?

    Looking around, the attic itself seemed to be filled with nothing but boxes. Opening one of them, Erin found nothing of real use, as it was filled with old clothes that seemed to belong to the children at some point, but were now too small for them. The only one on their group that could possibly get any use out of them was Lexton and the redhead doubted he¡¯d be thrilled to wear clothing meant for children.

    The other boxes seemed to only contain other things that had been put away due to no longer being useful. Seeing as there didn¡¯t seem to be anything of real use there, the redhead decided that it was time to leave.

    However, she noticed something moving from the corner of her eye, causing her to whip around and see what it was, yet saw nothing out of the ordinary. Against her better judgment, Erin decided to move forward and inspect whatever it was, hoping that it was just a trick of light or something similar.

    Despite being the middle of the day, the attic was still very dark. This was due to there only being one window and even that barely got any light through because of the thick treeline surrounding the building itself. This only added to how frightening the already scary house truly was. And for the redhead, the whole situation had only been made all the more terrifying by the possible addition of someone else in the creepy attic.

    Having finally made her way to where she had seen something move, Erin took the Glow Stone out of her pocket, getting ready to illuminate whatever it was that she had seen. Just as she was about to peer behind the boxes and see what it was, the piles of boxes suddenly fell on her, as something burst from behind them. While the redhead wasn¡¯t able to see who or what it was, she did manage to hear giggling, as her attacker ran down the stairs leading to the attic.

    While what had just happened did scare her, the sound of giggling seemed to give Erin an idea of what had truly happened. With a frown on her face, she stood up and wiped some of the dust off herself.

    ¡°Goddammit, Ryle¡­ It wasn¡¯t enough for you to ground me like some misbehaving child, but now you¡¯re pulling crappy pranks like this?¡± the redhead muttered to herself unhappily. ¡°Real mature¡­¡±

    Seeing as she no longer had anything to do in the attic, Erin was about to leave, but her foot hit something that skipped along the floor a bit. Looking down to see what it was, she saw a key.

    ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± the redhead said as she picked up the metallic object to have a closer look at at it. ¡°Wonder where you¡¯re supposed to go?¡±

    Seeing no harm in taking it, Erin put her new find in her pocket and started to make her way out of the attic. It didn¡¯t take long for her to reach the first floor, where the others were waiting for her.

    ¡°Hey, we heard some loud noises from upstairs. Did something happen?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°We thought that sine you didn¡¯t yell or anything that it was nothing.¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing too serious,¡± the redhead said before glancing at Ryle. ¡°It was just somebody trying to be funny¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why are you looking at me?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°No reason. Say what¡¯s that over there?¡±

    Ryle turned to look into the direction Erin had pointed at, only to get hit on the head by the redhead. The blonde turned to glare at the one who had just struck her.

    ¡°

    ¡°You know damn well what that was for!¡± the redhead yelled back. ¡°That was for that stupid prank you just pulled!¡±

    ¡°Prank!? What prank!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell you¡¯re talking about!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try lying to me! You know exactly what you did!¡± Erin said. ¡°When I was in the attic, you hid behind some boxes and jumped at me when I got close! Then you ran away giggling after almost giving me a heart attack!¡±

    ¡°I never did anything like that!¡±

    ¡°That is such bull-!¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Erin? Ryle couldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Lexton said, stopping the arguing for a moment. ¡°She has been here with me the whole time you were upstairs.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡± the redhead asked with a dumbfounded look on her face.

    ¡°Yeah, why the hell would I go to the second floor!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°The stench of old blood and filth is bad enough here, but it sure as hell is worse there! No way I¡¯m going there!¡±

    ¡°So¡­ neither of you ever left this floor?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°They sure didn¡¯t. I can vouch for that,¡± Zeldana said as she raised her arm up in the air. ¡°Those two have been here the whole time, being very boring. Not a single argument has broken up between them during the time you were away.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯d prefer it if you didn¡¯t view us as simple entertainment,¡± Lexton muttered in a disapproving tone. ¡°Still, what she says is true. We have simply been waiting for Arnie and Durge to come back.¡±

    Erin stared at her companions in stunned silence, as her mind processed what she had just learned. As she was doing that, Ryle stood up from her seat and glared at her.

    ¡°In case you¡¯re in the need of help, I think the words you¡¯re looking for are ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± along with ¡°please let me hit you in return,¡± the blonde said as she put on a forced smile that did nothing to hide her anger. ¡°Come on now, I want to hear you say them.¡±

    ¡°...But if it wasn¡¯t you, then who was it?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Who was it that jumped at me back in the attic?¡±

    Silence fell over the group, as both Ryle and Lexton now realized the same thing that the redhead had. There was apparently someone else in the house with them, but who?

    ¡°Well, obviously it was the ghost of one of the people who used to live here,¡± Zeldana stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Who else do you think it could have been?¡±

    ¡°...WHAT!?¡± Erin, Ryle and Lexton all shouted at the same time.

    ¡°You heard me! A ghost!¡± the elf repeated. ¡°What¡¯s so hard to understand about that!?¡±

    ¡°But you said that this place wasn¡¯t haunted!¡± Ryle yelled.

    ¡°...I did?¡± Zeldana asked, before picking up a very large empty bottle of wine off the floor. ¡°Goodness me, how many of these did I drink? I must have been very intoxicated last night.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that this place is actually haunted and you didn¡¯t say that yesterday because you were drunk!?¡± Erin asked in a somewhat panicking tone.

    ¡°Have you looked around yourself even a bit? Of course this place is haunted!¡± the elf said as she pointed at all the signs of violence that were covering the room. ¡°To be fair, I have never seen any ghosts myself while I¡¯ve stayed here. I just always assumed that they knew better than to mess with me and left it at that.¡±

    ¡°...What kind of a world do you even live in?¡± Lexton asked, baffled by the nonchalant and uncaring attitude the healer had.

    ¡°One with a house and an easy way to make money. What about you?¡± Zeldana replied somewhat smugly. ¡°Still¡­ It was pretty messed up what happened to the people who used to live here.¡±

    ¡°YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE!?¡± Erin, Ryle and Lexton all shouted at the same time again.

    ¡°...Okay, do you guys have a habit of yelling together or something? It¡¯s starting to hurt my ears,¡± the elf said while tenderly rubbing one of her ears. ¡°As for your sudden and LOUD question, yes I do know what happened here. How do you think I knew about this place in the first place?¡±

    ¡°I just assumed that you happened to find an abandoned building and started to live there, like a hobo!¡± Erin said.

    ¡°How rude! I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯m a respectable healer! A true master of my trade! I¡¯ve never gone homeless for even a single night!¡± Zeldana said, sounding a bit offended by the redhead¡¯s remark. ¡°Anyways, the real reason I knew about this place is because I lived here even before it got this bad. Back when the original owners were still around. That¡¯s how I know what happened here back on that night.¡±

    Erin, along with Ryle and Lexton, got ready to listen as the healer told them the story of the mansion, which would in a tragic night of blood and death.

 86. A Tragedy in the Night

    Chapter 86

    A Tragedy in the Night

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton waited impatiently for Zeldana to begin telling her story. Even though they wanted to hear her tale right away, the elf had stated that she needed something before she could begin. The three of them had wondered what it was at first, only to find out that she had been talking about a bottle of wine. Apparently, there was a wine cellar in the basement full of some very high quality alcohol that Zeldana had been more than happy to use for herself. This unfortunately didn¡¯t bring much joy to Erin and her friends, who were getting annoyed by the needless stalling.

    Zeldana took out a new bottle of wine and opened it. She drank a good amount of it in one go before setting the bottle down. It seemed like she was finally ready to begin her tale.

    ¡°...Well?¡± Erin asked, waiting for the story to begin.

    ¡°...What?¡± Zeldana asked in return.

    ¡°Are you going to start your story or not!?¡± the redhead asked as she was starting to get annoyed.

    ¡°My story?...Oh right! That story! The story about the people who used to live here, right? Sure I can tell you guys that,¡± Zeldana said, causing her listeners to perk up, getting ready for the tale. ¡°Just right after I finish this bottle here¡­¡±

    The elf was about to take the bottle in order to have another drink, only for Erin to quickly snatch it away. The redhead glared at the healer as she held the bottle out of her reach.

    ¡°I think we have waited long enough for you,¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°Now, are you going to tell us the story of this house or not!?¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you! I¡¯ll tell you!¡± Zeldana said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°No need to be such a meanie! Didn¡¯t your parents ever tell you that stealing is wrong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, trust me. They know that VERY well,¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s probably the only thing that they know is wrong.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still holding a grudge over that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°We¡¯re just not comfortable with scamming people!¡±

    ¡°I know! But you¡¯re completely fine with murder, aren¡¯t you?¡± the kobold said back.

    Although she kind of wanted to see where this argument would go, Zeldana knew that she needed to start telling her story. So after clearing her throat to get the attention of her audience, she got ready to tell them the history of the mansion they were staying at.

    ¡°Now, you¡¯re probably wondering how I know what happened here, right?¡± the healer asked. ¡°The reason I know exactly what happened is simple. I was here when it all happened.¡±

    ¡°How could you have been here? This house must have been abandoned for years!¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s an elf, Ryle,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Along with a couple of other races, they live insanely long. Hell, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she was around before any of the people that lived here were born.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Zeldana exclaimed. ¡°Not only did I know the owner of this house, but I knew his parents before that! I¡¯ve been around for quite some time, after all.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ You mean to tell me that you¡¯ve been here for years and yet you never bothered to clean this place at all?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...I hate housework, okay?¡± the elf replied. ¡°Anyways, not only was I good friends with the parents of the person who built and owned this place, but I befriended the ones who lived here as well. Not only did they know about me through family connections, but they also knew about my time as a member of the resistance movement fighting against the Five Overlords. I had become quite known as a major player in there, so after the resistance fell and we were forced into hiding, the family here offered to give me shelter. While they themselves weren¡¯t active participants in said resistance, they always supported us behind the scenes.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s how you ended up living here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°What exactly did you do during your stay here?¡±

    ¡°Freaking puppet shows¡­ What do you think I was doing?¡± Zeldana asked sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m a healer who can cure pretty much anything. Would you be shocked if I told you that I became their personal family doctor?¡±

    ¡°No need to be such a dick,¡± the kobold muttered as Ryle snickered at him.

    ¡°Anyways, I lived here for quite some time, until things went south suddenly,¡± the elf continued her story. ¡°Somehow, the military found out about me living here and sent in people to handle me. Not only was there an active hunt for those who opposed the Five Overlords, but I was a very infamous member of the resistance as well. Once they heard about me, the military immediately sent a group of elite soldiers here to take me out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is where we get to the part where all of this happened,¡± Ryle said as she looked around the room at the signs of bloodshed.

    ¡°Bingo. I was sleeping in my hidden room in the basement, when the sudden commotion woke me up,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I could tell by the noises that the servants of the house tried to fight back, but were easily beaten by the soldiers. What happened to the family was much worse, though.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton tensed up as they waited to hear what happened to the family. While the other two might have had some form of an image in their minds, the redhead had seen the horrid sights on the second floor and the attic. Now she just needed to know what truly had gone down on that night.

    ¡°After clearing out the resistance on the first floor, the soldiers quickly moved to the second floor where the family was,¡± Zeldana continued her story. ¡°The father of the family tried to protect his family and fought back, but it didn¡¯t end well. He was quickly beaten and dragged to the library on the second floor to be tortured for information.¡±

    ¡°What were they trying to gain by doing that?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that they were mostly doing that as a form of entertainment for themselves, but they did have a goal. In fact, they had two,¡± the elf answered. ¡°First, they wanted to know where I was. And the other one was the location of the family fortune.¡±

    ¡°So they were basically just trying to rob this place then,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°It wasn¡¯t enough that they came here to kill people, but they also had to fill their own pockets with cash as well.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like what happened here any more than you do, but once you¡¯re willing to kill, theft isn¡¯t such a big thing anymore, right?¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°When the man of the house wasn¡¯t willing to speak up, the boss of the soldiers went to their bedroom, where his wife was. Whatever happened there is something I can¡¯t even imagine, as the sounds that came from that room were nothing short of an absolute monster¡¯s doing.¡±

    Erin shuddered a bit, as she remembered the sight of that particular room. She didn¡¯t even want to know what had happened there.

    ¡°Despite what they did to his wife, the man refused to give in. I don¡¯t know if he was killed after that or if he died from his injuries, but only the children remained after that,¡± the elf continued her story. ¡°The two kids of the house had gone to hide in the attic, but it didn¡¯t take long for the soldiers to find where they were.¡±

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    ¡°Oh God¡­ Please tell me that they didn¡¯t do what I fear they did,¡± Ryle begged, desperately hoping that her fear was unfounded.

    Erin already knew what most likely happened, but didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her friend.

    ¡°Sorry to tell you this, but the kids didn¡¯t make it out alive either,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The only good thing I can say is that the kids didn¡¯t get as bad of a fate as their parents did. The soldiers executed the kids by hanging them from nooses in the attic. It isn¡¯t much of a comfort, but it¡¯s something at least, I guess.¡±

    Silence fell over the room, as Erin, Ryle and Lexton processed the story they had just listened to. All three of them were thinking about different things in regards to what had happened. Ryle thought about how anybody could ever do something so horrible and how the victims must have felt. Lexton was wondering about the possible motives, such as why Zeldana was such a high priority target that the military would go to such lengths to get to her.

    However, Erin was thinking about something completely different from her two friends.

    ¡°...Why?¡± the redhead said almost inaudibly.

    ¡°Why what?¡± Zeldana asked in return.

    ¡°WHY DIDN¡¯T YOU DO ANYTHING!?¡± Erin screamed at the top of her lungs as she stood up from her seat. ¡°You knew what was happening! You knew what horrible things they were doing to these people! People who gave you shelter and helped you! Why did you just abandon them when they needed you!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Because it wouldn¡¯t have been what they wanted,¡± the elf answered. ¡°Weren¡¯t you paying attention at all when I was telling you my story? No matter what happened to them, these people never told them where I was. They could have easily told the soldiers where I was in order to save their lives or at least make their deaths less painful. Yet despite everything that was done to them, they never gave in. Had I revealed myself, all of that would have been for nothing.¡±

    The redhead felt like she just took a powerful blow to the guts at Zeldana¡¯s response. She had been so overtaken by emotion that she was certain she was in the right, but had failed to take note of that one important detail. The fate that had fallen on the people of this house had certainly been a cruel one, but they had still held onto one thing to the end. To not reveal where Zeldana was hiding. Had they done so, then every horrible thing they had endured would have truly been for nothing.

    One question still remained. Was the life of one healer truly worth it all?

    ¡°Besides, it wouldn¡¯t have made much of a difference if I had tried to help them,¡± Zeldana said, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°The military really wanted me out of the way, so they sent one of the most dangerous people they could to deal with me. One of the three warlords himself came here.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Lexton exclaimed, surprising both Erin and Ryle. ¡°Just what the hell kind of a person could you possibly be for a warlord to come after you!?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Lex?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is that a big deal?¡±

    ¡°You bet your ass it¡¯s a big deal! Warlords are essentially the biggest people within the military itself!¡± the kobold answered. ¡°On each continent, there are only three people who can achieve that title! And they answer only to the Overlords themselves! For one of them to come chasing after a simple healer of the resistance is unheard of!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯m no simple healer!¡± Zeldana said in a somewhat offended tone. ¡°Do you think I earned the name ¡°Zeldana the Holder of Life¡± by simply treating wounds? Hell no! Thanks to my skills, I became an important part of the whole resistance movement itself!¡±

    ¡°The hell do you mean by that?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that my skills as a healer were so special that the military felt the need to make me into a high priority target!¡± the elf answered. ¡°As long as you were alive, there was pretty much no injury that I couldn¡¯t heal! There were also countless assassination attempts on resistance leaders that ended in failure simply because I was there to heal the target! That¡¯s why they gave me that title, as it was like I was holding life itself in my hands! I still have the highest bounty ever placed on a person¡¯s head on me!¡±

    Zeldana put on a posture that radiated pride and smugness. The others were a bit taken aback by the haughty attitude, as no normal person would brag about having a bounty on them.

    ¡°...Just out of curiosity, what¡¯s the bounty on your head?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Two million. Pretty impressive, huh?¡± the elf said with a smug smile. ¡°I doubt anyone has ever come even close to it.¡±

    ¡°Erin has,¡± the blonde said bluntly. ¡°In fact, the bounty on her head is bigger than yours.¡±

    ¡°...WHAT!?¡± Zeldana screamed. ¡°How the hell is that possible!? How high is her bounty!?¡±

    ¡°Six million. So three times the size of yours,¡± Ryle replied.

    This revelation seemed to shake the elf down to her soul, as her face had turned completely pale upon learning this. It took her a moment to process how something like this could have ever happened.

    ¡°But¡­ How? Just what could she-¡± Zeldana struggled to speak, until she finally realized why such a thing had most likely happened. ¡°Oh right¡­ You were a bit of a special case. That must be why¡­¡±

    Erin silently cursed inside her head at how careless the elf had been, while Ryle and Lexton shared a quick confused look.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°How is Erin a special case?¡±

    ¡°...Never mind. I spoke about something that isn¡¯t really important,¡± Zeldana said, realizing her mistake. ¡°Anyways, now you all know the story of what happened here. Is there anything else I can tell you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I suppose there¡¯s still one thing I¡¯d like to know,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Who exactly were these people? I get that they were wealthy and didn¡¯t like the rule of the Overlords, but what kind of a family were they in the end?¡±

    ¡°The family that lived here, as you have probably guessed by now, were a very wealthy one,¡± the elf began to explain. ¡°I¡¯m not all that clear on the details, mostly because I didn¡¯t care, but the person who made the family rich in the first place was the father of this family¡¯s father. He had some sort of a successful pet shop or something in Burrow¡¯s Deep that his son inherited. But once the Five Overlords took over, they had to shut it down. Luckily they had enough money saved up along with successful investments that they were able to live here without worry.¡±

    Erin frowned a bit from hearing the history behind the family. She remembered how Lexton had told her about the way Burrow¡¯s Deep had changed under the rule of the Overlords. Seems like there were more victims than just the people that were in the town.

    ¡°The family weren¡¯t exactly fans of the new world rulers, for obvious reasons, and had been secretly assisting those who fought against them,¡± Zeldana continued with her story. ¡°It was because of their loyalty for such a cause that they didn¡¯t even hesitate to offer me a place to live here. I essentially became their personal doctor in exchange for food and lodging. They still wanted to help out members of the resistance, even if the movement had been crushed and the remaining members were made into outlaws with bounties on their heads.¡±

    ¡°If they were that dedicated to keep you safe, how did the military find out about you?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like they were the kind of people that would betray you.¡±

    ¡°The family might have been loyal to the resistance, but that didn¡¯t mean their servants were,¡± the elf answered. ¡°While they were good to their people and had earned their loyalty, such things can easily be broken by simple greed. One of the servants hoped to get a cut of the reward on me and squealed to the authorities. Luckily the place where I stayed was a secret room that only the father and the mother of the family knew about, so I wasn¡¯t found. The warlord sent here was obviously pissed off over seemingly being fooled, so the rat bastard who told them about me got what they deserved in the end.¡±

    Erin and her two friends had to take a moment to let the elf¡¯s story sink in. So many big pieces of information had just been laid out on them. The horrors of what occurred in the building they were staying at, the fact that a warlord was sent out and how big of a deal Zeldana truly was.

    ¡°Can you tell us anything about the warlord?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Any details could be of great use for us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not much I can tell you guys. I stayed here through the whole thing, so I never saw so much as a glimpse of him,¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°All I heard was his underlings calling his name, Gotzmeyer. Besides that all I know are the tales and rumors pretty much everybody knows about the guy.¡±

    ¡°And those would be?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Oh you know, the usual stuff. That he¡¯s a very powerful warrior who decimates numerous opponents with ease and all that,¡± the elf said nonchalantly. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s one interesting bit of information, though. Unlike any of the other warlords, he has never bled on the battlefield even a single drop of blood. All the other ones have at least suffered some type of an injury, but not him. Because of this many believe that he is the strongest of all the warlords.¡±

    Erin shuddered a bit. Things were starting to look even worse for her and her group. All their battles so far had been tough already, but they seemed to be nothing compared to what was waiting for them in the near future. Just how were they going to beat someone who had never been injured despite all the battles he went through?

    However, there was something about his name that caught the redhead¡¯s attention. It was almost like she had heard it before.

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, did the military take everything that was valuable?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Or is there a hidden vault somewhere that might still hold something that¡¯s worth money?¡±

    ¡°Lex! Seriously!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Not only are you prolific con artist, but now you¡¯re robbing the dead!? What¡¯s the matter with you!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s not my fault we¡¯re pretty much broke and need money!¡± Lexton argued. ¡°The way I see it, these people sure as hell don¡¯t need the cash, so we might as well take it! It¡¯s a long journey ahead of us and we need all the help we can get, okay!?¡±

    The blonde was about to continue arguing, but was cut off by Erin. The redhead had a bit of a saddened look on her face, yet her gaze was filled with determination.

    ¡°Lex is right, Ryle,¡± Erin said. ¡°We are facing some very powerful enemies right now and need every advantage we can get our hands on. While we are obviously not going to do just about anything to get what we want, taking from the dead is a small evil that we can manage to live with.¡±

    ¡°But Erin¡­ Isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡± the blonde asked while giving her friend a pleading look. ¡°I¡¯d have no issues taking from bandits, the lackeys of the Overlords or any other horrid bastards, but these people weren¡¯t like that. Can we rob good and innocent people win good conscience?¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t robbing anyone! We¡¯re just¡­ We¡¯re just acquiring resources,¡± the redhead said while struggling to keep her composure. ¡°These people are already gone, so leaving anything useful here would just be a waste. Besides, I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t mind, seeing as they also fought against the Five Overlords.¡±

    ¡°Your friends are right, blondie. There¡¯s no need for such holier than thou attitude here,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°These are tough times in a tough world. Those who don¡¯t do what is necessary due to some morals are not going to live long. And your buddy is completely right. I knew these people personally and I can promise you that they wouldn¡¯t mind you taking their stuff. I mean, not like they need it, do they?¡±

    ¡°For some reason when you say that it doesn¡¯t fill me with confidence,¡± Ryle muttered before letting out a deep sigh. ¡°But I get it. We gotta do what we gotta do in order to survive, right? So where¡¯s all the good stuff hidden then?¡±

    ¡°Oh! There¡¯s nothing valuable hidden anywhere around here. It¡¯s all gone,¡± the elf replied without any hesitation.

    ¡°You gotta be freaking-!¡± Ryle was about to start to angrily curse, but managed to calm herself. ¡°Never mind¡­ I guess I should have expected as much, seeing as how the military was behind the attack here. I doubt they would have left anything valuable behind.¡±

    ¡°I suspected as much myself, but just wanted to make sure,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I suppose we need to figure out a way to help our funding.¡±

    ¡°With the exception of the secret vault that is,¡± Zeldana suddenly added.

    ¡°...THE SECRET WHAT!?¡± Erin, Ryle and Lexton all yelled in unison.

    ¡°Are you guys doing that on purpose or something!?¡± the elf asked angrily as she held her ears.

 87. Loosened Locks

    Chapter 87

    Loosened Locks

    Zeldana had led Erin and the others to the basement, where her room was. Like she had explained earlier, her residence within the mansion was in a secret room that you needed a specific method in order to access. This was due to the bounty on her head and her reputation as a member of the resistance.

    The basement didn¡¯t look all that special. Much like the rest of the building, it was covered in dust and filth due to neglect, but had a lack of signs from the attack. This was a welcome surprise for Erin and Ryle, as they had enough of being spooked out by such terrible sights.

    However, there was one special thing that Erin and her friends quickly noticed. There was a very large amount of wine bottles. Most of them were still sitting on their shelves, but they did notice that a large number of bottles were littering the floor after being emptied of their contents.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve taken the liberty of helping yourself to the drinks that were left behind,¡± Lexton remarked as he eyed the empty bottles. ¡°I take it that you didn¡¯t hesitate much in that regard?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯ve wanted to drink this stuff for decades! How was I supposed to hold back once I got the chance?¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s much else to do, so I might as well have a good time!¡±

    ¡°Both of you are just the worst,¡± Ryle muttered unhappily.

    ¡°Guys, can we please focus here?¡± Erin asked as she let out a sigh. ¡°We should really be looking for this vault right now and not be staring at a bunch of bottles! You guys can have your argument after that, okay?¡±

    ¡°Fine, but you shouldn¡¯t be looking at this quality merchandise with such disregard!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Do you have any idea how expensive this stuff is? Most people never even get a chance to see one of these bottles in real life, much less taste the contents! This isn¡¯t exactly your average fun time water here!¡±

    Lexton took one of the bottles in order to inspect it a bit closer. With his knowledge of high quality merchandise, he was able to recognize the label and tell how expensive it truly was.

    ¡°Holy crap¡­ She¡¯s not joking! This stuff is Red Moonlake wine! It¡¯s made exclusively in the Central Continent alone and nowhere else!¡± the kobold said in amazement. ¡°A single bottle of this can cost up to 2500 credits and I¡¯ve only seen a bottle of this on the black market once! How the hell did they get so many of them!?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding me, right? That much for one lousy bottle?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Who the hell is going to pay that much for a drink?¡±

    ¡°Hey, once you taste it, you know why,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°As for how they got these, the man of the house had some very good friends with connections. He was hoping to one day open these up in celebration, once the resistance had won.¡±

    ¡°And instead they get emptied by a lone crazy healer who just wants to get wasted,¡± the blonde said in a sarcastic tone. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s spinning in his grave from joy¡­¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Guys?¡± Erin called out, getting everyone to turn their attention to her. ¡°This is certainly interesting and all, but what did I just say about FOCUS!?¡±

    ¡°Sheesh! Alright! No need to get upset!¡± Zeldana said as she hurried over to a wall. ¡°Seriously, you just try to be friendly and have a nice conversation yet some people can¡¯t help but be dicks¡­¡±

    Once she was at the wall, the elf pushed on one of the bricks. There was a mechanical sound that echoed through the room, before a secret door opened up, revealing a secret room. The room itself seemed simple. It had a bed with a nightstand next to it. There was also a small table that had a computer on it.

    However, the most noticeable thing was the large metal door at the end of the room. One glance was enough to tell you that the door was made from strong metals and wouldn¡¯t open easily. The only way to open it was the keyhole on its right side.

    ¡°There it is. The vault that I was talking about,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Are you now happy or do I have to fear you guys screaming again and bringing me one step closer to losing my hearing?¡±

    ¡°No need to give us attitude! You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t mention this thing right away,¡± Lexton said as he went to inspect the metal door before them. ¡°However, I doubt we can do much with this. I can tell that this isn¡¯t something we can open.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Can¡¯t you use your acid to melt the lock or something?¡±

    ¡°No. This thing is coated with an acid resistant resin. I could dump gallons of acid on it and it would just slid on the floor,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°This is also a blast resistant door, so if we used explosives, we would only end up destroying the house before this thing would even get a scratch on itself.¡±

    ¡°No problem! We can just get Arnie to open it!¡± Ryle exclaimed proudly. ¡°Not only was he a pro thief, but he¡¯s also a technomancer, remember? I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll get that thing opened up in no time at all!¡±

    ¡°That would be a solid plan, except it isn¡¯t,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Technomaners essentially use electricity as a medium to control machinery. Without it, they can¡¯t so much as move whatever it is they¡¯re trying to take over. For him to try and manipulate this vault would be the same as him trying to make a wooden cart move on its own. It¡¯s just not gonna work.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll just bust it open with my fists!¡± the blonde said. ¡°You know how powerful my ki can be, so breaking through this thing should be a piece of cake!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said about explosives!? I doubt your fists are on the same level!¡± the kobold shouted angrily. ¡°All you¡¯d end up doing is break your damn hands!¡±

    ¡°Oh really!? Is that so!?¡± Ryle said now equally angry, before she walked up to the vault. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to show you all just how far my training has taken me!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, don¡¯t-!¡± Erin tried to warn her friend, but was too slow to stop her.

    Charging up her ki into her fist, the blonde unleashed a mighty blow on the vault door. Everyone stood still as the sound on the impact echoed in the air, followed by a moment of silence.

    ¡°OOOOOUUUCH!¡± Ryle screamed in pain as she held her hand and jumped around the room. ¡°OW! OW! OOOOOOWWW! MY HAND! MY FREAKING HAND!¡±

    ¡°What did I tell you, idiot?¡± Lexton said in a frustrated. ¡°I told you that you¡¯d only end up breaking your damn hand! But did you listen to me? Of course you didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Oh shut the hell up, Lex! I don¡¯t need your damn sassy attitude right now!¡± the blonde said angrily. ¡°What I need right now is some damn medicine to fix this! And you sure as hell aren¡¯t helping with that!¡±

    Ryle felt a sudden chill run down her spine, as a hand grasped her shoulder. She looked behind her to see Zeldana stare at her with a twisted smile on her face.

    ¡°Oh, so your hand is broken, huh? You poor thing. Good thing you¡¯ve got me here!¡± the elf said happily. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to fix that hand of yours in a second!¡±

    ¡°N-NO! No need for you to bother with that!¡± Ryle said in a panic. ¡°In fact, I might have just overreacted a bit! I¡¯m sure my hand is completely fine!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy! I¡¯d be more than happy to help you!¡± Zeldana said as she dragged the blonde behind her. ¡°After all, I am a healer. It¡¯s only my duty to help those in need.¡±

    ¡°LET ME GO! NO! I DON¡¯T WANT YOU TO TOUCH ME!¡± Ryle screamed in terror as she tried to break free, but failed to do so. ¡°HELP! HELP ME! DON¡¯T LET HER TAKE ME! NOOOOO!¡±

    Erin and Lexton simply stared as the elf dragged away her new patient. The redhead was left in stunned silence, as she wondered why Ryle was panicking so much. The kobold, on the other hand, simply saw this as the blonde getting what she deserved for not listening to him earlier.

    ¡°...Should we be worried?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen Ryle that scared before.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. It¡¯s not like Zeldana is going to eat her,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°She¡¯s only going to fix Ryle¡¯s hand, so it¡¯s going to be all well and good in the end.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s what I don¡¯t understand. If what Zeldana is going to do is simply help her, why is she so afraid of it?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Is there something I need to know?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s still probably for the best that you don¡¯t,¡± the kobold replied.

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    Just as Erin was about to ask Lexton for an explanation, a horrifying scream came from where Zeldana and Ryle had just gone to.

    ¡°...You know what? I think ignorance is bliss in this case,¡± Erin said quickly before turning her attention back to the vault before them. ¡°Anyways, are you sure we can¡¯t open this thing? I¡¯m sure whatever is inside would help us greatly in our travels.¡±

    ¡°I completely agree with that sentiment, but I¡¯m afraid that we are just going to have to give up on this,¡± Lexton said. ¡°In order for me to mix something that could get us through that door, I need far more tools and materials than what I¡¯ve got right now. And for either Ryle or Durge to open this would require them to train at least a few years without stopping in order to even have the slightest of hopes to break through it. And I doubt we have the time for that.¡±

    ¡°No we don¡¯t. We gotta go after the Overlords at some point. Not to mention, seeing as how one of their top assassins came here, they¡¯re probably going to start wondering why he¡¯s suddenly gone silent. There will be more here soon,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, disappointed that they would have to give up on the riches before them. It was then that she remembered something very important. ¡°So the only way to open this is with a key, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say so, yes,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°However, where would that be? Searching through this whole place is gonna take a long time, if it even is here. Besides, we don¡¯t even know what it looks like.¡±

    ¡°Not sure if this is the right one, but I¡¯d say it¡¯s a very likely possibility,¡± Erin said as she pulled the key she had found in the attic out of her pocket. ¡°What do you say?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ certainly seems possible,¡± Lexton said as he stared at the key with wide eyes. ¡°But where did you find it?¡±

    ¡°I found it in the attic while I was exploring this place,¡± the redhead answered as she walked up to the vault. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to see whether or not this is what I think it is.¡±

    Erin inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it. The sound of the vault door unlocking could be heard and soon it was open, revealing what was inside. On the inside were some brown bags. The redhead smiled as she could imagine what was inside.

    ¡°Lex¡­ Do you think this is what I think it is?¡± Erin asked as she turned to look at her friend for confirmation.

    ¡°If you think it¡¯s our way out of poverty, I¡¯d imagine you¡¯re right,¡± Lexton replied as he walked up to the vault with a big smile on his face as well. ¡°This is such a beautiful sight that I could almost cry.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re crying for a nicer reason than I am,¡± Ryle suddenly said as she came back to the room. Erin and Lexton turned to look at her and saw a pale and haunted look on her face. ¡°I am crying because I¡¯ve just been traumatized for life. I¡¯ll never forget this.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a baby!¡± Zeldana said as she came back to the room as well. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal and your hand got fixed just fine, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°...Stay the hell away from me, you psychopath,¡± the blonde said as she stepped away from the elf.

    ¡°Seriously, what the hell happened?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why would getting your hand fixed be such a big deal?¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s just take a look at what we got from the vault, okay?¡± Lexton quickly said, hoping to change the subject. He grabbed one of the bags from the vault and pulled it out. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, we might as well see what we¡¯ve got.¡±

    The kobold opened the bag to reveal stacks of bills inside. Erin, Lexton and Ryle all couldn¡¯t help but grin at the sight before them.

    ¡°Holy crap¡­ How much do you think there is?¡± Erin asked with excitement in her voice.

    ¡°At least thousands from what I can tell!¡± Lexton said as he grabbed one of the stacks and kissed it. ¡°This has got to be one of the most beautiful things I¡¯ve ever seen in my life!¡±

    ¡°For once, I actually agree with you, Lex!¡± Ryle said happily. ¡°What should we get with all this money?¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is you want to get might be the only thing you can get your hands on,¡± Zeldana said nonchalantly. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any more cash besides what you¡¯ve got there.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton all slowly turned to look at the elf after hearing her comment in regards to the money in the vault.

    ¡°...What?¡± all three asked in unison.

    ¡°Now, THAT was way better. Use that level of volume from now on, please,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°But you guys heard what I said. There isn¡¯t anymore cash in those bags than what you just found. The rest of it has already been spent.¡±

    ¡°B-But that can¡¯t be! There are all of these bags and-!¡± Lexton said as he grabbed one of the other bags and opened it, only to be greatly disappointed by what he saw inside. ¡°What the hell? There¡¯s nothing but paper in here! This is just trash!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just paper!¡± the elf said. ¡°If you look at it a bit closer, you¡¯ll see that there¡¯s more to it than just blank pieces of paper!¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah¡­ There are some weird doodles on these,¡± Ryle said in an irritated tone as she inspected some of the papers they had just found. ¡°What the hell are these even supposed to be!? Did some kid try to draw these to look like actual notes or something!?¡±

    ¡°Well, excuse me for not being a perfect artist!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°For the record, it was my first time trying to do something like that and I¡¯d say I did a pretty good job altogether!¡±

    ¡°...Zeldana, why in the hell are these bags full of poorly made fake money!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°Where is all the actual money that¡¯s actually worth something!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a fun story. Do you guys know this place called Hangman¡¯s Post?¡± the elf began to explain. ¡°You see, staying here can get quite boring, so I do venture out from time to time. At one point, I decided to try my luck at gambling, since it seemed pretty fun. Not to mention, I could even more money, so why not? I was doing pretty good at first, but then I started to lose and grew sick of it. By that time, all that was left of the money is the amount you have there. Still, it felt kind of sad to only have that one bag to be full, so I decided to make some fake money to fill the other bags, thinking it would be a fun prank! I mean, imagine some schmuck robbing the vault, thinking they¡¯ve gotten rich, only to discover that- And I see you guys are now glaring at me, so I¡¯ll stop my story here.¡±

    Like Zeldana had said, Erin, Ryle and Lexton were all glaring at her in sheer fury. They felt like she had essentially misled them with her talks about the vault.

    However, before any of them acted out of anger, Erin managed to calm herself and defuse the situation before it got out of hand.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s just calm down. I¡¯ll admit that our findings are a bit¡­ disappointing,¡± the redhead said as she took a couple of deep breaths. ¡°However, we still got our hands on a good amount of money, so it wasn¡¯t a complete waste of time. This should still be enough to assist us on our journeys, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. While not the big score I was hoping for, we did get enough to support us,¡± Lexton said as he looked at the actual money they had gotten. ¡°Even if we aren¡¯t extremely rich, we are at least better off than before.¡±

    ¡°See? Aren¡¯t I just the best?¡± Zeldana asked with a big smile. ¡°Not only did I heal two of you, but I also got you this! Don¡¯t you think I¡¯ve earned a thanks?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck,¡± the kobold said with a glare directed at the elf. ¡°You¡¯ve also traumatized and irritated us greatly in the short time we¡¯ve known you. So how about we leave it at that?¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeldana replied.

    ¡°One thing I have to ask, though. How did you ever get any of the money out of the vault without the key?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I found it hidden in the attic, so it wasn¡¯t with you.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly hidden there. More like it was lost there,¡± the elf answered. ¡°I had it with me for a long time, as the owner of the house gave it to me. It¡¯s just that one night I got a bit too drunk, lost it and couldn¡¯t be bothered to look for it.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t bother to-!?¡± the redhead began to ask, only to stop herself. ¡°Never mind. I already should know not to expect the best from you.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not my fault that I can¡¯t get motivated all the time,¡± Zeldana mumbled.

    Ignoring the elf¡¯s complaints, the group took the bag of money they found and went back to the lounge. There they counted just how much money they had.

    ¡°So, how much do we have, Lex?¡± Erin asked as she watched the kobold finish counting the stacks of bills they had. ¡°Is it a good amount?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say that this is a pretty good amount. We have exactly 500 000 credits here,¡± Lexton said as he put the money back in the bag. ¡°While not exactly an amount that you can retire on, you should be able to get some pretty good equipment from a decent black market.¡±

    Erin and Ryle turned to look at each other with big smiles on their faces. Lack of money was one of their biggest issues at the moment, but it seemed like that had been solved for now.

    However, the redhead realized something about what the kobold had just said.

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Why did you say ¡°you¡± instead of ¡°we?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why are you talking like you are not going to be part of the group any longer?¡±

    Realizing his mistake, Lexton cursed his carelessness in his head. He then took a deep breath and turned to face the redhead.

    ¡°It¡¯s just as you heard. I won¡¯t be part of your group any longer,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°I¡¯m going to part ways with you guys from here on.¡±

    ¡°What!? But¡­ Why?¡± Erin asked in shock. ¡°We¡¯ve gone through so much together already! Why do you suddenly want to leave!?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t about how we don¡¯t like you to scam people, is it?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just not used to such things, but if we absolutely need to, we can-¡±

    ¡°Would you mind and not think of me in such a degrading manner?¡± Lexton asked with a hint of anger in his voice. ¡°The reason why I¡¯m leaving is simple. You guys are better off without me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true! We do need you!¡± Erin argued. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have made it this far, if it wasn¡¯t for you!¡±

    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t have nearly died because of me!¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°The reason why we had to even come here in the first place was because of me. I gave you the elixir that nearly killed you and forced us to seek the help from a drunken psychopath of a healer!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m still here!¡± Zeldana called out, upset over how she was being talked about. ¡°I¡¯d really appreciate it, if you didn¡¯t talk about me like I wasn¡¯t even in the same room!¡±

    ¡°Not now, Zeldana,¡± Erin said to the elf before turning her attention back to Lexton. ¡°Are you still blaming yourself over that? I already told you that it wasn¡¯t your fault! I¡¯m the one who decided to drink that potion you had after you told me what it would do! Besides, it helped save us all, so it was more than worth it! Can¡¯t you just let that go already?¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S NOT JUST THAT!¡± Lexton yelled as loudly as he could. ¡°After you had taken the potion and were pretty much dying, I-! I¡­ I couldn¡¯t do anything to help¡­ I was completely useless and unable to help you in any meaningful way, and I still can¡¯t help you. I have nothing that I can offer to help anyone in this group, so all I can do is get in the way. All of you would be better off without me¡­¡±

    The redhead could hear the pain in the kobold¡¯s voice as it was cracking up slightly. This was coming from the heart and he wasn¡¯t trying to exaggerate at all. Just how long had he been feeling like this?

    Erin was about to argue back and tell Lexton that he was wrong about what he was saying. That he was still an important part of their group. However, a certain someone beat her to it.

    ¡°You¡¯re seriously gonna ditch the group right now? When we need all the help we can get?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°Man, this a real bitch move from you. Even I thought you were better than that!¡±

    ¡°Ryle!¡± Erin yelled at the blonde, only to see Ryle give her a quick wink.

    ¡°That¡¯s odd¡­ I thought you would be happy to see me disappear,¡± Lexton said with a snort. ¡°What happened? Don¡¯t tell me you suddenly like me or something.¡±

    ¡°Oh God, not at all!¡± the blonde quickly said. ¡°I still think you¡¯re a nasty piece of crap, who likes to scam people, has close to no morals and has a really big attitude problem!¡±

    ¡°...I probably don¡¯t need to tell you that I hold a somewhat similar view of you, asshole,¡± the kobold grumbled angrily. ¡°So why did you suddenly stop me? If you hate me so much, why not just let me leave and feel good about it?¡±

    ¡°Because even with all the things about you that I don¡¯t like, I still consider you an important part of our team,¡± Ryle stated without any hesitation. ¡°While I find your personality rotten and nasty, you still bring great value to us. You have far more knowledge about the whole world than all of us combined. Not only that, but the things you can make are honestly quite amazing. Without you being the brains of our group, I doubt we would have made it this far. So what if things got pretty bad not too long ago? We all should have been prepared for far worse long before we began this journey!¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re not high on drugs are you?¡± Lexton asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°Goddammit! I¡¯m being sincere here!¡± the blonde yelled angrily. ¡°Look, what I¡¯m saying is that we do need your help. There¡¯s a reason why Erin wanted you in our group. We might not see eye to eye all that much, but even I can see that you¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m what?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Amazing! In your own way!¡± Ryle said in a way that looked like she was forcing the words out of her mouth. ¡°Never make me say that again¡­ I doubt my stomach could handle it.¡±

    ¡°Ryle¡¯s not the only one who feels that way. I do as well. Although, I wouldn¡¯t need to force myself so painfully,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°I still want you to stay in our group and offer your wisdom and skills to us. We could really use them. Besides, who is gonna make me a new hand? That drunk elf over there?¡±

    ¡°Hey! I haven¡¯t even gotten halfway through this bottle yet!¡± Zeldana yelled while showing the bottle of wine she had been drinking from. ¡°Don¡¯t go putting labels on me that aren¡¯t true yet!¡±

    ¡°...Well, if you all feel like that, then I suppose I wouldn¡¯t mind staying around,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°If even Ryle feels so strongly about me, how could I ever refuse?¡±

    ¡°Watch it!¡± the blonde warned.

    Erin let out a small laugh, as her two friends got into another argument. In a way, what she had gone through had made their group even stronger than before. She only hoped that it would continue to grow stronger in a similar manner.

 88. Familiar Findings

    Chapter 88

    Familiar Findings

    After resting at the abandoned mansion for a couple of days, Erin was finally allowed to move once again without worrying her friends. This meant that they were once again ready to set out and continue their journey, which was something the redhead had been looking forward to. Not only was she tired of laying around all day, but she really wanted to get out of the mansion they had been using as their base. Not only was all the filth and pests that covered the place reason enough to want to leave, but she couldn¡¯t help but fear that there were actual ghosts lurking around and watching them.

    The group was standing just outside the house as they were making their final preparations before setting out. Erin turned to face her companions, who were all looking at her.

    ¡°Alright, you guys ready to leave this nightmare house behind?¡± the redhead asked with a small grin, hoping to motivate the others.

    ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Ryle replied enthusiastically.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Lexton said with a nod.

    ¡°S-Sure!¡± Arkay said somewhat awkwardly.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Durge replied lazily.

    ¡°Good. Because we are finally leaving and hopefully we never have to come back!¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°What do you guys say we go to town and get ourselves something good to eat for a change?¡±

    ¡°Sounds great!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Although, I do have one question.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Why the hell is SHE here!?¡± the blonde yelled while pointing at Zeldana. ¡°Why is this goddamn psychopath looking like she¡¯s going to be traveling with us!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because I am going to traveling with you, genius!¡± the elf yelled back. ¡°Why the hell do you think I¡¯m here at all!? To enjoy the weather!?¡±

    Before a fight could break out, Erin quickly stepped between Ryle and Zeldana, hoping that she could prevent such a thing from happening.

    ¡°The reason she¡¯s here is because I asked her to join our group,¡± Erin said, shocking everyone except Zeldana, who smirked smugly. ¡°The thing is that we need someone who can help heal our injuries after the battles we are going to be facing and we currently don¡¯t have a reliable way to do so without her. While Lexton¡¯s potions have helped us greatly, what if we run out of them and can¡¯t make more? Not to mention, Zeldana can help us no matter what type of an injury or illness we might face.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ get what you¡¯re saying, but¡­ can¡¯t we look for someone else?¡± Ryle said as she was trying to desperately hold back her anger, as Zeldana was sticking her tongue out at her behind Erin¡¯s back. ¡°Preferably someone who is a bit more sane¡­¡±

    ¡°Look, all I know is that we need a healer, she is one and she even managed to save my life! I don¡¯t see how inviting her into our group could be anything but the best decision for me to make!¡± the redhead said. ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, this matter is over and she is now one of us. End of story.¡±

    The blonde was showing clear signs of wanting to protest further, but the way Erin had stated that Zeldana was now a member of their group had left no room for argument. Not only that, but the look on the redhead¡¯s face told her that she had no way of changing her mind.

    Just as Ryle was about to give up hope, Lexton walked up to her with a confident smile.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got an idea on how to solve this,¡± the kobold said before turning his attention towards Zeldana. ¡°Ms. Zeldana, while I¡¯m certain that our group would be more than happy to have you around, are you sure this is what you want?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the elf asked.

    ¡°Well, our journey isn¡¯t one to be taken lightly at all, as we are going to be fighting against the Five Overlords themselves,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Surely you know just how dangerous they are and wouldn¡¯t want to face them again?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯m not afraid of going up against those five! Did you forget that I was part of the resistance!? I¡¯ve faced them far more times than all of you combined!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Besides, the only reason I never went after them again wasn¡¯t because I was afraid! I just wasn¡¯t all that interested in any of the people who have been fighting them so far! You guys are at least entertaining, and even if you do lose, I¡¯ll just run away before getting caught!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ certainly one way to look at it, I suppose,¡± the kobold said as he slightly grit his teeth from anger. ¡°However, you wouldn¡¯t want to abandon your precious bottles of wine, would you? After all, those were some very exquisite drinks you had there and it would be a waste to just leave them behind.¡±

    Ryle smiled slightly as she realized what Lexton was aiming at. In the short time they had known Zeldana, they knew that she liked her booze. There had almost never been a single moment when they hadn¡¯t seen her either with a bottle or intoxicated after drinking from one of said bottles. There was no way she would abandon her precious drinks.

    However, the blonde and the kobold were quickly disappointed.

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I¡¯ve got the last couple of bottles with me,¡± Zeldana replied as she patted her backpack. ¡°The other bottles are empty. What do you think I¡¯ve been doing this whole time while you guys were resting at my home and preparing yourselves?¡±

    ¡°But¡­ We¡¯ve only been here a couple of days and there were so many bottles,¡± Lexton said with wide eyes. ¡°You mean to tell me you drank ALL of them? How are you still alive?¡±

    ¡°What am I? A doctor?¡± the elf asked sarcastically before thinking about it for a second. ¡°Oh right, that¡¯s what I¡¯m supposed to be¡­ Whatever. Doesn¡¯t really matter.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯d say it matter quite a bit,¡± Ryle said before looking at Durge and Arkay, hoping that they would be able to help her in convincing Zeldana to not come along. The orc and the cat boy simply shrugged, as they had no ideas either.

    Seeing as they had nothing that could persuade the elf to not come along, Ryle and Lexton simply gave up. All they could do now was hope that they wouldn¡¯t have to suffer such injuries that would require her help.

    ¡°Since that matter has been resolved, how about we get going?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You know what they say. No time like the present!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that!¡± Zeldana cheered as she pulled out a new bottle of wine and started to drink from it.

    As the group was walking away from the old mansion that they had used as shelter for the last couple of days, Erin felt something strange. It was like she could feel someone¡¯s gaze on her, which caused her to look behind her. The redhead¡¯s eyes soon landed on the lone window to the attic, where she saw a figure of some kind. Her one eye went wide, as she could clearly see the form of a young girl behind the window, staring down at her and her friends.

    To make sure she wasn¡¯t just seeing things, Erin rubbed her eye a bit to get whatever might have possibly been there to interfere with her vision. She then looked at the window again, yet this time she saw nothing. Not little girl standing there or anybody else for that matter.

    For a moment, the redhead looked around the building for any signs of the girl, but couldn¡¯t see anything like that. Had it all been in her head or was it an actual ghost?

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Erin, what¡¯s holding you up!?¡± Ryle called out to the spaced out redhead, breaking her out of her thoughts. ¡°We¡¯re gonna leave you behind, if you don¡¯t catch up!¡±

    ¡°Wait for me, guys! I¡¯m coming!¡± Erin called back, as she hurried over to the rest of the group.

    <hr>

    As the redhead and her companions were making their way away from the mansion, two figures stood behind the attic¡¯s window, looking down at them. One was a young girl, while the other one was a shadowy figure of a man.

    ¡°Thanks for the help, kid. I hate to bring you back from your eternal rest and all, but I kind of needed assistance with this one,¡± the shadowy man said. ¡°I had no idea where that drunken elf could have lost the key for the vault. Good thing you had an idea of where to look.¡±

    The little girl smiled and giggled a bit at the praise given to her. She then gave the man a questioning look.

    ¡°Oh, the prank you pulled? That¡¯s okay. If I was in your position, I would have done the same thing,¡± the man replied. ¡°To be honest, she kind of deserved it as well. That might sound mean coming from me, but I know her way better than you do, so trust me on this.¡±

    The girl nodded. She seemed to have another question.

    ¡°What¡¯s next? Well, I¡¯m hoping Erin and her little circus group can get their act together and finally go after Golorath. It¡¯s about time one of the big baddies themselves got handled,¡± the shadowy man answered, which brought a look of surprise on the girl¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t know that. Guess you didn¡¯t listen to their conversations close enough, huh? But yeah, they¡¯re here to pretty much do what your parents hoped to see. Too bad they won¡¯t get to see it for themselves¡­¡±

    The girl looked down with a saddened look on her face. The shadowy man placed a comforting hand on her head.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened to you and your family. None of you deserved it at all. I just hope that you all can rest easy now that someone else has taken up the cause,¡± the man said in a kind tone. ¡°You should probably go to your family now. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re waiting for you. And you can bet that they¡¯ll be very proud of you, after you tell them what you helped me out with.¡±

    The girl had a bright smile on her face as she nodded, before running away towards the stairs leading out of the attic. However, before she even reached the stairs, her body seemed to vanish into thin air.

    ¡°...Let¡¯s pray that this gamble of mine pays off,¡± the shadowy man mumbled to himself, before also disappearing.

    <hr>

    Some time later, Erin and her group had made it back to Burrow¡¯s Deep. Once there, they began to look through the market district in hopes of finding a nice restaurant to eat at. This was proving to be much more difficult than one would imagine, as the selection of places to eat at wasn¡¯t exactly the best.

    ¡°So¡­ Do any of these places look good to you guys?¡± Erin asked as she eyed the few food stalls that surrounded them. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude or anything, but I don¡¯t find any of this exactly appetizing. Are these just some local delicacies that only look and smell bad, but are actually very high class treats?¡±

    ¡°If your idea of high class is prison slop, then I suppose this could qualify,¡± Durge said as he looked at one stall, where they were offering a dark brown substance as food. ¡°On second thought, I¡¯m sure even most inmates eat better than this¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think it¡¯s best for us to not eat here. No matter how hungry we might be, I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s worth getting sick over,¡± Ryle said as she eyed another stall where she could see the ¡°food¡± move around. ¡°That is if it doesn¡¯t eat YOU first.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess my idea of celebrating my recovery at a nice restaurant is now a complete bust¡­ I should¡¯ve checked this place out better before making such a declaration,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Is there anything in this place that¡¯s worth our attention or should we just move on?¡±

    ¡°Durge and I already saw their black market. If that was any indication as to how bad this place is, I¡¯d say that-¡± Lexton answered only to suddenly stop talking as he saw something that made his eyes go wide.

    The others quickly picked up on their companion¡¯s strange behavior and turned towards him.

    ¡°Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°...I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Lexton said before suddenly running off.

    ¡°Hey! Wait for us!¡± the redhead called out as she and the others ran after their wayward friend.

    Erin and the others soon caught up to Lexton, who was standing still while staring at something with wide eyes. It didn¡¯t take long for the others to find out what had gotten his attention so suddenly.

    A convoy of trucks and other vehicles had come to the town, seemingly belonging to wandering merchants of some kind. One could simply glance at just one of the numerous vehicles and see that it was packed completely full of potential merchandise. There were cars filled with weaponry, others filled with rare herbs and some had parts of wild beasts stuffed into them. It looked like you could get whatever you needed from there.

    ¡°Hey, nicely spotted, Lex! Maybe these guys can sell us what we need,¡± Erin said with a smile, before realizing that the look on the kobold¡¯s face was one if shock and not surprise. ¡°Lex? Is everything okay?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± Lexton mumbled. ¡°These people have my car!¡±

    Upon hearing the kobold¡¯s cry of anger, all eyes went to where he was looking at. Just as he had said, Lexton¡¯s RV was in the possession of the merchants, as it was being dragged by a tow truck.

    ¡°You used to own that hunk of junk?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°Seems to me that it is now with its proper owner. Garbage peddlers.¡±

    ¡°Hate to say it, but I agree with her. That junk box doesn¡¯t exactly seem all that reliable to me,¡± Durge said before sniffing the air and covering his nose. ¡°Plus I think it smells bad¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Ryle exclaimed. ¡°That was the issue I had with it the whole time we used it!¡±

    Seeing that Lexton was lightly shaking from what she could only assume was anger from the comments, Erin tried to defuse the situation before it got too bad. A public blowout was one of the last things they needed.

    ¡°Lex, don¡¯t mind them. We know that your car was more of a workshop than a hotel,¡± the redhead said as she put a comforting hand on the kobold¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But while I get that you want to get it back, I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s such a good idea. I mean, look at the state it¡¯s in. I doubt we could get far with it, even if we somehow managed to fix it.¡±

    ¡°How is it that none of you understand that the car itself wasn¡¯t important!?¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°It was the stuff inside that was important! The materials for weapons and potions, as well as the tools to make them! That¡¯s what was important!¡±

    ¡°Oh that¡¯s right! You had that enchanting tablet in there, didn¡¯t you?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you can just get a new one?¡±

    ¡°If I want one at the same level, it won¡¯t be cheap. The types of tools I used cost a lot of money and you need to be lucky to find them at all,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Not only that, but there¡¯s¡­ kind of a different reason as to why I want those specifically.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°...They used to belong to my father.¡±

    Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide as she heard the tone in Lexton¡¯s voice. It was hard to pick up, as he was very good at masking his voice in order to scam people on the regular, but the redhead was able to pick up on it. It was a tone of fear and desperation, like a lost child asking to see their parent, as they were afraid they¡¯d never see them again.

    ¡°Lex, I¡­ I get why you¡¯re so upset and I¡¯m sorry for making fun of you earlier,¡± Ryle said, having heard the kobold. ¡°But the problem is that we might not have the money required to buy your old tools. We might have gotten a bunch of money from the creepy haunted mansion, but it might not be enough to-¡±

    The blonde was cut off by Erin suddenly walking towards the merchant caravan. Before any of her companions could do anything, the redhead had made her way to an important-looking member of the caravan and was talking to him.

    ¡°Hey. Is any of this stuff for sale?¡± Erin asked as she motioned to the caravan.

    ¡°Well, we haven¡¯t exactly set up shop or anything, but this stuff is meant to be sold in the end,¡± the caravan member replied. ¡°We weren¡¯t planning to sell anything here, because there aren¡¯t that many potential buyers in the area, but I suppose we could make a quick deal for those with money. Were you perhaps interested in anything particular?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m in fact interested in that,¡± the redhead replied as she pointed at Lexton¡¯s old RV. ¡°How much do you want for it?¡±

    ¡°That old stinky thing? That¡¯s a bit surprising. We just came across it not too long ago and picked it up, hoping that it would have something worth selling. Guess it actually had it,¡± the caravan member said, a bit surprised by what seemed like a potential customer had her eyes on. ¡°Now, I wouldn¡¯t mind selling the damn thing at all. Just getting rid of the stench would be more than enough good reason to do so. However, there hasn¡¯t been a price placed on it yet, so I can¡¯t just sell it outright. If you want to make a deal for it, you¡¯ll have to see our boss.¡±

    ¡°Where could I find them?¡± Erin asked and the caravan member pointed at a large trailer that was attached to the back of a truck. The redhead headed towards it, followed by her companions.

    ¡°Erin, are you sure about this?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I get that the stuff you¡¯re trying to get is important to Lex, but we¡¯re not exactly in such a financial state that we can just spend money recklessly.¡±

    ¡°Trust me on this. This isn¡¯t reckless at all,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s a pretty important investment for our future.¡±

    Seeing as how determined Erin was, no one else voiced any complaints of their own. She proceeded to knock on the door of the trailer and then a voice from the inside called to them.

    ¡°Come in,¡± the voice said, most likely belonging to the caravan leader.

    Having been invited, Erin opened the door and walked in, followed by her friends. The inside of the trailer was luxurious to say the least. There were numerous expensive pieces of art everywhere. These ranged from simple paintings on the walls to sculptures covered in jewels and gold on almost any possible surface the trailer had. The furniture was also lined with exotic furs. This caravan leader was someone who wanted to show off their wealth to the people who visited him.

    The only thing that bothered the redhead was that said person was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Erin called out. ¡°Is anybody here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m in the bathroom right now. I¡¯ll be there in a second,¡± the same voice called out from the back of the trailer, where the bathroom was most likely located. ¡°Please make yourselves comfortable.¡±

    Seeing as there was nothing else to do for them, Erin and her group simply found themselves seats or other comfy spots to wait for the owner of the trailer to arrive. Erin sat on a couch, along with Ryle and Arkay. Lexton took a seat on a chair next to them, while Durge simply leaned against a wall. Meanwhile, Zeldana went around, inspecting some of the fancy art pieces and giving some of her own commentary on them.

    ¡°Oh, I know this one! I watched as he was painting it, saying that he will one day become a great artist,¡± the elf commented on a painting. ¡°Glad to see he was able to achieve it, despite the fact that I didn¡¯t believe in him. Wonder if he ever got paid for his work, though...¡±

    The others decided to simply ignore the elf¡¯s comments and focused on waiting for the caravan leader to arrive. Upon hearing the door to the bathroom open, all eyes looked towards it.

    ¡°Sorry about that. You guys kind of arrived at a bad time,¡± the caravan leader said. ¡°I was in the middle of a shower when you knocked on my door. However, seeing as you all came here, I¡¯m guessing one of my people sent you here to make a deal with me, right? Now, how may I be of service?¡±

    Erin and her companions were wide-eyed at the sight before them. The redhead even had to rub her eye a bit to make sure she wasn¡¯t seeing things, but her sight wasn¡¯t lying to her at all.

    Right before them stood a young kobold with green scales over most of his body, with the exception of the top of his head and back where the scales were light gray. He wore a light gray vest over a white shirt with a green tie, along with a white coat and pants. He was also wearing a wide-brimmed white hat on top of his head.

    In short, he was pretty much a copy of Lexton, except the colors he had were different.

    ¡°...Is this some sort of a freaking joke?¡± Ryle asked.

 89. Familiar Faces

    Chapter 89

    Familiar Faces

    There was an awkward silence as Erin and her group stared at the kobold before them. It was hard to blame them, as the person before them was very much like Lexton in almost every possible way. His looks, his mannerisms, his clothes and even his voice were all completely similar to their red-scaled companion. Had he not been green, they would have assumed that it was either a long lost brother or a clone.

    ¡°Now my good people, I know that I¡¯m a handsome one, but even I don¡¯t like to be stared at that much,¡± the green kobold said with a chuckle. ¡°Are you here for business or did you simply come here for pleasantries? As a businessman, I do hope it¡¯s the former.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Yes! We are here to make a deal!¡± Erin said, breaking out of her stupor. ¡°We saw something in your possession and were wondering if-¡±

    ¡°Erin, a quick moment. Please?¡± Ryle quickly said, cutting off the redhead and pulling her away from the caravan leader. Once they were far enough that they could whisper to each other without being heard, she said: ¡°I don¡¯t think we should make any deals with this guy.¡±

    ¡°What the-? Why? Why are you against making a trade with him?¡± Erin asked, confused by her friend¡¯s behavior. She then realized what she was most likely referring to. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ It¡¯s because he looks like Lex, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah. What else do you need?¡± the blonde asked in return.

    ¡°Ryle, for the love of¡­ Can you please leave your childish grudge with him behind for a moment?¡± the redhead asked as she let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°I¡¯m honestly trying to look out for what¡¯s best for the whole group here. I don¡¯t need you to bring up your goddamn bickering into every little thing. Besides, I thought you two had already worked out your issues.¡±

    ¡°Hey, we might be generally cool with each other, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s one crooked and slimy piece of work,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Besides, I can work with one Lex. I¡¯m NOT okay with a second one! That can only bring us trouble!¡±

    ¡°I am honestly struggling to have the patience to deal with you and your goddamn antics right now,¡± Erin said as she felt a massive headache already starting to form. ¡°I get that Lex isn¡¯t exactly¡­ a model citizen and that our first meeting with him was kind of bad. But that doesn¡¯t mean every kobold that resembles him is similar at all! So would you mind and not ruin our chances here!?¡±

    ¡°While I am somewhat offended by your remarks in regards to me, I do agree with the blonde bonehead here,¡± Lexton suddenly said, joining the conversation. ¡°We should just walk away from this one.¡±

    ¡°Lex!?¡± Erin squeaked out in surprise. ¡°How long have you been listening to us!?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much the whole time you two have been skulking here and whispering like a couple of schoolgirls,¡± the kobold replied nonchalantly. ¡°Being so small might not help out much when it comes to surviving in fights, but it does have its uses. Such as being able to sneak around unnoticed. You¡¯d be surprised how often people ignore what moves down at the ground right under their noses.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure you have used that for many of your legitimate business dealings,¡± Ryle said sarcastically.

    ¡°Far more than you could ever count, dumbass,¡± Lexton said with a glare. ¡°I know it¡¯s not a high number, but still true.¡±

    ¡°Why you¡­¡±

    ¡°Ryle, not now,¡± Erin said, stopping the blonde¡¯s angry outburst. ¡°Still, why are you siding with Ryle on this, Lex? You know we are trying to get equipment that isn¡¯t just very useful, but is actually something that¡¯s very important to you.¡±

    ¡°I am well aware of that, but I feel like it¡¯s better if we pass on this chance. I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this guy,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°This isn¡¯t just your average merchant, selling some burgers at a roadside grill here. This guy is obviously a truly dangerous merchant, willing to do almost anything to fill his pockets.¡±

    ¡°So he¡¯s basically just like you?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Shut it, mongoloid,¡± the kobold said in response, before continuing his explanation. ¡°When you think about the situation we¡¯re in, it either doesn¡¯t make sense or it spells bad news to us. Think about it for a moment. Why were we allowed to meet the boss of the whole caravan so easily?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that simply because they like money and want to make as many deals as possible?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°While that¡¯s true, it¡¯s not the reason what I¡¯m looking for. What if we were assassins sent by someone with a grudge? Or just some robbers? Hell, we are all armed here! Why would they let such suspicious and possibly dangerous people meet with their boss like this?¡± Lexton said. ¡°The answer is that they have made sure that nothing will happen to him, no matter what me might try to pull in here. The same happened to you guys when you met me!¡±

    ¡°When we met-?¡± the redhead began to ask, only to realize what the kobold was referring to. ¡°You mean how you had your guards at the ready?¡±

    ¡°Bingo. I knew I didn¡¯t have to worry about any harm coming my way, because my golems could keep me safe from any threats,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I¡¯m sure they have similar countermeasures in place. Had that guy been built like Durge, I could have rested more easy, but I¡¯m sure that not only are there a few of his goons waiting outside for any reason to bust in and kill us, but there are certainly traps all over this place. That guy himself must have something on himself as well for protection.¡±

    ¡°So what¡¯s the big deal? Anybody with any common sense would take precautions to keep themselves safe these days,¡± Erin asked. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t start any trouble, we should be fine.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case in the best scenario, but I can already tell that guy isn¡¯t trustworthy in the least,¡± the kobold continued. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many merchants and I can tell just by looking which ones are looking to simply make some extra cash and which ones are looking to outright rob you. This guy is the latter. If you get caught up in his schemes, he¡¯ll drain you dry of everything you¡¯re worth.¡±

    ¡°You do know the saying about the pot calling the kettle black, right?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow, which earned her a hit on the head from Erin, who was sick of her snide remarks.

    ¡°Thank you for that, Erin. But the thing still is that we are dealing with an experienced con artist here. We kobolds can barely put up any kind of a fight against any of the other races due to our weaker bodies. That¡¯s why we either become subservient to those stronger than us or do anything in our power to serve others and thus gain their favor. That¡¯s why a lot of us become merchants to earn a living,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°The fact that this guy has been able to gather so much for himself tells me that he¡¯s either an incredibly skilled at selling his goods or he knows just how to manipulate people to get his way. Whatever the case is, if we start dealing with him, I fear that he will pull us into some scheme that will leave us worse off than before or he can have his goons rough us up.¡±

    Erin thought about this. While she didn¡¯t want to make negative assumption of others based on their looks and such, which was something she had some unfortunate experience of, she knew that Lexton was someone she should always listen to. She knew that she could always trust the kobold and that he had more knowledge about these types of things in general, so what he was saying held some real weight behind it. However, was he simply being too paranoid for his own good and this was a chance they couldn¡¯t pass on? Or was he right on the money?

    ¡°You know, it¡¯s rather impolite to whisper about others,¡± the green-scaled kobold suddenly said as he appeared next to the whispering trio, surprising them all. ¡°I¡¯d at least appreciate it, if you had the common sense to do so outside my home. I mean, if you¡¯re going to badmouth someone, do so when they¡¯re not around. It¡¯s only common sense.¡±

    ¡°What the hell!? Since when did you get there!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°And why the hell didn¡¯t the others say anything!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, just around the time for me to hear the most of your little conversation,¡± the caravan leader said nonchalantly with a smirk. ¡°As for why your companions were silent about me moving around, it¡¯s rather simple. You want to get something out of another person, one of the best ways to do so is to give them something they like. It¡¯s honestly a basic for any merchant.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton looked at their companions and saw that their attention was taken by something else entirely, which had allowed the green-scaled kobold to sneak past them without any issues. Arkay had been given a small magical item, which he was now inspecting closely, wondering what it could do. Durge had been given a high-grade sword that he was giving a few slow practice swings with, nodding in approval at how the weapon felt. Zeldana, on the other hand, had just been given free liquor, which she was happily drinking away.

    Upon realizing that they were being stared at disapprovingly by their companions over how easily they had been distracted, they all turned away in embarrassment. With the exception of Zeldana, who happily continued drinking without a care in the world.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m here, I would like to correct a certain matter you three were discussing among yourselves,¡± the caravan leader said. ¡°While your red-scaled friend here was making quite the baseless assumptions about me, he did say one thing that was correct. It was how people of our size tend to go unnoticed by those bigger than us.¡±

    ¡°Baseless assumptions, huh? I beg to differ,¡± Lexton said with a slight glare. ¡°After all, I can tell just by a glance that you¡¯re not one to be trusted.¡±

    ¡°Your words cut deep at my heart, good sir! How could you ever say such things about this honorable me!?¡± the green-scaled kobold said in mock hurt, before smirking. ¡°Then again, I suppose it¡¯s not truly your fault. It¡¯s all about experiences, isn¡¯t it? I can tell just by what I heard and looking at you that you¡¯ve certainly had plenty of bad ones.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Well, from they way you were speaking, I¡¯m guessing that you¡¯re also a merchant of some kind, correct? I¡¯m also assuming that you¡¯ve met your fair share of troubles most likely due to being a kobold and the bad reputation we have. Not to mention, having to work with some rather not so pleasant people as well,¡± the caravan leader explained. ¡°However, while you might have decided to take actions that only further paint a bad picture about our kin, I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t paint me with the same brush. After all, while it can be tough for us, some of us try to build an actual reputation as truly trustworthy merchants. People like you only serve to drag us down again, but I suppose that only shows how much of a merchant you are yourself in the end.¡±

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Lexton didn¡¯t say anything in response, as he simply grit his teeth and glared at his green kinsman. He knew blowing off would only be playing into his hands.

    ¡°No witty comeback? I guess I hit the nail on the head then,¡± the green-scaled kobold said before turning his attention towards Erin. ¡°Anyways, lady, I think you were looking to make a deal with me, correct? Was there something specific you were interested in or are you simply hoping that we have what you¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡°There is actually something specific that I¡¯m interested in,¡± Erin said, forcing a smile on her face to hide her anger at the merchant¡¯s mocking of Lexton. ¡°However, before we get to that, might I have your name first?¡±

    ¡°Oh dear, where are my manners?¡± the green-scaled kobold said in mock shock. ¡°The name¡¯s Zadar, the most reliable merchant on the Western Continent. If there¡¯s anything you need, I have it. Even if you yourself don¡¯t know it yourself yet.¡±

    The green-scaled kobold offered his right hand for a handshake, only for the redhead to give her left hand in return. Before he could ask why she did so, she showed her missing right hand to answer his question.

    ¡°Goodness! My dear lady, you have not been treated well by these lands!¡± Zadar said in surprise, before giving his left hand to the handshake. ¡°On behalf of the whole Western Continent, I¡¯m terribly sorry for what you¡¯ve been through. I do hope that you won¡¯t take this as a sign that this is all that these lands of ours can offer you.¡±

    ¡°Of¡­ course. I know that these lands aren¡¯t just full of the most horrendous things,¡± Erin responded as she shook hands with the green-scaled kobold. ¡°After all, I have met all of my companions here.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes! The beauty of friendship and companions! It truly helps you get through life!¡± Zadar said with a smile. ¡°Now, you were talking about something that I we have in our possession that you are interested in?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You see, we saw that you were towing a RV with you that has a rather nasty smell to it,¡± the redhead answered, causing Lexton to curse silently as Ryle snickered. ¡°That happened to catch our attention.¡±

    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s a bit surprising,¡± the green-scaled kobold said. ¡°We happened to find it while driving towards here. Since we had a free tow truck with us, we decided take it along and see if we could make some money out of it. I didn¡¯t expect to find potential buyers this fast.¡±

    ¡°Is there any chance that we could take a look at some of the items inside of it?¡± Erin asked. ¡°We would like to see if there is anything inside that we could find to be useful.¡±

    ¡°Well, that might be a bit harder for me to allow. Not only would I have to put someone there to make sure that none of you stole anything, but with what you¡¯ve told me, I can¡¯t help but wonder just what wonderful goodies we have managed to pick up by accident,¡± Zadar said with a smirk. ¡°After all, you know what¡¯s inside, don¡¯t you?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s eye went wide from surprise. She had come here knowing fully well that these wouldn¡¯t be the type of people that would depart with anything they¡¯ve found simply because it used to belong to someone else. That¡¯s why she had tried to hide the fact that she knew about the vehicle as much as possible, thinking that she might be able to work out a more favorable deal in their favor. Yet Zadar had somehow seen through her completely.

    ¡°W-What are you talking about?¡± Erin tried to bluff. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about-¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not play this game, alright? Your reaction just now pretty much confirmed it,¡± Zadar said. ¡°Besides, it was obvious the moment you brought it up. For starters, I don¡¯t mean to brag, but my group has gathered quite a bit of interesting objects along our travels. The fact that you¡¯d be interested in that old thing would catch the attention of any decent merchant. There¡¯s obviously something special within it or else you wouldn¡¯t have pointed it out specifically. It¡¯s like someone picking the lone rock from a pile of jewels. Either there is something wrong with that person or they know something others don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, that does sound reasonable, but is it really good enough to base your whole theory around?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°After all, I could have another reason for that RV catching my attention. Maybe it looked so busted that I believe whatever is inside of it can¡¯t be of much value, thus allowing me to buy it at a reasonable price.¡±

    Lexton once again cursed at his former workshop being talked about in a negative manner, causing Ryle to snicker more.

    ¡°While that certainly would be a possibility, you said something else that caught my attention,¡± Zadar said. ¡°You mentioned how the RV smells, correct? Well, how would you know that, unless you were either the previous owner or someone who had been inside it at some point?¡±

    ¡°Well, the stench is pretty strong. You have to admit that,¡± Erin replied. ¡°How could I not notice that?¡±

    ¡°That would be understandable, but the smell isn¡¯t strong enough for your nose to catch, unless you either have a very enhanced sense of smell or got close enough for your nose to pick it up. Seeing as you are a regular human, I doubt your nose is anything special and the latter is simply impossible, as my people don¡¯t let anyone near the merchandise, unless we¡¯re making a deal,¡± the green-scaled kobold explained. ¡°Now, why don¡¯t you come clean and tell me the whole story behind that hunk of junk and why you are so interested in it?¡±

    Erin looked at her two friends to see if they had any advice for her. However, Lexton simply shook his head while Ryle could only shrug, telling her that they couldn¡¯t help her in this situation. Seeing as how the jig was up and there was no way to recover from it, the redhead decided to simply come clean about the whole thing and hope for the best.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll admit it. I know about that RV already, as it used to be my friend¡¯s vehicle and workshop not too long ago,¡± Erin said as motioned to Lexton. ¡°You see, we not only used it to travel around, but Lexton also made some very helpful items there. We need the tools from within in order to help us on our journey. Could you possibly consider selling them to us?¡±

    ¡°But of course! What sort of a merchant would I be, if I wasn¡¯t willing to sell something? After all, it is for the money that people like me get into this business in the first place,¡± Zadar said happily. ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid that you might not have anywhere near enough cash to buy whatever you¡¯re looking for from me.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t even told you yet what it is that we wish to buy.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but someone of my caliber can easily make an educated guess as to what it actually is,¡± the green-scaled kobold said. ¡°You told me that our fellow kobold here used to make some useful things in his workshop, correct? This means that what¡¯s in there are tools for possibly creating weapons and armor or potions, possibly both. But if we are truly fortunate, then there might even be tools for enchanting. After all, that is something us kobolds know about quite a bit.¡±

    Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide and nervous sweat ran down the side of her face. She had been seen through completely.

    ¡°Right on the money once again, I see. I just love how good I am at this,¡± Zadar said with a smirk. ¡°Now don¡¯t you worry, though. I¡¯m not so heartless as to not allow you to buy said items from me. Any customer that is willing to pay the appropriate price is always welcome in my books. It¡¯s just that this might get a bit costly¡­¡±

    ¡°...How much are are you asking for the things we want?¡± the redhead asked, already dreading the answer.

    ¡°Well, the price might change depending on the quality of the tools, but enchantment tools do have a certain base price for them. However, since I¡¯m such a nice guy, I¡¯ll be willing to sell the whole set to you in one go,¡± the green-scaled kobold said thoughtfully. ¡°The price is going to be at least ten million. That is the lowest I¡¯m willing to go.¡±

    Erin almost fell on the floor from shock, as almost all of her companions turned to stare at Zadar with wide eyes. The only ones who didn¡¯t were Lexton and Zeldana, The former had already expected such a high price, while the latter was unconcerned with the whole situation and simply kept drinking.

    ¡°T-Ten million?¡± Erin practically squeaked as her body shook. ¡°Why the hell is the price so high!?¡±

    ¡°High? I¡¯d say it¡¯s rather low all things considered,¡± Zadar said with a smirk. ¡°Do you have any idea how precious such equipment is? Due to how heavily controlled magic and magical artifacts are, barely anyone gets to see, let alone own, enchantment tools. The control over such things is so strict that even low quality tools can easily fetch you small fortune. Knowing this, do you think I¡¯m just going to sell them to you for whatever pocket change you might have collected? Please don¡¯t mock me.¡±

    Hearing the green-scaled kobold¡¯s explanation caused the redhead to start panicking on the inside. It was necessary for them to get Lexton¡¯s tools back, otherwise not only would their journey be a lot tougher, but she wouldn¡¯t be getting a replacement hand anytime soon. She needed to figure out how to get through to Zadar and quickly.

    ¡°Look, I understand that you¡¯re a merchant and that you need to make money. I am not so naive as to think otherwise about this. However, do you think there is a chance that you might be willing to sell them to us at a discount?¡± Erin pleaded, hoping to get through to the caravan leader. ¡°You see, the equipment that we are looking to buy aren¡¯t just any enchantment tools. They used to belong to Lexton¡¯s father, so they¡¯re essentially family heirlooms. Can you find it with you to make a deal to help out a fellow kobold?¡±

    After making her plea, the redhead glanced around at her friends to see their reactions to what she had just said. While most of them looked at her approvingly, with the exception of Zeldana who seemed just uninterested, Lexton himself simply let out a deep sigh and shook his head. Before Erin even had a chance to ask about it, Zadar surprised them by beginning to laugh loudly.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good joke! You actually think that I care to help someone just because they share the same species as I do!?¡± the green-scaled kobold managed to say while laughing. ¡°Why in the world would I ever consider doing such a favor for him or anyone else for that matter!?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Erin asked, angered by the mockery and dismissal of her desperate plea. ¡°How can you say something like that!? Don¡¯t you all kobolds face prejudice and have to help each other out!?¡±

    ¡°Because helping others just because we are of the same species is nothing but a big joke,¡± Zadar said in a stern tone that surprised everyone, except for Lexton. ¡°The idea that people belonging to the same groups are out there helping each other like big families is nothing but a dumb fantasy that people like you use to their advantage to get what they want. It¡¯s something I¡¯m certain your kobold friend over there is more than familiar with.¡±

    ¡°Lex?¡± the redhead asked, completely confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true what you said about us kobolds. Species like ourselves and those similar to us, like goblins and gnomes, often get pushed around due to us being physically far weaker. But to think that we are all allies with each other because of this is utterly ridiculous. In fact, it¡¯s often our own kind that can be our worst enemy,¡± the green-scaled kobold began to explain. ¡°Do you have any idea how many kobolds have asked me for help, using the same arguments you just used? And just how many of them turned out to be nothing more than backstabbers that tried to use me to their advantage? I¡¯ll tell you right now that it happened far too many times for me to ever consider such things again. And I¡¯m sure your red kobold friend over there has experienced the same thing as well.¡±

    Erin looked at Lexton and saw that he was pretty much confirming what Zadar had just said. There was no attempt or even a sign of him wanting to deny such claims. The redhead couldn¡¯t even imagine what he must have gone through.

    ¡°In the end, do you know what I trust? Money. That¡¯s it,¡± Zadar continued. ¡°The fact is that everyone has something that they are ready to trade their morals or honor or whatever high and mighty fantasy they claim to champion. And you can bet that the only person you can and should truly look out for is yourself alone. Thinking about assisting others based on anything you¡¯re implying is just asking for a knife to be put through your back. So take that crap to someone who is dumb enough to believe it. I won¡¯t.¡±

    Seeing as her last desperate plea wasn¡¯t getting through to the green-scaled kobold, Erin began to lose hope. She could no longer find any possible way to convince Zadar to sell the enchantment equipment they needed.

    Just as she was about to give up, Lexton decided to speak up.

    ¡°Listen, forgive my friend here. She¡¯s a bit too kindhearted for her own good and can be a bit naive at times,¡± the red-scaled kobold said. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not going to ask you to do me any favors at all, but as a fellow businessman, I think we can come up with a deal of some kind.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You actually think you can come up with a deal that would sway me? That¡¯s quite the bold statement,¡± Zadar said, growing curious as to what his kinsman had in mind. ¡°And just what exactly would you like to offer? I do have to remind you that we are talking about quite the expensive objects here, so you might want to prepare something good for me.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I am more than capable of making you a deal worth your time,¡± Lexton said, before turning his attention to his other companions. ¡°Guys, let me handle this. Go outside and wait for me, okay?¡±

    Erin was about to protest, but a hand on her shoulder from Ryle stopped her. The blonde gave her a look that told her to trust their kobold companion on this one. Deciding to respect his wishes, all the members of Erin¡¯s group with the exception of Lexton walked outside.

    Now that they were on their own, Lexton went to take a seat at the couch with Zadar sitting at a nearby chair. The green-scaled kobold looked at his red kinsman, wondering what he had in mind.

    ¡°So, mind telling me what this deal you had in mind is?¡± Zadar asked with a smirk. ¡°You sounded quite confident just a moment ago, so I hope that wasn¡¯t just some bravado. It would be quite the letdown.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got something in mind thay will certainly interest you,¡± Lexton said as he slightly glared at the green kobold. ¡°Tell me something. What is your passion?¡±

    ¡°My passion? Making money obviously! Isn¡¯t that the case for any merchant worth a damn!?¡± the green-scaled kobold said with a laugh. ¡°I must say, if this is the best you could come up with, I don¡¯t see how you could ever call yourself a businessman of any sort!¡±

    ¡°How about you get real with me here?¡± the red-scaled kobold asked in a serious tone. ¡°You know as well as I do that money is never the ultimate goal itself. It¡¯s more of a means to an end. You want money in order to get something else that you really want. Whether it¡¯s food, a shelter or anything else, money is the way to get it. Just by looking around this place, I can tell that you have more than enough money already, so what is it that you want to get with it?¡±

    ¡°...And what if I do want something?¡± Zadar asked, now intrigued by what his kinsman was saying. ¡°What do you propose we do with that information?¡±

    ¡°Whatever it may be we¡¯ll get it for you. If it¡¯s some object you want to be brought to you, we can do it. If it¡¯s a service of some kind, we can provide it,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Or if you simply want to get your adrenaline racing by watching us take part in something dangerous for your entertainment, we can even do that.¡±

    The smirk on the green-scaled kobold¡¯s face had now turned into a toothy grin. This was proving to be very interesting to him.

    <hr>

    Right outside, Erin and the others were waiting for their red-scaled companion to come out and join them. All of them were wondering what he had in mind, but no one could make a guess what it was.

    Finally after what felt like hours to them, the door opened and Lexton walked out, soon followed by a smiling Zadar.

    ¡°What happened, Lex?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Were you able to make a deal with him?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°However, it might not be what you guys were expecting.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    Before the red-scaled kobold could answer, Zadar stepped up to answer instead.

    ¡°What he means is that you guys are going to get what you want through entertaining me,¡± the green-scaled kobold said, still smiling. ¡°In a couple of days, we will be having a little race for your enchantment tools.¡±

 90. A Race Ahead

    Chapter 90

    A Race Ahead

    ¡°A race?¡± Erin asked, confused by what the two kobolds were talking about. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just as you heard. We will be having a little contest in the form of a race,¡± Zadar replied. ¡°Three days from now, my crew will have everything prepared. If you guys win, you¡¯ll get all of the equipment you want so badly.¡±

    ¡°...And if we lose?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Your friend here will become my personal slave,¡± the green-scaled kobold said with a smile while pointing at Lexton with his thumb. ¡°I¡¯ll have him work for me and make enchanted equipment all the time.¡±

    The others were shocked by this announcement, except Zeldana who was only mildly surprised. None of them had expected their friend to go so far in order for them to get the equipment they needed.

    ¡°Hang on! Is this really necessary!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why the hell does he have to risk himself like that!?¡±

    ¡°Simple. It¡¯s the only thing worth anything that you guys have,¡± Zadar answered. ¡°You guys obviously have anywhere near enough money to satisfy me and I can tell just by looking at you that whatever equipment you have now isn¡¯t worth much either. Having someone with such a rare skill working for free is a far better deal than any of you could ever come up with.¡±

    ¡°Does it have to be him, though?¡± Durge asked as he stepped up. ¡°If you just want a new servant, I can offer myself for this bet.¡±

    ¡°Same here!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no need for Lex to offer himself!¡±

    ¡°Alright, before all of you get to do your heroic little declarations, let me just tell you why none of you are worth my attention,¡± Zadar said with a small sigh. ¡°The redhead and the orc seem to be good fighters, but I¡¯ve already got more than enough hired muscle with me. The elf appears to be a medic, which I¡¯m not in the need of and she would probably drink me to bankruptcy.¡±

    ¡°Meh. That¡¯s fair enough,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any self-respect?¡± Ryle asked with a glare.

    ¡°I¡¯m just being honest,¡± the elf replied.

    ¡°Indeed you are,¡± Zadar said. ¡°Now, the blonde here is an obvious no, as I have no need for clowns in my caravan. This is a merchant operation and not a traveling circus, after all.¡±

    ¡°Up yours, you green bastard!¡± Ryle yelled angrily at the green-scaled kobold.

    ¡°A word of advice, miss. Nobody likes a rude clown,¡± Zadar said with a chuckle. ¡°As for the kitty boy over there¡­¡±

    Upon the focus of the conversation getting turned towards Arkay, Ryle almost instinctively stepped between him and the green kobold. She had a fierce look on her face as she stood her ground, ready to protect the youngest member of their group from anything.

    ¡°...Judging by what little I¡¯ve seen, he seems to have a talent for magic, but so what?¡± Zadar said. ¡°I have far more skilled people in that field already working for me, so having some greenhorn magic user would only be a bother.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second!¡± Arkay called out. ¡°I have-!¡±

    ¡°Arnie!¡± Lexton shouted while giving the cat boy a stern look. ¡°He already said that he isn¡¯t interested. Just leave it at that.¡±

    Having been shut down like that, Arkay realized what the kobold was trying to do. He wanted to keep the cat boy¡¯s technomancer abilities hidden from Zadar, most likely in order to protect him. While he didn¡¯t like the idea of having his friend sacrifice himself for their sake, Arkay decided to respect his wishes, seeing how determined he was. Still, he wished there was something he could do to help.

    ¡°So the only thing that you see having any worth in our group is Lexton?¡± Erin asked as she glared at the green merchant. ¡°And unless we agree to this demand, I¡¯m guessing that we can forget about getting the tools we want?¡±

    ¡°That was very well figured out by you. Good job,¡± Zadar said mockingly as he even clapped his hands a bit. ¡°This way, I can guarantee some level of entertainment from you lot and even some level of revenue. So how about it? Do we have a deal or not?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we have a deal alright,¡± Ryle said with barely contained anger. ¡°The deal is that you can go-¡±

    ¡°We accept your terms, like we already discussed,¡± Lexton said, cutting the blonde off. ¡°Are we going to meet here three days later then?¡±

    ¡°Fantastic! I was afraid your friends here were going to stop the whole thing from happening! Glad to see that you have at least some guts, even if I do have to doubt your abilities in regards to business,¡± Zadar said happily. ¡°And yes. Come here after three days. My crew will have everything prepared by then. I¡¯d wish you luck, but I doubt that will do you any good.¡±

    ¡°No need for that. I¡¯ve never bet on anything so worthless as luck. We are going to win through sheer skill alone,¡± the red-scaled kobold said as he walked up to his companions, ready to leave. ¡°Also, it¡¯s not that I have guts. I just don¡¯t make bets that I can¡¯t win. Unlike you.¡±

    ¡°...You are certainly confident,¡± the green kobold said, slightly annoyed by the manner he was being talked to. ¡°I wonder how long will that last, though?¡±

    With their deal completed, Erin¡¯s group walked away from the caravan. With nothing else to do for the day, they decided to find an inn where to stay for the next few days.

    However, this didn¡¯t mean that they would be walking to the inn in silences.

    ¡°Lex, why the hell would you do something like that?¡± Erin asked, slightly angered by her friend¡¯s actions. ¡°Why do you insist on sacrificing yourself like this?¡±

    ¡°I only make deals with what I have,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I would never try to make a deal where any of you guys were up for offer. Since we didn¡¯t have anything that Zadar wanted, I had no choice but to offer myself. It was the only way I could get him to agree to a deal.¡±

    ¡°You could have offered me. I¡¯m sure he would have been interested in my abilities,¡± Arkay said in a sad tone. ¡°I get that you don¡¯t want to put us at risk, but you could have at least told us about your plan beforehand.¡±

    ¡°Like I said, I only offer what I have myself,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I was not about to make you into a sacrificial lamb just for my own sake.¡±

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°That¡¯s very admirable and all, but is this really necessary?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I get that you can make all sorts of useful stuff with your equipment, but is it worth risking your life over?¡±

    ¡°While it would normally be a bit too much to take such a risk, you heard what Zadar said. Enchantment tools are very rare and valuable. Even if we do find some, I doubt we¡¯ll have as good of a chance of getting them as we do now,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Fact is that we have to take this opportunity now or we might not get one anytime soon.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but I still don¡¯t like this,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°Do you think Zadar is actually going to compete fairly with us? He didn¡¯t seem all that trustworthy¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Of course he isn¡¯t,¡± the kobold said. ¡°As a skilled con artist myself, I know when I¡¯ve met a person of the same trade. That guy is going to use every dirty trick in his book in order to win.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second! You know he¡¯s going to cheat!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Then why the hell would agree on any kind of a deal with that guy!?¡±

    ¡°Simple. I¡¯m not going to lose,¡± Lexton replied calmly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious enough?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to guess that you have something planned, don¡¯t you?¡± Zeldana asked with a smirk. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m looking towards seeing it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Zeldana. Now let¡¯s go find a place to stay. There are still some stuff we need to plan,¡± the kobold said, as the group went on to look for a place to stay for the night.

    <hr>

    Later that night, the group had settled at a motel. While not exactly in the best of shape, the room they got offered them a place to sleep for the next couple of nights. They were sitting at a table, talking about what they would do once their race against Zadar would happen.

    ¡°So what are the details of this race?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Any idea as to how this will be done?¡±

    ¡°We are going to be using motorcycles for this contest,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°There will also be a sidecar attached, so two of us are going to be taking part.¡±

    ¡°So I¡¯m guessing the first question is, can any of us ride a motorcycle?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Anybody got any experience in that field?¡±

    Arkay simply shook his head while Zeldana shrugged. They were obviously out as viable choices for the contest.

    ¡°...I rode a bike once,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Does that count?¡±

    Her response was glares from Erin and Lexton.

    ¡°...I was just trying to help,¡± the blonde muttered.

    ¡°I personally haven¡¯t ridden a motorcycle before, but I think I can-¡± Durge began to say, only for Lexton to cut him off.

    ¡°Sorry, Durge, but no,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I¡¯m going to need you for something else.¡±

    ¡°What would that be?¡± the orc asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to stay back and keep an eye on things here, while the race is going on,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°The course we are going through is going to end over at the same place we¡¯ll be leaving from. Your job will be to look out in case Zadar and his cronies have decided to prepare something for us when we arrive.¡±

    ¡°Sounds reasonable enough,¡± Durge said after thinking it over. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    However, Erin picked up on something that the kobold had said that the others didn¡¯t seem to catch on.

    ¡°Lex, what do you mean by ¡°us¡±?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Have you already decided to take part in the race?¡±

    ¡°Yes. While I won¡¯t be the one riding the motorcycle itself, I¡¯ll be in the sidecar, reading the map,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I¡¯d say it only makes sense, considering what we are doing this for.¡±

    ¡°You could have at least asked our opinion on this first,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°I don¡¯t like how you keep making all these big decisions without bringing them up to any of us first.¡±

    ¡°While I can see why you¡¯re upset, you should realize it yourself that it¡¯s the best option we have,¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m going to need Durge to stay back on watch and I doubt Zeldana can be trusted to do a decent job at map reading.¡±

    ¡°Then what about me!? I can handle it!¡± Ryle boasted.

    Lexton didn¡¯t say anything in response to the blonde¡¯s claims. Instead, he simply handed her a folded paper that she opened and looked over. A look of confusion appeared on her face, as she turned the paper around in an effort to grasp what she was looking at.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Is this what they call art or something? I¡¯ve never been one to get into that too much,¡± Ryle said while scratching her head in confusion. She then seemed to get an idea of some kind. ¡°Oh! I get it now! This is actually a story of some kind! And these weird blobs here are the main characters and-!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a map, you idiot,¡± Lexton said, cutting off the blonde¡¯s ramblings. ¡°It shows the layout of the nearby lands and other important details. Those ¡°weird blobs¡± as you said are actually know nesting spots of monsters.¡±

    Ryle¡¯s face turned completely red out of embarrassment as she folded the map and handed it back to the kobold without saying a word.

    ¡°Now that we have settled the matter as to who will be in the sidecar, we still need to figure out our driver,¡± Lexton said as he put the map in his pocket. ¡°Seeing as how everybody else is either not suitable or is needed elsewhere, it leaves only Erin. Do you think you can do it?¡±

    The redhead was a bit surprised at being asked directly to take on such an important task, but thought about it. Truth be told, she did have a bit of experience when it came to riding motorcycles. Back in her world, when she had been fooling around with her original group of friends, she had taken part in all sorts of wild, dangerous and even illegal activities. One of these things happened to be midnight racing. While most of the time it had been done with cars, there were a couple of times she got to ride a motorcycle as well.

    ¡°I¡­ have some experience, if only a little,¡± Erin said after thinking about it. ¡°But do you think I¡¯ll be able to handle it, considering I don¡¯t have one of my hands?¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. It should still be possible,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°You also don¡¯t need to worry too much about the lack of experience either. I had a feeling that this would happen, so I asked Zadar to let us practice with some of their bikes during the time they¡¯re preparing the course. You should be able to get familiar enough with the process to do it when the times comes.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± the redhead said, still a bit unsure about the whole deal. ¡°But aren¡¯t we still at a disadvantage here? Not only is Zadar going to have the better rider, but he will surely plan the route to his advantage as well. I don¡¯t want to seem too negative, but our chances don¡¯t look all that good¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, my friend. While the things you said are true, you forget that we have something that will even the odds. Me,¡± the kobold said with a smirk. ¡°Zadar might have his tricks, but I¡¯ve got plenty myself. Speaking of tricks¡­ Arnie, can I talk with you in private?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Ummm¡­ Okay?¡± the cat boy said, unsure as to what Lexton could want to talk about with him.

    As Lexton and Arkay walked out of the room to discuss things in private, Erin could only worry about what they had ahead of them. While winning would certainly bring some very enticing prices to them, the loss would be a heavy one. She only hoped that whatever Lexton was scheming would work.

    During the next couple of days, Erin and Lexton went to Zadar¡¯s caravan to practice handling a motorcycle a couple of times. The redhead was getting a hang on how the vehicle handled and how she could ride it by using her prosthetic hand. She managed to pick up on things fast and would be ready once the race was going to happen.

    Ryle also went along with her two companions to the caravan. Mostly it was in order to provide protection in case any of Zadar¡¯s underlings decided to try anything funny with them, but she also wanted to try riding a motorcycle herself. The blonde thought she could prove that she was just as suitable as a rider as Erin was. This was so that she could put herself in the face of the danger, so that at least one of her friends didn¡¯t need to do so.

    However, after she ended up crashing in less than five seconds, it was ultimately decided that she would sit back and let Erin and Lexton handle the race.

    <hr>

    Soon it was the time for the big race itself. Erin and her companions made their way to the caravan, where Zadar was waiting for them along with a couple of his bodyguards. The green kobold had a smile on his face that practically radiated confidence. He was certain of his victory.

    ¡°Glad to see you all finally arrive. I had a slight fear that you might have decided to run away,¡± Zadar said with in a smug tone. ¡°Good to see that I can at least expect you all to stay true to your words, even if I doubt you¡¯ll be much of a challenge.¡±

    While Erin and some of the others felt their anger rise up at the green kobold¡¯s taunt, it was Lexton who responded to his accusations in a very calm manner.

    ¡°A true businessman always holds up their end of the deal,¡± the red kobold said. ¡°Not only that, but they make sure to come out on top as well. You might want to keep that in mind, after this is over.¡±

    ¡°Are you perhaps saying that I¡¯m going to lose?¡± Zadar asked, slightly annoyed by such a remark.

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying that you¡¯re not a true businessman,¡± Lexton replied with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can figure out the rest yourself.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s certainly an interesting claim. However, I do wonder what you¡¯re basing that on? Especially, since the evidence seems to be telling a different story,¡± the green kobold boasted, although one could easily tell that he was getting angrier by the second. ¡°You claim to be a true businessman, yet do you even have a fraction of what I have? I have an entire caravan underneath my control to gather more wealth, along with items most of you might only be lucky to see once in your lifetimes! Tell me now which one of us is the true businessman?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­ Flaunting whatever wealth you have is something any idiot can do,¡± the red kobold said with a sigh. ¡°It shows your lack of class. Nothing else.¡±

    Erin and the others were completely taken aback by the way Lexton was speaking to Zadar. They knew that he could be aggressive and hostile, but they would have never expected him to do so with someone potentially dangerous like this. They could only stare in stunned silence as Zadar seemed to be seething, while Lexton stood in complete calmness. Everyone in the group could feel the temperature around them drop from the sheer animosity between the two kobolds.

    ¡°...Whatever! This type of banter matters very little to me!¡± Zadar suddenly exclaimed. ¡°Let¡¯s just get down to the actual business we¡¯re all here for and stop wasting time!¡±

    ¡°A bit too clunky of a save on your part, but I do agree,¡± Lexton said. ¡°We should stop wasting time already and get to business.¡±

    As they all began to move deeper into the area where the caravan was situated, Erin walked up to the red kobold to whisper to him.

    ¡°Lex, are you sure about angering him?¡± the redhead asked in a whisper. ¡°No matter how you mau feel about him, we are still in their territory and could get attacked at any moment! Don¡¯t you think it would be in our best interest to not antagonize him too much?¡±

    ¡°This guy is nothing but an amateur. There¡¯s no need to worry,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Just focus on the race ahead of us.¡±

    Seeing as there was no getting through to the red kobold, Erin decided to let it go. She could only hope that her fears were unwarranted and that Lexton was right about them not needing to worry.

 91. Motorcycle Mayhem

    Chapter 91

    Motorcycle Mayhem

    Zadar led Erin and her group to an area his people had prepared at the outskirts of the town. There most of the people underneath the green kobold¡¯s payroll were waiting for their challengers to appear. Just like Lexton and Zadar had agreed, two motorcycles with sidecars attached to them were awaiting for their riders. There was also a set up of what looked like two large TV screens nearby. What this was for was something that Erin didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Alright then, my good people. May I have your attention?¡± Zadar spoke up loud enough for all of his gathered underlings to hear, getting their attention. ¡°You all might be wondering, what all these recent preparations have been for. Well, it just so happens that our esteemed guests here want something from us, but unfortunately lack the money needed to buy it. Because of this, they decided to issue a challenge to us, which will be in the form of a motorcycle race.¡±

    There was chuckling and mocking comments among the merchant¡¯s goons. It seemed like it wasn¡¯t just their boss who was confident, but it was also in those who served him as well. Erin and her companions decided not to speak up, as that would only either offer further amusement to their opponents or even cause a fight to break out.

    ¡°Yes, I know. It¡¯s honestly quite laughable to think that they actually want to pick a fight with us,¡± Zadar continued as he let out a chuckle of his own. ¡°However, for the sake of our own amusement, I thought it would be for the best to accept their challenge. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re at a risk of losing anything important anyways, right? Might as well have some fun.¡±

    The caravan leader¡¯s underlings erupted in cheers. They had been looking forward to some entertainment after long days of nothing but driving through the wastelands. A race against some people foolish enough to challenge them was just the thing they needed.

    ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s get down to the business itself, shall we?¡± Zadar asked as he walked up to the motorcycles. ¡°These will be the rides we¡¯ll be using in today¡¯s race. The blue one will be used by the riders representing me, while our opponents will be using the red one.¡±

    ¡°Before you continue any further, may I take a closer look?¡± Lexton suddenly asked. ¡°I do hope you understand that one should always inspect the equipment they are about to use.¡±

    ¡°By all means,¡± the green kobold said.

    After getting permission to inspect the red motorcycle, Lexton walked up to it and crouched down for a closer look. Dissatisfied murmuring could be heard from Zadar¡¯s people, as they felt like this was simply a waste of time. However, it didn¡¯t take long until the red kobold got up and walked back to his group.

    ¡°It seems everything is in working order,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I do hope you forgive me for being so distrusting. It¡¯s just these days there are a lot of people you shouldn¡¯t trust.¡±

    ¡°Oh, trust me, I know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m just glad everything seemed alright,¡± Zadar said with a smile. ¡°Anyways, you still have the map I provided you with, right?¡±

    Lexton simply nodded in response, as he took out the map he had shown the others back at the motel.

    ¡°Splendid! Now, you might be curious as to what these screens we prepared here are for,¡± the green kobold said as he motioned to the large TV screens. ¡°You see, in order for us to follow the race properly and to make sure there is no foul play, we have placed cameras on the motorcycles. These screens will be showing us your progress as you ride through the course. Is that alright with you?¡±

    ¡°We already agreed to this, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lexton asked in return. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you bother asking something you already know the answer to.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Silly me. I guess I forgot,¡± Zadar said. ¡°Anyways, I think it¡¯s time you get to meet your opponents.¡±

    The green kobold motioned towards a couple of his lackeys, who walked up to Erin¡¯s group. One of the two was a human woman and the other one was a male gnome. Both were dressed up in biker attire and confident smirks on their faces. It didn¡¯t take much for Erin and the others to figure out that they were looking down on their opponents.

    ¡°Allow me to introduce you to Lania and Debbler. They will be representing me in this race,¡± Zadar said. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve got some real skill in whoever you chose from your group to represent you, as these are no beginners. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that these two are the best cyclist duo in my whole group and they won¡¯t go down easily.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. We have more than enough here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Are we going to start now or is there anything else we need to go through?¡±

    ¡°Just one more thing. Would you mind and leave behind any possible weapons you¡¯ve got?¡± the green kobold asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to keep this as clean as possible, so no weaponry.¡±

    Erin looked at Lexton, who simply nodded at her. Without offering any complaints, the redhead went to give her sword and other weapons to Durge and Ryle who would be holding onto them until the race was over. Lexton also took out his pistol and handed it to Arkay to keep it safe.

    ¡°Hey, I saw that kobold have some weird vials in his jacket!¡± one of Zadar¡¯s goons yelled from the audience. ¡°I bet those are bombs or something!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lexton, I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave such things behind as well,¡± Zadar asked with a frown. ¡°I¡¯m sure you agree that trying to blow up your opponent isn¡¯t very sportsmanlike.¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about these?¡± Lexton asked as he opened his jacket, showing the numerous vials lining the inside. ¡°These are nothing but simple energy potions. I tend to stay up late quite often, so one of these gets my energy back up when I need it the most.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Well, would you mind and giving us one for testing then?¡± the green kobold asked. ¡°While I don¡¯t like to doubt you, you said it yourself that there are a lot of people these days you shouldn¡¯t trust and I just want to make sure those are what you claim they are.¡±

    As a couple of Zadar¡¯s goons were about to move towards the red kobold to seize one of his vials, he decided to make a suggestion of his own in order to get rid of the doubts.

    ¡°I have a much better idea that can get this done far faster,¡± Lexton said as he took out one of the vials and took off the cork. ¡°How about I simply drink one to show you that there¡¯s nothing to worry about? That way we can get to the race much faster.¡±

    Before Zadar could even reply, the red kobold had downed his drink in one swift go. Upon seeing that there were no negative side effects at all, any notion of the vials being weapons was dismissed.

    ¡°Anything else you want to do to waste time?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure your audience would like to get to the action already.¡±

    Zadar looked around and saw that his underlings were beginning to grow impatient. While these people were under his payroll, the green kobold always made sure not to upset them too badly. These weren¡¯t exactly the most law-abiding or clean record individuals he had hired, so there was no telling what they might do if angered too much. With the way they were starting to behave, it was clear that getting the race started was in his best interest at this point.

    ¡°Fine. We are done with all the preparations anyways,¡± Zadar said. ¡°Go and get ready.¡±

    Following the caravan leader¡¯s instructions, Erin and Lexton walked up to the red motorcycle prepared for them. The redhead sat on the bike itself, while the red kobold sat on the sidecar. As they were doing this, the riders representing Zadar got ready on their bike as well.

    ¡°Everybody ready?¡± Zadar asked, looking at the contestants who nodded in response. ¡°Start your engines!¡±

    The motorcycles roared as their engines were started. Erin glanced at the opposing rider, who simply smirked in return.

    ¡°...GO!¡± the green kobold yelled, starting the race.

    With the race on, both motorcycles sped past Zadar and into the wasteland outside the town. Due to being much more experienced riders, Laina and Debbler took the lead right at the start. However, it wasn¡¯t a big lead, as Erin and Lexton were trailing close behind.

    ¡°Dammit! They already got ahead of us!¡± Erin cursed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s only the start. No one would be crazy enough to predict the outcome of this whole thing just by our current situation,¡± Lexton said calmly. ¡°Not only that, but I¡¯ve got plenty of tricks of my own at the ready to even things up.¡±

    ¡°What kind of tricks are we talking about here?¡± the redhead asked, curious as to what the kobold had planned, as he had been so certain over their victory.

    ¡°Well, this little thing for example,¡± Lexton said as he pulled a small device out of his jacket.

    ¡°...What is that?¡± Erin asked, somewhat worried over the answer she would receive.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bomb,¡± the kobold replied nonchalantly, causing the redhead¡¯s eye to go wide from shock. ¡°It was attached to our motorcycle before we got here. I decided to take it off in order to use it later on.¡±

    ¡°But when did you-!? Hang on, you checked the bike and said that you didn¡¯t find anything on it!¡± Erin said in an accusing tone. ¡°Why did you lie!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I didn¡¯t want Zadar to know that I knew,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Now he will think that he still has his little trump card, which will allow us to have the element of surprise on our side.¡±

    ¡°...How did you even find that thing?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Had it been me, I probably wouldn¡¯t have even known where to look. I doubt Zadar just stuck that thing on the side of the bike.¡±

    ¡°Even he isn¡¯t stupid enough to do that,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°However, trying fool a con artist like me isn¡¯t a smart move, as I knew right away where to look. During the time we went practicing, I took note of every hard to see spot on these things and immediately checked them out. Once I knew where to look, finding and removing the bomb was a piece of cake. It was almost cute that he actually decided to try this.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so you knew about the places to look for, but how did you know Zadar would do this?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Also, why would he do this? I don¡¯t see how he could claim his victory was legitimate, if he simply blew us up.¡±

    ¡°He could easily deny having anything to do with it and simply claim that we mishandled the bike, which then caused it to break down,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Does this place look like it has a strong justice system? Even if there was someone we could take our complaints to, Zadar would just bribe them.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m afraid to ask, but how do you know all this?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. I would have done the same in Zadar¡¯s position,¡± the kobbold replied. ¡°We both might be con artists, but there¡¯s a key difference between us. I¡¯m a professional, while he¡¯s just an amateur. That¡¯s the one thing that will decide this match in our favor.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not sure I like the way you worded that.¡±

    As Erin and Lexton were riding behind their competitors, they entered a valley. While riding through it, Erin couldn¡¯t help but feel like something was wrong, like someone was watching them. She glanced up and saw something moving there.

    ¡°Lex, something¡¯s wrong!¡± the redhead exclaimed. ¡°I think we¡¯re being watched from the top!¡±

    ¡°Oh dear, that amateur couldn¡¯t help himself but get started already, huh? The again, the early bird gets the worm and all that,¡± the kobold said as he began to look for something hidden in his jacket. ¡°Here. Put this on your face.¡±

    Erin looked at the item Lexton had handed to her and saw that it was a mask of some kind.

    ¡°Why are you giving this to me?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough,¡± Lexton replied, as he took out a couple of his vials. ¡°Although, I¡¯d recommend that you hurry or else this will become very uncomfortable for the both of us.¡±

    Without asking any further questions, Erin put the mask on her face. Once she had done so, Lexton put on his own mask and then used a handkerchief to wipe at the lens of the camera a bit. After this was done, he threw the vials he had pulled from his jacket ahead of them.

    As soon as the glass vials shattered on the ground, large yellow clouds of gas exploded out of them, covering the entire area. The cloud was so massive that it took them a while until they had ridden through it. Once outside of the gas, Lexton and Erin took off their masks with the redhead giving her partner a puzzled look.

    ¡°Lex, what was that about!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What was that smoke just now!?¡±

    ¡°Those things you saw moving at the top of the valley were Zadar¡¯s goons. Had I not done something about them, they would have dropped rocks or something else on us,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Thanks to the little surprise I had prepared for them, they were unable to do so, as they¡¯ll be too busy trying to stop their bodies from coughing violently. That¡¯s the nasty surprise that gas has on people who happen to breathe it in.¡±

    ¡°But you said your-!¡± the redhead began to say, only to realize what her partner had done. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ All that talk about your vials being energy potions was nothing but a lie!?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quick to catch on,¡± Lexton said with a chuckle. ¡°I knew someone would notice me carrying my usual equipment with me. Luckily, all I needed was to put some harmless coloring into some water and I had my ¡°energy potion¡± ready. There was no way they were going to check all of them, so it was easy to fool the fools.¡±

    ¡°But Zadar said that weapons aren¡¯t allowed!¡± Erin said. ¡°He¡¯ll see through the camera that you just broke the rules!¡±

    ¡°Oh, sweet Erin. You keep forgetting that you¡¯re talking to a professional con artist here,¡± the kobold said with a chuckle. ¡°Remember when I was wiping the camera earlier?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Do you really think that I was trying to clean that thing?¡± Lexton asked in return. ¡°That was a signal to a certain friend of ours.¡±

    <hr>

    Back at the starting point of the race, the crowd watching the monitors showing the racers was getting impatient. At a certain moment, something had happened to the screens, making it impossible for them to watch what was going on. Some of Zadar¡¯s people were trying their best to figure out what was happening, hoping that they wouldn¡¯t get skinned alive by the upset audience.

    ¡°What in the hell is wrong with the monitor!?¡± Zadar asked furiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to make sure the equipment was in perfect condition before setting it up!?¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°W-W-We did, sir! We honestly don¡¯t understand what could have caused this!¡± one of the technicians said nervously, afraid of what his boss might do to him. ¡°We assure you that we are doing our best to figure out what went wrong! We should have this fixed soon!¡±

    ¡°Well, you better make sure to do that! If you don¡¯t, you¡¯re the ones who get to answer to the crowd! Got that!?¡± the green kobold threatened his underlings.

    ¡°Y-Y-YES SIR! WE APOLOGIZE, SIR!¡± the terrified technician said before quickly getting back to work.

    Unknown to Zadar and his underlings, the reason for the screen¡¯s malfunction was not a technical error at all, as it was purely magical. Lexton wiping the lens of the camera had been a sign for Arkay to use his technomancer abilities to start interfering with the screen, this preventing those watching from seeing Lexton use his chemical vials. This had been the part of the plan the kobold had discussed with the cat boy in private.

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s enough,¡± Arkay muttered to himself, canceling his magic and this allowing the screen to return to normal.

    ¡°Oooh. I saw that. A little outside interference, huh?¡± Zeldana said with a wink aimed at the cat boy. ¡°You¡¯re a naughty little kitty, huh? Nice work.¡±

    ¡°I might not know what that was for, but good work anyways,¡± Durge said with a chuckle as he gently ruffled Arkay¡¯s hair. ¡°I see that Lex made quite the thorough plan for this whole thing.¡±

    ¡°Not sure what¡¯s going, but I¡¯m happy to hear it¡¯s good!¡± Ryle said with a grin as she put her arm around Arkay¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Keep up the good work!¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and Lexton, the pair was finally catching up to their opponents. They were now at a large open area with nothing around them at all. It was pretty much just emptiness surrounding them on all sides.

    ¡°Lex, we¡¯re getting closer to them!¡± Erin exclaimed happily. ¡°Just a bit more and we will be able to get past them!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great and all, but I think we have more pressing matters to worry about right now!¡± Lexton replied as he began to pull more things out of his jacket. ¡°Namely those bandits who seem to be very interested in us for some reason!¡±

    The redhead was about to ask what the kobold was talking about, but she then heard the sound of multiple engines approach them from behind. She looked behind herself and saw a group of bandits coming towards them fast.

    ¡°What the-!? Where the hell did they come from!?¡± Erin asked in shock.

    ¡°They were most likely waiting just outside our line of sight, but were probably contacted by Zadar to attack us once we got here,¡± Lexton replied calmly as he worked on assembling something. ¡°I don¡¯t know if they are actual bandits or just his goons playing dress up, but they are not here to play nicely with us.¡±

    ¡°What are we going to do!?¡± the redhead asked, before looking at what the kobold was working on. ¡°Also, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just building our solution,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°You¡¯ll see it soon.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long for the bandits to catch up to Erin and Lexton. They began to move in to surround their prey, when the kobold decided to make his move.

    What Lexton had assembled was a small water pistol that he had put one of his vials into. He first moved to wipe away at the camera with his handkerchief again, thus sending a signal to Arkay. He then proceeded to shoot the contents of the vial at the surrounding bandits, who were baffled by the seemingly harmless liquid that was now covering either themselves or their vehicles.

    ¡°What was that supposed to be!? You think you can drown us like this or something!?¡± one of the bandits mocked, causing his companions to start laughing.

    ¡°Erin, have you ever heard of the creature known as the Grappling Worm?¡± Lexton asked calmly as he sat back down.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Doesn¡¯t ring a bell right now,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°How is that relevant right now?¡±

    ¡°Grappling Worms are underground beasts that appear in this area. They get their name from grabbing their prey from beneath and dragging them underground,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°The way they hunt their prey is through a very strong sense of smell. And there are certain odors that they find very enticing.¡±

    ¡°What does that-?¡± Erin began to ask, only to be cut off by a giant worm coming from underneath one of the bandits and dragging him underground.

    The bandits were completely caught by surprise from the sudden attack and couldn¡¯t do anything to prevent the beasts from devouring them one by one.

    Erin looked at the one-sided attack in wide-eye shock, before turning her attention back to Lexton.

    ¡°...Let me guess, the vial you used had stuff that those worms like?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Bingo,¡± the kobold answered with a smirk.

    <hr>

    After their encounter with the bandits and the worms, Erin and Lexton were able to catch up to their opponents. Zadar¡¯s riders immediately turned their attention towards their opponents, who had been doing far better than they could have imagined.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell is with all that stuff you¡¯ve been using!?¡± Debbler yelled angrily. ¡°You¡¯re gonna get disqualified for cheating!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rich coming from you guys!¡± Erin yelled back. ¡°Your buddies have been trying to screw us over this whole time!¡±

    ¡°Bullshit! None of the stuff that has happened to you guys has been our fault!¡± Lania shouted. ¡°We¡¯ve been just as much victims as you have!¡±

    The redhead was going to continue arguing, but a hand on her arm from Lexton stopped her.

    ¡°Erin, instead of wasting our voices by yelling at them, why don¡¯t you take us a bit closer?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to discuss something properly with those two.¡±

    Despite being confused by the sudden request, the redhead did as she was asked to and pulled their motorcycle closer towards their competitors. Once they were close enough, Lexton once again wiped at the camera with his handkerchief before standing up in his sidecar.

    Before either Lania or Debbler could do anything, Lexton surprised everyone by suddenly jumping over to Debbler¡¯s sidecar. Once he had landed, the kobold proceeded to give the gnome one of the most violent beatings ever.

    ¡°OW! STOP IT! STOP IT, YOU JERK!¡± Debbler screamed as he futilely tried to defend himself from Lexton¡¯s punches. ¡°LANI! HELP ME!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what the hell are you doing to my partner, you little shit!?¡± Lania shouted as she tried to swipe at the kobold with a backhand, which he avoided. ¡°Hold still, you bastard! I¡¯m going to wring your neck!¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have the time for that. Erin?¡± Lexton called out to the redhead, who pulled closer, allowing him to jump back to their bike and continue on their way. ¡°Well, it has been fun, you two! However, if I were you, I¡¯d give up on this race, that bike and find new employment! I¡¯ll be seeing you two at the finish line later!¡±

    Before Lania could make a retort, Erin sped up, getting past them and taking the leave. The proud biker felt completely humiliated and began to boil with rage. There was no way they would let such an insult go unpunished.

    ¡°...To hell with what the boss ordered! We¡¯re killing those two!¡± Lania said angrily as she began to speed up. ¡°I don¡¯t care what kind of an investment boss sees in that little red bastard! There are just some things that I will never forgive! You with me, Debbler!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! We gotta kick their asses for sure!¡± the gnome yelled as he held his bleeding nose. ¡°That jerk took out at least two of my teeth! And I was already missing so many to begin with!¡±

    With their minds made up, the two rode after Erin and Lexton, hoping to earn their revenge against them. However, little did they know that the kobold had left a little surprise for them.

    The racers were not getting closer towards the finish line. Some of the spectators began to cheer in anticipation of seeing who the winner would be. This didn¡¯t include Zadar, as he could tell by the screens from the cameras that his riders were losing. Seeing as how he was running out of time and options, he took out a small remote from his pocket.

    ¡°I hate that it has come to this, but there¡¯s no other choice. I¡¯d rather skin myself than admit loss to that red asshole!¡± the green kobold muttered to himself. ¡°Just blame yourselves for picking a fight with me¡­¡±

    Zadar pressed down on the remote, causing one of the bikes to blow up. Unfortunately for the green kobold, it wasn¡¯t the one he was expecting.

    Erin¡¯s lone eye wen t wide upon seeing their opponents suddenly blow up. She slowly turned her gaze towards Lexton, who was completely undisturbed by what had just happened.

    ¡°...What did you do and when?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Simple. I just dropped the little gift Zadar had put on our bike on their bike. Seemed it was only appropriate of me to do so,¡± the kobold replied calmly. ¡°Why do you think I decided to start throwing punches at that bald gnome? I¡¯m not some muscles-for-brains idiot like Ryle.¡±

    ¡°...Remind me to never piss you off,¡± Erin said. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t you think you were a bit too harsh on those guys? I get that their boss is an obvious scumbag, but they didn¡¯t do anything all that horrible to us.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I gave them a warning, didn¡¯t I? I told them to give up on the race and their bike, but they didn¡¯t listen to me, did they?¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°Besides, if they have any luck, they¡¯ll survive that blast.¡±

    As one would expect at that point, Erin and Lexton crossed the finish line first. Upon seeing their friends win, the rest of the group began to cheer.

    However, there was no cheering within any of Zadar¡¯s underlings, let alone with Zadar himself. They had expected Lania and Debbler to take an easy win, only for them to lose in a humiliating manner. This was not just unbelievable but unacceptable in their eyes.

    Zadar stomped over to Erin and Lexton, followed by a few of his goons. Upon seeing him walking towards them, the redhead and the red kobold turned their attention towards him.

    ¡°Well, if t isn¡¯t the failure of a businessman himself,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯d say that I hope you¡¯re not too upset about your loss, but that would be an obvious lie.¡±

    ¡°Enough with the snark, you red bastard! What the hell happened there!?¡± Zadar asked while pointing an accusing finger at Lexton. ¡°Why did the screens here start messing up at just the right time throughout the race!? And why did the bike of my racers suddenly blow up!?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± the red kobold said, feigning ignorance. ¡°After all, I was in the middle of a heated race and away from here. How could I know anything about your equipment failing? I think you just need to get better technicians or something.¡±

    ¡°Well, what about the bike Lania and Debbler was on exploding!? How do you explain that!?¡± the green kobold asked. ¡°I know you had a hand to play in that!¡±

    ¡°Oh really? And just what proof do you have?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°From what I could tell, they simply suffered a terrible engine failure or something similar. Not much I can do about that. You should know how important maintaining your equipment is. Then again, I guess that all comes with being a third-rate businessman at best¡­¡±

    Watching the argument between the two kobolds made Erin feel somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. Lexton was not holding back on the insults at all, which was obviously angering Zadar to no end. This was something the red kobold was enjoying immensely, which you could pick up on from the look on his face. The redhead just hoped that he didn¡¯t go too far and cause more issues for them.

    ¡°You cheated! I know you did! Just admit it already!¡± Zadar accused angrily.

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Have you really devolved into this? Making baseless accusations when you don¡¯t get your way?¡± Lexton asked with a sigh. ¡°Do you even have proof to back up your claims?¡±

    ¡°Well, you obviously put a bomb in my riders¡¯ bike, because when I pressed the button on this, it-!¡± Zadar said, showing the remote he had, only to put it away upon realizing what a mistake he had made while blinded by his anger.

    ¡°And what might that be? Don¡¯t tell me that there was a bomb involved in this race that was detonated with a remote controller,¡± the red kobold said as he glared at the green kobold. ¡°If so, mind explaining to me just how did you know about it and why it was there in the first place?¡±

    ¡°N-Never mind that!¡± Zadar quickly said as he threw the remote away. ¡°There were still those weird disturbances with the screens here that happened at specific times! And what about all those vials you had on you!? I¡¯m sure those played a part in your cheating!¡±

    ¡°More baseless accusations¡­ Didn¡¯t I already tell you that I have no idea about what happened with screens here?¡± Lexton replied with a sigh. ¡°And like I told you at the beginning, these are nothing but energy potions. I tend to work late into the night quite often and need these to pick me up. And since you don¡¯t seem to believe me¡­¡±

    Without any warning, the red kobold took out one of his vials once again and drank it without any hesitation. Just like at the start of the race, there was no visible effect on him at all.

    ¡°So¡­ Was there something else you wanted to accuse me of or are we done here?¡± Lexton asked with a smirk. ¡°Because I think you owe us some enchantment equipment.¡±

    Zadar was starting to panic now. Not only had all of his tricks failed or backfired, but he had no way to simply pin the fault on his opponent in order to win. Even if he could find a court that he could bribe, he¡¯d need to provide at least the tiniest bit of evidence for them to use in his favor. With nothing in is hands, the green kobold would have to admit his loss.

    However, upon realizing his defeat, Zadar decided to resort to the most basic tactic he could in order to turn things in his favor. It was called simple brutal force.

    ¡°Alright then, I suppose you did win,¡± the green kobold said with a smirk. ¡°But so what? How does that matter?¡±

    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Erin asked with a glare. ¡°Because we won, you have to-¡±

    ¡°Erin, don¡¯t bother. This little turd obviously hasn¡¯t yet learned his lesson, so there¡¯s no need for you to waste your voice on him,¡± Lexton said with a sigh before turning his attention back to Zadar. ¡°Are you sure about this? If you apologize now and just hold on to your end of the deal, I¡¯ll let this slide. Your choice.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Look at you talk all tough, yet I¡¯m sure you¡¯re pissing your pants already!¡± the green kobold taunted as his underlings began to get ready to jump Erin and her companions. ¡°You see, this is how I win in the end! It doesn¡¯t matter what might have happened earlier, but as long as I¡¯m the one left standing, no one¡¯s going to complain about it! Now, how about YOU apologize!? Maybe I¡¯ll tell my people to go easy on you!¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re freaking hopeless, aren¡¯t you?¡± the red kobold said. ¡°Did you really think that I wouldn¡¯t see you pull some stunt like this? The way I win in the end is simple. I just have to be smarter than my opponent.¡±

    Lexton then gave a look to Durge, who immediately understood what the kobold was saying. This was what he had been asked to stay at the starting point of the race for.

    ¡°Hey, Ryle. Can I ask you something?¡± the orc called out to the blonde. ¡°Are you fast on your feet?¡±

    ¡°Pretty damn fast, if I say so myself,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to make a bit of a mess here,¡± Durge answered as he took hold of his warhammer. ¡°Use that to get to that green little bastard so we can get out of this.¡±

    The blonde was about to ask what the orc meant by making a mess, but didn¡¯t get the chance, as he pulled out his massive weapon and used swung it with incredible destruction.

    It hadn¡¯t yet been revealed to the rest of the group, although Lexton probably had an idea due to his keen eyes, but Durge¡¯s weapon wasn¡¯t just a simple hammer. Instead, it had small rocket boosters built into its head that were activated through the use of ki. This increased the destructive power behind the warhammer so much that any regular user would have their arms torn out of their sockets. However, Durge¡¯s body was made to withstand such force, allowing him to simply decimate is enemies instead.

    As multiple Zadar¡¯s goons were crushed by the force of the blow, there was also a large cloud of dust that rose up explosively from the impact. The sudden blindness caused by the dust gave Ryle a chance that she used to full effect, as she sped to Zadar, grabbing the green kobold by the neck.

    Once the dust had settled, the gathered goons were about to take out their weapons to kill the ones daring to defy them, only to stop upon seeing their boss at the mercy of Ryle, who was holding him up.

    ¡°Put¡­ me¡­ DOWN!¡± Zadar managed to choke out while having his neck constricted by a powerful grip. ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re dealing with!?¡±

    ¡°The only kobold I find more irritating than Lexton?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow, before tightening her grip. ¡°However, it seems to me like you don¡¯t know who you¡¯re messing with. I¡¯m the person who has you by the throat and can at any moment decide to just end your worthless life by simply tightening her hold a bit more. You get what I¡¯m getting at here?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t-¡± the green kobold began to say, only to be stopped by the grip on his throat tightening even more.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to get annoyed here,¡± the blonde said with a glare. ¡°You might wanna change your tune pretty soon.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay! Okay! I get it!¡± Zadar said, desperately trying to save his life. He then motioned towards his underlings to put down their weapons. ¡°What the hell are you idiots waiting for!? Put down your weapons! Put them on the ground! Don¡¯¡¯t give these people any ideas!¡±

    Knowing that their paychecks depended on the green kobold surviving, the hired goons dropped their weapons. This allowed Erin¡¯s group to gather around Zadar and stick together. Once all of them were together, Ryle let go of Zadar, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground. The green kobold coughed as he tried to catch his breath.

    ¡°Do you see now? This is the difference between you and me,¡± Lexton said mockingly to Zadar. ¡°While I do agree with you that helping others simply for sharing characteristics is stupid, I do help those who deserve it. And because of that, I¡¯ve got people with me who don¡¯t simply do things out of money that I can trust. You lost far before any of this even started, loser.¡±

    The green kobold held back his anger, not wanting to get on the wrong end of a choking hand again.

    ¡°Now, why don¡¯t you hold your end of the bargain and show us where our prize is?¡± Lexton asked.

    The green kobold proceeded to lead Erin¡¯s group to the place where Lexton¡¯s old RV was being held. Once there, the red kobold entered the vehicle to gather all the equipment he needed. As this was going on, Erin, Ryle and Arkay watched over Zadar in case he tried to do anything. Durge and Zeldana kept their eyes on the green kobold¡¯s thugs that had followed them, ready to respond to any attempts at saving their boss.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Lexton to come back from the RV while carrying a large bag on his shoulders. He had decided to take everything that was useful, as an opportunity like this would probably never come again.

    ¡°Okay, you guys got your prize, right?¡± Zadar asked. ¡°Can you let me go, so we can go our separate ways already?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you thought you could just sneak out like nothing happened after all the shit you tried to pull?¡± Lexton asked with a glare. ¡°Considering how you tried to kill us several times today, I¡¯d say we deserve a little bonus. And since my companions and I are in the need of a new vehicle, how about we take one of yours? You¡¯ve got plenty to spare, after all.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! That was not part of the deal!¡± the green kobold protested.

    ¡°Really now?¡± the red kobold asked. ¡°Mind if I provide a counter argument? Ryle?¡±

    The blonde proceeded to grab Zadar by the throat once again with a very tight grip. The color on his face began to change from the lack of oxygen almost immediately.

    ¡°O-On second¡­ thought¡­ That sounds¡­ just swell!¡± the green kobold managed to say despite the grip on his windpipe.

    ¡°Excellent! I knew you¡¯d see things our way!¡± Lexton said happily. ¡°Now then, how about we take that van over there?¡±

    Thr vehicle the red kobold picked out of the whole lot was a rather large black van. It was spacious enough for their whole group to stay inside in relative comfort. Erin also noticed a small ¡°X¡± marking drawn on the side of the vehicle, but didn¡¯t mention it.

    Once Erin and her group was seated within the van, Lexton turned to Zadar one last time.

    ¡°Sorry to leave so suddenly, but unlike you we¡¯ve got work to do. I hope that at least this has served as a learning experience for you. Namely that you¡¯re still a hundred years too early to call yourself a businessman and to even think of messing with the real pros,¡± the red kobold said mockingly. ¡°Hopefully for your sake we¡¯ll never see each other again!¡±

    With that, Durge pressed down on the gas, allowing them to speed away from Zadar and his goons. For a moment, the green kobold and his underlings simply stood in silence, seething over the humiliation they had just faced.

    ¡°...What the hell are you morons waiting for!?¡± Zadar yelled angrily at his thugs. ¡°AFTER THEM! GO AFTER THEM!¡±

    The goons scurried to their vehicles, hoping to chase after Erin¡¯s group and exacting their revenge on them. Unfortunately for them, none of their vehicles seemed to turn on at all, leaving them in the dust.

    Upon realizing this, Zadar screamed in anger at his loss.

    <hr>

    ¡°I gotta hand it to you, Lex! I¡¯ve seen a lot of crazy people in my life, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯re the craziest one of them all!¡± Durge said as he drove their new vehicle through the town¡¯s streets. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen anyone pull of such risky moves like you did and actually come out on top!¡±

    ¡°Oh, that was nothing. Simple calculated risks and nothing more,¡± Lexton replied calmly. ¡°In all honesty, I¡¯m a bit disappointed at how predictable Zadar turned out to be. This whole thing wasn¡¯t even a challenge at all.¡±

    ¡°That sounds great and all, but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit too early for us to celebrate!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Any second now, we¡¯re gonna have a small army of angry guys from Zadar¡¯s caravan coming after us!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about that,¡± the kobold said nonchalantly. ¡°Like I told you already, that guy was completely predictable and I¡¯ve seen through everything he would do.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t we worry about people chasing after us?¡±

    Before Lexton could answer, Ryle came over to the front. The blonde had realized something while looking through the back windows of the van.

    ¡°Hey! None of those guys are coming after us!¡± Ryle shouted excitedly. ¡°I saw them scramble to their cars, but none of them moved!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, what did you do?¡± Erin asked while looking at Lexton. ¡°I know you had something to do with this, so just tell us.¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing much. I just tampered with some of their vehicles on the night before the race, while they weren¡¯t looking,¡± the kobold answered with a smirk. ¡°To make sure that they wouldn¡¯t be able to do much, I also asked Arnie to use some of his technomancer abilities on the rest of them. Of course I made sure that our vehicle was left completely untouched.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s why it had that X marking on its side,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you prepared for all of these things way in advance?¡±

    ¡°Well, after I was provided with the map, I did some research on what we could expect to see out there. After that, it was only a matter of getting the things necessary in my hands, so I could respond correctly to every predictable obstacle we faced,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult once you know what you¡¯re up against.¡±

    ¡°But weren¡¯t you practicing with Erin to ride motorcycles?¡± Durge asked. ¡°How did you find the time to do all that?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re good at handling time and yourself, you can find the time to get things done,¡± the kobold answered before letting out a yawn. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to do something else¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Erin asked, only to not receive any answer. ¡°Lex?¡±

    Upon taking a closer look at the kobold, the redhead realized that he had fallen asleep. It was then that she understood what he meant by handling time and himself. For the last couple of days, he had been sacrificing his own sleep and other free time to prepare for their match with Zadar. Whether it was doing research on the course they raced through, getting the items he needed in order to counter all the things Zadar had prepared for them or sabotaging the vehicles of their opponents, Lexton had done it by pushing himself to the limit. Now his exhaustion and lack of sleep had caught up to him, causing him to fall asleep on the spot.

    Knowing how much the kobold had put on the line for their sake brought a smile to Erin¡¯s face. He had truly become an irreplaceable ally that they could be thankful for. He may have acted smug, arrogant and even somewhat hostile from time to time, but it was undeniable that he cared about them deeply and was willing to do whatever it took to keep their group safe.

 92. Unpleasant Travels

    Chapter 92

    Unpleasant Travels

    Even though they had managed to get away from Zadar¡¯s caravan, Erin¡¯s group was far from safe, as they needed to get out of the town. The green kobold and his underlings would still be there, so they wouldn¡¯t have any safe places to rest at. Escaping the town altogether was their best shot at avoiding any further encounters with the caravan.

    ¡°Okay, since Lexton made some pretty thorough plans here, I¡¯m guessing he also saw to it that we would be able to get out of here as well, right?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Did he tell any of you what that plan is exactly?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I do,¡± Durge replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand it at first, but this morning he told me to keep my eyes open at all times and act accordingly. He then game me something that really confused me, but I think I now know what it was for.¡±

    ¡°What was it?¡± the redhead asked, curious at what Lexton had planned.

    The orc dug into his pocket and pulled out a ticket and gave it to Erin. She read the text on it that said ¡°Undercrawler Express.¡±

    ¡°What is this exactly?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I can only assume that it¡¯s some sort of a transportation company here.¡±

    ¡°Seems that way. As we were making our way to the caravan earlier today, I asked a couple of the locals where I could find this place. Turns out we actually saw this place when we got to town,¡± Durge explained. ¡°Remember that large metal tunnel at the edge of the town? Turns out this company operates there.¡±

    ¡°...Lexton said that this place had become a transportation center a long time ago. I guess that¡¯s what he had in mind when he had us heading towards here,¡± Erin said thoughtfully. ¡°This must have bee his plan all along.¡±

    ¡°He really planned this through, huh?¡± the orc said with a smile. ¡°Quite an impressive fellow you¡¯ve got in your group there.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Now we need to make sure that all of his hard work doesn¡¯t go to waste. Let¡¯s not allow those thugs from the caravan to catch us!¡±

    ¡°You got it!¡± Durge said as he pressed down on the gas, causing the van to speed up even further.

    Speeding through the streets of the town was proving to be much easier than one would have suspected. Due to the bad state of things, there weren¡¯t that many people walking around, leaving the streets almost completely empty. It didn¡¯t take long for the group to reach their destination.

    Upon reaching the gigantic tunnel, Erin took the ticket they had and got out of the car. She looked around at the company they would be using for their travels and was somewhat confused by what she saw. Besides the tunnel, there was only one small rundown shack when it came to buildings. There were only around dozen or so employees from what she could tell. The only other people seemed to be groups similar to theirs, also traveling with their own vehicles. Next to the tunnel were five giant canister with flammable markings on them. The redhead noticed some of the workers walking around with what seemed like equipment meant for exterminators, as they had canisters on their backs that were attached to hoses through tubes.

    With no other place to go to, Erin walked up to the shack and saw a window similar to a ticket booth at a movie theater with a sleepy looking orc attending it. She gently tapped on the window to get the orc¡¯s attention before taking out her ticket.

    ¡°Hi. My friends and I have a ticket for one of your rides,¡± the redhead said politely.

    ¡°Can I see your ticket, miss?¡± the orc asked in a tired voice. Erin handed her ticket to him and he took a quick look at it before giving it back. ¡°You came just in time. We are just getting ready to start the transport procedure. You and your friends can get back in your vehicle and drive to the back of the line. Once there, wait for your turn to get picked up.¡±

    ¡°Picked up? Picked up by what?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Is this your first time?¡± the attendant asked to which Erin nodded. ¡°I see. I can tell you already that this will come as a bit of a surprise to you, but rest assured that it is completely safe. Just watch what the customers before you do and do the same on your turn. Everything should go just fine with that.¡±

    The redhead simply nodded at the advice she had been given, despite still being completely confused as to what it all meant. However, seeing as Lexton had planned this whole thing for them, she decided to simply put her trust in him and go with it.

    Once back with the rest of her group, the others began to ask questions.

    ¡°So, did we make it in time for our ride?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Apparently yes,¡± Erin replied. ¡°From what I was told, they were just preparing for the next transport.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great! It would have sucked for us if we had been too late!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°Although, any idea how we are going to be moving from here? This place looks weird to me.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. I was simply told that we would be ¡°picked up¡± by something and that we should just do as the ones before us do,¡± the redhead answered with a shrug. ¡°Do any of you know how this whole thing operates?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m afraid that I don¡¯t know,¡± Arkay replied. ¡°I¡¯ve never really traveled before, so I¡¯m completely new to all of this.¡±

    ¡°Same here,¡± Durge said. ¡°What about you, Zeldana?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this at all,¡± the elf answered. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Lex is the only one who knows. So if we want answers, we¡¯d need to wake him up.¡±

    Erin turned to look at the kobold and saw him sleeping peacefully. Knowing how much he had gone through for them to beat Zadar, the redhead couldn¡¯t bring herself to even consider waking him up.

    ¡°No. We are not going to do that. He has put so much effort into all of this that he has earned his rest. It¡¯s the least we can do for him,¡± Erin said with a gentle smile. ¡°Besides, his plan has gotten us this far, hasn¡¯t it? There¡¯s no reason for us to start doubting him now.¡±

    The others agreed with the redhead and decided to simply follow the plan Lexton had set up for them. However, had any of them paid attention, they might have been able to notice the corners of Zeldana¡¯s mouth twitching upwards ever so slightly, as she was trying to hold back laughter.

    After waiting for some time, one of the workers used a megaphone to make an announcement.

    ¡°Attention everyone! We are starting the boarding procedure now!¡± the worker said. ¡°Please remain within your vehicles and keep the windows and doors closed!¡±

    Following the instructions given to them, Erin and Durge rolled up the windows on their doors. They then watched as the workers motioned for the vehicle first in line to move closer towards the tunnel. Once close enough, the vehicle came to a stop. The workers then began to spray some sort of a gas all over it before walking away. As soon as this was over, another worker situated next to a panel on the side of the tunnel pressed some buttons which in turn caused the gate keeping the tunnel closed to open.

    Erin watched the whole process with intrigue and confusion, along with most of her friends. They couldn¡¯t imagine why such a strange procedure would be necessary. The only ones who didn¡¯t share these feelings were Lexton, who was still asleep, and Zeldana, who seemed to know much more than she was letting the others know.

    For a moment, everything went silent as the gate was fully opened. It seemed like nothing was happening at all, until some light rumbling could be felt coming from underground. It didn¡¯t take long for the rumbling to intensify, until the ground seemed to be shaking violently, almost like an earthquake had just struck the town.

    Then almost as soon as it appeared, the rumbling stopped. This was followed by a sight that sent chills down Erin¡¯s spine, along with most of the others.

    A gigantic centipede emerged from the tunnel. It clicked its pincers as it seemed to be observing its surroundings with curiosity. Its attention soon fell on the vehicle that had just been sprayed by the workers and it began to lean towards it. Once it had gotten close enough, the gigantic insect opened its jaws, revealing several tentacle-like appendages that wrapped themselves around the vehicle, which was then lifted up and brought to the monster¡¯s mouth and swallowed completely.

    Erin, Ryle, Durge and Arkay were absolutely horrified by the sight before them. For all they knew, the people before their eyes had just been fed to a monster. Simultaneously, the flight or fight instincts within all four turned on and told them all to run away fast.

    ¡°W-W-W-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT!?¡± Ryle screamed in terror. ¡°IS THIS A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY OR SOME FREAKY SUICIDE CULT!?¡±

    ¡°This can¡¯t be right! What kind of a company just allows their customers to be eaten by monsters like this!?¡± Durge yelled as even he was starting to panic. ¡°Did we come to the wrong place or something!?¡±

    While the others were panicking, Arkay had gone completely silent due to passing out. The sight of the monstrous centipede had been too much for him to handle.

    As her friends were in full panic, Erin was furiously trying to figure out what was going on. On one hand, this seemed to all be part of Lexton¡¯s plan and she knew she could always trust the kobold to look out for her and the rest of the group. Not only that, but the tickets that he had provided them seemed to be legitimate, as the attendant at the booth had accepted them.

    However, despite all of these things, the fact was that they were facing a gigantic centipede that had swallowed an entire car with all of its passengers. Even a less horrifying sight would cast doubts on anyone.

    There was a sudden knock on the window next to the redhead, who turned to see one of the workers looking at them with a somewhat agitated look on his face.

    ¡°Hey, would you guys mind and keep it down over there?¡± the worker asked. ¡°I know its not exactly a pretty sight and all, but you¡¯re just making our work more difficult over here. Besides, you all paid for this, didn¡¯t you? Calm down already.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°How the hell can we be calm, you psychopath!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°We just watched people get devoured by that goddamn monster over there! What the hell even is this place!? Some messed up murder cult!?¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Why do I have to deal with the first timers?¡± the worker said with a sigh as he facepalmed. ¡°Look, I know this looks bad and all, but this is perfectly safe and normal. That thing over there is just going to swallow you in order to transport you to your destination. Okay? There¡¯s no risk for you at all, so just calm down already.¡±

    Upon hearing the somewhat blunt explanation, Erin managed to calm herself at least a bit. While this whole thing still seemed very suspicious and horrifying, there were a lot of factors that pointed at this being just an honest and safe business. Not only had this all been planned by Lexton, but no one besides them seemed to be even mildly concerned over what was happening. Not only that, but even if this was a ploy to feed people to a monster, why was the process so complicated? There would have surely been a more efficient method to gather sacrifices, if that was the ultimate goal.

    ¡°I-I apologize for our behavior. It¡¯s just that this is our first time and it caught us by surprise,¡± the redhead explained apologetically. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that we won¡¯t cause any issues.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Have a pleasant travel,¡± the worker said before walking away while muttering unhappily to himself.

    Erin turned around to see both Ryle and Durge staring at her in wide-eyed shock. The redhead let out a sigh as she knew what was coming next.

    ¡°Guys, I know you¡¯re not all that happy about what I just said, but can I at least ask you one thing?¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Whatever complaints you have, please try to keep the volume down as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°How could you just be so calm about this!?¡± Ryle asked in an angry whisper. ¡°Do I need to remind you that we are literally watching a monster eat people right before our eyes!?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know! You don¡¯t need to remind me about that! Trust me, that sight is going to haunt my nightmares for certain,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°But you have to remember that this is all part of Lexton¡¯s overall plan. He knew exactly what Zadar was going to do and had made countermeasures for all it. Do you really think that after all that he was just going to have all of us get eaten by some big bug? I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get that we should trust him and all, but trust only goes so far,¡± Durge said. ¡°No matter how trustworthy one might have been, it¡¯s a pretty big leap of faith to just ask someone to go through with something like this! Are you sure we can trust him even with this?¡±

    Erin looked at the sleeping kobold next to her. While he looked completely peaceful, she knew that it had come at the expense of pushing himself to the utmost limit. And who had that been for? Their whole group. He had done it for all of them.

    ¡°I trust him with my life. So I¡¯m going to continue to trust him even now,¡± the redhead said with a strong resolve burning behind her lone eye. ¡°I suggest that you guys do the same and simply remain calm. I¡¯m sure everything will be fine.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be freaking serious!¡± Ryle complained. ¡°Are you honestly telling us to-!?¡±

    The blonde¡¯s complaints were stopped by a strong hand on her shoulder from Durge. She turned to look at the orc, who had a complicated expression on his face. While he had apparently been able to calm down somewhat, one could still see fear and doubt on his face.

    ¡°Ryle, she has made her decision and I don¡¯t think we can change her mind,¡± the orc said. ¡°Let¡¯s just put our faith in her and Lex, okay?¡±

    Seeing as she wasn¡¯t going to win this argument, Ryle decided to let it be. She was still obviously very unhappy, as she still believed that they had simply succumbed to their fate, which was to be eaten by a monstrous bug.

    With their decision on staying made, everyone in Erin¡¯s group took their places within the van to wait for when it was their turn. Erin was sitting at the front with Durge, looking at what was happening before them. The orc had his hands on the steering wheel, still contemplating if it was for the best to simply press down on the gas pedal and just drive away as fast as he could. Ryle was sitting at back, hugging Arkay¡¯s unconscious body like a teddy bear. She had decided that if these were her final moments, she was at least going to enjoy them to the best of her abilities. Lexton continued to sleep peacefully, unaware of the panic that had fallen over his companions. Lastly, Zeldana was facing the back of the van, away from the others as she was struggling to hold back her laughter.

    Erin and Durge watched as the procedure continued with the other vehicles before them. They watched as one by one the cars were sprayed with the gas by the workers, before they were swallowed whole by the centipede. With each vehicle that was swallowed, their faith in Lexton was shaken a bit over the horrifying sight.

    Eventually, it was their turn to face the monster. Erin and Durge watched as the workers sprayed their van and then simply walked away. Once this was done, the centipede lowered its head closer to them. Upon seeing the gigantic monster up close, Erin felt the color drain from her face as she was beginning to find it very difficult to breathe. Durge could no longer even keep his eyes open, as he gripped the steering wheel tightly and prayed in his mind that nothing bad would happen to them.

    Now that it had gotten close enough, the centipede opened its mouth, revealing the tentacles it had there. The slimy appendages slowly wrapped around the van and lifted it up in the air, before bringing it closer towards the monster¡¯s maw. Erin felt like screaming, but her fear had gotten to her so bad that she wouldn¡¯t have been able to let out any sound. It was at this moment that she could no longer watch what was happening to them either and closed her eye, waiting for the end to come.

    However, after waiting for a couple of minutes without anything happening, Erin slowly opened her eye to see that she and her friends were still alive. Outside of the odd slime that seemed to be now covering their van, nothing had really happened to any of them.

    ¡°Guys¡­ Guys! It¡¯s alright! We¡¯re alright! Everything is alright!¡± Erin said excitedly as she began to shake Durge slightly in order to get him to open his eyes as well. ¡°Look! Nothing happened to us! We are still alive!¡±

    ¡°...Are you serious?¡± Durge asked as he finally dared to take a look at his surroundings. ¡°Well, holy shit¡­ Guess there was nothing to worry about after all!¡±

    ¡°Talk about freaking miracle!¡± Ryle said happily, as tears of joy fell from her eyes. ¡°I was certain that we were going to be worm food!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I gotta admit that even I was starting to have my doubts towards the end¡­ Good thing we can trust Lex,¡± Erin said as she let out a deep sigh of relief. She then glanced at the blonde and noticed something. ¡°Hey, is Arnie alright? He looks a bit unwell.¡±

    Upon hearing the cat boy¡¯s name get mentioned, Ryle looked down at him and realized that in her terror she had been hugging him just a bit too much. Arkay¡¯s face had turned pale from being unable to breathe properly and he certainly didn¡¯t look good because of it.

    ¡°Oh crap!¡± the blonde said in a panic as she gently laid Arkay on the floor and began to try to wake him up. ¡°Arnie! Arnie, can you hear me!? You okay!? Do you need something!? Like mouth to mouth!?¡±

    Erin could only let out a somewhat frustrated sigh at her friend¡¯s antics, before looking at the last member of their group, Zeldana. Since she hadn¡¯t known about how this whole process worked either, the redhead assumed that the elf must have been just as scared as the rest of them. She was still facing away from the rest of the group, so she must have still been in a state of terror.

    ¡°Hey, Zel, you okay over there?¡± Erin called out to the elf, hoping that the shock hadn¡¯t affected her too badly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Nothing bad happened.¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± Zeldana replied quickly, accidentally letting out a short chuckle that she tried her best to hide. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised as the rest of you! Honest!¡±

    However, the redhead wasn¡¯t fooled by the elf¡¯s attempts at hiding her true feelings. She had managed to pick up on the chuckle that Zeldana had accidentally let out. Not only that, there was no signs of fear in the tone of the elf¡¯s voice at all. In fact, there was almost a happy tone in it. And to add to the whole thing, Zeldana¡¯s body seemed to shaking lightly in a way that a person who was laughing would.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Erin asked as her eye narrowed in suspicion. ¡°Why don¡¯t you look at the rest of us over here?¡±

    Ryle and Durge had also picked up on the odd behavior of Zeldana and had turned their eyes on her. Even Arkay, who had managed to regain consciousness in time was now staring at the elf in suspicion.

    ¡°No no no! I¡¯m okay! I was just as scared as all of you were!¡± Zeldana said, trying her best to hide how she had actually been feeling. ¡°I¡¯m just kind of processing everything right now, you know? This whole thing was quite a bit to go through, after all.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? Why don¡¯t you show your face to us, chuckles?¡± Ryle asked, as she felt her anger beginning to rise. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll have an easier time believing what you say, when we can see it on your face as well.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for that,¡± the elf tried to argue, but it fell on deaf ears.

    ¡°Turn your face towards us NOW!¡± Erin shouted, getting tired of this whole argument.

    Seeing as how there was no hiding it anymore, Zeldana turned herself to face the others to show that she looked like she was trying as hard as possible to hold back her laughter. She was biting down on her lower lip to keep any sounds from escaping her lips and there were a couple of tears falling from her eyes as well.

    The others were NOT happy by this revelation, to say the least.

    ¡°And just what the hell are you laughing about, you shitty elf!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°What about this goddamn nightmare is so freaking funny to you!?¡±

    ¡°Nothing! Nothing is funny here!¡± Zeldana said, still trying hold it back, but she was clearly starting to crack. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ Just¡­¡±

    The elf couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer and erupted into roaring laughter. She held her sides as she fell to the floor, still cackling like a maniac.

    ¡°Well, you certainly seem to be enjoying yourself, you asshole!¡± Ryle shouted, not finding any of this humorous in the least. ¡°Mind explaining what is it that you¡¯re laughing about!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, Ryle?¡± Durge asked with a frustrated sigh. ¡°She¡¯s laughing at us.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what the hell!?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°He means that Zeldana knew all along how this whole thing worked,¡± Arkay explained, just as unhappy with the elf as the others. ¡°She was just pretending to not know, so she could laugh at our expense.¡±

    ¡°...WHAT!?¡± Ryle screamed.

    ¡°Is this true, Zeldana!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°You actually knew that this was safe and didn¡¯t bother telling us!? Why the hell would you do something like that!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Because it was hilarious!¡± the elf replied, still laughing as she wiped away some of her tears. ¡°You guys should have seen your own faces! They were priceless! You were all so terrified and on the verge of tears that I was having a hard time holding it back! I should honestly get an award for not cracking up earlier! Oh God, I think I peed a little!¡±

    As the elf was still laughing, the others shared a look with each other. They were all obviously quite upset with her behavior and wanted to do something about it.

    ¡°Ryle, I¡¯ll hold her down while you do the rest,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°You got it,¡± the blonde replied, as she cracker her knuckles a bit.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Zeldana managed to ask through her laughter, as the two walked towards her.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, one of the cars before Erin¡¯s group had an older wealthy couple sitting inside. The two of them were on a vacation, traveling through some of the more interesting places on the Western Continent.

    ¡°I wish you¡¯d have chosen a better form of transportation, dear,¡± the wife said unhappily. ¡°This is just such an unsightly way to travel. Not to mention, it¡¯s uncomfortable and the workers are just some of lowest class people I have ever met! Are you sure there was no other way!?¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, I told you already that this is the fastest method to travel through the Western Continent. Not only that, but it¡¯s also the safest. Had we gone through the wasteland without any hired protection, we could have been attacked by bandits on our way!¡± the husband replied, frustrated that he had to go through this conversation. ¡°The way I see it, I just saved us a ton of money and made our trip go faster and safer! I believe I should receive some congratulations over here!¡±

    ¡°Well, I think it would have been better to spend some of that money you saved on some level of comfort!¡± the wife snapped back. ¡°What¡¯s the point of working towards the fortunes we have, if we can¡¯t even afford some level of luxury!?¡±

    The husband was about to respond, when some strange sounds suddenly erupted from behind them. It sounded like banging of some type accompanied by what sounded like screaming.

    ¡°...Maybe this isn¡¯t as safe as I thoughts,¡± the husband muttered inaudibly, once the strange sounds had subsided.

    <hr>

    ¡°Okay¡­ I get that you¡¯re all upset and for good reason, too,¡± Zeldana said as she laid on the floor after getting trashed by Erin and Ryle. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to accept this and let it be. I mean, that¡¯s fair, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the last person who should be talking about fair!¡± Ryle shouted at the elf. ¡°I mean¡­ Maybe after Lex, but that¡¯s not relevant right now¡­¡±

    ¡°Ryle, can you please try and focus for one minute?¡± Erin asked with a sigh, before turning her attention back to Zeldana. ¡°Now, since you are so knowledgeable about this, why don¡¯t you explain what exactly did we go through? I was going to wait for Lex to wake up, but seeing as you know more than enough, I¡¯ve decided to ask you instead!¡±

    ¡°But I really don¡¯t know all that-¡± the elf began to lie, only for Ryle to hit the side of the van as a warning. ¡°Okay! Okay! Take a joke, would you!?¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve had enough jokes for now!¡± Erin said angrily. Now start talking! What are these things and what are they used for!?¡±

    ¡°Well, the latter should be pretty obvious, shouldn¡¯t it?¡± Zeldana mumbled as she sat up in order to start her explanation. ¡°Okay, so these things are known as Grand Centipedes. They normally live below ground, so most people don¡¯t even get to see them for the most part. As you¡¯ve probably summarized from how they look, they aren¡¯t exactly creatures you¡¯d want to face, but the people behind this company found a way to actually utilize them in a very useful manner. They can be used to transport things around the Western Continent very efficiently, which is what they¡¯re doing with us right now.¡±

    ¡°But how can one use a gigantic beast like this to simply move people around?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t they just devour their customers?¡±

    ¡°Normally, that would be the case, but that¡¯s where the discovery these people made comes in,¡± the elf continued. ¡°You saw us getting sprayed with that weird gas before the centipede swallowed us, right? Turns out that these creatures communicate with each other through pheromones. You can get them to do all sorts of things by using the right pheromones. That¡¯s what allowed us to be taken in gently to be moved, instead of getting chewed up and digested.¡±

    ¡°...I know I¡¯m probably going to regret asking this, but what kind of pheromone were we sprayed with?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing terrible. It¡¯s just the smell the babies of these things let out,¡± Zeldana replied nonchalantly. ¡°You see, these guys are surprisingly caring over their little ones. Upon smelling one, they immediately rush to them in order to transport them to a safer place. On the other end of this tunnel, there are workers spraying that area with pheromones that basically tell the centipede that it¡¯s a safe area. It¡¯s also the reason as to why we are moving so fast. The centipede wants to move its babies to safety as fast as possible, so it doesn¡¯t have to worry about them any longer.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­ So we just became adopted bug babies,¡± Ryle said in disgust. ¡°I never expected to get to experience something so gross¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, it gets the job done, doesn¡¯t it? I¡¯d say it¡¯s worth the little trouble we have to face,¡± the elf said. ¡°Anyways, I recommend that you guys get comfortable. While this thing is pretty damn fast, it¡¯s going to take a while for it to reach our destination.¡±

    Erin couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh. Today had been just tiring for her from start to finish. First they had to take part in a race that put their lives at risk multiple times, before they had to run away from the people they were up against. As if that hadn¡¯t been enough, they had to get out of town in order to not get hunted by those same people they had angered, but in order to do so they had to come face to face with a monstrous centipede that ended up swallowing them, which was an experience she hoped would never be repeated. To make matters worse, she found out that she could have been saved from the fright of a lifetime that probably shortened her lifespan, had one of her companions been considerate enough to tell them there was no danger.

    Right now, all she wanted was to sit back and enjoy some peace and quiet, before all the stress would send her to an early grave.

 93. Grand Mine Central

    Chapter 93

    Grand Mine Central

    With nothing better to do while traveling inside the Grand Centipede, most of Erin¡¯s group had decided to take the opportunity to get some rest. Erin, Ryle and Arkay had decided to follow Lexton¡¯s example and were all sleeping for the time being, while Durge and Zeldana had decided to stay awake for their own reason. The elf hadn¡¯t been too bothered by the day they had, so she didn¡¯t feel any exhaustion at all. On the other hand, the orc felt it was necessary for at least one if them to be alert in case something happened and he didn¡¯t see Zeldana as responsible enough for the job.

    The trip was going along in a relatively peaceful manner, as only muffled sounds managed to come from the outside to the internal parts of the centipede, leaving very little in terms of disturbing noise. The only real sounds that they could catch would be the ones they made inside the van or from the other vehicles, but no one seemed to be in the mood to cause any disturbances, leaving everyone at peace.

    After about a few hours of traveling in this manner, the centipede came to a stop. Realizing that this probably meant that they had arrived at their destination, Durge began to wake the others up.

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve arrived!¡± the orc called out to the group. ¡°Time to wake up!¡±

    ¡°Aww¡­ I was just having the best dream, too,¡± Ryle complained as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. ¡°I was skiing down a mountain made of ice cream, before meeting Arnie offering me hot chocolate while wearing-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no need to finish that story, Ryle,¡± Erin said as she shook her head in frustration. She then turned her attention back to Durge. ¡°So we¡¯ve finally arrived? Where exactly are we?¡±

    ¡°Huh? I have no idea. I just gave you the tickets Lex had given me,¡± the orc answered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys talk about where you were going before you met me?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly¡­ Lex did tell me that we were going to stop at Burrow¡¯s Deep, as it would help us get to our destination much faster, but he never told me where we would go from there,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°He kind of left me in the dark, to be honest.¡±

    ¡°Well, considering all the shit we¡¯ve had to go through in the last few days, I¡¯m not surprised it slipped my mind!¡± Lexton said somewhat angrily. ¡°No offense, but things like surviving gangsters, getting you healed from the brink of death and taking on some wannabe businessman kind of took priority!¡±

    ¡°I know, Lex. I know,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I get that our lives have been¡­ hectic, to say the least, but I wish I had at least an idea of what you were planning. Not to mention, I would have really appreciated it, if you had warned us about how we were going to travel¡­¡±

    ¡°Warned you? Warned you about what?¡± the kobold asked, completely confused by what the redhead could possibly be talking about.

    ¡°She¡¯s talking about the fact that we had to be fed to a giant centipede in order to travel!¡± Ryle shouted from the back. ¡°Do you have any idea how horrified we were!? Most of us are going to be traumatized by this shit!¡±

    ¡°...You mean Zeldana didn¡¯t tell you about that?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°While we were still staying at that house of hers, she asked me about our future plans. I told her about the travel plans I had thought of and she seemed to be aware of how these creatures are used,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t talk about my plans all that much was to prevent anything from slipping up and tipping off Zadar¡¯s people. I know that you probably don¡¯t like the fact that I didn¡¯t tell any of you, but one needs to make sure to avoid letting their enemies know what you¡¯re planning. Especially with people like Ryle around¡­¡±

    ¡°You wanna repeat that, you scaly little turd!?¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    ¡°Hold on! Hold on! Lex, you¡¯re saying that Zeldana knew well before we even met Zadar that we were going to travel this way?¡± Erin asked. ¡°And she never told us anything about it!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I mean¡­ I can only comment on the fact that she definitely knew about this,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°As for that other part, I¡¯m sure you guys know about that better than I do.¡±

    Four sets of eyes turned to glare at the elf once again, who tried to look as innocent as she could.

    ¡°Your reactions were quite funny,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why you guys have issues with her,¡± Erin said unhappily.

    ¡°Oh, if you only knew how bad she could be,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Mind if I ask something?¡± Arkay said, raising up his hand, getting the attention of the others. ¡°It¡¯s kind of about what¡¯s going to happen next.¡±

    ¡°Sure, go ahead, Arnie,¡± Lexton said. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    ¡°Well, since we have now arrived at our destination, shouldn¡¯t we be getting out of here soon?¡± the cat boy asked. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then how is that going to happen?¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t that just be us coming back the way we came in?¡± Durge guessed. ¡°I mean, that thing first swallowed us, so we kind of have to go through the mouth in order to get back out. There aren¡¯t really any other options.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there still the, you know, ¡°backdoor exit¡± that could work, as well?¡± Ryle suggested. ¡°This thing could just poop us out and that would be it.¡±

    ¡°I wish you had worded that at least a bit better,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°But I doubt that¡¯s the case. After all, that ¡°backdoor exit,¡± as you put it, is meant for the material the body doesn¡¯t need. That¡¯s basically what happens to the food any living being eats. The body takes what it needs from it and the rest are dropped out.¡±

    ¡°That sounds about right,¡± Durge said with a nod. ¡°This thing could also use its mouth tentacles to lower us gently to the ground. Seeing as it thinks we are its baby, I doubt it wants to just drop us.¡±

    While most of the group was certain that they had correctly guessed what would be happening next, Lexton was staring at them with slight concern as Zeldana was once again trying to hold back laughter.

    ¡°...I¡¯m guessing you guys are not too familiar with Grand Centipedes, are you?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°What do you mean by-?¡± Erin began to ask, only to stop upon realizing what he was getting at. ¡°Oh no¡­ Oh no no no no NO! NO! NO! Please tell me you¡¯re not saying what I think you¡¯re saying!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Ryle asked, having not realized what the redhead was getting at, while Arkay and Durge seemed to catch on. ¡°Why is everyone looking so down all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°Your reactions are just the best!¡± Zeldana said as she broke into laughter.

    ¡°What the hell are you laughing at, you chuckle-!?¡± the blonde asked angrily, only for her to come to the same realization that the others had. ¡°Oh God¡­ NO! Don¡¯t tell me that our exit is-!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, seems like that,¡± Durge said with a deep sigh, as he looked out through the windshield. ¡°The cars that came here before us are leaving before us.¡±

    With the realization of what was happening having dawned on all of them, everyone within the group simply waited in silence for the inevitable to happen. Sure enough, their van eventually began to move forward from the movements of the centipede¡¯s internal organs, pushing them towards a source of light the vehicles before them had gone through already.

    Once outside, there was a moment of silence within Erin¡¯s group, except with Zeldana, who was still laughing.

    ¡°...We will NEVER talk about this again. Okay?¡± Erin said, to which the others agreed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what the big issue is. I mean, we needed to get from one place to another, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lexton said, not seeing why the others were having such a hard time. ¡°Look, we were just inside a big creature and we needed to get out. Who cares if it was through the-?¡±

    The kobold was cut off by Ryle hitting him on the back of the head, not wanting to hear the rest of what he was going to say.

    ¡°Thank you, Ryle,¡± Erin said.

    <hr>

    After getting their car washed from everything it was now covered with, the group drove away from the tunnel and moved towards the city they had just arrived at.

    Erin looked around and saw that this place was a lot livelier than Burrow¡¯s Deep. There were far more people walking around and businesses seemed to be doing a lot better. However, the place was strangely dark, even with the street lamps and other lights bringing in much needed illumination. It was almost like there was no light from the stars or the moon coming down there. The lights were also odd, as instead of the normal yellow glow one would expect, these streets lamps were bright green.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up with this place exactly?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I get that we were inside that centipede for quite some time and it¡¯s probably nighttime now, but why would they use these strange green lamps, instead of normal ones?¡±

    ¡°To answer your second question, those aren¡¯t regular lamps. Those poles have special ore in them that glows in the dark. It¡¯s a lot cheaper to use them than normal lamps, as you don¡¯t have to spend money on maintaining them and can just use their natural glow,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°As for your other question, I recommend taking a look to the sky and see for yourself.¡±

    The redhead wondered what the kobold was getting at, but did as she was told. She stuck her outside the window of the van and looked up. However, instead of a nighttime sky with stars and a moon, she saw a ceiling of rock above them.

    ¡°Are we inside a-?¡± Erin began to ask, only to remember what the place was from her experience of playing Five Realms as a game. ¡°Hang on¡­ Isn¡¯t this place-?¡±

    ¡°I see you recognize the place,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°Indeed. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Grand Mine Central.¡±

    Erin thought back to her experiences when she used to play Five Realms. Grand Mine Central was one of the bigger places within the Western Continent. It was a huge city located underground and great place for those who had characters that were specialized in building their equipment, as there were many places one could either buy or even mine their materials. There were also large tunnels that created a maze where one could train their character. The only issue was getting out, as the cave systems could get very hard to navigate. This made the area one of the more hated places in the game, as many players got lost in the caves, before being devoured by monsters too hard for them to beat.

    ¡°So why exactly did we come here?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Is there perhaps a specific reason for that?¡±

    ¡°Well, there are two,¡± Lexton said. ¡°The first is for us to finally get Erin a proper prosthetic to replace her lost hand. In here, we should be able to get all the materials we need and more for that. And now that I have tools again, I can make it something that will be more than just a regular fake hand.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to it, Lex,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°What about the other reason?¡±

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°The other reason is that this place is pretty close to High Rock Peak, where Golorath resides,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°From here, it will only take us a few days to get to him.¡±

    ¡°...So we are really going to be doing it finally?¡± Arkay asked in a somewhat nervous voice. ¡°We are finally going to meet one of the five biggest people in the world and take them down?¡±

    ¡°Seems like that¡¯s the case,¡± Erin said, before looking at her companions. ¡°Guys, I appreciate that you¡¯ve come along with me so far, but if you don¡¯t want to go with me any longer, you can leave. I won¡¯t hold it against any of you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, stop talking crap, Erin! We¡¯re coming along and there¡¯s not a single thing you can to change our minds about that!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°You know for a fact that I¡¯m not about to back down after all we¡¯ve been through!¡±

    ¡°N-Neither am I going to leave!¡± Arkay quickly said. ¡°I might be scared, but who wouldn¡¯t be? In the end, I know what we are trying to accomplish needs to be done so that this world can even have a chance to become a better place!¡±

    ¡°While not the smartest thing, I still want to go through with this,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve been influenced by you lot far too much¡­ Whatever the case, I¡¯m not backing down either.¡±

    ¡°I never really saw eye to eye with my tribe. I hated a lot of their traditions and way of life. It all just seemed so pointless,¡± Durge said. ¡°However, since I am a warrior with no other skills than those of violence, I might as well use those skills for something that¡¯s actually worth fighting for. In other words, I¡¯m staying.¡±

    ¡°Hell, I joined up because I found this whole thing far too interesting to pass up!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°No way am I going to leave before I¡¯ve seen this through to the end!¡±

    ¡°...Thank you, guys,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad I met you all.¡±

    ¡°...I should probably mention, though, that we aren¡¯t going after Golorath right away,¡± Lexton pointed out. ¡°Not only do I need to first get Erin her new hand, but we need to do one other thing before we can even think of going after Golorath. We need to go and locate the local black market.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Information. There is no hope for us to get inside his fortress, unless we know how,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Hopefully, we can find some information seller there, who can tell us what we need to know. Or at least point us in the right direction.¡±

    ¡°That seems far too convenient, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Considering how important the information you¡¯re after is, do you really think we can just go to somebody and buy it from them?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised by how much information these people can get in their hands,¡± Lexton said reassuringly. ¡°The bigger a name you are, the more there are people willing to sell either info or just some stuff linked to you. You gotta remember that we are talking about the highest of high-profile people here. They have thousands of people working for them at all times. It takes just one of them being upset with their work to go and sell classified data on the black market for a large amount of cash. Now, I¡¯m obviously not expecting there to be someone who can tell us how to get inside Golorath¡¯s fortress completely, but they might know about resistance fighters or other important people that can help us get where we want.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So where do we start?¡±

    ¡°First, let¡¯s find a place to stay for now. After that, we should take a look around and try to locate as many places that could be useful for us,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Once we have an idea where everything that we need is located, we can start making our moves, whether it¡¯s collecting information or materials for your new hand. Or even starting up our little side business again in order to earn some money.¡±

    <hr>

    With their objective set, the group drove around until they found a place to stay at. The place they ended up was a motel, but this one was much nicer than the one in Burrow¡¯s Deep. As a much healthier city, the owners of this motel were able earn enough money to actually spend on maintaining their business, so there weren¡¯t any pests and the building overall didn¡¯t look like it would fall apart at any second.

    However, due to their still limited wealth, they had to settle for a single room that they shared with each other. The room did have multiple beds, but only three, so that was going to bring up a small issue.

    ¡°Oh man, it feels good to lay down on an actual bed for a change!¡± Ryle said happily as she allowed herself to fall on one of the beds in their room. ¡°It¡¯s been so long that I almost forgot how this feels!¡±

    ¡°While I understand the joy of sleeping in a real bed and not just some surface that¡¯s near to you, would you mind and not just claim one of those before we have decided who gets which bed!?¡± Lexton asked, a bit angered by the blonde¡¯s behavior. ¡°There are others here who would like to have a normal bed for once to sleep in, as well!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? We¡¯ve got three beds in this room, so we just have two of us sleep in one, this dividing them equally!¡± Ryle said. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one with Arnie and the rest of you can decide among yourselves who sleeps in which bed! Simple as that!¡±

    ¡°How about you don¡¯t go making such decisions for yourself, Ryle?¡± Erin said, not in the mood for any childish arguing among her companions. ¡°Look, there¡¯s only one way to make this all fair, so let¡¯s just do that and move on, okay?¡±

    The method of sharing the beds that the redhead was talking about was through drawing lots. Using Lexton¡¯s hat as a makeshift bucket, they placed six pieces of paper with numbers one, two and three on them. The ones who got matching numbers would be sharing a bed and no further changes would be done afterwards.

    In the end, this led to some interesting results, which weren¡¯t exactly appreciated by those who received them.

    The first bed would be shared by Ryle and Lexton, which was something that neither one was all too thrilled about.

    ¡°...You gotta be freaking kidding me,¡± Ryle muttered unhappily. ¡°Out of all the possibilities, I get stuck with YOU!? How the hell does something like this happen!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not exactly happy about this either!¡± Lexton shouted back. ¡°I¡¯m certain that there are farm animals that are much more pleasant to sleep next to than you! Especially when it comes to the stench¡­¡±

    ¡°WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, YOU SCALY LITTLE TURD!?¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    The second bed was going to be shared by Arkay and Zeldana. While the elf didn¡¯t mind the arrangement at all, the cat boy wasn¡¯t all too excited. This was due to seeing how she treated her patients. He couldn¡¯t help but fear that he would become a freakish operation victim as he slept.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, kitty?¡± Zeldana asked, finding Arkay¡¯s fear amusing. ¡°There¡¯s no need to fear me.¡±

    ¡°I-I think I¡¯ll be the judge of that!¡± the cat boy squeaked, not able to hide his fear at all.

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need to be afraid!¡± the elf said with a laugh, taking full enjoyments out of the whole thing. ¡°I won¡¯t bite. Too much.¡±

    Seeing the way Zeldana was behaving towards Arkay, Ryle decided to step in. She had a few choice words for the elf and boundaries to set.

    ¡°Hey, Zeldana!¡± the blonde called out to the elf as she stomped over to her. ¡°I¡¯m going to allow you to get in the same bed with Arnie this one time, but you better know that there are certain rules to that!¡±

    ¡°And what might those be?¡± Zeldana asked with a raised eyebrow, not feeling threatened at all.

    ¡°Simple. There are certain places you are NOT allowed to touch, even by accident!¡± Ryle stated. ¡°Keep your hands off his tail, ears, legs, hands¡­ You know what? I¡¯ll just draw you a picture to make my point clear!¡±

    Next to the door that led outside their room was a small table with some paper and pencils on it. Grabbing one of the pencils and a piece of paper, the blonde began to scribble on it, before walking back to Zeldana and handing the paper to her.

    ¡°Here! Keep this in mind and everything should be fine!¡± Ryle said. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t touch the areas marked with red, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues!¡±

    ¡°...This is just a poorly drawn stick figure with cat ears and a tail,¡± Zeldana said, looking over the picture. ¡°And the whole thing is red.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! Don¡¯t touch the red areas!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Are we clear on that?¡±

    The elf seemed to be in thought for a moment, before a devious smirk appeared on her face. It seemed like she had found a new way to push Ryle¡¯s buttons.

    ¡°How about if I touch myself, but imagine myself touching him?¡± Zeldana asked, already snickering. ¡°Does that count?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m going to kill you now,¡± Ryle said as her face began to turn red with rage.

    While Erin had to step in to prevent her two companions from getting into a physical fight, Arkay walked up to Lexton. The cat boy had a question on his mind that he thought the kobold could answer for him.

    ¡°Lex, can I ask you something?¡± Arkay said, getting a nod from the kobold. ¡°I know this sounds kind of mean and bad, but there¡¯s been this one thing that I¡¯ve been wondering about Ryle. Like there¡¯s something strange about her.¡±

    ¡°Believe me, Arnie, you are not being mean at all. In fact, saying that she¡¯s ¡°strange¡± is honestly closer to a compliment than anything else,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Anyways, what is it that you¡¯ve been thinking about in regards to her?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mean to sound self-centered or anything like that, but sometimes I get this weird feeling, like she¡¯s somehow focused on me,¡± the cat boy said, not really sure how to word what he was feeling properly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to know what that was about?¡±

    ¡°...Maybe I¡¯ll tell you about some other time,¡± the kobold said with a sigh.

    With the occupants of the other two beds having been chosen, the third one was left for Erin and Durge. The redhead looked at just how massive the orc¡¯s body was and knew right away that this was going to cause them issues.

    ¡°So¡­ Do you think we can both fit in the same bed?¡± Erin asked a bit awkwardly.

    Durge gave a quick glance at the bed, before looking back at the redhead.

    ¡°Even if we can, it¡¯s not going to be comfy at all,¡± the orc replied. ¡°Wanna flip a coin or something?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll just take the couch,¡± Erin said with a deep sigh. It looked like she wasn¡¯t going to be sleeping on an actual bed after all.

    <hr>

    With their sleeping arrangements figured out, the group decided to split up into different tasks. Arkay and Ryle were sent out to find them something to eat for the day, while Durge and Zeldana were going to find medicinal materials. Both pairs were also tasked with being on the lookout for hints of the local black market. Seeing as how both Arkay and Durge had ties to the criminal underworld, they could recognize markings and other signs where it could be located at.

    While the others were busy with their tasks, Erin and Lexton were left with their own tasks. They would be on the lookout for materials necessary for building the redhead¡¯s new prosthetic hand. Even though this was a task mainly meant for the kobold, Erin was there to provide him with protection, in case the ran into some less than friendly inhabitants of the city.

    Having seen how Lexton worked on his projects, Erin wasn¡¯t at all surprised by seeing him head to the local garbage dump. Even if she knew that the kobold was more than capable of building the greatest of weapons from simple trash, it was still a bit unsettling how he didn¡¯t hesitate at all to look at what others had discarded as trash for materials to work. This feeling wasn¡¯t helped at all by the fact that this time the trash was going to be made into what would be her new hand from now on.

    ¡°Uhhhh¡­ Lex? Mind if I ask you something?¡± Erin called out to the kobold, who was bust looking through the heaps of trash metal. ¡°This is going to be for my new hand, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I thought that would be obvious,¡± Lexton said without even looking back at the redhead. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t mean to cast any doubt towards your skill. I mean, I absolutely have no reason to do so, after all. I¡¯ve seen the things you can do, so I¡¯m the last person who would ever do such a thing at all,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ Are you sure a garbage dump is the proper place to look for parts? It¡¯s for a new had, after all.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with looking for parts here for that?¡± the kobold asked, giving a confused look at Erin. ¡°You do remember that I made your sword, Ryle¡¯s whip and Arnie¡¯s knife from similar stuff, right? In fact, I¡¯d argue that this is better than the stuff I used back then!¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but don¡¯t you think that using trash to make a prosthetic hand to be a bit¡­ crude?¡± Erin asked awkwardly. ¡°Like I said earlier, I trust your skills completely. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not sure about the fact that I¡¯m going to have garbage attached as part of my body from now on. I can¡¯t help but feel dirty at just the thought of it¡­¡±

    The redhead expected the kobold to get mad at her for saying such things. She fully expected him to yell at her for being demanding among other things. Yet she was surprised when he did no such thing. Instead, he looked at her calmly and spoke to her honestly.

    ¡°Erin, I completely understand where you¡¯re coming from. Believe me, I wasn¡¯t so sure about doing things like this, when my father first taught me. You have every right to have your doubts about this, especially when I¡¯m literally building a new body part for you,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°The problem is that we can¡¯t really afford to be picky about these things. While we might have gotten a good amount of money from that house Zeldana was staying at, but it¡¯s not gonna last us all that long when you consider the size of our group and what we are doing. The unfortunate fact is that we have quite a few mouths to feed and we will be needing a lot of things the further we go in this journey of ours. We do have ways to earn money, but they aren¡¯t reliable all the time and not as profitable as we I¡¯d like. I hate to say this, but no matter what it is, we are going to have to cut costs as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, Lex,¡± Erin said, looking down in shame. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize just how bad our money problems are and just left it on you.¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve got a lot on your mind, much like everybody else in this group of ours. I¡¯ll gladly handle financial issues for us, since you guys do seem to generally listen to me,¡± the kobold said with a smile. ¡°And no need to worry too much about your new hand! If it¡¯s not as good as you¡¯d like, I can always make you a new one later! A true artist like myself is always looking forward to improving his craft!¡±

    The redhead smiled at what Lexton had just said. It was comforting to know that he was not only looking out for them, but that he held no ill will at what she had just said.

    <hr>

    Some time later, the group had gathered back at their hotel room to report what they had found and to eat dinner together. Lexton was also hoping to get started with making blueprints for Erin¡¯s new prosthetic hand, as he had all the equipment he needed to do the best he could with the materials he had.

    However, with the subject of dinner having been brought up, a new question rose up. Who would be the one cooking?

    So far, they hadn¡¯t exactly done much in terms of preparing meals, as they had simply roasted whatever animals they had caught in the wild to go with the edible vegetables they found. Other than that, they had simply eaten basic canned food in order to save money. Now that they had a bot more money, they felt like it was appropriate to prepare an actual meal for once.

    ¡°So, anybody willing to volunteer to cook?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I¡¯m honestly fine with anybody, as long as they know what they¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°That unfortunately leaves me out,¡± Lexton admitted right away. ¡°Unless I ate at some restaurant or stall, the only food I¡¯ve had is stuff that only needs to be heated up.¡±

    ¡°Same here,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Back home, my brother handled cooking, so I¡¯m pretty much useless in that regard. I think he even forbid me from entering the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Said something about not wanting ¡°ungodly abominations that are a blasphemy to all creation¡± to ever being made again,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°It¡¯s weird how hard it can be to make simple sandwiches, you know?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I can imagine,¡± Erin said with a roll of her eye. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m no good either. I never really bothered to pick up skills related to the kitchen due to personal reasons.¡±

    ¡°Those being?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°...I¡¯d rather not talk about it,¡± the redhead replied with a sad look on her face.

    The fact was that the guilt and regret that had been eating at her back in her original world had made the idea of cooking seem pointless. Back then, Erin had lived pretty much through nothing but microwave meals.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I don¡¯t have skills in that field either,¡± Durge said, bringing the conversation back to its original topic. ¡°I¡¯ve only been trained in combat skills. Household chores are something I¡¯m unfamiliar with.¡±

    ¡°...Does opening bottles and emptying their contents as a cooking skill?¡± Zeldana asked, which earned her glares from the others. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no.¡±

    With pretty much everybody else eliminated, all eyes turned to the last remaining member of the group, Arkay.

    ¡°Umm¡­ I-I have cooked a few times here and there,¡± the cat boy answered. ¡°If you guys are okay with it, I could give it a try¡­.¡±

    ¡°Arnie, the way I see it, you are the closest thing to an expert cook we have here,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to do it, I have no issues with you handling it.¡±

    Arkay looked at the others and saw them give him encouraging smiles. Seeing as they were all okay with it, he decided to go for it.

    ¡°A-Alright! I¡¯ll make sure to prepare something really good for you all!¡± the cat boy enthusiastically before going to the kitchen.

    ¡°Glad to see him so pumped up. It¡¯s refreshing sight,¡± Lexton said with a smile.

    ¡°Oh, I know what you mean,¡± Ryle said with a smile of her own.

    ¡°...Not like you, you disgusting animal,¡± the kobold said with a glare.

    ¡°Up yours!¡± the blonde said back.

    ¡°Okay, before we get too off track here, how about we talk about the things we¡¯ve seen in the city so far,¡± Erin said, preventing a fight from breaking out. ¡°Did any of you get any idea as to where the black market could be located?¡±

    ¡°Hate to say it, but Arnie and I had no luck in that area,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Wherever they are, they¡¯re hidden really well.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that there just isn¡¯t a black market in this city then?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Erin, trust me on this. Whatever the place is, as long as a decent amount of money moves there, the black market exists there as well,¡± Lexton said. ¡°It¡¯s honestly harder to find a place where they don¡¯t operate.¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything either in regards to that, but we did hear something else that¡¯s pretty interesting,¡± Durge said. ¡°Although, it¡¯s honestly more concerning than anything else¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it then?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°One of Golorath¡¯s three warlords resides close to this city,¡± the orc answered.

 94. A Close Monster

    Chapter 94

    A Close Monster

    ¡°...Excuse me, could you repeat that?¡± Lexton asked with wide eyes. ¡°Did you just say that one of the three warlords of Golorath is located here?¡±

    ¡°Well, not exactly here, but very close,¡± Durge answered. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s a hidden fortress within that cave system on the outskirts of the city. However, only very few people actually know the correct route to take in order to reach it.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ And did you by any chance happen to hear the name of this warlord?¡± the kobold asked further.

    ¡°You¡¯re probably not gonna like this,¡± the orc said. ¡°It¡¯s apparently Gotzmeyer.¡±

    Silence fell over the room upon hearing this revelation, with the only sounds coming from the kitchen where Arkay was busy cooking. While Erin hadn¡¯t heard any of the stories the others had, she knew from just the very little she had heard from Zeldana that this wasn¡¯t a person one should take lightly. The fact that such a terrifying person was essentially living as their neighbor was something that could terrify even the most hardened killer.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Lex?¡± Ryle called out to the kobold. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but wasn¡¯t that the name Zeldana gave us, when we learned about what happened back at that creepy house she was living at?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s him precisely. This situation has turned out to be far more dire than I could have ever predicted,¡± Lexton said as nervous sweat began to run down the sides of his face. ¡°Out of all of the warlords, Gotzmeyer is easily the most terrifying. Just saying his name is enough to strike terror into just about anyone and for good reason as well.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re referring to those stories Zeldana told you about, right?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Could it be possible that those are just tall tales made up by whatever propaganda publishers work for the Five Overlords? I mean, the idea that somebody is able to walk through numerous battles without ever being so much as wounded seems pretty insane to me.¡±

    ¡°While that would normally be a reasonable explanation, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s far from the truth when it comes to Gotzmeyer,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°Even though the forces of the Five Overlords certainly spread their fair share of fake stories and exaggerated accomplishments, the things about him is that those stories haven been proven to be true. There have been public displays of him going into battle and cutting down opponent after opponent, all of whom weren¡¯t able to even draw a single drop of blood out of him. Not only is Gotzmeyer a terrifying opponent to face, but he is also an efficient enforcer, as the mere chance of having to face him has caused numerous potential rebels to surrender outright. That¡¯s the kind of entity that he is.¡±

    Hearing such talk come from Lexton of all people left the others completely silent. While they had faced their fair share of dangers, ranging from horrible beasts to deadly killers, this time they might be up against something that was far above anything they could even hope to reach. They might have come to this city in high spirits despite the challenges they knew were ahead of them, but coming face to face with them was another story entirely.

    The question on everyone¡¯s mind was simple. Did they really have what it took to face this?

    Actually, there was one person who didn¡¯t have that question on their mind, as they already had their answer even before they could ask such a thing. That was none other than Zeldana.

    ¡°So are we going after him or what?¡± the elf asked bluntly without even a hint of the fear and anxiety the others were feeling. ¡°I mean, I know that it¡¯s the Overlords that we¡¯re after, but shouldn¡¯t we also take out some of the other big fish out there along the way?¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? Do you even understand what we¡¯re talking about here!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°We¡¯re talking about one of the most powerful warriors this world has ever seen! A monster that no one has managed to wound a single time! How can you be so relaxed about facing a being like that!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Because we are already aiming at somebody even more dangerous than Gotzmeyer,¡± Zeldana replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Did you forget that we are ultimately going after the Five Overlords themselves and they are the big bosses that the warlords simply serve. Gotzmeyer and the others might be strong and all, but they are nothing compared to their bosses. If we are going to start pissing our pants just from the thought of fighting one of the warlords, how can we ever face the real threats that are the Overlords?¡±

    ¡°I.. I get what you¡¯re saying, but-!¡±

    ¡°No. Zeldana is completely right,¡± Erin said, cutting off Lexton. ¡°If we are going to be scared by the warlords, we have no hope facing the Overlords themselves at all. We need to steel our resolve now or we might as well give up and hide in a hole somewhere.¡±

    ¡°Like I said, I understand where you¡¯re coming from, but it¡¯s Gotzmeyer,¡± Lexton tried to argue. ¡°He isn¡¯t someone you can take lightly!¡±

    ¡°I am not taking him lightly. In fact, I¡¯m taking this quite seriously,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Facing off against someone like Gotzmeyer is something that is probably going to happen sooner or later anyways, even if we do manage to avoid him for now. What if we come against such an opponent, but we have no experience when it comes to fighting people like him? Not to mention, if we ever truly want to see any meaningful change in this world, we need to defeat people like him anyways.¡±

    Seeing as there was no convincing Erin of the threat Gotzmeyer posed, he turned to look at the others in their group, hoping that they might talk some sense to her. However, he didn¡¯t receive any such talk at all from them. In fact, they were in full support of her.

    ¡°You said it, Erin!¡± Ryle cheered. ¡°No way are we gonna get scared by some overrated punk with a fancy title! We are going to kick his ass as a warm up, before moving towards his boss next!¡±

    ¡°I agree. We already knew that what we were doing was dangerous, so having regrets now would just show that we didn¡¯t understand at all what we were setting off to do,¡± Durge said with a smile. ¡°Also, this might just be my warrior tribe blood in me speaking, but I can¡¯t help but be curious to see if I could make this guy finally bleed.¡±

    ¡°I gotta say, I like the energy I¡¯m feeling from this group!¡± Zeldana said with a grin. ¡°I personally never faced Gotzmeyer back when I was part of the resistance, but that might be the reason he never bled! I guess it¡¯s time to go and take him on and see how it goes.¡±

    Seeing how the others were in support of her, Erin turned her attention to the one person who seemed to still be hesitating, Lexton.

    ¡°What about you, Lex? Are you with us?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I get why you¡¯re anxious, so you don¡¯t need to feel ashamed over that. Nor will anyone here blame you, if you want to stop this.¡±

    ¡°...No. You guys are right,¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°I let my fears get the better of me, but it¡¯s just as you all say. We want to change this world for the better and are aiming for the ones on top of it all. If we can¡¯t face someone like Gotzmeyer, we have no hope of facing the Overlords either. I apologize for acting like a coward.¡±

    ¡°Hey, no need to apologize over being afraid. I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t afraid myself,¡± Erin said with a kind smile. ¡°I¡¯m just glad to know that you¡¯ll be sticking with us. Your help is honestly irreplaceable to us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Besides, when it comes to you acting like a coward, it¡¯s no big deal,¡± Ryle said with a mischievous grin. ¡°We¡¯re pretty much expecting it from you at this point anyways.¡±

    ¡°Rather a coward than a brainless moron!¡± Lexton shouted back at the blonde.

    ¡°Oh really!?¡± Ryle shouted back. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you still feel like that after I-!¡±

    Right before a new argument could break out, Arkay returned to the rest of the group just in time to put a stop to all the fighting.

    ¡°Dinner is ready!¡± the cat boy said happily, completely unaware of the serious atmosphere that had just been hanging over the group just seconds ago. ¡°I know it¡¯s not much, but I tried my best to make something that you all would enjoy!¡±

    All the tension and aggression that had taken over the others seemed to disappear in an instant, as the smell of delicious and freshly-made food came. Almost simultaneously all of their stomachs grumbled, as they hadn¡¯t realized just how hungry they were.

    ¡°Oh¡­ That smells incredible!¡± Ryle said with a hazy look in her eyes as she took in the sweet aroma of what Arkay had just made. ¡°I can feel my mouth watering already¡­¡±

    ¡°Your mouth isn¡¯t the only thing that¡¯s watering, but the floor as well,¡± Lexton said, disgusted by the blonde¡¯s drooling. ¡°However, that does smell great. If it¡¯s even half as good as that, I¡¯m sure this will be a great meal.¡±

    ¡°I fully agree,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°How about we put a stop to all this talk and just go enjoy some homemade food? I¡¯m sure it will do wonders for all of us.¡±

    The others nodded in agreement and moved to a table that was set up at one end of the room for the people to have their meals at. The food that Arkay had prepared was rather simple, but still very tasty and filling. What the cat boy had prepared was meat stew, along with a refreshing salad to go along with it. To say the least, the group was quite happy with what they got.

    ¡°This is really good, Arnie. Great job,¡± Lexton said as he ate the stew happily. ¡°I honestly wouldn¡¯t mind if you prepared all of our meals from now on.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I totally agree!¡± Ryle said happily. ¡°Honestly, how much of a blessing can you be? Not only are you absolutely adorable, but you¡¯re a great magician and even a cook!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you all like it!¡± Arkay said with a bright smile on his face. ¡°I made sure to make plenty, so don¡¯t hesitate to have more!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great! I was hoping to ask for more,¡± Durge said. ¡°I was afraid that there might not be enough for a second serving, since I¡¯m not exactly one for light meals.¡±

    The group had a laugh at the orc¡¯s comment, except for one person. While everybody else was happily eating their food and chatting, one of them was just sitting in silence and not even moving their hand to eat. Erin was so lost in thought that she had completely stopped moving, as the world around her seemed to disappear from her mind as well.

    ¡°Erin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Arkay asked in a concerned tone, breaking the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°Is it not to your liking?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Erin managed to say in confusion having broken out of her thoughts to see everyone else looking at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re not eating. Is it not good?¡± the cat boy asked, worried that he might have done a bad job. ¡°I can try making something else, if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°No no no! That¡¯s not the case at all!¡± the redhead quickly said, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding. ¡°The food is great! I swear! I was just lost in thought!¡±

    ¡°What could you have been thinking about, when you have something this delicious in front of you?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, you gotta be hungry as well! How could you get lost in thought right now?¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but it¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s complicated, okay?¡± Erin said. ¡°This just reminded me of something very special to me and made me think about it. Nothing more.¡±

    The blonde was about to ask what the redhead was talking about, but a hand on her arm stopped her, She turned to look at her side and saw Lexton shake his head at her, telling her to not pry for more. Realizing that it was most likely a touchy subject, Ryle decided to let it go.

    ¡°Anyways, do you guys really think we should go after Gotzmeyer?¡± Erin asked as she went back to eating, hoping to change the subject. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that I¡¯m afraid of facing him or anything like that. Since our true goal is to go after the Overlords, we might not have to face him specifically.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good question. While we might have been getting all pumped up about going after Gotzmeyer, he isn¡¯t our true target. It does seem reasonable to at least think about it, before going through with it,¡± Durge said thoughtfully. ¡°For example what would we gain by defeating him?¡±

    ¡°Quite a lot, actually,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Gotzmeyer is widely seen as a symbol of power and authority from the Five Overlords themselves. If he were to fall, it would not only shake the hold the military has on a lot of places, but would also encourage more people to start rising up against them. Defeating him would be a serious blow to the Overlords that they wouldn¡¯t be able to get over all too easily. Not only that, but I¡¯m sure we can find important information from his fortress, such as details in regards to Golorath¡¯s residence or something else. And let¡¯s not forget the weaponry and riches he is certain to have.¡±

    ¡°It should also be taken into consideration what would happen if we decided to skip him completely,¡± Erin said thoughtfully, before turning her attention to Zeldana. ¡°You have the most experience and knowledge in regards to the forces of the Five Overlords. What do you think would happen, if we were to defeat Golorath without beating Gotzmeyer first?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? I don¡¯t think it would be a pretty sight,¡± the elf answered. ¡°If Golorath were to die before any of his warlords, it would leave a big power vacuum in the Western Continent. The three warlords would probably see it as an opportunity to become the next ruler of this part of the world, which would cause a bloody civil war.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the other Overlords step in to put things in order?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°I highly doubt that. From what I¡¯ve understood, they only worked together to take over the world. Once that was done, they¡¯ve been satisfied controlling their own territories and never bothering one another,¡± Zeldana explained. ¡°If I were to make a guess, they¡¯d just watch from the sidelines, as the warlord turned on each other to see who would become the big leader in the end.¡±

    ¡°But wouldn¡¯t the civil war happen even if we beat Gotzmeyer first?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I doubt the two remaining warlords would just go all ¡°Only one opponent!? Not worth fighting over this!¡± In fact, they¡¯d just see their chances of winning to be much better since they¡¯d have less competition.¡±

    ¡°While there¡¯s certainly merit to that, it¡¯s not as simple as you¡¯d think,¡± the elf answered. ¡°You see, the warlords aren¡¯t allowed to do just whatever they want. Each one of them controls a part of the Western Continent and they are not allowed to meddle with the affairs of other areas without the permission of Golorath himself. Once one of them falls, the one to take over would have to be named by the Overlord, which would take time. During that time, the internal fighting of those who used to serve the warlord would tear their forces apart, which would also be under attack from rebels.¡±

    ¡°So basically Golorath¡¯s forces would be weakened by their own internal fights and bureaucracy?¡± Lexton said. ¡°That would certainly leave them vulnerable for further attacks from those hoping to end the rule of the Overlords.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ Are we going after Gotzmeyer, then?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°If his defeat would lead to such a good end result and all.¡±

    ¡°...Anybody got any issues with us going after the warlord?¡± Erin asked, looking over the others. ¡°I am personally in favor of it, but I will listen to any other opinions on the matter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got not complaints here,¡± Ryle replied with a shrug. ¡°How about you guys?¡±

    Upon seeing no one voice any dissenting opinions, it was decided that they would go after Gotzmeyer, one of the three warlords serving under Golorath himself.

    ¡°This will be a very important battle. If we manage to pull this off, it will have effects that will be felt across the whole world,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that we¡¯ll have the equipment needed to make this into a reality.¡±

    ¡°And we¡¯ll make sure to lend our strengths to this fight as well,¡± Durge said with a confident smile. ¡°We¡¯ll show the Five Overlords that there are still those who can challenge them and give them a tough fight.¡±

    Erin nodded with a smile on her face, feeling encouraged by the enthusiasm and confidence of her friends.

    However, it was at that moment that Ryle said something that shook the redhead to her very soul.

    ¡°Hell yeah! And once we¡¯re done with him, we¡¯re taking out that bastard Golorath next!¡± the blonde bragged. And he¡¯ll just be the first of the five to fall!¡±

    Upon hearing the Overlord get mentioned, Erin¡¯s eye went wide from shock. She then stood up from the table and walked to the door.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong, Erin?¡± Ryle called out to the redhead. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m alright. I think I just need some fresh air,¡± Erin quickly lied. ¡°No need to worry about me. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    The rest of the group was left stunned, as they watched the redhead open the door and walk out of the room.

    ¡°...Anybody got an idea what that was about?¡± Ryle asked.

    No one said anything, except that they didn¡¯t know. The only one who did in fact have any knowledge as to what was bothering Erin was Zeldana, who simply kept her mouth shut. It wasn¡¯t in her best interest to start telling the others what she knew.

    <hr>

    Erin walked down the street and eventually turned down into an empty alleyway in order to have some privacy. What Arkay¡¯s food had reminded her of had truly been something special, but it was also something painful as well.

    The food had reminded the redhead of the time she had first met Gabe, the one known as Golorath of the Five Overlords in this world.

    Back when she had first gotten together with Devin due to the stupid prank her friends had forced her into, Gabe had been the first person she had been introduced of the geeky boy¡¯s friend group.

    <hr>

    ¡°Dev, are you sure about this?¡± Erin asked, trying to hide her true feelings, while maintaining a friendly tone. ¡°I get that he¡¯s your friend and all, but do you think this is such a good idea?¡±

    ¡°Of course it is! Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± Devin asked, a bit confused over what his ¡°girlfriend¡± was saying. ¡°I want you to get to know all of my buddies, so why not just get started? Is there something wrong with that?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I just¡­ I just fear that I¡¯m not going to be able to get along with him. That¡¯s all,¡± Erin explained.

    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to be worried over anything like that!¡± Devin said happily. ¡°In fact, Gabe is the last person you need to worry about things like that! He¡¯s pretty much the kindest person around! Honestly, I¡¯d be more surprised if you couldn¡¯t get along with him.¡±

    ¡°If you say so¡­¡±

    The real reason Erin was worried over meeting Gabe wasn¡¯t because she feared he wouldn¡¯t like her, but that her facade would break out of sheer disgust and the whole fake relationship prank would be broken. If she allowed that to happen, she would never hear the end of it from her real friends.

    Gabriel ¡°Gabe¡± McKinnon, also known as ¡°Porky Gabe¡± at school, was someone that Erin didn¡¯t like at all. Out of Devin¡¯s whole group of friends, he was the one she hated the most. In fact, back when the conditions of her bet with her friends were first being set, they tried to get her to date him. It was only thanks to her vehement refusal that this didn¡¯t come to be.

    Much like Devin and the others in his group, Gabe was also a big geek. He enjoyed video games, roleplaying, comics and other such stuff. The reason he had the unfortunate nickname ¡°Porky Gabe¡± was due to him being overweight. This coupled with the way his nose was shaped led to people calling him a pig and making all sorts of nasty rumors about him, such as that he ate food from garbage cans or that he was putting his family in debt from overeating. These were obviously all false, but those telling the stories for their own amusement didn¡¯t care one bit.

    The real reason to his rather rotund shape was more tied to a very low self-esteem that came from another issue. Because of this, Gabe had a tendency to overeat in order to comfort himself.

    However, despite his issues, Gabe was still a very friendly and loving person to all who were able to look past his looks and accept him. In a way, he was the best friend of everyone in Devin¡¯s group.

    Despite this, Erin was NOT looking forward to meeting him. The way she saw it was that it was already more than enough to be in the same place for school, so spending her free time around him should have been seen as an inhumane punishment. Yet in order to keep up the act, she simply held her tongue, put on a sweet smile and went along with her ¡°boyfriend.¡±

    After arriving at Gabe¡¯s home, Devin ringed the doorbell and the rotund boy soon came to open the door. Upon seeing his friend, a smile came over his face.

    ¡°You finally got here, Dev! I was starting to think that you wouldn¡¯t-¡± Gabe began to say, only to stop when he noticed. ¡°Oh. I-I see you brought your girlfriend along¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I thought it would be more fun this way,¡± Devin said with a smile. ¡°Is that okay with you?¡±

    ¡°O-Of course it is! I was just a bit surprised!¡± the overweight boy said as he stepped aside to make way for the visitors. ¡°Anyways, come on in. Everything¡¯s ready.¡±

    As Devin and Erin walked inside, the boy felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked behind himself to see his girlfriend give him a questioning look.

    ¡°What is he talking about?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Devin responded with a smile.

    For some reason, the smile on the boy¡¯s face made the brunette¡¯s stomach flutter a bit. She didn¡¯t understand why she had been feeling like that from time to time when she was with him, but tried her best to ignore it. It must have been due to having to pretend to be his girlfriend or something.

    Once inside, Gabe led his two guests to the kitchen, where he had prepared a bunch of different ingredients. Erin looked at the two boys in confusion.

    ¡°What is all this for?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Devin asked in return. ¡°We are going to be cooking!¡±

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, it¡¯s not the only thing we¡¯ll be doing today,¡± Gabe said as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. ¡°I do have a bunch of movies prepared for us to watch. We can even play some games, if we get tired of simply watching stuff.¡±

    ¡°...Okay. Sounds interesting, I guess,¡± Erin said, hiding her displeasure. The idea of preparing food was something she herself didn¡¯t like to do at all, so on the inside she was getting quite upset with the two boys.

    ¡°Glad to hear you¡¯re up for it!¡± Devin said with a bright smile, once again giving the brunette that strange feeling in her stomach. ¡°Anyways, what will we be making today, Gabe?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking that we could make some delicious dumplings,¡± Gabe answered with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s pretty simple to do and should work well as a snack for watching movies.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me!¡± the blonde boy said enthusiastically. ¡°So, shall we get started then?¡±

    The overweight boy nodded and went to look over the ingredients one more time. However, when he did so, he realized that he was still missing something.

    ¡°Oh crap¡­ I forgot the ginger,¡± Gabe said. ¡°Sorry guys. It seems like I screwed up.¡±

    The shame the rotund boy felt brought a twisted and sadistic feeling of joy to Erin, as she had seen him as a disgusting person that didn¡¯t deserve anything good. While she managed to hide this sick joy, the corners of her mouth did twitch upwards a bit.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay, Gabe! There¡¯s a store not too far from here, so I can just quickly go there and get some,¡± Devin said with a smile as he began to head towards the door. ¡°You guys just wait for me and have fun. I won¡¯t be long gone.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Should I go along with you?¡± Erin asked, not liking the idea of being left alone with the overweight boy. ¡°I mean, if you¡¯re going to the store, you could use the extra hands to carry stuff, right?¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but I won¡¯t need any help in this. It¡¯s just a bit of ginger, after all,¡± the blonde boy said before giving his girlfriend a quick kiss on the cheek. ¡°Just use this time to get to know Gabe better, okay? I¡¯m sure you two will be good friends by the time I¡¯m back.¡±

    The brunette had been left completely stunned by the sudden kiss to the cheek, as she watched her boyfriend walk away. She slowly raised her hand to touch the spot that he had kissed, as her face turned red. What was strange that not too long ago even the thought of this happening to her would have been enough to make her feel disgust and anger. Yet here she was, feeling strangely happy.

    The sound of someone chuckling broke Erin out of her thoughts and she turned to look at Gabe, who was smiling at her.

    ¡°I guess you two really like each other,¡± the rotund boy said. ¡°I¡¯m glad. I was honestly a bit worried.¡±

    ¡°Well, of course we like each other!¡± the brunette said back, feeling somewhat angry by what had been implied. ¡°Why else would we get together and become a couple!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know and that¡¯s what worried me,¡± Gabe said with a shrug. ¡°You know, back when Devin told us that you had suddenly asked him out, we were all really worried. We were certain that it was all just part of some cruel prank. I mean, why would one of the popular girls ever do something like that with one of the unpopular geeks in the school? It didn¡¯t really make much sense to any of us.¡±

    ¡°W-Well, I just saw his good qualities and felt like trying it out!¡± Erin quickly said, afraid that some of Devin¡¯s friends might have seen through her after all. ¡°Besides, who are any of you to start judging others like that!? Doesn¡¯t exactly sound fair to me!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ fair, I guess,¡± the overweight boy said, somewhat taken aback by just how defensive the brunette suddenly. ¡°But look at it from our perspective. I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to tell you how bad the social standing for us is. I mean, you must have heard about those ¡°Porky Gabe¡± rumors and jokes, right?¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t even bother to respond. She obviously knew about those tales, as she herself had laughed at quite a few of them.

    ¡°We obviously don¡¯t really have many actual friends, so the very few we¡¯ve got are very precious to us. I guess you could call it supply and demand, huh? The rarer something is, the more valuable it becomes,¡± Gabe continued his explanation. ¡°That¡¯s why we try to look out for each other, as we don¡¯t want those we seriously care about to be hurt. So when we saw you of all people hanging out with one of us¡­ Well, you can probably imagine how our minds went into overdrive, trying to figure out what was actually going on.¡±

    ¡°And none of you ever considered that maybe I just like Devin because of the way he is? They say that you shouldn¡¯t judge a book by its cover and all that,¡± Erin said, feeling a bit surprised at herself by how easy it was for her to say that. ¡°Maybe it was you guys who were too judgmental of Devin, seeing as how you couldn¡¯t believe him getting together with me?¡±

    The brunette expected the rotund boy to get upset with her over her accusation, but was surprised when he actually laughed instead of angry.

    ¡°I suppose that could be it. I certainly never thought Devin of all people would get together with one of the prettiest girls in school,¡± Gabe said as he stopped laughing but still had a smile on his face. ¡°Whatever the case, I am truly happy to see that our worries were not necessary at all.¡±

    ¡°W-What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked, feeling flustered.

    ¡°I¡¯ve kind of learned to read the real thoughts of people from their expressions. That¡¯s how I can tell that you two really care about each other. So while you obviously don¡¯t like me, I can tell that you do care about Devin,¡± the overweight boy said with a smile. ¡°Besides, that blush on your face is more than enough of a sign to tell that much.¡±

    The brunette immediately went to a nearby window in order to see if what Gabe had told her was true. Much to her surprise, there was an actual blush on her face and the embarrassment from being caught only caused the blush to get worse. Erin tried her best to tell her that this was all just because she was feeling shame or something similar from hanging out with these people.

    Or at least that¡¯s what she tried to tell herself, but couldn¡¯t help feeling that it wasn¡¯t even close to being true.

    ¡°So, since we are still waiting for Devin, why don¡¯t we make something for ourselves?¡± Gabe suggested. ¡°How about we make some nice smoothies for ourselves?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Is that possible to make?¡± Erin asked.¡±I mean, I love smoothies, but I never thought I could make them myself.¡±

    ¡°Of course! It¡¯s actually very simple,¡± the rotund boy said as he walked to the fridge to get the ingredients. ¡°After we¡¯re done here, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to make them by yourself as much as you like.¡±

    True to Gabe¡¯s words, he and Erin were able to make refreshing and tasty smoothies for themselves. Much to the brunette¡¯s surprise, she actually ended up enjoying making the smoothies itself.

    ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Gabe asked as he took a sip of his smoothie. ¡°Does it taste as good as you¡¯d like?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Erin said as she drank her own smoothie. ¡°In fact, I think this tastes better than the drinks I get from the juice bar!¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear that!¡± the overweight boy said with a slight chuckle. ¡°Hope you¡¯ll be looking forward to making the dumplings as well.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Definitely!¡± the brunette said, surprising herself with her answer.

    It was at that moment that Devin returned, having bought the missing ingredient that they needed.

    ¡°Sorry I took so long, guys! There was quite a line at the store, so I wasn¡¯t able to-¡± the blonde boy said before noticing that his girlfriend and friend were drinking smoothies. ¡°Oh, did you guys get started already without me?¡±

    ¡°Not with the main dish itself,¡± Gabe replied. ¡°We just decided to get some drinks fr ourselves while waiting for you.¡±

    Now that they had all the ingredients they needed and all the people were gathered, the trio got to making their dumplings. Erin surprised herself by how much she ended up enjoying the whole thing. Once their food was ready, they got ready to watch some movies while enjoying their food. It turned out to be so good, that the brunette decided to make dumplings for herself at some point as well.

    It turned out that Erin didn¡¯t just end up enjoying the food and the process of making it, but she also had fun watching the movies Gabe had prepared for them and even enjoyed his company. It turned out that the portly boy was very good company. Not only was he kind and friendly, but he knew how to entertain people as well. If the brunette was being completely honest, she was somewhat regretting all the nasty jokes and stories she had told about him.

    At a certain point, Devin had to excuse himself, as he went to the bathroom for a moment, leaving Erin and Gabe on their own. However, unlike before, this time she wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered by being alone with the rotund boy, as she had found his company to be quite enjoyable.

    With the two of them on their own, the brunette felt like she should say something important that was on her mind at that time.

    ¡°Hey, Gabe?¡± Erin called out to the boy. ¡°I just wanna say¡­ thanks for today. I had a really good time.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I enjoyed my time with you as well,¡± the portly boy said with a smile.

    ¡°I also wanted to say that¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± the brunette said.

    ¡°What are you apologizing for?¡± Gabe asked.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure it didn¡¯t go unnoticed by you how I was acting at the start. I was being all cold and arrogant towards you for no good reason,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I just felt like I should say I¡¯m sorry for acting like such a jerk, when you haven¡¯t done anything to earn it.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the thought, but you don¡¯t need to apologize for that,¡± the overweight boy said. ¡°Like I said earlier, I¡¯m aware of all the stories people say about me. I am ¡°Porky Gabe¡± after all. I¡¯m used to being treated like that.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s not right!¡± the brunette said, surprising not only Gabe but herself as well. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re such a nice guy, yet people say such terrible things about you¡­ Doesn¡¯t it make you angry that you get treated in such a way for no good reason?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll admit that taking the insults, pranks and other mistreatment from people around me isn¡¯t always easy,¡± Gabe said. ¡°There have been many times I¡¯ve cried alone and hated those around me. Sometimes I just want to scream and just let go of it all.¡±

    ¡°But then why? Why are you so okay with the way I treated you just now?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to hurt any of my friends. If you truly care about someone, you¡¯ll do all you can to make them happy, even if that leaves you unhappy. That¡¯s at least what I believe,¡± the portly boy explained. ¡°It¡¯s because of the way I think I never said anything against you. Devin obviously cares about you and is happy with you. So just for his sake, I¡¯m willing to go through whatever crap you might throw at me.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± the brunette said, looking down in shame over her actions.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to say anything. All I hope is that you stay with Devin and keep him happy. If there¡¯s anybody out there who needs it, it¡¯s him,¡± Gabe said. ¡°All of us get our fair share of crap thrown at us, but he often gets the worst of it. If you can give him more reasons to smile, I¡¯d say that¡¯s a good thing and hope you two stay together.¡±

    ¡°...Do you really think that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen today, I know you can do it,¡± the rotund boy replied with a smile.

    The rest of that day had been spent just as happily as before. The only change had been that Erin now had a different view of not just Devin, but his friends as well. This would only be the first time her beliefs would be shaken by actually meeting those she had previously looked down upon.

    <hr>

    Sadly, this didn¡¯t last. In the end, the truth as to why she had been together with Devin had come out, causing everything to fall apart. Now all these good times were nothing but painful memories to Erin, reminding her of what her crimes had destroyed.

    But now there was a bigger question on her mind. When the time to face Gabe would come, what would she do? Would she be able to even fight him, let alone kill him if the situation called for it? After all, this wasn¡¯t just her personal mission any longer, as she had dragged others into this.

    Feeling the weight of what she would have to possibly do, Erin fell to her knees and wept quietly.

 95. What Must Be Done

    Chapter 95

    What Must Be Done

    Erin and her group had been staying at the city for a couple of days now. During that time, they had mostly been working on either gathering resources or information that they would need. The resources they were looking for included materials for Erin¡¯s new hand as well as those Lexton would use for creating his own special weaponry.

    They had also restarted their small potion business, selling the simple, yet useful potions the kobold made in order to earn some extra money for their travels. However, since their group had become larger, they would need other ways to earn revenue. This was one of the reasons they were trying so hard to find the local black market, as they could find ways to earn money through their illegal competitions and other activities.

    Right now, Lexton was putting the finishing touches on the blueprints for Erin¡¯s new hand, so that he could finally start working on the actual thing itself. After checking the plans a couple more times in order to make sure he hadn¡¯t overlooked anything, the kobold nodded in satisfaction as he could get to work.

    ¡°I promise you this much, Erin, your new hand is going to be one of my best works ever!¡± Lexton said excitedly as he was getting his equipment and materials ready. ¡°I¡¯d almost go so far as to say that you won¡¯t miss your old hand, but that would be a bit insensitive, wouldn¡¯t it? Besides, I might be a genius and all, but I doubt even I could make anything that great!¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Yeah, sure¡­ I¡¯m sure it will be great, Lex,¡± Erin said somewhat awkwardly, not really paying too much attention to what the kobold was saying.

    The truth was that the redhead was still caught up in thinking about the former friend she would be forced to fight soon. In all honesty, part of her wanted to just quit the whole journey to bring down the Five Overlords, but she knew that wasn¡¯t something she could do anymore. She was a wanted enemy of the rulers of this world and they would stop at nothing in order to put an end to her. Not only that, but the damages they caused to the world around her were undeniable and had to be stopped. Besides, after getting her friends involved, how could she just back down like that?

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Lexton asked, concerned over his companion. ¡°You¡¯ve been like this ever since you suddenly walked out during dinner. Care to talk about it?¡±

    ¡°N-Nothing¡¯s wrong!¡± Erin tried to quickly lie as she cursed her carelessness in her head. ¡°I¡¯ve just been having a lot on my mind! That¡¯s all! I mean, we¡¯re about to go after one of the most dangerous people in the world, right!? I¡¯m pretty sure anybody would be caught in their thoughts over something like that!¡±

    ¡°...Erin, come. Give me some credit here. I am the greatest con artist you will ever meet in your life. So if you think you can fool me with such obvious lying, I¡¯d honestly find that insulting,¡± the kobold said. ¡°So mind telling me what¡¯s really bothering you?¡±

    ¡°...I guess there¡¯s no getting out of this then,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly untrue that the current situation has a lot to do with the way I¡¯ve been acting. However, it¡¯s not Gotzmeyer that¡¯s the issue, but rather the one commanding him.¡±

    ¡°You mean Golorath?¡± Lexton asked for confirmation, to which Erin nodded. ¡°What about him?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not too familiar with a lot of things in regards to the Five Overlords themselves, so I¡¯ve been wondering what kind of a person he is,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Can you tell me more about him? I would like to know what kind of an enemy we will be facing in the future.¡±

    This was pretty much a lie. The redhead obviously knew who Golorath was or rather who he used to be. However, there was a some truth to the lie she had just told. What Erin was hoping to accomplish, besides getting out of the awkward situation she had been caught in, was to learn more about what her old friends had become in this world. If there was a chance that they could be stopped without any of them losing their lives, the redhead would take it. Anything was fine, as long as it meant that she could avoid making those she cared about suffer.

    ¡°Not sure if there¡¯s much I can tell you, as I haven¡¯t ever seen the guy myself, but I¡¯ll tell you as much as I¡¯ve heard,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Golorath of the Five Overlords or ¡°Golorath the Powerful¡± as he is regarded by their servants is one scary bastard. In a way, he lives up to his title, as he is apparently a very powerful warrior. Out of the five, he was the only Overlord who actively moved to the front lines during battles, while the others preferred to stay in the back and direct their troops, only taking up the fight when it was necessary. Because of this, he actually holds the highest kill record within their forces, as he often sought the leaders and elite warriors of the opposing armies to take down by his own hands.¡±

    Erin felt a chill run down her spine at the description of what her old friend had become, which was the complete opposite of how she remembered him. The idea that Gabe, the kindest and gentlest human being to ever exist, committing such brutal acts was something she couldn¡¯t believe. Unfortunately, she had seen and experienced the things her former friends had done and knew that this was what they had turned into. They were no longer the warm people that she had enjoyed so much time with. They were now the monsters that everybody feared.

    ¡°Anything else you can tell me about him?¡± the redhead asked, despite a part of her not wanting hear anymore.

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered, he appears to be a demon of some kind. I have yet to learn what sort of demon exactly, but that¡¯s because I never dared to look too much into him or the other Overlords. After all, what good would that type of information do for me, besides possibly get me killed?¡± the kobold explained. ¡°However, I did hear one strange thing about him. Apparently, after some of the battles, he would punish their enemies by eating almost all of their food. There have been cases where entire towns were left to starve, after he devoured everything edible they had.¡±

    ¡°...In other words, he¡¯s not exactly a nice guy that would be missed by anyone in the world, if he were to disappear?¡± Erin asked, somewhat dreading the answer.

    ¡°Well, not entirely. While the Overlords have committed their fair share of atrocities and rule the world with an iron fist, they do have their supporters. There are even some crazy loyalists out there who are like a cult that worships them,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°However, if this world is to ever get any better, he, along with the other Overlords, need to be taken out of the picture. Nothing will change otherwise.¡±

    ¡°...I see. Thank you, Lex,¡± the redhead said, doing her best to hide the sadness in her tone. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind when we face him.¡±

    The kobold wasn¡¯t exactly sure what she meant by that, but decided not to press the issue. She was obviously already troubled by something, so demanding to know more could cause more issues than solve them. Because of this, he decided to let it be for now and go back to the prosthetic hand that he was working on.

    ¡°Anyways, do you want to see the blueprints that I¡¯ve been working on?¡± Lexton asked with a hint of excitement in his voice. He was happy to get to show what he had made. ¡°I decided to focus on giving you a hand that you¡¯d be more comfortable with, so it doesn¡¯t have all that many weapons or tools, but I think I¡¯ve managed to fit in more than enough.¡±

    Erin walked up to the kobold to take a look at the blueprints. True to his word, the hand seemed to be made to look as close to a normal human hand as possible, so there weren¡¯t that many different special mechanisms in it. However, there was something in the index finger, as well as the palm. She also noticed a couple of runes that were drawn on different parts of the hand.

    ¡°Looks good, Lex, but what are these things on the finger here and the palm?¡± the redhead asked, curious as to what the kobold was planning. ¡°Also, are those runes?¡±

    ¡°Good observation! I knew you¡¯d catch them!¡± Lexton said happily. ¡°The runes aren¡¯t all that special, as they are mostly there to enforce the hand itself, making it more durable. However, when it comes to the other two things you pointed out, they are connected to this.¡±

    The kobold pulled out a small spherical stone out of his pocket. It was similar to the one that was in Arkay¡¯s knife that he had made, except for the obvious differences. Taking a closer look at it, Erin could have sworn that she saw flames moving inside the stone itself.

    ¡°What is that?¡± the redhead asked, amazed by how the stone looked. ¡°It kind of reminds me of the one you used on Arnie¡¯s knife.¡±

    ¡°Another good observation,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Indeed, this is a mana stone similar to the one I used for Arnie¡¯s knife. This one is imbued with the power of fire and it will the source of power for the fun little functions your hand is going to have.¡±

    ¡°Like what exactly?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, for starters, you¡¯ll be able to use the mana stone to turn the palm of your new hand into a small flamethrower. While it won¡¯t be the most powerful fire-based weapon ever created, it should serve you well as a means to surprise your enemies, as well as help you bring out flames when you need them,¡± the kobold explained before moving to the part on the index finger. ¡°The mana stone also comes in with this little thing. Basically, you can focus the flames from the palm into the tip of your finger, effectively bringing out a hidden blowtorch. You can use this to cut through things like fences, shackles and whatever else you might need to cut down.¡±

    ¡°Woah, this is really cool and impressive,¡± the redhead said, letting out a small whistle. ¡°So do you still need parts for this, or are you ready to get to building it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m completely ready to start building!¡± Lexton said proudly. ¡°Just give me a couple of days and you¡¯ll have a new hand to work with!¡±

    ¡°Good to know. Although, if you do need something, just tell me and I¡¯ll do my best to get it to you,¡± Erin said with a smile before walking to the door. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m gonna go outside for a bit. I¡¯ll see you later.¡±

    As soon as she had exited the room, the redhead came face to face with Zeldana. The elf seemed to have been waiting right in the hallway outside leaning on a wall, like she was expecting Erin to come outside soon.

    ¡°Is there something you need, Zeldana?¡± Erin asked, surprised to see the elf just standing there.

    ¡°To be honest, I kind of do,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about something.¡±

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Just something that a few of us have been wondering about,¡± the elf said as she walked up to Erin to whisper the next part in her ear. ¡°After all, we both know what you just told Lex isn¡¯t exactly the truth about what¡¯s been bothering you, right?¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s find a secluded place and I¡¯ll tell you as much as you want, okay?¡± Erin suggested to which Zeldana nodded.

    <hr>

    The two of them walked outside and headed to the outskirts of the city, not wanting anybody to just walk across them and hear what they were about to discuss. This wasn¡¯t exactly your average topic that they were going to talk about.

    Once they found a decent place right outside the city where they could have their talk in private, Erin turned ti face Zeldana, who had taken a seat on a large rock.

    ¡°Okay, so what exactly do you want to know?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°From what I remember, I already told you more than enough about who I am and what my relationship with the Five Overlords is. What more could you want to know?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t go exaggerating what you¡¯ve told me so far,¡± the elf said with a small smirk. ¡°While I get the basic idea of what you all are to each other, I still lack a lot of the details. What I want to know is exactly who the people known as the Five Overlords truly are and what they were like back in your world.¡±

    ¡°...Why do you need to know that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What use is there for you to know anything like that about them?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious to you already?¡± Zeldana asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°The reason I joined you guys was simply for the sake of my enjoyment, which I believe I can get due to you revealing your ¡°little secret¡± to me. Since I found your story so interesting, I decided to come along to see how it will all end. However, while I might know about you specifically, I don¡¯t know about those friends of yours that you are now fighting against. So mind telling me more?¡±

    ¡°But why do you need me to tell you more?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it more than enough to know who I am to them and why I¡¯m doing all of this?¡±

    ¡°Really now¡­ Have you never read a good story before in your life?¡± the elf asked with a sigh. ¡°The more you know about the characters of the story, the more you get invested in them. Just knowing that someone is either the good guy or the bad guy isn¡¯t anywhere near enough. One must know where they come from and who they are in order to truly get interested in them. What is it that they like? What do they hate? Why do they do what they do? These questions add so much more spice to an already interesting premise that it simply cannot be ignored!¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re a sick and twisted person,¡± Erin said as she glared at Zeldana.

    ¡°Hey, guilty as charged. I¡¯m not going to deny any of that,¡± the elf admitted right away. ¡°So¡­ Mind telling me more about the person I know as Golorath?¡±

    The redhead wanted to simply walk away in disgust, as she hated the idea that her painful history and that of her old friends was being used for someone¡¯s entertainment. However, at the same time, she knew that she had promised Zeldana an interesting story in return for her help and that her abilities as a healer would be irreplaceable during their travels. Because of this, Erin simply swallowed her anger and decided to humor the elf.

    ¡°His real name is Gabriel, although we called him Gabe,¡± the redhead began. ¡°Back in my world, he was a rather awkward kind of guy. He was also a bit overweight, which earned him the nickname ¡°Porky Gabe.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like a name a friend would give him,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I¡¯m going to assume that he got bullied quite a bit, huh?¡±

    ¡°That would be a correct assumption,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°A lot of people around him made jokes and nasty stories about him. I regret to admit it, but I was also one of those people¡­¡±

    The redhead took a deep breath to keep herself calm before continuing. Breaking down in tears wouldn¡¯t help her at all at this moment.

    ¡°To make things worse, Gabe had it hard at home as well,¡± Erin continued. ¡°His father wasn¡¯t exactly happy with how his son had turned out and was always berating him, telling him to be a ¡°real man¡± instead of how he actually was. It was honestly abuse what he had to go through.¡±

    ¡°Damn. That sucks,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°What was exactly his dad¡¯s issue with him? I mean, I get that he was hefty, but was that enough of a reason to question his manhood and get upset?¡±

    ¡°Well, it was more than that. His father had an issue with Gabe¡¯s hobbies and life goal as well,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°His father was very much into sports and other masculine activities, while Gabe himself had different interests. To make it worse, what he wanted was to become a chef, which his father just couldn¡¯t accept. Apparently, it wasn¡¯t ¡°manly enough¡± in his eyes or something¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you see this personally?¡± the elf asked.

    Erin didn¡¯t respond right away, as she was taken away by her memories of the old times.

    <hr>

    Erin was hanging out with Devin, Gabe and a couple other from their friend group. All of them were having fun by playing board games while snacking on chips and soda. That happy time came to a sudden end, when Gabe¡¯s father suddenly came to the room.

    Gabe¡¯s father, Horace, wasn¡¯t exactly someone you wanted to see upset, as he was quite intimidating. He was a rather tall man with broad shoulders and a rather impressive physique. He said that he liked to keep himself in shape, but it was obvious that he was doing more than just that. So one can only imagine a group like the one Erin was with must have felt, upon seeing such a large man come in with a rather nasty expression on his face.

    ¡°Goddammit, again with this crap,¡± Horace said as he was containing his anger. ¡°How many times do I need to see you little shits in my house?¡±

    ¡°D-Dad, why are you here already?¡± Gabe asked, having not expected his father to come home so early. ¡°I thought you were going to be working late today.¡±

    While Gabe¡¯s dad was someone that none of them wanted to come face to face with, the group often liked to gather at their home. This was due to their house being much larger than with anybody else, giving them far more room to set up their games and other activities.

    ¡°I got off early, as I worked my ass off to finish my tasks earlier than expected,¡± Horace answered. ¡°Not that you or any of your friends would know a thing about that.¡±

    Feeling offended by the insult Gabe¡¯s father just said in regards to his son and the others greatly angered Erin, who wanted to say something in response. However, a hand on her arm from Devin stopped her from voicing her opinion. When she looked at her current ¡°boyfriend¡± he simply shook his head in response, telling her not to say anything.

    ¡°Dad, we have all finished our schoolwork already and are just having some fun!¡± Gabe tried to argue. ¡°Besides, when I asked mom if it was okay, she said that-¡±

    ¡°And what does that matter!? Last time I checked, I¡¯m the one who pays the bills in this house, so it should be ME whose permission you need!¡± Horace said angrily, before looking over the others in the group. ¡°I want your deadbeat friends to get out of my house right now! Understood!?¡±

    ¡°But dad! I-!¡± Gabe tried to argue, but it was no use.

    ¡°UNDERSTOOD!?¡±

    The others in the group shared a look with each other and nodded. They knew how this went, so they decided not to make matters worse than they already were.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Devin said to Erin. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    The brunette simply nodded in response, as she followed the others outside the room. As she walked out, she gave one last glance at Gabe, who looked like he was expecting his own public execution.

    As the group made their way downstairs towards the front door, the came across Gabe¡¯s mother, Marianne. Unlike the rotund boy¡¯s father, she was a very kind person, who had no issues with her sons hobbies or friends. Unfortunately, she also lacked the will to really push back against the way Horace acted, which is why he was allowed to continue with his behavior without any repercussions.

    Marianne gave her son¡¯s friends an apologetic look, as she was more than aware of what had happened upstairs.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about this, you all,¡± Gabe¡¯s mother said in a sad tone. ¡°He has just had a rough day at work. Please don¡¯t pay much attention to whatever he might have said about you.¡±

    ¡°A bad day? More like a bad lifetime,¡± one of the others in the group, Jonathan, grumbled unhappily, which earned him a slight kick from Devin.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t take any offense to what he said, Mrs. McKinnon,¡± Devin quickly said to cover up for what his friend had said. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame that we had to call it a night so suddenly.¡±

    After saying goodnight to Marianne, the group walked out of the house. As they were doing this, they could hear yelling from the upstairs and could easily guess who was the one the noise was coming from. They then separated and went their own ways, with Devin and Erin walking together.

    The two of them had been walking in silence for some time now and were coming up to Erin¡¯s home. It was at that moment that Devin took out his phone and called Gabe.

    ¡°Hey, are you doing okay?¡± the blonde boy asked once the rotund boy had answered. He went silent for a moment, listening to what was being said on the other end of the line. ¡°...I see. Take care of yourself, okay? Sorry that this had to turn so bad.¡±

    ¡°Is everything alright with Gabe?¡± Erin asked in a concerned tone. ¡°Was it bad?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s always bad,¡± Devin said as he put away his phone. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly easy to deal with, when one of your parents seems to hate your very being.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we do something about this?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not right that Gabe has to go through crap like that at all! Is there really nothing we can do to help him?¡±

    ¡°Believe me, we have all wanted to do something to help him. The problem is that Gabe doesn¡¯t allow it,¡± the blonde boy said with a sigh. ¡°Despite how much of an ass his father is, he is still the one who pays the bills in the end. If he were to be taken away, it could hurt them financially. Not to mention, there isn¡¯t much proof that we can really give any authorities, unless we secretly record him or something. I¡¯m not even sure if his tantrums could be seen as enough reason for anybody to do something to him.¡±

    ¡°That might all be true, but is it really okay for us to simply not do anything!?¡± Erin asked, desperately hoping that there would be some method they could use to help their friend. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t get any help, I fear what might end up happening to him!¡±

    ¡°Again, we have all thought the same thing, but it isn¡¯t of any use, as Gabe himself doesn¡¯t want it,¡± Devin explained. ¡°Despite all the crap he gets put through, he still cares about his dad. So even if we provided proof about what¡¯s being done, he would deny it being actual abuse. Since he doesn¡¯t want any us to do anything about it, all we can do is respect his wishes and hope for the best.¡±

    ¡°...I can understand that you want to respect his wishes, but don¡¯t you think this isn¡¯t the time for that?¡± the brunette asked. ¡°I mean, he might not want our help, but is that really for the best? What¡¯s the best that could happen by us simply ignoring it?¡±

    ¡°...I have no idea, Erin,¡± the blonde boy replied. ¡°I just hope it¡¯s better than how things are right now.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°I unfortunately had to see it for myself,¡± the redhead finally replied to Zeldana. ¡°It wasn¡¯t pretty, to say the least¡­¡±

    ¡°So in other words, we¡¯ve got a pudgy boy with some serious daddy issue, because he questioned his manliness?¡± the elf summarized. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s his origin story then.¡±

    ¡°You watch your damn mouth!¡± Erin yelled angrily, as she grabbed Zeldana by the front of her shirt and glared at her. ¡°How the hell dare you talk about all the shit he went through so flippantly!? Who the hell are you to judge him like that!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe seeing as I¡¯ve been through countless bloody battlefields that I can¡¯t see much of what he¡¯s been through as that much of an issue?¡± the elf asked sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that what he or any of your buddies went through was okay or not tough, but seeing as how they decided to come to this world to take out their anger on us, it doesn¡¯t seem all that fair, does it?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I get that, but¡­¡± the redhead struggled to speak up, having been completely taken aback by such a statement. ¡°I get what you are saying, as nothing about this world had any part in what Gabe or anybody else went through, but don¡¯t they deserve at least a bit sympathy?¡±

    ¡°Sympathy is completely fine. Straight up forgiveness isn¡¯t,¡± Zeldana stated. ¡°Do you think they are the only ones who have had it rough? I¡¯d like you to somehow convince Ryle, Lexton, Arnie and Durge to see it like that. I doubt it would go well.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to say that others haven¡¯t had it hard, okay!? I¡¯m just saying that Gabe and the others did as well!¡± Erin tried to desperately argue. ¡°I can¡¯t just forget who they were and what caused all of this to happen! Especially when it¡¯s all my fault!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± the elf asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Did you force them to come here? Did you order them to take over the world? Did you tell them to do all the awful things they have done? Kind of hard to see you doing that.¡±

    ¡°STOP TRYING TO BE SMART WITH ME!¡± the redhead shouted as tears were now falling from her lone eye. ¡°Do you have any idea how much they all lost? All because of¡­ me! Just because I had to be stupid¡­ Just because I didn¡¯t have the courage to stand up and make things right. How can I just go and not care about those who are not only my victims, but also my friends?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything about not caring about them. You can care about them as much as you want,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The only thing that I¡¯m saying is that you can¡¯t simply let them go with all the things they have done. When the time comes, you are going to have to face them. You will have to fight them. And you will have to kill them.¡±

    Erin could feel the color drain from her face. This had been one of her biggest fears that she had tried her best to ignore, but couldn¡¯t do so any longer. In order to save this world and make it better, she knew she had to go and meet up with her old friends once again. But once she did that, what would come next? The obvious answer to that question had been something she didn¡¯t want to admit.

    She would have to kill her old friends. All of them.

    ¡°...How can I?¡± the redhead asked in a broken tone as she tried to hold back her tears. ¡°I already took so much from them. And now I¡¯m supposed to take their lives as well? How can I do that?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have the luxury to ask yourself that anymore. It¡¯s simply something you¡¯re going to have to do. It¡¯s simple as that,¡± Zeldana said as she stood up. ¡°Like it or not, your friends are now the biggest monsters of our world. Nothing will ever change for the better for as long as they are in power. And unless you plan to put a stop to them through this journey of yours, I don¡¯t see any point in you doing any of this at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I understand,¡± Erin finally said, accepting the task she would have to undertake. ¡°I will do what needs to be done.¡±

    ¡°Good. Make sure you do not fail. Otherwise, there won¡¯t be any end to any of this,¡± the elf said. ¡°Now, how about we go back to the others? I¡¯m sure they¡¯re wondering where we are.¡±

    The redhead simply nodded in response as she and Zeldana began to walk back towards where their group was staying. During the walk back, she couldn¡¯t help but think about what she had promised to do and had doubts over whether she would be able to keep her word.

    Once the time came, would she be able to kill Gabe? Or Devin and the others?

 96. Hands On Work

    Chapter 96

    Hands On Work

    Lexton had finally managed to finish constructing Erin¡¯s new hand, so it was time for them to attach it. The kobold had been making preparations to do this, as it wasn¡¯t as simple as simply putting the new mechanical hand where the redhead used to have her original body part. The prosthetic hand would have to connect with the nerves within Erin¡¯s body in order for her to be able to operate it properly. This would be a very painful process that the redhead wasn¡¯t aware of yet.

    ¡°So, you ready to get your new hand in place, Erin?¡± Lexton asked with slight excitement in his voice. ¡°The prosthetic is ready and all I need is for you to say the word and it shall be part of you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m as ready as I can be,¡± the redhead said with a small smile, happy that she would finally have both hands again. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m going to have to do this at some point, so might as well get it done right away.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± the kobold said. ¡°Now, why don¡¯t you take a seat on that chair over there?¡±

    Erin looked at the specific piece of furniture that Lexton had pointed at. It was one of the chairs from the dinner table, except now it was simply sitting in the middle of the living room for some reason. Despite being confused by this strange set-up, the redhead walked to the chair and sat on it.

    ¡°Now, place your right arm on the armrest,¡± the kobold instructed. ¡°Once you¡¯ve done that, we can finally begin.¡±

    ¡°...Okay?¡± Erin said, still confused as to why they needed to be so elaborate about the whole thing, yet did as she was instructed. ¡°I don¡¯t see why we need to make these preparations. I mean, can¡¯t I just sit on the couch and-¡±

    Before the redhead could finish her question, Ryle¡¯s whip flew at her from behind and wrapped around her body, tying her to the chair. Right after that, the blonde herself rushed over to hold down Erin¡¯s arm on the armrest.

    ¡°Ryle!?¡± the redhead yelled out of shock and confusion. ¡°What the hell are you-!?¡±

    ¡°NOW, LEX!¡± Ryle shouted, ignoring her tied up friend.

    Upon being called over by the blonde, Lexton quickly ran over to Erin and started to place the prosthetic hand where the stump was. It took some work, but the kobold was able to put it in the correct place, connecting the hand with the nerves with the arm.

    As soon as the connection had been made, a wave of excruciating pain washed over Erin¡¯s body, with the worst of it being concentrated on the spot the new hand was connected at. It felt like her body was on fire from the inside, as waves of fire kept washing over her, causing her to scream in agony and cry. The horrible agony she was feeling was so awful that she began to trash in her seat, trying to desperately get out of her restraints and tear the prosthetic hand off her arm, as her body was now operating on pure instinct instead of rational thinking.

    After what had felt like hours, the pain finally came to a stop, leaving Erin panting and sweating from the horrible and agonizing experience. Seeing that she was no longer thrashing around wildly, Ryle removed took the whip off the redhead, releasing her.

    ¡°Erin?¡± the blonde called out to her friend. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°What¡­ the hell¡­ was that?¡± the redhead managed to ask while still breathing heavily. ¡°That was easily the worst freaking thing I¡¯ve ever had to go through.¡±

    ¡°That was your new hand connecting with your body,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°The thing is that prosthetic limbs have to connect with the user¡¯s nervous system, which isn¡¯t exactly a pleasant experience, as you¡¯re probably now aware.¡±

    ¡°...Would it have killed to give me a GODDAMN WARNING!?¡± Erin shouted angrily as she tried to get her hands on the kobold, only for Ryle to hold her back. ¡°Why the hell wouldn¡¯t you warn me about this!? I would have liked to know just how awful this was going to be, before you do it!¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re upset, Erin, but I didn¡¯t want to risk anything!¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Had you been aware of how painful this was going to be, you might have hesitated or even backed out of it! Even if you were still willing to go through with it, you might have unconsciously tried to resist us putting it on!¡±

    ¡°You really think I would have done that, you asshole!?¡± the redhead yelled. ¡°I was more than willing to go through with this, as I know I need my new hand! Not only that, but I have the utmost trust in you! How the hell can you distrust me like this in return!?¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S NOT THAT I DON¡¯T TRUST YOU! I JUST DIDN¡¯T WANT YOU TO HURT YOURSELF!¡± the kobold shouted as loud as he could. ¡°Do you think this is the first time I¡¯ve taken part in an operation like this!? I¡¯ve seen this done multiple times and every single time the one who had a prosthetic like this implanted on them, they lost control from the pain! I¡¯ve seen how even hardened soldiers lose themselves to the agony they feel and tear their new limbs out of their bodies, which only further damages them! Is it so wrong for me to avoid seeing that happen with you!?¡±

    Completely taken aback by Lexton¡¯s sudden outburst, Erin almost fell over in shock. She had been so preoccupied from being angry over what she had gone through that she hadn¡¯t even considered that her companions might have had a legitimate reason for what they were doing.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Lex, Erin. Neither I nor any of the others wanted to see you get hurt, which is why we did this,¡± Ryle added to the explanation. ¡°When Lex explained what kind of a procedure it would be, we immediately set up a plan to make sure that you wouldn¡¯t end up accidentally hurting yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I get it,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my outburst. It was just not exactly a fun experience to go through, okay? I hope to God that I won¡¯t have to ever go through that again¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, if my work is as good as I think it is, that shouldn¡¯t be an issue in the near future,¡± Lexton said with a small smile, happy that they had gotten through to the redhead. ¡°Speaking of which, mind trying to move it around? I¡¯d like to see if it works properly.¡±

    Doing as she was requested, the redhead focused on her new hand and tried moving it around like she would with a regular one. To everybody¡¯s delight, the prosthetic was moving perfectly. Had it not been for the way it looked on the outside, one would have easily assumed that it was just a normal hand.

    ¡°It seems to be working just fine,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°How do I operate the little trinkets that you put in this thing, though?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about the one on the palm and the index finger, right?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°That¡¯s simple. Try focusing your magical energy on either the tip of your finger or the palm, depending on which you want to use. However, I do have to ask you to not put too much power into it, as that might not end up well indoors.¡±

    Following the instructions she had been given, the redhead focused a small amount of her magical energy on the tip of her right index finger. This resulted in a small flame appearing at the tip, like one you¡¯d get on a lighter. Once she stopped focusing magical energy on it, the flame quickly disappeared.

    After the successful testing of the finger, Erin then focused a small amount of magical energy on her palm, specifically where the red mana stone was located. Upon doing so, a small flame shot up from the stone, almost hitting the redhead on her face. It was safe to say at that point that the new mechanical hand built by Lexton was working perfectly.

    ¡°Seems to work just fine, Lex,¡± Erin said with a smile, happy over getting a new hand for herself. ¡°You do some really good work.¡±

    ¡°Naturally,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°After all, it is MY work that we are talking about here. You can expect nothing less than absolute perfection.¡±

    ¡°Oh God¡­ Don¡¯t make me puke,¡± Ryle said, not liking the kobold¡¯s bragging. ¡°Also, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but if I ever lose a hand or something, I think I¡¯ll prefer not to have one of your replacements. That shit Erin just went through? I don¡¯t any part in that.¡±

    ¡°Your loss,¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°Although, you could do with a replacement. With your head that is.¡±

    ¡°You slimy little-!¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not get into any pointless fights here, alright!?¡± Erin quickly said, stepping between her two friends. ¡°Now that we are done here, we should try to get back to work. That being gathering information in regards to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base here.¡±

    ¡°That should already be getting taken care of, actually,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Arkay was able to find the location of the local black market and gained entrance for us. The only thing we need now is to find an information broker capable and willing to sell us what we need.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s great!¡± the redhead said happily. ¡°How likely is it that we can find such a person?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too hard. Whatever you have, as long as it has value, can be sold and bought on the black market,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°The only question is whether we can find someone willing to sell it to us for what we have.¡±

    ¡°So there is the most pressing issue then¡­ Financial woes,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s to be expected, though. Selling military secret level info isn¡¯t exactly something that they wish to do for cheap.¡±

    ¡°Well, strangely enough, they do want to sell it. This is because those operating through the black market don¡¯t really appreciate the current military or the police, because they are rarely willing to make mutually beneficial trades and often simply take what they want,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°But while they are happy to sell this kind of information to us, they are still merchants and want to see as much profit as possible.¡±

    ¡°Speaking from experience, huh?¡± Ryle asked with a smirk. ¡°I suppose you¡¯d know how they think and operate, as you¡¯re cut from the same cloth.¡±

    ¡°Up yours,¡± the kobold said while flipping off the blonde, before turning back to Erin. ¡°There is also another issue. Due to the nature of where Gotzmeyer¡¯s base is located, we might need to hire a guide of some kind. Otherwise, we might risk getting lost in the cave system we need to go through.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That is certainly an issue,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully. ¡°However, we don¡¯t have any other choice, as we still need to find a way to get to that base. If it means risking going through a perilous labyrinth, then we have no other option except to do it.¡±

    As Erin and Ryle began to head towards the door, Lexton remembered one more thing that he had prepared for the day.

    ¡°Hold on just a second, Erin! There¡¯s still something I¡¯ve got prepared for you!¡± the kobold said, stopping his two companions from walking out. He then went to grab something from a nearby drawer and brought it to the redhead. ¡°Here. I think you might need these.¡±

    Erin looked at what Lexton had brought to her and saw that it was a pair of leather gloves.

    ¡°Thanks, Lex, but what are these for?¡± the redhead said as she accepted the pieces of clothing given to her. ¡°Do these have some strange runes in them as well or something?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing fancy like that. Those are just some ordinary gloves for you to wear while outside,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°I just figured that you might want to wear them to hide your new hand, so you can use the element of surprise to your advantage.¡±

    ¡°I see. Thank you,¡± Erin said with a smile as she put on the gloves, which fit surprisingly well. ¡°Wow, these fit really well. I had no idea you were good at sewing as well.¡±

    ¡°Hey, when you¡¯re living on your own, who is going to take care of your chores? Since there¡¯s no one else, might as well get it done myself, right?¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°And in case you¡¯re wondering, I can handle torn clothes as well, if I¡¯m not too busy with something else at the time.¡±

    ¡°Good to know,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°You truly are a man of many talents, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°This reminds me of how my brother used to handle task like this. If I ever had tears in my clothing, I could just given them to him and he¡¯d get them fixed right away,¡± Ryle said with a smile on her face as she was getting lost in thought. ¡°Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only thing he did. He also handled laundry, cleaning, cooking¡­ Come to think of it, he took care of all household chores you could think of.¡±

    ¡°...Had you been an only child, you would have certainly perished,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh.

    <hr>

    Some time later, Erin, along with Ryle and Lexton, joined together with the rest of their group, who were waiting for them in a cafe close to where the entrance to the black market was located. The other three members of their group were enjoying some warm drinks, until they saw their companions approaching, upon which they began to motion for them to come over.

    ¡°About time you guys got here,¡± Zeldana said as she sipped her coffee. ¡°How did it go? Did Erin start crying like a baby as you put in her new hand?¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± the redhead shouted.

    ¡°No. She simply got so pissed off that she almost beat me up,¡± Lexton replied.

    ¡°HEY!¡± Erin shouted louder,

    ¡°You know, I could have been there to help you guys out,¡± Durge said. ¡°I¡¯m sure I would have been able to hold her back well enough, so that there wouldn¡¯t have been any worries about her kicking your teeth in.¡±

    ¡°While I appreciate the offer, I think this was still the best viable option,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only was it necessary to have someone here to keep Arnie safe in case things got tough, I also fear that you might have ended up breaking Erin, seeing as how wild she got.¡±

    ¡°Meh. That¡¯s fair enough,¡± the orc said with a shrug.

    ¡°What about me?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°...I simply wanted you as far away from me as possible,¡± Lexton said with a slight glare directed at the elf.

    ¡°Meh. That¡¯s fair enough,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug.

    ¡°Okay, would you guys mind and stop talking about me like I¡¯m some kind of animal!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°At least have the decency to do it while I¡¯m not around!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re just being honest here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°But we¡¯ll keep your request in mind from now on and only talk about you behind your back.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s better- WAIT A SECOND!¡±

    <hr>

    After finally settling down, the members who had just arrived took seats at the table and ordered some drinks for themselves as well. With everyone gathered at the table, the discussion over what they would be doing next could finally begin.

    ¡°So, you guys were able to locate the local black market?¡± Erin asked, to which Arkay and Durge nodded. ¡°Where is it located exactly?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s sort of the surprising part. It¡¯s actually located close to the local prison,¡± Arkay answered. ¡°Usually the types of people that gather in such places would rather avoid law enforcement as much as possible, but I suppose they had the idea of hiding in the last place anyone would look at for them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not all. It turns out that the warden of the prison apparently has a nice deal with the ones behind the black market,¡± Durge added. ¡°Turns out, some of the people imprisoned there are essentially help that you can rent for yourself. This might come in hand for us, as we need to find someone who can guide us to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base.¡±

    ¡°...Any idea how much the information for the location of the base and the guide are going to cost altogether?¡± Erin said after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°Do you guys think we have enough money?¡±

    ¡°We should have enough. Our side business has been doing pretty well and I¡¯ve even been able to get my hands on some nice minerals close to the caves that brought in a good amount of extra,¡± Lexton said. ¡°All in all, I¡¯d say we¡¯ve got enough prepared to get a deal done. If nothing else, we can still at least get an estimation as to how much it will all cost.¡±

    ¡°Alright, might as well go inside then,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So where do we find the entrance to this place?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s actually going to be the tricky part. The entrance is within the prison itself,¡± Arkay replied. ¡°Apparently, we need to be able to pass off as relatives to the prisoner who is essentially the doorman to the black market. While some of the guards are part of the whole scheme, they still need to keep up the appearance of an actual prison.¡±

    ¡°...And just what might this doorman look like?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°It depends on who is asking. There¡¯s an elf, a lizardman, an orc, a human, basically any race you can think of is within that prison,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°However, if we are to make it seem like we are related to that specific prisoner, we all must look like we are actually related to them.¡±

    ¡°So in other words, if I want to go there, I must go there along with others who look like they could be humans?¡± the redhead asked to which she received a nod as an answer. ¡°Well, that already limits our candidates¡­ I doubt Lexton or Durge could pass on as humans.¡±

    ¡°I probably should stay out of this one as well,¡± Zeldana suddenly said. ¡°While it could be fun, I doubt you guys want to risk me being recognized by any of the people there. My face should be pretty well known by local authorities.¡±

    ¡°Good point. So in the end, the ones going inside will be me, Ryle and Arnie,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°Huh? Me?¡± Arkay asked, having not expected to be chosen for the group to go inside. ¡°But I¡¯m not a human!¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but you can easily be disguised as one,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°As long as we cover your ears and tail, you should be able to pass off as a human.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I guess so,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll come along and do my best to help you out!¡±

    ¡°I know you will, Arnie,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°What about you, Ryle? Are you okay with this set up?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really care as long as we get things done,¡± the blonde said in a bored tone while picking her nose. ¡°After all, we¡¯re not getting anywhere, unless we go to that black market place, right? So if I need to be there to get it done, I¡¯ll be there.¡±

    ¡°Good to know I can trust you to have my back. Although, it would be more effective, if you could have at least a bit better manners while saying stuff like that,¡± the redhead said before looking at the rest of the group. ¡°Anyways, the group going to the black market will be me, Ryle and Arnie. Is everybody else okay with that?¡±

    Durge and Zeldana immediately agreed to the suggestion, as they didn¡¯t see any problems with it. However, Lexton didn¡¯t fully agree with everybody else.

    ¡°I¡¯m against this,¡± the kobold said, surprising the others. ¡°I should be included in the group to go to the black market as well.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate that you want to help, Lex, but that just isn¡¯t possible this time,¡± Erin said. ¡°You heard what Arnie said. We need to make ourselves look like we could pass as relatives to the inmate we¡¯ll be meeting inside the prison. And unfortunately, you would stick out too much to allow us to pass.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, unless you can somehow make a potion that transforms you into a human, I don¡¯t see you coming along, Lex!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Just sit this one out! Me, Arnie and Erin will be more than enough to handle this!¡±

    ¡°Oh really? Tell me something, are you guys able to tell if a map is a sloppily drawn fake or the real thing? Are you able to pick up on the way someone speaks if they are actually lying?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Unless you can do any of that, I honestly fear what will happen to us. You guys are far too inexperienced and naive to tell when you¡¯re getting screwed over, so I¡¯m coming along to make sure you guys won¡¯t mess up.¡±

    ¡°Lex, I am not doubting your abilities at all, but the fact of the matter is that we cannot pass you as a relative. It¡¯s just not possible,¡± Erin said with a frown, not liking how she had to argue with the kobold like this. ¡°Besides, we have experience with these types of things, so I¡¯m sure we can handle ourselves in there.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? You guys can handle yourselves?¡± the kobold asked in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Did you perhaps think that as well, when you got screwed over by ME?¡±

    ¡°Woah! Hang on just a second!¡± Zeldana suddenly said loudly, breaking the tension. ¡°Now THIS sounds like a story! Care to tell me what happened!? And don¡¯t you dare skip on any details!¡±

    ¡°Zel, not now, okay?¡± Erin said with a frustrated sigh, before turning her attention back to Lexton. ¡°Okay, Lex. Let¡¯s say that you¡¯re right-¡±

    ¡°You goddamn right I¡¯m right,¡± the kobold interrupted.

    ¡°SO, since you are supposedly right, what do you suggest we do?¡± the redhead continued, annoyed over being interrupted. ¡°How are we supposed to pass you as a relative to a human? How do we do that?¡±

    ¡°For the love of¡­ Do you really think that humans only have relationships with humans? Have you ever heard of people of mixed heritage before?¡± Lexton asked in a frustrated tone. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time of the insane puritans anymore! There are countless of people getting together with representatives of other races! Do you really think that there isn¡¯t a way to make up some story to pass either me or Durge as the spouse of either you or Ryle?¡±

    ¡°Just for the record, I¡¯m not doing that with you,¡± Ryle quickly said. ¡°I doubt I¡¯d ever be able to feel clean again after pretending to be YOUR significant other.¡±

    ¡°The feeling is mutual,¡± the kobold said as he glared at the blonde. ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that it should be easy to make up some fake story that would allow me to get inside as well. It just requires us to create a story and stick to it.¡±

    ¡°You say it like it would be easy, but I doubt that¡¯s the case. I mean, pretending like you¡¯re my boyfriend or something isn¡¯t exactly something I want to do either for personal reasons,¡± Erin said, thinking back when she had pretended to be in a relationship with Devin and the mess it caused. However, she then had an idea. ¡°Wait a second¡­ To be part of the family, it doesn¡¯t have to be a romantic relationship, right? How about trying to pass you up as someone who was adopted?¡±

    ¡°Huh? That would work, except I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be convincing enough as an adopted child,¡± Lexton said. ¡°While I¡¯m still plenty young, most people think of little kids, when you talk about an adopted child. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to make that look believable.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think we have our ways to make it look VERY convincing,¡± the redhead said with a big smile, as she turned to look at Ryle. ¡°Don¡¯t we, Ryle?¡±

    At first, the blonde didn¡¯t understand what Erin was referring to, but soon picked up on it. Upon realizing what the redhead was talking about, a big grind spread across her face.

    Lexton couldn¡¯t help but be slightly worried over what the two of them were thinking of.

 97. Family Visit

    Chapter 97

    Family Visit

    One of the guards at the Grand Mine Central Prison, James Rothfield, had been told that there would be a family visit for one of the inmates, which on itself wasn¡¯t that surprising. However, it was one of the more ¡°popular¡± inmates, who seemed to have a very large family with members coming over for a visit very often. There were a few other such cases, where an inmate seemed to have an endless supply of relatives coming over for a visit.

    Now, this guard wasn¡¯t stupid. He could tell just by how things looked that there was something strange going on in the prison. The prisoners who got almost daily visitors were always of the same race as them and seemed to come for rather long visits. These specific prisoners were also the ones who got special treatment within the prison, like they were local royalty or something. Not only that, but the warden seemed to be exceptionally wealthy as well. It wasn¡¯t hard to connect the dots and figure out that there was some major corruption going on within the walls of the prison and that several members of the staff and prisoners were involved in it.

    He obviously didn¡¯t like this one bit. Despite not being an actual participant in the corruption that was going on, he still felt like he was partially responsible for it. However, seeing as how he needed a job to feed his family, he couldn¡¯t simply go and fight against it. James had heard more than enough stories about those who tried to expose corruption, who ended up jobless and on the streets, if not worse. With no other options, the guard had decided to simply keep his head down, do his job and save up money to move to a better place. It was the only thing he could really do that would allow him to get away from the corruption, while also keeping his family safe.

    Despite having seen all sorts of crazy stuff during his time working as a guard, he still had to look twice at the ¡°family¡± that was visiting them this time. It consisted of two women and two children, who all seemed like the strangest match up of individuals he had ever seen.

    One of the two women was a redheaded young woman, who wore her long hair in a manner that covered her right eye. She wore a very simple red dress with a light gray jacket over it. While trying to act like a normal lady, her whole act just seemed to scream ¡°fake¡± to the guard. It was clear with the way she behaved and spoke that she was putting on a show and not being her normal self.

    The other woman was even less convincing somehow, as had the presence of a street thug, as she had her hair spiked up, wore sunglasses over her eyes and had clothing that made her look like some punk from the streets. The way she seemed to slouch and speak were not signs of your average citizen, but rather a gangster that would end up in their custody at some point.

    The older of the two children seemed to be extremely nervous and even scared. He was wearing clothing that seemed to cover him up as much as possible, like he was afraid of being recognized. He wore a thick jacket with a hood pulled over his head so that you could barely see his face. The guard wondered if he had done something bad not too long ago and was afraid of being caught. Despite this, the way he acted politely and respectfully was something that made him the least worrying member of the group.

    The last one was a baby kobold that the redheaded woman held in her arms. Apparently, he had been adopted by the two women at some point. While this on itself wouldn¡¯t have been anything strange, as there were adoptions like this all the time, the baby was actually the weirdest part of the whole group. Normally a baby would be looking around in curiosity or trying to move around or at least making some noise. Yet this one seemed to be completely still, like it refused to act the way a baby would. Not only that, but the look on his face was not something a newborn child should have been able to make, as it seemed to speak of nothing but anger and annoyance, instead of curiosity and wonder.

    Despite this, James just decided to do his job without any complaints. It wasn¡¯t like he would get paid for pointing out these strange things anyways.

    However, that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t try to satisfy some of his curiosity.

    ¡°So¡­ I see that according to the notification we got that you¡¯re related to one of our prisoners, Keenan Calgar, correct?¡± the guard asked, to which the two women nodded. ¡°He seems to have an incredible amount of relatives¡­ Well, it¡¯s really not my business how families go about their business. Although, could I ask you some questions? Just out of curiosity.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh! Of course!¡± the redheaded woman, Erin, replied after being taken aback by the sudden interest from the guard. ¡°W-What might you be interested in?¡±

    ¡°Well, excuse me for being nosy, but I¡¯m a bit curious as to what the relationship between all of you is. Mind telling me about that?¡± James asked. ¡°For starters, are you two a couple or something? I mean, you don¡¯t look like sisters.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re a couple,¡± the other woman, Ryle, replied quickly, shocking Erin. ¡°Why the surprise? Never seen two girls get together before?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve seen my fair share of same sex couples in my life,¡± the guard replied. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ How do I put it? You don¡¯t look like a couple. Like you¡¯re not close with each other at all.¡±

    ¡°What? You need a demonstration from us or something?¡± Ryle asked. Upon realizing what she had just said, her and Erin¡¯s eyes went wide as they quickly glanced at each other.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, a certain elf got a tingle in the back of her head.

    ¡°I sense like I¡¯m missing something extremely entertaining,¡± Zeldana said as she instinctively stared off in the direction of the prison. ¡°Wonder what it could be?¡±

    ¡°Probably Erin and Ryle trying their best to appear as a couple,¡± Durge said lazily while reading a newspaper. ¡°By the way, was it really necessary to pass them off as lovers? Wouldn¡¯t it have been enough to call them cousins or something like that?¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but it wouldn¡¯t have been anywhere near as fun,¡± the elf said. ¡°God, I wish I was there! I¡¯m sure I¡¯d have something to laugh about for months!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Lex or Arnie can tell you the details later,¡± the orc said as he turned to the next page on his paper. ¡°Considering how much Lex hates his role, he¡¯ll probably give you ALL the details you could ever want.¡±

    ¡°...Oh, I cannot wait!¡± Zeldana said while chuckling to herself like a maniac.

    ¡°Twisted freaking creep,¡± Durge muttered to himself while shaking his head.

    <hr>

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not necessary for the two of you to go that far. I just happened to be a bit curious,¡± James said, causing Erin and Ryle to let out sighs of relief. ¡°Although, is everything going alright with you two? Seems like you¡¯re a bit too distant with each other to be called a couple.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Well, you see¡­ We are kind of going through a¡­ rough time in our relationship,¡± Erin quickly explained. ¡°Things haven¡¯t been going all too well between the two of us, so that¡¯s why there¡¯s a bit of a wall between us.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ That¡¯s unfortunate to hear,¡± the guard said sympathetically. ¡°I hope you get it all sorted out as soon as possible for the sake of both of you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you! Thanks!¡± Ryle said with a big smile. ¡°You know, I¡¯m sure we could get along, if she just stopped being such a nagging- OUCH!¡±

    Unbeknownst to the guard, Erin had secretly stepped on the blonde¡¯s foot very hard, which led to her cry of pain. She glared at the redhead, who had put on a sweet smile in order to hide what she had done.

    ¡°That¡¯s funny, I always considered the problem being how YOU like to stare at others,¡± Erin said with barely hidden venom in her voice. ¡°Especially the way you like to look at my little brother is something that I- GAH!¡±

    Now it had been Ryle¡¯s turn to stomp on the redhead¡¯s foot in secret.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure I wouldn¡¯t be looking at others, if you had the qualities that I like in a potential partner!¡± the blonde said with a fake smile as she was holding back her own anger as well. ¡°I mean, would it really hurt you to go to the gym every now and then!?¡±

    ¡°I doubt the gym will magically make me younger, honey!¡± Erin said as even her mask was starting to slip. ¡°At least not enough to catch your interest!¡±

    As it started to look like a fight would break out between the two women, the older kid, Arkay, decided to step between them. He was able to keep the two women from immediately jumping at each other, but it was obvious that he wouldn¡¯t be able to do so for long.

    ¡°Alright! Alright! Settle down already!¡± James said, hoping to stop the fight. ¡°Sheesh! If you two have such issues with each other, you should just go to counseling or something!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry,¡± Erin and Ryle said simultaneously.

    ¡°Anyways, I mostly feel sorry for the kid, who has to live with you two going at each other all the time,¡± the guard said looking at Arkay. ¡°And he was the younger brother of who again?¡±

    ¡°Me,¡± Erin answered while raising a hand.

    ¡°So in other words, you are simply a second sister or something?¡± the guard asked while looking at Ryle.

    ¡°Oh, I do hope to be more than that in the future,¡± the blonde said with a grin. ¡°MUCH more.¡±

    Ryle¡¯s comment earned her a swift elbow to the side from Erin, who let out an obviously fake laugh in order to pass off the blonde¡¯s comment as a joke. This obviously didn¡¯t fool James one bit.

    ¡°...Kid, do you mind and tell me what she meant by that comment?¡± the guard asked. ¡°I just want to make sure that nothing suspicious is going on in your household.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Honestly, I have no idea what she meant by that,¡± Arkay answered truthfully, as he indeed didn¡¯t know about Ryle¡¯s motives. ¡°Although, you don¡¯t need to worry about anything bad happening to me. They both treat me very well and I am fortunate to have them in my life.¡±

    The cat boy¡¯s earnest response made Erin let out a sigh of relief, while Ryle beamed with joy.

    ¡°I see¡­ Thank you for clarifying that,¡± James said, before turning his attention to the last member of the group, the baby kobold. ¡°And mind if I ask just who is this cute little guy?¡±

    The baby kobold was in truth Lexton. Erin and Ryle had come up with a plan to sneak him inside the prison as part of their ¡°family¡± by giving him one of Ryle¡¯s age changing potions. The blonde luckily still had two of them left, so they were able to use it in order to make Lexton look like an adopted baby.

    However, this plan came with one issue, which was that the kobold himself hated the idea. This was obvious by the constant irritated expression on his face.

    ¡°Oh yes! This is our little bundle of joy!¡± Erin said with a forced smile as she slightly bounced Lexton in her arms, which seemed to only irritate him further. ¡°We found him during our trip here and we just couldn¡¯t leave him all by himself! The poor little guy deserved to have a loving family around him!¡±

    ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Ryle mumbled. ¡°I still say we would have been better off leaving him to the wolves.¡±

    This comment from the blonde earned her another elbow blow from the redhead.

    ¡°...You say he¡¯s a bundle of joy, but he doesn¡¯t seem too happy, though,¡± James said while staring at the tiny kobold. ¡°Is he alright? Maybe he needs to get his diaper changed?¡±

    The guard¡¯s comment regarding diapers caused Lexton¡¯s frown to intensify.

    ¡°Oh, you shouldn¡¯t worry! He¡¯s just a bit¡­ Nervous! That¡¯s it!¡± Erin lied, as she was starting to sweat nervously from having to come up with excuses constantly. ¡°He gets like this when we go to new places! I¡¯m sure once we¡¯ve been here for a while, he¡¯ll be to his usual energetic self!¡±

    ¡°As for the diapers, it wouldn¡¯t matter, as he¡¯s already full of-¡± Ryle began to mutter again, but was cut off by yet another sharp elbow hit to the side.

    ¡°I guess that makes sense. I¡¯ve got a baby boy back home and he can get pretty nervous around new people, too,¡± James said while nodding. ¡°Well, kids just need time and proper nurturing. And before you know it, they¡¯re already speaking, walking and running.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so true!¡± Erin said with a forced laugh. ¡°In fact, we are still waiting for his first words and-¡±

    ¡°Waa. I¡¯m a baby. Waa,¡± Lexton sudden said in a dull monotone voice, causing all eyes to focus on him.

    ¡°Did¡­ Did that baby just speak?¡± James asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°OH, LOOK AT THAT! HIS FIRST WORDS!¡± Erin quickly said, trying to desperately play off the act even though she was clearly panicking. ¡°I¡¯M SO HAPPY I COULD CRY RIGHT NOW! I JUST WISH THAT YOUR FIRST WORD HAD BEEN MAMA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT! RIGHT!?¡±

    ¡°¡­This isn¡¯t going too well, is it?¡± Arkay whispered to Ryle.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± the blonde whispered back. ¡°Although, I gotta give her credit for doing her best to stick to the act.¡±

    James stared at the ¡°baby kobold¡± before him for a moment, still processing what he had just witnessed. Eventually, he let out a sigh and decided to let the whole thing go. Not like he had much of a say in the matter anyways.

    ¡°You know what? Whatever. Just go,¡± the guard said as he pointed down the hallway to their left. ¡°Just go straight from here. You¡¯ll eventually find the meeting hall, where you¡¯ll get to meet Keenan.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Erin said happily as she bowed down and even a couple of tears escaped her eye. ¡°We are truly grateful for all of your help!¡±

    ¡°...I didn¡¯t really do anything to actually help, except point you to where to go, but alright. You¡¯re welcome,¡± James said. ¡°Hopefully your little bundle of joy manages to smile at least once while here.¡±

    With their business with the guard now concluded, Erin and her group walked away from James. As they were leaving, the guard gave them one last look and had to do a double take, as he could have sworn that the baby just flipped him off.

    James would never forget this day for the rest of his life.

    <hr>

    Once the group had walked far enough from the guard and saw no one else around them, Erin let out a sigh and dropped her act.

    ¡°What the hell was that about, Lex!?¡± the redhead asked angrily while staring down at the kobold in her arms. ¡°Are you trying to get us caught or something!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not the one who came up with this retarded plan!¡± Lexton shouted back. ¡°Why the hell do I have to be a goddamn baby of all things!?¡±

    ¡°Because you demanded to be part of this group! You weren¡¯t going to take no for an answer, so what were we supposed to do!?¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t see what you¡¯re upset about! All you have to do is lay on your back and stay quiet! We¡¯re the ones who actually have to keep up the act!¡±

    ¡°Oh right! Your ¡°act¡± that is so convincing that even those with severe brain damage could be fooled by it!¡± the kobold ranted. ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m sure there are preschool plays with better acting than you two!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think I did a good job as playing the part of an unsatisfied lover,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Still a better act than yours ¡°bundle of joy.¡±

    ¡°Eat a dick, Ms. Cheating Wife!¡± Lexton said while flipping off the blonde, before looking back at Erin. ¡°Anyways, how long is this crap going to last!? I¡¯d like to regain a more dignified look as soon as possible!¡±

    ¡°That-!...I actually don¡¯t know,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully, before turning to the person with the most experience with this specific potion. ¡°Ryle, how long does it last?¡±

    ¡°Beats me. How would I know?¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°I just used it. I never actually made it myself.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? By actually using it, you should be aware of how long the effect lasts!¡± Erin said. ¡°Did you ever pay attention to how long it would take you to change back!?¡±

    ¡°Not really¡­ I mean, I knew that I would turn back at some point, so what was the point of doing something like that?¡± Ryle asked in return. ¡°You know, my brother also wanted to know such things, but since I could never give him an answer he just gave up.¡±

    ¡°Your brother had the patience of a freaking saint,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Can you at least give us a rough estimation? Are we talking about minutes or hours here?¡±

    ¡°The best I can tell you that it varies quite a bit. It can depend on the quality of the potion or the amount you drink,¡± Ryle explained. ¡°If I had to guess, I¡¯d say my shortest transformation ended in minutes, while my longest took a couple of days to end.¡±

    Silence fell over the group, as the others simply stared at the blonde with wide eyes. This was the calm before the storm, as uncontrollable anger soon exploded and shattered the silence.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?¡± Lexton shouted as loud as he could, furious over his predicament. ¡°YOU¡¯RE TELLING ME THAT I MIGHT BE STUCK IN THIS LARVA STAGE FOR DAYS!? WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU MAKE ME DRINK SOMETHING THAT-!?¡±

    Hoping to keep up their disguise, Erin quickly covered the kobold¡¯s mouth to keep him silent. As two guards walled over to them, hoping to investigate the sudden noise, she also turned around so her back was facing them. To keep up with the act, Ryle also pretended to be on the phone with someone, like the noise had just come from there.

    ¡°Sorry about the noise. Family issues,¡± Arkay quickly explained to the guards. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a nasty fight that has been going on for some time.¡±

    The guards seemed to nod in understanding, before turning around and walking away. With the threat of being exposed averted, the group was able to let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Lex, what the hell!?¡± Erin cursed at the kobold. ¡°Why are you trying so hard to blow our cover!? I¡¯d expect this from Ryle, but not you of all people!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Ryle said in agreement, before thinking about what the redhead had just said. ¡°Wait a minute, what!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, who the hell cares if we keep this stupid charade up!? It¡¯s not like this place has any honesty in it to begin with!¡± Lexton argued. ¡°Seriously, this place is about as honest and trustworthy as a used car salesman from Moonstone! Why can¡¯t we just be real about who we actually are!?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you paying attention!? That¡¯s because not all of the people are in this whole scheme!¡± Erin said. ¡°Even if there are a lot of corrupt people here, they still need to keep up the appearance of an actually honest establishment! That¡¯s why we can¡¯t simply come in her like nothing and have to put up with this! So would you please do your part!?¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± the kobold said unhappily. ¡°But you better not allow anyone to pinch my cheek or kiss me.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I doubt anyone wants to do either of those things,¡± Ryle said. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly the cutest of babies.¡±

    ¡°Coming from someone who looks like you, that¡¯s essentially a compliment,¡± Lexton snapped back. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not cute. I¡¯m freaking adorable.¡±

    Erin let out a deep sigh of exhaustion, as she regretted bringing the kobold with them like this. She and Ryle had thought it was a funny idea, and it had gotten a good laugh out of everyone, but the sheer amount of frustration she had to go through because of it was slowly draining her strength and spirit.

    The redhead just hoped that they wouldn¡¯t have any other instances of her friends trying to actively blow their cover.

    <hr>

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the meeting hall, where they would be seeing Keenan Calgar, the inmate who would take them to the local black market. Apparently, he had been a high-ranking officer in one of the numerous criminal organizations that used to operate in the city, which made him a very influential and dangerous person.

    However, once the group was destroyed by rival gangs, he needed a safe place to stay. By an incredible stroke of luck, the former human escort for the black market had an unfortunate ¡°accident¡± where a sharp piece of metal had found its way to his back soon after the warden had found out he hadn¡¯t been completely honest about the pay he had been receiving. With an open spot as an employee for the black market, the former gangster got himself protection and a steady income. While his life might not have been as luxurious as before, it was far more preferable to living on the streets with people constantly hunting for you.

    Erin looked around the hall and saw a multitude of prisoners being visited by those close to them. Most of the inmates were either orcs, dwarfs or goblins, but there were plenty of humans as well. There were even a couple of races that weren¡¯t all that common in the Western Continent, such as elves and lizardmen.

    Just by looking at how some of the conversations were going, one could tell which ones were the hardened criminals and which were the people who had just made a bad call in life. The people who belonged to the former were relaxed or didn¡¯t let any emotion show, which told you that they were used to the life they were living and had come to terms with it. The people in the latter group showed signs of shame, fear and sadness, as they either couldn¡¯t look their families in the eyes or were breaking down in tears.

    However, Erin didn¡¯t have the time to be looking around for long. There was no telling which of the inmates or the guards patrolling the area were part of the black market scheme and which ones weren¡¯t. They needed to find their contact person and go to him as soon as possible, before anyone started to get suspicious over them.

    ¡°Hey! Long time no see, you guys!¡± someone called out, causing Erin and her group to turn towards them. ¡°How have you folks been doing?¡±

    Before them was a human male, wearing the light gray jumpsuit that the inmates in the prison wore, along with a pair of white sandals on his feet. The man had a long mane of hair that was stylized into spikes on top of his head and was colored purple. He had some stubble on his chin and had a dragon tattoo on his chest, which was visible due to him leaving the zipper on his jumpsuit somewhat open. He had a relaxed look on his face, as he sauntered over to the group while smiling.

    This was Keenan Calgar, the person that would take them to the Black Market. Some of the inmates surrounding them were glaring at him, either because of past grudges or jealousy over his special standing within the prison.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you guys finally come in for a visit! It gets pretty dull around here seeing the same faces over and over again!¡± Keenan said jokingly. ¡°So, what brought you over to my home? Did you start to miss me?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Keenan. It¡¯s bee a while,¡± Erin said, getting into the act. ¡°We came over as you apparently have something to-¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not get too ahead of ourselves here!¡± the inmate said in a slightly nervous tone, as he quickly glanced around him to see if anyone had picked up on what the redhead had said. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s been so long since we last talked, so we should really find a more comfortable and private place to talk at! Luckily, as a model prisoner, I have just that! It really pays to do your work and behave like an angel, I tell you!¡±

    ¡°O-Of course,¡± the redhead said, a bit embarrassed how she almost blew their act. ¡°Just lead the way.¡±

    Keenan was about to lead the group to a more secluded place, but he noticed Lexton in Erin¡¯s arms and was a bit surprised by how the apparent kobold baby looked. The face of pure irritation on his face was something that the inmate would have never imagined on a newborn.

    ¡°Hey, is the little guy there alright?¡± Keenan asked, pointing at Lexton. ¡°He seems a bit¡­ strange.¡±

    ¡°You have no idea how right you are,¡± Ryle mumbled.

    ¡°Hush. Don¡¯t make this any worse,¡± Erin chastised the blonde, before turning to the inmate. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about him. He¡¯s just nervous from being surrounded by so many new people.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I get it. A shy little fella, huh?¡± Keenan said with a smile as he leaned closer to the ¡°baby¡± and smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid, little guy. We¡¯re all friends here.¡±

    After getting such loving words of encouragement, Lexton turned to look at the inmate and promptly gave him the one finger salute.

    ¡°Did¡­ Did that baby just flip me off?¡± Keenan asked, shocked by the behavior a toddler was showing him. ¡°How did he learn to do that?¡±

    ¡°Oh gosh, I¡¯m so sorry! I swear that he didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡± Erin quickly apologized, as she was starting to nervously sweat yet again. ¡°He¡¯s been surrounded by some bad influences lately! I fear he might have picked it up from one of them!¡±

    ¡°...I see. That makes sense,¡± the inmate said, looking at Ryle.

    ¡°Huh!? The hell is that supposed to mean!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°How am I automatically the bad influence!?¡±

    ¡°Please, your whole appearance practically screams it,¡± Keenan said. ¡°I know we¡¯re not supposed to judge a book by its cover and all that happy horseshit, but I think this is one of those times that¡¯s perfectly reasonable for me to do.¡±

    ¡°Oh go to hell! The others can tell you that I¡¯m not a bad influence at all! Right, guys!?¡± Ryle said, turning to Erin and Lexton, only to receive blank stares from both of them. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with that look!?¡±

    ¡°Do you even need me to tell you?¡± Erin asked with a sigh.

    ¡°Come on! Arnie at least agrees that I¡¯m not a bad influence!¡± the blonde said before turning to the cat boy. ¡°Right?¡±

    Arkay¡¯s response was to simply look away from her.

    ¡°How could you!?¡± Ryle cried out.

    ¡°Honestly, shame on you for infecting an innocent baby with bad manners! Even crooks like me have a limit to what can be allowed to be done!¡± Keenan said in a disapproving tone. ¡°Anyways, I think we¡¯ve spent enough time here. Let¡¯s go to my private room, so we don¡¯t have to worry about others listening to our conversation. I doubt any of us want that.¡±

    Erin and the others followed the inmate, as he led them to where they could enter the Black Market. The redhead could only wonder what they would see in such a place and hoped that they could get what they needed.

 98. The Market Under the Prison

    Chapter 98

    The Market Under the Prison

    Erin¡¯s group followed after Keenan, who led them to an elevator. Once inside, the inmate took out a key card that he put underneath a special scanner, before pressing a combination of buttons on the panel. This was because the people running the Black Market didn¡¯t want any outsiders to get there even on accident. By having the system require not only a special key card, but also a specific button combination ensured that no one uninvited got into areas they weren¡¯t supposed to be at.

    The machinery running the elevator hummed as the people inside could feel themselves start to descend. The Black Market had been dug even deeper underground than the city in order to keep it out of the public eye as much as possible.

    ¡°Is it now safe to speak about what we are really here for or do we still have to keep up the act?¡± Erin whispered to Keenan. ¡°When are we going to be safe from people that we don¡¯t want to hear our talks?¡±

    ¡°The moment the elevator¡¯s door closed we got away from prying eyes. No need to act like you¡¯re my family anymore,¡± Keenan replied. ¡°Still, what the hell kind of a group of amateurs are you? You could have ruined the whole thing back there! Even if people know that there is shady stuff going on around here, it doesn¡¯t matter as long as there isn¡¯t any evidence! Do you want to give the authorities a reason to come down here or something!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t talk shit like that to us! We aren¡¯t some crooks who live like this every day!¡± Ryle shot back. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the idea of putting on a dumb show in order to hide something that people know about!? That¡¯s like running around naked down the street in the middle of the day and then putting on clothes at night when most people are already asleep!¡±

    ¡°Are you simply deaf or just as dumb as you look? The reason nobody has come down here to stop this whole operation is because there hasn¡¯t been any solid evidence!¡± the inmate said. ¡°The people who would want this thing to get shut down won¡¯t move over simple rumors, no matter how many people might talk about them. They want actual proof that there is something going on here, which is why we need to put up with these acts in order to not give them even a hint of a proof! The way you guys keep talking unnecessarily is just going to put unwanted eyes on us and make things even more difficult!¡±

    The blonde was about to continue arguing, but Erin managed to stop her. Picking a fight with their guide would only cause trouble for everyone involved.

    ¡°Look, we¡¯re sorry about what happened there, but we are still not used to these kinds of deals. All we got from the people who set this up was that we needed to make up some sort of a story about being related to you and your picture. We didn¡¯t realize just how sensitive this whole operation truly is,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Are there any other things that we need to know from this point on?¡±

    ¡°Good to see at least one of you has some brains,¡± Keenan said. ¡°There isn¡¯t much else to really say. You just go there, buy what you want and don¡¯t cause any issues. The only thing is that you guys do have a bit of a time limit, unlike in the Black Markets of other areas.¡±

    ¡°How long do we have?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°A few hours, so you should be able to get everything done before you need to leave. They¡¯ll even announce it when you need to start packing your things up and leave,¡± the inmate explained. ¡°And before you ask, this is all in order to keep up the act that you¡¯re only here to visit me. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for a prison to allow its visitors to stay overnight, right?¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t it already strange that some inmates are allowed to take visitors to private rooms and have them there for long periods of time?¡± Arkay asked out of curiosity.

    ¡°That would be the case normally, but the prison here is run by a private company. They get quite a lot of freedom in how they do things,¡± Keenan replied. ¡°As long as they fulfill certain requirements, they can do pretty much whatever they want. Some of these requirements include transferring prisoners wanted by the government to their facilities and maintaining order within the prison itself.¡±

    The elevator suddenly came to a stop and opened its door, allowing the group to finally enter the Black Market itself.

    ¡°We¡¯re finally here,¡± Keenan said as he stepped out, followed by Erin and the others. ¡°Just remember to behave and you shouldn¡¯t have any issues.¡±

    As they got out of the elevator, they were greeted with a sight that was both beautiful and eerie. Back in Moonstone, the Black Market had lived up to its name as a large market. However, the place they were at now looked more like a small town, as there were far more actual buildings and they were larger than the ones in Moonstone. The same hustle was there, just as noisy as it had been at the previous location. Much like the city above them, the area was also illuminated by special stones that glowed. However, unlike in Grand Mine Central, the stones were much larger and placed on the ceiling above them. The stones glowed in a ghostly green light, bathing the Black Market and revealing what it held within.

    ¡°So, you guys go do what you came here to do and come back here, alright?¡± Keenan said as he walked away from the group. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go over there and have some fun with colleagues.¡±

    Erin looked over to the place where the inmate was heading towards and saw a small area set up by other people dressed in the same prison uniforms. There was a barbeque pit and a small bar set up, along with a couple of tables and chairs as well. The other prisoners were sitting at a table, playing a card game while enjoying the food and beverages. The redhead assumed that since Keenan had referred to them as ¡°colleagues¡± and the were from different races that these were the other guides that visitors to the Black Market used to gain access.

    ¡°Hey, are you asleep or something?¡± Lexton suddenly asked, snapping Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°You heard what he said! We have a limited amount of time to get things done around here, so let¡¯s get going already!¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± the redhead said as she blushed a bit from embarrassment.

    The group entered the town before them, looking around for any stores that could provide them with the services they needed. This meant any place that specialized in selling valuable information.

    ¡°Big place. It¡¯s gonna take a while for us to find what we are looking for,¡± Ryle said as she let out a whistle. ¡°Any idea what should we be watching out for?¡±

    ¡°Any shops that keep themselves simple-looking and don¡¯t have windows are ones you should be searching for. Since information merchants don¡¯t want the things they are selling to leak out, they try to keep themselves hidden even in places like this and minimize ways to gain access into their shops,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°As for the name, it should simply read ¡°Information¡± on it. They don¡¯t want to bother with fancy names, as they could be misleading.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense. I doubt it would be good for them, if people looking for a restaurant ended up walking in,¡± Erin said. ¡°I do have to wonder, how is this place so big? Considering how difficult it can be to get here, you¡¯d think that business here wouldn¡¯t be as profitable.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. A good amount of people that work here also live here,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Since it can be difficult to get in or out, some simply decide to settle down here and only leave when they either need to or they want to. That¡¯s why there are actual residential buildings here, unlike in Moonstone.¡±

    ¡°I guess that makes sense, but how is it still so lively here?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t only very few people be coming here to do business?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re assuming that the way we came was the only way in. Take a look over there,¡± Lexton said as he pointed to a place on the outskirts of the Black Market. There was a cave on the side of the bedrock surrounding the place with people going in and out. ¡°You remember that cave system close to Grand Mine Central? That¡¯s most likely also connected to this place from multiple places. However, due to the routes being very difficult and dangerous, only those with enough money and connections are able to use them.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense, I suppose. And I bet there are more than enough of people with the kind of money to throw around to get inside, no matter which route they wish to go,¡± Erin said, before noticing that a certain someone was missing from their group. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Arnie?¡±

    Upon noticing that their young friend was no longer with them, the group began to look around frantically, hoping to find him before anything bad happened to him. Luckily, it didn¡¯t take them long to find the missing cat boy, as he wasn¡¯t too far away from them.

    However, he wasn¡¯t alone, as there was a group of women dressed in a rather special manner.

    ¡°Hey, cutie! Wanna come and have fun with us?¡± one of the women surrounding Arkay asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure a guy like you would enjoy it!¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ T-Thanks for the offer, but I¡¯m kind of traveling with others!¡± the cat boy said awkwardly with a blush on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯d like it, if I went on my own somewhere!¡±

    ¡°Aww! Don¡¯t be like that!¡± another woman said, grabbing his arm. ¡°I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t mind it, if you come hang with us for a moment! Please? Just a little while!¡±

    Erin and Lexton simply stared at what was happening to their young friend with wide eyes.

    ¡°You know, I always though that Ryle was a special case of some kind, but I guess she isn¡¯t that rare in the end,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Arnie is surprisingly popular, though, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Well, it isn¡¯t really all that surprising when you think about it. He¡¯s the type of guy who shows just who he is on the outside, so you can tell what he¡¯s all about with a single look. And what you¡¯ll see is a very sweet and nice guy,¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°Combined with his looks, I¡¯m honestly not too surprised by his popularity. He¡¯s natural born lady killer.¡±

    The redhead and the kobold suddenly heard a weird and unpleasant sound coming from next to them. They looked to their side and felt shivers run down their spines, upon realizing that the sound came from Ryle gritting her teeth from anger. If looks could kill, the sheer fury behind the blonde¡¯s eyes could have wiped out everybody in the Black Market.

    The women surrounding Arkay seemed to sense the anger directed at them, as they eventually turned to look at Ryle stomp her way over to them. The blonde didn¡¯t need to say anything, as the group of women backed away instinctively, allowing her to simply pick the cat boy up, slung him over her shoulder and carry him away. Once she thought that they were within a safe distance, she placed Arkay on the ground.

    ¡°Alright, this isn¡¯t a good place,¡± Ryle said as she regrouped with Erin and Lexton. ¡°I say we do our business here and get the hell out as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯d say it¡¯s not too bad,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I mean, the neighborhood seems to be pretty friendly. At least to Arnie.¡±

    ¡°You watch your mouth, scale ball!¡± the blonde said angrily, as she glared at the kobold. ¡°I don¡¯t plan to go to jail for baby murder, but you keep pushing me and I¡¯ll-!¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, miss?¡± someone called out to Ryle from behind, making her turn around. The blonde¡¯s eyes went wide, as it was a group of boys around the same age as Arkay, all wearing different kinds of outfits. ¡°We¡¯re having a special offering at the cafe we work at. Would you be interested in visiting us?¡±

    ¡°...On second thought, maybe we could spend a little extra time here,¡± Ryle said with a big grin on her face. ¡°I suddenly feel like I want to take in the sights.¡±

    Before she could go and enjoy what the Black Market had for offer, the blonde felt cold stares at her back. She turned around and saw both Erin and Lexton glare at her in disgust.

    ¡°H-Hey, I was only joking! Joking!¡± Ryle quickly said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really going to go over to their cafe or anything like that! I promise!¡±

    ¡°Sure. Maybe you¡¯d be a bit more believable, if you didn¡¯t have that trail of drool on your chin,¡± Erin pointed out. ¡°Seriously, do you even know what dignity means?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re expecting far too much from here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°We know Ryle is essentially an animal, only working according to her base instincts and nothing more.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s way too harsh!¡± the blonde exclaimed angrily, before looking at Arkay for support. ¡°Arnie, you don¡¯t think like that about me, do you!?¡±

    ¡°...To be perfectly honest, even I¡¯m a bit disappointed in you,¡± the cat boy said with a sigh, shocking Ryle down to her soul. ¡°I get that there are things you are curious and excited about, but we are here on a mission. The way you acted just now was disrespectful to everybody else in the group and I would have expected better from you.¡±

    After getting such a brutal verbal strike from Arkay, the blonde fell to her knees in shock. She could hardly believe what she had just gone through.

    ¡°I¡¯m the worst,¡± Ryle muttered to herself. ¡°I made Arnie upset. How could I ever do something like that? Is there any point in even living any longer?¡±

    ¡°...You know, if she had anywhere near the same level of dedication to pretty much anything else, I shudder to think what she could accomplish,¡± Lexton said, as he stared at the blonde¡¯s overly dramatic behavior. ¡°Too bad it only comes up when it¡¯s not really needed.¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing,¡± Erin said.

    <hr>

    After managing to calm down Ryle and getting her to move again, the group was able to continue their search for the information merchants within the Black Market. They were eventually able to find what they were looking for at the outskirts of the town.

    Much like Lexton had described, the building looked very plain and didn¡¯t have a single window on it. There seemed to be only one door, but one could be certain that the building also had a secondary exit, so that the ones inside could escape in case things got hairy. Right above the entrance was a simple sign that read ¡°Information¡± on it. Had Erin not known any better, she would have assumed that this was the place one wold go to for directions and other such things, like the info desks at malls.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°We¡¯re finally here then,¡± the redhead said as she looked at the store. ¡°What should we ask for, Lex? Do you think these people have maps that lead to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base or should we ask for simply directions?¡±

    ¡°Erin, if we just asked for directions, we would simply end up getting lost. Do you have any idea just how difficult it is to navigate those caves?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°There are stories where even elves have gotten so badly lost that they died from old age without ever finding their way back. Not to mention, all the horrible beasts that live there are also going to be a major pain in the ass for anyone trying to even get just a few steps in, much less through a whole passage. What we need are maps. If that¡¯s not possible, then someone who can guide us.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Anything else?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we will have enough money, but if you can get anything related to Gotzmeyer or his base, it would be useful,¡± the kobold said. ¡°However, let¡¯s focus on finding our way to the base itself first.¡±

    ¡°Think they could also give us the address to that cafe I was told about?¡± Ryle asked, only to earn dirty looks from the others. ¡°I was just asking¡­¡±

    The group entered the building to find a simple waiting area. There were a few chairs placed neatly against the walls, with a front desk facing them and the door. Behind the desk were stairs leading to another floor above. There was a person sitting behind the desk, reading a books. They were a male ratfolk, who were basically humanoid rat people in the world of Five Realms.

    However, while everything around them seemed perfectly normal, Erin couldn¡¯t help but feel alert for some reason. There was a strange smell in the room, almost like incense of some kind, but that wasn¡¯t what truly bothered her. There was something else that also sent shivers down her spine, like there was a monsters hiding in some dark corner, ready to pounce on her at any moment.

    ¡°Oh! Customers!¡± the rat-man said as he put away his book. ¡°Welcome to the store of us information merchants! How may we be of service?¡±

    ¡°Hello. We came here looking for information in regards to the cave systems surrounding Grand Mine Central. Particularly in regards to the path that would lead us to the base of Gotzmeyer,¡± Erin said. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be selling maps leading there and other information regarding the base itself?¡±

    ¡°But of course! Even the smallest of passing whispers can be bought from here. As long as you have the money, that is,¡± the receptionist said with a smirk. ¡°Although, if it¡¯s a map that you wish, I fear you might be going home empty handed this time¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we be able to get a map from you? Have they all been sold or something?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. Not all. It¡¯s just that you are talking about some rather expensive merchandise here,¡± the rat man explained. ¡°Still, it never hurts to at least see the price and see how much you can offer. Would you like to go upstairs and meet the owner of this fine establishment?¡±

    ¡°The hell is with that? Why the need to go deeper inside a shady as hell place like this?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Can¡¯t we just do our business right here and now?¡±

    ¡°I see that one of your companions is of lower intelligence,¡± the receptionist said, earning a glare from the blonde. ¡°Information is one of the greatest things one can possess. And the less people know it, the more valuable it is. Do you really want to risk someone walking in and hearing what you¡¯re talking about? There¡¯s a reason why we don¡¯t have windows here, you know¡­¡±

    ¡°You ratty little bastard¡­ I should just-!¡± Ryle began, only to be stopped by Erin and Arkay.

    ¡°We appreciate your concern and would like to see what your store has to offer,¡± Erin said. ¡°Please allow us to enter.¡±

    ¡°Good choice,¡± the receptionist said with a smirk. ¡°Besides, I doubt your little baby there would have been able to last much longer anyways¡­¡±

    Erin, confused by the strange comment, looked down at Lexton, only to find him in a state of absolute terror. His eyes were as wide as possible, his body was shivering and his breathing was only very minimal, almost like he was afraid to draw breath.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡± the redhead asked, worried over something having happened to Lexton. Seeing no other possible source for his distress, she turned to glare at the rat man. ¡°What did you do to him?¡±

    ¡°Me? I didn¡¯t do anything at all,¡± the receptionist replied. ¡°Maybe you should look at what he¡¯s looking at?¡±

    It was then that Erin realized that Lexton was actually staring at something. Because he was laying in her arms, he was constantly looking up. And right now, there was something above them that absolutely terrified him.

    Wanting to know what was causing such horror to the kobold, the redhead looked up, along with Ryle and Arkay. What they found was so terrifying that they all felt their blood freeze. Erin now knew what it was that made her feel so alert upon first coming inside the store.

    Right above them, sticking to the ceiling was a giant spider. Thanks to the building not being all that big, the creature took up the entire space on the surface it was clinging to, making it look even more massive. It had dark gray coloring on itself, allowing it to blend to the surroundings of its habitat. Massive fangs were kept ready to strike at prey, as its eyes surveyed the area below it.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve finally discovered our little security measure,¡± the receptionist said with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. It¡¯s not going to attack, unless you decide to cause issues. You probably noticed an odd smell when you walked in, right? That comes from a special incense that helps keep that guy docile. However, all I need to do is cut it off and he will go back to being the bloodthirsty monster that you wouldn¡¯t want to mess with.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit of a dangerous way to have security?¡± Erin asked, terrified of the giant spider looming over them. ¡°What if something happens that gets it, you know, riled up? And how are the people running the Black Market okay with this?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you that information is one of the greatest things one can possess? The same way it¡¯s power, lack of information is a weakness,¡± the rat man explained. ¡°As long as the people running this whole operation don¡¯t know about it, they can¡¯t really complain, can they? And before you even think about telling anyone, you should know that it only requires one message from us and no information store in the world will ever do business with you again.¡±

    Seeing how they didn¡¯t really have a choice in the matter, the redhead decided to simply accept the fact that they would be making deals in a building that had a gigantic spider in it. As she and her companions walked to the staircase leading to the upper floor, she took one last glance at the monstrous arachnid before making her way up the stairs.

    ¡°Why does it always have to be spiders?¡± Erin muttered to herself unhappily.

    After walking up the stairs, the group arrived at a room that was almost completely dark. The only source of light that came to the room was from the numerous computer screens scattered around. All of the screens were showing different things. Some had videos playing on them, others had text scrolling across them and some displayed codes.

    However, the strangest thing withing the room was the lone person sitting in the middle of it all. It was a goblin, who as wearing some strange goggles over his eyes. The goggles themselves were flashing periodically, as the one wearing them kept switching what he was viewing at a very fast pace. But the most disturbing thing about him was that there were cables coming from all the screens that were connected to the back of his head.

    ¡°Grix, we¡¯ve got customers,¡± the receptionist called out to the goblin. ¡°They are looking for information regarding the base of Gotzmeyer.¡±

    ¡°Gotzmeyer? I see,¡± the goblin said without moving even an inch from his spot. ¡°Well, as long as one has the money, nothing will remain a secret. That¡¯s our motto.¡±

    The rat man waved goodbye to the group as he walked back to the entrance of the building. Erin walked towards the goblin, getting ready to ask for what they wanted.

    ¡°Hello. As your colleague mentioned, we are looking to buy information in regards to the warlord stationed nearby, Gotzmeyer,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°We are specifically interested in buying maps that would lead to the base and any other valuable information you might have regarding the base or Gotzmeyer himself. Do you have anything of sorts that we could possibly buy?¡±

    ¡°Did you say maps? ...Of course, the cave systems. One would have to be either a fool or suicidal to enter those without proper preparation,¡± Grix said in thought. Erin and her companions noticed that the goggles he was wearing, as well as some of the monitors, seemed to switch to show information in regards to the caves, like he was looking at them himself. ¡°We do indeed have maps, but they will be quite pricey. You see, while there are plenty of others that wish to find Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, there are numerous other reasons for people to venture into those caves. Not only do they hold great dangers within them, but also treasures. You can probably now see why the maps might cost quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°...Yes, your colleague mentioned that,¡± Erin said, feeling a bit worried over what they might ask for the map. ¡°So, how much is a single map going to cost then?¡±

    ¡°A single copy? That would be about 15 million credits,¡± the goblin answered.

    To say that the group was taken by surprise would be an understatement. They had expected the price to be incredibly high, but nowhere near to this extent. The redhead looked down at Lexton, who shook his head from side to side. This told her that they didn¡¯t have enough money at all.¡±

    ¡°What the hell!? How can a simple dumb map cost that much!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of paper! It should only cost 20 credits at best!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand. What we are selling you isn¡¯t any simple map, but the information that will help you navigate the greatest natural labyrinth in the whole world,¡± Grix explained. ¡°With it, you not only are able to locate Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, but you can also avoid some of the creatures that live within those caves, as well as locate the riches I mentioned earlier. In other words, not only can you find what you¡¯re telling us you¡¯re looking for, but so much more as well.¡±

    ¡°H-Hang on! We don¡¯t need all that other information! All we need is a way to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base!¡± Erin quickly said, hoping that they could still get what they needed. ¡°How about you sell us a map that only tells us that? Would that be possible?¡±

    ¡°While I suppose we could give you an edited version of the map, that would still be quite pricey,¡± the goblin answered. ¡°Even with a lot of information taken out of it, a map of the caves could still lead you to some of the greatest treasures hidden there. Besides, are you sure you would even want a map like that? After all, you¡¯d still be walking in without any knowledge about the many dangers awaiting you. You can do that, but I must say that I doubt you¡¯ll make it back alive.¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll take our chances,¡± Ryle said as she glared at Grix. ¡°We might have to take a big risk, but that was obvious from the beginning. Besides, I think we¡¯ll feel a lot better knowing that we didn¡¯t allow ourselves to get screwed over by you crooks.¡±

    ¡°...Is that so?¡± the goblin asked, with a small hint of irritation, the only sign of emotion he had showed through this whole conversation. ¡°In that case, I suppose I might as well sell you what you want. However, all transaction here require a payment first, before we provide our service. Is that okay?¡±

    Erin looked at Ryle, who seemed to be certain in regards to this, giving her an encouraging nod. She also looked at Arkay, but the cat boy didn¡¯t seem so sure about the idea. Despite his and her own doubts, the fact that they needed a map still remained. And as long as the one they got was enough to get them to their destination, it was better than nothing.

    However, just as the redhead was about to agree to the deal, Lexton grabbed her hair and pulled on it very hard, causing her to cry out in pain. She looked down at the kobold and saw him giving her an angry glare.

    ¡°J-Just a moment! I think the baby needs something!¡± Erin quickly lied, before walking away from the group a bit. She then glared at Lexton, angry over what he had just done. ¡°Lex, what the hell!? Why did you just yank on my hair!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I needed to get your attention somehow!¡± the kobold said. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that babies don¡¯t have much of a vocabulary!¡±

    ¡°...Alright, so what do you want?¡± the redhead asked, still upset. ¡°I was just about to make a deal for the map that we need.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, specifically for one that will just get us killed! Are you out of your goddamn mind!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°Just because we can afford something, doesn¡¯t mean that we should buy it right away! Didn¡¯t you listen to when he told you about the dangers in those caves!? There are countless things in there that are pretty much designed to kill us and you want to face them blind!? What the hell are you thinking!?¡±

    ¡°What else do you expect me to do!? It¡¯s not like we have enough money for a proper map!¡± Erin argued. ¡°Like it or not, we need at least something to get to Gotzmeyer!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! We need something!¡± the kobold said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean it has to be a shitty map!¡±

    ¡°What are you-?¡± the redhead began to ask, only to realize what Lexton was getting at. ¡°Hang on¡­ You mean to tell me that there is something else that can get us there?¡±

    ¡°Now you¡¯re getting it!¡± the kobold said. ¡°When you think about it, the map is so valuable mostly because you can use it whenever you want. You sell one to a customer, they won¡¯t need to come to you any longer. The solution is that we buy something that meets our needs, but isn¡¯t as valuable!¡±

    ¡°...And that would be?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°A guide. We simply hire someone who knows the way to guide us,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°There has got to be more than one person in this place that can take us there. With any luck, these people might help us contact them even. Having a guide would be perfect for us, as we aren¡¯t planning to stay around here anyways.¡±

    ¡°You think that will work?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I mean, what if we get someone who claims to know their way around the caves, but is simply lying? Not to mention, they could try and betray us.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. During this time I looked into whatever info was available in regards to the caves and with just a couple of questions we should know who can actually guide us,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°As for fearing whether they¡¯ll betray us, not only do we have people like Durge and Zeldana with us, but if you give me enough time, I can whip something up that will ensure our safety.¡±

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll see if we can work something like that out,¡± Erin said with a confident smile.

    After her talk with Lexton, the redhead went back to the others.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve managed to get your baby to calm down,¡± Grix said. ¡°So, what will it be? Will you be buying a map from us or not?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I thought about it a bit and wanted to ask you something,¡± Erin said. ¡°If maps are too expensive, would it be possible for us to hire a guide?¡±

    ¡°A guide, you say?¡± the goblin asked, as his goggles and the surrounding screens went through different images once again, showing different people that were most likely potential guides. ¡°That is indeed possible, although, not directly through us. We can, however, give you a reference that will allow you to hire one from people that specialize in providing those with specific skills to customers. May I ask what brought this up?¡±

    ¡°Simple logical thinking,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°We understand that a complete map of the caves is incredibly valuable for numerous reasons, not just for the reason we need it, which is why it has the high price. However, using an edited map would be reckless, as we wouldn¡¯t know about the dangers ahead of us. That¡¯s why what we need is essentially a one-time use map, so we can simply use it for what we need and that¡¯s it. That¡¯s what gave me the idea of hiring a guide, as they will do their job and nothing more. I¡¯m certain that will be cheaper than the map we were asking for, right?¡±

    ¡°That would certainly be the case. However, like I said earlier, as we do not deal in renting the services of guides or anything like that, we cannot provide this to you directly. What we can do, is give you something that will help you out in that,¡± Grix explained. ¡°I think this document will come in hand for you.¡±

    Near one of the screens was a printer that let out a piece of paper. Erin took it and looked it through quickly, but was unable to understand the text at all.

    ¡°What is this?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°It seems to be nothing but a bunch of nonsense.¡±

    ¡°It might look like that to you, but it¡¯s actually a special code,¡± the goblin answered. ¡°You should hand it over to the person who escorted you here. He¡¯ll be able to read it and then take you to the warden of the prison above. He has a side business, were some of the inmates can be hired by people. You should be able to find a suitable guide there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Erin said as she bowed her head a bit. ¡°How much will this cost?¡±

    ¡°Since we aren¡¯t directly providing you with the service itself, it¡¯s nowhere near as expensive as the map. Still, we need to charge for giving you the reference, which allows you to do business with the warden,¡± Grix said. ¡°I¡¯d say around 50 thousand should be enough.¡±

    Despite still being a rather steep price, the redhead paid it regardless. After all, thanks to the money they had found at Zeldana¡¯s place, along with their side business of selling Lexton¡¯s medicines, they had more than enough to spare. Now they just needed to see if they could get anything else that was useful.

    ¡°Now that we have managed to get that done, do you have anything in regards to Gotzmeyer or his base?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Anything that could help us gain access would be very useful. And if you can tell us any sort of weaknesses or the fighting abilities of Gotzmeyer himself would also be greatly appreciated.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, the base in question has some very strict security measures and anyone who breaks them is swiftly punished with death,¡± Grix explained. ¡°However, we do know of one method of getting inside and have video evidence of the way Gotzmeyer fights. Do you wish to have this information? It will be about 60 thousand in total.¡±

    The redhead nodded and gave the money to the goblin. After he had counted the money and made sure it was the correct amount, the largest screen directly behind him suddenly switched to showing an image of what appeared to be the front entrance to a military base, which Erin and her companions assumed to be Gotzmeyer¡¯s.

    ¡°Please observe this,¡± Grix said as a video started playing on the screen.

    The screen showed a large truck belonging to the military driving up to the front gate. After a quick check up, the gate opened, allowing the vehicle to go inside.

    ¡°Gotzmeyer¡¯s base is heavily guarded, as its surroundings form natural defenses for it. Coupled with all of their security measures, it¡¯s almost impregnable,¡± the goblin explained. ¡°However, there is a weekly delivery of supplies to the base, which is when the gates are opened. From what we know, this would be the best method for you to gain access.¡±

    ¡°...I see. Thank you for this,¡± Erin said, already thinking about how they could utilize this for their goals. ¡°What about the video regarding Gotzmeyer?¡±

    ¡°Observe,¡± Grix said, as the screen behind him switched again, now displaying another picture. This time the picture showed them a very tall man wearing armor that covered his whole body and face. Over the armor he was wearing a bright red jacket and was holding a very large sword in his hands. It didn¡¯t take long for everybody to figure out that this was Gotzmeyer.

    The pictures was another video that proceeded to show Gotzmeyer in one of his battles. Everybody watched as a large group of armed soldiers rushed towards him, as the armor-clad warlord slowly walked towards his opponents, holding his sword at the ready in front of him.

    As soon as the attackers had gotten close enough, Gotzmeyer made his first move and what followed was a one-sided massacre. Despite looking heavy and cumbersome, the armored warlord was able to swing his sword at a lightning fast speed. None of his enemies had even the slightest chance to retaliate, as they were mercilessly cut down with a single strike each. Some tried to use ranged attacks in order to take down their opponent, only for those same incredibly fast swings to strike down any projectile sent his way. After their attacks had failed, the people trying to use ranged attacks were soon run down and killed by the warlord.

    Erin and the others watched with wide eyes at the carnage before them. The fact that the warlord was able to cut down his enemies with such ease was nothing short of terrifying. It seemed like there was nothing that could be done to even harm him, let alone defeat him. It was obvious how he had become such a feared opponent.

    ¡°T-This is insane,¡± Erin managed to say after getting out of her shock. ¡°I know that we need to defeat him, but he is that powerful? And there are two more people at the same level? How is something like that even possible?¡±

    ¡°He just cut through those people like they were made of jelly! And he swung that huge as hell sword around like a stick!¡± Ryle said, also shocked by what she had seen. ¡°How the hell can you even get close to that!? You¡¯ll be cut in half before you can even touch him!¡±

    Neither Arkay or Lexton said anything, but you could tell by their expressions that they shared the same sentiment as the redhead and the blonde did. This was a monster that they had no confidence that they could defeat.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯re all rather shocked by what you¡¯ve witnessed, which is understandable. He is, after all, a warlord known for his combat prowess,¡± Grix said. ¡°However, I want you to watch this video until the end. I feel like you¡¯ll witness something very interesting.¡±

    Despite their loss of hope, Erin and the others kept their eyes on the screen. The video showed the battle was still continuing with just a few of Gotzmeyer¡¯s opponents left. But just as the warlord was about to take down the last man standing before him, something happened.

    Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide from what she saw.

 99. Friendly but Deadly

    Chapter 99

    Friendly but Deadly

    What Erin and her friends witnessed was something that they couldn¡¯t believe after seeing how the battle had gone. Gotzmeyer had been such a powerful and dominating force of destruction that the battle seemed to have been over before it even began. Coupled with the warlord¡¯s reputation as a warrior who had never bled in any of his battles, the image of an invincible monster had been built inside their minds. Yet despite all of this, they now saw something that defied that idea completely.

    They saw Gotzmeyer get hurt and fall to his knees.

    It all happened so fast that they almost missed it. There was only one opponent left, a boy that seemed to be around the same age as Arkay. He was holding a sword similar to a Japanese katana by his side. The boy had stood still and simply waited as the warlord came towards him, which Erin and the others had assumed was due to being frozen from fear.

    However, he had simply been waiting for Gotzmeyer to come close enough, upon when in one move that was almost too fast for them to see, he unsheathed his sword and struck the warlord, who was brought down from the blow. After striking down his opponent, the boy stood there for a moment, before putting away his sword and walking away.

    While Erin couldn¡¯t understand why the boy didn¡¯t simply finish off Gotzmeyer, that was not the thing she was thinking about at the moment. The seemingly invincible warlord could be harmed, which meant he could be defeated. That was all that mattered right now.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ Did you guys see that!?¡± Ryle asked in shock. ¡°Whoever that kid was, he just stopped that monster like it was nothing! He made the warlord his bitch!¡±

    ¡°T-The attack he unleashed was so fast I almost missed it,¡± Arkay said as he kept staring at the screen with wide eyes. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it to be real.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that the information we¡¯ve provided you is to your liking. But there is one detail that I think you are all missing right now,¡± Grix said, earning confused looks from his customers. ¡°Take a closer look at Gotzmeyer¡¯s injury.¡±

    At first, no one seemed to get what the goblin was trying to hint at, but soon Erin and others realized it. The cut from the attack had to be deep, yet despite this there was no blood at all.

    ¡°He¡¯s not bleeding!¡± Erin exclaimed in surprise. ¡°But how is that possible!? That must have been a deep wound!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you guys getting at?¡± Ryle asked, being the only one in the group who didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Why is it such a big deal that he¡¯s not bleeding? I mean, weren¡¯t we already aware of that?¡±

    Erin, Lexton and Arkay all looked at their blonde companion with different emotions behind their eyes. The redhead was simply frustrated, the kobold was angry and the cat boy was a bit disappointed.

    ¡°...Arnie, can you be a dear and explain it to her?¡± Erin asked with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m just too tired to do it right now.¡±

    ¡°Explain what to me?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°What do I need to have explained?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, do you remember what we were told about Gotzmeyer?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°How he never bled in any of the battles he took part in?¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah! I though that had been made very clear to us already!¡± the blonde said. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t understand why this is such a big deal! If we know he never bled, why are we so surprised when he isn¡¯t bleeding!?¡±

    ¡°The thing is that an injury like the one he received should be something that causes at least some level of bleeding, yet there doesn¡¯t seem to be even a drop of blood,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°In other words, his fearsome reputation isn¡¯t because he is such a strong warrior that no one has been able to injure him, but it¡¯s something else.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ If it¡¯s something else, then what is it?¡± Ryle asked with widened eyes, as she started to understand what the others had realized. ¡°What could possibly make it so that he doesn¡¯t bleed?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something that we have to find out, as it could be the key to defeating him,¡± Erin said, before turning back to Grix. ¡°Do you have any idea what the explanation to this could be?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that still remains a mystery to us. We have tried sending people to find out this secret, but they have all ended up getting caught and executed,¡± the goblin answered. ¡°The most likely theory is that Gotzmeyer¡¯s actual body is much smaller than his armor and he simply manipulates it from the inside, like an advanced battle suit of sorts.¡±

    ¡°That could be it¡­ If Gotzmeyer is actually a dwarf or something even smaller, he could easily fit in that suit and not get injured by such an attack,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully. ¡°Anyways, thank you for your services. We¡¯ll be taking our leave now, since we got what we came for.¡±

    ¡°It was a pleasure doing business with you,¡± Grix said, as all the screens and even his goggles switched to show a text that simply said ¡°THANK YOU.¡±

    After concluding their business at the information store, Erin and the others began to head back to where they had first arrived at the Black Market. Everyone in the group was glad that they didn¡¯t need to spend anymore time at the store, as they weren¡¯t exactly keen on their security measure, the gigantic spider hanging on the ceiling. As they had passed underneath it, Lexton had once again frozen in fear from seeing the arachnid monster.

    ¡°Lex, are you alright?¡± Erin asked, concerned over the kobold¡¯s well-being. ¡°You practically went into shock, when you saw that spider.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t handle spiders all that well,¡± Lexton said. ¡°While there have been times that I¡¯ve been required to go near such horrible things, most of the time I¡¯ve been able to do so from a safe distance or with a plan that allowed me to stay far enough from them. To be put close to one like that without any warning¡­ It just doesn¡¯t sit well with me, okay?¡±

    The redhead was about to offer comfort to the kobold by saying that she understood his fear, as she herself had been quite terrified of the monstrous spider as well. However, the sound of snickering stopped her from doing so.

    ¡°And here I thought you were all tough, yet you¡¯re afraid of spiders, like a little girl?¡± Ryle said as she was holding back her laughter. ¡°Oh man! That¡¯s precious! Do you need me to come and kill the evil eight-legged beasts, if they make web in a corner of your room or something to catch flies?¡±

    Erin wasn¡¯t too happy with the way the blonde was laughing at Lexton¡¯s fear and was about to reprimand her, only for the kobold to do it for her.

    ¡°First of all, I am NOT afraid of all spiders, okay? Your regular spiders that sneak into your home? I simply squash them with a rolled up newspaper and move on. What I am afraid of are those GIGANTIC MONSTERS that should terrify any sane person!¡± Lexton explained angrily. ¡°Second, I think I have pretty good natural reason to be afraid of such things!¡±

    ¡°What natural reason?¡± Ryle asked.

    The kobold didn¡¯t respond with any words. He instead pointed at a lizard moving on the ground nearby that was suddenly attacked and killed by a large spider.

    ¡°...Okay, so spiders eat lizards, which makes them a natural enemy of sorts for you. Got it,¡± the blonde said. ¡°But don¡¯t you think you¡¯re exaggerating your fear a bit too much? I mean, should you really be that afraid of them?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right! What possible reason could there be for me to fear giant spiders!?¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°Except that we are talking about monsters that can make webs strong enough to catch trucks and have venom strong enough to kill small dragons! And the way they kill you is by biting down on you with their giant fangs, paralyzing you with venom and then sucking your internal organs out of your body, while all you can do is lay down hopelessly waiting to die! Some even lay their eggs in you while you¡¯re alive, so the babies can eat you from the inside!¡±

    ¡°...I take back everything I just said. You have plenty of reasons to fear them,¡± Ryle said with her face pale.

    After the argument between Lexton and Ryle, the group continued in their way through the town, looking around at all the stores surrounding them. There was a lot that the Black Market could offer, as long as you had enough money.

    ¡°Lex, should we go and see what some of these other places can offer us?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It kind of feels like a wasted opportunity to simply walk out of here without visiting at least a couple other places.¡±

    ¡°I can understand what you mean, but I¡¯d say it¡¯s best for us to just get our guide and get out,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Not only did we get what we came here for, but we¡¯ve already spent quite a bit of money, even before we have met the possible guides that we can hire. We need to think of things on a more long-term scale, as well, and not go on a spending spree. The way I see it, we got what we need, so let¡¯s just move on. Besides, I can make a bunch of stuff for us that we might want anyways, so no real loss skipping these other places.¡±

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°True¡­ Not to mention, we still have a time limit to worry about,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I just hope that we¡¯ll have enough time to hire the guide we need.¡±

    ¡°Trust me on this. They¡¯ll make sure we¡¯ll have plenty of time, once they hear that we want to hire someone,¡± the kobold said. ¡°The reason the warden of the prison allows the Black Market to operate here is because he gets a portion of the profits they make. However, if he gets a chance to make a direct deal where all the profits go him, he¡¯ll be more than happy to have us as his customers.¡±

    ¡°Good to know,¡± Erin said. ¡°Guess we¡¯re off to see Keenan again then.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second, guys!¡± Ryle suddenly called out, causing the redhead to stop and turn towards her. ¡°Where¡¯s Arnie?¡±

    Erin and Lexton looked around and saw that the cat boy had gone missing yet again. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take them long to find him in a pinch similar to the one he had gotten into earlier, as a rather attractive female elf had taken an interest in him, leaving Arkay himself quite flustered.

    ¡°Hey there, cutie,¡± the elf woman said with a smile. ¡°Wanna go have some fun with me? I¡¯m sure you¡¯d enjoy it!¡±

    ¡°A-Ah! I-I¡¯m sorry, miss, but I c-can¡¯t!¡± the cat boy said nervously with a bright blush on his face. ¡°I-I¡¯m actually here with some friends and I need to join up with them, so-!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t mind!¡± the elf said with a grin. ¡°If nothing else, maybe I can introduce some of my friends to them, so they can have their own fun, while we have ours?¡±

    Erin and Lexton couldn¡¯t help but sigh. They could see how this was going to go.

    ¡°And here we go again,¡± Erin said as she shook her head lightly. ¡°Think we should step in?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. It¡¯s not worth it,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Besides, a certain moronic mutant is about to get this over and done with.¡±

    Just like the kobold had said, Ryle was already stomping over to were Arkay and the elf woman were with a furious look on her face. Erin only hoped that this wouldn¡¯t end in violence.

    ¡°HEY! GET YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF HIM!¡± the blonde shouted as she pulled Arkay away from the elf. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing, preying on people like Arnie!? Creeps like you should be locked away for life!¡±

    ¡°Like you¡¯re one to talk!¡± Erin shouted from behind.

    ¡°SHUT UP, ERIN! WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON ANYWAYS!?¡± Ryle shouted back at the redhead, before turning back to the elf before her. ¡°Listen here, bitch. I¡¯ve already seen people like you try to pull this stuff once today and I only held back because I didn¡¯t want to cause trouble. But I swear, if I see you or any of your slimy co-workers so much as touch a hair on Arnie¡¯s head, I will wipe you and whatever craphole you work at off the face of the map! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°Oh my! How terrifying! You could almost make me shiver a bit!¡± the elf said mockingly, before smirking. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so aggressive, you know? After all, I did tell your little friend that I could introduce you to some of my own friends. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find them very interesting.¡±

    The blonde was about to tell the elf where she could shove her offer, when she felt a gentle tug at the back of her jacket. She turned around to see a young elf boy looking up at her.

    ¡°Are you a friend of my sister, miss?¡± the elf boy asked with a smile. ¡°If you¡¯d like, we can take you to our shop, so we can get to know each other better.¡±

    ¡°May I introduce you to my younger brother, Denzer,¡± the elf woman said with a smirk. ¡°How about it? Care to get to know us a bit better?¡±

    ¡°...You know, that sounds like a great idea,¡± Ryle said with a mesmerized look on her face. ¡°After all, you can¡¯t have too many friends in this world, can you?¡±

    The sound of someone letting out a small cough broke the blonde out of her daze. She turned to look at Arkay, who had a somewhat upset look on his face.

    ¡°Ryle, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± the cat boy asked. ¡°You know that we don¡¯t have all that much time. We need to get back with Erin and Lex, so we can leave this place. Isn¡¯t that why you got angry at me breaking up from the group and lagging behind?¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s not-! I wasn¡¯t-! I mean-!¡± Ryle tried to come up with an excuse, but couldn¡¯t. The pure innocence and naivety of Arkay had left her practically speechless. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Let¡¯s go back to the others¡­¡±

    As the two were about to join up with the others in their group, the elf boy managed to walk up to the blonde to give her one last thing.

    ¡°Miss, before you leave, I¡¯d like you to have this,¡± Denzer said as he gave Ryle a small flower. While the flower itself was made of plastic, the design was very detailed and quite beautiful. ¡°We give these to our special customers. I was hoping to give you one as well. Hope you can come back another time and visit us. I¡¯m sure we both would enjoy it!¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ Ge he he he¡­ I¡¯m sure we would,¡± the blonde said with a blush and a goofy smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. And thanks for the gift. I appreciate it.¡±

    After finally waving goodbye to the elf siblings, the group could continue on their way back to where they had come from. As they were doing this, Ryle kept staring at the flower she had received with a dreamy look on her face.

    ¡°Ryle, would you mind and stop staring at that damn flower of yours already? You¡¯re freaking me out!¡± Erin complained to the blonde. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s just a cheap plastic trinket they probably give out to every customer in order to make them feel special! Why are you holding onto it like it¡¯s a treasure of some kind!?¡±

    ¡°Because it is a treasure to me!¡± Ryle shouted back. ¡°Do you have any idea how much this means to me!? This is the first time I¡¯ve ever received a gift like this! While I did get gifts from my family, I¡¯ve never had anything like this happen to me, so let me enjoy it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised that this is your first time,¡± Lexton said. ¡°For anybody to give you any kind of a gift out of love, they¡¯d have to be either blind or insane. And even then I¡¯m sure most people wouldn¡¯t go through with it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so lucky you¡¯re a baby right now!¡± the blonde threatened the kobold. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d be kicking your ass around like a football!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what the big issue is. I mean, if Ryle likes that flower, she should be allowed to enjoy it. There¡¯s no harm in what she¡¯s doing,¡± Arkay said with a kind smile. ¡°As her friends, we should hope that she finds things that make her happy. And if that flower does that, it¡¯s all good in my books.¡±

    The others turned to look at the cat boy with wide eyes, amazed at how pure and innocent he could be. A couple of tears even escaped from Ryle¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°...Arnie,¡± the blonde said.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Yes?¡± the cat boy said in response, a bit taken aback by the tears in Ryle¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE STILL MY FAVORITE!¡± the blonde yelled happily as she pulled Arkay in a powerful hug.

    Erin and Lexton could only sigh at Ryle¡¯s antics, as the cat boy was struggling to breathe due to the hug he was now trapped in.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, back at the information store Erin and her companions had just visited, the ratfolk man behind the counter was surprised to see new customers come in. While their services were valued, not that many people would come to purchase them within one day, as they were quite expensive. Not only that, but there were also a lot of people who didn¡¯t understand the true value of information.

    Still, surprising or not, the receptionist was ready to do his job, so he immediately put on his best smile in order to welcome the two elves, a young woman and a young boy, that had just walked in.

    ¡°Welcome to the information store!¡± the rat man said. ¡°How can we be of service?¡±

    ¡°Hello there. We saw some people that we know just recently come out of here,¡± one of the two elves, a young woman said with a smile. ¡°I was wondering if you would be so kind as to tell us what sort of information they came here to buy?¡±

    Upon hearing the request, the receptionist tensed up somewhat. While it wasn¡¯t unheard of for people to come in and request to find out what someone else had just bought from them, it wasn¡¯t exactly a favorable position for their business. Even if information shops prided themselves in being able to sell whatever information their customer wanted, selling out their own direct customers wasn¡¯t something they liked to do. This was due to the fact that it made their stores seem dangerous, as one could immediately have whatever plans they were making ruined simply because one of their enemies decided to purchase what they had purchased. Not only did this drive away customers, but it also made them seem far less trustworthy, as people would fear that whatever happened within the store could be sold off as soon as they walked out.

    Still, the information stores had to do business and they prided themselves in selling their customers whatever they desired to know. So as long as these two were wiling to pay the price their store gave them, it would all be fine in the end.

    ¡°Well, that is something we can certainly provide. However, I do have to warn you that it will be quite expensive,¡± the rat man explained. ¡°May I ask how much you are willing to pay?¡±

    Upon hearing the receptionist¡¯s question, the elf woman began to chuckle, which confused the rat man.

    ¡°I think you might have misunderstood me a bit. I¡¯m not here to buy anything from you. I expect you to tell me what I want to know,¡± the elf woman explained. ¡°Now, I recommend you do that, while I¡¯m still asking nicely.¡±

    ¡°...I think you¡¯re the one who has misunderstood something. This is a store. We run a business here and you need to pay in order to earn our services,¡± the rat man said in stern tone. ¡°Unless you have the money we want, you¡¯re not getting anything from us. Understood? So cough up some credits or leave.¡±

    ¡°Oh my¡­ And here I was hoping that this wouldn¡¯t have to come to barbarism,¡± the elf woman said with a sigh.

    Before the receptionist could react, something thin suddenly wrapped around his neck, pulling him down on the counter. After he managed to recover from the blow, he saw that there was a thin wire that went from the elf woman¡¯s wrist all the way up to him.

    ¡°Are you willing to talk now?¡± the elf woman asked with a smirk. ¡°Or do I have to do this in a more enjoyable way? While you¡¯re not my type, I will get as much enjoyment out of you as I can, so I think carefully before you answer. Whatever you choose, you are going to talk.¡±

    Despite being pinned down in such a manner, the rat man was still willing to fight back. Without either of the elves noticing, he reached underneath the counter to a switch that cut off the incense that kept the giant spider hanging on the ceiling docile. As soon as this happened, the predatory instincts of the arachnid were immediately turned on, like a switch had been flipped inside its head. The monster immediately began to scan its surroundings with its eyes for prey, soon finding the two elves right beneath it. With its fangs ready to strike, the massive spider dropped down from the ceiling, hoping to devour the prey beneath it.

    However, the elves had been aware of the monster guarding the store and were not worried about it in the slightest. They had hoped to get what they wanted through simple intimidation, but since that had failed they had decided to switch into more violent methods to get what they wanted.

    Since the elf woman was occupied with holding down the rat man, the elf boy was left to handle the spider. In the short time it took for the spider to regain its senses and jump down on them, he had managed to pull out his weapon that looked like a knife, position it in such a way that the blade was pointing at the attacking arachnid and the flick a switch on his weapon¡¯s handle. As soon as he used this switch, the handle of his weapon extended massively, turning his knife into a spear that pierced the spider¡¯s body and pinned it on the ceiling. The creature struggled for a while to break free, but soon ceased to move as its life ended.

    The receptionist was shocked to see their prized guardian get slain so easily. He had been certain that it would have been able to save him, yet that ended up being a false hope. Now he could only hope that the two elves wouldn¡¯t be too angered by his resistance.

    ¡°Now, that was a bad idea,¡± the elf woman said with a sadistic grin. ¡°Guess I get to enjoy myself today.¡±

    While this was all going on in the entrance of the store, Grix was still upstairs, waiting for new customers to come in. He had heard some commotion come from downstairs, but figured that the receptionist would be able to handle it with their security measures. Even when he heard the most bone-chilling screaming come from there, he wasn¡¯t too bothered. The goblin simply assumed that it was some fool who had just been acquainted to their guardian.

    ¡°Lydd, is that you?¡± Grix called out, as he heard footsteps walking up the stairs. ¡°What happened over there? Did we get a troublesome customer?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid your colleague can¡¯t answer now,¡± a female voice called out, as the head of the rat man was thrown over to the goblin. ¡°He wasn¡¯t very cooperative with us, so we had to take some extreme measures with him. Hope he learned his lesson and that you won¡¯t repeat his mistake.¡±

    Grix looked up from Lydd¡¯s head and saw the two elves walk up to him. Both had smiles on their faces as they entered the room.

    ¡°...Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing? Once the people running the Black Markets learn about this, there won¡¯t be a place where you¡¯ll be safe from their wrath,¡± the goblin said, managing to keep his composure despite the obvious fear he was in. ¡°If you value your lives, you better try your best to make amends for this. Even if that is very unlikely.¡±

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a cocky bunch! First your ratty colleague refuses to give us what we want and now you¡¯re trying to threaten us!¡± the elf woman said with a laugh. ¡°Do you really think we¡¯re afraid of a bunch of petty crooks? You might think you¡¯re powerful with your little secret club and all, but it¡¯s nothing compared to the people we work. They would like nothing more than to find out about this place and bury it along with you trash, but the only reason I haven¡¯t told them is because I see it to be more useful for me to have your services available. I advise you to not make me rethink my position on that.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Grix felt cold sweat run down his face. Judging by what the elf had just told him, these two weren¡¯t just some random criminals that had gotten too full of themselves. These were assassins working for the forces of the Five Overlords themselves.

    ¡°Now, how about you tell us what we want to know?¡± the elf woman asked with a grin. ¡°Or do you wish to end up like your friend?¡±

 100. The Guide

    Chapter 100

    The Guide

    Keenan was in the middle of enjoying card games and beer with his colleagues, when Erin and her group came back. To say that the inmate was less than pleased would have been an understatement, as he was just in the middle of a good winning streak and had a few drinks.

    ¡°Well, you guys are back early,¡± Keenan said in a clearly upset tone, as he stood up from his seat. ¡°I know I told you guys there was a time limit, but couldn¡¯t you have spent at least a bit more time over there? Hell, if it¡¯s the baby you¡¯re worried about, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a daycare that could have looked after him!¡±

    That remark earned the inmate another one finger salute from Lexton.

    ¡°...You really need to get that kid some better influences,¡± Keenan said to Erin. ¡°I honestly worry how he¡¯ll end up, if you don¡¯t get away from that partner of yours.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Ryle cried out, feeling offended by the comment.

    ¡°Oh, trust me. I¡¯ve already been preparing the divorce,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I just wanted to give her some extra time to show that she can still be trusted with the kids, but that was clearly a bad choice.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± the blonde cried out again.

    ¡°Good for you. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I understand giving those you love another chance as much as anybody else, but once you have kids you gotta focus on them,¡± Keenan said. ¡°I just hope they turn better than their secondary mom over there.¡±

    ¡°Okay, are you guys just looking to piss me off or something!?¡± Ryle shouted angrily.

    ¡°Sorry to say this, but truth hurts,¡± the inmate said. ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s get going back already. Unless of course you¡¯ve suddenly changed your minds¡­¡±

    ¡°Actually, there is something that we still need to do, although, not here specifically,¡± Erin said, taking out the piece of paper they had gotten from the information store. ¡°We were told that you would be able to understand what¡¯s written here.¡±

    Keenan took the paper and read through it. Upon reading the message, his eyes went wide for a moment, before a big grin spread over his face.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Well, if this is the case, I¡¯ll be more than happy to help you guys out,¡± the inmate said happily. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the elevator and return to the prison itself, alright? That¡¯s where you¡¯ll get what you¡¯re looking for.¡±

    ¡°Hold up. What¡¯s with the sudden switch in attitude?¡± Ryle asked as she looked at Keenan with a suspicious stare. ¡°Just a moment ago, you were upset that we had returned so early and now you¡¯re all smiles about it. What gives?¡±

    ¡°Simple. It¡¯s all about money,¡± the inmate answered. ¡°Whenever I get to help the warden with selling some of his special services, I get a small fee from that. Not only that, but this came at a perfect time, as I¡¯ve been looking to buy a new TV for my cell.¡±

    ¡°You have a TV in your cell?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How is that possible?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy. You just gotta do good work for the right people. They needed a human escort here so that they could get more customers for the Black Market and I was there to fill that void. Once I showed that I could do the job and do it well, I was on my way to the easy life behind bars,¡± Keenan explained. ¡°Anyways, enough of this talk. The warden can¡¯t be available forever, so we should go to him as soon as possible to get this deal done and you guys get to be on your merry way out of my hair.¡±

    Erin¡¯s group followed after the inmate back to the elevator, where he input the secret code, allowing them to travel back up. Once their elevator reached its intended floor, they walked out to see a place they hadn¡¯t been to yet.

    ¡°This floor looks different than the one we were at before traveling down,¡± Erin remarked. ¡°Is this a different place?¡±

    ¡°That it is. In order for you to make a deal with the warden, you have to speak to the man himself, right? Well, this floor has his office, along with all the other big shots working here. Excluding people like yours truly, that is,¡± Keenan explained. ¡°Also, no need to worry about keeping up the act here. Everybody on this floor is a part of the dealings that go down here. Just remember to not mention things like the Black Market, once we come out of here.¡±

    The redhead nodded, as she and her companions followed the inmate¡¯s lead to the warden¡¯s office. They soon arrived at a large door leading to said room. After Keenan knocked on it and received permission to enter, he opened the door, allowing them all to go inside.

    The office itself was honestly very luxurious, to the point that it looked more like a room in a high-class hotel than any type of a working environment. There was a very fancy looking carpet leading to the intricately decorated desk and there were several paintings on the walls. The warden had even installed a small bar in his office and he also had a sculpture of himself in one corner of the room.

    The warden himself appeared to be a dwarf with a bald head and a long white beard. He was wearing a very fancy-looking suit, with decorated shoes and a tie that had a big jewel attached to it. He also had apparently switched his normal teeth with gold ones, as there was a strange shine coming from his mouth.

    As the group entered the office, the warden had been in the middle of getting a massage from a beautiful human woman, while also smoking a big cigar. Upon seeing Keenan entering the office, his attention was fully placed on the inmate and the people with him.

    ¡°Keenan! What a pleasant surprise!¡± the warden said happily. ¡°What might bring you to my office?¡±

    ¡°The same as always, warden Magrath. Business,¡± the inmate said with a smirk. ¡°My friends here are hoping to use your services.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That sounds just perfect. I was hoping to make some changes in my office,¡± Magrath said with a small grin. ¡°And just what type of a service might your friends be looking for exactly?¡±

    ¡°Apparently, they need a guide. One who is familiar with the caves on the outskirts of the city specifically,¡± Keenan answered. ¡°Think you can provide them with that?¡±

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be an issue, as this is not the first time someone has asked this. Just a moment,¡± the warden said as he looked at his computer that was sitting on his desk. ¡°It seems that I have three perfect candidates for you. Would you like to meet them?¡±

    ¡°That would be perfect,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Do we go meet them or will they be brought here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need for you to go over to them. I can have them brought here with just a single message,¡± Magrath said as he began to write something on his computer, which the redhead assumed was a message to some people working under him. ¡°There. Now we just need to wait a moment and your potential guides will soon be here.¡±

    ¡°May I ask what type of people are these candidates exactly?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°While I do appreciate you lending us those with the skills we need, I would like to know just how bad of criminals we are dealing with here.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. We only select those who are capable of cooperation. After all, it would be bad business, if our customers ended up getting harmed by them, right?¡± the warden with a chuckle. ¡°Besides, we¡¯ll have an insurance in place, so you can work with them at ease.¡±

    ¡°What would that be?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±

    Deciding not to come off as too nosy, Erin stopped asking further questions and simply waited for the potential guides to arrive. Once they came, she was certain that all possible questions she had would be answered.

    It didn¡¯t take too long until there was a knock on the door. Magrath told the people on the other side to come in, upon which the door was opened. Five new people walked into the office, with two of them being guards and the last three inmates. The inmates were all wearing the same uniform Keenan was and had shackles on their arms and legs, making it difficult for them to move.

    The shackles worried Erin a bit, as she couldn¡¯t help but think about the danger she might have been putting her friends in. Even if she knew that Ryle and Durge could easily handle themselves in a physical fight, there was always the chance that the person they picked as a guide could get a surprise attack on them or even take someone like Arkay hostage. Still, she had come too far to back off now, so she steeled her resolve to see what the warden had for offer to them.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The first inmate was a human, although, he was easily the scariest of the three. His head was completely shaven and he had a very strong build, one fitting for a man that could kill you with their bare hands alone. What made him even scarier were the markings on his body that were from what she assumed were past battles, as he had scars covering his body and even one running over his left eye.

    The second inmate was a dwarf, which didn¡¯t surprise Erin at all. Most of the population in Grand Mine Central was made up of dwarfs, as they often lived in underground settlements or inside mountains. However, while she expected the dwarf to be someone who might have knowledge about the caves, as they often worked in industries like mining and mechanical work, this one didn¡¯t fill her with confidence. The dwarf had an angry scowl on his face and seemed to be twitching constantly. His hands were balled up into fists to the point that his fingers drew blood from his palms.

    The last inmate was a male ratfolk, much like the receptionist they had met at the information store. Unlike the other two, he seemed to be completely calm and collected as he waited to be addressed by the warden or one of the guards. Unlike the other two, he didn¡¯t seem to have any unusual markings or mannerisms, which made him look like a normal person.

    ¡°These are the three guide candidates we have for offer,¡± Magrath began to introduce the newcomers, as he walked up to the human first. ¡°This here is Halligan. He used to work as part of a mining company that was actually inspecting the caves you intend to explore. However, he got into a rather violent fight and ended up killing someone, which is why he¡¯s now spending time here with us.¡±

    Erin felt a shiver run down her spine. The man before her certainly looked like someone who would get arrested from deadly fight.

    ¡°Next up, is Berhund,¡± the warden said as he moved on to the dwarf. ¡°He has had a long history of exploring caves for their rare minerals, which has given a lot of experience on the field. Unfortunately, as you can probably tell just by looking at him, his obsession has gotten a bit out of hand. He was arrested after our officers found out that he had purposefully led his last expedition group down a wrong path, causing them to be devoured by beasts. He apparently did this due to a disagreement in regards to the pay he had promised them originally.¡±

    ¡°AND I¡¯D DO IT AGAIN TO THE GREEDY BASTARDS!¡± the dwarf began to violently rant as foam fell out of his mouth. ¡°THEY WANTED MORE THAN WE AGREED TO! WHEN I WAS ALREADY PAYING THOSE SONS OF BITCHES TOO MUCH! I HOPE THEY SCREAMED IN PAIN AS THEY WERE EATEN!¡±

    Due to the sudden outburst, the guards were forced to go and subdue him by violently beating him with their batons. After he had seemingly calmed down, he was lifted up from the floor and he continued to stand there like nothing had happened, despite being bruised and bleeding from several places.

    ¡°Umm¡­ My apologies for that,¡± Magrath said awkwardly. ¡°Berhund has a bit of a¡­ passionate temper to him. I do promise you, though, that he is still a very reliable guide.¡±

    Erin had her doubts in regards to the warden¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Last, but not least, is this gentleman here. Skeets,¡± Magrath said as he introduced the ratfolk inmate. ¡°His experience comes from working for a transportation company. Before he ended up here, he used to drive trucks full of all sorts of commercial goods by using the caves to do so. Sadly, it was discovered that he had some connections to some less than likable groups, which is how he ended up here.¡±

    Erin looked over the rat man and couldn¡¯t help but consider him to be the best option so far. After all, the other two seemed to be more or less unreliable, with one being a terrifying monster of a man and the other being psychopathic. There was also the fact that he had driven trucks through the caves, which possibly meant that he knew how to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, as he was probably one of the people delivering supplies.

    ¡°Would you like to ask any of these fine gentlemen any questions?¡± the warden asked. ¡°You can ask them anything you want to help make your decision.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s see what they say,¡± the redhead said as she walked up to the human inmate. ¡°Do you know how to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base?¡±

    The man before Erin didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, simply stared at her in silence, which she could only assume was anger.

    ¡°...Okay, I¡¯ll just move on to the next candidate then,¡± the redhead said, terrified of the silent man. She now faced the dwarf inmate. ¡°Do you know how to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base?¡±

    ¡°WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT THAT!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT¡¯S INSIDE THOSE CAVES!?¡± the dwarf began to rant immediately. ¡°THERE ARE INCREDIBLE MINERALS OF VALUE THAT NO ONE CAN EVEN IMAGINE! AND HERE WE ARE, TALKING ABOUT SOME WORTHLESS CRAP REGARDING A BASE!? LET ME OUT OF HERE, SO I CAN-!¡±

    Seeing as the inmate had once again lost control of himself, the guards once again responded with force, until he calmed down.

    ¡°Well, that was constructive¡­ Hope the last one is at least a bit better,¡± Erin said with a sigh, walking up to the ratfolk inmate. ¡°Be honest with me. Do I need to repeat the question to you?¡±

    ¡°Not at all, miss,¡± the rat man said with a chuckle. ¡°You need to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, right? Well, that is something that I can do for you. Very easily, in fact. I¡¯ve been there quite a few times, after all.¡±

    ¡°The warden mentioned that you used to work for a company that did deliveries by using the cave system,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Was Gotzmeyer¡¯s base perhaps one of these places you used to make deliveries to?¡±

    ¡°Indeed! In fact, I¡¯d say that place was our most frequent customer,¡± the inmate replied. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to brag, but I¡¯m fairly confident I could find my way to that place even while blindfolded.¡±

    After having interviewed, or at least having attempted to interview, all of the inmates before them, Erin decided to gather with her companions to discuss their options. They walked away from the others and huddled together in order to have as much of a private discussion as possible.

    ¡°So, what do you guys think? Which one should we choose?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°If I may give you my input, I¡¯d say that the rat guy is our best option.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d say that¡¯s a fair assessment,¡± Ryle said. ¡°The human guy seems to be some sort of a coldblooded murderer and that dwarf is a complete lunatic. I would NOT want to share a room with either of them. The ratfolk guy is the only relatively normal guy.¡±

    ¡°I-I agree,¡± Arkay said. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any question about who we should choose.¡±

    ¡°I actually disagree,¡± Lexton said, surprising the others. ¡°Out of those three, the ratfolk guy is the last one we should trust with anything at all.¡±

    ¡°What are you saying, Lex?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How can you say that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, aren¡¯t you supposed to be a baby?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you just stay quiet and let the adults do the talking here?¡±

    ¡°Compared to you, even the youngest of infants are reasonable adults,¡± Lexton said. ¡°But I¡¯m telling you that the rat guy isn¡¯t someone we should get close to at all. Instead, we should go with the human.¡±

    ¡°Are you insane!?¡± Erin asked, shocked by the kobold¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Did you see that man!? Just meeting him like this is probably going to give me nightmares! Why would you ever want to work with that guy!?¡±

    ¡°Look, while I completely agree with you assessment on the dwarf, as he is obviously a complete nutcase, you¡¯re just going to have to trust me with the other two,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with all kinds of scum my whole life, so I can tell when someone is either full of shit or has some ulterior motives. And that guy? I wouldn¡¯t trust him to watch over a rock, much less our lives. His mannerisms just scream danger to me. Do NOT trust him at all.¡±

    ¡°But what about the scarred bald guy that you want us to work with?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°That guy doesn¡¯t exactly look like a model citizen. I bet the moment you turn your back on him, he¡¯ll have his hands around your neck!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure. He didn¡¯t give me that feel at all,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°While I¡¯ll admit that he certainly looked intimidating, something about the way he acted didn¡¯t strike me as dangerous. I can¡¯t quite place it, but he certainly didn¡¯t seem like a dangerous guy.¡±

    ¡°B-But he killed somebody in a fight! He has to be dangerous!¡± Arkay argued. ¡°Do you really think that someone who kills another person with their bare hands can be safe to be around!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, we don¡¯t know the full details of what happened, okay?¡± Lexton said. ¡°How do we know that he was the one at fault? It could be a case of self-defense gone bad or something similar. All I¡¯m trying to say is that he¡¯s our best option. And I¡¯m even willing to say that the crazy dwarf is a better choice than the ratfolk. Just trust me on this, okay?¡±

    Thinking about what the kobold had said, Erin and the others looked at the human inmate that he recommended them to pick as their guide. Seeing as he was being given attention, the inmate stared back at them. Unfortunately, the look in his eyes didn¡¯t give them much confidence.

    ¡°...We¡¯re picking the rat guy,¡± Erin said, looking at her companions.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Ryle replied.

    ¡°Fine by me,¡± Arkay said.

    ¡°Alright, if you say so,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Just don¡¯t blame me, when you get stabbed in the back by that guy.¡±

    Ignoring the kobold¡¯s warning, Erin walked up to the warden. The dwarf man had a smile on his face, as he was expecting a good deal.

    ¡°So, have you come to your decision yet?¡± Magrath asked as he was rubbing his palms in anticipation. ¡°I do hope that the guides we had for offer were to your liking.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we did come to a decision. And we decided to hire one of your guides,¡± the redhead answered, causing the warden¡¯s smile to grow wider. ¡°We decided to pick Skeets as our guide.¡±

    ¡°...Pardon?¡± Magrath asked, as his hands suddenly stopped moving from excitement.

    ¡°I said that we would like to hire Skeets as our guide,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Is there an issue with that?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Not exactly¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­¡± the warden tried to desperately explain but was unable to find the correct words.

    ¡°M-Maybe you should reconsider this a bit?¡± Keenan suddenly said, stepping in. ¡°While we are more than happy to make a deal with you, the thing is that we can give you a great offer on Halligan!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean a great offer?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°You see, these guys aren¡¯t just working to earn us some extra cash. They do this to take some time off their sentences,¡± the inmate explained. ¡°It just so happens that Halligan here has only very little time left on his sentence. So by picking him, you¡¯ll be able to help him and us greatly! I¡¯m sure the warden would be willing to give you a discount on his services, right!?¡±

    ¡°A-Absolutely!¡± Magrath quickly said. ¡°How about a 10 % discount!? Trust me, you can¡¯t get deals like these every day!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I think we¡¯ll stick with Skeets,¡± Erin said, giving one last glance at Halligan. ¡°Our decision is final.¡±

    ¡°B-But Skeets is-!¡± the warden tried to argue.

    ¡°Excuse me, warden Magrath, but I believe there was an agreement in regards to me taking this type of work for your benefit,¡± Skeets suddenly said, cutting off the warden. ¡°If I recall, you were NOT allowed to play favorites, which includes specifically promoting certain inmates or discussing any ¡°unnecessary information¡± in regards to others. Did I perhaps misunderstand the contract I signed?¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Magrath said, although he was obviously not happy. ¡°As per your wishes, Skeets shall be your guide. Thank you for doing business with us.¡±

    Despite the odd behavior from the warden, Erin simply paid the amount necessary to hire the rat man and listened to the further instructions she was give. A special collar was placed around Skeets¡¯s neck that would give him a very painful electrical shock from a remote that was given to the redhead. This was so that they could ensure his cooperation during his job.

    With their business done, Erin thanked the warden and left the office with her companions and the new addition to their group. Before they left, however, Keenan had something to say to Ryle, as he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± the blonde asked rudely.

    ¡°Look, I shouldn¡¯t be saying this, but keep your eyes on that guy. Especially when he¡¯s around the kids,¡± the inmate said in a serious tone. ¡°You might be a bad parent, but you should be able to do at least that much, okay?¡±

    ¡°Goddammit! How am I the bad parent here!?¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°And you don¡¯t need to worry about that! I know how to keep those around me safe!¡±

    With the final piece of advice having been delivered, Erin¡¯s group left the warden¡¯s office. Once they were gone, Magrath sank into his chair and let out a heavy sigh.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t something you should have done, Keenan,¡± the warden said as he rubbed his temples. ¡°If the Black Market found out about this, they could get pretty upset with us.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I had to do it,¡± the inmate said with a frown on his face. ¡°You know how Skeets is when it comes to kids. There was no way I could just allow them to go without a warning at least.¡±

    ¡°...Dammit! If only Halligan didn¡¯t look so damn terrifying!¡± Magrath cursed. ¡°Why the hell couldn¡¯t at least say something to make yourself look at least a bit less intimidating!?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t help it¡­ I get nervous around girls,¡± the human inmate said in a surprisingly timid voice. ¡°I knew I should have said something, but I just locked up.¡±

    ¡°Cut the guy some slack. He can¡¯t help how he is or how those people didn¡¯t know just who they were getting involved with,¡± Keenan said. ¡°How could they know that Halligan here is a model inmate who ended up in prison after accidentally killing someone while defending a child, while Skeets is one of the worst scumbags out there?¡±

    ¡°I know¡­ Although, they must have really come from afar, as they don¡¯t know who he is,¡± the warden said. ¡°We can only hope that the infamous ¡°Grand Mine Stabber¡± from the insane Brotherhood of the Worm cult doesn¡¯t get the drop on them.¡±

 101. To The Caves

    Chapter 101

    To The Caves

    With their business concluded at the Black Market, Erin¡¯s group, along with Skeets, were now heading back to where Durge and Zeldana were waiting for them. Their new ratfolk companion was wearing a cloak that covered most of his body and face in order to hide his identity. He explained that there were people in the city who wouldn¡¯t be too happy to see him walking around and would do their best to cause bodily harm to him. This was enough of an explanation for Erin, but Lexton still had his suspicions of the rat man.

    It didn¡¯t take too long for them to return to where they were staying and were soon knocking on the door of the room, where the rest of their group was staying at. Durge opened the door to let them in.

    ¡°Finally! I was starting to get so bored that I was about to rush over there myself!¡± Zeldana complained. ¡°What took you guys so long!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like we were on a trip to the arcade or anything like that! We were doing some actual work over there!¡± Ryle shouted back at the elf. ¡°And let me tell you, this whole thing wasn¡¯t exactly fun! Next time something like this comes up, I¡¯ll be glad to let you take my place!¡±

    ¡°Oh really? Not fun, you say?¡± Erin asked sarcastically. ¡°And what about those boys who asked you to go to their establishment? You sure seemed to be more than happy to pay them a visit.¡±

    ¡°I WAS JUST TRYING TO SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS! HOW IS THAT A BAD THING!?¡± the blonde yelled back with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°Anyway, can we finally stop it with these stupid disguises!? I wanna put my hair back the way it¡¯s supposed to be!¡±

    ¡°Yes, you can. We are no longer in the need of keeping up the whole act,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°And thank God for that¡­ I¡¯m not sure I could have stomached another inquiry about our ¡°relationship¡± or anything attached to it!¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ You two are not a couple?¡± Skeets asked. ¡°Or one that¡¯s on the brink of breaking up?¡±

    ¡°Hell no! I like boys! Not girls!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Besides, even if I was into chicks, do you really think I would be together with someone like Erin?¡±

    ¡°...And what is THAT supposed to mean?¡± Erin asked with a slight glare directed at the blonde.

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying that you don¡¯t turn me on!¡± Ryle answered. ¡°How is that so hard to understand!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not so hard to understand at all! In fact, I completely understand!¡± the redhead said angrily. ¡°And that¡¯s because I feel the same way about YOU! By the time you open your mouth, any hint of romanticism disappears right away! Or as you¡¯d like to say, I get turned OFF!¡±

    ¡°What did you just say!?¡± the blonde asked angrily.

    At this point, Arkay was forced to step between the two women in order to keep them from fighting with each other. As this was happening, Durge, Zeldana and Skeets were staring at their arguing companions with wide eyes.

    ¡°...Sheesh! What the hell happened over there to put these two in such a foul mood!?¡± Durge wondered out loud.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I can¡¯t wait to find out!¡± Zeldana said with a wicked chuckle. ¡°I bet it¡¯s going to be hilarious!¡±

    ¡°I take it that this isn¡¯t exactly a normal occurrence in your group then?¡± Skeets asked.

    ¡°No. Those two are usually the best of friends, besides the minor argument here and there,¡± Durge explained. ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± the rat man said in response.

    ¡°Just who the hell are you exactly?¡± the orc asked bluntly. ¡°Last time I checked, you haven¡¯t been traveling with us and nobody ever mentioned any ratfolk that they knew. So who are you and why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Ah! You don¡¯t need to worry about him, Durge!¡± Erin quickly said, realizing that not all in their group were aware of their newly hired guide. ¡°That guy is Skeets. He will be our guide through the caves.¡±

    ¡°Our guide?¡± the orc asked to which the redhead nodded. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that getting a map didn¡¯t work out so well then¡­ Anyways, where did you get this guy exactly?¡±

    ¡°Like you said, our efforts in getting a map didn¡¯t work out, so we decided to go for the next best thing. We were given a reference from the information store that let us hide one of their inmates to help us out,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Skeets here has worked for a transportation company that used to do deliveries using the caves. These included Gotzmeyer¡¯s base as well, which is why we ended up hiring him.¡±

    ¡°Hold up! Did you just say that this guy was an inmate at the prison?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Yes? Is something wrong with that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ve hired an actual criminal to guide us through caves filled with whatever ungodly dangers possible and you¡¯re asking what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± the orc said sarcastically. ¡°Do I really need to explain to you what the issue is?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I understand what you¡¯re saying, but we didn¡¯t really have any other choice!¡± Erin argued. ¡°A map was way too expensive, so we had to pick a guide instead! This was the only way for us to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base! Or would you have preferred for us to go there completely blind!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that. I¡¯m just saying that trusting someone we don¡¯t know anything about that has a criminal background isn¡¯t exactly a smart choice!¡± Durge argued back. ¡°I mean, do you even know what he did that got him in prison in the first place?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ no, we don¡¯t. Apparently, there was some sort of a rule that wouldn¡¯t allow such things to be discussed,¡± the redhead said awkwardly. ¡°However, are you really in any place to complain about someone¡¯s shady past? Weren¡¯t you part of the Laughing Ogre when we met you?¡±

    ¡°Laughing Ogre!? That¡¯s quite the group you were part of!¡± Skeets said out of shock. ¡°Are you sure that I¡¯m the one any of you should be worried about?¡±

    ¡°You shut your mouth. It wasn¡¯t like I joined them out of a desire to work for them or anything like that,¡± Durge said as he glared at the rat man. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t that kind of a pointless argument, Erin? Yeah, I might have worked for bad people, but I didn¡¯t join you guys right from them, did I? I only joined after I had proven that I was a trustworthy guy by fighting alongside you all. And even before that, I tried to save Arkay at the risk of my own life. I think I deserve to be looked at with a bit more favorable eyes than some guy you picked up from prison!¡±

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Look, I get what you¡¯re saying and I¡¯m sorry for bringing such a thing up,¡± Erin apologized, feeling ashamed of herself over how she had just acted. ¡°But the fact of the matter is that we need some way to get to Gotzmeyer and we couldn¡¯t get a map! A guide was the only viable option for us and he was the best option out of all the guides!¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true¡­ Still, I wish this hadn¡¯t been brought on us so suddenly,¡± the orc said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m going to trust your judgment, though.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Durge,¡± the redhead said with a smile, although she could swear that she heard Lexton scoff in her arms, still in his baby form.

    With the dispute between Erin and Durge solved, Zeldana decided to put her attention on the newcomer. Walking up to their ratfolk guide, the elf gave an intense stare at him, which somewhat intimidated Skeets a bit.

    ¡°I-Is something the matter?¡± the rat man asked in a worried tone.

    ¡°...Have I seen you somewhere before?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°There¡¯s something familiar about you that I just can¡¯t put my finger on.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re mistaken, miss!¡± Skeets said as he attempted to laugh it off. ¡°I would certainly remember it, if I had ever met someone like you in my life!¡±

    However, despite his claims, the elf simply kept staring at him, causing the rat man to start sweating under the intense attention given to him.

    ¡°Zel, would you leave the poor guy alone?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Sorry about that, Skeets. She has a hobby of messing around with people.¡±

    ¡°...Yes! I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing after all!¡± Zeldana suddenly said with a laugh. ¡°I guess I really got you mistaken with somebody else! Hope you weren¡¯t offended or anything like that!¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s okay¡­ These things happen,¡± Skeets said as he let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Anyways, I should probably introduce our group to you, seeing as you¡¯ll be working with us,¡± Erin said. ¡°You already met me in prison. My name is Erin.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you,¡± the rat man said as he gave a polite bow in return.

    ¡°Likewise. Next, you¡¯ve already met Ryle and Arkay,¡± the redhead said as she pointed at her two companions. ¡°Ryle is one of our two top fighters and Arkay is our magician.¡±

    ¡°The way I see it, I¡¯m the biggest top fighter here!¡± Ryle boasted with a big grin.

    ¡°Sure you are¡­¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°As you can see, she has a bit of a hotheaded personality. She¡¯s still a nice person, once you get to properly know her.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Skeets replied.

    ¡°The big guy there is Durge. He¡¯s our other top fighter,¡± the redhead said pointing at the orc. ¡°The elf next to him is Zeldana. She¡¯s our medic, so if you get hurt, go to her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care then,¡± the rat man said to the elf, who gave him a somewhat disturbing smile that scared him.

    ¡°And lastly, here¡¯s- OW!¡± Erin began to say, only for Lexton to suddenly pull her hair painfully.

    ¡°Waa! Waa! Waa!¡± the kobold said, keeping up with his current disguise.

    ¡°Sorry about that! I need to leave for a moment!¡± the redhead said awkwardly while trying to hide her anger. ¡°It seems like the BABY needs something! AGAIN!¡±

    Erin made her way to the bathroom in their room, leaving the others confused. The ones who were aware of Lexton¡¯s real appearance couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was up with their kobold companion.

    ¡°Any idea what that was about?¡± Durge asked, looking at the people who had gone with Erin to the Black Market.

    ¡°None at all,¡± Ryle said with a shrug, as Arkay shook his head.

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s a baby. They can suddenly just act up like that due to a number of reasons,¡± Skeets said. ¡°What is so weird about that?¡±

    The blonde was about to reply, but Durge beat her to it.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just that the baby is often a lot calmer!¡± the orc quickly lied, having just realized that Lexton was trying to hide his real identity. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right guys!?¡±

    Ryle, Arkay and Zeldana seemed to pick up on Durge¡¯s intentions and gave affirming nods in response. Skeets was still left confused by their overall behavior, though.

    <hr>

    Back with Erin, she had gotten into the bathroom and was now glaring at Lexton, angered by what he had just done.

    ¡°Lex, what is wrong with you!?¡± the redhead hissed at the kobold. ¡°You act all offended over having to play the part of a baby, yet here you are still keeping up the act! Do you want to be a baby or not!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Of course I want to get out of this larva mode as soon as possible,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°However, I think it¡¯s for the better if we keep it up for now, so that your new friend doesn¡¯t know what I am actually.¡±

    ¡°What the-? Why do you need to-?¡± Erin began to ask, only for her to realize what the kobold was implying. ¡°Is this still about how you didn¡¯t trust Skeets from back when we were first introduced to him?¡±

    ¡°Would you look at that? The blind person finally hit the mark,¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°Of course this is about that! I refuse to trust that guy, until he gives me a damn good reason to! And before he does, I want to keep any advantage I may have against him! Okay!?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re freaking paranoid, Lex,¡± the redhead said with a sigh.

    ¡°Hey, it has kept me alive so far, hasn¡¯t it?¡± the kobold said. ¡°The way I see it, it still works for me more times than not, so why drop it?¡±

    Not wanting to have another argument, Erin relented and decided to play along with Lexton¡¯s scheme. She soon returned to the others, who immediately had their eyes on her.

    ¡°Sorry about that. The little one here had some diaper issues that needed to be taken care of,¡± the redhead explained, intentionally irritating the kobold in her arms. ¡°Anyways, this here is Lexton. We picked him up along the way, as he had been abandoned by his parents.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ You¡¯re bringing a baby along with you to a dangerous place like the caves outside the city? Not to mention Gotzmeyer¡¯s base?¡± Skeets asked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea.¡±

    ¡°Well, we tried to find a place for him, but all the orphanages and potential foster parents weren¡¯t exactly trustworthy enough to handle a special child like him,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Besides, he has become such a big part of our group now that it would be hard to let go of him now.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. If you say so,¡± the rat man said. ¡°It seems to me that you¡¯ve just personally gotten attached to the little guy.¡±

    ¡°Oh, trust me. If we could dump him off somewhere, we would have done so ages ago,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Problem is that no one wants a shitty brat like him.¡±

    ¡°Woah! What the hell!?¡± Skeets said in shock. ¡°I get that babies can be a handful, but is that really called for!? What kind of a person talks about an innocent child like that!?¡±

    ¡°What? But I was just-¡± the blonde tried to explain only to get cut off.

    ¡°Yeah, Ryle! What is wrong with you!?¡± Erin asked, acting shocked and outraged. ¡°This child needs us, so we have to be there for him! If you just opened up your heart, you¡¯d know how wonderful having him around truly is!¡±

    Having been completely taken by surprise by the sudden outbursts from both Skeets and Erin, Ryle struggled to find words to counter what was said to her. She also looked around at the other people in the room for support, only for them to look away as they didn¡¯t want to get involved in the argument at all.

    The blonde eventually gave up and simply apologized for what she had said. However, what was worse for her was that Lexton seemed to have a very smug smirk on his face, which angered her greatly.

    After introducing their group to Skeets, Erin decided to go over what they had learned back at the Black Market and what their plan so far was. Using Skeets as a guide, they were going to make their way to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, where they would then use one of the supply trucks to get inside. Once there, they would confront the warlord himself and take him down.

    ¡°While I know this isn¡¯t exactly the most detailed or refined of plans, it¡¯s still the best we¡¯ve got. Besides, once we¡¯re there, I¡¯m sure we can gather more information in order to make adjustments to it,¡± Erin finished off her explanation to the group. ¡°Are there any questions?¡±

    ¡°Well, I do have one,¡± Durge asked. ¡°How do we know for sure that our new friend here won¡¯t just abandon us in the middle of all of this and just run away? If he knows how to get around the caves, this would be the perfect chance for him to escape.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. As long as I have this on me, I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Skeets said as he showed the collar around his neck. ¡°All you need to do is press the button on the remote and I¡¯m getting zapped so had that I won¡¯t even consider running, let alone actually do it.¡±

    ¡°I see. That¡¯s a nice insurance to have with us,¡± the orc said. ¡°By the way, where is that remote?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I have it right-¡± Erin began to say, only for her to see Lexton holding it.

    Without any warning, the kobold pressed on the button, causing the collar on Skeets to give him the electrical shock he had told them about. The rat man screamed in pain, before falling to the floor with smoke rising from his body.

    The overall reaction from everybody was a mixture of shock and horror, with the exception of two. Lexton, who had caused the whole thing on purpose, and Zeldana, who was roaring with laughter.

    ¡°LEX!¡± Erin screamed angrily, as she snatched the remote away from the kobold. ¡°Bad baby! That¡¯s a very bad baby!¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ You okay over there?¡± Durge asked as he watched Skeets struggle to get back up.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine. The warden doesn¡¯t want his merchandise to dies from something like this, after all. It was just extremely painful,¡± the rat man said as was able to stand up. He glanced at Lexton and could have sworn that the baby kobold had an evil grin on his face as he stared at him. ¡°...Just try to keep that remote away from the baby, okay? You can probably tell that it¡¯s not a toy.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into him!¡± Erin apologized desperately. ¡°He¡¯s normally so well-behaved that I wouldn¡¯t have expected him to do anything like this!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s a little saint,¡± Skeets said while giving a slight glare at the kobold.

    After the little ¡°accident,¡± the rest of the meeting went in a much calmer manner. Skeets gave them a brief explanation on how the cave system worked and that they still needed to go get some materials, before they could go to their new journey. Once that was done, the whole group got their gear together and headed to the caves.

    Erin and her companions were looking towards facing one of the Western Continent¡¯s three warlords, Gotzmeyer. However, unknown to them was that they would be facing two other threats. One chasing after them and another from within their group.

 102. The True Colors of a Rat

    Chapter 102

    The True Colors of a Rat

    Getting led by Skeets, Erin and her companions had been traveling through the caves outside Grand Mine Central. So far, they hadn¡¯t encountered anything dangerous, outside of a few mushrooms that were poisonous. Due to the lack of light, the group had to use flashlights in order to navigate their surroundings properly.

    Lexton, who was still in his baby form, was still being carried by Erin. This obviously caused Skeets to raise an eyebrow, since they were all aware that what they were doing was very dangerous.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ I know I already brought this up earlier and that it¡¯s not exactly my place to say anything, but are you seriously sure about taking your baby along?¡± the rat man asked. ¡°These caves aren¡¯t exactly a family park, you know? Not only are there dangerous creatures, but poison gas, cliffs that you can fall off and many other things. I¡¯m not sure this is a good place for a young toddler like him.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯m afraid that we don¡¯t have a choice in the matter,¡± Erin explained. ¡°You see, due to him being a kobold, I¡¯ve had difficulties trying to find people to look after him. And while one of us could stay back with him-¡±

    ¡°NOT ME!¡± Ryle shouted, interrupting the redhead.

    ¡°...I wouldn¡¯t even trust you to look after a rock, much less a baby,¡± Erin said as she glared at the blonde, before turning back to Skeets. ¡°As I was saying, while one of us could stay back with him, we need everyone in what we¡¯re trying to accomplish. So the best option was for us to take him with us.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I have heard about how bad kobolds can get it, but I wasn¡¯t aware it was this bad,¡± the rat man said. ¡°Hopefully nothing bad happens to him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need to worry about him!¡± the redhead said with a reassuring smile. ¡°Not only are we all here to keep him safe from whatever we may come across, but this little guy is actually surprisingly smart himself!¡±

    Skeets stared back at the kobold, thinking about how he got an electric shock thanks to him. The rat man could have sworn that the baby before him had yet another wicked smile on his face, which sent a shiver down his spine.

    ¡°If you say so¡­¡± Skeets muttered with a sigh.

    As they were getting deeper into the caves, the need for flashlights suddenly disappeared, as their surroundings now had a special glowing moss here and there. This illuminated their way enough for them to walk around without having to worry about tripping on something.

    ¡°Well, this is convenient. A natural source of light,¡± Durge said as he turned off his flashlight, hoping to save the battery. ¡°If this is everywhere on our way to Gotzmeyer, This trip will be a lot easier than I imagined.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what a lot of people thought when they first got in, only to be proven wrong,¡± Skeets said. ¡°The thing is that this stuff is eaten by the herbivores that live in these caves. But when there are herbivores, there are going to be predators preying on them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna guess that those predators wouldn¡¯t mind eating us for lunch either, right?¡± Ryle asked to which the rat man responded with a nod. ¡°Just freaking lovely¡­ Can¡¯t imagine why more people don¡¯t come around these parts.¡±

    ¡°Plenty of people do come here. You¡¯ve probably already heard about all the riches hidden in these caves, right? That¡¯s a good enough reason for just about anyone to try their luck in these parts. The things is that so many people never come back that the city has long since stopped sending rescue parties, as they would just end up missing as well,¡± Skeets explained. ¡°Though, you guys shouldn¡¯t worry. Since you¡¯re with me, I¡¯ll know how to avoid most of the dangers we¡¯ll come across.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be in your care then, Skeets,¡± Erin said with a smile.

    The rat man was about to respond, but he suddenly stopped. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, he signaled for everybody to be quiet and laid down. He put his ear to the ground to listen to something. Once he recognized the sound, he motioned for everyone to follow him, as they all his behind a large rock. Just as they all had hidden themselves, a group of giant insects came rushing in from one of the nearby caves.

    The creatures before them looked like like termites of some kind. They had giant pincers that they moved around, as if feeling the air around them. Their shells were pitch black and seemed to be made from some sort of a mineral.

    Upon seeing the monsters that had appeared before them, Erin began to worry about what would happen to them. It was clear to her that they wouldn¡¯t be able to beat such a large group by themselves at all. They would need to find a way to get past them or else this would be a short and tragic journey.

    Luckily, Skeets seemed to have been prepared for this, as he dug through his bag for something and pulled out what seemed to be a small sack. He threw it into one of the other caves that was not in the direction they needed to go, and once it hit the ground its contents spilled out. Almost instantly the giant insects seemed to react to whatever was in the bag, as they soon headed to the place it had landed on.

    With the route ahead of them cleared, the group was able to move forward. Once they had gotten a safe distance away from the monsters, they could talk once again.

    ¡°What the hell were those things!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Those looked like the biggest roaches ever! I know the ones back in my home were large, but those things were on steroids or something!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re just your average residents of these caves,¡± Skeets replied. ¡°If you get too close to them, it won¡¯t end nicely. They¡¯re very aggressive and territorial, so it¡¯s best to keep away from them. Good thing we weren¡¯t near a nest, as then we would have had trouble getting past them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to guess that there are quite a few of these types of creatures in these caves,¡± Erin said. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll be able to get past them?¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I made sure to pack up on all the necessary equipment,¡± the rat man replied. ¡°Besides, the route we¡¯ll be taking is one that shouldn¡¯t have too many nasty encounters along the way, so we should be fine as long as we are careful.¡±

    <hr>

    True to his words, while the group did encounter more dangers, they were able to either avoid or get past them with relative ease. Whether what they faced were more dangerous animals or dangerous environments, Skeets had a solution to whatever it was.

    However, while they were able to avoid the dangers, the journey was still a rough one. The terrain was very tough to walk and was starting to take its toll on the group. Add all the encounters that they had to go through and the people in the group were starting to get exhausted. They were going to need a chance to rest or else they wouldn¡¯t be able to do much when they reached their destination.

    ¡°Hey, guys¡­ I don¡¯t want to sound like I¡¯m whining or anything, but can we take a break?¡± Ryle asked while breathing heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t know if any of you feel the same way, but my legs are starting to feel like lead.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not alone in that. I¡¯m pretty tired as well,¡± Durge said before looking at the rest of their group. ¡°How about you all? How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°Not gonna lie. I could use a moment to rest,¡± Zeldana said while panting.

    ¡°S-Same here,¡± Arkay replied.

    Seeing as how her companions were exhausted, with the exception of Lexton whom she had been carrying this whole time, Erin considered if it was a good idea to set up camp for now. Not only were the others feeling tired, but the redhead had to admit that she herself was not feeling too good either.

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    ¡°Hey, Skeets, do you think there¡¯s a place where we could set up camp without worrying about getting eaten by whatever monsters lurk in these places?¡± Erin asked, hoping that their guide could offer them a solution. ¡°You could probably use a breather yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, but I can see that you all need a moment to catch your breath,¡± the rat man said. ¡°There should be a spot where we can set up a safe area for ourselves to rest for a bit. Come on.¡±

    Skeets led the group to a small cave that didn¡¯t go too deep. If one were to measure it, it was around the size of a garage that could fit one or two cars. Once everyone was within it, Skeets placed some repellents near the entrance to drive away possible predators. It reminded Erin of what Lexton used to do at their camp sites.

    ¡°Okay, that should be more than enough,¡± Skeets said after finishing up preparing the repellent. ¡°We should be safe now. You guys can rest easy.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Skeets,¡± Erin said as she set Lexton down on the ground and sat next him. ¡°How long will those repellents be in effect?¡±

    ¡°At least a few hours. It should be long enough for all of us to get some good sleep in,¡± the rat man answered as he went to take a seat on the ground as well. ¡°Why don¡¯t we all do that? It¡¯s not like the base is going to suddenly grow legs and walk away.¡±

    ¡°You know, I normally would support the idea of doing our best to simply push forward, but I feel really tired,¡± the redhead said with a yawn. ¡°I must have been more worn out than I thought. I could use some sleep. What about you guys?¡±

    Erin looked over to her other companions, waiting for a response, but didn¡¯t receive any. The others had seemingly all fallen asleep already. The redhead was surprised, as she had no idea that their journey had been such a drain on everybody already.

    ¡°It seems they all agree with you,¡± Skeets said with a smile, as he seemed to be nodding off as well. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry and just rest. We still have a tough journey ahead of us.¡±

    Too tired to give a response, Erin simply nodded, before closing her eye and falling asleep. With that, everyone had gone to peaceful slumber.

    However, while it might have seemed like the whole group was asleep, the truth was that one person was still wide awake and was only pretending to sleep. This was none other than Skeets himself, who had an ulterior motive. The rat man smiled as he got up from the ground and got ready to fulfill his plans.

    It was easy to fool people when you gave them the idea that you were someone with a lot more experience and knowledge than them. By using their own lack of knowledge against them, one could do almost whatever they wanted and pass it off as part of their work. This was very true for Skeets, as he had used his position as the guide through the caves to set up a trap for Erin and her friends.

    The truth was that the repellent he had set up had another thing added to it, which was a sleeping drug. The thing was that the drug he had used wasn¡¯t all that strong and would easily go unnoticed, mostly causing slight drowsiness at most. However, when it was used on people that had been traveling through rough terrain and were exhausted, it was very effective at making people fall asleep. However, due to being exposed to it numerous times, Skeets himself had built an immunity to it, leaving him awake while the others slumbered.

    Now that Erin and the others were asleep, they were left unprotected from what Skeets had planned. The truth about the rat man was that he was a member of a very notorious cult called the Brotherhood of the Worm. The members of this group had come to view the Five Overlords as gods of some kind that had come to punish their sinful world and its people were nothing more than ¡°worms¡± deserving everything the Overlords did to them. In their eyes, the state of their world before the arrival of the Overlords had been so bad that only through fire and blood it would be cleaned, which is what their new rulers had accomplished.

    The way this cult operated and practiced their faith was through one thing, by committing coldblooded murder. Anyone who displayed any type of displeasure towards the Overlords was viewed as a sinner and needed to be cleansed, so that they could avoid another punishment that affected all of them. Due to the overall displeasure most of the population felt over how things were going underneath their new rulers, the cult had plenty of targets for themselves.

    Skeets was no stranger to the bloody acts of the cult. In fact, he had a long record of successful ¡°purges,¡± as the cult liked to call their acts of violence. The way he operated was by locating targets when they were walking alone. It was during these moments that he would drive up to them and offer a lift, as he would be using the company car he drove. Once his target climbed in, he would use his sleeping drug to weaken his target, after which he would commit the murder he had planned. Once the deed was done, he would drive to the caves to drop the body, allowing the creatures living there to do the rest of the disposal for him.

    However, the rat man¡¯s ¡°operations¡± were soon brought to an end, after he encountered someone who was able to recognize the smell of the sleeping gas he tried to use. The state of alarm they were in allowed a rush of adrenaline to push them through the effects of the drug and escape, which soon landed Skeets behind bars. Despite the horrific crimes he had committed, the rat man had influential friends within the Black Market, allowing him to avoid the death penalty and end up behind bars, waiting for those who wanted to rent his services.

    Originally, Skeets had simply planned to use an opportunity like this to make his escape, but much to his pleasure, the ones who hired him were those who needed to be purged according to his religion. After all, Gotzmeyer was someone who served his ¡°gods,¡± so getting rid of them was only natural for him.

    The rat man took a long needle out of his pocket that he had gotten as part of the equipment he had claimed they would need in order to travel through the caves. Using it, he was able to unlock the collar on his neck, dropping it to the ground. Now that he no longer had to fear getting shocked, he was effectively free to do whatever he wanted.

    With everyone out cold, Skeets could do anything as long as he didn¡¯t cause too much noise. The sleeping gas had been effective, but still weak enough that one could still wake up from it. Because of this, the rat man still had to be careful, as he took a knife from Erin. Luckily for him, he had very nimble fingers and was able to retrieve the weapon without stirring the redhead.

    The rat man slowly wiped his thumb across the side of the blade he now had and smiled. While he was a devoted believer of his cult¡¯s religion, he was also a twisted serial killer who took pleasure in the act of killing itself. It had been quite some time since he had held a blade in his hands and couldn¡¯t help but get excited over the idea of taking part in his favorite activity once again. A dark chuckle escaped his lips as he was already imagining the faces his new victims would soon be making.

    ¡°Oh, it has been far too long since I did this¡­ Now all I need to do is decide in what order to cleanse these sinners,¡± Skeets mumbled to himself. ¡°Should I start by slitting the kitty boy¡¯s throat? Or should I stab the orc through the eye so deep that it hits his brains? I could also return this knife to its owner through her heart¡­ So many fun things I can do it¡¯s hard to choose¡­¡±

    However, as he was delighting in what he was going to do, the rat man suddenly felt like something was watching him. It was an instinct he had picked as he was trying to remain hidden while accomplishing the duties of his cult. Skeets looked around, furiously trying to find who ever it was that had their gaze on him.

    Much to the rat man¡¯s surprise, there didn¡¯t seem to be anyone around him, as only the sleeping members of Erin¡¯s group seemed to be surrounding him. Just as he was about to pass off the feeling he got as simple paranoia, he noticed someone who was still awake. This was none other than Lexton, who was staring right at Skeets.

    The kobold¡¯s numerous alchemist experiments had given him a slight tolerance to the sleeping drug that had been used on the group. While he couldn¡¯t fully resist it like Skeets could, he was able to keep himself awake through willpower and by inflicting pain on himself through pinching himself. Thanks to his efforts, he had been able to witness the true colors of their supposed guide.

    However, while one would have expected Lexton to express some sort of shock or horror, all he showed on his face was annoyance.

    Skeets, completely unaware of the true nature of the baby in front of him, found the way he was being stared at a bit disturbing but mostly very irritating. Not only that, but the stare he got reminded him of how the baby had used the remote control for his collar to give him a very painful electrical shock. After being reminded of his humiliation and pain, the rat man decided on his first victim right there.

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a surprisingly energetic little fella,¡± Skeets said with a smile as he walked up to Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re not out cold like the rest of your family, but it doesn¡¯t really matter. I¡¯m going to play a little game with you, whether you like it or not.¡±

    The kobold let out a sigh in response, which served to only further upset the rat man. The way he saw it, the baby was now actually mocking him.

    ¡°...You¡¯re one creepy little bastard, aren¡¯t you? Not only did you enjoy trying to fry my ass, but now you¡¯re treating me like I¡¯m a bore to you?¡± Skeets asked as he crouched next to Lexton. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll make sure to change that. Once I¡¯m done with you, there won¡¯t be enough left of you to-¡±

    ¡°WAAAAAAAH!¡± the kobold suddenly screamed, surprising the rat man so much that he fell on his back.

    However, knocking over Skeets wasn¡¯t the only thing that the sudden scream accomplished, as the others began to wake up from the sudden noise.

    ¡°What the¡­? What¡¯s with the noise?¡± Erin asked groggily as she looked around, seeing Skeets close to Lexton. ¡°Skeets? What are you-?¡±

    ¡°NOBODY MOVE!¡± the rat yelled as he quickly grabbed Lexton and held his knife over the kobold. ¡°Any of you so much as take a step towards me and the baby gets it!¡±

    ¡°What!? You-!¡± Erin said as her mind was racing, connecting the dots and allowing her to figure out what was going on. ¡°You slimy bastard! What the hell are you trying to do!?¡±

    By now, the others had pushed any tiredness they were in and were fully conscious of what was going on. They were all ready to jump Skeets any moment they could, as they had to wait for Lexton to be out of harm¡¯s way first.

    ¡°Oh, you need me to spell it out for you or something!? Well, too freaking bad! I¡¯m not in the mood of telling any of you bastards a damn thing!¡± the rat man shouted mockingly. ¡°Now, you¡¯re going to let me leave, unless you want me to-!¡±

    ¡°Alright, enough of this crap. I¡¯ve had enough,¡± Lexton suddenly said in a bored tone, cutting off Skeets who stared down at him with wide eyes.

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡± the rat man said, dumbfounded over hearing the baby in his arms talk. ¡°Did¡­ Did this baby just talk?¡±

    Skeets had been so overtaken by his surprise that he was unable to react in time to protect himself, as Lexton pulled a vial of acid he had hidden in the blanket he was wrapped. In one swift motion, he pulled off the cork and poured the vial¡¯s contents on Skeets¡¯s hand.

    The rat man screamed in pain as he fell to his knees, dropping his knife and the kobold in the process. All he could do was hold his burnt hand and let out pained sobs, while Lexton got up and began to grow in size.

    ¡°Well, I must say that this has been one unpleasant ordeal,¡± the kobold said with a sigh. ¡°Not only was I forced to take on a humiliating appearance, but my companions failed to listen to me and I had to endure the most pathetic of liars in the world. Thank goodness it¡¯s all finally over.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? You! You¡¯re not a baby at all!¡± Skeets exclaimed, noticing how Lexton had grown to his actual size.

    ¡°What a sharp observation. You are truly a bright mind in our world,¡± the kobold said sarcastically as he dug through the blanket that had been wrapped around him. ¡°Since you¡¯re such a sharp one, do you perhaps recognize what this is?¡±

    The rat man¡¯s eyes went wide as Lexton pulled out another weapon he had hidden in the blanket, a baton that had some electricity crackling at its end.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯re able to tell what this is,¡± the kobold said with a smile. ¡°I recently made this on my spare time, but never had a chance to really test it out. Which is why I¡¯m happy that you decided to volunteer for that.¡±

    Skeets screamed in pain, as he became the test subject for Lexton¡¯s new weapon. Meanwhile, Erin and the others could simply stare at the kobold, feeling somewhat disturbed by the pleasure he seemed to be taking from tormenting the rat man.

 103. The Mind of a Fanatic

    Chapter 103

    The Mind of a Fanatic

    After Lexton was done tormenting Skeets, Zeldana was tasked with treating the rat man¡¯s injuries, as they still needed his knowledge in order to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base. With their guide¡¯s true colors revealed, all eyes were on him now, ready to strike him down the moment he tried to pull any kind of tricks.

    ¡°That felt good!¡± Lexton said with a smile as he put on his usual clothes. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to sometimes get to be as nasty as you want without any repercussions. It¡¯s very refreshing.¡±

    ¡°You say that, but weren¡¯t you just a bit too cruel?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I get that he¡¯s not exactly someone we should be on friendly terms with, but should you really be taking such enjoyment out of tormenting someone? You seriously scared me with the way you were acting.¡±

    ¡°Is that really what you should be saying right now?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°I think there¡¯s something else that you want to say to me.¡±

    ¡°What are you-? Oh, right¡­¡± the redhead said, realizing what Lexton was referring to. ¡°I¡¯ll get right on that, once I¡¯m done with our guide, okay?¡±

    Erin turned her attention back to Skeets, who was having his injuries checked out by Zeldana. After what he had gone through, the rat man was acting quite docile, allowing the elf to inspect the damage Lexton had caused. However, one could tell by just looking into his eyes that he still had fight left in him.

    ¡°Alright, I want some answers from you,¡± Erin said as she glared at Skeets, who glared back at her in return. ¡°Just what were you trying to pull? Are you one of the assassins working for the Five Overlords or something?¡±

    ¡°The guy I¡¯m working for is called Screw. Last name You,¡± the rat man replied. ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you anything. You can do whatever you want, but I won¡¯t crack.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? Sounds like a challenge,¡± Ryle said as she walked towards Skeets while cracking her knuckles. ¡°Maybe we should put that to the test and see just how much you¡¯re willing to withstand.¡±

    ¡°Now now now! Don¡¯t get carried away here! I¡¯m still not done with the medical treatment,¡± Zeldana said with a small grin. ¡°If we don¡¯t treat his injuries first, they might get infected and he won¡¯t be telling us anything for long. How about I get that out of the way first and then we can continue asking him questions?¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± the blonde said, taking a step back. ¡°Whatever you¡¯ll do to him will be worse than any torture we could ever come up with anyway.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what the hell does she mean by that?¡± Skeets asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind her!¡± Zeldana said happily as she dragged the rat man with her out of the cave and out of sight. ¡°Just come with me and you¡¯ll soon be as good as new!¡±

    Almost as soon as they disappeared from sight, the rest of the group could hear Skeets screaming in agony and horror. Soon after that, Zeldana came back with the rat man, who now looked like almost all life had been drained from him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk¡­ Just don¡¯t let her touch me ever again¡­¡± the rat man whimpered.

    ¡°Holy crap, what could have Zeldana done to scare him like that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I though she was a healer and not a torturer.¡±

    ¡°With her those two go hand in hand,¡± Ryle said with a sigh.

    Once Skeets had sat down, Erin approached him in order to ask her questions again.

    ¡°Oky. Let¡¯s try this one more time,¡± the redhead said, staring down at the rat man. ¡°Who are you working for?¡±

    ¡°What? You think someone wouldn¡¯t come after you unless they were ordered to do so? I did this out of my own free will,¡± Skeets said, surprising Erin and the others. ¡°It is for my own belief that I decided to try and kill you all. After all, you were trying to perform sacrilege.¡±

    ¡°Hold on¡­ Belief? As in religious belief?¡± Durge asked, having picked up on the specific words the rat man had used. ¡°Are you a member of the Brotherhood of the Worm or something?¡±

    ¡°What is that?¡± Erin asked, turning her attention to the orc.

    ¡°They¡¯re a bunch or crazy religious people who think the Five Overlords are gods or something. Basically, anybody who dares to oppose them at all are sinners in their eyes that need to be killed for their crimes. Back when I was still with the Laughing Ogre I came across a couple of them,¡± Durge explained. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this guy figured out what we were up to, once he learned that we wanted to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s place.¡±

    ¡°There are actually people who see the Overlords as their gods?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°What kind of an insane cult are these guys?¡±

    ¡°It is YOU who are the insane ones!¡± Skeets suddenly began to rant furiously. ¡°Do you truly believe that this world was better before they came here!? Violence and unrest were a constant back then! Our gracious lords simply came here and took pity on us by subjugating our world under their rule! Thanks to them, there are no new wars or rampant criminality that rules over us through fear and violence! The world is much better now and it¡¯s all thanks to those five and their righteous fury will destroy you all!¡±

    ¡°Wow, you really are a nutty one, aren¡¯t you?¡± the blonde said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, your idols haven¡¯t done much good, outside of grabbing power for themselves and anybody who likes to kiss their asses!¡±

    ¡°That just means you are filthy sinners! All of you!¡± the rat man continued to rant. ¡°The holy book says that those who are pure will find joy and fulfillment within their rule, while those stained by evil cannot accept it! You should change your ways, so that they may have mercy on your filthy souls!¡±

    Taken aback by the insane outburst from Skeets, Erin and her companions could only stare at the murderer in shock. While they knew that there were those who were loyal to the Five Overlords, they had only me those who benefited from their rule. To witness someone who was actually this devoted to them was something they hadn¡¯t expected to ever see.

    ¡°...Could you be the ¡°Grand Mine Stabber?¡± Durge asked, breaking the silence.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Ryle asked in return.

    ¡°A couple of years ago, I heard about some crazy cultist in Grand Mine Central. He apparently was able to kill quite a few people, before being arrested,¡± the orc explained. ¡°I only heard about it from the news once by accident, so it didn¡¯t really stay in my mind all that much. Not to mention, I thought that he would have gotten the death penalty. Sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately for you, the people at the Black Market saw a possibility for profit in me,¡± Skeets said with a smirk. ¡°They are willing to let anyone live, as long as they have a chance to make some extra money from them.¡±

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    Erin and a few others couldn¡¯t help but grimace in disgust. The idea that a crazed serial killer like Skeets wouldn¡¯t face the punishment he deserved for the sake of some extra money wasn¡¯t an idea they liked all that much.

    ¡°No need to apologize, Durge. It¡¯s not like you forgot about it on purpose,¡± the redhead said to the orc. ¡°I doubt anybody in this group could have known about him.¡±

    ¡°I did!¡± Zeldana suddenly exclaimed, making everybody else stare at her. ¡°I knew who he was soon after you introduced him to me.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? YOU KNEW!?¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°WHY THE HELL DIDN¡¯T YOU TELL US!?¡±

    ¡°Simple! Because not telling was far more entertaining!¡± the elf replied. ¡°I was waiting to see what he would do and if any were able to react in time!¡±

    ¡°B-But weren¡¯t you also in danger of getting killed!?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°Had Lexton not woken all of us up, he could have killed any one of us!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean that sleep drug he used on us? Yeah, that was very cute of him,¡± Zeldana said with a giggle. ¡°As soon as he took it out of his bag, I realized what he was doing. The thing is that I¡¯ve dealt with so many drugs and poisons in my life that I was never going to fall asleep from it. In fact, I was just pretending to be asleep in order to let him act and see what he would do.¡±

    Silence fell over the cave as everyone stared at the elf. While Skeets had a look of shock and surprise on his face, Erin and her other companions were glaring at Zeldana.

    ¡°...Zel?¡± Erin called out, breaking the silence.

    ¡°Yeah?¡± the elf responded.

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!¡± the redhead yelled in fury.

    ¡°...Okay? I thought that was already a well-known fact,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you need to repeat it.¡±

    Erin let out a frustrated sigh before taking a deep breath. Getting all worked up wasn¡¯t going to help her out at all, so she might as well just get back to working on the issue they were currently faced with. Their guide that had just attempted to kill them.

    ¡°Alright, back to the topic,¡± the redhead said as she looked at Skeets. ¡°So your plan was to kill us in some whatever messed up manner you like to offer tributes to your gods. We get that. Did you lie to us about knowing how to get to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base or was that true?¡±

    ¡°That was never a lie. In fact, the prison would have never offered me to you, if I wasn¡¯t able to do so,¡± the rat man answered. ¡°The Black Market might be full of nothing but criminals, but they do take their business matters seriously. If they simply screwed over their customers, people would stop coming to them. That¡¯s why they made sure that I had the exact skills you guys were looking for, before I even took a step towards the warden¡¯s office.¡±

    ¡°Alright, glad to know that we got what we paid for at the very least,¡± Erin said. ¡°Have you been leading us correctly so far or have you taken us on the wrong path? We are talking about going to the servants of your personal idols, after all.¡±

    ¡°As much as I hate to admit it, we¡¯ve been on the right track for this whole trip so far,¡± Skeets said with a frown on his face. ¡°I couldn¡¯t risk any of you growing suspicious of me, so I made sure to go the right way. Not only that, but I was also hoping that in case I failed to eliminate you all myself, the people serving Saint Gotzmeyer might be able to do so.¡±

    ¡°...Saint?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°What else would I call him? Gotzmeyer is one of the direct servants of one of the Five Lords themselves!¡± the rat man answered, his fanatical side starting to come up once again. ¡°Those who have pledged themselves to serve of gracious lords should only be given such titles! Even if they fail to catch their greatness!¡±

    ¡°You do know you¡¯re talking about someone who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people, right?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see how someone like that deserves to be called a saint or any other such title.¡±

    ¡°The words of a heretical sinner! Why am I not surprised!?¡± Skeets yelled. ¡°Only those who haven¡¯t seen the glory that the Five Overlords and their servants have brought upon this world would ever dare doubt their rule!¡±

    ¡°You keep talking about them like they are these great and just leaders, but all I¡¯ve seen them bring is oppression and destruction!¡± the redhead yelled. ¡°How can you worship people like that!? Shouldn¡¯t you try to oppose them!?¡±

    ¡°You truly are an ignorant one, aren¡¯t you?¡± the rat man asked. ¡°Do you honestly think that this world was some sort of a paradise before they came? Let me tell you, the world I lived in certainly wasn¡¯t one!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°You know what life was like me before the Five Overlords came? It was nothing but constant fear,¡± Skeets said. ¡°Back then, there were constant conflicts around here. All the big corporations were trying to take over the mining industry here and they were willing to do whatever it took to win. This led to them hiring criminal groups and mercenaries to do their dirty work, and do you think they¡¯d care if an innocent ratfolk family got caught in the crossfire? I had to fear everything. Fear that I might get caught in another shootout. Fear that the place I worked at happened to upset one of the big players in the city, who then decided to raid it and kill everyone. Fear that someone just happened to overhear me say something they didn¡¯t like and get executed on the spot! The Overlords might not be all that merciful, but at least they put down the rich bastards trying to control everything! At least they drove the criminals to the holes they belong to! AT LEAST I GOT TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO MURDERED MY FAMILY FINALLY PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID!¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the rat man¡¯s rant. While she knew that there were those who benefited from the rule of the Five Overlords, she had mostly assumed that they were just those in the service of their new masters, reaping the benefits of their new positions. However, she had never expected someone like Skeets, who was essentially a regular citizen, to feel actual loyalty to them, even to the point of joining a cult.

    A hand laid on the redhead¡¯s shoulder. She turned to look behind her and saw Zeldana staring at her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He¡¯s just out of his mind and doesn¡¯t see things clearly,¡± the elf said. ¡°The Five Overlords are no saviors at all. You¡¯ve seen it for yourself. So don¡¯t even think about doubting yourself now.¡±

    Erin simply nodded in response, but there was still doubt in her heart. Zeldana saw this and knew that she needed to have another talk with the redhead.

    ¡°Anyways, I think we can move past from this political and religious debate, and get back to the topic at hand,¡± Durge said, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the cave. ¡°Skeets, can you get us to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base or not?¡±

    ¡°Like I said already, I know the way,¡± the rat man answered. ¡°However, my question is, why should I help you at all? I already know you people are nothing but filthy sinners, so what possible reason is there for me to help any of you at all?¡±

    The orc didn¡¯t say anything in response at all. Instead, he simply pointed at Zeldana, which caused Skeets to immediately turn pale.

    ¡°...I¡¯ll take you there. I promise,¡± the rat man said in a meek voice. ¡°Just don¡¯t let her touch me again.¡±

    ¡°See? Isn¡¯t it nice to simply cooperate with us?¡± Durge asked with a smirk. ¡°Things go a lot smoother, when we are all on the same page.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Why is everybody so afraid of Zeldana?¡± Erin asked. ¡°She¡¯s just a healer. Not some horrible monster!¡±

    This comment caused everybody to stare at the redhead. Behind the stares was the question ¡°Are you seriously saying that?¡±

    ¡°...Okay, fair enough. She¡¯s honestly a horrible person who takes delight in the misery of others for her own amusement,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°However, while she might play some of the nastiest tricks on people-¡±

    ¡°Knowingly letting a murderer join our group without so much as giving us a warning is a nasty trick?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Okay, she can be an ABSOLUTELY terrible person,¡± the redhead said. ¡°However, I still don¡¯t see why Skeets or anybody would fear Zeldana like she was going to eat them!¡±

    ¡°That would be preferable to what she actually does,¡± Ryle said as she rolled her eyes.

    ¡°I try my best!¡± Zeldana chimed in happily.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a goddamn compliment, you psychopathic bastard!¡± the blonde yelled angrily.

    ¡°Alright! Enough!¡± Erin said, cutting off any arguments. ¡°Now, can we go back to getting to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base or was there still something that needed to be addressed?¡±

    For a moment, there was only silence as no one seemed to have anything to say. However, just as Erin began to think that they could go back to resuming their journey, the sound of someone clearing their throat could be heard. She turned to where the sound came from and saw Lexton leaning against the wall of the cave, looking like he was waiting for something.

    ¡°...Oh right, now I¡¯ve got to do this,¡± the redhead said with a deep sigh. ¡°Might as well get this over with¡­.¡±

    Erin walked up to Lexton, who didn¡¯t even turn to look at her. She stood before him and took a deep breath, before giving the kobold what he was waiting for.

    ¡°Lex, I¡¯m sorry. You were completely right about your assessment over who we should have picked up as our guide,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I should have really listened to you, instead of simply going by my own intuition alone. You have far more experience in these things and I chose to ignore it. From now on, I¡¯ll make sure to properly listen to you. Can you forgive me?¡±

    ¡°Well, this is certainly strange,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I¡¯m standing here, waiting for the right words to come out, but all I hear is a bunch of worthless bullshit. Is my hearing bad? Nah, that can¡¯t be it. It must be a problem with wherever the words come out from. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    Knowing that she needed to really play into the kobold¡¯s ego in order to get through this, Erin swallowed whatever pride she had and bowed down to the point her forehead touched the ground.

    ¡°I mean, I beg of you to accept my humble apologies, Lex!¡± the redhead practically yelled. ¡°I now know the error of my ways in doubting you! You are most certainly the smartest and wisest out of all of us and we are truly blessed to have you with us! Please find it within you to forgive us fools!¡±

    Erin had shut her eyes as she felt completely embarrassed over what she was doing, but she had no choice. They needed to patch things up or else there would be internal tensions within the group. Not only that, but Lexton was somebody they desperately needed. Getting on his bad side would have devastating consequences in the future. She just hoped that her performance would be enough to fix the whole mess.

    The redhead opened her eyes and looked up upon hearing the sound of footsteps approach her. Lexton had walked up to her and was now looking at her with a smirk on his face.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can¡¯t help it if you¡¯re dumb,¡± the kobold said smugly as he patted her on the cheek before walking away. ¡°Just remember to keep in mind which of us are the smart ones.¡±

    Having seemingly achieved her goal, Erin got up from the ground. Her expression was a combination of embarrassment and anger, as her face was almost as red as her hair.

    ¡°You want me to kick his ass?¡± Ryle asked, not amused by Lexton¡¯s actions. ¡°He could use one.¡±

    ¡°No. He was in the right this time, so we don¡¯t really have any excuse to get upset at him. Not only that, but if we retaliate, he wins. And he knows that,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°The best we can do is avoid getting into situations like this ever again, so we don¡¯t end up as his personal amusement.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not the only one who found amusement in this,¡± Durge said as he pointed at Zeldana, who was laughing so hard she had fallen to the ground.

    Erin let out another sigh. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this had been worse than facing whatever monsters the caves had within them.

 104. Ambush at the Destination

    Chapter 104

    Ambush at the Destination

    After putting Skeets under control, Erin¡¯s group was back to journeying towards Gotzmeyer. Their ratfolk guide had become very cooperative after whatever Zeldana had done to him, so he did his job without any complaints. His electric shock collar had even been placed around his neck again, even though there didn¡¯t seem to be any need for it, but one could never be too careful.

    There had been a couple of times that Skeets had been eyeing for a way to escape, but he was quickly put in his place when someone in the group directed the rat man¡¯s attention to Zeldana. The elf didn¡¯t even need to really do or even say anything, as even a friendly smile was enough to terrorize Skeets into compliance.

    ¡°Hey, how much longer until we get there!?¡± Ryle asked angrily, as she and the others followed the rat man¡¯s lead. ¡°You do know what will happen to you, if you take us anywhere else other than where we want to go, right!?¡±

    ¡°I am very aware of what will happen! That¡¯s why I¡¯m not going to cause any problems!¡± Skeets shouted back, not in the mood to argue. ¡°I promise the place is just around the corner! After that, I can finally be on my way back to the prison and I¡¯ll never have to see any of you ever again!¡±

    ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s sad that you feel like that about us,¡± Zeldana said in a fake hurt tone. ¡°I personally wouldn¡¯t mind having you around for much longer! What do you say we make you into a permanent member of our group? I bet I could find a lot of amusement from you!¡±

    ¡°And that is exactly the reason why I never want to see you all again for the rest of my life!¡± the rat man said. ¡°Between you and the goddamn kobold over there, my time in prison being surrounded by some of the most violent and vicious people in the world was like a dream vacation! Just let me do my job, so this goddamn nightmare can finally be over!¡±

    ¡°Sheesh! I know Lex hurt you bad, but what in the hell did Zeldana do to you!?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a trade secret!¡± Zeldana said happily with a big smile on her face.

    Deciding to let it go and just focus on getting to their destination, the redhead stayed silent and simply followed behind Skeets. Eventually, the rat man led them to the location where Gotzmeyer¡¯s base was located.

    The base of the warlord was a large fortress situated above a large pool of lava. There was only one bridge that led to the main gate of the base, making it the only visible way to gain entrance. Due to the place being underground, there wasn¡¯t even a way to fly to the fortress from above, as getting through the caves with an aircraft would be impossible. In short, it seemed like a place that was impossible to infiltrate.

    However, Erin and her friends were determined to get inside, no matter what. They already knew about one method that they could use. The redhead just hoped that it would be enough.

    ¡°Look, there¡¯s the base, like I promised!¡± Skeets said as he pointed at the fortress. ¡°Can I go now!? I don¡¯t want to deal with you assholes anymore!¡±

    Erin, wanting nothing more than to be rid of the crazed murderer they had for a guide, was just about to let the rat man go. However, just as she was about to say that, Durge spoke up.

    ¡°As much as I don¡¯t want to be near you a second longer, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t do that,¡± the orc said with a frown. ¡°Once our business here is done, we still need to go back, right? How do you think we can do that without a guide?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! What are you going to do!? Tie me up and leave me here, while you go commit blasphemy!?¡± Skeets asked angrily. ¡°You don¡¯t need me to get back to the city! Do you really think that one of the warlords, direct servants of the Five Overlords themselves, wouldn¡¯t have maps in their base!? Knowing them, they probably have a whole room full of them, just to make sure they can get out of here whenever they need!¡±

    Durge was about to speak up again and argue against the rat man, but Erin managed to cut him off this time.

    ¡°He¡¯s right. It would be incredibly stupid from someone like Gotzmeyer to not have at least one map of the surrounding caves withing his base,¡± the redhead said. ¡°All we need to do is find it and I¡¯m sure we can get back without any issues.¡±

    ¡°See!? That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying!¡± Skeets said. ¡°So does this mean that I get to leave!?¡±

    ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t want to have you anywhere close to me any longer,¡± Erin said as she glared at the rat man. ¡°Normally, I¡¯d wish you safe travel, but I honestly hope that whatever monstrosities are living there devour you in as painful of a manner as possible.¡±

    ¡°Well, the feeling is freaking mutual, lady!¡± Skeets said as he flipped the bird to the whole group while walking away. ¡°From now on, I will pray every day that our great Overlords will get their hands on you people and torture each and every one of you to death! Piss off and die, you assholes!¡±

    ¡°I can assure you that the feeling is mutual!¡± the redhead said back. ¡°Now get out of here, before I decide to kill you myself!¡±

    The rat man didn¡¯t need to be told twice, as he was soon running away from the group. As soon as he was out of sight, Erin let out a sigh.

    ¡°You okay, Erin?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°You seem a bit worn out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ This has just been a lot to deal with,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°The fact that I essentially rented out a murderer to be our guide to a warlord isn¡¯t exactly something that is easy to swallow, you know?¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re going to blame yourself over picking him as our guide, you should put some of that blame on me as well!¡± the blonde said, hoping to cheer up her friend. ¡°After all, I was there with you and completely supported your decision. I¡¯m just as guilty as you are, you know?¡±

    ¡°...Thanks, Ryle,¡± Erin said with a smile.

    ¡°And you should remember the one who not only tried to prevent you two from screwing up big time, but also saved the day in the end,¡± Lexton suddenly said, causing both ladies to frown out of annoyance. ¡°Although, I¡¯m in a weird way sad that we had to part ways with that guy. After all, I could see myself having a lot of fin with him through this.¡±

    The kobold pulled out the remote for the shock collar on Skeets¡¯s neck and pressed the button on it. The group could hear the rat man scream in pain further away from then, followed by what sounded like angry cursing.

    ¡°...You¡¯re a twisted little bastard, Lex,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just trying to make the best out of bad situations,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t see what any of you are upset about. You¡¯ve seen what that guy is like. He¡¯s a nutcase who worships the Overlords of all people as his gods. I don¡¯t see the harm in giving him what he deserves.¡±

    ¡°Personally, I would like it, if we didn¡¯t act in a similar manner as those we don¡¯t like!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°So would you mind and put that remote away!? We have a job to do!¡±

    ¡°Fine. Be a spoilsport,¡± Lexton said as he put away the remote.

    Seeing how the kobold had done as she had requested, the redhead turned her attention towards the military base before them. She wanted to move closer to it so that they could survey the area and possibly find a way inside. They were already aware of the delivery trucks that would come in every so often, but they would need to properly observe them in order to figure out the best way to utilize them.

    However, just as Erin was getting into solving the problem before them, a loud scream cut her train of thought all of a sudden. The scream came from not too far away and sounded familiar. It didn¡¯t take long for everyone to realize that it had been Skeets screaming. With this realization, all eyes were on Lexton.

    ¡°Seriously, Lex!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you put that remote away already!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, it wasn¡¯t me this time!¡± the kobold quickly said. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m not even holding the damn thing!¡±

    ¡°Then who-!?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s question was interrupted as she was suddenly pushed down to the ground by Ryle. Right after this happened, a large stone right behind Erin was split into multiple pieces, like multiple invisible blades had cut through it.

    ¡°What the-!? What just happened!?¡± Erin asked, shocked by the invisible force and what it had done.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got no idea! I just sensed that something was wrong and acted upon it!¡± Ryle said as she began to look around for the attacker, as were the others. ¡°Thanks to my years of experience as a bounty hunter, I have a bit of a sense for when someone is trying to attack! Doesn¡¯t tell me what it is, though!¡±

    The group then heard the sound of giggling coming from nearby, allowing them to locate their attackers. Much to the surprise of Erin, Ryle, Arkay and Lexton, they recognized these new threats, as they were the elves that they had met before leaving the Black Market.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you lost the bet, sis. They were able to notice your attack,¡± the elf boy said as he was giggling. ¡°You really should have attacked them first, after all.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so, but we couldn¡¯t let this one get away,¡± the elf woman said while holding up the decapitated head of Skeets. ¡°All rebellious forces must be eliminated no matter how small. That is our rule.¡±

    ¡°You two!?¡± Erin shouted recognizing the two elf siblings. ¡°Why are you here!? And how did you find us!?¡±

    ¡°Finding you wasn¡¯t a difficult task at all. All we had to do was follow the signal of the tracker that was on you guys,¡± the elf woman said with a smirk. ¡°You guys should know better than to accept gifts from total strangers.¡±

    At first, the redhead didn¡¯t know what the elf was talking about, until it suddenly dawned on her. She looked at Ryle, who quickly realized what their new enemies were referring to. She took out the flower she had received from the elf boy back in the Black Market, which only made the two elves smile even wider.

    ¡°It seems like you finally realized it,¡± the elf boy said mockingly. ¡°Too bad it¡¯s way too late.¡±

    Erin had her sword drawn out and ready for battle, as the others were also getting ready for a fight. However, just as they were getting ready for their fight, Zeldana¡¯s ears perked up, as she heard something in the distance.

    ¡°Erin, I think I can hear the truck coming,¡± the elf whispered to the redhead. ¡°If we want to get inside the base, we need to move now.¡±

    ¡°You have got to be kidding me! Right now!?¡± the redhead whispered back. ¡°We can¡¯t go anywhere in this situation! Those two would immediately expose us to the people at the base!¡±

    ¡°I know. Which is why I think the best course of action would be for us to split our group,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°While some of us stay here and deal with these two, the rest of us can go and infiltrate the base and take down Gotzmeyer.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! The ones staying here would be left to their deaths!¡± Erin responded. ¡°We have no idea how these two fight, but I¡¯m sure they¡¯re the same type of assassins that we¡¯ve been dealing with for some time now! The best way for us to take them out is with all of us together!¡±

    ¡°Are you willing to risk not getting into Gotzmeyer¡¯s fortress and possibly miss the chance to take down one of the three warlords? That seems like the much bigger problem to me,¡± the elf said. ¡°If we all stay here to deal with these two, there¡¯s a chance that place will go into lockdown and we won¡¯t get a chance like this ever again.¡±

    The redhead could only grit her teeth in anger. They were so close to their objective, yet it seemed like they would be prevented from getting to it at the last moment. Was everything they did going to be all for nothing?

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and deal with these two,¡± Ryle suddenly said, shocking the others.

    ¡°Ryle, what are you-!?¡± Erin tried to speak up, but the blonde interrupted her.

    ¡°I said I¡¯m staying here. You guys go ahead and deal with Gotzmeyer,¡± Ryle said as she crushed the flower she had received from the elf boy in her hand. ¡°These two took me for a fool and got us into this mess. It¡¯s only suitable that I fix this with my own hands.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! We are not leaving you behind!¡± the redhead protested. ¡°We have no idea how these two fight, so you¡¯d be in way too much danger on your own! Our best option to beat them is to work together!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really like my chances here either, but it¡¯s our only option!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°We have to take these two down now or else things will just get worse for us! They could alert the base over there and have soldiers swarm us or leave us all in such a bad shape that we can no longer take on Gotzmeyer! Besides, even if we fight together, there¡¯s no guarantee we will win! Our best choice is to split up and hopefully win on both sides!¡±

    Erin wanted to keep arguing, not fond of the idea of leaving her friend to fend for herself and possibly die. However, a strong hand gripped her shoulder and she looked behind her to see Durge looking at her.

    ¡°She has made her choice,¡± the orc said. ¡°We should respect her resolve and move on.¡±

    ¡°...Fine. We¡¯ll leave this to you,¡± Erin said, relenting. ¡°But you better not die, got it!? I won¡¯t forgive you, if you do!¡±

    ¡°Relax. I¡¯m not planning to do that,¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of fun I¡¯m planning to have in my life.¡±

    Giving her friend one last look, Erin and the others ran away, leaving the blonde alone with the two elves. Despite this, the two attackers didn¡¯t seem to be bothered at all.

    ¡°You¡¯re a cocky one, aren¡¯t you?¡± the elf woman asked with a smirk. ¡°Do you really think that you¡¯ll be able to take on both of us at the same time?¡±

    ¡°You never know until you try!¡± Ryle said as she got into a stance. ¡°Hell, I¡¯ve taken on punks like you two before! I doubt either of you will be anymore difficult than the ones before!¡±

    ¡°Besides, she won¡¯t be fighting you two on her own,¡± a voice said, causing the assassins and the blonde to turn towards it. It belonged to Arkay. ¡°I will be fighting alongside her, so don¡¯t expect any easy victories.¡±

    ¡°Arnie, why are you here!?¡± Ryle asked, shocked to see her young friend there. ¡°I thought I told you guys to go on without me!¡±

    ¡°I know, but I refused to listen to that order,¡± Arkay said. ¡°I cannot just walk away and leave my friend on their own. That¡¯s why I¡¯m staying with you.¡±

    ¡°This will be a tough battle. Are you sure about this?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°You can still turn around, if you want.¡±

    ¡°All of our battles have been tough. That¡¯s just how it is,¡± the cat boy said with a smile. ¡°But with the two of us, we should be able to manage just fine.¡±

    ¡°...God, you¡¯re just the best,¡± Ryle said with a grin, as she and Arkay got ready for the fight ahead of them. ¡°Okay then, partner! Let¡¯s kick some ass!¡±

 105. A Party Split Apart

    Chapter 105

    A Party Split Apart

    Erin, Lexton and Durge were being led by Zeldana, whose hearing was able to pick up on the sound of the approaching truck. They made their way towards a cavern, where the vehicle was apparently going to appear from. The group soon hid themselves behind some rocks and waited for their target to appear.

    ¡°Are you sure that the truck is coming here?¡± Erin asked Zeldana. ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything.¡±

    ¡°Do you think these ears of mine are just for show? There¡¯s a reason why they¡¯re so damn big!¡± the elf replied, pointing at her ears which were a signature characteristic of elves. ¡°Remember that I heard the fight you guys were having with that puppet master from within a house that was still pretty far away. With the noise carried by the echoes within these caves, picking up the sound is a piece of cake for me!¡±

    Despite still having some doubts, the redhead decided to trust her companion. It was too late to regret her decision now, as they had already left Ryle behind to fight against two assassins at the same time. The only thing she could do was make sure that the blonde risking her life wouldn¡¯t be wasted.

    However, upon thinking about the friend they had left behind, Erin noticed that someone else was missing. A certain cat boy to be specific.

    ¡°Guys? Where¡¯s Arnie?¡± the redhead as she was looking around frantically for their missing comrade. ¡°He¡¯s not here. Did he turn himself invisible at some point?¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t do anything like that,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°He stayed behind with Ryle in order to help her fight those two.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? When did that happen!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°More importantly, when did you find out!?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much as soon as he made the decision, I noticed it,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°When we were running away from those elves, I noticed that he suddenly stopped. I turned to look at him and saw that he had a determined look in his eyes, before he ran back to where Ryle was. It wasn¡¯t exactly hard to figure out what he was going to do.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything!?¡± the redhead asked angrily. ¡°We need to go back and-!¡±

    ¡°And do what!? Waste the opportunity that Arnie and Ryle gave us!?¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°If we go back, those two will have risked their lives for nothing! How about instead of acting on every emotion you get, you think things through for once!?¡±

    Erin was taken aback by the kobold¡¯s sudden outburst. While she understood what he meant, she still didn¡¯t feel right about leaving anyone behind, whether Ryle or Arkay. In all honesty, she was just looking for any excuse to go back and help her friends.

    ¡°He¡¯s right, Erin. We can¡¯t go back now,¡± Durge said. ¡°Both Ryle and Arnie were ready to face those two, despite knowing the danger. They did it for our sake and going back to them would be the same as us spitting on their faces. The best way for us to help them now is make sure we don¡¯t fail our job.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re right,¡± Erin said, steeling her resolve. ¡°Sorry about that. Let¡¯s focus on our job, so Ryle and Arnie won¡¯t have anything to worry about.¡±

    ¡°Glad to see that you¡¯ve finally come to your senses,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Anyways, I have an idea on how to get inside the base.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, the truck transporting supplies to Gotzmeyer¡¯s base was making its way through the caves. Due to the importance of the delivery, the truck had two people in it, a driver and a guard. Both were armed, just in case anything happened on their way to the base. Not only were there numerous creatures that would make a lone delivery truck their target, but there was also the possibility of bandits and other such people attacking. Even if they had a relatively safe route that they could use to get to their destination, there was always the chance of things going wrong, so having armed guards was a necessity.

    The truck came to a sudden stop, as the driver saw something strange up ahead. It was a thick cloud of some type of smoke that was blocking their path. Since there could be traps placed within the smoke or something could be waiting behind it, their best option was to stop.

    For a moment, both the driver and the guard simply sat in the truck, waiting to see what would happen. The truck itself had a strong armor and the windows had been made bulletproof, so they weren¡¯t in any danger at the moment. However, simply sitting around without knowing what was going around would rattle the nerves of even the most hardened guards, which is why they felt the need to do something.

    ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go see what this is about,¡± the guard said to the driver, as he exited the vehicle.

    The guard readied his rifle, in case something jumped out of the smoke or his surroundings. He slowly walked closer to the cloud of smoke, while looking around for anything that could be an enemy of some kind. He stopped a few steps away from the cloud and stayed there, rifle at the ready.

    However, nothing came out at all and there were no sounds of living beings either. Eventually, the smoke began to disperse, revealing nothing but the same road they usually taken.

    Confused by this, the guard wondered what could have been the cause of the smoke. He then decided to check their cargo, in case someone had broken into it while they remained still. Yet even then, nothing out of the ordinary could be seen. The door to the back of the truck was closed and the lock didn¡¯t have any signs that it had been tampered with.

    Assuming that it was just some sort of a natural gas that had leaked from underground, the guard returned to his seat next to the driver and they continued their journey. Little did they know that they were now carrying extra cargo, but had failed to see where it was.

    <hr>

    Back with Ryle and Arkay, the battle they were in with the two elven assassins was about to start. Both sides were locked in, staring down each other. The blonde and the cat boy had nervous sweat running down the sides of their faces, while the two elves were completely calm, certain about their victory.

    ¡°Hey, are you two sure that you have the time to be taking things so leisurely?¡± Ryle asked, hoping to get a reaction from at least one of their opponents. ¡°Most of our group already got away. I doubt your bosses would be happy about that.¡±

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need to worry about that,¡± the elf boy said. ¡°This only makes things easier for us. Right, Aliza?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Denzer,¡± the elf woman said. ¡°We might have orders to kill you two and most of your group, but our boss wants your group¡¯s leader alive. The fact that you decided to split your group only makes it easier for us to kill you two, without having to worry about her. We can catch her later with the help of Gotzmeyer¡¯s people.¡±

    ¡°...Why is it that you people want Erin alive?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°This has come up before with you assassins. Why would those who excel at killing people be sent to capture somebody?¡±

    ¡°Do you really think we know or care as to why our bosses want your redheaded friend alive? All we know is that we were told to bring her to them alive and we would be begging for death, if we messed that up!¡± Aliza said. ¡°However, we still need to eliminate the bugs clinging to her, so we were the perfect choice for this job, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    ¡°I doubt you bozos are any good for taking us on! Haven¡¯t you heard what happened to all of your buddies that took us on before you!?¡± Ryle boasted with a grin. ¡°Looking at our track record, I¡¯d say that you two don¡¯t have the best of chances, so why don¡¯t you piss off!? If you apologize now and promise never to come before us, we might just let you go¡­¡±

    The two elf assassins laughed at the threat from the blonde. She was obviously not intimidating them at all.

    ¡°Do you really think that scares us?¡± Aliza asked with a grin. ¡°We are well-aware that the only reason you¡¯ve beat any of our colleagues is because you fought them together! Now that it¡¯s just the two of you, it¡¯s you whose chances don¡¯t look good.¡±

    ¡°OH YEAH!?¡± Ryle shouted defiantly, as she took out her whip and swung it towards the elf woman. ¡°WE¡¯LL SEE ABOUT THAT SOON, WON¡¯T WE!?¡±

    The whip was easily dodged by Aliza, allowing it to crash into a nearby rock and break it. Using this moment to her advantage, the elf assassin raised up her arm and brought it down suddenly. Before Ryle could react, what seemed like invisible blades seemed to cut through the ground and slice at her arm that was holding the whip. The blonde screamed in pain as her arm was now bleeding.

    ¡°RYLE!¡± Arkay shouted as he tried to rush to her side in order to help her.

    However, the cat boy¡¯s efforts were thwarted, as Denzer rushed at him, delivering a kick to the stomach and sending him flying back.

    ¡°It¡¯s not fair to leave me out of the playing,¡± the elf boy said with a smirk as he pulled out a knife that suddenly extended into a spear. ¡°Since my sister is busy with your friend, I get to play with you! Make this at least fun for me, would you?¡±

    <hr>

    Back at Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, the delivery truck had just gotten past the last security check it needed to clear in order to gain access. With no further clearance needed, the guards driving the vehicle were able to take it to the loading bay, where their cargo would be unpacked by the people stationed there.

    While the people working the loading bay area were busy with taking the supplies out from the back of the truck, no one was able to notice four figures suddenly crawl out from underneath the vehicle and disappear into the shadows. These were Erin and her companions that had come along with her to infiltrate the base. While the guards had been distracted by the smoke cloud Lexton had created, the redhead and the others had crawled underneath the truck and clung to the underside of the vehicle, allowing them to get through the security checks.

    ¡°Okay, so we made it inside. Now what?¡± Durge asked as he peeked around the corner to see the soldiers move around the area. ¡°Where do we go from here?¡±

    ¡°We need to find where Gotzmeyer is, so we should look for his office or whatever they call the room he stays at,¡± Erin said. ¡°We should probably grab a soldier who is on their own and force them to tell us where we can find him.¡±

    ¡°While that would be an effective way of doing it, it¡¯s also a bit risky,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only do we run the risk of the soldier not being alone, but they can easily alert others by simply screaming or making other loud sounds. Not only that, but once people realize that whoever we picked up isn¡¯t at their post, it will become a race against time for us to finish our business here before it¡¯s too late.¡±

    ¡°So what do you suggest that we do?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°It¡¯s not like we have a convenient map for us to use!¡±

    ¡°Actually, we do,¡± the kobold said.

    ¡°...What? Where?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t remember us-¡±

    Lexton didn¡¯t say anything in response. He simply pointed to a monitor mounted on a nearby wall. After pressing on it, it showed the current floor they were in and all the rooms nearby. There was even a bright red spot that said ¡°YOU.¡±

    ¡°...Seriously?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a large building. People get lost in much smaller places,¡± the kobold said. ¡°When dealing with a place where you need be on time everywhere you go, I¡¯d say these are pretty useful for people.¡±

    After making sure that there was no one around to spot them, Erin and her companions went to investigate the map. They were able to quickly find the place where their target was most likely located, ¡°Gotzmeyer¡¯s War Room.¡±

    ¡°War room? Seriously?¡± Erin asked. ¡°For some reason, I feel like this guy is trying to appear more impressive than he actually is¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, with the type of power and achievements the guy has, I¡¯d say he¡¯s more than earned it,¡± Durge said. ¡°Besides, I doubt it¡¯s actually some sort of a low self-esteem issue that had the room named like that.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I think Erin might be on to something here,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, these warlords have some pretty fragile egos. I wouldn¡¯t put it past them to name their personal offices in such a manner, just to make themselves feel bigger than they are.¡±

    ¡°Would you guys mind and focus!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°Seriously, half the time I¡¯m dealing with you all I feel like I¡¯m dealing with a daycare center for the brain damaged!¡±

    ¡°Right, right! No need to get all upset,¡± Erin said as she rolled her eyes, before inspecting the map before them. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ We¡¯re currently on the first floor and we need to get to the top floor, which is the fifth one. So should we take the elevator or the stairs?¡±

    ¡°Stairs. There¡¯s no question about it,¡± Durge said. ¡°We¡¯d be a sitting target inside an elevator. Not to mention, we could get easily spotted by someone else wanting to use the elevator.¡±

    ¡°And you think there aren¡¯t people using the stairs or there aren¡¯t security cameras?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically. ¡°In order for us to get there, our best option is to pick a method that isn¡¯t heavily guarded or used. That¡¯s why I say instead of going up, we go down to the basement.¡±

    ¡°The basement?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why there?¡±

    ¡°Because of this,¡± the kobold replied, pointing at a specific spot on the map that showed the laundry room. ¡°In buildings like these, there are often laundry shoots that people use to drop down their dirty clothing. We should be able to use those to climb up to the top floor. If nothing else, we should be able to get much closer.¡±

    ¡°How do you know this?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been to military bases before. Mostly selling some of the stuff that I had,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t get too deep inside, you learn a few things here and there.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about this idea?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Not only do I fear that I might not fit into a tiny space like that, but do you really think we can get that far with this method? Seems a bit too convenient¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, let me put it this way. You are either going to have to suck up your claustrophobia and climb through some dirty laundry or you can take your chances with hundreds of armed guards, lethal security systems and God only knows what other horrors this place might have in store for us,¡± the kobold explained in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Now, which option would you like to go with?¡±

    ¡°...Maybe I¡¯ll fit into that things just fine, after all,¡± the orc said.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Lexton said.

    With their objective set, Erin began to look for the best route for them to make their way to the basement. As she was doing this, she noticed something that caught her interest.

    ¡°Hey, Lex. What do you think this is?¡± the redhead asked while pointing at something located on the part of the base that was facing the bedrock behind it. ¡°Can there really be anything there? I mean, isn¡¯t that just stone over there?¡±

    ¡°Good job picking that up, Erin!¡± Lexton said in a slightly excited tone. ¡°That¡¯s got to be the emergency exit for this base! In case of a natural disaster or them getting overrun, that¡¯s their way of getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°You think we can use that once we¡¯re done here?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Definitely,¡± the kobold said with a smile. ¡°That path has got to lead either to the surface or to another city. Once there, we can figure out where to move forward.¡±

    ¡°But what about Ryle and Arnie?¡± Erin asked. ¡°They don¡¯t know about this!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about those two. Knowing how tough they are, those assassins are the ones in trouble,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Once we get into action here, this base will be in complete chaos. During that, they can sneak their way in or we can get to them. Once we¡¯ve reunited, we can figure out what to do.¡±

    With their plan set, Erin and her companions started to make their way towards the basement in order for them to get to Gotzmeyer. They might not have known about the danger their friends were in, but what they also didn¡¯t know was that they were heading towards a much more dangerous foe.

 106. Duo on Duo

    Chapter 106

    Duo on Duo

    Back with Ryle and Arkay, the two of them were locked in a fight to the death that wasn¡¯t going in their favor at all. From the very start, the two elf assassins had been dominating the fight against them with ease, as both the blonde and the cat boy were struggling to even land a single hit on their respective foes.

    Ryle was able to keep the damage she sustained from being fatal by using her senses honed through years of combat in order to avoid the attacks sent her way. The almost invisible wires that Aliza was using could cut through stone and steel, making them a lethal weapon that would cut their opponent to pieces once given the chance. Had any of Ryle¡¯s reactions been even slightly slower, she would have ended up dead already. However, while she could use her senses and fast movements to avoid the worst of the attacks, the numerous wounds were starting to pile up and take their toll on her. What made it worse was that Ryle had no way of getting close to her opponent, which would put her in the more advantageous position.

    While things weren¡¯t looking good for the blonde, Arkay wasn¡¯t doing much better. Denzer was easily the worst possible opponent for him to fight, as the elf boy excelled at close combat that wasn¡¯t the cat boy¡¯s specialty at all. To make the situation even worse for Arkay, Denzer was able to mix his attacks in a manner that was very hard to defend against. The elf boy¡¯s weapon was a knife that could extend into a spear, both weapons that he was very skilled at using. By switching between these two, he could adapt to any situation and catch his opponents off guard. Had it not been for Arkay¡¯s magical abilities that helped him push back at his attacker, he would have ended up dead long ago. However, Denzer was relentless in his attacks and was showing no signs of being worn out, unlike Arkay.

    In short, Ryle and Arkay were both in deep trouble.

    ¡°Honestly, this is a bit disappointing,¡± Aliza said as she swung her wires at Ryle, cutting through the stone ground. ¡°I was hoping that you¡¯d be at least able to give me some entertainment, but all I¡¯ve felt so far is disappointment and annoyance! If you¡¯re not going to make this fun for me, at least die quickly, so I can get this over with!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so freaking sorry YOU¡¯RE not having fun!¡± Ryle shouted angrily, as she jumped out of the way of the wires and used her whip to strike back. ¡°If you want this to be over with, why don¡¯t you just come over here for a second!? I¡¯ll make just rearrange your face a bit and we can be done here!¡±

    ¡°Please. Your bravado isn¡¯t charming or convincing in the least,¡± the elf woman said as she used her wires to block the whip. ¡°Honestly, it sucks that you had to be my opponent. Why did you have to be fitting for my style of fighting?¡±

    ¡°The hell are you complaining about now!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m fitting for your fighting style!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious to you? You¡¯re even dumber than I thought,¡± Aliza said with a sigh as she sent another attack. ¡°Throughout this whole ¡°fight¡± of ours, you haven¡¯t been able to even land a singke hit on me. This is because my techniques are the perfect counter against you. In short, you have no chance against me.¡±

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you just getting full of yourself!¡± Ryle said as she dodged the attack sent her way, as a boulder where she used to stand got cut into pieces. ¡°But that¡¯s the type of crap people often say right before getting their asses kicked! Just you wait until I get my hands on you!¡±

    ¡°There you go again with the bravado¡­ It¡¯s tiring to listen to, you know?¡± the elf woman said with a sigh. ¡°I wish I could have fought against your adorable little partner instead. I would have enjoyed that immensely. Too bad I have to be a professional above all else¡­¡±

    ¡°...What?¡± the blonde asked with wide eyes. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Simple. Even though I¡¯m an assassin, I still have my preferences. And that little kitty that came to help you? He¡¯s exactly what I like,¡± Aliza explained as a twisted grin spread across her face. ¡°Cute boys like him are just my favorite playthings. Making them scream and cry, as I cut them with my wires is simply music to my ears. And when they tearfully beg for mercy just for me to crush all that hope in one swift move? That is the greatest pleasure one could ever give me!¡±

    ¡°...You sick, twisted freak. I¡¯m going to make you regret ever admitting something like that to me!¡± Ryle said as her anger was building up. ¡°Now I know that I must kill you, not just for Arnie¡¯s sake, but for all the victims you¡¯ve tortured and killed, and the ones you will in the future! You¡¯re going to hell today!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did I upset you?¡± the elf woman said with a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If we finish this up quickly, I think I might get a chance to play little kitty boy. While Denzer does like to play, he¡¯s a considerate boy. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll let me have my fun with his target, even if he was supposed to handle him.¡±

    Feeling her anger give her a boost of power, Ryle charged at her opponent while letting out a rage-filled roar. While a bit surprised by this, Aliza didn¡¯t get caught up in the attack and was able to avoid it with ease. She was still a bit taken aback by the sudden change in her opponent¡¯s way of fighting.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Arkay wasn¡¯t doing too well against Denzer. He tried launching a fireball at the elf boy, but the magical attack was easily deflected by his opponent¡¯s spear. Denzer then charged towards the cat boy, trying to pierce him with his weapon. Arkay managed to avoid the attack, but it was soon followed up by Denzer shrinking his weapon back to a knife and engaging in a close-range melee. Arkay was able to defend himself with his own knife to some degree, but was soon pushed back, causing him to fall backwards against a boulder. Before he could recover from hitting the back of his head, his shoulder was pierced and pinned by the spear, causing him to scream from pain.

    ¡°Would you stop screaming? It¡¯s getting on my nerves,¡± Denzer said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°It¡¯s your fault anyways that this is getting so painful for you. If you simply stayed still and let me kill you, this would have been over and done already!¡±

    ¡°Sorry... for making this... difficult for you!¡± Arkay said defiantly as he grit his teeth from pain. ¡°If killing people is such a bother, why not switch professions!?¡±

    ¡°When did I say anything about killing being a bother? In fact, I enjoy it!¡± the elf boy said as a smile began to spread over his face. ¡°Especially, when it¡¯s people like that lady of yours that you came to help¡­¡±

    ¡°W-What?¡± the cat boy asked in shock.

    ¡°You saw how she looked at me back in the Black Market. The type who makes assumptions due to their own preferences and is head over heels once they see what they like,¡± Denzer explained, as his smile morphed into a twisted grin. ¡°Those types are always so fun to toy with. The look of shock and horror, once they realize that I am not as sweet and innocent as they think. The way they cry in disbelief as I stab them. Nothing is more fun than that.¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re a sick-!¡± Arkay began to say angrily, only to get cut off by the elf boy.

    ¡°But now I have to deal with YOU,¡± Denzer said, his voice dripping with malice and a look of hatred in his eyes. ¡°The complete opposite of what I enjoy. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you are completely helpless against me and therefore the perfect opponent for me, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered dealing with you at all. The least you could do for me is making this easy, so I don¡¯t have to waste anymore of my time here.¡±

    ¡°...Sorry, but I don¡¯t take requests from the likes of you!¡± the cat boy said defiantly, as he grabbed hold of the spear piercing his shoulder.

    Without giving his opponent any time to react, Arkay sent electricity through the weapon. Not only did this hit Denzer, but it also hurt Arkay as well. However, the shock was enough to cause the elf boy to back away, taking out his spear at the same time.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°You¡­ You really want to make this difficult, don¡¯t you!?¡± Denzer asked, seething with anger. ¡°Fine then! I¡¯ll just torture you, until you beg me to end your life!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± Arkay said as he got up and prepared to continue their fight.

    <hr>

    While they might have felt a surge in willpower due to wanting to protect each other, both Ryle and Arkay were still not doing all that great. Even if they were able to land a hit or two, it was only minimal damage they were able to do against their respective foes. It was clear to both of them that in order for them to win, they needed a new plan and they needed it quick.

    Fortunately, Arkay had an idea. While not on the same level as Zeldana, he had really good ears and had managed to hear the conversation between Ryle and Aliza. Thanks to that, he knew that both their opponents had twisted obsessions that they were dying to feed and that they actually wanted to face different foes. Even though he knew it was going to be risky, the cat boy realized that this was their best shot at winning.

    Using a fireball to create a cloud of dust to temporarily blind his opponent, Arkay rushed towards Ryle. The blonde soon noticed her young friend running towards her and wondered what he was doing.

    ¡°Ryle, we gotta switch opponents!¡± Arkay yelled, before Ryle could ask what he was doing.

    ¡°What!? No!¡± the blonde said out of shock. ¡°Arnie, she¡¯s-!¡±

    ¡°I know what she¡¯s like, but trust me!¡± the cat boy yelled, cutting her off. ¡°This is the only way we can beat these two!¡±

    Ryle still hesitated, knowing what might happen if Aliza got her hands on Arkay. However, seeing the determined look on his face convinced her that he knew what he was doing. The blonde might not have liked the idea, but she was now willing to through with it.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll trust you,¡± Ryle said. ¡°But you better take care not to make me regret this, okay!?¡±

    ¡°You got it!¡± Arkay said with a smile, as he turned to face Aliza.

    As this was happening, the elf assassin had been completely taken aback by the sudden development. On one hand, she felt like she should have remained professional and pursued Ryle, as she could easily defeat her. On the other hand, her more twisted side was taking over, as this was a chance for her to live out her darker desires and enjoy herself.

    In the end, her desire was too great and she succumbed to it. A small grin came to her face, as she already imagined the things she would do to her new opponent.

    ¡°I have to say, this is a pleasant surprise,¡± Aliza said. ¡°Although, are you sure about this? My brother isn¡¯t exactly going to be a pleasant playmate with your friend.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I am more than aware of what he¡¯s like,¡± Arkay said. ¡°But it¡¯s you two who don¡¯t realize just what type of people you¡¯re dealing with here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really now?¡± the elf woman said with a grin, as she prepared her wires. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll just have to see, don¡¯t we? Whatever the case, I am going to enjoy this as much as possible.¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Denzer, the elf boy had remained at the spot Arkay had left him. Due to the dust that had been blasted at him, he had been effectively blinded and he couldn¡¯t make any thoughtless moves. He was still on alert in case someone came attacking at him, so he could defend himself. Not only that, but even if his opponent had used this opportunity to run away, he was certain that he could chase him down, so he could take a moment to regain his senses.

    However, after getting the dust out of his eyes and getting ready to go back into action, the elf boy was surprised to find a new opponent standing before him, as Ryle now stood before his eyes.

    ¡°Well, this is certainly a welcome surprise,¡± Denzer said with a smile. ¡°Where did your little friend go? Did he cry and run to you for help?¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about him. He¡¯s just going to beat kick your sister¡¯s ass real quick,¡± the blonde replied as she glared at the elf boy. ¡°He¡¯s a thousand times tougher than the both of you put together. He¡¯s no crybaby.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s facing my sister?¡± Denzer asked with a surprised look on his face. ¡°That might have been a bit of a mistake. If you knew just what kind of a person she is, you¡¯d be worried over your friend.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I know just what kind of a sick freak she is,¡± Ryle said as she prepared her whip. ¡°But you have better things to worry about. Like how you¡¯re going to survive me.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± the elf boy said with a chuckle, before a twisted grin appeared on his face. ¡°I THINK IT¡¯S YOU WHO NEEDS TO WORRY!¡±

    Denzer charged towards the blonde with his spear in his hands, aiming to impale his opponent. He was certain that he would get to enjoy his personal passion.

    However, the elf boy was shocked, when his opponent stepped out of the way just as his attack was about to connect. This was followed by Ryle using her whip to wrap it around Denzer¡¯s leg to trip him. Before he could even attempt to get up, he was flung away, causing him to hit a boulder.

    ¡°What the-!?¡± Denzer said as he struggled to get up, the impact still affecting his body. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky just because-!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah! I¡¯ve heard that shit many times before,¡± Ryle said as she got ready to continue the fight. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just get your ass up and get back to fighting. Or do you need to run back to your sister and cry?¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Arkay, the cat boy was able to put Aliza under some pressure by using his magical abilities to launch projectile attacks at her. The elf woman was having a hard time dealing with the new onslaught of attacks and was starting to feel frustrated.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that Arkay was also in trouble. He might have been putting up a strong front, but his own injuries from his fight with Denzer were weighing on him. Not only that, but he was starting to run out of stamina and magic. The cat boy needed to find a way to end this quickly.

    Luckily, he already had a plan. It would be very dangerous, but it would ensure his victory.

    Shooting a fireball in a manner that looked like it was aimed at Aliza but was only meant to hit the ground close to her, Arkay created another large dust cloud that covered the area around them. The elf woman immediately used this opportunity to create distance between herself and the cat boy, and to maneuver behind him.

    Much to her surprise, it looked like Arkay was still struggling with getting rid of the dust that had clouded his vision. This allowed her to send out her wires and wrap them around the cat boy¡¯s throat. As the thin wires dug into his skin and drew blood, the assassin couldn¡¯t help but grin maniacally. It seemed like her prey was at her mercy, just like she wanted.

    However, little did she know that she was the one walking into a trap.

    ¡°My my¡­ Weren¡¯t you a troublesome little kitty? Too bad you decided to play around with us out of all people. That will be a costly mistake that you¡¯ll have to pay for,¡± Aliza said smugly as she walked up to Arkay, making sure to keep her wires tight on her prey. Once she had reached him, she pressed her foot down on his back, just to leave him at the edge of having his throat sliced open. ¡°Unless¡­ You decide to make it worth my time to keep you alive. How about it? Are you willing to try and beg me for your life?¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­ but I don¡¯t think¡­ I¡¯ll be doing that...¡± Arkay managed to say while struggling to speak.

    ¡°Oh? And why is that?¡± the elf woman asked.

    ¡°Because of this!¡± the cat boy said defiantly, as he took hold of the wires and used magic to run electricity through them.

    With her hands connected to her wires, Aliza was also struck by the electrical shock Arkay had sent out. The surge of electricity was so high that it caused her to scream from pain and even black out for a moment.

    While the attack hadn¡¯t been enough to kill her, it was more than enough to make her lose her hold on her weapon. This allowed Arkay to get out of the hold he was in and finish their fight. Even though he was on his last legs, as the electrical shock he had used had hurt himself as well, the cat boy was able through sheer willpower to pull out his knife and stab it into Aliza¡¯s chest.

    For a moment, the elf assassin simply stared down at the knife sticking out of her body with wide eyes, before couching up blood. She then fell to the ground while staring at Arkay in disbelief, unable to fathom that she had just been defeated by him.

    Seeing as his opponent was no longer breathing, Arkay removed his knife from her body and tried to go find Ryle in order to help her. However, as soon as he took his first step, he fell down from pain coursing through his body. The damage he had suffered wasn¡¯t something he could simply walk off, so he could only hope that his comrade was doing well enough that she didn¡¯t need his help.

    <hr>

    Back with Ryle, the blonde fighter was easily dominating her fight against Denzer. The elf boy might have been a successful assassin and a skilled fighter, but Ryle was on another level. Due to being always paired with his sister and mostly using surprise attacks, Denzer was left completely helpless against a professional fighter with years of experience.

    Despite the obvious difference in skill, the elf boy was still going to do everything he could to succeed in their mission. He wasn¡¯t even looking to take pleasure in his personal obsession anymore. All he cared about now was that they wouldn¡¯t lose.

    ¡°Ghh¡­! Dammit!¡± Denzer cursed as he grit his teeth from frustration. ¡°I¡¯m going to-!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to what?¡± Ryle asked as she broke the assassin¡¯s spear with a simple kick. ¡°Tell me just what you¡¯re going to do with that broken toy of yours?¡±

    The elf boy stared at the broken weapon in his hands with eyes wide from shock. The feeling of shock was soon taken over by a feeling of rage, after which he charged towards the blonde while holding the sharp end of the spear in his hands.

    Ryle didn¡¯t even bother dodging, as she simply grabbed her opponent¡¯s arm and twisted it. The sound of bones breaking could be heard, as Denzer screamed from pain and dropped his weapon. This was followed by the blonde kicking the boy, causing him to fall to the ground.

    Denzer struggled to get up, but as he was doing this something wrapped around his neck. Ryle had wrapped her whip around the elf boy¡¯s neck and was now holding him up in the air. Denzer¡¯s legs tried to desperately kick at her, as his remaining arm was trying to futilely get the whip from around his neck.

    ¡°P-Please¡­ Don¡¯t-¡± the elf boy tried to beg for his life, but it wasn¡¯t working. Ryle knew just what he was and wasn¡¯t going to show him any mercy.

    ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s not gonna work,¡± Ryle said coldly, as she pulled on the ends of her weapon, tightening it around Denzer¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯m at least going to make this as quick and painless as possible, though.¡±

    A cracking sound could be heard, as the blonde used her weapon to break her enemy¡¯s neck. As soon as this happened, his body went completely limp and lifeless. With her enemy now dead, she dropped him to the ground and began to walk away, only for her to stop to give Denzer one last glance.

    ¡°Damn¡­ Such a waste,¡± Ryle said with a sigh as she continued to walk away.

 107. A Tight Fit

    Chapter 107

    A Tight Fit

    Having finished their fight against the two assassins, Ryle and Arkay had met up with each other. The blonde had been very worried upon seeing the blood on the cat boy¡¯s neck, only for her to let out a sigh of relief, when she found out that the wounds weren¡¯t deep or life-threatening. The two of them had proceeded to administer a quick treatment on their injuries with the help of potions given to them by Lexton, before they started their journey to Gotzmeyer¡¯s place.

    Right now, the two of them were taking a breather at a spot that wasn¡¯t too far from the base. This allowed them to rest in peace without being spotted by guards, while also allowing them to keep an eye on the place. Even though both of them wanted to go and help their friends, they knew that they were not in the shape to storm a military establishment, let alone one controlled by a warlord of all people. They were forced to admit that they would only be a hindrance to their comrades, even if they were somehow able to get inside without being noticed.

    ¡°There¡¯s the place. Right in front of us, just a few steps away,¡± Ryle said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°And while our buddies are inside, taking on a freaking warlord, we¡¯re stuck here! If this isn¡¯t bullshit, I don¡¯t know what is!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t able to handle those two properly,¡± Arkay apologized. ¡°If I were at least a bit better, I probably would be in a better shape now and we could go there to help the other.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t take my whining that way,¡± the blonde said gently, as she gently patted the cat boy on the back. ¡°We took on some real hard-asses out there and were lucky to get out of it alive. Besides, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m doing much better than you are. I just don¡¯t like sitting around without being able to do anything.¡±

    ¡°I feel the same. I worry how they¡¯re going to manage, considering what they¡¯re up against,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll be okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I have absolute faith in Erin and Durge. Those two can handle pretty much anything thrown at them. Hell, I even trust Lex to be able to handle things, if they get tough.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ You trust Lex?¡± the cat boy asked, surprised by the blonde admitting such a thing.

    ¡°Well¡­ Yeah! I mean, you saw how he handled that whole thing with that other kobold, before we got to Grand Mine Central! That was some skill he showed back there,¡± Ryle explained. ¡°Just¡­ Please don¡¯t tell him I ever said any of that. He would never let me hear the end of it.¡±

    ¡°Your secret is safe with me,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°What about Zeldana? I don¡¯t know about you, but¡­ I don¡¯t really trust her, because-¡±

    ¡°Because she¡¯s a complete sociopath lunatic that gives even murderers nightmares?¡± the blonde finished for the cat boy, who nodded in response. ¡°I completely agree. While I get that she¡¯s skilled, she¡¯s obviously way too crazy to be completely trusted. Not only that, there¡¯s just something about her that makes me distrust her.¡±

    ¡°I get what you mean by her being crazy. That¡¯s something anybody can see,¡± Arkay said. ¡°But what is that other thing you said? That something about her that makes you distrust her?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of hard to explain, but have you seen how she acts around Erin? It¡¯s almost like they have their own thing going on in the background or something,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Not only did Erin tell her something that none of us know, but they keep having private talks with each other. I also just get this feeling that they are often talking about things that we don¡¯t know anything about¡­¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t you trust Erin?¡± the cat boy asked.

    ¡°WHAT!? Of course I trust her! Not only has she saved my life, but she also helped me avenge my brother¡¯s death! I would trust her with my life!¡± the blonde shouted. ¡°Why would you even ask that!?¡±

    ¡°Because in the end, that¡¯s all you need, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°Just like you, I¡¯ve been helped out by Erin a lot and I trust her absolutely. So whatever might be going on between her and Zeldana isn¡¯t something for us to worry about, is it? Let¡¯s just keep going the same way we have so far and have faith in her. Okay?¡±

    ¡°...Man, you really are too good for your own good, you know? Besides, it¡¯s because I have such faith in Erin that I worry about her. Considering what kind of a maniac Zeldana is, I¡¯m just afraid that she might have gotten herself entangled into something really bad!¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°Is it wrong for me to worry about her!?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. That¡¯s what friends do for each other, after all,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°And if Erin has gotten into trouble, then it will be our job to help her out. It¡¯s simple as that.¡±

    ¡°Damn right!¡± the blonde said with a chuckle.

    A moment of silence fell over the two, as they kept their eyes on the military base before them, almost like they were waiting for something.

    ¡°So how long do you think until the alarms will start blaring?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Won¡¯t be long. Knowing how these things go, I¡¯m surprised we aren¡¯t hearing them already,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°What we need to remember is to not charge in right away. Even if the alarm causes panic and confusion, we won¡¯t be able sneak in as soon as it happens. We¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer for the chaos to build up, before-¡±

    At that moment, a large explosion could be seen on one of the top floors of the base. The sound of the alarm and panic voices of the people stationed there soon filled the air in a chaotic mess.

    ¡°Is¡­ that enough chaos?¡±

    ¡°...Maybe just a bit more.¡±

    <hr>

    Some time earlier within the base, Erin and her companions were in the middle of making their way to the basement. While they didn¡¯t have Arkay with them, who was an expert when it came to infiltration, they were able to stay hidden thanks to Lexton. The kobold seemed to have just the right tool for any possible obstacle that came their way. From distracting guards to fooling security cameras, he had a solution for any situation. Whether it was simple smoke, sleeping gas or a small gooey golem, he had everything he could need in one of his vials.

    It took them some time, but they were able to get to the basement. There were still some workers, low-level soldiers tasked with handling the more unwanted jobs within the base, who were still walking around the area. However, since there weren¡¯t many of them and they were mostly focused on their tasks, getting past them was relatively easy. After all, no one was expecting people infiltrating a military base to aim for the laundry of all places.

    They soon found what they were looking for. The place where all the dirty clothes were collected from the soldiers dropping them down the shoots. The workers were tasked with collecting said clothes and make sure that they were washed properly.

    ¡°Okay, no time like the present!¡± Lexton declared as he jumped down to the pile of dirty clothes. ¡°It¡¯s time we get to work!¡±

    The kobold started to make his way through the mounds of clothes, looking for the place where the shoots were. However, he soon realized that none of the others had actually followed behind him and were still at the edge of the container.

    ¡°What are you guys waiting for!? An Invitation!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°Get down here already and stop wasting time!¡±

    ¡°About that¡­ Are you sure this is the best way for us?¡± Erin asked awkwardly. ¡°I have to say that I¡¯m not exactly thrilled about this¡­¡±

    ¡°What!? What the hell are you complaining about now!?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°You can¡¯t seriously tell me that this is too much for you!¡±

    ¡°Well, think about it for a moment! Is it any wonder why I wouldn¡¯t want to swim in the dirty laundry of other people!?¡± the redhead argued. ¡°Those clothes are covered in sweat, blood and all sorts of other bodily fluids or filth! Just thinking about it is giving me the creeps!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not exactly the cleanest person around either, but this is too nasty even for me,¡± Durge said. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to get knocked down into the dirt or some trash during a fight, but throwing myself willingly into this mess? No thanks.¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°You losers¡­ Do you have any idea of the things I¡¯ve had to crawl through!? Getting the urine of a Stone Viper isn¡¯t exactly a fun time and it¡¯s certainly far worse than this!¡± Lexton argued back. ¡°But if you¡¯re still so against this, I suppose we can make a sudden change in our plans. Although, I wonder how you two were planning to make our way through highly-guarded floors filled with armed thugs, security measures and all sorts of terrible things waiting for us!¡±

    ¡°...Fine. We¡¯ll go this way,¡± Erin said with a deep sigh, before jumping into the pile of dirty clothes.

    Durge soon followed after the redhead with Zeldana quickly coming along. Upon seeing the elf land, Lexton turned his attention to her.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have some issues with this?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re a medical professional. In¡­ some manner at the very least¡­ Shouldn¡¯t hygiene be a big issue for you?¡±

    ¡°Meh. I don¡¯t see what the big deal is,¡± Zeldana replied with a shrug. ¡°I get that you¡¯re not supposed to do perform certain activities while covered in filth, but I see the whole ¡°washing your hands all the time¡± thing as unnecessary. Don¡¯t people have immune systems for that, right?¡±

    Erin, Durge and Lexton turned to look at the elf with disgusted expressions.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re not going to touch me ever again, okay?¡± Lexton said with a sigh.

    ¡°You¡¯re seriously telling me that all of THIS doesn¡¯t disgust you at all?¡± Erin asked motioning to the dirty clothes surrounding them. ¡°You gotta know how filthy all of this is!¡±

    ¡°I get that it¡¯s dirty and all, but I honestly find this more intriguing in a way,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°All of this tells you stories about the people who wear these clothes more than they could ever tell us themselves.¡±

    ¡°...I know I¡¯m going to regret this, but I have to ask. What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Simple. A lot of people put all sorts of acts to hide their true selves. Clothing is a part of it. But once you look at the inner side of them, you can tell a lot about the person wearing them,¡± the elf explained, as she began to pick through the clothing. ¡°For example, this shirt tells me that the person who owns it has some bad friends, as he has bullet holes on the back. The vomit on these pants tell me that this guy likes to party. And these underwear? Let¡¯s just say that this guy needs a girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ve had to crawl through all kind of filth and face some of the most disgusting creatures the world has to offer,¡± Lexton said bluntly. ¡°How is it possible that you are the most disgusting thing that I have ever seen?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just honest about my interests and hobbies,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°Can any of you say the same?¡±

    ¡°The thing is that most normal people keep hobbies like that to themselves!¡± Erin said angrily, before letting out a frustrated sigh and turning her attention to her other companions. ¡°All the gross revelations aside, have you guys found what we came looking for?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. You can see that there are multiple laundry shoots over here,¡± Durge said, pointing at multiple holes on the wall. ¡°The question is, which one do we take? You got any idea of that, Lex?¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m certain we can take whichever one we want, I think it¡¯s best to wait a moment,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°We should see which shoot the uniforms of high-ranking officers come from. That way will lead us closest to Gotzmeyer. I¡¯d hate to climb up, only to just end up on the second or first floor. That would be embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°I get what your plan is, but doesn¡¯t that mean we are pretty much sitting-?¡±

    Erin¡¯s question was cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps. Upon hearing this, the redhead and her companions dived underneath the piles of dirty laundry in order to hide. Soon after hiding, a low-ranking soldier came to pick up some of the dirty clothes, before leaving.

    ¡°Well, that was a close call,¡± Lexton said as he got back up. ¡°Glad we were quick to hide.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­ I just wish we had a better place to hide,¡± Erin said unhappily, as she and Durge also rose up from their hiding spots. ¡°I¡¯ll never be clean after this¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what you all are complaining about. I¡¯m sure that there are worse places to hide,¡± Zeldana said with a grin as she held up a pair of very dirty pants. ¡°I mean, check this out! These have stains from pretty much all possible bodily fluids imaginable! Can you imagine what kind of a person must have been wearing them!?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re the only one who likes to do that,¡± the redhead muttered.

    Lexton was about to add something to the conversation, but he noticed new clothes drop down from one of the shoots. He quickly hurried over to them and inspected the clothes. The kobold grinned upon recognizing the clothes as ones that belonged to high-ranking military officers.

    ¡°Guys, I think we just found the correct hole to go through!¡± Lexton said. ¡°It¡¯s this one right here!¡±

    ¡°Thank God! We can finally get out of this disgusting mess!¡± Erin said as she and the others made their way to the kobold. ¡°So now what do we do?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Now we climb,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Although, I think I¡¯m going to need help from one of you for obvious reasons.¡±

    ¡°What would that be?¡± the redhead asked.

    A blank and slightly irritated look came over Lexton¡¯s face from the question. He then motioned towards the hole where the laundry shoot was with his arms, showing how he couldn¡¯t reach it due to his height.

    ¡°Oh right,¡± Erin said, a bit embarrassed over missing such an obvious thing. ¡°You¡¯re a bit one the short side.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for stating the obvious. I¡¯m sure your contributions will be great for the blind community,¡± the kobold said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Now, who do I get to hang onto, as we make our way upwards?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Durge volunteered. ¡°I doubt you¡¯re going to weigh me down all that much.¡±

    ¡°Fully agreed!¡± Lexton said enthusiastically, as he climbed up the orc¡¯s body and took a seat on his shoulder. ¡°Thank you for serving as my personal elevator for now! Much appreciated!¡±

    ¡°...Somehow I¡¯m already starting to regret this,¡± Durge mumbled to himself.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go first. The rest of you follow behind me,¡± Erin said as she made her way to the shoot and crawled inside, starting her climb towards the upper floors.

    As the redhead disappeared inside the shoot, Durge turned towards Zeldana with a question on his mind.

    ¡°You wanna go first or should I go first?¡± the orc asked while looking at the elf. ¡°I¡¯m fine either way. It doesn¡¯t really matter to me one bit.¡±

    ¡°While I normally wouldn¡¯t care about such things, I think I¡¯d prefer to go first this time,¡± Zeldana replied as she climbed into the hole. ¡°Judging by your size, you might not fit all that well, right? I¡¯d prefer not to have you block my path by accident.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get your point, but-¡±

    Durge was unable to finish his sentence, as the elf simply ignored him and went on to climb up, leaving him behind along with Lexton.

    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Get to climbing!¡± the kobold said. ¡°We can¡¯t just stay here and let them do all the work, can we!? Suck in your guts and start going up!¡±

    ¡°...You keep this up and I¡¯ll get stuck in there on purpose, so we can both starve to death,¡± Durge grumbled.

    <hr>

    It wasn¡¯t long until the whole group was crawling inside the shoot, moving upwards quickly yet quietly. While Erin and Zeldana were doing fine, Durge was having problems due to his much larger body. Not only did he have trouble moving, but even breathing was a bit difficult for because of how cramped he was. Lexton had noticed that his face wasn¡¯t the normal color it should be.

    ¡°Durge, are doing okay?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°You seem kind of blue in the face. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d mistake you for one of the fishmen.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m just peachy over here¡­ No need to worry,¡± the orc said as he struggled to move. ¡°Just out of curiosity, how far do we still have to go?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve still got ways to go, my friend!¡± Lexton said. ¡°We just got past the second floor! We need to get all they way up to the tenth floor!¡±

    ¡°You have got to be freaking kidding me!¡± Durge cried out.

    ¡°Hey! Quiet down there!¡± Erin hissed at her comrades below her. ¡°People might not be able to see us, but they sure as hell can hear us! Stop announcing our arrival!¡±

    ¡°You heard the lady, Durge. Just suck it up and keep going,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°While you¡¯re at it, suck up your guts as well! I¡¯m sure it will help you in getting through this!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to piss me off, aren¡¯t you?¡± the orc grumbled, before continuing the climb upwards.

    There was a sudden sound up ahead, causing the group of infiltrators to stop climbing and stay as silent as possible. The sound was soon followed up by a bunch of clothes falling down on them. Articles of clothing ranging from socks, pants, shirts and everything else rained down upon them.

    ¡°Goddammit! Like this wasn¡¯t awful enough!¡± Durge cursed as he struggled to get the falling laundry out of his way. ¡°Did this really have to happen as well!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a laundry shoot. What were you expecting?¡± Lexton asked as he calmly picked up the clothes that had fallen on him and threw them away. ¡°It¡¯s not like we were going to have candy and ice cream rain down on us.¡±

    ¡°I know this is awful, but please just bear it!¡± Erin said as she grit her teeth from disgust at her situation. ¡°We just need to hold out a bit and it will soon be over!¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t get what you guys are bitching about,¡± Zeldana said, not at all bothered by the dirty laundry falling on her. ¡°I¡¯ve had far worse stuff dropped on. And I actually had to pay for that!¡±

    ¡°...On behalf of everyone in our group, keep that story to yourself,¡± Lexton said.

    The rain of clothing soon ended, allowing the group to continue their way upwards. However, there seemed to be an issue of some kind, as Erin wasn¡¯t moving at all, forcing everyone to stay still.

    ¡°Erin? You okay over there?¡± Zeldana called out to the redhead, but she received no answer. ¡°We kind of need to keep moving, so unless you want to settle down and live here, we kind of need you to get a move on.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m fine,¡± Erin said through gritting her teeth as she picked up something that had fallen on top of her head. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep going.¡±

    The redhead dropped whatever had landed on her, allowing Zeldana to catch it and inspect it closer. Much to her surprise and humor, it was something that no one would want to touch, let alone let rest on your body.

    ¡°Woah! These underpants certainly have seen their better days!¡± the elf said while laughing. ¡°And judging by the stains, this guy must have been the unfortunate victim of a specially spicy food Tuesday!¡±

    Hearing this caused Lexton to burst out laughing and even Durge to chuckle to himself. Seeing as how her companions were finding her misfortune amusing, Erin climbed back down a bit and reached out her hand to Zeldana.

    ¡°Zel, mind giving those back to me?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I need them for something.¡±

    ¡°Here you go,¡± the elf replied as she handed the filthy underwear to Erin.

    Once the piece of clothing had been returned to her, the redhead crumbled it into a ball and with expert aim threw it at Lexton, who was still laughing. Not only did she manage to hit her target, but her aim had been so good that she managed to land it into the kobold¡¯s mouth. His laughter soon turned into coughs and sputters of disgust from this.

    ¡°Not so funny now, is it?¡± Erin mumbled, before continuing to climb upwards.

    After some time, the redhead reached the top end of the shoot. Stopping at the spot where the hatch leading to the other side was, she turned to look at her companions.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m at the top. I¡¯m going to open the hatch and take a quick look. If it¡¯s safe, we¡¯ll get out and find a place to hide,¡± Erin said. ¡°Are you guys ready to move?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Lexton replied.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Zeldana said.

    ¡°Please let me out of here,¡± Durge pleaded.

    ¡°Okay¡­ Here goes,¡± Erin said just before she pushed the hatch open.

    However, once the hatch was opened, the redhead came face to face with a soldier, carrying a large amount of dirty clothes in his hands. Both stared at each other for a moment in shock.

    ¡°I¡­ What the-?¡± the soldier said as he struggled to make sense of the situation before him, until quickly realizing that he was looking at an intruder. ¡°INTRUDERS! SOUND THE ALARM!¡±

    ¡°OH FOR THE LOVE OF-!¡± Erin shouted angrily as she pulled out a bomb made by Lexton.

 108. Hiding in the Chaos

    Chapter 108

    Hiding in the Chaos

    Chaos had fallen over the base, as alarms blared and soldiers everywhere scrambled to figure out what was going on. After the explosion, Erin and her companions had rushed into action, facing off against the soldiers that had been nearby and had come to the scene. Due to being taken by surprise and not carrying more than the basic weaponry they had on them, the group of infiltrators were able to quickly and efficiently take down the soldiers.

    Now they were trying their best to find a place to hide and let the noise die down. This was proving to be quite difficult, as more soldiers were starting to make their way to them. Not to mention, they also had a bit of an internal conflict going on that was causing issues.

    ¡°Well, this all just went freaking swell, didn¡¯t it, Erin!?¡± Lexton yelled angrily as he threw a vial at a group of soldiers that burst into flames. ¡°How about next time we decide to sneak in somewhere, we bring an entire marching band with us!? I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll appreciate it!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what the hell was I supposed to do!? The guy had already seen me and started yelling!¡± the redhead yelled back as she cut down another soldier. ¡°Since you seem to carry yourself like you know everything, would you tell me what I was supposed to do!?¡±

    ¡°For starters, how about just taking a slight peek instead of opening the whole damn hatch!?¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°Do you just open the whole door when you want to simply take a look inside!? You dumb asshole! What kind of an assassin even are you!?¡±

    ¡°Would two mind and just shut the hell up already!?¡± Durge asked angrily as he threw two soldiers through a nearby window. ¡°This whole thing is already enough of a mess and I doubt your childish bickering is going to really help us out with it!¡±

    ¡°Do you really have to stop them? I was having fun watching them argue,¡± Zeldana said as she sat on top of a small pile of corpses while drinking a soda. ¡°These guys are like my personal sitcom! Let me have some fun while we¡¯re here.¡±

    Erin ignored the further bickering from her companions and began to look for a way out of the mess they were in. At first, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything, as every hallway and staircase seemed to be crawling with armed soldiers. The laundry shoot was also not an option, as any places it led to was most likely already being watched over. It looked like their only option was to go down fighting to the end.

    However, the redhead then realized something that might be a key for them to saving themselves, as her eyes fell on a nearby door.

    ¡°Lex! I need a smokescreen!¡± Erin yelled.

    ¡°Go it!¡± the kobold replied as he pulled out a new vial. ¡°Everybody cover your mouths and hold your breath!¡±

    As soon as the glass container shattered on the floor, the chemicals that were released reacted with the air and produced a large cloud of smoke that blinded the soldiers that had surrounded them.

    ¡°This way! Quick!¡± Erin called out.

    Following the redhead, the group ran into one of the nearby rooms. As soon as the door was slammed shut, Erin and Durge piled some of the furniture against it, effectively barricading it.

    ¡°That should buy us some time. Not much, though,¡± Durge said. ¡°What do we do next?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s actually something I¡¯ll be needing your help specifically,¡± Erin answered.

    <hr>

    Outside the room, the soldiers were trying desperately to break down the door, but were unable to do so. Seeing as simple brawn wasn¡¯t going to solve their problem, they decided to call in demolition experts to blow the door open for them.

    However, as they were waiting for the special team to arrive with the explosives, they heard some very loud noises coming from the room. Fearing what the infiltrators might have been doing, they hurried the demolition team to set up their explosives. Once this was done, the door along with the furniture blocking it was blown away.

    When they came inside, the soldiers noticed that there was no one inside and that the furniture had been thrown around, like a hurricane had come through. As they began to wonder where the infiltrators might have disappeared to, they soon noticed something. There was a large hole on the floor that led to the floor below.

    ¡°They escaped to the lower floor!¡± one of the soldiers yelled, as they all began to head downstairs. ¡°Quick! We cannot let them get away!¡±

    As soon as the last of the soldiers had left, Erin and her companions appeared from behind the furniture that had been thrown around the place. They had simply used the hole to lead their pursuers on a different path, while hiding themselves elsewhere.

    ¡°That should buy us some time,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°You guys okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Durge replied.

    ¡°Same here. My ears are just ringing from that explosion,¡± Zeldana said while gently rubbing her ears.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ honestly a bit worried,¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°How come?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, the fact that such a simple plan actually worked kind of bothers me,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°I¡¯m honestly having a hard time believing that.¡±

    ¡°Hey, sometimes simple plans are the best ones, okay?¡± the redhead said, somewhat irked by Lexton¡¯s comment. ¡°Anyways, we should get going before they realize how badly they¡¯ve been fooled.¡±

    The group made their way out of the room they had been hiding in, swiftly taking out the few soldiers that had been left to guard the area. They were now moving around the floor, trying to find a place to lay low for some time until things calmed down. As they did this, they came across a few stray soldiers, who were quickly taken care of before they could raise an alarm.

    ¡°So any ideas as to where we should go?¡± Durge asked as they were running through the hallways. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m open to any and all suggestions!¡±

    ¡°We need to find a place where either they wouldn¡¯t think to look or where we can hide easily,¡± Lexton said. ¡°The problem is that there aren¡¯t many places like that around here.¡±

    ¡°What would those places be like?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Storage areas would be good ones, whether for food or other materials meant to be used by this place. The best option would be a weapons storage, as we could use the things stored there to defend ourselves,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°However, if we really want to hide, the best place would be something so disgusting and repulsive that the people chasing us would hesitate to even look into it, such as their trash or sewage.¡±

    ¡°Okay, do you have some weird obsession with diving into some of the most disgusting things out there!?¡± the redhead asked angrily. ¡°First it was the dirty laundry and now you want to go to even worse places!? What is wrong with you!?¡±

    ¡°Hey it¡¯s not like I enjoy it myself! I¡¯m just doing my best to survive!¡± Lexton argued. ¡°If you think you can escape by hiding in a comfy lounge or something, you¡¯re free to try that!¡±

    Before the arguing could continue any further, voices of soldiers from behind a nearby corner reached their ears.

    ¡°Hey, did you hear something!?¡± one of the soldiers asked.

    ¡°Yeah, it could be them!¡± another replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out!¡±

    Hearing this followed by the sound of approaching footsteps, Erin¡¯s group began to slightly panic and prepare for another fight.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Shit! Guess we¡¯ve got no choice but to handle these guys as well!¡± Durge cursed as he readied his hammer. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll have to just take down everyone in this damn place!¡±

    As the sound of footsteps was getting closer, Erin looked around for a place to hide. They might have been lucky with the other soldiers so far, but that luck was going to run out at some point. It was then that she noticed large double doors close to them. She figured it was better than nothing.

    ¡°Guys, this way! Quick!¡± the redhead called out to her companions, before she opened one of the doors and went inside, soon followed by the others.

    Pressing themselves against the walls next to the doors, the group quietly listened as the soldiers arrived at the place they had just been at. All of them still had their hands on their weapons, ready to strike down these new foes, in case they decided to look inside where they were.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird¡­ I could have sworn that I heard something over here,¡± one of the soldiers said. ¡°You heard it as well, right? It wasn¡¯t just me hearing things.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I heard it just the same you did. There was definitely something here,¡± another soldier replied as he began to walk towards the doors. ¡°Maybe they hid themselves in here?¡±

    Hearing that one of the soldiers was approaching put Erin and the others on edge. They all grasped their weapons tightly, waiting for the moment they needed to be unleashed.

    However, much to their surprise and relief, it seemed like luck was on their side.

    ¡°Wait, you moron! Don¡¯t even touch that door!¡± another soldier yelled, stopping the one walking to the door in his tracks. ¡°You know as well as everybody else here that we are not allowed to enter that room, unless given specific instructions to do so! Are you trying to get us all killed!?¡±

    ¡°But they could still be there!¡± the soldier at the door argued. ¡°I¡¯m sure a quick peek can be forgiven, right!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what the last dumbass that pulled that shit said to himself! You do know that his head is still hanging over the front gate, don¡¯t you!? And you still want to take that risk!?¡± another soldier argued. ¡°If you want to get yourself killed, do it on your own time! Don¡¯t drag us into it!¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± the soldier at the door said. ¡°Let¡¯s go look for them somewhere else. They cannot have gone far.¡±

    As they sound of footsteps from the leaving soldiers grew faint, Erin and the others allowed themselves to let out deep breaths of relief. For a moment, they had been certain that they would get caught.

    ¡°That was close,¡± Erin said. ¡°I was certain that we were done for.¡±

    ¡°Same here. I think my heart skipped a few beats,¡± Durge said. ¡°I hope I never go through that again.¡±

    ¡°I was honestly waiting for one of you to mess up and let them know that we were here,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°It would have been hilarious, if one you sneezed or farted very loudly. I kind of feel like I got cheated out of a good laugh.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks for the confidence you have in us, Zel,¡± Erin said as she glared at the elf.

    While most of the group was talking among themselves, one member was completely silent, as he was lost in thought. Lexton had picked up on something important and his mind was now focused on it.

    ¡°Hey, Lex. I something wrong?¡± Erin called out to the kobold, noticing the look on his face. ¡°You haven¡¯t said anything ever since we came here. What¡¯s bothering you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s this room that¡¯s bothering me,¡± Lexton answered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what those guys said? Even though the doors can be opened easily, they wouldn¡¯t dare come inside despite how likely it was that we were inside. Almost like there¡¯s something in here that would kill them for daring to do so.¡±

    ¡°So? Isn¡¯t that what we needed?¡± Durge asked. ¡°You said it yourself that we needed to hide in some place that they would hesitate to look into. The way I see it, we got incredibly lucky and found just the right thing.¡±

    ¡°That might be so, but why were they so afraid that they wouldn¡¯t even peek inside?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°What¡¯s in here that is so dangerous that you are sentenced to death over simply looking at it?¡±

    Now that Lexton had pointed it out, Erin realized that he had a point. Getting inside hadn¡¯t been hard at all, yet the soldiers were terrified of even taking a look inside, like the room itself was a horrendous monster. What could have possibly scared them so badly?

    Taking a look around, the redhead realized that the room they were in was quite large, big enough to fit an entire house into it easily. In the middle was a long table with chairs set neatly on both sides. The walls were decorated with different types of weapons, ranging from swords to rifles. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the weapons were damaged and some even had stains of blood on them, meaning that these weren¡¯t just any normal decorations. These were trophies of war, taken from their slain owners after a hard battle.

    At the opposite end of the room from the door, there were steps that led to what looked like a throne. The throne itself had the skull of a beast decorating it.

    However, what quickly caught the attention of Erin and the others was the figure that was sitting on throne. Upon realizing who it was, all color drained from the redhead¡¯s face.

    Sitting there and looking down at them was none other than Gotzmeyer, one of the three warlords of the Western Continent.

    ¡°W-W-W-What the hell!?¡± Lexton exclaimed as he pressed his back against the wall as much as possible, almost like he was trying to disappear into it. ¡°Why the hell is Gotzmeyer here!?¡±

    ¡°I guess this explains why those guys weren¡¯t keen on coming here!¡± Durge said as he quickly pulled out his hammer. Despite trying his best to appear calm, he was obviously starting to panic from getting caught off-guard in such a manner. ¡°Something tells me that this guy isn¡¯t too keen on people sneaking into his private quarters! That¡¯s why those who even peek inside get killed!¡±

    ¡°Wow, we¡¯re really screwed now,¡± Zeldana said as she stared at the warlord with wide eyes. ¡°I know this was the place we were trying to get to, but I don¡¯t think doing it with the alarms blaring was part of the plan.¡±

    Erin was grasping her sword tightly as sweat was dripping down her face. Her mind was racing in an attempt to find a method out of the mess they now found themselves in, but came up with nothing. They were supposed to locate Gotzmeyer and then plan for a surprise attack. Taking him on through a frontal assault was not part of the plan at all.

    However, as the group was panicking, the redhead realized something strange. Despite all the noise, the warlord didn¡¯t move at all. It was almost like he was frozen still on his throne.

    ¡°Guys. There¡¯s something weird about this,¡± Erin whispered to the others, who turned their attention to her. ¡°He¡¯s completely still. Why hasn¡¯t he moved at all?¡±

    After having it pointed out to them, the others realized it as well. Despite everything that had happened, Gotzmeyer remained frozen in place.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re right,¡± Durge whispered back. ¡°What¡¯s up with this?¡±

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s not a throne, but a toilet?¡± Zeldana suggested. ¡°He could be in the middle of taking a dump. You don¡¯t really move while doing that.¡±

    ¡°...Really?¡± Erin asked as she glared at the elf.

    ¡°It¡¯s a theory. You got a better one?¡± Zeldana asked in return.

    ¡°Would you idiots mind and focus on the matter at hand!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°The way I see it, this is our golden opportunity! So let¡¯s use it to our advantage already!¡±

    ¡°And by using this opportunity you mean what exactly?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°To get the hell out of here!¡± the kobold replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you guys, but I¡¯m not looking forward to getting killed by that guy!¡±

    ¡°Hang on! Wasn¡¯t the whole point of us coming here that we were supposed to take Gotzmeyer down!?¡± Erin asked in a shocked voice. ¡°What the hell are you talking about running away now!?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Right¡­ That was a thing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°Goddammit¡­ The things I¡¯ve gotten myself mixed in.¡±

    ¡°For the love of¡­ Anyways, what Lex said did have some truth to it,¡± the redhead said. ¡°This is a good opportunity for us. If he¡¯s incapacitated for some reason, we can get the drop on him.¡±

    ¡°So we¡¯re going to strike first and fast in order to seize victory?¡± Durge asked as he gripped his hammer. ¡°Sounds good to me. So how do we go about pulling this off?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move closer carefully and quietly. As we do so, we¡¯ll observe him and see how he¡¯ll react,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Depending on how he reacts, we¡¯ll get as close as we can and then launch our attack. The way I see it, we might be able to get a good hit in at least.¡±

    With their plan set, Erin and the others began to move closer towards Gotzmeyer with their weapons at the ready. As they were getting closer, there were no signs of movement from the warlord at all. He simply kept sitting on his throne, almost like a statue.

    Eventually, the group of assassins were able to get very close to Gotzmeyer. Both Erin and Durge were just a couple of steps away from the warlord. Despite being this close, there were still no signs of any activity from him.

    Readying themselves for the attack, Erin and Durge looked at each other. Giving each other a nod, the two of them dashed towards their target. In their combined attack, they hit the warlord with everything they got. Durge hit Gotzmeyer on the head and back with his hammer as hard as he could. As this happened, Erin slashed at the warlord with her sword. Once Gotzmeyer¡¯s body hit the floor, she continued the attack by stabbing him with her sword a couple of times to make sure that he wouldn¡¯t get up.

    After their attack was done, everyone stood still and silent, staring down at their slain opponent¡¯s body. They were all in shock and surprise over what had just happened, unable to believe that taking down such a powerful foe would have actually been so simple and easy. Erin even poked at the body before them with her sword a bit to see if it would move, yet nothing happened.

    As unbelievable as it was, the truth was that Gotzmeyer, one of the three warlords of the Western Continent that was feared as throughout the whole world, was dead.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ Holy shit! HOLY SHIT!¡± Zeldana yelled out in excitement. ¡°You guys did it! You actually did it! You beat Gotzmeyer¡¯s ass!¡±

    ¡°No way¡­ Is this for real?¡± Durge asked out of disbelief. ¡°We actually beat him this easily!?¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean, Durge, but the truth is looking you straight in the face right now,¡± Lexton said as he let out a small laugh from relief. ¡°I honestly would have never thought that something like this would be possible, but here it is. I guess even the mightiest of warriors can be easily killed, once they let their guard down. Simple as that.¡±

    As her companions were cheering over their victory, Erin just kept staring at the fallen warlord before her. As much as she wanted to believe that they had won, something about it felt wrong. This had all been just far too easy. She couldn¡¯t help but feel like they were either missing something or that this was all just a trap of some kind.

    ¡°What are you spacing out for, Erin?¡± Durge asked as he and the others were already walking away. ¡°Our job here is done. We should be getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°I know, but¡­ Don¡¯t you think that there is something wrong with this?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I mean, this guy was supposed to be a fearsome warlord that everyone feared, yet he was killed this easily? Doesn¡¯t that seem far too convenient to any of you?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m all about skepticism and all, and this definitely seems far too good to be true, but the evidence literally lays in front of you,¡± Lexton said. ¡°He¡¯s the guy we came here to kill. You and Durge hit him with your weapons. He fell over and isn¡¯t moving. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s really anything that needs further explanation. I don¡¯t know if he was asleep or already dead or whatever that made this so easy, but I¡¯m not going to turn down an easy victory.¡±

    Erin still wanted to argue, feeling in her gut that there was still something very wrong. However, the kobold was completely right and the evidence was right before her eyes. There was no use trying to deny what had just happened.

    After giving the fallen warlord one last look, the redhead followed behind her friends. Despite her doubts, she had to accept the fact that they had accomplished their goal, no matter how unbelievable it may have seemed.

    However, just as they were about to get to the door, Erin heard the sound of something moving behind her. She turned around and her lone eye went as wide as possible.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Guys?¡± the redhead called out to her companions. ¡°I think you might want to look at this.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what is it now, Erin?¡± Lexton asked in a frustrated tone as he simply kept walking, not looking back at all. ¡°Look, I get it that this seems unreal, I¡¯m with you on that, but you have to admit that Gotzmeyer is now a corpse whose only threat is the smell of him decomposing! Why can¡¯t you just accept that!?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps because the ¡°corpse¡± just stood up and is looking mighty pissed off!¡± Erin yelled.

    Hearing this, the redhead¡¯s companions finally stopped in their tracks and turned around. Much to their shock and horror, what she had said was true. Gotzmeyer was indeed standing and now moving towards them.

    ¡°Oh¡­ This is not good,¡± Lexton said as he stared at the warlord in terror.

    ¡°No shit! What was your first clue!?¡± Erin yelled angrily at the kobold.

 109. The Immortal Warlord

    Chapter 109

    The Immortal Warlord

    To say that Erin and her companions were shocked by seeing the warlord they had thought was dead would be a massive understatement. Considering the power behind Durge¡¯s blows, anyone¡¯s head would have turned into mush no matter what type of a helmet they were wearing.

    Not only that, but Erin¡¯s slashed were no joke either. Back when she had still been training to become an assassin in the first place, she had been taught to make sure that her strike hit the right areas on armored opponents. This meant that she would target either weaker spots or places that were unprotected. Even when the redhead had put the finishing touches on their attack on Gotzmeyer, she had taken into account their hypothesis of the warlord being actually someone much smaller than the armor made him seem. Each stab had been aimed at places where the actual body should have been.

    By all accounts, Gotzmeyer should have been dead, yet he was standing like nothing had happened. He even had all the markings of their attacks on his body, from the dents left by Durge¡¯s hammer or the cuts from Erin¡¯s sword. He now looked like some undead warrior that had risen from the grave to lay vengeance upon his killers, which wasn¡¯t too far from the truth.

    ¡°Alright, we clearly didn¡¯t think this whole thing through as much as we should have,¡± Lexton said as he watched the approaching warlord in warlord in fear. ¡°May I suggest that we take a moment to talk this through? I think if we simply calm down and take a seat, we could-¡±

    Gotzmeyer came to a sudden stop, which confused Erin and the others. For a moment, Lexton felt relief, as he began to think that he might have been able to get the warlord to actually agree to a peaceful talk, which he honestly hadn¡¯t believed was going to be possible.

    However, that hope was quickly destroyed, when Gotzmeyer held out his arm with his palm facing the floor. Suddenly, what seemed like a dark red portal appeared on the floor, from which a large sword rose up. Erin and Lexton immediately recognized it as the same weapon they had seen on the video back at the Black Market. The warlord grasped the handle of the blade and readied it for battle, taking the same stance that they had seen before.

    ¡°...Okay, I¡¯m going to make the assumption that you are NOT keen on the idea of talking this through, right?¡± Lexton said as the scales on his face turned pale.

    ¡°Lex, seriously, shut the hell up,¡± Erin said while keeping her attention on Gotzmeyer. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that you¡¯re only making things worse.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to be hopeful here, okay?¡± the kobold replied.

    ¡°Well, the surprise attack was a complete bust and I doubt he wants to talk,¡± Durge said as he took a stance while his hands trembled. ¡°Any good ideas?¡±

    ¡°How about we run?¡± Zeldana suggested. ¡°Not only have we now pissed him off, but I¡¯m not exactly thrilled about the idea of having a confrontation like this with him. I do have history with this guy and I don¡¯t think he¡¯s the type to talk about the good old days, you know?¡±

    Truth be told, Erin herself wanted to do nothing more than to run. She had seen just how dangerous the threat before the could be on the battlefield and they were far from being on the same level as him. The redhead had no doubt that this fight would only end up in a one-sided massacre.

    However, while she knew that their fight was not one they had a good chance of winning, Erin also knew that the whole reason they had come here was to kill Gotzmeyer. If they ran away now, would they lose their chance? The warlord could easily increase the level of security at his base, making another attempt impossible. Not only that, but they were planning to take on the Five Overlords themselves. If they couldn¡¯t face one of their warlords, how could they ever hope to fight the ones in charge?

    Steeling her resolve, Erin gripped her sword and readied herself for battle. It was time to either sink or swim now.

    ¡°We¡¯re not running,¡± the redhead said, surprising her companions. ¡°We came here to take him down and we¡¯re going to go through with that.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? Are you insane!?¡± Lexton asked out of shock. ¡°Our only way of beating this guy was to use a surprise attack to our advantage! There¡¯s no way we can beat him head on!¡±

    ¡°WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING TO TAKE ON THE OVERLORDS! HOW CAN WE RUN AWAY FROM THIS!?¡± Erin yelled. ¡°The way I see it, we take on this challenge now or else we will never be able to move forward again! We knew the risks when we came here anyways!¡±

    The kobold was going to keep arguing, but he noticed Durge and Zeldana stepping up. Both had their weapons at the ready, prepared for the fight in front of them.

    ¡°She¡¯s got a point,¡± Durge said a bit calmer than before. ¡°We came for to do a job, so we might as well get it done, right?¡±

    ¡°True enough,¡± Zeldana said with a small smirk. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m really curious to find out what his deal is. Think you could let me open up his body, after we¡¯ve beaten him?¡±

    Lexton was left baffled and speechless over the fact that everybody else was ready and willing to face against the seemingly immortal monster before them. He had been certain that they would all agree with him on the idea of running away, yet that didn¡¯t happen. None of them had even hesitated on their decisions.

    The kobold noticed Erin looking at him with a small smile on her face. She still had her sword at the ready, but was able to pay him some attention.

    ¡°If you want to run, it¡¯s completely fine, Lex,¡± the redhead said. ¡°The choice is yours.¡±

    ¡°...Goddammit, you people are so freaking unreasonable!¡± Lexton yelled angrily as he pulled out a few vials and got ready to fight. ¡°Who the hell is running away!? I¡¯m going to show you all just how much of threat I can truly be! So just prepare to be awed!¡±

    Erin smiled, knowing that she had the backing of all of her companions. With all of them willing and ready to fight, she turned her attention back to the enemy before them and prepared herself.

    ¡°May I assume that this means you¡¯re all now ready to meet your ends?¡± Gotzmeyer suddenly asked, surprising the group of assassins. ¡°I¡¯ve grown tired of waiting for you to make up your minds.¡±

    ¡°You can actually talk?¡± Erin said out of surprise. ¡°With how silent you were all this, I thought you were mute or something.¡±

    ¡°I simply speak when I need to. It¡¯s the same manner I get myself into combat as well,¡± the warlord said. ¡°Normally, I wouldn¡¯t bother staining myself by killing insignificant pests like you, but seeing as how you¡¯ve not only made it to my personal room and you¡¯ve also damaged my favorite armor, I am going to see to it personally that you all die today.¡±

    ¡°Big talk,¡± Durge said as he circled to Gotzmeyer¡¯d left side, while Erin moved to the right. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can live up to it.¡±

    With perfect timing, both Durge and Erin charged towards the warlord with their weapons held high. However, just as soon as they got within range of Gotzmeyer¡¯s sword, he reacted with blinding speed, striking at both of them. Durge brought up his hammer to block the blow just in time, but the power behind the attack was great enough to send him flying back and crash into a wall. Erin, on the other hand, was able to move out of the way of the blade, but was sent tumbling down on the floor from a kick that followed the first attack.

    ¡°Impressive. I don¡¯t often see those who can protect themselves from my attacks,¡± Gotzmeyer said as he took up his stance yet again. ¡°Usually they just perish from the first attack. I suppose I might have underestimated you all a bit.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing that we are capable of doing!¡± Lexton yelled as he threw down one of his vials. Upon shattering, a golem made out of purple sludge soon rose up from the floor. ¡°I prepared this guy and a lot more just for you! Hope you enjoy the gifts I¡¯ve got for you!¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ This might actually require a bit more than simple swings from my sword,¡± the warlord said as he held up his sword and a dark red energy began to gather around the blade. ¡°It has been a while since I last used one of these techniques.¡±

    As the golem charged at Gotzmeyer, he swung his sword down. The red energy gathered around his sword caused a large shockwave to blast from the weapon. This not only destroyed the golem, but also sent Erin, her companions and even the furniture of the room flying.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°W-What¡­?¡± Lexton asked with his eyes wide from shock as he laid on the floor. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much. Just something I learned to blow away difficult and large amounts of pests. It also helps in clearing out other rubbish,¡± Gotzmeyer explained as he took his stance again. ¡°Now, do you still wish to continue?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. We¡¯re only getting started over here,¡± Erin said as she glared at the warlord. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t just assume that you¡¯ve won, until you¡¯ve actually done so.¡±

    ¡°Brave words, but only words in the end. I¡¯ve heard such things said far too many times for me to count by much more threatening groups,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°I¡¯m sure your elf friend over there can agree on that.¡±

    All eyes turned to Zeldana. The elf was glaring at the warlord in return.

    ¡°Well, glad to see you still remember me, Gotzy,¡± Zeldana said in a mocking tone. ¡°I was thinking that you might have forgotten about me after all this time. Did you perhaps miss me much?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I would have been more than happy to let you rot in whatever hole you¡¯ve been living in all this time. It¡¯s only the Overlords who want to see you dead after whatever you did to piss them off,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°But since you¡¯re here, I suppose I might as well collect the bounty on your head and send you to that little friend of yours I killed.¡±

    Hearing that last part caused something to snap in Zeldana. While it went unnoticed by everybody else, Erin was able to see her right eye twitch a bit. Whatever the warlord was referring to had really gotten to the elf. The redhead could only wonder what had happened in the past between these two.

    ¡°Thanks for reminding me of that. I was wondering why I hated you so much,¡± Zeldana said as she held back her anger. ¡°Now I know that I¡¯m going to enjoy killing you.¡±

    ¡°Please believe me that the pleasure is all mine. I¡¯ve had to waste plenty of time looking for you,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°It¡¯s good to see that I¡¯ll finally see a reward to all that work. Now, how about we get back to our fight and finally finish this? We have wasted enough time speaking.¡±

    ¡°Be careful making wishes,¡± Erin said as she held up her sword and charged it up with a magical stone. ¡°You might end up regretting them!¡±

    Activating the stone she had placed in her sword, bright flames erupted from the blade. However, she didn¡¯t simply charge blindly towards her opponent, but instead she held it up and started to use magic to prepare her next attack. This came in the form of the flames of her sword gathering up at the tip into a large fireball, which she then flung at Gotzmeyer.

    Despite being a bit surprised at the abilities shown by the redhead, the warlord was still able to easily handle the magical attack sent his way. By simply swinging his sword, he was able to deflect the fiery projectile, sending it to a wall where it exploded. But while most thought that Erin¡¯s attack had failed, the truth was that the fireball had been a distraction. Gotzmeyer was soon struck by another attack, this time by a small stream of flames that flew at him and set his coat on fire. This allowed the redhead to move around her opponent and attack him from a blind spot. She aimed her blade in such a way that she would decapitate the warlord, thus ending the battle in one move.

    Just as her blade was about to connect with Gotzmeyer¡¯s neck, the warlord brought up his sword to block the attack. Before Erin could break out of her shock, she was grabbed by the front of her shirt and slammed into the floor painfully.

    ¡°What a primitive and simple trick. Did you really think that was going to work?¡± Gotzmeyer mocked his downed opponent. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that Golorath wants you alive. Otherwise I would have simply cut you in half.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not the only one you should be worried about!¡± Durge yelled as he swung his hammer at the warlord¡¯s back.

    The orc¡¯s heavy blow connected on Gotzmeyer¡¯s back, yet it had barely any effect. Outside from a very slight stagger, you wouldn¡¯t have even known that the attack had landed. The warlord slowly turned around to glare at the one who had attacked him.

    ¡°Trust me. I am not worried. Just incredibly annoyed,¡± Gotzmeyer said before grabbing Durge by his throat and lifting him up. ¡°But I¡¯m sure that will all get much better, once I start killing you all!¡±

    Despite his large frame, Durge was like a small child when compared to the warlord, who was able to easily lift him up in the air with just one hand. The orc desperately struggled in order to free himself, yet Gotzmeyer didn¡¯t even flinch no matter what. The warlord prepared his sword to cut the orc in half and to get rid of his first opponent.

    Just as he was about to do that, Erin jumped up and latched on to the arm holding Durge, effectively putting herself between Gotzmeyer¡¯s sword and her companion. Thanks to the warlord not being allowed to kill her, she was able to shield Durge from harm in this manner.

    ¡°What the-!? Move, you fool!¡± Gotzmeyer yelled angrily. ¡°Unless you want me to cut you in half along with your friend!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m doing this!¡± Erin yelled back. ¡°I know your boss has told you and all of your goons to take me to him alive! As long as it threatens to kill me, you can¡¯t act, can you!? So you better put down your sword now! Otherwise you might have to explain your failure to your boss and you don¡¯t want that!¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t get so full of yourself, little girl,¡± the warlord said as he tightened his grip on his sword. ¡°As long as I¡¯m able to hide the evidence, I¡¯m sure no one will ever learn about what happened to you.¡±

    Gotzmeyer was debating whether he should take his chances and just get rid of both of his enemies at the same time. He was broken out of his thoughts once he felt something holding back his arm holding the sword, keeping it in place. He turned to see what it was and saw what looked like a large pile of slime attached to it.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t just worry about her!¡± Lexton yelled with an empty vial in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m the real threat here, pal!¡±

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Gotzmeyer cursed, letting go of Durge. This freed his other hand to help get rid of the slimy golem hanging onto him, yet despite his efforts he was unable to remove. ¡°What the hell is this disgusting thing!?¡±

    ¡°Glad you asked! It¡¯s my special golem that was designed to get inside narrow places!¡± the kobold answered with a grin. ¡°Normally, I would use it to break inside heavily guarded places, but I think getting inside an armor isn¡¯t off the table either!¡±

    As soon as Lex said this, the golem began to make its way inside the warlord¡¯s armor through any openings it could find. Thanks to its liquid body, it could get through even the tiniest of holes there were. Even an armor as strong as Gotzmeyer¡¯s wasn¡¯t without its holes, giving the slimy monster plenty of places to enter from. Once the golem began to make its way inside the warlord¡¯s armor, it was over for him. Gotzmeyer couldn¡¯t even struggle, as the inside of his suit was now filled with the substance the golem was made out of. Bright green liquid began to drip out of different spots, such as the holes for the eyes, creating a nightmarish sight to behold.

    Erin and Durge could only stare in awe at what was happening right before their eyes. The monster that had been mere moments ago simply beating them down like nothing was now drowning in his imposing suit. It was almost impossible to believe.

    ¡°Erin, what the hell are you spacing out for!?¡± Lexton suddenly yelled, breaking the redhead out of her trance. ¡°Take your sword and light up that bastard! We can put an end to this right now!¡±

    Quickly looking for her sword, Erin saw that the magical stone still had some energy left in it, as the blade still had flames surrounding it. Grabbing her magically charged weapon, she sent out a stream of fire at Gotzmeyer, causing the golem within his armor to ignite. This caused an explosion that sent pieces of armor everywhere.

    Once the dust had settled down, all that remained of the warlord was nothing more than smoking pieces of scrap metal.

    Erin and her companions all walked slowly towards Gotzmeyer¡¯s remains, like they were afraid he would come back to life if they caused too much noise. Yet as unbelievable as it was, the truth was that the warlord was no more.

    ¡°...HA! In your face, loser!¡± Zeldana said mockingly as she picked up Gotzmeyer¡¯s helmet and stared at it¡¯s face, like she was speaking to the warlord himself. ¡°Who¡¯s all high and mighty now, huh!? You were acting all tough and everything, yet here you are! Nothing but a pile of crap! Guess the almighty Gotzmeyer isn¡¯t worth a damn in the end!¡±

    The others stared at the elf with blank expressions, not amused by her antics in the least.

    ¡°She literally did nothing through the whole fight and she¡¯s actually trying to take credit from it?¡± Durge asked. ¡°How lowly can a person truly be?¡±

    ¡°At this point, I doubt anything she does will ever truly shock or surprise me,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°Sadly, this is nowhere near her worst quality.¡±

    While the others were busy with their antics, Erin was focused on Gotzmeyer¡¯s remains. As much as it was obvious that they had won, something still felt odd about it. Like they were missing something very obvious.

    ¡°Erin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Durge asked, noticing the concerned look on the redhead. ¡°You look worried over something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to say this, but¡­ I feel like we¡¯re missing something,¡± Erin answered. ¡°It feels like we are overlooking something very important and that something is right before my eyes. This just doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get that we won against a very dangerous foe with far more ease than we expected, but wasn¡¯t this essentially the plan? Take him by surprise and eliminate him quickly?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Besides, no matter how you look at it, it won¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s in pieces. Nobody¡¯s going to survive that.¡±

    Upon hearing the pieces being mentioned, it all clicked inside Erin¡¯s head. The redhead looked over all that was left by the explosion and realized what had been bothering her this whole time.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! The pieces!¡± Erin shouted, surprising her companions who were now looking at her. ¡°Where are all the pieces!?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Are you blind?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°They¡¯re scattered all over the floor in front of you!¡±

    ¡°Not the pieces of the armor! I meant pieces of Gotzmeyer himself!¡± the redhead said. ¡°If he was within that armor, he should have been blown along with his armor! So there should be pieces of his actual body scattered around! Where are they!?¡±

    Realizing what Erin was talking about, the others looked around for the pieces she was talking about. Like she had pointed out, there were only bits of the armor and nothing more.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing but the armor¡­ Could he have been a robot or a cyborg?¡± Durge suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of people that replace almost every part of their bodies with mechanical parts.¡±

    ¡°No. If he was a cyborg, then there should still be some organic pieces somewhere. If nothing else, there should be a brain left behind at the very least,¡± Lexton explained as he started to feel worry over this discovery. ¡°And if he was a robot, there should be mechanical parts, such as wires, blown around. All I see are the armor pieces and nothing more, meaning that the suit was hollow.¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got it!¡± Zeldana suddenly exclaimed, causing all eyes to turn towards her. ¡°Maybe¡­ He was never real to begin with and there was only the armor?¡±

    ¡°...Just shut up, Zeldana,¡± Erin said, not amused by her attempt at humor.

    ¡°Strangely enough, she¡¯s the one closest to the truth,¡± a very familiar voice echoed throughout the room. Everybody immediately recognized it as the voice of Gotzmeyer. ¡°I have to say that I¡¯ve been away from the battlefield far too much. I¡¯ve clearly gotten rusty, if someone can slip such an attack on me. Still, it was very clever and I commend you all in your success.¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL!?¡± Lexton shouted as he looked around in panic. ¡°How is he still alive!? I blew him up! There was no way for him to survive!¡±

    ¡°He could be a ghost,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Maybe he was-¡±

    ¡°IF YOU SAY HE WAS A GHOST ALL ALONG, I¡¯LL MAKE YOU INTO A GHOST MYSELF!¡± the kobold yelled angrily at the elf.

    ¡°...It¡¯s just a theory,¡± Zeldana mumbled.

    ¡°To clear any doubts still hanging in the air, I am not a ghost. I am still very much alive,¡± Gotzmeyer continued. ¡°The same cannot be said about you lot soon, though.¡±

    ¡°Enough with the big talk! Where are you!?¡± Erin yelled as she looked around, trying to find the warlord. ¡°You might have taken us by surprise by not dying and all, but do we really have a reason to fear you anymore!? Doesn¡¯t seem like you have any means to kill us!¡±

    ¡°Believe me. I have plenty,¡± Gotzmeyer replied.

    Suddenly, a dark red aura surrounded the warlord¡¯s sword, causing it to lift up and fly away from Erin¡¯s group. The blade flew to what looked like a large red portal, similar to what Gotzmeyer had used to summon his weapon. Much to the shock of everyone, it was the warlord himself who stepped out of the portal, taking hold of his weapon as he arrived.

    ¡°And when I said plenty, I meant it very literally,¡± Gotzmeyer added.

    Before anyone could ask what he meant, Multiple portals appeared behind the warlord, allowing more people to arrive through them. Much to the horror of Erin and the others, Gotzmeyer wasn¡¯t joined by regular soldiers or anything similar. Instead he was followed by what appeared to be clones or copies of himself. Not only that, but these Gotzmeyers simply kept walking out of the portals, until there were dozens of them.

    Erin looked at the numerous Gotzmeyers, trying to figure out if there was some sort of a trick or an illusion being used, yet found nothing. All of them looked exactly the same, had similar body language and even had similar weaponry. They were facing a small army made up of the same warlord.

    ¡°I get it now! You¡¯re all identical siblings, right!?¡± Zeldana suddenly yelled while pointing at the helmet of the first Gotzmeyer they had faced.

    ¡°...I am going to enjoy killing YOU far more than I should,¡± Gotzmeyer said in an irritated voice.

 110. Multiplied

    Chapter 110

    Multiplied

    Erin and her companions could only stare at the group of Gotzmeyers before their eyes. They were desperately trying to figure out what was happening, as it didn¡¯t make sense to any of them. The warlord had not only escaped certain death, yet not only was he standing before them, but he had somehow multiplied. No matter what scenarios they tried to run through their minds, it didn¡¯t work. All of it was simply impossible for them.

    ¡°So, which one of you would like to go first?¡± one of the Gotzmeyers asked. ¡°If you surrender quietly and don¡¯t struggle, I¡¯ll promise to make this as easy and painless as possible.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you look down on us!¡± Erin said in an attempt to hide her fear. ¡°We might not know what the hell you did, but that doesn¡¯t matter! We will still beat you!¡±

    ¡°Really? Brave words,¡± the warlord said. ¡°I do have to doubt that. After all, your friends are not exactly all that threatening with their pale faces.¡±

    The redhead looked at her companions and saw the terror on their faces. She immediately realized that they had all lost their will to fight, which she couldn¡¯t blame them for. In all honesty, she herself wanted to run away and even cry from fear.

    ¡°Any ideas?¡± Erin whispered to her companions. ¡°I honestly have no ideas of my own. Any suggestions as to what we should do?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it freaking obvious!?¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can handle this on our own! The best we can do is run away before we get slaughtered!¡±

    ¡°I hate to say this, but I agree with that idea,¡± Durge whispered. ¡°One Gotzmeyer was already bad enough. There¡¯s no way we can win this!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Even I don¡¯t wanna do this anymore,¡± Zeldana added. ¡°This isn¡¯t fun at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ignore that last comment, but I guess you guys are right. We need to get out of here and fast,¡± Erin said. ¡°We obviously are nowhere near prepared enough to handle this all. We should get out of here, find Ryle and Arnie, and then come back once we are better suited for this.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, when we are better suited for this. Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night,¡± Lexton said, hoping to end the conversation faster so they could focus on actually escaping. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few trinkets here that will help us get out of here. You guys ready to run?¡±

    The others gave the kobold a nod, signaling that they were prepared to make a run for it. He then pulled several vials out of his coat and readied himself to throw them at the Gotzmeyers.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You were all so full of energy not too long ago,¡± one of the numerous warlords asked mockingly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re all scared now. But if none of you are going to come forward, I guess I¡¯ll just-¡±

    Before the Gotzmeyer could finish his speech, Lexton launched his attack. First, he threw three vials as close to the group of warlords as he could. These caused a large cloud of smoke to form and cover all of them. Before any of the Gotzmeyers could get out of the smoke, the second part of the kobold¡¯s attack followed in the form of several of his golems attacking the warlords.

    ¡°NOW! While they¡¯re distracted!¡± Erin yelled, signaling for the whole group to run towards the door.

    However, the group of assassins were only able to make a few steps towards the exit, when the first Gotzmeyers made their way past the golems and out of the cloud of smoke. They immediately ran after the intruders with weapons at the ready.

    One of the warlords soon caught up to Erin and raised his sword up. The redhead knew that she was unable to dodge or even block the attack, as Gotzmeyer was far stronger than she was. Even if she brought up her sword to protect herself, all that would amount to would be that her weapon would get cut in half along with herself. There was no escape from this.

    Just as Erin was prepared to meet her end, she was saved from the attack by Durge, who hit the warlord with his hammer as hard as he could. While he couldn¡¯t bring the massive man down, he was able to push him enough to make him stagger a few steps back.

    ¡°Thanks, Durge!¡± Erin said. ¡°For a second I thought I was going to die!¡±

    ¡°No problem!¡± the orc replied. ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on getting the hell out of here, before-!¡±

    Just as Durge said that, another Gotzmeyer appeared next to him, swinging his sword at the orc. Durge brought up his hammer to block the attack, but was only able to slightly divert the slash, which did save his life but didn¡¯t leave him unharmed. Instead of getting cut in half like the warlord had attempted to, the orc received a wound that went from his chest to his right shoulder. Not only that, but the power of the blow was enough to send him to the floor as well.

    ¡°DURGE!¡± Erin screamed, horrified over what had happened to her friend. She then turned her attention to the one who had harmed him. ¡°You bastard! I¡¯ll make you pay for that!¡±

    The Gotzmeyer got ready to strike down the redhead, but a glass vial smashed against his face. The liquid inside started to melt his head, revealing itself to be acid.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing, Erin!?¡± Lexton yelled at the redhead as he used more of his vials to keep the other Gotzmeyers at bay. ¡°You don¡¯t have time to worry about these guys! You and Zeldana need to help Durge, so we can get the hell out of this goddamn nightmare! Get going already!¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± Erin said, rushing over to the orc, who already had Zeldana providing assistance with healing magic. ¡°Is he okay!?¡±

    ¡°Far from it. While the cut wasn¡¯t fatal, it was still deep enough to put his life at risk,¡± the elf answered. ¡°I was able to stop the bleeding, but he¡¯ll need a lot more work before he is completely healed. And I doubt I¡¯ll be allowed to do that work here with the multiplied assholes coming after us!¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± the redhead said before turning her attention to the orc. ¡°How you holding up, Durge?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been better, but I¡¯ll live,¡± the orc replied in a pained tone. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to fight much now, though.¡±

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re alive, that¡¯s good enough for me!¡± Erin said with a bit of relief in her voice. ¡°You can lean on me. I¡¯ll help you get out of here.¡±

    ¡°Leave that to me,¡± Zeldana suddenly said, putting Durge¡¯s arm around her shoulders. ¡°You just focus on keeping us safe from all those rust buckets, okay?¡±

    ¡°Huh!?¡± the redhead said, surprised by what the elf had just said to her. ¡°I-I mean, can you handle him on your own!? He is a lot bigger than you are!¡±

    ¡°What do you take me for!?¡± Zeldana said as she stood up while holding on to the orc. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through numerous battlefields, where I had to carry wounded people of all sizes! This is practically nothing to me!¡±

    For a brief moment, Erin could only stare in awe at how easily Zeldana seemed to be able to handle Durge. It was then that she truly realized just what level of a person she had managed to make into one of her companions.

    ¡°...Although, he is heavier than anyone I ever carried by myself,¡± Zeldana suddenly said, feeling the burden on her body. ¡°Durge, would you mind and try losing some weight?¡±

    ¡°You should know that most of that is muscle, you asshole,¡± the orc replied, not too happy over how he was being treated.

    ¡°And just like that, the mood is ruined,¡± Erin muttered.

    ¡°EXCUSE ME!¡± Lexton yelled at the others, getting their attention. ¡°I hate to break your goddamn special bonding moment or whatever the hell it is, but would you mind and GET YOUR ASSES MOVING!? I¡¯M STARTING TO RUN LOW ON THINGS TO THROW AT THESE GUYS!¡±

    Reminded by the urgency of the situation they were in, the group focused their efforts into escaping. Just as they were getting closer to the door, however, Erin noticed something about the Gotzmeyers chasing after them. It seemed like the numerous warlords were starting to put more effort into chasing after them. It was almost like they were desperate to stop them from getting out.

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    Not only that, but while there weren¡¯t many of them, a couple of the Gotzmeyers had completely stopped moving, even though they weren¡¯t as damaged as some who were still coming after them. The redhead quickly picked upon what the difference was. The ones who had stopped chasing after them were ones whose legs had been damaged. While she could understand these ones not being able to run after them like the others, she would have expected to see them crawl towards them. Yet they seemed to have completely stopped, like they were dead. What could this possibly mean?

    Despite her curiosity towards her observations, Erin couldn¡¯t spare time to inspect them, as they were still being chased after by a group of Gotzmeyers. Deciding to take initiative, the redhead rushed to the door ahead of her companions in order to open it and allow the others to get out without issues. As she got there, she kicked the door open with all her might, causing it to violently swing open.

    ¡°Come on, guys! Let¡¯s get out of-!¡± Erin shouted to her companions as she ran out of the room, only to stop in her tracks upon seeing dozens upon dozens of soldiers surrounding her with guns pointed in her direction. ¡°...here. This just went from bad to worse.¡±

    The redhead¡¯s companions followed behind her, only to come to a sudden stop as well upon seeing what was awaiting them. They looked around for any kind of a gap in the lines of soldiers to use in order to escape, but found nothing.

    Soldiers in the front and a group of angry warlords behind. Things didn¡¯t look good at all.

    ¡°Stand still!¡± a high-ranking officer among the soldiers shouted. ¡°If any of you move even an inch, we will-!¡±

    The soldier didn¡¯t get to finish his threat, as the Gotzmeyers finally reached the outside of his room. One of the warlords tried to cut down Lexton, who managed to jump out of the way in time. The blade hit the floor with a massive impact that created a large cloud of dust that blinded everyone for a moment. Once the dust settled, the soldiers were treated to the sight of multiples of the warlord standing before them.

    ¡°L-Lord Gotzmeyer!¡± the officer said nervously as he saluted the warlord. ¡°We just arrived here to-! What the¡­?¡±

    After initial shock of seeing their leader before their eyes, the soldiers began to take note of the multiple Gotzmeyers now before them. Shock and confusion spread throughout the soldiers from the sight.

    ¡°Why are there multiple Lord Gotzmeyers?¡± one of the soldiers asked.

    ¡°Is¡­ Is this some sort of magic spell?¡± another one asked. ¡°That¡¯s the only explanation I can think of.¡±

    Erin noticed the confusion of the soldiers. She had expected that the troops within the base would at least have some knowledge about Gotzmeyer¡¯s multiplication trick, yet it seemed like they had no idea about it either. She wondered what it could mean.

    ¡°My Lord or¡­ I mean¡­ My Lords?¡± the officer said as he stepped up to one of the warlords. ¡°We heard commotion coming from your office and hurried over to assist in case you needed it. May I ask what exactly is-?¡±

    The soldier never got to finish his question, as the Gotzmeyer standing before him suddenly split him half with his sword. After the initial shock, fear and panic began to spread through the soldiers over seeing their leader attack one of their own in such a brutal manner.

    ¡°L-LORD GOTZMEYER!?¡± one of the soldiers yelled out in shock. ¡°WHY WOULD YOU-!?¡±

    This soldier was quickly decapitated by another one of the warlords. The remaining soldiers were now gripped with full blown terror, over who was attacking them, as the other Gotzmeyers now seemed to turn their blades towards their terrified subordinates.

    ¡°You all saw¡­ So you must die,¡± one of the Gotzmeyers said as he held up his sword. ¡°ALL OF YOU MUST DIE!¡±

    The soldiers began to scream and panic in response. Some started to run away while others tried to fight back, as there were too many people in their way for them to escape. The ones who fought back were quickly dispatched by the numerous warlords, while the ones who ran were pursued by other Gotzmeyers.

    Taking advantage of the confusion and chaos, Erin and her companions ran away from the numerous warlords. Thanks to the sudden turn of the Gotzmeyers attacking their own subordinates, they were able to escape alongside the panicking soldiers.

    However, this was only going to give them a slight breather, as the warlords were on a rampage, quickly cutting down anyone in their path. It wouldn¡¯t take them long to reach the redhead¡¯s group.

    ¡°What the hell got into those guys!?¡± Lexton asked as he stared at the carnage with wide eyes. ¡°Why would he attack his own people all of a sudden like that!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It doesn¡¯t seem to make any sense,¡± Erin said as she was trying her best to figure out what this all meant. ¡°Whatever the case is, it¡¯s somehow connected to there being multiples Gotzmeyers. The soldiers themselves seemed to be surprised by that as well. It¡¯s almost like he didn¡¯t want his multiple bodies to be discovered by anyone.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°Why is he so afraid of anyone finding out about his identical brothers?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll ignore that last part,¡± the redhead said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°As for why he has such an issue with it, that¡¯s something we need to find out. I get the feeling that it¡¯s the key to us winning this.¡±

    Seeing as simply running around wasn¡¯t going to do anything for them, Erin led her group to a nearby room where they could hide and catch their breath. Judging by the look of the room, it was the office of some high-ranking officer or someone similar. Whatever the case, the only thing that mattered was that they could rest for a moment and come up with a plan.

    As Erin and Zeldana were helping Durge lay down on a couch in order to rest, the redhead¡¯s ears caught the sound of someone¡¯s panicked breathing. Whoever it was, they were trying to hide it but it was still very much audible. Gripping her sword tightly, Erin moved closer towards where the sound was coming from, staying as silent as possible. As she followed the sound, it led her to a desk, where it was coming from underneath the piece of furniture.

    Readying herself to strike down whoever was hiding under the desk, Erin took a deep breath before jumping over the desk and turning her gaze at where the person was. She was about to cut the person down, only for them to plead for their life and stop her in her tracks.

    ¡°WAIT! WAIT! Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± a young soldier yelled as he held up his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight with any of you! Just let me live and I¡¯ll do whatever you want!¡±

    Easing up her tension, Erin was able to calm herself and look at who the person hiding under the desk was. As she had suspected, it was a soldier. However, upon looking him over, the redhead realized that he was a gnome. Much like kobolds and goblins, they were often pushed around by the bigger and stronger races in the world due to their much weaker physicality. Judging by the looks of him, Erin couldn¡¯t see this soldier as a threat at all.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not even armed! I dropped my gun as soon as I saw Gotzmeyer cut down Captain Greer!¡± the gnome said as he finally stood up from underneath the desk. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can already tell that I¡¯m not a dangerous guy, right!?¡±

    ¡°Danger comes in many forms, pal,¡± Durge said as he glared at the soldier from the couch. ¡°Not all things tell you outright that they are something you should be on the lookout for.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! Can you really say that while looking at me!?¡± the gnome pleaded as he walked to the middle of the room so he was visible to everyone. ¡°I have zero loyalty to anyone in this base! Least of all Gotzmeyer, after what he just did! The only reason I joined the army was so that I¡¯d find some way to make a living! All the people working here can die for all I care, after all the shit they¡¯ve put me through!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a vengeful little bastard, aren¡¯t you?¡± Erin said with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You seriously have no issues whatsoever about the well-being of anyone here?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just specifically state that?¡± the soldier asked in return. ¡°What do you need from as proof? A written document signed with my own blood? Or will it be enough if I go piss on the corpses Gotzmeyer has left plenty of outside?¡±

    ¡°...No need to be snarky,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind these guys too much. They have messed up morals anyway,¡± Lexton said as he walked up to the gnome and put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°They don¡¯t understand what it¡¯s like to be kicked around all the time by others. Only guys like yourself and I get that, and the desire for retribution.¡±

    ¡°...Would you mind and take your hand off me?¡± the soldier asked bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but I¡¯d rather face those Gotzmeyers naked before I even consider becoming friends with a filthy kobold.¡±

    ¡°Okay! I guess I was mistaken to think that we could find some common ground here,¡± Lexton said as he stepped away from the gnome. ¡°May you eat shit and die, you hairless vermin.¡±

    ¡°Hey, no fighting you two!¡± Erin said stepping between the two small-sized people, before looking at the soldier. ¡°And you might want to change that attitude, buddy. Like it or not, Lexton here is one of my companions. So if you¡¯re planning to work with us, you better get comfortable with the idea of him being there. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ But I won¡¯t like it one bit,¡± the gnome said as he rolled his eyes.

    ¡°Good enough for me,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Now, first things first. Who are you?¡±

    ¡°My name is Tilko. I¡¯m a soldier here,¡± the gnome said. ¡°I¡¯ve been stationed at this base for about two years now.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Tilko. Your buddies there seemed to be quite surprised about Gotzmeyer suddenly multiplying himself,¡± Erin said. ¡°I take it that no one here knows what that¡¯s about either?¡±

    ¡°Not to my knowledge,¡± Tilko replied with a shrug. ¡°Gotzmeyer kind of keeps to himself most of the time, only appearing when there¡¯s a need to deploy or for some other events that he¡¯s required for. When that¡¯s not happening, he stays in his room and doesn¡¯t allow anyone to so much as peek inside. If you get caught doing that, you¡¯re getting an immediate execution as a reward for your curiosity.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s safe to assume that he has never shown his numerous identical brothers in any of the battles then?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°That would be the case, yes,¡± the gnome answered. ¡°We have mostly seen him just use his sword in such a manner that no one was able to so much as lay a finger on him. There have been talks about him using magic or ki, but I¡¯ve never seen it for myself.¡±

    ¡°Just so you know, we¡¯ve seen him use that stuff. Those rumors are true,¡± Erin said, thinking back on the special moves Gotzmeyer had used on them during their battle. ¡°Is there anything else you can tell us about him?¡±

    ¡°Besides the stuff just now? Not really,¡± Tilko said. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve already heard all the usual things about him, like how much of a terrifying force he is on a battlefield and all that stuff. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything that I can really tell you that you don¡¯t already know.¡±

    ¡°Any idea if there is someone who could have the answers we are looking for?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure there has got to be some type of a high-ranking officer around here who is close to the guy.¡±

    ¡°If there is, I certainly have no idea who they could be. From what I can tell, Gotzmeyer treats all of the captains the same no matter who they are,¡± the gnome explained. ¡°And judging by what he did to Greer, I doubt any of them are in a special position of any kind.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, Gotzmeyer didn¡¯t seem to like that his multiple bodies were seen for some reason,¡± Erin said thoughtfully. ¡°It was right after the soldiers noticed how he had multiplied that he went on a rampage. I think he also might have tried to stop us from getting out, as I saw his bodies pick up the pace when we were getting closer to the door.¡±

    ¡°But why would he want to keep something like that a secret?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°If I had a cool ability like that, you can bet your ass I wouldn¡¯t be shy about using it.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we are looking at this in the wrong way,¡± Lexton suggested. ¡°We are only focusing on him multiplying himself, when there is actually something even more shocking that we discovered even before that.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°His first body that we encountered was just a hollow armor,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°Remember when we blew it up and there was nothing inside? It was almost like the armor itself had been moving without an actual person inside.¡±

    ¡°I think I see what you¡¯re getting at,¡± Durge said. ¡°If that body was a fake one, then any of the ones we just saw could also be fakes.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if even all of them were fakes,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Whatever Gotzmeyer is doing, he is somehow able to control multiple armors and make them look like real people.¡±

    ¡°In other words, what we should be doing isn¡¯t trying to defeat Gotzmeyer, but rather find where he is?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°Once we find where he really is, we can end this.¡±

    ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°There were dozens of those armors walking around. Do you think that they¡¯re just going to let us look inside all of them? Even if we decide to ignore them, this is still a pretty large place.¡±

    ¡°This all started from Gotzmeyer¡¯s personal room. I think that is a good place to start,¡± Erin said. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s safe to go outside?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go check,¡± Tilko suggested as he walked up to the door.

    The gnome put his ear against the door and listened for any sounds that could indicate that there was someone on the other side. However, there was only silence.

    ¡°It seems to be clear. I¡¯ll-¡±

    Tilko never got the chance to do anything more, as the door was suddenly kicked down by a large armored foot that crushed him under its weight. Erin and the others watched in horror as one of the Gotzmeyers entered the room and stared down at them.

    ¡°There you are,¡± the warlord said menacingly. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. Shall we continue from where we left off?¡±

 111. The True Gotzmeyer

    Chapter 111

    The True Gotzmeyer

    Once the soldiers at the base had seen the numerous copies of Gotzmeyer, which led to the unfortunate troops getting killed by the warlord they served, the news about his true colors had spread like wildfire. It didn¡¯t take long until pretty much everybody at the base knew about the whole thing. This led to Gotzmeyer basically aiming to wipe out the entire base as a result.

    The soldiers stationed at the base were obviously not going to simply let themselves get killed by their master. Some chose to fight back, fueled either by hatred for the warlord over being betrayed or by the desire to replace Gotzmeyer as a new warlord. These ones would end up meeting swift ends, as Gotzmeyer was not someone to be taken lightly, even if there was only one of him.

    However, others that knew how futile resistance was, decided to try their best to escape. Many tried to make their way to the bridge in order to escape into the nearby caves. Unfortunately, the warlord had anticipated this and a couple of his copies had gone to the bridge control room in advance. With the controls destroyed, the only way for the soldiers to flee was through the back tunnel, but this was guarded by some of the Gotzmeyers.

    With nowhere to run, the remaining soldiers either went into hiding or joined the ones trying to fight back. This led to chaos and destruction taking over the base, as battles began in numerous places between the soldiers and the warlords, and the warlords not engaged in combat would tear down the base in search of those in hiding.

    While most would see this situation as hopeless, it actually provided a much needed opportunity to certain people. These were Ryle and Arkay, who had managed to use first the confusion caused by the alarm earlier to sneak in through the bridge. With how chaotic everything was, they were able to get even deeper inside the base in search of their companions that had entered the base before them.

    To say that the two of them were surprised by what they saw would be an understatement, as Ryle made it very clear.

    ¡°What the absolute shit is going on over here!?¡± the blonde whispered to Arkay as the two of them were sneaking around the base.

    Before they came in, the cat boy had used his invisibility spell to cloak both of them, thus allowing them to sneak past cameras and guards. They still needed to be careful, as there was a lot going on that they didn¡¯t want to get caught into.

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Arkay replied as he looked at the chaos unraveling around them with wide eyes. ¡°None of this makes any sense to me. Why are the soldiers fighting against Gotzmeyer? Is there a rebellion or something happening?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more shocked to see that Gotzy seems to come from a very large family of identical siblings!¡± Ryle said as she watched three Gotzmeyers cut apart a tank. ¡°How the hell are there so many of him!? Isn¡¯t just one bad enough!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I don¡¯t think that these guys are real,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°There¡¯s something strange about these guys. They don¡¯t feel real.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± the blonde asked as she watched another Gotzmeyer tear a soldier in half. ¡°They seem real enough to me¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean real in that manner. What I mean is that they don¡¯t feel like actual people,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°What I mean is that they don¡¯t feel like actual people. It¡¯s almost like they are puppets of some kind.¡±

    ¡°You mean like that assassin who attacked us as we were going to Zeldana¡¯s home?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes. ¡°I kind of see what you mean, but don¡¯t these guys seem too good to be simple puppets? Their movements and behavior seem too lifelike to be anything else than actual people.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but I think there are ways to get around that without there being an actual person within that suit,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°I just need to-¡±

    Arkay suddenly stopped as he noticed something. It was very faint and only ones with senses like his could see it in the first place, but his sight caught it. Once he did so, the mystery behind Gotzmeyer¡¯s strange abilities became clear to him.

    ¡°I knew it!¡± the cat boy said. ¡°Come on! Follow me!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Hang on a second!¡± Ryle said, a bit taken aback by her partner¡¯s sudden declaration. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go and look for the others first!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just as worried about them as you are, but this is more important!¡± Arkay said. ¡°If I¡¯m correct, then we might be able to end this now!¡±

    Despite her doubts, the blonde followed after the cat boy. Even if she was worried about their friends, she had been convinced by Arkay¡¯s confidence. She just hoped that she was making the right decision by following him.

    <hr>

    Back with Erin¡¯s group, things weren¡¯t looking too good for them. They had managed to escape from the Gotzmeyer that had found them by having Durge break down one of the walls, allowing them to run away. However, this had only given them a temporary escape, as they soon came face to face with another Gotzmeyer.

    Stuck between two warlords, they were forced to fight against them, which turned out to be their most difficult battle yet. Splitting their group in two, Erin and Zeldana took on one of their opponents, while Durge and Lexton faced off against the other. Unlike their first fight, the Gotzmeyers this time were far more aggressive, putting a lot of pressure against the group of assassins. They were also far more aware of the abilities Erin and her companions had, making it difficult for them to land even a single hit.

    However, the most terrifying thing was that even when they did manage to strike either one of the Gotzmeyers, it didn¡¯t seem to do anything. Even attacks that should have been fatal were simply shrugged off by the hulking warlords. It was like they were truly immortal warriors.

    ¡°Dammit! We¡¯re throwing everything we¡¯ve got at these guys and they¡¯re barely even fazed by it!¡± Durge cursed. ¡°How the hell are we supposed to beat something like this!?¡±

    ¡°These must be fakes as well!¡± Erin said. ¡°The real one must be somewhere else!¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but we still need to get past these two somehow!¡± Lexton said as he threw a vial of orange liquid at one of the Gotzmeyers, which set him on fire. ¡°Even if neither one of these is the guy we¡¯re looking for, they are still obstacles that we need to deal with!¡±

    The redhead thought about how to beat the two opponents blocking their path and remembered something. Back when they ran away from the Gotzmeyers inside his room, she had noticed that certain ones stopped chasing after them, most likely due to the fact that they were no longer able to catch up to their group.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got it!¡± Erin said. ¡°Aim for the legs!¡±

    Acting upon the advice given to him, Lexton threw a vial of acid on the leg of the Gotzmeyer he was facing. The corrosive liquid quickly melted through the metal and broke off the warlord¡¯s limb, causing him to fall down to the floor.

    The other Gotzmeyer was also dealt in a similar manner, as Zeldana first threw her scalpels at the warlords face as a distraction. This gave Erin the opportunity to swoop in and aim at a structurally weaker part of the armor that she hit with her sword. This ended up cutting off the leg, leaving their opponent laying helplessly on the floor as well.

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    ¡°Now let¡¯s get going!¡± Erin called out as she quickly jumped over the Gotzmeyer that had blocked their path.

    The others soon followed behind the redhead, while the two warlords struggled to get up. Once they had all managed to get past the two Gotzmeyers, they suddenly stopped moving and simply slumped down on the floor lifelessly.

    ¡°What the-!? They just dropped dead all of a sudden!¡± Zeldana noted. ¡°Did you know that was going to happen!?¡±

    ¡°I actually did,¡± Erin answered. ¡°Back when we ran away from these guys when they all appeared, I noticed how some of them had completely stopped moving from the damage caused by Lexton¡¯s attacks. The ones in question had lost at least one of their legs. My guess is that since Gotzmeyer knows they aren¡¯t fast enough to really do anything, they are just useless weight on him, which is why he simply abandons them.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That makes sense,¡± Lexton said thoughtfully. ¡°Since there is nothing he can do with those ones, he might as well just dump them on the floor and focus on ones that can be useful. Besides, it¡¯s not like he has a very limited amount of those armors of his, so he can afford to lose a few here and there.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess that solves one of our problems,¡± Durge said. ¡°Now what do we do? Do we still go to Gotzmeyer¡¯s room to look for the real one?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This all started from there, so it should be a good place to start from,¡± Erin replied. ¡°I just hope that we don¡¯t end up running into-¡±

    Just as she was saying that, the redhead collided with someone coming from behind a corner they were heading towards. Erin¡¯s three companions immediately got prepared for another fight, but calmed down upon realizing who they had come upon. The redhead had simply collided with Arkay, with Ryle following behind the cat boy.

    ¡°Arnie?¡± Erin asked upon recognizing her young friend. ¡°Glad to see you here, but when did you two get here?¡±

    ¡°Just now,¡± the cat boy replied, as he was helped up by the redhead. ¡°We were able to beat the two assassins that had come after us, so we decided to come here to help you guys out. Thanks to all the insanity and chaos going here, we were able to get inside without any issues.¡±

    ¡°Well, you got around here on just the right time,¡± Lexton said. ¡°As you¡¯ve probably guessed, we¡¯re having a bit of an issue with Gotzmeyer. We could use your help in beating him.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry! With me here, it won¡¯t take much for us to take him down!¡± Ryle boasted with a grin. ¡°Just show me where the guy is and I¡¯ll end this instantly!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I was referring to Arkay with what I said,¡± the kobold said. ¡°His experience and abilities with magic will certainly help us out. You on the other hand¡­ Well, I guess you could serve as a meat shield. How about that?¡±

    ¡°How about you kiss my ass, you scaly turd!?¡± the blonde said angrily.

    ¡°Guys, not now, okay!?¡± Erin said, not in the mood for any of her companions arguing. ¡°We have some bigger issues to deal with right now, remember!?¡±

    Ryle and Lexton, knowing that the redhead was correct, decided to let their argument go. As a somewhat awkward silence fell over the group, Arkay decided to speak up in order to put their attention back on the matter at hand.

    ¡°Anyways, we were actually following something that could lead us to the real Gotzmeyer,¡± the cat boy said somewhat awkwardly. ¡°I noticed something coming out of the numerous Gotzmeyers and I think it could lead us to where he actually is.¡±

    ¡°You did?¡± Erin asked to which Arkay nodded. ¡°That¡¯s great! What exactly is it!?¡±

    ¡°I noticed something that seemed like a thread made of magic coming from the numerous different Gotzmeyers,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°I think it¡¯s similar to the puppet master that attacked us some time ago.¡±

    ¡°That could explain this,¡± the redhead said. ¡°You think you can lead us to where it¡¯s coming from?¡±

    ¡°Of course. That¡¯s what I was doing earlier, remember?¡± Arkay replied with a smile. ¡°Just follow me and we¡¯ll be able to put an end to this.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me. Let¡¯s get going then!¡± Erin declared as the group followed the cat boy¡¯s lead.

    As they followed after Arkay, the redhead and the ones who had infiltrated the base with her quickly noticed that they were moving towards Gotzmeyer¡¯s room. Erin and Lexton had already suspected that the real warlord was most likely there, but hadn¡¯t been completely sure. It seemed like their suspicions had been correct.

    ¡°There! It¡¯s coming from that room!¡± Arkay exclaimed as he pointed at the warlord¡¯s personal room ahead of them. ¡°All the magic strings are coming from there!¡±

    ¡°Guess we were right on our assumptions,¡± Erin said. ¡°Okay, once we get there, Arnie will tell us where exactly that bastard is hiding. Once that is cleared, we will hit him with everything we¡¯ve got. Okay?¡±

    The others nodded in agreement and mentally prepared for the fight ahead of them. However, they soon noticed something else that was going to keep them from going after Gotzmeyer.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got trouble!¡± Zeldana called out. ¡°It looks like our buddy figured out what we¡¯re planning!¡±

    The others looked behind them and saw that the numerous Gotzmeyers were now chasing after them. The warlords were determined to stop the group from reaching the room ahead of them.

    ¡°Dammit! Everybody run as fast as you can!¡± Erin said. ¡°If we get there fast enough, we might be able to take out the guy controlling them before we have to deal with those!¡±

    ¡°...You guys go ahead!¡± Durge suddenly said as he stopped running and turned to face the oncoming Gotzmeyers. ¡°I¡¯ll hold back these guys! You go take down Gotzmeyer!¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± the redhead yelled out of shock. ¡°Absolutely not! You can¡¯t-!¡±

    ¡°WE DON¡¯T HAVE TIME TO ARGUE!¡± the orc yelled back. ¡°The only way for us win this is by taking down the actual Gotzmeyer and it won¡¯t be done with those coming up from behind!¡±

    Erin wanted to argue, but could tell that her friend was right. Their chances of beating the actual warlord were slim with the group chasing them. Even if they got to the room and found Gotzmeyer before the walking armors caught up, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed that they would be able to defeat him and end their battle in time. They needed to do something in order to at least slow down their pursuers.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave it to you,¡± the redhead said, despite her feelings on the matter. ¡°But how are you going to slow them down?¡±

    ¡°Did you already forget? I¡¯ve got a bit of a trick up my sleeve,¡± Durge said with a smirk as he took off his shirt and cloak as he prepared for the battle ahead. ¡°It¡¯s something that doesn¡¯t exactly work with friends around, so it¡¯s better you guys put some distance between us. Just remember to not come back too quickly.¡±

    Erin and the others watched as the orc activated his berserker powers. His skin began to turn red, his body and muscles grew exponentially, and his hair grew into a wild mane and his teeth became sharp fangs. Once his transformation was done, Durge let out a roar of primal fury before charging towards the group of Gotzmeyers before him.

    ¡°...I hope he¡¯ll be alright,¡± Erin said, worried over what might happen to the orc.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to trust him,¡± Lexton said. ¡°And while he¡¯s fighting, we need to focus on our own mission for now. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The redhead nodded before the group continued running towards the room ahead of them. Erin spared one more glance towards Durge, before keeping her attention ahead of her.

    <hr>

    Finally reaching Gotzmeyer¡¯s room, the group went straight into searching for the hiding warlord. At first glance, there were no signs of obvious hiding places for the person they were looking for, but thanks to Arkay, they were able to find the correct place quickly.

    ¡°That¡¯s the place,¡± the cat boy said, pointing at shelf full of weapons, helmets and other trophies taken from battles. ¡°The magic strings go from underneath the shelf to a place behind the wall.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Erin said as she walked up to the piece of furniture. ¡°We just have to move this out of the way and-¡±

    ¡°Step back, Erin,¡± Ryle suddenly said, as she gently pushed the redhead out of her way. ¡°Let me handle this.¡±

    Erin had expected the blonde to move the shelf with her bare hands, but was surprised by what she actually did. Ryle got into a stance and gave a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of the piece of furniture. Her attack had been charged with ki, which allowed her to send the shelf flying and crash on the floor far away from them.

    With the shelf removed, a hidden door was revealed. The door was made from metal and looked to be very thick, making breaking it down an impossible task. The only way in seemed to be by using a number panel to insert a correct code to open its lock. Luckily, Erin¡¯s group had just the right thing to get inside.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Arkay said as he walked up to the panel and used his technomancer ability on the lock. In just a few seconds, the correct code appeared on the panel, unlocking the door. The metal door slowly opened itself, allowing the group of assassins to get inside.

    ¡°Alright, Gotzmeyer! Show yourself!¡± Erin yelled as she walked inside the hidden room with her sword at the ready. ¡°Come here and face us, so we can-!¡±

    ¡°NO! STAY AWAY!¡±

    Erin and her group came to an immediate stop upon hearing the voice screaming at them. It wasn¡¯t the fact that they had been yelled at that had surprised them, but rather how the voice sounded. Having faced off against Gotzmeyer¡¯s puppets and hearing him speak to them, they had expected his actual voice to sound similar, yet the voice that had screamed at them wasn¡¯t similar at all. The voice they had heard before had been deep and booming, something that shook you to your very soul. What they had heard now was high-pitched and squeaky, the complete opposite.

    Due to the room being rather dark, it took a moment for Erin¡¯s and other¡¯s eyes to adjust, but once they did they were able to grasp what the room was like. The sight before them was not pretty and the smell was even worse.

    The hidden room was something Erin had always imagined to belong to unemployed people that only live by social security and spend their days playing video games. There were empty containers of food all over the floor along with dirt clothes. The only source of light came from the numerous screens covering the walls. Besides the screens, there was only one piece of furniture surrounded by all the trash and filth. This was a single chair, where the high-pitched voice had come from.

    On that chair was a small figure sitting on it. It was a very pale humanoid with wings on its back and small horns on its head. Its teeth were sharp fangs and it also had red eyes with yellow irises. It was also almost completely naked, as only a lone pair of underwear were covering its lower body.

    Erin knew from her knowledge that the creature before them was an imp, the lowest and weakest race among demonic people. Much like goblins, kobolds and gnomes, they were often mistreated and abused by the much stronger races.

    Erin and the others could only stare at the imp before them with wide eyes. While all of them knew what they were staring at was, no one dared say it out loud.

    ¡°...Are you Gotzmeyer?¡± Erin asked, finally breaking the silence and voicing out what everybody was thinking.

    ¡°...In the flesh,¡± the imp replied with its squeaky voice.

 112. Impish Tricks

    Chapter 112

    Impish Tricks

    An awkward silence had fallen over Erin¡¯s group, as all they could do was stare at what was the true face of Gotzmeyer. None of them could wrap their minds around the fact that the infamous warlord feared all over the world and known for his martial prowess was actually a tiny imp. He looked small enough for someone to accidentally step on and kill him.

    However, the fact was that this was their foe and they had just uncovered what he truly looked like.

    ¡°Is this for real?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°THIS is the guy we were all afraid of just moments ago? I can¡¯t help but feel like we are the victims of a terrible prank or something!¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean. This guy looks tiny even to me!¡± Lexton said. ¡°Still when you think about all the things he can do, the whole myth he has built around himself starts to make sense.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, Arkay pointed out that he can apparently use magic strings, much like that puppeteer assassin we faced not too long ago. That explains how he couldn¡¯t be killed no matter what was done to him. There was never a person inside the armor to begin with for anyone to kill,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Not only that, but since he can use teleportation magic, whenever one armor was too badly damaged, he could just bring in a new one to keep up the illusion of an immortal and unbeatable warrior.¡±

    ¡°But if no one was inside the suit, how could he talk to anyone?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°You heard him talking to us.¡±

    ¡°Look at the console in front of him,¡± Lexton said, pointing at the table set before the numerous screens. On it were what appeared to be a control panel and a microphone. ¡°He most likely set up cameras and speakers inside the armors, allowing him to keep an eye on what was happening, as well as communicate with whoever he was looking at. Not only that, but I¡¯m willing to bet that he has used those tools to adjust his voice to sound much more threatening than it actually is.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­ That¡¯s quite the operation he has set up for himself,¡± Erin said, sounding genuinely amazed. ¡°To think with just the right tools and skills, even this tiny guy can make himself into a threatening monster.¡±

    ¡°As a professional con artist myself, I can¡¯t help but admire the level of expertise at display,¡± the kobold said as he gave an approving nod.

    ¡°You really just had to add that last part, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ryle asked as she glared at Lexton.

    ¡°I¡¯m just being honest,¡± the kobold said.

    ¡°I¡¯m still here, you know?¡± Gotzmeyer squeaked at his seat, unhappy how people were talking about him like he wasn¡¯t even there.

    ¡°Yeah, we know. Shut the hell up, you horn-headed flying¡­ whatever the hell you are,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Seriously, what are you even? A hairless bat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M A GODDAMN IMP, YOU MORON!¡± the warlord screeched angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t you know anything about the world around you!?¡±

    ¡°I know that judging by your size, I should be able to shove you into a toilet and flush you down,¡± the blonde said with a glare. ¡°Wanna try it out and see if I¡¯m right?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gotzmeyer squeaked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°...I can¡¯t freaking believe this,¡± Zeldana said in a slightly angry tone. ¡°I was afraid of THIS? This is what scared me into hiding? I could just die from the embarrassment!¡±

    ¡°Need help with that?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically.

    As almost everyone began to talk with each other in regards to this new revelation, the youngest member of the group realized that they had forgotten something very important. Or rather someone important.

    ¡°Ummm? Guys?¡± Arkay called out to everyone, getting the attention turned towards him. ¡°I get that this is a big surprise and everything, but aren¡¯t we forgetting that Durge is still in the middle of fighting against his puppets?¡±

    ¡°Oh shit! We totally forgot!¡± Erin yelled out of shock, before turning her gaze towards Gotzmeyer. ¡°Hey! You better turn off your damn puppets or else we¡¯ll make you pay!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re puppets, like you said! There¡¯s no power source for me to turn off! In fact, once you all came here, I lost my concentration over my magic strings, which means I¡¯m no longer controlling them!¡± the imp quickly explained before turning towards one of the numerous monitors. ¡°You can see for yourself. None of the puppets are moving at all. Your buddy is just tearing through their motionless bodies like a damn savage!¡±

    The redhead looked at the monitor the imp had pointed at and saw Durge still in his berserker form, causing havoc. Much like Gotzmeyer had said, none of his puppets were active any longer and were now in the process of being reduced to trash by their orc companion. Had they not been running from said puppets for their lives, she might have felt a bit sorry for them.

    ¡°Well¡­ Glad to see we don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± Erin said with a shrug. ¡°Anyways, now what do we do? We came here to take down Gotzmeyer, yet-¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t start getting cold feet just because he¡¯s a tiny bastard!¡± Zeldana yelled, while ignoring the warlord¡¯s cry of anger. ¡°Did you forget just who this guy is!? He might not be the terrifying badass we all thought he was, but he is still a merciless monster, who has slaughtered countless people! Not just armed rebels, but innocent people! Even his own soldiers just now!¡±

    ¡°I-I was just acting under orders! I swear!¡± Gotzmeyer tried to argue for himself. ¡°Do you have any idea what Golorath would have done to me, if I disobeyed!? No one is brave enough to defy him or the other Overlords!¡±

    ¡°Well, you certainly seem to be enjoying yourself while being a faithful little shit!¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet you¡¯ve taken pleasure from all the perks that come from being the loyal dog of one of the Overlords. Or did you perhaps use your power to help the common people? I doubt it. And I don¡¯t think you received any orders to kill all of your own people just now!¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That was¡­ I mean¡­¡± the warlord struggled to come up with an excuse but failed.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t obvious why he went on a rampage? He wanted to protect his secret no matter what,¡± Lexton said. ¡°That¡¯s also why he had a strict rule of people not being allowed to come to his room under the threat of death. He wanted to do everything he could do to minimize the chances of his secret being exposed.¡±

    ¡°I get not wanting people to come snooping around here, because they might see Mr. Shrinky Bat over here, but why did he need to start killing his own people?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Unless they saw who he really was, there shouldn¡¯t have been any problems!¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but he had built this image of himself being this mighty warrior that was invincible on the battlefield. Upon seeing him suddenly duplicate himself was obviously going to raise some questions within his troops. Not only that, but when some of his armors were destroyed, the discovery of the suits being empty would also bring up questions,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°However, the main reason as to why he turned his swords against his own men so quickly was a lot more simple. The fact is that our friend here can¡¯t handle himself under pressure all too well, which led to him taking very drastic actions. One of the key abilities for any decent con artist is their ability to handle pressure under difficult circumstances. Once you lose control, your cover can easily get blown and your whole game is then ruined.¡±

    ¡°...You wouldn¡¯t happen to be speaking from experience, would you?¡± Erin asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Sort of, I suppose. I¡¯ve seen many aspiring con artists crack upon having accusations thrown at them. When that happens, it stops being about you making a deal and becomes a matter of outrunning the lynch mob,¡± Lexton said with a small chuckle. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve never failed in such a manner myself.¡±

    ¡°Sure you haven¡¯t¡­¡± Ryle muttered as she rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the topic at hand, what do we do about him?¡± Erin asked while pointing at Gotzmeyer. ¡°Seeing what he actually looks like might have taken the wind out of my sails, but he is still a warlord. We can¡¯t exactly just let him walk away free, can we?¡±

    ¡°Yes you can!¡± Gotzmeyer squeaked. ¡°You just have to let me go and I¡¯ll never-¡±

    ¡°Do you honestly think we believe that bullshit?¡± Ryle asked bluntly.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°It was worth a try¡­¡± the warlord mumbled. ¡°But still, there¡¯s no need to kill me! I promise you that I am worth far more to you alive than dead!¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°The way I see it, the most worth we are getting out of you is by letting out some aggression on your ass!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a warlord, remember!? That¡¯s not just any title, you know!?¡± Gotzmeyer quickly said, sounding desperate. ¡°Thanks to my title, I¡¯ve had access to all sorts of things! I¡¯m sure I can share with you something that is of interest to you all!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got something. Namely a face worth kicking in!¡± Ryle said as she cracked her knuckles and took a step towards the imp. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give me a big and toothy smile, so I can make sure to knock all of your teeth down your throat in one go?¡±

    ¡°Hold up, Ryle. Let¡¯s not get too hasty here,¡± Erin suddenly said, stopping her blonde friend from killing Gotzmeyer. ¡°While we¡¯re here, we might as well see what else we can get out of him before finishing him off.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? You think this guy is going to tell us anything worthwhile?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°He¡¯s probably just buying time in order for his remaining goons to come and help him!¡±

    ¡°Trust me. After everything I just did, there¡¯s not a single person out there who is interested in helping me!¡± the imp pleaded. ¡°Besides, just look at me! I¡¯m wimpy little imp with no weapon to defend myself with! Hell, if you need to see just how helpless I am, just look at my seat! The moment you all busted in here, I soiled myself from the shock!¡±

    ¡°...Thanks. We really needed to know that,¡± the blonde said in disgust. ¡°Although, that does explain the nasty smell I¡¯ve been noticing¡­¡±

    Erin just shook her head and let out a small sigh of frustration. Turning her attention on Gotzmeyer, she stood before the imp and looked down on him with a stern glare. She wanted to show him that she wasn¡¯t someone to be messed around with.

    ¡°Alright, so you claim you know something that might interest us, correct?¡± the redhead asked to which Gotzmeyer nodded. ¡°What is it? And if this is a lie or some useless crap that you¡¯re just trying to use to play us for fools, it will not end well for you.¡±

    ¡°I-I promise that it¡¯s nothing pointless! You won¡¯t regret letting me live!¡± the imp quickly said, hoping to ease the suspicion he was under. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d like to hear about the movements the other two warlords are making, as well as some of the other projects Golorath¡¯s people are working on!¡±

    Erin looked at her companions to see whether they agreed to hearing Gotzmeyer out. Lexton was obviously interested, as he gave an immediate nod to the redhead. Arkay seemed to be curious, despite being too shy to really display it. Ryle simply gave shrug, as she personally didn¡¯t care, but knew that the others were more than likely to feel differently. And while Zeldana seemed unhappy that the warlord hadn¡¯t been dealt with yet, even she had to raise an eyebrow out of curiosity.

    ¡°Alright, you have our attention,¡± Erin said. ¡°Start with the other two warlords. What are they working on?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, Warlord Dungard has been ordered to dedicate a good amount of his troops to some sort of a mining project,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°While there are still rebellious forces in his area, Lord Golorath has actually told him to mostly ignore them and only use the necessary amount of troops to handle them. All his other resources have been dedicated to whatever it is that Golorath wants to be dug up.¡±

    ¡°Gabe- I mean, Golorath is trying to dig up something?¡± the redhead asked, accidentally almost using the Overlord¡¯s real name. ¡°What could that be?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but I have no idea,¡± the imp replied, but upon seeing Erin and the others glare at him, he tried to elaborate on the information he had given in order to keep the assassins happy. ¡°B-B-But I do know that all the other Overlords have similar projects going as well! It¡¯s almost like each continent has some sort of a hidden treasure in them, which they are all now on the lookout for!¡±

    ¡°Something that each continent has? What could that be?¡± the redhead wondered, before turning her attention to her companions. ¡°Any of you guys got any idea as to what it could be?¡±

    ¡°Nothing without any specific details,¡± Lexton replied as he and the others shook their heads. ¡°All of the continents have more myths and urban legends than one could count. Even when I consider the ones I¡¯ve head about, I can¡¯t imagine any of them to be so important that the Overlords would put so much effort into finding them.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Whatever it is, he said that the warlord called Dungard was looking for it, so it must be pretty important,¡± Erin said thoughtfully, thinking back on all the lore she could remember from Five Realms, before turning back to Gotzmeyer. ¡°Where exactly is this mining operation happening?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I was never told any details!¡± the imp quickly said. ¡°Golorath and the other two warlords are the only people who could possibly have the information that you¡¯re looking for, but not me!¡±

    ¡°Hang on! So only your boss and those at the same level as you know about it, but you¡¯re the only one in your little clubhouse that doesn¡¯t!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°How the hell does that work!? Are they excluding you from their friend group like a bunch of mean kids or something!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s because¡­ Ummm¡­¡± Gotzmeyer struggled to explain his situation when it came to the other warlords.

    ¡°The answer to that is quite simple!¡± Lexton suddenly spoke up. ¡°Gotzy here is the loser of the group that the others don¡¯t like, including his boss.¡±

    The warlord¡¯s face twisted into a mixture of anger, embarrassment and shock from being called out by the kobold. When the others noticed his reaction, they realized that their friend had just hit the nail on the head.

    ¡°It¡­ seems like you just nailed it, Lex,¡± Erin said. ¡°But how did you figure that out?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy deduction from all we¡¯ve seen out of him so far,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°In the first place, his whole persona as an undefeated warlord is built on nothing but a scam. And the moment we figured it out and confronted him, he simply threw his hands up in surrender. That tells me that he doesn¡¯t have any actual fighting capabilities in himself at all.¡±

    ¡°I guess that makes sense, but why does that make him disliked by the other warlords?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°After all, isn¡¯t he still a deadly opponent with his puppets?¡±

    ¡°Simple. He¡¯s a one trick hack,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°The worst thing that can happen to a con artist is for their trick to get discovered and figured out. Because of this, I¡¯ve come up with several different plans and I make sure to be on the move in order to avoid getting found out and chased by a bunch of angry customers. Our little warlord here only knows one trick that he uses constantly, so it was only a matter of time until he got found out. Golorath and the other warlords probably figure this out a long time ago, which is why they kept him out of some of the more sensitive information.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was still able to become a legitimate warlord!¡± Gotzmeyer yelled in his squeaky voice. ¡°No matter how I did it, I was still able to reach a position most can only dream of!¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is completely true,¡± Lexton said with a shrug, before smirking. ¡°Although, it doesn¡¯t exactly make anything I said untrue, does it?¡±

    ¡°...Screw you,¡± the imp said as he sulked.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought,¡± the kobold said with a chuckle.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the topic,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°You said that one of the other two warlords was focused on that mining operation. So what is the other one doing?¡±

    ¡°Now that is something that you¡¯ll certainly find interesting!¡± Gotzmeyer said happily. ¡°Warlord Rayleen has mostly been going around, crushing rebel groups left and right. However, this is only what she shows on the surface. The truth is that she destroys the weaker groups and takes control of the stronger ones. In short, she¡¯s trying to build up her forces!¡±

    ¡°What could she be doing that for?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°If I were to make a guess, I¡¯d say it¡¯s in order to take down Dungard,¡± the imp replied. ¡°The thing is that while we may all work for the same boss, there is competition going on between us. Not only do we try to gain greater victories in order to win Golorath¡¯s favor, but we sometimes fight among each other. Golorath himself doesn¡¯t care, as long as his rule remains absolute. The way he sees it, the loser deserves to get trampled upon for being weak.¡±

    Upon hearing the explanation, Erin had to hold back in order to prevent any tears from falling from her eye. To know just how badly her friend, who had been nothing but kindness personified, had fallen and changed for the worse, it really shook her to her core.

    ¡°Alright, so basically, the two warlords are going to be clashing in the future against each other,¡± the redhead said as she took a slightly shaky breath to compose herself. The others noticed this, but only Zeldana knew why she did this. ¡°Are you certain this is going to happen?¡±

    ¡°Positive! Rayleen and Dungard have never really liked one another at all and would love nothing more than to tear each other apart!¡± Gotzmeyer replied. ¡°I mean, if Rayleen isn¡¯t trying to take down Dungard, then who else?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Hello? Aren¡¯t you forgetting someone?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you be a potential target as well, seeing as you are also a warlord? Not only that, but there is also the big boss Golorath that she could be aiming for! I mean, why not go for the big boss himself?¡±

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no way she would even dare to think of betraying Golorath! All the people in his army, from the warlords down to the simplest soldier are in his service because they know it¡¯s a better choice than actually trying to fight him!¡± Gotzmeyer explained in confidence. ¡°As for me, she knows that I¡¯m no real threat to her, so she isn¡¯t going to waste any manpower on me! I¡¯m sure she plans to put me in her service after beating Dungard!¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t see how that¡¯s something for you to be proud of,¡± the blonde said before looking at Lexton. ¡°On the bright side, I¡¯ve found someone more slimy than you, Lex.¡±

    ¡°Bite me, moron,¡± the kobold said as he flipped off Ryle.

    ¡°Back to the topic!¡± Erin quickly said, hoping to stop a new argument from coming up. ¡°In short, one of the two warlords is putting their forces into a secret mining operation, while the other one is gathering forces in order to beat said warlord? Alright, we¡¯ll go with that. You also mentioned something about Golorath having other projects in the works, right? What are those?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ In the last meeting I took part in between Golorath and us warlords, he said something about luring you using something special as a bait,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details again, but he apparently has some person held hostage, who is supposed to be important to your group.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide with shock and surprise. Her mind immediately started to go through all the possible people that she had some form of a connection to that could be held as hostage against her, but came up with nothing. Apart from her companions, all the people that she knew were either dead or not close enough to be used in such a manner.

    The redhead looked at her friends, wondering if any of them had an idea as to who the warlord was referring to. However, she could tell just by the looks on their faces that none of them had any ideas either. It seemed like they needed more information in that regard.

    ¡°Who does he have imprisoned that¡¯s supposed to be important to us?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Did you hear a name or see them?¡±

    ¡°No idea. Golorath simply said that he had a plan to catch you guys, if none of us were able to do it,¡± Gotzmeyer said. ¡°And I¡¯m honestly just making an assumption about the hostage as well. I just saw him glance at some girl he had imprisoned in his throne room when he told us about his plan. However, it¡¯s not exactly hard to connect the dots, you know?¡±

    ¡°...Just who could that person be?¡± the redhead wondered. ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone that it could be.¡±

    ¡°Wondering about it here isn¡¯t going to do much,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find out the truth when the time comes anyways, so might as well not worry about it too much.¡±

    ¡°I guess so¡­ Not like we can do anything about it now,¡± Erin said. ¡°We¡¯re done here. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    ¡°Hang on a second!¡± Zeldana yelled suddenly. ¡°What about Gotzmeyer!?¡±

    The redgead turned to look at the imp. Despite him being a warlord, she just couldn¡¯t see him as a threat of any kind. He might have been able to fool his soldiers and everybody else in the world, but was that going to last? Like Lexton had said, it was only a matter of time until his trick was going to be discovered. Besides that, Golorath, the other two warlords and now their group all knew the truth about him. After such a massive failure here, there was no way that the ones he was working for would let him go unpunished. No matter how one looked at it, the imp was doomed.

    Not only that, but Erin didn¡¯t feel the need to add Gotzmeyer to her growing list of nightmare visions. She was already dealing with more than enough as it was.

    ¡°...Let¡¯s just leave him be,¡± the redhead said surprising her companions. ¡°He¡¯s nothing now. His people are either dead or have abandoned him. Even if we let him live for now, it won¡¯t do much for him, as I doubt Golorath is going to let this simply pass. Might as well not bother getting our own hands dirty.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Erin?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, I get that he¡¯s pathetic and all, but he was still a warlord. There¡¯s quite a bit of blood on his hands.¡±

    ¡°I know, but I think this is a way more cruel punishment. Killing him here would be a mercy, as he is now forced to live in shame and fear over what might happen to him,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s been far too much bloodshed already.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, if you say so,¡± the blonde said.

    With their work done, Erin and her companions were about to walk out of Gotzmeyer¡¯s hidden room. However, the way out was blocked by Zeldana, who glared at the other members of the group.

    ¡°Zel, I get that you¡¯re upset, but-¡± Erin began to say only for the elf to cut her off.

    ¡°You guys are a bunch of naive idiots, you know?¡± Zeldana asked before turning her attention to Lexton. ¡°You especially disappoint me.¡±

    ¡°What!? How!?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know one of the most basic things about tricks?¡± the elf asked. ¡°What do you do with the best one?¡±

    ¡°...You save it for last,¡± Lexton said with wide eyes as he came to a realization.

    ¡°What? What is this all about?¡± Erin asked.

    Before the kobold could explain, there was a loud clicking sound that echoed through the room. Everyone turned to stare at Gotzmeyer, who no longer had a scared look on his face. Instead, a wicked grin was now there, as his hand was pressing down a button.

 113. Volcanic Run

    Chapter 113

    Volcanic Run

    Erin and most of her group stared at Gotzmeyer in shock. They had made the mistake of underestimating him due to his pathetic appearance, completely neglecting the fact that they were dealing with a coldblooded killer. Whatever he had just done was certainly not for their best, which was evident from the grin on the imp¡¯s face.

    The only one who wasn¡¯t surprised at all by this turn of events was Zeldana, as she had been fully expecting Gotzmeyer to try and stab them in the back the moment he got his chance.

    ¡°You little bastard! And after we decided to show you mercy!?¡± Erin yelled angrily. ¡°What the hell did you just do!?¡±

    ¡°What do you think I did? I made sure that no one here is getting out alive! With the exception of me, of course,¡± Gotzmeyer replied smugly. ¡°Did you really think that I was just going to let you all go after humiliating me in such a manner? I¡¯ve always known that there was a chance that my secret would be discovered! That¡¯s why I built a backup plan to make sure that no one would live to tell it!¡±

    Before anyone could ask the imp to explain, the whole base began to tremble, as the sound of rumbling echoed everywhere. Erin¡¯s face turned pale upon realizing what was happening.

    ¡°You maniac¡­ You¡¯re actually going to bury this whole place in magma!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°You¡¯ll kill yourself as well!¡±

    ¡°Did you really think I would be so stupid as to make plans like this without considering my own escape?¡± Gotzmeyer asked with a smirk as he gathered dark red magical energy on his right hand for a spell. This opened a portal right underneath his chair that allowed him to fall through. ¡°So long, suckers!¡±

    Erin and Ryle rushed to the warlord¡¯s portal, but the entrance to it closed too fast. They were unable to follow after Gotzmeyer.

    ¡°Dammit! The little shit got away!¡± Ryle cursed as she hit the spot where the portal had just been. ¡°Now what do we do!?¡±

    ¡°Only two options. We either go to the bridge or the emergency escape at the back of the base,¡± Erin said as she thought about the map they had seen when they first infiltrated. ¡°Which one do you think is the better option?¡±

    ¡°The bridge is out! We saw Gotzmeyer¡¯s puppets destroy the controls to it!¡± Arkay replied. ¡°That leaves the emergency escape at the back! It should still be operable, as we only saw him use his puppets to guard it and not damage it!¡±

    ¡°The that¡¯s where we¡¯ll be going,¡± the redhead said, before remembering the last member of their group. ¡°Shit! I almost forgot about Durge! How do we get him out of here!? He might still be in his berserker state!¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that! I¡¯ve got just the right thing for him!¡± Lexton said as he pulled out a new vial of liquid. ¡°After what happened back at the Laughing Ogre¡¯s arena, I feared that he might go out of control for one reason or another! That¡¯s why I prepared this in advance!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a very powerful anesthetic that I made!¡± the kobold answered. ¡°I designed it to be able to knock out even a giant! I figured that anything less wouldn¡¯t do much on Durge when he¡¯s in that state!¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re surprisingly terrifying, you know?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Hey, I just aim to make things that are as effective as possible! Can you blame me!?¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Guys!?¡± Zeldana called out to the others, getting their attention. ¡°I get that we have a lot going on right now and that whatever Lex has made is certainly interesting, but can it wait until we have ESCAPE THE MILITARY BASE THAT¡¯S ABOUT TO BE BURIED IN MAGMA!?¡±

    The elf had been right to put the group¡¯s focus back on their current predicament, as the rumbling was getting louder and the shaking more violent. It was clear to anyone that they were quickly running out of time, before the inevitable end came.

    Realizing that they didn¡¯t have much time, the group immediately switched their focus on escaping. However, they first needed to find their missing comrade, who was still in the middle of a rage-infused rampage somewhere in the building and take him with them. Luckily he wasn¡¯t all that hard to find, as all they needed to do was follow the trail of destruction he had left behind. Not only that, but his roaring the sounds of him wrecking everything in his path were also very telling of where he was.

    It wasn¡¯t long until Erin and the others found Durge. Much like they had suspected, the orc was still in his berserker form, tearing down walls and breaking furniture as he roared in anger. It was a terrifying sight to behold.

    ¡°O-Okay, Lex, do your thing!¡± Erin said, scared of the raging beast that they were now faced with. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to show us your skills as an alchemist and put Durge to sleep! You said you could do that right!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Yes! Of course I can do it!¡± Lexton replied, trying to hide the obvious fear in his voice. ¡°Though¡­ It¡¯s actually going to be a bit¡­ difficult.¡±

    ¡°...Why?¡± the redhead asked, already dreading the answer she would get.

    ¡°You see, unlike most of my stuff that can just be thrown at the target, this has a different way of working,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°This one needs to go inside the body. Through the mouth.¡±

    For a moment, only the sounds of the rumbling and Durge¡¯s rampage could be heard, as everyone in the group stared at Lexton with wide eyes.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°Are you seriously telling us that we need to go up to THAT and somehow convince him to drink your goddamn juice bottle!? ARE YOU INSANE!?¡±

    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t actually need to convince him. You just need to get him to swallow it somehow¡­¡± the kobold said awkwardly.

    ¡°Oh! That just makes it so much better now doesn¡¯t it!?¡± the blonde continued ranting. ¡°Seriously, what the hell, Lex!? Did you ever take into consideration just how hard it would be to get Durge to drink that!? Why didn¡¯t you try making something that didn¡¯t need to go through the mouth!?¡±

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been as effective!¡± Lexton argued. ¡°I always aim to make my products as effective as possible, so that¡¯s what I did! Are you telling me that I should make subpar products!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rich coming from a freaking scammer!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°And no! I don¡¯t want you to make anything subpar! I want you to make things that are actually useful! Preferably so that they don¡¯t get us killed as well! Is that too hard for you!?¡±

    ¡°At least I¡¯ve got something that can be of use!¡± the kobold shot back angrily. ¡°What do you provide!? Oh, that¡¯s right! Absolutely nothing! Like usual!¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough out of both of you!¡± Erin shouted at her arguing companions, who immediately stopped yelling at each other. ¡°No matter how terrible it is, we are just going to have to work with the tools that we have! I¡¯m not leaving here without Durge and that vial is the only thing that is going to allow us to get him out of here! Now let¡¯s focus on using that and stop everything else, okay!?¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± both Ryle and Lexton replied, like a couple of kids who had just been scolded by their parents.

    ¡°Good. Now we¡¯re all on the right track,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Do you have the vial, Lex? I¡¯ll try to sneak closer and see if I can somehow get it in his mouth.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got it right- ¡­.here?¡± Lexton replied, noticing that the anesthetic he had prepared was nowhere to be seen. ¡°What the hell? Where is it!?¡±

    ¡°Did you freaking drop it!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°The only thing that can help us! And you drop it!?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t drop it! I just put it in my pocket, but it¡¯s no longer there!¡± the kobold said. ¡°There isn¡¯t even a hole there! I don¡¯t understand where it could have gone!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that we are going to have to go and comb through this whole place for it!¡± Ryle whined. ¡°It will take us forever and we don¡¯t have the time!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. The vial is in safe hands,¡± Zeldana suddenly said, getting the attention of the others. ¡°Arnie¡¯s got it.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ Arnie has it!?¡± Erin asked as she looked around for said cat boy, only to not see him anywhere. ¡°But where is he!?¡±

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°You can¡¯t see him, because he is invisible,¡± the elf explained. ¡°While you guys were too busy bickering, he turned himself invisible, snatched the vial from Lex¡¯s pocket and headed to where Durge is. My guess is that he¡¯s going to try and get him to swallow the sleeping potion.¡±

    Silence once again fell over the group as Zeldana had become the center of attention now, as everybody else was staring at her with wide eyes. Outside of the rumbling and the sounds of Durge¡¯s rampage, nothing else could be heard.

    ¡°...WHAT!?¡± Ryle screamed in shock and horror, breaking the silence. ¡°Why the hell didn¡¯t you say anything, you asshole!? We need to go and stop him, before-!¡±

    ¡°Before what!? He gets something done!?¡± Zeldana said in an angry and stern voice, shocking the others. ¡°Do I have to remind you people just how much of a failure this whole thing has been so far!? Not only did we get followed by two assassins, but we also failed in our objective, which was to kill Gotzmeyer! The way I see it, that boy has taken action in order to get something done right for once this whole damn day, so just let him do it!¡±

    ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°We can¡¯t just let him go there alone! We need to have a better plan in order to do this!¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that Durge¡¯s life isn¡¯t worth the risk? Or are you giving Arnie special treatment, even though he should be a member of this group?¡± the elf asked. ¡°We set out to challenge one of the three warlords of the Western Continent, fully knowing that it could very well get us killed. Did you ever see him hesitate? Or complain? Or change his mind? The way I see it, you¡¯re just mocking his resolve, so let him do as he wants. He can handle himself just fine.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Lexton all wanted to argue, but knew better. The fact was that Arkay had come along willingly, despite knowing the risks he would be taking. To treat him differently from anybody else in their group would not only be hypocritical, but also insulting to the cat boy. Whether they liked it or not, they would have to put their faith in him for now. It didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t worry, though.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too worried,¡± Zeldana said, noticing the inner plight of the others. ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on how he¡¯s handling himself and make sure he gets through this. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to let him die.¡±

    Meanwhile with Arkay, the cat boy was sneaking behind the still rampaging Durge. Using his invisibility and his sneaking skills that he had developed from his time as a thief, he was able to approach the rampaging orc without getting detected very easily. The only threat so far had been some of the stuff that Durge would occasionally throw around, ranging from furniture to pieces of concrete. Luckily, Arkay had been able to avoid such things, even if a few came very close to crushing him.

    The cat boy was able to make his way to a pillar that was very close to Durge. He could use this not just to hide himself further, but to also shield himself from whatever else the orc might throw at him. With his target so close, all Arkay needed to do was figure out how to get him to swallow the sleeping potion Lexton had made.

    Knowing that he didn¡¯t have much time until the base would be destroyed by magma, the cat boy decided on a simple and straightforward approach, which was to simply climb on Durge¡¯s back and pour the potion into his mouth. Steeling his resolve, he dashed towards his companion in the hopes of saving him.

    However, just as he was getting closer to the transformed orc, Durge suddenly turned around. Arkay immediately stopped in his tracks, hoping that his presence hadn¡¯t been made known by the orc. This seemed to be the case, as Durge simply looked around, almost as if he was searching for something. But just as the cat boy was about to let out a sigh of relief, the orc¡¯s eyes focused on him, burning with a primal fury that could terrify even a devil. Seeing that his presence had been discovered, Arkay lost control of his invisibility spell from fear. Now completely visible, all he could do was stare at the massive beast his friend had become as he waited for the inevitable death to come.

    Just as he was ready to give in to his fate, something flew at Durge, striking him specific parts of his body. Once the cat boy had been shaken out of his fear, he realized that they were long needles, like one would use for acupuncture. These sharp objects had struck the orc in various parts of his body, which included his neck, arms and legs, and were somehow able to bring the giant berserker down to his knees.

    ¡°NOW, ARNIE!¡± Zeldana yelled, breaking Arkay out of his shock. ¡°GIVE HIM THE DRUG!¡±

    Having finally snapped back to reality, the cat boy immediately went to action. In one swift move, he took off the cork on the vial and dumped the glass containers contents into Durge¡¯s mouth.

    At first, the orc seemed to just bark and growl in disgust over the strange liquid that was given to him, but he soon began to show other effects. His eyes went wide and started to swirl irrationally, like he was unable to focus on anything. This was followed by his body swaying from side to side, before he finally closed his eyes and fell on his face.

    Arkay had managed to get out of the falling orc¡¯s way, avoiding getting crushed underneath his weight. He then stood next to the unconscious warrior, whose body began to shrink back into its normal size. Once he had regained his regular look, the sound of snoring could be heard coming from him.

    ¡°It worked! He¡¯s asleep!¡± Arkay happily told his other friends, who all felt relief wash over them.

    ¡°Of course he is. What did you expect?¡± Lexton asked with a small smirk. ¡°After all, I¡¯m the one who made that drug.¡±

    ¡°You just had to, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ryle asked as she stared down at the kobold.

    ¡°I¡¯m just happy that we managed to get through this,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°For a moment, I was afraid that Durge would end up killing Arnie. Thank God Zeldana was able to intervene. Nice work with those needles, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Meh¡­ It¡¯s just a little handy trick I picked up back in my college days. You¡¯re still welcome, though,¡± the elf said nonchalantly. ¡°Although, we should probably be focusing on something a bit more important right now.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the redhead asked.

    As if to answer her question, a violent tremor hit the building, causing parts of the ceiling and walls to break off. And while they were inside, the group was able to see from one of the nearby windows how a long stream of magma suddenly shot upwards from nearby.

    ¡°...Never mind,¡± Erin said as her face turned pale upon realizing the danger they were still in. ¡°Ryle, do you think you can help me carry Durge out of here?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± the blonde replied.

    ¡°THEN LET¡¯S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!¡± the redhead yelled, as the group started to hurry in getting out of the base before it was completely destroyed.

    With the combined effort of both Erin and Ryle, they were somehow able to carry Durge¡¯s sleeping body with them. This wasn¡¯t an easy task, as he was much heavier than either of them and thus slowed them down considerably. Still, neither Erin or Ryle was willing to abandon one of their friends and were determined to struggle until the end.

    Despite being weighed down by an unconscious member of the team, the group was able to get to the emergency escape path located at the back of the base. At this point, the place was easily on its last legs, as the bursting magma had started to cover some of the buildings, which in turn caused fires that spread over wildly. If they wanted to get out alive, they would need to get the metal door before them open and fast.

    Skipping over two motionless armors used as Gozmeyer¡¯s puppets, Arkay ran to the control panel located next to the door, figuring that it would be used to open the door. Much to his horror, the panel had been smashed, making it unusable.

    ¡°The controls are destroyed!¡± the cat boy told his companions. ¡°I can¡¯t use my abilities to manipulate them!¡±

    ¡°Dammit! Guess we have no choice but to-!¡± Erin said as she tried to turn around, only to see that behind them was a sea of flames. ¡°Oh no¡­ We¡¯re trapped!¡±

    ¡°Shit! You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me!¡± Ryle cursed. ¡°Are you telling me I¡¯m going to lose my life here because of some rat-looking imp!? That¡¯s bullshit!¡±

    ¡°What the hell are we going to do!?¡± Lexton asked as he was beginning to panic. ¡°WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!?¡±

    As the others were starting to panic, Arkay was deep in thought. The controls for the door might have been destroyed, but the door itself was still fully functional. In a way, the controls were there just to help him or anybody else to use the machine they were connected to. If he used his technomancer abilities, he might be able to still open the door.

    Knowing that this was their only way out, Arkay decided to try and open the door even without the control panel. He knew that he would need to pour out far more magical energy than normal in order to accomplish this, but he didn¡¯t care. There were no other options for them.

    Placing his hands close to where the broken control panel was, the cat boy began to pour his magical energy into it, activating his technomancer ability. Much like he had predicted, using his abilities to control the door without the control panel was proving to be much more difficult and required a lot more energy out of him. But the more magic he used, the deeper his connection became. He could feel all the individual parts used to move the door and saw how they were all connected to build the mechanism itself. Eventually, he was able to find the place that he needed to open the door and began to focus on it.

    By now, the others had realized that their young companion was doing something. Just as Erin was about to ask, Arkay managed to find the place he needed and the door began to open.

    ¡°Great work, Arnie!¡± the redhead said excitedly, as she saw their escape route was no longer blocked. ¡°But how did you do that? I thought the controls were-¡±

    Erin was cut off, as Arkay suddenly fell to his knees. He was breathing heavily and there was sweat running down his face. The others immediately rushed to his side, worried that something was wrong with him.

    ¡°Arnie, are you okay!?¡± Erin asked in a worried tone as she and Ryle rushed over to the cat boy while still dragging Durge along. ¡°Are you hurt or something!?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine¡­ Just¡­ a bit exhausted,¡± Arkay replied as he took deep breaths. ¡°Since the controls were gone, it took a bit more out of me to manipulate the door. I should be fine after some rest.¡±

    The cat boy tried to get back up, but was suddenly picked up by Zeldana, who carried him in her arms. Arkay¡¯s face turned deep red from this, which happened with Ryle as well but for a different reason.

    ¡°You can rest easy now. I¡¯ll carry you to safety,¡± Zeldana said with a smile. ¡°Besides, I think it¡¯s only fair to reward the one who saved all of our lives.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Sure,¡± Arkay said awkwardly. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    The elf soon ran through the now open door while carrying the cat boy with her, leaving the others behind. Erin gave Ryle an awkward glance, as she knew the blonde would be extremely angry.

    ¡°Oh, this is some bullshit!¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°You mean to tell me that I get to carry Durge of all people, while she gets to have the best part all for herself!? What the hell kind of unfair crap is this!?¡±

    ¡°Let it go for now. It¡¯s not such a big deal,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get your chance sooner or later.¡±

    ¡°Hey, do you guys know what else is unfair!?¡± Lexton suddenly called out to the two of them. ¡°YOU WASTING TIME WITH THIS POINTLESS WHINING! You do realize that Durge¡¯s life is in YOUR hands!? Mind dragging the poor guy out of the LITERAL FIRE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!?¡±

    Realizing that they were still in danger, Erin and Ryle followed after the kobold in a hurry, dragging Durge along with them. They were able to safely escape the destruction of the military base, as the place burned to the ground.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, at a location near the base but far enough to avoid the destruction going there, a hole opened up in the wall of one of the caves. Gotzmeyer climbed out of that hole, as this was the place his secret escape passage had led to. The looked at his burning base with a slight frown, as he watched everything he had built for himself his entire life go up in flames.

    However, while he hated to see everything he owned get destroyed, he was confident that he could still build it all back for himself. After all, Gotzmeyer had built connections and had some very useful abilities. No matter what, he knew that there was a way for him to rise back to the top. All he needed was time to build himself back up.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the little turd fly himself,¡± a voice familiar to Gotzmeyer called out to him from behind. ¡°What happened to the unbeatable Gotzmeyer? The mighty warlord who has never bled in any battle? I¡¯d cry, if this wasn¡¯t so funny.¡±

    The imp turned around and his eyes went wide from fear. Before him stood a massive female demon with large black wings on her back. She had a long blue hair in a ponytail. She was clad in red robes that were covered with pitch black armor on her upper body and shoulders and she was also wearing large armored shoes. A wide toothy grin was spread across her face as her dark eyes stared down at Gotzmeyer in amusement.

    This was Rayleen, one of the three warlords of the Western Continent under the direct service of Overlord Golorath.

    ¡°R-Rayleen!? What are you doing here!?¡± Gotzmeyer squeaked out of shock. ¡°When did you even get here!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been here long enough to know what happened here,¡± the warlord answered. ¡°You see, I had a couple of assassins sent to look after a group of rebels that have been causing a bit of a stir lately. They stopped reporting not too long ago. I can only guess that they ended up dead.¡±

    ¡°...In that case, it looks like we have the same enemy!¡± the imp said excitedly. ¡°If we join forces, I¡¯m sure we can-!¡±

    ¡°What good would that do? You¡¯re nothing more than a joke, propped up by thin lies that were bound to be uncovered. And after this? I honestly doubt you¡¯ll ever be worth a damn ever again,¡± Rayleen said. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve misunderstood me completely. I only sent the assassins to test those guys. I am far more interested in them alive.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? You¡¯re clearly defying the orders from Lord Golorath!¡± Gotzmeyer yelled as he unfolded his tiny wings and began to fly. ¡°I¡¯m telling him about your betrayal, you-!¡±

    The imp¡¯s threats were cut off, as he was seized by the throat by Rayleen, who had a tight grip on him. All Gotzmeyer could do was struggle helplessly in vain.

    ¡°Now, we can¡¯t have you do that, can we? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to shut you up for good,¡± the warlord explained with a grin on her face. ¡°However, I will let you go down with your base. After all, a captain should go down with his ship.¡±

    Rayleen grabbed Gotzmeyer¡¯s wings and swiftly ripped them off, causing the imp to scream in pain. She didn¡¯t let him suffer in agony for too long, as she then simply dropped him down to the magma swirling below them.

    With her business at the now former warlord¡¯s base done, Rayleen landed back on the ground and began to head back the way she had come. She had much work to do and plans to set in motion. Plans that involved Erin and her friends.

 114. Groggy and Cooked

    Chapter 114

    Groggy and Cooked

    While Erin and her companions had been able to escape certain death, it didn¡¯t work out as well as they had imagined. Due to the magma burning the entire military base until there was nothing left, it had caused a lot of smoke and heat to rise up. Naturally, it had gone through the emergency escape route the group of assassins had used to save their lives, making their escape rather uncomfortable. The cave had been heated up like a sauna, as smoke blurred your vision and made breathing difficult. Had the tunnel been longer than it was, the whole group would have probably suffocated. Luckily, they were able to make their way outside before their lives were in danger.

    Right now, everyone in the group was coughing up the smoke they had breathed in while also trying to catch their breaths. To say the least, their escape had been quite draining.

    ¡°God¡­ freaking¡­ DAMMIT!¡± Ryle cursed as she was breathing heavily. ¡°That was like doing a marathon in a goddamn sauna! Who the hell builds a base in the middle of a lake of lava!? A complete ass!¡±

    ¡°My guess is that Gotzmeyer had made plans for his real identity being discovered,¡± Erin said, also breathing heavily. ¡°He most likely wanted to make sure that no one who knew his secret would survive.¡±

    ¡°Whatever the freaking case, I hope that bastard burned along with his damn base!¡± the blonde cursed. ¡°Right now, all I want is to lay down and never move again!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you. This was not a pleasant experience,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Not only did we have to run through smoke and heat, but we also had to drag this big guy along! Hope he appreciates it¡­¡±

    ¡°Maybe it wasn¡¯t Durge who made it difficult for you?¡± Lexton said with a snicker. ¡°Perhaps it is you two who are carrying too much weight on yourselves?¡±

    Hearing the kobold¡¯s little joke, Erin and Ryle shared unhappy looks with each other.

    ¡°...Think Lex would like to help us out with Durge?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Yes. I actually do,¡± Erin replied.

    Before Lexton could ask what the two women were talking about, they unceremoniously dumped the sleeping orc on him. The kobold let out a scream, as he was buried underneath the massive body.

    ¡°...Fair enough. I deserved that,¡± Lexton managed as he crawled out from underneath the still sleeping Durge.

    ¡°Serves you right, you little jerk,¡± Ryle said as she glared at the kobold, before turning her attention to Erin. ¡°So what do we do next? Should we get back to Grand Mine Central or do we simply go to the next town?¡±

    ¡°I honestly want to get back to Grand Mine,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°We left a lot of our stuff over there, so I really want to go and get it all back. The problem is that it might be a bit difficult, considering how we are not exactly close to the place anymore.¡±

    ¡°Well, we better get back! All of my alchemy and enchantment equipment is still there!¡± Lexton said. ¡°Considering all the trouble we had to go through to get it, I am not about to leave it all behind a second time!¡±

    ¡°I know! I¡¯m sure we are all very well aware of how important your equipment is!¡± Erin quickly said, hoping to calm down the kobold. ¡°It¡¯s just going to be a bit difficult to get back, okay? Not only are we far away from the city, but we¡¯re also back on the surface. You can probably see how that will create issues, right?¡±

    ¡°Not really. As long as we get to one of the towns or other cities that are connected to Grand Mine Central, we can get there easily,¡± Lexton said. ¡°So as long as we have a map, we can get there easily.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? That¡¯s great!¡± the redhead said happily as she took out their map. She had taken it with them just in case something like this happened. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see¡­ Judging by our surroundings, I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re about here, so the closest town is¡­ Oh crap¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°It seems like the closest place is miles away from us,¡± Erin said with a tired sigh. ¡°We¡¯re going to be walking for hours¡­¡±

    ¡°Screw that!¡± the blonde yelled. ¡°After all hell we just went through!? No way I¡¯m going on a freaking death march! Not until I¡¯ve had some time to rest at the very least!¡±

    ¡°I agree. I would like to rest up a bit myself as well,¡± Zeldana said with a smile. ¡°I could use a little breather after all that running. Not to mention, I¡¯m quite comfortable right now anyways.¡±

    The elf¡¯s comment greatly angered Ryle, but it wasn¡¯t due to the fact that she agreed with the blonde. Instead, Ryle had another reason to get angry. It was that Zeldana was still holding Arkay, which the blonde didn¡¯t like at all.

    ¡°Would you let go of him already!? You don¡¯t need to carry him any longer!¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°At the very least, switch with me!¡±

    ¡°Huh? But I don¡¯t want to switch,¡± Zeldana said, clearly teasing the blonde. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t mind at all¡­¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ A-Actually, I do,¡± Arkay said with an embarrassed blush. ¡°Could you let me go already?¡±

    ¡°See!? SEE!? He does mind!¡± Ryle yelled. ¡°Switch with me already!¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I want to-¡± the cat boy tried to say but was ignored by the two arguing women.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t sound to me like he wanted to be carried by you,¡± Zeldana said with a grin, further teasing Ryle. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re not so good at this? Maybe you should leave it to me, after all?¡±

    ¡°Leave this to you, my ass! I¡¯m way better at this than you!¡± the blonde said as she snatched Arkay out of the elf¡¯s arms and held him proudly. ¡°See!? Just as good as you, if not way better! Don¡¯t you agree, Arnie!?¡±

    ¡°...Okay, can you seriously let me go already?¡± Arkay said, no longer feeling embarrassed but slightly annoyed. ¡°I would like to walk on my own two feet now.¡±

    ¡°...Just a little bit more, please?¡± Ryle pleaded. ¡°Give me just a couple of minutes, okay?¡±

    ¡°Let me down. NOW,¡± the cat boy said, leaving no room for argument.

    Seeing as she had no choice, the blonde reluctantly put Arkay down on the ground and let go of him. Once freed, the cat boy gave a simple thanks before walking away, leaving Ryle to sigh in depressed tone.

    ¡°So¡­ Are you okay?¡± Erin asked a bit awkwardly, knowing just how her blonde friend could get in these matters. ¡°You seem a bit¡­ sad, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ I just wish I could have enjoyed myself at least a few more seconds,¡± Ryle said in a saddened tone. ¡°But if nothing else, at least I got a feel for one of my fantasies becoming real.¡±

    ¡°...Do I even want to know what that is? Actually, don¡¯t tell me any of your fantasies. I don¡¯t need to know,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Anyways, we¡¯re going to rest for a moment. We are all obviously tired, and I would like it if we didn¡¯t have to drag Durge around anymore. Speaking of which, how long is he going to be out?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of hard to tell,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I designed the potion knowing that his berserker stage would probably burn through a fair amount of it, so I needed to make it extra strong. In all honesty, the length of time he¡¯ll be asleep is quite the wide range.¡±

    ¡°...Just how wide of a range are we talking about here exactly?¡± Erin asked, already dreading the answer she would get.

    ¡°It could take from several hours to a few days. It¡¯s kind of hard to tell,¡± the kobold answered with a shrug. ¡°The thing is that I made the whole sleeping drug very recently and I didn¡¯t really get a chance to properly test it out, so we¡¯re kind of going on untraveled territory here.¡±

    ¡°...WHAT!?¡± the redhead screamed angrily. ¡°Are you telling me that the thing you specifically designed to help Durge might actually end up killing him!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?¡±

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°Hey, he isn¡¯t dead, he¡¯s just asleep!¡± Lexton said in his defense. ¡°Besides, what would you have liked me to do!? Create a poison that would have killed him instead!?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, you alchemist ass! But do you really think a coma is that much of a better fate!?¡± Erin ranted. ¡°Not only are we now forced to drag him everywhere, but there¡¯s no telling if he might ever even wake up! What if he¡¯s stuck like that forever!?¡±

    ¡°Hang on a second! I think I can help with this!¡± Zeldana suddenly declared, as she walked up to the still sleeping orc. ¡°I should have just the right trick to waking him up in no time at all!¡±

    ¡°Really!? Thank goodness!¡± the redhead said, feeling relieved that her friend might be saved. ¡°Is it some sort of a healing spell or-?¡±

    Instead of using magic of any kind, the elf simply turned Durge so that he was laying on his back before proceeding to kick him between the legs. However, while the expression on his face did turn into one of discomfort from the obvious pain, he didn¡¯t wake up at all. The orc simply kept on slumbering.

    ¡°...Well, I¡¯m out of ideas. That usually does the trick when I want to wake up someone, especially id they¡¯re a guy,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°I do have to admit that the stuff that was used to put him under is pretty damn strong. I gotta get me some of that.¡±

    ¡°Are you freaking serious!? THAT was your idea!? To kick him in the nuts!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you think of anything better at all!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a pretty effective technique I just used! Besides, ask anyone who is a male and they¡¯ll tell you that this is easily the most painful thing that can happen to them,¡± the elf explained before turning to look at Lexton and Arkay. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, guys?¡±

    ¡°...Please leave us out of this,¡± Lexton said as he and Arkay simply looked away awkwardly.

    ¡°See? That reaction tells me that I¡¯m right!¡± Zeldana said to Erin. ¡°But if you insist I tryo something different, I guess I could try using a hammer or-¡±

    ¡°No! NO! We don¡¯t need to go that far!¡± the redhead quickly said as she rubbed her temples from the headache she was getting. ¡°The last thing I want is mutilate Durge beyond repair¡­¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± the elf said with a shrug. She was about to walk away, when she remembered something important. ¡°Oh! I need to have a little talk with you later. So when you feel like you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll be a bit further away from here. Also, this will be one of those talks that are just between you and me, so don¡¯t bring anybody else along, alright?¡±

    ¡°...I got it. I¡¯ll see you later,¡± Erin said, knowing just what Zeldana wanted to talk about.

    With their talk having been agreed on, the elf walked away from the rest of the group. Not far enough to be completely separated, but far enough to have some privacy.

    Ryle, having heard Zeldana¡¯s request, couldn¡¯t help but feel curious about it. After all, Erin was her best friend and she didn¡¯t want her to get into any trouble, which was something that the elf was bound to bring no matter where she was.

    ¡°Hey, Erin, what was that about?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Do you need me to go and rough her up for you? Because I¡¯ll gladly do it.¡±

    ¡°What-? Oh, there¡¯s nothing wrong! Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± the redhead quickly explained. ¡°There are just some things that I need to go over with her in regards to our future travels. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°...If you say so,¡± Ryle said, although she didn¡¯t fully believe her friend¡¯s explanation. She could tell that Erin was making excuses for some reason.

    ¡°Anyways, is everyone here alright?¡± the redhead asked, looking over her friends. ¡°I just want to quickly make sure that no one is hurt or anything like that.¡±

    ¡°Other than being depleted of most of my weaponry, I¡¯m doing okay,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°I was able to avoid any serious damage through the whole battle, so I¡¯m not in the need of any medical assistance.¡±

    ¡°Arnie and I are fine as well,¡± Ryle said. ¡°We got a bit roughed up by the two assassins that came after us, but we were able to fix ourselves with Lex¡¯s potions.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± Erin said with a smile, as she began to walk to where Zeldana had gone to. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to see what Zeldana wants to talk about, so can you guys keep an eye on Durge during that? He might be asleep, but we should make sure that whatever that sleeping drug had in it doesn¡¯t cause any other issues.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Since when did I make faulty products!?¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°Besides, this one was a rush job that I needed to get done before we went after Gotzmeyer, so I¡¯d say I did a pretty good job!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Yeah. We get it. You¡¯re really skilled and everything. We¡¯ve heard it more than enough times already,¡± Ryle said dismissively as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Despite that, you don¡¯t need to worry about Durge, Erin. We¡¯ll keep an eye on Durge while you¡¯re away.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± the redhead said with a smile as she walked away from the rest of the group.

    Once the redhead was gone, Ryle turned her attention to Arkay.

    ¡°Hey, Arnie. Could you do a little job for me?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that?¡± the cat boy asked in return.

    ¡°I need you to do a little spying for me.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Erin was looking for Zeldana, who had walked away into an area with numerous large rocks in it. The redhead had expected to find the elf quickly, but this wasn¡¯t the case at all. Instead of waiting for Erin, Zeldana had apparently decided to go into hiding, most likely for the sake of a prank or something.

    ¡°Zel, where are you?¡± Erin asked with a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like playing these games with you right now, okay?¡±

    The redhead was about to call for Zeldana again, only for the sharp blade of a scalpel suddenly touch her neck. The medical tool was close enough that if the person holding it wanted to, they could easily slash Erin¡¯s neck open in one swift move. However, the blade simply touched the skin of her neck, never drawing even a drop of blood.

    ¡°Unlike you, I like playing games. It¡¯s that entertainment reason that I decided to join your little group in the first place,¡± Zeldana¡¯s voice whispered into Erin¡¯s ear from behind her with not even a hint of her usual playfulness. ¡°The thing is that I really dislike it when someone tries to ruin that entertainment for me, which is something that you seem to be doing.¡±

    After giving out her threat, the elf removed the scalpel from Erin¡¯s neck, allowing her to go free. Despite no longer being in danger, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but tremble and sweat nervously, as she knew that she was dealing with someone who could easily kill her any moment she wanted and seemed to be very upset with her.

    ¡°You said you wanted to talk with me, so here I am,¡± the redhead said. ¡°What is it that you wanted to talk about? I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s about whatever it is that has you upset.¡±

    ¡°What a magnificent guess! You must be psychic or something!¡± Zeldana said in an overly sarcastic tone. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re already so close to the correct answer, we might as well see if you can tell what is it that has gotten me so pissed off! Care to take a guess and really win the quiz of today?¡±

    ¡°...Is it about how I handled Gotzmeyer?¡± Erin asked. Despite wanting to talk back to the elf due to her attitude, the redhead feared that it wasn¡¯t a good idea as she had already been threatened with a scalpel just seconds ago.

    ¡°Oh! Ladies and gentlemen! Our contestant is on a roll here! She¡¯s making all the correct and obvious guesses one after another!¡± Zeldana said, keeping up her sarcastic attitude. ¡°Care to make a guess as to why that was such a big screw up on your part? Let¡¯s see just how much of a psychic you truly are¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Erin said. ¡°I guess I got fooled into his trap, but-¡±

    The redhead was cut off, as she felt something fly past her face and hit the boulder behind her. She slowly looked behind her and saw a scalpel now sticking out of the stone.

    ¡°Okay, you are on the right track, but I am not in the mood for your excuses right now, so shut the hell up for now,¡± Zeldana said as she gave Erin a cold glare. ¡°You¡¯re going to listen to me and keep your maw closed, unless you want me to put the next one through your skull. Understood?¡±

    The redhead simply nodded nervously in response, afraid of further upsetting the elf.

    ¡°You¡¯re quick on the uptake, that¡¯s good. I¡¯d hate having to explain to your buddies as to why you suddenly ended up dead. I don¡¯t see any wild animals nearby and digging a grave for you would just be a pain in the ass,¡± Zeldana said before taking a deep breath. ¡°Now, as you said, the reason why I¡¯m pissed off with you is related to Gotzmeyer, but it¡¯s not exactly about how you fell for his trap. The reason why I am angry is because of how badly you handled the whole thing. Can you guess what was your big mistake?¡±

    ¡°Was it¡­ Was it not killing him right away?¡± Erin asked. ¡°That way he wouldn¡¯t have been able to launch the self-destruction of his base.¡±

    ¡°Ughhh¡­ So close, yet so damn far. Do you have literal turds for brains or something?¡± the elf said with a groan. ¡°While I suppose that would have prevented you from doing the biggest mistake possible, that is NOT what I was referring to. Getting information out of him was a good idea, but what you did afterwards wasn¡¯t. Or rather, what you didn¡¯t do¡­¡±

    ¡°What I didn¡¯t-?¡± the redhead began to ask, only for her eye to go wide upon realizing what Zeldana was referring to. ¡°You¡¯re mad at me because I let Gotzmeyer live!?¡±

    ¡°DING DING DING! She finally gets the correct answer, ladies and gentlemen!¡± Zeldana yelled in a mocking tone. ¡°Good to see that you¡¯re not a complete moron!¡±

    ¡°L-Look, I get that my decision didn¡¯t work out as well as I would have hoped, but was it really that bad!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I mean, we had already killed so many people and his reputation was completely ruined! Would it have really been necessary to kill him!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a completely worthless argument! Let me think about it for a moment!¡± the elf argued as she took a thinking position. ¡°Hmmm¡­ YES! It would have been necessary to kill him! Did you somehow forget that he was a dangerous warlord, responsible for countless deaths, including SLAUGHTERING HIS OWN SOLDIERS!? I¡¯m more shocked that you wanted to let a guy like him live for some goddamn reason!¡±

    ¡°I-I get that he wasn¡¯t a good person by any means, but he had lost pretty much everything! There was no way he was going to be able to continue as a warlord after what happened!¡± the redhead tried to defend herself. ¡°He would have been forced to live on the run for the rest of his life and hide in some hole! Wasn¡¯t that more than enough!?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re more than willing to slaughter soldiers just following their orders, but the big guys on top are somehow so sacred that they must not be harmed?¡± Zeldana asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°What kind of insane logic is that supposed to be? Also, I wonder what the families of Gotzmeyer¡¯s victims would have thought about you letting that murderer live! Did that ever occur to you!?¡±

    Erin wanted to continue defending herself, but realized that the elf was completely correct. How was it okay for her to kill guards and soldiers, yet not do the same to the ones in charge? Not only that, but how was letting Gotzmeyer live an actual punishment for the horrible things he had done? Besides, by just letting him go, she pretty much allowed him to go commit further misdeeds.

    In all honesty, the redhead had spat in the faces of Gotzmeyer¡¯s victims.

    ¡°Judging by your silence I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re finally getting what I¡¯m saying to you, right?¡± Zeldana said. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be an assassin tasked with the duty of slaying the monsters who have turned this world into an oppressive hell. You don¡¯t have the luxury of showing them sympathy, especially those in power.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I understand. It won¡¯t happen again,¡± Erin said as she stared down in shame. ¡°But there¡¯s something that I don¡¯t understand. Why are you so upset about this? I thought you only joined us for your own entertainment.¡±

    ¡°That is exactly the reason why I am upset with you. You are ruining my amusement,¡± the elf answered. ¡°Have you ever followed a story, fully waiting for some big reveal or an epic final confrontation, only to be met with utter disappointment? That¡¯s what you essentially did. Your journey is basically my personal soap opera that I¡¯m following and you just ruined one of the biggest confrontations in the story. Don¡¯t you even dare think about doing it again.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I won¡¯t-¡±

    The redhead was suddenly cut off, as Zeldana grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her closer to glare at her right into her eyes. The intense stare the elf was giving actually scared Erin.

    ¡°Trust you? You¡¯re actually telling me to trust you after how badly you just screwed up? You¡¯ve got some nerve, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Do you honestly think that I¡¯m going to simply trust you to do what needs to be done in the future, after you couldn¡¯t do it with Gotzmeyer? How can I expect you to not screw things up, when we go against someone else? Especially when some of those people are your former buddies!¡±

    Erin felt a shock run through her body upon being reminded of that one fact. She may have been giving brave talks and promises, but the fact of the matter remained that she was still going to have to face her old friends soon. If she wasn¡¯t able to bring herself to kill a simple warlord, could she really kill one of her five friends? The redhead thought that she had the resolve to do so, yet her recent mistake was making her doubt herself.

    Tears ran down her cheek as Zeldana let go of her. Erin fell to her knees, feeling ashamed over her own failures and fear over what might come in the future.

    ¡°I see that you finally get it. At least we¡¯re making some progress,¡± the elf said said. ¡°You better fix your resolve or else this won¡¯t end well for you. Either one of your enemies will see to it or I will, because I don¡¯t like to repeat lessons I¡¯ve given to people. Got it?¡±

    All Erin could do was nod weakly in response. This was still a response that seemed to satisfy Zeldana, as her anger seemed to go down.

    However, neither Erin or Zeldana realized that someone else had been listening to their conversation, as Arkay stood behind a nearby boulder with his body cloaked in invisibility and his eyes wide.

 115. Looking Inwards

    Chapter 115

    Looking Inwards

    Once Erin and Zeldana were done with their talk, their group went on to make their way towards the closest town that would allow them way back to Grand Mine Central. As Durge was still asleep, Erin and Ryle were forced to still carry him. This made their journey even harder and slower, but they couldn¡¯t do anything than just bear with it.

    The trip was long and tough, but the group was able to get to the town, Ridge Creek Valley, in the end. By that time, it was already night and most of the town was no longer active. Despite this, they were still able to use the local transportation company to make the trip to Grand Mine Central, which fortunately for most of them didn¡¯t involve a large worm this time. Instead, they got to travel with what was essentially an underground train that took them to their destination. Even though the train itself was covered in rust, made strange noises and looked like it had been hastily put together from scrap metal found in a junkyard, Erin, Ryle and Arkay were more than happy to use it when compared to their previous transport.

    Once they had gotten to Grand Mine Central, the group was just so exhausted that all they wanted to do was get to their hotel room and sleep. So as soon as they got to their room, Erin and Ryle dumped Durge¡¯s still unconscious body on one of the beds before heading to their own resting spots.

    ¡°Thank God¡­ It¡¯s finally OVER!¡± Ryle said in a tired voice. ¡°Hours of walking through the damn wasteland while carrying Durge¡¯s heavy ass is something I¡¯ll pray I never have to go through again! What the hell does he eat to make himself this damn heavy!? Rocks!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s just packed full of proteins. I mean, did you notice the size of his muscles?¡± Erin asked in an equally tired voice. ¡°I once heard that muscle weighs more than fat. Don¡¯t know if that¡¯s true, but judging by how he is I would say that he is living proof of that.¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case is, I¡¯m not carrying his ass ever again! Next time I¡¯ll leave him behind!¡± the blonde said angrily. ¡°Anyways, I need some recharging of my batteries and fast. Where¡¯s Arnie? I think he could help with-¡±

    Ryle looked around for the cat boy and soon found him laying in one of the beds with Zeldana next to him. The elf had a wicked grin on her face as she snickered, delighted in further upsetting the blonde.

    ¡°Oh, did you forget? We decided on who we would be bunking up with when we got to this city!¡± Zeldana said, not even trying to hide her amusement. ¡°I got to share the bed with Arnie, while you got another partner! It¡¯s only fair that we follow on what we agreed upon.¡±

    ¡°Goddammit! I can¡¯t even get one good thing for the day!¡± Ryle cursed before her eyes went wide upon remembering who her bunk mate was. ¡°Oh son of a¡­ Of all people it just had to be HIM, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not the only one who is not enjoying this arrangement!¡± Lexton called out from the bed he was laying on. ¡°I mean, think about what I have to go through! I have to deal with your terrible sleeping posture and your horribly loud snoring! It¡¯s like trying to sleep next to a wild boar or something!¡±

    ¡°I DON¡¯T SNORE! RIGHT, GUYS!?¡± the blonde yelled, looking around at everybody else, hoping to get some form of support, only for them to look away. ¡°...Guys? I don¡¯t snore, do I?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ If that¡¯s what you want to believe, I guess you can tell that to yourself,¡± Erin said a bit awkwardly.

    ¡°BITE ME!¡± Ryle shouted with an embarrassed blush on her face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d stab me in the back like that!¡±

    ¡°Do you seriously think you¡¯re the only one having a tough time in regards to getting some sleep!? How about you look at my situation!?¡± Erin argued. ¡°I¡¯m sharing the bed with Durge of all people, which basically means I don¡¯t get a bed at all! Even if we were to share it, I fear what might happen to me in the case he rolls over me while asleep! I¡¯m sure I would end up dead!¡±

    ¡°Guys, can you stop arguing, so we can actually sleep at last?¡± Arkay pleaded, but there were hints of annoyance in his voice. ¡°We¡¯ve all had a long day and could use some rest at last!¡±

    Hearing the youngest member of their group basically scold the rest of them like a bunch of badly behaving children put a stop to the antics of the others. Instead of being angry and upset with one another, they now felt guilt and shame.

    ¡°Sorry, Arnie. We¡¯ll be quiet from now on,¡± Erin apologized, before looking at the others. ¡°Right, you guys?¡±

    ¡°Sure. No use wasting time and energy arguing when you¡¯re already tired anyways,¡± Ryle said in agreement as she walked up to the bed she was sharing with Lexton. ¡°Lex, move over and give me some room, will ya?¡±

    ¡°I take less than half of the space here. Why the hell do I need to make room for you?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Never mind that! Just let me have enough space to sleep, so we can put an end to this day finally,¡± the blonde said as she laid down on the bed. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m sure even you want to simply quiet things down and get some rest.¡±

    ¡°...As much as it surprises me, I agree with you,¡± Lexton said.

    With everybody else in her group going to sleep, Erin was the only one left awake. However, since Durge was so massive, she wouldn¡¯t be able to fit in the same bed as him, forcing her to either take the couch or the floor. Even though neither of her options were exactly ideal, the redhead was simply happy that no further fighting was going on and that they were all given a moment to relax and take it easy.

    Erin went on to grab a spare blanket and pillow from a closet before moving towards the couch. As she was setting up her temporary sleeping spot, she heard something stir behind her. Turning around, she saw Durge finally waking up.

    ¡°Durge? Are you alright?¡± the redhead softly called out to the orc. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Erin? Is that you?¡± Durge asked as his eyes were adjusting to the darkness and he was still waking up from his long slumber. ¡°What happened with Gotzmeyer? And where are we?¡±

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    ¡°Hey, take it easy. You¡¯ve been through a lot,¡± Erin said, fearing that her friend was going to start panicking upon remembering where he had been last time he was still conscious. ¡°We¡¯re back in our hotel room in Grand Mine Central. You¡¯ve been asleep through our whole trip back.¡±

    ¡°Back at home base? I guess you guys carried me here. Thanks for that and sorry for the trouble,¡± the orc said as he sat up on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m guessing since we¡¯re staying here for the night, things worked out with Gotzmeyer. One warlord down and two to go, right?¡±

    ¡°Not¡­ exactly,¡± the redhead said as she looked away in shame. ¡°We did manage to beat him, but he ultimately escaped. We have no idea where he went and couldn¡¯t follow.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ If Gotzmeyer is still running around, doesn¡¯t that mean we are in big trouble right now?¡± Durge asked. ¡°He could be heading towards the closest military base he¡¯s aware of! If we stay here for too long, we could have a bunch of soldiers storming the city in order to hunt us down! Do we really have the luxury of resting easily while that might be happening!?¡±

    ¡°I get your point, but I¡¯m not so sure if that¡¯s the case,¡± Erin said. ¡°After all, he didn¡¯t get to leave unscathed¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the orc asked.

    The redhead told her companion about Gotzmeyer¡¯s secret and how he had been keeping it hidden. She even told him how she initially decided to let the warlord go, assuming that he was no longer a threat to them, and how that led to their fiery escape from the underground base.

    Once she was done telling her story, Erin went silent, waiting for Durge¡¯s reaction to her story. She prayed that he wouldn¡¯t be too upset with her, the same way Zeldana had been. So far, it seemed like he was calm, which was a good sign, but she knew that feelings could change very quickly and very drastically.

    ¡°So what you¡¯re telling me is that you saw it unnecessary for us to kill him, seeing as how his reputation had already been ruined?¡± the orc asked after thinking over what he had just learned. ¡°And because of that, he was able to catch you off-guard and almost kill us all by destroying the entire base itself?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much, yeah,¡± the redhead replied a bit awkwardly. ¡°Are you¡­ disappointed with how I handled it?¡±

    ¡°...To be honest, I would be lying if I said that I wasn¡¯t,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°While I can see your point of view, we should always remember not just what we are fighting for but who we are fighting against. Even if we get our enemies out of power, they can always come back one way or another. These people didn¡¯t rise to power on their own and I¡¯m sure they not only have those truly loyal to them, but they can get more of them. Simply letting them get away will only give them a chance to get in power again later.¡±

    Erin looked down in shame. While she had been selfishly thinking about how she herself felt about it, she had completely ignored the affect her actions could have on those around her. She had simply failed on a large scale.

    ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t sympathize with you,¡± the orc suddenly said, surprising Erin. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through numerous battlefields and have seen far too much bloodshed than I could ever care. This might seem odd to you, seeing as how I¡¯m supposed to be a warrior, but I honestly would prefer it if I didn¡¯t have to get into another fight for the rest of my life.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I see. Thank you,¡± the redhead said, feeling a bit of relief over Durge¡¯s comforting words. ¡°Still that doesn¡¯t really excuse my failure, does it?¡±

    ¡°On the larger scale? Not really. But we still have to remember that we are only people in the end and I doubt you have anywhere near the same amount of experience as I do. The way I see it, you¡¯ve done fairly well, except for one big mistake at the end,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Besides, based on what you told me, I doubt Gotzmeyer is going to be much of a bother for us in the future. I¡¯d say that this battle ended in our victory.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ how do I make amends for my mistake?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I can¡¯t just wave this off, can I?¡±

    ¡°No. But do you know what you do with mistakes? You learn from them,¡± Durge answered. ¡°No one is perfect and we are all destined to screw up, but that¡¯s how we learn to not do said mistakes again. So the way I see it, you just need to learn now from what you did today.¡±

    The redhead looked down in thought. What the orc had just said to her was completely sensible. She knew that she had screwed up, but what good would it do if she were to constantly sulk about it? What was important was that all of them were alive and safe, and that they had defeated their opponent. While Gotzmeyer was possibly still alive, he most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to come after them again. All in all, they had won and should focus on what to do in the future.

    ¡°...Thanks, Durge,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°That really made me feel better. It¡¯s good that you were able to put things into perspective for me.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± the orc said with a smile as he got up from the bed. ¡°You can have the bed all to yourself. I won¡¯t be using it.¡±

    ¡°Huh? But I thought we agreed that I¡¯d be sleeping on the couch,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t think you can fit on the couch.¡±

    ¡°Who said anything about sleeping on the couch? I¡¯m just going to keep an eye on things while the rest of you sleep,¡± Durge said. ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do after you guys saved my life. Not to mention, I¡¯ve been asleep for so long that I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep even if I tried.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ If you say so and are okay with it,¡± Erin said with a smile as she walked up to the bed. ¡°I could use a night on a decent bed for once.¡±

    ¡°I thought you could,¡± the orc said with a chuckle. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m going to take a walk outside and see how things are going on over there. Considering how a nearby military base, a warlord¡¯s at that, I can¡¯t imagine things to be simply calm out there.¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± the redhead said as she laid on the bed. ¡°If you find anything interesting, tell us about it next morning. It could give us ideas for our next move.¡±

    Durge gave nod in response as he went to put on some new clothes before walking out of the hotel room, allowing Erin to sleep in peace along with the others. He was soon walking down the night streets of Grand Mine Central, looking around at the behavior of the people still awake and about.

    From what the orc could tell, there wasn¡¯t that much of panic or shock among the regular population. Having lived in environments where one wrong move could get you killed, he had learned to analyze things like body language, tone of voice and other subtle hints in order to tell what they were most likely thinking. Thanks to this skill, he could tell that the population wasn¡¯t all that bothered overall from the destruction of Gotzmeyer¡¯s base. In fact, some people seemed to be even excited over it, having most likely suffered one way or another under the warlord¡¯s rule.

    There were even some interesting pieces of information that Durge¡¯s ears picked up. For starters, it seemed like Gotzmeyer was being reported as having been killed. This was something he found interesting, as he had been told by Erin that the warlord had managed to escape. He wasn¡¯t able to gather where the information had come from exactly, but the source seemed to be tied to the military itself. This meant that Gotzmeyer was most likely gone for good.

    However, the more interesting piece of news that the orc learned about was that one of the remaining two warlords, Rayleen, had apparently been sighted in the nearby areas. Due to her more violent nature, there seemed to be a lot of suspicion among the people that she might have been planning to invade Gotzmeyer¡¯s territories in order to take control of them. This was a surprisingly good news for Erin¡¯s group, as not only would this push the blame for Gotzmeyer¡¯s death to Rayleen, but this could also prove to be an opportunity to strike down another warlord.

    With his survey over the population now done, Durge decided to simply focus on enjoying his walk through the city. In all honesty, gathering information like this had been nothing more than an excuse for the orc to get out of the hotel, as there was something else that he felt like he needed to deal with.

    It was his berserker transformation and the consequences that came with using it.

    Despite having long since transformed back to normal and no longer feeling the urge kill and destroy everything around him, Durge could still feel that same drive still burning deep within himself. The rage of a beast that desired nothing more than to turn all of his surroundings and the people within it into a blood-soaked wasteland. The orc could feel it still gnawing at his insides, trying to get out once again.

    This had been the reason Durge had originally sealed this destructive power and feared unleashing it once again. Back before he had met Erin, even before he had joined the Laughing Ogre, he had noticed a change within himself. The more he had used his berserker power, the harder it had become to control it. Back when he originally gained the power in his tribe, he had been able to focus his rage towards his actual enemies and not charge towards his allies. There were still the occasional friendly casualties from those who made the mistake of getting too close, but they were rare and never intentional.

    However, soon after Durge¡¯s tribe fell, he found himself finding it harder to keep his power in check. At first, it came in sudden bursts of rage-infused strength during fights, where he only partially transformed, but as time progressed this changed. It eventually reached a point where even the slightest irritation could trigger his transformation and the rampage would soon follow after it. Horrified over what he had become, the orc had sought out a shaman that was familiar with the methods of warrior tribes. It had cost a small fortune, but he was able to seal away the raging monster within him.

    Upon receiving the seal, the shaman had warned him that if he were to ever break the seal it would be difficult to cast it again. Whatever the source of his power was, it was something that had grown stronger with time and use. Even when sealed, it had continued to gain strength. It just didn¡¯t have a way to let it all out. By breaking the seal, Durge had essentially let out a violent beast that had been caged for a long time and was now starving.

    At first, he hadn¡¯t felt all that different, but now the orc knew better. He was now a walking time bomb that could potentially go off at any time. Considering the damage that he could cause upon transforming for one more time, he wondered if it had been for the best if he had simply been killed back at the arena, like he had asked?

    Whatever the case was, Durge knew just how dangerous he was. He only hoped that he wouldn¡¯t end up harming his companions because of it.

 116. What the Cat Catches

    Chapter 116

    What the Cat Catches

    After resting at their hotel room, Erin and her companions were ready to continue on their journey, but there was one issue they needed to solve. While overall they had been able to get through their battle against Gotzmeyer with only minimal injuries, it had still taken its toll on them. Namely, a lot of their equipment needed to be replenished. This was especially true with Lexton, who had used almost all of his vials of golems, potions and other such things in the battle against the warlord. The kobold would need some time in order to gather the necessary ingredients and build back his stock of vials.

    However, one of the biggest losses was that of Durge¡¯s weapon. The orc had left behind his hammer before using his berserker state to battle Gotzmeyer¡¯s numerous puppets. Due to the group being in a hurry to get out of the military base as it was sinking into magma, no one had remembered to pick up the weapon either, leaving it behind to be destroyed along with everything else.

    It was only now that the group had a good amount of rest did Erin realize their mistake. With an ashamed look like that of a child that was about to confess misbehavior to their parents, the redhead walked up to the orc while looking down at the ground.

    ¡°Hey, Durge¡­ I just realized that we forgot to pick your weapon before we escaped Gotzmeyer¡¯s base,¡± Erin said in a meek tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. I should have realized that it was still missing before we left.¡±

    ¡°...Huh? Is that what was bothering you?¡± Durge asked to which the redhead nodded. This in turn caused the orc to burst out in laughter. ¡°That¡¯s what has been eating at you this whole morning!? Don¡¯t worry about it! That¡¯s not a big deal at all!¡±

    ¡°But¡­ It was your weapon, wasn¡¯t it? You had it even before we met,¡± Erin asked awkwardly, surprised by the orc¡¯s reaction. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it important to you?¡±

    ¡°What? You think I was in love with a hammer or something?¡± Durge asked jokingly. ¡°It was just like any other piece of metal I¡¯d use to bash skulls. There was nothing special about it. I can just get a new one when the chance arrives.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I can make a new one for you,¡± Lexton said with a smirk, happy that he would get a chance to show off his talents once again. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that you get something that is far better than what you¡¯ve been using so far.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! Seeing all the other stuff you¡¯ve made, I¡¯m honestly excited to see what you can come up with!¡± the orc said happily, before turning towards Erin again. ¡°See? The loss of one weapon isn¡¯t that big of a deal in the end. It¡¯s something that can be easily replaced, especially with a guy like Lex around. Hell, knowing what he can do, I kind of regret not getting rid of my hammer earlier just so he can make me a new one!¡±

    ¡°...I see. That¡¯s good,¡± the redhead said with a sigh of relief. ¡°I was afraid I had messed up with another one of my friends¡­¡±

    Durge immediately picked up on what Erin was referring to and gently patted her head in a comforting manner. The redhead looked up in surprise to see the orc give her a warm smile.

    ¡°You can already stop worrying about that, you know? We get why you chose to do it. It¡¯s all in the past now, so there¡¯s no need for you to keep beating yourself up over it,¡± Durge said. ¡°Besides, no one here is upset with you about it anymore.¡±

    ¡°I AM!¡± Zeldana chimed in.

    ¡°...Well, she might be, but who cares about her opinions?¡± the orc said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Point is that you should move on from what happened already. What¡¯s done is done and we can all learn from it now. Clinging to it will only prevent you from moving forward.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Thanks, Durge,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°That really helped me.¡±

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s what we are here for, aren¡¯t we?¡± the orc asked jokingly. ¡°Anyways, we should focus on what we are going to do next.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Hey, Lex,¡± the redhead called out to the kobold. ¡°How much time do you need to make your preparations?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I just need one day to gather all the materials I¡¯ll be needing for my golems and potions. I can then work on them inside the van as we travel,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°But if we want to get Durge¡¯s new weapon ready before we leave, that¡¯s going to require a few days, as I don¡¯t even have the blueprints ready.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m personally okay with just continuing on our way,¡± Durge said. ¡°While it would be better to go around armed, it¡¯s not like I can¡¯t handle myself unarmed. The hammer just makes things easier for me.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but I¡¯d still prefer for all of us to be at full fighting capacity before we head out. You never know what you might encounter out there,¡± Erin said thoughtfully, before looking at the rest of her companions. ¡°What about you guys?¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m not in the need of anything special, I¡¯d like to have some time to rest!¡± Ryle said while laying down on her bed. ¡°It¡¯s been on insane thing after another for days now and I seriously want to have some time to kick back and relax for once! I get what we¡¯re doing isn¡¯t some luxury vacation, but rest is necessary for me as well!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine either way,¡± Zeldana replied with a shrug. ¡°If you decide to stay here for some time or continue on our journey, I¡¯m okay as long as a certain someone doesn¡¯t go around screwing things up.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re never going to let me live that down, are you?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°What could ever give you that idea?¡± the elf asked sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

    ¡°You know, Zeldana, you might want to tone it down with the sassy attitude,¡± Durge said as he glared at the elf. ¡°Unlike you, Erin is actually liked and respected by the rest of the group here, so attacking her needlessly is only going to antagonize the rest of us. If you¡¯re not careful, you might end up finding yourself surrounded by quite a few people upset with you. You wouldn¡¯t want that, would you?¡±

    ¡°No, because I don¡¯t care,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°You keep forgetting that I joined up with your little circus show for my own reasons and not because I necessarily share the same vision with you all. The moment I feel like it, I can easily just drop out of this circus show and go my own way.¡±

    ¡°You say that like it would be a bad thing,¡± Ryle muttered sarcastically.

    ¡°It is as far as having a skilled healer leave you on your own. Considering how there aren¡¯t that many people willing to fight the Five Overlords and how hard it is to find people with my level of skill, I¡¯d say it would be a pretty big loss for you all,¡± the elf explained. ¡°But you¡¯re free to disagree with my assessment all you want. It¡¯s no issue for me at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you an issue, if you need one¡­¡± the blonde said as she started to get up while glaring at Zeldana.

    Seeing how things were beginning to heat up in a terrible manner, Erin quickly decided to play the role of referee and prevent any actual fights from breaking out. The redhead stepped between Ryle and Zeldana in order to keep the two from going at each other.

    ¡°Alright, no need for any of that! Let¡¯s keep things calm and civil, okay!?¡± Erin said, hoping to ease up the tension that had just built up. ¡°How about we all just focus on our preparations for when we set out from here? Whether it¡¯s relaxing or working on something, I say we take some time to do that and keep our minds off anything negative. Does that sound good?¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Ryle said, laying down on her bed again. ¡°I could use some beauty sleep anyways.¡±

    ¡°I think in your case you need a beauty coma,¡± Lexton joked with a snicker, which earned him a pillow thrown at him by the blonde. ¡°Fair enough. It was completely worth it.¡±

    ¡°Same thing, different day¡­¡± Erin mumbled unhappily as she shook her head. ¡°Anyways, Ryle and Zeldana seem to be fine with my suggestion. What about the rest of you?¡±

    ¡°Works for me,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯ve got some work to do that will keep me bust anyways.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine either way,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°I could use this time to listen to any interesting news. I¡¯ll tell you what I¡¯ve found later tonight. Sound good?¡±

    ¡°Perfect,¡± Erin said with a smile, before turning to the last member of their group. ¡°What about you, Arnie?¡±

    Instead of hearing an immediate reply from the youngest member of their group, the redhead was surprised to only get silence in response from the cat boy. Arkay seemed to be lost in thought, as he sat at the table with a book in his hands, but it was obvious that he wasn¡¯t reading it at all.

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    ¡°Arnie? Did you hear what I said?¡± Erin called out to the cat boy, who jolted out of his thoughts and turned towards her. ¡°Is something wrong? You seem to a little distracted.¡±

    ¡°M-Me? I-I¡¯m okay!¡± Arkay quickly said, trying to not sound nervous but failing. ¡°I-I was just immersed in my book! That¡¯s all!...What was the question again?¡±

    ¡°I was asking if you were alright with the idea of us staying in this city for a couple of days, before moving out,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Lex has some stuff he needs to work on and Ryle wants to have some time to rest. Durge and Zeldana didn¡¯t have an issue with it, so they agreed. Are you okay with this idea?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes! I¡¯m completely fine with it!¡± the cat boy replied, still sounding nervous. ¡°In fact, I could use some time to rest myself!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, that does seem to be the case,¡± Erin said, a bit bothered by her friend¡¯s odd behavior. She knew that he was shy and awkward by nature, but normally not to this extent. ¡°Are you sure that you¡¯re alright? You¡¯re behaving a bit strangely.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine! I¡¯m fine!¡± Arkay said, trying to put on a strong front, but failing. ¡°Really, there¡¯s nothing wrong! Honestly! I swear!¡±

    The redhead was obviously still not convinced and wanted to press on. After all, if there were issues in her group, she wanted to solve them as fast as possible.

    However, Ryle had realized what was most likely bothering Arkay and decided to step in. She needed to drive all the suspicion away from him or the redhead might find out that she had sent him to spy on her and Zeldana, when they had their private conversation.

    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s not beat him up like that, okay? You¡¯re really gonna make him into a nervous wreck at this rate!¡± Ryle said as she got up and walked over to Arkay, where she proceeded to put a comforting arm over his shoulders. ¡°He¡¯s probably just a bit overwhelmed from everything we¡¯ve been through, mixed with some understandable exhaustion. Not only did we go through hell not too long ago, but judging by the smell coming from the bed he used he probably didn¡¯t get to sleep all that well either!¡±

    ¡°Hang on, what?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that you might have some unhealthy issues that come out at night in a not so pleasant manner,¡± the blonde explained as she pinched her nose and smirked. ¡°Honestly, what have you been eating?¡±

    ¡°Is this true, Zeldana?¡± Erin asked with a wide eye.

    ¡°Hard to say¡­ This is the first time I¡¯ve ever heard anyone say such a thing about me,¡± the elf said thoughtfully. ¡°Not to mention, considering how I¡¯m asleep at that time, I can¡¯t really deny it either.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just one big mass of issues, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lexton said as he shook his head. ¡°Honestly, what the hell is wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°Oh please. Like any of you guys are ones to judge,¡± Zeldana said nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯m sure a psychiatrist would have a field day trying to get through any of us.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I think I¡¯m pretty stable and normal!¡± Ryle exclaimed, only to receive stares from everybody else in the room. ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°Sure, whatever you say,¡± Erin said with a sigh, before turning her attention back to Arkay. ¡°Anyways, if you say that you¡¯re okay, I¡¯ll go with that. However, if there is anything wrong, I want you to tell me right away, okay?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes. I¡¯ll be sure to do that,¡± the cat boy replied.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯m glad we got that taken care of,¡± the redhead said, before heading towards the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to go outside for a walk. Anybody else want to come along?¡±

    ¡°Well, I could-¡± Durge began to say, only to be cut off by Ryle all of a sudden.

    ¡°Actually, I need to talk with you, Durge, so could you stay back?¡± the blonde said. ¡°It¡¯s kind of important.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Okay, but shouldn¡¯t we go outside, in order to have some privacy?¡± the orc asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure we could find a good spot on the outskirts of the city, where we could talk.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that secretive. I just want to get some pointers in regards to using ki and such,¡± Ryle quickly explained. ¡°I¡¯m sure no one here would mind us talking about that stuff.¡±

    ¡°I see. I can do that,¡± Durge said, before looking back at Erin. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ll be going on your own.¡±

    ¡°No worries. I could use the time alone to clear my thoughts, so no harm done,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°See you all later.¡±

    Almost as soon as Erin had left, Durge turned his attention to Ryle.

    ¡°Okay, so what kind of pointers did you want me to tell you about?¡± the orc asked, ready to start teaching.

    ¡°Just a moment, Durge. I gotta take care of something first,¡± the blonde said as she walked up to Lexton. She then whispered to the kobold. ¡°Hey, you think you can help me get rid of Zeldana? I can¡¯t really have my talk with her around.¡±

    ¡°I see my assumption was right. This is about what Arnie heard, right?¡± Lexton asked to which Ryle nodded. ¡°Very well. I think I might have something for that. Let¡¯s see if it works.¡±

    The kobold went to Zeldana. The elf turned towards him, wondering what he wanted.

    ¡°Hey, Zeldana. You wouldn¡¯t happen to still be upset with Erin, would you?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Still pretty pissed off,¡± the elf answered. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in out a new product of mine,¡± the kobold said as he pulled out a vial of liquid. ¡°I call it the stealth golem. This one is designed to move quietly as a transparent liquid to take enemies by surprise. I¡¯m sure you could use it to prank Erin in order to get back at her, while also providing me with results from testing it out.¡±

    ¡°Now that does sound fun!¡± Zeldana said as her eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Although, why do you want me to go and prank her? I thought you guys were all okay wither despite how badly she screwed up.¡±

    ¡°That might be so, but I¡¯m a merchant in the end, remember? What¡¯s most important for me is my business and this is part of that,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Besides, I¡¯d be lying if I said that Erin¡¯s bad call didn¡¯t piss me off at least a little.¡±

    ¡°Works for me!¡± the elf said as she grabbed the vial and ran to the door. ¡°See you all later!¡±

    ¡°...Did you really have to do that to Erin?¡± Ryle asked as she glared at Lexton. ¡°I get that you needed to do something to get that crazy elf out of here, but was that the only method you could think of? It doesn¡¯t seem fair to me.¡±

    ¡°Hey, life isn¡¯t fair. I thought you¡¯d be aware of that by now,¡± the kobold said with a shrug. ¡°Not to mention, you shouldn¡¯t be getting all that upset with me anyways.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Just because you managed to do what I asked you to do?¡±

    ¡°Well, there is that, obviously, but it¡¯s not what I was referring to,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°You see, that vial I gave Zeldana? It¡¯s not what she thinks it is. When she pours her magic into it in order to activate it, the liquid will blow up in her face. And considering how I used materials that will cause uncontrollable itching to just about anyone that gets into contact with them, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be scratching herself for quite some time.¡±

    Ryle burst out into roaring laughter upin hearing the kobold¡¯s explanation. Even Durge and Arkay couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the prank Lexton had just pulled off.

    ¡°Oh my God¡­ That¡¯s awesome!¡± Ryle said while still laughing. ¡°Although, did you prepare that thing just now or were you planning to use that on her sometime later?¡±

    ¡°That, I¡¯m afraid, is a trade secret,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°Anyways, I think we should get to business at hand, considering that we¡¯ve got all the necessary people here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something I wanted to ask about,¡± Durge said with a confused look on his face. ¡°Just what is going on here? I can see now that what Ryle said about wanting pointers in regards to using ki was obviously a lie, but why did we need to get rid of Erin and Zeldana? What is it that you three want to talka about and how does it involve me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about Erin and Zeldana,¡± Ryle said. ¡°You¡¯ve probably noticed by how they seem to have something going on between them that the rest of us don¡¯t know about at all, right? When we got out of Gotzmeyer¡¯s base, while you were still unconscious, those two went to have a private talk between each other. We couldn¡¯t help but get curious, so we sent Arnie to spy on them.¡±

    ¡°I see.. I¡¯m not sure I approve of that, though,¡± the orc said with a frown. ¡°We all deserve at least some level of privacy and I don¡¯t like the idea of breaching it just like that. I¡¯d hate to think that any of you was spying on me while I think I have some time alone.¡±

    ¡°Hey, we get that! Trust me!¡± Lexton quickly said. ¡°However, you have to understand that we aren¡¯t just your average traveling band of misfits. There¡¯s a high level of danger involved in everything we do, so we have to be able to trust one another. If anybody is having secret meetings behind everybody else, I think we should find out about it just for our own sake. It¡¯s that simple.¡±

    ¡°Sounds to me like you don¡¯t trust Erin,¡± Durge said with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you start talking like that! I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯ve known her far longer than any of you and I would trust her with my life!¡± Ryle said defensively. ¡°I just want to know what¡¯s going on. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything nefarious being plotted, like this paranoid bastard seems to think.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thanks a lot,¡± Lexton said sarcastically.

    ¡°What I¡¯m afraid of is that Erin might be manipulated by Zeldana in some manner,¡± the blonde continued, ignoring the kobold. ¡°If Erin¡¯s in trouble, I want to know what is causing her issues, so I can help her. And I want to know if it involves any of us.¡±

    ¡°While I understand your feelings, the sad fact is that there are a lot of things that others can¡¯t help with no matter how much they want to,¡± Durge said, thinking about his own internal issues. ¡°Some problems can only be handled by those who deal with them on their own. And some cannot be helped at all.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but we won¡¯t know until we try!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°How can we simply sit here and say ¡°can¡¯t help ya¡± to whatever Erin¡¯s plight is, when we haven¡¯t even really tried!? Considering all the things she has done for us, I¡¯d say it¡¯s only right that we try our hardest to at least do something!¡±

    ¡°...Fair enough, I suppose,¡± the orc said with a shrug, before turning towards Arkay. ¡°I suppose we might as well hear what Arnie learned when he listened to Erin and Zeldana¡¯s conversation. So would you mind and tell us what happened back then?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ At the start, Zeldana was simply angry at Erin for not simply killing Gotzmeyer back when she had the chance,¡± the cat boy began to explain. ¡°She said that Gotzmeyer wasn¡¯t someone you should hesitate to kill, considering how he was willing to kill even his own soldiers.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t believe that I¡¯m actually agreeing with that sick elf for once,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°Now you know how I feel when I agree with you,¡± Lexton said, earning a glare from the blonde.

    ¡°Hush both of you,¡± Durge said before the two could get into another argument. ¡°Please continue.¡±

    ¡°Zeldana also stated that the reason she was upset wasn¡¯t necessarily because what Erin did was wrong, but rather because she didn¡¯t find it entertaining,¡± Arkay continued. ¡°According to her, Erin and her travels are pretty much just a show for her.¡±

    ¡°Sick twisted bitch,¡± Ryle muttered with a frown on her face. ¡°What kind of a person sees everything we¡¯ve been through as entertainment?¡±

    ¡°Well, we kind of knew that about her already,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°At least she can be helpful to us.¡±

    ¡°But the really shocking thing came after that!¡± Arkay exclaimed, getting everybody¡¯s full attention. ¡°Zeldana also added that she was now worried that Erin might repeat the same mistake again and let somebody else off the hook!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t fear that too much,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Unlike the blonde savage, Erin isn¡¯t someone who doesn¡¯t learn from their mistakes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Ryle said enthusiastically. ¡°...Hey, wait a minute!¡±

    ¡°That might be so, but Zeldana had a reason to fear that!¡± Arkay continued. ¡°She said that some of the people we are going after are actually Erin¡¯s old friends!¡±

    Silence fell over the room as Ryle, Lexton and Durge stared at Arkay with wide eyes. All three were processing the new bit of information they had just learned about their friend and had a hard time believing it.

    ¡°Are¡­ Are you sure that¡¯s what you heard?¡± Lexton asked to which Arkay nodded. ¡°Holy crap¡­ To think that Erin would actually know people that are part of the forces of the Five Overlords¡­¡±

    ¡°Who do you think they are?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Considering how she acted towards Gotzmeyer and some of the assassins we¡¯ve faced, none of them were those people.¡±

    ¡°That is the billion credit question,¡± the kobold said thoughtfully. ¡°Whoever they are, they have to be pretty high up. All the people she has been going after have been high-ranking officials, so they would have to be some type of officers¡­¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Isn¡¯t she specifically going after the Overlords themselves?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°You don¡¯t think she¡­?¡±

    Silence once again fell over the room, as the group began to ponder the possibilities. The thought of their friend actually knowing people like the Five Overlords personally seemed like such an absurd idea, yet all the evidence seemed to be pointing towards it.

    ¡°...So what if she does know some of the people we¡¯re fighting against!? Isn¡¯t she herself doing so!?¡± Ryle suddenly shouted. ¡°The way I see it, Erin hasn¡¯t done anything to earn our distrust, so why should we start doubting her now!? I¡¯m sure that she isn¡¯t going to just suddenly betray us over some of our enemies being her old friends! So let¡¯s not even think about this and just trust her! Okay!?¡±

    The others nodded in agreement, but none of them could deny that this new revelation had just placed a small seed of doubt in them.

 117. Targeting the Next One

    Chapter 117

    Targeting the Next One

    A couple of days later, Erin¡¯s group had finished their preparations and resting, and were ready to continue on their journey. Durge had learned that one of the two warlords of the Western Continent, Rayleen, had been spotted at a nearby city. With their next target decided, the group set out towards their next destination, Cliffdrop City.

    Durge had been able to also confirm that Gotzmeyer had lost his life during the destruction of his base, which came as a relief to Erin. She had been worried that the imp would have been able to cause problems for them in the future, but that didn¡¯t seem to be a threat any longer. Although, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had ultimately been the cause of Gotzmeyer¡¯s death, since he seemed to have been prepared for the loss of his fortress, but she assumed that his escape route hadn¡¯t been as well made as he had thought.

    While spirits were high in the group as they were getting ready for their next journey, Erin couldn¡¯t help but notice that there was something wrong. There was an awkward air that seemed to be hanging over her friends, like a tension between herself specifically and the others that was causing things to be uncomfortable.

    The only one who seemed to not be bothered by this was Zeldana, even though she had her own issues. Recently she had fallen victim to some strange condition, where her body had become very itchy. The elf had been reduced to a scratching mess that had gotten better only recently, despite her still having to scratch herself every now and then. Erin had no idea what had happened to Zeldana, as she herself had refused to talk about it all that much. All the redhead knew was that the elf had become somewhat hostile towards Lexton, but she didn¡¯t understand why.

    Whatever the case was between everyone in the group, they had completed their preparations and were now ready to leave Grand Mine Central. All they needed to do was go to one of the pathways that led out of the city and be on their way. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done, as some members of the group had issues with their method of transportation.

    ¡°NO! I refuse to go through that again!¡± Ryle yelled angrily. ¡°I am NOT going to travel inside the guts of a goddamn overgrown worm ever again! NEVER! YOU GET IT!?¡±

    ¡°Look, dumbass, it¡¯s the fastest and most efficient way for us to get where we¡¯re heading!¡± Lexton argued. ¡°Unless we use this method, we¡¯ll have to travel for days, while avoiding wild beasts, bandits and whatever crazed killers Golorath¡¯s forces can throw at us! Do you want that!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I¡¯d rather face all the bandits and monsters of the world than go through the experience of being swallowed by a goddamn worm!¡± the blonde said. ¡°I know people have weird kinks and all, but I¡¯M NOT INTO THIS!¡±

    ¡°THAT¡¯S NOT THE REASON WHY I WANT TO USE THIS, YOU ASS!¡± the kobold shouted angrily.

    Erin let out a deep sigh of frustration over the argument between her two friends. She had honestly expected this to come up, but it was still a frustrating aspect that she hated to deal with.

    The reason for the argument between Lexton and Ryle was over the method the group would take in order to leave Grand Mine Central. The immediate and obvious choice was the same method they had used to get to the city in the first place, which was to be transported inside a creature known as a Grand Centipede. While not exactly a comfortable form of travel, it was still much faster and safer than other methods, which is why Lexton strongly suggested that they should use it.

    However, due to the method being very unpleasant for obvious reasons, Ryle was protesting against it, stating that whatever positives they got from it were outdone by the sheer disgust and horror of what they had to go through.

    In all honesty, Erin sympathized with her blonde friend. Getting swallowed by a giant insect was not something anyone wanted to go through once, much less twice. The redhead was certain that she would have nightmares over such an experience for the rest of her life. Despite this, she knew that in order for them to travel as efficiently as possible, they needed to go through this. Even if it made her skin crawl.

    ¡°Ryle, I get what you¡¯re saying, but Lex is right. We have to use this method,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I honestly feel similarly as you do about this and would want nothing more than to use a different method. But the fact is that we are already in enough danger as it is. By going another way, we¡¯re only going to put our own lives at more risk, which is something we need to avoid right now.¡±

    ¡°And getting swallowed by a big-ass worm isn¡¯t a risk!? Is that what you¡¯re saying!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°We might have gotten here by one of those things, but that doesn¡¯t mean we should just blindly trust the damn things! How the hell do we know they won¡¯t actually eat us for some reason!?¡±

    ¡°Because the people controlling them know what they¡¯re doing, idiot! If they didn¡¯t, their business would have gotten shut down years ago!¡± Lexton yelled, tired of Ryle¡¯s complaints. ¡°Hundreds of people use them every single day! Don¡¯t you think we would have heard by now, if there were any real dangers to this!? Or I would even consider suggesting this, if there was a chance those things could kill us!?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re putting your trust in overgrown bugs! BUGS!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Doesn¡¯t any of that seem even a little messed up to you!?¡±

    ¡°Look, Ryle, I didn¡¯t want to do this, but you leave me no choice,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°By not using this method, you¡¯re putting Arnie in more danger. You don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to him and want to keep him as safe as possible, right? Well, this is the best way to do that.¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s low. Using Arnie against me,¡± the blonde said in a saddened tone. ¡°Alright, you win. Let¡¯s go with the horrifying giant worms that might eat us at any given moment.¡±

    ¡°No they won¡¯t, dumbass!¡± Lexton shouted.

    Erin simply shook her head as she turned away from the argument, having grown tired of it. Not to mention, seeing as how she had managed to convince the most stubborn member in their group to go along with their plan, there was no more need to get herself involved. After all, it would only give her a worse headache than she already had.

    ¡°So¡­ I don¡¯t mean to be a pain or anything, but I have to make sure. We¡¯re still going to go for the Grand Centipede transportation, right?¡± Durge asked as he drove their van. ¡°I kind of got the impression that we all agreed on that, but I just want to make sure.¡±

    ¡°Your assumption would be correct,¡± Erin said as she let out a sigh, trying her best to ignore the argument happening behind her. ¡°I hate to use such a low tactic on Ryle, but we don¡¯t have the luxury of wasting time fighting among ourselves like a bunch of children.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like what you said wasn¡¯t true. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it is still a fact regardless of how one might feel about it,¡± the orc said with a smile. ¡°Besides, this just shows how well you know us. That¡¯s a sign of friendship in a way, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Well, when you travel with each other for a long time, you¡¯re bound to start learning a few things here and there about each other,¡± the redhead said as she glanced behind her, to see Arkay trying to break up the fight while Zeldana simply watched on the sidelines. ¡°Whether those things are good or bad depends on the person you¡¯re with.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just the nature of all living beings in the end. We all have our good and bad sides,¡± Durge said. ¡°Although, this does make me wonder a bit. All of us know just what type of a person you are from spending so much time with you, but no one here seems to know who you are exactly.¡±

    ¡°...What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked, feeling a bit nervous over where the conversation was going.

    ¡°Simple. We know your name and face, as well as what kind of a person you are. However, what we don¡¯t know is where you came from at all,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Things like, where were you born? What kind of a life did you live before meeting any of us? What are your family and friends like? From what I know, the rest of us are aware of our past lives, yet you are the only one that is practically a mystery to everybody else.¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe there isn¡¯t anything that¡¯s worth knowing?¡± the redhead said, trying to get past the subject. ¡°Not everybody has an interesting backstory that they carry around. Maybe mine is just one that isn¡¯t worth mentioning?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d have to disagree with that. Not only is every life out there full of their own twists and turns, but I¡¯m certain yours is one that¡¯s more than worth knowing,¡± Durge said. ¡°And let¡¯s just say that it actually is as uninteresting as you¡¯re saying it is. What¡¯s the harm in sharing it with us?¡±

    Erin felt her physically lock up. What the orc was saying was completely true. She couldn¡¯t simply pass the question of her past as nothing, since it didn¡¯t really excuse her not telling about it to others. However, the truth was that the redhead didn¡¯t want her friends to know who she truly was. She couldn¡¯t help but feat what the reaction of her friends might be, if they were to find out about how she was related to the Five Overlords.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t really want to talk about it. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin said in a sad and apologetic tone. ¡°The thing is that I have a somewhat of a¡­ questionable past that I don¡¯t like to talk about. Not to mention, I¡¯m not sure how badly you guys would react to it, if you were to know what it was.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious? Have you considered the type of people you hang out with?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Take me for example. I was part of a warrior tribe that lived by barbaric rules and only desired to be more effective in killing. And after that? I became an enforcer to a criminal group that threw people into a death game for fun.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That is a pretty dark past,¡± the redhead said a bit awkwardly. ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s really all that bad. I mean, you didn¡¯t get to choose where you were born in the first place. And when you were with the Laughing Ogre, I doubt you were as bad as your employers. After all, you tried to save Arkay, right? I¡¯m sure he wasn¡¯t the only one.¡±

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Tell that to the police and other criminal groups. I¡¯m sure their hearts would grow from such a heartwarming tale,¡± the orc said as he rolled his eyes. ¡°Besides, what about the rest of our group? Lexton is a proud con artist. Arkay is a former thief. From what I heard, Ryle used to be a bounty hunter that actually tried to kill you. And do I even need to say anything about Zeldana? I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a term that¡¯s enough to describe what¡¯s wrong with her.¡±

    ¡°Those are¡­ certainly some good points,¡± Erin said. ¡°But I¡¯m still not sure. My past is really messy and I¡¯m not even sure if any of you would believe me. And I¡¯m not sure whether it would be better if you all thought I was lying or not.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°If that¡¯s how you feel, there¡¯s not much I can do about it. I just hope that you change your mind at some point, so we can finally learn who you are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to do that when I¡¯m ready,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡±

    With their conversation over, Erin turned her attention back on the road ahead, only for a certain sound catching her attention. She could hear some sort of a scratching noise from behind and immediately knew what it was.

    ¡°Okay, Zel, what is wrong with you, seriously?¡± the redhead asked as she turned around to look at the elf scratching herself furiously once again. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have high standards and expect all that much from you, but what the hell happened to you that made you like this? Also, you¡¯re a healer, can¡¯t you just fix yourself and be done with it?¡±

    ¡°Heh. Good luck with that,¡± Lexton mumbled with a smile. He was quiet enough so that only Zeldana heard it, who shot him a glare in response.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that there are some issues that even the greatest of healers cannot fix. And this is one of those,¡± the elf grumbled as she kept scratching. ¡°All I can do is try my best to tough it out, until it finally stops.¡±

    ¡°That sounds rough. Any idea what caused it?¡± Erin asked. ¡°If nothing else, I¡¯d like to do my best to avoid getting in a similar predicament.¡±

    ¡°...Trust me. As long as you don¡¯t make enemies out of scaly dickheads, you should be fine,¡± Zeldana replied, which made Lexton chuckle.

    The redhead was unable to catch the hostility between Zeldana and Lexton, so she was left simply confused by the whole thing. She ultimately decided that the matter wasn¡¯t worth being worried about, since the elf herself had said it would pass, and turned back to face the road ahead.

    This didn¡¯t mean that others, who were far more informed on the matter, didn¡¯t pick up on what was going on.

    ¡°Hey, Lex? Why isn¡¯t Zeldana telling on you?¡± Ryle whispered to the kobold. ¡°I mean, couldn¡¯t she just point a finger at you and blame you for what she¡¯s going through? It wouldn¡¯t exactly be false, after all.¡±

    ¡°Well, there are two reasons for that,¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°For starters, if she were to tell Erin about what I did, she would quickly learn that Zeldana tried to use the vial I gave her on Erin. In other words, if one of us were to go down, both of us would go down.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ And the other reason?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to lose,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°If she were to let what I did to her get her all riled up, she would be admitting defeat. Basically, if she gives in, she loses. And she knows that.¡±

    ¡°...Did you seriously anticipate all that when you gave that vial to her?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°It was a calculated risk in the end. I was half expecting her to throw a scalpel at me in retaliation. Glad that didn¡¯t end up happening,¡± Lexton replied with a shrug. ¡°Still, it was a risk I felt was worth taking.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a risk that will end up biting you in the ass someday,¡± Zeldana whispered angrily, getting the attention of both Ryle and Lexton. ¡°Mark my words. One of these days, I will find a way to get back at you for this. And you won¡¯t see it coming.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so scared. Just watch me tremble,¡± Lexton said mockingly as he lightly wiggled his fingers. ¡°I honestly doubt there¡¯s anything worse you can do than your way of giving medical treatment to people.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see, Lex,¡± the elf said with a glare. ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­¡±

    Despite the arguments, the group eventually made their way to the Grand Centipede station, where their van went through the preparations they had gone through before. One of the workers sprayed a gas over their vehicle, after which they were swallowed by one of the gigantic insects before being on their way.

    Even though she had already gone through this, Erin was still very uncomfortable with the whole process. After all it wasn¡¯t easy to relax when a giant monster swallowed you, no matter how much you told yourself that it was going to be alright. In fact, the redhead wouldn¡¯t be lying if this was one of her biggest fears in a way. She had never been able to handle bugs all that well, so this was naturally something that put her on edge.

    It wasn¡¯t like Erin was the only one who didn¡¯t like the process, as some of her friends were also unnerved by it. Durge was able to put on a calm front, but it didn¡¯t take much observation to tell that he was also nervous. The drops of sweat running down the side of his face and the fact that he kept his eyes closed were more than enough to reveal the way he truly felt. Ryle was naturally not doing well, as she had been the biggest in opposing this method of transportation. The blonde was trembling terribly and had curled up in a corner, trying to ignore what was happening outside the vehicle. Arkay was also scared, but was able to keep his calm. However, he made the mistake of trying to offer comfort to Ryle, which ended up with the cat boy being pulled into an extremely tight hug that managed to knock him out.

    While most of the group had a more negative reaction to what was happening, there were those who weren¡¯t concerned at all. These two being Lexton and Zeldana. Everybody else already knew that the elf wasn¡¯t bothered by the whole thing at all due to how she handled it during last time, most likely because she had experience with it already. It was somewhat same with Lexton, as while he hadn¡¯t been transported via Grand Centipedes before, he had prior knowledge about it and was certain that nothing bad would happen. Erin assumed that due to his extensive knowledge, he didn¡¯t find any reason to be afraid.

    The trip was able to proceed in relative calmness. It took some time, but everyone in the group was eventually able to calm down and not be bothered by the fact that they were traveling inside a giant insect. Once they were able to reach such a state, the members of the group began to gravitate towards different means to spend their time. Lexton was working on some of the gear he needed for their future endeavors. Arkay picked up one of the books he had bought in the city and started reading it. Ryle had a deck of playing cards and soon had a game going with Erin and Durge. Meanwhile, Zeldana was preoccupied by the itching she was still going through and was doing her best to scratch it away.

    <hr>

    After some time had passed, they finally made it to their destination, Cliffport City. After the Grand Centipede vomited out their van, they were back to traveling normally. It didn¡¯t take long for them to find a hotel to stay at as a base of operations, while they looked for information in regards to Rayleen.

    ¡°Alright, here we are, guys,¡± Erin said as she opened the door to their room, taking a step inside while followed by the others. ¡°Get comfortable. We¡¯ll be staying here for a while.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Is this some kind of a joke?¡± Ryle asked while looking around at the room. ¡°How much did you pay for this? Because it looks like this is something Lex would sell!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lexton asked as he glared at the blonde.

    ¡°I mean this looks like a scam,¡± the blonde replied. ¡°Just look at this dump! It¡¯s just a big empty room! There¡¯s no furniture or anything!¡±

    True to what the blonde had said, the group¡¯s hotel room was indeed just a big empty space. The only things that they had were the lights on the ceiling and a door that led to a small bathroom. In all honesty, it looked like someone had robbed the place of everything in it.

    ¡°Nah. It¡¯s exactly as I was told by the staff,¡± Erin said. ¡°The trip here, along with some of our other expenses, ate up quite a bit of our finances. This was the best we could get, as a more expensive place would have left us almost broke with no money for food.¡±

    ¡°Seriously!?¡± Ryle asked in a shocked voice. ¡°How the hell did we end up so bad!?¡±

    ¡°Well, there are quite a lot of costs that needed to be covered,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°For starters, there are all the daily costs that we have to go through, such as food, lodging and gas for our car. Then there was the transportation fee that Erin mentioned. Not only that, but there are all the other costs that came from me and Durge.¡±

    ¡°And what would those be?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°For Durge, he needed some money in order to persuade some people into giving him the intel we wanted,¡± the kobold continued to explain. ¡°As for me, it¡¯s all the materials I need for potions and my other gadgets, especially when it came to Durge¡¯s new weapon.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? You needed so much money that we¡¯re almost broke?¡± Ryle asked as she glared at Lexton. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have cut off at least a bit of your spending? Couldn¡¯t have hurt¡­¡±

    Lexton didn¡¯t say anything in response, as he simply pointed at Zeldana. The blonde immediately got the message he was trying to tell her.

    ¡°...Never mind,¡± Ryle muttered.

    ¡°Anyways, it isn¡¯t too bad. The room itself is clean enough and the carpet seems pretty comfy,¡± Durge said as he inspected their room. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can get some blankets and pillows, so we can sleep comfortably in here.¡±

    ¡°Oh! That should work out just fine then!¡± the blonde said before glancing over at Arkay. ¡°I know a way how I sure can sleep comfortably¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± the cat boy said, not understanding what Ryle was implying.

    ¡°Ryle, would you mind and not start with that immediately?¡± Erin asked in a frustrated tone as she shook her head. ¡°We only just got here and we still have some stuff to do before we can even consider resting! So would you mind and focus on that for now at least!?¡±

    ¡°Fine! Sheesh!¡± the blonde said. ¡°I¡¯m just being honest!¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s one of your biggest issues,¡± Lexton said. ¡°That and the obviously very small brains you have inside that thick skull of yours.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re gonna have a big problem when I put my foot down your throat!¡± Ryle shouted at the kobold.

    ¡°GETTING BACK TO TOPIC AT HAND!¡± Erin yelled, putting an end to the bickering. ¡°We should gather around and discuss our next course of action. From what Durge has gathered, our next target, warlord Rayleen, has been spotted in this area. Did you learn anything else?¡±

    ¡°Not much more, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°The only thing that I heard was that she was seen around these parts, flying around. It¡¯s unclear what her motive is or if she¡¯s even alone. She¡¯s been seen on her own every time, so no one knows if any of her troops are nearby.¡±

    ¡°But they were able to confirm that it was her, correct?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Definitely. There are even pictures going around that show her face,¡± Durge replied. ¡°When you¡¯re as big of a figure as she is, your face becomes very known to the world. There¡¯s no mistaking that it¡¯s her we¡¯re dealing with.¡±

    ¡°Any idea why she is here?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°Since she is one of the three warlords, it doesn¡¯t seem plausible that she would just be flying around here for no reason. There has got to be at least some sort of a theory as to why she would be doing this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not much to go on. Most of the people I talked to had no clue as to why she would be doing this,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°The only theory available is that she¡¯s scouting out the areas that were under Gotzmeyer¡¯s rule. Now that he¡¯s gone, she might be planning an attack to take over.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense to me, considering who we¡¯re dealing with,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Rayleen was always the most hotheaded and battle-hungry of all the warlords. Now that one of her competitors is gone, she might be looking towards taking over his resources, before going after the last one.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything you can tell us about her that we could use in our upcoming battle against her?¡± Erin asked while looking at the elf. ¡°If we could find some sort of a weakness to exploit, we could use that as a means to take her down.¡±

    ¡°Only a couple of things. She isn¡¯t all that tactical and is pretty straightforward in her way of fighting,¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°Golorath¡¯s warlords were all selected due to their individual strength, meaning that they are all powerful fighters on their own. His mindset appears to be ¡°might makes right¡± since he doesn¡¯t seem to pay too much attention to tactics himself. Rayleen is a perfect example of this, as she would go headfirst into battle, either bombing enemy lines with fire magic from the skies or beating them to a pulp with her bare hands.¡±

    ¡°Did the resistance forces use that to their advantage?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Of course. There were a couple of times where it seemed like they had her trapped and were about to put an end to her,¡± the elf replied. ¡°However, she was always too powerful to be taken down in the end. It was like trying to trap a fully grown dragon with a net meant for fish. It just wouldn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s concerning¡­ But we still have to do what we can to defeat her,¡± Erin said. ¡°We¡¯ve come all this way and been successful so far. Not to mention, we still have even worse opponents ahead of us. We can¡¯t just back away from this now.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do then?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°First, we¡¯re going to do some preparations,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the city with Lex to sell some of the stuff he¡¯s got prepared for us to earn some money. Some of us will also look around the city to find out any places that might be of interest to us. Once we have gathered up our resources, we¡¯ll go look into this Rayleen person ourselves.¡±

    ¡°And that means what exactly?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°For starters, we need to confirm that she is still here. If she has left, then we don¡¯t have any reason to be here,¡± Erin explained. ¡°We¡¯re also going to observe what she¡¯s doing. With any luck, we might learn something useful. After that, we¡¯re going to be making plans for what we¡¯re going to do next.¡±

    Everybody agreed to the plan set up by the redhead. With the night already looming over them, they decided to call it a day and go to sleep. Due to their recent victory over Gotzmeyer, they were all feeling confident over their chances when it came to Rayleen. After all, they had already beaten one warlord, so they should be able to handle another one.

    What they didn¡¯t know was that their next target was far more than they had imagined and had already laid a trap for them.

 118. Under the Moonlight

    Chapter 118

    Under the Moonlight

    It had been a couple of days since Erin¡¯s group had arrived at Cliffdrop City. During that time, Lexton had set up his shop in order to gather money for their travels and had been doing fairly well. Thanks to the high quality of his products, the kobold was able to sell his potions quite well, earning their group some much needed credits.

    While Lexton was busy doing business along with Erin and Arkay as his assistants, Durge was taking care of information gathering along with Zeldana. They went around looking for rumors and other talks in regards to Rayleen appearing nearby, hoping to learn more. What they were most interested in were the locations where she was sighted and if there were any other people associated with her that might have been seen nearby.

    With every important job covered, Ryle was left with almost nothing to do, except practice her skills during the time the others were away. The blonde was hoping to reach the same level of combat as Durge, which she had set up as a goal for herself.

    However, even if she couldn¡¯t help with gathering information or in selling Lexton¡¯s products, there was still a few smaller jobs she was able to do. One was guarding their place of stay and vehicle, just in case somebody got the idea of trying to rob them. Another one was helping Lexton in carrying the stuff he bought for some of his projects, which was something the blonde wasn¡¯t all too fond of doing. This was something she had made very clear, such as now.

    ¡°Why the hell do I have to be your personal mule for carrying all this crap!?¡± Ryle complained as she and Lexton got back to the hotel room the group was staying at. ¡°I don¡¯t get it! Why can¡¯t you just use your golems for this!?¡±

    ¡°Are you actually telling me to waste my precious golems for something like this? Especially when I can put you to good use for once?¡± Lexton asked in return. ¡°Think about it a bit! My golems are very expensive and hard to make! Why would I waste them on a menial task like this!? Besides, this the perfect job for an idiot like you, since you¡¯re no good for much else.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good for kicking your ass, if that¡¯s needed!¡± the blonde yelled.

    ¡°Would you two mind and try behaving for once when you¡¯re together!?¡± Erin angrily asked her two bickering companions. ¡°Seriously, every time. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! You two get together for more than five seconds and you get into a goddamn argument, like it¡¯s automatic! Would it kill either of you two to at least try and act like adults!?¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T LOOK AT ME! THAT¡¯S THE ONE WHO¡¯S AT FAULT!¡± both Ryle and Lexton shouted at the same time while pointing at each. Noticing this, they turned to look at each other with frowns on their faces. ¡°MY FAULT!? YOU¡¯RE THE ONE ALWAYS STARTING IT!¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡± the redhead shouted furiously, putting a stop to the argument. ¡°No one here wants to deal with whatever crap you¡¯ve got going on this time, so just drop it or you¡¯re both sleeping on the streets tonight!¡±

    ¡°But-!¡± both Ryle and Lexton tried to argue, but Erin was not having it.

    ¡°DROP IT OR YOU GO THE STREETS! GOT IT!?¡± the redhead shouted.

    ¡°Y-YES!¡±

    ¡°I swear, the two of you are like overgrown children at times!¡± Erin said as she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming. ¡°Is there a kindergarten where I can just dump both of you, so I don¡¯t have to deal with this crap?¡±

    ¡°I doubt there¡¯s any institution that¡¯s willing to deal with their crap,¡± Durge said. ¡°Unless we¡¯re talking about a zoo.¡±

    ¡°Ha freaking ha. You guys are real comedians, you know?¡± Ryle said sarcastically.

    ¡°If it makes you feel better, I find your arguments with Lex much more amusing,¡± Zeldana said.

    ¡°NOBODY ASKED YOU!¡± Erin, Ryle, Lexton and Durge shouted at the same time.

    ¡°...I was just saying,¡± the elf mumbled.

    ¡°Of all the things¡­ Anyways, we should get down to business finally and see how much each of us has been able to accomplish so far,¡± Erin said. ¡°As far as I can tell, Lex¡¯s business has been doing very well, so we should have a decent amount of cash accumulated by now. Would it be correct for me to assume this, Lex?¡±

    ¡°But of course! You¡¯re talking about the products made by the great yours truly here!¡± Lexton replied happily. ¡°If they didn¡¯t sell well, I¡¯d die from shame! With the amount of money we¡¯ve accumulated so far, all of our monetary woes are solved! At least until we have to put a stop to my business dealings¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s certainly good to hear,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Mind sharing with the rest of us just what the money we¡¯ve earned has been spent on?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. Apart from the daily necessities that are to be covered, there have been some other things that the money has been spent on,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°These include ingredients for other potions, such as the ones I sell later to make more money and the ones we use during our travels. I¡¯ve also bought materials for some of my own combat equipment and things that I need to finish Durge¡¯s new weapon.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re spending an awful lot of cash on yourself,¡± Ryle said in an accusing tone. ¡°I really hope that¡¯s not all that you¡¯ve been using the money for.¡±

    ¡°You do realize that most of the stuff I¡¯ve bought is something that helps us all out, dumbass? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going on a personal shopping spree with the group¡¯s money,¡± Lexton said as he glared at the blonde. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not just spending it all on stuff that I build. I¡¯ve also gathered some books that should help Arkay and Erin develop their abilities in magic. I know how to be considerate, you know?¡±

    ¡°Could have fooled me,¡± Ryle mumbled.

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough of that! Good work, Lex!¡± Erin quickly said, hoping to move on with the conversation. ¡°The other thing we were hoping to achieve was information, especially in regards to Raylee. How has that worked out, Durge?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was able to confirm one thing. She really is here,¡± the orc replied. ¡°It turns out that she has been making nightly appearances every now and then on the northern side of the city. She has been spotted hovering over the steep cliff that¡¯s over there, almost like she¡¯s trying to get somebody¡¯s attention.¡±

    ¡°So the rumors were true then?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°Were you able to see her yourself and confirm this with your own eyes?¡±

    ¡°Not by actually seeing her, but I was able to see a photo someone took,¡± Durge replied. ¡°From the way I see it, if it wasn¡¯t Rayleen herself in it, then she has to have an identical twin. There¡¯s no way that it was just some body double.¡±

    ¡°Good to know that we didn¡¯t come here for nothing then,¡± Erin said. ¡°Since Rayleen¡¯s presence here has been confirmed, I suppose we might as well try and look what she is up to.¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°What have you got planned?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Nothing major. Just some basic spying,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go and try to find her myself. Once I do, I¡¯ll follow her movements as closely as possible. With any luck, she might reveal what she¡¯s doing here or even go to her base of operations.¡±

    ¡°Now hang on a second! You are NOT doing something like that on your own!¡± Ryle suddenly said in protest. ¡°It¡¯s way too dangerous for you to follow a warlord of all people alone! If you¡¯re found out, she will certainly beat your ass all over the city! You¡¯re going to need us with you in case things go south!¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the concern, but that¡¯s out of the question,¡± Erin said. ¡°The more of us try to follow her around, the easier it will be for her to spot us. Not only that, but some of us aren¡¯t exactly suited for this type of work. No offense meant towards those individuals, of course.¡±

    ¡°Meh. It¡¯s a fair assessment,¡± Durge said with a shrug.

    ¡°I know my weaknesses all too well, so I don¡¯t feel the need to be offended,¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°Glad that at least went over well¡­ My point still is that something like this doesn¡¯t work well with a large group,¡± Erin said. ¡°In order for us to stay out of sight, we must not draw as little attention to ourselves as possible. With all of us that won¡¯t just be difficult, but near impossible. The best solution is for me to go at this on my own in order to avoid detection.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so suddenly some sort of a master spy and all? The rest of us are not on your level? Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± Ryle asked in an accusing tone. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯ve done plenty of jobs that require sneaking around and I was like a shadow! Don¡¯t think that you¡¯re the only one that¡¯s good at sneaking around!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not trying to say that you¡¯re not skilled or anything! I¡¯m just stating the fact that this operation works better with a much smaller group!¡± the redhead said defensively. ¡°Besides, if we all go, that just means we might all get captured or killed at the same time! It¡¯s better for me to go on my own, so that you guys can come help me, if something does go wrong.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only if you¡¯re left alive, so somebody can help you! And considering who we are dealing with, I DON¡¯T THINK THAT¡¯S LIKELY!¡± the blonde said angrily. ¡°Like it or not, you¡¯re not doing this solo! At least one of us is going to come along!¡±

    ¡°But I-!¡±

    ¡°Erin, the blonde imbecile is right about this one,¡± Lexton said, ignoring Ryle¡¯s hateful glare directed at him. ¡°The fact of the matter is that you going on your own is pretty much suicidal. If we are to believe that you¡¯ll actually have any chance of survival, you¡¯re going to need some company with you. Not just to help you fight, but possibly come here and inform the rest of us what has happened.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But I¡­¡± Erin tried to argue her position while looking around at her companions, only to see that none of them were in agreement with her. She could tell just by the looks she was getting that they all agreed with Ryle and Lexton. ¡°...I¡¯m not going to win this, am I?¡±

    ¡°No, you certainly are not,¡± Durge said with a small chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. The things you said were true in a sense. Moving with a large group will only make it easier for Rayleen to spot us and some of us, like yours truly, are not suited for these types of missions. However, you can¡¯t deny that going solo isn¡¯t much of a better option. At least one or two of us should come along with you.¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s right! And it¡¯s not like we are looking down on your skills either!¡± Arkay said. ¡°We are just worried over what might happen to you, since you¡¯ll be on your own! We care about you and don¡¯t want to see you get yourself hurt!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°Well, since I¡¯m going to be joined by others in this, who am I going to be going with then?¡±

    <hr>

    Later that night, the redhead was walking down the city¡¯s empty streets along with two of her companions. They were heading towards one of the spots where Rayleen had been spotted a few times, hoping that they would be able to see the warlord for themselves tonight.

    The two that were accompanying Erin were Ryle and Arkay, as they were the most suited for jobs that required stealth. Ryle had experience in being sneaky from her work as a bounty hunter, when she would have to follow targets without being noticed, and Arkay had been a very skilled thief back in Moonstone City, so he knew how to keep himself hidden. With Erin having been trained by professional assassins in the art of stealth, they had gathered the best members of their group for the task at hand.

    Heading towards the northern side of the city, the trio came to a very large and steep cliff that the city had been named after. The local geography was formed in such a manner that there was a sudden drop from where the city was built, with the much lower area continuing for miles in all directions. This lower area¡¯s ground was made of very soft dust that was difficult to move in, which made anyone foolish enough to venture there easy prey to the beasts that lived in that area.

    From what Erin could remember, the backstory of this place was that it had once been the central metropolis of the whole Western Continent, until a horrible disaster caused most of it to sink into the ground, leaving behind nothing but a large and deadly wasteland. Cliffdrop City was the only remaining part of that long forgotten metropolis and was only a very small portion of what used to stand there.

    Apparently, there were rumors about a grand quest hidden somewhere in the game, where you would discover not only the ruins of this old city, but also what caused it to sink. There were all sorts of theories ranging from strange experiments and gigantic monsters living underground as to what had been the cause. Yet despite numerous players trying their best, no one had been able to discover said quest. Even Erin had tried to, along with Devin and his friends, but with no success.

    However, now wasn¡¯t the time to be thinking about rumors involving a game. The redhead needed to focus on learning more information about their next target in order to come up with a plan to take her down.

    Arriving at the northern edge of the city, the three assassins hid in the shadows of nearby buildings. They were situated almost at the edge of the cliff with only a simple guardrail between themselves and a drop that would lead to certain death. The moon shined down brightly from the night sky, allowing them to see the area where Rayleen was supposedly spotted, but not into the deep abyss below.

    ¡°So this is where our warlord likes to make herself seen, huh?¡± Ryle asked, while keeping her eyes open for any movement ahead of them. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s much here that¡¯s worth seeing, though. I mean, you literally cannot see anything beneath you from there! Why would she come here at all?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we are here to find out,¡± Erin said. ¡°Whatever it is that keeps bringing her here is, we need to figure out what it is. After all, someone of her caliber wouldn¡¯t come here just to see the sights. Or¡­ the lack of sights, I suppose¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Isn¡¯t the view of the night sky and the moon more than enough reason to come here?¡± Arkay asked as he gazed at the stars above them with a small smile. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind coming here to do that. Since this isn¡¯t a place with a lot of people going about, you¡¯d be allowed to do so in peace as well. Being able to take in such sights without being disturbed sounds almost too good to be true.¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle turned towards their young friend with surprised looks on their faces. The cat boy was often so nervous and awkward that neither of them would have expected him to just open up like this all of a sudden.

    ¡°Wow, Arnie, I never took you for someone who enjoyed gazing at the stars,¡± Erin said. ¡°Where did this all come from?¡±

    ¡°Well, the village I grew up at wasn¡¯t exactly rich. We all had to work hard almost every day in order to keep things going. Not only that, but I also had to study academic skills and magic as well, so there was very little time for playing around or relaxing,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°It was often only at evenings that I was done with all the work. One of my favorite things to do was sit down on the ground and look up at the sky to see the stars. Sometimes my mom or my dad or even both would join me, telling me about stories related to the stars. Those are some of my best memories I have of them.¡±

    While Erin was happy that the cat boy had decided to share this part about his life with them, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit sad over his fate. Arkay had lost both of his parents and most likely everyone he knew while growing up at a very young age, which forced him into a life of crime. Now the closest thing to a family he had was their group, assassins trying to take down the most powerful people in their world. The redhead considered it unfair that a person as gentle and kind as him would have to go through such a life.

    However, while she couldn¡¯t help with what had already happened to Arkay, Erin could help with how his life would turn up from this point forward. She was determined to not just keep the cat boy and her other friends safe, but to also make sure that they felt like they belonged into the group. This was something she was especially going to do when it came to their group¡¯s youngest member. He head been a tremendous help to them, so it was the least she could do.

    ¡°Hey, Arnie¡­ If you-¡±

    ¡°If you wanna go gazing at the stars, you can call me anytime!¡± Ryle said, cutting off Erin. She put an arm around Arkay¡¯s shoulders and pulled him close with a grin on her face. ¡°I¡¯m always available for a good time, so no need to hesitate to call me! In fact, spending a night under the glow of stars sounds real fun¡­¡±

    ¡°O-Oh! Thank you!¡± Arkay said with a small blush on his face. ¡°You don¡¯t need to force yourself to do that, though. I can go and do that on my own.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t go saying stuff like that now! It¡¯s no problem for me at all! Like I said, it sounds like it would be fun!¡± the blonde said. ¡°After all, fewer things are as romantic as two people spending their time together underneath the night sky, so- OW!¡±

    Ryle was suddenly cut off by a punch to the back of her head from Erin. The redhead had even made sure to use her metallic hand, so that the strike was as painful as possible.

    ¡°Would you mind and keep your mind out of the gutter for once!?¡± Erin asked angrily as she glared at the blonde. She then turned her attention back to Arkay. ¡°You know, Arnie, if you ever need something from any of us, whether it¡¯s a person to talk to or someone to spend time with, you can come to any of us. There¡¯s not a single person among us who wouldn¡¯t mind doing that for you.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you, Erin,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°I honestly appreciate that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I completely agree with her on every point, except for one,¡± Ryle said as she glared at Erin. ¡°Did you really have to knock me on the back of my head!? You could have at least used your normal hand for that!¡±

    ¡°Like that would get through your thick skull!¡± the redhead shot back.

    While Ryle and Erin were getting into an argument, Arkay looked over to where the edge of the cliff was and noticed something fly past the moon. At first, the cat boy thought that it had been just a bird or some other flying creature, but upon seeing it appear again he was able to see the more human figure it had. His eyes went wide, as he realized what it most likely was.

    ¡°Guys, I think Rayleen is here!¡± Arkay whispered to his companions who immediately stopped their argument. ¡°I just saw her fly past the moon!¡±

    Knowing that their target was there, the trio of assassins went into hiding, using the shadows to their advantage. Just as they had hidden themselves, the figure that Arkay had seen came into full view by swooping down from high, before taking a stationary position hovering over the pit below. Erin listened and could hear windows of nearby buildings open and people scrambling to the roofs as well. It seemed like they weren¡¯t the only ones who had come to see the warlord.

    Under the light of the moon and stars, every onlooker was able to recognize the figure before them. The large black wings, the bright blue hair and the intimidating armor were clear signs to the identity of the person that had appeared. There was no mistaking that Rayleen, one of the three warlords of the Western Continent, stood before them.

    Erin, Ryle and Arkay steeled their hearts for their mission, not realizing the danger they were getting into.

 119. Hunters Hunted

    Chapter 119

    Hunters Hunted

    Erin and her two companions stood in awe as they watched their target, Rayleen, float before their eyes. The moon shined brightly over the demon¡¯s figure, giving her almost a mystical appearance. If they didn¡¯t know better, they might have considered the warlord to be a being from a completely different world who had come down from the heavens to watch over them.

    Rayleen¡¯s posture seemed relaxed, but there were small hints in her body language that told another story. The demon was a true warrior down to the core, as even now she gave off an intimidating aura that was meant to scare those weaker than her. Erin and the others knew as well that this wasn¡¯t just some bluff. If someone were to attack Rayleen, she would immediately be ready for battle. And judging by the visible muscles and scars from past battles, it would be a fight the attacker would come to regret.

    ¡°So there¡¯s our target. The big warlord herself,¡± Ryle whispered, afraid of causing too much noise and blowing their cover. ¡°What do we do now? This isn¡¯t exactly an optimal place for us to fight her.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t. Our goal is to simply gather information,¡± Erin said. ¡°Right now, let¡¯s just observe and see what she does.¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be doing much,¡± Arkay said. ¡°She¡¯s just floating there while looking around. I guess one thing we can say so far is that she isn¡¯t interested in whatever might be below her.¡±

    The three assassins continued to observe their target, wondering what she was up to. It seemed like Rayleen was in a trance of some kind, as she was looking over her surroundings in a bored manner, like nothing was of any interest to her. Even the few onlookers that had gathered around, some of who were trying to get the warlord¡¯s attention, were practically invisible to her.

    This went on for a couple of minutes, when suddenly Rayleen took off, flying over the buildings and the curious onlookers that were occupying them. As far as everybody knew, this was completely new, as the warlord had so far simply flown back the way she had come, disappearing into the distance covered by the uninhabitable land below.

    ¡°Hey, where is she going!?¡± Ryle asked out loud as she watched the warlord fly past them. ¡°Isn¡¯t this completely different from what Durge told us!?¡±

    ¡°It is! Durge said that she would just go back the way she came!¡± Arkay said. ¡°Not only that, but she usually spends more time here! About an hour or two! Now she left after just a few minutes!¡±

    ¡°Well, what are we waiting for!?¡± the blonde asked with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s go and see what she¡¯s up to!¡±

    Ryle and Arkay started to run after the warlord, only to stop in their tracks when they noticed that Erin was standing still. The redhead had an expression on her face that was mixture of shock and confusion, as she stared in the direction Rayleen had flown.

    ¡°Erin, what the hell are you spacing out for!?¡± Ryle called out to the redhead, snapping her out of her daze. ¡°We gotta go before we lose her! Come one!¡±

    ¡°I-I know!¡± Erin said, still coming out of her shock. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    ¡°Just what?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°...Never mind,¡± the redhead replied, running after their target. ¡°It must have just been my imagination.¡±

    With Erin back to her senses, the three assassins began to chase after their target. However, while she might have said that it was nothing and she was doing her best to convince herself of it, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but think back on what she had seen.

    Just for a brief moment, Erin could have sworn that Rayleen gaze had passed over them. And once it did that, the warlord¡¯s eyes had widened a bit, like she had recognized them.

    <hr>

    Following after Rayleen, Erin and her friends were forced through a rather difficult obstacle course that consisted of narrow alleyways, creaky roofs and the occasional passerby. Despite this, they were able to stay on their target thanks to their experiences.

    The thing that baffled the pursuers was that there didn¡¯t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to where the warlord was going. She seemed to make random twists and turns, which had caused Erin and the others quite a bit of headache. This was literally true with Ryle, who had crashed into walls and other objects thanks to Rayleen suddenly changing direction.

    ¡°Goddammit! What the hell is she doing!? Is she drunk or something!?¡± Ryle cursed after colliding face first with a wall for the third time. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be going anywhere at all! She¡¯s just flying around like some lunatic that has completely lost all sense of direction!¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. None of this makes any sense!¡± Erin said, just as frustrated as the blonde was. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that we¡¯ve gone past certain spots multiple times by now! Unless she has amnesia and has forgotten where she is, I don¡¯t see how this is supposed to make any sense!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure¡­ Doesn¡¯t it almost seem like she¡¯s trying to shake us off?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°That¡¯s the only explanation that I can think of for the way she¡¯s acting. By doing all these sudden changes in her movements, it looks like she is trying to make it as hard as possible for us to follow her.¡±

    ¡°That would actually make sense,¡± the redhead said, as her eye went wide and she thought back to what she had seen right before Rayleen had started to fly around. ¡°In fact, I thought for a brief moment that she saw us, when we were watching her from the shadows just now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s some bullshit! No way she could have seen us!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°We were completely hidden in the shadows! How the hell could she have possibly seen any of us!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying what I saw and that it would make sense with our current issue,¡± Erin said. ¡°I mean, how else would you explain this weird behavior from her? There has got to be something more to this than just her having lost her mind or something!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s obviously drunk or something! Simple as that!¡± the blonde said bluntly. ¡°There¡¯s not always some grand plan going on that we have to figure out! Sometimes what is happening is as simple as it can be!¡±

    The redhead was about to respond, when she realized that during their argument they had lost sight of Rayleen. For a moment, she panicked as she looked around desperately trying to find the warlord. It wasn¡¯t until she climbed on top of a nearby building that she was able to spot Rayleen in the distance. Just like when she had first appeared before them, the warlord had taken a stationary position, floating in place as if waiting for something.

    However, instead of feeling relief, an alarm went off inside Erin¡¯s head. There was something very strange about this. Why was Rayleen suddenly stopping in her tracks? She had not shown any signs of slowing down at all before, so why had she come to a full stop now? Was she waiting for something? And if that was the case, what was it?

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing strange going on, then how do you explain that?¡± Erin asked as she pointed at Rayleen. ¡°Just moments ago, she was flying around wildly, like a bat out of hell! Why is she now staying in place?¡±

    ¡°How should I know!? Maybe she¡¯s waiting for her date to show up or something!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°The fact is that nothing she has done so far has made any sense anyways, so why are we trying to make sense of it!?¡±

    ¡°Because we aren¡¯t dealing with just some random thug here! This is a warlord we are talking about here!¡± the redhead argued back. ¡°Do you really think that a person like that would be flying around here, if it wasn¡¯t something important!? The reason why Arnie and I are worried is because we are dealing with someone incredibly powerful here and one mistake could get us all killed!¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ I get that and all, but what kind of a plan could THIS possibly be!?¡± the blonde kept arguing. ¡°What sort of a plan involves her just flying around randomly!?¡±

    As the two women were about to continue their argument, Arkay noticed that Rayleen was on the move again. Notifying his friends about this development, the three assassins were once again chasing after the warlord. While they might have been unsure as to what Rayleen was doing, they also knew that they needed to focus on their mission, which was to gather information on their target.

    However, Erin couldn¡¯t help but fear that they were making a very bad mistake by continuing their mission.

    <hr>

    The assassins continued following Rayleen for a few more minutes, when the warlord suddenly picked up speed and seemed to land somewhere in the distance. Panicking over potentially losing track of their target, Erin and her companions quickly ran in the direction Rayleen had flown, hoping to still find her.

    Their chase led them to the more rundown part of the city. A lot of the buildings around them had their windows boarded up and were showing signs of neglect, as no one had been coming to take care of them for a long time. The group was currently in a large open area, most likely meant for markets, with tall abandoned buildings surrounding them on all sides, with just small alleys leading out of the area.

    ¡°What the-!? Where the hell did she go now!?¡± Ryle asked as she looked around. ¡°And why would she come to the backside of the city!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know! That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been-¡± Erin began, only for her to realize something that caused her eyes to go wide. ¡°Oh no¡­ Could this be an ambush? Did she purposefully lure us here!?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you on about? There¡¯s not a single person here besides us!¡± the blonde said before sniffing the air a bit. ¡°I can¡¯t pick up any scents besides ours. We¡¯re completely alone here.¡±

    ¡°I also cannot sense any magic either,¡± Arkay said. ¡°If there were people hiding nearby through magic, I would¡¯ve sensed at least some magical residue, similarly to how I can tell when one of Lexton¡¯s vials has a golem in it or not.¡±

    ¡°Well, that certainly is a big relief,¡± Erin said as she let out a sigh, having been nervous over the possibility of walking into a trap. ¡°This still doesn¡¯t explain what Rayleen has been doing. I mean, this being a trap would have made perfect sense, considering the location. But if that isn¡¯t the case, then what has all of this been?¡±

    ¡°Actually, it is a trap,¡± a new voice said from above, causing the assassins to look up. ¡°It just had quite a few parts to it.¡±

    Erin, Ryle and Arkay went wide-eyed as they saw none other than Rayleen right above them. With the moon right behind her, the warlord made a terrifying image, like a monster that comes out at night to hunt people. A wide grin was spread over her face as she looked down at her dumbfounded pursuers in amusement.

    ¡°Why the surprised looks?¡± Rayleen asked mockingly. ¡°I thought you all wanted to meet me. Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯ve been following me this whole time?¡±

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°But¡­ How!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How did you know we were there!?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­ Give some credit. You don¡¯t rise to the rank of a warlord without having to deal with at least a dozen attempts at your life. Some of them from your own people even!¡± the warlord said. ¡°Also, did you really think you were hidden at all? The arguing you guys did, along with one of you crashing into pretty much everything gave away your position to anyone with working ears.¡±

    ¡°Well, excuse me for trying to follow your erratic ass!¡± Ryle cursed angrily.

    ¡°Oh, I was just playing around with you. I wanted to see how well you would be able to follow me and you didn¡¯t disappoint! In fact, it was quite amusing to observe how much you all struggled to keep up!¡± Rayleen said with a laugh. ¡°Besides, I wouldn¡¯t have started to fly around until I noticed you observing me. Why do you think I was simply floating back there in the first place? In such an open space no less!¡±

    ¡°...You were deliberately waiting to be found,¡± Erin said as her eye went wide with realization. ¡°There was no actual objective to that. You were just waiting for us, like bait on a hook until we came along!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ve been trying to get in touch with you guys for days!¡± the warlord said. ¡°Do you have any idea how sick of waiting I was!? I¡¯ve got things to do!¡±

    The redhead realized just how badly they had been played. She had known that there was something strange about this whole thing, yet she had decided to not trust her instincts, which had now landed them right into a trap.

    There were still questions that needed to be answered, though.

    ¡°Ryle, you said you couldn¡¯t smell anyone nearby!¡± Erin said. ¡°How did you not notice her flying right above us!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing! I still can¡¯t!¡± the blonde said while pointing at her nose. ¡°As far as my nose can tell, there¡¯s no one here besides the three of us!¡±

    ¡°I also can¡¯t sense any magic on her,¡± Arkay said as a bit of nervous sweat dropped down the side of his face. ¡°Whatever she has done to hide her presence, it wasn¡¯t done through magic at all.¡±

    ¡°The kitten gets it right!¡± Rayleen said happily. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯ve had to deal with quite a few assassination attempts and I¡¯ve naturally been forced to hide myself as well. I quickly learned that relying too much on magic is a surefire way to get yourself killed. It¡¯s better to go through the trouble of finding ointments, perfumes, antidotes and other items that can help hide yourself. It may take time and cost quite a bit, but it¡¯s more than worth it in the long run.¡±

    ¡°...But what kind of an ambush is this, if you¡¯re here on your own?¡± Erin asked. ¡°If what Ryle said is true, then you seem to be the only enemy that we have to deal with. What sort of a leader goes out without their bodyguards?¡±

    ¡°Good question! However, I¡¯d like to pose a different question towards you in response,¡± the warlord said. ¡°What sort of a warrior would let others have all the fun?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you want to take us on all by yourself for the sake of amusement? That¡¯s pretty cocky of you!¡± Ryle said as she glared at their opponent. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that basic math isn¡¯t a requirement to becoming a warlord! If you knew how to count, you¡¯d know that it¡¯s 3 on 1 here! We already took down Gotzmeyer, so I doubt you¡¯ll be much of a challenge for us!¡±

    ¡°Oh my! You¡¯re making such big assumptions that it¡¯s practically adorable!¡± Rayleen said with a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re making two mistakes in your assumptions. First, do you really think that beating Gotzmeyer is any kind of an achievement in my eyes? That insect was just kept around, because he was somewhat useful! In fact, it was for that reason alone that I didn¡¯t kill him personally! Well, not until recently that is¡­¡±

    ¡°So it was you who killed him. And that¡¯s how his death was ultimately confirmed,¡± Erin said to which the warlord simply nodded. ¡°And what might be the other assumption that we are wrong about?¡±

    ¡°Simple. You are underestimating ME,¡± Rayleen replied, before landing in front of the assassins so fast that a cloud of dust rose from the ground. ¡°Do you really think that I¡¯m so weak that I would lose to the three of you?¡±

    Erin and her two companions were taken aback by the confidence their opponent displayed. They had been confident in themselves not too long ago, as what Ryle had said was true. Not only did they have the advantage in numbers, but they had also been able to deal with another warlord not too long ago. Even if Gotzmeyer had been more of a scam artist than a powerful warrior, he had still been a dangerous enemy around the same level as Rayleen. They all knew this, yet somehow the opponent before them had been able to take away almost all of that confidence with just a few words alone.

    Despite this, they were still going to fight. It was the mission they had set up for themselves and they were going to go for it.

    ¡°Listen, we might have underestimated her, but we must not back down,¡± Erin whispered to her friends. ¡°Warlord or not, she¡¯s our enemy and we are going to take her down.¡±

    ¡°Damn right! No way is she getting away from us!¡± Ryle whispered back in agreement. ¡°So what¡¯s the battle plan? How do we go about kicking her ass?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll charge ahead and grab her attention. With her distracted by my attack, you¡¯ll be able to find and opening to exploit and hopefully take her down,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°And while we are doing that, I want you, Arnie, to stay in the back and give us support through magic. Also, in case things turn for the worst, I want you use an invisibility spell on you to sneak away and warn the others.¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± Arkay replied, even though he didn¡¯t like that last part when it came to what he needed to do. ¡°You can count on me!¡±

    ¡°Hey! Are you guys done talking to each other!?¡± Rayleen suddenly yelled, bringing the attention back to herself. ¡°It¡¯s not nice to leave others out, you know!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry. We are not forgetting about you at all,¡± Erin said as she loaded a magic stone in her sword¡¯s chamber, causing the blade to be enveloped in flames. ¡°We¡¯ll give you plenty of attention, so just wait there until we get to you.¡±

    ¡°Good! I¡¯m getting tired of waiting over here!¡± the warlord complained. ¡°Now, can we finally get started or do you three need to have another talk among yourselves?¡±

    Deciding not to waste any more time on pointless chatter, the redhead glanced at Ryle, who gave her a nod. Reacting to this immediately, Erin took off in a dash and rushed towards Rayleen from the front. The warlord herself didn¡¯t seem to react to this at all, which the redhead assumed was due to being caught off-guard by the sudden attack. Rayleen had yet to even put herself into a defensive stance, as Erin brought her sword down on her, aiming at the warlord¡¯s left shoulder.

    What happened next shook Erin and her friends to their cores. Instead of dodging, blocking or simply letting her armor take the blow, Rayleen lazily lifted up her left hand and caught the flame-covered blade with it. The way she did it made it look like it was nothing more than child¡¯s play for her. The warlord even let out a yawn, as she held the shocked redhead¡¯s weapon, not even a bit bothered by the flames.

    ¡°Seriously? Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Rayleen asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Did you guys actually beat Gotzmeyer or did he do it for you guys or something?¡±

    Erin gritted her teeth in shock and anger, but didn¡¯t let it get to her. She knew that her attack was meant as more of a distraction than anything and that Ryle was going to follow up on her move. The blonde soon came from behind the warlord, having circled around her while she had been occupied with the redhead. Charging her leg with ki, Ryle delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the back of Rayleen¡¯s head. The blow was powerful enough to crack boulders, so it should have easily broken the skull of an enemy.

    However, much to the shock of Erin, Ryle and Arkay, the kick barely made Rayleen move. Instead, the warlord rubbed the back of her head with her free hand, like she was scratching the bite of a mosquito.

    ¡°That actually stung a bit,¡± Rayleen said as she glanced over to Ryle. ¡°Not bad, but not good enough either.¡±

    Taking the warlord¡¯s words as an insult, the blonde¡¯s shock was quickly replaced with rage, causing her to start throwing punches and kicks furiously at her enemy. Ryle was using everything she had to take down Rayleen, going so far as to completely ignore Erin calling out to her and telling her to back off.

    The barrage of blows from Ryle was suddenly stopped by Rayleen, who grabbed her leg and simply threw her away. The blonde hit a nearby wall and fell to the ground in pain.

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got? Your first kick was somewhat impressive, but what you followed it up with was nothing special at all!¡± the warlord said with a sigh. ¡°What are you? A child throwing a tantrum?¡±

    ¡°Why you-!¡± Erin cursed as she tried to pull her sword out of Rayleen¡¯s grasp, only to find out that this was impossible for her. The warlord¡¯s seemingly lazy grip was so strong that her weapon was completely locked in place. ¡°Goddammit! Let go!¡±

    ¡°Since you asked so nicely,¡± Rayleen said with a grin, as she let go of the blade just when the redhead pulled on the weapon, causing her to fall down backwards. ¡°You might want to watch what you ask, though.¡±

    Erin quickly got back up, swinging her sword at the warlord¡¯s legs at the same time. Her blade swung through empty air, as Rayleen easily jumped over the attack. The redhead tried to follow up with another swing, but was interrupted with a kick to the chest. She flew backwards and crashed into a pile of trash that had been abandoned on the street a long time ago. Erin coughed up blood, as she struggled to get up.

    However, the physical damage was nothing compared to the damage that had been done to the redhead¡¯s morale. In just a matter of seconds, Rayleen had destroyed any illusion that she had over them being able to take her on. In the face of the warlord, all of their attacks were easily brushed aside, not even worthy of being seen as a nuisance. To make it worse, Rayleen hadn¡¯t even fought back seriously at all. All of her ¡°attacks¡± so far had just been simple moves that pretty much anyone could use.

    ¡°Hey. Would you mind and get your ass up already? I¡¯m starting to get bored over here,¡± the warlord complained. ¡°I honestly thought that you guys would be able to provide at least a bit of amusement for me, but you¡¯re not even making me break a sweat here! Talk about failing to meet expectations!¡±

    While most would have simply been angered by such words, they actually shook Erin to her core. In that moment, she realized just how wide the gap between them was, to the point that they weren¡¯t even worthy of being a game to Rayleen. They had arrogantly believed that they would be able to take on someone like her based on assumptions they made after facing Gotzmeyer, not realizing just how foolish it had truly been.

    They needed to run away. Not fight.

    Unfortunately for the redhead, her companions weren¡¯t on the same page as she was. As soon as she had recovered from the hit she had taken, Ryle was back on her feet and charging towards Rayleen with fists ready. Not only that, but Erin noticed that Arkay wasn¡¯t preparing to run away either and was instead preparing spells to fire at the warlord.

    ¡°GUYS! STOP!¡± the redhead yelled desperately, hoping to reach her friends before it was too late. ¡°WE CAN¡¯T-!¡±

    Erin¡¯s warning came too late, as Arkay sent a couple of balls of electricity out of his hands flying towards Rayleen. The warlord didn¡¯t even bother moving to avoid the attacks, as she simply swatted them away with her hand, like she was dealing with an annoying fly buzzing around her.

    However, the cat boy¡¯s attack had just been a diversion, which allowed Ryle to get behind Rayleen again. This time, the blonde was charging her ultimate move by gathering as much ki in her fist as she could. With the close proximity to her opponent, there was no chance for her attack to miss.

    ¡°LET¡¯S SEE YOU SURVIVE THIS!¡± Ryle shouted as she unleashed her special move, causing the blast of ki to hit the warlord fully on her back.

    The blonde and her friends had expected her special move to cause at least some type of damage, if not outright kill Rayleen. After all, this was an attack that was able to blow up boulders and had even damaged a dragon of all things. Yet despite this, they were shocked to see the warlord still standing after taking such a hit.

    ¡°Oww¡­ Okay, that freaking hurt!¡± Rayleen said as she rubbed her back with both hands, like she was an old man with back pain. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make you pay for that!¡±

    The warlord was about to turn around and give Ryle the punishment she had promised, but stopped in her tracks upon sensing something. She felt on her skin a strange change in the air, as of the wind was blowing unnaturally and like there was some sort of an electric charge carried by it. She could also feel a strange build up of magic right behind her. Not only that, but her years of combat had helped develop a sort of a ¡°danger sense¡± that helped her notice beings that could prove to be lethal, whether enemy soldiers, beasts, traps or even natural disasters. It was this last sense that was practically screaming at her to turn around and do it fast.

    Looking behind her, the warlord was shocked to see the person she had imagined to be the least threatening of her attackers behind the phenomenon she had sensed. Right before her eyes, Arkay was charging an incredibly powerful spell, one that only his friends had seen him use once. Spraks of electricity were gathering on his hands as he was making his preparations. What was even more shocking was that nature itself was seemingly responding to this, as the wind was picking up and dark clouds were gathering above them. Soon these clouds began to shoot down bolts of lightning that were gathered into a powerful orb in the cat boy¡¯s hands.

    To say that Rayleen was surprised was an understatement. Upon seeing her pursuers, she had written off Arkay as a non-threat, due to him looking very weak. That assumption had been completely smashed, as the power he was wielding was something the warlord had only see in very few individuals. Whatever this attack was, getting hit by it could be potentially dangerous.

    Despite the danger, Rayleen simply grinned in anticipation. She had so far been disappointed by what her attackers had shown her and this seemed much better than everything else so far. After all, the warlord had her own objectives and this was the closest thing to fulfilling it.

    Arkay was soon done charging his attack and sent it flying towards Rayleen, who simply stood still, waiting for the orb of electricity to hit her. The collision caused sparks of lightning to fly everywhere and cover the whole area in a blinding light. Erin and Ryle had to cover their eyes to avoid losing their sight.

    The spell had not just been powerful, but also very taxing on its user. After using it, Arkay was now pretty much spent and wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything else. It was similar to Ryle¡¯s special move in the manner that it couldn¡¯t be used all that many times, but the sheer destructive power meant that any opponent hit by it would not be able to get back up.

    Or at least that was the theory.

    Much to the absolute shock of not just Arkay, but also Erin and Ryle, Rayleen was still standing. The attack had managed to hurt her, as there was steam rising from her body and she had a wide-eyed look of absolute shock on her face. Her hair was also standing up from the hit of electricity she had just taken.

    Without saying a word, the warlord slowly brought her hands up to gently push down her hair and fix her hairstyle. A small puff of smoke escaped her lips in a cough as well.

    ¡°...Okay. THAT was impressive,¡± Rayleen said, finally breaking out of the shock she had been locked into. ¡°I really hope you can¡¯t pull that off again, because I¡¯m pretty sure that it would kill me.¡±

    Seeing as how their enemy was still standing, Arkay tried to charge another similar spell, but to no avail. He was completely out of any strength to continue fighting in any capacity.

    ¡°ARNIE, GET OUT OF HERE!¡± Erin yelled suddenly.

    ¡°W-What!?¡± the cat boy said. ¡°B-But I can¡¯t just-!¡±

    ¡°YOU HAVE TO! GET OUT OF HERE AND WARN THE OTHERS!¡± the redhead yelled, cutting off Arkay¡¯s protest. ¡°Ryle and I will try to hold her here, while you get the others to help us! It¡¯s the only way we can win! HURRY!¡±

    The cat boy wanted to continue protesting, but knew that Erin was right. They had come into this fight far too unprepared. If they were to have any hope of winning, they needed to get the others to help them out. He could only hope that he made it back fast enough.

    However, Rayleen was not about to let any of them escape.

    ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t!¡± the warlord shouted as she unfolded her wings and sped towards Arkay.

    The cat boy could barely react, as Rayleen suddenly appeared behind him and delivered a hand chop on the back of his neck. The blow immediately knocked him out and caused him to fall to the ground.

    ¡°YOU BASTARD!¡± Ryle roared, enraged by what the warlord had just done.

    She wasn¡¯t able to act out in her anger, as Rayleen shifted her attention to the blonde next. Using her wings to gain a sudden boost of speed again, the warlord dashed towards Ryle and delivered a powerful knee kick to her stomach. The blonde struggled to stay up, but soon fell to her knees before falling down unconscious.

    Seeing what had happened to her friends, Erin tried to put up a resistance and fight back, but before she could do anything Rayleen was already behind her. Strong arms quickly wrapped around her neck, putting her in a powerful choke hold that prevented her from breathing.

    As she soon fell unconscious, the redhead glanced at her knocked out friends, her last thought being hope that they were alright. After that, darkness took over and she was out.

 120. Deal with a Demon

    Chapter 120

    Deal with a Demon

    Erin woke up with a sore neck and a bad headache. She tried to move around a bit, only to find her movements restrained. It was then that panic began to set in, as the events of what had happened to her before being knocked out came flooding in. The redhead began to look around frantically in the hopes of figuring out what had happened to her and her friends.

    Much to her relief, Erin quickly found both Ryle and Arkay right next to her. However, they were both in a similar predicament as she was, which caused her distress. The three assassins had been tied to chairs. Testing the restraints placed on her, she could tell that this wasn¡¯t something they would be able to break free from easily. The material used to tie them up wasn¡¯t just some ordinary rope, but seemed to be some sort of a special wire, most likely developed for situations like this.

    Having made note of her immediate situation, the redhead began to look around in order to possibly figure out where they were. Unfortunately, the place didn¡¯t look familiar at all and seemed to just be a cave, most likely located on the outskirts of the city. This was probably the reason as to why she and her friends didn¡¯t have their mouths covered by their captors, since there was no one around that they could call out for help.

    Seeing as how they were still alive after being knocked out, Erin figured out that whoever was behind this must have wanted them alive. The question that remained was what was that reason?

    Hearing the sound of her friends beginning to stir, the redhead turned her attention towards Ryle and Arkay. It seemed like they were starting to wake up as well.

    ¡°Oww¡­ I feel like crap,¡± Ryle muttered groggily as she woke up. ¡°What in the-? Where the hell are we?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing a cave outside the city,¡± Erin said, getting the blonde¡¯s attention. ¡°Good to see you¡¯re awake and alive. How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Like I said earlier, like crap. But I won¡¯t feel anywhere near as bad as the dumbass who thought this was a good idea, once I get my hands on them,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Who would want to take us prisoner anyways? What are they supposed to gain from that?¡±

    ¡°No idea. Although, I¡¯m sure we¡¯re going to find that out soon,¡± the redhead said. ¡°As for who took us prisoner, I can¡¯t say for sure, but do you remember what we were doing before you went lights out?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not exactly fond of thinking back on my less than proudest moment¡­ But I do remember us fighting that warlord lady. I got angry at her, because she-¡± the blonde began recalling the events that led to this, when she remembered what had happened to Arkay and her eyes went wide. ¡°Oh crap! That¡¯s right! Where¡¯s Arnie!? Is he okay!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right here, Ryle,¡± the cat boy said as he had woken up as well.

    ¡°Thank God! Not in that I¡¯m glad about what we¡¯ve gotten ourselves into, but just the fact that you¡¯re okay,¡± the blonde said happily. ¡°I mean, this is very similar to that one fun dream I once had, except Erin wasn¡¯t there and I wasn¡¯t tied up. And-¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell us any more. We don¡¯t need it,¡± Erin said in a frustrated tone as she shook her head lightly. ¡°Anyways, we should focus on getting out of here. We don¡¯t know if whoever captured us knows about the others, so we need to get out of here and warn them as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more than aware of the rest of your band of buddies,¡± the voice of Rayleen suddenly cut in from behind the trio, who looked behind them to see the warlord walking up to them. ¡°I might not know where they are right now, but rest assured that if I want to, I can find them. Won¡¯t take me long either.¡±

    ¡°I was wondering if it was you who captured us. It seems I was right,¡± the redhead said as she glared at Rayleen. ¡°So what exactly do you want from us? I can promise you that we don¡¯t have anything to tell you that you¡¯d find useful.¡±

    ¡°I know that much already. Give me some credit!¡± the warlord said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough of those who have a problem with the Five Overlords to tell that you guys aren¡¯t working with any of the major resistance groups out there. Not only that, but you¡¯ve done a very bad job at hiding your tracks, if you were ever attempting to do so in the first place at all. I know more than enough about every member of your little band of friends.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? Well, aren¡¯t you a big shot!¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°What did you find out about me? My favorite flavor of ice cream and cookies?¡±

    ¡°Not that much. But I did find out about your profession as a bounty hunter and your immediate family,¡± Rayleen said with a smirk. ¡°You lost your parents at a young age, forcing you to live in the slums of Grand Ravine with your younger brother, Zeke. Because of he fell ill, you had to take up bounty hunting in order to provide not just food and other necessities for the two of you, but also medical supplies for him. Luckily for you, you had a talent for fighting and he eventually picked up skills that helped you in your work. The two of you then began to take care of the other orphans in the slums, building a little family for yourselves. You had a very successful career, until General Milas Lune decided to make a deal with your brother that he wasn¡¯t planning to keep. This ended with your brother and the people in the slums dying, and you joining up with Erin in order to seek revenge for your brother.¡±

    The eyes of Erin, Ryle and Arkay went wide in shock. The amount of information the warlord knew was far beyond what they had imagined. If she knew this much about just one of them, then how much did she know about the rest of them?

    ¡°Surprised by just that? Don¡¯t be. There¡¯s still plenty I¡¯ve learned about the rest of you,¡± Rayleen said with a wide grin. ¡°I know about you little kitty here being a rather famous thief in Moonstone City, who would sell his loot in the local Black Market. I also know about the different businesses your kobold friend has been setting up around the Western Continent, with most of them being no more than scams. Then there is Durge, the last member of a warrior tribe that was wiped out a couple of years ago, forcing him to become an enforcer to the Laughing Ogre. And do I even need to tell you about the history of Zeldana? Because there¡¯s quite a lot of it.¡±

    The three assassins were now shaking from shock. They had never imagined someone to be able to dig up this much about any of them. Just what kind of an information network did they have in order to find out all of this?

    ¡°However, there is one of you, who is a bit of a mystery,¡± the warlord said as she stared at Erin. ¡°YOU are quite the mystery. I was able to find out about you up to your appearance in Rockmoore Town, where you took down the local official, Gibbot. From what my sources were able to gather, you did work at a local restaurant, but were then apparently turned over to the police by the owner. Problem is that I have no idea why anyone would assume that you would be of any interest to any authorities at all, as there is literally nothing about you before that. No criminal record, no other background, not even some person that might have known you in your childhood. It¡¯s almost like you popped out of the ether to be a pain in the ass for the Five Overlords!¡±

    Ryle and Arkay glanced at each other. It seemed like Rayleen and her people had come up on the same mystery that they had been pondering for some time now and were unable to find anything. If an intelligence network that was able to trace the background of pretty much everybody else in their group to such detail, then who was Erin, when even they couldn¡¯t find out the truth?

    ¡°So would you mind and shed some light on this little mystery of mine?¡± Rayleen asked. ¡°Could you tell me just who you are and what is your relationship with the Five Overlords?¡±

    As Erin glared at the warlord, both Ryle and Arkay waited for the redhead¡¯s answer. Even though they knew it was wrong to force another person to tell others about themselves against their wishes, they couldn¡¯t help but hope that she would. They wanted to finally know just who the person they had been following all this time was.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Sorry. There isn¡¯t much to tell and I don¡¯t feel like talking to you,¡± Erin said. ¡°Was there something else you wanted from us or did you seriously capture us just so you could appease your own curiosity?¡±

    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t mind to learn about your backstory, if for nothing else than to satisfy my own curiosity, but it¡¯s not necessary,¡± Rayleen said with a shrug. ¡°Besides, if that¡¯s what I wanted, then what would be the point of me keeping your friends alive? What I want is something that requires your whole group.¡±

    Despite being slightly disappointed, Ryle and Arkay were glad that the warlord required all of them alive. Considering what she had just said, she wasn¡¯t the type to keep around those who weren¡¯t useful to her. However, the question remained, what did she need from them?

    ¡°You want OUR help? Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Is it really alright for one of the warlords to work together with rebels? I¡¯m sure if your boss found out about this, it wouldn¡¯t end well for you.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s why we are not going to let him know. Problem solved!¡± Rayleen said. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like any of you are in a position to threaten me with telling him. I can assure you that while my head would end up on the chopping block, so would all of you as well. So how about we abandon all the pointless posturing and bravado, and get down to business at hand?¡±

    ¡°...Fine. We¡¯ll listen to what you have in mind,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So what is it that you need our help with? Do you need us to clear some difficult rebels or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh, not at all! I can handle such insignificant issues by myself!¡± the warlord said with a chuckle. ¡°The one I want you guys to go after is Golorath himself.¡±

    Silence fell over, as the three assassins stared at Rayleen with dumbfounded looks on their faces, unable to process what they had just heard.

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, but mind repeating that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I think I just heard that you said you wanted us to kill Golorath.¡±

    ¡°What? Are you deaf or something? That¡¯s exactly what I said!¡± Rayleen said as she stared at the redhead like she was crazy. ¡°I want you to go and try to assassinate Golorath! What is so hard to understand about that!?¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I thought that¡¯s what you said,¡± Erin said, thinking over the warlord¡¯s request. ¡°So¡­ Mind telling us just WHY you want us to go after your own boss? It doesn¡¯t make much sense that one of the warlords would want us to kill one of the Five Overlords.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious!? What other reason could there be for an underling to want to kill their boss other than what you¡¯d expect!?¡± Rayleen asked. ¡°I want to take over! Instead of that fat bastard running things, I want to be the one in charge! It¡¯s simple as that!¡±

    ¡°YOU want to become one of the Five Overlords!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Are you out of your damn mind or something!? What makes you think that you could replace one of them just like that!? I doubt the other four would just take that sitting down!¡±

    ¡°First of all, don¡¯t you go underestimating my leadership abilities! I can run things around her just fine, if not better!¡± the warlord said angrily. ¡°Second, the other Overlords don¡¯t give a damn what happens around here! Each of them holds their own area and they don¡¯t mess with each other, unless under very special circumstances! Once I take over, I doubt that the other Overlords will even care, as splitting the Western Continent among themselves would be too much of a pain in the ass! Hell, I can probably negotiate with them, so they let me become essentially the new manager of the Western Continent!¡±

    ¡°You do realize you¡¯re putting quite a lot of faith in the idea that the other Overlords simply won¡¯t care, right?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Anyways, why do you want to take over so badly? Don¡¯t you already have more than enough riches and power as a warlord?¡±

    ¡°Questions asked by those who sadly lack vision¡­ Do you really think that being simply the highest ranking lackey is some sort of a great thing?¡± Rayleen asked with a sigh. ¡°I might be able to affect things in the areas I control, but that still leaves most of the continent outside my reach! Those with a vision and the ability to make things better should¡­ No, they are obligated to seize power for themselves in order to bring about the changes they envision! This is what I seek to do for the entirety of the Western Continent!¡±

    ¡°D-Does that mean you also hate the tyranny of the Five Overlords?¡± Arkay asked, wondering if they had found an unexpected ally from the warlord.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be getting my hopes up, Arnie,¡± Ryle said. ¡°People like her don¡¯t give a crap about other people suffering.¡±

    ¡°The blonde one gets it right!¡± Rayleen said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m not some idealistic wannabe hero, who¡¯s trying to ¡°bring peace and justice¡± to the world. I¡¯m not into any of that crap! I just know that if you let bad leaders stay in power, you will eventually suffer from their bad actions yourself.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Simple. The rot from above will spread downwards,¡± the warlord began to explain. ¡°It¡¯s those at the top that make all the rules and decisions that lead the world. If you have the wrong people in charge, it will eventually destroy everything. It doesn¡¯t take a genius to observe how things go that we are not going in a good direction. The current bosses need to be removed, so someone that can honestly lead can be in charge.¡±

    ¡°And you think you¡¯re the person for the job?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s some pretty high evaluation you have of yourself¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, if you need proof, just look at my previous record, before these damn Overlords came in and took over!¡± Rayleen shouted angrily. ¡°I was actually in the process of conquering the whole Western Continent, when they just came out of nowhere and ruined everything! I had already taken over half of the continent, but then those bastards come in, beat me back, make me their goddamn lackey and I¡¯m left with just a third of what I used to have! Do you have any idea how much that pisses me off!?¡±

    Erin and her friends looked at each other, mulling over the warlord¡¯s rant. So far, it didn¡¯t seem like she was all that better when compared to the Five Overlords. Despite this, the trio also knew that they weren¡¯t exactly in a position to make any kinds of demands, so they would have to work with Rayleen, whether they liked it or not.

    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll work with you,¡± Erin said in a slightly frustrated tone that showed she wasn¡¯t happy about it. ¡°What is it that you need us to do exactly?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re willing to play along? Fantastic! I knew you¡¯d see that it would be the right choice for you to make!¡± Rayleen said happily. ¡°Although¡­ I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯m going to need you guys to do something for me before we get down to the actual business.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? What kind of crap are you trying to pull!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°We already agreed to work with you! What more do you want!?¡±

    ¡°Proof that you guys can do this,¡± the warlord answered. ¡°You see, I was kind of disappointed by your performance earlier. I want you to show me that you have at least some skill. Consider it a test of sorts.¡±

    ¡°And just what would this test be?¡± Erin asked as she glared at Rayleen.

    ¡°Oh, nothing big! I just need you guys to go and hunt down a monster! That¡¯s all!¡± the warlord replied. ¡°Specifically the great beast that rules over the sinkhole that this city is close to.¡±

    While Ryle and Arkay were only somewhat concerned over the job that had just been given to them, Erin herself was horrified. This was because she actually knew about the monster that Rayleen was telling them to go after. It was a very big quest in the game when you got to the city, after all.

    The great beast the warlord had referred to was a creature known as Reaper Maggot. While the name was a bit corny and the thought of a worm as an enemy wasn¡¯t immediately threatening, the redhead knew better. The monster in question was very large, almost the size of a Grand Centipede, and it had many dangerous attacks. These included a poison gas it could spew on you, fangs dripping with venom and a very dangerous move where it coiled itself around you, squeezing you and immobilizing your body. Not only that, but it could burrow itself underground in order to move much faster and use surprise attacks from below. It could even drag you underground with it. To make things even worse, the monster apparently had a second for that appeared once you damaged it enough.

    Back when she had just been playing a game, Erin had tried beating the Reaper Maggot once along with Devin. Despite having made thorough preparations, they had been unable to even get to the monster¡¯s second form. The redhead shuddered to think what facing such a being through means that didn¡¯t involve a computer screen would be like.

    However, while she wanted to deny the job given to them, Erin had a feeling that wasn¡¯t exactly an option.

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, mind answering one thing?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°If we don¡¯t accept this job, what will happen to us then?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy! I will first kill you three. Then I¡¯ll use all my resources to find the rest of your group and hunt them down!¡± Rayleen replied without a hint of hesitation. ¡°Although, I really hope you actually do take this job. It would make things much more simple for me.¡±

    A drop of sweat ran down the side of Erin¡¯s face. It was just like she had assumed. Either they took a job that she didn¡¯t have all that much faith in or they would die right here. They weren¡¯t exactly good options, but they had been driven into a corner.

    The redhead glanced at her two friends to judge their reactions. Ryle was glaring and growling at Rayleen, not happy with being put in such a position and still somewhat defiant. Arkay looked scared as she had expected, but she could see a will to fight behind his eyes, showing just how much he had grown in their travels. In a way, Erin wanted to respond to their feelings and resist, but knew that it would be fruitless. For now, they would have to at least play along.

    ¡°...Fine. We¡¯ll do this job of yours,¡± Erin said, surprising her friends. ¡°After we are done with killing the monster, how will we contact you?¡±

    ¡°Great! I¡¯m so happy to see that you are willing to work together with me! I was honestly worried that you wouldn¡¯t accept! Getting rid of bloodstains is such a pain,¡± Rayleen said happily. ¡°As for contacting me, you don¡¯t need to worry about that. Once you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll be the one to find you.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Can you let us go now?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°We can¡¯t really do this job of yours, if we are tied like this.¡±

    ¡°Of course! Just a second,¡± the warlord replied before snapping her fingers. This summoned tiny blue fireballs that burned the wires, releasing the three assassins from their restraints. ¡°There we go! Now, I¡¯m not one to micromanage others, but I do hope that you get moving and try to get this done ASAP. I have other business to attend to and can¡¯t stay around here for too long.¡±

    ¡°How much do we exactly have?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ How about five days?¡± Rayleen suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve already spent way too much time here, trying to catch your attention and finally getting in touch with you. Any longer than that and I might get into some real trouble!¡±

    The blonde wanted to protest, but was stopped by Erin.

    ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll get this done within five days,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°I do hope you will. I¡¯ve put so much hope in you all that being forced to kill you now would be such a disappointment,¡± Rayleen said with a grin that sent shivers down Erin¡¯s spine.

    With their deal now made, the three assassins began to head back to the city with news to their friends waiting for them. The three could only hope that they would take it well.

 121. A Deal Disliked

    Chapter 121

    A Deal Disliked

    After a long walk from the outskirts of the city, Erin, Ryle and Arkay finally got back to their group¡¯s hotel room. During the walk, none of them had said a single word, as there was a sour mood hanging over them from what they had just gotten themselves into. Not only had they pretty much failed their mission, but they were now under the threat of Rayleen, who was blackmailing them into doing work for her.

    While they were relieved that they wouldn¡¯t have to commit some sort of a crime that they would have regret for the rest of their lives, such as assassinate some innocent person the warlord didn¡¯t like, the job they got wasn¡¯t something to be desired. Even if Ryle and Arkay didn¡¯t have the same knowledge that Erin possessed, they could guess that the monster they were being ordered to slay was not going to be an easy prey. On the other hand, Erin fully knew what they were up against and dreaded the battle ahead. Even the dragon they had faced back in Laughing Ogre¡¯s games wasn¡¯t as big of a threat as the Reaper Maggot.

    Still, with their backs against the wall, they didn¡¯t really have much a choice in the matter. All they could do was prepare as well as they could and hope it would be enough.

    With a heavy heart, Erin grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. She was still trying to come up with a good explanation for what had happened for the others.

    ¡°We¡¯re back-¡±

    ¡°WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN!?¡± Lexton yelled in a mixture of anger and worry, cutting off the redhead. ¡°Do you have ANY idea how worried we¡¯ve been!? We thought something bad might have happened to you all!¡±

    ¡°Hey, no need to go at them like a wild animal, Lex! They just got back!¡± Durge said in an effort to calm down the kobold, before turning towards the friends who had just arrived. ¡°Although, we were worried about you guys. Considering who you were going up against, I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if she had an entire army waiting to ambush you all or something. Glad to see that our worries were not warranted.¡±

    While a bit taken aback by the sudden outburst from Lexton, Erin was glad to see that the people left behind had been concerned about them. She looked over to where Zeldana was sitting on the floor, looking like she didn¡¯t care at all, but the redhead could notice the elf let out a tiny sigh of relief upon seeing the three of them were alright.

    ¡°Anyways, now that we have confirmed that nothing bad happened to you guys, I suppose we might as well get down to business,¡± Durge said, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°So, what did you find out? Were you able to figure out why Rayleen is here or where her base of operations is?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ We were able to find out why she was here,¡± the redhead said with a heavy sigh, which confused the ones who hadn¡¯t been with her. ¡°Turns out that the reason she was hanging around these parts was because she wanted to meet us.¡±

    ¡°Us? She wanted to meet us?¡± Lexton asked, getting a nod in response from Erin. ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what I just said. She wanted to get into contact with us and even tested us a bit,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°And now we have to do a job for her or else we¡¯re dead.¡±

    The silence that followed the redhead¡¯s reply was so absolute that you could hear the sound of a pin dropping on the floor. Both Lexton and Durge had shocked expressions on their faces as they stared at Erin with wide eyes. The kobold was also pale in the face with his normally red scales having turned close to white. Zeldana was also surprised by the news, although her reaction was nowhere near as severe as Durge or Lexton. Her eyes were just a bit wide, as she hadn¡¯t expected such an answer.

    ¡°...Okay, I did not expect anything like that,¡± Lexton said in a shaky voice, as he sat on the floor, no longer trusting his legs to hold him up. ¡°I mean, I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be too surprised. After all, why else would someone like Rayleen want to get into contact with us? This might be better than any alternative that could have happened. It still leaves me with one question, though.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that, Lex?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°WHAT THE ABSOLUTE SHIT, ERIN!?¡± the kobold yelled as loudly as he could, surprising everybody with how loud he could be. ¡°Why the hell would you go and accept a job from one of the warlords!? God only knows what kind of a horrible crime against everything that¡¯s good in this world she want us to commit!¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like we had a choice!¡± Ryle shouted, joining the conversation. ¡°She had us captured, so we couldn¡¯t really just tell her to piss off with her job offer! If we did that, I doubt we would have come back alive!¡±

    ¡°You got captured?¡± Durge asked. ¡°Did she have her forces waiting in ambush or something?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Uhh¡­¡± the blonde struggled to explain what had happened, not wanting to admit they were all beaten by a single opponent.

    ¡°If only that had been the case. She actually beat us all on her own,¡± Erin answered to Durge¡¯s question. ¡°We thought that we would have the upper hand, since she was all on her own, but it ended up being a completely one-sided defeat, where she washed over us. We even used our best moves on her, but it didn¡¯t help at all. It was like a bunch of infants trying to take on an adult.¡±

    ¡°...Erin, did you really have to put it like THAT?¡± Ryle asked in a depressed tone. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that we got our asses beat, but did you really have to make it all the more embarrassing with the way you described it?¡±

    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t like what happened to us any more than you do, okay? I just feel like it would be for the best to be brutally honest right now,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Fact of the matter is that we completely underestimated Rayleen due to what happened with Gotzmeyer. She is on a completely different league when compared to him and I can only imagine some of our future opponents will be as well. We can¡¯t allow ourselves to make the same mistake again or we might end up dead the next time.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but still¡­ Couldn¡¯t you have softened it at least a bit?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Whatever the case, the most important thing is that you guys got back alive. As long as you live, you can learn from your mistakes for the sake of the future. And considering what could have happened, her forcing us to take on a job for her doesn¡¯t seem too bad,¡± Durge said. ¡°Still, I do have to worry about this a bit. We are talking about a warlord, after all. I can¡¯t imagine her giving us any kind of work that¡¯s nice and easy. Did she tell you what she wanted?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ The thing is that she apparently wants us to go after Golorath. Turns out that she isn¡¯t exactly a loyal person,¡± Erin answered, earning surprised looks from the ones who didn¡¯t already know this. ¡°However, before doing any of that, she wants us to do something else in order to prove ourselves to her.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­ Not only are we getting ordered around by her, but she¡¯s also going to be very demanding,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°So? What does she want us to do?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a beast that lives in the huge crater at the edge of the city. She wants us to go and kill it,¡± the redhead replied.

    Once again, it seemed like Erin was the only one who knew the true terror of the Reaper Maggot, as Durge and Zeldana looked concerned, but not outright scared. Judging by this reaction, she assumed that they weren¡¯t aware of the monster who lived nearby.

    However, when looking at Lexton, the redhead found out that she wasn¡¯t the only one aware of the monstrous creature that they were ordered to kill. The kobold had an expression of sheer terror, like he had just seen his worst nightmare come to life right in front of him.

    ¡°Lex?¡± Ryle called out to the kobold. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°...Do you have any idea what we¡¯ve just been ordered to do?¡± Lexton asked in a low voice. ¡°Of the sheer danger that we are going to have to face? Do you know anything at all about that monster?¡±

    ¡°I know about it,¡± Erin replied, surprising everybody else in the room. ¡°I am fully aware of just how dangerous of a foe we are dealing with.¡±

    ¡°Really? You are? That¡¯s great! Because I now have to wonder why the hell you would go accepting a job, where we have to face a monster even more dangerous than the FREAKING DRAGON WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO KILL!?¡± the kobold yelled. ¡°Out of all the things! All! Of! The freaking! THINGS! Rayleen told you to go and kill the goddamn REAPER MAGGOT!? A MONSTER THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO KILL DESPITE DECADES OF ATTEMPTS!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, please don¡¯t get mad at Erin, Lex!¡± Arkay pleaded. ¡°I know that this seems bad and all, but we didn¡¯t have a choice, remember!? It was either this or we would have all ended up dead!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Chill out a bit, okay!?¡± Ryle said. ¡°Besides, you said this thing is called a Reaper Maggot? I¡¯m sure we can handle it! I mean, how dangerous can a worm really be? Come on!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you sweetly naive freaking moron¡­ How I envy your lack of knowledge right now,¡± Lexton said as he stared down at the floor like he was expecting the end of the world. ¡°None of you have any idea just how dangerous of a creature we are dealing with here, do you? This thing isn¡¯t just some average beast that you might run into due to bad luck. We are talking about an apex predator that has made that nearby area its own kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so we¡¯re not dealing with your average pest problem here. Gotcha,¡± the blonde said with a slightly nervous tone, as the kobold¡¯s description of the monster was not filling her with confidence. ¡°But there are always beasts that are more difficult to handle than what you¡¯d normally come across, right? I mean, there are dragons and other gigantic beasts, like spiders and scorpions. Don¡¯t you think that compared to the dragon we took down that a single worm, no matter how big it might be, isn¡¯t much of a threat?¡±

    ¡°You mean the dragon that was one the lowest end of the pecking order when it comes to dragons? The dragon that nearly wiped us all out and took us a crap ton of luck to kill? Is it that dragon that you¡¯re referring to?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically. ¡°This isn¡¯t my first time in this city, okay? Spend enough time here and you¡¯ll learn sooner or later just how horrible of a monster that damn worm is.¡±

    ¡°And¡­ just how dangerous is it?¡± Arkay asked as his face was beginning to turn pale.

    ¡°Last time I was here, there was a professional monster hunter group in the city. They specialize in hunting dangerous beasts that cause issues to the population and then sell the materials they gather from the bodies,¡± the kobold began to explain. ¡°The had over ten members, all of them experienced hunters with the best equipment money could buy. Not only that, but they were undoubtedly good at what they were doing, as they had taken down several dragons similar to the one we faced. They all went down to kill the worm, but only one of them came back. He later died from the venom that the Reaper Maggot had used on him.¡±

    ¡°...How do you know those guys had killed dragons?¡± Ryle asked with a pale face. ¡°Could have just been a lie they told in order to make themselves look better.¡±

    ¡°I saw their severed heads on display,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°How else do you think I recognized the one we saw at the arena?¡±

    Silence fell over the room once again as everybody processed the kobold¡¯s story. Ryle, Arkay and Durge were looking pale and terrified, as they thought back on the dragon they had faced and began to put things into perspective. Lexton already looked like he had given up all hope, as he was the one who, outside of Erin, knew the most about the Reaper Maggot. The redhead herself wasn¡¯t showing signs of panic, as she was already aware of the monster¡¯s strength, but she still had a worried look on her face. The only one who seemed to be completely calm was Zeldana, who only seemed to be surprised.

    ¡°...Screw this!¡± Ryle suddenly shouted. ¡°Why the hell should we go after a monster that is a bigger danger than a freaking dragon!? This is nothing more than a suicide mission! I say we gather our stuff and get the hell out of here!¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence. I was just thinking the exact same thing,¡± Lexton said. ¡°If Rayleen is here on her own, then we just might be able to make a run for it. We might have to deal with some rather annoying pursuers at some point, but that¡¯s about it. We should be able to handle it.¡±

    ¡°Now hang on a second! Don¡¯t you think we should avoid underestimating her a second time!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°The whole reason we are in this mess is because we stupidly thought that she wouldn¡¯t notice us, yet all of her movements were in order to catch us! Wouldn¡¯t it be correct to assume that she has considered the possibility of us trying to run away and not fulfill our end of the deal!?¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but I think it¡¯s best for us to simply think of the best way for us get out of this alive! And fighting the Reaper Maggot is NOT the way to do that!¡± the kobold argued. ¡°Besides, she is here on her own! Unless she is following us herself constantly, I don¡¯t see how she would ever find out that we decided to skip town!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s explained easily. She left someone to watch over us,¡± Zeldana said, getting everybody¡¯s attention. ¡°Or at least that¡¯s what it seems like. Otherwise, I don¡¯t have any idea who the person hiding right behind the door is supposed to be.¡±

    Before anyone could ask the elf what she was talking about, there was a loud sound outside the door, like someone falling on the floor, before scrambling on their feet and running away. Ryle managed to run up to the door and open it just in time to see someone disappear behind a corner.

    ¡°Goddammit!¡± the blonde cursed. ¡°I¡¯m gonna-!¡±

    ¡°No! Don¡¯t chase him!¡± Erin shouted, stopping Ryle from going after the spy. ¡°Even if you managed to catch him, there are probably multiple others ready to take his place! Not only that, but if Rayleen doesn¡¯t hear from him, she could assume that we are not going to accomplish our task! The best thing we can do is simply let him go and figure out what to do next!¡±

    Despite wanting to go after the spy, the blonde knew that the redhead was right. Without saying a word, she simply closed the door and joined the rest of the group in their conversation.

    ¡°So¡­ Our options are to either go fight a monster more fearsome than anything we have ever seen before or risk our lives in trying to escape the wrath of Rayleen,¡± Durge summarized. ¡°Those don¡¯t seem like very good options to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Sometimes in life you gotta make a choice between two bad ones, instead of having a good one at all,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°We just have to choose the less crappy one.¡±

    ¡°Easier said than done! Both of our options are absolutely horrendous!¡± Lexton complained. ¡°How are we supposed to choose either of them!?¡±

    ¡°You guys don¡¯t have to,¡± Erin suddenly said, getting the attention of everybody else. ¡°I¡¯ll go face the Reaper Maggot on my own.¡±

    The reason the redhead wanted to try killing the Reaper Maggot on her own was because she considered that the whole mess they were in now was her fault. In her mind, she should have been able to pick up on how weird everything had been when it came to Rayleen, thus avoiding them falling into her trap and being forced into such an unfavorable spot. Not only that, but as she was the one with technically the most experience with the Reaper Maggot, Erin felt like she had the best chance at beating it.

    However, her friends were NOT onboard with her suggestion.

    ¡°WHAT!? What the hell do you think you¡¯re saying, Erin!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily at the redhead. ¡°How do you expect to take on a creature more dangerous than a dragon on your own!? Are you high or something!?¡±

    ¡°Erin, I get that you¡¯re skilled and all, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit too cocky?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You cannot be seriously thinking that facing such a monster by yourself is a good idea!¡±

    ¡°Trust me guys, I don¡¯t want to do this any more than you do,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°Unlike most of you, I actually know what the Reaper Maggot can do, so I know just how deadly of a monster it truly is. In all honesty, I¡¯d prefer if I didn¡¯t have to face that thing at all.¡±

    ¡°How do you know about it so much?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°And if you¡¯re aware of how much of a fool¡¯s errand this is, why would you ever insist on going at it on your own?¡±

    ¡°I used to know¡­ some people who used to travel the world a lot. Through them I learned about the Reaper Maggot and its abilities,¡± Erin tried to explain while hiding the truth, hoping that it sounded believable enough. ¡°As for why I want to face it on my own, I don¡¯t want to drag any of you into this. I should have been able to tell that there was something strange with the way Rayleen was acting and-¡±

    The redhead¡¯s explanation was cut short, as Ryle grabbed her by the front of her shirt and slammed her against the wall. The blonde glared at her with barely restrained fury as she was gritting her teeth.

    ¡°Let me guess. You¡¯re going to tell us about how YOU should have been able to tell that we were walking into a trap and YOU are the one ultimately responsible for this crap situation, right!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°When the hell did you become our freaking mom!? Last time I checked, we all knew about Rayleen¡¯s strange behavior and I was chasing her with you, along with Arnie! Who the hell are you to take on all the responsibility!?¡±

    ¡°B-But I felt like something strange was going on!¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°If only I had- OOF!¡±

    This time the redhead was cut off by a punch to the gut that knocked the air out of her lungs. Ryle continued to glare at her, while Erin was on her knees, gasping for air.

    ¡°You know, I like you, okay? I think you¡¯re a real good friend and I would have never followed after you otherwise,¡± the blonde said while barely containing her anger. ¡°But there is one thing about you that I seriously! Do you know what that is!? It¡¯s how you stupidly think that you can carry everything on your shoulders! Who the hell are you to do everything for us!? Are we just children in your eyes or something in your eyes!?¡±

    ¡°N-NO!¡± the redhead cried out desperately. ¡°I just think that I¡¯m the one who should-!¡±

    ¡°SHUT UP! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW INSULTING THAT IS!?¡± Ryle screamed furiously. ¡°Do you think that WE cannot take any responsibility for what happens!? Do you think WE are unable to do the things you think you need to do!? DO YOU THINK WE DON¡¯T CARE ABOUT YOU THE SAME WAY YOU CARE ABOUT US!?¡±

    Erin was left completely speechless. She looked around at the others and could tell by their faces that they all agreed with Ryle.

    ¡°Erin, we are all in this together. And we want all of us to get through this without being harmed. That includes you as well,¡± Durge said with a hint of disappointment in his voice, that stabbed the redhead in the heart. She felt like she was being scolded by her father. ¡°You should be able to trust all of us to put as much effort as you do into our work. Don¡¯t think of us as something you need to protect. Instead, expect us to protect you in return.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, you seem like such a smart person and then you go do something dumb like this?¡± Lexton asked with a sigh. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if you¡¯re a bigger idiot than Ryle¡­¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± the blonde yelled.

    ¡°Besides, your whole idea is completely illogical. Do you really think that Rayleen would even agree to such a deal? If she really wants that damn worm dead, I doubt she¡¯d be happy to hear that the chances of that happening have become worse!¡± the kobold continued. ¡°But what I¡¯m most angry is that you think any of us would be happy to send you out as a sacrifice to save our own asses! Do you think that little of us!?¡±

    ¡°To be fair, you kind of give off that type of vibe,¡± Ryle said with a shrug.

    ¡°Shut it, moron!¡± Lexton yelled at the blonde.

    ¡°Erin, can¡¯t you trust us?¡± Arkay asked as he walked up to the redhead. ¡°Do you really think we all followed you, thinking that we can just blame you for everything? We want to help you, too! That¡¯s why I wanted to go along with you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen quite a few people try to do that lone wolf crap in my life. Believe me when I say that it never works out well,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I¡¯ve come too far to let you just cut me off like this now, okay? So whether you go after the Reaper Maggot or not, I¡¯m coming along.¡±

    Erin felt like her heart was breaking as tears fell from her eye. She didn¡¯t have any words to say, as she instead pulled Arkay into a tight hug, which was soon joined by Ryle. The others stood to the side with smiles on their faces, happy that they had gotten through to Erin.

    The redhead might have been carrying a lot on her, but she wasn¡¯t carrying it all alone.

 122. Preparing for the Hunt

    Chapter 122

    Preparing for the Hunt

    Seeing as how they didn¡¯t have any better options, Erin and her friends decided to fulfill Rayleen¡¯s request and go slay the Reaper Maggot. Seeing as how the warlord was not only very strong herself, but had obviously made more than enough preparations to make sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to cross her over, fighting a legendary monster seemed like the better option. They just needed to make as thorough preparations as possible, before facing the monster.

    Lexton had protested and tried to change the group¡¯s minds, but had eventually relented and accepted that the Reaper Maggot was still the best way for them to go. While the kobold was more than aware of the danger they would be facing, even he realized that the warlord was the bigger threat to them. After all, legendary or not, the Reaper Maggot was still an animal and wouldn¡¯t have an entire army backing it up.

    The next day, the group split up in order to look for equipment that could help them in their task. Arkay and Durge headed to the local library in order to read about the Reaper Maggot and hopefully find more information. Lexton went to the local market to buy ingredients for different types of potions as well as other items that would aid them in their battle. Erin and Zeldana went to inspect the cliffs that led to the monster¡¯s lair, hoping to find the best place to enter the area. Lastly, Ryle was once again left behind to look after their equipment and to train by herself. The blonde had wanted to go along with Arkay as a ¡°bodyguard,¡± but had to give up on it. Not only would the cat boy have Durge with him, but the thought of going through numerous books was something Ryle wanted to avoid as much as possible.

    Now that everybody in the group had their work set up for them, they all went on to accomplish their tasks. Soon both Erin and Zeldana were walking close to the edge of the cliff that led to their target¡¯s home.

    ¡°Wow. That¡¯s quite the drop,¡± Erin said as she looked down towards the bottom of the cliff. It was so deep that she couldn¡¯t even see the bottom. Only darkness was visible to her. ¡°I seriously hope that there¡¯s an elevator or something we can use. I¡¯d hate to actually climb down from here and slip up, as I doubt it would be a soft landing down there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet that there is at least some company or individual, who can help us with that. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there are several people who travel there every year in the hopes of finding treasure from the ruins below,¡± Zeldana said, before spitting into the dark abyss. ¡°The bigger concern is how much they cost. After all, we are talking about some pretty dangerous work here. I¡¯d be surprised if they don¡¯t demand hazard pay.¡±

    ¡°Well, as long as it isn¡¯t an outrageous price that they¡¯re asking for, we should be able to cover it. Lex¡¯s business has been doing pretty well here, so we have a nice amount of cash on hand,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Now the problem is finding the place that would take us down there. I doubt they can just advertise their services openly.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± the elf asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Seriously? You actually need me to explain that?¡± Erin asked in return. ¡°We are talking about an area that is essentially a natural disaster! I¡¯m sure that there¡¯s a ban on people traveling down there!¡±

    Zeldana raised an eyebrow in response, before pointing at a nearby wall. Much to the redhead¡¯s surprise, there was a poster stuck on it, advertising trips down to the bottom of the cliff.

    ¡°Well¡­ I guess that solves our problem,¡± Erin said while staring at the poster in disbelief. ¡°First Gotzmeyer¡¯s base and now this? Is the universe purposefully messing with me or something?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more surprised that you thought that there would be a ban on this type of travel. If you think about it logically, there¡¯s no reason for the authorities to prevent you from going down there,¡± the elf said. ¡°Why would anyone in power try to prohibit people from going there? After all, they might come back up with interesting stuff they find down there that they can then sell up here. The way I see it, it¡¯s more surprising that businesses like this aren¡¯t advertised a lot more.¡±

    ¡°Why would you think something like that would not only be allowed, but also encouraged!?¡± the redhead asked in return in a shocked tone. ¡°We¡¯re talking about taking trips down to a place where a deadly monster lives! Considering the amount of people who die down there, shouldn¡¯t the authorities try their best to prevent people from throwing away their lives!?¡±

    ¡°Why would those in charge care about a few random civilians getting killed? You¡¯ve seen the type of people who run things in this world. Do you think they give a rat¡¯s ass about anybody dying there? This might be a surprise, but they honestly don¡¯t care,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The way they see it, people traveling down there are the same as the people who travel the wastelands between cities and towns in hopes of going somewhere else. Many get attacked by wild beasts and bandits during those trips, so it¡¯s not really all that different. If you think something is worth the risk, you can go for it, but you don¡¯t have the right to whine if things go sideways.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true¡­ I still find it somewhat messed up, though,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Back in my world, not only would this place be prohibited for entry, but nearby areas would also be evacuated just in case! I guess I need to stop thinking in a manner from where I¡¯m from¡­¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I did have a question for you,¡± the elf said. ¡°How did you know about the Reaper Maggot? I get that the Five Overlords are your old friends and everything, but how is that creature familiar to you? Was it a pet to one of those five or something?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± the redhead replied a bit angrily, before feeling very awkward over Zeldana¡¯s question. ¡°As for how I know about the Reaper Maggot, it¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a bit of a complicated thing. I¡¯m not sure I know how to explain it properly or if you would even believe me. How about we just leave it at that, okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s NOT happening today! I demand to get an explanation!¡± the elf said with a bit of excitement in her voice. ¡°Besides, you think I can¡¯t handle whatever it is that you know? I¡¯ve lived far longer than you and I¡¯ve seen some of the darkest things the world has to offer. Not just on the battlefield, but in normal life as well. Also, I learned that you used to be a friend to the Five Overlords themselves! Do you really think that you could say anything more insane than that?¡±

    ¡°Yes. In fact, I know something that would sound no better than the ramblings of a lunatic, but are the honest truth,¡± Erin said. ¡°My biggest fear is how you or anybody else in our group could ever handle it¡­¡±

    The redhead had good reason to being afraid of telling Zeldana or anybody else about how she knew about things in this world, like the Reaper Maggot. She couldn¡¯t help but fear their reaction upon finding out that their world was nothing more than a game in her own. Anybody would be obviously disturbed, if they found out that their whole existence was based on nothing more than an entertainment product of others.

    While she didn¡¯t know the full extent of how connected these two things were, Erin still couldn¡¯t help but fear the what discovering it would lead to with anybody. As far as she herself was concerned, the people and the world around her were real enough that she couldn¡¯t simply consider it all just a game any longer. The question was would any of her friends see it that way? And if they discovered these secrets of hers, would they take their anger on her?

    It was these fears that kept her from talking, but the person she was dealing with wasn¡¯t about to let it go.

    ¡°Stop being a little bitch about it and just spill it already!¡± Zeldana said, growing impatient. ¡°I¡¯m the one who gets to decide whether something is too hard for me to handle or not, so get to talking already! I¡¯m getting sick of your stalling and want some answers!¡±

    ¡°...You know, you could use some tact and manners, okay?¡± Erin said unhappily. ¡°No one likes a person who just goes around making unreasonable demands just like that!¡±

    ¡°And no one likes a whiny little shit that isn¡¯t willing to be cooperative, so I guess we both have things we need to work on!¡± the elf said. ¡°Now out with it already! Spill the beans! Spill it! Spill it! Spill it!¡±

    ¡°Okay! I get it! Fine!¡± the redhead said, relenting under the demands. She took a deep breath in order to steel her resolve for what she was about to tell. ¡°Like with the Reaper Maggot, you¡¯ve probably noticed that I know quite a bit about this world, despite the fact that I¡¯m not from here, right? The things is that this world was known in my world, although not in a way I think you¡¯d expect. Or like¡­¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Zeldana asked with her ears perked up, listening intently. ¡°Come on! Give me some details and more info! This is nowhere enough for me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting to that, you impatient ass! Wait a moment!¡± Erin said as she was starting to get angry at the elf. She momentarily wondered if this is what it was like to have a bratty child. ¡°The thing is that this world, YOUR world, is known in my world. Not as a story or a legend, but as a video game. All of the places, all of the creatures and many other thins about this were part of it. Back in the day, I used to play it a lot with my friends. The ones you know as the Fiver Overlords.¡±

    ¡°...Huh. That¡¯s quite something,¡± Zeldana said, mulling over the response she had gotten. ¡°I gotta say, I had imagined all sorts of possibilities, but that wasn¡¯t one of them.¡±

    ¡°You see why I didn¡¯t want to tell anyone?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how anyone could take it, if they found out that their whole world was nothing more than a game people played in another world.¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°While that is a bit of a mind screwing idea, I think you¡¯re thinking about this in a far too simple manner,¡± the elf said. ¡°I mean, were your friends part of that game?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I guess technically they were since they played the game with the characters they created. Those same characters are the ones whose names they are using here,¡± Erin answered. ¡°What are you getting at, though?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see. Just let me ask a couple more things first,¡± Zeldana quickly said. ¡°Now, you said that your friends have adopted the names of characters they used to play the game as, right? I¡¯m going to assume that you also had a character like theirs when you played. Did it perhaps look exactly like you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. The specific characters they are using are when we played as these comically evil villains,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°In case you¡¯re wondering, my character back then was a succubus named Erzaal. Not only did she have wings on her back, but she also had horns on her head, clawed finger and toes, and a very long tail. Also, her hair was silver, unlike mine.¡±

    ¡°And since she was a succubus, I¡¯m going to guess that her front bumpers were probably of higher quality as well?¡± the elf asked, causing Erin¡¯s face to turn red. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡±

    ¡°You just say whatever come to your mind without hesitation, don¡¯t you!?¡± the redhead asked angrily. ¡°Are we getting to a point here or something!?¡±

    ¡°Just about. I only want to confirm one more thing,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The last thing I want to ask is if you remember meeting anyone in our world that you saw in the game as well? I¡¯m obviously not talking about your old friends, but the actual people of this world. Do you remember any of them from the game?¡±

    ¡°Not really¡­ I mean, it has been quite some time since I actually played the game, so-¡±

    It was at that moment it hit Erin. The game known as Five Realms obviously had it¡¯s own named characters within it, but none of the people she had met were any of those. In the game, there were named characters ranging from heroes and villains to simple shopkeepers and smaller background characters, who all had their own stories. There were even celebrities within it to make the world feel like it was alive.

    However, there had not been a single recognizable character that she had seen even on the posters on the walls. They were all completely foreign to her.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re finally starting to get it,¡± Zeldana said with a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t know how our world is ultimately connected to yours, but does it even matter? As far as I can tell, I¡¯ve made all of my decisions in life, just like everybody else. You talk like some people in another world made everything here, yet it sure doesn¡¯t seem like that. So the way I see it, you ignore all of that and keep pushing forward. No point in stressing over useless crap like that.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Erin said. ¡°Hey¡­ Zeldana? Thanks.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡± the elf asked.

    ¡°For helping me see things properly,¡± the redhead said. ¡°All this time the idea of my world¡¯s connection to this one has been gnawing at the back of my mind. Thanks to you, I now see that there is no point in worrying about it. Such things are far too complicated for me to worry about, especially when I have things that I actually need to focus on.¡±

    ¡°Well, I just felt like you¡¯re already sulking about stuff enough as it is, so might as well help you drop some of that stuff,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, though.¡±

    ¡°...You just couldn¡¯t let a good thing stay the way it was, could you?¡±

    The elf simply smirked in response, as the two of them went on to find the business that was advertised on the poster they had seen. From what they had learned, it was called ¡°Downhill Ventures¡± and offered to take upwards to twenty people down to the bottom of the cliff. Price would be determined on the amount of people and equipment that would be transported, so there wasn¡¯t a set cost for their service. There was also an address written on the poster, allowing one to find the place easily.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the duo to find the place they were looking for, but upon doing so Erin began to have second thoughts. They had arrived at the front of a rundown house located in the bad part of the city. The windows were all boarded up and there were old graffiti on the walls. The only thing that signified that it was the business they were looking for was the sign loosely hanging above the front door that read ¡°Downhill Ventures.¡±

    ¡°Zel, I¡¯m no sure this place is in business any longer,¡± Erin said awkwardly while looking over the building before them. ¡°Do you think anybody even lives here? This place looks worse than the house you were living in!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not the one who is in charge of this place, so don¡¯t complain at me!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°It¡¯s the people inside who need to hear your whining, so take it to them!¡±

    The redhead let out a sigh and knocked on the door. However, instead of any occupants coming over to open and let them in, the only thing her knocking managed to do was cause the sign above to finally drop down and land on her head. This caused Zeldana to burst out in laughter, finding the whole thing hilarious. While rubbing her sore head, Erin picked up the fallen sign and threw it at the elf, knocking her down on the ground, before banging her fist on the door.

    ¡°Goddammit! I¡¯m coming! I¡¯m coming!¡± a groggy voice shouted from the other side of the door as footsteps could be heard approaching it. ¡°Seriously, how many times do you assholes need to be told that I don¡¯t have your damn money!? Did you think I could just suddenly pull it all out of my ass or something!?¡±

    The door finally opened to reveal a rather weak-looking orc. Unlike Durge or any of the other orcs Erin had seen, this one looked like he was the runt of his species. The orcs were commonly rather large and buff, as these were their common characteristics, but this one was barely her height and seemed to lack muscles completely. He had a messy mop of hair on his head, making it look like he had just woken up, and bags underneath his eyes, like he hadn¡¯t slept for days. He wasn¡¯t even dressed properly, despite supposedly running a business, as he was wearing only a loose T-shirt and boxers. Not only that, but his clothes were covered in stains and had tears all over them.

    The orc stared at Erin and Zeldana in silence, who did the same thing with him. The awkward lack of noise from either side lasted for a few seconds.

    ¡°...You guys are not from the bank, are you?¡± the orc finally asked, breaking the silence.

    ¡°What was your first clue?¡± Erin asked back sarcastically, before letting out a sigh to calm herself. ¡°We came here, because we saw one of your posters and wanted to use your services to get to the bottom of the cliff. Do you think you can help us with that?¡±

    ¡°So you guys¡­ You actually¡­ But doesn¡¯t that mean-? JUST A MOMENT!¡± the orc said before suddenly panicking and going back inside, closing the door behind him. The sound of him running around and haphazardly moving things around could be heard for some time, until he called out to his new customers outside. ¡°Please come in!¡±

    Erin and Zeldana glanced at each other awkwardly, feeling unsure about what they were about to get themselves into. Despite their worries, they had already come this far, so it would have felt stupid to turn away now. Deciding to hope for the best, the two of them opened the door and walked inside.

    Once inside, Erin and Zeldana could tell that the building didn¡¯t look all that better when compared to the outside. Despite his best efforts to make the place look more professional, you could tell at a glance that all of the cleaning had been done quickly at the last minute and mostly consisted of hiding trash and dirty clothes. There was still a thick layer of dust covering most surfaces and you could spot grime and dirt here and there. The few lights that worked were flickering from time to time and everything showed signs of neglect. With the way things looked, Erin wondered if she could get out of this building alive, let alone trust the services sold there.

    The only thing that seemed to be clean at all was the orc they had seen earlier, as he was now wearing a suit and his hair was no longer an unkempt mess, but had been swept back neatly. Still despite his efforts, the orc couldn¡¯t hide the effects of his less than clean lifestyle, as there were a few stains on his suit and he himself reeked of alcohol, which caused Erin to wrinkle her nose in disgust. She hadn¡¯t noticed it earlier as they had been outside, but now that they were indoors the stench was obvious.

    ¡°Welcome to Downhill Ventures, ladies!¡± the orc said happily with a wide smile. ¡°I am Brega, the owner of this humble establishment! How may I be of service!?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, like I said earlier, my companion and I saw one of your posters and require your services. We need to get to the bottom of the cliff, which is why we came here,¡± Erin said, a bit put off by the complete change in the orc¡¯s behavior and appearance. ¡°Do you think you can help us with that?¡±

    ¡°Why of course! Trips to the unknown lands that lay next to our fine city is what I do best!¡± Brega said in an overly excited voice. ¡°Now, will it just be the two of you or are there going to be more joining us?¡±

    ¡°Our whole group consists of six people in total. We will also be taking our equipment with us, but it won¡¯t be anything massive. Just things we can carry ourselves,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°The poster we saw stated that you could accommodate up to twenty people traveling down the cliff, so this should still work out fine, right?¡±

    ¡°Certainly! A group of that size won¡¯t be an issue at all!¡± the shopkeeper said, before mumbling to himself a bit. ¡°But I¡¯d prefer a larger group¡­ More people means more money. Guess I can try getting as much as I can.¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡± Erin asked, as she had noticed Brega mumble something low enough that even Zeldana hadn¡¯t picked it up. ¡°Did you say something?¡±

    ¡°OH, NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL! NOTHING YOU NEED CONCERN YOURSELF WITH IN THE LEAST!¡± the shopkeeper quickly said, not really easing up the redhead¡¯s growing distrust towards him. ¡°Anyways! Back to business! You said that you were going as a group of six, correct? Like I said earlier, that won¡¯t be an issue at all!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ good to hear, I suppose,¡± the redhead said, still put off by the way the orc was acting. ¡°So how much will this cost us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked! I can assure you that our prices are the best in the entire city!¡± Brega said happily as he pulled out a very old calculator and began pressing buttons on it. ¡°Now, when it comes to traveling down to the bottom of the cliff, we need to take into account all sorts of things, such as maintenance of the lift, hazard pay, my own fee and many other things. In total, a one way trip is going to cost 3 000 credits for a person! So that will be 18 000 for the whole group!¡±

    ¡°18 000 CREDITS!?¡± Erin yelled out in shock at the high price. ¡°Is it really that expensive to simply take a lift downwards!?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ Erin? I think you¡¯re missing something,¡± Zeldana called out to the redhead, who turned her attention to the elf. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him say ¡°one way trip?¡± My guess is that if you want to get back up, you¡¯re going to need to pay him the same amount again.¡±

    ¡°¡­ So 36 000 credits in total? Seriously?¡± Erin asked as she turned her attention back to Brega. ¡°That¡¯s how much this is going to cost us in total?¡±

    ¡°Why yes! That is correct!¡± the orc said happily, already dreaming about the money he was going to receive. ¡°Of course, if you want some added benefits, like food and drinks, it can cost over 40-¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re done here! We¡¯re leaving!¡± the redhead said as she turned around to walk out of the store. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can find a way better place than this!¡±

    Erin was just about to open the door and walk outside, when she felt something grab her leg. She looked down to see Brega clinging to her while giving her a look that could only be described as ¡°sad puppy eyes.¡±

    ¡°PLEASE RECONSIDER!¡± the orc pleaded. ¡°I assure you that my price might seem high, but they are quite cheap when comparing to the average! Even if you go to all the other businesses that offer similar services, you won¡¯t see the price go down!¡±

    ¡°Well, I need to see that for myself, don¡¯t I!?¡± Erin argued as she tried to pull her leg away. ¡°Let go of me! What kind of a man are you!?¡±

    ¡°A desperate one! Please have mercy on me! Or at least do so with my children!¡± Brega kept pleading with tears in his eyes, as he pulled out a picture of three orc children. ¡°Just look at them! Do you have any idea how hard it is to feed them!? If my business doesn¡¯t make money, I¡¯ll fail as a parent and they¡¯ll be taken away from me! I just want to at least fulfill my duties as a father! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!?¡±

    The redhead was torn between wanting to rage at the shopkeeper clinging to her leg and feeling pity towards the children in the picture. After all, while their father was a sketchy and irritating excuse of a man, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to get upset at innocent kids. Besides, seeing as the business wasn¡¯t the most high-class, Brega was most likely telling the truth about the pricing in the industry. Not to mention, their group was on a time limit, so they needed to get things done as quickly as possible.

    ¡°...Fine. We¡¯ll use your service,¡± Erin said after taking a deep breath to calm herself. ¡°Can you let go of me already?¡±

    ¡°You will!? THANK YOU SO MUCH!¡± Brega said happily as he got back on his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s just sign the contract with all the details on it and we can proceed with the trip itself! Believe me when I say that you made the right call and won¡¯t regret it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I already do¡­¡±

    <hr>

    With the help of Brega, Erin and Zeldana went over the details of their agreement, which included the price, the terms of the service they¡¯d receive, as well as the time and place of their descent down the cliff. They agreed to pay half of the money upfront and rest after they were done. Once the contract had been signed, Erin and Zeldana left the store, leaving behind a very happy orc.

    ¡°...Zel, can I ask you for a favor?¡± Erin said, looking over to the elf.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell Lex about any of this,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I fear how he might react.¡±

 123. The Downhill Adventure (Part 1)

    Chapter 123

    The Downhill Adventure (Part 1)

    It was the day that Erin and her group would ascend down the cliff in order to hunt the Reaper Maggot. They had reserved their last two days of the time given to them by Rayleen for completing this task, thinking that it would be more than enough to get it done by then. However, while they had more than enough time, no one in the group could say for sure that all their other preparations were enough for sure. All they could do was hope that they had done enough and that their skills would carry them through this task.

    Erin and the others checked if they had everything ready before walking out of their room. The redhead took the lead as they started to head to the place where Brega would help them descend down to where their target resided. Right now, Erin hoped that she had made the right call in hiring the orc. Her meeting with him was still fresh on her mind and she had avoided talking about it as much as possible, hoping that this would avoid creating unnecessary tensions among them.

    ¡°So what exactly is this ¡°Downhill Ventures¡± that you hired like?¡± Lexton suddenly asked, hoping to finally get some much needed information on the services Erin had purchased. ¡°Ever since you came back from them, you¡¯ve done everything you can in order to avoid even mentioning them. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about time that you told us at least something?¡±

    ¡°W-What!? I haven¡¯t been avoiding it! I¡¯ve been completely honest and open about them! Right!?¡± Erin asked awkwardly as she turned to look at the others, only to receive blank stares in return from everybody. ¡°...Oh, come on. I couldn¡¯t have been that bad.¡±

    ¡°Erin, you¡¯ve been avoiding this topic as much as Ryle avoids vegetables on her plate. It¡¯s so obvious that even a blind person could see it,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°Haven¡¯t we already been through this? How you can trust and rely on us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you guys! Honestly!¡± the redhead said. ¡°It¡¯s just that this time I¡¯m seriously starting to distrust myself¡­¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Lexton asked, until his eyes went wide with a realization. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ You got scammed by somebody yet again, didn¡¯t you!?¡±

    ¡°Not as far as I know!¡± Erin quickly said in her defense. ¡°Although, it almost feels like it¡­¡±

    ¡°For the love of-!¡± the kobold cursed, before taking a deep breath to calm down. ¡°Alright, just tell me what we¡¯re in for. Just how bad is the situation?¡±

    ¡°Well, we were told that the prices of Downhill Ventures are cheaper than other places, so we do get to save money. Not to mention, we¡¯ll also be helping out someone who is struggling to make ends meet in order to feed their family,¡± the redhead began to explain. ¡°The problem is that the store itself didn¡¯t really fill me with confidence, when you think about how it looked. Even the shopkeeper himself didn¡¯t really look the part of someone trustworthy.¡±

    ¡°Okay, that does seem a bit concerning, but is it really enough to be so cautious around us?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I mean, smaller shops often have to rely on being the cheapest in order to get any customers at all and this often means that they don¡¯t have the most impressive stores or even equipment. But as long as they do their job well enough, isn¡¯t it enough? I mean, I did make weapons for you, Ryle, Arkay and Durge out of scrap metal, yet they work perfectly fine!¡±

    ¡°Trust me. You¡¯ll know what I¡¯m talking about once you meet the guy in person,¡± Erin said with a sigh, already dreading whatever Brega had in store for them.

    Seeing as he wouldn¡¯t be getting any straight answers out of the redhead, Lexton decided to drop the whole thing. He figured that he would see the whole Downhill Ventures business for himself anyways and get all the answers he needed anyways, so there was no need to bother trying to get information out of Erin.

    ¡°Hey, Lex?¡± Durge suddenly called out to the kobold. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking over my new weapon that I got from you and I kind of want to to ask about it.¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m more than willing to tell you anything you need to know,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you unhappy with the hammer I¡¯ve made for you?¡±

    ¡°Not at all! It¡¯s a completely fine weapon!¡± the orc quickly replied. ¡°However, there is this one thing that caught my attention the moment I got this weapon from you. It¡¯s this part right here.¡±

    The part Durge was referring to was on the other side of the head of the hammer. While the hammer for the most part looked normal, this place had what looked like small holes within the head. Upon closer inspection, one could see what looked like rocket boosters inside.

    ¡°That¡¯s the special mechanism that I¡¯ve prepared just for you!¡± Lexton said proudly. ¡°If you inspect the handle, you should find out that it¡¯s not completely solid and the lower part feels a bit loose. Try twisting it just a very tiny amount.¡±

    Durge inspected the handle and found the part the kobold was referring to. He did as he was instructed and twisted the part just a tiny bit. Upon doing so, he could hear a sound coming from the rocket boosters and one could feel warm air come from there as well.

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Is this what I think it is?¡± the orc asked with widened eyes.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve already figured out the genius of my design!¡± Lexton said in a bragging tone, fully enjoying getting to explain the weapon he had designed. ¡°Using fire magic stones, I built a mechanism that has created powerful rocket boosters into your weapon! By adjusting the power, you can unleash far more powerful attacks with it and demolish whatever may stand in your way!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty cool!¡± Ryle said, looking at Durge¡¯s weapon in amazement. ¡°Hey, try increasing the power! Let¡¯s see what happens!¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± the orc said excitedly, as he twisted the handle further.

    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t-!¡± Lexton tried to war the two, but it was too late.

    Having twisted the handle, Durge increased the output of energy, causing actual flames to shoot out. The orc had luckily been careful enough not to increase the power too much, so the weapon didn¡¯t go flying out of his hands and flames were still manageable. However, he and Ryle did end up with a couple of their hairs fried and light burns on their faces. Nothing serious, but still very unpleasant and painful. Durge had fortunately reacted fast enough to turn off the power upon noticing it going too far, so further damages were avoided.

    ¡°You freaking morons! What are you!? Children!?¡± Lexton angrily ranted at the two who had just gotten burnt due to their curiosity. ¡°What made either of you think that increasing the power carelessly was a good idea!? Had something gone wrong, we could have all died! How about next time you think for a moment, before you do anything!?¡±

    ¡°...We¡¯re sorry,¡± both Durge and Ryle apologized like children that had just been scolded.

    ¡°Seriously¡­ Sometimes I wonder if I¡¯m the only sane person in our group!¡± the kobold said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°I¡¯m especially disappointed in you, Durge! I could have expected this type of behavior from Erin or Zeldana, and obviously Ryle, but not you! I thought you were better than this!¡±

    The orc simply looked down in shame, not finding it in himself to muster up a response.

    ¡°Hang on, what do you mean you could expect this from me!?¡± Erin asked, upset at the accusation. ¡°Are you really saying that I¡¯m on the same level as Ryle!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, since when did I become the bottom standard in here!?¡± Ryle asked angrily.

    ¡°Well, Erin, while I sometimes do consider you to be one of the smarter members of our group, you tend to make some of the most downright idiotic decisions imaginable!¡± Lexton ranted, ignoring the blonde. ¡°In case you¡¯re wondering what I¡¯m referring to, how about the time you went far away from our camp to train magic and almost got eaten by a spider? Or when you hired that crazy cultist to be our guide and almost got us all killed, DESPITE MY WARNING?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me!¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°Could somebody explain how I-!?¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°Hey, those might have been mistakes, but I have always tried to make the best and most logical decision in every case!¡± Erin said, trying to defend herself. ¡°And are you still holding a grudge over that whole thing with the guide!? Can¡¯t you just let it go!? I already apologized for it!¡±

    ¡°Can you guys hear me!? I¡¯m right here! Hello!?¡± the blonde said in an attempt to get the attention turned towards her.

    ¡°Maybe so, but haven¡¯t YOU been telling us about this possible new mistake you might have made?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°At least that¡¯s what it really seems like. Or did I misunderstand something about this Downhill Ventures thing?¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s just get moving,¡± Erin said as she continued walking towards their meeting with Brega. She was soon followed by others in their group.

    Meanwhile, Ryle was left standing dumbfounded over having been completely ignored by everyone.

    ¡°...What the hell!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Did they suddenly forget that I was here or something!? Is no one paying any attention to me!?¡±

    ¡°I was paying attention to you,¡± Arkay said, being the only one who stayed behind with Ryle. ¡°I just didn¡¯t know what to say during all that. Sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°...Arnie, you¡¯re the best,¡± the blonde said as she pulled the cat boy into a tight hug with tears in her eyes. ¡°Never change.¡±

    While Ryle was having her moment with the completely confused Arkay, who was doing his best to comfort the crying blonde, a couple others from their group were looking their way.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her now?¡± Durge asked while staring at Ryle with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Who know or even cares?¡± Lexton said. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep following Erin. She¡¯ll notice that she has been left behind soon enough and will come rushing after us. No need for us to worry about whatever antics she¡¯s up to this time.¡±

    <hr>

    Continuing their trip, the group soon arrived at the place they would be meeting Brega. It was an area on the eastern side of the city, where there was a large spot without any buildings. The place had been converted for the use of businesses just like Brega¡¯s where researchers, hunters and other fortune seekers could descend into the pit below. There were a few other places like it in the city with their own businesses operating there.

    Looking around, Erin soon spotted Brega waving at her while running towards them. The orc had a bright smile on his face, as this was most likely his first group of customers after a long time of no business. Because of this, he was intending to do the best work possible in order to ensure future prosperity.

    ¡°Hey there, miss Erin!¡± Brega said happily as he came up to the group. ¡°I see that your whole group is here! That¡¯s great!¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± the redhead asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Because the laws state that if a person from a group doesn¡¯t arrive due to whatever reason possible, their share of the total price must be refunded,¡± the orc explained. ¡°It¡¯s apparently so that in case the people who go to the pit die, the ones left behind will have at least something to help themselves move on. With all of you here, I¡¯ll get paid for each and every one of you!¡±

    Erin shared an uncomfortable glance with her friends at that statement. She then let out a sigh and decided to introduce Brega to them.

    ¡°Guys, this here is Brega, the owner of Downhill Ventures,¡± the redhead said, trying her best to sound confident. ¡°He will be taking us to the bottom of the cliff, so we should be in good hands. ¡­Right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, absolutely! You are one lucky group of adventurers, I tell you!¡± the orc said happily. ¡°You have bought the most legitimate and trustworthy name in this business to assist you! Why I¡¯d be so daring as to say that only the Five Overlords themselves might be able to compete with me on that department!¡±

    Brega let out a loud laugh in order to complete his act of the confident merchant, only for it to not land well at all. Erin¡¯s friends could only stare at the orc before them in disbelief, at how bad of an act he was putting forth. The only one who didn¡¯t do so was Zeldana, as she was already aware of what kind of a character Brega was. Erin herself had her face buried in her palm from the embarrassment she was currently feeling.

    ¡°Are you freaking serious?¡± Lexton asked while looking over Brega. ¡°THIS is the best you could buy? With the money made through MY products?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that he¡¯s a bit¡­ off, but we shouldn¡¯t judge him too harshly,¡± Erin said, trying to believe her own words. ¡°I mean, appearances are one thing. It¡¯s the product or service that truly matter, right?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re putting me through this crap¡­¡± the kobold muttered as he shook his head, feeling a migraine coming. ¡°Erin, while the product itself is the most important thing, any decent merchant should know that putting up a good front is vital in order to get any deals going at all!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with my clothes!?¡± Brega asked, sounding offended over Lexton¡¯s accusation. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that this suit came from the finest tailor in the whole city!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing after he was done wiping his ass with it!¡± the kobold shot back, before turning towards Erin again. ¡°If a businessman looks filthy, any intelligent customer will make the connection that the business itself is the same way! How the hell didn¡¯t you make this comparison in your mind!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that a bit harsh, not to mention hypocritical coming from you?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°No offense, but you aren¡¯t exactly a prize in your looks either.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not talking about appearance in terms of getting someone to drool from them alone, you moron,¡± Lexton said with a groan. ¡°Apologies I¡¯m not a catfolk boy or some other thing that¡¯s to your tastes.¡±

    ¡°You better watch it, you-!¡±

    ¡°BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND!¡± Erin suddenly shouted, steering everyone¡¯s attention to what was truly important. ¡°Even if we have issues with Brega¡¯s services, we cannot really back away from it now! Not only is it questionable whether we can find another place to help us, but we are running out of time, remember!? So I say that we take our chances and get going! Alright!?¡±

    Realizing that the redhead was right and further arguing would get them nowhere, the others nodded in response to her suggestion.

    Seeing as things had calmed down, Brega decided to step up closer to the group. He walked up to Durge in order to ask him a question.

    ¡°So is this normal in your group?¡± Brega asked in a whisper.

    ¡°Pretty much a daily thing at this point,¡± Durge replied bluntly.

    ¡°Hopefully it doesn¡¯t get too bad, considering where we are going,¡± the merchant said with a shrug, before addressing the whole group. ¡°Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Would you like to go to your lift? After all, we are on a schedule here!¡±

    ¡°Sure. Lead the way,¡± Erin said.

    With that, Brega began to lead the group through the area. All around them, they saw all sort of people gathered around them. Some were armed and looked to be hardened by tough battles, having come there as either hunters of some kind or as bodyguards for those who weren¡¯t fighters themselves. There were also those who were carrying books and all sorts of tools with them, marking them as scholars hoping to make discoveries in the pit.

    As they made their way towards Brega¡¯s lift, Erin and the others noticed some of the people around them give them questioning looks, which were mostly directed at Brega himself. Despite wanting to ask about it, the redhead knew that she wouldn¡¯t receive a straight answer so she decided to try and ignore the stares for now.

    Having reached his lift, Brega noticed a sign placed in front of it that said in bold red letters ¡°BANNED FROM USE.¡± Acting quickly on his feet, the orc rushed to the sign, took it off and threw it away into the pit before his customers noticed it.

    ¡°Hey, what was that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°N-Nothing! Nothing at all!¡± Brega quickly answered, forcing out an awkward laugh. ¡°It was just some trash some kids must have left here! Vandalism is such a big issue these days, after all!¡±

    The redhead gave the orc a suspicious glare, but went along with it. They had come so far anyways and there wasn¡¯t really any turning back now.

    ¡°Alright, my good customers! Are you all ready for the adventure of your lives!?¡± Brega said, hoping to lift the mood. ¡°When you¡¯re ready, please step inside, so we can-¡±

    ¡°Brega, you slimy little turd!¡± an angry voice suddenly called out. ¡°How the hell can you show your face around here!?¡±

    Erin¡¯s group turned towards where the voice had come to see a group of angry people walking towards them. The group was directing glares at Brega, who seemed to be sweating underneath the unwanted attention.

    ¡°I thought that your sham of a business was already shut down and rightfully so!¡± another person in the crowd shouted. ¡°It¡¯s people like you who give our business a bad name!¡±

    Hearing such an accusation, Erin and her friends turned to give Brega questioning looks. The orc tried his best to keep himself calm underneath the pressure, as he was looking for an excuse to give.

    ¡°W-Well hello, my good colleagues!¡± Brega greeted the newly arrived group with a forced smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to receive such a warm welcome after being away for so long! How have you all been doing?¡±

    ¡°We were doing far better without YOU here!¡± one of the people in the group shouted. ¡°After all the terrible things you¡¯ve done, you should have been thrown to the bottom of that godforsaken pit! Or at least driven out of the city!¡±

    ¡°Woah! Woah! Let¡¯s not get violent here!¡± the orc said. ¡°Besides, I haven¡¯t committed anything so heinous that this level of animosity would be warranted, have I? I¡¯m certain if you think about it, all I am guilty of is doing all within my capabilities to run a successful business! Can you really fault me for that?¡±

    ¡°Running a business? HA! More like running a death trap!¡± another person said. ¡°Out of all lift companies, yours is the one with the highest amount of deaths among your passengers!¡±

    This got the attention of Erin¡¯s group, who gave each other fearful and awkward looks. Brega noticed this and tried to explain things in his own way.

    ¡°How vile of you to make such accusations! It¡¯s almost like you think of me as the killer!¡± the orc said, putting on a tone that sounded offended. ¡°Have we all forgotten that deaths, no matter how tragic, are an unfortunate part of our business!? Those in our trade all have seen their fair share of fatalities in their work, so I see no reason to put any unnecessary focus on me alone! As for having the highest amount of these tragedies, there always has to be a number one in everything, even things we don¡¯t want to claim such titles! It¡¯s just my own misfortune that this title has fallen upon me!¡±

    ¡°That would be true, if the poor bastards died at the bottom of the pit! Your victims die before that due to your crap equipment!¡± one of the people in the group yelled angrily. ¡°And that is just one of the issues when it comes to you!¡±

    ¡°Name one thing that I¡¯ve done wrong!¡± Brega said.

    ¡°Your pricing for starters?¡± another voice asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I have priced my services accordingly!¡± the orc replied. ¡°Not only that, due this being my first trip in a long time, I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯ve cut down my prices by 70 %! That¡¯s more than can be said about any of you!¡±

    ¡°The numerous sexual misconduct allegations?¡±

    ¡°None of those have ever been proven to be true!¡± Brega said. ¡°Even that one case where I was taken to court was dropped, after it was proven that I only touched her accidentally.¡±

    ¡°How about the case where YOU killed your customer yourself? They say you shot the poor guy 12 times!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that was a case of simple case of self-defense!¡± the orc explained. ¡°Besides, it was 11 times.¡±

    As Brega was busy defending himself, Erin was conversing with her group about the mess they had just gotten themselves into.

    ¡°Do you guys think we might be able to back out of this after all?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about this any longer!¡±

    ¡°I wish I could agree with you, but I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re out of options,¡± Lexton said. ¡°As we were walking past the others, I could see their timetables. They¡¯re all booked for the next two weeks, so we don¡¯t have the time.¡±

    ¡°In other words, we have to take our chances with this bozo?¡± Ryle asked to which the kobold nodded. ¡°...Can we just take our chances fighting the warlord? I feel like we have a better chance against her than with this guy.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just go for it and hope for the best,¡± Erin said with a sigh.

    ¡°Excuse me, my good customers!¡± Brega suddenly called out to the group with a smile on his face. ¡°I feel like I should remind you that you¡¯ve already signed a contract with me, so if for some reason you were to decide not to use my services, there would be no refund! I¡¯m fine either way, so¡­ Do you guys want to get this started?¡±

    Erin looked at her friends, who gave her uncertain looks. Despite their feelings, they all knew they were out of options and followed after Brega. All they could do was hope that they wouldn¡¯t end up regretting their decision.

 124. The Downhill Adventure (Part 2)

    Chapter 124

    The Downhill Adventure (Part 2)

    Brega¡¯s lift, which was the core of his business, was made up of two parts. First was the platform that was located at the edge of the cliff. This served as a waiting area for customers and housed the engine that operated the machine itself. The second part was the lift, which looked like a larger version of an elevator.

    The lift operated by a winch that would lower it down to the pit through the use of strong wires. While one would assume that strong winds would make this a dangerous method of travel, there was a system placed that countered that. On the side of the lift that was facing the cliff, there were several strong magnets placed on it that reacted to the minerals within the bedrock it faced. This helped stabilize it and make traveling a lot safer.

    However, despite all of these features that the lift had, Erin and her friends weren¡¯t exactly convinced that they were in safe hands. The reason for this was simply the state the lift was in. Much like Brega¡¯s shop, it wasn¡¯t in a good condition at all and showed clear signs of neglect in the form of grime and rust covering the whole things. There were even graffiti in various places that Brega hadn¡¯t bothered to even try to get rid of. The machine looked like it belonged in a garbage dump and not in actual use.

    ¡°Hey, Brega? Are you certain that this thing is operable?¡± Lexton asked as he inspected the lift. ¡°I think that it has seen its best days years ago.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s in perfect shape!¡± the orc said happily. ¡°I¡¯ll be the first to admit that the graffiti needs to be taken care of, but that¡¯s only there because I haven¡¯t had the time to come here and properly clean it, but you can always ignore that!¡±

    ¡°...Are you actually shitting me right now!?¡± the kobold asked angrily. ¡°The graffiti might be the most visible issue, but it¡¯s also the least of your problems! Do you see all the rust covering this hunk of junk!? I¡¯ll be amazed if it can move even an inch!¡±

    ¡°My good sir, rust is just a common thing in this business and I can assure you that any other entrepreneur in this line of work will have it as well,¡± Brega tried to explain. ¡°Instead of looking down on it as a lack of quality, you should see it as a sign of a business that has been operating for a long time!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I kind of have take this guy¡¯s side, Lex,¡± Ryle said, surprising everybody. ¡°I saw what you¡¯ve used to make our weapons out of. It¡¯s pretty much rusty trash metal you bought from a garbage dump. I don¡¯t see how you can criticize him over doing that.¡±

    ¡°Because I remove the rust, you dumb bastard! That¡¯s the big difference!¡± The fact that this whole machine is covered in it tells me that he is either too lazy to do basic maintenance or he doesn¡¯t care about his business at all!¡±

    ¡°How can you say such a thing about me!? Do you know how hard I¡¯ve worked my whole life in order to keep this running!?¡± Brega said in a shocked tone as a couple of tears escaped from his eyes. ¡°Do you have any idea of the long hours I¡¯ve spent struggling, trying to find ways to stay in business!? All just so I can keep my children fed!? Look at them! Do you really think I wouldn¡¯t do my absolute to give them the life they deserve!?¡±

    The orc was once again showing the picture of his children with tears in his eyes, hoping to earn some level of sympathy from his customers. However, Erin and her friends weren¡¯t the only ones who heard this sob story, as there were other lift operators that were listening to their talk.

    ¡°Since when did Brega have kids?¡± one of the listeners whispered to a colleague. ¡°I¡¯ve seen him trying to approach women at the bar, but he would always get rejected!¡±

    ¡°Who knows? Maybe they¡¯re from a previous marriage that he messed up or something!¡± another whispered back. ¡°Anyways, have you seen the picture of my kids anywhere? I lost it a few days ago and would like to get it back.¡±

    Back with Erin¡¯s group, the mood had gotten very awkward over Brega seemingly in tears as he begged them to trust him. Some of the members, like Erin, Ryle, Arkay and Durge, were feeling sympathy towards the lift operator, as they didn¡¯t want his children to face hardships because of them, while Lexton and Zeldana were more annoyed by the blatant manipulation.

    ¡°Oh, would you get up already and stop it with the fake tears!?¡± Lexton said angrily, having grown tired of Brega¡¯s act. ¡°You honestly look pathetic and I am tired of it!¡±

    ¡°Woah, Lex! Calm down a bit!¡± Durge said, shocked by what the kobold had just said. ¡°I get that his business doesn¡¯t seem to be all high quality, but that¡¯s no reason for us to not show him any sympathy, especially when it comes to his family!¡±

    ¡°Well, let me shed a tear for the poor bastard here! He¡¯s such a tragedy that even gods would weep!¡± Lexton ranted sarcastically. ¡°So what if he has issues and is struggling to feed his family!? It¡¯s not our problem, is it!? How can we bother to worry about him, when we are struggling to take care of ourselves as it is!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, now you¡¯re going a bit too far!¡± Erin said, angry at how cold the kobold was being towards Brega¡¯s predicament. ¡°I get that we have our own issues to deal with, but we can¡¯t just start abandoning people in the need of help, can we!?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We. CAN!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°Like I said earlier, how can we expect to take care of someone else, when we struggle to take care of ourselves!? GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT!¡±

    ¡°...Well, I might not have the answer you¡¯re looking for, but let me tell you that I will NEVER start abandoning those in the need of help that I can help!¡± the redhead said as she glared at the kobold. ¡°The thing is that I will never let go of my humanity and become some cruel monster that no longer cares about others! And that just might be the difference between the two of us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say that the difference between us is that I actually use my brains when making my decisions, but you can look at it however you want,¡± Lexton said, before throwing up his hands in surrender, knowing that there was no way for him to convince the others. ¡°But whatever, I suppose! Guess we are just going to get uselessly emotional and let people manipulate us! I¡¯d say that it just might end up working for us, but I unfortunately know better!¡±

    A part of Erin wanted to continue the argument, but she knew better than to do so in their situation. She decided that it was better to simply get going on with what they needed to do for now. Discussions about morals and such could be left for a later time.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Brega called out awkwardly, getting the redhead¡¯s attention. ¡°Does this mean that we are going to continue with our descent to the pit? I get that you might have issues within your group, but it will take me some time to get things prepared for us to start moving, so I¡¯d like to confirm if we are still moving forward.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Sorry about that!¡± Erin said, realizing that they had been stalling their trip down with their arguing. ¡°We are ready to go as soon as possible!¡±

    Despite some of them being reluctant to do so, the redhead¡¯s friends all entered the lift and waited for Brega to start operating it. After the orc was done with checking on the machine, he quickly rushed over to the group and joined them inside. He had a controller with him that he used to close the door, before turning to face his customers with a big toothy smile.

    ¡°Is everybody ready?¡± Brega asked in a voice that tried to awaken excitement in others.

    ¡°We sure are!¡± Erin said, forcing herself to smile and give out an excited tone. ¡°Aren¡¯t we, guys?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s not much room here,¡± Durge complained as he fidgeted uncomfortably, not liking the lack of space.

    ¡°This somehow looks even worse on the inside,¡± Lexton said, as he inspected the insides of the lift with a critical eye, not liking what he saw.

    ¡°There¡¯s a weird smell!¡± Ryle whined. ¡°Which one of you guys farted!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­ Whatever. This is as good as it¡¯s going to get anyways,¡± Erin muttered as she pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. ¡°Can you just start this thing already!?¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°R-Right away!¡± Brega said with an awkward smile.

    Pressing a couple of buttons on his controller, the orc started up the motor of the lift. The machine let out loud noises, as its systems were activated and lights began to turn on, giving the group much needed visibility. Once the machinery had been started up properly, Brega started the descending process, moving them towards the darkness below.

    ¡°And we¡¯re on the move!¡± the orc declared happily. ¡°Hope you guys enjoy the scenery outside, as this is going to take a while! So-¡±

    ¡°Just shut up and operate the damn thing,¡± Lexton said as he glared at Brega, who quickly stopped talking.

    Erin was about to reprimand the kobold over the way he talked to Brega, only to stop upon feeling a very cold breeze hit the back of her neck. She turned around to inspect the window behind her and found a very large crack on it.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ The window doesn¡¯t seem to be holding up all that well,¡± the redhead said while pointing at the crack she had just found. ¡°Is that going to be an issue?¡±

    ¡°That? Oh, not at all!¡± Brega nonchalantly dismissed Erin¡¯s worries. ¡°It might just get a bit colder, but that¡¯s about it! Unless you have an issue with that, you should be just fine!¡±

    ¡°Really? Just fine, huh?¡± Lexton asked, not believing the orc for a second. ¡°Then mind explaining to us why the other lifts seem to have full armored plating covering them?¡±

    True to the kobold¡¯s words, they could see some of the other lifts moving down on either side of theirs. Unlike their lift, they didn¡¯t have windows and were instead fully covered in armor, like they were expecting to get attacked by something.

    ¡°That¡¯s nothing to worry about! Honest!¡± Brega tried to once again dismiss the worries of his customers, although one could see nervous sweat starting to drip down the side of his face. ¡°It¡¯s just a slight precaution some people like to take for a very unlikely event, but we don¡¯t need to think about it! It¡¯s so rare that it happening is about as likely as getting struck by lighting on a sunny day!¡±

    ¡°Oh? And just what might this ¡°unlikely event¡± that you speak of be?¡± Lexton asked as his patience was starting to grow thin. ¡°I would like to judge it for myself whether there is a reason for us to worry or not!¡±

    Well¡­ There have been cases where¡­ some of the less than friendly residents of this area have kind of¡­ attacked lifts. And sometimes broken in and eaten every passenger,¡± the lift operator explained awkwardly while trying to look at anything else other than his customers. ¡°But I assure you that these are only very rare cases, so we should be completely fine! And there has never been undeniable proof that having clear windows, like we do, somehow lead to these types of attacks! Even the union stated that in public!¡±

    ¡°Really? Then I¡¯m guessing those things are just going to pass us peacefully?¡± Lexton said in a deadpan tone while pointing at something outside. ¡°And they are not going to come here to devour us like the hungry animals they are?¡±

    Everybody turned their eyes towards what the kobold was pointing at. Just as he had said, there were monsters flying towards them. From what Erin could tell, these were known as Cave Bats and like their name suggested they were often found deep within caves and other dark areas. For the most part, they resembled regular bats from Erin¡¯s world, except they had sharp spines running down their backs and a long thin tail, making them look like imps. Their bodies also didn¡¯t have any fur, unlike the normal bats the redhead was familiar with. To make these creatures even more horrifying to look at, their mouths were full of sharp fangs, they had pointy ears and red eyes that glowed in the dark. To make them a truly nightmarish beings, they were around the size of large dogs.

    Five Cave Bats were flying towards their lift, screeching demonically as they were approaching their new prey. Erin and her friends instinctively grabbed their weapons, only to notice a very big issue. There was nowhere near enough room for them to swing their weaponry, as they were all crammed within the very small lift, like tuna inside a can.

    ¡°Goddammit! Would you guys make some room!?¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she tried to take out her whip in order to prepare for the fight ahead of them. ¡°I can¡¯t really kick any ass while I¡¯ve got all of you grinding against me!¡±

    ¡°You say that like you¡¯re the only one with that issue!¡± Durge said, finding it very hard to pull out his hammer, as his back was against the wall, trapping his weapon. ¡°We¡¯re all just as squished over here as you are! There¡¯s barely any room to breathe, let alone move!¡±

    ¡°Dammit, Brega! You were disappointed by how small our group was and this stupid thing can hardly fit us in it!¡± Erin shouted at the lift operator. ¡°Why the hell would you even dream of getting a bigger group!?¡±

    ¡°Well, if we simply squeezed in some more, we could fit at least two or three more people easily!¡± Brega tried to defend himself. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not just my fault that we¡¯re in such a tight situation! I¡¯m sure if some of you were to lose some mass, then-¡±

    The orc immediately shut his mouth as he felt cold glares stab him in the back from his customers, who hadn¡¯t taken his comment kindly. Brega was starting to sweat as he did his best not to turn around, as he feared a single look from the group could annihilate him.

    ¡°You either rephrase that comment of yours or you keep your damn mouth shut,¡± Erin said in a cold tone that sent shivers down Brega¡¯s spine. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I can¡¯t guarantee that you¡¯ll be safer here or out there with those things.¡±

    Brega wisely kept quiet and simply nodded in response.

    There was a sudden bang on the window, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen and bringing everybody¡¯s attention back to the issue at hand. The Cave Bats had made their way to the lift and were now trying their best to get in. The creatures were hitting their heads and scratching their claws at the windows, trying to get inside to reach their prey.

    ¡°Brega, you better tell me that this glass is made out of some strong stuff right now!¡± Lexton yelled as he kept his eyes on the bats. ¡°If not, then I can assure you that we will feed YOU to those things!¡±

    ¡°No worries! No worries! That glass is more than strong enough to-!¡± the lift operator began to say, only for one of the bats immediately break through the glass. ¡°On second thought, maybe I should have gotten the glass from a better place than a garbage dump¡­¡±

    The bat that had gotten through stuck its head inside, screeching as it tried to reach one of the people inside in order to sink its fangs into them. Erin and her friends all backed away on instinct, doing their best to keep away from the bloodthirsty beast. While there was enough space between them and the creature, the bat was slowly squeezing its body through the hole it had made.

    ¡°Shit! That thing¡¯s getting in!¡± Ryle cursed as she leaned back as much as possible to avoid the bat¡¯s fangs. ¡°We need to do something or-!¡±

    Almost as if on command, Durge reached his hand from the back of the group and grabbed the Cave Bat by the neck. The creature began to furiously claw at the orc¡¯s arm in order to break free, but his grip was unbreakable. Squeezing as hard as he could, Durge soon broke the bat¡¯s neck, killing the beast instantly.

    ¡°That¡¯s one down,¡± the orc said, as he left the dead Cave Bat in the hole it had tried to come through, thus blocking the way so that the others couldn¡¯t use it. ¡°I would appreciate that I won¡¯t have to do that for all of them, though.¡±

    ¡°Sounds fair enough to me!¡± Lexton said as he pulled out his pistol and shot one of the bats in the head. ¡°Might as well do what we do best to kill these damn things, since we can¡¯t trust the company we hired to do its damn job properly!¡±

    ¡°Hey, that was uncalled for!¡± Brega complained. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I have fulfilled all of the minimum requirements in order to operate a business like this!¡±

    ¡°I bet you have!¡± the kobold said as he shot another bat that was in the process of breaking through. ¡°And I¡¯m sure whenever any of your customers died, you¡¯ve never considered even for a second to do at least a bit better to avoid it happening again!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I have always considered upgrading my services!¡± the lift operator claimed. ¡°It¡¯s just that the cost to do so isn¡¯t cheap¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh really!? It isn¡¯t cheap!? Do you know what else isn¡¯t cheap!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°HAVING ALL OF YOUR CUSTOMERS KILLED! YOU EVER THINK OF THAT, YOU ASSHOLE!?¡±

    ¡°ALRIGHT! ENOUGH!¡± Erin shouted as she pulled out a knife and stabbed it through the head of a bat that managed to break through the window. ¡°How about we instead of arguing among ourselves, we focus on surviving this nightmare!? Things are about to get even worse once we get down there!¡±

    ¡°FINE!¡± both Lexton and Brega shouted at the same time.

    Just as the whole group seemed to have finally stopped arguing, the remaining Cave Bat got through into the lift. Before anyone could do anything to get rid of the beast, it jumped down on top of Arkay. The cat boy fell down to the floor with the monster bringing its jaws towards his throat. Arkay managed to prevent the bat from getting to his throat by bringing up his arm in front of the creature. But while he had managed to protect his more vital area from the fangs of the bat, the beast was now digging deep into his forearm. Blood fell from the place that was bitten as he screamed from pain.

    ¡°GET THE HELL OF HIM, YOU PRICK!¡± Ryle screamed in fury as she grabbed the Cave Bat by the neck and tried to pull it away from the cat boy. However, the monster was not willing to let go and kept its jaws closed on Arkay¡¯s arm. ¡°I SAID GET OFF, YOU ASSHOLE!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t pull it, Ryle!¡± Lexton suddenly shouted. ¡°With its jaws locked on him, his arm is going to be damaged even worse by you pulling on it!¡±

    ¡°But then what the hell am I supposed to do!?¡± the blonde asked, panicking over the cat boy¡¯s plight.

    ¡°Let me handle this!¡± Durge said before leaning forward and grasping the bat¡¯s head with his hand. By focusing his ki on his hand, he was able to crush the top of the monster¡¯s head like it was a grape, killing it. ¡°There. Now we can focus on getting that thing off him.¡±

    Ryle was able to pry the jaws of the bat off Arkay¡¯s arm, although it wasn¡¯t easy. The blonde had to use ki to reinforce her strength in order to get the jaws open enough to pull them off, as the Cave Bats had a very strong bite, which made them dangerous predators. Once the beast¡¯s remains had been removed, Lexton was able to give the cat boy a potion to fix his wounds.

    ¡°Arnie, are you doing okay?¡± Erin asked, worried that the cat boy might have been hurt too badly to continue. ¡°If you want, we can call it quits right now.¡±

    ¡°No need for that. I¡¯m fine,¡± Arkay said as he got up, still shaken up by what he had gone through. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t have time, remember? We have to do this now or we¡¯re in trouble.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re right, Arnie. Thanks,¡± the redhead said, grateful that her young friend was still willing to continue, but sad that she had to put him through such a painful and horrible ordeal. ¡°Just¡­ Just tell us if you have any problems, okay? And stay in the back for now. No need to put you through something like this again¡­¡±

    ¡°But I-¡± Arkay began to say, only for Lexton to stop him with a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at the kobold to see that he had a small smile on his face.

    ¡°Just let it be for her sake,¡± Lexton whispered to the cat boy. ¡°Her ego was hurt by allowing you to get hurt like this, so just do as she wishes for now. It¡¯ll make her feel better.¡±

    Arkay nodded in response and decided to let the whole thing go. Having another argument wouldn¡¯t help them at all.

    A sudden cough from Brega caught the attention of the whole group.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to stop this heartfelt moment between you guys, but we¡¯re here,¡± the lift operator said as he pointed outside the lift.

    Erin and her friends looked through the windows and saw that they had arrived at the bottom of the pit. Looking around, they saw that some of the other lifts had also come there and passengers from those were already getting out.

    ¡°Would you¡­ Would you guys like to have a moment in private or would you like to step outside?¡± Brega asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine either way.¡±

    ¡°I would like to have a private moment!¡± Ryle suddenly exclaimed, putting an arm around Arkay¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Specifically, I¡¯d like to have a moment with him!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, Ryle!¡± Erin shouted angrily at the blonde. ¡°We¡¯re getting out now. We¡¯ve got work to do.¡±

    Erin and the others stepped out of the lift, starting their hunt for the Reaper Maggot.

 125. Maggot Hunt

    Chapter 125

    Maggot Hunt

    Having finally arrived at the bottom of the pit, Erin and her companions started their search for their target, the Reaper Maggot. Knowing that separating was the dumbest thing they could have done, the group stayed together during their search. If any of them were on their own, that would just be asking to get snatched by either the Reaper Maggot or any of the other monsters that lived there. The Reaper Maggot specifically was a notorious monster that wasn¡¯t just a simplistic beast, but a somewhat intelligent creature that had dealt with all sorts of hunters for years, thus reigning as the undisputed ruler of the area.

    Erin looked around at her surroundings, memories of better times being brought up by all of the sights. The area was littered with the ruins of the city that used to stand much higher. What used to be a city of life was now closer to a graveyard, with decay covering what used to be places of residence or business for countless people.

    However, this history wasn¡¯t what was consuming the redhead¡¯s mind at the moment. Instead, she was thinking back to the times when she and Devin ventured through these lands in search of the monster she was now hunting. Back then, it had just been an innocent game she was playing with a friend. Now it was a life or death struggle that she was trapped in. She just hoped that her luck with the infamous Reaper Maggot would be better now than in the game.

    ¡°Erin, you okay?¡± Ryle called out to the redhead, snapping her out of her thoughts. ¡°You looked like you were spacing out.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m alright,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Just a bit tensed up due to the battle ahead of us.¡±

    ¡°I can understand. This is something that I hoped I would have never had to do in my life!¡± Lexton said, looking around a bit frantically as he was visibly shaken. ¡°The bats were bad enough, but this place is where the real hell begins! I almost can¡¯t believe that I somehow ended up here of all places!¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Didn¡¯t you talk about how you went through all sorts of dangers and perils, when you were gathering wolf piss or whatever gross crap you were hording?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°How is this any different from doing that? I¡¯d say this is about on the same level of danger.¡±

    ¡°This completely different, you blithering ass!¡± the kobold said angrily. ¡°For starters, simply trying to gather ingredients is far different from trying to actually kill a beast! Normally, I¡¯d just hide away and wait for the perfect moment to gather what I want! This time, I can¡¯t do that and I actually have to risk angering the creature we¡¯re after! Do you think I actually did that when I went to gather my materials!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ No? I mean, you do seem to be the type to piss off anything that you come across, but I guess even you know when to avoid it,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°Any other reasons why you¡¯re so on edge about this?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s very simple! It¡¯s because we¡¯re dealing with the REAPER MAGGOT!¡± Lexton said. ¡°Do you have ANY IDEA just how horrendous of a beast this is!? Only a handful of creatures exist within this world that reach such a legendary status as it has! There is literally a list that contains all the monsters of such level, where they are classified more as natural disasters than simple animals! And now? We are right in the middle of the front yard of one of those things! Do you see why I¡¯m so freaking nervous now!?¡±

    Erin was a bit surprised by Lexton mentioning the list that contained monsters like the Reaper Maggot. In the game, it was essentially a side quest, where you went to the offices of local law enforcement and other agencies tasked with protecting towns and cities, and were informed about some well-known monsters appearing. The monsters ranged from large wolves to dragons and were all high level opponents. The story was that they were anomalies within nature and had become too dangerous for any normal person to handle, so you were tasked with killing them. The redhead couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the origins of the list in this world was.

    The truly frightening, however, was that the Reaper Maggot was one of the lowest ranked monsters in the list. This meant that it wasn¡¯t even among the top, when it came to dangerous creatures in this world. There were much more dangerous monsters out there and she along with Devin had been unsuccessful in beating one of the low ranking ones. Erin just hoped that they would only have to deal with the Reaper Maggot and nothing else on the list.

    ¡°Yeah, I get that this thing is dangerous. I mean, I was scared when you said that it was more dangerous than the dragon we saw, right? But my question is, why worry so much?¡± Ryle asked, breaking the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°No matter how much we may hate this, we have to face this thing and take it down, so why keep whining about it? The way I see it, we have done all we can to prepare, so let¡¯s just go there and take that thing down! That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    Lexton couldn¡¯t even muster up the words to shout at the blonde. Her response was so ridiculously stupid and simpleminded to him that words failed him.

    But while the kobold was struck into silence and disbelief, someone else found strange comfort in what she had said.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Ryle. It is that simple,¡± Erin said with a chuckle, surprising everybody else in their group. ¡°Simply crying about it isn¡¯t going to do anything for us. We have done everything we could do to prepare, so all that remains is for us to actually get this done. Besides, with you all here, I¡¯m sure we can manage.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ That doesn¡¯t even¡­ You can¡¯t be-!¡± Lexton struggled to argue back, but stopped upon feeling a hand get placed on his shoulder from Durge.

    ¡°You should just give up, Lex,¡± the orc said with a smile. ¡°I doubt you¡¯re going to change their minds. Not to mention, why do that? The morale has been lifted up, which is something we really needed, so why ruin that?¡±

    The kobold looked like he wanted to keep arguing, but realized there was no point in doing so. In the end, he simply threw up his hands in surrender and let out a deep sigh.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± a new voice suddenly called out to the group, making them turn towards it. They saw a member of one of the groups that had come by using one of the other lifts. ¡°Hi. My name is Travis and I¡¯m here on an expedition to analyze the ground in order to find out what caused the collapse all those years ago. We hope to discover the cause in order to prevent it from happening anywhere else or at least minimize the damages. However, we are finding that very difficult right now with all the noise you¡¯re causing. Not only does it distract us from our work, but it also has the risk of attracting some of the local monsters. Including the infamous REAPER MAGGOT. So could you please KEEP IT THE HELL DOWN OVER HERE? We want to get out of here alive, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Hey, funny you should mention the Reaper Maggot!¡± Ryle said, causing Travis to give her a confused look, while her friends look at her in shock. ¡°The thing is that we actually came here to-¡±

    Before the blonde could tell their purpose for being there, Erin quickly stomped on her foot, stopping her from talking due to the pain.

    ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to keep the noise down over here!¡± the redhead quickly said with a forced smile. ¡°Sorry for the commotion!¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much. As long as you don¡¯t drag us into whatever it is you¡¯re doing here, we honestly don¡¯t care what you do around here,¡± Travis said, happy that his request had been listened to and understood. ¡°By the way, just out of curiosity, what are you doing here? You don¡¯t look like scholars or scientists, so I can only assume you¡¯re here on a hunting trip. But you don¡¯t seem to be the usual hunters that come here either.¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s because we came here to-¡± Ryle began to speak up again, only to get hit on the head this time by Erin, who made sure to use her mechanic hand.

    ¡°Shut up! Are you trying to get us into trouble, you ass!?¡± the redhead angrily whispered to the blonde before turning towards Travis. ¡°We are hunters! It¡¯s just that we are still kind of beginners, so we came over here to practice our tactics and skills!¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I suppose that makes sense, but I¡¯d say you guys picked a bad spot to hone your skills,¡± Travis said before he started to walk away. ¡°Well, each to their own, I suppose. I do recommend that you don¡¯t try to push yourselves too much and leave once things get tough, okay? This isn¡¯t a playground, after all.¡±

    ¡°We will! Thanks for the advice!¡± Erin said with a smile as she waved goodbye to Travis.

    With the outsider having left, the group was allowed to let out a sigh of relief, with the exception of Ryle, who was angry at what she had just gone through.

    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Why did you guys have to keep shutting me up like that!?¡±

    ¡°Because you were about to tell everybody here what we came here to do, idiot!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°How do you think they would react to knowing we came here to kill a legendary monster!?¡±

    ¡°Obviously with praise, duh!¡± Ryle replied. ¡°Hell, I¡¯m sure Lex could put his scam artist skills to use and sell tickets to these people to watch our epic battle against that thing!¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Yeah, sure! Talk about a show! Come see a bunch of random schmucks take on the most ferocious creature in the area! Be there right next to the action, where even YOUR life is in danger!¡± Lexton said with voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Should I make it mandatory for people to have life insurances or would that be too much to ask!?¡±

    ¡°You tell me! You¡¯re the damn scammer here not me!¡± the blonde shouted. ¡°I guess whichever is the scummier option is the one you should go with!¡±

    ¡°Hey! What did I just ask from you people!?¡± the angry voice of Travis called out to the group, as he stomped over to them again. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that you would tone down the noise!? Would you mind actually doing that now!? Also, get your friend under control! She¡¯s freaking everybody out!¡±

    ¡°Our deepest apologies!¡± Erin apologized as she bowed her head down while forcing Ryle to do the same. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to keep the noise down and make sure she behaves!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good, although she isn¡¯t the one that¡¯s freaking everybody out!¡± Travis said, before pointing in a direction where the problematic person was. ¡°She¡¯s the one!¡±

    The redhead turned to look where he was pointing at and saw something that made her face turn pale. Over there, she saw Zeldana harassing some of the other groups that had come there.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve sprained your back! That¡¯s very unfortunate and not good for your profession at all! How about I fix it for you!?¡± the elf was offering one of the researchers with a crazed grin on her face. ¡°It will be a quick and easy job! Not to mention, I¡¯ll actually reinforce your spine so well that you¡¯ll never have to worry about it ever again! All I need to do is cut you open right here and I can get to work!¡±

    ¡°Stay away from me, you crazy bitch!¡± the researcher yelled, completely freaked out by the look on Zeldana¡¯s face.

    ¡°Oh my good God¡­ It¡¯s like I¡¯m watching over a kindergarten where all the kids are on drugs or something!¡± Erin said as she felt the urge to tear her hair out. ¡°I¡¯ll go get her and make sure she doesn¡¯t bother any of you anymore!¡±

    As the redhead walked away to fetch their wayward companion, Lexton turned to Durge.

    ¡°You know, I might have said all that stuff about the Reaper Maggot and all, but right now I feel like she¡¯s the scariest thing down here,¡± the kobold said.

    ¡°I am more than willing to agree with that assessment,¡± the orc replied.

    <hr>

    With the group¡¯s antics toned down, they were left in peace by the others that had come to explore the pit. Unfortunately, due to their lack of knowledge when it came to their target, they were left with very little to do for the time being. This was due to the fact that they had no idea where exactly the Reaper Maggot was or how to track it or even lure it to their location. With nothing to do, the group had taken shelter in one of the collapsed building, using it to shelter themselves while using the windows to observe what was going on outside.

    ¡°Well, this is boring,¡± Ryle said with a yawn. ¡°You know, hunting a legendary monster sounds all epic and great, but doing something like this is the furthest thing from it. I guess they don¡¯t write this into the stories of great heroes, huh?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s not much what we can do about that, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°In order to actually hunt something, we need to know where it is and how it moves. While we might be in its area, we have no idea what to do in order to actually find it.¡±

    ¡°My God, you guys are just hopeless without me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lexton suddenly said, getting the attention of the others. ¡°How about looking at some of the other people here? Do you notice anything special about them?¡±

    Following the kobold¡¯s instructions, the others began to observe what the other groups were doing. At first, it didn¡¯t seem like there was anything special that stuck out, but when looking at them for long enough, Erin picked up something.

    While most members of the groups were busy doing regular tasks, there was always at least one person who had a special device with them. It was different between the groups, but they all seemed to function in a similar manner. One end of it was stuck to the ground, while the user was looking at the other end where a monitor of some kind was located.

    ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± Erin said as she started to realize what the others were doing.

    ¡°I see that one of you knows to use their eyes properly,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°You are correct in your assumption. They¡¯re monitoring the vibrations that are coming from the ground to keep an eye on the creatures living right beneath us.¡±

    ¡°So they keep an eye on the vibrations in order to tell when dangerous creatures come! Or use it to locate the prey they¡¯re hunting!¡± the redhead said in a slightly excited tone. ¡°That¡¯s the key to us beating this! All we need is one of those devices and we can go hunt the Reaper Maggot!¡±

    ¡°Well, what are we waiting for then!?¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s get one of those gizmos and get this over with!¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, about that,¡± Durge said awkwardly. ¡°How are we going to that exactly? I don¡¯t think there are any shops nearby. And I doubt any of the others are going to just give us one.¡±

    Gloom fell over the group, as they realized just how badly they had prepared for this. Not only were they in an area they had never been to, hunting one of the most dangerous creatures in the world, but they also lacked some of the most vital of equipment.

    However, there was one person still among them who hadn¡¯t let his mood go down by this recent revelation. A certain kobold to be exact.

    ¡°You guys just keep showing how much you need me around, don¡¯t you?¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°Did you guys think that I was going to allow myself to come down here without at least something that vital?

    ¡°Lex¡­ Do you mean to tell me that you actually have one of those things with us?¡± Erin asked with a wide eye. ¡°You actually went and bought one before we came here?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, you half-brained simpleton! What do you take me for!?¡± the kobold shouted angrily. ¡°Obviously I made one myself!¡±

    Lexton pulled out the device he was talking about, showing it without even attempting to hide the pride he was feeling. However, his companions were not too impressed by what he had built. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be too much of a stretch to say that they were actually somewhat disappointed.

    The device the kobold had built was obviously made out of parts found from a junkyard. It was made of a small monitor that had a noticeable crack on the bottom left corner and its sides were covered in scratches and bumps, like it had been thrown down a rocky hill. From behind the monitor came a long thin wire that ended at what looked like a tuning fork.

    ¡°...Lex, I know you¡¯re a skilled alchemist and that you can make some of the most incredible equipment by yourself easily. I have no issues with using whatever it is you build, because I know it¡¯s of great quality, as my own sword and many other things prove it,¡± Erin said. ¡°But I can¡¯t help but feel like that thing isn¡¯t exactly of that level of quality. I mean, does that thing even work?¡±

    ¡°Of course it does! I¡¯ve tested it myself!¡± Lexton said angrily, offended by the accusation. ¡°I know it doesn¡¯t look all pretty, but that¡¯s simply because I didn¡¯t have the time to work on the appearance!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that would sound more convincing, if your gizmo didn¡¯t look like it was dropped here,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Besides, it looks different from the stuff those other guys are using. Is it really gonna do the same thing theirs do?¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Somebody save me from these barely functioning dumbasses,¡± the kobold mumbled to himself while pinching his nose out of frustration. ¡°Look, there is a fully functional reason as to why this looks so much different! It has to do with me not wanting to become some underground monstrosity¡¯s lunch!¡±

    Erin was about to ask what Lexton meant, when she realized that all the people operating these devices had to stand on ground when they were observing the vibrations they were measuring. In other words, they had to put themselves at the risk of getting devoured by whatever they were on the lookout for. This is what the kobold wanted to avoid.

    ¡°I see your point,¡± the redhead said. ¡°But does your machine still work well enough for us to know when monsters are coming towards us? Even if it lets you stay away from danger, it¡¯s kind of useless if it doesn¡¯t help us find the Reaper Maggot.¡±

    ¡°Just watch,¡± Lexton said as he walked outside the building they were hiding in.

    The others watched as the kobold simply took the part of his device that looked like a tuning fork and stuck it into the ground. He then walked back into the building and flipped a switch on the monitor, turning it on. Although a bit blurry, the monitor showed some of the nearby people as dots.

    ¡°Do you get it now? Just by placing the sensor into the ground, the wire connected to the monitor allows me to watch over things from a safe location,¡± Lexton explained with a smug look on his face. ¡°This way, there is no need for me to risk my own life walking around like some idiot, who might as well cover themselves in ketchup for the monsters.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really clever of you, Lex! Great work!¡± Erin said with a big smile, happy to hear that the risk they were facing had lessened. ¡°So with this device, we¡¯ll be able to find the Reaper Maggot?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°While this thing will be able to discover it, its range is nowhere near enough to cover the whole pit. If we want to find that thing, I¡¯m afraid we are going to have to lure it here ourselves.¡±

    ¡°...And how do we do that?¡± the redhead asked, already fearing the answer.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? We need to place a bait to get it to come to us. And that bait needs to be something that it wants to eat,¡± Zeldana explained. ¡°And THAT is us. Isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s YOU guys specifically. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be too busy watching over the monitor to bother with that,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving the job of being bait to you chuckle schmucks. Have fun out there! And try not to let the big bad maggot bite you.¡±

    ¡°...What did we do this time to piss you off?¡± Erin asked with a sigh. ¡°Sometimes I have to wonder if you¡¯re actually on our side or not.¡±

    Despite the danger they were placing themselves into, Erin and most of her companions proceeded to try and lure out the Reaper Maggot. They did this by simply walking around the place, occasionally stomping their feet on the ground in the hopes of attracting their target to come to them. They made sure not to stray too far away from the building Lexton was at with his monitor, as they would otherwise get easily snatched up by the monsters living there.

    However, even though they were putting in their best efforts, they seemed to be unable to attract the Reaper Maggot towards them. Outside of some regular underground beasts that lived in the area, their hunt had been rather uneventful.

    ¡°Lex, are you getting anything?¡± Erin asked as she stomped her feet, hoping that their target would come to them. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the others, but my legs are starting to get tired.¡±

    ¡°Nothing so far, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the kobold replied with a shrug. ¡°I think even some of the regular animals are starting to avoid us. Besides you guys, I can only see the signs of the other group that¡¯s doing their research nearby.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re telling me that we¡¯ve been doing this dumb stomp dance for no reason at all?¡± Ryle asked with her voice coated in displeasure. ¡°How about we come up with a plan that doesn¡¯t make us look like a bunch of idiots?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this is the best plan we¡¯ve got,¡± Arkay said, hoping to calm the blonde. ¡°We know how the Reaper Maggot hunts and how it hunts, so all we can do is use that. I¡¯m sure Lex has thought of every other possible thing we could do, but this is all we have.¡±

    ¡°Arnie, I love you for your kindness, but you need to know when to not give it to someone, okay?¡± Ryle said with a sigh. ¡°I mean, look at the scaly bastard! He¡¯s sitting on his ass in safety, while we are out here acting as snacks for the monsters! If that¡¯s not complete bullshit, I don¡¯t know what is!¡±

    ¡°The reason I¡¯m here is because I¡¯m the only one who knows how to handle a delicate device like this! Can you do it!? I freaking doubt it!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m sure the most complex tool you¡¯ve ever used is a hammer and even then you-!¡±

    The kobold suddenly stopped his angry rant, upon something appearing briefly on his monitor. It was only for a moment so small that you would have missed it had you blinked, but he could have sworn that he saw it. For just the briefest of moments, he thought he saw a very large blip appear on the monitor, indicating something big moving in the area.

    However, as he watched the monitor, waiting for it to happen again, it didn¡¯t appear. This caused him to eventually chalk it up to being just an error of some kind. After all, nothing that large could just disappear without a trace like that.

    The mistake Lexton made was rooted in his assumption that the Reaper Maggot, despite its fearsome reputation, was still a simple beast in the end. Nothing but an animal to be lured into a trap. The fact was that the Reaper Maggot hadn¡¯t earned its reputation on strength alone, but on its cunning as well, which it had cultivated through decades of hunting those who came to hunt in its domain. In that time, it had learned how to avoid detection, only appearing when it knew it would catch its prey for certain.

    Had the kobold paid enough attention, he would have noticed how one of the signals of the nearby group had just disappeared along with the large blip that had appeared.

    Unknown to all of the people there, the Reaper Maggot had come to hunt.

 126. Fear the Reaper

    Chapter 126

    Fear the Reaper

    The group of researchers that was close to where Erin¡¯s group was happened to be the same one that Travis, the person who had complained to the redhead and her friends about the noise they were making, was part of. After getting Erin to pull Zeldana away from one of his colleagues, Travis had expected their research to go without too many issues. While there was the occasional loud noise from the group he had complained to, their work was progressing smoothly. In all honesty, he had a really good feeling about their day so far.

    However, he was about to find out that his day would soon turn for the worst.

    ¡°Hey, Halsey! How¡¯s things looking over there!?¡± Travis called out to another member of their group, only to not receive any response. ¡°Halsey? You over there?¡±

    The person Travis was calling out to was the one who was in charge of watching over their seismic sensor, which was used to be on the lookout for creatures that lived underground. This was an important role, as detecting possible attacks was the key to survival in this area. If there wasn¡¯t someone watching out for underground attacks, it could easily lead to the death of the whole group.

    Having not received a response from the person with such an important role was something that caused Travis to immediately worry. Heading towards the place where Halsey had last been at, he hoped to find the silent team member just listening to music or something, while still keeping his eyes on the monitor.

    But when he came to the place Halsey was at, Travis only found the seismic sensor on the ground, seemingly abandoned.

    ¡°Halsey, you prick¡­ You better be having some serious bathroom trouble or else I¡¯m going to-¡± Travis grumbled to himself as he went to pick up the sensor, only to stop upon noticing something that turned his face pale.

    Next to the sensor were traces of blood.

    Realizing that his colleague had most likely met a gruesome fate, Travis turned around and tried to run towards the others in order to warn them. Yet despite his best efforts, he didn¡¯t get far before being grabbed by something right beneath him and dragged underground.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, the recent attack didn¡¯t go unnoticed by a certain kobold.

    ¡°What the hell!?¡± Lexton said, having seen the same strange and large blip appear on the screen for just a brief moment before disappearing. The first time he could have placed it on his eyes playing tricks on him or an error in his device, but the second time he saw it very clearly.

    Not only that, but this time he had noticed something else that was very disturbing. At the spot where the large blip had appeared, had been a smaller one, indicating one of the nearby researchers. Now it was gone.

    ¡°Something the matter, Lex?¡± Erin asked, having heard the kobold¡¯s cry of shock. ¡°Is the device not working properly or something?¡±

    ¡°That would be terrifying, considering I made it!¡± Lexton said. ¡°However, I fear this might be far worse than just that!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± the redhead asked in a worried tone as he walked up to the kobold. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°You see the dots on the screen? Those indicate moving things. In this case, it¡¯s showing our group and those researchers nearby,¡± Lexton explained as he showed the monitor to Erin. ¡°However, besides the ones you see here, there¡¯s this very big one that keeps appearing every now and then. It¡¯s there for less than a second, but you can clearly see it. And I hope I¡¯m wrong on this, but I think the people in the group-¡±

    Just as the kobold was finishing up his explanation, the big blip appeared on the screen, before disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. As it did this, another signal indicating one of the researchers was gone.

    ¡°There it was again! What is that!?¡± Lexton asked in voice that was both frustrated and scared at the same time. ¡°Not only that, but one of those researchers disappeared yet again! What the hell is going on over there!?¡±

    However, while the kobold hadn¡¯t yet fully figured out what was happening, Erin had. Her lone eye was wide in horror and her face turned pale when she came to the realization of what was going on.

    ¡°Lex, I think I know what that thing is,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I think we might have found the creature we¡¯re looking for.¡±

    ¡°The Reaper Maggot? While I get what you¡¯re saying, I don¡¯t see how it could be the case,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Dangerous monster or not, the Reaper Maggot is still an animal. I don¡¯t see how it could be able to do something like this.¡±

    ¡°It might be an animal, but not just any ordinary one. You have to remember that we are dealing with an apex predator that has ruled this place for years,¡± Erin began to explain. ¡°During that time, would it be unbelievable to imagine it has learned to hunt people like us? How we seem to detect it before it can even get close? I think it has and is now using tactics where it attacks people one by one so fast that they don¡¯t have the time to react. If that is the case, it would completely explain what is happening.¡±

    Lexton wanted to keep denying it, but the evidence was there right before his eyes, telling a different tale. The fact that all other creatures had seemingly stopped coming, because the most dangerous predator around had come. The large signal on the monitor that could only belong to a creature of a similar size. And the fact that they were dealing with a monster that even most experienced hunters wouldn¡¯t want to mess with.

    As they were discussing this, another researcher¡¯s signal disappeared on the monitor after being covered by the very large one. Whatever it was, even if not the Reaper Maggot, they were dealing with something very big that was skillfully picking off people one by one.

    Just as this realization dawned on them, the rest of the research group¡¯s signals disappeared through similar means. It was now a question as to where it would happen next, although both Erin and Lexton had a pretty good idea as to where that would be.

    ¡°Oh crap¡­ Guys! Don¡¯t move!¡± Erin quickly shouted at the others who were still in the process of trying to lure the Reaper Maggot to them. ¡°Don¡¯t make any movements! We think the Reaper Maggot is here!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Wasn¡¯t that the whole point of-?¡± Ryle began to ask, only to stop upon a sudden feeling of dread hitting.

    If you were to ask the blonde, she wouldn¡¯t be able to properly describe it, but the sudden feeling she got screamed about a danger coming right at her. It was specifically coming from right below her, like this deathly void was rising towards her in order to swallow her completely. Considering what was actually going to happen, her description wouldn¡¯t have been too far away from reality.

    Acting upon reflex, she jumped away from the spot she had been standing on, avoiding the certain death that almost got her. Just as her feet got off the ground, the ground where she had been standing at exploded into a cloud of dust, almost like a buried bomb had just gone off.

    Realizing the threat they were dealing with, Ryle then dashed towards Arkay, knowing that he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect himself from such a creature. Scooping the cat boy in her arms, she held onto him like her life depended on it and ran to where Erin and Lexton were at.

    Durge was the next to act. Much like Ryle, he could also sense the monstrous being that was coming up from below and knew that he needed to act fast. Grabbing his new weapon, he turned on the rocket boosters and jumped in the air, before hitting the ground with all of his might. While this didn¡¯t do anything to the monster that was trying to get him, the impact created a blast that managed to push him backwards, sending him where the rest of the group was hiding.

    Now that they were all within the same building, Erin let out a small sigh of relief. Even if it wasn¡¯t the best possible shelter, the rundown ruins would at least offer some protection against the attacks.

    However, just as she allowed herself to feel relieved, she soon noticed someone was still missing from their group. Zeldana was no longer where she had last seen her. It was like the elf had simply disappeared and the redhead couldn¡¯t help but fear the worst.

    ¡°Guys, where¡¯s Zeldana!?¡± Erin whispered to the others in a panic. ¡°I can¡¯t see her anywhere!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She was over there a moment ago,¡± Durge whispered in response while pointing at the place he had seen the elf at. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that she¡­¡±

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Erin felt how the color on her face was drained as the horrifying realization that one of their companions had most likely just been killed. She didn¡¯t want to believe it, but there seemed to be no other explanation as to why they couldn¡¯t find the missing elf anywhere.

    Just as all hope seemed to be lost, a familiar voice spoke up.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ I¡¯ve been here the whole time,¡± Zeldana whispered from behind everybody else, causing them to turn around to look at her in shock. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t take me for someone who would die that easily.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? When did you get there!?¡± Erin asked in a whisper that was a mix of shock and anger, with a hint of relief.

    ¡°Around the time the first of those other guys got turned into maggot food. Remember these ears of mine? They¡¯re not just for show,¡± the elf explained as she pointed at her ears, which she wiggled a bit. ¡°I could hear what was happening over there clear enough to tell me that I needed to get a move on, so I did. I¡¯ve been hiding here the whole time after that.¡±

    ¡°And you couldn¡¯t warn the rest of us because of what exactly?¡± Ryle asked as she glared at Zeldana.

    ¡°Hey, how was I supposed to do that, when noise attracts that thing?¡± the elf asked back. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like any of you guys got eaten or anything.¡±

    ¡°Why you little-¡±

    ¡°Quiet, you morons!¡± Lexton suddenly whispered to the group. ¡°Look outside.¡±

    Everybody turned their eyes to outside the building they were hiding in and saw something that sent chills down their spines. They saw how the ground would occasionally rise up, showing that something was moving right beneath the surface. The most terrifying thing was the sheer size of the creature in question, as it was very large. Judging by what little they could see, the creature must have had about the same width of body as the dragon they faced. However, even though they couldn¡¯t see anything but just a small part of its body that was covered with the ground, they could tell that it was much longer. It had to be the largest creature any of them had ever faced.

    ¡°Holy crap¡­ That thing is enormous,¡± Ryle said as she stared at the creature with wide eyes. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think that we might have had a better chance with the warlord.¡±

    ¡°I was just thinking the same thing. We might have bitten off more than we can chew with this one,¡± Durge said. ¡°I suppose this is to be expected of a legendary creature, though. It was bound to be an impressive sight to behold.¡±

    ¡°What is it doing?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°It seems to be just slowly moving around the place. Almost like it¡¯s looking for something.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because it is. It¡¯s looking for us,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°It knows that we are here. It just doesn¡¯t know our exact location. My guess is that it¡¯s doing this in the hopes of coming into contact with one of us or that we attack it, thus revealing our location.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s kind of doing the same thing we were doing not too long ago? Smart bastard,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°It must have learned about the methods people use to either hunt or avoid it and has adapted to them. This honestly makes it far more terrifying, as beasts that are simply strong can be easily fooled or avoided. It¡¯s the smart ones that are the really dangerous ones.¡±

    As the others were busy staring at the creature, Erin was too busy trying to figure out a way out of the mess they were in. She had foolishly applied the logic of the game she used to play into the world she was in. In that, all you needed to do to face the Reaper Maggot was just walk around the area it would appear in and wait for it to come to you. Then it was a question whether you were skilled enough to actually slay the thing.

    However, such logic naturally wouldn¡¯t apply here. This was the apex predator. The top of the food chain. There was no way it would simply come to you and negate its natural advantage. It would play up to its strengths and hunt in a way that was a lot smarter. Had they not realized what was happening, all of them would be dead by now.

    How could they fight against something that had complete control over its surroundings like this? There just seemed to be no way for them to win.

    Just as Erin was deep in her thoughts, the sound of someone calling people out could be heard. The redhead and the others turned their gazes to where the sound was coming from and saw the members of one of the other groups walking over to the area where they were. Judging by their equipment, they had to be hunters.

    ¡°Hey! Anybody there!?¡± one of the hunters called out. ¡°We heard some strange noises and came over here to see what was going on!¡±

    Realizing the danger the hunters were putting themselves in, Erin tried to call back to them in order to warn them. However, just as she was about to yell, Zeldana¡¯s hand quickly covered her mouth, silencing her warning into nothing but muffled noise.

    The elf looked at the redhead and simply shook her head. Erin quickly realized why she had been prevented from responding to the hunters. If she were to call out to them, she would risk attracting the Reaper Maggot towards them. Zeldana was essentially telling her to let the group of hunters walk into their demise so that they themselves could live.

    Erin looked at her other companions and saw that they were on the same page as the elf. They all knew that trying to warn the others would endanger their lives, so the logical solution was to not do anything. However, the redhead could tell that all of her friends had varying degrees of regret on their expressions.

    Suddenly, the sound of something erupting from the ground could be heard, followed by terrified screams. The Reaper Maggot had given up on looking for Erin¡¯s group and had decided to try its luck with the hunters.

    Upon realizing what was happening, the hunters grabbed their gear in order to defend themselves. They tried to put up a fight, but it was of no use. Almost as soon as the beast made its appearance, it would sink underneath the ground, taking its newest victim with it. This continued with the Reaper Maggot picking off the hunters one by one, until only one of them remained.

    The last hunter didn¡¯t seem to have a weapon of any kind on them, only a large bag. Having seen all of his companions get devoured like nothing had naturally had an effect on him, as he was visibly panicking. With no rationality behind his thoughts anymore and lacking anything else he could do, the hunter simply threw his bag at where the Reaper Maggot had last appeared, before turning around and running away.

    As the bag was thrown it opened up, spilling its contents on the ground. What came out of it was some sort of a dark purple powder that dyed the ground in a similar color. Soon after it had landed, something that shocked everyone in Erin¡¯s group happened. The Reaper Maggot suddenly burst out of the ground while letting out a furious screech. The last remaining hunter barely managed to let out one final scream, before the jaws of the beast clamped down on him, devouring his body in an instant.

    Due to this last attack being far more furious than the previous more calculated ones, Erin and the others were able to get a look at what the Reaper Maggot looked like. Much like they had already assumed, the beast was massive. It had a grayish brown skin that seemed to be covered in small black spikes, which were used for movement underground. Despite being a creature that lived mostly beneath the earth, it still had four massive eyes, which were most likely meant for use when it came to the surface from time to time. Its mouth opened up into four large mandibles that were lined up with numerous sharp teeth that would tear and shred any unlucky victim that got caught into them. There was also a dark red mane on top of its head that made it look even more fierce. Lastly, there were four claw-like appendages coming from the sides of its head.

    The Reaper Maggot didn¡¯t waste time when it came to dealing with the last hunter. Once it was done, it disappeared beneath the ground once again to search for its next victim.

    With the beast now gone from sight, Erin and the others were left wondering about their current predicament. While the others were thinking about whether it was possible for them to escape from there alive, let alone kill the monster, the redhead¡¯s mind had taken notice of something else entirely.

    ¡°Did you guys see that thing!? It was enormous!¡± Ryle whispered as she tried not to panic from the nightmarish sight they had just witnessed. ¡°How the hell are we supposed to take that thing on!? This is a suicide mission! We should just get the hell out of here!¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who earlier was completely fine with this? Would you mind and pick a stance on this already!?¡± Lexton whispered back. ¡°However, I do agree with you. This has turned out to be far more dangerous than I could have ever anticipated! I don¡¯t see how we are going to stand a chance against such a creature!¡±

    ¡°I agree. This isn¡¯t an opponent that we have the abilities or the equipment to beat,¡± Durge said, keeping calm despite feeling quite disturbed as well. ¡°Even if our chances with Rayleen aren¡¯t exactly the best, I doubt they are worse than what we have here.¡±

    ¡°...Did you guys notice something?¡± Erin asked, gaining the attention of her companions. ¡°That last hunter¡­ He had something in his bag. Something that the Reaper Maggot reacted to. It caused it to come to the surface, instead of safely picking him off like the others.¡±

    ¡°You mean the dust that was in his bag?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°That¡¯s called Aggressor Dust. There are several types, all for different types of environments and creatures, but they all have a similar function. It causes the animals that fall under its effect to go into a blind rage and charge towards it. Hunters use it to draw the prey they¡¯re hunting into traps.¡±

    ¡°So they use that to get the creatures that live underground to appear in order to hunt them. I was wondering about how professionals hunt these things,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Did you have any of that stuff prepared, Lex? You know, for the Reaper Maggot.¡±

    ¡°Nah. I have made some variants of it myself and could have bought the real stuff at a store, but decided against it,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°As you saw, that stuff isn¡¯t exactly something to play around with. While you might get the thing you¡¯re hunting to go into a blind rage which makes leading them into traps easier, it also comes with a big risk. Depending on what you affect with that stuff, you might end up calling a living avalanche to come crashing down on you that will blow through whatever traps you have set up.¡±

    ¡°And having us walk around and stomp our feet in order to attract that thing was better because of what exactly?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Considering your skills, I figured that once I got a signal of that thing approaching, you guys would have been more than capable of avoiding it on your own,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°It was my mistake that I didn¡¯t consider it to be much smarter than your average creature, which put you all in danger. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    Upon hearing the kobold¡¯s sincere apology over his mistake, everybody else in the group turned to stare at the blonde with judging stares. Getting such looks directed at her caused her to soon feel rather uncomfortable.

    ¡°W-Who was trying to put the blame on you!? Certainly not me! Not me at all!¡± Ryle said very awkwardly under the pressure she was in. ¡°Besides, we all make plenty of mistakes, so no need to be too upset about it! It¡¯s all about, you know, learning from that stuff and all, right!?¡±

    ¡°Guys, would you mind and stop it with your antics for a moment? I think I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± Erin said, getting her friends¡¯ attention. ¡°Lex, do you have any of your golems with you?¡±

    ¡°Plenty. I made sure to prepare before coming here,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°I¡¯ve got the big ones that are for fighting, the explosive ones and the stealthy ones. Which ones do you need and for what exactly?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you soon, but first I need to do something else,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I need to find a suitable place for my plan to take effect.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, the Reaper Maggot was moving underground, looking for its next prey. By this point, it had calmed down from the effects of the Aggressor Dust and had returned to its more calculated method of hunting. From the vibrations it sensed through the ground, it could tell that there were more people up ahead, unaware of its presence. Having spotted its next prey, the Reaper Maggot set out to pick them off one by one, before any of them could realize what was even happening.

    However, the beast suddenly stopped advancing towards the unsuspecting prey upon noticing something. It was a strange odor that came from the direction it had just come from. Not only that, but there was something about the stench that absolutely angered it. Whatever was behind it needed to be killed, if for nothing else than to appease the anger of the beast.

    Following behind the aggravating smell, the Reaper Maggot picked up its speed. All it was thinking about was tearing apart whatever it was that was at the end of the trail it had picked up. As it followed the trail, the creature noticed that it had risen up from the soft ground up on much harder ground. This was something the Reaper Maggot wouldn¡¯t be able to move through like it normally did.

    However, this didn¡¯t matter to the beast. All it cared about was killing the thing that had angered it. Everything else was secondary.

    Bursting through the ground like a missile, the Reaper Maggot landed on what was almost like a platform created by the ruins of the fallen buildings. Back when the city had first sunk into the ground, these buildings had crumbled in such way that they had made this spot, almost like it was on purpose.

    That purpose would normally be for hunters and other explorers to escape from the underground beasts. Now it was used to trap the greatest monster the area had ever known.

    The Reaper Maggot soon found the being that had angered it. It was a small golem, created from sludge that had absorbed some of the Aggressor Dust into itself and had then created a trail leading to this spot by dragging along the ground.

    The simple golem was quickly destroyed by the enraged Reaper Maggot in an instance. However, the ones behind it were about to make their entrance.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Erin called out to the monster, who turned its four eyes towards her. The redhead stood before it with her companions scattered around, surrounding the beast. ¡°Glad you came. It¡¯s time we got this over with.¡±

    Shooting a small flame out of her artificial hand, Erin hit a flammable liquid that had been spread around the place, creating a ring of fire that surrounded them. Their greatest battle so far had now begun.

 127. Kill the Reaper

    Chapter 127

    Kill the Reaper

    With the fires now surrounding them, Erin was now ready to initiate her plan to finally kill the infamous Reaper Maggot. After learning about the Aggressor Dust and having seen the effect it had on the beast, the redhead had formulated a plan in her head. Using one of Lexton¡¯s golems to absorb some of the leftover dust into itself, the man-made creature was able to create a trail that would lead the Reaper Maggot to a better place for them to slay it. Namely, an area where the ground was a lot harder and wouldn¡¯t allow it to dig itself underground and gain the advantage over them. With the flames surrounding them, the legendary underground monster was now effectively trapped.

    However, the real hard part was only starting now. Even if they had an advantage over the beast, it was still a fearsome monster. One wrong move could mean death in this situation. They would have to be extremely cautious, if they wanted to get out of this alive.

    ¡°Alright, guys! Get ready!¡± Erin shouted to her companions as she drew her sword. ¡°This is where the tough part comes!¡±

    ¡°No shit,¡± Lexton said as he got some of his vials at the ready. ¡°I¡¯m still wondering if taking on Rayleen would have been the better option.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Lex, quit your bitching and grow a pair!¡± Ryle shouted as she got ready for the battle ahead. ¡°It¡¯s not like you have the luxury to changed your mind right now!¡±

    The rest of the group didn¡¯t say anything as their attention was solely focused on the monster before them. They were closely watching its movements, anticipating what it might do.

    Meanwhile, the Reaper Maggot itself was looking over its opponents, analyzing them all in order to determine who it should go after first. Thanks to its years upon years of experience in facing those who had come to slay it, it was capable of determine who was the strongest and weakest among the ones surrounding it. In a moment, it had come to the conclusion that Durge and Ryle were the strongest and most likely the most dangerous of its opponents, while Arkay and Lexton were the weakest.

    Having finished analyzing the group, the Reaper Maggot had decided on who to attack first. With a furious screech that echoed through the area, it lunged towards Lexton, having decided that he was the easiest to kill.

    This was soon proven to be a mistake.

    ¡°Bad choice, worm,¡± Lexton said as he took out one of his vials and threw it on the ground, causing a sickly green cloud of smoke to erupt from it.

    As soon as the beast caught the stench that had just blasted out of the smoke, it quickly backed away while screeching in anguish. The effect had been so strong that it ended backing all the way to the surrounding fire, which slightly burned and hurt the creature, causing it to screech out in pain even more.

    What Lexton had thrown at the Reaper Maggot was a mixture similar to the repellent he had used to keep the wasteland beasts from approaching their camps, whenever they were forced to rest in the wilderness. The only difference was that this particular liquid had been specifically made to have an even stronger smell in order to ensure that it had an effect on the Reaper Maggot.

    However, while it had been a success in driving away its intended target, it did have an unfortunate side to it. Particularly when it came to the kobold¡¯s companions.

    ¡°Goddammit, Lex! Would you kill you not to make some horribly stinky shit like that!?¡± Ryle cursed as she held her nose in disgust. ¡°I swear I can feel my nose hairs burning from that!¡±

    ¡°Well excuse me for making stuff that works and does what it¡¯s supposed to do!¡± Lexton shouted back at the blonde. ¡°Besides, considering what we¡¯re doing, I¡¯d assume that you would be enough of a big girl to handle a bit of a nasty smell! Guess I was wrong about you!¡±

    ¡°A bit nasty!? I¡¯ve been to sewers that didn¡¯t smell anywhere near as bad! And may I remind you that my sense of smell is a lot better than yours, so this is pretty much hell to me!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°Not to mention, I don¡¯t see how you get to talk all big, when you¡¯re the one with a gas mask to protect yourself from this!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I just came prepared! Can you blame me for that!?¡± the kobold said from behind his mask.

    Ignoring the argument between two of his companions, Durge decided to use the opportunity of the Reaper Maggot being distracted by the flames and the smell of the repellent to launch an attack. Charging towards the monster, he activated the rocket boosters on his weapon and swung the hammer with all his might. The blow was powerful enough to shake the Reaper Maggot, which now switched its attention to the orc. Opening its massive maw, the monster then charged towards Durge, but was unable to catch him. This was because the end of a whip had caught one of its claws and forced it to go to the side, missing the orc.

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t forget about the rest of us here!¡± Ryle shouted with a cocky grin on her face. ¡°You need to dance with all of us or you¡¯re going to regret it!¡±

    The Reaper Maggot responded to the taunt by opening its mouth and shooting out a dark purple cloud of gas towards the blonde. It was obvious to anyone watching that this was poison gas.

    However, before the purple gas of death could reach Ryle, a sudden gust of wind blew it away courtesy of Arkay. Thanks to the books he had been studying, the cat boy had managed to pick up a new spell to use. It was a minor wind spell that wouldn¡¯t really damage anybody, but it was more than enough to get rid of toxic fumes.

    ¡°Nice save, Arnie!¡± the blonde said happily, as she gave the cat boy a thumbs up, who happily returned the gesture.

    Once again, the Reaper Maggot turned its attention towards the one who had just aggravated it the most recently and prepared to charge towards Arkay. The cat boy immediately realized the danger he was in and responded to it by firing fireballs at the monster. Unfortunately, this had little effect on the creature, as it used the massive claws on the sides of its head to block the fiery projectiles by shielding its face.

    With Arkay¡¯s attacks not having an effect on it, the Reaper Maggot was ready to launch its attack, but was stopped by something hitting its two eyes, causing it to screech from pain. This newest attack had come from Erin who used her mechanical hand to shoot a fireball and her other hand to send out a small ice spell at the creature.

    The redhead had recently learned how to use both of her hands to use magic at the same time. Most people would normally use both hands on a spell to stabilize it and make it stronger or use just one hand in order to let their other hand do something else, such as hold a weapon or a shield. However, Erin had found out that it was not only possible to use magic from both hands at the same time, but she could do two different spells as well. The downside was that she couldn¡¯t do any really powerful spells in this manner, but that didn¡¯t matter as long as she was able to hit her target in a weak spot, like the eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got more than one of us to worry about,¡± Erin said as she got her sword ready. ¡°We won¡¯t be as easy as all your other victims.¡±

    The battle continued in a similar manner, where the members of Erin¡¯s group would perform coordinated attacks. One of them would attack, which would aggravate the Reaper Maggot to turn towards that person. When the beast tried to attack them, one of the other members would then do something to either harm or stop the monster. While their attacks weren¡¯t powerful enough to cause too much damage, they were beginning to pile on the creature. With the way things were going, it looked like they would win against the Reaper Maggot.

    However, they didn¡¯t realize that the monster had more than just a few tricks at the ready.

    By now, the battle had been going on for a while and it looked like victory was just right ahead of them. Even if they were starting to run low on stamina, Erin and her friends were in a far better condition than the Reaper Maggot. The creature looked like it was on its last legs.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Is it just me or does it look like this thing is about to croak?¡± Ryle asked while panting. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s doing too hot.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Looks like our strategy is working,¡± Erin said as a small confident smile appeared on her face. ¡°If we manage to keep this up, I¡¯m sure we can end this soon. Let¡¯s keep going!¡±

    The redhead¡¯s declaration managed to get her companions more pumped up, making them forget about their exhaustion for a moment. They all got their attacks ready, thinking of how they would end the legendary monster they were fighting.

    Just as they were about to unleash their attacks, the Reaper Maggot did something that took them all by surprise.

    The monster suddenly lifted its head up, staring up into the sky above. It then opened its mouth wide open and began to spray something straight up, causing it to fall all around it.

    What everyone had expected was that the Reaper Maggot would spray its poisonous gas in order to get all of them in one go. Instead, what it sprayed on them was a sticky white substance, similar to spider¡¯s web.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Durge shouted as he ran around, avoiding the sticky substance. ¡°It¡¯s trying to stick us to the ground!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think we all figured that out!¡± Zeldana yelled as she used her numerous scalpels to deflect some of the silk that almost hit her.

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    The group was able to avoid the silk falling down on them, as most of it hadn¡¯t actually been aimed at them. Instead, most of it seemed to be targeted at the Reaper Maggot itself, which was now covered in the white substance. The creature now looked like some sort of a statue created from silk, as it stood completely still.

    ¡°...What the hell? What kind of an attack was this supposed to be?¡± Ryle asked, confused over what was happening. ¡°Did it realize that it was getting its ass handed to it, so it decided to kill itself or something?¡±

    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s what it¡¯s doing,¡± Lexton said. ¡°This is one of the most dangerous creatures in the world. There has got to be a deeper meaning to this. The question is what could that be?¡±

    As the group was wondering about what the Reaper Maggot might be planning to do, Erin came to a realization. Back when this world had just been a game for her and she had been trying to defeat the legendary monster along with the help of Devin, there had been a revelation in regards to it that essentially crushed their hopes of ever defeating it.

    During that time she had visited a message board that was full of tips and hints in regards to the game, where she had learned that the Reaper Maggot had a secondary form. One which it would reveal upon receiving a certain amount of damage. And it was a lot stronger than its previous one.

    Just as the redhead realized this, the cocoon that was covering the Reaper Maggot began to crack.

    ¡°...Oh shit,¡± Erin said to herself as her eye turned wide from shock.

    The cocoon around the monster shattered, allowing its new form to be revealed. The first change that Erin and the others noticed was its new coloring. Its brown skin had now been replaced with bright red one and its mane was now pure white. The claws around its head had now grown larger and had serrated blades on them. Similar serrated claws were now all along its whole body that had also become much slimmer. Lastly, there was a large stinger at the end of its long body.

    Letting a primal screech out of its maw, the Reaper Maggot signaled the end of its transformation. The screech carried throughout the entire pit and even outside of it, causing any living being that heard it to be struck by fear. This was no different to Erin and her friends, who were now terrified over the being that they had foolishly challenged.

    ¡°Okay¡­ I see that its now got a new look and even all of its injuries have been healed. That¡¯s¡­ definitely not good,¡± Erin said as she tried her best to not let her fear show in her voice, which was not working. ¡°But we¡¯ve been doing fine so far, right? As long as we keep going at it carefully, maybe we can-¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to convince us or yourself!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°We gotta get the hell out of here! NOW!¡±

    The Reaper Maggot let out another screech as it dashed towards Ryle. The monster was now much faster than before, making it almost impossible for the blonde to avoid the attack. Only thanks to using ki to strengthen her legs she was able to jump out of the way, but wasn¡¯t able to fully get away. One of the Reaper Maggot¡¯s new serrated claws managed to catch her on the side, leaving a big wound on her. Ryle tumbled to the ground holding her injury in pain.

    ¡°Goddammit! Son of a-!¡± the blonde cursed as she held her bleeding side. ¡°How the hell did that thing get so fast!?¡±

    ¡°Someone go help her!¡± Erin shouted.

    ¡°On it!¡± Zeldana replied almost automatically, as she rushed to Ryle¡¯s aid.

    ¡°Oh for-! Don¡¯t come over to make this even worse!¡± the blonde pleaded, but was ultimately ignored, as the elf proceeded to treat her injury. ¡°GYAAAH!¡±

    ¡°Stop whining, you big baby! It¡¯s for your own good!¡± Zeldana said as she dug her fingers into Ryle¡¯s wound. ¡°Also my amusement.¡±

    Seeing that her friend was receiving the treatment she needed, Erin turned her attention back to the transformed Reaper Maggot. The ferocious beast was observing its opponents with hungry eyes. The transformation must have taken a lot of energy out of it, which it was now looking to replenish by devouring the ones who had forced it to take such an action.

    However, while the Reaper Maggot was now obviously even more dangerous than it had been, they might still have a way to defeat it. If it was as hungry as the redhead imagined, then there might come a moment where it uses up all of its remaining strength, allowing them to finish it off. In other words, time might be on their side.

    ¡°Guys, listen up. I think I have an idea,¡± Erin said to her companions who were still in fighting shape. ¡°Changing this way must have taken a lot out of it, so it¡¯s probably running low on energy. As long as we don¡¯t allow it to eat anything, namely us, I think we can win. All we have to do is keep dodging its attacks and it will probably be forced to either slow down or stop moving entirely.¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s your plan? We wait for it to starve?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Perhaps we can make it more efficient by convincing it to go on a fashionable diet as well?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Do you have a better one!?¡± the redhead asked angrily.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I do,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°It has the letters G, T, F and O in it. I¡¯ll let you guess the rest of it.¡±

    ¡°Running away won¡¯t solve anything! We need to beat this thing or else we came here for nothing!¡± Erin argued. ¡°Besides, if we fail on our end of the deal with Rayleen, she¡¯ll be coming after us! Do you really want to take your chances with her, after getting our asses kicked here!?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m still weighing my options,¡± Lexton replied.

    The argument was cut short, as a loud screech echoed through the area, originating from the Reaper Maggot. The monster charged towards the group before it, its maw open and hungry, ready to devour everything living that was unlucky enough to end up in its path.

    Erin and the others were able to avoid being caught in the monstrous mandibles with different levels of success. The redhead was able to grab Arkay and get both of them out of the way in time, thus avoiding any injuries. Durge was able to block one of the serrated blades that came towards him with his weapon, but the impact of the blow knocked him down on the ground. The orc managed to regain his bearing quickly and was soon back on his feet.

    Unfortunately, Lexton hadn¡¯t been all that fortunate. While he also managed to avoid certain death, the impact caused by the Reaper Maggot¡¯s attack had sent him flying quite far away from the others. Not only did the kobold end up tumbling painfully on the ground, but he ended up hitting his head on a large stone, which left a bloodstain on it.

    Erin was horrified over what had happened to her friend and hoped that he was only unconscious and not worse, but seeing him not move made her fear the worst. She needed to desperately get someone over to him in order to check his condition.

    ¡°LEX!¡± the redhead called out to the kobold, hoping that he would respond. ¡°Somebody go over to him! He needs help!¡±

    ¡°Kind of busy over here!¡± Zeldana shouted in response, still in the middle of Ryle¡¯s treatment.

    ¡°Oh no. Please go ahead and get over there,¡± the blonde said in a weak tone, not because of her injury, but the sheer horror her treatment was. ¡°I insist. Just leave me alone, okay?¡±

    Seeing as no one else was going to take the initiative, Erin began to rush over to Lexton herself. This, however, caused her to turn her back on the Reaper Maggot. The creature immediately recognized the opportunity before its eyes and wasted no time in taking advantage of it.

    Arkay realized what the monster was going to do and wasted no time in trying to save Erin¡¯s life. He quickly rushed after the redhead, pushing her down to the ground and thus avoided the numerous blades of the Reaper Maggot.

    Erin could only watch dumbfounded as the monster flew over her. She was struck silent over the thought of what could have happened to her, had her young friend not been so quick on his feet.

    Having grown tired of being on the defensive the whole time, Durge decided to use this opportunity to attack the Reaper Maggot for once. Letting out a roar of primal fury, he jumped towards the monster with his weapon held high, fully intent on crushing the head of the giant worm.

    Despite his efforts, though, the Reaper Maggot was too fast for him as it moved out of the way of the attack. In order to get further away from its attacker, the monster actually dug itself through the makeshift concrete arena they were standing on, thus disappearing underground. It appeared that its ability to dig had also evolved with its new form.

    ¡°Dammit! This bastard is even more slippery than before!¡± Durge cursed before looking back towards where Erin was. ¡°You guys okay over there!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re fine! Had it not been for Arnie, I¡¯d be in that thing¡¯s belly right now!¡± the redhead replied. She then suddenly realized that the cat boy was oddly silent. ¡°...Arnie? You okay over there?¡±

    Not getting a response to her question, Erin quickly turned to look over her young companion. She was horrified to find out the reason for the cat boy¡¯s silence, as there was a large gash across his back and it was bleeding heavily.

    ¡°...Oh God. Oh God! OH GOD! ARNIE, NO!¡± the redhead said as she was beginning to panic. ¡°He¡¯s not responding! SOMEBODY HELP!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m coming! I¡¯m coming!¡± Zeldana said as she rushed over to give medical assistance to Arkay. ¡°I can¡¯t be at two places at the same time, okay!?¡±

    ¡°Thank God you¡¯re here! H-He got wounded while protecting me!¡± Erin began to babble in her panicked state. ¡°This is all my fault! I shouldn¡¯t have-!¡±

    A quick slap across the face from Zeldana shook the redhead out of her delirium.

    ¡°Get a hold of yourself, you idiot! This is not the time!¡± the elf said angrily. ¡°Right now I need you and Durge to cover me, while I save kitty boy¡¯s life! Did you get that or do I need to write it down for you!?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes! You¡¯re right! Sorry!¡± Erin apologized as she grabbed her sword and stood close to Zeldana, ready to defend her from any attacks. Durge soon joined them. ¡°This is just going worse than I thought and it got to me! I swear I won¡¯t let that thing come near you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good and all, but what about Lex?¡± Durge asked. ¡°He just took a pretty bad hit.¡±

    ¡°Right now, the best we can do is hope that he¡¯s okay,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°Having one of us go alone to check on him would make for an easy target to the Reaper Maggot and we need to have people here to look after Zeldana and Arkay.¡±

    The orc glanced at Zeldana, who was in the middle of treating Arkay¡¯s injury. His face immediately turned pale at the horrible sight before his eyes. The only reason Erin hadn¡¯t witnessed it was because she was too busy looking for the monster they were fighting.

    ¡°Somehow I feel like I¡¯d be safer with the worm than with her,¡± Durge muttered to himself.

    As Erin was looking around for the Reaper Maggot, she noticed movement from the corner of her eye. However, this was not the monster they were having trouble with. Instead, it was Lexton, who was regaining consciousness and trying to get up.

    ¡°Lex! You¡¯re okay!¡± the redhead said happily.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ No thanks to you assholes¡­¡± the kobold said in a groggy voice as he was having difficulty keeping his balance. ¡°Everybody else gets immediate assistance, but my ass gets thrown around and I¡¯m all on my own. The hell is with that?¡±

    ¡°...I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d hear that,¡± Erin mumbled, feeling ashamed over herself. ¡°You know I didn¡¯t do that because I wanted to! I had no choice!¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­ Keep telling yourself-¡±

    Lexton¡¯s complaints were cut off, as something burst out of the ground close to him. Time seemed to slow down for him and everybody else, as they watched the Reaper Maggot shoot out of the ground like a massive missile and fly right towards the kobold.

    However, there was someone who was faster than the gigantic worm. This was none other than Ryle, who despite her recent injury was back in action and had sped up to Lexton. Pushing the kobold down, he was saved from the hungry maw that had tried to devour him.

    Or at least, that¡¯s how it looked.

    ¡°Ha! Back in action and already saving your ass! Who is the useless one now, huh!?¡± Ryle boasted, expecting some sort of a snarky remark yet received only silence. ¡°...Lex? The hell is wrong with you? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be calling me a mongoloid or some other weird thing right about now?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind doing that, but there¡¯s something that has taken all of my attention right now,¡± the kobold said in a voice that was trembling from pain. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering what that is, take a look at my behind and you¡¯ll see.¡±

    The blonde did as she had been advised and quickly found out what was Lexton¡¯s problem. The place where his tail was no longer had such a thing. Instead, only a bleeding stump was left behind.

    ¡°Oh! You lost your tail!¡± Ryle pointed out. ¡°Must have gotten lost when the worm attacked. That¡¯s a surprisingly clean cut, though¡­¡±

    ¡°No shit! Do you have any idea how bad this is!?¡± the kobold shouted angrily with tears in his eyes. ¡°Not only am I in agonizing pain, but I¡¯m about to bleed to death at this rate! My healing potions can¡¯t fix an injury this large!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what the big problem is! I mean, lizards lose their tails all the time, don¡¯t they?¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°Can¡¯t you just, you know, grow a new one?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M A KOBOLD, YOU IGNORANT TURD!¡± Lexton yelled. ¡°My body can¡¯t do that! I¡¯m not a goddamn lizard!¡±

    ¡°Okay! Okay! Sheesh! I¡¯ll try to look for your missing-¡±

    Ryle stopped upon seeing the Reaper Maggot hold something red that was rather familiar in its maw, before swallowing it.

    ¡°...Never mind,¡± the blonde said.

    ¡°I freaking hate that thing,¡± Lexton said as he glared at the Reaper Maggot. ¡°Now what are we going to- GYAAAH!?¡±

    The reason for the kobold¡¯s sudden scream of pain was Ryle¡¯s treatment for his injury. In order to stop the bleeding of the area where his tail had been, the blonde had wrapped her whip around the stump and made it VERY tight.

    ¡°There we go! That should stop the bleeding!¡± Ryle said, looking over her work with a proud grin on her face.

    ¡°Just¡­ Kill me already¡­¡± Lexton muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t take this humiliation any longer¡­¡±

    Ignoring the kobold¡¯s complaints, the blonde turned to look over the others and soon found something that made her freeze on the spot and her eyes go wide. She saw Arkay laying down, not moving and with blood covering his body.

    An animal-like growl escaped her mouth as something within her snapped.

 128. Beast Against Beast

    Chapter 128

    Beast Against Beast

    At first, Erin was confused over why Ryle had suddenly gone silent and frozen still. One moment the blonde had been her usual energetic self and next she was like a statue. It was only after the redhead followed her friend¡¯s wide eyed gaze did she understand what was wrong. Ryle was staring at Arkay, who was unconscious and covered in blood, which wasn¡¯t a good look for anyone.

    Erin obviously knew about how obsessed Ryle was with the cat boy, but she didn¡¯t realize just how deep the sight before her cut into her heart. Seeing Arkay in such a state immediately reminded the blonde of her brother, Zeke, and how he had died. Images of her life with her brother as well as Arkay were currently playing through her head at light speed, culminating in the death of Zeke.

    Being reminded of such a painful thing caused something within Ryle to get unleashed, like an animal that had been caged for a long time. Her blood began to boil as a feeling of burning rage began to take over her. The blonde clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth, before turning her hateful gaze towards the Reaper Maggot, the one responsible for what had happened to Arkay.

    Realizing that her friend was most likely losing control over herself, Erin was about to call out to her in the hopes of calming her down. The redhead hoped that by assuring Ryle that Arkay was alive and okay, she wouldn¡¯t let her anger get the best of her.

    However, the words died in her throat, as she realized that her friend had changed in such a way that mere words wouldn¡¯t be enough to reach her. Erin saw that Ryle¡¯s teeth looked like fangs suddenly and she could even hear a low growl come from the blonde, like a wolf baring its teeth at its prey. Overall, Ryle¡¯s whole being had taken a change that made her seem more like a beast than a human.

    Ryle began to head towards the Reaper Maggot, opening her clenched fists and cracking her fingers in preparation for the fight. Erin and the others were able to see that the blonde¡¯s fingers were now covered in her own blood, as sharp claws had grown at the tips of them and had dug into her palms when she clenched her fists. Taking a low stance that was ready to dash towards her target, Ryle let out a shout that was a mixture of an angry scream and the roar of a beast, before shooting towards the Reaper Maggot like a bullet.

    The gigantic worm had no time to avoid the incoming attack, as sharp claws were soon digging into its flesh. The worm¡¯s bright green blood spilled out as it let out a pained screech. This didn¡¯t deter Ryle¡¯s attacks at all, as she simply continued to claw at the monster like a savage, tearing out chunks of flesh and spraying blood everywhere.

    The violent barrage of clawed strikes was finally put to a stop by the Reaper Maggot swinging its tail at its attacker. Ryle was struck by the massive tail and was sent flying backwards, before crashing to the ground. Despite taking a strike that was obviously heavy and painful, the blonde was quickly up on her feet and ready to continue the fight.

    As the brutal battle between Ryle and the Reaper Maggot was unfolding, Erin and the others could only stare at what had happened to their companion in shock.

    ¡°What the hell is going on with Ryle!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°It¡¯s like she¡¯s become a completely new person or something!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s similar to a berserker state, but yet somehow different,¡± Durge said as he was trying to figure out what might have happened. ¡°Whatever this new state of hers is, it seems to act in a similar fashion by giving her a boost to her physical capabilities, while also putting her under a state of blinding rage. Yet while it is very similar, it¡¯s also¡­ different.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can explain it properly, but the way the berserker state works is by focusing your ki into your mind in a sense. This allows you to unleash far more power and make you into a fearless beast of a fighter. The downside of this is that it makes you blind to everything that¡¯s happening around you and may even cause you to attack your allies,¡± the orc explained. ¡°However, while there are some physical changes to you, such as larger muscles, the changes are often very limited, unlike with her.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ you change a lot when you turn on your berserker state as well,¡± Erin said. ¡°You become much larger and your teeth turn into fangs. Not to mention, your skin also turns red.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because there is an added element within my body that makes my berserker state transform me a lot more,¡± Durge explained. ¡°The more drastic changes that come from my transformation are because of that additional thing. Those who use the berserker powers may choose to do this in order to become more powerful.¡±

    ¡°Then Ryle is the same as you?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°In theory, yes. However, whatever it is that changes her body is different from mine, as it doesn¡¯t look the same at all,¡± the orc replied. ¡°I have no idea what is, but I can tell just by looking that¡¯s it isn¡¯t the same as me.¡±

    Upon hearing Durge¡¯s explanation, Erin remembered how Ryle had told her about getting the genes of a werewolf in her body. While she had received a stronger sense of smell, there hadn¡¯t been any other changes, making the blonde believe that she had been scammed. Even Lexton had agreed with this assessment, as the abilities of a werewolf would have been far more powerful.

    But looking at Ryle now Erin couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she had actually received what she had paid for.

    The fight between the enraged Ryle and the Reaper Maggot continued. The gigantic worm now took a different stance, where it brought the stinger at the end of its tail to the front and started to rapidly thrust it towards the blonde. As Ryle was dodging these attacks, Erin noticed a dark liquid dropping from the tip of the stinger. It didn¡¯t take much to figure out that it was venom.

    While Ryle was able to avoid the venomous attacks, she was put completely on the defensive now, being forced to focus on dodging the numerous attacks. Even if she was able to do just fine so far, it was only a matter of time until she slipped and got struck. Considering the size of the stinger itself, it probably wouldn¡¯t even need the venom in order to kill her.

    ¡°This is not good! Ryle is not going to last long like this!¡± Erin said as she was watching the battle. ¡°We need to do something before anything bad happens to her!¡±

    ¡°...I think I have an idea,¡± Durge said. ¡°It just might put an end to this fight finally.¡±

    ¡°What is-¡±

    The redhead didn¡¯t manage to finish her question, as the orc suddenly dashed towards Ryle, putting himself on the line of the stinger thrusts. Instead of simply attacking the Reaper Maggot¡¯s tail, he actually grabbed the stinger by the side, avoiding the lethal tip and holding it in place.

    In response to this, Ryle stared at Durge in what could only be described as confusion. It was unsure whether she still had her sense of self and was simply surprised by the orc¡¯s actions or if she had lost it completely and didn¡¯t understand what was happening at all. Whatever the case was, the deadly stalemate between the blonde and the gigantic worm was put to an end.

    ¡°What the hell are you waiting for!?¡± Durge asked while struggling to hold the beast¡¯s stinger in place. ¡°Go and kill that bastard already!¡±

    It was unsure whether Ryle had understood the orc or if she was still acting on pure instinct, but it seemed like she got the message well enough. Her opponent had been stopped, thus allowing her to attack it freely. This was an opportunity she needed to seize and do so quickly.

    Letting out another roar, Ryle charged towards the Reaper Maggot with claws at the ready. The monster tried to desperately attack her with its mandibles and serrated claws, but it was no use. The blonde was far too quick and easily avoided the attacks and reached one of the claws on the side of its body. She then grabbed the base of it and used all of her strength to brutally tear it out, spraying the worm¡¯s green blood everywhere.

    The Reaper Maggot screeched in agony, as it began to wildly thrash its body around, hoping to get Ryle off. In its desperation, it even smashed its body to the ground, hoping to crush her underneath its weight. Once again, the blonde proved to be too fast for it and got out of the way in time.

    As it looked like Ryle had finally won the battle, Durge, who was still holding the stinger, had a sudden feeling of nausea spread through his body. This caused his hold on the Reaper Maggot to loosen, allowing it to finally free itself from the orc¡¯s clutches.

    With its whole body now free, the gigantic worm was able to use one of its deadliest attacks on Ryle. By surrounding the blonde with its body, the Reaper Maggot closed around her, trapping her underneath its own mass. This was a move that the beast would use on ore difficult opponents, as it would prevent them from moving and fighting back, thus leaving them to suffer a slow and agonizing death of being crushed.

    However, the Reaper Maggot had failed to realize that this was a bad move on its part, as Ryle was currently armed. Wielding the serrated claw she had torn off the gigantic worm¡¯s body, she was able to cut deep into the body of the monster attempting to squeeze her to death. Screeches of agony echoed through the pit, as the Reaper Maggot¡¯s blood began to flow freely.

    Before the beast could back away from the raging blonde it had tried to crush, Ryle managed to use the torn off claw to cut her way out. Green blood practically rained down, as she burst through the Reaper Maggot¡¯s flesh, leaving a large hole that was bleeding. Blood and gore covered the blonde, who turned around to face her opponent, still clutching the claw she had taken from the worm.

    Meanwhile, the Reaper Maggot itself was obviously on its last legs, as it was weakly trying to crawl away, but wasn¡¯t able to get far. Not only was there the exhaustion that had come from its transformation that was weighing down on the worm, but the sheer damage and loss of blood were also draining its strength. Even if it somehow managed to escape, there was a good chance that the injuries would kill it.

    Despite her opponent being at death¡¯s door already, Ryle was not going to allow it to simply run away. Her anger was still burning intensely and only the utter destruction of the one who had enraged her would be able to even start calming her down. The Reaper Maggot would have to die today.

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    Gripping the serrated claw in her hands so hard that it caused blood to fall from her palms, the blonde let out another savage roar, as she dashed towards the gigantic worm and jumped on top of it. As soon as she had landed on it, she began to wield the claw like a scythe, cutting into the creature¡¯s flesh even further. Blood and bits of flesh were thrown around in an explosion of violence and gore, as the Reaper Maggot screeched.

    The worm continued to let out sounds of agony for some time, as Ryle continued her savage assault on it. It didn¡¯t take long until the screeching stopped and the Reaper Maggot went limp, indicating its demise. The legendary monster that had ruled the pit had finally been slain.

    However, even if her enemy was already dead, Ryle still continued cutting into it, almost like she was refusing to believe it was dead. Erin and the others watched in horror at the savage monster their friend had turned into.

    ¡°Ryle, you can stop already! It¡¯s dead!¡± Erin yelled, hoping that her voice could reach her friend and put a stop to her rampage. ¡°It¡¯s over! The Reaper Maggot is dead! You¡¯ve won! Please stop already!¡±

    The redhead¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears, as the blonde continued her mad rampage of cutting into the dead worm¡¯s corpse. Erin was beginning to fear that they might have lost her for good.

    ¡°RYLE, PLEASE! JUST STOP!¡± the redhead begged, as she tried to run over to her friend, only to be stopped by Zeldana¡¯s hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s too dangerous,¡± the elf said. ¡°None of us can reach Ryle right now.¡±

    ¡°B-But we have to do something!¡± Erin argued, desperate to save her friend. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave her like this! What if she doesn¡¯t come back from that state at all!? There has got to be something we can do for her!¡±

    ¡°Not really. Berserker state is something that its user needs to get out by themselves, usually by simply burning through it,¡± Zeldana explained. ¡°Depending on how strong the rage that they¡¯ve put themselves into is, the time it takes for the user to snap out of it varies. Some are able to get a hold of themselves as soon as they¡¯ve taken out their enemy, while others have to pass out from exhaustion before any reason returns to them.¡±

    ¡°..A-And in the case of Ryle that would be what?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Judging by the fact that she¡¯s still going despite having killed the Reaper Maggot and the amount of power she showed, I¡¯d say she falls to the latter category,¡± Zeldana replied bluntly. ¡°Our best hope is that she simply runs out of steam as soon as possible. Before that happens, there isn¡¯t really anything that we can do. Besides, you shouldn¡¯t worry so much. Berserkers are not some weird anomaly. This will end sooner or later.¡±

    Erin was beginning to feel hopeless. While she understood that the berserker state wasn¡¯t something that would last until the end of time, but something told her that this was different. It was very similar to what Durge would do when he transformed in his berserker state and the first time they had seen him do so, he had asked them to kill him. Something told the redhead that this was a similar case and she needed to find a way to put a stop to it as soon as possible.

    Just as she was trying desperately to find a way to save her friend, Erin realized that someone was missing. Arkay was no longer laying on the ground like he had just been moments ago. After looking for him, the redhead soon found the cat boy walking towards Ryle. Despite the pain of his injury weighing down on him, he was determined to go and help the blonde.

    ¡°Ryle? Are you there?¡± Arkay called out in a weak voice, catching the blonde¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. You¡¯ve won. There¡¯s no need to fight anymore. You can come back to us. Please?¡±

    Ryle didn¡¯t respond to the request. Instead, she dropped the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw she had been holding before climbing down from the monster¡¯s corpse and making her way to the cat boy. As she moved, her motions were no longer how they used to be. Instead, her walking had a certain animal-like feel to it, almost like a primitive human or something similar. Upon reaching Arkay, the blonde stopped right before him and crouched down, so they were looking at each other eye to eye.

    ¡°R-Ryle?¡± Arkay called out to the blonde, disturbed by her behavior. ¡°I-Is something wrong?¡±

    Once again, the blonde didn¡¯t say anything in response. Instead, what she did was something that left everybody watching completely puzzled. Ryle pushed her face very close to Arkay and began to sniff him, like a dog would. This sudden action caused the cat boy to blush from embarrassment, as the blonde¡¯s nose went all around him, taking in his scent from every possible place.

    ¡°R-Ryle!?¡± Arkay cried out in surprise as the sniffing continued. ¡°W-W-What are you-!?¡±

    Before he could finish his question, the blonde suddenly jumped on the cat boy, knocking him down. He looked up to see Ryle smile widely down at him, before leaning down and licking his face, once again similarly to a dog.

    As this was going on, Erin and Zeldana stared at the spectacle completely baffled. They then looked at each other, wondering if either one of them had any sort of an explanation.

    ¡°...Well, at least she¡¯s calmer now,¡± Erin said after a moment of silence. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ think so?¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°I do think we confirmed that Ryle is still there, despite what just happened with her. I mean, she always did like the kid quite a lot.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m not sure if this is the correct way she should be showing her affection towards anyone,¡± the redhead said with a sigh before thinking this through. ¡°Ryle once told us that she had some genes spliced into her body in order to assist with her bounty hunting job. She claimed that she had bought the genes of a werewolf, but never actually experienced anything that should have come with it. Lexton guessed that she was scammed and was only given regular wolf or dog genes, which is why she has an enhanced sense of smell. Do you think that would explain this? She is acting like a dog, after all.¡±

    ¡°While there is some level of truth to that idea, I don¡¯t think it fully explains THIS,¡± the elf began to explain. ¡°You see, splicing the genes of another creature into your body can give you numerous different changed, as you take into that beings characteristics. This can come as less noticeable changes, like a better sense of smell or eyes that can see in the dark. And sometimes the changes can be very visible, such as horns, gills or any other physical trait that you end up inheriting.¡±

    ¡°And in the case of Ryle?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°As you already told me, she gained a better sense of smell and possibly other traits as well. However, that alone doesn¡¯t yet explain this,¡± Zeldana continued explaining. ¡°While it¡¯s true that people who have genes spliced into their bodies can also show a change in their general behavior, such as become more aggressive, this level of change is unheard of! The only times anything like this happens is when a creature is much more powerful than the person getting their genes spliced into is. When that happens, the inherent nature of the creature starts to corrupt and take over the new body, which often ends up killing the person. Even those who survive end up becoming nothing more than shambling mutants that are barely capable of holding onto life.¡±

    ¡°...Well, Ryle doesn¡¯t seem to have mutated¡­ much. But her behavior has certainly changed,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Do you think the wolf genes or whatever have taken over her body?¡±

    ¡°That certainly seems to be the case, although, I don¡¯t think this is just a case of mere wolf genes. There has got to be something bigger at play here,¡± the elf said thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will agree that mere dog or wolf genes wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to take over someone like her. Whatever the creature is whose genes she has, they have to be something much more powerful than that. The question is, what is it? I think we are going to have to look into this at some point.¡±

    Erin simply nodded in agreement, as she kept observing Ryle and Arkay. The blonde was still showing animal-like signs of affection, even though she had stopped licking the cat boy¡¯s face by now. She had now moved on to rubbing her face against his and even giving light playful bites here and there that weren¡¯t actually painful.

    ¡°R-R-Ryle! Stop! That tickles!¡± Arkay pleaded as he laughed, but his words went unheard.

    Having finally grown tired of the blonde¡¯s new antics, Erin picked up a rock off the ground and threw it at her oddly acting friend. The redhead was hoping that some form of blunt force trauma might knock Ryle back to her sense. Not only that, but she was worried as to how far the blonde was going to go with her behavior.

    ¡°Hey, knock it off already, you dumbass!¡± Erin yelled angrily as she threw the rock at Ryle, hitting her right on top of her head. ¡°What the hell are you even trying to do over there!?¡±

    ¡°OW! What the hell!?¡± the blonde shouted in pain, as she held the spot she had been hit. ¡°What was that for!?¡±

    ¡°Ryle!? Are you back to normal!?¡± Arkay asked while still underneath her.

    ¡°Huh? When did you get there?¡± Ryle asked, completely confused as to what was going on. ¡°And¡­ what just happened? I remember us fighting that giant worm and stuff, but¡­ Then it all just goes blank.¡±

    Realizing that her last memories were of her battle against the Reaper Maggot, the blonde began to frantically looking around for the monster, only to find it dead right behind her.

    ¡°Woah! What happened here!?¡± Ryle asked in shock. ¡°When did this guy get killed!?¡±

    Meanwhile, Erin and Zeldana were watching the blonde¡¯s antics, trying to see if there was even a hint of the brutal killer they had just seen.

    ¡°So¡­ What do you make of this?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s faking this?¡±

    ¡°She seems legitimately confused to me. I guess all that stuff must have happened in a blind rage that left no memories to her,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°Why do you ask? Doesn¡¯t her behavior seem real enough to you?¡±

    ¡°It does. It¡¯s just that she wouldn¡¯t mind ending up in her current ¡°position,¡± if you know what I mean,¡± the redhead replied, before turning her attention back to Ryle. ¡°Hey, would you mind and get off Arnie already!? We should get out of this place already!¡±

    ¡°Another wasted opportunity¡­ Can¡¯t just get one, can I?¡± the blonde said with a sigh, before shrugging. ¡°Oh well. I do feel very good and fulfilled for some reason, so I guess it¡¯s not that-¡±

    Ryle suddenly stopped as she tried to get up and only ended up falling to the ground again. She blinked in confusion before attempting to rise up again, only to end with the same result.

    ¡°Are you okay, Ryle?¡± Arkay asked, concerned over his friend¡¯s well-being.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay! I think I was just a bit more exhausted than I thought!¡± the blonde quickly replied, before getting on her feet just fine. ¡°See? Nothing to worry-¡±

    Once again, Ryle was cut off with her speech. This time it was due to her walking right into the Reaper Maggot¡¯s corpse and hitting it so hard that it knocked her back.

    ¡°What the-!? When did that get there!?¡± the blonde complained. ¡°I was trying to go to Erin!¡±

    ¡°...Is something like this normal?¡± Erin asked, turning towards Zeldana.

    ¡°This? Oh yeah! Nothing to really worry about! Those who enter the berserker state often have some physical side effects that can be a bit of pain to deal with, but don¡¯t last for too long,¡± the elf answered. ¡°She just needs to rest for a bit and this should be over with.¡±

    The redhead let out a sigh. The day had been very exhausting in more ways than one, but at least they were all still alive. Deciding to check up on their remaining companions, she headed over to where Lexton was and found the kobold still laying on the ground.

    ¡°You okay there, Lex?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°...Yeah. I¡¯m just fan-freaking-tastic. I¡¯ve basically reached the lowest point of my life, where I¡¯ve lost a part of my body to be eaten by some horrid worm monster, I¡¯m only alive thanks to an idiot tying her whip around the stump of my tail and I can no longer move properly,¡± Lexton replied sarcastically. ¡°I could just die happy right now¡­¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that the loss of your tail isn¡¯t¡­ ideal, but it sure is better than losing your life, right?¡± the redhead said in an effort to cheer up the kobold. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve still got your arms and legs. I¡¯m sure you can move around just fine.¡±

    ¡°Really? You think that?¡± Lexton asked in a venomous tone. ¡°How about we put that to the test?¡±

    The kobold tried to stand up, but like Ryle earlier he fell right back down.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Erin asked with her eye wide from surprise. ¡°Did you hurt your legs as well?¡±

    ¡°My legs are fine, idiot! It¡¯s my missing tail that¡¯s the goddamn issue here!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°It¡¯s been part of my body my whole life and has helped me keep myself in balance all the time! Losing it is just as bad as losing an arm or a leg! I can¡¯t just walk it off like a minor injury!¡±

    ¡°But lizards lose their tails and are just fine, right!?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°...I¡¯m going to assume that you and that blonde reject of evolution are just incredibly ignorant and not what you seem like with statements like that,¡± the kobold grumbled, trying his best to hold back his fury. ¡°Kobolds, like myself, are NOT like some ordinary goddamn LIZARDS! We don¡¯t just magically grow back our tails when we lose them! This a big freaking deal!¡±

    ¡°Okay! Okay! I get it!¡± Erin said, a bit taken aback by the sudden outburst. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you back, so you won¡¯t have to walk, okay? I¡¯m sure you can fix yourself, the same way you did me.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­ I¡¯ll just fix myself and be fine and dandy,¡± Lexton muttered. ¡°What the hell happened to my life? One moment I¡¯m making good deals, being on top of my game and getting around to some good places. Now it¡¯s become like a cruel joke, where I get tormented by idiots all around me. God help me¡­¡±

    Deciding to ignore the kobold¡¯s rant, the redhead moved on to the last member of their group, Durge, who was still laying on the ground. He had been there ever since he had grabbed the Reaper Maggot¡¯s stinger.

    ¡°How are you doing, Durge?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ been¡­ better¡­¡± the orc replied in a slurred voice, like he couldn¡¯t move his mouth properly. In fact, it looked like he was only able to move his eyes around.

    ¡°...Durge, are you okay!?¡± the redhead asked, now beginning to panic. ¡°Zel! Something¡¯s wrong with Durge! He can¡¯t seem to move!¡±

    ¡°What!? Oh! I¡¯m guessing that he took in some of the Reaper Maggot¡¯s poison when he grabbed its stinger! Since he isn¡¯t moving, I¡¯m guessing it was a neurotoxin of some kind!¡± the elf yelled back. ¡°No need to worry, since I doubt he took it all that much through touch!¡±

    ¡°But what if his condition gets worse!?¡± Erin called back. ¡°He could lose his ability to breathe or something!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! If that was going to happen, he would be dead already! Since he is still breathing and able to respond, my guess is that the venom of he took must be potent but the amount isn¡¯t enough to be lethal!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Much like Ryle, he just needs to rest a bit! If nothing else, we can get a proper antidote once we get back to the city!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, but how do we get him back there!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°He can¡¯t move!¡±

    ¡°Just drag him along the ground!¡± the elf replied. ¡°It¡¯s not like he can protest against it, right!?¡±

    Erin looked at Durge before letting out a deep sigh. Half of her team was now unable to move or had issues walking around and she was tasked with moving two of them around.

    For some reason, it didn¡¯t feel like they had won.

 129. Back to the Surface

    Chapter 129

    Back to the Surface

    There were many reasons as to why Brega was seen as severely incompetent lift operator among his colleagues. For starters, he had a bad habit of trying to save up money by trying to buy his equipment as cheap as possible. This had its obvious problems, which many of his unfortunate customers had suffered. He even had a tendency to put his customers at risk in order to protect himself, which was not looked upon favorably in his industry.

    However, one of his biggest issues had to be his inability to recognize danger properly. Even when beasts were heading straight towards him, it would take until he was essentially able to smell their breath that he¡¯d realize the danger he was in. Numerous signs of danger, whether it was sounds or tremors, would go pretty much ignored by him.

    While most of the time this bad quality of him would lead to misfortune for his customers, this time it would be a good thing for Erin and her companions. When the recognizable screeches of the Reaper Maggot were heard through the pit, the other lift operators had called back their customers before leaving the area. Meanwhile, Brega had simply sat back, listening to music and reading his comic as he waited for the return of his customers.

    The lift operator himself was quite surprised upon seeing his customers return. Not because he had expected them to have perished, but because of the state they were in. Two of them were being carried by others, while another one seemed to be having trouble walking around.

    Ryle was still suffering from the aftereffects of her berserker state, which caused her to wander around uncontrollably, like she was unable to walk a straight line. If it wasn¡¯t for Arkay assisting the blonde, she would have been crashing into things constantly. Ryle was also carrying one of the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claws as proof for Rayleen that they had completed her request.

    Zeldana seemed to be doing completely fine for herself, as she didn¡¯t have any visible massive injuries. However, she was carrying Lexton underneath her arm, like he was a piece of luggage. The kobold himself was simply hanging limply with a frown on his face, as drops of blood kept falling from behind him.

    Out of all of them, Erin was having the toughest time, as she had been forced to drag Durge across the ground behind her. The redhead held the orc by his legs, while struggling to carry his paralyzed body along. Durge himself was obviously not happy with his situation, but couldn¡¯t really do anything about it. All he could do was look around, hoping that they would get back to their hotel room.

    ¡°Well, you guys seem to have been having fun!¡± Brega said with a smile on his face as he walked up to his customers. ¡°Did you guys find the bounties of the pit to your liking? I hope you found what you were looking for!¡±

    ¡°...Do us a favor and just operate the damn lift,¡± Erin grumbled as she glared at the orc.

    Sensing the not so subtle hostility in his client, Brega wisely kept his mouth shut and simply did as he was told. It didn¡¯t take long for Arkay, Ryle, Zeldana and Lexton to get into the lift, but Erin was having a lot of trouble. Dragging Durge¡¯s limp body was proving to be more difficult than one could have imagined.

    ¡°Goddammit, Durge! Would you mind and lose some damn weight!?¡± the redhead cursed as she tried to get the orc up the stairs of the lift. ¡°What the hell do you even eat!? Bricks!?¡±

    Durge let out a garbled response that no one could understand due to his paralysis, but one could tell by the expression on his face that he wasn¡¯t exactly fond of what he had just been told.

    ¡°I doubt there¡¯s much he can do about how heavy he is. He¡¯s a big one, after all,¡± Zeldana remarked nonchalantly. ¡°Besides, most of his weight comes from his muscles, which I don¡¯t think you¡¯d want him to shrink.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thanks for the clinical explanation! Now would you mind and HELP ME OUT HERE!?¡± Erin shouted at the elf. ¡°This is pretty difficult to do by myself!¡±

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who lost the coin toss, remember? Don¡¯t be a sore loser now!¡± Zeldana replied with a small grin, enjoying the redhead¡¯s troubles. ¡°Besides, my hands are currently full in taking care of our amputation patient here!¡±

    ¡°Bite me, elf,¡± Lexton muttered angrily.

    ¡°I think someone already did,¡± the elf joked.

    ¡°Can anybody be useful and help me out over here!?¡± Erin asked angrily.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help! We¡¯ll be sure to get Durge¡¯s ass up in just a-¡± Ryle began to say as she tried to rush over to the redhead in order to help her. However, she just ended up running into a wall. ¡°Where did the door go!?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ How about you just wait here, Ryle?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°I¡¯ll go see if I can help Erin.¡±

    The cat boy ran to the redhead and took a hold of Durge¡¯s leg. With the two of them, they tried to drag the orc¡¯s massive body up to the lift, only for him to barely move an inch. Arkay wasn¡¯t exactly built for such feats of strength, so his contribution didn¡¯t amount to much. In fact, for a short moment, Erin wondered if he was actually making the task more difficult instead of easier.

    ¡°I appreciate the help, Arnie. I really do. But I think this job requires a bit more muscle than you can provide, okay?¡± the redhead said politely, trying not to let her bad mood get the best of her. It wasn¡¯t the cat boy¡¯s fault that they were in this mess, after all. ¡°Go wait with the others. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay¡­ Sorry,¡± Arkay apologized awkwardly, realizing how little help he had been and meekly walked back to the lift.

    With all of her other companions not being able to help, Erin once again tried to get Durge up to the lift by herself. Just like before, her efforts were admirable, but didn¡¯t provide the results she was hoping to get, leaving her and Durge outside the lift.

    Since she had no other options, the redhead decided to call out the last remaining person.

    ¡°Brega, could come over here and lend a hand?¡± Erin asked, giving up on dragging Durge by herself. ¡°At this rate, we are never getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, miss, but I¡¯m going to have to refuse,¡± the orc replied. ¡°You see, I am only tasked with the transportation of you and your accomplices, and I will not be held liable for anything that happens outside the lift transportation. This not only includes your activities here, but also any of the belonging you might be trying to bring along. Any additional work will require an extra fee.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. Since you want to be like that, how about I make an offer?¡± the redhead asked before turning to give Brega the most rage fueled glare he had ever seen. ¡°You come over here and help me, so you don¡¯t have to worry about the blade of my sword ending up inside your body! How does that sound!?¡±

    ¡°S-Sounds like a reasonable offer!¡± the orc said as he quickly walked up to assist his customers. ¡°I will be happy to help!¡±

    With the help of Brega, Erin was finally able to get Durge into the lift. It had still been a very straining task, but the two of them were able to handle it despite the difficulty.

    With the whole group now inside, the lift was finally ready to take them back to the top. This time, there were no attacks from Cave Bats or any other creatures. Erin guessed that because they had a piece of the Reaper Maggot with them, all the creatures within the pit would stay away from them, as the smell of what was once the apex predator in the area scared them away. While unplanned, the redhead happily welcomed this surprise, as she was too tired both mentally and physically to deal with anything else at the moment. All she wanted right now was to crash in a bed and sleep for as long as possible.

    Unfortunately for Erin, a peaceful return to the surface was not something that she would have, as her companions had to start opening their mouths.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been wondering this for a while now, but why does Zeldana have to carry Lex?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I get that he lost his tail, but it¡¯s not like he lost a leg or anything like that. Can¡¯t he just walk?¡±

    Erin let out a deep sigh, as she could tell where this would go.

    ¡°Losing my tail is on the same level as losing a leg, you sad experimental life form!¡± Lexton said angrily. ¡°My tail has been a part of my body my whole life, so of course suddenly losing it is going to cause me issues! This is close to pure hell for me!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, I get that you¡¯re having trouble, but aren¡¯t you going a bit too far by calling it pure hell?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I mean, you might not be able to grow it back, but I¡¯m sure you can just build a prosthetic in its place. Not that big of a loss, when you consider what else you could have lost!¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S NOT THAT DAMN SIMPLE!¡± the kobold shouted angrily. ¡°For reptilian people like myself, our tails are more than just a simple part of our bodies! Among people like us, losing your tail is one of the most humiliating things that can happen to you! Those who suffer such a fate and can¡¯t replace it, often go into hiding as they can¡¯t bear to show their faces in public! Do you get it now!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ think I do,¡± Ryle said with a thoughtful look on her face. ¡°In other words, losing your tail is basically a specific version of those guys who worry they have a too small-¡±

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    ¡°RYLE! DON¡¯T YOU EVEN GO THERE!¡± Erin suddenly shouted as loudly as she could, shocking everyone around her. ¡°Can we just¡­ Just go back to the top in SILENCE? I¡¯ve had more than enough to deal with already and I don¡¯t need you two having one of your childish fights once again! Is it too much to ask to have just a bit of silence!? JUST ONCE!?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Sure, Erin! No problem!¡± Ryle said with an awkward forced smile, as Lexton hastily nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll drop this whole thing right now and you won¡¯t have to hear about it! Promise!¡±

    ¡°Much appreciated,¡± Erin said as she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming up.

    ¡°...So this seems to be very usual in your group, right?¡± Brega whispered to Arkay, who nodded while looking down in shame. ¡°What exactly happened down there that caused this whole mess? Or is this just how you guys normally are with each other?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that a lot happened and leave it at that, okay?¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°Although, I fear that this would have happened regardless¡­¡±

    Having heard the secret conversation between Brega and Arkay, Durge let out a gurgle that was his way of saying ¡°no kidding.¡±

    <hr>

    After a silent and very awkward lift ride to the surface, the group shuffled out to find a large group of people gathered there. This was made up of the other lift operators, who had escaped upon hearing the screech of the Reaper Maggot, as well as their customers, who had done the same thing. It seemed like they had noticed Brega¡¯s lift had stayed down, causing them to worry over what might have happened. Obviously the worry had been towards the orc¡¯s customers, not him specifically.

    The crowd immediately turned their eyes upon Erin and the others, as soon as they arrived. The redhead and her friends were taken aback by the sudden attention they were receiving. Same had happened with Brega, but he managed to quickly regain his composure.

    ¡°Ah! My fellow colleagues!¡± the lift operator greeted the group. ¡°How thoughtful of you to arrange a welcome party, even if-!¡±

    Brega was cut off, as he got pushed out of the way so that the people in the crowd could talk to Erin¡¯s group.

    ¡°Are you guys alright!? We heard the sound of the Reaper Maggot and escaped right away!¡± one of the other lift operator asked in a worried tone. ¡°We can get you medical assistance, if any of you need it!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re fine. Just a little roughed up and tired,¡± Erin said. ¡°We had our own medical expert provide us with treatment, so we are in no need of any urgent help right now.¡±

    The redhead then glanced at her companions and took note of the conditions Durge and Lexton were in.

    ¡°Actually, even if they¡¯re not in any life threatening danger right now, we actually have two-¡±

    A sudden shushing sound from Lexton cut Erin off. She looked back at the kobold to see him doing his best to hide his missing tail.

    ¡°...Scratch that. We have one member of our group who could use some help,¡± the redhead corrected herself, before pointing at Durge. ¡°He got struck with paralyzing poison and can¡¯t move around at all. He can still breathe, so his life isn¡¯t in any danger, but it¡¯s pretty hard to move him around. Do you think you could help him?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! We¡¯ll have the paramedics give him an antidote right away!¡± the lift operator said.

    People from the group then came over to take Durge with them to get treated. Despite there being a lot more people this time, they still struggled with the orc¡¯s heavy build. Regardless, Erin was glad that she no longer had to worry about dragging him around.

    ¡°So¡­¡± the voice of Brega suddenly spoke up, causing a fresh wave of irritation to wash over the redhead. ¡°I believe that I¡¯ve managed to uphold my end of the bargain pretty well, wouldn¡¯t you say? Now, we agreed that I would receive the rest of my fee, once we were done, so¡­ Mind if I get paid now?¡±

    Erin, who was already reaching the end of her limit when it came to tolerating annoyances, was about to blow up. However, the other lift operator, who had come to offer them assistance, did that for her.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, Breag!¡± the lift operator yelled angrily. ¡°Not only did you put your customers through a ride in an unsafe lift that was deemed inoperable, but you also failed to do your basic duties as a lift operator and needlessly endangered their lives when the Reaper Maggot arrived! Have you no shame or any sense of responsibility at all!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Hey! MY job was to simply take these fine people down the pit and back! That¡¯s all!¡± Brega said defensively. ¡°Everything that happened besides was THEIR responsibility! I cannot be expected to look after people who venture into one of the most dangerous places in the world, like they were children, can I!? Besides, we signed a contract and I¡¯ve followed it completely! Don¡¯t I deserve compensation for my work!? How cruel is that!?¡±

    The other lift operator was about to continue berating Brega, only for Erin to step up and stop him from doing so. The redhead took a deep breath to calm herself, before speaking up.

    ¡°As much as I hate to say this, Brega is at least somewhat right,¡± Erin said. ¡°While his lift was in less than proper condition, he did do his job in transporting us down to the pit and back. In other words, he has done his job and we need to pay for it.¡±

    The redhead then handed the credits she owed to Brega, who smiled widely while holding the money like a child with a new toy.

    ¡°Thank you so much, miss! It has been a pleasure to work with you!¡± Brega said happily. ¡°If you ever need to take another trip down to the pit, please keep my business on your mind! I¡¯d be happy to take you there again!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sure you would be,¡± Erin muttered in response.

    Having received his payment, Brega turned around and left, practically skipping as he ran off. The way he left somehow further irritated the redhead, but she kept it from showing.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you actually paid that hack for his crap service,¡± the other lift operator said.

    ¡°Well, it couldn¡¯t be helped. Like I said, he did do his job, no matter how low the quality of it was,¡± Erin said with a shrug. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not exactly in the mood or position to start haggling.¡±

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, how much did you pay him?¡± the lift operator asked. ¡°I¡¯d honestly be pissed, if I had to pay anything to him.¡±

    ¡°36 000 credits in total. 6 000 for each person in our group,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°From what I heard, it was cheap when compared to others.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re kidding, right? My service is seen as expensive and I require 500 credits for a person,¡± the lift operator said, causing Erin to freeze up. ¡°And that covers the trip to the pit and back!¡±

    ¡°Are you serious!? That son of a-!¡± the redhead began to blow off, only to stop herself. ¡°Never mind! Never mind. At least the money went to a good-¡±

    Erin then noticed something on the ground. It was the picture Brega had shown of his children. However, she was in for another revelation that would further push her anger.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been looking for that picture!¡± the lift operator said happily, picking it up with a smile on his face. ¡°I honestly feel terrible, when I don¡¯t have the picture of my kids with me at all times!¡±

    ¡°That¡­ Yours!?¡± Erin managed to say, her shock and anger making it difficult for her to form proper sentences. ¡°But I thought that was a picture of Brega¡¯s kids!¡±

    ¡°Brega¡¯s? Are you joking? Who the hell would ever get together, much less have kids, with a slime like that!?¡± the lift operator said. ¡°Besides, even if he had kids, do you think he would be traveling through the city¡¯s gambling dens, bars and brothels on a daily basis? No decent father would ever do that!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯M GONNA KILL THAT LYING SON OF A BITCH!¡± Erin screamed in fury as she grabbed her sword and ran after Brega.

    As the redhead chased after Brega, who had started to run much faster in response, her companions watched from the side.

    ¡°So are you going to chew her out for this later?¡± Zeldana asked while looking at Lexton.

    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m pretty sure she realizes the magnitude of her screw up. No need to cause additional drama,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°Besides, why bother wasting my vocal cords yelling at her, when I bet I can make her squirm with just a glare and a few carefully selected words? I¡¯m going to enjoy that as much as possible.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit mean?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°I get that she made a mistake, but shouldn¡¯t we try to get along and not argue with each other?¡±

    ¡°Normally, I¡¯d agree with you, but after what I went through? Screw that,¡± Lexton said bluntly.

    <hr>

    After getting Durge fixed, the group was able to return to their hotel room with much less trouble than they had originally thought. Now that no one needed to drag the massive orc behind them, the pace they could go at was much faster. Durge wasn¡¯t fully healed from the venom that he had taken into his body, though. He still needed to take a break here and there, as he would occasionally feel sick and dizzy.

    The most trouble, however, was caused by Ryle, who needed to be watched over constantly by Arkay. The cat boy needed to make sure that the blonde didn¡¯t walk into anything or get separated from the group by accident. Erin was honestly amazed by how well Arkay had been able to guide the blonde through their whole trip. No matter how exhausting it had been, the cat boy had made sure that nothing bad happened to Ryle through their whole walk back to the hotel.

    Once back inside their room, Erin declared that she would go and take their proof of slaying the Reaper Maggot over to Rayleen in order to show that they had fulfilled their deal. Some of the others wanted to go along as well, but the redhead refused. Not only was there no real need for more than one of them to do this, but none of the others really could come along. Ryle, Lexton and Durge all needed to rest in order to recover from their battle and were nowhere near fighting shape. And while Arkay had been healed to the point he could defend himself, he was needed to look after their resting companions along with Zeldana.

    Erin assured the others that nothing bad was going to happen, as Rayleen obviously saw more use in keeping them alive. Otherwise, she would have already either killed them or had them arrested. While this managed to convince the others to stay back, the redhead kept to herself the fact that even if all of them went together they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance anyways. It was better to sacrifice just one of them, instead of the whole group.

    By the time Erin began to look for Rayleen, it was already night. The moon was shining down on them brightly on a starry sky, similar to when they had first met the warlord. As she walked down the deserted streets, holding the wrapped up Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw in her hands, the redhead wondered how she would contact Rayleen? After all, the first time they had met was done by the warlord baiting them into coming to her. It hadn¡¯t been them finding where she lived or anything like that.

    Rayleen had said that she would find them, once they were done with their job. However, this still didn¡¯t tell Erin much. How would the warlord contact her? Not to mention, how would she know that they had killed the beast in the first place?

    Just as the redhead was wondering about this, she felt a gust of wind on the back of her head. It wasn¡¯t just a regular wind, though, as it felt like it was specifically aimed at her. Not only that, but it came from straight above her.

    Looking up, Erin saw a winged figure flying there, circling around her like a vulture waiting for its prey to fall dead. The large wings were attached to a humanoid figure, much like a certain warlord she knew.

    ¡°Rayleen?¡± the redhead wondered out loud, but soon realized it wasn¡¯t the warlord. While similar, she could tell that the figure of the body was different and the wings also had a different shape. ¡°Not her¡­ Is it an enemy then?¡±

    Almost as if in response to Erin¡¯s question, the figure flying above her suddenly landed right on front of her. With the person now much closer, the redhead could have a good look at them. Like she had determined, it wasn¡¯t Rayleen, as it wasn¡¯t a demon. Instead, it was a person from the race know as dragonbred, who were humanoid lizard people, much like kobolds and other lizardmen, but they took after dragons. This was often seen in things like wings, horns and the ability to use their breath as a weapon, such as breathing fire.

    The person before Erin was a female of the species and was same height as her. Her skin was made of bright red scales and she had a pair of small black horns at the back of her head. She also had a long mane of black hair that reached her lower back.

    ¡°You sure took your time,¡± the dragonbred said. ¡°I was honestly debating if you guys were actually going to do it or not. Seems like you have at least some level of skill at the very least.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the compliment,¡± Erin said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that you¡¯re one of Rayleen¡¯s people then?¡±

    ¡°Correct. The name¡¯s Izra. I am one of Lady Rayleen¡¯s closest aides,¡± the dragon lady answered. ¡°She sent me to watch over you, just in case you decided to run away. I¡¯ve been reporting on your progress ever since you left your meeting with her.¡±

    ¡°So was it you who was eavesdropping on us in the hotel?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°As embarrassing as it is to admit, yes it was. Seeing how I was so easily found out, I had to switch my tactics a bit,¡± Izra explained.

    ¡°If you were so close to us all this time, then why didn¡¯t you help us?¡± Erin asked as she glared at the dragonbred woman. ¡°We could have used your help in our battle against the Reaper Maggot.¡±

    ¡°Why should I help you? It wasn¡¯t my job. Lady Rayleen specifically sent your group to handle that matter,¡± Izra replied. ¡°Besides, if she had wanted to, Lady Rayleen could have just sent out her forces to eliminate that damn pest at any moment she wanted. However, that would have been a waste of her forces, as she could simply get you and your ¡°merry band of misfits¡± as she likes to call them to do the job for free. It was only smart of her to not get her own hands dirty doing it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Sacrifice others for the sake of your own wants and needs,¡± the redhead said, her words practically dripping with disgust. ¡°I¡¯m sure she and all the other crooked warlords and other thugs all think the same.¡±

    Erin¡¯s remark was met with a hand suddenly grasping her by the throat and lifting her up in the air. Izra was glaring at her with such intensity that the redhead could have sworn she saw small flames appear in the dragon woman¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You watch your damn mouth, scum! You are in no position to speak ill of Lady Rayleen!¡±Izra said in an enraged tone as she tightened her grip around Erin¡¯s throat. ¡°She is far more honorable than you and all of your companions combined! You better show some respect or I will personally tear you apart! Understood!?¡±

    The redhead gave a weak nod in response, as she couldn¡¯t do much else. This still seemed to satisfy the dragon woman, who let her go.

    ¡°Good. Now follow me,¡± Izra said as she turned around and began to walk. ¡°Lady Rayleen is waiting.¡±

    Not wanting to upset her escort anymore, Erin stood up and followed after her. She could only hope that her meeting with the actual warlord would go better than this.

 130. A Deal Fulfilled

    Chapter 130

    A Deal Fulfilled

    Erin had been expecting Rayleen to be waiting for her in a more hidden place, much like the cave she had brought her, Ryle and Arkay into when they first met her. After all, she was a warlord, one of the three highest ranking officials within the military. Not only that, but she was also inside the territory of another warlord entirely. Staying hidden and keeping a low profile in such an area was to be expected.

    So the redhead was obviously quite bewildered to say the least, when she saw the place Rayleen was actually staying at. Instead of a cave or some small building located in a less populated area, the warlords had chosen to stay at what had to be the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the whole city. Not only were there people going around like ants in their nest, but the place itself was lit up brighter than a hundred Christmas trees. If anybody was trying to stay hidden, this should have been the last place they would go to.

    All Erin could do was stare at the massive building before her with her lone eye wide and her mouth hanging open. She looked the hotel up and down, watching in sheer disbelief at the building that looked like it reached the sky.

    ¡°Why are you just standing there like a zombie?¡± Izra asked, irritated that the redhead had suddenly stopped. ¡°Lady Rayleen is waiting! Get moving already!¡±

    ¡°I-I just-! I mean-! Why is she staying here of all places!?¡± Erin asked, breaking out of her stupor and quickly following after the dragon woman. ¡°As a warlord, shouldn¡¯t she try to keep a lower profile or something!?¡±

    ¡°Why bother? It¡¯s not like the person in control of this area is going to do anything,¡± Izra said, referring to the death of Gotzmeyer. ¡°Besides, people are already more than aware that she is here or did you forget about her nightly flights to draw you out? What¡¯s the point of discretion now?¡±

    Seeing the dragon woman¡¯s point, the redhead couldn¡¯t argue back, so she simply shrugged and went along with it. She then proceeded to follow her guide inside the hotel.

    The place was even more luxurious on the inside than it was on the outside. It seemed like every inch glowed and sparkled from the beautifully crafted materials, showing everyone who entered that this wasn¡¯t a place for an average traveler. Even the guests and the staff looked the part as well. A single glance was more than enough to tell Erin that everyone around her was dressed in only the finest of fabrics. She could even smell the wealth from the perfumes people were using and the food that was served in the nearby dining room.

    ¡°Would you mind and stop staring at people? You¡¯re making me look bad by being close to you!¡± Izra scolded Erin. ¡°Could you at least try to make yourself look like you have at least some level of class? Is that too hard?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s just that this is all so overwhelming for me!¡± Erin explained. ¡°I¡¯ve never been surrounded by so much wealth in my entire life, so I was taken aback a bit!¡±

    ¡°Well, I suppose that¡¯s understandable. Things like this can be quite a lot to take in for the first time,¡± the dragon woman said with a shrug. ¡°It gets a lot easier after that. By the fourth or fifth time you stop paying attention to it.¡±

    The redhead couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of lives warlords and their closest aides lived.

    Calling down an elevator, the two of them were soon on their way up to the penthouse, which at this point didn¡¯t surprise Erin. After a long and awkward rise up, the doors finally opened to reveal the people who had traveled with one of the three warlords.

    Erin had expected to see a group of well-dressed military men and women. All either wearing uniforms decorated in medals or very expensive and fancy suits. She imagined that these people would be acting all calm and collected, having small talk over drinks or possibly playing games like chess to pass the time. The atmosphere would be one of calm and class, perfect for people who had risen to the top of society and taken high positions within the military.

    However, what the redhead witnessed was a loud and wild party, similar to ones college kids would throw during vacations. There was loud music blasting from the stereos, making it nearly impossible to hear anything else. The people were all either dancing like lunatics or doing crazy stunts, like jumping into the pool that was part of the penthouse from high places. Not only that, but there were obvious signs of reckless use of alcohol, as there were numerous empty bottles littered everywhere and some of the people there were either completely drunk, throwing up or passed out.

    ¡°W-What the hell is this?¡± Erin asked while staring at the chaos before her in disbelief. ¡°Did you take me to the wrong room or something?¡±

    ¡°I wish that was the case. Sadly, I was afraid that this was going to happen,¡± Izra said with a sigh. ¡°It honestly sometimes feels like I¡¯m looking after a bunch of misbehaving kids!¡±

    ¡°...You probably won¡¯t believe me, but I think the two of us are kindred spirits in that regard,¡± the redhead said, thinking back to her own companions.

    The two of them headed further into the room, doing their best to avoid whatever the people partying had left on the floor and the people themselves. It seemed like most of them had been drinking so much that they were no longer capable of communication, so finding Rayleen was going to be a problem.

    Izra eventually noticed one person, who seemed to be sober and didn¡¯t seem to be enjoying the party at all. Said person was a wolfman, who was wearing a military uniform. He had a small glass of liquor in his hand that he took small sips out of, while observing the party with a tired look on his face.

    ¡°Wargas! What the hell happened here!?¡± Izra said angrily as she walked up to the wolfman. ¡°Didn¡¯t I specifically tell you to prevent these types of things from happening!? How is anybody here supposed to be able to fight, if we are attacked!?¡±

    ¡°I tried my best to convince them not to go through with this,¡± Wargas said with a sigh. ¡°The problem is that the one who suggested it isn¡¯t someone you can easily convince to act maturely.¡±

    ¡°Who was it? Helgen? Orben?¡± the dragon woman asked. ¡°Who was the one who-?¡±

    ¡°CANNONBALL!¡± a rather familiar voice suddenly shouted, getting their attention.

    Erin and the two soldiers turned around to see Rayleen herself jump into the pool, splashing water everywhere. The warlord then got back to the surface, before swimming over to a swimming ring that was floating on the water and laying on it.

    ¡°Do I still need to tell you who the main culprit was?¡± Wargas asked sarcastically.

    ¡°...No. I think we have already figured that out,¡± Izra replied in a frustrated tone, before looking at Erin. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s hope that she¡¯s still sober enough to remember the job she sent you on.¡±

    Walking up to the edge of the pool, where the warlord was currently lazing about, Izra tried to get Rayleen¡¯s attention. Unfortunately due to the loud music and noise caused by the partying people, not to mention the large amount of alcohol coursing through the warlord¡¯s body, the dragon woman was having a hard time doing this. It was starting to get to a point where she was visibly enraged by her lack of progress.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ Should I come over later?¡± Erin asked, worried over how obviously angry Izra was. ¡°I mean¡­ If she¡¯s not going to be able to talk to me about the job I did for her, isn¡¯t it kind of pointless to even try?¡±

    ¡°I get where you¡¯re coming from, but we need to do this now,¡± the dragon woman said with a sigh. ¡°If we don¡¯t get this sorted out, she sure as hell won¡¯t be talking to you tomorrow. She¡¯ll have such a terrible hangover that she¡¯ll just lock herself in her bedroom and refuse to come out.¡±

    ¡°So why don¡¯t we just give her that day to recover and I¡¯ll come the next day after that?¡± the redhead asked.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Because by that point, the time you were given to accomplish your task will be gone and you¡¯ll be deemed to have failed to deliver your promise,¡± Izra explained. ¡°I doubt you need me to tell you what will happen after that, do I?¡±

    ¡°...Not really,¡± Erin said with her face slightly pale. ¡°But what are we supposed to do now? It doesn¡¯t seem like anything is going to get her attention!¡±

    ¡°Well, there is one method we can try,¡± the dragon woman said with a shrug. ¡°Might as well give it a try.¡±

    Before Erin could ask what the method was, Izra grabbed her by the front of her shirt and threw her at Rayleen. Crashing into the warlord caused her to fall off her swimming ring and plunge into the water. Rayleen quickly rose up to the surface with an angry look on her face, looking for the one who had just bumped into her.

    ¡°Alright! Who has got the balls to-!?¡± the warlord asked angrily, before noticing Erin. ¡°...Who the hell were you again?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m one of the people you sent on a mission,¡± Erin replied awkwardly, but could tell that her answer wasn¡¯t ringing any bells in Rayleen¡¯s mind. ¡°You know¡­ The group that had an¡­ incident with Gotzmeyer. The ones you beat up and threatened to take on a mission for you. The one where we had to kill the Reaper Maggot. Doesn¡¯t this sound familiar at all?¡±

    ¡°Kind of, but I can¡¯t understand why I would send some loser I¡¯ve never even met before on a job, when I¡¯ve got perfectly good guys all around me. ISN¡¯T THAT RIGHT, YOU ALL!?¡± the warlord shouted, earning cheers from her followers. ¡°So what you need to tell me is why the hell exactly would I ever need your help?¡±

    Seeing how Rayleen didn¡¯t remember her, the redhead was starting to panic. Unless someone could properly remind the warlord of their deal, she was certain that she would end up dead.

    ¡°She¡¯s one of the people who took down Gotzmeyer,¡± Izra said, having grown tired of the conversation not progressing. ¡°You forced them to take on the Reaper Maggot, so you could see just how useful they are.¡±

    ¡°...Oh right. I did do that, didn¡¯t I?¡± Rayleen said, finally remembering the deal. ¡°Sorry about that. I¡¯ve been a bit bored lately and needed to do something to keep myself occupied. While fun, it has a tendency to make me forget about stuff.¡±

    ¡°No problem. As long as you¡¯ve at least remembered now,¡± Erin said with a somewhat forced smile. Even if she was happy that her life had most likely been saved, she couldn¡¯t help but be a bit annoyed at the fact that she and her group had been forgotten by the one who held their lives in her hands.

    ¡°Anyways, I suppose it¡¯s time to act like an adult and get back to actual work then,¡± the warlord said as she got out of the pool and grabbed a towel to dry herself. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my private room. We can talk more about this there.¡±

    The redhead simply nodded and followed after Rayleen. She was handed a towel to dry herself, so that she wouldn¡¯t cause too much of a mess while inside the warlord¡¯s own room. Izra also followed after them and they were soon in a space that was much more silent compared to what was going on right outside of it. It apparently had been built to be soundproof, so that the person staying there would have the utmost peace and quiet.

    Sitting on a very comfy-looking chair, Rayleen, who was still clad in only her swimsuit and a wet towel around her neck, turned her attention to Erin. The redhead was taken aback by how the air around the warlord had suddenly changed, as she was no longer the wild party girl she had been just a second ago. In her place was someone, who despite what they were wearing, radiated power and authority. Looking at her like this, it was no surprise they had been beaten so easily.

    ¡°I heard that you were able to accomplish the little errand I sent your group on. That¡¯s very pleasing for me to hear. Very pleasing indeed,¡± Rayleen said with a slight grin. ¡°It seems that my assumptions in regards to you and your little band of rebels wasn¡¯t wrong. Then again, I¡¯m hardly ever wrong anyways. It seems that you people are worth me investing my time and resources into.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear that,¡± Erin said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. ¡°Anyways, I brought proof that the Reaper Maggot has been killed by us, but I think it might not be necessary anymore, seeing as you had someone watching over us the entire time.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ Is that what that thing you¡¯ve been carrying with you this whole time? I just thought you had a secret weapon of some kind that you were going to try and use to kill me with,¡± the warlord said. ¡°While I appreciate the gesture, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re right about it not being necessary. I knew long before you got here that you managed to do your job. I do have to say that I am a bit disappointed, though.¡±

    ¡°Why? Because I didn¡¯t wrap it up into a nice gift?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°No, because I was honestly looking towards you trying to kill me. I was actually getting a bit excited, as I didn¡¯t know what kind of a weapon that would have been. It could have been really fun,¡± Rayleen explained. ¡°Not that it would have made any difference anyways. No matter what you could have prepared, I would have beaten it along with you and you would still be doing work for me. So I guess it works out well in the end, huh?¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I learned from the last time we fought,¡± Erin said. ¡°Also, should you really be so casual about the idea of someone trying to kill you? I thought warlords were supposed to be important people, whose lives should be guarded with the best of security.¡±

    ¡°Listen, when you get to the point of pure badassery as yours truly, security is more of a decoration than anything else. I¡¯m willing to bet that you could count the people who could take me on with your fingers,¡± the warlord boasted. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the fun in life, if you¡¯ll let someone else do everything for you? Doesn¡¯t sound like an interesting life to me!¡±

    ¡°If you say so¡­¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°So do you want this thing or not?¡±

    ¡°Meh. The best I could do with it is either eat it or sell it for some pocket change,¡± Rayleen said with a shrug. ¡°Use it however you see fit. I don¡¯t have any real use for it myself.¡±

    ¡°Alright. With that out of the way, I suppose we can go back to business then,¡± Erin said. ¡°You said you wanted us to go after Golorath, right?¡±

    ¡°That is true. Glad that you remembered our deal,¡± the warlord said. ¡°I haven¡¯t made all of the necessary preparations yet, though. I didn¡¯t want to put in the effort only to find out that you all ended up inside the Reaper Maggot¡¯s belly. However, I¡¯ll soon have something ready, so you can go on your merry little way.¡±

    ¡°Mind if I ask something?¡± the redhead asked, receiving a nod in response. ¡°Why did you have us go kill the Reaper Maggot? If all you want is Golorath out of the way, wouldn¡¯t it have been better to just send us to him right from the start?¡±

    ¡°Well, I have my reasons. For starters, I¡¯ve been planning a little project of mine that required that thing to be removed. No need for you to know more about that, though,¡± Rayleen explained. ¡°As for why I didn¡¯t simply send my own guys, not only do I wish to save my own resources for times when they are absolutely needed, I wanted to test you guys out a bit. Your group has gained quite the reputation and I wanted to see if it was earned. Besides, our fight before was such a disappointment that I needed to confirm you were all worth the trouble.¡±

    ¡°That leads me to another thing I¡¯ve been wondering,¡± Erin said. ¡°You¡¯ve seen for yourself how strong we are through fighting us. What makes you think that we will perform better against Golorath than you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, how adorable! You actually thought I had such high expectations of you!?¡± the warlord said with a laugh. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m not expecting you to actually defeat Golorath. All I¡¯m expecting is for you to cause him harm.¡±

    ¡°What are you-?¡± the redhead began to ask, only to realize what Rayleen meant.

    ¡°I see that you get it now,¡± the warlord said with a grin. ¡°I am not at all expecting YOU to beat him. What I expect is that through my planning, you¡¯ll harm him in such a way that it will be easier for ME to take him down. Wound him, poison him, make him sick or just destroy some of his equipment. I don¡¯t care what it is that you do. All I care is that you¡¯ll give me an opportunity to exploit for my own benefit.¡±

    ¡°So we¡¯re just sacrificial pawns that you plan to use and throw away!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°Is this how you see other people!? Just some meaningless objects for you to benefit from!?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s outburst caused Rayleen to go silent and stare at her with wide eyes. The all of a sudden, the warlord burst out into roaring laughter.

    ¡°Oh my! Would you look at that!?¡± Rayleen said as she laughed. ¡°This gal thinks she actually has the moral high ground over me!¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°How can you just laugh at what I just said!?¡±

    ¡°Because YOU, my friend, are in absolutely no position to criticize anybody!¡± the warlord said, still grinning. ¡°This is what I love about you ¡°righteous rebels¡± the most. The fact that you are so blinded by your own egos that you fail to realize the criminals you are yourselves! Did you ever take a moment to think about the amount of blood that¡¯s on your hands!?¡±

    The sudden question took the redhead by surprise and left her speechless. Rayleen took this as a sign to speak up.

    ¡°If you need me to be more specific, have you ever thought about all the soldiers who have died because of you? Did you ever take a moment to think about their lives outside military?¡± the warlord asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve met those who abuse their power and status as you can find them anywhere, but just because you put on a uniform doesn¡¯t automatically make you evil. I can guarantee that most of the poor bastards were probably just trying to put food on the table for their kids. How do you think they¡¯re doing now? I can guarantee that most, if not all of them are having a hard time.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t speak up. She always did know this, but never let it stay on her mind. It was easier to ignore it and just move forward.

    ¡°What was that one town again? The one that got wiped out?...Oh yes! Rockmoore!¡± Rayleen said, shocking the redhead. ¡°I heard all sorts of nasty stuff happened there. Not to mention, the whole place ended up getting burned to the ground! I¡¯m willing to bet YOU had something to do with it.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t me!¡± Erin said in her defense. ¡°It was that general-!¡±

    ¡°Yes. Yes. I know. General whatever the hell his name was destroyed the town in some pathetic show of masculinity or something. I read the reports!¡± the warlord said, brushing off the redhead¡¯s argument. ¡°It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that you had a hand to play in it. Tell me something. What led to that guy doing what he did? I doubt he did it completely on a whim. Something or somebody must have set him off to do that. Care to make a guess?¡±

    Erin gritted her teeth and clenched her fists in anger. She wanted to argue back and say it wasn¡¯t her fault. However, she couldn¡¯t fully deny what Rayleen was saying either.

    ¡°I suppose that one might be a bit of a stretch, but I¡¯d say your latest stunt is something you really can¡¯t brush off,¡± the warlord continued. ¡°I heard something really interesting happened in the pit involving a group of innocent hunters. Mind explaining what that was about?¡±

    The redhead was completely taken aback by this. She had not expected Rayleen to bring that up at all. In fact, she herself had somewhat forgotten about it herself. Thinking about it, how could she allow herself to forget something like that? Had she just become indifferent to the lives of other?

    ¡°I see you know what I¡¯m talking about,¡± the warlord said. ¡°I gotta say, that was some dirty playing you did there, even if it did end up helping you out. Personally, I wouldn¡¯t have done something like it myself. I find such acts too distasteful to my liking. I suppose you could argue that I have more resources and power at my disposal, but before you do that, I want you to do something else first.¡±

    Rayleen now leaned forward in her chair. Her eyes glared straight into Erin, who felt like the warlord¡¯s sharp gaze was cutting through her soul.

    ¡°Can you look me in the eyes and tell me without any hesitation or doubt that there was nothing else you could have done?¡± Rayleen asked. ¡°If you can, I¡¯ll let it slide as an unfortunate accident.¡±

    The redhead wanted to deny the accusation thrown at her. She wanted to scream and yell, saying they couldn¡¯t have done anything at all to help the hunters. She furiously thought of any explanation possible.

    She couldn¡¯t find anything. There was no denying what had happened.

    ¡°I thought so,¡± Rayleen said before leaning back on her chair. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ll contact you later on what I want you to do in regards to Golorath. Until then, you and your buddies better stay in that hotel room of yours. Understood?¡±

    Erin simply nodded in response, before she was dismissed. As she headed back to where her friends were waiting for her, she was already thinking of what to say to them. Not just in regards to the work Rayleen was going to give them, but how they needed to act from now on.

    They needed to clean up their act.

 131. A New Resolve

    Chapter 131

    A New Resolve

    By the time Erin finally got back to their hotel room, it was already midnight. Knowing just how tough of a day was behind all of them, she was expecting everyone to be already asleep.

    However, she was surprised to find light coming from underneath the door, meaning that at least someone was still up. Sure enough, as soon as she opened the door, all eyes fell upon her from her awaiting friends.

    ¡°Erin, you¡¯re back!¡± Arkay said with a smile as he ran up to her while holding a plate with a sandwich on it. ¡°We were all worried over what might have happened, so we couldn¡¯t sleep. I decided to use the time to make some dinner. I know it isn¡¯t much, but it should give you at least something.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie. You guys didn¡¯t need to worry about me, though, as I doubt Rayleen would have put us through all of this just to end it all of a sudden,¡± Erin said with a smile, happy over how thoughtful the others were of her. ¡°And I do appreciate the sandwich as well. I didn¡¯t even realize just how hungry I was. I really needed this.¡±

    ¡°So how did the meeting go?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Did Rayleen have anything special to tell you?¡±

    ¡°Quite¡­ a bit, actually,¡± the redhead said, thinking back on her meeting with the warlord. ¡°Do you guys want to talk about it now, though? I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all very tired and could use some rest.¡±

    ¡°Are you still worried about me and some of the others? No need for that!¡± Ryle said enthusiastically with a big grin on her face. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m as good as new!¡±

    The blonde tried to demonstrate her healthy status by walking, which didn¡¯t end well for her. All she managed to do was crash into the wall right next to her.

    ¡°...Okay, maybe I¡¯m not in perfect state, but doing better than just a moment ago!¡± Ryle said, trying to play off her accident.

    ¡°So how is everybody else that was injured doing?¡± Erin asked, looking around the room. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve at least somewhat recovered.¡±

    ¡°Ah hhinkh ahm hhhing ahkhey flr mahsllf,¡± Durge tried to speak up, but the hints of venom still in his body were making it very hard. While he could somewhat walk by himself, talking and almost every other activity was beyond his capabilities at the moment. ¡°...Nhhrmahnd.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I see that Durge is still far from his best as well,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he cured of the neurotoxin that he was infected with?¡±

    ¡°He was, but no cure works instantly,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°It¡¯s going to take him some time until he can speak without spitting buckets of drool on you.¡±

    ¡°Well, as long as he¡¯s alive, I guess it¡¯s not too bad,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°You should have seen him when Arnie was helping him eat!¡± Zeldana said with a snicker. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure most of the sandwich ended up on the poor boy¡¯s face, instead of Durge¡¯s mouth!¡±

    ¡°Zel, that¡¯s not funny! Arnie was just trying to help Durge, who is currently struggling due to a poisoning!¡± the redhead scolded the elf like she was a naughty child. ¡°I¡¯m certain you wouldn¡¯t have liked to be in either one¡¯s shoes!¡±

    ¡°Sure wouldn¡¯t. One has slobber and half-chewed food all over his, while the other one is going to get his wet from piss as he can¡¯t use the toilet properly!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Now that I think about, how is Durge going to go about doing that?¡±

    ¡°Doing what exactly?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Going to the bathroom! I mean, the guy can¡¯t even use a glass properly to have a drink, so how the hell is he supposed to take a piss or take a number two?¡± the elf explained. ¡°I think he might need help with that.¡±

    ¡°Well, since YOU found his situation so hilarious, I think you¡¯ll enjoy that activity the most!¡± the redhead stated sternly. ¡°Pretty fitting, considering you¡¯re our medical expert as well!¡±

    ¡°...Okay, fair enough. I guess I had that coming to me,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug, before looking at Durge. ¡°Not like this is the nastiest work I¡¯ve had to do anyways. So give me a¡­ wave or a¡­ signal of some kind. Just something to give me a hint that you need to go to the toilet. Okay, big guy?¡±

    ¡°Thohh hhink ahh nnhhhd hrrrlp ihh thehh hoihhllt¡­ Thehh hhmilhhahhon¡­¡± the orc gurgled in response while looking down at the floor, saddened by his current state.

    With her check up on Durge done, Erin turned her attention towards the last injured person on their team, Lexton. The kobold was currently laying on the floor while drawing up schematics for something.

    ¡°How are you doing, Lex?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I see that you¡¯ve already started your work on your tail¡¯s replacement.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, seeing as how I¡¯m not only unable to walk properly, but I also fear showing my face out in public, I figured I might as well get to work as soon as possible,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to need YOU specifically to get me some of the materials I¡¯m going to need for this, as I have doubts that some of the others would be able to get exactly what I need.¡±

    ¡°Sure, but aren¡¯t you taking this a bit too seriously?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I mean, I get that losing a part of your body sucks. After all, I went through it myself. But since you¡¯ll be able to replace it with a cybernetic that is most likely going to have a bunch of neat mechanisms in it, isn¡¯t the loss not that big of a deal in the end?¡±

    ¡°While I admire my own designs as they rightfully deserve, let me ask you something else in return to your question,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Even after experiencing all the positives your new hand provides for you, would you really say that you don¡¯t want your actual hand back?¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Lexton said in response to the redhead¡¯s silence. ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s get back to the topic that I actually wanted to talk to you about. What did Rayleen talk to you about? Last time you had a meeting with her, I believe she told you that she wanted us to go after Golorath himself, right? Did she have some sort of a plan or other information that would help us in this regard?¡±

    ¡°While it is true that she wanted us to go after Golorath, she hasn¡¯t yet figured out the details of her plan yet,¡± Erin replied. ¡°You see, not only was she unsure whether we would survive our encounter with the Reaper Maggot, but she was also preoccupied with other things that kind of made it hard for her to come up with a proper plan.¡±

    ¡°And those other things would be what exactly?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°...She was drinking and partying in the most expensive hotel in the city,¡± the redhead replied in a deadpan tone, causing her companions to stare at her with wide eyes of disbelief. ¡°I know. It wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant surprise for me either. She and her people were going at it like a group of wild teenagers.¡±

    ¡°How freaking rude! Not only does she have the guts to actually doubt our skills, but she goes on a crazed booze part and forgets about us!?¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°If I had been there, I would have kicked her sorry forgetful ass myself!¡±

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be a good idea, as not only would you be inviting the wrath of her and her followers on all of us, but we would also lose the chance of obtaining whatever information she has on Golorath. Information that might be our only chance in actually beating him,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The way I see it, we might as well treat her as our ally, even if it¡¯s only temporary. There¡¯s no use in us getting on her bad side, if she is planning to go after the big boss himself.¡±

    ¡°So you mean to tell me that you¡¯re actually cool with this!? Her treating us like disposable pawns and disrespecting us!?¡± the blonde asked angrily. ¡°Weren¡¯t you part of the rebels that fought against her and the other servants of the Five Overlrds!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, all I¡¯m saying is that we are better off playing this smart than just rushing at every person we want to beat up. There¡¯s a reason why everybody who resisted the Five Overlords got pretty much crushed, okay?¡± the elf said with a shrug. ¡°As for the partying, I get why you¡¯re upset, but I can see her side of it as well. This city is honestly a very boring place and I would need something to pass the time. Crazy parties with booze flowing freely sounds about the best way to accomplish that in my mind.¡±

    ¡°Very informative and insightful as always,¡± Erin said with a sigh as she shook her head. ¡°However, outside of the fact that she is going to contact us about the details on how we are going to beat Golorath later, she did talk to me about something else as well. It¡¯s something that¡­ I really think we should talk about.¡±

    ¡°What is that?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°...She brought up something that happened while we were hunting the Reaper Maggot,¡± the redhead began, finding it hard to talk about the topic despite knowing it was necessary. ¡°She was referring to what happened to those hunters that were attacked by the Reaper Maggot, while we were simply hiding.¡±

    This immediately got the attention of the others. They looked at each other with wide eyes, having not expected this to be brought up all of a sudden.

    ¡°What the-!? She brought that up!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°How the hell did she even know about it!?¡±

    ¡°One of her agents was following us, as we went on with our hunt,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Although, does that even matter?¡±

    ¡°Of course it matters! You mean to tell me that she sent someone to watch over us and not even offer a bit of help!?¡± the blonde ranted angrily. ¡°Were they too busy sitting on their ass while we were fighting for our lives!?¡±

    ¡°She had been given orders not to interfere, as it was our job to take the beast down,¡± the redhead said. ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t matter right now! What matters is the fact that we let innocent people die without even trying to do something to help them!¡±

    ¡°Erin, I get what you¡¯re saying. I might not look like it, but even I regret the fact that we couldn¡¯t help those people out,¡± Lexton said. ¡°But what could we have done? We were dealing with one of the apex predators of the entire world that had slain countless people who had tried to kill it way before us! The only reason we managed to defeat it in the end was due to careful planning and honestly a lot of luck! Had we tried to help those hunters, I can guarantee that we would have ended up on that monster¡¯s belly instead of them.¡±

    ¡°Can you say that for certain?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Can you look me in the eye and say that there was absolutely nothing we could have done in that situation?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, maybe there might have been something, I guess¡­ But the ideas that come to my mind would have probably just ended up drawing the Reaper Maggot towards us!¡± the kobold replied. ¡°The best we could have done would have been to buy the hunters time to escape, but I fear we would have both just ended up-¡±

    ¡°HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT FOR CERTAIN!? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THE WORST OUTCOME WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!?¡± the redhead suddenly yelled, as a couple of tears fell from her eye. ¡°I can understand being careful, but there are times you have to take risks, no matter how big they are! And you don¡¯t always take those for your own sake either!¡±

    ¡°Woah! Erin, calm down!¡± Ryle said, taken aback by her friend¡¯s sudden outburst. ¡°I get that you¡¯re upset over what happened, but aren¡¯t you taking this a bit too far!? While helping others is a good thing and all, there¡¯s no way we could just take full responsibility for what happened to them!¡±

    ¡°Ryle is absolutely correct,¡± Lexton said, somewhat shaken up by Erin¡¯s outburst as well. ¡°They were professional hunters, after all. Do you think that job doesn¡¯t come with any danger? Not only that, but they were hunting in an extremely dangerous area. They should have been more than prepared for the risks they were taking.¡±

    ¡°And despite those same risks, THEY were willing to help us,¡± Erin said. ¡°Remember why they came over to where we were? They had heard the sounds of the Reaper Maggot attacking us and they still felt like they should at least try to help us. How can we just ignore that and say that it doesn¡¯t concern us? Seems very hypocritical to me.¡±

    Ryle and Lexton both wanted to argue back, but couldn¡¯t. They knew that their redheaded friend was right about them. They had left people, who had actually come over to help them, to die. No matter how much they tried to deny it, use logic to argue for the sake of their decision or even outright ignore it, it was the undeniable truth.

    The two of them looked over to Arkay and Durge, and saw that they had reached the same conclusion. In the end, while what they had done was to save their own lives, they had to admit that it had come with the sacrifice of others.

    However, there was still someone who was not willing to admit that what they had done had been the wrong choice.

    ¡°So what are you trying to say? That we should try to be some sort of heroes out of children¡¯s stories or something?¡± Zeldana asked bluntly, as she walked up to Erin. ¡°Do you really think that is going to work out? Especially when we are trying to fight the Overlords? Like it or not, people are going to die directly or indirectly through our actions! No matter how much you try, you cannot save everyone! That¡¯s why stories like that are called fantasy. Not reality.¡±

    ¡°...Even if it¡¯s a fantasy or unrealistic or impossible or whatever else you want to call it, I don¡¯t care! We can debate about those things for an eternity!¡± the redhead said as tears fell from her eye, yet there was nothing but determination in her gaze. ¡°What I do know is that I don¡¯t want to live with even more regrets! I refuse to let innocent people suffer because of my actions from now on! I hope that you all feel the same way as I do or are at least willing to cooperate! If not, then this group might not be for you!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough, you know?¡± the elf asked. ¡°It¡¯s one thing trying to be an assassin that goes after some of the most powerful figures out there, but to play savior in the side will make it extra harder. You do get what I¡¯m saying, right?¡±

    ¡°I do. And I don¡¯t care how hard it will be,¡± Erin said, her resolve unbreakable. ¡°Those hunters had lives, too. They had friends and families waiting for them, and our lack of action destroyed it all. I refuse to let something like that to happen again, before at least trying to prevent it.¡±

    For a moment, Zeldana simply stared at the redhead, trying to see some form of hesitation or a crack in her resolve. Despite looking, she found nothing of the sort. She was not going to budge.

    Seeing that Erin was ready and willing to back up her words, the elf smiled and walked away.

    ¡°About time you started to grow a spine. You¡¯ve been such a mess ever since I joined that I was starting to doubt you¡¯d have even the slightest chance to pull any of this off,¡± Zeldana said with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, though. This is going to be very hard. Probably much harder than you could ever imagine. Still, one of the worst things you can be is a hypocrite, so if you¡¯re willing to die by your words, I¡¯m more than willing to follow them.¡±

    ¡°You mean¡­ You mean you approve of my decision!?¡± the redhead asked, shocked by what the elf had just said. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be the one who would disapprove the most!¡±

    ¡°Hey, how exactly do you view me? As some sort of a sociopath or something?¡± Zeldana asked, only to receive silent stares from everybody. ¡°...Screw you guys. I¡¯ll have you know that I joined the rebellion because I didn¡¯t approve of the way the Five Overlords were doing things! I¡¯m honestly quite the humanitarian in the end!¡±

    ¡°Sure. Go ahead and tell yourself that,¡± Ryle said as she rolled her eyes, before looking towards Erin with a small smile. ¡°Regardless, I do agree with you in the end. We can¡¯t simply let others die just because it will make things easier for us. From now on, I won¡¯t be as pathetic as back then. I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    ¡°...I suppose I might have let my rough past get the better of me. When you go through enough crap in your life, you start to become very uncaring towards everything and everyone around you, saying that it¡¯s not your problem when something bad happens to them,¡± Lexton said. ¡°But that¡¯s just you ignoring the fact that there are actual good people around you as well and they don¡¯t deserve your scorn. I might have become a too much of an asshole like that. Long story short, I¡¯ll help you out, Erin.¡±

    The kobold looked up to see everyone stare at him with wide eyes. This began to greatly irritate him after being stared at in silence for a few seconds.

    ¡°WHAT?¡± Lexton asked sternly.

    ¡°You¡¯re actually willing to admit you¡¯ve been an asshole? That¡¯s some progress right there, pal!¡± Ryle said with a big grin. ¡°Are you perhaps next going to apologize to me?¡±

    ¡°Kiss my ass, you failed prototype barbarian!¡± the kobold shouted at the blonde.

    ¡°Well, I guess that was too much to ask,¡± Ryle said with a shrug.

    Erin shook her head at the antics of her two friends, before looking at the last two members of the group, Arkay and Durge. Both were giving her encouraging smiles.

    ¡°I-I think that what you¡¯re saying is great, Erin!¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t like how we handled what happened back at the pit either. I might have thought that there was nothing we could have done, but that never felt right. Let¡¯s do our best so nothing similar happens again!¡±

    Durge didn¡¯t say anything due to still being affected by the venom in his body. Instead, he gave an approving thumbs up in response.

    Erin smiled, happy that none of her friends had rejected what she had said. In truth, she had expected at least one or two of them to leave the group, upset over what she had said. Losing anyone from the group would have been a major loss, not just in terms of them operating in the future, but also for her own morale. She really needed each and every member they had more than any of them could ever imagine.

    ¡°By the way, why are you still carrying that claw with you?¡± Ryle suddenly asked, having taken note of the piece of the Reaper Maggot the redhead was still carrying around. ¡°Didn¡¯t Rayleen want it or something?¡±

    ¡°Not really. Since she already had an agent following us around, she was well aware of us killing it,¡± Erin explained. ¡°She said that she wouldn¡¯t really have any use for this, as she would at best either eat it or sell it for pocket change.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?!¡± Lexton screamed in fury, shocking everybody else. ¡°That mongoloid would actually eat a piece of one of the most fearsome creatures in the world!? Is she insane!? Not only that, she considers the money you could get from that just pocket change!? JUST WHAT THE HELL KIND OF A LIFE DOES SHE LIVE?!¡±

    ¡°...Well, I can¡¯t really give you details, but I can only imagine it¡¯s one of wealth. Didn¡¯t I already tell you about the party she and her friends were having in the penthouse of the most expensive hotel?¡± the redhead said awkwardly, before composing herself. ¡°Anyways, what you¡¯re saying is that this thing can fetch us a good price on the market?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± the kobold said. ¡°Do you have any idea how impressive of a creature the Reaper Maggot truly is? The only reason I didn¡¯t scavenge every inch of its corpse after we killed it was due to the time limit we were on! Not to mention my issues in moving around because¡­ You know¡­¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s certainly interesting,¡± Erin said thoughtfully as she looked at the massive claw she was holding. ¡°Think you can help me sell it?¡±

    ¡°Huh? I mean, I can. That¡¯s not an issue at all,¡± Lexton said. ¡°But are you sure you want to sell it? I could make it into something we can use in the future.¡±

    ¡°I have no doubts that you can. However, I need the money more right now,¡± the redhead said. ¡°There is something I need to pay for, after all.¡±

 132. Making Amends

    Chapter 132

    Making Amends

    While Erin had wanted to go and sell the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw as fast as she could, there was one problem that prevented her from doing so. With Lexton still unable to move around efficiently from the loss of his tail, the redhead was certain that even if she found a vendor willing to buy the claw, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get a proper price for it. The kobold was much more experienced and skilled in matters like these, so she really needed his help in order to not get scammed yet again. It didn¡¯t help that she had just been fooled by Brega for their trip to the pit and back, so she really wasn¡¯t confident that she could sell the claw for a decent price.

    During the time she waited for Lexton to get his new tail made, the kobold had tried to persuade Erin numerous times to reconsider her decision to sell the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw. The way he saw it, it would serve them better to make something out of it rather than simply sell it. However, despite his best efforts, the redhead was adamant in her decision. The claw would be sold and she would then use the money for something she wasn¡¯t going to reveal just yet.

    As she was waiting for Lexton¡¯s new tail to get finished, Erin had expected to receive orders from Rayleen as to what they needed to do next in order to go after Golorath. This had worried her greatly, because she didn¡¯t want her group to set out without making proper preparations. Luckily and surprisingly, they heard nothing. There were no messages nor anyone from the warlord¡¯s group coming for a visit to tell them what to do. While she was a bit relieved by this, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel like that this was due to Rayleen forgetting about them while having fun yet again.

    Whatever the reason was, Erin was just glad that she and her friends were allowed to have some time to make preparations for their next trip. In the couple of days given to them, Lexton was able to complete his artificial tail and was now getting ready to put it in its place.

    ¡°Alright¡­ You guys know what to do?¡± the kobold asked nervously as he was held down on the floor by Durge. He also had sweat dripping down his face while trying to keep his breathing steady.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve looked at the instructions you gave me and I¡¯m pretty sure that I¡¯ve got this,¡± Erin said while holding the artificial tail in her hands.

    ¡°PRETTY SURE? Don¡¯t give me that shit, Erin!¡± Lexton said angrily with his voice slightly trembling. ¡°If you screw this up, you could completely ruing the whole thing while still putting me through some of the most horrific pain in the world! So you better make sure you¡¯re absolutely certain you know what the hell you¡¯re doing! Got that!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Take it easy, Lex! I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t mean it to be taken like that!¡± Durge said, hoping to calm down the panicking kobold. ¡°You just have to trust her on this and I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll do just fine!¡±

    There was a reason why Lexton was behaving the way he was. As an expert in mechanical constructions, he knew exactly just how delicate artificial limbs were and just how painful of an experience it was to have one connected into your body. The latter was something Erin was also familiar with. Because he might begin thrashing around from the pain, Lexton had instructed Durge to hold him down through the process. The kobold might have seen himself as a genius, but that didn¡¯t mean he was arrogant enough to not realize how he would react to horrific pain. Erin would then insert the new tail into the spot Lexton had prepared, thus completing the process.

    However, while Lexton had faith in Durge and Erin to do their parts, this didn¡¯t mean that he had no reason to worry. Even if you made the most detailed and foolproof plans imaginable, something could always go wrong. And when you were dealing with constructions as intricate and detailed as the tail the kobold had built for himself, he wanted to be completely certain that the people he was working with knew what they were doing. If something went wrong, not only would Lexton still have to suffer through the pains of the connection, a lot of bigger problems could come from this. Some parts of the artificial tail could get damaged or broken, forcing him to repair it, if not build it again from scratch. In the worst case scenario, though, some of the mechanisms he had installed could cause a fire or even kill him. In other words, it was a delicate operation with no room for error.

    ¡°I want you to tell me that shit when our places are switched!¡± Lexton shouted at Durge. ¡°This is NOT a fun place to be, okay!?¡±

    ¡°L-Look, Lex, if you have an issue with me doing this, how about you ask someone else!?¡± Erin asked, a bit shaken by the whole situation. ¡°I¡¯m sure any of the others would be more than willing to do this!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I can put that thing where it belongs!¡± Ryle said enthusiastically. ¡°Just give the robo-tail to me and I¡¯ll just-¡±

    ¡°YOU are NOT touching my goddamn tail! GOT IT!?¡± Lexton angrily shouted at the blonde, who simply backed away in response. ¡°And as much as I hate this mess I¡¯m in, I¡¯m afraid the two of you are the only ones for this job. Arnie is way too nervous to handle this and I doubt Ryle knows how to handle delicate equipment like this other than smashing it with a rock.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± Ryle yelled angrily.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Erin said, ignoring Ryle¡¯s angry protests. ¡°But what about Zeldana? I mean, she¡¯s literally the medic of our team, so I¡¯m sure she would-¡±

    ¡°THAT sociopath is NOT touching ME!¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°Your loss,¡± Zeldana said while reading a book, not paying attention to what was going on.

    ¡°So as you can see, my options are kind of limited here,¡± the kobold said more calmly this time. ¡°It has to be the two of you. No one else here can do this.¡±

    ¡°While I appreciate that you keep us in such high regard, I do have to ask one thing, which might be a stupid question,¡± Erin said. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just take you to a local hospital to handle this? I¡¯m sure that they have medical professionals who can easily handle this.¡±

    ¡°...Wow. You were not joking. That is a stupid question,¡± Lexton said bluntly. ¡°For starters, people that specialize in cybernetics and artificial body parts often have their own businesses that charge very high prices for their services. Even something as simple as this would most likely destroy us financially! The only people with the necessary skills needed for this that work in hospitals are amateurs with no real experience and I refuse to have one of those touch me or my tail!¡±

    ¡°Okay, I see your point,¡± the redhead said awkwardly in response. ¡°Any other reasons, though?¡±

    ¡°Sure! Remember how we are currently being targeted by assassins?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°What do you think would be the perfect place for a sudden ¡°accident¡± to happen that would kill at least one of us?¡±

    ¡°...Fair enough,¡± Erin said with a sigh as she got ready to connect Lexton¡¯s new tail. ¡°Are you ready?¡±

    The kobold gave a simple nod in response as he steeled himself for what was about to happen. As soon as she had been given permission, the redhead inserted the cybernetic tail into the socket where it would connect with Lexton¡¯s body.

    As soon as the connection was made, the kobold felt a surge of pain running through his whole body, starting from the place the new tail was attached from. This spread into every inch of his body, causing him to scream hysterically and attempt to fight back. However, thanks to both Durge and Erin holding him down, Lexton was unable to move all that much and therefore harm himself with his reaction.

    After a moment of hysterical screaming, Lexton seemed to finally calm down. His breathing was heavy and sweat was dripping down his face, but he seemed to be doing fine overall. Everybody else had their eyes on the kobold, waiting to see if he was completely fine or not.

    ¡°Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Just¡­ Give me a moment, okay?¡± Lexton replied as he slowly steadied his breathing. Once he was breathing normally, he slowly got back to his feet and turned to look at his new tail, gently moving it around in order to test it out. ¡°Everything seems to be working just fine. I think it¡¯s safe to say that this has been a success.¡±

    If one were to look at the kobold¡¯s new tail, they wouldn¡¯t be able to tell it was an artificial one with just their eyes. In order to hide its true nature, Lexton had prepared a cover over it that was made to look and feel like his scales. This would allow him to fool people, in case it would be necessary in the future.

    ¡°It looks like it¡¯s working perfectly,¡± Erin remarked as she watched the tail move around. ¡°I have to say, though, it seems a bit more simple than I thought it would be. I was expecting you to put all sorts of hidden weapons into it.¡±

    ¡°As tempting as something like that sounds, it¡¯s better not to go too wild with such things,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Adding far too many hidden mechanisms will often just mess up the programming and can cause some of them to activate unintentionally. Not only that, but they will add more weight and can make the whole thing a lot easier to explode or electrocute you. It¡¯s all about balance in the end and keeping things more simple often accomplishes that.¡±

    ¡°I see. I guess that makes sense,¡± the redhead said, thinking about it. ¡°So this thing is just going to operate like a normal tail then?¡±

    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t! What do you take me for!?¡± the kobold said in a boasting tone with a grin on his face. ¡°I obviously inserted something into it that makes it more than just your average tail! Observe!¡±

    The others watched as Lexton¡¯s new tail moved. Suddenly, the tip of the tail split open, revealing what looked like the barrel of a small gun. The kobold activated this new mechanism of his, causing an extremely bright light to shine from it. He only did this for a very short moment, as the brightness could hurt the eyes of those watching.

    ¡°This is what I added to my tail. It¡¯s small plasma tool that I can use to cut things apart and weld them together,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°This will allow my hands to be free for other tasks when I¡¯m working and something needs this tool specifically.¡±

    ¡°And just like with my hand, it can be used as a means to surprise people and use it in difficult situations! Like opening locked doors and such!¡± Erin said excitedly as she looked at the kobold¡¯s new tool in amazement. ¡°That¡¯s really clever of you, Lex! Good job!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty neat!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°Plus, now you don¡¯t need to worry about having those reptilian issues, similarly to guys who have-¡±

    ¡°Finish that sentence and I swear I¡¯ll weld your mouth shut!¡± Lexton said angrily as he pointed his tail towards the blonde.

    ¡°...I was just saying,¡± Ryle said meekly.

    ¡°Bad jokes aside, does this mean that we are ready to move out?¡± Durge asked. ¡°One of the things holding us from moving was that a couple of our members were unable to move properly. Now that Ryle and I have recovered, and Lex has his new tail ready, should we begin making plans for our next move?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t. Remember that we are basically working for Rayleen now,¡± Erin replied. ¡°She told us to stay here and wait for her further orders. Considering the type of person we¡¯re dealing with, I¡¯d say it¡¯s best for us to not make any hasty movements.¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you say yourself that the last time you met her, she was completely drunk and had forgotten about us?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be safe to assume that it has happened again and that we might as well get going? Just staying around here isn¡¯t going to get us anywhere.¡±

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ¡°Look, she might be as irresponsible as an unruly teenager, but do you really think it¡¯s a smart idea to risk angering her?¡± the redhead asked with a sigh. ¡°You especially should realize how bad of an idea that is. After all, you were there with me and Arnie, when we got beaten by her. Not only that, but I¡¯m certain her goons are no joke either. Add to that the fact that as a warlord she must have insane resources at her disposal and we are dealing with an enemy that is not to be taken lightly.¡±

    ¡°...The only reason she beat me was because she caught me off guard,¡± the blonde muttered unhappily.

    ¡°Yeah, keep telling yourself that. I¡¯m sure it makes you feel better,¡± Erin said as she rolled her eye. ¡°Anyways, I think it¡¯s still best to play it safe for now. Not only that, but we have to remember our ultimate goal, which is to take down Golorath. Having someone who is so close to him provide us with information is going to be useful for certain.¡±

    ¡°T-That might be true, but¡­ what if she doesn¡¯t want us to just go after Golorath?¡± Arkay asked nervously. ¡°What if she wants us to start killing some other people? Like her rivals in the military or people who are resisting her rule?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much about that. It¡¯s not Rayleen¡¯s style,¡± Zeldana suddenly said. ¡°Out of the Western warlords, she was the only one I had any level of respect towards. While brutal towards anyone who picked up a weapon to go against her, she doesn¡¯t harm the regular population. From what I can tell, she has a certain code of honor that keeps her from doing certain things, unlike the other warlords, who would abuse their power however they liked.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that we can trust her?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that she¡¯s a simpleminded idiot that is easy to understand and even predict at times,¡± the elf replied bluntly.

    ¡°...I¡¯m not sure if that is something we can fully count on,¡± the kobold muttered.

    ¡°Whatever the case is when it comes to Rayleen, the fact is that we are still stuck here. So instead of simply wondering about it uselessly, we might as well use the time we have to our advantage,¡± Erin declared. ¡°So, Lex, now that your new tail is working, mind accompanying me on my trip to the market?¡±

    ¡°Of course I can. Just¡­ Are you sure about this?¡± Lexton asked, knowing fully well what the redhead was planning to do. ¡°I mean¡­ the things I could-¡±

    ¡°Lex, I know fully well about what you could do with the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw. However, there is something much more important that needs to be done,¡± the redhead said cutting off the kobold, as she went to pick up the piece of the monster they had slain. ¡°And in order for me to do that, I¡¯m going to need your help in selling this.¡±

    <hr>

    With the help of Lexton, Erin was able to find a good store, where she was able to sell the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw for a really good price. The money that they received would have allowed them to travel for a few months in actual luxury. To be honest, the redhead was very surprised by the amount of money they received.

    ¡°I gotta say, Lex, I knew that we would get a good amount of cash, but I never expected it to be this much!¡± Erin said while counting the money they had gotten for the third time, unable to believe the amount she was holding. ¡°I¡¯m actually starting to wonder why you wanted to keep that thing, when this was an option!¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that we got a lot of money and normally I¡¯d be the first person to go for the money when given the chance! I¡¯m a merchant! Do you really think anyone would ever be more interested in money than me!?¡± Lexton said in response. ¡°However, I¡¯m also a craftsman and getting to work with rare materials like that is something that only happens through sheer luck! Just imagine the stuff I could make! The craftsman within me is burning just from the thought alone¡­¡±

    ¡°I get you¡­ But the reason I wanted to do this was for a very specific reason,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°What I need is a lot of money. Just money. That¡¯s why I had to do this.¡±

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how it is then fine. You win,¡± the kobold said. ¡°So anyways, what is this project of yours that you need so much cash for? You haven¡¯t told any of us what that is.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯ll see when we get there,¡± Erin replied.

    With Erin at the lead, the two of them ended up at the lift operators place, where they had gone with Brega. One of the operators, the same one the redhead had talked to after getting back up from the pit, immediately recognized her and walked up to her.

    ¡°Oh, miss! I didn¡¯t expect to see you here so soon! And no Brega with you this time, so that¡¯s definitely an improvement!¡± the operator said happily. ¡°What brought you and your friend here this time? Were you planning another trip to the pit? If so, I could give you a fair price for it!¡±

    ¡°Not this time. We already concluded our business down there,¡± Erin replied with a friendly smile. ¡°Our business is of a bit more¡­ serious matter this time.¡±

    ¡°Really? What might that be then?¡± the lift operator asked.

    ¡°I believe I heard that there was a group of hunters who lost their lives in the pit at the same time we were down there,¡± the redhead said in a serious and slightly saddened tone. ¡°Would you happen to know more about them?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Those poor souls,¡± the lift operator said in a somber tone, realizing who she was referring to. ¡°They didn¡¯t travel me, but with another lift. Some of their close people are apparently heading here to find out more details as to what happened back then. May I ask, though, why are you asking about them?¡±

    ¡°I wished to give this to the families of the hunters, so that their futures might be a little easier,¡± Erin replied, handing the money they had earned from selling the Reaper Maggot¡¯s claw and surprising both the lift operator and Lexton. ¡°I know it isn¡¯t much, but I feel like I should do something to help them.¡±

    ¡°I-I see. That¡¯s¡­ quite generous of you, miss. You can definitely donate your money to them. In fact, due to the frequent deaths that occur here, there is an office nearby where you can make your donation. While they mostly deal with recovering the belongings of victims and returning them to those that they legally belong to, they can also handle things like this,¡± the lift operator explained, having managed to get past his surprise. ¡°However, may I ask why you¡¯re doing this? Were you perhaps acquainted with those hunters in some manner?¡±

    ¡°...In a way, I suppose you could say that. But I¡¯m mostly doing this for my own sake,¡± the redhead answered. ¡°Now, could you point us in the direction of that office you just mentioned?¡±

    <hr>

    After receiving the necessary directions, Erin and Lexton went to the office they had been told about and handed the money to the people working there. They were promised that it would reach the people they were hoping to help, so there was nothing to worry about. Once their business was done, the two of them started to head back to where the rest of their friends were.

    As the two were walking, there was an awkward silence looming over them. Erin couldn¡¯t help but fear that Lexton was silent because he disapproved of what she had done with the money they had gotten, as he was much more logical and business-minded in his thinking. Despite this, the redhead was certain she had done the right thing, even if it had been just to ease her own conscience. She still needed to discuss this with the kobold and the rest of the group, as her actions would affect them all.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Lex?¡± Erin called out to the kobold, getting his attention. ¡°Look, I know that you most likely don¡¯t approve of what I just did, but I feel like it was the right thing to do. I know that it doesn¡¯t make up for what we did, but it was still a step in the right direction, right? I get that the decision was made only by me and was ultimately kind of selfish, yet I-¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you saying? You know if I had disapproved of what you did, I would have said something already, right?¡± Lexton suddenly asked, surprising the redhead. ¡°I get why you would get the image of me being more cold or whatever, but even I have some decency and a sympathetic side to me, okay!? In fact, I¡¯m more pissed off that you apparently didn¡¯t trust me enough to support your decision! So from now on, you better be completely honest with me, when it comes to anything like this! Break that and you might end up on the wrong end of me testing one of my creations next time! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, I understand,¡± Erin said with a small smile, happy that her friend was supporting her. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thanking me for, but you¡¯re welcome, I suppose,¡± the kobold said with a shrug. ¡°Now let¡¯s just get back to our hotel. I feel like I need to take a nap after a long day.¡±

    As the two of them were walking out of the lift operating area, they encountered two figures that were familiar to Erin. They were the two subordinates of Rayleen that she had met, Izra and Wargas. The two soldiers were walking with a group of people who seemed to be carrying specialized equipment of some sorts, although the redhead had no idea what it was.

    ¡°What the-? You!?¡± Izra said, surprised to see Erin before her. ¡°What the hell are you doing here!? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be out of the city already!?¡±

    ¡°How could I leave this place? Your boss told us to stay here, until we received instructions from her!¡± the redhead said. ¡°Isn¡¯t the concept of following orders that should be very familiar to people like you!?¡±

    ¡°Why you lying no good piece of-!¡±

    ¡°Izra, calm down. You look ridiculous,¡± Wargas suddenly said with a sigh. ¡°Do you really think she or any of her companions would be dumb enough to defy Lady Rayleen? Even if they were, staying here would be the absolute worst decision they could ever make, as we would quickly find them. Not only that, they didn¡¯t even try to run or hide when they faced us. Don¡¯t you think that tells you clearly enough what actually happened?¡±

    ¡°And what would that be!?¡± Izra asked angrily.

    ¡°Lady Rayleen forgot to send out her instructions to these guys,¡± the wolfman replied bluntly. ¡°AGAIN.¡±

    ¡°...Oh, you have got to be kidding me!¡± the dragon woman groaned. ¡°And she kept telling me how she was going to get it done! Numerous times! What the hell could possibly be there to keep her occupied so much that she can¡¯t even accomplish a simple task!?¡±

    ¡°Well, the new Shadowy Spirits game was just released,¡± Wargas said. ¡°I¡¯m sure that explains it more than enough.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You mean to tell me that the reason your boss failed to provide us with instructions was simply because of a video game? You¡¯re joking, right?¡±

    ¡°Hey, she might have been distracted by her passions, but you are not someone who is allowed to criticize her!¡± Izra angrily yelled at the redhead. ¡°As a matter of fact, having you be part of our operations in any manner is like a sickening joke that-!¡±

    ¡°IZRA!¡± Wargas shouted, silencing the dragon woman instantly. ¡°Would you mind and at least try to control your behavior!? You¡¯re bringing shame to our whole unit with your immature antics!¡±

    ¡°...I apologize, sir,¡± the dragon woman replied meekly as she looked down in shame.

    ¡°Honestly¡­ When are you going to grow up finally?¡± the wolfman mumbled as he turned his attention back to Erin. ¡°Forgive my colleagues behavior. She has a tendency to let her emotions get the best of her at times. However, I did anticipate that this would happen in regards to your instructions, so I luckily prepared a copy of them in advance.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Thank you,¡± the redhead said, as Wargas took out a piece of paper and handed it to her. ¡°She seems to be very loyal to Rayleen. I mean, any hint of negativity towards her seems to set her off.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ While there is certainly a level of truth to that, I fear that it¡¯s not the only thing that is affecting her,¡± the wolfman began to explain awkwardly. ¡°You see, while she would get upset and angry at people for actions you just described, there is an additional factor that makes her really dislike you of all people.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What could that be?¡± Erin asked, surprised by this revelation.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s-¡±

    ¡°HEY! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE DOING!?¡±

    Erin, Wargas and Izra all turned to where the sudden angry scream had come from and saw one of the people who had accompanied the two subordinates of Rayleen getting angry at Lexton.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Izra asked, as she walked up to see what the commotion was about.

    ¡°This little bastard was trying to take a look at our equipment, madam!¡± one of the workers said. ¡°He is obviously trying to spy on us!¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort, I assure you!¡± Lexton said calmly in a fake apologetic tone. ¡°As a man of machinery and craftsmanship, I was just a bit curious as to what you were carrying with you. I have no intention of sabotaging your work in any manner. I do apologize for giving the wrong impression, though. Hope we can move past this.¡±

    Erin, realizing the trouble her friend was in, was about to rush to his aid, only to be stopped by Wargas.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No harm will come to him,¡± the wolfman said. ¡°Trust me.¡±

    Back with Lexton and Izra, the people serving under the dragon woman were still convinced that the kobold was a spy of some sorts and were arguing for it.

    ¡°Lady Izra, you cannot be fooled by him!¡± the person that the dragon woman had talked to kept arguing. ¡°Why else would someone try to look at what we have brought here!?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, nothing but professional curiosity,¡± Lexton argued. ¡°No need to be worried about what I¡¯m going to do, alright?¡±

    ¡°...I think it¡¯s okay,¡± Izra mumbled so quietly that it was almost impossible to hear. However, the people around her, including Erin and Wargas, did catch it. ¡°I think it¡¯s okay if it¡¯s just for a bit of curiosity. No harm done through that.¡±

    Erin had been so shocked by the sudden change in tone with the dragon woman that she was unable to believe that she had just heard it. She had to take a double take in order to confirm to herself that it was indeed the same person, who had just moments ago been raging at her, was now talking like a shy high school girl. To add to the redhead¡¯s shock, Izra didn¡¯t just sound like one, but was even acting the part as well. The dragon woman¡¯s face had a slight blush and she was nervously looking down on the ground, like her crush was standing before her.

    ¡°See? Nothing to be worried about!¡± Lexton said with a smug grin at the person who had been yelling at him, before turning his attention to Izra. ¡°Thank you for your understanding, madam.¡±

    ¡°...You can call me Izra,¡± the dragon woman said shyly.

    ¡°Huh? Well¡­ Okay!¡± the kobold said, a bit confused. ¡°Thank you, Izra.¡±

    Hearing her name said out loud caused the dragon woman to let out a tiny squeal that went unnoticed only by Lexton. Her hair also seemed to stand up a bit and her body went stiff, before she relaxed with a dreamy look on her face.

    ¡°What the-!? Did she just-!? But¡­ WHAT!?¡± Erin said, failing to find the right words.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve finally realized her little obsession,¡± Wargas said with a sigh. ¡°Izra has taken a liking to your kobold friend over there. In fact, she even has a picture of him in her wallet.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ The reason why she dislikes me so much, isn¡¯t necessarily because of how I interact with Rayleen, but-¡± the redhead started.

    ¡°But because you¡¯re traveling with him. Yes,¡± the wolfman finished for Erin. ¡°It also doesn¡¯t help that he lost his tail in your battle against the Reaper Maggot, which she has put the blame on you and your other friend.¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t know how to process this,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°Just do what I do. Go along with it and try to ignore it as much as you can,¡± Wargas said with a sympathetic look on his face.

    <hr>

    After their brief encounter with Rayleen¡¯s aides, Erin and Lexton were back on their way to their hotel. Once they were certain that no one could hear them talking anymore, Erin decided to speak up.

    ¡°So what were you doing back there?¡± the redhead asked suddenly, getting Lexton¡¯s attention. ¡°And don¡¯t try to act all innocent. It¡¯s obvious to me that you had an ulterior motive. Why else would you try to inspect the equipment of people serving a warlord?¡±

    ¡°Dear me, have I become that obvious?¡± the kobold asked playfully. ¡°Anyways, I was just trying to figure out what type of work they were doing by analyzing the tools they brought. However, I¡¯m honestly more confused by what they had with them.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The tools and machines they brought were all for geological work. Specifically to analyze the properties of rocks and other such things,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°I could understand if they were hoping to either catch some creatures or find lost artifacts, but I cannot understand why a warlord of all people would be interested in the ground itself.¡±

    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s hoping to find useful minerals or something?¡± the redhead suggested. ¡°They could be in the need of materials for developing weapons or something.¡±

    ¡°Possibly, but why come here then? With Gotzmeyer gone, it opens up far better options for digging up minerals,¡± the kobold pointed out. ¡°Just Grand Mine Central should give them all the minerals they could ever need. Instead of inspecting a place that is known for the dangers it holds, why not just go look through the recently opened up free real estate and get your fix from that? There has got to be a deeper meaning to this¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, whatever that is, I doubt it has much to do with us,¡± Erin said with a shrug. ¡°The way I see it, we don¡¯t really need to worry about their actions for now, so let¡¯s just focus on what¡¯s ahead of us for now.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°Still, I¡¯m surprised by how that Izra lady didn¡¯t get upset at me. I would have guessed that someone working directly under a warlord would be a much more cruel and violent person. Glad to see I was wrong!¡±

    ¡°...If you only knew,¡± the redhead grumbled. ¡°By the way, from now on, you¡¯re coming with me whenever I have to negotiate with Rayleen. Got it?¡±

 133. Orders from Above

    Chapter 133

    Orders from Above

    As soon as Erin and Lexton had reached their group¡¯s hotel room, the redhead didn¡¯t waste any time in reading out Rayleen¡¯s orders she had received from Wargas. She had quickly called their group to gather around, so that she could read them out loud for all of them to hear.

    ¡°Alright, you guys ready?¡± Erin asked as she took out the piece of paper she had gotten and saw everybody around her nod. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s see what they want us to do.¡±

    The redhead read through the paper as carefully as possible, making sure she didn¡¯t miss a single detail. Once she was done, she looked up at the others.

    ¡°What did it say?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°It says that they want us to head to a city called Graven Hills,¡± Erin replied. ¡°However, there isn¡¯t anything else on it. It just states that we¡¯ll receive further instructions there.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ That¡¯s it!?¡± Ryle asked in a bit of an angry tone. ¡°You mean to tell me that after all this bullshit we went through with these guys, all they¡¯ve got to say to us for our ¡°super important mission¡± is to go to some place!? Is this a joke or something!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s obviously not it, you idiot!¡± Lexton said angrily. ¡°The reason why they want us to go to Graven Hills is because there is something important there, but they haven¡¯t yet gotten the details down! In other words, they want us to be at the ready there, when they finally have their plans ready!¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Well¡­ They still should have a proper plan already!¡± the blonde said, trying to hide her own embarrassment. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯m upset about¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a very clever individual and all. Your wisdom knows no bounds,¡± Erin said sarcastically, before getting back on topic. ¡°Anyways, anybody here familiar with Graven Hills? Maybe we can figure out what they are expecting us to do over there.¡±

    In truth, the redhead did know what Graven Hills was, except that was before everything got turned around by her old friends. Back then, Graven Hills was essentially a resting area for players. There weren¡¯t too many dangerous creatures roaming in the area and the town itself was a place where you could easily gather supplies and accomplish simple tasks for some extra money. The truth was that Graven Hills was a farming town with a friendly population. In all honesty, it should be the last place to find anyone that was in any way linked to anyone of notice. Especially someone like one of the Five Overlords.

    However, knowing just how much her old friends had changed things, Erin was certain that the Graven Hills she was familiar with was most likely long gone now. The message from Wargas even had a hint of that, as they referred to it as a city. The place she was familiar with was no way near large enough to be called that.

    ¡°It used to be a quiet farming town a few years ago. That changed once the Overlords stepped in and started to run thing their way,¡± Lexton began to explain. ¡°Nothing of that old farming community remains anymore and the place is something completely different.¡±

    ¡°...What is it like now?¡± Erin asked, already dreading the answer.

    ¡°Once it was found out that the place was a rather peaceful area, some of the higher-ups with the approval of Golorath decided to make the place into a relaxing vacation area. Only thing is that the ones who get to vacation and relax over there are those with a lot of cash,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°The place has now become a two-part city. On the higher end you have the gated community of celebrities, politicians and other society elites living in luxury. Surrounding it are the slums, where the previous residents were driven off to.¡±

    ¡°Judging by what you just told us, my guess is that Rayleen wants us to deal with someone that lives on the better part of the place,¡± Durge said. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Most likely. Considering how much money you make the closer you get to any of the Overlords, a place like Graven Hills becomes a very tempting place for a new summer home,¡± Lexton said. ¡°That place must be filled to the brim with all sorts of scum that made their way upwards by simply kissing the asses of all the right people. I¡¯m sure we can find Golorath¡¯s personal servants there more than anywhere else in the world.¡±

    ¡°Any idea how long it will take us to get there?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°We should get there in just a couple of days from here with our car,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°All we need to do is pack up and get ready for the trip.¡±

    ¡°Alright, then that¡¯s settled,¡± the redhead said before looking over the whole group. ¡°We are going to leave as soon as possible. So unless anyone here has some unfinished business, I suggest we start packing our stuff. Any objections?¡±

    No one said a single word, as they seemed to be in full agreement. However, Erin did notice that Lexton showed a small amount of hesitation, yet ultimately held back on whatever he wished to say.

    Since no one objected out loud, it was decided that the group would get ready to leave. The redhead was still a bit bothered by the kobold¡¯s reaction and decided to ask him about it.

    ¡°Is everything alright, Lex?¡± Erin asked, once the two of them were not close to anyone else, so their conversation wouldn¡¯t be heard. ¡°I noticed that you hesitated a bit, when I said that we should leave. Was there something you needed to do before that? I can ask the others to wait, if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for anything like that,¡± Lexton quickly said. ¡°It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t help but be curious as to what Rayleen¡¯s people are doing in that pit. I know it¡¯s risky and all, but a part of me wants to go down there to see what it is, you know?¡±

    ¡°I understand your curiosity. Part of me wants to know that, too, since it could prove to be useful,¡± the redhead said. ¡°However, we shouldn¡¯t risk it with those guys. While they might be working with us in a way, they are part of the military. I¡¯m certain that the moment we become too much of a pain to deal with, they¡¯ll be more than happy to get rid of us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± the kobold said in agreement. ¡°Besides, I might have gotten lucky last time, but I can¡¯t just expect it to happen like that every time.¡±

    ¡°...Actually, l wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it did work.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Izra and Wargas were in the middle of their operation inside the pit. As soon as they had gotten there, they had headed straight to the location where the rotting corpse of the Reaper Maggot was. While most would question this action, as most of the monster¡¯s body had already been devoured by the other inhabitants of the pit, the servants of Rayleen weren¡¯t looking for things that most other fortune seekers would. Instead, they were looking for something else that would make anybody question their actions.

    What they were looking for were materials within the creature¡¯s stomach, specifically different rock pieces. They also had a team sent to where the Reaper Maggot¡¯s nest was in order to look for similar samples there.

    Izra was watching over the team that was searching the monstrous worm¡¯s corpse, while Wargas was with the team that had gone to the nest. The dragon woman¡¯s radio suddenly crackled, signaling that her comrade was trying to contact her. She quickly picked up the device and pressed a button in order to hear what was said on the other side.

    ¡°Have you found something already?¡± Izra said and waited for a response.

    ¡°Yeah, we found plenty of what we were looking for over here,¡± Wargas responded on the other end. ¡°Our team was able to find perfect samples all over. How about on your end?¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°It¡¯s the same over here,¡± the dragon woman replied. ¡°While I can¡¯t say that they were perfect samples, as this thing¡¯s stomach acids had digested parts of them, they were still good enough to serve as evidence.¡±

    ¡°...So then the theories those scientists we talked with are correct then?¡± the wolfman asked in a serious tone. ¡°This thing didn¡¯t originate from here, but from a much farther place?¡±

    ¡°Correct. The samples we discovered here match those found at the mining site Dungard is operating at. Not only that, but these specific minerals are only found at that specific place as well,¡± Izra said. ¡°This means that the Reaper Maggot originally lived in that area, before something forced it to move here. An apex predator like this would never leave its habitat like that, unless it either ran out of food or something forced it to move, like a much more dangerous beast that scared even it.¡±

    ¡°Sheesh. I don¡¯t even want to imagine what kind of a creature would scare that thing. I don¡¯t mean to talk bad about them, but I cannot believe those guys Lady Rayleen sent here were willing to come anywhere near that monster, not to mention kill it,¡± Wargas said. ¡°But this raises some new questions. What is it that actually drove the Reaper Maggot away? And why does Golorath want that thing to be dug up?¡±

    ¡°I cannot say, but I do fear what we might find out,¡± the dragon woman said. ¡°Hopefully that group of buffoons won¡¯t screw up their job, so we can hopefully prevent whatever disaster is brewing.¡±

    ¡°You say that, but we both know that you are head over heels in love with that one kobold on their group,¡± the wolfman said. ¡°What was his name again? Bexton? Rexton?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM! I JUST FIND HIM INTERESTING!¡± Izra shouted angrily with her face completely red. ¡°...Although, maybe I should ask him to hang out the next time we meet? Or is that too forward? Or maybe I could ask him to make something for me with his name engraved into it? Or do you think that would be better on a prosthetic? Oh, dammit! I still have all my limbs! Is there perhaps a very dangerous mission that needs to be done!?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re a sad existence,¡± Wargas said after listening to his colleagues rambles. ¡°A very sad existence.¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and her group, they were done with their preparations to leave the city and head towards Graven Hills. Having been forced to rest for a long time due to being poisoned and unable to move properly, Durge volunteered to take up the part of the driver. Erin sat next to him with a map in order to give him directions. The others were seated at the back, doing their best to spend the time that they would be on the road the best possible way each of them knew.

    ¡°It was nice of you to take up the wheel, Durge,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Just say the word and I¡¯ll be more than happy to switch. No need for just you alone to do this.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me! I don¡¯t mind doing this at all!¡± the orc replied with a big smile. ¡°Besides, after being forced to rest for so long, I¡¯ve got a load of extra energy that needs to be burned. Heck, don¡¯t be surprised if I actually drive us all the way to Graven Hills in one go!¡±

    The redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel relief over her friend¡¯s reassuring attitude. Just a couple of days ago, he had been unable to even speak properly and now he was completely fine and full of vigor. It was good to see for herself that the Reaper Maggot¡¯s venom didn¡¯t leave any lasting effects on him, even if Zeldana had claimed that nothing of the sort would happen.

    Speaking of said elf, she had something to add to the conversation, despite neither Erin or Durge wanting, let alone needing it.

    ¡°I do have to wonder, though, where is this sudden enthusiasm of yours coming from?¡± Zeldana asked and the two at the front could just imagine the grin on the elf¡¯s face. ¡°Is it perhaps because you were forced to rely on me, like a baby has to with a mommy? Oh, don¡¯t let that get to you! I won¡¯t tell anyone what I saw! Besides, it¡¯s not like it was-¡±

    ¡°Finish that thought of yours and nothing in this universe will stop me from throwing you under our car and turning you into a roadkill!¡± Erin shouted angrily at the elf.

    ¡°...I was just saying,¡± Zeldana muttered with a shrug.

    ¡°For the love of¡­ It¡¯s always something with you, isn¡¯t it?¡± the redhead said with a frustrated sigh before focusing her sights back on the road ahead.

    While Erin and Durge were focused on their trip, Lexton was managing some of his own work. Even if he couldn¡¯t do much inside the van, he could still draw up plans for future experiments and mix up some of his simpler potions. Arkay was once again reading one of his books in order to learn more about magic and Zeldana had also taken upon herself to go through some of the books they had as well. Although, in the case of the elf, she was reading for the sake of simple amusement or at least the others assumed that was the case. From time to time, they could hear her chuckle and mumble stuff such as ¡°That¡¯s not how it went!¡± or ¡°This is such bull!¡± The others decided not to question her, seeing as it would only drag them into whatever insanity Zeldana¡¯s mind was in.

    However, there was one person who wasn¡¯t able to find a way to spend the time. That person was none other than Ryle, who was starting to get rather bored. The blonde had tried to take a nap in order to get through at least some of the trip, but she was nowhere near tired enough to do so. Fact of the matter was that she needed some form of action in order to be entertained, but that was proving to be rather difficult inside what was essentially a metal box.

    During their previous travels, Ryle there had been other things that had helped her take her mind off her boredom. Back in Lexton¡¯s old car, she had been too busy worrying about the stench that she couldn¡¯t focus on her boredom at all. When they lost the kobold¡¯s vehicle and were forced to travel on foot, she had been on alert from bandits, wild beasts and other threats that could get to them, so entertainment hadn¡¯t been a priority.

    However, with their new car now in use, there were no longer distractions that would take her concentration, making these trips feel like they rook an eternity to complete. While she could find some form of entertainment from spending time with one of the others, which she especially liked to do with Arkay for obvious reasons, there were times like now when the others would be preoccupied with their own activities and wouldn¡¯t have the time to spend with her.

    At the moment, all she could hope for was that they would either arrive at their destination soon or that when they stopped for a break, she would be able to burn enough energy to keep her satisfied for the rest of the way. Whichever would come first was not a concern for her, just that something would at least happen sooner rather than later.

    Trying her best to just lay down and relax, Ryle stared at the ceiling above her and listened to the noises around her. The sound of the engine running, the ground grinding underneath the wheels, Lexton¡¯s tinkering, Arkay turning the pages on his book and the somewhat disturbing chuckles coming from Zeldana. These sounds around her seemed to repeat themselves over and over again in a rhythmic manner, to the point the blonde could predict when the next one would come. And the more she focused on them, the stronger they became. And the stronger they became, the more they started to gnaw at the back of her mind, where it felt like they were tearing apart her brain.

    After hearing the sound of Lexton dropping some form of a liquid into one of his numerous vials for what felt like the millionth time, Ryle had enough. She needed to get out of this box she was trapped in or else she would lose her sanity.

    Sitting up from her spot on the floor, the blonde made her way to the front of the car in order to voice her concerns.

    ¡°Erin, do you mind if we pulled over for a moment?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t feel too good.¡±

    ¡°Ryle, seriously, do you mind? We¡¯re on a schedule here,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, before starting to turn around to look at the blonde behind her. ¡°Could you spare us from your antics for-¡±

    The rest of Erin¡¯s words died in her throat, as she saw the look in Ryle¡¯s eyes. The blonde looked like she was about to have a panic attack or something. Even Durge was greatly disturbed by this sight, as he managed to glance at her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can hold out much longer,¡± Ryle said in a voice filled with desperation. ¡°Please let me out. Now.¡±

    ¡°...W-Well, I think we can afford to have a quick break, right?¡± Durge suggested. ¡°I doubt whatever it is that awaits us at Graven Hills is that urgent. Besides, we¡¯ve been driving for quite some time now anyways. I¡¯m sure we can all use a chance to get some fresh air and stretch our legs.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Let¡¯s do that,¡± Erin said in agreement, hoping that whatever was wrong with Ryle would be cured with a little stop.

    Almost as soon as the vehicle had come to a stop, Ryle burst through the back door, like the van was on fire. She then proceeded to get further away from the vehicle, before taking a bunch of deep breaths, like she had been running a marathon.

    Worried over their friend, both Erin and Durge followed after Ryle, hoping to find out what was wrong with her. While they both knew that the blonde had a rather eccentric personality, the look in her eyes was something that they couldn¡¯t simply pass off as just her typical antics. There was something wrong with her and she needed help.

    ¡°Ryle, is everything alright?¡± Erin asked gently, once she reached her blonde friend. ¡°You gave us a bit of a fright over there. Are you feeling sick or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sick alright¡­ Sick of this boredom!¡± Ryle declared after steadying her breathing. ¡°How any of you can stand being cooped up in that metal can for hours without going crazy is something I¡¯ll never understand! All I can do is try to sleep, because staying awake just kills my brains with how dull it is! Can¡¯t we find something to do!?¡±

    ¡°¡­Hang on. You¡¯re acting up, because you¡¯re bored? Is that it?¡± the redhead asked while looking at the blonde in disbelief. ¡°Are you a little child or something? This isn¡¯t some joyride we¡¯re on!¡±

    ¡°I GET THAT!¡± Ryle shouted as loudly as she could, shocking her two friends. ¡°I am fully aware that this isn¡¯t some fun family trip or anything like that! But is it too much to ask to have at least something to take my mind away from the dullness of it all!? You guys might be fine, but I¡¯m not! I¡¯m going crazy over there! I can¡¯t help how I am, okay!?¡±

    In a way, Erin did understand her friend¡¯s point. The fact of the matter was that they had been mostly focused on their mission, thus not allowing themselves any real time off. Not to mention, it was only because her own thoughts were occupied by everything they had to deal with that she never fully realized just how dull their travels could sometimes be. Still, it wasn¡¯t something that they could just fix all that easily. They had to remember their priorities.

    ¡°She does have a point,¡± Durge suddenly said, surprising Erin. ¡°Even in the military, troops need to be provided with some level of entertainment in order to keep up the morale. While it¡¯s good to focus on the essentials, you can¡¯t forget some of the other aspects either.¡±

    ¡°...I guess you¡¯re right,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, before turning towards Ryle. ¡°I get what, you¡¯re saying, Ryle, but we can¡¯t just outright stop what we¡¯re doing in order to find something to entertain you and hopefully the rest of us. However, during our next stop, I promise you that I¡¯ll help look for something that you can do for the rest of our trip. Okay?¡±

    The blonde gave a simple nod in response, knowing that it was the best they could do. Erin and Durge smiled, seeing that they had managed to reach Ryle. They allowed her a couple more minutes to calm herself and take in some fresh air, before going back to the van and continuing their trip.

    Once they resumed driving, everyone quickly noticed the somewhat tense atmosphere that had begun to hang over Ryle. While Lexton and Zeldana didn¡¯t feel like it was worth their time to interact with the blonde, Arkay decided to move over to her in order to cheer her up. This did have an immediate positive effect on her mood, which everybody other than the cat boy himself could have predicted.

    However, despite Ryle¡¯s better mood, Erin knew that this was only a temporary solution at best. It would require a bit more to actually fix the issue itself.

    After some time, the sun was starting to set, meaning night would be upon them soon. Seeing as how it would be more dangerous to travel at nighttime, Erin and Durge decided that it would be best to stop and let the group rest.

    At first, it looked like they would have to set up camp in the wilderness, but Erin noticed something up ahead. There were a bunch of lights, which looked like they belonged to a settlement of some kind. Figuring that it was most likely some form of a motel or other smaller business, since they were on a fairly used route, this meant that they could go there to rest and stock up on supplies.

    What they ended up at was something far different.

 134. Stop for Fun

    Chapter 134

    Stop for Fun

    When Erin and Durge had spotted the lights up ahead, they had thought that they would be arriving at some sort of a resting area, like a motel or even a gas station. What they actually arrived at was something that almost none of them could describe in words.

    With the exception of a certain blonde that is.

    ¡°This¡­ is¡­ AWESOMENESS!¡± Ryle practically screamed as her eyes shined with excitement and glee. ¡°This is what happens when you take the top five most awesome things in the world and put them in a blender! Pure awesome!¡±

    ¡°I am honestly amazed by the variety of your vocabulary, Ryle,¡± Lexton said in a slightly annoyed tone, not particularly fond of the blonde¡¯s antics. ¡°Honestly, don¡¯t you know any other words to describe what you¡¯re feeling or does your few remaining brain cells have limited capacity?¡±

    ¡°Be grumpy all you want, scaly! You¡¯re not ruining my mood this time!¡± Ryle said, not bothered by the kobold¡¯s remark in the least. ¡°I¡¯m certain even a sour and pretentious Mr. I¡¯m-better-than-you will find this place fun enough to put a smile on your face!¡±

    ¡°I seriously doubt that,¡± Lexton said. ¡°And I¡¯m not sour or pretentious! I¡¯m just intelligent!¡±

    The others laughed at the argument going on between Ryle and Lexton, due to the atmosphere that had been hanging over them just a moment ago. They were glad to see that the blonde had regained her spirit and energy, as she hadn¡¯t been doing all that well.

    However, they couldn¡¯t help but look at the sight before them with some level of amazement, as none of them had been anticipating anything like it. Erin couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing, as it seemed far too perfect for their predicament.

    Right before the group was a very large amusement park with all sorts of rides and lights visible to them. They were standing before what was the entrance, a large gate that had a sign above it that said ¡°Happy World¡± with a large smiling clown. The clown was somewhat disturbing to Erin and Zeldana, but nobody else seemed to mind it too much.

    ¡°This is honestly a surprise to say the least,¡± Durge said as he looked over the amusement park¡¯s entrance. ¡°I would have never guessed that something like this would appear before us all of a sudden. I wonder why there¡¯s an amusement park here of all places?¡±

    ¡°Well, the path we¡¯re on is fairly used. My guess is that there are plenty of people that go through here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not only that, but we aren¡¯t too far from Graven Hills or Cliffdrop City. I¡¯m sure a lot of people can simply travel here on vacation.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that makes sense. Not to mention, if they have a motel or something, this could work as a resting place as well,¡± Erin said. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think we can really take a moment to have fun over here. I mean, Rayleen is expecting us to go to Graven Hills and-¡±

    ¡°Erin, I doubt we¡¯re in that much of a hurry,¡± Durge said as he placed a hand on the redhead¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Besides, remember how Ryle was just a moment ago? I think we should use this opportunity for our advantage.¡±

    The redhead looked at Ryle and saw just how excited she was. It was a complete change to how she had just been a moment ago, as the blonde looked like a child in front of a candy store. Not just her, but Erin saw that Arkay and even Zeldana seemed to be getting excited.

    Seeing as how her friends were acting, it seemed like the decision had already been made. Besides, even she had to admit that she wanted to have a moment to just fool around and have fun. It would be a nice change of pace after all the deadly fights they¡¯d been going through.

    ¡°Okay, guys! It¡¯s decided then!¡± Erin suddenly declared, getting everybody¡¯s attention. ¡°We are going to have some fun here and then rest for the night! Hope you guys have the energy!¡±

    Moving to the gate, the group was able to buy tickets to all of them so that they could enter the park and enjoy all the attractions they had there. They also managed to reserve a room at a hotel and a parking spot for their van. Luckily, Lexton¡¯s medicines had sold well at Cliffdrop City, which left them with plenty of money to use for their own amusement for the time being. Even when the kobold was not able to do his usual merchant work due to having lost his tail, Erin and Arkay were able to pick up the work and sell the medicine. While they were nowhere near as good as Lexton, they were able to make a fairly good profit.

    Once all the necessary preparations had been made, the group gathered at the entrance to what was pretty much the entertainment district of the park. Despite seeing how there were some among them that were barely able to contain their excitement, Erin wanted to at least have an agreement with all of them in regards to when they would all get back together.

    ¡°Alright, I know we¡¯re all very excited to go and have some fun, but let¡¯s not get carried away just yet!¡± the redhead said as she signaled for everyone to gather around. ¡°Now, while I am more than willing to let you all go and have some fun, I must remind you that we have a timetable we need to follow. Not only that, but I need you all to be alert and careful. We¡¯ve had some people come after us before, so we can¡¯t slip up now. There could be spies, agents or even assassins hiding here, waiting for the right time.¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re worried, but do you really think that someone would attack us here?¡± Durge asked. ¡°This is a pretty crowded place. I doubt anyone could attack us while we¡¯re surrounded by all these people.¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet those are famous last words of some poor sucker that got assassinated in the middle of the day in public,¡± Lexton said bluntly. ¡°Need I remind you that we met one of the assassins in that death game your former gang was holding? These bastards seem to be able to pop up from just about anywhere.¡±

    ¡°...Good point,¡± the orc said.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the topic at hand!¡± Erin called out, hoping that her attempt at talking to her friends wouldn¡¯t turn into another messy argument. ¡°What I suggest is that we move in groups. Either as two groups of three or three groups of two. Which one sounds better to you all?¡±

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t care,¡± Lexton said in a grumpy tone. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to have any fun around here anyways.¡±

    ¡°Well, look at that everybody! The not at all surprising revelation of Lex not being any fun at all!¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°Seriously, can¡¯t you be fun for at least one day? Is that too much to ask?¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t have an issue with having a fun day!¡± the kobold quickly argued. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ amusement parks aren¡¯t exactly the best places for people like myself¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you-? Oh¡­ I get it,¡± Erin said, realizing that Lexton was most likely talking about the discrimination that kobolds like himself faced. ¡°Look, if you travel with one of us, I¡¯m sure we can prevent the people working here from mistreating you. If nothing else, we can-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you, but I¡¯m going to have to stop you right there. While that can be true, there is another more pressing matter that causes me problems here,¡± Lexton explained before pointing at something. ¡°Namely THAT.¡±

    Everybody looked over to what the kobold was pointing at and saw a sign with a cartoon drawing of a clown. Next to it was a text that said ¡°You have to be this tall in order to get in the ride.¡± Even without a direct comparison, they all could tell that Lexton was far too short.

    ¡°Oh¡­ That¡­ is definitely going to be an issue,¡± Erin said, wondering if there was a way to get their smaller friend into the attractions still. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a way for them to allow you to ride along one of us? I¡¯m sure smaller children get on rides like that when going with their parents.¡±

    ¡°If you think I¡¯m going to even humor the idea of acting as your child ever again, you¡¯ve got another thing coming, you reject of nature!¡± Lexton angrily shouted at the redhead. ¡°I¡¯ll just find some other way to amuse myself!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no need to worry about grumpy lizard here, Erin!¡± Ryle said with a snicker. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are plenty of rides that are meant for toddlers that he can go on! I¡¯m sure he¡¯d actually look pretty damn cute in them, too!¡±

    ¡°Oh God¡­ Please never call me cute. When you specifically say it, it makes me want to vomit,¡± the kobold said in a disgusted voice. ¡°When you say it, it almost sounds like you view me the same way you do with Arnie¡­¡±

    ¡°Ew! Now I¡¯m all grossed out!¡± the blonde said in disgust. ¡°The thought of you and me being like that is gonna make me puke!¡±

    ¡°Okay, everybody stopped with the thoughts that might make you vomit, puke or whatever!¡± Erin shouted, ending the childish argument right there. ¡°Remember that we still need to figure out who is going to go around the park with whom. And if Lexton can¡¯t go to the rides, that creates a problem, because whoever is with him cannot watch over him all the time.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re overreacting a bit,¡± the kobold mumbled.

    ¡°Hey, if that is the issue, I can travel with him,¡± Durge suddenly suggested. ¡°It¡¯s not like I was hoping to get on the rides anyways. I¡¯m mostly here just because I want some of you guys to have fun.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Erin asked, receiving a nod in response from the orc. ¡°Well, if you say so¡­ Then how should we split up the rest of-¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M GOING WITH ARNIE!¡± Ryle suddenly declared loudly, before picking up the cat boy, like a bride at a wedding. ¡°I¡¯LL SEE YOU ALL LATER!¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Wait! We haven¡¯t even-!¡± the redhead tried to say, but the blonde was already running deeper into the park with Arkay. ¡°...decided when and where we will meet up. Goddammit¡­¡±

    ¡°Guess she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, huh?¡± Durge said with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be just fine. Even if she¡¯s a bit reckless, Ryle can be surprisingly responsible. If nothing else, I¡¯m sure Arnie will eventually get her to come back.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right about that,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°There are times when I can¡¯t help but feel a bit worried over what might happen to her, though.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry if I were you. That blonde idiot has proven that she¡¯s able to survive most that the world can thrown at her,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I mean, by all means and logic, she should have died a long time ago from sheer stupidity alone. If she has been able to survive this long, I¡¯m sure that nothing in this park can do anything to change that.¡±

    ¡°...If that is your idea of reassuring someone, you suck at it,¡± the redhead said bluntly. ¡°Well, we might as well try and have fun for ourselves now. You and Durge are going to be alright traveling by yourselves?¡±

    ¡°Sure. I doubt any of you guys would really want the two of us around anyways,¡± the orc said with a smile. ¡°Seeing as one of us can¡¯t go into any of the rides and the other one doesn¡¯t like the idea, I think you wouldn¡¯t find our company all that fun. Better the two of us stick together and try to find our own entertainment instead.¡±

    ¡°Alright. You two take care and have fun,¡± Erin said with a smile, as Durge and Lexton walked deeper into the park. ¡°So that leaves me with-¡±

    The redhead went silent upon realizing just who she had to partner up with. She slowly turned to look at Zeldana, who had a blank expression on her face.

    ¡°What? Did you forget that I was here or something?¡± the elf asked sarcastically.

    ¡°...I kind of wish I could,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s just go. I¡¯m sure we can find something to do that won¡¯t make this day the worst possible day ever.¡±

    As the two of them walked into the park, the redhead looked at a clown that was balancing on a large ball, while juggling different objects. However, instead of balls or bowling pins that one would usually see, this clown was juggling with all kinds of dangerous tools that included knives, axes and even a chainsaw.

    ¡°I seriously don¡¯t get why they have to have all these clowns everywhere,¡± Erin muttered before continuing to walk away. ¡°Especially ones that are this creepy.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean. I¡¯ve faced many different horrors in my life on battlefields and outside of them. Whether bloodthirsty warriors, crazed killers or horrifying monsters, I¡¯ve seen a lot of them. Yet clowns¡­¡± Zeldana said before shuddering. ¡°Something about them just freaks me the hell out.¡±

    ¡°...Hang on. You¡¯re actually scared of clowns?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Out of everything else, that is what scares you?¡±

    ¡°We all have things that we fear. Only those who are completely insane lack it,¡± the elf explained. ¡°Did you really think that I wouldn¡¯t have something that I feared?¡±

    ¡°I just never expected it to be something like¡­ Never mind,¡± Erin said. ¡°Just be glad that you¡¯ll most likely never get into my world. There¡¯s a certain restaurant chain that you would not like.¡±

    As the last two members of the group went on to enjoy the attractions that the amusement park held within itself, they failed to notice a sinister grin appear on the face of the clown they had just walked past. Jumping down from the large ball she had been balancing on top of, she caught all the falling weaponry she had been juggling with expert precision.

    The thing is that she wasn¡¯t actually an employee of the park. A place this large had numerous people working there, so someone with the correct clothing could easily slip in and pretend to be one of the workers. However, her real occupation was something far more sinister and deadlier.

    This was Zena, one of the assassins serving underneath Overlord Golorath, whose specialty was disguises. She had earned herself a reputation from being able to infiltrate practically any place in the world in order to eliminate her targets. After receiving information in regards to the movements of Erin and her friends, she had predicted that they would be stopping at Happy World in order to rest. It seemed like fortune was on her side, as they had actually decided to spend some time at the amusement park itself, which would give her numerous opportunities to kill her targets.

    Grinning to herself, Zena only had one question on her mind. Which ones would she target first?

 135. Amusement Assassination (Part 1)

    Chapter 135

    Amusement Assassination (Part 1)

    Despite having earned her rightful place as one of Golorath¡¯s elite assassins, Zena was not looked at favorably when it came to her colleagues. Since most of them had abilities that didn¡¯t just work well for assassinations but direct combat and often other things as well, her ability to disguise herself and infiltrate difficult places was seen as only good for hiding. There was some truth to this, as her actual combat skills were easily the weakest among all of the assassins.

    However, what she lacked in strength and power was made up for with stealth and creativity. Zena was an expert at sabotage and causing ¡°accidents¡± to happen. This made it so that every time she fulfilled an assassination request, it didn¡¯t leave all that much in terms of tracks to follow after her. Even if she couldn¡¯t make an accident happen, she always had knives, poison and bombs at the ready, as even the mightiest warriors would let down their guards at some point, allowing one well timed attack to take them down.

    But while her style of assassination was rather impressive, it had a certain downside. Not only did her fellow assassins look down on her as a weakling and a coward, but there were times when her accomplishments were questioned, as some people would claim that it was an actual accident that claimed the life of her target and not something that she had a hand in. It was a sick game that some of the others liked to play, which was to drag down the one they saw as weaker than them.

    Yet despite all of the hardships and mockery she had faced, it looked like fortune was finally smiling down on Zena. Not only was there multiple important targets for her to take down, but one of them was Zeldana, a practically legendary rebel, who had a high bounty on her head that was now going to be claimed by the master of disguise herself. To make it even better, quite a few other assassins, ones who had always looked down on her, had tried to eliminate these targets and had failed. These even included Goldiana, an assassin specialized in purely physical combat and her most horrendous tormentor.

    Zena could still remember those days back in Assassination Academy, when Goldiana would dunk her head into the toilet, laughing about Zena getting a new disguise for free. How she would have her lunch money and even clothes stolen, forcing her to go around the school naked and getting laughed at.

    But now she would show them all. She would show her bullies, her superiors and her mother, who was always nagging at her that she should have gotten a proper job, that she was the best of the best. She would not only claim this bounty for herself, but she would rub it into the faces of everyone who had ever mocked and belittled her. She would even go to Goldiana¡¯s grave in the hopes that the muscles-for-brains assassins would get to see her upcoming paycheck and would seethe in whatever afterlife she was in.

    The only question was what order she would handle her targets in. The assassin quickly decided to go after Ryle and Arkay first. This was because she viewed the two of them as the least threatening to her. While the blonde was obviously strong and could easily beat her in a fight, she was also a complete moron, the type of person that was easy to fool even with the simplest of disguises. The cat boy with her wasn¡¯t much of a threat either. While she had heard reports of him having magical powers, those often meant that his close quarters combat skills would be poor. She just needed to get close to him and it would be her victory.

    ¡°Time for me to go and show everyone that I am the best assassin out there,¡± Zena said to herself with a grin. ¡°Just you wait, mom. I¡¯ll show you why it was a better choice for me to become an assassin, instead of studying business. And I hope you¡¯re watching as well, Goldiana. I¡¯ll show you what ¡°Zena the Toiletbrush¡± can do. Your job!¡±

    With motivation and excitement coursing through her body, Zena followed after Ryle and Arkay, who were too caught up in their fun time to notice the assassin following them. At the moment, the two of them were enjoying cotton candy they had gotten from a street vendor.

    ¡°Hey, try this one as well!¡± Ryle said excitedly as she handed another piece of the sugary treat to Arkay. ¡°This flavor is pretty good, too!¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ Yeah, it sure is,¡± the cat boy said awkwardly as he took the treat into his mouth and chewed on it.

    The reason why Arkay was feeling a bit bothered was that Ryle hadn¡¯t just gotten them both a single stick of cotton candy. Instead, the blonde had been so excited that she had bought one of each flavor that the vendor had, which was quite a lot. It was honestly a miracle that she was somehow able to hold onto all of them.

    Zena herself couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit grossed out over the amount of sugar one of her targets was holding. The thought of somehow being able to eat it all seemed like an impossible task to her that made her feel like vomiting.

    ¡°So which one do you think is the best one!?¡± Ryle asked excitedly. ¡°I personally liked the strawberry quite a bit, but the chocolate fudge was also really good!¡±

    ¡°I suppose the pear flavor was the best¡­¡± Arkay said as he took small bites of the sugary treat. ¡°I hate to sound ungrateful or anything like that, but are we really going to eat all of this? This can¡¯t be good for us¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry! I just got these all to try them out!¡± the blonde said happily. ¡°We don¡¯t actually need to finish them all! I just wanted to learn what our favorites would be! We still have plenty of places to go, so I wouldn¡¯t even dream of getting either one of us sick!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ good, I guess?¡± the cat boy said a bit unsure on how to feel about the whole situation. ¡°But what are we going to do about all these sticks of cotton candy then? I mean, we can¡¯t just throw them in the trash, can we?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, silly!¡± Ryle said with a laugh. ¡°All we need to do is just find the right place and we can get rid of them right away! Now, where could I find what I¡¯m looking for?¡±

    The blonde looked around, before spotting a group of kids. She walked up to them while holding the massive amount of cotton candy with a smile on her face.

    ¡°Hey, kids!¡± Ryle called out to the group, getting their attention. ¡°Want some cotton candy? It¡¯s free!¡±

    The children happily accepted the sugary treats and thanked the blonde. They then walked away to enjoy the rest of the park¡¯s attractions.

    ¡°So that was the plan. You simply wanted to test all of the flavors, before giving them away to children,¡± Arkay said as she walked up to Ryle. ¡°I have to say, you seemed to really enjoy making them happy.¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°I sure did! Back home, my brother and I used to take care of a bunch of orphans that lived in the same slum as we did!¡± the blonde said proudly. ¡°Even if we weren¡¯t related by blood, we still saw each other as one big family! Those days are something I¡¯ll always hold dear to my heart!¡±

    ¡°Sounds wonderful,¡± the cat boy said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you would like to return to them some day, once we have defeated the Overlords.¡±

    ¡°...As much as I¡¯d love that, it¡¯s not possible any longer,¡± Ryle said in a sad tone as she stared down at the ground, memories of the kids she used to look after flashing through her mind, along with images of her late brother. ¡°They¡¯re all dead. My brother also. They were all killed by Lune¡¯s men.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t know!¡± Arkay apologized. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to-!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Arnie. I¡¯ve already wept over them more than enough already,¡± the blonde said with a small smile. ¡°Besides, I may have lost them, but I¡¯ve gained a new family now. Especially you.¡±

    ¡°Me? What¡¯s so special about me?¡± the cat boy asked.

    ¡°I know this might sound crazy, but I somehow feel like you¡¯re my chance to make things right. I failed to keep my brother safe, despite how I promised him to never allow anyone to harm him again. I may have failed then, but now I can make sure I won¡¯t fail with you,¡± Ryle explained with a bright smile on her face. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m not gonna let anything bad happen to you, Arnie. I promise.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you. I really appreciate that,¡± Arkay said with a small smile and a slight blush on his face. ¡°I will also do my best to not burden you too much and also make sure nothing bad happens to you in return.¡±

    ¡°Aww! You don¡¯t need to worry about such things! I¡¯m plenty tough and you could never be a burden for me!¡± the blonde said with a grin as she put an arm around the cat boy and pulled him close. ¡°Now let¡¯s quit it with the moody talk and go have some fun!¡±

    As the two of them walked away to enjoy the attractions of the park, unknown to them, Zena let out a sigh of relief. The assassin had been observing the two of them and had listened to their whole conversation with irritation. She couldn¡¯t care less about any tragic backstories her targets might have. All she wanted was for them to provide and opportunity for her to kill them, which wasn¡¯t present with the two of them standing in the middle of a crowded street. Even if she could kill one of them without getting caught, the other one would then become a problem. She needed a chance to take out both targets at the same time.

    The opportunity that she was hoping for seemed to have come, as she saw both of her targets move to a roller coaster. Zena followed close behind them so that she could get on the ride at the same time they did, which would allow her to enact a plan of assassination.

    After waiting in line for some time, it was finally time for both Ryle and Arkay to get on the ride, with Zena following right behind them. Luckily for the assassin, she was sitting right behind her two targets on a separate cart. Having observed how the ride was built, a plan had already formed in her head. Zena grinned as this looked to be her easiest job ever, as well as the most rewarding.

    Once the ride started, Zena made sure that she could slip out of the safety harness of the ride, which allowed her to move around freely. She had learned escape artistry back in Assassination Academy, which made getting out of the harness incredibly easy for her.

    While she had still been waiting in the line, the assassin had looked over the tracks the ride would go through and knew the best place to go through with her plan. She smoothly slipped out of the safety harness and leaned over the front of her cart, where the connection between the carts was.

    Zena¡¯s plan was rather simple. She would disconnect the carts before her, which would send them out of control and cause them to fly off the tracks and crash. No matter how tough her targets might have been, there was no way for them to survive that. The assassin chuckled to herself over how genius and simple her plan was.

    Taking out her sabotaging tools, Zena began to work on the connector. In no time at all, the carts were disconnected from each other and she could already see the ones before her start to move further away from hers. Grinning to herself over a job well done, the assassin began to move back to her cart, ready to enjoy the show that was about to unfold and the rest of the ride.

    However, just as she tried to move back, Zena realized that she couldn¡¯t. Something was preventing her from returning to her own cart. Looking down, she realized much to her horror that her sleeve had been caught in the mechanisms of the cart before her. If she didn¡¯t do something soon, she would get dragged along with it to her death.

    Acting quickly, the assassin pulled out a small knife in the hopes of cutting off the part of her sleeve that was stuck. Unfortunately, in her haste, she accidentally dropped the blade, leaving it completely out of her reach. With her knife lost, she tried to tear out her sleeve, but this was proving to be much harder than she could have imagined, as the fabric of her sleeve just wouldn¡¯t tear.

    With no other options left, all Zena could do was grab hold of the cart before her while her feet held onto her own cart. This allowed the carts to stay together and not drag her to her doom, even if this meant that her plan to assassinate the first two of her targets. She just hoped that her grip was strong enough to last through the rest of the ride.

    ¡°Huh? Did you feel that?¡± Arkay asked while looking around a bit. ¡°It felt like the ride moved in a weird way or something.¡±

    ¡°Meh. Must be a bump on the rail or something,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°Probably nothing to be worried about.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, if only you could say that to my face,¡± Zena muttered while continuing to hold on for her life.

    <hr>

    After what felt like just a few seconds to Ryle and Arkay, but an eternity for Zena, the ride came to an end. Just before the end was reached, the assassin managed to remove her sleeve from the cart of her targets. Even though it was far too late to cause any accident that would kill her two targets, Zena was at least able to hide her attempt at assassination.

    The detached link between the carts was obviously noticed by the park¡¯s staff, who were very alarmed by the fact that their guests were at a risk of getting killed. Not to mention confused by how this whole thing had gone completely unnoticed by seemingly anyone with nothing even really happening.

    However, this went unnoticed by Ryle and Arkay, as they were quickly hurrying to try out another ride, which was mostly done because of the blonde. Zena was quickly following behind them, not just to keep up with their pace, but to avoid any difficult questions from the staff about what had happened.

    The next ride that the assassin¡¯s targets were heading to seemed to be the bumper cars. Making sure to stick close enough to them so that she would be on the ride at the same time, Zena already made plans for what to do. This time, she would attach a new invention of hers on the front of her car, when no one was looking. As an assassin that specialized in making deaths look like accidents, Zena had to sometimes create the tools she would need for her work. This particular was used when committing murders behind the wheel of a vehicle. The invention was a small box that would open from a remote control, revealing a very sharp blade made from a special alloy. With this blade at the front, she could simply bump into someone and skewer them instantly, making it the perfect tool for this particular job.

    Once the ride started, Zena began to look for her targets, as she had lost them for the moment due to all the different bumper cars driving around. She soon located Arkay, driving around completely unaware of the looming threat. The assassin grinned as she drove towards the cat boy and readied the blade that would soon end his life.

    ¡°Not on MY watch!¡± Ryle suddenly yelled angrily, before crashing into the side of Zena¡¯s car, sending her swerving away from Arkay. ¡°You leave Arnie alone!¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Where the hell did you come from!?¡± Zena asked as she regained her bearings. ¡°And what is this protection crap!? Don¡¯t you know how bumper cars are supposed to work!?¡±

    ¡°This is how they work for me!¡± the blonde shouted back as she kept hitting the assassin. ¡°Fight back if you dare, coward!¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re taking this way too seriously, you know!?¡± Zena shouted as she tried to escape from her furious target.

    Despite her best efforts, the assassin couldn¡¯t escape from her attacker. Ryle managed to hit Zena¡¯s car in such a way that it sent her swerving uncontrollably, before hitting a wall.

    ¡°Victory is mine!¡± the blonde cheered as she drove away.

    ¡°Oh, grow up, would you!?¡± the assassin shouted angrily, before trying to get her car moving.

    However, even though she could hear the machinery working just fine, Zena¡¯s car wouldn¡¯t budge at all. She soon realized that this was due to her car being stuck to the wall. The blade she had attached to the front of the bumper car had pierced the wall and wouldn¡¯t come out no matter what she did.

    ¡°Goddammit, you have got to be kidding me!¡± the assassin cursed, as she tried to back away from the wall in vain. ¡°How this could get any worse!?¡±

    Almost as if summoned by her question, Zena noticed a group of kids surround her. The youngsters had big grins on their faces, obviously attracted to the easy prey before them.

    ¡°...Please no,¡± the assassin pleaded in vain, before her car was pounded from all directions by the laughing children.

    <hr>

    Once the ride finally ended, Zena crawled her sore body away from the bumper cars, managing to avoid getting noticed by any of the staff, who most likely had a lot of questions in regards to the blade attached to one of the bumper cars. However, while she had been able to avoid getting caught, she had lost sight of her two targets.

    As she was cursing her terrible luck, the assassin noticed another two of her targets. Lexton and Durge were walking by her, trying to find things to do at the amusement park. With no better options, Zena decided to switch her targets to the kobold and the orc, following behind them while looking for an opportunity to strike.

    Her first attempt might have failed, but her fortune could change with other targets, after all.

 136. Amusement Assassination (Part 2)

    Chapter 136

    Amusement Assassination (Part 2)

    Having failed with her first attempt at assassination and having lost sight of her first two targets, Zena decided to move on to the next two. These were Lexton and Durge, who she had decided not to start with, as both targets were in her eyes far more dangerous than Ryle and Arkay. The orc was obviously far stronger than her and would easily crush her in a physical fight, so she wanted to avoid going after him. While Lexton wasn¡¯t a physical threat, he was easily one of the smartest members of the group and was armed with all sorts of weaponry, making him a lethal opponent.

    Seeing how dangerous these two were, Zena wasn¡¯t looking towards going after them, even if she knew that she would eventually have to do it. However, the assassin knew from experience that even the most powerful beings had moments where they would be completely defenseless, so it would only be a matter of time before her opportunity would come.

    The biggest problem was that when she had been listening to the conversation between her targets, she had learned that these two were most likely not going to try any of the rides. This would make it hard for her to cause any accidents that would kill them. Despite this, she had plenty of tools in her arsenal that would allow her to work around this. All she needed was a chance and a bit of creativity.

    ¡°So what are you looking to do, Lex?¡± Durge asked as the two of them walked through the amusement park, looking at all the attractions around them. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of things to choose from. It¡¯s almost like a buffet of entertainment here.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, except I can¡¯t really enjoy any of it, due to my vertical limitations. So it¡¯s more like a happy hour at a bar, while you¡¯re a recovering alcoholic,¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°Seriously, if you want to go have some fun, go ahead. I don¡¯t want to hold you back.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I¡¯m not looking to try any of the rides anyways,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°Believe or not, I¡¯m not all that good with them. I am more than willing to fight giant dangerous beasts, but a roller coaster is too much for me. If you feel like laughing, go ahead. I won¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m not one to laugh at people who admit their own limits. I would mock you, if you were delusional and tried to prove that you¡¯re not affected by something, much like a certain idiot we have been traveling with,¡± the kobold said. ¡°Besides, I feel like we are sort of kindred spirits, as I think we both enjoy a more calm and quiet method of spending time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± Durge said with a small chuckle. ¡°Good to know I¡¯m with the right type of company.¡±

    As the two of them kept walking through the amusement park, they failed to notice the assassin trailing behind them. However, while she had managed to keep herself hidden, Zena was starting to lose her patience. It looked like her targets were not giving her the opportunity she needed.

    ¡°These two better start doing something soon or else this won¡¯t go anywhere!¡± the assassin cursed as she followed her targets. ¡°Seriously, what type of people go to an amusement park and don¡¯t try any of the rides!? What are they!? An elderly couple or something!?¡±

    <hr>

    Elsewhere, a certain blonde spat out her drink all of a sudden, surprising the cat boy she was walking around with.

    ¡°Ryle, are you alright?¡± Arkay asked, concerned over his friend. ¡°Was there something wrong with your soda?¡±

    ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing wring with it. I just got this weird feeling,¡± Ryle explained as she tried to hold back her laughter. ¡°It was like something very funny was just said or done somewhere and I couldn¡¯t help but laugh!¡±

    <hr>

    While the blonde laughed in front of the very confused cat boy, a certain kobold and orc duo were getting a strange feeling at the same time. A rather unpleasant feeling to exact, which got both of them rather upset.

    ¡°...I don¡¯t know why, but for some reason I wish to commit physical violence towards a certain blonde cavewoman that we know,¡± Lexton said while gritting his teeth in anger.

    ¡°What a coincidence. I was getting the same feeling as well,¡± Durge said with a frown.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who these two are talking about, but I¡¯m glad I''m not that person,¡± Zena muttered to herself. ¡°If looks could kill, that person needs to stay out of their sight for the rest of eternity.¡±

    The assassin kept following her two targets without any opportunities rising. She was starting to lose hope, when she realized that they had entered the prize game area of the park. This area was filled with all sorts of games offering different prizes based on your skill or simple luck. Zena hoped that one of the stalls there would catch the attention of her targets. Otherwise, she wasn¡¯t sure what she could do.

    ¡°Well, this certainly seems to be more to my preferred speed,¡± Durge said with a small smile. ¡°What do you think, Lex? Should we go and try some of these?¡±

    ¡°That depends. I¡¯m not sure that any of these places offer the type of prizes that would get my interest,¡± Lexton said as he looked around. ¡°I doubt they have stuff like rare minerals or other such materials. And I¡¯m not exactly someone who is interested in giant stuffed animals.¡±

    ¡°True, but you don¡¯t need to win anything for yourself, you know?¡± the orc pointed out. ¡°You could try to win a prize for someone else in our group or any other person you might feel deserves a gift from you. That¡¯s at least what I plan to do.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± the kobold said thoughtfully.

    It was at that moment that Durge noticed something from the corner of his eye. There was a rather special machine set up that had been designed to look like a very muscular demon with it¡¯s arm stretched out, like it was waiting for someone to grasp it. Curious as to what this was, the orc decided to go and ask the worker there what it was.

    ¡°Excuse me, but what exactly is this game?¡± Durge asked the man standing next to the machine.

    ¡°Ah, my good sir! This is a test of strength!¡± the amusement park worker answered. ¡°You are familiar with arm wrestling, right? This machine works in a similar manner. This here is called Bobby the Arm Demon. All you need to do is have an arm wrestling match with this guy and do your best to win!¡±

    ¡°...Bobby the Arm Demon?¡± Lexton asked bluntly.

    ¡°The owner of the park named it after his son, okay? I didn¡¯t name it,¡± the worker replied, before turning his attention back to Durge. ¡°So how about it, sir? Would you like to give it a try? Just five credits per try! And if you win, you¡¯ll earn 20 000 credits as a reward!¡±

    ¡°...Why not?¡± the orc said with a shrug, before walking up to the machine. ¡°This seems to be worth a try!¡±

    ¡°Durge, you do know that these guys are obviously going to cheat, right?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°The amount of money they¡¯re offering isn¡¯t a small one, so they need to make sure that no one actually wins. That thing is probably filled with either technology or magical objects that make it impossible to even budge, let alone beat.¡±

    The worker standing next to the machine was about to protest, offended by the kobold¡¯s remark, but the orc managed to cut him off.

    ¡°Maybe, but it¡¯s not like we¡¯re gonna lose much by simply trying, so why not go for it just for fun?¡± Durge asked with a smile. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m pretty strong. I wouldn¡¯t count me out, if I were you.¡±

    The worker smiled, as he prepared the arm wrestling machine for use. The truth of the matter was that the whole thing was rigged, as the machine had a few magic runes within it, making it impossible to beat.

    However, there was a bigger threat that Durge and Lexton were completely unaware of, as Zena was getting ready to use this opportunity to get rid of one of her targets. She had placed a special ring on her finger that had a small spike on it, which was poisoned. While the orc was focused on his arm wrestling match would be the moment she would strike. The poison was strong enough to kill most of the creatures in the badlands, so a simple orc like Durge would be easily killed.

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    The assassin got the ring ready, as the orc clasped hands with the machine. Any second now she would move in for the kill. After that, she just needed to disappear into the crowd and wait for her chance to kill Lexton. A perfect assassination.

    However, her will to go through with her plan was suddenly shattered. This was due to the fact that as soon as the match between Durge and the machine began, the mechanical demon¡¯s arm was torn off, as the orc slammed it against the table.

    Seeing such a feat of strength caused Zena to immediately decide against her plan, as the poison wouldn¡¯t immediately kill its victim, giving the orc more than enough time to do the same to her that he had done to the machine. That was a fate she wished to avoid. The assassin could even swear that she saw the mechanical demon cry in pain as its arm was shattered.

    ¡°...Oops. Maybe I used a bit too much power?¡± Durge muttered as he stared at the destroyed piece of machinery in his hand.

    <hr>

    A bit later, Durge and Lexton had returned to walking through the amusement park, looking for things to do. The orc had offered his deepest apologies to the worker, who had been quite distraught over what had happened to the arm wrestling machine. He was worried over losing his job, as he would be held responsible for the machine being destroyed. Luckily for him, Durge had offered to let him have the prize money he had won, so at least the worker wouldn¡¯t be in too big of financial trouble in case he ended up getting fired.

    ¡°I still think that you should have kept the money for yourself,¡± Lexton said. ¡°After all, you did win fair and square. I don¡¯t see why you should be concerned over his welfare, especially when considering the fact that they were the ones who were cheating.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but I just couldn¡¯t leave that poor guy in the mess he was in,¡± Durge said a bit awkwardly. ¡°I mean, cheating or not, I shouldn¡¯t have broken the machine itself. Besides, when he began to cry over losing his job, I just couldn¡¯t help myself.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what¡¯s the big deal with crying. We all get beaten down by the world and we all have reasons to cry,¡± the kobold said dismissively. ¡°Just because you have a couple of tears in your eyes doesn¡¯t mean I should care. Let alone help.¡±

    ¡°Well, I suppose that kind of view depends on the person in question,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°I personally don¡¯t like the idea of leaving people in need of help to fend for themselves. Not saying you¡¯re wrong in your mindset of simply walking away.¡±

    Meanwhile, Zena was following behind her two targets, waiting for a new opportunity to come up. After seeing for herself just how strong Durge was, she was going to take extra care to make sure her chance for assassination would be perfect. She did not want to end up like the arm wrestling machine.

    Suddenly, Zena got herself an idea as to how she could complete her mission. Hurrying past her targets, she looked for a game stall that had prizes that weren¡¯t the usual stuffed animals and the like, as she knew neither of her two targets would be interested in them.

    The assassin grinned as she spotted just what she was looking for. It was a stall, where the prizes were made up of different types of electronics. While most of them were cheap junk you could find just about anywhere, there were some very tempting prizes as well that could grab just about anybody¡¯s attention. This would be her best chance to lure her targets to their deaths.

    There was a young woman in her early 20¡¯s taking care of the stall, waiting for potential customers to take notice of the stall and come to her. However, it seemed like no one was interested at all, leaving her with nothing to do. This caused the worker to get rather bored, as she simply stood at the stall, watching all the people walk past her.

    This lack of awareness allowed Zena to sneak inside the stall and behind the worker. The girl was barely able to react, as a strangely smelling cloth was suddenly placed over her face before she fell asleep.

    Moving quickly, the assassin hid the unconscious girl behind the stall and took off her uniform, disguising herself as a worker. Once she was dressed in her new outfit, she went back to the stall and waited for her targets to arrive, so she could enact her plan.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Lexton and Durge to come into Zena¡¯s view. Now all she needed was for either one of them to notice the stall and take interest. It seemed like luck was on her side, as Durge looked in the direction of her stall and seemed to be interested.

    ¡°Hey, Lex. That place seems to have all sorts of machinery as its prizes,¡± the orc pointed out. ¡°Do you want to go take a look?¡±

    ¡°Sure. No harm in doing that, I suppose,¡± the kobold said with a shrug.

    Zena did her best to hide the grin that was threatening to give her away and instead forced her mouth to form into a friendly smile. Her plan seemed to be going perfectly. The game of the stall was simple. Those who tried it were offered a bunch of thin ropes to choose one to pull. The rope was connected to one of the prizes offered and whatever the player got they would win. The assassin¡¯s plan was to cover the ropes in poison, which would get into your body through contact with skin. In her eyes, it was a foolproof plan.

    ¡°Hello there, good sirs! Would you like to try your chances at winning one of our marvelous prizes?¡± Zena asked, putting on her best customer service personality. ¡°It¡¯s just 10 credits for a try! Just look at all the things we are offering for those who are willing to try! If you¡¯re really lucky, you can win things like new game consoles! You really can¡¯t lose!¡±

    The assassin held the ropes in her hand, offering them to her targets. She made sure that her hands wouldn¡¯t touch the parts that were covered in poison, as it was strong enough to go through fabrics, so even her gloves wouldn¡¯t be enough to protect herself from the deadly substance.

    ¡°Sounds interesting. What do you think, Lex?¡± Durge asked, waiting for a response from the kobold only to receive nothing from him. ¡°Lex? Is something wrong?¡±

    The orc turned to look over at Lexton to find the kobold seemingly analyzing the stall. He looked at the ropes being offered to him, before looking up at where they were attached on the ceiling and then to the prizes themselves. He spent around two minutes simply looking over everything, taking in every detail he could.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Sir? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to ask you to please hurry it up,¡± Zena said, struggling to keep up her disguise as she was starting to get angry. ¡°This might be a place of fun and games, but we are trying to run a legitimate business here. If you keep holding this up, I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave, so other customers may come.¡±

    ¡°No need for any of that. We¡¯ll be leaving anyways,¡± Lexton said as he turned around and began to walk away. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Durge.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? Hang on a second, Lex!¡± the orc called out to the kobold. ¡°The prizes are really good here! Why would you decide to walk away just like that!? Shouldn¡¯t you at least give it a shot!?¡±

    ¡°Why bother? I wouldn¡¯t be able to win anything worth my time anyways,¡± Lexton replied. ¡°That whole thing is completely rigged.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, sir, but aren¡¯t you being a bit unfair here!?¡± Zena asked, desperately hoping that she could convince the kobold to try out the game and thus fall into her trap. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that we are running a legitimate business here and I cannot simply ignore such accusations! In fact, I¡¯d say you owe us a try at the game for that remark!¡±

    ¡°I kind of have to agree with her. How can you claim that the game is rigged without even playing it?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to throw such accusations without any evidence.¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking me for evidence, when it¡¯s sitting right in front of you?¡± Lexton asked in return. ¡°Anybody who uses their eyes for just a moment can tell that this whole thing is just one big scam!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Can you explain it to me?¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Fine. Since it seems everybody else has turned blind suddenly,¡± the kobold said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°For starters, the amount of ropes that she is offering doesn¡¯t match the amount of prizes displayed. That tells me that even if you were to pull every single one of them, there are some prizes that would never come up.¡±

    Hearing this explanation, both Durge and Zena looked at the ropes she was holding in her hand. They were so thin and bunched up that it seemed like an impossible task to count them all. At least without actually holding them yourself. Yet Lexton had apparently done that by simply using his eyes.

    ¡°Furthermore, if you look at the actual prizes themselves and the ropes that they¡¯re attached to, you can tell by the way they are hanging how they aren¡¯t the same size or that they¡¯re attached to the ropes she¡¯s holding,¡± the kobold continued his explanation. ¡°This obviously only applies to the actually interesting and expensive prizes. It¡¯s only the trash prizes that are connected to the ropes and you can actually win. Although, why would you want to? I¡¯m pretty sure the cost of playing is actually more expensive than most of them.¡±

    ¡°H-Hang on a second! I have to protest these accusations of yours!¡± Zena said, desperately hoping that she could still turn things around. ¡°How do we know that you aren¡¯t just making this up in order to get something for free!? At least come over here and prove it, if you¡¯re so sure!¡±

    ¡°Miss, I am not so stupid as to think that I would get anything for free here. After all, what authority am I supposed to complain to about this? All I want to do is get out of here, so I can stop wasting my time here,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Besides, believe it or not, I¡¯m not actually upset with you for trying to scam me. I¡¯m just disappointed by how badly you¡¯re trying to accomplish that. Do a better job and I might play your game as a sign of respect, but I won¡¯t do that with amateurs.¡±

    The assassin was left completely stumped, as all she could do was watch as the kobold walked away. Durge spared her an apologetic glance, before following after his companion. Once the two of them were gone, Zena allowed her rage that had been building up to finally blow up.

    ¡°GODDAMMIT! What the hell is this shit!?¡± the assassin roared angrily, as she twisted the ropes she was holding in an attempt to tear them apart. ¡°I have the perfect plan, the perfect chance and they get just in front of me, yet it¡¯s all in vain!? Because the jackasses running this dump cheat!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?¡±

    Despite being taken over by her anger and frustration, Zena managed to notice a fatal mistake that she had done. She had been blinded by her rage so badly that she had failed to avoid grabbing the ropes she had poisoned from the dangerous parts. Upon realizing this, she began to feel the lethal chemicals move through her body. It wouldn¡¯t take long until she was dead.

    ¡°SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP!¡± the assassin yelled out in shock.

    Knowing that her life was on the line, Zena began to move quickly. She cut off the ropes and threw them in the trash, as she didn¡¯t want anybody outside of her targets getting poisoned. She then placed a sign at the stall that said ¡°OUT OF ORDER¡± and ran behind the stall, where she was on her own. Once alone, the assassin took out a syringe that had the antidote for her poison and injected it into her vein. Even though she was a professional, she was fully aware that accidents could happen, which is why she had a cure to all of her poisons with her at all times.

    As soon as the syringe was empty, Zena took off her gloves and looked at the palms of her hands, looking for the signs of the poison. Upon being infected with it, the victim¡¯s veins would turn dark green and become visible at the area of infection. If they disappeared, then it would mean that she had used the antidote fast enough and was safe. Much to her relief, the dark green veins were disappearing, until they were completely gone and her palms were back to normal.

    ¡°Oh, thank whatever it is out there above us all¡­¡± Zena said to herself as she let out a deep sigh of relief. ¡°Had I been even just a couple of seconds later, it would have been the end of me¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know what you¡¯re referring to, but you¡¯re right! That wasn¡¯t going to be the end of you!¡± a voice suddenly called out to the assassin. ¡°I¡¯m going to be your end!¡±

    Zena turned around to see the amusement park worker she had drugged earlier and taken the place of. The girl had put on her regular clothing and was staring at the assassin with an enraged look on her face. It wouldn¡¯t take a genius to figure out why she was so angry.

    ¡°What the¡­? You? Seriously? I was worried for a moment,¡± Zena said in a frustrated voice. ¡°I knew I should have used something stronger on you¡­ Whatever. If you simply get out of my way and don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯ll simply give back your outfit and we can go our separate ways. Deal?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not gonna work! I¡¯m gonna make you pay for what you did and might have done while I was unconscious!¡± the worker shouted.

    ¡°For the love of¡­ Do we really have to do this?¡± the assassin asked, growing more frustrated. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s just get this over and done with then. What do you want? A fight?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want!¡± the worker said as a smug grin came over her face. ¡°Although, I¡¯m not the one who will fight you. My little sister will do that for me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so scared,¡± Zena said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. ¡°And just what is she going to do? Hit me with her lollipop? Throw a plastic pony-?¡±

    The assassin¡¯s mockery stopped, when she felt a big and strong hand suddenly grab her shoulder from behind. She slowly looked behind her and saw the tallest and most muscular woman she had ever seen in her life.

    ¡°May introduce my sister to you? She¡¯s a professional wrestler, whose company is appearing in our park this week,¡± the worker said with a grin.

    ¡°...Please not the face,¡± Zena pleaded.

 137. Amusement Assassination (Part 3)

    Chapter 137

    Amusement Assassination (Part 3)

    After receiving the beating of a lifetime, Zena was left laying in a dumpster without any clothing while barely clinging to consciousness. Luckily for the assassin, she had made numerous preparations in case something went wrong. These included several hidden locations that she could access for new supplies, such as clothing, weaponry and other useful items. These items also included healing potions, which allowed her to fix her injuries and put her back in top shape.

    Now that she was all healed up, Zena went on to search for her targets, but was unable to find them. During the time she had been dealing with the worker and her incredibly buff younger sister, Durge and Lexton had managed to slip away from her. It would take a while, before she would see either one or the two she had previously tried to assassinate.

    ¡°...Goddammit everything to hell and back!¡± Zena cursed, as she was unable to find any of her targets. ¡°How the hell did this get so screwed up!? I have all the right tools, the best chances and yet all I get is my own ass kicked!? How the hell did that happen!?¡±

    The assassin was about to give up and go back to her hotel room, when she noticed something very interesting. It was her last two targets, Erin and Zeldana. The two of them were going through the park, much like their friends were.

    The reason why Zena hadn¡¯t gone after these two was because she saw them as the most difficult of her targets. Not only was Zeldana a target with an almost legendary status due to her history as part of the rebel forces back in the day, but Erin was also a very difficult target for her to handle. This was due to the fact that she and all the other assassins had been told to capture the redhead alive. For people like herself, who were skilled in killing people, the task of taking a target alive was not an easy task at all.

    However, while the difficulty of these two targets had kept her from going after them so far, Zena did know that she would have to face them at some point. There was no getting around that. Not to mention, these two had the highest bounties on them that any targets had ever had. If she were to claim them, she would be able to retire early and could always look down on all the other assassins.

    Deciding to ignore the others, the assassin followed after Erin and Zeldana. There would soon be a chance for her to complete her mission and live life on the easy.

    ¡°Shame that roller coaster was closed. It looked like a fun ride,¡± Erin said. ¡°I wonder what could have happened there, though? I hope no one was injured because of it.¡±

    ¡°Meh. These types of places always make a big deal about all the safety precautions that they have installed, yet secretly cut back on those costs in order to pocket the money for themselves. They just hope that no one actually ends up killed, despite the danger they¡¯re in,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°What I find more strange is the fact that the bumper cars were out of order. The hell happened over there? Did somebody get run over by one of the cars or something?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say¡­ Good thing there are plenty of rides to enjoy, so it¡¯s not like we don¡¯t get to do anything,¡± the redhead said with a shrug. ¡°Let¡¯s go find something else to try out.¡±

    Zena followed behind her two targets, waiting for an opportunity. Unfortunately for her, no good chance seemed to come up. Due to the fact that she wasn¡¯t allowed to kill Erin, she couldn¡¯t utilize her usual methods of sabotage to cause accidents. The assassin needed to find a way to kill the elf, yet leave the redhead alive, which was proving to be more difficult than she could have imagined.

    What she needed was for her two targets to separate for a moment, which would allow her to deal with them using different methods, or for them to take part in an activity that allowed the same opportunity. The first was unlikely to happen, as there was no way two people that knew assassins were after them would suddenly split up. Such a thought was simply idiotic. All Zena could do was hope for her second option to come up.

    Just as the assassin was starting to lose hope, she saw Zeldana starting to eye an ice cream shop. It looked like the elf was hungry for something sweet, which could be the chance Zena was looking for.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Zel?¡± Erin asked, looking over to where her companion was staring at. ¡°Do you want ice cream?¡±

    ¡°Oh please say yes!¡± Zena muttered silently while observing her targets. ¡°I¡¯m so sick and tired of following you two assholes around, having a good time! I seriously need this shit to end!¡±

    ¡°...Well, not really. The store just reminded me of this one friend of mine. He used to make all sorts of sweet treats back in the day,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°I guess I was just feeling a bit nostalgic. That¡¯s all.¡±

    As Erin simply nodded in understanding, Zena was about to tear out the hair on her head from sheer frustration. The opportunity she had thought had come her way was seemingly nothing more than a false alarm.

    ¡°...But now that you mention it, I wouldn¡¯t mind a little cold treat,¡± Zeldana said with a smile. ¡°As long as you¡¯re buying, that is.¡±

    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll pay, you big kid,¡± Erin said with a sigh, yet a small smile formed on her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s go get some ice cream.¡±

    Zena could almost cheer upon hearing that her targets were going to the shop. She already had the perfect plan in mind for what she was going to do.

    However, just as she was about to go and follow after the duo, she saw something that caused her to freeze in place. For just a very brief moment, around a mere second at best, she could have sworn she saw Zeldana not only look in her direction, but stare right in her eyes.

    But something like that should have been impossible, right? After all, Zena was an expert assassin and had kept herself hidden all this time. There was no way the elf actually knew about her.

    Despite reassuring herself to the best of her abilities, the assassin followed her targets with a hint of doubt gnawing at the back of her mind.

    Once inside the store, Zena made sure to follow her targets close enough for her to hear what they were saying, while keeping enough distance that it wasn¡¯t obvious. As she waited in line behind the two, her hands were in her pockets, twirling two vials filled with special liquids that would be the key to her succession in this mission. One had a lethal poison in it, while the other one was a powerful sleeping poison. Her plan was to use these to eliminate Zeldana, while knocking out Erin so that she could be captured.

    It was finally the turn for her two targets to order. Zena perked up her ears in order to listen as closely as possible to what they were getting.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ I¡¯ll have a large chocolate ice cream with strawberry jam and marshmallows,¡± Erin said as she looked through the menu. ¡°What about you, Zel?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have mega-sized mango with extra orange sauce,¡± the elf said. ¡°With some chocolate chip cookies as well.¡±

    Zena made sure to remember the two orders her targets had placed. Once they had walked away, the assassin walked up to the counter.

    ¡°Hello and welcome to Happy Scoops!¡± the lady behind the counter greeted Zena with a bright and friendly smile. ¡°What would you like, miss?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Actually, this is a bit embarrassing to say, but I¡¯m not looking for any ice cream,¡± the assassin lied, while putting on an act like she was in pain and held her stomach. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ My stomach has been acting up a bit. Do you think I could use your bathroom?¡±

    ¡°Huh? There should be bathrooms pretty much everywhere in the park, so why would you¡­ Never mind. That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± the lady behind the counter wondered for a moment, but quickly shook it off and pointed at the direction where the bathroom was. ¡°It just around the corner over there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much!¡± Zena said, still acting the part of someone who was sick, as she dashed towards the location pointed out to her.

    However, soon after she had disappeared behind the corner where the bathroom was located, the assassin soon poked her out from behind the cover she was hiding behind. Making sure that no one was paying attention to her, she put her stealth skills to use and sneaked her way into the employee area. Once there, she went to the place where employees switched to their uniforms. Much to her fortune, there was a single young lady getting ready to start her shift at the store.

    ¡°Dammit, I can¡¯t believe I got here late! And on a busy day like this!¡± the lady cursed to herself as she was trying to change into her uniform in a hurry. ¡°I hope the boss isn¡¯t too mad with me¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s going to be the least of your worries,¡± a voice spoke behind her.

    The worker turned around to see who had spoken to her, only for a fist to connect with her face and knock her out. She was then hidden inside one of the empty lockers, as her uniform was stolen.

    After that, Zena emerged from the changing room, now dressed as one of the workers. She looked around her chaotic surroundings, as workers were rushing to get orders finished and delivered to their customers.

    ¡°Hey, you! Don¡¯t just stand there daydreaming!¡± one of the other employees suddenly called out to the assassin. ¡°Get this order to table 25 now!¡±

    ¡°Sure! Right away!¡± Zena said, as she forced a smile on her face in order to hide the anger she was feeling. While she didn¡¯t want to blow her cover, she didn¡¯t like getting bossed around by some part-time workers.

    However, her anger soon vanished, as she recognized the order before her. The assassin grinned as she grabbed the tray and got her vials ready.

    As soon as she got into the customer area, Zena looked around at the tables and soon found number 25. Just like she had suspected, Erin and Zeldana were sitting there. The assassin couldn¡¯t help but grin, as her plan was coming together. The elf¡¯s food had lethal poison on it, which would kill her with just a single spoonful. At the same time, the redhead would be put to sleep by the poison that had been put into her food, allowing Zena to easily take her along to the authorities and claim her bounty.

    The biggest two bounties ever would both be claimed by her. She would soon become one of the richest people in the world and would be living it large.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Erin and Zeldana were talking to each other, seemingly unaware of the danger they were in.

    ¡°So this friend of yours¡­ was he part of the same group you were back in the day?¡± the redhead asked, trying to avoid words that would catch unwanted attention. ¡°Were the two of you close or simple acquaintances?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You mean the resistance army?¡± the elf asked bluntly.

    ¡°Shhh! Don¡¯t say things like that out loud!¡± Erin quickly shushed her partner, while looking around for anyone that could have heard them. ¡°Words like that are going to get us into trouble!¡±

    ¡°Oh, would you calm down a bit!? Nothing¡¯s gonna happen from a few words! Besides, we already have plenty of people chasing us, so what is going to change anyways!?¡± Zeldana said, a bit irritated by how the redhead was acting. ¡°But yeah. The friend I mentioned was someone I met back in those days. He, along with a couple of others, could be said to have been the main players in our group. If I were to put in simple terms, I guess you could have called us the heroes of the resistance or something like that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure. Heroes. I¡¯m sure you were,¡± Erin said, not even trying to hide her disbelief. ¡°So who exactly was that guy and what did he do?¡±

    ¡°You know, usually when people want more information, they at least have the decency to act like they believe what they¡¯re being told. Were you never taught any manners, you little turd?¡± the elf asked, angered by the lack of belief the redhead was showing. ¡°Anyways, he was a bit of a strange case for sure. He was easily one of the strongest in our group, second only to our clear number one. However, he never seemed to take any pride in what he was doing, despite how passionate he was about defeating the Overlords.¡±

    ¡°Maybe he was just focused on the mission itself? Sometimes there are people like that who don¡¯t take pride in what they do, seeing at simply as work that they must do,¡± Erin suggested. ¡°He could have been a super serious guy like that.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s definitely not it. He wasn¡¯t that uptight and serious. It was more like he was carrying this insane amount of guilt on his shoulders,¡± Zeldana explained. ¡°I remember this one time we came to a village that had been destroyed by the forces of the Overlords. Upon seeing what they had done, he had this look of anguish on his face, like he himself had caused the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like he was carrying quite the burden on him,¡± the redhead said. ¡°What happened to him in the end?¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°He died,¡± the elf replied, shocking Erin. ¡°Why are you so surprised? If that guy was still alive, he would be the most wanted man in the whole world. Not you.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ guess that makes sense,¡± the redhead said awkwardly. ¡°Sorry for your loss.¡±

    ¡°It happened a long time ago, so there¡¯s really no need for that. I do still appreciate the sentiment, though,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°However, the weirdest thing about him is that he was very similar to a certain someone.¡±

    ¡°Really? Who¡¯s that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°That would be you, actually,¡± the elf replied, surprising the redhead. ¡°The way you both seem to try carry everything on yourselves and seem to take responsibility for every little thing around you. Just gonna say this right now, you don¡¯t want to live your life like that. It really did a number on him.¡±

    To say that Erin was surprised would be an understatement. She had never expected anybody from this world to be similar to herself in any matter, except in some cases for being human of course. The redhead had to wonder just who this person was in the end? What caused him to feel responsible for the atrocities that the Overlords committed? Several ideas came to her. He could have been a former member of the military, who rebelled after seeing just how cruel his new masters were. He could have even been a noble or some other high-level figure.

    However, a lot of the details would be things that she would have to find through Zeldana, if the elf was willing to share that information with her.

    It was at this time that Zena had come out of the kitchen, carrying the tray that had the cold and sweet treats the two of them had ordered. The assassin, having already poisoned the food, was now making her way towards the two unsuspecting soon to be victims.

    ¡°You know what was the craziest thing about him, though?¡± Zeldana suddenly asked.

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t have any ideas,¡± Erin said. ¡°What would that be?¡±

    ¡°He was an insanely good cook!¡± the elf said with a big smile. ¡°What was especially delicious were all these sweet treats that he would make from time to time. For some reason, this incredible warrior that was practically the poster boy of our whole army was very much into making all this sugary stuff that was really popular! Pancakes, pudding, pies, you name it!¡±

    ¡°That must have been nice to have back then.¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°Was there anything that was your favorite out of all them?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s a bit hard to say, as all of it was crazy tasty,¡± Zeldana said with a thoughtful look on her face. ¡°Although, if I really had to choose, it would have to be this chocolate cake that he once made for us.¡±

    By now, Zena had reached their table, though Erin and Zeldana were so caught up in their conversation that neither of them had noticed her yet. The assassin was about to call out to them.

    ¡°I swear, the cake was THIS BIG!¡± Zeldana suddenly said, throwing up her arms in order to indicate just how large the cake she was talking about was.

    However, the elf accidentally hit the tray Zena was holding, causing the food she was carrying to fly in her face. The assassin was now covered in ice cream.

    The loud crash that had come from the tray and the bowls falling to the floor caught the attention of everybody in the restaurant. A looming and uncomfortable silence fell over the place, as all eyes were on the messy assassin, who could only stand in shock over what had just happened.

    It was one of the other employees who broke the silence, as she rushed over to the scene.

    ¡°We are so sorry about this, dear customers!¡± the employee said apologetically, as she handed paper towels to Zeldana and Erin. ¡°Our waiter should have been far more careful with your order! I promise that you¡¯ll get your money back! Neither one of you is hurt, are you?¡±

    ¡°H-Hang on,¡± Erin said, finally breaking out of her shock. ¡°We¡¯re fine, but this wasn¡¯t her fault.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Zena said, angered over being blamed for what had happened. ¡°It was she who-¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing too bad happened to us, I can promise you that!¡± Zeldana suddenly said, taking over the flow of the conversation. ¡°However, while we didn¡¯t suffer any physical harm, I do have to say that I¡¯m quite upset over what has happened here. Not only did we end up losing the treats that we waited in line for so long, but I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have the time to wait for any replacements! In short, we have simply wasted our time, even if we do get our money back! Just how will we be repaid for the clumsiness of your employee?¡±

    ¡°You lowly little-!¡± the assassin said as she glared at the elf.

    ¡°We completely understand your frustration, miss!¡± the employee said, not allowing Zena to speak up. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to do our best to compensate you for what you¡¯ve gone through! I hope you can find it in yourselves to forgive us for this blunder!¡±

    ¡°That sounds wonderful!¡± Zeldana said with a big smile. ¡°Thank you so much for your great service!¡±

    The employee bowed her head and apologized one more time to Erin and Zeldana, telling them that they would receive their refund and compensation at the cash register. She then grabbed Zena by the shoulder and dragged her away.

    As the assassin was being taken away, she managed to look over to where her targets were and saw Zeldana sticking her tongue out at her. Zena could feel her blood boiling to the point she almost decided to forget about her disguise and simply run to the elf and strangle her. It was only by her willpower to remain as professional as possible that such an end was avoided.

    Once the assassin was out of sight, Zeldana stood up from her seat, followed by Erin, who was glaring at her.

    ¡°What the hell was all that about!?¡± the redhead whispered angrily. ¡°You know damn well that whole mess was your fault way more than hers! I know you have a twisted sense of humor, but does it have to include getting poor workers at minimum wage jobs getting fired!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, trust me. What happened here was way funnier than that,¡± the elf responded as she snickered. ¡°Besides, you wouldn¡¯t have wanted to eat that ice cream anyways. The special ingredients she brought with her aren¡¯t all that good for you.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Zena was getting chewed up by the manager of the restaurant where she had disguised herself as one of the workers. Some of the other employees were also glaring at her, seeing her as a problematic employee that would cause troubles for all of them.

    ¡°How the hell could you screw something this simple so badly!? Weren¡¯t you born with any common sense at all or are you just trying to screw things up for everybody here!?¡± the manager, an older woman, ranted at the assassin. ¡°Do you have anything to say in your defense at all or should I just go ahead and fire you!?¡±

    ¡°First of all, you don¡¯t need to yell at me! I can hear you perfectly fine! Second, had you been watching, you¡¯d know it was that dumbass elf¡¯s fault that the whole mess happened in the first place, so there¡¯s no point in chewing my ass out at all!¡± Zena shouted back at the manager. ¡°And last, but certainly not least, you don¡¯t need to fire me! I QUIT! Enjoy your crap job of serving idiots while making barely minimum wage, asshole!¡±

    ¡°Why you¡­! Just what kind of a service industry worker are you supposed to be!? Why were you even hired in the first place!?¡± the manager asked angrily, only to realize something. ¡°Hang on¡­ Just when did I hire you? I don¡¯t recall seeing you ever before, yet you stand here wearing our uniform.¡±

    This comment from the manager caught the attention of the other workers, who were now questioning the legitimacy of the employee before them.

    ¡°Hey, the boss is right. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen her before either,¡± one of the workers stated, before turning towards one of their colleagues. ¡°Do you know her?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. This is my fist time seeing her as well,¡± the other worker replied.

    ¡°This could be bad¡­ Maybe she¡¯s a spy sent in by one of our competitors?¡± a third worker suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there are people that infiltrate companies just so that they can steal their secrets and sell to somebody else.¡±

    ¡°H-Hey now! Let¡¯s not get too hasty here!¡± Zena said, trying to hide her nervousness. ¡°I¡¯m just a temporary worker that was quickly hired to help with the rush! Nothing more!¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s complete bullshit!¡± the manager shouted. ¡°No matter what the circumstances are, I make sure to interview every possible employee and train them so that they won¡¯t make the same level mistakes you do! So mind telling me just who the hell you are or do we have to beat it out of you!?¡±

    Seeing as how her cover had been blown, the assassin decided to resort to her only option available.

    ¡°...YOU¡¯LL NEVER CATCH ME, YOU CREAM-COVERED BASTARDS!¡± Zena shouted defiantly, as she ran towards the nearest exit.

    However, just as she was about to reach the door, it opened violently, knocking her back. As she sat up, she saw a familiar sight that made her blood freeze in her veins. It was the same wrestler woman, who had beaten her up earlier that day.

    ¡°No¡­ Not YOU again!¡± Zena cried out in disbelief. ¡°Why the hell are you even here!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s her, sis!¡± the employee, whose outfit the assassin had stolen, shouted from behind the wrestler. ¡°She¡¯s the one who punched your big sis!¡±

    ¡°Are you related to someone in every shop in this godforsaken park or something!?¡± Zena asked, before she was grabbed by the front of her shirt and lifted up. ¡°PLEASE NOT THE FACE THIS TIME!¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Erin and Zeldana were continuing their tour through the park, trying out the attractions that caught their interest. It didn¡¯t take long for Zena to find them once again, having escaped the clutches of the furious ice cream workers, although not without her fair share of injuries. Once she spotted her two targets, she made sure to stay as close to them as possible, hatching a new plan in her mind.

    ¡°That damn Zeldana is going to regret foiling my plan!¡± the assassin grumbled to herself, as she glared at the elf. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make sure that I get to torture that wench to death, once I get my hands on her!¡±

    The two targets, seemingly unaware of the looming threat, were looking over a large Ferris wheel. Erin was in awe of the large construction, as she had never seen an amusement park ride as enormous as it. The redhead¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Zeldana, who couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°You feel like trying it out?¡± the elf asked. ¡°The line doesn¡¯t seem too bad, so we should be able to ride it relatively soon.¡±

    ¡°Sure! I¡¯m willing to bet the view from there has got to be incredible!¡± Erin said in an excited voice. ¡°I wonder if we can see the others from there?¡±

    ¡°Who knows? You never know what you get to see from such heights,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°I guess we could make it into a fun game, if nothing else.¡±

    As the two of them walked towards the ride, Zena followed close behind them. She was going to stick to the two of them like glue and make sure that they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape her gaze.

    Once the ride started, Erin and Zeldana got inside their own cart, as Zena got inside the one right after them. For most of the ride, the assassin didn¡¯t do anything, as she was waiting for the perfect opportunity to make her move. This allowed her targets to enjoy the ride to the fullest, as they looked over the sights before them.

    ¡°Wow¡­ This is amazing,¡± Erin said as she watched at everything going on below them. ¡°You never get just how large these places are, until you get a proper perspective of everything.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s quite something to take in,¡± Zeldana said as she looked over the park as well. ¡°...Hang on. Is that Ryle and Arnie down there?¡±

    ¡°Really? Where?¡± the redhead asked, as the elf pointed towards where their two friends were. ¡°Oh, it is them!...What are they doing?¡±

    ¡°From what I can tell, Ryle is trying to get Arnie to share the largest cup of soda I¡¯ve ever seen in my life,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Although, calling that a cup isn¡¯t doing that thing justice. That¡¯s more like barrel.¡±

    ¡°For the love of¡­ If she ends up asking us to stop because she needs to go to the toilet, I swear I¡¯m going to make her walk all the way,¡± Erin said with a sigh, before looking over to another direction. ¡°Hey, I think I see Durge and Lexton over there!¡±

    ¡°That sure is them,¡± the elf said, looking over in the same direction. ¡°Looks like they found a way to enjoy the park, even of they¡¯re not using the rides.¡±

    ¡°What are they doing exactly?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°They¡¯re just talking to that person at that game stall. And they seem to be bowing down to Lex for some reason.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Zeldana asked with a snicker. ¡°Lex is a professional scammer, so he can probably pick up on the tricks these people use to scam their customers. He¡¯s most likely threatening to reveal their tricks to everyone and ruin their business, unless he gets something from them.¡±

    ¡°...Seriously?¡± Erin asked in a deadpan tone. ¡°He¡¯s actually doing stuff like that even here? Can¡¯t he just do something fun for once?¡±

    ¡°Something tells me that this is what he does for fun,¡± the elf said with a small grin. ¡°What else do you think he¡¯s going to do here for amusement?¡±

    ¡°...Fair enough.¡±

    As Erin and Zeldana were talking with each other, their cart had moved to a position that would allow Zena to go through with her plan. Using her tools to open the door to her cart, she climbed up on top of the ride and began to quickly make her way to the cart her targets were inside. The way their carts were positioned in was so that the assassin was above the two of them. Now she could simply climb down on the roof of their cart without being noticed.

    Back inside the cart with Erin and Zeldana, the two of them were continuing their conversation without any worries.

    ¡°By the way, that old friend of yours, is there anything else you can tell me about him?¡± Erin asked, hoping to learn more about this mysterious figure from Zeldana¡¯s past. ¡°Did he tell you anything about himself?¡±

    ¡°Not much, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the elf replied with a shrug. ¡°He was someone who kept a lot to himself and didn¡¯t reveal much about himself. Outside of being a generally nice guy, all I knew about him was that he somehow took the crimes of the Overlords really hard and that he was a great cook.¡±

    ¡°Did he never explain why he took the actions of the Overlords so seriously?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I mean, somebody must have asked him about it at some point.¡±

    ¡°Of course they did. I was one of them,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°But no matter who it was or how many times they asked, he would either avoid the question or ignore it completely.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    At that time, Zena had made her way to the cart of the duo. She carefully landed on its roof, before crawling over to the side. The assassin had a small hammer and a sleeping gas bomb with her, which were the tools she was going to use in order to complete her mission. She would use the hammer to break the window and then right away throw in the gas bomb. With her targets knocked out, she would be able to carry them out of the ride once it ended, claiming that they were her ¡°friends¡± and they had fallen asleep. After taking them to a more secluded place, she would enjoy making the elf suffer, before taking the redhead to the authorities and claiming their two bounties.

    Zena grinned to herself as she gripped her tools. The thought of what she would get to do was filling her with sheer excitement.

    However, the assassin couldn¡¯t see Zeldana glance towards her direction and let out a small sigh.

    ¡°Hey, do you know what¡¯s the most fun part about rides like this?¡± the elf suddenly asked with a small smirk.

    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t it the sights you get to see?¡± Erin asked in return.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s one thing, but that¡¯s not the best part,¡± Zeldana replied as a grin spread over her face. ¡°The most fun part is doing THIS!¡±

    Without any warning, the elf began to rock the cart very violently. This caused the redhead to let out a small scream in response, as she hadn¡¯t been prepared to what her companion would do.

    However, while Erin was scared due to being taken by surprise and the fear of their cart somehow falling despite all the safety measures, Zena was absolutely terrified over what was happening. Once the cart began to swing wildly, she let out a terrified scream and dropped her tools. Not only that, but she actually fell of the roof and had to desperately grab on to the side of the cart, holding on for dear life. The assassin was so scared of her predicament that she even ended up wetting herself. She only hoped that no other assassin was in the park, so she could avoid being seen by someone she knew.

    ¡°Zel, you freaking jerk!¡± Erin shouted angrily at the elf, who was laughing like a hyena. ¡°Did you really have to do that!? I almost pissed myself, you ass!¡±

    ¡°Well, at least in your case, it didn¡¯t actually happen,¡± Zeldana said as she glanced towards the side of the cart where Zena was hanging on. ¡°Can¡¯t say that about everybody.¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Arkay was exiting a nearby bathroom. The large soda Ryle had gotten for them had been quite a bit to drink. He was about to go looking for his blonde companion, when something fell on his head.

    ¡°Ow! What the-!?¡± the cat boy said as he rubbed his head and looked around for what had caused the sudden pain. He soon found a strange cylinder-shaped object on the ground next to him. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    Just as he was about to pick it up, the object let out green smoke. Arkay let out a few coughs, as he felt his consciousness start to slip and his eyelids to suddenly feel very heavy. Realizing what had happened to him, the cat boy began to stagger away in search of Ryle, hoping to warn her about a potential attack.

    Said blonde just exited another bathroom and soon noticed Arkay swaying around.

    ¡°Hey, Arnie, are you okay?¡± Ryle called out to the cat boy as she walked over to him, worried over his well-being.

    Before she could ask any further questions, Arkay suddenly fell towards her. The blonde caught him in her arms and quickly checked his condition, relieved to find that he had only fallen asleep.

    ¡°...Best day ever!¡± Ryle squealed to herself as she picked up the unconscious boy in her arms and carried him happily.

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and Zeldana, the two of them had just walked out of the Ferris wheel, when they noticed someone leaning against a nearby fence while breathing heavily. The redhead couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned over the stranger¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Hey, you think she¡¯s okay?¡± Erin asked, motioning towards the sick-looking person. ¡°Maybe we should help her?¡±

    ¡°I guess we could¡­ But you should leave this one to me. I¡¯m the medical professional here,¡± Zeldana said with a smirk, as she walked towards the stranger. ¡°Besides, I work better in these things, when I go solo.¡±

    The redhead decided to leave it up to the elf to check up on the stranger, knowing that the elf could help her. What she didn¡¯t know was that this ill stranger was the assassin that had been trying to attack their group throughout the day.

    However, Zeldana knew completely who the person before her was. A grin had spread over her face as she took full enjoyment out of the assassin¡¯s misfortune.

    Zena herself was so focused on steadying her breathing that she had no idea her targets had taken notice of her and one of them was walking towards her. It was only when Zeldana put a hand on her shoulder and leaned in to whisper to her ear that she realized this.

    ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ve had dozens of assassins come after me and I¡¯ve beaten them all. If I were to put you among them, you wouldn¡¯t get even in the top ten of those who have tried to take my life,¡± the elf whispered while grinning. ¡°The only reason you¡¯re alive right now is because I found you more amusing than threatening. Next time? I might not see it that way. Make what you will of that.¡±

    Having given her threat to the assassin, Zeldana walked back to Erin, telling the redhead that there was nothing to worry about. The two of them then left, leaving Zena on her own.

    However, while the elf had expected her threat to make the assassin give up and run away, this didn¡¯t happen. In fact, her words had caused to motivate Zena by igniting a fury and a thirst for vengeance within her. All her life she had been mocked and ridiculed and this was the last straw.

    She no longer cared about completing her mission in a manner that it needed. She was going to kill all of her targets, even if it was the last thing she would do.

 138. Outta the Park

    Chapter 138

    Outta the Park

    Erin and Zeldana had been enjoying as many of the rides and other activities in the park as they could, but it was starting to get late. The redhead knew that they needed to get their group back together, so that they could prepare for the journey they still had ahead of them. She just hoped that they wouldn¡¯t have to search around for the others.

    ¡°I hope the others are alright,¡± Erin said. ¡°I know that they¡¯re all more than capable of handling themselves in tough situations, but you never know what might happen. Considering how we¡¯ve been attacked by at least one assassin in every place we¡¯ve gotten into, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if one of them was lurking around here. I just hope this whole amusement park trip wasn¡¯t just one big mistake¡­¡±

    ¡°You worry far too much. Calm your ass down already!¡± Zeldana said, having grown tired of the redhead¡¯s constant woes. ¡°You know just as well as I do that the people we¡¯re traveling with aren¡¯t some snotty wimps that need to have their butts wiped for them. If things go south, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re more than capable of handling themselves!¡±

    ¡°Well, excuse me for worrying about people that I care about!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°Not everybody can be inconsiderate like you!¡±

    ¡°Hey, just because I¡¯m not pissing my pants with worry every second I¡¯m not seeing those guys doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t care about them!¡± the elf shot back, before snickering to herself, thinking about the assassin she had met. ¡°Besides, I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. From what I¡¯ve seen, the threat in this place is pretty low level.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, but if it means that the others are safe, then I guess it¡¯s good,¡± the redhead said as she rolled her eye and shook her head. ¡°Still¡­ This is a pretty big place. It could take us hours to find the others. Where should we even start?¡±

    ¡°How about from right there?¡± Zeldana asked sarcastically as she pointed straight ahead of them.

    Erin looked over to where the elf was pointing and saw Ryle and Arkay sitting on a nearby bench. The blonde had a wide smile of pure bliss on her face, as she had the cat boy resting his head on her lap. Meanwhile, Arkay seemed to be completely asleep, most likely tired from their day at the park.

    ¡°So do you want to let them have some time alone or do you think we need to get over there, before Ryle does anything?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°While I doubt that she would do anything too bad while out in public, I think it¡¯s about time we started getting the gang back together,¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m pretty sure some of the people are giving her weird looks.¡±

    Walking up to their two friends at the bench, Ryle took notice of them quickly. While the expression on her face changed, she still kept sitting down and stroking Arkay¡¯s head like she had been so far.

    ¡°Oh! Hi, Erin! And Zel¡­¡± the blonde greeted the two. ¡°How has your day been?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been pretty good,¡± Erin replied. ¡°What about you? Were you able to have enough fun?¡±

    ¡°It certainly seems like you¡¯re enjoying yourself now,¡± Zeldana said with a smirk. ¡°Did he fall asleep naturally or did you have a hand in making that happen?¡±

    ¡°Hey! I¡¯ll have you know that I was NOT at fault for this! The poor guy just suddenly fell asleep in my arms!¡± Ryle said back, not liking the accusation made by the elf. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining, of course¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I doubt you had any complaints with this,¡± Erin mumbled. ¡°Anyways, back to my original question. Were you able to have enough fun here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I definitely got to have loads of fun and excitement! Thanks for letting me come here!¡± the blonde said happily. ¡°I know it was a pretty selfish request from me, considering what we¡¯re doing. I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I just¡­ I just needed something to let off some steam, you know? I really appreciate that you let me do this.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We completely understand. After all, all work and no play would make anyone dull. Good to know you were able to get it out of your system,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°By the way, we were starting to look for the rest of the group just now, when we happened to spot you two. Have you seen Lex and Durge anywhere?¡±

    ¡°Not since we first entered here,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°Considering how Lex wasn¡¯t going to be going into any of the rides, I doubt he was in any of the places we were at.¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± Erin said as a slight look of concern came over her face. ¡°This raises the question, though, how are we going to find those two? This is a pretty big place¡­¡±

    ¡°For the love of¡­ Does the thing that resides between your ears only count as interior decoration or something?¡± Zeldana asked with a sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what we saw just a moment ago?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Think back when we were at the top of that one ride! We saw Ryle and Arnie enjoying a large drink, and we saw Lex and Durge doing¡­ Is this starting to ring a bell or what?¡± the elf asked in a sarcastic tone.

    ¡°...That¡¯s right! We saw them going through those game stalls!¡± Erin said, finally remembering. ¡°But what about it? Those two have probably left the place we saw them at already.¡±

    ¡°Oh my everything¡­ Do I really need to spell this out for you or something?¡± Zeldana muttered to herself as she facepalmed. ¡°Look, Lex and Durge are not going to be going to the rides, right? What else are here besides rides? All sorts of food stalls and game stalls, where you win prizes, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand what kind of attractions they put inside amusement parks. Thank you for the explanation,¡± the redhead said with a frown, not liking the way the elf was talking to her. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±

    ¡°Well, if those two aren¡¯t going on any of the rides and I seriously doubt that they would be going through all the food spots, what does that leave you with?¡± the elf asked. ¡°And need I remind you about the one way Lex has most likely found to have amusement in this place?¡±

    Erin¡¯s lone eye went wide as she now understood what Zeldana was getting at.

    ¡°Oh no¡­ No no no no no,¡± the redhead muttered as she held her face in her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that he¡¯s actually going to do that at every place here?¡±

    ¡°What else is he going to do? Try out all the different flavors of cotton candy?¡± the elf asked sarcastically.

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s something we did!¡± Ryle suddenly said with a big smile. ¡°Although, I¡¯m a bit confused here. What are Lex and Durge doing now?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re going through all the game stalls, exposing the ways they scam their customers and blackmailing them to pay them to stay silent,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°We need to find those two, before the park staff forms a lynch mob to go after them.¡±

    Now that they had an idea as to where they could find their missing companions, the four of them, though one of them was still asleep, went on to look for the game stalls. It didn¡¯t take long until they got to the area where all of the prize games were located. Picking one of the stalls, Erin walked up to the person handling it. The person at the stall immediately noticed her and put on a bright smile, expecting her to be a new customer.

    ¡°Hell there, miss!¡± the employee greeted the redhead happily. ¡°Would you like to try out our game in order to win one of our prizes?¡±

    ¡°Maybe some other time,¡± Erin said in response politely. ¡°I¡¯m actually looking for some people. Have you perhaps seen a kobold and an orc traveling together? The kobold is red, wearing a fancy suit, and the orc is very large with a red cloak.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Those two, huh?¡± the employee said in response, his friendly tone now completely gone.

    The redhead noticed the sudden changed in the person before her not just in his tone of voice, but in his whole being. The smile on his face had completely disappeared and she could notice one of his eyes twitch. The employee¡¯s whole body had also completely tensed up and his hands had balled up into fists, with his fingers digging into his palms to the point they were drawing blood.

    ¡°Are you perhaps friends with those two¡­ absolute¡­ bastards!?¡± the employee asked, struggling to get the words out of his mouth without letting his anger blow up.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ I¡¯m somewhat¡­ associated with them, yes?¡± Erin replied, trying to find a response that wouldn¡¯t turn the worker¡¯s anger towards her. ¡°So have you seen those two?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes! I have not just seen them, but they actually came by!¡± the employee replied, as his face was now starting to turn red. ¡°Thanks to them, I might lose my job, because I need to find a way to explain to my boss how I had to give away most of the money in my cash register! If you have any suggestions, I¡¯d be happy to hear them!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ afraid I don¡¯t have any. Sorry,¡± the redhead said, as she was praying in her mind she would get out of this alive, while also cursing Lexton at the same time. ¡°A-Anyways, did you perhaps see where they went?¡±

    The employee didn¡¯t say anything in response, as he was too busy biting his lip in order to control himself. Instead he just pointed at the direction where the two people in question had gone.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Having gotten the information she was looking for, Erin quickly thanked the employee and ran back to her friends.

    ¡°Damn. What happened with you?¡± Ryle asked, seeing the redhead¡¯s pale face. ¡°You look like you saw a ghost or some other horrifying monster!¡±

    ¡°At this point, I think I would have preferred that,¡± Erin replied. ¡°What I do know is that Lex better have a good goddamn explanation for all the crap he¡¯s been doing or else I might end up strangling him.¡±

    <hr>

    Following the direction they had been given, Erin and the others went on to find their missing companions. As they were walking through the park, they went past more game stalls that Lexton and Durge had most likely been at. They could tell because the workers at the stalls were either ready to blow from rage or were on the brink of crying.

    Following the trail of upset employees, Erin and the others eventually found Lexton and Durge sitting on a bench, eating cotton candy calmly, despite the glares some of the staff were giving them. The kobold and the orc noticed their companions walking towards their location and waved at them.

    ¡°Hey, Erin!¡± Lexton greeted the redhead with a smile. ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°What brings me here is what you¡¯ve done! What the hell have you been doing here!?¡± Erin asked, trying to hold back her anger. ¡°Are you trying to put this whole place out of business or something!?¡±

    ¡°What? I would never do such a thing!¡± the kobold said in a mock hurt tone, like the accusation had affected him. ¡°I simply taught these people a valuable lesson!¡±

    ¡°And just what lesson would that be!?¡± the redhead asked as she grit her teeth.

    ¡°If you try to scam a pro like me, you better bring out your best tricks,¡± Lexton said with a smile before taking another bite out of his cotton candy. ¡°Mmm! This is really good! Have you tried out their cotton candy yet? They have a bunch of different flavors.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sure it¡¯s tasty alright,¡± Erin muttered before glaring at Durge for a change. ¡°And you¡¯re okay with what he has been doing?¡±

    ¡°Meh. It was a bit concerning at first, but I got used to it,¡± the orc replied with a shrug. ¡°Besides, they¡¯re the ones trying to scam us. I don¡¯t see any issues with giving them a taste of their own medicine.¡±

    ¡°You two are just the worst,¡± the redhead said with a sigh.

    This caused both Lexton and Durge to look up at her with genuinely offended looks on their faces, before pointing at Zeldana.

    ¡°...Fair enough,¡± Erin said with a sigh.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Zeldana cried out.

    ¡°Zip it! I¡¯m not in the mood!¡± the redhead snapped at the elf, actually scaring her a bit for once. ¡°Let¡¯s just get back to our hotel room, okay? I¡¯m too tired for any of this right now¡­¡±

    The group agreed and began their walk to their room. As they were walking, they all noticed how several employees were glaring at them, obviously due to Lexton¡¯s actions. However, only Erin and Ryle were bothered by the looks they were getting. Arkay was still asleep and neither Durge or Zeldana seemed to care. On the other hand, Lexton seemed to be enjoying himself, as he took pleasure in making the employees seethe. The kobold even went so far as to smile and wave at some of the people glaring at them, adding fuel to the fire.

    Erin swore that if they make it out of the park alive, she would find a way to torment Lexton for the rest of her afterlife.

    <hr>

    After a walk that felt like an eternity to Erin, the group finally got back to their hotel room. The redhead wasted no time in getting the key out of her pocket, hoping to shield herself from the piercing glares that she had been receiving so far.

    ¡°I swear, the only decent one in this group is Arnie, who is the youngest out of all of us!¡± Erin said angrily as she put the key into the lock. ¡°The rest of you are going to get me killed one of these days!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was just trying to enjoy the park! Isn¡¯t that what you wanted!?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°What else was I supposed to do to kill the time!?¡±

    ¡°And how am I anywhere near as bad as he is!?¡± Ryle asked while motioning towards the kobold. ¡°Compared to him, I¡¯m practically as harmless as a lapdog!¡±

    ¡°Oh, just shut up, both of you!¡± Erin said as she finally unlocked and opened the door. ¡°If you want to know, how about taking a good look at yourselves and-!¡±

    The redhead cut herself off, as she walked into their room and saw something that took her by complete surprise and shocked her to the core. In the middle of the room before her was someone planting what looked like a bomb in the middle of their hotel room¡¯s table. The others followed behind Erin and soon saw what she was looking at.

    Having been finally pushed to her limit, Zena had decided to abandon all subtlety and finesse her work usually had. Instead, the assassin had simply decided to find out where all of her targets were staying at, sneak inside and plant a bomb in their room in order to kill them all. Even though she had been told that Erin was to be captured alive, Zena no longer cared. This day had been the most humiliating and painful days of her life. The way she saw it, she had to kill the whole group in order to appease her vengeful spirit. That was the only way she could ever live with herself.

    However, even that very crude and simplistic plan had turned out to be a failure now that her targets had returned to their room earlier than she had thought. Upon realizing that she had been caught, the assassin¡¯s mind began to speed through any possible methods to turn things around for herself.

    ¡°Excuse me, but who the hell are you and what are you doing here!?¡± Erin asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. ¡°Also, have met before? You seem strangely familiar¡­¡±

    In the end, Zena¡¯s mind came to one possible way for her to save herself. It was a method that she had wanted to avoid, but there were no other options anymore.

    ¡°...I give up. I can¡¯t do this anymore,¡± the assassin said with a depressed sigh as she stood up.

    That¡¯s right. The only solution she could come up with was to simply give up on her mission and go home. However, that was not all.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the bomb. The instructions were so awful that I couldn¡¯t figure out how to set it up,¡± Zena said as she walked past Erin and the others, who were too stunned to really do anything. ¡°I¡¯m going¡­ I¡¯m going back home and rethink my life¡­ Maybe I¡¯ll study business or medicine, like my mom wanted¡­¡±

    There was a moment of awkward silence as Erin and the others simply stared after the assassin as she disappeared behind a corner. They then looked at each other, as if trying to confirm among themselves that what they had just witnessed had been real.

    ¡°So¡­ that just happened,¡± Erin said, breaking the silence. ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°Maybe start with the bomb?¡± Durge suggested. ¡°She may not have been able to set it up, but I don¡¯t like the idea of having an explosive ready to go off right next to me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t worry about that thing, if I were you,¡± Lexton said calmly as he walked up to the bomb to take a closer look at it. ¡°As I suspected. It¡¯s a crap model that has only one good quality to itself. Its cheap price. You should always pay for the stuff that¡¯s worth the price. Not the cheapest or the most expensive.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you buy your stuff from actual junkyards?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I make my own masterpieces, you mongoloid. I take what otherwise would be trash and turn it into gold. That¡¯s what makes me such a master at my craft,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°This thing, on the other hand? I could hit it with a crowbar and there would be no reaction from it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ comforting to hear, Lex,¡± Erin said awkwardly. ¡°But let¡¯s not actually-¡±

    Before the redhead could finish talking, Lexton roughly shoved the bomb off the table and let it crash on the floor. This sudden act caused a jolt of shock to shoot through almost everybody else, as they jumped back in terror, expecting the bomb to explode. Only Arkay had remained calm, but this was due to the fact that he was still asleep and didn¡¯t know what was going on.

    Erin, Ryle, Durge and Zeldana each had frozen in a position that was readying for the incoming explosion with their eyes closed and hands up in front of their faces. When their sudden deaths didn¡¯t come, they allowed themselves to open their eyes and relax their bodies. Upon seeing the bomb rest on the floor without any signs of imminent danger, they all let out deep sighs of relief.

    ¡°See? I told you it was just a hunk of junk,¡± Lexton said with a smug smirk.

    ¡°Lex, you goddamn arrogant asshole!¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°Did you really have to go and scare the crap out of us all!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, if you simply believed me, then there wouldn¡¯t have been any issues, right?¡± the kobold asked nonchalantly. ¡°Maybe you all should take this moment to reflect upon yourselves and finally get it through your heads that I¡¯m someone you need to have faith in.¡±

    Lexton walked away, as the others glared at him. Once he was gone, Zeldana turned towards Erin.

    ¡°And you have the nerve to say that I¡¯m the worst!¡± the elf complained.

    ¡°...If it¡¯s any consolation, he¡¯s a very close second,¡± the redhead said back.

    With a long day behind them, the group decided to go to sleep, as they had a long drive behind them the next morning. Ryle had tried to take Arkay with her in order for them to share a bed, but was stopped by Erin. Despite her disappointment, the blonde decided to let it be, as her day had been more than fulfilling so far.

    However, one of their members, a certain elf, decided to go to the kitchen before going to bed.

    <hr>

    The next morning, the group got up early and got in their van. They were soon back to driving towards their destination, Graven Hills.

    ¡°Ryle, do you think you can handle the rest of the trip?¡± Erin asked from the front seat.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine!¡± the blonde replied with a smile. ¡°While I¡¯m probably going to be bored beyond belief yesterday was more than enough to get me charged up for this. Thanks again for listening to my selfish request.¡±

    ¡°It was no problem. I¡¯m sure we all were in the need of a chance to let out some steam,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°Besides, if it makes you feel any better, boring trips might be a thing of the past soon.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Well, due to certain circumstances, Zeldana and I were given a bunch of coupons that we could use in the shops,¡± Erin explained as she dug through her cloak. ¡°While we couldn¡¯t find anything that interested us in particular, we did get these.¡±

    The redhead pulled out several video games out of her cloak. The blonde¡¯s eyes went wide and a big smile spread over her face at the realization of what this meant.

    ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re already getting excited. These were a good pick then,¡± Erin said with a slight chuckle. ¡°However, we still need a game console in order to play these, so you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°Maybe not,¡± Lexton suddenly said as he walked up to some of his stuff that was piled up on one side of the van. ¡°You see, when Durge and I were at the park, we came to this one game stall that had this rope pulling game. However, even when we didn¡¯t play it, one of the workers suddenly came to us and offered us something as compensation for what we had gone through. I didn¡¯t really get it, but I still accepted this.¡±

    The kobold then pulled out a box that contained a video game console, same one that was meant for the games Erin had.

    ¡°Oh¡­ my¡­ God! Lex, this is awesome!¡± Ryle squealed in joy. ¡°I had no idea you were such a cool guy! I¡¯ll take back about fourth of the things I¡¯ve said about you!¡±

    However, as the blonde went to grab the box, Lexton moved it away from her. When she looked at him, he had a smirk on his face.

    ¡°Now, that won¡¯t be enough, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the kobold said. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that in order to please me.¡±

    ¡°...Oh! My bad!¡± Ryle said awkwardly, as she rubbed the back of her head. ¡°I¡¯ll take back a third of the things I¡¯ve said about you.¡±

    Lexton didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°¡­Okay, I¡¯ll take back half of the things I¡¯ve said about you.¡±

    He still didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°...A bit over half?¡±

    The kobold was now now looking at his nails in a bored manner.

    ¡°...OKAY! FINE!¡± Ryle shouted as she bowed down so hard she hit her forehead on the floor. ¡°Please, oh great Lexton! I have been a fool and an idiot for ever doubting or badmouthing you! I take back everything I have and will ever say about you! Please show your mercy on me, as you are truly the better of us!¡±

    Satisfied, Lexton gently pushed the box over to the blonde.

    ¡°See? That¡¯s all you had to say,¡± the kobold said with a smug smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t so hard, was it?¡±

    ¡°...Harder than you could ever imagine,¡± Ryle mumbled angrily as she took the box with the game console.

    Back at the front, Durge gave a questioning look towards Erin.

    ¡°Are you sure about letting them go at each other like that?¡± the orc asked.

    ¡°Hey, the children didn¡¯t throw any punches, okay? I¡¯d say that leaves us at a positive end result!¡± Erin said as she rubbed her temples in order to ease her headache. ¡°Just let it be with this. I don¡¯t feel like going over there to play referee again.¡±

    With an uncomfortable air now hanging over the group, Zeldana decided to brighten the mood. She clapped her hands together and got the attention of the others.

    ¡°Okay! Now that we¡¯re back on the road, how about we have a little snack to lift our spirits?¡± the elf suggested. ¡°And I¡¯ve got just the thing for that!¡±

    The others watched as Zeldana pulled a bunch of containers out of her jacket and handed them over to everyone. They looked inside and smelled the contents. It seemed to be some sort of a sweet drink of some kind.

    ¡°These seems nice, Zel,¡± Erin said. ¡°But what brought this up?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, are these poisoned or something?¡± Ryle asked bluntly.

    ¡°I would never do such a thing!¡± Zeldana said in a mock hurt tone. ¡°I just wanted to do something for the whole group as a way to show my appreciation towards you all! That¡¯s it!¡±

    ¡°...You just want me to say that you¡¯re no longer the worst, don¡¯t you?¡± Erin asked, realizing the elf¡¯s real goal.

    ¡°Hey, is that so bad!?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°Anyways, try them out! It¡¯s something an old friend of mine taught me!¡±

    Albeit a bit reluctantly, the others tried out the drinks they had just gotten. Much to their surprise, they were really good and everyone seemed to be enjoying them.

    However, Erin¡¯s enjoyment was soon replaced by a feeling of shock. The taste of the drink had been rather familiar to her and reminded her of things way in the past.

    ¡°Zel, who taught you how to make these?¡± the redhead asked as her body began to tremble a bit. ¡°And what exactly are these called?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Oh, it was that friend I told you about yesterday,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°He called them smoothies.¡±

    Shock ran through Erin¡¯s body, as her lone eye went wide. This was just like the drink Gabe had made for her back when she had first gotten to know him back in the day.

 139. Graven Hills

    Chapter 139

    Graven Hills

    After a long drive, the group had finally arrived at their destination of Graven Hills. They had stopped at a location close to the city in order to survey it from afar. Erin stepped out of their vehicle and took out her binoculars and began to look it over.

    The outskirts of the city were rather bleak, to say the least. Just from a glance, she could tell that the buildings were hastily constructed shacks that could be easily broken down. They were mostly made out of rusted metal sheets and other garbage that the residents had gotten their hands on.

    Speaking of garbage, there was a lot of trash piling up on the sides of the slums that surrounded the city. Erin even managed to catch sight of someone dumping more trash from the side of the upper parts of the city.

    When it came to the residents, it didn¡¯t look all that much better. The people were dirty and dressed in rags. Many looked like they were malnourished, sick or both. There were also a lot of people with missing limbs and other visible injuries. It didn¡¯t take a genius to guess who was responsible for the damages caused to these people.

    In contrast to the outskirts, the upper parts of the city that were located on top of the hills seemed clean and pristine. Even if there were high walls separating the two parts of the city, the higher buildings that reached above them were more than enough to tell you about the difference in wealth and status when it came to the different residents.

    ¡°Different place, same crap,¡± Erin mumbled to herself, thinking back to her time in Grand Ravine, where a similar structure had been put in place. ¡°Any idea how we should proceed? The letter we got didn¡¯t tell us more than to come here.¡±

    ¡°Honestly? No clue,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m certain some of Rayleen¡¯s people are waiting for us there, but finding them will be tough. I doubt they¡¯ll simply walk around announcing their presence, but they¡¯ll probably be in disguise, too.¡±

    ¡°They could already be aware of us,¡± Lexton suggested. ¡°After all, they should be waiting for us, so I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they had a lookout somewhere.¡±

    ¡°But are they waiting for us to come to them or are we supposed to wait for them? That¡¯s the big question,¡± Zeldana pointed out. ¡°Neither option seems all that great.¡±

    ¡°Well, whatever the case is, we need to decide on some sort of action we take,¡± Erin stated. ¡°So what exactly are our options?¡±

    ¡°I suggest we stay here and wait for them to contact us,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Simply looking for them without a clue is not going to get us anywhere, as we don¡¯t even know if they¡¯re hiding in the slums or the higher parts. Not only that, but considering how we are dressed a lot better than your average slum resident, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be targeted by thieves and thugs the second we step in there. I¡¯d also like to keep and eye on our van and belongings, so they won¡¯t get stolen.¡±

    ¡°While I see your points, Lex, I have to disagree. We should go in there to look for our contacts,¡± Durge said. ¡°Rayleen isn¡¯t someone you want to keep waiting for too long, even if we are dealing with just her underlings. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll find us, once we go there. Not only that, but a few thugs is nothing compared to what we have faced in our travels.¡±

    ¡°Even if we can take on some thugs face to face, do you think they¡¯ll simply fight us like that? They could ambush us, as they know that place better than any of us!¡± the kobold pointed out. ¡°Not only that, but you¡¯re forgetting the fact that our belongings would still be left unprotected, which is something they would definitely use to their own good.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying we should leave our van completely. All I¡¯m saying is that at least one of us needs to go there and look for Rayleen¡¯s people,¡± the orc argued. ¡°The way I see it, two or three of us should go to the city, while the others stay here and guard the van. That way, we can look for our contact without any worries.¡±

    ¡°Well, whatever the case is, I believe the decision comes down to our leader,¡± Zeldana said before turning towards Erin. ¡°What do you say?¡±

    ¡°...Hang on! Since when was I the leader!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I don¡¯t remember there being a vote or anything like that to decide this!¡±

    The others glanced at each other with surprised looks, before looking back at Erin.

    ¡°I mean¡­ I thought it was obvious you were the leader,¡± Durge said while scratching the back of his head awkwardly. ¡°After all, aren¡¯t you the one who put this group together in the first place?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah! I know I¡¯m here because I¡¯ve been following you, Erin!¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°Back when we left Moonstone, I followed behind you, because I knew I could trust your judgment and wanted to help you! I don¡¯t see anyone else more fitting to be leader than you!¡±

    ¡°Even if I¡¯m way more intelligent, leadership isn¡¯t about just smarts. It¡¯s about guiding others in the right path and inspiring them to keep going,¡± Lexton said with a shrug. ¡°And out of all of these people? I¡¯d say you¡¯re the only one who can do that job.¡±

    ¡°While I don¡¯t have any big words of encouragement to give you, I¡¯ll just say that you always felt like the leader of the group. After all, you¡¯re the one who basically recruited me,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°But if you don¡¯t want the job, I can always-¡±

    ¡°ABSOLUTELY NOT!¡± Durge, Lexton and Arkay shouted at the elf at the same time.

    ¡°...Your loss,¡± Zeldana mumbled. ¡°Still, I do agree with the others. You¡¯re the best fit to lead us all, so I¡¯d say you should take the title officially. At least so that we don¡¯t have to question who really has the position in the future.¡±

    Erin looked at her friends and saw that they were all completely serious. They wanted her to take up the duty of leadership among them. While the responsibility felt very heavy on her, the confidence that the others had told her that she could do this.

    ¡°Thank you all very much. I¡¯ll be proud to take up the job of leader among us. At least until a better person is found to fill the duty,¡± Erin said with a smile as she bowed her head.

    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t say stuff like that!¡± Zeldana said with a sigh as she rolled her eyes. ¡°As the boss, you need to show at least some level of guts and determination! If you¡¯re questioning yourself constantly, what kind of a message will that send to the rest of us!? Grow some balls, will you!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ see what I can do,¡± the redhead said awkwardly, not really liking the way the elf had worded that. She then realized that there was one member of the group who hadn¡¯t voiced their opinion on the matter. ¡°Wait a second¡­ What about Ryle? What does she think about this?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be thinking much about anything,¡± Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Just look for yourself.¡±

    Erin looked over to the back of the van and saw Ryle glued to their new video game console. It was obvious that everything they had been talking about just now had not even registered in her mind, as she was too focused on whatever game she was playing.

    ¡°RYLE!¡± Erin called out to the blonde angrily, causing her to snap out of her haze and turn towards the others. ¡°How long have you been playing with that thing!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! It hasn¡¯t been all that long!¡± Ryle said, trying to brush the accusation aside. ¡°I¡¯ve only been at it ever since I got it set up¡­¡±

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°That¡¯s been several hours! It¡¯s not healthy!¡± the redhead said angrily. ¡°You better turn off that thing right now and come join the rest of us! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°Okay! Okay! No need to yell!¡± the blonde said as she turned off the console and walked up to the others. ¡°So what¡¯s the big deal now? What are we discussing now?¡±

    ¡°To get you back on the map with everybody else, we were just talking about how we¡¯re going to proceed in contacting Rayleen¡¯s underlings,¡± Lexton explained with a frown on his face. ¡°We also just confirmed who the leader of our group is, in case you¡¯re interested.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that easy? Of course that¡¯s Erin!¡± Ryle stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have ever taken even a single step to follow any of you guys! With the exception of Arnie, of course, but that¡¯s a different thing.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks for the vote of confidence, I suppose,¡± Erin muttered as she rolled her eye. ¡°Anyways, the two ways we can go about contacting Rayleen¡¯s people is either by going to look for them in the city or by waiting for them to come to us. Do you have any thoughts on this?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Thoughts that are NOT affected by the game console,¡± the redhead clarified.

    ¡°Hey, it wasn¡¯t affecting my thoughts!...Much,¡± Ryle quickly said. ¡°Anyways, I personally would go look for them, as simply staying put won¡¯t get us anywhere. But since we have no idea where to even look for them, waiting might be the smart option.¡±

    ¡°Wow. Even the complete moron agrees with what I¡¯ve said,¡± Lexton said smugly. ¡°Perhaps you all should listen to me more often?¡±

    ¡°...On second thought, I¡¯d like to take back what I just said,¡± the blonde said as she glared at the kobold.

    ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s not get into another childish argument over here!¡± Erin quickly shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a good amount of strong support for the idea of staying here, with some good points brought towards also going to the city. The way I see it, our best course of action is to leave most of our group here, while the others go investigate the place. With any luck, we should be able to get into contact with Rayleen¡¯s underlings.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Even with our full group, there isn¡¯t any guarantee that we¡¯ll be able to get back safely. The chances of getting back will only get worse with less people. Like I told you, they might not be as threatening as what we¡¯ve faced so far, but they can have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll only be there for about two hours. If we can¡¯t get in touch with the people we¡¯re looking by then, we¡¯ll get back quickly,¡± the redhead stated. ¡°However, since I know the risks of something like this, I am not going to force anybody to do this. I¡¯ll pick those who come along only from those who are willing to go along with me. Any volunteers?¡±

    ¡°Come on, Erin, you don¡¯t need to ask that!¡± Ryle said with a small grin. ¡°You know well enough that we¡¯re all more than willing to go with you! Hell, after all the crazy crap we¡¯ve already gone through, this is like a walk in the park!¡±

    The redhead looked over her friends and could tell by their eyes that they were all in agreement with what the blonde had said. They were all more than willing to go with her to whatever dangers laid ahead of them in Graven Hills.

    Now all she needed to do was select somebody to go along with her. Each of them had their positives and negatives, so it wasn¡¯t an easy decision.

    Ryle was one of the best fighters and was also very strong and fast as well. Having her come along would provide Erin with someone who could fight through pretty much anything that could be thrown at them. The biggest problem was that the blonde was quite reckless and hotheaded, which could get them into bigger problems.

    Arkay was skilled at sneaking around thanks to his experience as a thief and invisibility spell. Not only that, but his magical abilities were especially useful, whether it was the technomancer ability or his combat spells. However, he was also one of the physically weaker members of their group, so he would need to be protected.

    Lexton wasn¡¯t exactly a combatant, but could provide a lot of support with all the equipment he was carrying around. The kobold¡¯s greatest asset, however, was his analytical mind, as he could see through scams and other such things with ease. It still didn¡¯t take away how he was the physically weakest among them, even when compared to Arkay.

    Durge was an absolute powerhouse when it came to fighting. Not only that, but he was a very calm and collected individual, unlike Ryle. He might not have had the speed and agility of the blonde, but he made up for it in unrivaled strength, which would allow him to get through any obstacle. He was, however, very ready to sacrifice himself for others, which didn¡¯t sit well with Erin.

    Lastly, Zeldana had some good combat skills and a good amount of wisdom as well. Problem was that Erin could never be too certain with the elf. She was a complete wildcard with what she would say and do. Not to mention, her main role was to be the healer of the group, so bringing her into combat wasn¡¯t exactly the best choice.

    Taking into consideration what they were going into and what they were trying to accomplish, Erin came to a decision.

    <hr>

    ¡°A-Are you sure about this?¡± Arkay asked awkwardly, as he followed Erin to Graven Hills. ¡°I mean¡­ I¡¯m not saying that I want to go back or anything. I¡¯m more than willing to go through with this, like I said. I¡¯m just a bit confused as to why you chose me out of everybody else.¡±

    After thinking about it, the redhead had chosen the cat boy as her partner for going to the city in order to look for Rayleen¡¯s underlings. She had decided not to take anybody else along, as she figured that their mission in Graven Hills was simple inspection and it would be better to leave more people to guard what was essentially their base. As for why she chose Arkay specifically, there were reasons for that.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be like that, Arnie. You¡¯re acting like you were the worst possible option for me to pick, when in fact that¡¯s far from the truth,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°I simply went with the option that I thought would be the best for this particular occasion.¡±

    ¡°R-Really?¡± the cat boy asked, completely surprised. ¡°That¡­ That sounds great, but¡­ how was I the best option? I mean, wouldn¡¯t Ryle or Durge be better, since they¡¯re much better at fighting?¡±

    ¡°They might be better at fighting, but I am not looking towards getting into combat, so that¡¯s not a strong point to affect my choice,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Besides, their personalities are not exactly fitting for this. Durge has a tendency to put others before him, which worries me that he might try to sacrifice himself for the sake of us. That¡¯s something I¡¯d like to avoid. And Ryle¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say that she isn¡¯t exactly one for subtlety and finesse.¡±

    ¡°...Fair enough,¡± Arkay said. ¡°What about Lexton and Zeldana, though? Those two are probably the smartest among us.¡±

    ¡°While that is true, Lex is more fitting for seeing through questionable business deals and other scams. I¡¯m not sure if this is exactly according to his specialties, especially when we don¡¯t have much of a choice in doing whatever Rayleen wants us to do,¡± Erin explained. ¡°As for Zeldana¡­ Well¡­ I kind of want to have some time away from her right now¡­¡±

    The cat boy assumed that the redhead was referring to Zeldana¡¯s more disturbing or annoying antics, whether it was her methods in regards to medical treatment or her pranks. However, the reason Erin wanted to stay away from the elf for now was because of the things she knew about her personal life. The redhead didn¡¯t want to deal with emotionally draining baggage for now.

    ¡°But¡­ while I see why you didn¡¯t choose the others, what made you choose me?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°What makes me the best option for this?¡±

    ¡°Simple. It¡¯s your skills and personality,¡± Erin replied. ¡°You¡¯re skilled at keeping yourself silent and moving around. Not to mention, your magical skills are also something that I could use in this. Especially your technomancer ability and the invisibility spell. In case we need to move without being seen or if there are any machinery we need to get past, you¡¯re the best option for that. Not only that, but I know that you won¡¯t get us into any unnecessary trouble since you¡¯re much more careful than the others.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I¡¯ll make sure not to disappoint you,¡± the cat boy said with a look of resolve in his eyes.

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t,¡± the redhead replied with a smile.

    ¡°Although, one thing still confuses me,¡± Arkay said. ¡°When you picked me, most of the others seemed to be understanding and accepting, except for Ryle. For some reason, she seemed very disappointed and upset. Did she really want to come here that bad?¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t think that¡¯s why she was upset,¡± Erin muttered, knowing fully well why the blonde wasn¡¯t happy.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile with the others, they were all relaxing as they watched over their van. Durge and Zeldana had decided to step outside in order to take in some fresh air and stretch their limbs a bit, while Lexton was looking over notes and schematics he had been making for new things to build.

    However, there was someone who couldn¡¯t relax. That was none other than Ryle, who kept pacing back and forth, looking towards the direction Erin and Arkay had gone to every now and then.

    ¡°Ryle, could you calm down a bit? You¡¯re going to give yourself a heart attack at the rate you¡¯re going!¡± Durge said with a sigh, having grown tired of the blonde¡¯s antics. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try to do something to take your mind off Erin and Arnie for now?¡±

    ¡°How could I ever do something like that!?¡± Ryle asked, like the idea had been a horrible insult. ¡°My Arnie is in there, going through whatever possible horrors that city could hold within! And where am I? Up here, not able to do a damn thing to help, if things go wrong!¡±

    ¡°Ignoring the somewhat disturbing ¡°my Arnie¡± comment you made, you do realize you¡¯re panicking over nothing, right? It¡¯s not like he¡¯s going to a faraway battlefield to fight some war, he¡¯s just doing a bit of recon work! All they¡¯re trying to do is get noticed by Rayleen¡¯s people, who we are working with!¡± Lexton said in a frustrated tone. ¡°Besides, Erin is with him, so he should be in good hands.¡±

    ¡°Oh sure! There¡¯s definitely nothing to worry about with the thugs that serve a lunatic warlord, who are hiding out in the shittiest slum known to the world!¡± the blonde ranted angrily. ¡°And as for Erin, I¡¯m not sure if that isn¡¯t something I should be worrying about¡­¡±

    This last comment got the attention of the others, who looked at each other for a moment, before turning their attention back to Ryle.

    ¡°Care to explain that last part a bit?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Think about it! Why would she choose just Arnie and not take anybody else with her, despite the risks!? The answer is obviously that she wanted to get alone with him in order to use some vile seduction tactics!¡± Ryle ranted, before shouting towards the direction of their wayward companions. ¡°ARNIE, DON¡¯T FALL FOR HER SCHEMES! YOU¡¯RE TOO GOOD FOR HER!¡±

    ¡°...I think that description fits YOU much better,¡± Lexton muttered.

    However, while Lexton and Durge were not amused by the blonde¡¯s antics, Zeldana had a mischievous grin on her face. The elf had an idea that would provide her with a lot more amusement.

    ¡°You know what? Maybe your theory has some truth to it,¡± Zeldana said causing Ryle¡¯s ears to perk up. ¡°Back when I was with Erin at the amusement park, I could tell that she really wanted to go with Arnie, but you beat her to it. I think I even saw her looking in his direction when we were driving here.¡±

    The blonde¡¯s enraged scream could be heard for miles.

    ¡°Why did you have to go and do that!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°Now she¡¯s going to be even more insufferable than normal!¡±

    ¡°I know! It¡¯s funny, isn¡¯t it!?¡± Zeldana replied while laughing.

    ¡°...You¡¯re a twisted freak, you know that?¡± Durge asked.

    <hr>

    Back with Erin and Arkay, the cat boy¡¯s ears twitched a bit, as they caught a weird sound.

    ¡°Did you hear something?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°It sounded like the roar of some kind of beast.¡±

    ¡°Best ignore it for now. It wasn¡¯t all that close to us, so I doubt we¡¯ll have to deal with it anyways,¡± Erin replied quickly, before mumbling to herself. ¡°What got into her now?¡±

 140. Among the Trash

    Chapter 140

    Among the Trash

    Erin and Arkay had made their way into the slums of Graven Hills and were now moving around in the search of Rayleen¡¯s underlings. As soon as they had gotten near the edge of the area, both were forced to cover their noses in response to the awful smell that hit their noses. Erin pulled her mask over the lower half of her face and Arkay pulled his scarf over his nose.

    The smell was only a sign of the filth and trash that they were walking into, as it only took a quick look to tell where the horrid stench was coming from. While Erin had been somewhat aware of the terrible living conditions from when she had been looking at it with her binoculars, that had just been a mere glance at what she would find.

    The ground beneath their feet was uneven, soft and muddy. Every step they took was followed by a splashing sound and a feeling of sinking. Just walking around was proving to be tough, so running was something you would want to avoid as much as possible. The muddy ground had numerous pieces of trash sticking out of it, including empty cans, bottles and everything else you could imagine finding inside a trash can. There were even mounds of garbage between the buildings, making it impossible to move through them.

    Looking around her, the redhead could tell that the buildings were even worse than what her initial look had told her. Every single one of them had been haphazardly built from different pieces of scrap metal that were covered in rust. There were no actual windows, just very large gaps between the metal pieces that formed the buildings that the inhabitants used to spy on the two newcomers.

    Speaking of the inhabitants, Erin had already been aware of how bad they looked, but a closer look revealed that they were in a far less shape than she could have ever imagined. The people were barely clothed at all and whatever clothes they had were makeshift clothing made from scraps of cloth or actual pieces of clothing that looked like they were rotting. However, the lack of proper clothing was the least of their issues. Everybody around them was incredibly thin to the point their bones were visible and they had numerous signs of sickness. The redhead couldn¡¯t help but wonder how some of these people were even alive.

    To make matters worse, there was no level of security in the area. This was made obvious to Erin and Arkay, as the passed by a house that had been torn through by a wild beast of some kind. The inside was now a blood covered image of a nightmare, a sign of the horrors that transpired there.

    What was truly shocking to Erin was that it seemed like no one cared. People went past the building and gave a mere glance at it at best, if even that. The people living close to the place were simply continuing their lives, like nothing was wrong.

    ¡°They don¡¯t consider it as worth their time, as they have their own issues to look after. That¡¯s why they don¡¯t care,¡± Arkay said, breaking the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°Sorry. I saw how you were looking at that house and figured what you were thinking about.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. You were completely right about what I was thinking,¡± Erin replied. ¡°But why aren¡¯t they the least bit concerned about what happened? Shouldn¡¯t they at least a bit worried? And should they be just so uncaring towards what happened to their neighbors?¡±

    ¡°The reason for why they¡¯re not worried is a bit tough to say. It could be that such attacks are rare, so they don¡¯t pay it all that much attention. Not to mention, since their defenses against such things are nonexistent, they probably don¡¯t see it worth worrying about. They just hope that next time it happens it¡¯s somebody else and not them,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°However, it¡¯s not that they are completely uncaring towards people they know. They just know that they need to look after themselves, before worrying about others.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Basically, if you can¡¯t look after yourself and your own family, you¡¯re in no position to help others,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°If you can barely feed yourself, you can¡¯t afford to give food to others. That¡¯s something that happened back in my village during tough times as well. Some of our neighbors would come to ask for food and my dad would only give them very little, despite having much more in storage. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t care about the people in need, it was because he wanted to look after my mom and I first and foremost.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Isn¡¯t this a bit too much, though?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t these people be doing something in order to help their neighbors?¡±

    ¡°Just looking around, I can tell that even the toughest times in my home village were a paradise compared to this place,¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°These people look like they struggle just trying to stay alive, let alone doing anything else.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that makes sense,¡± the redhead said in a sad tone, until she lifted her head upon realizing something. ¡°Speaking of these people¡­ Is it just me or are we being watched?¡±

    ¡°I just noticed the same thing,¡± Arkay said as he glanced at his surroundings. ¡°My guess is that we look so different from the regular residents that we are sticking out big time.¡±

    Just like the two of them had just stated, the people around them were observing them very closely. If you looked close enough, you could see eyes peering at them from every possible hole that was in the walls of the buildings. There were also people looking at them from behind corners, piles of trash and from the roofs.

    ¡°...Try to not let them know we know about them,¡± Erin whispered. ¡°These people could be working for Rayleen, so we need to be careful about this. Even if they are not, it¡¯s a better idea to simply lure them into a false sense of security.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Arkay whispered back.

    The two of them continued walking, making no indication that they had noticed the people watching them. As they had suspected, at least a good amount of those who were observing them had decided to follow after them. Even then, neither Erin or Arkay made any moves that would show that they were aware of this.

    This continued until the duo had walked into an alley that came to a dead end in the form of a large mountain of trash. Some of the pursuers took this as a moment to make themselves known, as they began to come out of their hiding spots.

    With their pursuers now out in the open, Erin and Arkay turned towards them, not showing any surprise on their faces at all. All they were wondering about was whether these people were working for Rayleen or not.

    One of the pursuers stepped forward, grinning widely. From his outward appearance, he appeared to be nothing more than a regular resident of the slums. He was a human male with a very tall build. The clothes he was wearing were dirty and ragged as one would expect of someone living in the area. But while he showed signs of malnourishment on his body, he had somehow managed to keep a decent amount of muscle mass on his body. Erin could only guess that he had been born with a strong build, which allowed him to get more food than others, either by theft or by hunting nearby animals.

    ¡°He he he¡­ Would you look at that? Two dumb tourists decided to take a walk in our neighborhood of all places!¡± the big man said mockingly, causing his companions to chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Didn¡¯t the upper part nobility like you enough to allow you to live in their luxury or something?¡±

    ¡°...We didn¡¯t come here to cause any trouble,¡± Erin said sternly, yet softly to avoid aggravating the people surrounding them. ¡°All we came here to do was look for some associates of ours. If you don¡¯t know where they are, you can just leave and nothing bad will come from this. Okay?¡±

    The big man and his companions all burst into laughter. He then pulled out a large knife from his worn out jacket, holding it up in a menacing manner. While the weapon itself was covered in rust and the blade was chipped in many places, it would still be a deadly weapon if used correctly.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°How kind of you¡­ Offering us the mere plebs to leave without trouble. Problem is that WE want to cause trouble to YOU. Get it?¡± the large man said while pointing his knife at the redhead. ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll hand us everything you have on you. And I do mean everything. You¡¯ll walk out of here completely naked, if you don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you.¡±

    By now, all the other thugs had pulled out their weapons. Much like the big man before them, their weaponry was not in the best of condition, consisting mostly of sharp or sturdy objects they found from the piles of garbage. This would have been a very dangerous situation to your normal person, but Erin and Arkay were far from normal.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think these are the people we¡¯re looking for,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Do you mind if I take care of this quickly?¡±

    ¡°You think you can do that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me, but try to avoid causing any kind of a scene, okay? We don¡¯t need to attract any unwanted attention to us.¡±

    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll just show these people that we are not to be messed with,¡± the cat boy said as he charged some electricity on his right hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure that once I do that, they¡¯ll scatter like rats.¡±

    Before any of the thugs could even react, Arkay shot a small bolt of lighting from his hand at the large man before them. The shock was intense, causing the man to scream in pain for a short moment. Once the crackling of electricity had disappeared, he simply fell backwards on the ground, completely unconscious.

    Seeing their biggest and possibly toughest member get taken down so easily, the other thugs stared at their two targets for a second, before dropping their weapons and running away in terror. They knew that they were no match for these opponents and chose to flee.

    ¡°Not bad, Arnie. That was some impressive control you showed,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Guess we didn¡¯t need to worry about any threats around here at all, huh?¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but we still aren¡¯t any closer to finding the people we¡¯re looking for,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°If we are not going to be contacted by Rayleen¡¯s people in the slums, where could they be?¡±

    ¡°Well, seeing as how we¡¯ve made our presence here known, the way I see it is that they¡¯ll either come get us now or they¡¯re hiding in a different area of the city,¡± the redhead said. ¡°And knowing just what type of person Rayleen is, it wouldn¡¯t surprise me if they are actually located at the place where I think they might be¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°They¡¯re hiding in the upper part with all the rich people,¡± Erin answered.

    <hr>

    Figuring out that they needed to find some way to get to the upper part of Graven Hills, Erin and Arkay began to search their way through the slums, looking for a place to get to the gated community looming over everybody else. This proved to be more difficult than one could have imagined, as the slums were essentially a labyrinth made out of hastily built shacks and piles of trash from the upper parts. Not only that, but their first encounter with thugs trying to rob them wasn¡¯t the last, as a few others decided to try their luck at attacking the two newcomers. These attacks were easily driven back by either force or by Arkay using his invisibility spell to allow them to simply sneak past some of the hostile residents.

    Eventually, the two of them were able to discover what was essentially a main road of sorts. This was a wide road that led from the outskirts of the slums straight to the main gate of the upper part of the city. Once they found this, the two of them were able to follow it all the way to the main gate. As one might have suspected, the gate wasn¡¯t one that could be easily breached. Not only was it very tall, thick and made from iron, but there were guards on top of it, looking over anybody that might try to get inside. The controls for opening the gate were also most likely located there as well.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s any easy way to get inside,¡± Erin muttered as she looked over the obstacle before them. ¡°What do you think, Arnie?¡±

    The cat boy looked around, noticing a closed door close to the gate. This was most likely meant for guards to get down from the top of the gate in case there was something going on at the bottom. The main thing that he took notice of was the electronic lock next to the door.

    ¡°I think I can get us inside through that door over there,¡± Arkay said, pointing at where said door was. ¡°If I use my invisibility, I should be able to get us close to it and then use my technomancer ability to open the lock. That should at least get us into the insides of the wall itself, if not pas the gate.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Let¡¯s go for it.¡±

    The cat boy nodded and began to prepare his invisibility spell. He was about to activate it, when suddenly something unexpected happened.

    ¡°THERE YOU TWO ARE!¡± a seemingly drunken man dressed in rags with a hood over his head said with his words slurring, as he put his arms around the shoulders of both Erin and Arkay. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you guys! Why the hell are you here!? You know this isn¡¯t the way to the house! Come on! The wife¡¯s waiting for you two with food at the ready!¡±

    Having been taken by complete surprise, it took a moment for Erin and Arkay to register what had just happened. It was only after the man had been leading them away from the gate a couple of steps did they realize what was going on.

    ¡°Hey, hang on! I think you¡¯re mistaken, pal!¡± Erin said as she began to struggle against the arm holding her. ¡°We¡¯re not your-!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t cause a scene and ruin this, you two,¡± the man suddenly whispered to them, his slurring now completely gone. ¡°I might be able to fool those guys with this act as long as we¡¯re able to keep it up, but if you start acting up now, I doubt I¡¯ll be able to keep it up.¡±

    ¡°What the-?¡± the redhead said in surprise, but quickly calmed herself. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m an associate of a certain mutual friend we share,¡± the man replied. ¡°Just keep going along and I¡¯ll take you two to a place where we can talk a bit more freely. There are eyes and ears everywhere.¡±

    Upon hearing this explanation, Erin glanced to the side a bit and noticed some of the local residents staring at them. While this wasn¡¯t unusual, as this had been happening ever since they had entered the slums, these people were different. Unlike most people whose bodies were ravaged by hunger and sickness, these one were in good health and had a different look in their eyes. Instead of the hazy eyes of desperation, their gazes were sharp and determined, like they were on a mission. The redhead quickly realized that these were other guards or agents of sorts, tasked with watching over the immediate area for any troublemakers.

    Guessing by the way this man was acting and the fact that he had mentioned a ¡°mutual friend¡± told Erin that he was most likely one of Rayleen¡¯s people that they were tasked with getting into contact with. All she could hope that her guess was right and they wouldn¡¯t be walking into their doom.

    It took some time, but the man managed to eventually lead Erin and Arkay to his supposed base deep within the slums. Much like all the other buildings, it looked like a hastily built shack that could topple over from a strong breeze. However, once inside, Erin noticed that there were runes covering the walls. These were obviously not something a regular resident in this area would have, so it seemed like they had found their contact.

    Once the door was closed, the man walked to the middle of the room, where a lantern was sitting on the ground. He lit it up, but not by using matches or a lighter. Instead, he flicked his fingers, shooting a small ball of fire that caused the lantern to light up.

    ¡°Alright, now that we have some much needed privacy, I think it¡¯s time we get down to business,¡± the man said pulling down the hood that had been covering his head, revealing his face. ¡°I know it¡¯s not exactly a nice place, but do make yourselves feel comfortable.¡±

    With his face now revealed, Erin and Arkay could take a proper look at him. From what they could tell, he was young human male with short black hair. He had a white bandana tied over his head, covering it from the top. Unlike Izra or Wargas, he didn¡¯t look intimidating at all, as he had a lot more friendlier aura. Still, he was a direct subordinate of Rayleen, so his looks could be deceiving.

    ¡°...Thanks for the help back there,¡± Erin said, still somewhat unsure as to how she should behave around this new person. ¡°Had you not interfered, we might have ended up arrested or worse.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it! That sort of stuff comes with the job!¡± the man said with a smile. ¡°Besides, I do have to take some responsibility over what almost happened?¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°You see, I kind of knew about you guys almost as soon as you came here. In fact, I started following you guys around the time those thugs began to follow you,¡± the man explained. ¡°I know I should have gotten your attention earlier, but I was curious to see your level of skill. I was a bit impressed, honestly. Although, I did get a bit confused, when you didn¡¯t head towards my hideout. Weren¡¯t you provided with a map?¡±

    ¡°No. All we got was an order to come here and get in contact with you,¡± Erin said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°No offense, but your boss is really reckless when it come to giving out orders.¡±

    ¡°None taken! I kind of expected that to happen somewhat!¡± the man said with a chuckle. ¡°Anyways, my name is Ao and I¡¯m the contact Rayleen left here to meet with you. And judging from your looks, I¡¯m guessing you two are Erin and Arkay, correct?¡±

    ¡°That is correct,¡± the redhead replied with a nod. ¡°Were you perhaps provided with detailed descriptions in regards to our looks?¡±

    ¡°Kind of, but I have to say that they are not exactly fair,¡± Ao said as he pulled out a piece of paper and began to look it over. ¡°Two of the people I was told about meeting were described as ¡°an insanely incompetent redheaded girl who oozes naivety¡± and ¡°a kitty boy brat.¡± Most of the others are very similar, except for one.¡±

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, what did it say about Lexton?¡± Erin asked with a frown, already guessing the answer she would receive. ¡°He¡¯s the kobold in our group and I¡¯m guessing the one with a pleasant description.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right! There¡¯s a description in regards to a kobold, who is ¡°inexplicably handsome and cute, yet has an aura of intellectual and sexual nature,¡± the dark-haired man said with a surprised look in his eyes as he read the description. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°...Those were all written by Izra, weren¡¯t they?¡± the redhead asked in return.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned! You got that completely right as well!¡± Ao said, completely surprised. ¡°Are you perhaps psychic or something?¡±

    ¡°...Just a lucky guess,¡± Erin muttered unhappily. ¡°Anyways, you guys needed us to do some sort of a job for you here, right? I¡¯m guessing you need us to assassinate someone close to Golorath.¡±

    ¡°Close, but not quite,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°What we need you to do is something a bit¡­ different. Your job is to kidnap someone important.¡±

    ¡°Kidnap?¡± the redhead asked, receiving a nod in response. ¡°Then who is it that we need to kidnap for you?¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s her picture,¡± Ao said as he gave a photograph to Erin.

    Upon looking at the picture, the redhead could feel how her face turned pale. Despite having not seen her for a few years, she could still recognize the person. After all, they had been close friends for a few years, for better or worse.

    In the picture was Stacey Merreth, one of the people from her high school friend group.

 141. Golorathéˆ¥æªš Princess

    Chapter 141

    Golorath¡¯s Princess

    Erin could feel beads of sweat fall down the side of her face, as she held the picture with a shaking hand. The fact that she was staring at a picture of her old high school friend, Stacey, who had seemingly been transported into the same world as she had been was something the redhead would have never imagined. All this time, she had simply assumed that it was only herself and Devin¡¯s group who had come here, yet here was proof that there were others.

    Questions began to race through Erin¡¯s mind from this revelation. Were all of her old friends here? Had anybody else been transported here? And if so, what were they doing? What had happened to them?

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Everything okay?¡± Ao asked, breaking Erin out of her thoughts. ¡°You suddenly started spacing out and your face seems rather pale. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh! Yes! I¡¯m completely fine!¡± the redhead replied awkwardly, realizing just how strange her reaction must have seemed. ¡°Just¡­ Who is this person? She doesn¡¯t seem like a general or any other important person like that.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re right about that. She isn¡¯t any kind of an influential person in the traditional sense,¡± the dark-haired man replied. ¡°However, she is very important to Golorath himself. While she has been rarely seen, whenever she has been spotted, she is always staying very close to the big boss himself. Even though our intel hasn¡¯t been able to verify her name, background or status, we have come to the obvious conclusion as to who she is.¡±

    ¡°...And that would be?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s obviously Golorath¡¯s wife,¡± Ao stated with a serious look on his face.

    This response almost caused the redhead to let out a surprised scream that was so loud that even the runes wouldn¡¯t have been able to block it. Part of her wanted to laugh while the other part wanted to scream in rage over the absurdity of such an idea. It was these conflicting feelings and her own sheer willpower that managed to help Erin keep up her act and not lose her composure completely. However, it still took her a few seconds, until she was able to respond herself.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I see,¡± was all that the redhead managed to say.

    The reason as to why Stacey being the wife of Golorath, who was one of Erin¡¯s former friends by the name Gabe, was such an absurd idea didn¡¯t come just from the fact that the redhead knew how much her old friend group hated Devin¡¯s group. Stacey had always had a personal deep disgust towards Gabe specifically, finding him gross and repulsive. In fact, it had been Stacey herself, who had given Gabe his infamous nickname ¡°Porky Gabe.¡± This is why the idea of Stacey actually marrying the person she hated so much seemed like a sheer impossibility to Erin.

    However, when she thought about it more rationally, it could make sense. After all, she was in a strange and unknown world now. What better way to survive than to seek the protection of someone of immense power? Even if that was someone you used to hate. Besides, Erin herself had changed since her high school days and the same could have happened to her old friend as well.

    ¡°So why do you want to kidnap her, if she is just Golorath¡¯s wife?¡± Arkay asked, bringing Erin back from her thoughts. ¡°I doubt she has any sensitive military information on him, so isn¡¯t this just a waste of time?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, my young friend!¡± Ao said with a grin. ¡°This isn¡¯t done so that we can extract important military information out of her! What we want is to cause emotional and psychological damage to Golorath himself!¡±

    ¡°W-What!?¡± Erin cried out in surprise. ¡°What do you mean by that!?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what I said. What¡¯s so hard to understand?¡± the dark-haired man replied with a confused look on his face. ¡°I mean, isn¡¯t it obvious that in order to attack someone as powerful as Golorath, we need to strike him where it hurts? And what better way to do so than to target someone he holds very dear to him, like a wife?¡±

    ¡°B-But she¡¯s not any kind of a combatant or anything!¡± Arkay tried to argue. ¡°How can you just attack someone who has nothing to do with what Golorath has done!?¡±

    ¡°Nothing to do with¡­? Do you really believe that?¡± Ao asked. ¡°Do you really think that the person, who is basically the closest thing to Western Continent¡¯s queen hasn¡¯t dirtied her hands even a bit? If nothing else, she surely has enjoyed the privilege her position grants her, while everybody below her suffers! Do you seriously think that she¡¯s completely blameless in all of this?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any proof of that!?¡± Erin asked, not liking how this operation was looking. ¡°All you have said so far is nothing but assumptions! Can you really put faith in that!?¡±

    ¡°So what if it isn¡¯t true? I was honestly just repeating what a lot of people are saying in order to get you motivated into doing this,¡± the dark-haired man said with a sigh. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re completely missing the bigger picture here. What we want is leverage against Golorath, which isn¡¯t something that¡¯s easy to come by. In order to free these lands from his rule, we have to get our hands dirty. Or is that somehow a foreign concept to you?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s not,¡± the redhead said, thinking back on her talk with Rayleen. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I like doing stuff like this, though.¡±

    ¡°Hey, do you think I enjoy this?¡± Ao asked. ¡°I¡¯d rather be doing pretty much anything else than going around mercilessly slaughtering people. However, if you want to see some actual change, you need to get your hands dirty. That¡¯s just how this world is, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    Arkay was about to protest further, but Erin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. The cat boy looked up to see the redhead lightly shake her head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say we do this job for you,¡± Erin said, looking at Ao. ¡°What is going to happen to this woman? Are you going to torture her or something?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­ We¡¯re not animals. I can promise that she¡¯ll get fair treatment, including food and a decent bed to sleep in,¡± the dark-haired man replied. ¡°That is, of course, as long as she behaves herself. I can¡¯t promise that she¡¯ll be unharmed, if she decides to try and fight us. Self-defense and everything, you know?¡±

    ¡°...And once you no longer need her?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be let go with no strings attached. I promise,¡± Ao said. ¡°After that, she¡¯ll be on her own and has to make by herself. We won¡¯t be looking after her any longer, so it¡¯s all up to her whether she can survive or not.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. That sounds fine by me,¡± Erin said after thinking it over. ¡°I pretty sure I can work with that.¡±

    While she completely understood the grudges and other negative feelings Rayleen¡¯s people and many others most likely felt towards Stacey, the redhead wasn¡¯t keen on the idea of letting her be killed because of them. Now that she had received confirmation from one of Rayleen¡¯s closest aides, she could rest easy that nothing too bad would happen to her. Stacey would still have to find a way to live in this world on her own, but she could always receive help from those willing to give it. Erin herself would be more than willing to do so and she was sure her friends wouldn¡¯t mind either.

    ¡°That¡¯s great to hear!¡± Ao said happily. ¡°So you¡¯re willing to take part in this operation then?¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s what I just said,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like I have a choice, do I? I mean, the way your boss made it seem was like we either work with her or we¡¯re dead. Or did I misunderstand something?¡±

    ¡°Nah, you¡¯re pretty much right about that. I was told that if you for some reason decided to refuse, I would have to kill you and your friends,¡± the dark-haired man said with a shrug. ¡°Good thing that we didn¡¯t have to go there, though. I would have hated being forced to kill you guys. I might not look like it, but I¡¯m quite the pacifist at heart.¡±

    ¡°You would have killed all of us?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re the only one here?¡±

    ¡°Yup. The boss didn¡¯t feel like sending anyone else here, as I¡¯m more than enough to handle this operation,¡± Ao explained. ¡°Something wrong with that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a bit surprised. I mean, you¡¯re saying that you alone are enough to take on our whole group. While I¡¯m certain you can handle us, the strongest members of our group are still left and they would not go down quietly. You¡¯d be in for the fight of your life,¡± the redhead said, before looking at Arkay apologetically. ¡°No offense, Arnie.¡±

    ¡°None taken,¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°I know my limits.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you think your buddies can take me on? That¡¯s adorable!¡± Ao said with a laugh. ¡°Tell me something, though. Can you say that after I do this?¡±

    Before either Erin or Arkay could say anything, they felt the heat in the shack suddenly rise up to an insane degree. It was like they were in the middle of a desert all of a sudden and the sun was shining right on top of them. Both were immediately complete drenched in sweat and fell to their knees, unable to take the heat and sheer pressure they were under.

    They looked up to see Ao simply standing before them without showing any signs of even being bothered by the heat. They then noticed a strange aura surrounding the dark-haired man¡¯s body. It was only barely visible, but they could see small blue embers surround his body. It was then that they realized that this was all his doing and just how powerful he truly was. If he could make them kneel like this with such ease, just what else could he do?

    ¡°I think you¡¯re finally starting to understand the pecking order here,¡± Ao said with a grin, releasing his technique. The temperature inside immediately dropped down to a normal level. ¡°Try not to say anything that can be taken as a threat again, okay? A lot of people are not as forgiving and kind as me, so it would have ended badly for you with pretty much anybody else.¡±

    ¡°Noted,¡± Erin replied as she stood up and helped Arkay to his feet. ¡°So what exactly is the plan? How do we go about this kidnapping?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, actually,¡± the dark-haired man replied. ¡°You see, one of our buddies managed to get their hands on a bus that travels between here and a nearby city. That bus is supposed to bring people to work here and take with it those who are going on a vacation. Since it¡¯s a very high-class pampered population up there, they require top staff to be there 24/7. I¡¯ll give you the location of where the bus will come to pick you up and you¡¯ll be stepping onboard it. Once it has taken you inside, you¡¯ll have to go about the kidnapping itself on your own. We will, however, provide you with maps and possible other equipment in order to help you with the job. Any questions?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I do have one,¡± Arkay said. ¡°If Golorath¡¯s wife is going to be here, doesn¡¯t that mean that he himself will also be here? Shouldn¡¯t we go after the overlord himself instead of his wife?¡±

    ¡°While otherwise that would be a good point, it unfortunately doesn¡¯t work here,¡± Ao said. ¡°You see, Golorath himself isn¡¯t coming here, only his lady and some of his personal guard as escorts. My best guess is that even such powerful couples need time away from each other or something.¡±

    ¡°Alright, but mind explaining one more thing for us?¡± Erin asked to which the dark-haired man nodded. ¡°Why exactly do you need us for an operation like this? Doesn¡¯t Rayleen have enough people serving under her that could do this?¡±

    ¡°She certainly has more than enough people capable of doing this, but there are two reasons as to why she wants your group to do it,¡± Ao began to explain. ¡°For starters, it¡¯s always a good idea to use your own resources in a smart manner. Why waste your own people, when you can get someone else to do the job for you? Also, if she were to send me or anybody else that is recognizable from her forces, there¡¯s the risk of her plots being discovered. That¡¯s why using outsiders like you is a more sensible idea.¡±

    ¡°How charming,¡± the redhead muttered unhappily. ¡°Anyways, where do we need to be in order to get into this bus your colleague is driving?¡±

    ¡°It will be near the outskirts of the city on the way towards the main road that leads to the upper part of the city,¡± the dark-haired man answered. ¡°There are some rocks over there that have been marked with graffiti, so it should be easy to find.¡±

    ¡°When will the bus arrive?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± Ao replied. ¡°Make sure to be there or else we might lose our chance in doing this, okay?¡±

    ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll be there,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Is there anything else that we should know?¡±

    ¡°Not really, although, I guess I should warn you about the guards there. They¡¯re far above your average soldier in terms of strength and abilities, so be very careful when facing them. Unlike most people, they actually have received legitimate training in using magic and ki, so they¡¯re some real hardcore killers. Do NOT underestimate them, okay?¡± the dark-haired man said to which Erin and Arkay both nodded. ¡°Also, if you wouldn¡¯t mind, could you¡­?¡±

    For some reason, Ao left his question unfinished and simply stayed silent, seemingly staring off into nothing particular. Erin and Arkay shared and uncomfortable glance, wondering what was up with him.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Is everything alright?¡± Arkay asked, breaking the sudden silence and snapping Ao from his thoughts. ¡°You were about to ask us to do something, but went completely silent all of a sudden.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind that!¡± the dark-haired man replied with a smile. ¡°I was just thinking about asking your help with something, but I decided it¡¯s better if I handle this on my own!¡±

    ¡°...If you say so,¡± the cat boy said, before giving Erin a glance, who just shrugged in response.

    <hr>

    With their business concluded, Erin and Arkay started to leave. Ao gave them directions, so that they could get back to their van as fast as possible.

    Once the two had walked away, Ao let out a sigh and turned to look at the buildings behind him.

    ¡°Hey, you guys can come out already,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°I already know you¡¯re all there, so there¡¯s no use in hiding.¡±

    As soon as he said this, people began to emerge from different hiding places. For the most part, they were just local residents, having most likely been hired cheaply to provide some extra muscle to whoever was leading the group. A few guards from the upper parts of the city were also mixed in the ranks, brandishing proper weaponry instead of whatever the locals could get their hands on.

    However, at the front of the group was a large male orc, making himself know as the leader. He was wearing a gray uniform with a large gray camouflage raincoat over his shoulders. On his back were two large battleaxes that were glowing with magical energy. His hair had been styled into a spiky mohawk and he had a cocky grin on his face, as he was certain of his victory.

    ¡°Well, this is certainly quite the party,¡± Ao said, looking over the group before his eyes. ¡°Judging by your looks, you¡¯re not here to tour the local sights. May I offer some assistance perhaps?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a funny guy, aren¡¯t you? Playing it up, despite the trouble you¡¯re in,¡± the orc at the front said as he pulled out his weapons. Sparks of lighting emanated from the axes as he got in a battle stance. ¡°You probably know who I am, so why don¡¯t you just make this easy on yourself and surrender peacefully? That way you can at least live a bit longer.¡±

    ¡°My what originality you have, good sir. I¡¯m truly terrified over here,¡± the dark-haired man said with a yawn. ¡°As for knowing who you are¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but who exactly are you? I get that you¡¯re one of those elite assassins or whatever, but I can¡¯t just find it in me to remember your actual name right now.¡±

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a cocky little prick!? But you won¡¯t be laughing soon!¡± the orc said angrily, hating how he was not being taken seriously at all. ¡°Once you realize that you¡¯re facing the famous Twin Lightning Gulrak himself! Does that ring a bell!?¡±

    ¡°...Nope. Not at all,¡± Ao replied calmly, further angering the assassin. ¡°But enough in trying to remember you. It won¡¯t matter soon anyways. I do wonder why you guys decided to go after me, if you know who my guests were? They would have been much easier to catch.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but what kind of a fool let¡¯s a golden opportunity like this just slip past them?¡± Gulrak asked in return with a grin. ¡°Not only will I be able to catch the largest bounty in the world, but I can also turn over a traitor within Lord Golorath¡¯s forces! While I don¡¯t know the details, my guess is that you¡¯re part of a plot to overthrow him! Once I bring this to his attention, I will certainly be rewarded handsomely!¡±

    ¡°Oh, dear me¡­ Another fool blinded by greed that leads him to his doom,¡± the dark-haired man said with a sigh. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have gone after me. To borrow what you said earlier, you could have at least lived a bit longer that way.¡±

    ¡°OH YEAH!?¡± the assassin asked angrily. ¡°And what makes you say that!?¡±

    ¡°...You don¡¯t get it, do you? For a moment, I considered letting my associates there handle you all in order to see how good they truly are, but decided against it. Do you know why?¡± Ao asked. ¡°It¡¯s not because I I feared for their safety or anything like that. I just realized it has been a while since I¡¯ve gotten some proper exercise and wanted to do this myself instead.¡±

    ¡°You arrogant little¡­!¡± Gulrak cursed. ¡°And just how are you going to beat us all by yourself!?¡±

    ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know? Then you¡¯re weaker than I thought,¡± the dark-haired man said with a disappointed sigh. ¡°If you look to your left, you and your buddies might actually see it before you all die.¡±

    Taken aback by this, the assassin looked to his left and saw a small blue ball of fire floating next to his face. Much like him, everybody else had a similar thing floating next to them. The ball was very small, no bigger than a golf ball. It honestly looked like a strong breeze could extinguish it.

    Before anybody could react, Ao snapped his fingers, causing all of the fireballs to suddenly explode. The explosions caused every single person that had a fireball next to them to have their heads be engulfed by flames, which was soon followed by them dropping to the ground dead.

    ¡°Lucky you. You all managed to see it,¡± Ao said with a grin.

    The dark-haired man was about to leave, when he noticed one of the bodies move. It was one of the locals, who despite his heavily burnt face was desperately trying to crawl away.

    ¡°Well, would you look at that. You¡¯re either a very lucky one or a tough one,¡± Ao said as he walked up to the crawling man, who looked up at him in terror. ¡°You were able to move your head far enough before the explosion, thus managing to save your life. Still made a mess of your face, though¡­¡±

    ¡°P-Please spare me!¡± the man pleaded with tears in his remaining eye. ¡°I-I won¡¯t tell anyone about anything that happened here! I promise!¡±

    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t take that deal. There¡¯s always a chance you¡¯re either lying or you¡¯ll change your mind later. Greed is a powerful thing, you know?¡± the dark-haired man said as he gathered blue flames on his hand. ¡°Besides, if you¡¯re ready to kill, you should be ready to be killed as well. You can only blame yourself here, but you do have my sympathies. I¡¯ll make sure this will be as painless as possible.¡±

    There was one last scream, before everything went quiet once again in Graven Hills.

 142. Bus from Hell

    Chapter 142

    Bus from Hell

    Having concluded their business with Ao, Erin and Arkay had quickly returned to their friends without any issues. The only strange thing they had to deal with was Ryle acting up once again, this time clinging to Arkay and giving Erin strangely hostile looks. The redhead herself had decided not to question it, chalking it up to whatever strange ideas the blonde had gotten this time. Not only that, but asking about it was surely going to just make things worse, so she decided to let it be and ignore it as much as she could.

    With their whole group together again, Erin had proceeded to tell the others about the mission Rayleen had left them with. The fact that they would be taking part in a kidnapping had mixed reactions from the others.

    Lexton and Zeldana seemed to be the most okay with idea, as they were more logical overall when compared to the others in the group. The way they saw it, it was a sound plan to target Golorath through someone who was important to him. After all, they were the underdogs going up against a much more powerful enemy, so they needed to utilize any and all advantages they could.

    Ryle and Durge, on the other hand, were not so keen on the idea. Not only was the idea of kidnapping someone something that they just found hard to stomach, but the fact that they were going after a person that was essentially a non-combatant didn¡¯t sit right with them either. At least knowing that the person they were targeting wouldn¡¯t be subjected to any inhuman torture or violence of other kind made it easier for them to accept the job.

    Having brought their whole group up to speed on what was ahead of them, their next move was to locate the place where the bus would come and pick them up. Thanks to the directions Ao had given them, the place was easily found. There were indeed large rocks with a graffiti of a large red cross painted on one of them, making their meeting point easy to find.

    The only issue they now faced was hiding their van, as they all would be too busy with their mission to be left watching over it. Luckily, they managed to find a nearby cave that was uninhabited, where they could leave their vehicle. Thanks to Lexton, they were able to place some repellents at the entrance that would drive away most animals. He had also prepared two of his golems and left them there to guard the place. If everything went alright, they should be able to return before the two constructs ran out of time.

    With all of their preparations ready, the only thing left to do was rest up for the mission they had next morning. This unfortunately was easier said than, especially for Ryle, as the stench coming from the repellents was making it difficult to sleep. The only one not bothered by the smell was Lexton, who had already gotten used to it.

    Once morning came, the group got up early in order to catch up with the bus they were supposed to meet up with. They decided to take turns in looking out for the approaching vehicle, while the others made their final preparations for the mission.

    Ryle was on watch duty, still trying to rub some of the sleep from her eyes, when she looked at the general direction through binoculars where the bus was supposed to come from, when she spotted something in the distance. Upon noticing the approaching object, she immediately focused on it, waiting for it to come closer so she could properly tell what it was. It didn¡¯t take long for it to get close enough and reveal itself as the bus they had been waiting for.

    ¡°HEY, GUYS! I think it¡¯s here!¡± the blonde called out to the others, who immediately got up and rushed to her side.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Erin asked, taking the binoculars. ¡°Where did you see it?¡±

    ¡°Over there!¡± Ryle replied as she pointed at the direction. ¡°I¡¯m sure I saw it coming towards here!¡±

    ¡°Are you absolutely certain that what you saw was a bus?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°This bus you saw wouldn¡¯t have happened to have four legs instead of wheels?¡±

    ¡°Ha ha. You¡¯re a real freaking comedian, Lex,¡± the blonde muttered angrily. ¡°Why don¡¯t you start a show and get on a stage? I¡¯d love to throw something at you.¡±

    ¡°Well, the good news is that Ryle didn¡¯t see it wrong. It is a bus,¡± Erin said, having found the vehicle the blonde had seen. ¡°However, I think you forgot to mention something, Ryle.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°This small detail about a GIANT BEAST CHASING IT!¡± the redhead shouted. ¡°Didn¡¯t you actually see that or did you just feel like it wasn¡¯t worth mentioning!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was focused on the bus, okay!? You can¡¯t just expect me to notice every little thing!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Besides, that thing is probably so small that it was hidden behind the bus! That¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°I have to doubt that a bit, seeing as I can see that thing from here,¡± Durge pointed out, as he looked at where the bus was. ¡°That thing is by no means small. Hell, the bus looks tiny next to it!¡±

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°If they are killed by that monster, then I don¡¯t think we can get inside!¡±

    ¡°...No other choice. We have to help them,¡± Erin said. ¡°But taking that thing on isn¡¯t going to be an easy feat.¡±

    Having made her decision on helping the people in need, the redhead began to survey their surroundings for thing that they could use to their advantage in the oncoming battle. There wasn¡¯t much in the environment itself that they could really use, as it was mostly empty badlands as far as they could see. There was just the cave they were using and the large rocks that had the marking on it for the meeting spot, but nothing else.

    However, an idea came to her, when she noticed the cracks in the ground.

    ¡°Lex, how many of your golems do you have at the ready?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°More than enough,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got a plan,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Just how small of a space can those things fit into? And how complex commands can they follow?¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    <hr>

    Micah was currently regretting all of the choices he had made in his life. He had come from a rather poor background, which closed a lot of opportunities for his future. Outside of becoming a criminal, his only options had been to either work years in some low pay job while hoping for better opportunities to come along or to join the military. The promises of a much better salary and numerous benefits had immediately caught his attention, so the choice had become very easy. Besides, all the major wars were long over. What was the worst thing that could happen?

    Had he known that he would end up joining a faction within the military that was planning to overthrow one of the Five Overlords himself, Micah would have chosen the slow and boring life of a working man.

    It wasn¡¯t that he was loyal to Golorath at all. In fact, much like most of the population, he hated him quite a bit. Issue was that he never wanted to actually challenge the guy in any way at all. There were numerous examples of people that had tried it and it didn¡¯t end well for them. All he wanted to do was keep his head down and do his best to enjoy life.

    Unfortunately, one day he had gotten lost in the barracks while looking for the bathroom and ended up in a secret meeting held between Rayleen¡¯s people, who were part of the rebellion that she was planning. He had luckily been able to avoid immediate death by bluffing his way out of the situation, claiming that he had been aware of their true colors for some time and wanted to join. This had led to a life on the edge, where one wrong move could end up getting him killed by either people loyal to Golorath or those loyal to Rayleen.

    Micah had thought that he would finally be able to relax, when he was assigned to take up the role of a simple bus driver in Graven Hills. While he knew that this would be part of a bigger plan, he could at least stay far away enough to avoid any possible fallout from what was going to happen.

    However, even if his job was safe in theory, it didn¡¯t mean that it absolutely was so. He had forgotten to pay attention to something very important. The badlands he was driving through were home to many beasts and could attack at any moment. And just like that, on the last day he was supposed to play the role of a driver, something did come attack him. A giant scorpion had burst out from the ground and proceeded to chase him.

    So far, Micah had been able to avoid the monster for the most part, although the back of the bus still ended up with a lot of holes from the scorpion¡¯s stinger. But he knew that driving this fast would end up destroying the engine, leaving him and everybody else as snacks for the monster. They needed a miracle now in order to survive.

    Almost as if summoned by his thoughts, something suddenly smashed against the windshield, leaving purple sludge on it. Before Micah could do anything to get rid of it, the sludge began to move, forming a text before his eyes.

    DRIVE PAST THE CAVE TO THE RIGHT

    Seeing as this was so far the only thing that could possibly help him, Micah decided to follow the directions given to him. Steering towards the cave, he hoped that whatever or whoever had given him the instructions would actually be able to save him.

    Just as he went past the cave, something happened to the scorpion following after him. All of a sudden, something that looked like dark purple slime came from out of the ground and took hold of the monster¡¯s legs, forcing it to a stop. The creature let out an enraged screech, as it struggled to free itself.

    However, before it could do so, people appeared from the cave to slay it.

    One person used a whip to ensnare the scorpion¡¯s tail, stopping it from using its stinger. This was quickly followed by a redheaded woman wielding a sword that had flames surrounding it to come and cut off the stinger, thus taking away the beast¡¯s main weapon. The scorpion screeched from pain and was finally able to free itself from the slime that had covered its legs. Now that it was free, it turned its attention to the two people that had taken its tail from it. Just as it was about to attack them, a powerful bolt of lightning came from the cave and hit it, leaving it in a stunned state from the shock. Finally, two more people emerged from hiding to put the finishing touches on the creature. The first one threw what seemed to be knives into the scorpion¡¯s eyes, blinding it and keeping it distracted from the last attacker. The last person was a large orc, who jumped on the scorpion¡¯s back and smashed it on the head with a hammer that seemed to shoot flames from the back. This last blow was so powerful that it completely crushed the creature¡¯s head and brain, killing it instantly.

    With the threat now gone, Micah was able to finally ease up on the gas and come to a stop. Realizing that these were more than likely the people Rayleen had wanted him to meet up with, he climbed out of the vehicle and ran over to meet and thank them.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Micah said happily as he waved to his saviors, getting their attention. ¡°You guys just saved my life! Thank you!¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Erin said. ¡°Although, aren¡¯t you forgetting about your passengers?¡±

    ¡°My wha-? Oh, right! Thanks for saving their lives as well! I guess¡­¡± the bus driver said. ¡°Anyways, were you perhaps sent here by a certain special person?¡±

    ¡°You mean Ray-?¡± the redhead began to ask, but was cut off by Micah.

    ¡°Shhh! Don¡¯t say that name out loud!¡± the bus driver said as he looked around in a panic. ¡°Did anybody hear that!?¡±

    ¡°...Are the people you¡¯re traveling with perhaps NOT part of your special group?¡± Lexton asked as he walked up to Erin and Micah with the others following behind.

    ¡°Those guys in the bus? Nah! They¡¯re completely aware of what¡¯s going on,¡± Micah replied. ¡°But you never know who might be listening, so it¡¯s always best to be as cautious as possible.¡±

    Erin and her friends looked at each other, all questioning the bus driver¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°Do you perhaps have health issues related to stress and paranoia?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Micah asked in return as he took a bottle of pills out of his pocket and popped a couple of them in his mouth.

    ¡°Just a lucky guess,¡± the elf said as she rolled her eyes.

    ¡°So, ignoring the more disturbing things we¡¯ve been through right now, did you have outfits and equipment for us with you?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Should we be getting changed right now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re in the back of the bus,¡± Micah replied. ¡°They¡¯re all in suitcases designated to each of you.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thanks,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Guess we might as well go and get changed then.¡±

    Erin and her friends moved inside the bus and headed to the back. As they did so, they were greeted and thanked by the other passengers on the bus, who were happy over having their lives saved. Once at the back, they found six large suitcases, each with a white note on top of them.

    ¡°So any idea which belongs to who?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°They all look rather similar on the outsides.¡±

    ¡°My guess is that it¡¯s written on those notes. I¡¯m sure if we look at them, we¡¯ll be able to tell who gets which one,¡± Erin said as she grabbed one of the suitcases. ¡°...For example, I think this one is mine.¡±

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°The fact that it says ¡°The idiot leader with the red hair,¡± the redhead said as she showed the suitcase to the others, showing that it indeed had said text on it. ¡°I fail to see who else this could be meant for.¡±

    Much like with Erin, each one of them had a rather special description that designated one of the suitcases to them. The texts were less than flattering to say the least.

    ¡°Ugly brute orc,¡± Durge read the text on his suitcase with a frown on his face. ¡°That¡¯s a bit uncalled for¡­¡±

    ¡°You think you¡¯ve got it bad!? Mine says ¡°The brainless blonde!¡± Ryle said angrily as she glared at the insulting text. ¡°Who the hell wrote these!?¡±

    ¡°I think I have an idea, but I still need to hear the others before I can confirm it,¡± Erin said as she turned to the other members of their group. ¡°What do yours say?¡±

    ¡°Psycho doctor elf,¡± Zeldana replied with a shrug. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not all that wrong, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Mine says ¡°Useless kitty brat¡­¡± Arkay said in sad voice. ¡°Am I really useless?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Arnie! Of course not!¡± Ryle said as she went to hug the cat boy. ¡°Don¡¯t care about the mean bag! Just come into my arms and-¡±

    The blonde was roughly shoved away by Erin, who turned her attention to their youngest member.

    ¡°Arnie, listen to me. There is no way you¡¯d actually be useless. Remember, you were the one who saved us, when we were stuck in that death game of the Laughing Ogre. You saved us from burning to death in Gotzmeyer¡¯s base. And you¡¯ve always assisted us in combat with your magic skills plenty of times,¡± the redhead said. ¡°If anything, you should take this as a motivation to prove the person who wrote that to be completely wrong, okay? Knowing you, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to do it sooner, rather than later.¡±

    ¡°Y-You really think so?¡± Arkay asked to which Erin nodded. ¡°...Alright! I¡¯ll make you guys proud to have me with you!¡±

    ¡°We already are,¡± the redhead said as she gently patted the cat boy¡¯s head with a smile on her face. She then turned her attention to the last member of their group. ¡°What about you, Lex? I have this weird feeling that yours isn¡¯t at all a negative description.¡±

    ¡°How did you know? Mine says ¡°The sexy and intellectual kobold¡± on it,¡± Lexton said. ¡°While I am obviously flattered, I¡¯d like it if they were more focused on my cultured and intelligent side. Not that I have any issues with being complimented for my looks or anything, I just find it less remarkable about myself.¡±

    ¡°...Goddamn Izra,¡± Erin mumbled as she rolled her eye. ¡°Anyways, suit up, guys. We¡¯ve got a job ahead of us and we need to be dressed for the part.¡±

    Putting on their disguises provided by Rayleen¡¯s people, Erin and the others got ready for their mission of infiltrating the upper parts of Graven Hills and kidnapping Golorath¡¯s supposed wife.

    Little did they know that their mission was far from what they were expecting.

 143. High Life Service (Part 1)

    Chapter 143

    High Life Service (Part 1)

    The guards stationed at the gate that led to the upper parts of Graven Hills weren¡¯t surprised when they saw the bus with new servants arrive later than expected. Since the drive was rather long and went through the wastelands that were filled with all sorts of deadly creatures and bandits, it wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary that something might happen to lead to this. There had even been cases where the bus had been completely taken down with all passengers slaughtered by whatever bloodthirsty beings decided to target the vehicles. Not only that, but there were numerous other non-violent reasons for there to be long delays.

    What was strange was seeing the condition the bus itself was in. The back had large holes punctured into it and cuts that sliced right through the metal. Whatever had attacked them this time had been a very dangerous monster, yet they had somehow managed to avoid it. One could only wonder what tricks or equipment the driver had used to escape the clutches of such a monster.

    The bus came to a stop at the front of the gate, where they waited for the guards to come down and do their usual inspection before letting them in. Soon the door at the side of the gate opened and two guards walked out, motioning for the driver to open the door and let them in.

    ¡°What exactly happened with you guys?¡± one of the two guards asked the driver. ¡°I¡¯ve seen cars that were in the middle of battlefields that survived with less damage.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ Well¡­ We were attacked by a Wasteland Scorpion,¡± the driver replied nervously. ¡°As you can probably guess by the damage it did to the bus, it was quite large¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn! One of those things!? I heard even juveniles are bigger than cars!¡± the guard said as he looked at the damages the bus had sustained. ¡°I¡¯m honestly surprised you managed to get away from it! How did you do that!?¡±

    ¡°Well, it was mostly luck, I guess,¡± the driver began to explain. ¡°We drove past a cave that apparently had something in it that likes scorpions. I wasn¡¯t able to catch what it was, but thanks to it picking a fight with the scorpion, we were able to get away.¡±

    ¡°Man, that sure is lucky¡­ Oh well, better for our residents, I suppose,¡± the guard said as he began to walk towards the back of the bus. ¡°Can¡¯t have our dear residents not be served, am I right?¡±

    As the guard moved through the bus, he inspected everything his eyes could catch, while his partner looked over the outside and underneath the bus. As far as they could tell, this was just another regular transport with a bunch of workers inside. Nothing that was particularly worthy of notice.

    However, the guard inside the bus suddenly saw something that grabbed his attention. There were two new female employees, dressed in maid outfits sitting on one of the benches. Their beauty immediately captivated him and he decided to strike up a conversation with them.

    ¡°Well, hello there, ladies,¡± the guard said as he smiled at the two maids. ¡°What might bring you two here?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the outfit tell you enough, you blind son of a-¡±

    The blonde maid¡¯s angry response was cut short by her redheaded friend punching her to the back of the head. The redhead maid then turned towards the guard, who was stunned from the rude response.

    ¡°Please forgive my friend, good sir. She¡¯s been having a tough time lately,¡± the redheaded maid said as she bowed her head down apologetically and forced her blonde colleague to do the same. ¡°She had to come work here in order to support her sick father, which has put her on the edge. I swear that she doesn¡¯t actually mean to be disrespectful.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± the guard said, breaking out of his stunned silence. ¡°You have sympathy over the hardships you¡¯re going through, but I would advise against letting your emotions loose like that. While that get you only minor issues with guards and other servants, the actual guests will most likely get you fired, if you¡¯re lucky. I have seen people who made only slight mistakes get executed on the spot, so please be careful.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep your warning in mind. Thank you for the advice,¡± the redheaded maid said with a smile.

    The guard proceeded to look through the rest of the bus and found nothing suspicious. With the inspection done, he exited the vehicle and ordered the gate to be opened, allowing the bus to drive into the upper parts of Graven Hills.

    ¡°Ryle, you absolute moron! What the hell were you thinking!?¡± Erin hissed angrily at her blonde companion. ¡°Do you actually want us to get caught or something!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t sign up to get hit on by some greasy security guard, okay!?¡± Ryle said back, equally angry. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that I have to wear this idiotic outfit, but that just crosses the line! I swear that if any pervert decides to start feeling me up, I¡¯m going to break their arms!¡±

    ¡°You will NOT do such a thing!¡± the redhead said sternly. ¡°Remember that we are on a mission here and cannot fail this! So just suck it up and act like a grown up for once!¡±

    As the two women kept arguing, the others in the group couldn¡¯t help but watch them with concerned looks on their faces. They worried that if this kept going, they might get caught.

    ¡°Something needs to be done about those two and fast,¡± Durge said. ¡°There only needs to be someone right outside the bus who notices this and reports it, then it¡¯s into the jail with us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s jail, if we¡¯re lucky, remember? They might just shoot up the bus just to be safe,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t see why they¡¯re so upset. They at least had someone flirting with them. What about me? I¡¯d say I¡¯m the best looking maid here!¡±

    ¡°Ignoring your personal crisis for now, I do agree that we need to pacify those two quickly,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Good thing that we only really need to calm down Ryle, as Erin will soon calm down herself once that happens. And I just so happen to know the best way to achieve this result.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Why, Arnie my friend. It¡¯s you,¡± the kobold replied with a smirk.

    Erin and Ryle were still in the middle of arguing, when Arkay suddenly walked up to them. He gently tapped Ryle on her arm to get her attention. The blonde turned her attention towards the cat boy, wondering what he had to say.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Ryle? I know that you don¡¯t like the outfit and all, but can you just bear with it for now? We are going to need your strength in getting through this, so please just try to tolerate it for now. I¡¯m sure you can do it,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t think the outfit is all that bad. It honestly looks good on you.¡±

    ¡°YES! IT¡¯S BEEN DECIDED! I SHALL WEAR THIS WITH PRIDE!¡± Ryle suddenly declared enthusiastically. ¡°I was made to wear this!¡±

    ¡°...You have a very simple and predictable mind, don¡¯t you?¡± Erin asked sarcastically as she glared at the blonde.

    Seeing as how Lexton¡¯s plan had worked, he and Arkay gave each other a thumbs up, which went unnoticed by Ryle.

    Now that all the arguing had stopped and everybody had calmed down, they were able to observe their surroundings as the bus slowly drove through the upper area of Graven Hills. To say that it was different from the lower parts would be an understatement, as the difference between the two was like night and day.

    Unlike the lower parts, where you could see filth and trash everywhere, this place was completely clean. Not a single piece of trash could be found anywhere on the ground and any possible stains had been wiped away. If one were to tell you that every inch of every possible building, road and any other surface was wiped carefully clean every day, you¡¯d be able to believe that.

    While the lower parts had hastily built shacks as buildings, the buildings in the upper parts were made not just out of proper materials with absolute care, but it seemed like said materials had also been specifically selected out of aesthetic reasons as well. Every building from the tallest to the smallest looked like it had been carved out of something fitting for expensive jewelry.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Lastly, the people were a different sight when compared to their counterparts in the slums. One could easily tell the wealth and luxury they were accustomed to. Finest clothing and finest accessories could be seen on almost everyone. Only the people that were servants weren¡¯t clad in such things, but even they looked to be far better off than the people in the lower parts. Not only that, but it was obvious with a glance that everybody had been fed well and there wasn¡¯t even a hint of sickness to be found.

    ¡°Talk about a change in scenery,¡± Erin said as she watched the people and buildings through the window. ¡°If you were just looking at this place, you¡¯d never even imagine just how badly things cane be on the outside.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it really makes you wanna puke, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ryle said with a frown. ¡°This is just like how it was back home. Regular people like myself are only allowed near such places when we are needed, but otherwise we better stay out! These people make me sick!¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t let your jealousy get the best of you! You should know that I want to live like this at some point, too!¡± Lexton suddenly said, getting the attention of the others. ¡°Did you think I sell my medicines and golems for fun or something? Of course I¡¯m hoping to earn enough money to live it up like royalty! Who the hell wouldn¡¯t want that!? Anybody who tells you that they would start donating their wealth once they get to this point is nothing but a liar!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I wasn¡¯t saying like that! I have no issues with people getting wealthy and using it however they want! Hell, if I had loads of cash, you can be certain that I¡¯d get a sweet ride and big house with servants like Arnie surrounding me¡­ Oh, that would be nice¡­¡± the blonde said as she began to drift into fantasies, only to snap out of it when she saw the others give her deadpan stares. ¡°A-Anyways! Like I said, I¡¯m not some whiny bum, who somehow thinks that others owe me for nothing! The reason I hate these people is because of their hypocrisy and disregard for others! Not only are they insanely rich, but some of them try to act like they¡¯re some virtuous saints, giving speeches about the injustices of our world and such! Well, what the hell do they do!? Throw a bit of pocket money here and there to feel and appear good!? Like that is going to change anything! And the worst is how they have to take from people like us! Me and my brother had to move three times, because the rich pricks at home kept building things to places we were living at! Did we get any compensation? Hell no! They already had more than enough, so do they really need to take anything from us!?¡±

    ¡°...I know what you mean. It¡¯s honestly a sickening sight to behold,¡± the kobold said with a frown on his face. ¡°People like the ones you just described think that just because they donate a free meal to a starving child will somehow make them a hero, when all they do is massage their own egos, like we are their personal pets or something. My kind have seen that more than you could ever imagine. They think they¡¯re helping the ¡°poor kobolds¡± by using us as slave labor and feeding us scraps, like some animals. And for what? So they can steal our secrets and get even wealthier, when they have more money than they can spend in their lives? Greed really is powerful, I tell you that much¡­¡±

    ¡°You got that right!¡± Ryle said in agreement before suddenly grinning. ¡°Guess even the two of us get to agree on something, huh?¡±

    Erin smiled a bit at the antics of her friends. At first, she had been worried that another argument would break out, but it seems that her fear was for nothing. Instead of a bitter disagreement, it seemed like Ryle and Lexton had found something that they agreed on. Maybe the two of them had far more in common than they knew?

    ¡°I¡¯m just as surprised as you are,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Although, it¡¯s ¡°my brother and I.¡± Not ¡°me and my brother.¡±

    ¡°OH, BITE MY ASS, WOULD YOU!?¡± Ryle shouted angrily at the kobold over being corrected on her grammar.

    Erin let out a deep sigh. It seemed like her hopes had been for nothing in the end.

    ¡°Hey, if you guys wouldn¡¯t mind, there are others here as well?¡± Micah suddenly called out from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°And I might only be speaking for myself, but I would like it if I didn¡¯t get arrested and executed, okay? So would you mind and keep the noise down there?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh yes! Sorry about that!¡± Erin apologized. ¡°My friends here have a tendency to get a bot out of hand every now and then!¡±

    ¡°More like on a daily basis, if you ask me,¡± Durge muttered, earning a glare from the redhead.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s once a day or once in a century, all I want is that you guys CUT IT OUT!¡± Micah yelled angrily. ¡°Seriously, when your idiot friend started talking back to that guard, I¡¯m pretty sure I dropped a load in my pants!¡±

    ¡°We really didn¡¯t need to hear that last part,¡± Lexton said.

    ¡°Okay! No more arguing! No more complaining! No more dropping loads into pants or whatever! Let¡¯s just stop it all for now, okay!?¡± Erin shouted, having grown tired of all the arguments that were going on. ¡°We all have work to do and none of this is helping! So let¡¯s focus on that and get through this predictably long and hard day! OKAY!?¡±

    Seeing as the redhead was in no mood for any arguing, everybody else inside the bus decided to simply nod in response and sit back down on their seats. The bus continued to drive in silence, until finally coming to a stop at very large and luxurious hotel.

    Having reached their destination, Erin¡¯s group and everybody else on the bus got up and walked out, gathering close to the front door. They all lined up and stood in perfect attention, except for Ryle, who had a rather sluggish and relaxed stance. This was quickly corrected by Erin, who smacked the blonde on the back of her head.

    Soon the front door opened and a very overweight female dwarf dressed in fine clothing walked out, followed by a maid and a butler close behind her. Both the maid and the butler were elves, and had an air of stiffness and authority to them. It was easy to figure out that these were the heads of the servants in the hotel. Unlike the dwarf, who was most likely the owner, both the maid and the butler carried themselves with dignity, while the dwarf seemed to be a messy person to say the least. Despite her fine clothing, you could easily spot the stains from whatever she had for lunch not too long ago. Not only that, but the way she carried herself was that of someone with a boorish personality, a complete opposite to the two behind her.

    Looking at the dwarf, Erin couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the old saying about being able to buy almost anything, except class.

    ¡°So are these the new recruits that we¡¯ve got!?¡± the dwarf asked, seemingly out of breath from just walking a bit. ¡°There are far fewer than I expected! And they don¡¯t look all that good either! What will our honored guests think of this!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid this is all we could get, madam,¡± the butler said as he bowed apologetically. ¡°It seems that there are fewer and fewer who are willing to work here.¡±

    ¡°And why is that!?¡± the dwarf asked angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t we already pay these people more than enough!? What more do they need!?¡±

    ¡°With all due respect, madam, I believe that people are afraid of the treatment they might receive here,¡± the maid said. ¡°News of servants being punished here to the point of execution have made their way to most places. We fear that is a key issue that causes people to not want to join.¡±

    ¡°Bah! Bunch of spineless cowards the whole lot of them!¡± the dwarf cursed. ¡°So what if a couple of incompetents get killed for messing up at work!? That just means more opportunities and tips for the ones who remain! But how are we supposed to give our customers any quality service, when all we are left with are the bare minimum workers!? I could just die from embarrassment!¡±

    Erin and her companions did their best to hold back their anger over the owner¡¯s disregard towards the safety of her employees. They all wanted to get angry and yell, but knew that it would only make things worse for them. Bu gritting their teeth and clenching their fists behind their backs, they managed to keep themselves calm enough to not show any of their ire.

    ¡°Madam, we understand your concern, but I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not much that can be done about it,¡± the butler said. ¡°We cannot simply buy the type of people we require. We can only send out a notice of open spots and hope that we get the people we are looking for.¡±

    ¡°I know that, you incompetent fool! How many years do you think I¡¯ve been running this business!? I didn¡¯t start yesterday!¡± the dwarf shouted at the elf. ¡°If only we had the resources to properly train people, we could probably buy slaves to use here!¡±

    ¡°Madam, please don¡¯t say such things so openly,¡± the maid said in a concerned tone. ¡°You know fully well that slavery is illegal.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s only illegal when people call it that! How many rich families do you think have bought people as their personal servants!? Hell, I¡¯m sure even Lord Golorath has some in his service!¡± the dwarf continued to rant. ¡°The whole slavery business is only illegal on paper, but I know for a fact that it¡¯s practiced far more than you¡¯d ever know!¡±

    By now, it was starting to get difficult for Erin and her companions to hold back their emotions. The woman before them was saying such outlandish things that each word was like a nail on a chalkboard. They hoped that this whole introduction would end soon, before one of them snapped and ruined everything.

    ¡°Whatever¡­ I guess crying about it isn¡¯t going to help, is it?¡± the dwarf asked sarcastically. ¡°This just had to happen when we have such important guests, too!¡±

    ¡°We know, madam. We are well aware,¡± the butler said with a sigh. ¡°Thanks to them, we have already lost three of our staff and they¡¯ve only been here a couple of days.¡±

    Everybody that was standing on the line began to look at each other nervously. Even Erin and her friends were doing it, even though they knew just what kind of people they were dealing with. They were simply trying not to stand out and blow their cover.

    ¡°And I¡¯d be willing to let them take away dozens more, as long as it means that our service is a success! Do you have any idea what is at stake when it comes to serving such guests!?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°If my services are good enough, they might consider hiring me into the direct service of Lord Golorath himself! Can you imagine what that would mean!? That¡¯s why our service needs to be absolutely perfect this time! Is that clear!?¡±

    ¡°...We¡¯ll keep that in mind, madam,¡± the butler replied.

    ¡°You better! Now, let¡¯s get back to business,¡± the dwarf said, as she turned her attention to the new arrivals. ¡°Alright, listen up you all! I am Madam Goldjoy and if you know what¡¯s good for you, you will do exactly as I say! Those who fail to follow my orders, can expect to be swiftly kicked out of here, if they¡¯re lucky! Understood!?¡±

    All of the newly arrived servants nodded nervously, including Erin and her friends.

    ¡°Good! At least you all have working ears!¡± Goldjoy said. ¡°The butler behind me is Holmstrom, he will be in charge of the male servants. So all of you guys better listen to him! The maid¡¯s name is Elvafay. She¡¯s in charge of the girls, so all you gals listen to her!¡±

    The dwarf¡¯s question was answered with nods from everybody.

    ¡°Alright, now as you might know, we have some very important guests staying here right now. Not only are there those who work under Lord Golorath¡¯s direct service, but his lady herself is also staying here!¡± Goldjoy explained. ¡°What this means is that there is no room for any, and I do mean any, screw ups of any kind! Our service has to be absolutely perfect! If you mess up¡­ Well, you all probably already know what that means, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Once again, she received nods in response.

    ¡°Excellent! Now go follow the person who will be in charge of you! I have other business to attend to, so I can¡¯t stay around watching over you all!¡± the dwarf said. ¡°Get to work and earn your pay!¡±

    As the group of newcomers began to split up between the male and female servants, Goldjoy noticed someone among them that caught her eye. The dwarf walked up to that one person in order to look at them a bit closer.

    ¡°Hold up!¡± Goldjoy called out. ¡°Have I seen you somewhere before?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Me?¡± Zeldana asked in return.

    ¡°Yes, you!¡± the dwarf said in a frustrated tone. ¡°There¡¯s something about your face that looks very familiar to me!¡±

    Erin and her other companions felt cold shivers run up their spines. They had forgotten that Zeldana was a wanted criminal that was possibly known throughout the whole world. Her face would have obviously been spread to numerous places, meaning that anyone could recognize her.

    ¡°This is not the first time I¡¯ve heard that,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°I¡¯ve been told I have a very common face.¡±

    Goldjoy stared at the elf for a moment, before suddenly turning around and walking away.

    ¡°That¡¯s probably it. You elves all look the same to me anyways,¡± the dwarf said.

    ¡°And you have a face I wouldn¡¯t be able to forget, even if I tried,¡± Zeldana muttered as she rolled her eyes.

    Erin let out a sigh of relief, as the crisis had been averted. However, they were still in for a lot of challenges, as they would have to take up the work of servants soon.

 144. High Life Service (Part 2)

    Chapter 144

    High Life Service (Part 2)

    Following Goldjoy¡¯s instructions, Erin¡¯s group was split in half, as the men and women followed their designated instructors. Both groups were led to separate rooms, where they would be given instructions regarding their work. Once they had gathered, the head maid known as Elvafay turned to address her new subordinates.

    ¡°Greetings to you all and thank you for coming here. As Madam Goldjoy stated earlier, my name is Elvafay and I am in charge of the maids or female staff of this establishment,¡± the elf maid began. ¡°I am truly grateful that you all arrived here, as we have had some issues in regards to staff in recent times. I truly cannot thank you all enough for doing this.¡±

    The head main went so far as to bow to her new subordinates, which took them all by surprise. After the greeting they had received from Goldjoy, they weren¡¯t expecting any friendly behavior from anybody else that was above them in terms of authority.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Ms. Elvafay,¡± Erin said, still a bit shocked by the head maid¡¯s behavior. ¡°However, we only heard very little in regards to the issues that you mentioned. Would you mind and go a bit more into detail about them?¡±

    ¡°Oh my. Were you nit informed of what has transpired here? That is very surprising, as I was certain all of it would have been spread around already,¡± Elvafay said. ¡°But I suppose you all deserve to know what has been happening here. If nothing else, it might prevent further unfortunate events from happening.¡±

    Erin and everybody else got ready to listen to what the head maid was about to tell them. Considering how this could possibly save their lives, they were not going to miss any details at all.

    ¡°You see, the luxury resorts here at Graven Hills are marketed as the greatest places for relaxation and comfort. This is due to our very high class of services that we offer to our guests,¡± Elvafay began to explain. ¡°However, because of this, our expenses are also very high in turn, which is why we have to charge a high price as well. Because of this, only the wealthiest among the wealthy are able to afford us. This itself wouldn¡¯t be such an issue, except such individuals are often very used to getting whatever they want, no matter what that is.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t that just part of this places overall service as well?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Just looking around a bit, I can tell that only the ultra rich can come here, so obviously you need to give them more than what a bug-infested motel can give you.¡±

    ¡°That is true, but the demands we sometimes face can be a bit too much for most servants,¡± the head maid said with a sad look on her face. ¡°The demands some guests make go beyond simple service industry work. There has been inappropriate behavior towards both male and female members of the staff, as they¡¯ve been seen as more of toys for entertainment, rather than actual human beings. Add the fact that Madam Goldjoy refuses to ban any customers that have the money and you can see where this is going.¡±

    ¡°I can see why you¡¯re having issues with getting enough staff¡­ I doubt many are willing to work under such conditions,¡± Erin said. ¡°Just how far do some of these customers go with their treatment of people working here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honestly a bit afraid to tell you, as I don¡¯t want any of you to run during our time of need, but I also believe that all of you deserve to know as much as possible,¡± Elvafay said with a saddened look on her face. ¡°The mistreatment goes from the smallest of things to some of the most horrible acts of violence you could imagine. At best, you might only face inappropriate touches and comments, when at worst some of the staff has been subjected to ¡°games¡± that can only be described as torture.¡±

    Erin had been expecting such things to happen, but hearing it come straight from one of the people on a higher status in the staff was still quite the shock. She looked around at the others and saw that Ryle had a slight frown on her face, as the blonde had probably expected to hear this but was still very much displeased. Zeldana¡¯s face remained calm and unchanged due to her experiences, but the redhead could tell that even she was unhappy. The other maids, on the other hand, were not taking these news all that well. Their faces were pale and fully of worry, obviously beginning to wonder if they had made the right choice when it came to coming to work here.

    ¡°This is especially bad, now that Lord Golorath¡¯s direct subordinates are here. They are virtually untouchable, so there isn¡¯t really anything any of us can do, as upsetting any of them could lead to dire consequences,¡± the head maid continued. ¡°However, I want you all to know that we, the more experienced members of the staff, will do everything we can to prevent anything from happening to any of you! That¡¯s why I want you all to stay vigilant at all times and inform either me or the head butler when something is wrong! There are ways to handle any and all situations in such a manner that no one gets hurt! All we require is that you all cooperate with us!¡±

    Elvafay¡¯s sudden declaration had taken everybody by surprise. While everybody had their doubts over her claim, the sheer confidence and sincerity she had said those words had resonated with all of them and made them believe what she was saying. Even some of the more terrified maids had calmed down now.

    ¡°Thank you for you kind words, Ms. Elvafay. We¡¯ll make sure to keep them in mind,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Are there any particular people that we should be looking out for?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, you should be careful with all of the customers currently staying here¡­ Although, if I had to pick some that are especially dangerous, any military or government official that has Golorath¡¯s symbol in their outfit should be treated with absolute care, as you never know what might happen with them,¡± the head maid explained. ¡°However, I do have to ask you that you take extra care with Golorath¡¯s wife, who is staying here at the moment. While this is her first time staying here and she hasn¡¯t caused issues yet, one can never be certain when dealing with such a high-profile person.¡±

    Erin and the others simply nodded in response. Considering that Golorath himself was a rather cruel person, then it was easy to assume that his significant other was likely similar.

    With the overall warning given to them, Elvafay proceeded to advice the newcomers on what their duties were and how to perform them properly. She even showed them all where they could find supplies and other places that they needed to know. Once this was done, it was time to give all the new members of staff their jobs.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to need you to tend to the recreation room. Make sure to prepare it in such a way that our guests can go there without any worries,¡± Elvafay said, as she directed some of the new maids. ¡°Some of the more experienced maids are there right now, so you can ask them for advice on what exactly you need to do and how to do it.¡±

    The group of maids nodded and began to head towards the bathing area. The head maid then turned her attention to a new group, which included Erin.

    ¡°I need you to go through the rooms and perform some basic maintenance on them,¡± Elvafay said. ¡°Make the beds, change the sheets if necessary, take out the trash and so on. Form pairs that take separate floors, so that you can take care of it effectively.¡±

    Erin nodded along with the others that were given the task.

    The head maid then looked at Zeldana and a few other maids.

    ¡°I heard that there is a need for help at the relaxation area. Can I trust you to go there and handle that?¡± Elvafay asked, receiving nods in response. ¡°Also, are any of you skilled in massages? That could really help us out, as there are guests requesting such services.¡±

    ¡°No worries. I¡¯m quite skilled with my hands in tasks like that,¡± Zeldana replied with a smirk, as she cracked her knuckles. ¡°I¡¯ve been told that my touch can literally send people to heaven.¡±

    While the head maid looked very pleased, Erin and Ryle shared an uncertain look. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was a deeper meaning to what their elven companion had just said.

    With tasks handed out to everybody else, Elvafay turned her attention to the last remaining person, Ryle.

    ¡°As for you, I have a special task for you alone,¡± Elvafay said. ¡°It will be a bit of tougher job, but you seem like the type that can handle it. Is this okay?¡±

    ¡°Hey, tough jobs is my specialty!¡± the blonde replied with a cocky grin. ¡°Whatever you¡¯ve got, don¡¯t hesitate to throw it at me! I can take it!¡±

    ¡°Really!? That¡¯s great! I love your enthusiasm! It¡¯s exactly what we need right now!¡± the head maid said happily. ¡°Anyways, I need you to follow the ones that are going to look over the rooms of our guests. Your work is located at the uppermost floor, where Lord Golorath¡¯s people are staying at.¡±

    ¡°Alright, doesn¡¯t sound too bad yet,¡± Ryle said. ¡°What do I do there?¡±

    ¡°The bathing area of our hotel is located there. I need you to clean it up,¡± Elvafay answered. ¡°You see, there was some issues with some of the pipes and the whole place has been covered in raw sewage. That needs to cleaned up as fast as possible, so that the place can be reopened.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s quite messy over there, so I¡¯m very grateful that you¡¯re willing to go through with this. I was honestly worried that we wouldn¡¯t be able to fix this problem in time for the guests,¡± the head maid said. ¡°Also, I recommend getting a raincoat as well. While I don¡¯t doubt your ability to avoid slipping, I saw how it was there and¡­ You can probably imagine the rest. Also, I recommend grabbing a gas mask from the storage closet as well. It will make the whole thing a lot more bearable.¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°H-Hang on! Are you sure about this!?¡± Ryle asked, horrified over the task that had been handed to her. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m not about back out of this or anything, but do you really think that I can handle the whole place on my own!? Can I at least get some help!?¡±

    When the blonde mentioned help, she glanced towards Erin and Zeldana, both of whom took a small step back upon noticing it. Neither of them wanted to have any part in what their friend was going to be facing.

    ¡°Unfortunately, we have a bit of a shortage on staff at the moment and we need to prioritize the immediate needs of our guests, so we can¡¯t spare anybody else,¡± Elvafay said with an apologetic look. She then received a message on her phone, which seemed to brighten her mood a bit. ¡°But I just received some great news for you! It seems like one of the new butlers has been tasked with fixing the plumbing in the baths. I¡¯m sure that he will be of assistance!¡±

    ¡°I sure hope so,¡± Ryle mumbled unhappily, before realizing something. ¡°Hang on¡­ You said that it was one of the new butlers that would be joining me, right? This wouldn¡¯t happen to be a young catfolk boy?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s oddly specific, but no,¡± the head maid replied. ¡°However, he is apparently a young kobold, if that helps.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ see how I can work with that,¡± the blonde said through gritted teeth as her right eye twitched a bit.

    ¡°Excellent! Now that you all have your tasks at hand and know where everything you need is located, we can all get started!¡± Elvafay said happily. ¡°Remember to smile, everyone! That¡¯s the key to any good service!¡±

    While the others responded enthusiastically, Ryle could only manage a halfhearted response, as her shoulders slumped in lack of any possible energy. Erin could only give her a look of sympathy as Zeldana patted her on the back a bit.

    <hr>

    Following the group they had been assigned to, Erin and Ryle soon arrived at the elevators. Once there, the group came to a sudden stop. One of the more experienced maids turned to look over the rest of them.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for us to divide the floors,¡± the maid stated. ¡°I know this is kind of a dumb question, but are there any volunteers to go to the uppermost floor and handle it? Anybody at all?¡±

    Erin and her two friends noticed that all the other maids looked apprehensive, like they were scared of the idea of going to that specific floor. She looked at Ryle for answers, only to receive a shrug in response.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± the redhead called out to the other maids, getting their attention. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about the uppermost floor?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you paying attention? That¡¯s where Golorath¡¯s people are staying!¡± one of the maids answered. ¡°No one obviously wants to go there, because there is literally nothing any of us can do, if they decide to do something bad to us! Since they arrived, three people have already died!¡±

    ¡°And that isn¡¯t counting all those who get brutally abused by them!¡± another maid decided to add. ¡°I saw my friend get beaten within an inch of her life simply because she spilled some tea on one of those thugs!¡±

    ¡°The way I see it, your friend got lucky,¡± another maid said. ¡°I saw one of the butlers get his eye torn out of its socket, because he apparently ¡°looked at them wrong.¡± Those people are monsters, plain and simple.¡±

    Looking at the faces of all the maids gathered, Erin could tell that none of them were exaggerating their stories or how they felt about them. They were all terrified and for good reason as well. While the redhead and her friends had a mission and had faced numerous deadly threats, these people were just average citizens trying to make a living. She could only wonder what it was that made them come here, even when they knew the risks? Was the pay so good that it was worth it? Or were they unable to find any other employment?

    ¡°Hey, cut that out already! Being scared isn¡¯t going to make things better!¡± the experienced maid that had spoken up first said sternly. ¡°I get that we¡¯re all worried over what might happen to us, but it doesn¡¯t change the work that we still have to do! Besides, you all came here voluntarily, so you can only blame yourselves!¡±

    ¡°How can you say such things?¡± one of the maids asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because I wanted to! I had no choice! I am sick and tired of living in the worst continent and I simply want to go find a better life somewhere else! That¡¯s not cheap, you know!?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because I wanted to either!¡± another maid spoke up. ¡°I am the only one in my family who can work, so I need to earn enough to feed multiple people!¡±

    The other maids were voicing similar reasons as to why they had come to such a dangerous place for work. It seemed like they had all been pushed into a corner in their lives and had to come here, no matter how much they disliked the idea.

    ¡°You all sure like to yap about how hard your lives are, don¡¯t you?¡± the experienced maid asked in a slightly angry tone. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t have such a reason or something? I¡¯ll have you know that I¡¯ve got a sick little sister at home that needs some very expensive medical treatment! So before you start whining about how hard you have it, remember that there are plenty of others in similar tough spots!¡±

    This seemed to finally somewhat calm down all of the maids. They were still obviously scared, but they had now come to terms with the fact that there was no avoiding the work they would have to do.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve all finally realized the situation we¡¯re in. That¡¯s good,¡± the experienced maid said. ¡°Now, while I pretty much know the result, I¡¯m going to ask again. Are there any volunteers for the uppermost floor?¡±

    Once again, all the maids were silent, looking down in fear and hesitation. It was clear that none of them were willing to take up the task.

    However, there was one person that would do it, as a certain someone raised her hand.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Erin said with her hand raised up, causing everybody, with the exception of Ryle, to stare at her with wide eyes. ¡°I volunteer to handle the uppermost floor.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m honestly a bit surprised that someone actually volunteered,¡± the experienced maid said. ¡°Care to tell us why you¡¯re willing to do so?¡±

    ¡°What? Are you not willing to have me do the job?¡± the redhead asked with a playful smirk. ¡°Jokes aside, I feel like I¡¯m going to have to face those guys at some point anyways, so might as well get it over and done with already.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s admirable. Thank you for volunteering,¡± the experienced maid said with a smile. ¡°Since I can¡¯t allow myself to get beaten by my juniors, I guess I have to volunteer as well. We¡¯ll still need two more, so those will be decided by drawing lots.¡±

    The maid had prepared for this, as she had most likely expected that people would be unwilling to risk their lives at the service of Golorath¡¯s people, and had prepared pieces of paper for drawing lots. Soon the last two people that Erin would be working with were decided and they were on their way to the uppermost floor.

    The ride on the elevator was mostly quiet, except for the two maids that had been unfortunate enough to be selected for the job. Erin could hear both of them tremble and one of them being on the verge of tears.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Ryle suddenly called out to the experienced maid, getting her attention. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Julianna,¡± the maid replied. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Just wanted to say that I know what you¡¯re going through,¡± the blonde replied. ¡°I also had a sick younger brother, whom I had to look after. I get that it can be tough to cover the medical bills and all, but I swear it will be worth it all in the end. Trust me.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you. That means a lot to me,¡± Julianna said with a smile, as the elevator had reached its destination. ¡°Hang on¡­ Did you say that you ¡°had¡± a younger brother?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I said,¡± Ryle replied before walking past the maid and patting her on the shoulder. ¡°Now come on. We¡¯ve got work to do, right?¡±

    Julianna and the other two maids were left speechless, staring after the blonde that had gone past them. It was only when Erin spoke to them that they broke out of their daze.

    ¡°Hey, we need to get to work, remember?¡± the redhead said to the maids. ¡°Simply standing around isn¡¯t going to help anyone and you all need to earn your pay, right? So let¡¯s get to it.¡±

    The maids proceeded to get to their work, going to different rooms in order to tidy them up and do any other similar work to make the guests feel welcome. In order to avoid getting caught by someone who was in a bad mood and to generally avoid Golorath¡¯s people, the maids always made sure to first listen for any possible noises coming from the rooms. If there was silence, they would then knock first before entering. This allowed them to do their work without running the risk of facing someone who might want to kill you just for the fun of it.

    However, while they were able to avoid most confrontations, there was one huge issue that they had to deal with. Most of the rooms were left in horrible conditions, which made Erin wonder if these people were actually wild animals. Trash was everywhere, different sort of stains could be seen on any possible surface and some of the furniture and other objects were broken. They had to move as fast as possible in order to get the rooms in proper condition fast enough.

    ¡°Oh God¡­ This is disgusting!¡± Erin said while trying to desperately not throw up, as she was putting some rather questionable dirty rags in a trash bag that was about to burst. ¡°I swear, even lazy teenagers don¡¯t leave such filth behind! I can¡¯t help but feel like Ryle was lucky not to get stuck with this¡­¡±

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, said blonde had just entered the baths and the sight she was greeted with wasn¡¯t one that made her feel lucky. The amount of sewage that was flooding the place was something that most people would only see in their nightmares. Ryle had to wear a gas mask in order to endure the horrid stench that the place was covered with, but it was only able to barely help.

    ¡°What the absolute hell is THIS!?¡± the blonde shouted in horror as she felt like vomiting. ¡°How could anything like this even happen!?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Is someone there!?¡± a familiar voice called out from behind a corner. ¡°I was told that one of the maids would be sent here to assist me in my work and I could use a hand in-¡±

    Lexton stopped talking as soon as he saw the maid that had come to help him. Both of them stared at each other in silence for a moment, unable to believe what had happened.

    ¡°...You have got to be kidding me,¡± Lexton said angrily. ¡°Out of all the possible people, they decided to send YOU to help me!? Are they trying to help or make this more difficult!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m enjoying this either, okay!?¡± Ryle said angrily. ¡°The idea of cleaning crap with a walking turd like you around isn¡¯t exactly my idea of a good time!¡±

    ¡°Of all the things that could have gone wrong¡­ Whatever. I¡¯ll just have to make do with what I¡¯ve got, I suppose,¡± the kobold muttered. ¡°Who knows? Maybe a miracle happens and I might need your moron strength for once.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and if I¡¯m lucky, you¡¯ll get flushed down with the rest of the crap,¡± the blonde mumbled. ¡°Where¡¯s Arnie and Durge? Did you hear where they were sent?¡±

    ¡°Durge was sent to help with the bar. They¡¯re hoping that since he¡¯s so big and scary-looking that he can basically scare the customers into behaving properly,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°As for Arnie, I believe they had him go work as a server. They said something about him having the looks for the job the job.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I definitely would love to have him hand me my drinks,¡± Ryle said with a depressed sigh, imagining the cat boy walking up to her with a tray that a nice cold beverage on it. ¡°As for us, Zeldana was sent to give people massages. She said that she has experience in the field, too.¡±

    ¡°...Did she mean actual relaxing massages or ones where she kills the person she¡¯s working on?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°For some reason, I get the feeling that it¡¯s the latter that she¡¯s more acquainted with.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean. I had the exact same thought. Hell, she even said that her massages send people to heaven! After all the things I¡¯ve seen that psycho do, I can only imagine what she meant,¡± the blonde said with a shudder. ¡°As for Erin, she¡¯s actually on this floor. She was tasked with cleaning the rooms.¡±

    ¡°This floor? But aren¡¯t Golorath¡¯s people staying on this floor?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°This could be a bad thing¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh? How is that a bad thing?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t our whole purpose here to kid- OW!¡±

    The reason for the blonde¡¯s sudden scream of pain was a wrench that had smashed against her foot in a very painful manner. And the person behind this was a very angry kobold.

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?¡± Ryle asked while rubbing her sore foot with tears in her eyes.

    ¡°Is the concept of subtlety completely foreign to you or something!? Why would you openly talk about our real purpose for being here, when there could be anyone just around the corner listening to us!?¡± Lexton whispered angrily before managing to calm down. ¡°Anyways, while our purpose for being here is tied to that certain person, you need to remember that we are dealing with people that are essentially Golorath¡¯s elite guard. We can¡¯t make any mistakes here and that¡¯s where the problems come.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°While I do trust Erin, she has certain flaws that tend to cause us trouble. For starters, she is far too willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of others. It¡¯s honestly a miracle a person like her has lived so long,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°However, what¡¯s more concerning to me is that she can be awfully naive at times, which allows her to be fooled. I hope that no matter what, she remembers to keep her calm and think things through.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get what you¡¯re saying and all, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re a bit too mean to her?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, she¡¯s not dumb or anything. More like she just lacks experience. Hell, if nothing else, she is way smarter than me!¡±

    ¡°...You say that like it¡¯s an actual achievement,¡± Lexton said as he shook his head in frustration.

    While the blonde raged over the insult directed at her, the kobold kept thinking about Erin and how she might act. Even if they were dealing with the people that were essentially oppressing the world, they didn¡¯t really know much about Golorath¡¯s supposed wife. As far as they knew, she was just rarely seen next to the overlord, meaning that they were working under simple assumptions. They didn¡¯t even know her name, let alone what her actual relationship towards Golorath was. The most likely scenario that Lexton could imagine was that she had simply been an average village girl that had caught the overlord¡¯s eye and had then been forcibly made into his plaything. If this was true, the kobold could only wonder just how Erin would react and what she would try to accomplish in order to save her. He just hoped that it wouldn¡¯t end up blowing up in their faces.

 145. Meeting An Old Friend

    Chapter 145

    Meeting An Old Friend

    Erin and the other maids that were working with her on cleaning the rooms that were used by Golorath¡¯s people had been progressing on their task relatively well. While there had been a couple of cases where they had encountered some of the residents, they had been able to avoid any physical confrontations, which had been a big relief to the servants. They still had a few room left to handle, but they would be done very soon.

    However, one of the rooms that was still untouched by them was one that Erin could tell just by looking was reserved only for the most important guests. Judging by the way the door looked and how the maids seemed to be almost scared of it, the redhead could guess who it belonged to. She still needed to confirm her suspicions, though.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up with this room?¡± Erin asked form Julianna. ¡°The others are acting like it¡¯s about to eat them or something.¡±

    ¡°Well, it might as well be a bloodthirsty beast, considering who is staying there,¡± the experienced maid said. ¡°That one belongs to Golorath¡¯s lady herself.¡±

    ¡°I somewhat guessed that was the case. Glad to see I was right about it,¡± the redhead mumbled to herself. ¡°So why exactly is everyone so scared? Is she violent or something?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly, but¡­ there have been some very concerning issues that we¡¯ve had with her,¡± Julianna replied. ¡°She only leaves her room very rarely, if at all. And when she does, she seems to be paranoid and is actively trying to avoid any and all contacts with other people.¡±

    ¡°That seems¡­ rather odd,¡± Erin said, genuinely surprised by how her old friend had apparently been acting.

    The redhead thought back to when she had been in her original world and had last been in contact with Stacey. If there were words that she would use to describe her old friend, scared and meek were the last ones she would ever think of using. Whether she had been a good or bad person, Stacey had always been extremely confident of herself and wouldn¡¯t hesitate to voice any of her opinions, no matter what it was. As one of the beauty queens of their school, there had been numerous people feeding her ego, to the point that she seemed to have gotten the idea that she was literally invincible.

    As much as Erin hated to admit it, she herself had been the same. It had been one of the things that had led to the redhead¡¯s current point in life.

    ¡°So if she¡¯s just scared of everybody, why should we be afraid of her?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I mean, if she¡¯s more scared of us than we are of her, can¡¯t we just go in there and do our work? It doesn¡¯t sound like she¡¯s going to be getting in our way.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? It¡¯s not that we are worried about what she might do to us. It¡¯s what other people might do to us because of her,¡± Julianna answered. ¡°Do you have any idea what her husband could do to us, if she were to tell him that we treated her badly? It might not just end with us, but even the whole Graven Hills could be burned to the ground, just appease his anger. Not only that, but one allegation by her, no matter how false it might be, the people she came here with won¡¯t hesitate to beat, torture or even kill us.¡±

    Erin felt sick to her stomach. Not because of what was happening at the hotel, but because of how much it reminded her of what she and her old friends had done back in the day.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Julianna said, having noticed the change in the redhead¡¯s mood. ¡°I¡¯m not about to put some poor rookie into doing a dangerous job like that, so just leave it to me.¡±

    The maid was about to open the door and go inside, when she felt a hand on her shoulder stop her.

    ¡°Actually, could you leave this to me?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to handle this.¡±

    ¡°Wha-!? Are you serious!?¡± Julianna asked, surprised by the sudden turn of events. ¡°You do realize the danger you¡¯ll be putting yourself at, right!? This isn¡¯t something you do for fun!¡±

    ¡°I know. I¡¯m more than aware of the risks,¡± the redhead said. ¡°But this is something I have to do.¡±

    ¡°...What¡¯s your angle here?¡± the maid asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re trying to hurt her. If you so much as harm a hair on her head, it could very well be the end for all of us! I¡¯m not about to let myself and everybody else here to suffer because you have some vendetta going on!¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I have no intention or desire to harm her. There¡¯s just something that I need to do, no matter what,¡± Erin said as she walked past Julianna. ¡°Besides, you need to think about someone else, don¡¯t you? Remember why you¡¯re here and don¡¯t simply risk your life needlessly.¡±

    The maid¡¯s eyes went wide and she took a step back, allowing the redhead to move forward. With her out of the way, Erin opened the door and went into the luxurious room.

    Once she had closed the door behind her, the redhead was on her own facing the wife of one of the Five Overlords. She began to immediately look around for her old childhood friend, hoping to find her soon.

    Unlike the previous rooms she had been to, this one was completely clean. It was almost like no one had even been living there at all. This made Erin wonder just how much Stacey might have changed in the time she hadn¡¯t seen her. Back in the day, her old friend had been quite the party girl, often leaving behind a mess. Considering the position Stacey was in, the redhead would have expected the room to look like a tornado had gone through it, yet there weren¡¯t even any signs of anyone having lived there in a calm manner.

    Erin eventually found the bedroom and peeked inside. The lights were off, so she had to let her eyesight adjust to the darkness at first. Once it had, she was able to make out the form of someone laying on the very wide bed.

    ¡°Stacey?¡± the redhead called out quietly into the room, as she began to slowly move her way towards the bed. ¡°Stacey, is that you?¡±

    There was no response from whoever it was that was on the bed nor did they move even slightly. The only thing that told Erin that there was anybody there at all was the steady rise and fall of the covers, indicating breathing.

    Having reached the bed, the redhead climbed on top of it and leaned over the person who was covering themselves up. She began to move her hand towards them in order to shake them gently and to remove the covers.

    ¡°Stacey, is that you?¡± Erin asked again, now placing her hand on the person¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s-¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°DON¡¯T TOUCH ME!¡± the person underneath the covers screamed as loud as she could as she began to thrash around violently. ¡°GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! I WON¡¯T-!¡±

    Having realized the danger she and everybody else in the hotel were from the noise, Erin acted quickly and silenced the panicking woman. She quickly wrapped her arm around the woman¡¯s body in order to hold her still, while placing her other hand over her mouth to silence her. The woman still struggled fiercely, kicking her legs wildly in order to break free. The redhead knew that if she wanted to get out of there alive, she would need to calm her down.

    ¡°Stacey, calm down!¡± Erin whispered. ¡°It¡¯s me, Erin! Remember!?¡±

    The woman seemed to finally calm down and ceased her struggles. She turned to stare at the redhead¡¯s face with wide eyes, as she recognized the person before her. Seeing that her old friend wouldn¡¯t be causing noise any longer, Erin let her go.

    ¡°E-Erin? Is that really you?¡± Stacey asked in a trembling voice, unable to believe her eyes. ¡°How did you get here? And what happened to your hair and eyes? I almost didn¡¯t recognize you!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Both how I got here and how I¡¯ve changed so much,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°What I¡¯m more curious about is how you got here. How did you end up in this world in the first place?¡±

    ¡°I wish I could tell you, but I honestly can¡¯t understand it myself!¡± Stacey said. ¡°One night, I was laying on my bed and looking at my phone, when the screen suddenly starts to glow like crazy. After that, these slimy hands come out of the screen, grab hold of me and pull me in! The next thing I know is that I¡¯m laying on a stone floor in some weird temple or something!¡±

    Erin thought back to when she herself had first come into this world. It was very similar to what Stacey had gone through, except for the last part. While she had arrived indoors at some sort of a building, the redhead had appeared in what was essentially a random town. Whatever the case was, she needed to know more.

    ¡°What was that place like?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Can you tell me anything about it? Were there any people there?¡±

    ¡°All I can say is that it was creepy as hell! But the most horrifying thing were the people waiting for me there!¡± Stacey said as her body began to tremble from recalling a painful memory. ¡°Erin, they¡¯re here! All of them!¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Who are here?¡±

    ¡°Those loser geeks from high school!¡± Stacey answered. ¡°You know, Devin and his creepy buddies!? Remember them!?¡±

    ¡°...Yeah. I remember them alright,¡± Erin said, a bit upset by the way her old friend was referring to said people, but decided to keep it to herself for now. ¡°So you met them right from the start?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but they¡¯ve changed! They¡¯re even creepier now than before!¡± Stacey rambled. ¡°Those guys¡­ They¡­ They have changed somehow! They¡¯ve become monsters or something! And they can boss everybody around, like they own the place!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because they do,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much you know about this world, but Devin and his friends pretty much rule this world. They are in charge of everything and very few people have the courage to stand up to them. Didn¡¯t you know about that?¡±

    ¡°How the hell could I know? Almost as soon as I came here, I was thrown into a cage to become Porky Gabe¡¯s personal pet!¡± Stacey said, which shocked Erin. ¡°Most of the time I¡¯m kept inside a cage and get whatever scraps are left from that fat bastard¡¯s meals! I only get to come out after I do some humiliating tricks or worship him!¡±

    The redhead felt sick to her stomach. While she was more than aware of how much her old friends had changed for the worse, it always hurt her to hear just how bad they had become. The fact that Gabe, one of the kindest souls she had ever know, would go so far as to degrade and humiliate someone in such cruel ways made her insides turn.

    ¡°Stacey, listen to me. I¡¯m going to get you out of here, okay?¡± Erin said, hoping to bring hope to her old friend. ¡°I¡¯ve got friends with me and we came here to get you. Just wait here and-¡±

    The redhead was suddenly cut off, as Stacey grabbed her by the shoulders and stared at her with eyes full of desperation. She was holding on to Erin like she was the only thing keeping her alive.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me!¡± Stacey begged with tears starting to fall from her eyes. ¡°I might have gotten away from Gabe, but his monsters are still here! They¡¯re just as bad as he is! The things they make me do! They¡­ They-!¡±

    Unable to bring herself to say what she had gone through, Stacey broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Erin was left stunned over just how badly her old friend had been broken by her life in this world. Tears fell down her lone eye, as she pulled Stacey into a hug, hoping to offer some level of comfort, no matter how difficult that was going to be.

    ¡°Stacey, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t stay here. I want to get you out of here, but I can¡¯t do it right away. I¡¯m going to meet up with my friends and we will figure out how to get you out of here, okay?¡± Erin said, as she stared her friend in the eyes. ¡°I promise that I will not allow anything bad to happen to you anymore. I just need you to stay strong and wait for me just a little bit longer. Okay?¡±

    The redhead¡¯s promise seemed to finally calm Stacey down, as she gave a nod in response.

    ¡°That¡¯s my girl!¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°Now don¡¯t let anybody know about our talk. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡±

    After waving goodbye to her friend, the redhead proceeded to clean the room in order to keep up with her disguise. When she got out of the room, Julianna was waiting for her outside.

    ¡°I heard noises coming from the room. Is everything alright?¡± the maid asked. ¡°She didn¡¯t cause any issues, did she?¡±

    ¡°No worries. There was just a minor misunderstanding, but that¡¯s about it,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Thanks for worrying about me, though.¡±

    ¡°Well, I was mostly worried about all of us, since any small issue with her could put us all in danger,¡± Julianna replied in a slightly joking tone. ¡°Still, you¡¯re welcome.¡±

    <hr>

    Erin proceeded to finish her work with the other maids and cleaned the rooms Golorath¡¯s people were staying at. With the job done, Julianna advised everybody to go look for things they could help with and to just generally make the guests feel good and welcome. This provided the redhead with a chance to go look for her friends in order to relay them with everything she had learned so far and to come up with a plan.

    Knowing that Ryle was most likely still busy with cleaning the baths, Erin decided to look for Zeldana first. She was able to quickly find the relaxation area where the elf was told to go and headed there.

    Walking into the large space dedicated for the guests¡¯ relaxation, the redhead was immediately hit with the warm and cozy atmosphere that was hanging over everyone. The temperature had been manually shifted into a level that wasn¡¯t too hot, but just warm enough to be relaxing. To put it in words, it was almost like you were wrapped up in your most comfortable blanket during a cold winter night. Every seat was either a very soft armchair or a couch. There were even beds set up for guests to lay down on and have a massage, and vending machines that held all sorts of drinks and snacks. From the speakers, calming ambient music was playing, combined with the sounds of a beach, allowing you to easily fall asleep.

    Erin looked around and noticed that all the guests were wearing bathrobes and slippers to match the environment they were at. All the workers were still wearing their maid and butler outfits, as they moved around, tending to the needs of the guests.

    Suddenly, the redhead spotted Zeldana, working on massaging one of the guests. She was about to call out to her, when one of the butlers stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. He pointed to a sign on a nearby wall that said ¡°SILENCE.¡± It seemed like the hotel took some rather extreme methods in order to allow their guests to relax.

    After giving a quick apologetic bow to the butler, Erin walked over to where Zeldana was. From what she could tell, the elf was in the process of giving a massage to a large ogre, who was laying on one of the beds. While she couldn¡¯t tell if he was one of Golorath¡¯s people due to only wearing a bathrobe, she could tell that whatever Zeldana was doing was very effective. The ogre had a face of absolute bliss as he enjoyed the treatment he was getting.

    ¡°Hey, Zel, do you have a moment?¡± Erin whispered to the elf. ¡°I kind of need to get the group back together and talk to them. Are you currently busy?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. As you can see, I¡¯m hands deep in work,¡± Zeldana replied, as her arms had literally sunk into the layers of fat the ogre had. ¡°But give me just one more second and¡­¡±

    Whatever the elf did next caused the ogre to lift up his chin, as his smile went as wide as possible, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his whole body began to shake. There was even a bit of drool that fell from the side of his mouth. He then went completely limp with only an occasional twitch here and there.

    ¡°...That was disturbing,¡± Erin said as she stared at the ogre with a wide eye. ¡°What the hell did you do to him?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing much. Just stimulated his body a bit in a manner that made him feel rather good,¡± Zeldana said nonchalantly as she took off her rubber gloves. ¡°I said that my touch was able to bring people to heaven.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I remember,¡± the redhead mumbled. ¡°Is he¡­ dead or something?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine. No need to worry,¡± the elf replied. ¡°Although, he is going to want to change his underwear soon.¡±

    ¡°Ew¡­ That¡¯s nasty,¡± Erin said as she pinched her nose. ¡°So are you free now?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much. At least that pile of satisfied customers over there tells me that I am,¡± Zeldana said, pointing to a nearby area, where a bunch of guests were laying about with similar blissful looks on their faces as the ogre. ¡°So, what exactly are you in the need for?¡±

    ¡°Well, you know the person that we were looking for?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I actually managed to find and talk to her. Turns out her situation isn¡¯t quite what we had expected. I want to tell others about that and to make plans.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± the elf said. ¡°I saw Durge at one point, so I know where he is at right now. He should be able to tell us where Arnie is. It might be difficult to get in touch with Ryle and Lexton, though, seeing as they¡¯re probably stuck in the baths right now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as we can get in touch soon, it should be okay,¡± Erin said.

    The two headed to where their orc companion was currently working at. All the while Erin couldn¡¯t help but think back to her meeting with Stacey. Even if their mission hadn¡¯t turned out the way it should have, she was still determined to save her friend, if for nothing else than to prevent Gabe from doing further cruel deeds.

 146. Rescue Plan

    Chapter 146

    Rescue Plan

    Erin and Zeldana were able to quickly find Durge, working as a bartender. Both ladies were a bit surprised at how skillfully the large orc was able to mix drinks. It seemed like it was something that he was a natural at. Thanks to his skills, there weren¡¯t any unsatisfied customers left in the area, which gave them an opportunity to quickly talk with him and making arrangements to meet up later with all the others.

    Arkay was next and even he had been doing a rather good job at his work. Thanks to his polite attitude and personality, a lot of the customers had been left pleased with his work. There were, however, some people that seemed to have taken such a liking to him that Erin was happy Ryle wasn¡¯t with them. Had the blonde seen some of the looks Arkay got, their cover would have been blown immediately due to her unleashing violent rage.

    Lastly, Erin and Zeldana had gone to meet up with Ryle and Lexton. After confirming how long it would take them to finish their work, it turned out that they would be able to get to the meeting in time. Erin still told them to take their time in arriving, as she requested that both would go take a shower before arriving. The stench from the baths was not something that she wanted to deal with.

    Once their plans for the meeting had been made, Erin and Zeldana proceeded to go and do their work as maids in order to keep up their disguise. For the most part, all they had to do was some cleaning work and serving some of the guests.

    There were a couple of unfortunate incidents, where Erin almost blew their cover, as some of the guests had gotten a bit too ¡°handy¡± with her. The redhead had luckily been able to hold back her anger and thus not cause any issues. However, when the same happened with Zeldana, Erin was shocked to see the elf somewhat play into it, flirting back in response to what had happened to her. To make it worse, she wasn¡¯t sure if the elf was simply acting according to their disguise or if she was being honest.

    ¡°Iyaah! Master, please don¡¯t touch me like that!¡± Zeldana squealed as another guest had put his hands on her. ¡°It makes it so much harder for me to work like this!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be like that! It¡¯s just a little fun!¡± the perverted guest said with a smile on his face. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to leave me unsatisfied, would you?¡±

    The guest¡¯s comment angered Erin. He knew that none of them could ever complain about the mistreatment they faced, as the owner didn¡¯t care about anything than filling her own pockets with money.

    ¡°Oh! I would never want anything like that, master! Not at all!¡± Zeldana quickly said. ¡°It¡¯s just that is a little touch enough amusement for you, when there are far more fun things for us to enjoy?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ What?¡± the guest struggled to speak. He had been expecting the elf to start crying or something. This turn caught him completely off guard.

    ¡°Exactly what I mean, master,¡± Zeldana replied in a seductive tone, as she leaned on the guest with a coy smile on her face and slipped something into his pocket. ¡°Come see me in the room on the note later. And drink the vial I gave you as well. It will make things more¡­ exciting.¡±

    The guest could only stare at the elf with his face as red as a tomato as he nodded vigorously, before walking away in a blissful daze.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°That¡¯s the third person you¡¯ve done that with! Are you trying to get us into trouble or something!?¡±

    ¡°Trouble? Me? I would never cause such a thing!¡± Zeldana said in a mock shocked voice. ¡°I¡¯m simply providing the guests here with some extra activities! It will be fun for everyone involved!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I heard what you said to him,¡± the redhead grumbled. ¡°Are you actually going to meet with him and all those others? You know, for that ¡°good time¡± you¡¯ve been promising them?¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not going to do that! What kind of a woman do you think I am!?¡± the elf said with a laugh. ¡°All I¡¯ve been doing is make preparations for something a bit special, that¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°And just what that something special is exactly?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Also, if you¡¯re not the one taking part in it, then who is?¡±

    ¡°Just a common acquaintance we all have,¡± Zeldana said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m certain she will come to enjoy it as well.¡±

    The redhead decided not to question the elf¡¯s motives any longer, as it seemed to be futile. While Zeldana was an excellent healer, she had a very twisted sense of humor, something that Erin and the others had to learn through the hard way. It was like the elf got some sick pleasure out of causing pure chaos all around her. Whatever she was planning, the redhead could only hope that it wouldn¡¯t cause issues to her or the others. At the very least she could find comfort in the fact that none of them were the targets this time. As far as she knew that is¡­

    <hr>

    Erin and Zeldana proceeded towards the place they had decided to meet up with the others. It was a large storage room located at the uppermost floor. This was chosen as the location, because not only would the guests most likely not come close to it, as they were prohibited from entering, but also other employees were unlikely to be found close. This was due to the guests that were at the uppermost floor, Golorath¡¯s people. Because of the fear of what might be done to them at any moment, most of the workers chose to avoid the floor like it was poisoned. This gave their meeting enough privacy in order to make their plans for getting Stacey out of the hotel.

    By the time Erin and Zeldana made their way to the storage room, they found out that Durge was already there. Apparently, his work behind the bar had come to an end and he had been asked to handle other tasks. However, due to him being built like a truck made out of muscles, he had made some of the guests a bit uncomfortable and had been allowed to leave early.

    Next one to arrive was Arkay. The cat boy seemed to be just fine, except he said that there had been some female guests that had been giving him strange looks. Due to his innocence, Arkay had thought that he had been doing a bad job, which caused him to worry that he could have blown their cover. The others did know what had really been going on and assured him that his fears were for nothing. Erin once again was thankful that Ryle wasn¡¯t around.

    Speaking of the blonde, she and Lexton were late, even though they had said that they should be able to get to their meeting in time. At first, the others assumed that the work the two were stuck with had been lengthened due to some unforeseen issues and decided to wait a bit longer. But when the two missing members were over an hour late, they began to get worried.

    ¡°...Okay, this isn¡¯t good,¡± Erin stated. ¡°Those two should have been here by now. Something has got to be wrong.¡±

    ¡°Hang on, Erin. I get that you¡¯re worried, I feel the same way, but don¡¯t you think there might be a simple explanation for this?¡± Durge asked. ¡°They could have just gotten stuck with more work. From what I heard from the head butler, that bathing area is like a war zone. Besides, we all know just how those two act with each other. They could just be stuck in another one of their arguments.¡±

    ¡°Those two promised us that they would be here on time! At least Lexton should be smart enough to analyze the work they had in order to make such a judgment!¡± the redhead argued. ¡°And even if those two fight with each other more than they fight with our enemies, I doubt any argument between those two would have gone this long! It¡¯s almost been two hours already!¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± the orc said with a frown, worried over their missing friends. ¡°Should we go look for them or something?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan!¡± Erin said as she walked to the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to find out just where those two are before-!¡±

    The redhead was cut off as soon as she opened the door, as she came face to face with none other than Ryle. The blonde had a wide-eyed look of surprise on her face at first, which soon turned into a grin of amusement.

    ¡°Ryle! You¡¯re here!¡± Erin said. ¡°Where the hell have you been!? And where is Lexton!?¡±

    ¡°Well, there is a reason as to why I¡¯m late. Sorry about that,¡± the blonde said as she was starting to snicker, trying her best to hold back her laughter. ¡°As for where Lex is, he is closer than you think.¡±

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean!?¡± the redhead asked angrily, not in the mood for playing games. ¡°And what the hell is so goddamn funny!?¡±

    In response, Ryle simply pointed at behind the now open door. Erin peered around it and found Lexton laying on the floor, holding his nose that was bleeding.

    ¡°Lex! What are you doing there!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°And what happened to you!? Did one of Golorath¡¯s goons do that to you!?¡±

    ¡°At this point, I¡¯m not sure whether I¡¯d be safer with them than you!¡± the kobold replied angrily. ¡°Because you opened the door like some maniac, you managed to hit me like a goddamn truck! Are you trying to kill me or something!?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Sorry. I didn¡¯t know you were there,¡± the redhead apologized, causing Ryle to burst into laughter. She then remembered why she had been in such a hurry in the first place. ¡°Hang on! I¡¯m the one who should be upset here! Where have you two been!? Do you have any idea how worried we¡¯ve been!?¡±

    ¡°Well, there is a rather simple explanation to that!¡± Lexton stated, before glaring at his blonde companion. ¡°Isn¡¯t there!? Ryle, you asshole!¡±

    ¡°Hey, no snitching!¡± the blonde said with a hiss, only to realize that she had just basically revealed herself to be at fault.

    ¡°...What did you do this time?¡± Erin asked in a deadpan tone as she stared at Ryle.

    ¡°Nothing! I swear!¡± the blonde tried to argue. ¡°I just¡­ Got a bit distracted! That¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°A bit, my ass!¡± Lexton said angrily. ¡°You were supposed to wait for me outside the baths, while I finished my work! When I finally got out, you were nowhere to be seen! Care to take a guess what she was doing, Erin?¡±

    ¡°Just tell me,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m already dreading the answer as is.¡±

    <hr>

    About two hours earlier, Lexton had finished working on the piping of the baths and had even managed to clean himself up. Working with filth wasn¡¯t exactly something that left you smelling like a flowerbed and he didn¡¯t want to go to the meeting with the others while carrying the stench. Mainly he just didn¡¯t want to hear constant comments regarding the smell.

    Once he was finished cleaning himself up, the kobold had gotten out of the baths, expecting Ryle to be waiting for him there. Much to his surprise and ire, the blonde was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Where the hell is she now!?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I know that she isn¡¯t exactly intellectually gifted, but you¡¯d think that simply waiting at a certain spot wouldn¡¯t be hard to understand! I swear, the one time I need her and she¡¯s gone¡­¡±

    The kobold began to walk around, looking for his missing companion, when he heard a butler and a maid talking with each other. The topic of their conversation quickly caught his interest.

    ¡°Are the rumors true? There was an assassin that infiltrated the hotel disguised as a maid?¡± the maid asked. ¡°And they¡¯ve managed to catch her?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but try not to talk about it too much. At least when you¡¯re around guests. We don¡¯t want them to feel disturbed over such things,¡± the butler said in a hushed tone. ¡°Apparently, she wasn¡¯t a very bright one, as she herself just admitted to it. Those rebels must be getting desperate, if they¡¯re willing to hire someone like her.¡±

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Stupid or not, I still find it kind of scary that such a person was walking among us, pretending to be one of us,¡± the maid said as she shivered a bit. ¡°Where is she now?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s currently being held at the basement storage area. Once the police get here, they¡¯ll transport her to the nearest station to be held, until the proper authorities can get to her,¡± the butler explained. ¡°I doubt she¡¯ll live long after that. I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯ll just end up executing her sooner than later.¡±

    Hearing this story caused Lexton to start panicking, as he feared he knew what had happened. It was easy to make the connection within his mind and draw the very unfortunate conclusion that Ryle had been discovered and had been taken into custody. After all, they were talking about a female assassin that was apparently very stupid. This description fit Ryle perfectly in the kobold¡¯s opinion.

    Knowing that he needed to act fast, Lexton rushed to the nearest elevator and used it to get to the basement floor. Once there, he sneaked around the place, looking for the storage area that Ryle was being held at. The kobold only hoped that he would be able to make it there before the police arrived.

    Lexton¡¯s hopes were soon crushed, when he spotted two police cars in the basement and an officer waiting next to them. It seemed like he hadn¡¯t gotten there fast enough. Knowing that he couldn¡¯t allow Ryle to be taken, he started to go through some of the equipment he had hidden in his clothing, already formulating a plan in his head to rescue the blonde. Once he heard footsteps approaching, he grabbed one of his vials and got ready to throw it.

    However, just as he was about to throw the vial, he stopped. Upon seeing the person that was being escorted by the police, Lexton¡¯s previous fear and panic were replaced by confusion.

    ¡°I keep telling you, I am NOT a rebel! Okay!?¡± Zena shouted angrily as she was being dragged towards the cars. ¡°I used to work directly under Lord Golorath himself! I am one of the last people to ever go against him!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already admitted to being guilty!¡± one of the police officers shouted. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell one of Lord Golorath¡¯s guards that you are an assassin!?¡±

    ¡°YES! BECAUSE THAT¡¯S WHAT MY JOB WAS IN HIS SERVICE!¡± the ex-assassin practically screamed. ¡°I thought that he knew me from seeing me at Golorath¡¯s palace or something! That¡¯s why when he asked if I was an assassin, I said yes! Why the hell else would I give myself away like that!?¡±

    ¡°Who the hell knows!? Maybe you¡¯re just an idiot or something!?¡± another officer asked sarcastically. ¡°All we know is that you¡¯ve admitted multiple times that you¡¯re a hire killer and that there are currently multiple people that are close to Lord Golorath! Why else would you be here, dressed as a maid!?¡±

    ¡°BECAUSE I QUIT BEING AN ASSASSIN! I JUST WORK HERE!¡± Zena screamed as loudly as she could. ¡°I¡¯m trying to change my career and college is freaking expensive! I¡¯m just trying to earn some money here to cover my goddamn tuition fees!¡±

    ¡°Sure you are! Tell that to the people at the station!¡± one of the officers said as the ex-assassin was shoved into the back of one of their cars.

    ¡°YOU¡¯LL REGRET THIS, YOU ASSHOLES!¡± the ex-assassin managed to yell, before the door was closed.

    As the police drove away with their suspect, Lexton was left baffled. He had been so certain that it was Ryle who had been captured, yet it had just been some random maid due to some weird misunderstanding?

    ¡°...Well, that was¡­ odd, to say the least. Also, have I seen that person somewhere before? She looked strangely familiar,¡± the kobold muttered to himself, before he remembered the issue that he was still dealing with. ¡°Oh crud! I almost forgot that the idiot is still missing! Where the hell is she!?¡±

    Having recalled the cause for his panic earlier, Lexton began to run around the hotel in search of the missing Ryle. However, no matter where he looked, he just couldn¡¯t find the blonde. It was almost like she had vanished completely. He even tried asking some of the other staff if they had seen her, but no one could really help him out. Although, his description of Ryle, which was ¡°a new blonde maid that looks like a complete imbecile and acts like a savage,¡± probably didn¡¯t help him in his search.

    After searching through most of the hotel with no results, Lexton was about to give up, when he heard noises from a nearby closet. And one of them sounded very familiar.

    ¡°A-Are you sure that we should be doing this, miss?¡± a boyish voice said. ¡°If any of the senior staff catch us, we could lose our jobs!¡±

    ¡°No worries! No worries! Not that many employees walk around these parts and I doubt any of the guests would be interested in coming here! Besides, I¡¯ll know well before anyone even comes close here, so we¡¯ll have enough time to hide or pretend like we¡¯re looking for something, so it¡¯s all good!¡± a voice that Lexton recognized said happily. ¡°And didn¡¯t I tell you guys that you don¡¯t need to call me miss? Just call me Ryle!¡±

    Having heard more than enough, Lexton¡¯s body began to tremble with rage. All the worry, fear and panic he had felt for the sake of a certain blonde idiot had been a complete waste. Not only was she not in danger at all, but she had caused him to go through one of the most stressful moments in his life for nothing more than for her own desires.

    The kobold was gritting his teeth as he grasped the handle on the door. He still needed to make sure with his own eyes that it was as he suspected it to be.

    Using all of his strength, Lexton flung the door open, catching the occupants by surprise. Just as the kobold had expected, Ryle was there with two young butlers. Judging by the playing cards and different snacks that were on the floor, the blonde had convinced the two butlers to join her in ditching their work and slacking off with her having ulterior motives that Lexton and their other companions were more than aware of.

    ¡°What the-!? LEX!?¡± Ryle cried out in surprise. ¡°This isn¡¯t-! I mean-!¡±

    The blonde didn¡¯t get to finish her excuses, as she was grabbed by her hair and pulled down on eye level with the kobold, who had a VERY angry look on his face.

    ¡°You lower than amoeba lifeform! Do you have any idea what I¡¯ve just been through thanks to you!?¡± Lexton asked angrily as he glared at Ryle. ¡°I had to run through this entire goddamn place, searching for you, when all you had to do was stay put! Are your brains so undeveloped that you cannot even comprehend something as simple as that!?¡±

    ¡°OW! OW! Okay! I get it! I get it!¡± Ryle cried out in pain. ¡°You¡¯re pissed because I went on my own without telling you! I¡¯m sorry, okay!? Aren¡¯t you overreacting a bit, though!?¡±

    ¡°OVERREACTING!?¡± the kobold shouted. ¡°You dare say something like that!? For a moment, I had thought that you were-!¡±

    Lexton suddenly stopped his rant, as he realized what he almost said. He even let go of the blonde¡¯s hair, who took notice of the sudden change in the kobold¡¯s attitude.

    ¡°You thought I was¡­ what?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°You were in the middle of ranting, when you stopped all of a sudden. What were you about to say?¡±

    ¡°S-SHUT UP!¡± Lexton shouted with an embarrassed blush on his face before turning around. ¡°Just follow me already! We¡¯re late from meeting the others!¡±

    The blonde simply watched as the kobold stomped away from her, before shrugging and following after him. Soon after that they got to the meeting place and the rest is already known.

    <hr>

    After hearing Lexton¡¯s story, Erin stared at Ryle, who was doing her best to not look at the redhead in the eyes. In fact, the blonde seemed to have taken an interest in the ceiling, as she kept looking up while whistling innocently.

    ¡°...Honestly, I¡¯m not even mad,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Just disappointed.¡±

    ¡°What!? Is that all you¡¯re going to say!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°After everything I went through you¡¯re not even going to reprimand her!?¡±

    ¡°Lex, what good would that do?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°We both know that whatever we say to her goes in from one ear and out the other anyways! When I think about it, I should almost be reprimanding you for taking your eyes away from her, knowing that she can¡¯t be trusted to follow simple directions¡­¡±

    ¡°Ha! In your face, scaly!¡± Ryle said with a smug grin.

    ¡°...That wasn¡¯t something you should be taking as a positive, Ryle!¡± Erin said as she glared at the blonde.

    ¡°Wait¡­ But you were putting the blame on him, right? So shouldn¡¯t that make it good for me or was there something that I missed?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°...I¡¯m confused.¡±

    ¡°Of course you are,¡± the redhead said as she rolled her eye, before turning her attention to Lexton. ¡°Although, I do have to say what really surprised me was that you were not just worried over Ryle, but willing to risk your life to save her. Care to elaborate on that?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to elaborate? I didn¡¯t want her to die?¡± the kobold asked sarcastically. ¡°Besides, you¡¯d have been upset with me, if I hadn¡¯t gone so far to rescue her!¡±

    ¡°Sure, I get that. I just never expected you to go so far in order to do so,¡± Erin said with a small grin. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t hate her as much as you¡¯d like us to believe. Maybe you even¡­ like her?¡±

    ¡°Oh my God! Don¡¯t make say such horrid things without a warning!¡± Lexton said as acted like he was holding back vomit. ¡°Even the sewage in that bath didn¡¯t make me want to throw up as much as that did!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Erin! That was super gross!¡± Ryle complained with a look of disgust on her face. ¡°You know well enough that I would never go for someone like Lex!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I was implying! I meant that-!¡± Erin tried to argue back, only to stop herself. ¡°You know what? Forget it. Just forget it! All I wanted to do was try to use this moment to strengthen our friendships, but I was so wrong for doing so! Just another waste of my time!¡±

    The redhead went back to the storage room, leaving her two friends confused.

    ¡°What was that about?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°Erin¡¯s a total mystery sometimes.¡±

    With the whole group now gathered, they could finally start their meeting concerning the kidnapping of Golorath¡¯s ¡°wife.¡± Or as Erin liked to think of it as the rescuing of Stacey.

    ¡°Alright, so Erin, you¡¯re the one who called this meeting of ours,¡± Zeldana started. ¡°What have you found out so far that made you do so?¡±

    ¡°I was able to meet up with Golorath¡¯s lady and talk to her,¡± the redhead explained, which surprised the others. ¡°It seems that this operation is a bit different from what we had imagined.¡±

    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°I can only imagine just how terrifying the person who would marry one of the overlords could be.¡±

    ¡°Nothing bad happened, Arnie. In fact, I learned some important about our target,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Turns out that she isn¡¯t a happily married housewife, but a terrified captive.¡±

    ¡°You mean she¡¯s some sort of a prisoner?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Then why has she been seen next to Golorath on a few occasions dressed in fine clothing? Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I doubt you¡¯re supposed to treat your victims like that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a¡­ complicated issue,¡± the redhead said, trying not to let too much information slip that would reveal her past. ¡°Turns out that she has some history with Golorath. Keeping her around as sort of a prize is his way of getting back at her.¡±

    ¡°Holy crap. What could she have done to piss him off that bad?¡± Ryle wondered. ¡°You¡¯d have to do something really nasty to get me even close to being that upset!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting that we aren¡¯t dealing with a normal person here, Ryle. Someone as powerful as him can pretty much do whatever he wants for whatever reason,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°For all we know, she could have simply looked at him the wrong way to receive such punishment. I doubt she actually did anything bad to really earn his wrath.¡±

    Erin had to bite her lip, as she thought back to her past. While she didn¡¯t agree with what Gabe was doing, she had to admit that Stacey had earned his hatred.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the topic at hand. You¡¯re saying that she¡¯s willing to come with us, so there¡¯s no need for an actual kidnapping, correct?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°That could make things easier, as we won¡¯t have to force her into anything.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of what I was hoping for,¡± the redhead said. ¡°However, she seems to be very scared, as she panicked when I tried to simply talk to her. I just hope that she¡¯s able to stay calm when the time comes.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to deal with it when it happens, I suppose,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°As for the actual escape itself, anybody got any ideas? I doubt we can simply walk through the front door with her.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we could do that of we dress her up as one of the maids?¡± Ryle suggested. ¡°Even if it isn¡¯t through the front door, we could just walk outside, claiming that we are going out to get some needed supplies or something? I doubt anybody here has memorized all the faces of the people working here.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but they have certainly memorized her face,¡± Durge pointed out. ¡°The whole plan blows apart the second anybody realizes who she is.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we fix that, though?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you can change somebody¡¯s looks through makeup and wigs enough to pass them off as another person.¡±

    ¡°That should be doable¡­ I might be able to handle the makeup, so all we need is a wig,¡± Erin said thoughtfully, before turning her attention towards Lexton. ¡°Lex, do you think you can make her a wig?¡±

    ¡°Erin, after all the things that I¡¯ve made, do you really have any doubts that I could make you a simple wig?¡± the kobold asked sarcastically. ¡°Honestly, the only thing that could provide a challenge with such a task would be if you asked me to put something else into it.¡±

    ¡°Like what? Laser turrets?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Eh. That¡¯s a bit boring, but could work as a start,¡± Lexton said with a shrug.

    ¡°...I¡¯m frightened by the fact that you¡¯re not joking,¡± Erin said. ¡°But no. Things like laser turrets are not necessary. Just make a convincing normal wig for her and that will be enough.¡±

    ¡°Your loss,¡± the kobold replied.

    ¡°What about the guards? Even if they¡¯re simple brutes, they are still Golorath¡¯s personal elite soldiers,¡± Arkay pointed out. ¡°They might recognize her even with her disguise. Is there anything we can do to distract them or something?¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I¡¯ve already made preparations for that,¡± Zeldana said with a grin, surprising the others. ¡°Do you remember those massages I was giving? What I gave them was a treatment that will leave them pretty much useless for the next couple of days. I can promise you that the most they¡¯ll be doing is getting out of bed to eat.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strangely terrifying,¡± Erin said before she realized something. ¡°Hang on! You mean to tell me that you were giving those special massages to Golorath¡¯s men specifically!?¡±

    ¡°What can I say? I like to put my hands to work as soon as I can,¡± the elf replied. ¡°However, I didn¡¯t simply give it to Golorath¡¯s people. In order to keep up my disguise, I did give it to some other guests, but I doubt they were too unhappy. I also handed some notes and specifically made potions to a few that I couldn¡¯t massage, so they should be left distracted as well.¡±

    ¡°Woah, you¡¯ve really gotten into your work, haven¡¯t you?¡± Durge said in amazement. ¡°Although, how did you manage to slip potions to those guys? And what were they?¡±

    ¡°I actually saw how she delivered the drinks and it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t know,¡± Erin said, thinking back to when Zeldana was flirting with the guests. ¡°But I do want to know what those potions were exactly. Also, what was written on those notes you gave them?¡±

    ¡°Oh, just some special instructions,¡± the elf said with a giggle. ¡°You¡¯ll see what those were.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, that¡¯s ominous,¡± the redhead said bluntly. ¡°How many of the guards were you able to get with these special preparations of yours?¡±

    ¡°Quite a few, but not all of them sadly,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°While I was able to reduce the security by quite a bit, there are still some guards left. We should be able to sneak past them, though. As you¡¯ve probably seen by now, they¡¯re not exactly the most professional bunch.¡±

    ¡°Alright, that settles it then,¡± Erin said. ¡°Once Lexton has prepared a wig, I¡¯ll take it along with a spare uniform to her. Once she¡¯s in disguise, we¡¯ll get out of here through the backdoor. Durge and Ryle will secure the exit, while the others will help me with escorting our target. Keep a lookout for possible threats and inform me about them, while also distracting guards and other employees.¡±

    The others nodded in unison, as they had settled on their plan. However, one of them still had something that they needed to cover.

    ¡°Hang on. There¡¯s still one thing that I think we need to discuss,¡± Lexton suddenly said. ¡°In case the backdoor doesn¡¯t work, shouldn¡¯t we have another plan of escape?¡±

    ¡°That would be reassuring,¡± Erin said. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s use the pipes in the baths,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°Those things lead to the lower parts of Graven Hills. Once there, we can hide within the slums.¡±

    Lexton had a smug look on his face, as he was certain that the others would see the genius of his plan. But instead of the praise that he had been expecting, he only got questionable looks.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the kobold asked.

    ¡°Lex, are you seriously telling us to make our escape through sewage pipes?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Yes! I know a pipe that is large enough for all of us!¡± Lexton replied. ¡°We can use it to easily get away from here and escape the guards! What is wrong with that!?¡±

    ¡°Besides the fact that it¡¯s probably filled with all sorts of disgusting crap!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°If you want to swim in it, you can go ahead! I had enough of that after all the cleaning I had to do!¡±

    ¡°Oh for the love of-! It¡¯s just a bit of filth! What¡¯s so horrible about that!?¡± the kobold asked angrily.

    ¡°...Anybody in support of Lex¡¯s plan?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°No!¡± Ryle, Arkay, Durge and Zeldana replied in unison.

    ¡°Bite my ass, all of you!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t come crying to me, when you need a plan B!¡±

    ¡°I sincerely hope it won¡¯t come to that,¡± Erin said.

 147. Rescue Start

    Chapter 147

    Rescue Start

    With their plan ready, Erin and the others began their work in rescuing Stacey. The one thing that the redhead was worried about the most was the wig Lexton was going to make. She knew that the kobold was a very fast worker and could build things incredibly fast at a high quality, but this would be a rush job he needed to accomplish in the next couple of hours. No matter how simple one might think a wig was, Erin was certain that making one wouldn¡¯t be something that could be done in less than a day.

    ¡°Guys, I¡¯m not so sure about this,¡± Erin said nervously as she and the others, minus Lexton, were waiting for the kobold outside a storage room in the basement. ¡°I know that Lex is incredibly skilled and all, but this doesn¡¯t seem possible! I mean, do you guys really think he can build a wig as fast as he claimed?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. I¡¯ve never made one,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°Heck, I wasn¡¯t even able to repair tears on my own clothing. I had to let my brother handle all that.¡±

    ¡°Personally, I hope he¡¯s able to do it or else all of my preparations will go to waste!¡± Zeldana complained. ¡°Do you have any idea how deep I had to go inside greasy bodies with my massages? And the messages I prepared? Granted, I wasn¡¯t originally doing it as part of any greater plan or anything, but using it to our advantage like that would be just golden! Not to mention, there¡¯s a certain someone that¡¯s going to be mighty pissed off with me, unless we get out of here by today.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand what you¡¯ve been fully up to and that seriously worries me,¡± Erin said bluntly. ¡°Anyways, Zeldana is right in the sense that now is the best time for us to do this. If Lex can¡¯t produce a wig fast enough, we will have a hard time sneaking Golorath¡¯s lady out of here!¡±

    ¡°Erin, trust me. He¡¯ll do just fine,¡± Ryle said, surprising the others. ¡°I mean, have you ever seen that guy NOT deliver the goods to us? Most of our gear has been made by him, our potions are made by him and some of that stuff he basically cranks out during his free time! That guy never fails to deliver, so we just gotta wait and see what he does! And I¡¯m sure it will be good.¡±

    Silence fell over the group as everybody stared at the blonde with wide eyes, making her feel uncomfortable.

    ¡°...What the hell is up with you all of a sudden!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°Why are you all staring at me like I just grew a second head or something!?¡±

    ¡°Even that would be less shocking than what you just said!¡± Erin said. ¡°Did you just actually praise Lexton!? Are you feeling unwell or are you some impostor!?¡±

    ¡°What the-!? I just spoke the truth! That¡¯s it!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Even I can tell that the scaly bastard can make some very neat stuff! I don¡¯t think anybody here would ever question that! That doesn¡¯t change my general opinion on him, though! He is still an arrogant, self-centered asshole that deserves to get his ass kicked most of the time!¡±

    ¡°Okay, she¡¯s back to normal,¡± Erin said with a relieved sigh. ¡°No need to worry.¡±

    ¡°I was scared for a moment,¡± Durge said.

    ¡°Same here. That was incredibly disturbing,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°And that¡¯s coming from me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, bite my ass, all of you!¡± Ryle shouted as she flipped off her three companions, before turning towards Arkay. ¡°Arnie, be honest with me! What I said wasn¡¯t really all that weird, right!?¡±

    ¡°...Well, I have to admit that it was pretty surprising. After all, you and Lex tend to only communicate with each other through aggressive arguments,¡± the cat boy replied, causing the blonde¡¯s shoulders to slump in defeat. ¡°But despite how surprising it was, I was honestly happy that you said those things!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Arnie!¡± Ryle said happily with a big smile. ¡°I knew you would-!¡±

    ¡°For you to say stuff like that about Lex can only mean that you¡¯re becoming closer as friends!¡± Arkay said happily. ¡°That¡¯s something we all should be happy about!¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s¡­ not exactly it, Arnie,¡± the blonde said, no longer looking happy.

    ¡°Alright, enough with the internal group drama! Let¡¯s focus on the job at hand here!¡± Erin called out, hoping to get the conversation back on track. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t know how long it will take Lex to finish that wig, but I¡¯m sure that once he has done it, we will only have very little time to-¡±

    It was at that moment that Lexton opened the door to the storage room and walked out with a wig in his hands.

    ¡°I just finished it,¡± the kobold said bluntly while staring at Erin.

    ¡°Wha- You¡­ How did you¡­ You were actually able to make it?¡± the redhead said as she kept switching her disbelieving gaze between Lexton and the wig he was holding. ¡°But how did you-? It¡¯s been less than an hour! How were you able to make it so quick!?¡±

    ¡°Well, I could have finished it faster, had there not been some unnecessary noises coming from here that distracted me!¡± the kobold said angrily as he tossed the wig to Erin. ¡°And just for the record, as much as I can hardly believe I¡¯m saying this, you might want to listen to Ryle a bit. Seems like she¡¯s the only one who is starting to understand just how damn good I am.¡±

    ¡°See? If it wasn¡¯t for that attitude of his, I might actually like him,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that if his personality was fixed, you¡¯d be chasing him, instead of Arnie?¡± Zeldana asked with a grin, which caused the blonde to hold back vomit.

    ¡°Oh please¡­ Don¡¯t say anything like that,¡± Ryle said in a disgusted voice. ¡°I just had lunch.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­ Why does so many of our conversations go there!?¡± Erin cursed angrily, before turning her attention back to Lexton. ¡°Anyways, this is some really good work, Lex. It even feels like real hair. Where did you get the materials for this?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions you don¡¯t want answered,¡± the kobold replied.

    ¡°...Okay, I¡¯ll leave it at that,¡± the redhead said. ¡°With this, we should be able to get on with our job.¡±

    ¡°Sure, but I want to point out a couple of things about the wig before you go,¡± Lexton said. ¡°First, if you touch the inside of it, you can feel it¡¯s a bit sticky. That¡¯s so it won¡¯t fall off easily. It can still be pulled off without trouble, but at least it won¡¯t get taken away by a gust of wind.¡±

    ¡°I see. Nice work!¡± Erin said approvingly as she touched the inside of the wig, feeling the stickiness of it. ¡°Anything else you wanted to add?¡±

    ¡°Just one more thing. Could you hand it to Ryle first, though?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be able to pick up on it.¡±

    The redhead did as she was told and gave the wig to her blonde friend, who touched it but didn¡¯t find anything special. It just felt like normal hair to her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re getting at here, Lex. It feels like normal hair to me,¡± Ryle said.

    ¡°Hold on a second. You¡¯ll soon feel something different,¡± Lexton said, before turning towards Erin again. ¡°Erin, can you see a special piece of ornament hanging from the hairs?¡±

    The redhead took a closer look and soon found what the kobold was referring to. There was a special hairband on some of the hairs.

    ¡°Is this the one?¡± Erin asked, pointing at the hairband.

    ¡°That¡¯s it. I want you to lightly pull on it,¡± Lexton said.

    The redhead followed the instructions and pulled on the hairband. As soon as she did this, electricity shot from the wig and struck Ryle, who was still holding it. The blonde let out a pained scream, as she was struck by the hidden weapon. Once the surge of electricity had stopped, a bit of smoke was rising from her body and her hair was standing up.

    ¡°WHAT THE SHIT, LEX!?¡± Ryle screamed angrily at the kobold. ¡°WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT!?¡±

    ¡°Well, I needed someone to demonstrate my work with and you were simply the best candidate for the job!¡± Lexton said. ¡°What would you prefer? That Erin found out about it on accident?¡±

    ¡°I have a better idea! How about NOT putting death traps in everything you make!?¡± Erin said just as angry as Ryle. ¡°Seriously, why did you make this!? Are lasers out of fashion or something!?¡±

    ¡°Oh please! I didn¡¯t have the time or the resources to make something like that!¡± the kobold said. ¡°I just used what little time I had to give the lady we¡¯re rescuing something to defend herself with! Or would you prefer she was unable to fight back in case something happens?¡±

    ¡°Well, the plan is to get her out of here QUIETLY!¡± the redhead pointed out. ¡°I don¡¯t think that can happen when she¡¯s giving out electric shocks to people!¡±

    ¡°She only needs to use it, if somebody grabs her, so there¡¯s no real danger!¡± Lexton said. ¡°I even made sure that the wearer wouldn¡¯t suffer from the shock at all, so there¡¯s no real danger!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, except for me!¡± Ryle said. ¡°I take back all the nice things I said about you¡­¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t. There¡¯s no need to do something like that now that we¡¯re even,¡± the kobold pointed out. ¡°It was thanks to your praise that I decided to set the electricity lower than normal for this demonstration. I was originally planning to have it be even more painful, as I was still upset with what you did earlier.¡±

    Meanwhile, Arkay, Durge and Zeldana were observing the ongoing argument with varying reactions. While the elf was obviously amused, the other two were less than pleased with the antics their friends were at once again.

    ¡°...You know, sometimes I can¡¯t help but feel like we¡¯ve been very lucky to survive so far,¡± Arkay said. ¡°And for some reason, that feeling is very strong during moments like THIS.¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing,¡± Durge said.

    <hr>

    After giving a stern lecture to Lexton, Erin proceeded to the next part of their plan. This was getting a spare maid uniform from the dressing room of the staff, which would then be used as a disguise for Stacey.

    Once she got to the dressing room, the redhead was happy to see that there was no one else there, meaning that she would be able to look for a uniform in peace. She immediately went to the closet that was supposed to hold the spares and opened the door.

    Unfortunately, while there were plenty of uniforms, none of them were a fitting size for Stacey, who was around the same size as Erin. The only ones left seemed to be fitting either for very large races, like trolls or ogres, or very small ones, like gnomes or goblins.

    ¡°Of all the things for our plan to stumble with,¡± the redhead muttered to herself in annoyance. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can use any of these remaining ones. Maybe she can miraculously pull it off?¡±

    Erin first grabbed one of the smaller uniforms and held it close, trying to compare it to herself in order to measure the size properly. Much to her disappointment, it was far too small for Stacey, as either of them trying to wear it would look like they were dressing up in clothes made for a baby.

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    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not working. We would draw far too much attention to ourselves,¡± the redhead said as she put the smaller uniform away and grabbed a larger one. ¡°Maybe this will work.¡±

    Unlike the smaller outfit, Erin was actually able to fit inside the larger one. The problem was that her whole body fit inside with plenty of room to spare. It looked like she was wearing a large blanket over herself.

    ¡°This one¡¯s a miss, too¡­ What am I going to do now?¡± the redhead said with a sigh, as she began to take off the uniform, only to find it difficult. ¡°Before that, how the hell do I get out of here? Where¡¯s the door?¡±

    As Erin was struggling to free herself from the large maid uniform, Julianna entered the room. The maid was quite surprised to find what appeared to be a living uniform moving right before her eyes. At that moment, the redhead was able to free herself, coming face to face with a rather confused colleague.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Hi!¡± Erin greeted Julianna nervously. ¡°I was just¡­ Umm¡­ Trying out some outfits! Nothing else!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I can see that,¡± Julianna said. ¡°My question is, why are you trying on something that¡¯s clearly too big for you? I¡¯ve heard about putting yourself in the shoes of someone else, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what it means.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ you see¡­ I kind of need a new uniform,¡± the redhead began to try and explain herself, but was struggling to come up with an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s for my¡­ work¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an obvious lie,¡± the maid said bluntly, shocking Erin. ¡°I can tell just by looking that there¡¯s nothing wrong with your uniform at all, so why do you need a new one? We can¡¯t exactly afford to waste our resources.¡±

    The redhead let out a small sigh of relief inside her mind. At first, when Julianna had caught her lying, she had feared that her cover had been blown. While it was a good thing that her true intentions hadn¡¯t been uncovered, it still wouldn¡¯t save her from her current predicament. She still needed to find a reasonable excuse for what she was doing and her mind was drawing a blank.

    Suddenly, an idea popped inside Erin¡¯s mind, as she realized that Julianna was about the same size as herself. Perhaps she could¡­

    ¡°Hey, what are you spacing out for!?¡± Julianna asked angrily, as she wasn¡¯t getting a response from the redhead. ¡°Would you mind and tell me already why you were messing around with uniforms that were clearly not your size!?¡±

    ¡°...The thing is that I needed a new one for another maid!¡± Erin said as the story began to take form inside her mind. ¡°You see, she kind of had an ¡°incident¡± with one of the guests and is in the need of a new uniform. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but why couldn¡¯t she come here herself?¡± the maid asked. ¡°Why did she need you to come here for her? And is it really that bad that she needs a whole new uniform?¡±

    ¡°Well, she is rather distraught after what happened and is a¡­ bit of a mess to say the least. She didn¡¯t want to be seen in the state she is right now, especially with the guests we have right now,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Because of that, I came here in her place, as I¡¯m going to need her help in cleaning the room that Golorath¡¯s lady is staying at.¡±

    ¡°Cleaning the room of-? Hang on, wasn¡¯t it cleaned earlier today?¡± Julianna asked. ¡°In fact, wasn¡¯t it you who did that?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but there was some sort of an accident there that apparently made a big mess or something!¡± Erin quickly explained as she tried to hold back her panic that was slowly building up. ¡°From what I was told, it was so bad that it requires at least two people to clean it up! That¡¯s why I needed the new uniform for my partner, who was supposed to help me! But since you¡¯re here, maybe you could help me instead!?¡±

    Silence fell over the two of them, as Julianna stared at Erin, taking in the story she had just been told. The redhead could feel beads of sweat fall down her face, as she tried her best to remain calm while hoping that her story was believable enough.

    ¡°...Alright, I suppose I could help you out,¡± Julianna finally said with a sigh. ¡°I seriously don¡¯t like going to that room, as I fear my life might end at any second, but I can¡¯t leave a fellow worker in trouble.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Thank you!¡± Erin cheered happily. ¡°I¡¯ll just grab some cleaning supplies and we can get going!¡±

    As the redhead gathered some supplies to keep up with her disguise of simply performing her cleaning duties, she couldn¡¯t help but smile at how well she had worked under pressure. Not only had she been able to avoid any suspicion, but she had also managed to secure an outfit for Stacey to use as a disguise.

    However, she suddenly realized an issue with her plan. While she had secured a disguise, it had come with something extra. Julianna was wearing it and Erin doubted that the maid would be willing to simply give up her clothes. Even if she were to explain their situation, the redhead didn¡¯t think that the maid would be all that willing to cooperate.

    They needed a maid uniform and the one they got was already being used by Julianna. That meant that they would have to take it from her one way or another. Erin could feel her face turn pale, as she fully realized what she had to do.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Julianna asked, snapping the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°Your face has turned pale all of a sudden. Are you feeling alright?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m okay!¡± Erin quickly lied, trying to keep her composure. ¡°It¡¯s just been a long day and I¡¯m starting to get tired.¡±

    ¡°I get that. A lot of people think our job is simple and fail to realize just how tough it can truly be,¡± the maid said. ¡°How about after we get this done, you take the rest of the day off? I¡¯m sure the others will be able to handle it from there on.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you,¡± the redhead said while also apologizing in her mind.

    <hr>

    With their cleaning supplies gathered, the two maids headed to Stacey¡¯s room. Luckily it was getting pretty late, so there were no longer all that many people walking around, allowing them to get to the room without any interruptions. Before she closed the door, Erin took a quick glance at the outside of the room to make sure that there was no one nearby.

    ¡°So where¡¯s this big mess that you were talking about?¡± Julianna asked while looking around the room, not finding anything out of the ordinary. ¡°Hey? Where¡¯s the-?¡±

    The maid didn¡¯t get to finish her question, as Erin grabbed a mop that she had taken with them and put it against Julianna¡¯s throat, chocking her out. The maid tried to fight back against the sudden attack, but had been caught completely off guard. She was barely able to put up any kind of a struggle, before she passed out and fell to the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± the whispered apologetically to the unconscious Julianna. ¡°I had no other choice! I swear I didn¡¯t want to do this!¡±

    Erin proceeded to drag Julianna to the bedroom, where Stacey was waiting for her. Upon hearing the door open, she looked up in panic, only to calm down upon seeing it was Erin. Although, some of her fear returned, once she saw the person that was being dragged.

    ¡°E-Erin?¡± Stacey called out to her old friend. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°This is one of the maids that works here. I unfortunately had to knock her out, so that we could take her uniform,¡± Erin explained, as she placed Julianna on the floor and began to undress her. ¡°The plan is to have you disguise as one of the maids working here, so we can sneak out of here.¡±

    ¡°H-H-Hang on a second!¡± Stacey said in a somewhat panicked tone. ¡°Y-You actually expect me to wear that thing¡¯s clothes!?¡±

    The way Stacey had worded her question surprised Erin, who stopped what she had been doing to stare back at her old friend in confusion.

    ¡°Yes? That¡¯s the plan,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? I know that wearing a maid uniform isn¡¯t exactly something that you¡¯re probably looking forward to, but we need to do that in order to get you out of here. I¡¯m sure you can manage at least a bit of discomfort.¡±

    ¡°The outfit isn¡¯t the issue, it¡¯s that thing that wore it! Do you really expect me to wear something that creature was wearing just now!?¡± Stacey asked in a mix of shock and anger. ¡°Not only that, but is that thing still alive!? Why haven¡¯t you killed it yet!?¡±

    To say that Erin was shocked would be an understatement. The fact that Stacey was referring to Julianna like she was just some sort of an animal absolutely horrified the redhead. While she knew that her old friend was self-centered and not exactly a good person, she had expected her to have changed for the better at least a bit.

    ¡°Stacey, she isn¡¯t a thing, okay? Her name is Julianna and she¡¯s just an innocent maid that works here,¡± Erin explained, like her old friend was a small child. ¡°She works here in order to take care of her sick younger sister and risks her life with some of the guests here. There is no reason for us to kill her! What kind of a heartless murderer do you think I am!?¡±

    ¡°You speak about that thing like it¡¯s human! Look at the ears it has! That thing is NOT human!¡± Stacey said while pointing at Julianna¡¯s elf ears. ¡°How can you view something like that as the same as us!? It¡¯s obviously just some sort of a monster that this world is full of! And you expect me to wear the clothes it has worn!? God only knows what I might get from that!¡±

    Hearing Stacey¡¯s dehumanizing rant against Julianna caused all the shock Erin previously had to disappear and get replaced with anger. The redhead wasn¡¯t sure if there was a reason for Stacey to view the people of the world in such a way, like the treatment she had received from Gabe and his people, but she didn¡¯t care. The idea that Stacey looked at people in such a horrible manner, even including her friends, was something that she wouldn¡¯t stand for.

    Worst of all, it was that type of view that they used to have towards Devin and Gabe back in the day.

    Having had enough of Stacey¡¯s horrible remarks, Erin walked up to her and grabbed her by the hair, slamming her against the bed that she was still sitting on. The redhead held her down while glaring into her terrified eyes.

    ¡°Listen here. I¡¯m not going to stand for that kind of shit at all, got it? I have friends here helping me rescue you and I will not allow you to say anything like that towards any of them!¡± Erin said in a stern and angry tone. ¡°Now you get one of two choices. Either you suck it up and put on the outfit or you get to stay here and remain the toy of Gabe and his goons. Which one will it be?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll put on the outfit,¡± Stacey replied meekly.

    ¡°Good choice,¡± the redhead said as she let go of her old friend¡¯s hair. ¡°We better get going. I have no idea if someone is planning to come here and I¡¯d rather not get caught in this mess.¡±

    Having gained Stacey¡¯s cooperation, Erin proceeded to undress Julianna and gave her outfit to her old friend, who put it on hesitantly. Knowing that she couldn¡¯t just leave Julianna laying on the floor like that, the redhead tore up some of the sheets in order to tie up and gag the maid, before hiding her in a closet.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I had to do this,¡± Erin apologized to the unconscious Julianna. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t get punished for this and get to see your sister safely. If I ever meet you again, I promise that I will repay you for what you had to go through.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay, I¡¯ve got the outfit on,¡± Stacey called out, having finished dressing up as a maid. ¡°D-Do we get to leave now?¡±

    ¡°We still have a couple of things left to do,¡± the redhead said as she pulled out the wig Lexton had made. ¡°First, put this on. It will help hide your identity.¡±

    Stacey did as she was told and put on the wig. Once that was done, Erin explained to her the defense mechanism Lexton had installed into it and specified that it was only to be used as a last resort. After that, the redhead helped Stacey wash away her makeup and redid it in order to further hide her identity.

    Now that Stacey¡¯s disguise was ready, they could proceed with getting out of the hotel. Erin carefully opened the door and looked around to see if there was anyone around. Finding no one, she motioned for her old friend to follow behind her, as they proceeded towards the elevators.

    Everything seemed to be proceeding well enough, until they turned around a corner that would have led them straight to the elevators. Standing right before them were two people dressed in military outfits. It was obvious to Erin that these were part of Golorath¡¯s personal guard that had been sent there along with Stacey. Her old friend even confirmed this by squeezing her shoulder from fear.

    However, they couldn¡¯t simply turn around and walk away, as that would make them look suspicious. The two guards had already seen them and were walking towards them, and judging by the looks on their faces, they weren¡¯t going to simply let the two maids walk past them. Whatever it was that they were planning, it wasn¡¯t going to be good.

    Despite the obvious danger ahead of them, Erin knew that all they could do was move forward. She took a deep breath to help steel her resolve and started to walk forward, followed closely behind by Stacey.

    The two guards were just a couple of steps away from them, still with the same unnerving smiles on their faces. The redhead gritted her teeth and hoped that no matter what came next, their cover wouldn¡¯t be blown.

    Suddenly, something crashed into the two guards, causing them to fall to the floor. It was cart full of all sorts of drinks that had now spilled over the guards, who were now angrily looking for the one responsible for the sudden humiliation.

    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, sirs!¡± Lexton apologized in a panicked tone as he rushed to the two guards. ¡°I was in such a hurry that I failed to look where I was going and the cart slipped from my hands! Are you two alright!?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t be alright soon, you clumsy bastard!¡± one of the guards shouted angrily as he and his colleague rushed to the kobold and started beating him up.

    It was now that Erin was finally able to snap out of her shock and realize what was going on. Seeing one of her friends get abused right in front of her angered her quite a bit and she was about to rush to Lexton¡¯s aid, only for a hand on her shoulder to hold her back. She looked behind her and saw the terrified look on Stacey¡¯s face, who didn¡¯t want the redhead to leave her behind. Yet while Erin understood her old friend¡¯s fear, she couldn¡¯t simply abandon Lexton.

    It was only thanks to the kobold that Erin was able to proceed. With the attention of the two guards solely focused on kicking him on the floor, he was able to signal to the redhead to keep moving. Having received Lexton¡¯s message, the redhead gave him a small nod in response and walked with Stacey to the elevators, going completely unnoticed by the guards.

    Once inside the elevator, both Erin and Stacey could relax a bit. The elevator would take them straight to the first floor, where they could go to the back area, which was reserved for the employees to use as a break room. Once they had gotten through that, they were at the backdoor exit that led out of the hotel itself.

    Before they could get to the back area, they needed to get through the front hall, where a bunch of people were gathered. The front hall was often used as a gathering spot by both guests and employees, which is why there were almost always people there. Even now the hall was filled with all sorts people, chatting among themselves or running around trying to get to different places.

    Luckily for Erin and Stacey, most of the guests wouldn¡¯t be able to recognize Golorath¡¯s lady from her disguise, even if they were to pay close attention towards her. And while some of them employees might have been able to recognize her, they were far too busy with whatever work they had to really pay attention to her.

    Everything seemed to be going smoothly, as Erin and Stacey moved through the crowds of people without being paid any attention to. But just as they were about to get to the back area, the redhead spotted two more guards, this time female, standing in their way. The guards were currently chatting with each other, but that could change the moment they walked into their view. All Erin and Stacey could hope was that they wouldn¡¯t draw too much attention to themselves.

    The friends walked towards the guards in a quick yet calm pace, hoping to not catch the eye of either guard. However, as they were getting closer, one of the two seemed to notice them and had a look of suspicion in her eyes.

    Just as Erin thought that their cover had been completely blown, a sudden savior came to their aid.

    ¡°Ladies, would you like some refreshing drinks?¡± Arkay asked as he walked up to the two guards with a tray full of glasses. ¡°These were just made by our expert bartender and we can guarantee that you¡¯ll enjoy them.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind if we do, cutie!¡± one of the two guards said with a smile as she grabbed one of the glasses along with her colleague.

    With the two guards now distracted by their drinks and the server before them, Arkay gave a quick wink to Erin, who immediately understood the message. The cat boy had provided them with a distraction that would allow them to get past the guards.

    Not wanting to let her friend¡¯s help go to waste, Erin quickly guided Stacey towards the back area, moving past the guards that were being distracted by Arkay. Only a few more steps and they would be safe.

    ¡°Hey, you two!¡± one of the two guards suddenly called out to them, stopping them in their tracks. While the other one had been too distracted by the cat boy server, this one seemed to have picked up on the strange behavior of the two maids. ¡°Come over here for a second. I need to confirm something.¡±

    Erin looked over to Stacey, who was trembling with fear as even a couple of tears fell from her eyes. The redhead knew that if they met with the guard, her old friend¡¯s composure would be completely broken and their cover would be blown. Yet they couldn¡¯t simply ignore the guard¡¯s orders and leave.

    ¡°Are you listening to me!?¡± the guard asked angrily, as she didn¡¯t receive a response from the two maids. She began to walk towards the two now. ¡°I told you to-! ACK!¡±

    The guard suddenly slumped down on the floor completely limp, revealing Zeldana standing behind her. The elf was holding a long needle in her hand that had a bit of blood on it.

    ¡°Oh dear! It looks like someone has had a bit too much to drink!¡± Zeldana said in a mock shocked voice as she put the guard¡¯s arm around her shoulders and began to carry her away. ¡°I think you need a good long rest to get over it!¡±

    Erin watched as the elf walked past the other guard and explained that her colleague had been drinking too much. It seemed like the other guard believed it and turned her attention back Arkay, who was still holding the tray of drinks.

    With no other risks ahead of them, the redhead opened the door to the back area, allowing her and Stacey to finally get to safety.

    The back area was a rather large room with not much in it. There were a couple of tables with chairs around them and some couches for the employees to sit at and relax. There were also a few vending machines that they could use to buy snacks for themselves.

    Erin looked around the room and saw that there were only a couple of employees there, all seemingly too busy trying to relax from their work to really pay attention to the new arrivals. She soon spotted Durge and Ryle standing near the door that would leave outside the hotel. The two immediately noticed the redhead and kept their eyes on her, waiting for her to come over.

    Seeing as how their escape was almost complete, Erin let out a sigh of relief and began to walk towards the door with Stacey following behind her. Only a bit more and it would be over.

    ¡°Hey, is your friend alright?¡± one of the butlers that was in the room suddenly asked as he walked up to Erin and Stacey. ¡°She looks like she¡¯s having a panic attack.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh she¡¯s fine!¡± Erin quickly said, trying to put up a calm front in order to not draw attention. ¡°It¡¯s just her first day today and the work has been a bit¡­ overwhelming, to say the least. She just needs some fresh air and time to breathe and she should be okay.¡±

    ¡°Ah. I get that. My first day here was also a rough one. It takes some time to get used to how things work around here, but it¡¯ll get better,¡± the butler said in a gentle tone as he walked closer and patted Stacey¡¯s head in a comforting manner. ¡°Stay strong, kid. I get that it¡¯s tough and all, but-¡±

    The butler was cut off from his comforting speech as he suddenly screamed in pain, as volts of electricity shot through his body. Erin looked on with shock and horror as Stacey had used the defense mechanism of her wig to attack the butler.

 148. Escape of Filth

    Chapter 148

    Escape of Filth

    Time seemed to slow down in Erin¡¯s eyes as she watched the butler fall to the floor from the electric shock he had just received. Numerous questions were running through her mind at the speed of light, as she tried to make sense of the situation surrounding her.

    Was the butler alive? Did the guards hear what happened? Was there still a chance for them to get out of this? And above all else, why had Stacey done that?

    The scream of a nearby maid finally broke the redhead out of her stupor. Grabbing the hand of Stacey, she rushed towards the door, where Ryle and Durge were waiting for her.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell is going on over here!?¡± the female guard they had avoided earlier asked loudly, as she barged in through the door.

    Seeing a potential threat appear, Ryle sprung into action. The other employees at first thought that she was going to apprehend the two maids that had attacked their colleague, but were shocked when she instead struck down the guard, kicking her with such force that her neck was broken.

    This obviously didn¡¯t mean that Erin and the others were safe at all. The other guards would soon be alerted to what was happening and would be swarming the place. They only needed to make it outside and they could then possibly get away from their pursuers. The door was now just within the reach of the redhead¡¯s fingers.

    Just as she was about to grab the doorknob, a large fist made of metal crashed through the door and nearly hit her. Erin was just barely able to jump back, while bringing Stacey with her. The now destroyed door left a hole that soon had numerous guards pour into the room.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good¡­ Back to the main hall!¡± Erin said to Durge, who nodded.

    With their original escape route now cut off from them, they had to regroup back at the hall in order to plan their next course of action. A couple of other guards had come towards the back area from the main hall, but Ryle had managed to push them back, allowing Erin, Durge and Stacey to get out of the room.

    Once outside, Durge slammed the door shut and threw a nearby couch against it in order to block the doorway. It wouldn¡¯t hold the guards for long, but they needed all the time they could get.

    Seeing their friends come back from the back area after a huge commotion, Arkay and Zeldana knew that something had gone wrong. Knowing that they would need all of their strength in order to get through this, they joined up with Erin and the others.

    With most of the group now gathered, Erin took a look around and saw guards run towards them from all sides. Soon about dozen guards were surrounding them, with more trying to break through the blockade that was preventing them from getting out of the back area.

    ¡°Call everybody over here!¡± one of the guards ordered. ¡°Tell them that the assassins have come here, like Lord Golorath said!¡±

    Hearing this sent a shock through Erin and her friends. If what the guard had said was true, then that would mean that this had been a trap all along. Golorath had sent his lady to this hotel in order to lure them out and then take them down. So far, it seemed like the trap was working.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to reach our people, but some of them aren¡¯t answering!¡± another guard said while holding a radio. ¡°I have no idea what¡¯s going on with them!¡±

    ¡°If they only knew,¡± Zeldana said with a chuckle. ¡°They¡¯d probably want the same as well.¡±

    What the elf was referring to was a certain incident that she had been preparing without anyone knowing. And right now, the fruits of her labor had come true.

    While all the commotion caused by Erin and her friends was going on, the owner of the hotel, Goldjoy, was busy counting all of her profits. One of the greatest things about serving those who were in direct service under Overlord Golorath was that they were paid incredibly well. It was to the point that most of them were more than happy to throw money around without a care in the world. This meant that if one was careful enough, they could sell any of their basic products at least three times the normal price without worry, as these people were too busy trying to enjoy themselves to pay attention to the actual prices.

    The way Goldjoy saw it, having a few incidents that left some of her staff injured or even dead was a small price to pay for such riches. After all, money makes the world go around and it was easy to look only at the positives, when you never had to deal with the negatives.

    However, this time she would be coming face to face with an issue that couldn¡¯t be solved by simply throwing around money. The door to her office was suddenly kicked open revealing several members of Golorath¡¯s guard there. All of them had hazy looks in their eyes, like they were in some sort of a trance. Nevertheless, Goldjoy only cared about the money, so when guests with lots of it came around, she didn¡¯t care what was going on with them as long as she could get her hands on their wealth.

    ¡°Good evening, gentlemen!¡± Goldjoy greeted the guards with a wide smile, after overcoming her initial shock. ¡°What can I do for you good people?¡±

    What the dwarf woman had expected to hear was some sort of a request, usually in the form of sending some of her better-looking employees to their rooms to entertain them. Instead, all she received was silence, as the guards slowly sauntered into her office, like a group of zombies.

    ¡°G-Gentlemen? Is everything alright?¡± Goldjoy asked, now a bit worried over what was happening. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I cannot offer you my services, if you don¡¯t speak up. Could you please tell me what you need? I promise to provide you to the best of my-¡±

    ¡°Where is she?¡± one of the guards asked in a slurring tone, like he was drunk.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, where is who?¡± the dwarf woman asked. ¡°Who are you-?¡±

    ¡°WHERE THE HELL IS SHE!?¡± the same guard now yelled in rage. He then proceeded to grab a nearby painting off a wall and smashing it into the floor. ¡°I came here for a hot elf! Not some fat ugly dwarf!¡±

    ¡°S-Sir! That is highly inappropriate!¡± Goldjoy said, now utterly shocked and terrified. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about! If you explain, then I might-!¡±

    ¡°WE DON¡¯T CARE ABOUT YOUR BULLSHIT HERE, FAT PIG!¡± another guard yelled, equally enraged, as he went to join his colleague in trashing the office. ¡°That hottie told us to come here at this time, as there would be a good time, yet I see no sign that anything like that is going to happen! Do you know who we are!? Do you know what we can do!? DO YO KNOW WHO WE WORK FOR!?¡±

    The other guards were just as enraged as the other two and cheered in agreement. They soon joined their two colleagues in causing havoc in the office, as all Goldjoy could do was stare in utter shock and horror, as her wealth was slowly but surely being destroyed.

    What Goldjoy or the guards failed to realize was that Zeldana had tricked them through her act of flirting. The note she had provided with the guards had instructions that told them to go to Goldjoy¡¯s office, after drinking the vial she had given them. The vial had a toxin in it that made the people affected by it unable to control their emotional state, along with a boost of strength. When they came to the realization that the person they had hoped to meet in the office wasn¡¯t there, they flew into a blinding rage that had destructive consequences.

    This had been Zeldana¡¯s plan all along. Reduce the number of guards they would have to deal with, while also giving Goldjoy what she deserved.

    ¡°I wish I could see that whole scene with my own eyes,¡± Zeldana chuckled to herself, as she thought about what was most likely happening at Goldjoy¡¯s office. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a fun time.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you giggling about!? Can¡¯t you see we¡¯ve got a bit of an issue here!?¡± Erin asked angrily, as she grabbed a nearby chair to block a strike from a sword of one of the guards. ¡°Would you mind and actually help out!?¡±

    ¡°You want me to help? Okay!¡± the elf said as she grabbed the front of the shirt of one of the guards and threw him towards the guard the redhead was fighting against, causing the two of them to collide with each other and fall to the floor. Before they could get up, a large and heavy desk from Goldjoy¡¯s office fell on them. ¡°There you go! Was that enough of a helping hand?¡±

    ¡°...How did you know that was going to happen?¡± Erin asked in disbelief over what she had just witnessed.

    ¡°That¡¯s a trade secret,¡± Zeldana replied with a smug smile.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can get through the front door!¡± Ryle yelled as she punched one of the guards. ¡°We need to find another way out!¡±

    ¡°We also need to find Lex!¡± Durge added. ¡°Anybody know where he is!?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s on the upper floor!¡± Erin replied. ¡°He helped me get past some guards earlier! I¡¯m sure he¡¯s still there!¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s where we¡¯re going then,¡± the orc said as he grabbed a nearby couch and threw it at some of the guards. This in turn created an opening for them to slip past the others. ¡°Come on! Follow me!¡±

    Following behind the orc¡¯s lead, Ryle, Arkay and Zeldana got past the encircling guards. Erin was about to follow after them, but realized that something was missing. She looked behind her and saw Stacey standing still, seeming to have a panic attack or something similar. The redhead quickly rushed to her side and grabbed her hand in order to pull her after her.

    However, this small moment was long enough to cut Erin off from the others, as it allowed the guards to surround her and Stacey again.

    ¡°You two are not getting out of here alive!¡± one of the guards threatened.

    Erin cursed under her breath the mess she was in due to Stacey. Had her old friend not attacked the innocent butler that was only trying to comfort her, they would already be hiding in a safe place. Had she not frozen all of a sudden, they could have joined the others in escaping.

    It was at that moment when she thought about Stacey that the redhead realized something important. She wasn¡¯t just some random person that she was trying to save. This was the wife of Golorath, one of the Five Overlords himself. If she were to use that to her advantage, there might still be hope.

    Erin took hold of Stacey and pulled her close. She also had a hidden knife in her skirt that she took out.

    ¡°Time for you to be useful,¡± the redhead whispered to her old friend, before swiftly taking off Stacey¡¯s wig and placing her knife at her throat. ¡°Listen here, you bastards! I¡¯ve got Golorath¡¯s wife here in my hands! If you guys don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to her, I suggest you all back away right now!¡±

    Silence fell over the guards as the watched with wide eyes at the two women before them. Now that the wig was gone, they could recognize who it was.

    ¡°Hey¡­ She ain¡¯t lying,¡± one of the guards said. ¡°That¡¯s the boss¡¯ lady alright!¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ But what the hell is she doing with them?¡± another one asked. ¡°Is she trying to escape or something?¡±

    ¡°Most likely,¡± a third one said. ¡°It¡¯s not like she ever really liked any of us. Much less the boss.¡±

    The reaction to the reveal of her hostage¡¯s identity didn¡¯t sit well with Erin, as she was starting to get nervous. She had expected there to be panic and confusion among the guards. They should be lowering their weapons and backing away, trying their best to avoid upsetting her and thus harming the wife of their boss. Instead, there only seemed to be mild confusion and surprise among them.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell are you all mumbling about!?¡± the redhead asked loudly, trying to hide her nervousness. ¡°If you don¡¯t start backing away, I¡¯ll kill her! Don¡¯t you understand what¡¯s going on here!?¡±

    Instead of the guards complying with her orders, they simply smiled and chuckled. That wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    ¡°Go ahead. Kill her if you want to. We don¡¯t care,¡± one of the guards said. ¡°Do you really think that bitch matters to Lord Golorath? Let alone any of us?¡±

    ¡°W-What!? How can you say that!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t she important to your boss!?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± the guard replied with a shrug. ¡°We don¡¯t know why, but the boss has basically used her as his personal toy for quite some time now. We always just assumed that she had some sort of history with him. However, the reason we are here was to lure you bunch out of hiding using her. Now that she has served her purpose, the boss told us that we are free to kill her, if that makes catching you all easier. Guess he got bored with his toy, huh?¡±

    The guards erupted in laughter at the sorry state their opponents were caught in. By now, the barricade to the back area had been broken down and the guards came pouring from there. Erin and Stacey were now completely surrounded with nowhere to go.

    Just as the redhead was starting to lose all hope, she felt a sudden change in the air, like it was starting to fill with electricity. The guards seemed to notice this, too, and soon found the source of it. Having seen the plight of his friend, Arkay had started to build up his most powerful magical attack and was now charging a huge amount of electricity in his hands. The guards quickly realized the danger the cat boy posed and tried to take him down before he was done charging up, but it was already too late.

    Having finished his preparations, Arkay launched his attack at the guards. The massive ball of electricity flew at his enemies in a blinding flash of light, which was soon followed by a large explosion. By the time Erin could open her eye again, she saw the destruction Arkay¡¯s attack had left behind. The floor and nearby furniture were scorched, and some of the guards that hadn¡¯t been able to get out of the way had been killed. However, most of them were still alive, as they had either managed to avoid being hit completely or had managed to minimize the damage they took.

    Even if most of the enemies were still alive, a new chance to escape had been provided to Erin and Stacey. An opportunity that the redhead was not going to let slip.

    ¡°This is our chance!¡± Erin said as she grabbed Stacey¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on!¡±

    ¡°NO! NO! WHAT IS ALL THIS!?¡± Stacey screamed, refusing to follow behind the redhead. ¡°NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE! WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE!? HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO DO ALL THIS!? WHAT DOES-!?¡±

    Stacey¡¯s ramblings were cut off by Erin slapping her across the face without any restraint. She glared directly into her old friend¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this shit!¡± the redhead said angrily. ¡°Now you can either follow me or get left behind! Which do you choose!?¡±

    Stacey simply stared down as she followed after Erin without any further complaints.

    Joining up with the others, the group was able to proceed to finding Lexton and making their escape. Arkay was now being carried by Ryle, as he had spent most of his energy in his attack. The guards were soon right behind them, as they headed towards where the elevators were.

    ¡°I hope we don¡¯t have to wait for long!¡± Ryle said. ¡°I doubt we can take on all of these guys!¡±

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°We¡¯re not going to use the elevators!¡± Erin said. ¡°We¡¯ll be easy targets in them! We¡¯re going to have to use the stairs!¡±

    ¡°Wait WHAT!?¡± the blonde shouted back. ¡°The stairs!? All the way to the top floor!? Are you serious!?¡±

    ¡°YES I¡¯M SERIOUS!¡± the redhead yelled back angrily. ¡°Now are you going to put one foot before the other or keep bitching!?¡±

    ¡°...I-I¡¯ll keep moving,¡± Ryle replied, having been taken aback by the angry reaction she had gotten from Erin, which the others also noticed.

    Once they had made it to the stairs, Erin threw a vial that Lexton had prepared for her before their mission had started. The contents of the vial exploded into flames, blocking the doorway completely. This would buy them some time, as they began to run up the stairs.

    However, it was still a long way for them to go, as the top floor was not something that they could reach quick, no matter how fast they ran. Erin knew that they needed to be smart in order to survive.

    The guards had finally managed to get one of their members that knew how use ice magic to put out the fire and continue pursuing the assassins. Once they were at the stairs, they noticed one of the floors above to have a cloud of smoke. Wanting to know what this meant, one of the more nimble and acrobatic members of the guards jumped up to the smoke and began to investigate it. Through the smoke, he saw that there was a door leading to the rooms on that floor.

    ¡°Hey! They went through here!¡± the guard called out to his colleagues. ¡°They must be hiding somewhere around here!¡±

    All the other guards soon followed after him and spread throughout the floor, checking every possible room and other hiding place there was. It wouldn¡¯t take them long until they had checked every possible place there.

    What the guards failed to realize was that this had been nothing more than a distraction. Erin knew that by simply running they were not going to lose their pursuers, so they needed to do something more clever. Her plan had been very simple, as it required to detonate a smoke bomb at one of the floors and leaving a door open, thus leaving behind the idea that they had gone through there. In actuality, they had rushed to the floor above that one and laid down on the floor. Once they had heard the last of the guards go to the wrong floor, they could proceed upwards.

    ¡°Alright. That should keep them bust for some time,¡± Erin whispered to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s move a couple more floors up. That should put enough space between us and those guys.¡±

    The others simply nodded in response and followed behind the redhead, as they sneaked their way upwards. After getting two floors further, they went through the door that led to the actual floor itself.

    ¡°So what now?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°It won¡¯t be long until those goons will be running over here.¡±

    ¡°Now, we just use this,¡± Erin replied, as she called the elevator over. ¡°Hopefully they won¡¯t realize what we¡¯re doing, but this will take us to the top floor faster.¡±

    As they waited for the elevator to come down, they began to hear sounds coming from the staircase. It seemed like the guards had realized they had been fooled and were now moving to the other floors. So far, it seemed like they were just at the floor below them, but would soon move up to where they were.

    Erin and the others looked nervously at the elevator, watching the number go down as it moved towards them. They could also hear footsteps coming up the stairs. It was only a matter of time now before they were found out and the guards would come flooding in.

    Just as one of the guards was about to reach the door, the elevator¡¯s door opened, allowing Erin and the others to get inside. The redhead immediately pressed on the button that sent them to the top floor.

    However, even if they hadn¡¯t been seen, the guards did see the elevator going up. This information was quickly shared with their colleagues, who sprung into action. The top floor already had some guards posted there, who were soon joined by some of the faster members of their troop that quickly went up the staircase. Soon rifles, pistols and other firearms were pointed at the elevator in anticipation of the people that would emerge from within.

    The elevator soon reached the top floor, but its door opened to reveal nothing. The guards looked at each other in confusion, wondering where the assassins had actually gone.

    ¡°Where the hell are they?¡± one of the guards asked. ¡°Who sends and empty elevator up? It makes no sense!¡±

    ¡°...Not unless they wanted us to think they were coming here,¡± another guard said as his eyes went wide with realization. ¡°They sent this here as a distraction! They must still be on the lower floors somewhere!¡±

    While most of the guards rushed to the staircase to search the floors below, a couple of them went to the elevator, hoping to use it in order to get to the bottom floor fast. However, when they pressed the button to make the machine move, nothing happened. It was like the whole thing was frozen in place.

    ¡°They must have done something to sabotage it,¡± one of the guards said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the other one!¡±

    As soon as the guards had left the elevator, Erin and her friends seemed to appear out of nowhere, pressed up against the walls. Once they heard the last of the guards leave, they let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°That was a close one¡­ Nice job, Arnie,¡± Erin said with a smile to the cat boy. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for your invisibility spell and technomancer, we would have been caught now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nothing,¡± Arkay replied with a weak smile. ¡°I just hope that you won¡¯t need me to do anymore such tricks¡­ I¡¯m completely spent¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll carry it from here,¡± Ryle said with a big grin. ¡°Like how I¡¯m carrying you right now!¡±

    ¡°We should get going and try to find Lex,¡± Durge said. ¡°The sooner we get together, the sooner we can get out of here. Where was the last place you saw him, Erin?¡±

    ¡°It was right here in this hallway,¡± the redhead replied as she looked around for the kobold. ¡°He drew the ire of a couple of guards, so that I could get past them. Poor guy got roughed up big time, though¡­ I hope he¡¯s okay.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That little guy is a lot tougher than most would ever think,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Besides, even if he¡¯s badly hurt, I can just fix him!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not sure he¡¯d like that,¡± Durge said.

    ¡°Whatever his condition is, we need to find him and fast!¡± Erin said as she stepped out of the elevator. ¡°Come on! We don¡¯t have all day!¡±

    ¡°Sure, but is she going to be okay?¡± Zeldana asked while pointing at Stacey, who looked like she was on the verge of having another nervous breakdown. Her body was trembling, her eyes were wide and unfocused, and her face was completely pale. ¡°She looks like she¡¯s going to pass out or something.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ She just needs to catch her breath. She probably isn¡¯t used to this type of action the same way we are,¡± the redhead said as she walked back to Stacey and grabbed her hand. ¡°You guys go first. I¡¯ll bring her along and try to calm her down.¡±

    The others looked at each other before shrugging and walking away. Erin managed to get her old friend out of the elevator and into the hallway. Once her companions had gotten ahead of them, she turned her attention to Stacey.

    ¡°Okay, what the hell is wrong with you!? Are trying to get us all killed!?¡± the redhead asked in an angry whisper. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting up throughout this whole escape! If you don¡¯t get your act together, we will all be killed because of you! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°H-How can you be so calm with those¡­ those¡­ those freaks!?¡± Stacey asked in a trembling whisper. ¡°Can¡¯t you see what they look like!? Or what they can do!? How can you be so calm around them!?¡±

    ¡°...Okay. I¡¯m going to ask you nicely to NEVER refer to those guys in such a way, because they¡¯re my friends,¡± Erin said, holding back her anger as best as she could. ¡°In case you haven¡¯t noticed, they¡¯re risking their lives to save YOU. How about you show them some respect and gratitude? It won¡¯t kill you.¡±

    ¡°Respect? You expect me to respect these¡­ these things!? They¡¯re just like all the others that served Porky Gabe! How could I ever respect them!?¡± Stacey hissed. ¡°And why the hell do you even consider them your friends!? Have you gone crazy!? You¡¯re just like-!¡±

    Stacey¡¯s rant was cut short by the redhead, who grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled her close, so that she could glare straight into her old friend¡¯s eyes. The look in Erin¡¯s eyes was something that terrified Stacey to her core.

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your shit and whining! From now on, you keep your damn mouth shut unless I tell you it¡¯s okay for you to talk! Got it!?¡± the redhead whispered angrily. ¡°Be thankful that none of my friends heard that little rant of yours, because I doubt they¡¯d take too kindly to it! Now get moving, before I have to drag you out of here!¡±

    Stacey only nodded meekly, as she followed behind Erin. Yet while the two of them thought that no one else had heard their talk, there was someone who had. That was none other than Zeldana, who gave a suspicious look to them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see Lex anywhere. Think he went inside one of the rooms?¡± Durge asked. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it will take us a while to find him. There¡¯s quite a few places that he could hide himself.¡±

    ¡°Unless we look for clues that could lead us to him,¡± Ryle said as she noticed some blood on the floor, close to what seemed like stains of different spilled liquids. ¡°This has his scent all over it. I¡¯m guessing these other stains were also caused by him? They smell like alcohol.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s him alright,¡± Erin said. ¡°When the two guards approached us, he used a cart filled with drinks to distract them. It¡¯s also what led to him getting beaten up¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn¡­ I know I¡¯ve wanted to give him a good one more than just a few times, but judging by these stains, these guys went way overboard!¡± the blonde said as she inspected the blood. ¡°The amount of blood left here tells me that this wasn¡¯t just some light beating he received.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s hurt bad?¡± Arkay asked, worried over the kobold¡¯s well-being.

    ¡°Hard to say¡­ I can tell that what he went through was a lot of pain, though,¡± Ryle said, before sniffing the floor a bit more and noticing something else. ¡°And I think I might have found something else that¡¯s worth worrying over.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Lex¡¯s scent has the scent of someone else mixed with it as well,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°I can¡¯t tell who it is, though, as I don¡¯t recognize it. Could be trouble, though.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to assume that,¡± the redhead said with a frown. ¡°Can you follow the scent?¡±

    ¡°I sure can. Doesn¡¯t seem like they were planning to leave this floor,¡± Ryle replied as she began to sniff after the trail left behind. ¡°Come on. I think we can find Lex.¡±

    Following behind the blonde, the group soon came to the bathing area. Knowing that their friend was there, injured and possibly captured, everybody got ready for a fight. Erin went in first, opening the door slowly and carefully, so that she could see if there was an ambush waiting for them on the other side. With the entrance clear, the redhead quickly went inside, followed by the others.

    ¡°Can you pick up the scent again?¡± Erin asked Ryle.

    ¡°No can do. There are too many different smells here for me to pick up on just his,¡± the blonde answered. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to search this place completely.¡±

    ¡°I can assure you that there¡¯s no need for that, miss,¡± a somewhat familiar voice suddenly called out to the group, grabbing their attention. ¡°Ever since we heard the commotion from downstairs, we were worried that we might not see any of you. Glad to see that we didn¡¯t need to worry too much.¡±

    Erin and the others turned to where the voice had come from and saw Holmstrom, the head butler at the hotel, standing there. Despite everything that had happened, the butler still carried himself in the same dignified manner as he had previously, like he wasn¡¯t bothered at all by what had been happening.

    ¡°YOU!? Why are you here!?¡± the redhead asked in surprise. ¡°And what was that you just said!? Do you know where our friend is!? If so, then where is he and is he fine!?¡±

    ¡°Calm down, miss. Calm down. No good will come to you, if you try to rush things,¡± Holmstrom said in a calm tone. ¡°As for your many questions, I think it¡¯s best we start with your companion. I doubt you¡¯ll be able to truly calm yourselves, until you see him. Now please, follow me.¡±

    Erin looked at her friends, who all simply shrugged in response, with the exception of Stacey, who was still just trembling on her own. It seemed like no one among them had any better ideas, so they would just have to follow the butler and hope that he wasn¡¯t leading them to a trap.

    Fortunately, they weren¡¯t led to a trap of any kind at all and were actually brought to the sauna. There they found Elvafay, the head maid, treating Lexton¡¯s injuries.

    ¡°Lex! You¡¯re okay!¡± Erin said happily as she tried to run over to the kobold in order to hug him, but Holmstrom stopped her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I have to break your reunion, miss, but I¡¯m afraid he isn¡¯t in the best shape right now,¡± the butler said. ¡°When we found him, he had been injured pretty badly and had suffered quite a bit of internal damage. I fear that if you were to hug him, you might aggravate his wounds further. I know this must sound harsh, but I must ask you to be very careful with him for some time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. As long as he¡¯s okay, I¡¯m more than happy,¡± the redhead said with a smile, before turning her attention to Lexton. ¡°How are you holding up, Lex?¡±

    ¡°Meh. I¡¯ve been better, but I¡¯ll live,¡± the kobold said with a shrug as he smirked. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first beating I¡¯ve taken from people way bigger than me. Besides, once we get back to our van, I¡¯ll be able to cook up a healing potion that will fix me up right away.¡±

    ¡°As much as I am happy to hear that, I must ask you to treat this with more seriousness. Your injuries aren¡¯t light by any means and could get worse, if not treated correctly,¡± Elvafay said in a slightly stern tone. ¡°I recommend that you seek out the help of a medical professional as soon as possible. Either a doctor or a healer.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem! We have one among ourselves already!¡± Erin said happily. ¡°Once we get the chance, Zeldana should be able to fix Lexton¡¯s body without any issues!¡±

    Hearing the redhead¡¯s declaration caused mixed reactions among them. Most of them turned pale, such as with Ryle, Lexton, Arkay and Durge. Holmstrom and Elvafay simply looked surprised, while Zeldana grinned widely over the prospect of getting to play with someone soon.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ That¡¯s alright, Erin. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for that,¡± Lexton said, terrified over the treatment he would get from their elf companion. ¡°In fact, I feel just fine! No need for any kind of medical treatment at all!¡±

    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve treated numerous injured bodies in my life and I can tell that you are far from fine!¡± Elvafay said in a scolding tone. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re scared of doctors or whatever else it may be, it is in the best of interest of you and your companions to get you the medical help that you need as fast as possible! There should be no further discussions on the subject and you should only focus on taking care of yourself in the best possible manner!¡±

    ¡°B-B-But you don¡¯t understand!¡± the kobold cried out. ¡°She¡¯s-!¡±

    ¡°Lex, I get that you don¡¯t have the best impression of Zeldana. That is completely understandable. I mean, I certainly don¡¯t think highly of her for multiple reasons,¡± Erin said while ignoring the elf¡¯s mock hurt expression. ¡°However, if there is one thing that she can do, it¡¯s healing people. We need your help very much and you have no idea how much we rely on you. For the sake of us all, please do what you need to do to get better as fast as possible. Okay?¡±

    Lexton wanted to argue against the redhead¡¯s request, but seeing the pleading look in her eyes shattered whatever resistance he had. Not only that, but the logical part of his mind told him that the sensible thing to do was to simply suck it up and let Zeldana treat him, no matter how much the mere thought terrified him.

    ¡°...Alright, Erin. I¡¯ll let her treat me,¡± the kobold said with a defeated sigh. ¡°Just don¡¯t let this become a regular thing.¡±

    ¡°Sure! Whatever you say!¡± the redhead replied happily. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all together again, I think we need to get back to getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°Before we do that, I would like to ask something first,¡± Durge said as he turned to look at the butler and maid duo. ¡°Why exactly are you two helping us? You should know by now that we are enemies of the Five Overlords. If you¡¯re found out, you¡¯ll be lucky to get away with just an execution. Not only that, but this hotel will surely suffer as well.¡±

    ¡°It is exactly because you are enemies of the Five Overlords that we are doing this,¡± Holmstrom replied. ¡°We knew pretty much right away that you were working with someone opposing them the moment you all arrived here. After all, there¡¯s no other reason for the infamous Madam Zeldana to be here.¡±

    The others turned their surprised gazes at their elf companion, who looked just as surprised.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me! I¡¯ve never even met these two!¡± Zeldana quickly said. ¡°I honestly have no idea how they were able to recognize me!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not surprised that you don¡¯t recognize us, but we certainly recognize you,¡± Elvafay said with a giggle. ¡°You see, the two of us were part of the resistance back in the day and anybody who took part in it knew Madam Zeldana and the other Five Heroes. We watched you from afar quite a bit, so we immediately realized who you were.¡±

    ¡°...Oh! That explains!¡± the elf said as a smug smile rose on her face. ¡°Yeah, I was quite the deal back in the day! It¡¯s no wonder that I would have such loyal fans among some of the people that fought on the same side as me!¡±

    Zeldana was expecting sounds of awe to come from her companions, only to receive silence. When she looked at them, the elf saw how they were all staring at her with questionable looks on their faces.

    ¡°And just what the hell is up with you guys!?¡± Zeldana asked angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t you believe that I¡¯m a big deal or something!?¡±

    ¡°Nah, we totally believe that about you,¡± Erin said. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ She referred to you as a ¡°hero.¡± How the hell did that happen?¡±

    ¡°What!? How is that so strange!?¡± the elf asked. ¡°What about me makes it unbelievable that I¡¯d be a hero!?¡±

    ¡°If you can spare a few hours, I can make a list,¡± Ryle said bluntly.

    ¡°Oh, screw you all!¡± Zeldana shouted before turning away and pouting.

    Both Holmstrom and Elvafay were completely confused over the interaction between Zeldana and the others. It wasn¡¯t something they had expected.

    ¡°...I take it that your time with her has not been¡­ ideal?¡± Holmstrom asked awkwardly.

    ¡°You have NO idea,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Still, we are happy for the help, no matter what the reason. But even if we are traveling with Zeldana, was that really a good enough reason to help us out? I mean, you don¡¯t even know who we are actually working for.¡±

    ¡°Whoever it is, they are more than likely better than the Overlords,¡± Holmstrom explained. ¡°If you want proof, just look at Graven Hills itself. I¡¯m sure you all saw just how rotten it is. It¡¯s even worse for us, as we were born and raised here. We both remember how it all used to look, before the Overlords came and ruined everything. Now it has become nothing more than a tainted playground meant for the rich and powerful, while the actual residents live off by whatever trash is thrown at them.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s so bad, why would you work for one of the people that helps keep it that way?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense to me.¡±

    ¡°Are you telling us to simply fight, even if there was no hope of winning?¡± Elvafay asked. ¡°That¡¯s something the Five Heroes always told us to not do. Sacrificing yourself for a cause might seem all heroic, but if it doesn¡¯t have any positive effects, then it is ultimately meaningless. In fact, when it was clear that the resistance had lost the war, we were told not to waste our lives in such a manner. Instead, we went into hiding and found new lives, never forgetting what we wanted and waited for opportunities to rise in order to strike back.¡±

    Erin and the others were surprised by the dedication the two elves were showing. For years, they had simply been waiting silently for an opportunity to perform their duties as members of the resistance, no matter what they had to go through in order to see it come their way. One could only imagine the hardships they had to go through and how often they had to grit their teeth out of frustration.

    Holmstrom took notice of the looks of amazement that the group before him had on their faces and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle a bit.

    ¡°Well, even if we say that, there have been a lot of times that we thought that we should simply give up and try to live out our lives in silence,¡± Holmstrom said. ¡°After all, we¡¯ve lived like this for years with no signs of any kind of signs that the resistance we were once part of was ever going to come back to life. It was only thanks to us seeing Madam Zeldana that we decided to act now.¡±

    The way the butler described themselves reminded Erin of Ryan and Holly back when she had first come into this world. The grizzled assassin had told her that the only reason he had taken her in had been just due to the fact that she had shown the will to resist the control of the Five Overlords. She had to wonder just how many similar people were out there, waiting for a sign to start resisting against their oppressors?

    ¡°Whatever your reason may be, we are grateful for the help,¡± Erin said. ¡°We still need some help, though. Do you have any ideas as to how we can get out of here quietly? Some sort of a secret escape route meant for emergencies or anything similar?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there are no such things,¡± Holmstrom replied. ¡°However, your friend apparently knows a way out of here. In fact, when we picked him up, he asked us to bring him here, as he told us that you all would most likely need to come here soon.¡±

    ¡°Really? But why would-?¡± the redhead began to ask, only for her eye to go wide upon realizing what Lexton had in mind. She turned to look at him to see him giving a cocky smirk, confirming her fears. ¡°Lex¡­ Please don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I thought you were in the need of an escape route?¡± Lexton asked in a mocking tone. ¡°Or is it that you cannot use something, unless it¡¯s completely squeaky clean with some scented candled and flowers spread over it? I¡¯m so sorry that I focus on survival, instead of how fancy something is! I failed to recognize your sophisticated tastes!¡±

    ¡°Erin, he isn¡¯t talking about what I think he¡¯s talking about, is he?¡± Zeldana asked, already fearing the answer. ¡°Please tell me it¡¯s not that¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is,¡± the redhead replied with a deep sigh. ¡°We need to go through the sewage pipes.¡±

    Ryle, Arkay and Durge were all showing how displeased they were with the idea, as well. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have all that many options at hand, so they would have to take what they could get.

    ¡°Escaping through the sewage pipes? Of course! What a brilliant idea!¡± Holmstrom said happily, earning strange looks from Erin¡¯s group, except for Lexton, who simply looked smug. ¡°That¡¯s not something any of the guards would think of checking and it leads directly to the outer parts of the city! In other words, it¡¯s a perfect escape! Simply brilliant! As one would think of the legendary Madam Zeldana herself!¡±

    ¡°...Excuse me, pal, but I¡¯m the one who came up with the idea!¡± Lexton said angrily, no longer having an arrogant look on his face. ¡°How about you send some of that praise towards me!?¡±

    ¡°While I do see that you are an intelligent individual, this is Madam Zeldana¡¯s team and she chose you to be a part of it, correct?¡± the butler asked in return. ¡°In that case, the praise belongs to her, as she was the one who scouted the correct talent for your mission!¡±

    ¡°There is so much wrong with what you just said,¡± the kobold said unhappily. ¡°But I know when not to continue a pointless argument, so just go with that idea, if you like it so much.¡±

    Erin, Ryle, Arkay and Durge couldn¡¯t help but chuckle among themselves over seeing Lexton get put down in such a manner. However, Zeldana was not laughing. In fact, the elf looked even more mortified than before.

    ¡°You guys do realize that we have no room to laugh, right?¡± Zeldana asked her chuckling companions. ¡°Thanks to those two having such a high opinion of me now, I have to go through with Lex¡¯s escape through the poo plan! And that means you guys have to go through with it, as well!¡±

    All smiles immediately disappeared from the faces of the others, upon realizing this. While Lexton was still upset over not getting the praise he deserved, he was at least satisfied to see that the others wouldn¡¯t get to just laugh at his expense.

    With their escape plan set, Lexton led the others to the pipe he had mentioned in their meeting and opened it. The pipe was more than large enough to fit all of them, as long as they went one by one. There was a current of water running through it, carrying all sorts of filth that no one would want to imagine in their worst nightmares, if the smell was any indication.

    ¡°I must say, your dedication to the resistance is quite something to admire, if you¡¯re willing to go through even this,¡± Holmstrom said while pinching his nose. ¡°You are truly a hero above others, Madam Zeldana.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ She truly is a great one,¡± Erin muttered as she and some of the others shot the elf glares.

    ¡°Before you go, Madam Zeldana, can I ask for one thing?¡± Elvafay suddenly said as she took out a pen and a notepad. ¡°Can I get your autograph?¡±

    ¡°...Sure,¡± the elf said awkwardly, as she took the writing tools from the maid. ¡°How could I refuse such a loyal fan?¡±

    With that, one by one Erin and the others slid down the pipe while holding their breaths, hoping to that what they were doing would truly lead to safety. If not, one could only wonder what sort of fury would be unleashed.

 149. A Not So Clean Getaway

    Chapter 149

    A Not So Clean Getaway

    Erin¡¯s body crashed roughly against the trash beneath. The piles of garbage and sewage had luckily been soft enough that she didn¡¯t suffer any severe injuries, but it still hurt a great deal. However, what was worse than the pain was easily the smell. Taking such a rough fall had forced her to stop holding her breath, which in turn caused her to take in the foul odors surrounding her. The assault on her nostrils almost caused the redhead to throw up, but she somehow managed to hold it in, even if only barely.

    With her landing done, Erin began to look for her companions, finding them rather fast. All of her friends were in different states of distress, handling their messy situation. Ryle seemed like she was either going to blow into anger or have a panic attack out of sheer disgust from being covered in the filth of the garbage pile. Durge and Zeldana didn¡¯t seem all that happy either, but were able to control themselves and seemed to have just accepted their fates. Arkay looked like he was on the verge of tears, while Lexton seemed to be handling the whole thing relatively well. While the kobold obviously didn¡¯t like it, he seemed to at least be able to deal with it a lot better than anybody else.

    ¡°Seriously, we¡¯ve faced giant monsters, armed soldiers, murderous thugs and assassins, yet this is going to break you all?¡± Lexton asked as he made his way through the muck and trash. ¡°You guys need to get a serious reality check or something! This isn¡¯t ideal, but it¡¯s not that big of a deal!¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut the hell up, ya scaly prick!¡± Ryle shouted angrily. ¡°We¡¯re covered in things that I don¡¯t even want to imagine what they are and you¡¯re just telling us to suck it up, like it¡¯s nothing!? How the hell are you even so fine with this!? Is this just a normal daily thing for you or something!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like I love going through crap like this! I¡¯m just mature enough to realize that in order for you to reach certain goals, you have to do things like this!¡± the kobold argued back. ¡°Besides, you think this is bad? I¡¯ve had to gather Rock Lizard piss and I¡¯ll let you know that was no walk in the park at all! Compared to it, this is like going to luxurious bathhouse!¡±

    ¡°I get what you mean, Lex. We should be more focused on the fact that we got out of there alive and that there are worse things out there for us to face,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ This still isn¡¯t exactly a lovely experience, okay? Just let us be upset about it for now¡­¡±

    Erin managed a small smile from seeing that her friends were all alive and well, but just as she was about to feel relaxed, she realized something. She couldn¡¯t see Stacey anywhere, despite her having gone down the pipe before her. The redhead began to worry if her old friend had landed on something that didn¡¯t soften the blow, like with the others. Depending on what had happened to her, she could be seriously hurt or worse.

    After looking around desperately for her missing old friend, Erin found Stacey laying face down on the pile of muck. Seeing her in such a state immediately worried the redhead, because if she was unconscious, she could very well suffocate. Just as she began to ran towards her, Stacey slowly pushed herself up from the filthy ground.

    ¡°Stacey, you¡¯re okay!¡± Erin called out happily. ¡°Thank God! I was starting to-¡±

    The redhead stopped in her tracks upon seeing the look on her old friend¡¯s face. Beneath the muck and grime covering it, she could see Stacey¡¯s eyes that were wide in horror. It was like she had just witnessed all of her worst nightmares in one single vision and was now trying to process it all.

    ¡°Stacey? You okay?¡± Erin called out, but received no response. ¡°Are you hurt or something? We can help you, if you¡¯re injured. Just tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±

    There was still no response from Stacey. All she did was turn her gaze towards the redhead for a moment, before looking back to the ground. This was starting to seriously worry Erin, as she had no idea what might have happened. It was especially bad, since she herself wasn¡¯t a medical professional at all, so she needed the assistance of someone more qualified. The problem with that was whether her old friend would be willing to accept the help of others, if how she had been acting was any indication.

    ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. Come on,¡± Erin said in a soft voice, as she helped Stacey on her feet. ¡°We have to get out of here, before somebody comes looking for us. I promise that things will get better from now on.¡±

    ¡°...Can you really promise that?¡± Stacey suddenly asked. ¡°What I¡¯ve been through so far hasn¡¯t really convinced me.¡±

    The redhead wanted to argue, but held it in. Getting upset with the person she had been trying to save wasn¡¯t going to make things better now. They needed to focus on finding a place to hide and getting in contact with Ao or someone else in the service of Rayleen.

    Erin soon joined up with the others, who had now gathered together. Upon seeing her bring Stacey along with her, they immediately took note of her obviously distressed mental state and became worried.

    ¡°Hey, Erin, is she okay?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I get that this isn¡¯t exactly an ideal place to land on, but she looks like she lived through real life horror movie!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s fine! It¡¯s just¡­ This day has been a lot for her to take in,¡± the redhead quickly explained. ¡°I mean, just moments ago she was Golorath¡¯s personal plaything and now she had to go through our crazy escape that led to a mountain of crap. It¡¯s not what most people would see as an easy day, you know?¡±

    ¡°That might be so, but she does seem to be acting a bit too tense,¡± Zeldana said as she moved in to take a closer look at Stacey. ¡°She didn¡¯t hit her head or anything like that? If there was some sort of head trauma, I can-¡±

    The elf was cut off, as Stacey suddenly pushed her away and made her fall to the ground. The others, especially Erin, were shocked by this.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the big idea, asshole!?¡± Zeldana asked angrily. ¡°I was just trying to help you and this is how you act!? Talk about ungrateful!¡±

    ¡°S-S-Shut up! I didn¡¯t ask for your help!¡± Stacey shouted while looking down at the elf. ¡°I don¡¯t want your filthy hands touching me at all! You hear me!?¡±

    ¡°Wow. Who knew that Golorath¡¯s lady was a total bitch!?¡± Zeldana asked sarcastically as she got up. ¡°Serves me right for trying to give a helping hand¡­¡±

    ¡°To be fair, we would have done the same thing most likely,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Although, we at least know you well enough to do so.¡±

    While the others were talking among themselves, Erin decided to have a private chat with Stacey.

    ¡°What are you doing!? Can¡¯t you even accept help from others!?¡± the redhead whispered angrily. ¡°Is it too much to ask that you show at least the most basic human decency!?¡±

    ¡°Why should I!? They¡¯re not human!¡± Stacey whispered back. ¡°Why should I treat them any differently than Gabe or any of the other freaks!?¡±

    ¡°Maybe because they helped you escape!? Did you ever think of that!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Had it not been for them, you would still be-¡±

    ¡°I DON¡¯T CARE!¡± Stacey suddenly screamed as loud as she could, getting the attention of the others. ¡°Why should I care about anyone or anything in this hell!? All I¡¯ve gotten is pain and suffering from everything there is and you want me to be thankful!? For what!? For almost getting me killed by your freak friends and getting thrown into a pile of shit!? IS THAT WHAT I¡¯M SUPPOSED TO THANK YOU FOR!?¡±

    Erin was taken aback by Stacey¡¯s sudden outburst and she turned to look at how her friends had reacted to it. She saw how the others were staring at them in anger and confusion.

    ¡°Erin, what the hell is wrong with her?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I get that this hasn¡¯t been the most pleasant of experiences, but we just saved her from the clutches of Golorath¡¯s guard! I think that deserves at least some gratitude!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and why the hell is she calling us freaks!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°The way I see it, she¡¯s the closest to being a freak with how she¡¯s been acting all mental ever since we got into contact with her!¡±

    ¡°Look, guys, I get that what she just said was a bit much, but let¡¯s not get hasty, okay!?¡± Erin pleaded her friends awkwardly, as she stepped between them and Stacey, hoping to defuse the situation. ¡°We¡¯ve all had a long and rough day. Let¡¯s just focus on getting our job done and resting up. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll all feel much better after that.¡±

    ¡°...Fine. But you keep her in line, okay?¡± Ryle asked in a threatening tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the others, but if she keeps acting up, I¡¯m not going to keep myself in check. Got it?¡±

    ¡°I completely understand!¡± the redhead replied. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she won¡¯t cause us any other issues!¡±

    ¡°I sincerely hope you do,¡± Lexton said as he glared at Stacey. ¡°Those who only make enemies around them don¡¯t tend to live too long.¡±Stolen story; please report.

    The others began to walk away from the garbage pile and towards the surrounding slums. Erin took this opportunity to give her old friend one more warning.

    ¡°You heard that, right!? They are not keen on you and are more than willing to hurt you, because of all of your bullshit!¡± the redhead whispered angrily. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t say anything to them and just keep to yourself, okay!? I won¡¯t be able to protect you forever, especially when you go around pissing people off!¡±

    ¡°...Sure, but I¡¯m not going to like it,¡± Stacey replied. ¡°Just keep those freaks away from me and everything should be fine.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you like it or not. Just do it,¡± Erin said back, before following after her friends with Stacey following behind.

    <hr>

    As they walked through the slums, a lot of eyes turned towards them due to their appearance. It wasn¡¯t everyday that people dressed up as servants from the upper parts would come down to their level, after all. Erin had expected them to get attacked like she and Arkay had been earlier, but much to her surprise, nothing like that really happened. The redhead guessed that this was due to the fact that while they were dressed in the clothing of well-paid servants, the fact that all of them were covered in filth threw them off. The people around them most likely assumed that they had been unqualified employees that got tossed out from the upper parts right into the garbage itself. There was really no point in mugging such people.

    After walking around the slums for some time, they came upon a person dressed in rags waving to them. Both Erin and Arkay immediately recognized him as Ao.

    ¡°Well, you guys sure are a sight to behold!¡± Ao said with a laugh as he jogged over to the group. ¡°Did you all perhaps try out some type of a mud bath while you were in there?¡±

    ¡°Very funny¡­ It¡¯s in good taste to make fun of the people who just helped you out big time,¡± Erin said sarcastically. ¡°Anyways, we accomplished the mission. We got the person you wanted.¡±

    ¡°Really? But where-?¡± the dark-haired man began to ask, only to stop upon recognizing Stacey among the group. ¡°Oh, there she is! I almost didn¡¯t recognize her! Because of the maid outfit and all the crap covering her. Was that latter part also part of the disguise?¡±

    ¡°...Yes. We actually decided to cover ourselves in all of this in order to disguise ourselves as walking piles of shit!¡± the redhead said angrily. ¡°Now can we get along with our deal!?¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re no fun at all!¡± Ao said unhappily. ¡°But I suppose you¡¯re right. Business before pleasure and all that. I¡¯ve got a safe place not too far from here. Follow me, but not too close. You guys kind of stink.¡±

    Erin and the others couldn¡¯t help but groan a bit, before following after the dark-haired man, who led them through the labyrinth-like alleyways of the slums. They soon came to a large shack that looked just like any other home in the area. However, once the door was opened and you saw inside, you could tell that it wasn¡¯t like any other place in the slums.

    The firs thing Erin and the others noticed was the warmth. Hastily built shacks that made up most of the buildings had large gaps in every place, which allowed cold winds to blow right through. The interior itself was also made out of proper materials with the hands of expert craftsmen. All the trash that covered the walls on the outside were just put there in order to mask it. Not only were the basic structures well-made and the heating used, but there were also numerous modern facilities that one wouldn¡¯t expect to find in a slum like this. There was a proper kitchen, comfortable furniture and even a bathroom. One could only wonder how such a thing could be built in the middle of a slum, yet no one seemed to have found it.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s not much, but make yourselves comfortable,¡± Ao said as he went to sit on a couch. ¡°You can also use the bathroom to clean yourselves, which I really hope you do. In fact, I demand it. Go clean yourselves up.¡±

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, how many can fit there?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound ungrateful or anything like that, but I doubt it¡¯s going to fit all of us.¡±

    ¡°Good point. I¡¯d say it can fit two people. Three if you really squeeze in there,¡± the dark-haired man replied, before taking a look at Durge. ¡°Although, I think big guy over there might have to go solo.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you guys take turns in using the bathroom,¡± the redhead said to her friends. ¡°I¡¯ll go last with our extra here.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± Stacey shrieked. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly-!¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t say anything at all to shut up her old friend. She simply gave her a look that instantly told Stacey to be quiet or else. The message went through to her and she instantly clamped up.

    As the others were busy deciding the order they would go and use the bathroom, Ao got a chance to finally talk to Erin about the person they had supposedly kidnapped.

    ¡°I gotta say, I¡¯m a bit surprised that you got her here without really doing anything to her,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°How did you manage to get her to be so compliant? Did you threaten her in some manner or bribe her? I mean, it sounds unbelievable, but then again she¡¯s following you around without being restrained at all.¡±

    ¡°No. The truth is¡­ a lot more simple than that,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°And I hate to bring you bad news, but I doubt that you¡¯ll be able to use her like you thought you would be able to.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Ao asked.

    Erin went on to explain to the dark-haired man the true nature of the relationship between Golorath and Stacey. How she wasn¡¯t his wife or lover or anything like that. She was just another unfortunate victim suffering under the Overlord¡¯s tyranny from simply getting on his bad side. She even told him about how the guards had been told to not care at all, if she were to be harmed or even killed. There was no attachment from Golorath to Stacey at all.

    In other words, she was completely useless to Rayleen as a hostage.

    After the redhead had finished telling her tale to Ao, the dark-haired man had a contemplating look on his face as he thought about what he had just learned. All things considered, the revelation of Stacey¡¯s real role with the Overlord must have come as quite a shock to him.

    ¡°...Well, this is certainly concerning,¡± Ao finally said, after thinking things through for a moment. ¡°This basically means that all the effort and resources we placed on this plan have gone to waste completely. The only good thing about this is that we used you guys for this job. Otherwise they might have connected this case to us and that would bring its own problems. No offense.¡±

    ¡°None taken. But what are you going to do now?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Your whole plan has basically been destroyed.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the million credit question¡­ I wish I knew what we can do in this mess,¡± the dark-haired man said with a sigh as he rubbed his eyes. ¡°Not only are we pretty much back to square one when it comes to finding a weakness to use against Golorath, but this has also put us at risk. Even if it isn¡¯t completely obvious that we were the ones behind this operation, Golorath must know that there are people in his inner circle that are now after his head. The fact that his supposed wife was here was something that wasn¡¯t exactly public news. Only the people at the hotel and within his own people knew about this. He is certainly going to start looking a lot closer at those under his direct service now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean this was only known by his inner circle?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you guys able to get her picture because she made a public appearance in the first place?¡±

    ¡°How the hell is going to Graven Hills a public appearance?¡± Ao asked sarcastically. ¡°This a place of relaxation for the ultra wealthy. Do you think they want everyday regular people to know what they¡¯re up to? The only reason any of our guys even really knew about our little mutual friend there was because they were deep within the inner circles of the Overlord himself! But now that you¡¯ve told me that the whole thing was a set up, it must mean that he has gotten whiff of us. He could be looking towards purging his ranks any day now¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s entirely the case, though,¡± Erin said. ¡°The thing is that Golorath has been after us for quite some time now. He has even sent his personal assassins after us. I feel like this was a ploy to lure us out of hiding and catch us in one go.¡±

    ¡°That does make sense, somewhat. It¡¯s true that he has been going after you with pretty much everything he has. That¡¯s kind of how the boss got interested in you all in the first place,¡± the dark-haired man said thoughtfully. ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t explain why you would go after his lady specifically. So far, you¡¯ve only targeted high-ranking officials within the military. Isn¡¯t going after his woman a bit too much?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ W-Wouldn¡¯t it be more strange if I wasn¡¯t going after her?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°After all, she was potentially the love of my sworn enemy. In order to hurt him as much as possible, shouldn¡¯t I target her as well?¡±

    Stacey gave Erin a shocked look to which the redheaded responded to by looking back at her with pleading eyes. While she understood that what she had just said must have sounded bad to her old friend, she needed it in order to keep up the act. There was no way Erin could risk letting someone like Ao know the true connection between them and the Five Overlords.

    ¡°That would be fair enough, except you are not acting like some bloodthirsty murderer in search of revenge at all,¡± the dark-haired man pointed out. ¡°If that was the case, she wouldn¡¯t be here at all, would she? No, because you would have killed her the moment you got the chance.¡±

    The redhead realized that she might have just been caught in her lies. There indeed was no real logical explanation as to why she would be drawn into a trap involving Stacey. There had to be a much deeper reason for this to be the case, but Erin didn¡¯t have any believable explanation for it. Not unless she told the truth and risked earning herself the wrath of not just Ao, but everyone belong to Rayleen¡¯s faction. Even if they wouldn¡¯t feel a grudge towards her over what she had indirectly done to their world, they could still see her as a strategic opportunity to use against the Five Overlords.

    ¡°Well, whatever the reason might be, I doubt it really matters,¡± Ao suddenly said with a shrug. ¡°What we really need to focus on right now is how we¡¯re going to move from here. Considering how Golorath must now be aware of the fact that there are traitors among his people, we cannot go doing anything too wild for now.¡±

    ¡°What do you want us to do?¡± Erin asked as she mentally let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°First, I obviously want you all to clean yourselves. I don¡¯t want to go through another meeting with you, where I have to worry about losing my lunch,¡± the dark-haired man replied. ¡°Besides that, I think you guys need to just pack up your stuff and go into hiding. When the boss wants to get in touch with you, she¡¯ll find a way. Trust me.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but what about her?¡± the redhead asked while pointing at Stacey. ¡°Are you going to just let her go, since she isn¡¯t any use to you?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Ao replied. ¡°Even if what you¡¯ve said about her is true, we still need to confirm it for ourselves. You can¡¯t be too careful in this business and there are lies everywhere.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You aren¡¯t going to torture her, are you?¡± Erin asked uncomfortably, causing Stacey to look at her and the dark-haired man with wide shocked eyes. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything you¡¯re going to get out of here, even if you go that far. Nothing that¡¯s going to be useful to you, at least.¡±

    ¡°That is going to depend on her cooperation,¡± Ao answered. ¡°We only move from simple interrogation to torture when it¡¯s necessary. As long as she gives us what we wants and works with us, we won¡¯t have any need to harm her at all.¡±

    ¡°That might pose a problem. It seems that she has suffered a lot of mental scars from her time with Golorath,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°She seems to be fearful of practically everyone and will lash out in a panic, if you get too close to her. In all honesty, I was only barely able to her to work with me.¡±

    ¡°That could be a problem. Not just for us, but for her, too. I doubt I need to explain why,¡± the dark-haired man said thoughtfully. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have a suggestion as to what we can do?¡±

    ¡°...How about it if I stay by her side during the interrogation?¡± Erin suggested after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°I could help her stay calm, as you go and ask your questions from her.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that could work¡­ I still have to ask about it from the boss first,¡± Ao said, thinking over the proposal. ¡°However, I must make this very clear that you are not to influence her answers or prevent us from doing our job. Got it? The moment you so much as give the inkling of an appearance that you¡¯re trying to get in our way, your life is as good as over.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± the redhead said without any hesitation, despite the risks she was facing. ¡°I will make sure to stay in my place and not get between you and your goals.¡±

    ¡°Great! Then we have an agreement!¡± the dark-haired man said happily, changing the mood completely. ¡°Isn¡¯t it so nice when we can just talk things out, like the mature grown-ups we¡¯re supposed to be? No need for any senseless violence or other thuggish behavior!¡±

    Erin wanted to point out that Ao had been threatening her quite a bit during their negotiation, which in itself was quite the violent and thuggish act, but knew better than to bring it up. No good would come out of antagonizing the man before her.

    ¡°I feel the same way,¡± the redhead said as she gave a polite bow. ¡°Hopefully we can continue to be on good terms in the future.¡±

    ¡°I agree with that thought! Why have enemies, when you can have friends, right? Life is so much more fun that way!¡± the dark-haired man said happily. ¡°Now, could you two please go to the bathroom already? I don¡¯t want any of you to sit on my furniture or floor, until you have thoroughly scrubbed yourselves of any crap you¡¯ve brought on you. Besides, I fear you¡¯ll soon start leaving the stench here permanently and then this place will have to be burned down.¡±

    ¡°Okay! Okay! I get that we smell bad! That has been established already!¡± Erin said angrily, having grown frustrated over the continuing remarks on the subject. ¡°Hey, guys! How is it going with the baths!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not going well,¡± Lexton replied, still covered in filth. ¡°You see, we decided to play rock-paper-scissors in order to decide who got to use the bathroom first. Durge ended up as the winner and¡­ He kind of ran into some issues.¡±

    ¡°Issues? What kind of issues can there be in going to a bathroom to wash yourself?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Turns out that the room was a bit¡­ small,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Because of that, he-¡±

    ¡°His fat ass got stuck in the doorway and he can¡¯t get out!¡± Zeldana yelled. ¡°Is there any soap or butter or some other lotion we can put on this guy, so we can pull him out already!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not fat! I¡¯m built up with muscle!¡± Durge shouted at the elf. ¡°Although¡­ I could use some help over here¡­¡±

    Erin groaned as her troubles seemed to be only increasing at every moment.

 150. Old Friends with Old Wounds

    Chapter 150

    Old Friends with Old Wounds

    It had been a couple of days since Erin and her friends had managed to rescue Stacey from the clutches of Golorath¡¯s guard. This had obviously not gone over well with the authorities, who had done everything they could in order to find the missing woman and her ¡°kidnappers.¡± Numerous soldiers and police officers had gone through the slums in a desperate attempt to find the place Erin¡¯s group was hiding in, but it was useless. The slums were a confusing maze even to those who lived there, let alone those who rarely even set foot in the area. There was no way for them to find the people they were looking for on their own.

    This obviously didn¡¯t mean that they didn¡¯t try out others methods. They had set up bounties and promised rewards even for the tiniest bits of information, yet nothing came of it. Not only were there plenty of people giving out false info, but a lot of the residents in the slums had been bribed by Ao and other agents of Rayleen to stay silent about them. Add the fact that the people of the lower parts generally hated anybody from the upper parts and you could easily see why all investigations had come up with nothing.

    During the time Erin and the others had been hiding in Ao¡¯s secret hideout, some of the dark-haired man¡¯s agents had managed to get their hands on their equipment and had brought them over. Now that they were all dressed up and armed properly, they were ready for any battle that might come their way. Of course, they weren¡¯t going to go and look for a fight, as staying hidden was now more important and useful.

    However, being forced to stay cooped up inside a small space was starting to wear on their nerves, as they weren¡¯t even able to go outside for some fresh air. Not that the air in the slums was all that fresh, but it would still be better than the stagnation within the hideout.

    ¡°My God, I¡¯m so freaking BORED!¡± Ryle whined as she laid on the floor. ¡°Seriously, is it absolutely necessary for us to stay inside all the time like this!? I¡¯m going to lose my mind at this rate!¡±

    ¡°Like there was any mind for you to lose in the first place!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°Also, what is the need for you to get out anyways!? It¡¯s not like you do anything useful, until you get to use your fists like the simpleminded brute that you are!¡±

    ¡°Hey! I do plenty of useful stuff other than beat people up!¡± the blonde shouted back. ¡°And you¡¯re in no position to talk! You want out of here just as much as I do, except you just want to run away from Zeldana!¡±

    ¡°Well, can you blame me for that!? You know how terrifying she is!¡± the kobold argued. ¡°Besides, she has given me plenty of reason to not stay near her! Or have you forgotten about how she locked me in the bathroom in order to out me through her torture session!? Thanks to that, I¡¯m sure we almost got caught by the soldiers that are currently patrolling these slums!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you scream like a little bitch!¡± Zeldana shouted at Lexton. ¡°And that ¡°torture session¡± you like to complain about healed all of your injuries, so you¡¯re welcome!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t heal people! You play with their goddamn bodies like a psychopath!¡± the kobold shouted at the elf.

    ¡°For the love of everything that¡¯s holy, can you all SHUT THE HELL UP!?¡± Durge suddenly yelled at the people that were arguing. ¡°I swear I¡¯m getting a headache from having to listen to you all go at it all the damn time!¡±

    ¡°Just take some medicine and plug your ears, if it¡¯s that bad!¡± Ryle shouted at the orc. ¡°You have nothing to do with this, so stay out of it!¡±

    As the four kept arguing among themselves, Erin and Arkay were left to watch from the side. While the cat boy was scared and worried over his friends, the redhead was simply exhausted. Having to deal with the constant arguments had been a drain on her as well.

    ¡°O-Oh dear¡­ There they go again,¡± Arkay said as his ears drooped. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything we can do to stop this?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, as much as I wish there was a method to put an end to this, I have no clue what that might be,¡± Erin said with a heavy sigh. ¡°Things were already bad enough with how badly Ryle and Lexton deal with each other, along with Zeldana¡¯s antics, but now they¡¯ve managed to involve Durge, too! At the rate we¡¯re going, we¡¯ll all be fighting each other! And not just with words, but with our fists!¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t like that at all!¡± the cat boy said as he stood up suddenly. ¡°I-I need to do something to put a stop to this!¡±

    Before the redhead could stop her young friend, he had already rushed over to the others and placed himself between all of them. Four pairs of eyes were now set on Arkay, who was trembling from both the attention and the tense atmosphere.

    ¡°G-Guys? C-Can¡¯t we all just stop this already?¡± Arkay pleaded in a scared tone. He even had a couple of tears in his eyes. ¡°I-I get that things are kind of tough, b-but I don¡¯t want to see you all so angry with each other. That¡¯s not how we¡¯re supposed to be¡­¡±

    Erin watched while holding her breath as what would happen. She was worried that the wrath of all four arguing sides would now get directed towards the cat boy. They would soon yell at him and tell him to keep his nose out of their business, which would in turn only hurt him more.

    However, much to the redhead¡¯s surprise, nothing seemed to happen. Instead, it seemed like everyone had calmed down all of a sudden and were losing their angry expressions.

    ¡°I guess we¡­ got a bit carried away this time,¡± Durge said as he rubbed the back of his head and looked down at the floor in shame. ¡°We should be better than this, especially since we aren¡¯t the only ones living here right now.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, especially when we¡¯ve got people looking for us right now. It¡¯s not exactly the best time to get loud over stupid crap,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Sorry for giving you a headache earlier.¡±

    ¡°Those come and go. It wasn¡¯t going to last anyways,¡± the orc replied with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for yelling at you guys, too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to apologize, too,¡± Ryle said. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t let my boredom get the better of me to the point, where I start throwing childish tantrums and screams. We¡¯re all in the same mess and I doubt any of you are having a better time than I am either.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s understandable. Being stuck like this is bound to drive anyone crazy. I feel the same way, as well,¡± Lexton said. ¡°And I suppose I should¡­ somewhat apologize to you, Zeldana. I might not like it, but your treatment is very effective and fixed me up right away. I just wish that it wasn¡¯t so painful¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, pain is an important part of our existence. Life would suck without it!¡± the elf said somewhat defensively. ¡°But I guess I¡¯ve gone a bit too far with some of my treatments. There is a reason as to why I do what I do, but I do understand why you all have been avoiding it as much as possible.¡±

    Erin stared at the others in absolute shock over the fact that they were solving their differences peacefully, instead of continuing their fighting. The redhead had been certain that their conflict wasn¡¯t going to die down anytime soon, yet here it was happening right before her. And the fact that their most nervous and shyest member had been the one to bring peace over them was the icing on the top. Perhaps Arkay had other important parts to play in their team besides tasks involving magic?

    ¡°...G-Good to see you guys dropping this fight at last,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°I really hate it when you guys get like that.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we enjoy doing stuff like this either,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s just that hard times can bring the worst out of people and cause conflict. Even the best of friends can end up as bitter enemies, if it gets hard enough.¡±

    ¡°But now that we¡¯re over it, we might as well try to figure out ways to pass the time,¡± Lexton said with a smile as he walked up to Arkay. ¡°I actually found some stuff here that I could use for potions and other things that we could use in the future. I could use some help with that. Wanna help out with that?¡±

    ¡°Nah, what we should do is play some games that help us take our minds off being stuck here!¡± Ryle said with a big grin as she went to grab the cat boy¡¯s arm. ¡°I just remembered a bunch of fun games I used to play with my brother when we were little that don¡¯t require any stuff! Just two players that are looking to have fun!¡±

    ¡°I could use a partner to pass the time, too!¡± Zeldana said, as she went to grab the cat boy¡¯s other arm. ¡°I need to do some maintenance on my medical tools and could use some help with that. Care to join me, Arnie?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I was the one who asked first!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m the one with the most fun idea over here!¡±

    ¡°First or fun, mine is the most important! Or do you want to be taken care of with bad tools!?¡±

    Erin let out a deep sigh, as the arguing started over again. She couldn¡¯t help but get upset at herself for getting her hopes up. She should have known not to expect her friends to act like mature adults after spending so much time with them.

    Suddenly, Durge walked up to her and sat down on the floor next to her. The redhead turned her attention to the orc, wondering if there was something he wanted to say to her.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Erin called out. ¡°You¡¯re not going to join the fight over who gets to hang out with Arnie?¡±

    ¡°No, all I want is to get some peace and quiet, which is proving way more difficult to than it should be,¡± Durge said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°With the way this is going, I¡¯m going to have to either put something in my ears to block out the noise or shove my head somewhere.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you choose to do, I hope it won¡¯t be too painful,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Even if the things you¡¯re suggesting do sound more pleasant to listening to those guys¡­¡±

    ¡°They sure do¡­ Anyways, how is our new friend doing?¡± the orc asked, glancing over to Stacey. ¡°She¡¯s been rather quiet ever since we got here. Or¡­ ever since we met her, but I think you get what I mean.¡±

    Erin looked over to where her old friend was sitting in a corner. If she was being completely honest, Stacey was most likely not doing all that well overall. Not only had she been a mental wreck before they got her away from Golorath¡¯s people, but being stuck indoors like this was certainly not doing her already bad condition any favors.

    For the last couple of days, Stacey had done everything she could to distance herself from everybody. This was done by her basically rooting herself to a corner that she would only leave to go to the bathroom. Even during meals she would say in her corner, forcing Erin to bring her food and take back the dirty dishes. Some of the others had tried to call out to her in order to get some sort of a conversation going, but Stacey simply stayed silent. The others had quickly decided to give up on socializing with their extra member, as they could tell it wasn¡¯t welcome.

    Erin was obviously worried over her old friend, as she had no idea what was going through her head. The redhead did understand that she had gone through some very painful things while being held captive, but she had no idea what to do. What made it even worse was that Stacey seemingly become either fearful or even hostile towards everybody else around her, except for Erin herself. This was something that the redhead wished that she could fix before it caused bigger issues than it already had.

    ¡°...She¡¯s kind of dealing with a lot right now,¡± Erin said somewhat awkwardly, finding it hard to explain Stacey¡¯s situation. ¡°You have to understand that she wasn¡¯t being treated nicely while under captivity, which has left a lot of scars on her both physically and mentally. I¡¯m trying my best to get her to open up more, but it¡¯s a very hard battle.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but I¡¯ve seen people that have gone through similar things and she seems¡­ different,¡± Durge said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to explain it, but the way she¡¯s scared of everything around her is almost like she¡¯s seeing it all for the very first time or something. Even the food she has gotten seems to scare her, as she takes a while to look at it before even the first bite. The only thing that doesn¡¯t scare her seems to be you and it¡¯s the only reason she has been able to calm down at all. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say that she came from a completely different world or something.¡±

    ¡°You have no idea how close you are,¡± the redhead whispered low enough that the orc didn¡¯t hear. She then said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to talk to her and get her to open up a bit more. I know dealing with her isn¡¯t pleasant for any of you, but I hope you understand that I¡¯m doing all I can.¡±

    ¡°Nobody¡¯s questioning that. She¡¯s just a very strange and troublesome case,¡± Durge said with a shrug. ¡°Hope you¡¯ll have more luck in the future, though.¡±

    Erin thanked the orc for his support, before getting up and walking over to Stacey. Since the subject of her old friend had come up, she figured that she might as well try to make some progress with her.

    ¡°Hey, Stacey,¡± the redhead greeted her old friend in a soft voice as she sat next to her. ¡°How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Stacey replied quickly. ¡°Considering how I¡¯m stuck in what I can only think of as pure hell, I¡¯d say I¡¯m doing just fine.¡±

    ¡°Stace, I get that this a whole lot to take in. Believe me, it was the same for me, too!¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°But we have to face the facts. We¡¯re in a new world now and we don¡¯t know if we can ever get back. All we can do is make the best of it.¡±

    ¡°Make the best of THIS?¡± Stacey said in a bitter tone. ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say. You haven¡¯t gone through all the hellish torture that I have! You¡¯ve just been having fun with your new buddies and-¡±

    Stacey¡¯s rant was cut short as she saw Erin give her the angriest glare ever. The sheer fury behind the redhead¡¯s eye was enough to terrify Stacey to no end.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve had it easy!? EASY!?¡± Erin said while gritting her teeth from anger. ¡°Let me show you just how easy I¡¯ve had it!¡±

    The redhead lifted the hair that was covering her missing right eye, causing Stacey to let out a shocked gasp. To further prove her point, Erin even took off the glove on her right hand, showing the artificial hand she now had.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°If you really think you¡¯re the only one that has a tough time in this world, think again,¡± the redhead said as she put her glove back on. ¡°I¡¯ve had to endure a lot of painful things and do many terrible things that I would have never wanted to do, all in order to simply survive in this world. So I never want to hear you ever say anything about me having it easy!¡±

    ¡°...I-I¡¯m sorry, Erin. I shouldn¡¯t have assumed that about you,¡± Stacey apologized. ¡°But I still don¡¯t get how I¡¯m supposed to live my life here! I had things back home. Family and friends, plans for the future, and now they¡¯re all gone! What am I supposed to do now!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, so did I. Or at least I tried to find such things back home,¡± Erin said as she took a deep breath to calm herself. ¡°But those things are now lost, possibly for good. We should also know that they had those things taken from them, too.¡±

    ¡°They?¡± Stacey asked. ¡°Are you referring to your new friends or something?¡±

    ¡°Somewhat. Thanks to what Gabe and the others have done in this world, those guys and many others have lost many irreplaceable things. Families, friends, homes, all of them have been lost from all this insanity,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°However, they aren¡¯t the only ones who lost something important. Gabe and his friends also lost everything they had back in our world.¡±

    ¡°...What? You actually feel sympathy to those¡­ those¡­ CREEPS!?¡± Stacey asked angrily. ¡°You mean to tell me that after everything they¡¯ve done to me, I should be feeling sorry for them!?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that you should feel sorry for them after what they did to you. What you should feel is regret over what YOU did to them. What we all did,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? That whole ¡°prank¡± that you and our other friends had me be a part of? How we didn¡¯t just stop at humiliating them and simply pushed it further and further? Don¡¯t you feel bad about it at all?¡±

    ¡°Why should I!? It¡¯s not like we did anything that wrong!¡± Stacey said as she shook her head. ¡°Besides, it was a harmless prank. Something they should have been used to by then! What made it so special anyways!?¡±

    ¡°A harmless prank? Are you kidding me?¡± the redhead asked as she glared at her old friend. ¡°Stacey, we humiliated them in front of the whole school! And when that wasn¡¯t enough, we decided to add the accusations on top of everything! Don¡¯t you remember how they were kicked out of our school and became outcasts!? I can¡¯t even imagine what happened with their families¡­¡±

    ¡°So? Not our problem!¡± Stacey said. ¡°They should have known better than to try dragging us down! They tried to pin the blame on us, so of course we had to put them in their place! Last I remember, you went along with it, didn¡¯t you!? Are you saying that you regret all of it now!?¡±

    ¡°...I do. I have regretted it for every single day since then,¡± Erin replied as a sad look came to her eyes. ¡°For all these years, I¡¯ve been wondering how I could ever make up for what I did back then. For not making things right no matter how many opportunities I had. Yet I¡¯ve always known that it was impossible. There is no way to make amends for the things we did.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do now then? Are you going to try and make up with them, telling them how much you regret the things you did?¡± Stacey asked in a bitter tone. ¡°Like that would somehow magically fix everything they¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m not going to do that. I¡¯m going to stop them,¡± the redhead said, now with a gaze of resolve in her eye that took her old friend by surprise. ¡°As much as I hate to admit it, those friends that I knew back then are gone. They¡¯ve been replaced by the monsters who have turned this world into hell itself and it¡¯s my fault it happened. I am going to make things right as much as possible, even if it means killing them.¡±

    ¡°Y-You can¡¯t be serious¡­ Can you?¡± Stacey asked in disbelief. ¡°They have armies of monsters obeying their every command! You can¡¯t possibly take them on!¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve managed so far,¡± Erin said with a shrug as she stood up. ¡°Might as well see this through to the end.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Stacey said, before she realized something. ¡°Hang on! Did you just call them your friends!?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s what they were back then for me. I was just too cowardly to admit it,¡± the redhead said as she began to walk away. ¡°And they sure were better ones than the ones I actually stuck with.¡±

    Now that her talk with her old friend was done, Erin decided to take a look at what the others were doing. Judging from the lack of yelling and other loud noises, she assumed that the arguing had finally come to an end. Taking a closer look at what the others were up to, she noticed that Ryle had seemingly won their latest argument, as she seemed to be playing some sort of a game with Arkay. Meanwhile, Zeldana and Lexton had secluded themselves in their own work in order to pass the time.

    ¡°Well, at least there¡¯s silence and peace again,¡± Erin mumbled to herself.

    Just as she said that, the front door to the hideout opened and Ao walked in. The dark-haired man hadn¡¯t been seen there since Erin had met up with him and told him about Stacey¡¯s situation. He had told her that he was going to get into contact with Rayleen and ask her on further instructions and whether she was alright with Erin¡¯s proposal of taking part in the interrogation.

    ¡°Glad to see this place is still standing. I was afraid you guys would throw some sort of a crazy party in order to celebrate a job well done or something,¡± Ao said with a smile. ¡°How have you guys been holding up so far?¡±

    ¡°Not good. We¡¯re bored out of our minds!¡± Ryle complained. ¡°Seriously, would it kill you to have some form of entertainment around here!? Being stuck inside like a bunch of rats will drive anyone crazy!¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you guys just play some of the many board games I¡¯ve got stashed in here?¡± the dark-haired man asked, shocking everyone. ¡°How do you think I pass the time? When there¡¯s really nothing to do, I¡¯d just contact some of the other agents and we¡¯d have ourselves a game night. It¡¯s a really fun way to get through the more boring days.¡±

    ¡°...Where the hell are these games of yours?¡± Erin asked before looking over to Lexton. ¡°And I thought you checked every place here! You said that the only things you found were canned food, bottled water and medical supplies!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all I did find!¡± the kobold said defensively. ¡°Or at least that was all the actually useful stuff I could find!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know just what you¡¯ve been looking at, but they¡¯re in the cupboards over there,¡± Ao said, pointing at the place the games were supposedly hidden. ¡°You¡¯re free to play them, as long as you remember to put all the pieces back in their places.¡±

    Ryle immediately rushed over to the cupboards and opened them, revealing a stack of different board games within. Had they known about these, their days spent in hiding would have been passed with ease.

    ¡°What the hell, Lex!?¡± Ryle asked angrily, holding up the stack of games in her hands. ¡°How the hell couldn¡¯t you find these!? They were right here!¡±

    ¡°I would also like to know the answer to that!¡± Erin said. ¡°How could you miss something so obvious!?¡±

    ¡°Those are board games?¡± Lexton asked, looking at the stack of games. ¡°I just thought they were some sort of practice tools meant for kids that want to learn alchemy or something.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, how do you know what video games are, but not what board games are?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡±

    ¡°I know about video games, because I work with machines often. When times got tough, I had to offer my services as a repairman and I worked on all sorts of game machines,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°And judging by how those things look, I doubt they have all that much machinery in them, so I¡¯ve never come across them.¡±

    ¡°Wow. For the first time in my life, I actually feel sorry for you,¡± Ryle said bluntly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have a childhood or something?¡±

    ¡°Of course I had a childhood! And a very happy one at that!¡± Lexton shouted angrily, before a look of nostalgia came over his face as he thought back to his days as a carefree kid. ¡°I still remember how my father taught me the basics of being a merchant, how I carved my first rune, made my first potion and-¡±

    ¡°Okay, I think we get the idea, Lex,¡± Erin said stopping the kobold¡¯s reminiscing. She then turned to look at Ao. ¡°Anyways, I doubt you came all the way here just to tell us about board games, right? I¡¯m guessing your boss has reached a conclusion on the matter regarding Stacey.¡±

    ¡°That would be correct!¡± the dark-haired man said with a bright smile. ¡°She recently decided upon the place the interrogation would take place at and whether you would be allowed to take part in it or not!¡±

    ¡°...And?¡± the redhead prodded. ¡°What was the decision?¡±

    ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re no fun at all,¡± Ao said with a frown. ¡°I was doing a dramatic pause over here! Can¡¯t you at least try to play along?¡±

    ¡°Now you see what I have to deal with!¡± Zeldana called out.

    ¡°Shut up, Zel!¡± Erin shouted at the elf. ¡°Back to the topic at hand, would you mind and just tell me the result, please!?¡±

    ¡°Well, at least you asked nicely,¡± Ao mumbled as he rolled his eyes. ¡°Anyways, the boss agree to your request. You¡¯ll be allowed to take part in the whole thing.¡±

    A relieved smile came over the redhead¡¯s face. It seemed like she could be able to help Stacey get through the whole thing. She had been worried what might happen to her old friend, if she wasn¡¯t allowed to be there.

    ¡°BUT! I must emphasize that you are not to get in the way of our work, okay?¡± the dark-haired man stated. ¡°Remember what we agreed on. Any sign of you trying to get in the way of what we want to know and it will be the end of you. Understood?¡±

    ¡°I will hold my end of the deal,¡± Erin replied. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± Ao said happily. ¡°Now, where might our mutual friend be? Could you get her?¡±

    The redhead nodded and went on to fetch Stacey, who was still sitting in her corner. Upon noticing the redhead approach her, she looked up at her, wondering what she wanted.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s time for that interrogation that we¡¯ve talked about,¡± Erin said in a soft tone. ¡°Are you ready to go?¡±

    ¡°I doubt that my opinion really matters, does it?¡± Stacey said with a sigh as she stood up. ¡°Just¡­ don¡¯t let them do too much to me, okay? I¡¯ve already had to deal with more than enough.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you answer their questions as honestly as you can, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ll be there with you and I won¡¯t let anything bad happen to you. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The two ladies walked up to where Ao was waiting. Before leaving, Erin turned to look over her friends to speak to them one more time.

    ¡°Guys, I¡¯ll be away for a bit. You guys wait here,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Try not to get into trouble. Or fights.¡±

    ¡°What do you think we are? Children?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°We¡¯re more than capable of handling ourselves!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Besides, with all these games, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to pass the time with ease!¡± Ryle said with a grin as she held up one of the board games. ¡°Who wants to play Monopoly!?¡±

    ¡°...Okay, now I¡¯m really worried,¡± Erin muttered before walking outside, thinking back on what it was like to play that particular board game. ¡°How the hell is that even a thing here?¡±

    Ignoring the question she had on her mind for now, the redhead joined up with Ao and Stacey, and began to walk towards the place the interrogation would take place at. By disguising themselves in ragged cloaks, the three of them were able to move around without catching the attention of the thugs living in the slums or the occasional soldiers that were patrolling the area. By this point, most of the searched for Erin and her group were focused in places outside of Graven Hills, as it had been so long since the whole ¡°kidnapping incident¡± that the authorities were certain they had already gotten much further away.

    As they were walking, Erin couldn¡¯t help but think that the place for the interrogation was strangely far from the hideout they had been using. However, when she thought about the way Ao was moving around as he led them, she came to the realization that he was intentionally going a much longer path. This was most likely done in order to make it harder for her and Stacey to run away, as they would get lost right away.

    Eventually, they came to what looked like a very small shack that was built against a mountain of waste and trash. There appeared to be a small man dressed in rags sleeping next to the front door.

    ¡°Yo! Colbor!¡± Ao called out to the sleeping man. ¡°How¡¯s it been?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you know... The usual,¡± the small man replied in a weak and raspy voice. ¡°Nothing much really happens around here, outside of the rare treat one gets from the garbage dumped here.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s your typical day here,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°Listen, I managed to get my hands on some quality booze and I wondered if you and your brothers would be interested in having a little drinking party? I figured you¡¯d want to try and get back at me for beating you last time!¡±

    ¡°Hey, that was just luck on your side! I wasn¡¯t feeling well!¡± Colbor said back. ¡°But that sounds just fun. I could use some drink to help my aching bones. Are those two joining us?¡±

    ¡°They sure are!¡± Ao said. ¡°These here are my little sister and her friend! I¡¯ll properly introduce them inside.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Let me just open the door, so we can get in,¡± the small man said, as he slid the door to the side, allowing people to enter his home. ¡°Come on in.¡±

    As Ao thanked the man and moved towards the entrance, Erin couldn¡¯t help but think about something strange she had noticed. For some reason, the door seemed to have a lot of weight, despite being built of simple trash and being easily moved to the side by Colbor. Despite all of that, it seemed to weigh a ton and had sunk deeper into the soft ground than it should.

    ¡°Hey, is something the matter, sis?¡± Ao suddenly called out to the redhead, who had been lost in thought. ¡°The house is gonna get cold! We can¡¯t leave the door open all day!¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s nothing,¡± Erin replied, slightly irked by being referred to as the dark-haired man¡¯s sister. ¡°Just lost in thought a bit.¡±

    Following after Ao, Erin and Stacey entered the shack. Soon after that, Colbor followed behind them, closing the door in the process.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get some lighting in here, so we don¡¯t end up bumping into each other,¡± Ao said as he used his fire magic to light up a candle. ¡°There we go. That should make it better.¡±

    Erin looked ahead and her eye went wide in surprise. Instead of a small room, there was a long tunnel that seemed to go deep underground. It looked like they were walking into the abyss itself.

    ¡°W-Why does this lead underground?¡± the redhead asked, feeling a bit nervous. ¡°Is it to prevent us from running away?¡±

    ¡°There are many reasons as to why it¡¯s built like this, one of them being that it will help in not letting any noises reach the outside,¡± a deep and booming voice said from behind, taking Erin and Stacey by complete surprise. They turned around saw only Colbor standing there, meaning the voice had to have come from him. ¡°As for preventing people from escaping, that¡¯s my job.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± Erin asked. ¡°And just how would you prevent the two of us from doing anything?¡±

    The reason the redhead was prodding these people was in order to learn more about them. Just in case things went bad, she wanted to know just what she would be up against.

    ¡°Well¡­ That would be through the use of physical strength. Not that I like the idea of doing that, since I¡¯m a peaceful guy at heart,¡± Colbor explained, as his body suddenly began to grow at a fast rate. ¡°I hope you two will behave yourselves well enough, so that we don¡¯t have to go there. Okay?¡±

    Both Erin and Stacey stared at the giant before them in pure shock. Once Colbor had been done growing, he had to crouch down in order to fit inside the tunnel, as his back was against the ceiling. The ragged cloak he had been wearing was nothing more than a scarf by now. His body was also completely visible now, so Erin could tell that he was a lizardman.

    The redhead was also able to get a look at the front door and saw a couple of runes scribbled on it. She assumed those were behind the strangeness she had noticed earlier.

    ¡°I see you noticed our little decorations,¡± Colbor said with a grin. ¡°We¡¯ve got a kobold in our ranks that knows how to make these things. Real useful in setting up defenses and other such things. These in particular have turned the door harder and heavier. We can¡¯t let just anybody get in here, now can we?¡±

    ¡°...T-True,¡± Erin said awkwardly, still taken aback by the size of the lizardman before her. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure my friend and I behave nicely.¡±

    ¡°Good to know!¡± Colbor said with a smile. ¡°I so hate to deal with unruly people.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, bit would you guys mind wrapping up your little conversation?¡± Ao called out. ¡°We¡¯ve got interrogators waiting to see you two and I¡¯d hate to make them wait.¡±

    Erin simply nodded and grabbed hold of Stacey¡¯s hand, pulling her along as they followed the dark-haired man deeper into the hideout. The tunnel went on for quite some time, which unnerved the two ladies. After walking for some time, they saw light ahead of them. The light came from a large room that had multiple tunnels leading to it. In the middle of it was a large wooden table with two chairs on opposite sides. There were also two people waiting for them there.

    The first one seemed to be an elf, as Erin was able to see the pointy ears. Besides his ears and eyes, his face was completely covered up in bandages. The bandages seemed to be covering up most of his body, as they were also covering his arms. His clothing consisted of a sleeveless robe, loose pants, combat boots and gloves.

    The other person was an insectoid, who were essentially bug people. This one in particular was a spider-based individual, commonly referred to as arachnoids. He was much larger than the elf and had six arms, making the full number of his limbs match that of a spider. His features resembled a spider as well, with multiple eyes on his face, large fangs and hairs covering his whole body. He was wearing clothing similar to the elf.

    ¡°Gentlemen! Sorry to keep you waiting!¡± Ao greeted the two with a big smile on his face. ¡°I had to take extra cautions in order to make sure that not only would we be followed, but also so that our guests wouldn¡¯t run away. I hope that it wasn¡¯t too much of a bother to the two of you.¡±

    ¡°Hmph! Extra cautions¡­ There would be no need for such things in the first place, if you had simply let us handle this whole case from the beginning!¡± the elf said in a displeased tone. ¡°You even had to go through of negotiating special terms for our interrogation with Lady Rayleen herself, while most of us would just get the job done without such unnecessary bothers! I guess it helps to be a favorite of the boss herself. You just get to do whatever you want!¡±

    Erin was taken by surprise by the open hostility the elf was showing towards Ao. She thought that since all of Rayleen¡¯s people were so loyal to her that they would get along with one another. It seemed like that had been a misconception and that there were grudges and bad blood with the organization itself.

    The redhead was expecting Ao to get angry and try to defend himself, yet he didn¡¯t seem to be doing anything like that at all. The dark-haired man simply smiled, as he walked up to the elf.

    ¡°I suppose you do have a point. I do have a favorable position when it comes to the boss and I get to use that to my own advantage from time to time,¡± Ao said thoughtfully. ¡°However, I think you are overlooking one very important detail.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± the elf asked in a sarcastic tone. ¡°And what might that be?¡±

    Before the elf could do anything, Ao had grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall. It all happened so fast that even Erin couldn¡¯t see it. The arachnoid tried to intervene by getting his venomous fangs ready, but was killed right away, as Ao shot a small fireball at his head that blew it up. The dark-haired man had done so without even looking away from the elf he was currently strangling.

    ¡°You forget that I didn¡¯t simply get my position by some dumb luck. You see, I earned my position, which is why the boss trusts me more than a little shit like you,¡± the dark-haired man said as he glared at the elf, who was struggling to break free. ¡°If you have a problem with it, I suggest you start working your ass off. Maybe at some point you¡¯ll be able to reach a similar position. Until then, I want you to quit your whining and do your job. Got it?¡±

    The elf managed to give a small nod, prompting Ao to drop him down on the ground and walk away.

    ¡°Goddammit¡­ Now look at what you made me do!¡± the dark-haired man said in a slightly annoyed tone, devoid of the anger it had just held. ¡°You made me kill your colleague! Don¡¯t you know how hard it is to find people that are good at that sort of stuff!? They don¡¯t grow on trees!¡±

    Erin was staring at the whole scene before her in utter shock and horror. Ao had just killed someone that belonged to the same faction as him, a comrade, yet he was complaining about it like it was just a bother, like some food that had spilled on the floor. She had already known that Rayleen and her people were dangerous, but this truly showed her just how much danger she was in even when she was technically allied with them.

    As she was thinking about this, the redhead felt a hand grasp the back of her cloak. She looked behind her and saw Stacey in such a terrible state of shock that it looked like she was having trouble breathing. The brutal act of violence that had just played out right before her eyes had obviously had a bad effect on her, as her face was pale, her eyes were wide and her breathing was minimal and shallow.

    Hoping to help her old friend get out of her shock, Erin took hold of her shoulder and gently squeezed it. She also looked into her eyes with a strong yet comforting gaze, telling Stacey that she was there to keep her safe. This seemed to do the trick, as she began to calm down, but was still clearly scared over what was happening.

    ¡°Y-You don¡¯t need to worry about his loss,¡± the elf suddenly said, having managed to catch his breath after being strangled just a moment ago. ¡°I can do the job on my own. His assistance would have made it easier, but this can still be done just with me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great news! I was already getting worried over here!¡± Ao said with a bright smile. ¡°Now, let¡¯s clean this mess up, so we can get to work! I have better things to do than to sit in this damn hole in the ground!¡±

    The elf simply nodded as he went to drag his colleague¡¯s body into one of the tunnels, before returning. He took a seat at the table and looked at Stacey.

    ¡°Would you mind and come have a seat over here?¡± the interrogator asked.

    Stacey looked at Erin, who gave her a nod. She then went to sit at the other side of the table, looking straight at the elf.

    The interrogation was now starting.

 151. Tough to Keep Secrets

    Chapter 151

    Tough to Keep Secrets

    ¡°What is Golorath planning!?¡± the elf interrogator yelled angrily. ¡°How much does he know!? DOES HE KNOW ABOUT US!?¡±

    ¡°I DON¡¯T KNOW ANYTHING!¡± Stacey screamed, terrified of the man before her. ¡°I DON¡¯T KNOW ABOUT ANY OF YOU PEOPLE! HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHAT THAT BASTARD KNOWS!?¡±

    This was essentially how the whole interrogation had been going for the last few hours. The interrogator would ask questions and Stacey would tell him that she didn¡¯t know. This obviously didn¡¯t sit well with the elf, as it was his job to get the information his boss wanted out of her. If he didn¡¯t get anything, then he was just wasting his time.

    He obviously didn¡¯t believe Stacey, when she claimed to not know anything. If someone was holding important information, then they would naturally claim to not know it. That¡¯s when they started using other methods to get the answers they wanted. This didn¡¯t involve physical torture, but rather psychological techniques. Stacey wasn¡¯t allowed to have a chance to rest and was pounded with constant questions and threats. There were even bargains made towards her, promises of riches and privileges in case she told them what they wanted to know. Ao even took part in the whole thing, acting as the ¡°good cop¡± that was friendlier towards her. To top it all off, they had even used couple doses of truth serum on Stacey to make her talk.

    Despite all of their effort, the result was the same. This was obvious to Erin, as she knew that there was nothing that Stacey knew about Golorath or what he was planning. All she was a victim of his cruelty from a grudge that went back years. Problem was that none of Rayleen¡¯s people knew this, so they had to find out for themselves whether she knew anything or not.

    ¡°I¡¯m sick of your lies and excuses!¡± the interrogator shouted as he slammed his fist on the table. ¡°START TALKING OR I WILL MAKE SURE YOU¡¯LL SUFFER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!¡±

    ¡°HE ALREADY DID THAT TO ME!¡± Stacey screamed. ¡°HE ALREADY MADE ME SUFFER EVERY DAY! WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO!?¡±

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough,¡± Ao suddenly said. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that we aren¡¯t getting anything out of her. She is just like Erin told us. Just some poor woman that got on Golorath¡¯s bad side.¡±

    ¡°If I could just do a bit more! Just a bit more!¡± the interrogator argued. ¡°If you allowed me to use my tools, I could-!¡±

    ¡°Do what? Satisfy your own sick desires?¡± the dark-haired man asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°By torturing her we are not going to gain anything useful. In fact, we might only get wrong information, as she will lie to us in order to get out of pain. Torture at this point is just useless.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but-!¡±

    ¡°And you should also take into account how the boss would feel about this,¡± Ao pointed out. ¡°Remember that she doesn¡¯t want non-combatants to be involved in these things. Our fights need to be done only with those who are willing and able to fight back. She¡¯s clearly not that.¡±

    ¡°...So what? Are we supposed to just let her go?¡± the elf asked while clenching his fists so tightly that his fingernails drew blood from his palms. ¡°Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve lost because of that fat bastard!? How can I just let his woman walk away without paying at least some sort of a price!?¡±

    ¡°From the way I see it, she already has. At this point, hurting her will not do us any good and killing her will just save Golorath the trouble,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°Remember that while we might use violence to achieve our goals, we are NOT going to be the same as those guys. Got that?¡±

    ¡°These higher ideals are not going to help you,¡± the interrogator said in a bitter tone. ¡°They will only end up hindering you.¡±

    ¡°That might be so, but it helps me sleep at night at least,¡± Ao said with a shrug. ¡°If you agree to leave this interrogation now, I will not tell the boss about how you were acting up earlier or about how you intended to torture some defenseless woman. Take it as a sign of sympathy.¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± the elf replied.

    Seeing as how they had reached an agreement, Ao motioned to Erin to come get Stacey. With the women following behind him, the dark-haired man began to lead them back to the hideout where the redhead¡¯s friends were waiting for her return.

    ¡°Was that true what you said earlier?¡± Erin asked, as they walked through the tunnel they came through. ¡°About how you people don¡¯t involve non-combatants?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Ao replied. ¡°The way the boss sees it, those who are going to fight shouldn¡¯t complain about getting beaten or even killed. However, in turn, they shouldn¡¯t forcibly include those who have no intention at all to fight. She finds that distasteful, like being a school bully. Of course there is always the accidental victim from collateral damage, but there is only so much you can do.¡±

    ¡°But what about her then?¡± the redhead asked while motioning towards Stacey. ¡°She¡¯s not a fighter. Hell, she can barely look at you without being terrified! How can you involve her as an actual combatant?¡±

    ¡°Just because one doesn¡¯t get their hands dirty, doesn¡¯t mean that they don¡¯t have a part to play in combat,¡± the dark-haired man explained. ¡°Do you have any idea how many people there are who can send hundreds or thousands people to their deaths on a whim? Do you think such people don¡¯t have a part to play in battles? The way I see it, they are worse, as they don¡¯t bother getting their own hands dirty and just expect others to die for their own desires. That¡¯s what we thought that she, until you revealed the truth about her. It was also thanks to your help that the boss ordered there to be no physical torture.¡±

    ¡°...I guess you guys aren¡¯t as bad as I thought,¡± Erin muttered.

    ¡°What? You thought we were just a bunch of bloodthirsty serial killers that get off on slaughter?¡± Ao asked with a small smirk.

    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t-! I mean-!¡± the redhead stammered, as she tried to explain herself.

    ¡°No need to get so worked up! I¡¯m not mad at all!¡± the dark-haired man replied with a chuckle. ¡°I completely understand where you¡¯re coming from with your assumptions. After all, we haven¡¯t probably shown exactly the best side of us to you, considering how we have forced you into cooperation.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ There is that,¡± Erin said, embarrassed over being caught. ¡°It doesn¡¯t help how you just killed one of your own a moment ago.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but you have to think back to what happened,¡± Ao explained. ¡°Not only did one of those two question my authority openly, but the other one tried to attack me with lethal force. We aren¡¯t a friend club here, but a military organization. In order to keep us from breaking apart, I can¡¯t simply let such things go. To be honest, I could have eliminated both of them due to their actions, but decided to be merciful as I needed his help.¡±

    ¡°I think I understand. Doesn¡¯t make me feel much better about it, though,¡± the redhead said. ¡°By the way, now that you¡¯re done with Stacey, what are you going to do with her?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? We don¡¯t need her anymore,¡± the dark-haired man said with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s clear to me that not only does she not know anything that could be of use to us, but that Golorath also doesn¡¯t care about her. There is really no use for us to keep her around anymore.¡±

    Erin glanced at her old friend, who was still shaken up from her interrogation. Her face was still pale and her body was trembling like she was cold. She was also staring down at the ground, almost like she was afraid of looking up.

    ¡°...So what exactly are you going to do with her?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Are you going to take her somewhere or do anything with her?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking that we are going to sell her somewhere or simply kill her, that¡¯s not something we are going to do. It¡¯s not our style,¡± Ao explained. ¡°However, we are also not going to keep her around and take care of her. We have far too much on our hands to play babysitter with her. I¡¯m afraid that she will be on her own from now on.¡±

    ¡°...Could I take her with me?¡± Erin asked, surprising the dark-haired man. ¡°I don¡¯t want to just abandon her, as I doubt she¡¯ll be able to survive on her own.¡±

    Stacey looked up at the redhead with surprise as well as gratitude. She hadn¡¯t expected that Erin would go so far in order to save her.

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a generous individual?¡± Ao said with a small smile. ¡°You can go ahead. It doesn¡¯t matter to any of us at all. I¡¯ll just ask you to think about what you¡¯re going to do very carefully. I might not know her at all, but you should be careful with selecting companions for your group. You need to make sure that you invite those who are actually beneficial to you and not the ones who will simply poison you from within.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the advice, but I think I¡¯m doing the right thing,¡± the redhead said confidently. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave her on her own just like that. I feel like I would regret it for the rest of my life, if I did.¡±

    ¡°Better to do something and regret it than NOT do something and regret it? That¡¯s a way of thinking I can somewhat get behind,¡± the dark-haired man said with a smile. ¡°Go ahead, if you¡¯re so certain. No need to take my warning as anything more than friendly advice. I just felt like I should point it out. I do apologize, if I stepped out of line.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ It¡¯s alright,¡± Erin said, surprised by the apology. ¡°I just wanted to give my own opinion on the matter.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ao said. ¡°Well, you take care of yourselves. The boss said that you and your little gang should lay low for now. We¡¯ll be in contact once the situation clears up a bit.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Is there anywhere specific that she wants us to go to?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°She didn¡¯t specify anything. It¡¯s more important that you don¡¯t get yourselves caught,¡± the dark-haired man said thoughtfully. ¡°However, if you can, don¡¯t go too far from this area, okay? We are pretty close to where Golorath is, after all. I¡¯m sure once more work opens up, it will be better for you to be near him. If for no other reason than the fact that long travels can be a pain in the ass.¡±

    Erin nodded in response as they finally came to the entrance they had used earlier. Colbor was still there, waiting for their arrival to open the door for them. Once they had left, the lizardman resumed his guard duties, disguised as a weak and small man dressed in rags.

    Ao led the two ladies back to the hideout they were using. The walk there didn¡¯t take anywhere near as long as before, confirming Erin¡¯s suspicions that the dark-haired man had been leading them around a much longer path in order to make it harder for them to turn around and run away.

    Once at the hideout, Ao turned towards Erin to say one final thing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but I hope you guys can leave this place soon,¡± the dark-haired man said. ¡°This place isn¡¯t meant to be used by those who aren¡¯t part of our faction. Even if you are technically allied with us, you¡¯re still essentially outsiders. Besides, I¡¯m going to need it for poker night with a couple of the guys stationed here.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll tell the others that we¡¯ll be leaving in the morning,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°Thanks for letting us use it.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Ao said as he began to walk away. ¡°Just try not to get into trouble, okay? I¡¯m sure the boss still has plans for you.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not sure I should be taking that as a good thing,¡± Erin muttered.

    Once the dark-haired man had left, the redhead turned towards her old friend in order to have a talk with her before going inside.

    ¡°How are you holding up, Stacey?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure this day has been rough on you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hanging on¡­ Somehow,¡± Stacey replied in a tired voice. ¡°Like you said, it has been a rough few days, although I would say that goes for the whole time I¡¯ve been here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. I know it must have been painful to you,¡± the redhead said in a sympathetic tone. ¡°But I can assure you that I will do everything I can to make sure you won¡¯t have to go through anything like that ever again.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the sentiment, but can you really do that?¡± Stacey asked. ¡°From what I can tell, you¡¯ve got a lot going on. Not only that, but I¡¯m not sure if I can get along with your¡­ friends.¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? Sure those guys can be a handful at times and they can cause me the occasional headache, but once you get to know them, you¡¯ll find out that they¡¯re all good people,¡± Erin said with a frown, not liking the way her old friend talked about her group. ¡°Besides, even if I have things going on, it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m just going to abandon you in order to make things more convenient for me. I might be ashamed of what we were back in the day, but I still think of you as my friend and I won¡¯t leave you behind.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you, Erin,¡± Stacey said. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ try to get along with those guys at least.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all I can ask,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go see the others already. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re already starting to get worried over us.¡±

    Erin grabbed the handle on the door and opened it. She took a step inside and was just about to announce her arrival when-

    ¡°DAMMIT! I¡¯M BROKE!¡± Ryle yelled angrily as she pulled her own hair out of frustration. ¡°And I was just about to make a comeback!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, you were pretty much on welfare over half of the game!¡± Lexton said. ¡°How were you supposed to make a comeback from that!? You didn¡¯t even have any properties that you could use to get money!¡±

    ¡°Screw you, Lex! At least I got farther than you did!¡± the blonde shot back. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just perfect? The great merchant himself, Lexton, is the first one to drop out in a game of Monopoly! Care to explain where all your businessman skills went all of a sudden!?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s not my fault I lost so quick,¡± the kobold said as he crossed his arms and sulked. ¡°This game is so unrealistic. There¡¯s no real merchant life in it anyways!¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Does this mean I win?¡± Arkay asked awkwardly. ¡°I mean, from what I understand, you all lost all of your money and can¡¯t continue, so doesn¡¯t that mean it¡¯s my victory?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°This game ends when there is only one player left, which is you.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°...Oh. Great!¡± the cat boy said. ¡°I wish I understood what was going on¡­¡±

    Erin and Stacey looked at each other in awkward silence over what was going on with the others.

    ¡°...Well, at least they didn¡¯t start throwing punches at each other,¡± the redhead said with a sigh.

    ¡°Are you sure that should be taken as such a great achievement?¡± Stacey asked. ¡°I feel like the bar is very low.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I take what I get, okay!?¡± Erin said in a slightly irritated tone. ¡°Anyways, I see that everybody else got around playing the same game, but where is Durge? Didn¡¯t he feel like joining you guys?¡±

    ¡°We did invite him, but he said that he had other stuff to do,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Plus, it doesn¡¯t help that most of these games can only be played by four people at maximum¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go find him,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Besides, seeing as how he is the most mature among us, I doubt he¡¯d be getting himself into any sort of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean!?¡± the kobold asked angrily. ¡°I take great offense to that!¡±

    ¡°Me too!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°I¡¯m obviously the most mature here!¡±

    The blonde¡¯s statement was met with blank stares from everybody else.

    ¡°...And just what is that reaction supposed to mean!?¡± Ryle asked angrily.

    ¡°Do you even want to know?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically.

    As another argument was breaking out, Erin decided to slip away in order to find Durge. She didn¡¯t have to look for long, as she found the orc sitting on the floor with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He was completely still, to the point he almost seemed like a statue, if it weren¡¯t for the steady rise and fall of his chest, indicating his breathing.

    ¡°Durge? You okay?¡± Erin called out to the orc yet received no answer.

    Little did she know that Durge was actually facing his biggest fear within his own mind at that very moment.

    <hr>

    What Durge had been doing was meditating, as he could feel that there was an inner turmoil that was affecting him. Ever since he had removed the seal on his body in order to access his berserker state, he could tell that something had been changing inside of him. At first, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, just some strange dreams here and there, while also getting the feeling of wanting to get his adrenaline pumping. It was all something that the orc could easily either ignore or work out of his systems.

    However, as the days went on, his dreams were becoming more and more vivid, and terrifying. Visions of brutal combat, blood, gore and death were constantly tormenting him, showing him pictures of himself drenching his hands with the blood of those he came across, no matter who or what they were. All that mattered was that he got to kill and relish in every second of the horrendous acts.

    Even the small urges that were disturbing him from time to time had become far more distracting than before. What were once simple needs of getting his blood pumping were now desires to kill and destroy. To cause havoc and mayhem all around him with no remorse.

    All of this was eating up at Durge, who was terrified of what he might be becoming. It was similar to when he was still just wandering around after his tribe had been destroyed. Back then, he thought that such feelings were normal. After all, he had been living through countless battlefields, where there was no room for calmness or relaxation. He would just need some time in order to get over such feelings and he could begin his new life as a normal person.

    This changed, when he was targeted by a bunch of bounty hunters. In a way, the orc had welcomed the attack, as it allowed him to finally let loose with all the pent up aggression and desire for combat he had. However, this led to him activating his berserker state and going on a rampage that didn¡¯t simply take care of his attackers, but also any unfortunate soul that got caught in the crossfire.

    Horrified by what he had done, Durge had gone into seclusion, staying away from large settlements altogether, as he feared what he might do to them. During this time, he had learned about a wandering shaman with mystical skills. With no one else to turn to for help, the orc had sought out this person in the hopes that they could assist him. Fortunately, the shaman had been able to assist the orc by placing a seal in him. While this meant that he could no longer use his berserker powers, it was a small price to pay in Durge¡¯s eyes. He no longer needed to worry about losing control and harming others.

    Before he had left, the shaman had told the orc that if he were to ever break the seal, he would most likely have to find another way to suppress the power within him. Now that the seal was gone, Durge needed to figure out what to do. It was only thanks to his training within the warrior tribe that he was able to keep himself under control, but he knew that it would only be a matter of time until he would lose it.

    Inside Durge¡¯s mind, he found himself walking in a barren land covered in darkness. He couldn¡¯t tell if there was anything around him at all, as he couldn¡¯t even see his own hands due to how dark it was. All he could do was start walking in one direction with his arms stretched out in the hopes of finding something.

    After just a couple of steps, he heard a sound. There was something there with him, but he couldn¡¯t tell what it was. The sound of something walking around him soon began to repeat itself, telling him more details about it. It was obviously massive, as the steps carried incredible amounts of weight behind them. It was also bipedal, which he could deduce from the rhythm of the steps.

    Whatever the thing was, it seemed to have noticed Durge, as the sounds of footsteps seemed to be circling around him. It was unclear whether it was able to see in the darkness or if it had some other way to determine where the orc was.

    The footsteps came to a sudden stop right in front of the orc. He tried to focus his eyes in the hopes of seeing what it was, yet it didn¡¯t help at all. There was no way for him to see in such pitch black darkness.

    However, the being itself made itself partially visible, as two gleaming eyes suddenly appeared in the middle of the darkness, glaring right at Durge. The orc could feel his blood run cold, as he realized two things about whatever it was that was watching him. For starters, it was enormous. Even if he was very tall among most people, this being easily towered over him. It must have been at least twice his size. Lastly, he could tell by just the look it had in its eyes that it was malevolent and it wanted nothing more than to commit violence against him. Considering where he was, there would be nothing that could stop this monster from doing just that.

    Below the eyes, a small light began to shine. At first, Durge was confused over what it was, but soon realized that it was a fire that began to bring some light around itself, revealing more about the creature staring down at him. The fire seemed to be coming from the creatures mouth, as the light of the flames revealed sharp teeth that were the size of daggers. And while it was only very little, the light also showed parts of the body itself, revealing bulging muscles and dark red skin.

    Cold sweat dripped down Durge¡¯s face as he stared at the monstrosity before him in sheer terror. Even when he saw so little of it, it was more than enough to tell him just what kind of a being it was. It was something that lived for violence and destruction, and could easily tear him apart the second it decided to do so.

    And this thing was inside of him.

    The creature covered in the shadows of darkness was about to lunge at him, when a voice called out to him, bringing him back to the real world.

    <hr>

    ¡°Durge! DURGE!¡± Erin shouted at the orc, finally breaking him out of his meditation.

    Durge¡¯s eyes shot wide open and he took in some heavy breaths, like he had been running a marathon. His body was covered in a cold sweat from the terrifying visions he had been up against just a second ago.

    Now that he was back in the real world, the orc looked around and saw all of his friends staring at him with looks ranging from concern to curiosity. Since he had no idea about how long he had been stuck in his meditating state, he hadn¡¯t realized what it might look like on the outside to the others. It was probably only natural for them to be concerned, considering how long he must have been still and silent, not to mention whatever reactions he might have showed to what he encountered within himself.

    ¡°Durge, are you okay?¡± Erin asked in a concerned tone. ¡°It looked like you were in pain or something. Did anything happen to you?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m fine,¡± the orc replied as he got up. ¡°I was just doing some mental training. It can get a bit rough from time to time. Other than that, I¡¯m completely okay.¡±

    ¡°Are you¡­ sure?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°You looked like you were in pain. Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! It looked like you were dealing with some seriously scary shit!¡± Ryle said. ¡°I mean, you were sweating and trembling and had this look on your face that something was wrong big time! That¡¯s not exactly something you just come out of completely fine, ya know!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, guys. Really,¡± Durge replied with a smile. ¡°Anyways, how did the meeting go? Was Ao and the others able to get what they needed from Stacey?¡±

    ¡°Nah. Much like I had expected, they got nothing from her. It was just a waste of time for them,¡± Erin explained. ¡°In the end, they came to the conclusion that she was pretty much useless to them and decided not to keep her around.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ So what happened to her?¡± the orc asked, before noticing Stacey standing in the back, staring at him with a scared expression. ¡°Judging by the fact that she¡¯s here, I¡¯m going to guess that we got ourselves a new member, huh?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much. It seems like Erin wasn¡¯t able to leave her on her own and decided to pick her up and take her along,¡± Zeldana said before shooting a glare towards the redhead. ¡°Without consulting any of US, by the way!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I get that I should have asked you guys first, but what was I supposed to do!?¡± Erin argued. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just leave her be! Or do you think that she would be able to survive by herself!?¡±

    ¡°I have a better question! Why do you think any of us should care!?¡± the elf asked angrily. ¡°I mean, she hasn¡¯t exactly given us a good first impression, has she!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! So she pushed you away! Is that really such a big deal!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure most of us would do that for a good reason!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but the thing about us is that we know her well enough to do so,¡± Ryle pointed put. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have that excuse, so why would she do that to someone trying to help her? Besides, do you really expect us to have sympathy towards someone who calls us freaks?¡±

    ¡°Look, I get that this hasn¡¯t exactly gone well, but-¡± Erin began to say, but was cut off.

    ¡°Come to think of it, why are you so insistent on keeping her around?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I get that you like helping people and all, but you¡¯re going way over the board to help her out. Why is that? Was her sob story so touching that you just cannot bring yourself to leave her behind? It¡¯s almost like she¡¯s your friend or something for you to go so far for her sake!¡±

    The redhead struggled to respond, as the kobold had correctly pointed out her connection with Stacey. Even though he still didn¡¯t know just how close he had gotten to the truth, it shook Erin to the core. This was due to the fact that if she let anything slip up, her friends could figure out her real identity and who she was to the Five Overlords. That was something she couldn¡¯t risk.

    ¡°I¡­ I just don¡¯t want her to lose her life pointlessly, okay?¡± Erin said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you guys can tell that she won¡¯t survive even a day on her own. I just want to help her, because¡­ I can somewhat relate to her plight and what she¡¯s been through. Just give her a chance. I¡¯ll make sure to carry out the responsibility for her, no matter what happens. Just do this for me, guys. Please?¡±

    The others looked at each other skeptically, not sure how to take this new development. They were torn between their dislike towards Stacey and their loyalty towards Erin. All of them wanted to help the redhead out, but this new addition to the team wasn¡¯t exactly easy to warm up to. Yet they could see the genuine desperation the redhead felt.

    ¡°Well, it can¡¯t hurt to give her a chance,¡± Durge finally said with a shrug, breaking the awkward silence. ¡°I mean, when you think about it, quite a few of us joined this group on even worse terms than her. Take me for example. I basically started out as your enemy, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but not only did you end up helping us, you were ready to put your own life at risk to save Arnie,¡± Lexton pointed out. ¡°Besides, you practically sacrificed yourself when we fought that dragon. I think you were far better than the open hostility she has shown towards us.¡±

    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that even bad encounters can turn around, okay? We can¡¯t make a definite decision just yet,¡± the orc explained. ¡°Stuff like this takes time, so we just have to be patient.¡±

    Durge then walked up to Stacey and stood before her. He extended a hand for a handshake in order to have a proper greeting.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try to build things up again properly, okay?¡± the orc asked with a smile as he still held out his hand. ¡°Hello. My name is Durge. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°...Stacey,¡± came the reply as she didn¡¯t even bother taking the hand offered to her.

    ¡°...Okay, at least this is some level of progress, I guess,¡± Durge said with a sigh as he walked away. ¡°Let¡¯s take this slowly with one step at a time.¡±

    ¡°Kind of hard, when the other side doesn¡¯t even bother trying to take a single step,¡± Zeldana said.

    ¡°Guys, I get that you¡¯re not happy with her, but can we just let it be for now?¡± Erin practically begged, having grown tired from the long day behind her. ¡°She has been through a lot. We have all been through a lot. How about we just go rest for now and we try to move forward tomorrow?¡±

    The others decided to agree with differing levels of dissatisfaction with the current situation involving Stacey. However, since she had managed to get her friends to agree for now, Erin saw it as an improvement. If she talked to Stacey and got her to come around, maybe things would work out in the future?

    However, the redhead was also a bit worried. Not only because of Stacey¡¯s sheer refusal to cooperate, but because she feared that by forcing the others to agree with keeping her old friend around, she might have stepped over some sort of a boundary. Erin feared that by doing so, she might start to sow discontent and grudges within the group, which could turn into much bigger issues in the future. Not only that, but there was always the risk of her backstory being revealed.

    Still, the redhead was happy that she had managed to keep Stacey safe for now. With enough time and effort, she was certain that things could be smoothed out between her old friend and new friends. She just hoped that she wasn¡¯t wrong.

    <hr>

    That night, when Erin was asleep, she didn¡¯t see any calming dreams or terrifying nightmares. What she got instead was a meeting with someone she hadn¡¯t seen for some time.

    The redhead found herself standing in the middle of darkness with nothing seemingly around her. As she walked around, her steps made a sound that came from a hard concrete floor, meaning that she was in a room of some kind.

    Suddenly, a light was lit up in the distance, prompting Erin to move towards it. Once she arrived there, she found a table with two chairs. With nothing else to do, the redhead decided to take a seat at the table. She was kind of reminded of the interrogation Stacey had gone through and wondered if someone was going to appear and start asking her some questions.

    This would soon turn out to be the case.

    ¡°Well, good to see you once again. Although, I wish it was on better terms than this,¡± a familiar voice called out, causing Erin to look up. ¡°I was kind of worried how things would turn out with that whole rescue operation you just did. Good to see that I didn¡¯t need to worry about that itself, but I fear you might have done something that will cause problems for you in the near future.¡±

    As the redhead had expected, the shadowy figure that kept appearing around her from time to time was right before her once again. Emerging from the darkness like he had been a part of some solid mass of shadows, the figure walked up to the table and took a seat on the opposite side from her.

    ¡°Nice to see you, too,¡± Erin said sarcastically. ¡°It seems that I still haven¡¯t exactly improved the way you see me, although I doubt that will ever get better¡­¡±

    ¡°If you want to make me think better of you, there¡¯s an easy way to do that,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Just start making smart decisions and I won¡¯t have any complaints! Problem solved.¡±

    ¡°Really? And just how can I do that?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°It seems to me that no matter what I do, you always have something to complain about. I¡¯m sure that even when I defeat the Five Overlords, I¡¯ll have to listen to a whole list of complaints.¡±

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you certain of yourself!¡± the shadowy figure said with a laugh. ¡°You didn¡¯t say ¡°if¡± when you mentioned beating the Overlords! Mind telling me where is this confidence coming from!?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s not that I¡¯m confident. I just feel like I have to do it and that I don¡¯t have the choice to fail,¡± Erin explained with a solemn look on her face. ¡°There¡¯s just too much at stake.¡±

    ¡°Good to see that you¡¯re taking this seriously, even if I¡¯d hope that it came with some level of realism. But progress is progress,¡± the shadowy figure said with a shrug. ¡°Sill, I wish you made some better choices as you went along with this mission of yours.¡±

    ¡°And just what decision has gotten you upset with me this time!?¡± the redhead asked angrily. ¡°Is it the fact that I¡¯ve begun working with Rayleen!? Do you really think I had a choice in that matter!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you start raising your voice with me! I¡¯m not going to tolerate that!¡± the shadowy figure said in a stern tone. ¡°As for you working with Rayleen, I actually have no issues with that. In fact, I¡¯d say that she is one of the better options for you to partner up with. I have had my issues with her, but she is far better than many others.¡±

    ¡°Alright, so the problem isn¡¯t that I¡¯m working with her,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°In that case, what is the problem? I can¡¯t think of anything else that I¡¯ve done lately that would get on your bad side.¡±

    ¡°Oh, but there is!¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°It¡¯s related to the company that you keep around you!¡±

    ¡°My¡­ company?¡± the redhead asked with a surprised look on her face. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with them? I¡¯ve been gathering allies for quite some time now and you¡¯ve never had any issues with any of them! Where did this sudden change of mind come from!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I don¡¯t really have that many issues when it comes to your buddies overall. Even if you could have chosen much better companions. I mean, the first one is dumber than a sack of rocks, the kitty boy has serious anxiety issues, the kobold has a massive ego that tends to piss people off and the orc has some big time ¡°anger management problems¡± that he¡¯s dealing with,¡± the shadowy figure counted down Erin¡¯s companions and their faults on his fingers. ¡°But despite all of these issues, they have always stuck through the toughest of times with you and handled whatever it is that you¡¯ve faced. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t complained about them.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case then- Hang on a second!¡± Erin said, realizing that there was someone that the shadowy figure had failed to mention. ¡°What about Zeldana!? Are you telling me that you don¡¯t have any issues with her!?¡±

    ¡°...Please don¡¯t say things like that. It¡¯s pretty hurtful,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°As for why I didn¡¯t mention her, she actually has a pretty good record as to doing stuff like this. In other words, I knew that you could trust her and that she would have the skills to be of assistance. However, that doesn¡¯t mean she doesn¡¯t have issues, like her very crooked and disturbing personality, questionable methods and psychopathic tendencies, just to name a few.¡±

    ¡°The way you spoke about her made her sound way worse than I ever thought she was,¡± the redhead mumbled. ¡°But if you don¡¯t have any issues with my crew, why do you claim to have a problem with them? It seems like everyone I keep around me isn¡¯t a bother for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­ Do I have to spell it out for you or something?¡± the shadowy figure asked in a frustrated tone as he buried his face in his hands. ¡°Have you perhaps taken anybody into your group in the last 24 hours? Specifically someone that you¡¯ve had to rescue?¡±

    ¡°You mean¡­ You¡¯re talking about Stacey?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with having her around? She¡¯s not going to hurt anybody! Besides, if I left her on her own, she would-¡±

    ¡°Die? Yeah, I¡¯ve heard you make that argument multiple times already! Get some new material already!¡± the shadowy figure said angrily. ¡°I¡¯d also like to make a counterargument to that point! So what!? Why should anybody care about that!? If she can¡¯t survive on her own, I¡¯d say it¡¯s her own fault at that point!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I cannot believe I¡¯m hearing this from you!¡± the redhead said, shocked over what she was hearing. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to actually save this world from the Five Overlords!? How can you just tell me to leave someone to die!? Especially when that person is one of the many victims of the Overlords themselves!?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t help everyone. That¡¯s the sad reality. This is true in this case, because you are actually going to have to drag her around with you on your travels. If you did that to everyone that needed help, do you have any idea how large your group would be?¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Why not ask everyone that lives in the Graven Hills slums to join you while you¡¯re at it? Or is it just that you¡¯re playing favorites with her, because she is an old friend of yours?¡±

    The last question had caught Erin by complete surprise. She had always made sure to not let her connection with Stacey slip up. How did he know about it?

    ¡°What are you-? How did you-?¡± the redhead began to ask, but was quickly cut off.

    ¡°I¡¯ve known about you and Stacey even before you came to this world. In fact, I know more about you than you could ever imagine, Erin,¡± the shadowy figure said with a sigh. ¡°So don¡¯t bother denying or trying to hide anything from me. It will only be a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, so you know about me and Stacey. Fine, but so what?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I still fail to see how her being part of my group is going to be a problem in any possible manner.¡±

    ¡°If you can¡¯t see the issues she is going to bring upon you and your little gang of misfits, I really have to question your intelligence even more than before,¡± the shadowy figure said in a manner that told the redhead that he was rolling his invisible eyes. ¡°For starters, have you seen how well she¡¯s getting along with your crew? How she is pretty much openly hostile towards them? She already put her hands on one of them. Do you really think it¡¯s going to be the last time she does that?¡±

    ¡°What? That time she pushed Zeldana? That wasn¡¯t such a big deal!¡± Erin argued. ¡°And I get that she isn¡¯t exactly warming up to the others, but I¡¯m sure that with enough time that problem can be solved. That¡¯s all we need. Time to heal and grow.¡±

    ¡°Do you actually believe all that bullshit you¡¯re spouting or are you trying to just fool yourself? Want to make a bet that this will go south very soon?¡± the shadowy figure asked. ¡°But even her inability to get along with your buddies isn¡¯t the biggest issue.¡±

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°The main issue is that she refuses to change from the way she was back in your world,¡± the shadowy figure explained. ¡°Because of that, she refuses to see the people of this world the way she should and only thinks of them as ¡°freaks¡± or ¡°monsters.¡± She refuses to give anybody in this world any value as living beings and that will be the ultimate downfall with her.¡±

    ¡°What? You have got to be exaggerating!¡± Erin said. ¡°I get that she has been saying some things that she shouldn¡¯t be saying, but it¡¯s a big leap to think that she downright dehumanizes everyone around her! It¡¯s only because of how she was treated under Golorath that she is like this! Again, with enough time-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t bother telling me that crap. I¡¯m not interested in hearing it and I can see you¡¯re not interested in hearing me out either,¡± the shadowy figure said as he stood up from the table and began to walk away back into the darkness. ¡°Just remember that when she does something unforgivable that I did warn you.¡±

    As the figure melded into the darkness and disappeared from view, Erin tried her best to not think too deeply about his warning. She tried to play it off as needless paranoia or something similar.

    However, deep down the redhead had a feeling that he was right.

 152. Refusing to Cooperate

    Chapter 152

    Refusing to Cooperate

    The next morning, Erin told the others that they would have to pack up their stuff and get out, as Rayleen¡¯s people would be using the hideout. She decided to leave out the part about Ao holding up a poker night, as there was no need to aggravate the others further. Even without anyone saying anything, she could feel a tense atmosphere hanging in the air over all of them. To make it worse, she fully knew the source of the issue and was directly responsible for it. And that issue was none other than Stacey.

    The redhead watched as her friends went about their day, chatting among each other and doing their morning routines. While everything seemed to be just fine on the surface, she could tell that things were different deeper inside. Everybody was doing their best to avoid the new addition to the group, moving around her and not saying even a word to her. None of them even really looked at Stacey, only giving her short glances. Erin could also just imagine the conversations some of the others were having about her old friend. Even without hearing them, she knew that the talks weren¡¯t nice.

    Erin had hoped that at least some of her members would have tried to socialize with Stacey, like Durge had tried last night. Unfortunately, it seemed like that was not going to happen anytime soon, as her behavior so far had poisoned her image in their eyes. To make it worse, the redhead wasn¡¯t sure if her old friend was even willing to try and improve things, as she herself kept away from the others.

    Not being able to stand the uncomfortable air hanging around everybody, Erin decided to go outside for some fresh air. Even if the air was anything but fresh in the slums of Graven Hills, she still found it far more tolerable than the passive aggressive hostility that was going on inside.

    ¡°Goddammit¡­ You try to do the right thing and this is how it all ends up,¡± the redhead muttered to herself as she took in some deep breaths to calm herself. ¡°What did I do wrong here?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that I actually have to tell you what you did wrong. I¡¯m pretty sure that has been the trending topic since yesterday!¡± Zeldana¡¯s voice called out from behind. ¡°Do you perhaps need me to draw you a map on how you screwed up? It won¡¯t take long!¡±

    ¡°Zel, can you not do this right now? It¡¯s too early,¡± Erin said with a sigh as she rubbed her temples, already feeling a headache coming. ¡°You¡¯ve made it very clear that you don¡¯t like Stacey, so do you have to keep bringing it up?¡±

    ¡°Well, since what I¡¯m saying doesn¡¯t seem to get through to you, I might as well! Maybe at some point, you¡¯ll get a hint!¡± the elf argued. ¡°But if you¡¯re not going to at least take our issues into consideration, you at least owe us a goddamn explanation! Is that too much to ask!?¡±

    ¡°I already explained it, didn¡¯t I!?¡± the redhead said. ¡°If I just leave her, she will-!¡±

    ¡°Enough of that pathetic excuse! You know goddamn well that it¡¯s not good enough!¡± Zeldana shouted as she grabbed Erin by the front of her shirt and glared at her. ¡°Tell me why she is so goddamn important! With the way you¡¯re acting, it¡¯s almost like you know her!¡±

    Upon having the truth be blurted out like that caused the redhead to freeze and look away. For most people this wouldn¡¯t have been much, but for the elf it was an indication that she had just hit the nail on the head.

    ¡°...You have got to be kidding me,¡± Zeldana mumbled with wide eyed. ¡°Alright. You need to explain this. NOW.¡±

    Erin was about to start explaining, when loud noises from inside caught their attention. The two of them immediately rushed inside to see what looked like a very one-sided fight breaking out.

    Stacey was backed up against the wall, her face a mixture of fear and anger as she glared at Ryle, who was roaring at her like an enraged maniac. The only reason the blonde hadn¡¯t been able to tear apart Stacey was because she was being held back by Durge, who was having a hard time to do so. Next to them, Arkay was kneeling on the floor, holding his arm in pain, while Lexton was trying to help ease the pain the cat boy was in.

    ¡°YOU STUPID ARROGANT BITCH! HOW DARE YOU PULL SHIT LIKE THAT!?¡± Ryle screamed in fury as she tried to get her hands on Stacey. ¡°YOU¡¯LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU JUST DID! I¡¯LL TEAR YOUR ASS APART LIMB BY LIMB!¡±

    ¡°STAY AWAY FROM ME! I DON¡¯T WANT ANY OF YOU NEAR ME!¡± Stacey screamed in a mix of anger and fear.

    ¡°Cool it, Ryle! Killing her is not going to do us any good!¡± Durge said as he struggled to keep the blonde in check. ¡°I get why you¡¯re angry, but acting up on it like this is not going to help!¡±

    ¡°I DON¡¯T FREAKING CARE! YOU SAW WHAT SHE DID!¡± Ryle screamed at the orc. ¡°HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO REMAIN CALM AFTER THAT!?¡±

    Hoping to prevent a murder from being committed, Erin quickly rushed over to the others, followed closely behind by Zeldana. The redhead went to see Arkay first, as he seemed to be injured.

    ¡°Arnie, are you okay!?¡± Erin asked as she tried to look over the cat boy¡¯s injuries, finding out that he not only had a nasty bruise on his face, but his left arm seemed to be burned. ¡°What happened over here!?¡±

    ¡°Your new addition to the group is what happened!¡± Lexton said angrily, as he held a cold towel against Arkay¡¯s burnt arm. ¡°Thanks to her, Arnie got hurt!¡±

    ¡°...What?¡± the redhead asked as her face turned pale. ¡°What did she do?¡±

    ¡°W-We made soup for breakfast¡­ a-and I tried to bring some to her,¡± Arkay explained as he was trying to do his best to lessen the pain. ¡°W-When I got to her, she suddenly smacked me across the face. The bowl of soup I had fell on the floor and managed to burn my arm.¡±

    ¡°And as soon as that happened, our resident moron went ballistic and tried to strangle little miss too good for us!¡± Lexton said, finishing the story. ¡°Not that I can blame her! If I wasn¡¯t busy here, I would be wrapping my hands around her neck at this moment!¡±

    ¡°Okay, I get what happened. Can you keep helping Arnie?¡± Erin asked, before looking over to Zeldana. ¡°Can you help them as well?¡±

    ¡°Sure, but what are you going to do about them?¡± the elf asked, pointing over to Ryle and Stacey. ¡°The way I see it, you should just let her tear the bitch apart. The world would surely be a better place after that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve taken note of your opinion! Thank you very much!¡± the redhead said in a frustrated tone. ¡°Just¡­ Just help treat Arnie¡¯s injuries, okay? I¡¯ll do something about this mess.¡±

    Erin walked up to Ryle and Durge. While the blonde still had her eyes set on the one who had angered her, the orc took note of the redhead approaching them.

    ¡°Durge, can you try to calm her down?¡± Erin asked the orc. ¡°I¡¯ll try to see if I can do something about Stacey.¡±

    ¡°You say that like it¡¯s easy,¡± Durge replied sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do. But if I may make a suggestion, you should get her out of here for a moment. As long as Ryle has her eyes on her, I doubt she¡¯s going to calm down anytime soon.¡±

    ¡°You got it. Thanks,¡± the redhead said before walking over to Stacey. She glared at her old friend with absolute fury over what she had done. ¡°You. Outside. Now!¡±

    ¡°Why should-¡±

    Stacey¡¯s question was cut off, as Erin grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. She gave Stacey such a hateful glare that her old friend lost all will to resist.

    ¡°I said NOW!¡± the redhead commanded through gritted teeth.

    Stacey simply nodded, before being dragged outside. Once there, Erin threw her to the ground, having grown tired of her antics and not caring about hurting her old friend at the moment.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you!?¡± Stacey asked angrily as she got up. ¡°Why are you acting like this!?¡±

    ¡°Those should be my questions!¡± Erin shouted back. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you!? Are you trying to get yourself killed or something!? Why do you insist on pissing off everybody around you!?¡±

    ¡°All I wanted was for those freaks to not get near me! I don¡¯t want any of them touching me!¡± Stacey ranted. ¡°How is it so hard for them to understand that I don¡¯t want them around me!?¡±

    ¡°Are you even listening to yourself!? You do know that they helped save your life!?¡± the redhead shot back. ¡°It was bad enough that you try to keep to yourself and treat them like crap with all of your passive aggressive bullshit, but now you¡¯ve actually hurt one of them! And for what!? For bringing you food and trying to be friendly!? How is that such a crime in your eyes!?¡±

    ¡°I never asked that thing for anything, did I!? I never asked for his food and I certainly didn¡¯t ask to be his friend!¡± Stacey kept arguing. ¡°Was it that hard for that freak to not come closer to me!?¡±

    Hearing her old friend badmouth Arkay in such a way finally caused Erin to snap. She was going to put Stacey in her place right now, no matter what it took.

    Stomping over to Stacey, the redhead grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face to the ground. Even if the ground was soft mud, it still hurt quite a bit to get forced to the ground like that. It did have the effect Erin desired, as it caused Stacey to shut up and look at the redhead in fear.

    ¡°Now listen here. And make sure you listen carefully,¡± Erin said in a voice that was dripping with barely contained rage. ¡°You¡¯ve just made the biggest mistake of your life. The boy you just hurt is someone that a lot of us have been saved by and we care about him quite a bit. The fact that you decided to not just throw away his kindness, but you even actually hurt him has angered everyone around you right now. This obviously includes me, too. If you want to keep yourself alive, I suggest that you get on your knees and apologize to him. Otherwise, you will-¡±

    ¡°I will what? Get killed by you?¡± Stacey asked with a sneer on her face. ¡°Go ahead and do it. What have I got to lose?¡±

    ¡°You¡­ What?¡± the redhead asked, having been taken by surprise. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I told you to get it over with and kill me,¡± Stacey said. ¡°That¡¯s what you want, isn¡¯t it? So why don¡¯t you just do it? It seems to be the way that this hell operates anyways! So just do it! Wouldn¡¯t be much of a loss for me either!¡±

    ¡°Are you¡­ Are you actually being serious right now!?¡± Erin asked, still in a bit of a shock. ¡°After finally getting rescued from the clutches of your abuser, you¡¯re suddenly telling me that you want to die!? Have you finally lost your mind!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I am thinking very clearly here!¡± Stacey replied as she kept glaring at the redhead. ¡°You said it yourself, didn¡¯t you!? We are stuck in this world and have no way of getting back! Do you actually expect me to live here!? Surrounded by all these freaks and monsters!? And having to deal with Gabe and his thugs!? No thanks! The way I see it, you¡¯ll just save me from a lot of pain and suffering, if you just end my life here! So do it!¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You have no idea what you¡¯re saying!¡± Erin said, as her shock was now being replaced by anger. ¡°Do you really think that living in this world is that horrible!? Then what about me!? I¡¯ve been able to do just fine! The only difference is that unlike you, I put in some effort!¡±

    ¡°Is that really it? Or could it be just that Gabe and those other creeps changed you back then?¡± Stacey asked in an accusing tone. ¡°Even I know that this is similar to those games those losers liked to play back home. I think you simply learned from them how to survive here and have changed into one of them!¡±

    ¡°I am NOTHING like them! And you know it!¡± the redhead said angrily.

    ¡°Not how I see it. After our prank was over and one with, I could tell that you weren¡¯t the same person we had play our little trick to them. The way you looked like you were ashamed of yourself and regretted what you had done made me want to vomit!¡± Stacey explained. ¡°The only reason I didn¡¯t bring it up was because I still considered you our friend. I hoped that with time, you would forget about the losers and hang out with the people you were supposed to be with! Now I regret never saying anything, as you¡¯re just like them!¡±

    ¡°How!? Explain that!¡± Erin demanded. ¡°Back then I should have been more like them, so none of this would have happened¡­ But now those people are gone! Replaced by these monsters that we created!¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°And you¡¯re just like them. Willing to coldly kill anyone that either gets in your way or upsets you,¡± Stacey said with a smirk, causing the redhead to go wide-eyed. ¡°Don¡¯t try to deny it. Judging by how you look, you¡¯ve had to have killed numerous people already. Tell me something. Were they all in self-defense or were there some that could have been avoided? Or better yet, should have been avoided?¡±

    ¡°Y-You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Erin said as she stepped away from her old friend. ¡°I had no choice! I had to-!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t even start that. From what I can tell, you know this world a lot better than I do. Are you honestly trying to convince me that you couldn¡¯t find a way to live a quiet life here?¡± Stacey asked as she got up from the ground. ¡°Since you understand this world so well, couldn¡¯t you have just found a way to stay hidden and not get involved in any of this? Seems to me like you chose this path because you wanted to.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not how it is! I didn¡¯t want to become a killer!¡± the redhead yelled. ¡°I had to do that in order to survive and to stop Gabe and the others!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that I don¡¯t know the full story. There might have been something that forced you to start out like this, but did you ever even consider quitting?¡± Stacey asked. ¡°If you were ask me, I think you¡¯re doing this because you want to kill Gabe and his friends. Just so you can live a better life without having to worry about your past.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s like you said, we were the ones who drove Gabe, Devin and all the others here. That¡¯s why you¡¯re doing your best to avoid letting your freakish friends know who you are, isn¡¯t it?¡± Stacey asked with a smirk. ¡°You don¡¯t want them to know just who was behind them going crazy, do you? I wonder how they would react, if they ever found out about it.¡±

    ¡°...So what exactly do you want?¡± the redhead asked in a low voice as she glared at her old, now former, friend. ¡°You do realize that the moment you let that unfortunate truth slip, it won¡¯t be just me who has to face their wrath. It will be you as well.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m completely aware of that. I¡¯m just pointing out that I have far less reasons to keep such a secret than you do,¡± Stacey explained with a smile. ¡°After all, you pointed it out yourself. I can¡¯t survive here on my own. That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to have to ask for your assistance.¡±

    ¡°So in the end, all you want is a glorified babysitter to look after you,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°You know you could have simply asked for my help. I wasn¡¯t going to abandon you.¡±

    ¡°Of course you wouldn¡¯t! That much is obvious even to me! God, are you stupid or something!?¡± Stacey said in a frustrated tone. ¡°What I want is for my life to be at least a bit more comfortable. From now on, you will not only keep me safe, but also keep those freaks of yours away from me. I don¡¯t want to speak to them. I don¡¯t want to have them near me. You get the idea. Keep it like that and your secret is safe with me. Sounds like a good enough deal to me.¡±

    ¡°You do know that this can¡¯t go on forever, right?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°There is no way that I¡¯ll be able to keep on doing this for you for a long time.¡±

    ¡°True. But so what? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got anything else I can do,¡± Stacey said with a shrug. ¡°Seeing as I¡¯m stuck here, I might as well try to enjoy myself to the fullest. And you better make sure that I do so, unless you want to lose what little you have left.¡±

    Erin didn¡¯t respond, as she simply stared at the ground in silence. Her mind was in a storm of emotions and thoughts that she was trying to sort out. Some of them wanted her to simply kill Stacey right then and there, while others told her to simply bear with it. The redhead was torn between wanting to be the better person and helping Stacey, and hoping to put an end to her former friend¡¯s life to make things easier for herself.

    ¡°So? What do you say to my suggestion?¡± Stacey asked in a smug tone. ¡°Do we perhaps have a deal or not?¡±

    In the end, Erin chose the option that she hoped would lead to less regrets.

    ¡°...Fine. You have a deal,¡± the redhead said in a low tone. ¡°However, I don¡¯t want you to intentionally antagonize my friends, okay? Don¡¯t insult them or hurt them. If you do that, I might just say to hell with our deal and let them tear you apart. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh, how scary¡­ Relax. I don¡¯t intend to waste my breath on those creeps at all. You just need to make sure that they don¡¯t get close to me. That¡¯s all,¡± Stacey said as she walked past Erin towards the hideout. ¡°Now, how about we go inside already? Even if I don¡¯t like being around those things you call your friends, the air inside there at least won¡¯t smell as bad as it does here.¡±

    ¡°Just one more question,¡± the redhead said as she grabbed her former friend¡¯s arm and stopped her. ¡°Why do you hate them so much? They never did anything bad to you. That was done by Gabe and his people.¡±

    ¡°Why should I like them? You can tell that they¡¯re not human,¡± Stacey replied. ¡°All they do is remind me of everything I¡¯ve lost by being thrown into this world and the people who tormented me every single day since. Why the hell should I even bother trying to like them?¡±

    Erin gritted her teeth out of anger towards Stacey¡¯s stubborn nature. What her former friend was doing was associate everybody in this world with Gabe and the torment she had gone through. This was something they had done back in the day as well. During their days in high school, anybody that was caught showing interest in similar hobbies as Devin and his group were immediately labeled as freaks that were to be dehumanized and made into outcasts. It was a sickening game that they had enjoyed playing back then and it seemed like Stacey was still playing it to some extent.

    The shadowy figure¡¯s warning came to Erin¡¯s mind and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it had been a bad idea to bring Stacey along after all.

    Despite her worries, the redhead followed behind her former friend into the hideout, where the others were waiting for them. The others were gathered around Arkay, who now had bandages covering the part of his arm that had been burned. Ryle had an arm around his shoulders in an attempt to offer comfort for the cat boy. Lexton, Durge and Zeldana were also close to the other two, talking among each other. It was obvious to Erin just what the three were talking about.

    ¡°Hey, they¡¯re back,¡± Durge pointed out, noticing the return of Erin and Stacey.

    ¡°About time,¡± Lexton said as he glared at Stacey. ¡°I hope that Erin was smart enough to do something about the issue at hand.¡±

    ¡°If she isn¡¯t, I will!¡± Ryle said with a growl, staring daggers at the newcomer. ¡°And I won¡¯t be kind about my methods either!¡±

    ¡°If you need help holding her down, I can do that,¡± Zeldana said.

    Hearing the comments of her friends and seeing the looks they were giving her and Stacey made Erin nervous. She knew what she had to do and knew that they wouldn¡¯t like it, yet she had no choice. Her back was against the wall.

    ¡°Guys, I talked to Stacey about what she did and made it clear that what she did wasn¡¯t okay,¡± Erin said, doing her best to keep her voice calm and steady in the face of the storm that was about to break out. ¡°I made sure that she understood that such actions wouldn¡¯t be forgiven in the future and that there would be consequences for them. For now, I suggest that we do our best to keep our distance from her, so that further incidents won¡¯t occur.¡±

    Silence fell over them, as the others stared at Erin in shock and disbelief. The redhead couldn¡¯t really blame them, as she had a hard time believing her own words either. The way she saw it, she was essentially betraying the comrades that had protected her during times when her life had been at risk. And for what? A person that used to be her friend, who was now blackmailing her in order to do whatever she wanted?

    It didn¡¯t sit well with Erin. And it certainly wouldn¡¯t sit well with the others.

    ¡°ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?¡± Ryle shouted furiously. ¡°You mean after the stunt she just pulled she just gets a slap on the wrist!? Hell, she isn¡¯t even getting that! She just got to hurt Arnie without having to pay for it in any way!¡±

    ¡°I completely agree with Ryle, Erin! This is completely ridiculous!¡± Lexton said, joining the blonde¡¯s side. ¡°After what she did, I would have expected you of all people to know better than to simply let her walk away without any repercussions! Have you lost your mind!?¡±

    ¡°Look, I understand that you guys are disappointed and upset, but what else am I supposed to do!?¡± Erin tried to desperately argue. ¡°I can¡¯t really punish her in a physical manner or anything like that! We¡¯re not like the goons employed by the Overlords!¡±

    ¡°The least you could do is kick her out!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°Why the hell are we dragging what is essentially a tumor in our group anyways!? What is it that she contributes to our cause that makes it necessary to keep her around!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t fully explain it,¡± the redhead said, growing desperate in her plight for a reasonable excuse. ¡°I just need you to trust me on this! Honest!¡±

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE TELLING ME TO TRUST YOU AFTER THIS!?¡± Ryle practically roared in her fury, as she pointed at Arkay¡¯s injured arm. ¡°HOW THE HELL CAN I TRUST YOU, WHEN YOU DON¡¯T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ARNIE!? IS THAT GOING TO APPLY TO THE REST OF US, TOO!?¡±

    ¡°My thoughts exactly!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°I thought that you were a fair and honest person, but you¡¯re clearly showing favoritism here!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not favoritism! I¡¯m doing all I can here!¡± Erin tried to argue. ¡°Like I said earlier, I talked this through with Stacey and made sure that this was not to happen ever again!¡±

    ¡°That sort of elementary school bullshit doesn¡¯t work and you know it!¡± Zeldana said. ¡°All you¡¯re telling her is that she can get away with whatever she might do, as there are no real consequences from her actions! I knew you had your stupid side, but this is even beyond my imagination!¡±

    As the shouting increased and tensions were getting worse, Durge decided to step between the two sides and held up his hands. Seeing the orc do this caused both sides to calm down and silence to fall over.

    ¡°Alright, listen here. This kind of arguing isn¡¯t going to get us anywhere,¡± Durge said calmly. ¡°If we just keep yelling and getting angrier, all that will accomplish is that we make ourselves divided and that will cause bigger issues in the future. We need to remain calm and rational for now, okay?¡±

    ¡°How can you expect us to be calm after what just happened!?¡± Ryle asked, still angry. ¡°Are you just telling us to forget about what she did and let it be!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m obviously not saying that! You should know me better by now!¡± the orc replied. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that I trust Erin. She has got to have some sort of a reason for keeping Stacey around. Now, I do have my doubts about her, but I¡¯m sure that it can all be explained in the end.¡±

    Durge then turned his attention towards Erin. He had a gentle smile on his face as he addressed the redhead.

    ¡°Come on, Erin. You can tell us the truth about her, right?¡± the orc asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a reason for keeping her around, so what is it?¡±

    In all honesty, the redhead wanted to tell the truth. She wanted to tell everything about herself and Stacey, and how they were connected to the Five Overlords. It was at the tip of her tongue.

    However, just as she was about to break down and admit everything, she remembered what happened with the people who did find out about her past. How Eba and Ryan had betrayed her soon after they found out the truth about her. It wasn¡¯t something she was willing to risk happening again.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin apologized as she fought against the tears threatening to fall from her eye. ¡°I just¡­ I just can¡¯t tell that. To anyone.¡±

    ¡°Not even us?¡± Durge asked with a slight frown.

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± the redhead simply apologized in response.

    ¡°...Well, it can¡¯t be helped the, I suppose,¡± the orc said with a sigh. ¡°I have to say, though, I thought you could trust us a bit more than this.¡±

    Erin looked up to see Durge look at her not with contempt or anger, but with an emotion that hurt her even more. The expression on the orc¡¯s face was disappointment. It was that look that told her that she had now broken the trust between herself and him.

    To make it worse, Durge wasn¡¯t the only one that she had done this with. Everybody else in her group was now staring at her with such looks that told her she had betrayed their trust. Zeldana had a look that was mixture of disappointment and contempt, obviously unhappy with how she had handled the situation. Lexton was similar, except far more frustrated. Arkay had a look on his face that was a mixture of fear and betrayal, which just broke the redhead¡¯s heart. Yet the worst had to be Ryle, as she was so far Erin¡¯s first and oldest friend in the group. The blonde¡¯s look of absolute fury was something that the redhead had hoped to never see in her life.

    As if to rub salt in her wounds, Erin noticed Stacey was smirking at her, clearly enjoying her plight. The redhead had to grit her teeth in order to prevent herself from losing her calm at that moment.

    ¡°...Hey, Arnie, how is your injury?¡± Erin asked, hoping that by changing the subject she might be able to rebuild things between herself and the others. ¡°The burn on your arm looked pretty nasty. Can I take a look at it, so I can-?¡±

    The redhead stopped her question upon seeing Arkay turn away from her, keeping his injured arm out of her line of sight and not looking her in the eye. Ryle still had a protective arm around the cat boy, as she began to lead him away from Erin, but not before giving her one last hateful glare.

    ¡°Well, those are some friends you¡¯ve got there,¡± Stacey said sarcastically. ¡°I can see why you like them so much.¡±

    It took all of Erin¡¯s willpower to not just simply beat her former friend within an inch of her life right then and there.

    Later that day, Erin and the others had managed to pack up their belongings and left the hideout, like Ao had requested. They soon got back to where they had hidden their van and were happy to see that nothing had come to the cave during their absence.

    By the time they had packed up everything in order to continue their journey, it was already late, so it was decided that they would sleep in the cave for the night. They would begin traveling early in the morning once again.

    As everybody was setting up their spots to sleep, Erin could tell that there was still tension in the air. Even if everyone had calmed down with time, the others had not forgotten what had happened earlier that day and were still very upset. The others kept their conversations with the redhead to a bare minimum, only speaking to her when it was necessary. In just one day, Erin had become the outcast within her own group that had considered her their leader.

    Hoping to not antagonize the others any further, the redhead decided to keep her distance from them, only keeping Stacey nearby in order to avoid further conflicts in the group. Yet while this might have helped in keeping things peaceful, Erin couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of loneliness in her heart. Until today, the others had become the greatest friends she had ever had, to the point they were practically family. Now she felt like she was a stranger to them at best.

    The redhead was about to quietly cry herself to sleep, when someone poked her cheek with their finger. She opened her eye to see Zeldana stare down at her with a blank expression on her face.

    ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re not too busy weeping like a little baby, mind joining me for a moment?¡± the elf whispered. ¡°I felt like we should continue our earlier conversation that got interrupted.¡±

    Erin looked around, seeing that everyone, including Stacey, were already asleep. Turning towards Zeldana, she gave her a slight nod as a response before getting up and following her away from the others.

    ¡°Okay, so how about we get back to where we left off?¡± Zeldana suggested, once they were far enough from everybody else. ¡°Last time we talked, I believe you let it slip that you actually knew this Stacey person, right? So mind telling me just how do you know her? Is she just some passing acquaintance or is there a deeper relationship between the two of you?¡±

    ¡°...She used to be a friend of mine. Back in the world I came from,¡± Erin replied. ¡°She and I used to be part of the same friend group in school.¡±

    ¡°I suspected as much. No wonder you wanted to do so much for her, despite how much of a pain in the ass she is,¡± the elf said. ¡°Now, on to the next question. What is her connection to Golorath? I feel like there lies the reason as to why he disliked her so much. I mean, you don¡¯t just imprison someone to be tormented for days out of some small issues. Something tells me that she did something even bigger to him that earned her his ire.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ The thing is that we were the ones who bullied him and his friends, as you¡¯re already aware,¡± the redhead began to explain. ¡°Out of all of us, Stacey was the one who really did the most towards Gabe. She was even the one who gave him the nickname ¡°Porky Gabe¡± that was soon used by everyone in our school. I think it¡¯s because of that why he decided to torment her so much.¡±

    ¡°That certainly checks out. But now we need to figure out our current situation with her,¡± Zeldana said as she nodded to herself thoughtfully. ¡°In short, just what is her deal?¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean by her deal?¡± Erin asked, completely confused by the question. ¡°Could you at least try to elaborate a bit?¡±

    ¡°Her deal. Her attitude! Her shitty behavior towards all of us!¡± the elf said. ¡°What is up with how she¡¯s acting!? Last I checked, this is literally the first time any of us, outside of you, have met her! And despite that, she¡¯s acting like we are some sort of diseased creatures that she doesn¡¯t want to even get near! Like she did with Arkay earlier today! Mind explaining where this weird despise towards us comes from!?¡±

    ¡°W-Well, isn¡¯t it obvious where that comes from!?¡± the redhead asked in return. ¡°I mean, this isn¡¯t the world she¡¯s used to living in and the moment she gets here, she is taken prisoner by one of the tyrannical rulers, who torments her every day! With her only experiences of people from this world being like that, is it any wonder that she is fearful towards others!? Especially ones who aren¡¯t human!?¡±

    Upon hearing Erin¡¯s explanation, Zeldana leaned towards her, so that their faces were mere inches apart from each other. The elf looked the redhead straight into her lone eye without blinking, causing Erin to get even more nervous.

    ¡°W-What is it?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you like my explanation or something?¡±

    ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t like it. You know why? Because it was obvious bullshit,¡± Zeldana said in a calm tone that held within it a hidden threat. ¡°I could tell by how much you were stammering and looking around like a nervous wreck that you couldn¡¯t even believe what you were saying yourself. So how about we try this again and this time you actually tell me the truth?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s because she threatened me,¡± Erin said, feeling ashamed over herself. ¡°Stacey said that if I didn¡¯t simply let her be, she would tell the others the truth about me. If that happens, they will tear me apart for everything that has happened in this world!¡±

    ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about?¡± the elf asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Do you really think that will be the reaction from those guys? I feel like you¡¯re being way too paranoid about this.¡±

    ¡°How could I not fear that happening!? It has happened to me already!¡± the redhead argued with tears now falling down her face. ¡°I¡¯ve already been betrayed by people I trusted twice because I let them know about my past! What makes you think it won¡¯t happen again!?¡±

    ¡°Because those guys aren¡¯t like that. You should know them better than that already,¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°You¡¯ve already faced some of the most dangerous people and creatures this world has to offer, and they have always had your back. You¡¯ve done the same for them. Do you really think that they would betray you, after everything you¡¯ve been through? I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But still¡­ How can I tell them the truth?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to break it to them.¡±

    ¡°You use your words and speak honestly. Simple as that,¡± the elf said, before she started to walk back to where the others were sleeping. ¡°I¡¯m going back to sleep. Just remember that even if you end up losing those guys from the truth, you might end up doing that just by what you¡¯re doing right now. Also, in case you care about that Stacey bitch as your friend, think about everything she has done and ask yourself whether she¡¯s worth keeping around. That¡¯s all for now.¡±

    Once Zeldana was gone, Erin was left alone to ponder what she had just been told. A lot of what the elf had said made sense. The only risk was whether the others would take the revelation well.

    However, was it worth keeping that secret, if it caused her to lose those who were truly dear to her?

 153. Unexpected Helper

    Chapter 153

    Unexpected Helper

    The next morning, Erin¡¯s group got their van ready and continued their travels. Even though they didn¡¯t have any specific destination in mind, they had been told to find a nearby place to stay low for the time being. From what they knew, Rayleen would get in contact with them once she had a new plan for them, so what they needed was a place to hide for now.

    After consulting Lexton, who had the best idea about the nearby towns and cities, their destination was set as the town called Crashport. Like the name suggested, the two was located by the sea and had a lot of businesses that utilized this connection. The name apparently came from a history of ships crashing against the shores back in the day. The survivors of these shipwrecks then built their community in the area, since further ahead was only what seemed to be empty wastelands filled with bloodthirsty beasts. In time, it became a hub of travel through sea and a great spot for fishing and other activities that required such a connection.

    Erin¡¯s plan was to use the bustle of the town to their advantage in order to hide themselves. With all the people busily running around, they would be able to hide themselves within the crowds in order to avoid detection. Not only that, but since the town was mostly used for commercial use, there was a low presence of soldiers there, especially since it wasn¡¯t as wealthy as most would hope. Most of the residents were poor fishermen, making it a location mostly devoid of criminals, as there wasn¡¯t much for them to steal.

    However, while they might have found a place to hide, the redhead was still very much troubled by the current atmosphere hanging over her group. The others were still not on good terms with her, as they were holding a grudge over the whole thing with Stacey. The way they saw it, Erin was playing favorites with the new addition to their group, as she had specifically told them to not engage Stacey in any manner at all. While she tried to convince them that this was only in order to protect them from any further incidents, they only saw it as the redhead protecting her new favorite from them.

    Still, despite these issues, Erin hoped that she could somehow mend the relationship she had with her friends. Not only did she need them in order to survive in this world, but she also needed them to just be around her. To make her feel like she was part of something and to show her she wasn¡¯t completely alone.

    Right now, the redhead was driving the van with Stacey sitting next to her. The others were sitting at the back, all trying to pass the time in their own activities. This didn¡¯t seem to include talking, though, as there was complete silence inside the vehicle.

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re about to arrive,¡± Erin called out, seeing the town ahead of them. ¡°Get ready to get up.¡±

    There was no response from the others, as they only talked to the redhead when it was necessary. Even if they weren¡¯t throwing insults at her, the silent treatment was enough to cut deep into her heart and almost made her shed a tear.

    Almost as soon as the van came to a stop, the others got out. It seemed like they were all tired from the long drive and needed to stretch their legs a bit. They couldn¡¯t simply stay around and relax, though, as they needed to search the town for a suitable place to hide. Erin felt like she should do this job, but didn¡¯t want to go at it alone. She felt like it would be for the best to have at least one more person with her. The problem was getting someone to come with her.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to go to the town and find a place for us to stay and lay low. I could use a partner, though,¡± the redhead said, looking over the group. ¡°Anyone willing to volunteer?¡±

    The others remained silent and only stared back at her.

    ¡°...Anyone?¡± Erin asked desperately.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your new best friend?¡± Ryle asked sarcastically, pointing over to the front seat of the van where Stacey was still sitting. ¡°You seem to really like hanging out with each other.¡±

    Hearing the cold response from the blonde nearly broke the redhead, who had to turn around in order to hide how much she was hurting. She was starting to move towards the town in order to look it over alone, when Zeldana decided to speak up.

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­ This is just sad at this point,¡± the elf said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Wait up, Erin! I¡¯m coming along!¡±

    ¡°...Thanks, Zel,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°It really means a lot to me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get all mushy with me now!¡± Zeldana said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just accompanying you for a bit. It¡¯s not something to get overjoyed with!¡±

    Just as the redhead was about to go to the town, she decided to do one more quick thing. She walked up to Stacey, who turned to look at her.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Stacey asked in a bored tone.

    ¡°Look, just because I¡¯m going to be away doesn¡¯t mean you get to treat my friends like crap, got it!?¡± Erin whispered to her former friend in a threatening manner. ¡°If I find out that you¡¯ve done anything, and I do mean ANYTHING, bad to them, I will make sure that you¡¯ll regret it!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re a really scary person. I¡¯m so afraid that I¡¯m practically shaking here,¡± Stacey said in a sarcastic tone as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you really think that I¡¯m going to be scared of you? Have you forgotten that it¡¯s me who can screw YOU over big time? If you decide to actually cause me harm, I just need to tell your buddies about your past. And you wouldn¡¯t want that, would you?¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t tempt me too much. I might just see it as a worthy price to pay,¡± the redhead said as she glared at her former friend. ¡°The last couple of days have been hell to me and I¡¯m willing to pay pretty much any price to put an end to it. Wanna guess what that includes?¡±

    While Stacey managed to keep her composure, there was a small bead of nervous sweat that went down the side of her face. Even though she was doing her best to put on a tough act, she still knew that she was nowhere near strong enough to survive on her own. Her only hope for survival was to use Erin for her protection, but it seemed like the redhead was starting to reach her limit. If she wasn¡¯t careful, Stacey might find herself at the wrong end of the redhead¡¯s sword.

    The slight sing of nervousness from Stacey didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Erin, who was satisfied that her threat seemed to have shaken her former friend to some degree. If it was enough to keep her in line, then the redhead would consider it a success. The last thing she needed was for things between her and her friends to get even worse than they already were.

    With her threat to Stacey given, Erin walked over to Zeldana, so the two of them could proceed into the town and look it over.

    <hr>

    The town of Crashport was as lively as Erin had hoped, but it didn¡¯t take a deep look for one to tell that it wasn¡¯t doing well financially. The buildings were built from proper materials, which was mostly bricks and clay, but one could see signs of deterioration on them. A lot of the buildings looked like they had been in use for centuries and were starting to break down, making one question how long they would be able to survive. Only very few of them were even painted and the ones that were had their colors break apart or turn into fainter tones.

    The roads were also uneven and the pavement had cracks all over it. This once again showed the lack of proper maintaining, which was most likely from the lack of money the town had. Another thing that was plaguing the roads, even though it wasn¡¯t anywhere near as bad as in the lower parts of Graven Hills, was the large amounts of trash piling up. It seemed like there was a very minimal amount of resources devoted to cleaning up public areas. This led to the smell of rotten fish lingering in the air of the town, which made it a rather unpleasant place for travelers.

    ¡°Hey, Erin. Did I ever tell you that I hate seafood?¡± Zeldana asked as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m probably going to have a hard time staying in this place. Not only do I have to deal with this stench all the time, but I can already guess what meals are going to consist of most of the time¡­¡±

    ¡°Try to bear with it for now. I¡¯m not too fond of fish either, but we have to do what we can in order to get by,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like you¡¯ll be the only one that has to endure this. I¡¯m sure none of the others are going to be enjoying this either.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but some of them at least have built up a tolerance for this shit!¡± the elf argued. ¡°You do know that Lexton works with smelly stuff pretty much all the time because of his work, right!? And since orcs have a natural resistance to all sorts of gross stuff, I doubt Durge will be too bothered either!¡±

    The redhead was going to response to the argument, but stopped upon realizing something. They had been walking around the town for some time now, yet they hadn¡¯t seen any of the residents at all. There were no men or women walking around in order to do their daily tasks, children running around and playing or even homeless people laying on the streets. If it weren¡¯t for the lights coming out of some of the windows, you¡¯d think that the town had been abandoned.

    Erin wondered if there was something strange going on in the town that they should be aware of. Unfortunately, since there were no locals around to ask about it, it seemed like they wouldn¡¯t be finding out if that was the case.

    It was then that the redhead noticed someone leaning out of a nearby window. It was an elderly dwarf woman, who was smoking a cigarette. Almost as if she had sensed someone looking towards her, she looked down to see Erin and Zeldana staring up at her. The redhead tried her best to put on a friendly appearance by giving a smile and waving at the elderly dwarf. Despite her efforts, the woman didn¡¯t seem to appreciate the gesture at all, as she simply glared at her, before dropping her cigarette down to the ground below and closing her window.

    ¡°...Well, that was kind of rude,¡± Zeldana remarked with a frown on her face. ¡°What was up with her? It¡¯s not like we have really done anything to deserve such treatment! At least no yet...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know and that¡¯s what worries me,¡± Erin said. ¡°Have you noticed that we haven¡¯t seen anyone at all ever since we got here? If there is something strange going on, I would like to know what that is. But if that¡¯s the attitude these people have towards newcomers, I doubt we¡¯ll be getting answers anytime soon.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let her actions get to you. That¡¯s pretty normal around here, especially among the older residents,¡± a rather familiar voice called from behind the two. ¡°Same thing with the lack of people going around. That¡¯s just a daily thing around here.¡±

    Both Erin and Zeldana turned around to find someone they thought they would never see again. Julianna, one of the maids that had served at the hotel Stacey had stayed at, stood before them.

    At first the elf woman didn¡¯t recognize the two people before her, but after a couple of seconds, it clicked in her mind. She recognized the two standing before her as the new maids that had come to her workplace right before everything went to hell. She especially recognized Erin, as it was kind of hard to forget the person who suddenly knocks you out and steals your clothes.

    ¡°Julianna!?¡± Erin said in a shocked tone. ¡°Why are you here!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something I should be asking you two!¡± the elf maid asked angrily. ¡°Why the hell are you two in my hometown!? Haven¡¯t you already caused me enough trouble already!?¡±

    The redhead was struggling to explain herself and was left in a stammering state. It was only thanks to Zeldana that she managed to break out of her messy state.

    ¡°Erin, who the hell is this?¡± the elf asked bluntly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember meeting her anywhere.¡±

    ¡°...Right, you never really interacted with her back at the hotel,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°This is Julianna. She was one of the more higher-ranked maids back at the hotel we were at just a couple of days ago. You probably saw each other at some point, but since you didn¡¯t interact with one another, I guess it makes sense you wouldn¡¯t remember her.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that how it is!? I¡¯m not worth remembering even after everything you did to me!?¡± Julianna asked angrily. ¡°Well, I certainly remember YOU! How could I forget someone who knocks me out, takes my clothes and leaves me tied up in a closet!?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry about that!¡± Erin quickly apologized. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t want to do it! I was acting out of desperation and I didn¡¯t know what else to do!¡±

    ¡°Woah! What is this about undressing people and tying them up!?¡± Zeldana asked with a wide-eyed look on her face. ¡°Should I give you two some privacy? This seems very personal what you¡¯re talking about here!¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth, Zel! It wasn¡¯t like that!¡± the redhead shouted angrily at the elf, as an embarrassed blush appeared on her face. ¡°I simply took her uniform in order to disguise Stacey as one of the maids!¡±

    ¡°You even did maid cosplay!? Damn! This is getting hot!¡± the elf said with a grin as she waved her hand in front of her face to cool herself down. ¡°Forget about giving you two privacy! I want to hear every detail about this!¡±

    ¡°LIKE I SAID! IT WASN¡¯T LIKE THAT! YOU PERVERTED ASSHOLE!¡± Erin shouted with her face red from anger.

    ¡°Would the two of you mind and stop ignoring me over here!?¡± Julianna shouted, getting the attention of the two back at her. ¡°You just claimed that what you did to me was out of desperation, right!? Mind explaining yourself!? I think I deserve at least that much!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ You¡¯re correct. I should explain myself, so that you can know why I did what I did,¡± the redhead said in a saddened tone, feeling shame over her actions. ¡°Like you¡¯ve probably guessed, I needed a spare uniform for a job that I was taking part in. I failed to find one that was the right size from the spare uniforms, so I was forced to take yours. Since I didn¡¯t have the time to explain myself nor was there any guarantee that you would agree to it, I ended up choking you out so I could take your clothes.¡±

    ¡°Holy crap. Now we¡¯re even including choking?¡± Zeldana asked with a grin. ¡°Mind telling me what was your safe-?¡±

    ¡°SHUT. THE. HELL. UP!¡± Erin said in a tone that barely held back her anger. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear another goddamn comment from you in regards to this ever again! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re no fun at all,¡± the elf said unhappily.

    ¡°Ignoring your friend¡¯s perverse commentary, what did you need my clothes for exactly?¡± Julianna asked. ¡°You already had a uniform yourself, so it wasn¡¯t for your own use, right?¡±

    ¡°No it wasn¡¯t. I needed the uniform in order to disguise someone that we needed to sneak out of the hotel,¡± Erin explained. ¡°That person was none other than Golorath¡¯s lady.¡±

    It took a moment for this to really sink in for Julianna, as her eyes slowly went wide and her mouth went open. She looked at the redhead in a manner that was questioning whether she was being serious or not, only to realize that she was being completely honest.

    ¡°You¡­ You mean to tell me that YOU were the one who kidnapped Golorath¡¯s wife!?¡± the elf maid said with a shocked look on her face as she pointed at Erin. ¡°I mean¡­ I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be too surprised, seeing as everything that happened, like you choking me out in her room and disappearing right after¡­ But still, for you to just admit it!? You didn¡¯t even try to hide it!¡±

    ¡°Well, I did say that I should explain why I did what I did,¡± the redhead said with a shrug. ¡°Not only that, but I was pretty sure that you would have already figured it out by now. I didn¡¯t see any reason as to why I should try to hide it.¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but at least try to hide it a bit! Most people wouldn¡¯t just straight up admit doing something like that!¡± Julianna argued. ¡°Seriously, do you just tell everything to people who ask anything about you!?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much, yeah. She has pretty much no common sense at all,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°She does keep some stuff hidden, but it¡¯s the type of stuff she should tell others. She¡¯s honestly so naive it¡¯s almost adorable, if it wasn¡¯t so infuriating.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for that comment, Zeldana! I really needed that!¡± Erin shouted out of annoyance with her elf companion, before calming down and addressing Julianna again. ¡°I get that this must be a¡­ surprise, to say the least, for you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s putting it really mildly!¡± the elf maid shouted. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve told me about this, are you going to kill me in order to silence me or something!?¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± the redhead shouted in a panic. ¡°We are absolutely NOT going to do anything to harm you! We don¡¯t want to hurt you at all! We just want you to understand what happened and why!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and if you need proof of that, think about this logically,¡± Zeldana added. ¡°If we were such bloodthirsty killers, wouldn¡¯t she have just killed you back when she took your clothes? Would have saved us a lot of trouble and minimized the risks.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the help, Zel,¡± Erin muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°I¡¯m sure that makes her feel so much better!¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t mention it!¡± the elf said with a grin.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t meant to be-! Whatever¡­ I¡¯m wasting my brain cells in this argument,¡± the redhead began to argue, only to stop herself. ¡°Anyways, Julianna, like we just told you, we have no intention or desire to harm you any further. You were just¡­ an unfortunate victim of what happened. Not that I¡¯m trying to excuse what happened. I¡¯m just explaining why it happened.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, I guess that makes me feel at least a little better,¡± the elf maid said. ¡°But why did you need to kidnap Golorath¡¯s wife and what have you done with her? She isn¡¯t¡­ dead, is she?¡±

    ¡°No, she¡¯s completely fine! In fact, she¡¯s traveling with us right now!¡± Erin quickly replied. ¡°Also, we didn¡¯t exactly kidnap her¡­ She wanted us to save her from the clutches of Golorath himself.¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, not gonna lie, THAT sounds like total bullshit!¡± Julianna said in disbelief. ¡°You mean to tell me that the wife of one of the most powerful people in the whole world wanted to get away from him and needed you to do that? I¡¯m sorry, but do you see how insane that sounds?¡±

    ¡°I get it! I get it! It doesn¡¯t sound sensible at all! Just¡­ listen to me, okay?¡± the redhead pleaded desperately. ¡°This might sound crazy and all, but the truth is that she was being abused by Golorath and his people. It¡¯s why she was so terrified of everyone and would easily scream in terror. She personally asked us to get her out of there, which went along with our job.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I guess I can believe what you¡¯re saying somewhat,¡± the elf maid said thoughtfully. ¡°Just out of curiosity, you just implied that you were working for someone, which means that someone asked you to kidnap her, right? Who exactly was it and why did they need you to do that?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can tell you that,¡± Erin said awkwardly, fearing what Rayleen and her people might do if she were to tell the truth. ¡°All I can say is that they needed her for something that she couldn¡¯t provide and we¡¯re now looking after her.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ¡°Just a quick correction. SHE is looking after her,¡± Zeldana pointed out. ¡°The rest of us didn¡¯t want anything to do with the bitch.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Zel! We really needed that!¡± the redhead said angrily.

    ¡°...Okay, I guess I could believe you. You don¡¯t seem like the type that would lie about stuff like this,¡± Julianna said after thinking over everything she had learned so far. ¡°The only thing that I¡¯m curious about is why you¡¯re here? What exactly brought you to this town specifically?¡±

    ¡°We just needed a place to hide at for the time being and thought this would be the best place to do so,¡± Erin explained. ¡°We only arrived recently, so we¡¯re kind of in the middle of looking around to see what this town is like.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you guys were so confused as to how quiet and unfriendly this place is. A lot of outsiders that come here tend to leave after just one or two days, due to the unwelcoming atmosphere. Tourism is pretty much non-existent around here,¡± the elf maid. ¡°Are you looking for anything in particular? I could show you around, if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°That sounds great! Thank you!¡± the redhead said happily. ¡°We¡¯re looking for a place to buy food and somewhere we can stay for the night. Do you have any good places in mind?¡±

    ¡°For those needs, I¡¯d recommend going to the market to buy the food. The freshest and best stuff can be found there,¡± Julianna explained. ¡°As for lodging, I can¡¯t really recommend anyplace here. Most of the hotels and motels are pretty much closed due to lack of business. The ones remaining are dirty and rundown, which will most likely lead to you leaving them carrying at least a couple of diseases you didn¡¯t have when checking in. Not only that, but a lot of them are just warehouses that are trying to earn an extra buck by doing a side hustle.¡±

    ¡°Well, beggars can¡¯t be choosers¡­ I¡¯m afraid we have to choose one of them,¡± Erin said before looking over to Zeldana. ¡°Think you and Lex can prepare us with medicine in advance?¡±

    ¡°How about we just sleep in the van?¡± the elf asked in return. ¡°It¡¯s cheaper and won¡¯t get us sick.¡±

    ¡°I have a better idea. How about you guys stay at my place?¡± Julianna suggested, surprising both Erin and Zeldana. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but I can promise that you won¡¯t get any unwanted companions from sleeping there.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ very generous of you,¡± Erin said with a surprised look on her face. ¡°But are you sure about it? There¡¯s quite a few of us and some of the guys can be a bit¡­ rowdy.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine! This town is full of sailors and fishermen, so I¡¯ve seen more than my fair share of less than polite behavior!¡± the elf maid said with a grin. ¡°Just as long as you don¡¯t get my sick sister involved, we should be good!¡±

    ¡°You hear that, Zel? Keep away from the little sister,¡± the redhead said jokingly.

    ¡°Ha ha¡­ You¡¯re a real freaking comedian,¡± Zeldana replied with a frown on her face. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t it your other friend that you should be more worried about?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not into girls, so she should be fine. And her experience as a big sister will most likely keep her in line, as well,¡± Erin answered, before turning back to Julianna. ¡°We would be happy to stay with you for the time being. Thank you once again for your kindness.¡±

    ¡°No need to be so formal! Besides, I¡¯m curious to meet Golorath¡¯s famous wife!¡± the elf maid said with a smile. ¡°Anyways, we should probably start by going to the market first. I was just heading there to buy stuff for tonight¡¯s dinner.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not going to be fish, is it?¡± Zeldana asked with a grimace.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid if you don¡¯t like fish, your options will be very limited around here!¡± Julianna said with a giggle. ¡°That¡¯s most of the stuff they have available!¡±

    ¡°Oh, nice¡­ Life here is going to be HELL for me,¡± Zeldana said with a groan.

    ¡°Stop being so childish, Zel!¡± Erin scolded her companion as she elbowed her in the ribs. ¡°Let¡¯s just ignore this idiot for now, Julianna, and go to the market. I¡¯m sure my other companions are more than fine with seafood.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± the elf maid said happily. ¡°Just follow me!¡±

    <hr>

    Erin and Zeldana followed Julianna, as the maid led them towards the center of the town, where the market was located. As they got closer towards the place, they began to hear more noises that they didn¡¯t hear at first. There were a lot of people ahead of them, unlike before when they had just gotten into the town. They eventually arrived at a bustling market with a bunch of stalls set up by people trying to sell their products. There were people going around left and right in a hurry, trying to get their hands on everything they needed. The people behind the stalls themselves were doing their best to attract customers by shouting as loudly as they could about whatever it was they were selling. It was a chaos of mass, motion and noise.

    ¡°Wow¡­ There¡¯s a lot going on over here,¡± Erin said as she stared at the market with a surprised look on her face. ¡°How do we even find what we¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡°Judging by the smell, there isn¡¯t anything here that we are looking for,¡± Zeldana said as she held her nose out of disgust. ¡°I doubt there¡¯s anything that¡¯s fresh here.¡±

    ¡°Shut it, Zel!¡± the redhead shushed her elf companion. ¡°We don¡¯t need you turning the local population against us anymore than they already are!¡±

    ¡°...I was just saying,¡± Zeldana mumbled.

    ¡°No need to worry! You¡¯re in the presence of an experienced local, who has been going through these places for years already!¡± Julianna said with a confident smile. ¡°It won¡¯t be hard for me to find the best sales here at all!¡±

    Erin and Zeldana watched, as Julianna went through the market, inspecting the products and explaining which ones were the best ones for their needs. She could tell which of the fish, crabs and other such things that were on sale were of the best quality and safe for eating. The elf maid also knew which stores they needed to go to and which ones to avoid, like they were the plague.

    In almost no time at all, they had gathered enough food not only for dinner, but for the whole week. However, as they were at the last stall, something put a stop to Julianna, who had a concerned look on her face.

    ¡°Hey, is something wrong?¡± Erin asked in a concerned tone. ¡°You were just going around like crazy, but now you suddenly stopped. Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°N-Nothing¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­ I kind of wanted to buy these, because I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re really good for people recovering from illnesses,¡± Julianna explained, as she held a couple of crabs in her hands that had shells with a strange coloring. ¡°I just¡­ You know¡­ I thought I should get them for my sister¡­¡±

    The redhead remembered how bad the elf maid¡¯s situation was and how far she was willing to go in order to make it better. She was willing to put her life at risk in order assist her sister in any way possible, so it made sense for her to do so even here.

    ¡°Those are¡­ Sapphire Crabs, aren¡¯t they?¡± Zeldana asked, looking over the products that Julianna was hoping to buy. ¡°They do have some very good nutrients within their bodies, especially if you cook them properly. While they don¡¯t actually heal sick people, they do make people feel better. Is there someone in your family who might need them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. My little sister has been sick for quite some time. It¡¯s the reason why I worked at that awful hotel where you met me. I needed the money to pay for her medicine,¡± the elf maid explained. ¡°I feel like every chance I get that might help her recover is something I should take, since she can barely even move around in her current condition.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that bad, huh?¡± Zeldana asked to which Julianna nodded. ¡°Mind if I take a look at her? I happen to have some medical skills and knowledge. I might be able to help her out.¡±

    ¡°Really? That sounds great!¡± the elf maid said happily. ¡°I did get in contact with the local healer, who has been providing me with medicine that is supposed to help her get better, but it¡¯s very expensive and it¡¯s a treatment that takes a long time. If I can get any additional help, I¡¯d appreciate it! Although¡­ I do have to ask one thing. How much will it cost?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ When I take into account my level of skill and-¡± Zeldana began to explain, only to receive a glare from Erin that stopped her. ¡°I was just joking! Sheesh! Get a sense of humor, will you!?¡±

    ¡°Not the time for that,¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°Fine! Be like that!¡± the elf healer said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Anyways, like I was about to get into it, I¡¯ll do it for free. Heck, I¡¯m just going to perform a basic checkup, so I doubt it really requires much in monetary funding anyways.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Julianna asked. ¡°I¡¯d hate to be using you for my benefit.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not much of an issue to us at all,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°As for those crabs¡­ Mind if I pay for them? We should have more than enough credits on our hands to be able to cover the costs of those. And the other food and lodging costs, too.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait a minute! I was the one who offered to let you stay at my place!¡± the elf maid said. ¡°I never made any demands for a payment!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that you needed to make any to begin with. After all, we are the ones who are imposing on you, so I feel like it¡¯s only fair that we pay you back at least a bit,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°And you don¡¯t need to worry about us. One of the friends I¡¯m traveling with is actually a very skilled merchant. I¡¯m sure that he¡¯ll be able to make back ten times what we pay here.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I see. Thank you,¡± Julianna said. ¡°By the way, I know that there was that blonde lady with you, so I know there¡¯s at least four of you in total, since she didn¡¯t look like someone with a lot of business sense. How many of you are there in total?¡±

    ¡°Including the two of us, there are seven people in our group,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Will that be an issue?¡±

    ¡°Well, we might have a tough time finding space for everybody, but it should be manageable,¡± the elf maid said, thinking about it. ¡°Some of you are probably going to have to share beds, though. I hope that won¡¯t be an issue.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be able to manage that. In fact, I¡¯m sure there is at least someone who will enjoy it,¡± the redhead said, thinking back to Ryle. ¡°We¡¯re not going to be making any special demands, considering you¡¯re willing to help us in our time of need.¡±

    ¡°Great! Once we¡¯re done here, I can show you how to get to my home!¡± Julianna said. ¡°It¡¯s located at the edge of town, so you should be able to have some level of comfort, considering your¡­ Ummm¡­ Profession, I guess?¡±

    ¡°Much appreciated,¡± Erin said with a smile, knowing what the elf maid was referring to. She then took out money from her pocket and proceeded to pay for the crabs Julianna was looking to buy. ¡°Excuse me? I would like to buy those crabs. Here should be the exact amount.¡±

    The vendor at the stall didn¡¯t say anything. He simply took the money and put it into his pocket, while giving an unfriendly glare at the redhead. The vendor did let out a small grunt, almost as if to acknowledge that their purchase had been completed.

    ¡°...Okay? Thank you for your business,¡± Erin said awkwardly, as she and her companions turned around to leave the market. ¡°What was up with him? We noticed similar behavior from an old lady when we got into town. Is there some sort of a general hatred towards outsiders or something?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too personally. This town has a lot of old wounds that the locals are not letting heal,¡± Julianna began to explain. ¡°You see, over the years, there have been a lot of outsiders that have come here only to make things worse for our town in the end. The issue is that the people here only really know how to handle fishing and other such work, which is why there have been bad actors that have used us for their own benefit. Our general level of education around here is quite limited.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing a lot of scammers and con artists have come through here?¡± the redhead asked, while making a mental not to warn Lexton about this.

    ¡°If that was the only problem, then maybe the general attitude towards outsiders wouldn¡¯t be so bad,¡± the elf maid said with a sad sigh. ¡°Unfortunately, there have been a lot more damaging groups and individuals that have also had a hand to play in how bad things have gotten around here.¡±

    ¡°One of these groups wouldn¡¯t happen to be the army or other officials working for the Five Overlords, would they?¡± Erin asked, already knowing the answer.

    ¡°They were the first major ones to do so,¡± Julianna replied. ¡°This town kind of fell under their control without any major battles, as the former officials in charge of this place pretty much ran away as soon as they heard how bad the Five Overlords were. With no one to lead us, the town fell into their hands just like that. At that point, we still held no ill will towards them, as we were already under the control of some really shitty people. It wasn¡¯t until the Overlords started issuing their orders that we began to have some serious issues.¡±

    ¡°What did they want from you?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°The one thing that all crazed dictators need. Soldiers to do their bidding,¡± the elf maid answered. ¡°Pretty much anybody that was of decent physical fitness and age was forcefully taken into the army and sent out to battlefields. Most of the people that got taken didn¡¯t return and even those who did were often damaged physically, mentally or even both. This left a huge gap in the town¡¯s workforce, forcing the elderly and children to go to work in order to keep the town going. That¡¯s the main reason you don¡¯t see many people outside, like kids playing. Almost everyone has been forced to work to support themselves and their families.¡±

    ¡°Were you one of the people that got sent out by any chance?¡± Zeldana asked.

    ¡°No. Ironically, my sister¡¯s illness helped in that regard. The military doctors feared that whatever my sister had might have been affecting me, except I wasn¡¯t showing symptoms yet. Fearing that I might bring that along to other soldiers, I was not taken from my home to go die in some faraway battlefield,¡± Julianna explained with a sad smile. ¡°However, that didn¡¯t mean that I wouldn¡¯t be facing issues, as the town faced economic collapse. With productivity at a low, investors and businessmen from outside the town were able to buy a lot of the companies here next to nothing. This didn¡¯t help, as they themselves had no idea how to turn any of the places here profitable. All they managed was get a few mercenaries and soldiers on vacations to come here and cause troubles. They all left soon, leaving us at a worse state than ever before.¡±

    ¡°With a history like that, there¡¯s no wonder that the people here don¡¯t like new faces,¡± Erin said. ¡°They must think that anyone that¡¯s coming here is going to screw them over in some manner.¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± the elf maid replied. ¡°Problem is that their hatred of outsiders doesn¡¯t just affect people like you, but those who are like myself. People who get out of this town in order to find work outside our town and make a living that way.¡±

    ¡°Why would they hate you?¡± Zeldana asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault things went to hell around here, so why aren¡¯t you allowed to seek your fortune somewhere else?¡±

    ¡°When our lack of workforce became an issue, it was seen as a problem that we all needed to tackle together as a community,¡± Julianna answered. ¡°However, people like myself couldn¡¯t simply do that, no matter how noble it sounded. My sister¡¯s medication costs too much for me to try and earn the payments here alone. That¡¯s why I was willing to risk my life working at the hotel we met each other.¡±

    ¡°Have you tried explaining your situation to the people here?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Surely they wouldn¡¯t blame you, once they know about how you need to look after your sister!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve tried, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The people here either don¡¯t believe me or don¡¯t care. I haven¡¯t really bothered trying to understand them,¡± the elf maid answered with an angry frown. ¡°I get that everybody here is having a tough time, but a lot of people here go way too far in holding their grudges! It¡¯s not like I wanted to have a life like this, where I have to take the absolute worst jobs imaginable just to get by! If it weren¡¯t for my sister, I would have left this place like so many others!¡±

    Julianna¡¯s angry rant was brought to a stop by a comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked to her side and saw Erin give her a sympathetic look, understanding the pain she was going through.

    ¡°Hey, I get that things are tough, but you have to hang on, okay?¡± the redhead said in a soft voice. ¡°Please don¡¯t forget about who you¡¯re doing all of this for in the end. I¡¯m sure that once she gets better, you¡¯ll be grateful that you went through all of these hardships.¡±

    ¡°...Thanks. I know,¡± Julianna said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s just hard sometimes, you know? Especially now that I¡¯m no longer employed. Places around here aren¡¯t hiring me and it¡¯s hard to find work outside that pays me enough.¡±

    ¡°Hang on¡­ You¡¯re no longer employed at the hotel?¡± Erin asked. ¡°What happened? Don¡¯t tell me that because of me you-¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of that!¡± the former maid said quickly. ¡°When you ¡°kidnapped¡± Golorath¡¯s wife, something else happened that kind of put an end to the whole business.¡±

    ¡°Really? What was that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not completely sure about the details, but apparently there was a big ruckus in Madam Goldjoy¡¯s office,¡± Julianna said, causing Zeldana¡¯s eyes to go wide. ¡°If I understood correctly, a bunch of guys suddenly went there and began to trash the place in anger. No one knows why they did that, although, there is suspicion that they were on drugs of some type.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ weird,¡± Erin said. ¡°But why did this lead to you getting fired? I doubt that whatever happened there was because of you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I was at fault. The problem was that Madam Goldjoy no longer wanted to risk herself by running such an operation,¡± the former maid explained. ¡°Up to that point, she had been able to avoid all the violence caused by our guests, but now that she faced it herself, she no longer wanted any part of it. Not only that, but the damages to her office and the hotel as a whole were so bad that it would have cost a fortune to repair it all. Instead, she decided to call it quits and retire early, leaving all of us to figure things out on our own.¡±

    ¡°Why weren¡¯t the people who destroyed her office forced to repay her for the damages?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°And wasn¡¯t there anyone who would have wanted to buy the place, once Goldjoy was out of the picture?¡±

    ¡°The people that destroyed the office were part of Golorath¡¯s own guard. No one is going to have the guts to prosecute them,¡± Julianna explained. ¡°As for the other damages, those were caused by you guys, so¡­¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± Erin replied in a low tone that had shame in it.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You had your reasons,¡± the former maid said. ¡°Anyways, no one was willing to buy the place after such a huge scandal. You might as well try to sell a restaurant that¡¯s infested with pests ans covered in mold at that point. Personally, I just want to know what caused those guys to go on a rampage in Goldjoy¡¯s office all of a sudden. It¡¯s not like she had been mistreating them.¡±

    As Juliannna and Erin were pondering the strange behavior of Golorath¡¯s guards that had caused damage in Goldjoy¡¯s office, Zeldana was looking around nervously. She had a pretty good idea as to why the guards had suddenly decided to go crazy the way they had, since she herself had been the one directly responsible for it.

    The elf had been purposefully giving potions to the guards and instructed them to go to Goldjoy¡¯s office. The vials she had given were stimulants that caused the people under their effect to lose control over their emotions. When used even the smallest of annoyances would send the calmest man into a blind rage. The guards that had taken it had thought that they would be meeting a beautiful elf maid, only to be met with an old and ugly dwarf. Such disappointment had obvious consequences to the guards, who then had gone berserk. While she didn¡¯t have anywhere near the same level of skill in alchemy as Lexton, Zeldana was more than capable of making certain potions and poisons, even though most of them she had learned in order to mess with people.

    While at first Zeldana had simply planned to do it as a simple prank against Goldjoy due to her comment regarding elves, it had gone along really well with their overall plan of rescuing Stacey. Not only had she been able to get back at the rude dwarf lady, but she had managed to reduce the amount of guards they were forced to deal with. All in all, it had been a great success.

    However, it looked like the elf¡¯s potions had been a bit too effective, as she hadn¡¯t planned for the guards to go on such a rampage that caused the whole hotel to be shut down. She never had any intention of causing harm to the workers there, who were simply trying to make ends meet. It seemed like one of her pranks had finally gone too far, which was something she had been told numerous times in the past.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Y-You said that there were suspicions that the people behind wrecking the office were on drugs, right?¡± Zeldana asked while doing her best to look away from Julianna. ¡°D-Did they ever determine what exactly were they on?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± the former maid replied with a shrug. ¡°It was more of a suspicion, as there was no real proof of any such substances. Goldjoy had a history of providing her guests with all sorts of substances in order to keep them happy, so finding the one that caused the whole mess is pretty much impossible. Not only that, but since they were Golorath¡¯s guards, any and all evidence was most likely swept under a carpet anyways.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the elf healer said as she let out a sigh of relief.

    Just as Zeldana was about to continue walking normally, she was stopped in place by Erin standing in front of her. The redhead was giving the elf a glare that told her she was suspicious of her. In fear of having been caught, Zeldana started to sweat a bit under the heated look.

    ¡°W-What is it?¡± the elf asked, trying to appear oblivious.

    ¡°What was with that question just now?¡± Erin asked while narrowing her eye. ¡°And what is with you all of a sudden? You¡¯re sweating like you¡¯re in a heated sauna and stuttering. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen such behavior from you before.¡±

    ¡°I-It¡¯s just a bit hot! That¡¯s all!¡± Zeldana replied while letting out a nervous fake laugh and waving a hand in front of her face to cool herself down. ¡°As for my stuttering, it¡¯s just such a tragic story that I can¡¯t help but get a bit emotional! Can you really blame me for that!?¡±

    The redhead kept giving the same look to the elf, signifying that she wasn¡¯t buying any of her excuses at all. This caused Zeldana to sweat even more under the intense glare.

    Suddenly, it looked like something clicked inside Erin¡¯s mind, as her lone eye went wide from shock. She then grabbed Zeldana by the collar and dragged her towards a nearby alley.

    ¡°We need to discuss something really quick! Mind waiting for us a second!?¡± the redhead asked Julianna so fast that the former maid almost missed what she said, but nodded nonetheless.

    Once out of sight and far enough to not be heard, Erin slammed Zeldana against a wall and gave her one of her angriest looks she could ever muster.

    ¡°This was YOUR fault, wasn¡¯t it!?¡± the redhead hissed in anger. ¡°You¡¯re the one who caused those guards to go crazy and destroy Goldjoy¡¯s office!¡±

    ¡°W-Whatever could you be talking about!?¡± the elf stammered as she tried her best to hide her guilt. ¡°I swear I had nothing to do with-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that bullshit!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°I just remembered how you were handing out vials to those guards that you flirted with! You were being all coy and mysterious about what it was all for, but I guess we now know what you were really planning, don¡¯t we!?¡±

    ¡°Okay! Okay! You caught me! It was my doing! I was hoping to get back at Goldjoy for her remark about us elves, which also helped with reducing the amount of guards we had to deal with!¡± Zeldana quickly explained. ¡°I get that it had some¡­ unfortunate damages that were completely unintentional, but it all worked out in the end, right? I mean, it helped us get your friend out of there and it really messed with the racist fat dwarf! All¡¯s well that ends well!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, except the many innocent people that are now out of a job! Including Julianna!¡± the redhead said angrily. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty big mistake on your part! How do you intend to make up for that, huh!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, in my defense, I had no idea she was in such bad financial troubles, okay!?¡± the elf tried to defend herself. ¡°Besides, the way I see it, I did her a favor! Don¡¯t you remember just how bad of a place that hotel was!? The best thing that could happen to you there is that you lose your job!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re freaking unbelievable¡­ Listen. I don¡¯t care how you see this. You messed up big time now and I¡¯m gonna make sure that you pay for it! Got it!?¡± Erin said with a growl. ¡°Once we meet her sister, you aren¡¯t just going to give her a check up. You¡¯re going to do everything you can to cure her and make her feel better! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make sure to hold you down, while Julianna gets to do whatever she wants to you! Understood!?¡±

    ¡°...I got it,¡± Zeldana said meekly.

    With their quick conversation done, the two of them joined up with Julianna again, who proceeded to lead them the rest of the way to her home. Like she had told them, she lived at the edge of town, so there weren¡¯t any neighbors around. This was ideal for Erin and her companions, as they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about nosy people catching wind of them and talking to the authorities. The place was also located on top of a large hill, giving them a good view of the town and anybody that might be approaching them.

    The house itself was rather small and looked like it had seen better days. With the way it looked, one couldn¡¯t help but imagine it falling down from a simple strong breeze. The building was made from wood and resembled an old cabin of sorts. One you would go to in order to escape from the noises of a busy city. There wasn¡¯t any clear path leading to the house itself, as its surroundings were covered in long grass, meaning that there was no one to tend to the yard. There were some trees behind the building as well, but they seemed to be in a bad shape, like they had been dried up from a drought.

    As they were getting closer, it seemed like Julianna noticed something important, as she put her groceries on the ground and rushed towards the house. Almost as if summoned by the sound of her footsteps, a young elf girl appeared from behind the house.

    The girl was wearing a dirty dress and sandals on her feet. Much like Julianna, she had blonde hair, but in a short pixie cut instead of a long ponytail. Unlike other elves, her face was far more pale than normal. She also looked very frail, like anything could break her. It didn¡¯t take long for Erin and Zeldana to realize that this was Julianna¡¯s sister.

    ¡°Silvia, what are you doing out here!?¡± Julianna asked as she rushed over to her sister. ¡°You should be resting in bed and not going outside! What could have brought you here!?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I was just getting some fresh air,¡± Silvia replied awkwardly. ¡°You know how stuffy it can get, when you spend all your time indoors¡­¡±

    However, it looked like the elder sister wasn¡¯t convinced by the explanation. Instead, she grabbed her younger sister¡¯s hands in order to take a closer look at them. By then, both Erin and Zeldana had managed to walk up to the two elf siblings and saw what Julianna was looking at. Silvia¡¯s hands seemed to be covered in what looked like stains from paint.

    Apparently, this was enough to give the older sister an idea as to what had most likely happened, as she made her way to the back of the house, even though her sister tried to stop her. Following after the sisters, Erin and Zeldana soon found out just what had happened.

    The back of the house was covered in graffiti, spelling out all sorts of less than kind words. Terms such as ¡°traitor¡± and ¡°coward¡± could be seen, along with a lot more explicit ones as well.

    Julianna turned to look at her sister, who was looking down at the ground in shame. The older sister didn¡¯t even need to say anything for her question to be clear to the younger one.

    ¡°...They came while you were in town,¡± Silvia explained. ¡°I could hear them painting all around the house. I tried to get it all cleaned up before you came back, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not like this was your fault, right?¡± Julianna said with a smile as she put a comforting hand on her younger sister¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I appreciate that you¡¯re trying to help, but what I really need you to do is try to get better. And that¡¯s not going to happen, if you keep getting out of your bed like this, okay?¡±

    ¡°...Okay,¡± the younger elf said. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to bed and rest.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, sis,¡± the older elf said as she playfully ruffled her sister¡¯s hair. ¡°Also, we¡¯ll be having guests over, so it won¡¯t be too boring. I bet you¡¯ll get to have some actual fun for once!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Silvia asked with hopeful eyes, as she looked up at her sister before looking over at the two guests. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t notice you two! I¡¯m-¡±

    The sickly girl suddenly stumbled and was about to fall on the ground, but Zeldana was able to quickly catch her.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Zeldana asked the younger elf, as she helped her on her feet.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine,¡± Silvia replied with a smile. ¡°I just tripped. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case is, we need to get you to bed right now!¡± Julianna said in a worried tone, as she came to take her younger sister back inside the house. ¡°Come on. You¡¯ve spent enough time outside already!¡±

    Erin watched the two sisters with a small smile, feeling warmhearted from the closeness of the siblings. She was about to follow after them, when she noticed that Zeldana was acting in a strange manner. The normally calm and relaxed elf had a look of concern on her face, like she was expecting something terrible to happen soon.

    ¡°Hey, is something wrong?¡± the redhead called out to her companion. ¡°You look a bit odd.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t really say yet,¡± Zeldana replied in a serious tone, all of her previous joking nature completely gone from her voice. ¡°Can you get the others on your own? I kind of want to start that girl¡¯s checkup as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°I can do that, but what¡¯s with the hurry?¡± Erin asked, now worried herself. ¡°It isn¡¯t something bad, is it?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, I can¡¯t really tell right now. I need to do a proper checkup first,¡± the elf explained. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that I hope I¡¯m worried over nothing.¡±

    The redhead gave a simple nod in response before leaving to fetch their other companions. As she was walking, she couldn¡¯t help but fear what Zeldana might have found.

 154. Oneéˆ¥æªš Own Limit

    Chapter 154

    One¡¯s Own Limit

    It didn¡¯t take long for Erin to come back to Julianna¡¯s home with the others. After she had explained to them that they had found a place to stay for the night and that it belonged to someone they could trust, the others were more than happy to accept the invitation given to them. It wasn¡¯t easy to drive the van up to the house, as there was no proper road, but it was still manageable.

    As soon as they arrived, Julianna stepped outside to greet her new guests. The former maid had a smile on her face, as she introduced herself to the rest of Erin¡¯s companions, who returned the friendly gesture.

    ¡°I have to say, I knew that there were more of you, but I wasn¡¯t expecting this many!¡± Julianna said a bit awkwardly. ¡°I fear that we might not have enough room inside for you all.¡±

    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s no need to worry! I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll figure something out!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s not like we were expecting a five star hotel! The fact that you¡¯re willing to offer us a roof over our heads is more than enough!¡±

    ¡°Indeed. So far, we¡¯ve had to sleep under the stars or inside the van most of the time. Thanks to you, our sleeping arrangements will at least be a bit better, which is more than we could ask for,¡± Lexton said with a smile. ¡°Not to mention, the prospect of a proper home cooked meal is something that I¡¯m sure most of us will appreciate.¡±

    ¡°I see. Glad to know that I was able to be of assistance,¡± Julianna said with a smile, before noticing Stacey. ¡°Is that who I think it is?¡±

    ¡°Her? Yeah, she¡¯s Golorath¡¯s ex-wife alright,¡± Ryle replied as she gave a glance towards said woman and frowned. ¡°It¡¯s best if you keep your distance from her, though. She doesn¡¯t like to hang out with regular people like us.¡±

    ¡°Well, I think I should still at least go introduce myself,¡± the former maid said as she walked over to Stacey and offered her a hand. ¡°Hello! My name¡¯s Julianna. I used to work as a maid at the hotel you were staying at before you were¡­ You know¡­¡±

    Stacey didn¡¯t say anything in response. She simply stared down at the hand offered to her in disdain, like it offended her, before looking away.

    ¡°I¡­ Did I do something wrong?¡± Julianna asked. ¡°I was just trying to be polite¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind her. She¡¯s just very antisocial and shitty,¡± Ryle said as she glared at Stacey. ¡°Guess she doesn¡¯t like mingling with us lowly plebs, since she was part of the high society?¡±

    Stacey didn¡¯t respond to the insult. She only glanced at the blonde before resuming to stare into the distance.

    ¡°Why you shitty little-!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not start a fight here, okay!?¡± Erin pleaded in a hurry as she stepped between Ryle and Stacey in the hopes of keeping the two of them away from one another. ¡°We¡¯re here to rest after a long drive, remember? No use wasting anymore energy on pointless arguing.¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Ryle said, turning away from the redhead. ¡°Guess your favorite gets to go unpunished yet again.¡±

    Hearing such words from the blonde cut deep into Erin¡¯s heart, but she couldn¡¯t do anything in response. Even if it wasn¡¯t the case, she looked like she was giving Stacey a better treatment than the others. Trying to deny that would only make things worse or even lead to everybody finding out about her true identity.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m about to start preparing dinner, so how about we all go inside?¡± Julianna suggested with a kind smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure we all could use a good meal right about now and I¡¯ve got a bunch stuff prepared!¡±

    The others voiced their agreement, with the exception of Stacey, who simply stayed silent. It was decided that she would stay in the van and Erin would bring her some food later. Everybody else went inside the house in order to enjoy a proper meal for once.

    Once inside, Erin looked around the house. Much like the outside of the building, the inside wasn¡¯t in a better shape either. There were the obvious signs of the building being worn down from time as well as lack of maintenance. It wasn¡¯t as bad as some of the other buildings she had seen, as it was obvious that the two sisters living there were at least trying their best to keep things up, but their lack of skills and resources wouldn¡¯t allow them to do the job properly.

    However, it was very clean and looked like it had just been cleaned properly. There wasn¡¯t even a trace of dust anywhere in sight. Erin couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the place was kept in such a good state, considering how Julianna was working outside the town and Silvia was bedridden.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve noticed Silvia¡¯s handiwork,¡± Julianna said with a sheepish smile. ¡°I keep telling her that she doesn¡¯t need to do this, as I¡¯ll be able to do it once I get back. She still insists on doing the housework while I¡¯m gone. Guess there¡¯s no helping her, huh?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that bad,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°She just wants to help you, so you won¡¯t have to carry all of the burden on yourself. It¡¯s honestly admirable.¡±

    ¡°I know that! I¡¯m not dense!¡± the former maid said with a chuckle. ¡°But the fact is that she needs to be resting up. Stressing her body by doing work like this isn¡¯t going to get her better any sooner, which is why I¡¯d prefer that she would just rest and let me worry about thing here.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate the determination of family! I know more than enough about how much of a help that can be!¡± Ryle suddenly said. ¡°My brother was also not in the best physical health, yet he never hesitated to give me a helping hand. Not only that, but he ended up becoming the greatest assistant I could ever ask for! So don¡¯t look at the work your sister does as something that you should be ashamed of!¡±

    ¡°...Thanks,¡± Julianna said with a smile. ¡°And I¡¯m not ashamed at all. I just¡­ want her to focus on getting better, so I won¡¯t have to worry about her condition so much.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m sure she understands that, but you need to let her do stuff on her own, too!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Trust me. If you just let her do a few things here and there to help, it won¡¯t just brighten her mood, but it will help her feel a lot better as well. I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± the former maid said. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare dinner. Could one of you help out with it?¡±

    ¡°I should be able to handle it,¡± Lexton volunteered. ¡°Cooking isn¡¯t that far from what I normally do anyways.¡±

    The kobold looked up and saw the others, with the exception of Julianna, looking at him with wide eyes.

    ¡°And just what the hell are you guys looking so surprised for!?¡± Lexton asked angrily.

    ¡°I mean, isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°YOU of all people volunteering to help? And with cooking?¡±

    ¡°And just how the hell is that so surprising, you mongrel!?¡± the kobold shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooking for myself for most of my life! And in case you forgot, our generous host here has decided to offer her home for us to stay at free of charge, along with a free meal! Isn¡¯t it normal to offer at least something in return for the kindness of others!?¡±

    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s calm down a bit,¡± Erin said, hoping to stop the arguing. ¡°Let¡¯s all remember that we have a sick girl here. I¡¯m sure us fighting among ourselves isn¡¯t going to help with her condition.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of sicknesses and such, where is Zeldana?¡± Durge asked. ¡°You told us that she would be waiting for us here, as she was doing a checkup on the girl.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s probably still in Silvia¡¯s room. She went there right away in order to look over her condition,¡± Julianna said. ¡°Although, should a medical checkup take this long? It has been a while¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing to be worried about,¡± Erin said, more as a way to convince herself than the worried older sister. ¡°It¡¯s just that she¡¯s performing a thorough checkup in order to make sure that she gets all of the information necessary. That might take some time, after all.¡±

    Almost as if summoned by the conversation that was going on, Zeldana came out of one of the rooms. The others immediately turned their attention to her and were met with a sight that shocked those who knew the elf healer. The normally nonchalant and relaxed look that she had on her face was gone, replaced with a grim look that had a hint of desperation.

    ¡°Zel? Are you alright?¡± Erin called out to the elf. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost or something.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh, it¡¯s nothing! I just¡­ have a lot on my mind right now,¡± Zeldana replied, trying to hide her grim expression. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to think about some stuff and that¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to have dinner soon, so maybe you can talk to us about it?¡± the redhead suggested. ¡°A lot of issues are easier to resolve, once you have more than one person trying to solve it.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ This is something that I need to do by myself,¡± the elf said as she walked past everybody and went outside. ¡°Just eat without me, okay? I don¡¯t have much of an appetite right now.¡±

    The others were left in stunned silence, once Zeldana had left. They all knew that this was unusual behavior for her and wondered what it was about.

    ¡°Any idea what is wrong with her?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen her act like this before.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean. Usually, she¡¯s just all jokes and not caring about anything around her, but now she seemed very¡­ serious? It¡¯s definitely a big change to her usual self,¡± Ryle said, agreeing with the kobold. ¡°And that look she had on her face? It was almost like she was going to a funeral or something. What could have brought that up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll tell us when she¡¯s ready. Worrying about it isn¡¯t going to help us out,¡± Durge said. ¡°Now, how about we make ourselves comfortable? We have a very generous host, who invited us to her home, after all. It would be rude of us to not act accordingly.¡±

    As the others went about their business, Erin couldn¡¯t help but worry about what was causing such worry for Zeldana. The redhead only hoped that it wasn¡¯t due to Silvia¡¯s checkup.

    <hr>

    Outside with Zeldana, the elf healer was pacing back and forth in a frustrated manner. She then came to a stop next to the group¡¯s van and hit the side of the vehicle with her fist. After letting her anger burst out, she leaned against it and slid down to the ground, where she sat with her face buried in her hands.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡± Stacey shouted angrily out of the window. ¡°I¡¯m trying to relax here and-!¡±

    Her complaints were cut off, as something sharp flew past her face, leaving a small cut. Stacey looked over to the house and saw a scalpel sticking out of the wall.

    ¡°Shut up. Just shut the hell up!¡± Zeldana commanded with barely held back fury. ¡°I am not in the mood for any of your shit right now! I don¡¯t care whether you¡¯re Erin¡¯s old friend from her world or whatever. If you piss me off right now, I will show you just how many organs I can take out of you without killing you! Got it!?¡±

    Stacey decided to do the smart thing and kept her mouth shut.

    <hr>

    A bit later, the others were enjoying a nice seafood dinner while talking with each other. Much to Erin¡¯s joy, they had pretty much returned to how things used to be with all of them getting along.

    At the moment, Erin and Ryle were telling their hosts about the numerous adventures their group had gone through. Silvia was listening with eyes sparkling in wonder, while Julianna wasn¡¯t completely sure if her sister was old enough to hear such tales.

    ¡°And then I simply mopped the floor with all those guys!¡± Ryle boasted with a big grin, as she told the story of her taking part in an underground fight pit. ¡°In one day, I made myself the greatest fighter in Moonstone! Now is that badass or what!?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ That¡¯s certainly quite the tale, but I¡¯m not sure if my sister should be listening to this,¡± Julianna said as she glanced at Silvia, who was clapping happily. ¡°These stories might be just a bit too violent for her¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! It¡¯s not that bad!¡± the blonde said, waving off the older sister¡¯s worries. ¡°All good stories have at least some action in them! Besides, I¡¯m a great role model for any kid, so she should be allowed to listen to my stories!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit debatable,¡± Erin said as she rolled her eye, earning a glare from Ryle.

    ¡°While I might disagree with the role model bit, you should let your sister listen to this story,¡± Lexton suddenly said with a chuckle, getting everyone¡¯s attention turned towards him. ¡°After all, we are just about to get to the best part in it.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Ryle said as her eyes went wide with realization. ¡°Don¡¯t you freaking dare¡­¡±

    ¡°You see, just as our dear imbecile here was getting all pumped up over her victories, a real challenger decided to step up and put her in her place!¡± the kobold said with a smirk. ¡°That challenger being none other than yours truly. It wasn¡¯t hard to get her to accept my challenge and we were soon getting ready for our match. Although, calling what would happen a match is a bit of an exaggeration, seeing how one-sided it was¡­¡±

    ¡°YOU took HER on!?¡± Silvia asked with her eyes glittering in wonder. ¡°HOW!? How were you able to fight her of all people!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple, my dear! I just used my brains for the fight!¡± Lexton explained. ¡°You see, I am quite skilled at making tools for combat and my specialty are golems that can be transported easily with you. Once I released one of those, it only took a few second for me to claim my victory!¡±

    ¡°That sounds so cool!¡± the elf child said while staring at the kobold in awe. ¡°Can you show me one of those golems!? Please!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ They¡¯re kind of special and I shouldn¡¯t be using them up on a whim,¡± Lexton said, pretending to be thinking about it. ¡°I suppose I could show you one. After all, you are a very special person! Not many realize my greatness as quickly as you do!¡±

    ¡°Yay! I can¡¯t wait to see it!¡± Silvia cheered. ¡°You¡¯re so cool, Mr. Lexton!¡±

    ¡°But of course! What else could a great person like me be?¡± the kobold said, puffing out his chest. ¡°If you¡¯re truly fortunate, I might teach you a few things while we¡¯re still here. Maybe in the future, you might be just as great!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m starting to fear that you might become a bad influence,¡± Erin said, not liking the idea of Lexton having an influence on a child. ¡°You aren¡¯t planning on teaching her some of your more questionable skills, are you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think the world needs anymore crooked people like you!¡± Ryle said as she was sulking over Silvia¡¯s praise having been shifted away from her to the kobold. ¡°And I still call bullshit on that match! You were cheating with that golem of yours!¡±

    ¡°Now, there¡¯s no need be so bitter! After all, what¡¯s the shame in losing against someone who is better than you?¡± Lexton said smugly, further angering the blonde. ¡°Or could it be that you¡¯re upset with how you lost? Crying and screaming in a panic, as my golem swung you around? I think I even saw you wet your-¡±

    ¡°Alright! That does it!¡± Ryle said angrily as she stood up. ¡°You and me! Right now! We¡¯re having our rematch right now!¡±

    ¡°Hey! No fighting at the dinner table!¡± Julianna scolded the two. ¡°And this is my house, so would you mind and not cause anymore damages to it!?¡±

    ¡°Julianna¡¯s right, you two! You both need to calm down right this second!¡± Erin said sternly, joining the former maid in scolding her two companions. ¡°If you two need to settle your differences, you¡¯re doing it outside and after dinner! Understood!?¡±

    ¡°...Fine,¡± Ryle muttered unhappily as she sat back down. ¡°But he started it¡­¡±

    Lexton didn¡¯t make any complaints and simply shrugged, before continuing to eat his meal.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    As everybody resumed eating and things calmed down, Ryle noticed Lexton mouthing ¡°I beat you¡± in such a way that only she noticed it. This caused the blonde to grit her teeth in fury, but she didn¡¯t cause an uproar, knowing that she would only get scolded.

    As they were eating, Erin remembered that there were two people missing from their group and that they most likely needed something to eat, too.

    ¡°Oh, right. I almost forgot!¡± the redhead said as she turned towards Julianna. ¡°I need to take some food to Zeldana and Stacey. Do you think I could borrow a couple of bowls and take them to those two? I¡¯m sure they could use a meal.¡±

    ¡°Sure. That¡¯s fine by me,¡± the former maid replied. ¡°But do you mind if I come along? I kind of want to ask Zeldana about Silvia¡¯s checkup.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Erin said happily. ¡°Besides, it will make bringing the bowls a lot easier with the two of us.¡±

    The two of them then proceeded to fill two bowls with some of the food and walked out of the house. Once they were close to the van, the redhead decided to bring up something important.

    ¡°Hey, I should probably handle Stacey. As you¡¯ve already seen, she is kind of antisocial and can be hard to deal with,¡± Erin said. ¡°I know that you¡¯re a service industry professional and all, but she can a tough one to handle. I at least have had some luck in that field.¡±

    ¡°Fine by me,¡± Julianna said with a shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t see why she¡¯s acting the way she is. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re some sort of monsters that she needs to avoid.¡±

    ¡°If you only knew the truth,¡± the redhead mumbled low enough so that the former maid couldn¡¯t hear.

    As Julianna walked over to Zeldana, who was still sitting on the ground and leaning on the side of the van, Erin went to the passenger side of the van. Stacey was sitting there and gave an uninterested glance towards her former friend.

    ¡°What is it you want now?¡± Stacey asked in a rude tone.

    ¡°Look, I get that you¡¯re not fond of anything of this world and that I¡¯m not particularly fond of you either. Still, I feel like I can¡¯t just let you die from starvation,¡± Erin explained with a frown as she offered the bowl of food. ¡°Here you go. This is tonight¡¯s dinner. It¡¯s soup made from this world¡¯s fish. I¡¯d say I hope you like it, but I honestly don¡¯t care. Just eat your fill and make sure to give back the bowl once you¡¯re done.¡±

    Stacey simply took the bowl that was offered to her without saying a word. She then proceeded to take small amounts of the soup at a time.

    Satisfied that her former friend was eating, the redhead decided to join up with Julianna and Zeldana. She also wanted to know the results of Silvia¡¯s checkup and the way her elf companion had looked upon completing it still worried her. Much to her surprise, Zeldana was actually eating the soup that had been given her, despite having made her dislike towards seafood very clear.

    ¡°Hey, Zel,¡± Erin greeted her companion. ¡°How¡¯s the soup?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s alright,¡± the elf healer replied as she slowly took spoonfuls of the food offered to her.

    The way Zeldana had responded to the question worried Erin and Julianna. All the energy that had been present in her just earlier that day had completely disappeared. Considering what she had just done only made the worry that much worse.

    ¡°Hey, uh¡­ We were wondering about the checkup you did earlier and wanted to know the results,¡± Erin said somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Could you tell us Silvia¡¯s results?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I would like to know those, too!¡± Julianna asked. ¡°Do you think there is something that can cure her illness?¡±

    ¡°...If you can get an act of God,¡± Zeldana muttered.

    ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± the former maid asked, shocked over the response she got. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s wrong with my sister!¡±

    ¡°Of course. You deserve to know,¡± the elf healer said as she stood up and looked Julianna straight in the eyes. ¡°I hate to tell you this, but¡­ Silvia only has a few months to live at best.¡±

    Time seemed to stop for both Erin and Julianna at that moment. They stared at Zeldana in disbelief, hoping that this wasn¡¯t real. That this was some sort of a cruel prank or something similar.

    However, Zeldana¡¯s expression remained unchanged. What she had told them was the truth. Silvia¡¯s life was going to end soon.

    Realizing this pulled Julianna on her knees, as she felt an unbearable weight come over her. Cold sweat ran down her face and she felt like it was starting to get difficult to breathe. Her beloved sister, the one she had done everything for in order to help get better, was going to die and there was nothing she could do about it. It felt like the whole world at that moment was laughing at her and her attempts to save Silvia¡¯s life.

    Erin wasn¡¯t faring much better compared to Julianna. While she had managed to remain standing, the shock over Silvia¡¯s condition had nearly knocked her off her feet. All she could do was stare at Zeldana in stunned silence, hoping that the elf healer had at least some way to help the sick girl.

    ¡°...How? Just¡­ how? How is this possible!?¡± Julianna asked in a trembling voice, as tears were now falling from her eyes. ¡°How can this be possible!? I¡¯ve done everything that¡¯s possible to help her! I even found a doctor that has been supplying us with medicine to treat her! How can her condition still be so bad!?¡±

    ¡°When you mentioned medicine, I¡¯m assuming that you mean this?¡± Zeldana asked as she took a small plastic bag filled with red powder. ¡°Has your doctor been providing you with this as a way to help treat Silvia¡¯s condition?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ That¡¯s the medicine that he sells to me,¡± the former maid answered. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly expensive, which is why I had to-¡±

    ¡°The price of a medicine doesn¡¯t matter. What truly matters is whether it works or not!¡± the elf healer said, her voice rising with anger. ¡°Just because something is expensive doesn¡¯t mean automatically that it¡¯s good or even worth buying at all! That is especially true with medicine bought from hack doctors, who probably have never done any medical studies at all!¡±

    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Are you saying that the medicine isn¡¯t working?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it probably works alright, but not for what it¡¯s been bought for!¡± Zeldana answered. ¡°With just a quick look, I could tell that this wasn¡¯t meant to help with curing anything! It¡¯s a drug that only makes the person that takes it feel better! A lot of scam doctors use it to fool unsuspecting people out of their money! Since the person who takes it immediately feels better, they assume that it works and continue giving it, never knowing the truth about what they¡¯re buying!¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ Then the doctor that sold that to me,¡± Julianna asked with wide eyes as realization was beginning to hit her. ¡°He was just-?¡±

    ¡°He was just using you to fatten his wallet. Yes,¡± the elf healer finished for the former maid. ¡°This stuff is normally meant to be taken in small doses as a painkiller and nothing more. Did Silvia ever feel much worse than before, after taking her medicine?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ Yes,¡± Julianna said. ¡°It often came right after the next day from taking it. The doctor said that it was just a sign that the medicine was doing it¡¯s work in clearing her body.¡±

    ¡°The only thing this clears is your bank account. The reason she was feeling terrible was because the effects of this stuff had worn off and she was hit with the full effect of her actual sickness,¡± Zeldana explained. ¡°Has she taken this stuff recently?¡±

    Julianna was about to answer, but a loud commotion from inside the house caught their attention. All three of them rushed inside to see what was going on and saw Silvia laying in the floor, holding her stomach and trembling. There was also a puddle of her vomit close to her.

    ¡°What happened!?¡± Erin asked as Julianna rushed to her sister¡¯s side. ¡°Why is Silvia on the floor!?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know!¡± Durge replied. ¡°One moment, we were all enjoying our meal while talking to each other peacefully, then she suddenly throws up on the floor and falls over! We have no idea what is happening to her!¡±

    ¡°Silvie!? SILVIE!?¡± Julianna called out to her sister as she held her trembling body. ¡°Oh God¡­ What happened to you!?¡±

    ¡°Quick! Bring her to her room!¡± Zeldana shouted. ¡°I might be able to help her!¡±

    Julianna did as she was told and carried Silvia to her room. Once there, the door was closed, leaving the others to wait. It was safe to say that all of them had lost their appetites and were now more concerned over the well-being of the little elf girl.

    Time seemed to be crawling at the pace of a snail, as everybody was waiting to hear an update on Silvia¡¯s condition. Eventually, Zeldana emerged back from the room with a tired look on her face.

    ¡°Zel, what happened?¡± Erin asked in a worried voice. ¡°Is Silvia alright?¡±

    ¡°Well, I managed to stabilize her condition, but that¡¯s about it,¡± the elf healer replied. ¡°But that¡¯s all I could really do. There¡¯s pretty much nothing else I can do in order to help her condition.¡±

    Without saying anything else, Zeldana walked out of the house with tired footsteps. While most of the others were left confused and shocked, Erin knew what their companion was talking about. It seemed to be obvious that the redhead knew more about the situation with the younger elf sister, as the others picked up on it.

    ¡°E-Erin?¡± Arkay called out to the redhead. ¡°Do you perhaps know more about what¡¯s wrong with Silvia?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, your face is pretty much a neon sign screaming ¡°I know what¡¯s going on!¡± Ryle said. ¡°So mind spilling it!? What is it that you know, but we don¡¯t!?¡±

    ¡°...This is going to be hard for me to tell you guys, but I feel like I should,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°The thing is that Silvia¡¯s condition isn¡¯t something that can be fixed.¡±

    The redhead proceeded to explain how Zeldana had checked on Silvia¡¯s condition earlier that day and had come to the conclusion that there was nothing that could be done to save her. She even told them about how the young girl only had a few months left to live and how the medicine that was sold to Julianna in order to help her sister had been fake all along. These news obviously shocked the others, who were heartbroken to hear that such a sweet girl wasn¡¯t going to live for much longer. Ryle and Arkay broke into tears, although differently. The blonde was crying silent tears of anger over the unfairness of the whole situation, while the cat boy was openly sobbing. Durge and Lexton had sad looks on their faces, as they let the whole thing sink in.

    ¡°To think that some bastard would actually use someone with a sick family member¡­ just to make a quick buck!¡± Ryle said with barely contained anger. ¡°I swear, if I ever find the bastard who did that, I¡¯m gonna make him pay!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s honestly sad, when someone has to fool desperate good people just to make some quick cash,¡± Lexton muttered. ¡°As a merchant, I¡¯m appalled and ashamed of such behavior.¡±

    ¡°Like you¡¯re one to talk like that!¡± the blonde shouted while pointing an accusing finger at the kobold. ¡°You¡¯re just as bad as that guy! Or was the whole thing about selling fake golems to unsuspecting people just a fluke!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I might have scammed a few people, but even I have my limits!¡± Lexton shouted back. ¡°Need I remind you that the people I scammed were in the Black Market, which is a place that isn¡¯t exactly inhabited by innocent people!? I might pull a scam or two, but I¡¯m not one to target good people, especially ones in these types of plights!¡±

    ¡°Enough, you two! There¡¯s literally no reason for you to start fighting!¡± Erin said with authority, stopping the argument right away. ¡°What we need to focus on is helping out Julianna. Even if there isn¡¯t much we can do, we should figure out what little there is and do it. Those two need as much of our help as possible right now.¡±

    ¡°...Is there really nothing that can be done to help Silvia?¡± Durge asked. ¡°That kid doesn¡¯t deserve to die so young. Is Zeldana certain that there isn¡¯t anything she can do to help her?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. The way she said it convinced me that there was really nothing she could do,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I¡¯m still going to go and talk to her and get a better understanding of the situation. I¡¯m sure if there is something she¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Erin walked out of the house and looked for their elf companion. She soon found her sitting against the van just like she had been earlier, except she somehow looked even sadder than before.

    ¡°Zel?¡± the redhead called out to the elf softly as she walked up to her. ¡°I was wondering if-¡±

    ¡°I know what you want to ask, but I¡¯ve already made it clear. There is nothing I can do,¡± Zeldana replied without even looking up. ¡°There is absolutely nothing that I can do in order to help that little girl even get a couple more days added to her life expectancy.¡±

    ¡°B-But surely there has to be something we can do!¡± Erin tried to desperately argue. ¡°I mean, with your medical knowledge and Lexton¡¯s skills with potions, there has to be-¡±

    ¡°NO THERE ISN¡¯T!¡± the elf healer shouted angrily as she stood up to glare at the redhead. ¡°Did you really think that I didn¡¯t consider every possible thing we could do for her!? That I simply threw up my hands in surrender over how tough it was!? I¡¯ve helped people come back from the brink of dead more times than I can count, so believe me when I say that I can¡¯t do anything here!¡±

    Seeing how serious Zeldana was completely convinced Erin of Silvia¡¯s case. There was truly nothing that could be done to help the girl, no matter what they tried.

    ¡°Seems you finally get it,¡± the elf healer said as she leaned against the van. ¡°At least we made progress with that, since I hate having to repeat myself.¡±

    ¡°...What exactly is wrong with her?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°What is it that makes her case so impossible to treat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to know that, too,¡± Julianna said as she walked up to Erin and Zeldana, having just come outside. ¡°Please tell me what exactly is wrong with my sister.¡±

    ¡°...I guess I could explain it to you. I won¡¯t bore you with the details, but I¡¯ll at least give you a good enough explanation that should give a clear enough picture as to what is happening in her body,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°What¡¯s happening in Silvia¡¯s body isn¡¯t an illness caused by bacteria or a virus, but a rare genetic defect that is spreading through her whole body. As it spreads, it causes the affected internal organs to deteriorate, making them less effective until finally shutting them down completely. The reason why she is so thin and pale is due to this, as her body doesn¡¯t take in the necessary nutrients from the food she eats.¡±

    ¡°Oh God¡­ How could this happen?¡± the former maid asked herself as tears began to fall from her eyes again. ¡°Is there really nothing that can be done to cure this?¡±

    ¡°Not at this point, I¡¯m afraid. The only way to treat this is by identifying the problem as early as possible. Once that is done, the organ that the defect is spreading from needs to be removed and replaced with a new one,¡± the elf healer explained. ¡°When it comes to Silvia, the sickness has spread so far and into so many places that she needs to have at least half of the organs within her body to be replaced and even then I¡¯m not sure if it would help.¡±

    ¡°...And of course that damn doctor that I¡¯ve been buying her medicine from was never going to identify what was truly wrong!¡± Julianna said with venom dripping from her voice. ¡°That bastard just used my lack of knowledge against me in order to earn himself some quick cash! And to make it worse, I¡¯m no better than the people of this town, who got fooled by outside con artists and scammers! I got taken advantage of just like everybody else¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that you were a fool or anything like that. You were desperate and for a good reason,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°The worst of the society have a tendency to use the pure feelings of others to their advantage, which in this case was your love for your sister. You only did what you could, even if it wasn¡¯t what needed to be done. No one can blame you for that.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­ But what do I do now?¡± the former maid asked. ¡°If there is no way for me to save Silvia anymore, what am I supposed to do for her? How can I help her at all?¡±

    ¡°Just stay by her side. Let her know that she is not alone and that you love her,¡± the elf healer replied. ¡°That is something that all those who have sick family members that can¡¯t be cured can do. Show them that they are loved and cared for, so they won¡¯t have to face the end alone.¡±

    ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll do that,¡± Julianna said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. ¡°And uh¡­ Thanks for letting me know about this. I know this might sound weird, but I do appreciate your honesty. If nothing else, now I know not to give that fake doctor anymore money.¡±

    The former maid walked back into her house to see her sister, leaving Erin and Zeldana alone outside. The redhead turned towards her companion, hoping to have more about Silvia¡¯s condition be explained to her.

    ¡°Look¡­ I know you¡¯ve made it very clear to me that there is nothing we can do to help Silvia. I completely get that,¡± Erin began. ¡°But I still have to know something in order to fully understand this. Why can¡¯t you use your healing magic in order to help her? Can¡¯t that just fix her organs or something?¡±

    ¡°No, because the way healing magic works is that it basically enhances the body¡¯s natural regeneration in order to close up injuries and break down illnesses,¡± Zeldana explained in a tired tone. ¡°While it¡¯s useful in most cases, there are a number of things that it simply cannot fix. For example, there are certain viruses that mask themselves as regular cells inside the body, thus fooling its own immune system into ignoring it. That¡¯s something that my healing magic wouldn¡¯t be able to help with, as I would be doping up the immune system to fight something it can¡¯t even find in the first place.¡±

    ¡°And the thing with Silvia is similar?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°Pretty much. The core of her sickness didn¡¯t come from a bacteria that invaded her body, but from her own body itself,¡± the elf healer explained. ¡°Since those are her regular cells causing the damage, my healing magic wouldn¡¯t be effective in getting rid of them. Hell, in the worst case scenario, I might even end up speeding the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ So there truly is nothing that can be done then,¡± Erin said in a sad voice as she sat next to Zeldana.

    ¡°Nothing realistic. In order for her to have even a slight chance of survival, we would need to replace so many parts of her body that it would almost be like building a new person,¡± the elf healer said. ¡°Even if we ignore the fact that we would first have to find multiple organs that are compatible with her, do you have any idea how hard it is to find organs that are ready for transplant in the first place? They don¡¯t exactly grow on trees, you know. Even if we managed to do all of that and somehow found the money to pay for it, there is still a high chance that she wouldn¡¯t survive the operation itself.¡±

    ¡°...So what¡¯s going to happen to her?¡± the redhead asked, already dreading the answer. ¡°Is she simply going to pass away peacefully in her sleep or is it going to be¡­ painful?¡±

    ¡°I wish it was going to be peaceful and painless, but I fear it will be a long and agonizing journey ahead,¡± Zeldana began to explain. ¡°As the disease moves through her body, different parts are going to affected, bringing their own issues. She already has issues with getting nutrients due to her organs having been affected and when I was doing my checkup on her she coughed up blood. That is a sign that it has already reached her lungs, as well.¡±

    ¡°...And when it continues to move, what does that cause?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The lungs have only started to get infected, so they will be affected even further. This will lead to her having trouble breathing at times and cause her to tire out far more easily. Even walking inside the house is going to make her go out of breath,¡± the elf healer explained. ¡°After that, it will affect the heart, making all her issues even worse and cause occasional heart attacks. Once it reaches the brain, she will probably first lose her sight, then her memory, motor functions and¡­ Well, I¡¯m sure you get the picture by now.¡±

    ¡°Oh my God¡­ I¡¯m kind of regretting that I asked you to tell me all of that,¡± the redhead said as she buried her face in her hands. ¡°How could something like this happen? And to a sweet kid like Silvia? It just isn¡¯t fair.¡±

    ¡°This might sound bad, but it¡¯s honestly just very bad luck,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°Like I said earlier, this is something that happened within her own body and it¡¯s very rare. The true cause of it is still unknown, as there hasn¡¯t been enough studies done. The biggest misfortune for her was that she was born in this town, as the medical knowledge here is pretty much non-existent. Had it been somewhere else, they might have figured things out soon enough. In the end, she just had the absolute worst fate dealt to her.¡±

    Erin was silent in thought. She was thinking about everything Silvia was going through right now and what the future had in store for her. Knowing just how much pain and misery the elf child was going to be going through, her mind began to wander into dark thoughts and ideas. This raised questions that she couldn¡¯t believe she was starting to ask, even if there was a sensible reason behind them. Despite how sensible and reasonable these questions were, the redhead was afraid to ask them, as she feared what the reaction from Zeldana was going to be.

    However, there was someone nearby who had heard their whole conversation and wasn¡¯t afraid to ask such questions.

    ¡°Why not just kill the brat?¡± Stacey asked bluntly from the van, where she was still sitting. ¡°I mean, if she is just going to die anyways, why keep prolonging the inevitable? At least then she won¡¯t have to suffer so bad. Would save everyone a lot of trouble in my opinion¡­¡±

    Erin stood up with a furious glare directed at her former friend. The fact that Stacey had spoken so easily about a sick child that was dying absolutely infuriated the redhead.

    Just as she was about to yell at her former friend, Zeldana decided to speak up.

    ¡°Honestly? I can¡¯t deny that,¡± the elf healer said, shocking Erin. ¡°What you just said makes complete sense. Why should her life be prolonged, if it¡¯s going to just end in pain and misery? When you think about it like that, killing her would be a mercy.¡±

    Erin stared at Zeldana in disbelief, unable to fathom how she could have said such things with ease. It especially didn¡¯t make sense, seeing how broken up the elf had been over Silvia¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Zel, you can¡¯t be serious!¡± the redhead shouted in anger. ¡°Are you actually saying that we should just kill a girl because of her medical condition!? How can you be so cold towards her!?¡±

    ¡°Because it¡¯s the truth and you know it just as well,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°You¡¯re the one who isn¡¯t thinking clearly here. What awaits that girl is nothing but days upon days of agony, where she will be in such a terrible condition that she won¡¯t even know who she is. And don¡¯t forget that her sister is most likely going to end up taking care of her all by herself when she¡¯s like that. Are you ready to leave those two in such a fate?¡±

    Erin wanted to argue, but couldn¡¯t. She knew that both Zeldana ad Stacey had a valid point. No matter what they did, the two elf sister had a harsh and painful life ahead of them. The only question was whether they should lengthen that pain or not.

    ¡°However, let me make one thing absolutely clear. This is a decision that won¡¯t be done by us, okay?¡± Zeldana stated. ¡°At the end of the day, it is up to those two to decide whether or not they are going to put a quick end to Silvia. All I¡¯m going to do is tell Julianna what awaits her in the future and what her options are. No more. No less. And whatever she decides to do will be a decision that the rest of us will just have to respect, even if we may disagree.¡±

    Having said her piece, the elf healer went back inside to talk with Julianna. Now that the two former friends were left by themselves, Stacey decided to ask something from Erin.

    ¡°Honestly, why are you so shaken up by this? It¡¯s just some freaky brat with long ears that isn¡¯t even human,¡± Stacey said. ¡°I cannot understand why you would care at all about any of these people, let alone those who are just going to die anyways. Seems like a complete waste of time to me.¡±

    Erin whipped around and gave the most hateful and furious glare she could at her former friend, before stomping over to her. Stacey was so taken aback by this that she couldn¡¯t react, as the redhead grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the back of her seat.

    ¡°W-What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡± Stacey asked as she struggled futilely against the hand around her windpipe.

    ¡°Shut up. Just shut the hell up!¡± Erin commanded with no room for argument. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯ve gone through, you have no right to treat the good people of this world in such a manner! Even if you don¡¯t care about them, don¡¯t bother voicing it to me! I am so sick and tired of listening to your shit that I am very close to just dumping you to the wild for animals to eat! The only thing preventing me from doing that is the fact that we used to be friends, but you¡¯re pushing me too far for me to care about it any longer! Piss me off one more time and it will be the end for you!¡±

    ¡°...Fine. I get it,¡± Stacey said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful not to upset you anymore.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get upset just now. Only small things, like badly cooked meals upset me,¡± the redhead said as she let go of Stacey¡¯s throat. ¡°What you said got me completely furious.¡±

    Having dealt with her old friend, Erin went back inside the house to see the others. Once she got through the front door, she heard sobbing come from the room Silvia had been taken to. The redhead immediately knew that Zeldana had most likely told Julianna about what the future held for her little sister. The older elf sister was the obvious source of the sobbing.

    The redhead looked around and saw her companions all dealing with the recent news. All of them had saddened looks on their faces, as they were silently just pondering the whole thing. Ryle was sitting next to Arkay with an arm around his shoulders, hoping to offer at least some comfort to him. Lexton and Durge were simply sitting at the dinner table in silence.

    Erin didn¡¯t know what to tell her friends. While she knew a bit more about Silvia¡¯s condition thanks to her talk with Zeldana, she didn¡¯t feel like it was her place nor that it was a good idea to tell them about it. It was already hard enough for herself to accept the whole thing, so she didn¡¯t know how the others would react to it. In the end, the redhead decided that it was for Julianna to tell them or for Zeldana, if they decided to ask the same questions she had.

    Just as she thought about the elf healer, Zeldana stepped out of the room with a depressed look on her face. In a brief moment where their eyes met, Erin knew without even a single word being uttered what had just happened. There was no need to ask anything further, as she let her elf companion go outside to be by herself.

    With nothing else for them to do, the group decided to go to bed for the night. Due to the overall mood, no one felt like fighting over who got to sleep where, so the arrangements were made quick and easy. Lexton would go sleep in the back of their van, as he was used to smells coming from the chemicals he used for his potions and other works. Durge would sleep on the floor of the dining room, as his massive body couldn¡¯t really fit anywhere else comfortably. Erin took a couch that was near the front entrance, while Zeldana had decided to stay outside. No one really knew where the elf had gone to, but knew that she would be able to take care of herself, so they didn¡¯t question her decision.

    Ryle and Arkay would share the bed that used to belong to the parents of the two elf sisters. Julianna had told them that their parents had passed away a long time ago, so their room was left unused. While Erin would normally have issues with the way Ryle behaved around Arkay, she decided to let it pass for now. The blonde had also been an older sibling, so she knew exactly what Julianna was going through. The redhead was certain that her friend could use some comfort right now.

    As the redhead stared up at the ceiling while trying to sleep, she could only hope that things wouldn¡¯t get any worse than they already had. She didn¡¯t realize just how bad it would get the next morning.

 155. An Act Too Vile

    Chapter 155

    An Act Too Vile

    The next morning, Erin woke up to see Julianna moving around the dining room area. After letting out a yawn and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, the redhead got up and went to greet their host.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Julianna replied. ¡°Sorry for not waking you up earlier, but you looked like you could use the sleep. I¡¯m guessing the long journey you guys had put behind you really took a toll on you.¡±

    The former maid¡¯s voice was even and calm, but those with better senses could tell that there was something wrong, like she was trying to hold back something. While most would be left wondering what this was, Erin was more than aware of what was bothering Julianna. After all, it bothered her quite a bit, so it was only natural that someone directly affected by it would be in far worse shape. Still, Julianna seemed to be determined to keep on going and not let her feelings hold her down, which was more than a testament to her inner strength.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. It¡¯s good to get to sleep longer once in a while,¡± Erin replied with a smile, before looking around and not seeing anybody else around. ¡°Where are the others?¡±

    ¡°They all woke up before you and went their own ways, after eating breakfast,¡± Julianna explained. ¡°Ryle took Arkay with her and went to explore the town. Durge said he needed some time alone and headed to a more secluded place away from here. Lexton wanted to go inspect the nearby plants and other things in case he could use them for potions. Zeldana didn¡¯t say what she was going to do, just that she doesn¡¯t want anyone else around her right now. And I believe Stacey is still in your van.¡±

    The redhead was a bit disappointed that she had apparently been left behind by the others, but understood that they most likely needed time for themselves, too. Besides, it wasn¡¯t her place to demand others to stay around whenever she wanted them to and they could all take care of themselves, so it was alright in the end.

    ¡°I guess that leaves me only me here with you then. Hope you¡¯re not too disappointed,¡± Erin joked, hoping to lift the mood a bit. ¡°You mentioned breakfast earlier. There wouldn¡¯t happen to be any left?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I made sure that each one would get their fair share, so there should be enough for you,¡± Julianna said with a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s on the table. Just pick whichever bowl there is, but do leave the other two be, okay? Those are for Stacey and Silvia.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll make sure to not even touch them,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Also¡­ Thanks for preparing food for Stacey as well. I know she isn¡¯t exactly the nicest person around, so I do appreciate the fact that you¡¯re willing to help her out.¡±

    ¡°No problem. After all, I was the one who invited you guys. It would be rude of me to not treat you all well and make exceptions,¡± the former maid said. ¡°Although¡­ Mind if I ask one thing? I did see for myself that she can be unpleasant, but is it really that bad? The way I heard your friends talk about her made her seem like an absolute nightmare.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m honestly happy that you¡¯ve only seen as much as you have of her behavior. It can get A LOT worse.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ why is she traveling with you guys?¡± Julianna asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see how having someone like that as part of your group being an asset.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a complicated matter,¡± the redhead said, struggling to find a proper explanation. ¡°I do understand what you¡¯re saying, but I just can¡¯t simply abandon her. That¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you say so. It¡¯s not like it has anything to do with me,¡± the former maid said with a shrug. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ll be outside if you need me. I¡¯m going to clean up the rest of the graffiti that Silvia tried to get rid of.¡±

    Erin simply nodded in response and the two went their separate ways. The redhead made her way to the dinner table, where she found three bowls filled with what appeared to be cooked crab and vegetables. The bowls had their tops covered with a clear wrapping that prevented the food from spoiling. After picking a bowl for herself, Erin took off the wrap, sat down and began to eat.

    As she was eating, the redhead couldn¡¯t help but think about the little talk she had with Julianna just a moment ago. It was true that there was no benefit to her or anyone in her group from having Stacey around, so why was she still keeping her former friend around? She began to think about what the actual reason for this was.

    Was it because they had a shared history together, where they were old friends? That might have been the case at the start, but it was far from the actual reason. After all, Erin didn¡¯t exactly have the fondest of memories when it came to her old friend group. She was willing to admit that this was somewhat hypocritical of her, but whenever she thought back to those days she was in high school it didn¡¯t fill her with a warm sense of nostalgia, but shame and guilt. The redhead knew that what she had done back then had been wrong in more ways than one, so the ¡°good old days¡± weren¡¯t really a thing for her. Had Stacey shown at least some level of regret over their actions back then or even just a hint of having become better, Erin could say that she wanted to save an old friend. Since this wasn¡¯t the case, the redhead could easily say that the friendship between the two of them was dead and gone.

    Was it some form of a moral obligation then? Erin had made it very clear that there was no way for Stacey to survive on her own. Even if she managed to become sensible enough to take her life seriously and find a way to actually survive, there were numerous people that wouldn¡¯t hesitate to either use her for their own benefit or downright kill her. The redhead doubted that Rayleen¡¯s people were the only ones aware of ¡°Golorath¡¯s lady,¡± so there would be more people looking to use her in a similar manner they had hoped to. Not only that, but those with a grudge towards the Overlord would probably try to kill her, if not worse. There were even Golorath¡¯s own subordinates that she would have to worry about. However, this world wasn¡¯t one where you could afford to simply let others take care of you. This world was cruel and unforgiving, so you needed to become strong or get trampled by those who were more powerful. Erin wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that they could afford to drag a liability like Stacey around.

    Of course, there was the risk of Stacey telling the others about who they were and what they had done back in their own world. Having already been betrayed twice by people that she had trusted and had learned the truth about her, Erin was not willing to risk it again. Still, there could be a way to prevent Stacey from telling others anything about her, even if it would take some work to do cleanly.

    When the thought of killing Stacey came up, Erin had to stop herself for a moment. It honestly scared her how easily she had considered such an option. Had life become such a simple thing that taking it from another didn¡¯t require any thought? How could anyone think like that? The redhead was disturbed by how much this world had changed her.

    In the end, Erin was left with no answer to her dilemma. It was clear to her that she needed to do something about Stacey, but what? Her personality was completely rotten, so it was very unlikely that she would do anything to help out. She also had a downright hostile attitude towards anyone from this world, so she was bound to cause issues with anyone except the redhead. Yet she couldn¡¯t just be left on her own either. What could be done about her?

    Hoping that there might be a way to fix the whole mess they were in, Erin decided to have a long and serious talk with her former friend. She needed to make it very clear to Stacey that antagonizing her friends was not going to be tolerated anymore and that she needed to start pulling her weight around. Otherwise, she might not have a place among them anymore.

    After finishing her breakfast and taking the dirty dishes to where the others had left theirs, Erin walked outside, looking for Stacey. She didn¡¯t have to look for long, as she quickly found her standing by the van.

    ¡°Hey,¡± the redhead called out to her former friend. ¡°I need to talk to you. Do you have time?¡±

    ¡°I have plenty of time,¡± Stacey replied. ¡°But what I don¡¯t have is food and I¡¯m hungry. Is there anything here that I could eat?¡±

    Erin shook her head as she let out a frustrated sigh. She should have known that Stacey wasn¡¯t going to join the others for breakfast, due to her issues. It still greatly aggravated her, as it made everything a struggle, no matter how simple.

    ¡°There¡¯s some crab that Julianna prepared for breakfast on the dinner table inside. She even made enough for someone like you,¡± the redhead explained as she glared at her former friend, her tone not even trying to hide her malice. ¡°Go there, eat your fill and come back here. Got it?¡±

    ¡°...There¡¯s no one else there, right?¡± Stacey asked. ¡°I am not going to have to deal with one of the¡­ people you¡¯re so fond of?¡±

    Erin knew exactly what her former friend had wanted to call the others and it did anger her somewhat. However, seeing how Stacey had avoided using the word ¡°freak¡± it seemed like she was at least aware of how her words pushed people the wrong way, at least when it came to the redhead. This showed a sign that there might be a way to get through to her.

    ¡°The only one in there is Silvia, Julianna¡¯s little sister, but she¡¯s sick and bedridden. I doubt you¡¯ll see her,¡± Erin said. ¡°Even then, I¡¯d think it¡¯s quite pathetic that you would be afraid of her.¡±

    Stacey glared at the redhead, not amused by the remark. Despite that, she walked into the house in search of her breakfast meal.

    Once her former friend was gone, Erin let out a sigh. She really hoped that there was still a chance to get through to Stacey, as she feared what would happen if she couldn¡¯t do it.

    <hr>

    Back inside the house, Stacey had found the meal prepared for her and went to eat. Even if she hated this world and practically everything in it, she still appreciated the food. While not something that was exactly to her tastes, she knew not to turn down a free meal, especially when she was hungry.

    Just as she was about to finish her bowl of crab, Stacey heard the sound of a door opening behind her. Turning around, she saw Silvia come out of her room. The little elf girl had a hazy look in her eyes, like she had trouble seeing properly. This was most likely due to her illness, as it had most likely drained a lot of energy out of her.

    However, this didn¡¯t matter to Stacey. The way she saw it, one of the freaks that she didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with was close to her, when they shouldn¡¯t have been. Not only that, this one was also sick. What if she caught whatever the thing before her had?

    Finishing the rest of her food, Stacey stood up from the table and began to walk towards the door. This, however, forced her to walk by Silvia, who in her dazed state mistook the woman before her as her sister. The elf girl, thinking that her sister was walking towards her in order to give her a hug, reached out her hands towards the person before her.

    Unfortunately for Silvia, not only was the person before her not her sister, but was someone who held deep loathing and disgust towards anybody from this her world. The reaction from Stacey was predictable, quick and violent.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, you freak!¡± Stacey shouted as she violently pushed Silvia away from her, causing the girl to fall over.

    However, while Stacey had only wanted to get the girl away from her, what she did had far more severe consequences. There was a chair in the direction that Silvia fell over to and the back of her head came into contact with a corner of the wooden piece of furniture. Even if the blow didn¡¯t seem all that bad, the actual damage it caused was.

    Stacey stared at the now motionless girl with wide eyes, as a small pool of blood was starting to form next to her head. Silvia herself simply stared up into the ceiling with eyes wide from shock, her expression from her last moments now frozen on her face.

    Just as Stacey was beginning to break out of her shock and walk outside, the front door opened once again.

    ¡°Hey, I heard some loud noises. Is everything-?¡± Julianna began to ask, only for her question to die in her throat upon seeing her sister¡¯s dead body. Her eyes went wide with disbelief, as she began to slowly make her way to Silvia.

    Once she had reached her sister, Julianna fell to her knees and picked up Silvia¡¯s body, bringing it closer so that she could look at it properly. Her movements were slow and careful, almost as if she was afraid of breaking Silvia further. Julianna gently shook her sister in a vain attempt at waking her up, hoping that her fears weren¡¯t true. Hoping that Silvia would once again move and speak.

    This didn¡¯t happen, as the younger elf sister remained lifeless.

    ¡°...Why?¡± Julianna asked in a hollow tone, devoid of all life. ¡°Why did you do this?¡±

    ¡°...D-Don¡¯t start blaming me! How do you even know this was my fault at all!?¡± Stacey tried to bluff, but it was obvious to anyone that she was lying. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s the one who-¡±

    ¡°WHY!? WHY DID YOU TAKE HER FROM ME!?¡± Julianna screamed hysterically as she stood up and went to grab Stacey by the front of her cloak. ¡°SHE WAS ALL I HAD! DID YOU HAVE TO-!?¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Julianna¡¯s erratic ramblings were cut short, as she felt a sharp pain hit her stomach. She looked down to see a knife embedded into her body. Just as she had walked up to her sister¡¯s killer, Stacey had grabbed it in a panic off the table and used it to defend herself.

    After confirming what had happened, Julianna looked back up to see Stacey sneering at her in utter hatred. Before the elf could ask any further questions, she fell to the floor while bleeding heavily. The last thing she saw before everything went dark was Silvia laying on the floor next to her.

    ¡°...T-That shows you, you bastard!¡± Stacey said as she got over the shock of killing the two elves. ¡°You should have never tried to mess with-!¡±

    The rest of her boasting died, as she realized that someone new had entered the house. This time, it was none other than Erin, who was staring at her former friend in complete shock and horror.

    The two former friends stood in silence, simply staring at each other for a moment. Neither dared to make the first move, almost like they were in fear of something. Finally, Erin began to walk towards Stacey, who could tell that there was a new emotion brewing behind the redhead¡¯s lone eye. Even though Erin¡¯s expression remained unchanged, Stacey could tell that the flames of fury and rage were now burning behind her widened gaze.

    ¡°H-Hey, this wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± Stacey tried to defend herself desperately as she backed up against the table, her hand trying to grasp something that she could use to defend herself. ¡°They were the ones who came to me! I didn¡¯t want to even get close to them, okay!?¡±

    Erin¡¯s gaze remained unchanged, as she stopped mere inches away from Stacey, who was now being terrified by the redhead¡¯s behavior. Stacey knew that Erin was angry, but she had never seen her this angry. She had no idea what her former friend might do and that scared her to no end.

    ¡°S-Stay back!¡± Stacey said with her voice cracking from fear, as she pulled the knife out of Julianna¡¯s body and held it before her in a threatening manner. ¡°I can use this thing! If you try to do anything to me, I¡¯ll-!¡±

    The threats were useless, as Erin wasn¡¯t affected by them at all. Instead, the redhead grasped the blade of the knife with her artificial hand and used the hidden flame mechanism to heat up the blade. The kitchen utensil began to glow from the heat of the flames, causing Stacey to let go of it with a pained scream.

    As Stacey fell to her knees while holding her burnt hand, Erin simply kept staring down at her. She showed no hesitation or remorse when it came to hurting the person she used to consider one of her friends. Stacey would soon learn this the hard way.

    ¡°W-W-WAIT!¡± Stacey screamed in a pained voice as she stared up at Erin with pleading eyes. ¡°I get that you¡¯re angry, but we¡¯re friends, remember!? Don¡¯t you remember the times we used to spend together, having fun!? Don¡¯t you remember how we-!?¡±

    The pleas were cut short by a swift punch that hit Stacey right in the face. The pleading woman fell to the floor with a broken nose that she was now holding in an attempt at stopping the bleeding. Erin had even made sure to use her artificial hand that was made from metal in order to hurt Stacey as much as possible.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Erin commanded in a low and cold tone. ¡°You have gone too far now. There is nothing you can do to save yourself anymore. Don¡¯t make it worse by reminding me of those shameful times.¡±

    ¡°W-What do you mean shameful!? You were having just as much fun as the rest of us were!¡± Stacey screamed in an accusing tone as tears were now flowing down from her eyes. ¡°You were part of our group and enjoyed putting others in their place as much as we did! How the hell are you supposed to be any better than me!?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re right. I¡¯m no better than you,¡± the redhead said. ¡°In fact, I might even be worse than you, since I am trying to wash away my crimes. I want to erase my guilt, so I can live without the weight of my sins pressing down on me. Even if I know that nothing can ever erase all the horrible things I¡¯ve done and caused.¡±

    ¡°...T-Then there¡¯s no need for us to be angry at each other, right!?¡± Stacey asked in a slightly hopeful tone as she sat up. ¡°We can just put this all behind us and move on! After all, why should we care about any of these-!?¡±

    Stacey¡¯s rambling was once again cut short by a swift punch in the face, this time hitting her in the cheek. As soon as her body hit the floor, Erin unleashed a barrage of kicks aimed straight at her former friend¡¯s stomach, who coughed up blood from the relentless attacks.

    Taking a moment to catch her breath, Erin stared down at Stacey, who looked pitiful. She was curled up on the floor, holding her stomach, while coughing up blood between the hiccups from her crying. Her face was now a mess not just from the broken nose, but from the mixture of blood and tears covering it.

    ¡°Please¡­ Stop¡­ Just stop!¡± Stacey begged as she looked up at Erin with terrified eyes. ¡°I never wanted any of this¡­ I never wanted to come to this world and I didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone here¡­ I just want to go home¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you think I care?¡± Erin asked coldly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you wanted. It doesn¡¯t even matter what you were trying to do. All that matters is what you¡¯ve done and what it has caused. And for those things I can never forgive you.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But you¡¯ll be just as bad as Gabe, if you do this!¡± Stacey said, trying to desperately find some way out of her predicament. ¡°Do you really want that!? To be just as bad as he and his friends are!?¡±

    ¡°Why should it matter now? My hands are already covered in blood as it is,¡± the redhead stated. ¡°I might have done all of it so far in order to survive or for the sake of a higher cause, but that doesn¡¯t wash it away. Adding yours isn¡¯t going to make me any better or worse either way.¡±

    Seeing as there was no way to convince the redhead from going through with what she was going to do, Stacey began to desperately crawl away from her, hoping to escape. Her attempt was futile, as a strong hand grabbed her by the hair and lifted her up, not caring about her agonized screams.

    With tears in her fearful eyes, Stacey stared into the lone eye of Erin, who was glaring at her with utter hatred. Any hope that she might have had before was now completely gone.

    ¡°Now I¡¯m going to do something I should have done days ago,¡± the redhead said in a low voice filled with malice. ¡°If you want any mercy, then you better hope that you die as soon as possible.¡±

    Stacey screamed in agony, as Erin made sure that she paid for every sin she had committed.

    <hr>

    About an hour or two later, Erin¡¯s companions were starting to return back to Julianna¡¯s house. All of them had decided to take their time with whatever they were doing, as they weren¡¯t in any kind of a hurry.

    ¡°Man, these octopus-filled cream donuts are great!¡± Ryle said with her mouth full of the pastry. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a shame that none of you guys were with me and Arnie, because I¡¯m not sharing any of these!¡±

    ¡°Well, some of us have actual work that needs to be done!¡± Lexton said as he glared at the blonde in disgust due to her bad manners. ¡°And would you mind and chew your food properly!? You have the manners and class of a wild animal!¡±

    ¡°Like you¡¯re one to criticize others on such things, mister con artist!¡± Ryle shot back at the kobold, as she took another donut from her paper bag. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous because I got to enjoy my day, while you were fiddling with weeds all day!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not weeds, they¡¯re medicinal herbs!¡± Lexton shouted angrily while holding up some of the plants he had collected. ¡°These are the things that will make us money and help us on our journey!¡±

    ¡°Meh. They all look the same to me,¡± the blonde said with a shrug, taking a bite out of her donut. ¡°If I can¡¯t eat them, they might as well be weeds for all I care.¡±

    The lack of respect towards his work caused the kobold to seethe from anger. Realizing that a new argument might break out, Arkay decided to step in.

    ¡°What kind of plants did you find, Lex?¡± the cat boy asked. ¡°Was there anything rare or special?¡±

    ¡°Glad to see that there is at least someone who recognizes the importance of quality work!¡± Lexton said happily as he went on to show all of the plants he had collected. ¡°While the environment around here isn¡¯t the most suitable for plant life, I did manage to find some very useful herbs here and there. For example, this is called Dwarf Grass and is often used to help with stomach pains and indigestion.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Arkay said, listening carefully. ¡°Was there anything else you found?¡±

    ¡°Well, there was this Troll Moss that I plan to-¡±

    ¡°Oh, who cares about his weeds!? That¡¯s his worry and work!¡± Ryle suddenly said loudly as she shoved another donut into Arkay¡¯s mouth, not liking that his attention was directed at somebody else. ¡°Come on! We¡¯ve got plenty of treats from our trip to town! The least we can do is enjoy them while they are still fresh and warm!¡±

    Arkay tried to speak up, but the pastry that was choking him due to being forced down his throat.

    As a new argument ended breaking out despite the cat boy¡¯s efforts, Durge and Zeldana were left to watch the events unfold before their eyes with mixed reactions.

    ¡°...Do you think we are ever going to have a day where those two don¡¯t end up fighting with each other?¡± Durge asked with a sigh. ¡°It feels like no matter what the day is or what anybody does to keep the peace, those two end up butting heads with one another. It¡¯s almost like a law of nature at this point!¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Zeldana said in a low voice devoid of life.

    The response from the elf took the orc by surprise. Normally, Zeldana would be giddy as Ryle and Lexton got into an argument, as she found them entertaining. However, not only was there a lack of any excitement, but it seemed like there was no energy behind her in the first place. If she wasn¡¯t standing right next to him, Durge would think that this was someone completely different.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± the orc asked. ¡°Normally you would be either enjoying their antics or egging them on. Now you look like someone who¡¯s at a funeral.¡±

    ¡°I practically am at a funeral,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°Have you forgotten about that Silvia girl and how she can¡¯t be helped? That¡¯s not exactly something that brings a smile to your face.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I see,¡± Durge said as he realized what the elf was talking about. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t realize that it would affect you this much.¡±

    ¡°Well, it did. It really shook me to my damn core,¡± the elf said. ¡°I became a legend in the resistance due to my unmatched healing skills. People believed that I could heal anyone, no matter what was wrong with them. And even when I knew that wasn¡¯t true, I¡­ I even began to think that¡­¡±

    ¡°Zel, listen. None of us are gods, okay? There are clear limits to the things all of us can do,¡± the orc said. ¡°Even then, you can go far beyond those limits and have kept us all alive. There is nothing to be ashamed of with what you can do.¡±

    ¡°Except when I have to deal with a dying child!¡± Zeldana said somewhat angrily, before realizing her mistake. ¡°Sorry¡­ It¡¯s not your fault. I just¡­ feel so helpless! I¡¯m supposed to be able to help people, yet when it really mattered, all I could do was tell her only family that she would die. What kind of a healer is that?¡±

    ¡°Like you said, there are limits to what you can do. Even you know that,¡± Durge said in a sympathetic tone. ¡°Hell, I¡¯ve been through the same thing you¡¯re going through now. Do you have any idea how many times I¡¯ve regretted that I wasn¡¯t strong enough to keep people around me alive? Not just when I was still in my tribe, but when I was part of the Laughing Ogre. I watched as countless people were put through their sick games without even trying to do a damn thing about it. It wasn¡¯t until I joined up with Erin and the others that I¡¯ve been able to live in a manner that doesn¡¯t leave me with regrets.¡±

    ¡°...I didn¡¯t mean to imply that you didn¡¯t understand or hadn¡¯t gone through something as bad as I had,¡± the elf said while looking away in shame. ¡°But still, like I said earlier, all I could do was tell that little girl¡¯s sister that she was going to die. That¡¯s not really anything to be proud of.¡±

    ¡°Very few things actually are worth pride, but I don¡¯t think what you did was completely useless,¡± the orc said. ¡°Even if the news came with a lot of sorrow and heartbreak, you did help those two to some degree. Now that Julianna knows the truth, she won¡¯t be fooled by other fake healers peddling useless medicine nor will she force herself to take on risky work that will threaten her life. Now she can focus on something far more important, which is spending time with her sister and just being there for her. I¡¯m sure that little girl must have felt terribly lonely from time to time. That won¡¯t be an issue any longer.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ guess that¡¯s something,¡± Zeldana said with a small sad smile. ¡°Thanks, Durge.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Durge replied with a smile of his own. ¡°By the way, what were you doing with your time off? You kind of just left without giving any details.¡±

    ¡°I was looking for a local healer,¡± the elf replied. ¡°Specifically one who has been going around selling expensive medicine that can supposedly cure any illness.¡±

    ¡°...This wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with recent events, would it?¡± the orc asked.

    Just as Zeldana was about to answer, she and Durge noticed that up ahead Ryle had suddenly stopped walking. It didn¡¯t look like the blonde was taking a break from walking or anything like that. Something had just come over her, forcing her to stand completely still while staring ahead towards Julianna¡¯s house. Both Arkay and Lexton had also noticed her strange behavior, as they were looking at her with confused looks.

    ¡°Ryle, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Durge asked as he and Zeldana walked up to the blonde. ¡°Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°More like something has happened,¡± the blonde replied with a wide-eyed look on her face. ¡°I smell blood. A good amount of it, too.¡±

    Upon realizing the situation, everyone got ready for a fight, as they carefully moved towards the house. The front door had been left open, so Ryle was able to peek inside to see if there was anybody else inside. Upon seeing no one, she entered, followed by the others.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like anybody¡¯s here,¡± Durge said as he looked around, hammer at the ready.

    ¡°And that¡¯s worrying me,¡± Ryle said as she pointed at something on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t know who all of that belongs to.¡±

    The others turned their gazes and saw a large amount of blood on the floor around the dinner table. There were also marks that indicated something had been dragged across the floor and outside.

    ¡°Think you can trace it?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°The scent is pretty fresh, so it should be easy,¡± Ryle replied as she sniffed the air. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    The others followed behind the blonde, as she led them behind the house. Not too far from there, they found Erin sitting on the ground, hugging her knees. The redhead¡¯s back was facing them, so they couldn¡¯t tell if she was hurt or not.

    ¡°Erin, are you okay?¡± Ryle called out, but received no answer. ¡°We saw a lot of blood inside the house and found a trail that led here. Do you know what happened?¡±

    Erin remained silent and didn¡¯t even move an inch. Just as the blonde was getting angry was about to demand and answer, she and the others noticed that the redhead was sitting in front of something. There were two mounds of freshly dug up soil that had a large rock placed on top of each. It didn¡¯t take much to figure out what these were.

    ¡°Erin?¡± Arkay called out with fear in his voice as he was afraid of the answer they would receive to the question on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Where are Julianna and Silvia?¡±

    ¡°...They¡¯re gone,¡± Erin answered in a dull and lifeless voice. ¡°They¡¯re both dead. These are their graves.¡±

    The others¡¯ expression went to shock and then grief, as the loss of their hosts sunk into them. Despite the sorrow they felt weigh them down, they needed to know something else.

    ¡°What happened? Who did it?¡± Ryle asked with barely held back rage. ¡°Who were the bastards that killed them?¡±

    ¡°The monster that did it is already dead. I killed it,¡± Erin answered. ¡°It¡¯s body is to the left over there. I couldn¡¯t be bothered to bury it, after what it did.¡±

    Wanting to see the one who was responsible for the deaths of the two elf sisters, the others moved in the direction the redhead had pointed to them. They soon found a body laying in the tall grass, that drew shocked gasps from them.

    Before their eyes lay the dead body of Stacey. They could also tell by the wounds on her that her death had not been an easy one.

    While most were stuck staring at the body, Ryle frowned and stomped over to Erin. She grabbed the redhead by the front of her shirt and lifted her up so that they were looking each other in the eyes.

    ¡°What the hell is going on here!?¡± the blonde demanded angrily. ¡°Who the hell was Stacey and why did you bring her along with us!?¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Erin asked in the same lifeless monotone voice she had been using. ¡°She was Golorath¡¯s lady. Someone who angered him to the point that-¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T GIVE ME THAT BULLSHIT!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that there was something else to her than just that! Why else would you drag someone so useless along!? It made no sense! Besides, we already know that you¡¯re hiding things from the rest of us!¡±

    ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± the redhead asked, her tone now fearful.

    ¡°You¡¯ve obviously been hiding things from us this whole time! We know that there is some special deal between you and Zeldana, which is how she joined us in the first place!¡± the blonde continued, surprising not only Erin but Zeldana as well. ¡°Not only that, we learned about a private talk the two of you had with each other, where it was mentioned that we¡¯re being chased by your old friends! Mind explaining that!?¡±

    Erin looked over to Zeldana, who was just as shocked as she was. How and when had they learned about this? How long had they been thinking about what was going on with them?

    Those questions ultimately didn¡¯t matter. The cat was out of the bag and there was no use trying to hide things anymore.

    ¡°So are you going to actually talk? Or are you just going to give us more lies, while expecting us to trust you?¡± Ryle asked while glaring at the redhead.

    ¡°...You¡¯re right. I have been hiding things from you,¡± Erin said as she was finally released from the blonde¡¯s hold. ¡°I probably should have told you all about it sooner, but I was afraid of how you would react. I just want you to know that I never had any intention of harming any of you. Let alone Julianna or Silvia¡­¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll be the judges of that,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Now, would actually mind telling us this big secret of yours?¡±

    ¡°In a moment,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°I just need to do one thing first.¡±

    To the surprise of everyone, Erin suddenly took off her cloak that held all of her weapons and laid it on the ground, before sitting on her knees.

    ¡°Umm¡­ What are you doing?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m letting you know that I have no intention of running away from any of you, no matter how you decide to judge me. I can¡¯t defend myself and I won¡¯t be able to escape, if you decide to take revenge on me,¡± Erin explained with her head bowed down. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to do is show just how sincere I am with what I¡¯m about to say.¡±

    ¡°You really are serious about this,¡± Durge said. ¡°Let¡¯s hear your story then.¡±¡¯

    ¡°...As you have already guessed, Stacey wasn¡¯t just anybody to me. The two of us were friends years ago,¡± the redhead began her tale. ¡°Back then, there were some other people that you all know of that I¡­ associated with. Those people would become the Five Overlords.¡±

    The others, with the exception of Zeldana, listened with wide eyes, as Erin told them of her past and the people involved in it.

 156. Truth Be Told

    Chapter 156

    Truth Be Told

    It took her some time, but Erin was able to tell her whole story. She made sure not to leave out any necessary details. The way she saw it, her friends deserved to know the whole truth. The redhead had told them about how she was from a different world completely, who she had been back there, who Stacey was and most importantly who the Five Overlords used to be. She even told them about how the world they were in was actually a game in their world and that was why she knew about things in this world, even if her knowledge was mostly of the distant past.

    Erin was more than aware of the risk of telling them the truth about how she was essentially responsible for all the terrible things that had happened. After all, she had already been betrayed twice by people who knew the truth, so she fully expected it to happen once again to some degree. Even if no one physically attacked her, they might just walk away and leave her behind. Still, whatever punishment they had in mind, she was willing to take it.

    Having finished her story, the redhead looked at her friends and tried to analyze their reactions. Zeldana was obviously the calmest, as she already knew the things Erin had told. However, the rest of them were all in varying degrees of shock. All of the were looking at her with wide eyes as their minds were processing things.

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t believe this,¡± Arkay said, finally breaking the silence. ¡°You mean to tell me that the Overlords came here and destroyed everything¡­ just because of a prank!?¡±

    ¡°Well, from what I understood about this whole tale is that it wasn¡¯t just a simple prank. What happened was that they were essentially ostracized from the rest of society. For a lot of people, that might even be a fate worse than death,¡± Lexton said thoughtfully. ¡°What I¡¯m more perplexed over is the fact that our world is simply a game in her world. It makes me wonder about a lot of things¡­ But it also explains how Erin knows about so many things, yet her information always seems to be outdated.¡±

    Ryle suddenly turned around and walked a few steps away from the rest of the group. Just from her body language alone the others could tell that the blonde was very angry.

    ¡°...Is it that much of a problem, though? The whole thing about our world being a game there,¡± Durge suddenly asked. ¡°I mean, I might not be the right person to say this, but I feel like getting your head wrapped up in that sort of stuff is just pointless. All I know is my life and how I¡¯ve lived it, and it sure doesn¡¯t feel fake to me. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some form of an explanation to all of this, even if I¡¯m not the one to figure it out.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not the least bit bothered by that whole idea?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°What can I say? These sort of existential and philosophical questions have always gone way over my head,¡± the orc replied with a shrug. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that I¡¯m going to live my life the way I think is best to and leave such things for others to ponder.¡±

    Erin was watching the conversations happening between her friends over what she had just told them unfold with a few drops of sweat falling down her face. She was waiting to find out what they thought about her, but the fact that they seemed to only be interested in other matters was making her nervous.

    ¡°...So what do you guys think about me, now that you know the truth?¡± the redhead finally asked, having grown tired of waiting. ¡°You all know that it was me who was responsible for sending the Five Overlords over the edge. In a sense, everything that has happened through their actions is also my fault. What is your opinion on me?¡±

    Silence fell over the group, as they all began to think about it. It looked like Erin¡¯s fears were becoming a reality, when Ryle suddenly walked over to her. The blonde had a furious look on her face, as she glared at the redhead.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± Ryle asked while trying to hold back her anger. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell the rest of us about who you and the Five Overlords are!? Why did you hide it for so long!?¡±

    ¡°...I was scared,¡± Erin replied as she looked down in shame. ¡°Before I met any of you, I told two other people the truth about myself. In the end, they betrayed me and tried to kill me. I¡­ I couldn¡¯t bear the idea of having any of you hate me, so I did my best to hide it. Even if you ultimately deserved to know the truth¡­¡±

    Most of the others seemed to soften their gazes in sympathy at least a little. However, Ryle still looked completely furious, as she glared at the redhead.

    ¡°And what exactly changed!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°What has become so different now that you feel the need to come clean and tell us everything!?¡±

    ¡°Because the fact that I tried to keep it all a secret had such severe consequences,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Stacey threatened me with telling you all the truth, which scared me into treating her the way I did. There were also other reasons, but that doesn¡¯t matter¡­ In the end, I found out that me keeping this whole thing a secret was only causing-¡±

    The redhead¡¯s explanation was cut off, as Ryle suddenly punched her right in the face. She fell to the ground, as the others let out shocked gasps in response to what the blonde had done.

    ¡°Ryle! What the hell are you doing!?¡± Lexton shouted.

    ¡°Stop it! She¡¯s not the one you should be attacking!¡± Durge also shouted.

    ¡°DON¡¯T!¡± Erin suddenly yelled while holding up her hand, putting a stop to the pleas. ¡°This is fine. Let her do as she wants. I deserve that much.¡±

    ¡°You sure do, you asshat!¡± Ryle said angrily as she grabbed the redhead by the front of her shirt and lifted her up. ¡°I¡¯m going to make you pay for what you did to us!¡±

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s your right to do so,¡± Erin said in a sad tone, heartbroken over the person who was essentially her best friend getting this angry with her, even if she had expected it. ¡°After all, you¡¯ve suffered a lot because of me.¡±

    ¡°You goddamn right I have! All of us have!¡± the blonde yelled. ¡°How could you betray us by not simply telling us all of this and keeping it hidden for so long!?¡±

    Silence fell over as all eyes were on Ryle. Everyone was wondering what the blonde meant.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Didn¡¯t I already tell you that?¡± Erin asked, confused over the question. ¡°I was worried that you all might-¡±

    The redhead was cut off once again. This time, by a painful headbutt.

    ¡°I heard that already and it sounded like total bullshit!¡± Ryle shouted, as Erin held her head in pain. ¡°What I want to know is what made you think so little of us!? Did you honestly think that we would betray you over something like this!?¡±

    ¡°B-But it happened to me before!¡± the redhead argued. ¡°Two people that knew about me, tried to-!¡±

    ¡°AND THAT¡¯S SUPPOSED TO BE ENOUGH OF A REASON!? ARE YOU AN IDIOT!?¡± the blonde practically roared in fury. ¡°Aren¡¯t we your friends!?¡±

    The last question took Erin by complete surprise and left her speechless. She stared at Ryle, wondering if there was some sort of a hidden meaning to what she had asked, but saw nothing like that. The blonde had asked a very simple and straightforward question with no hidden meaning.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I do think that t he things you and your buddies did back in your world were wrong. Hell, had I been there, who knows what I might have done in response to it!¡± Ryle said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t give those guys an excuse to come here and wreck the lives of everybody else! What did we ever do to them!? Seems to me like they are just a bunch of brats throwing a tantrum!¡±

    The redhead stared at the blonde in utter shock, trying her best to process what had just happened. Ryle had gotten angry at her, like she had expected, but the reason for it was completely different from what Erin had anticipated. She thought that the blonde would blame her for everything bad that had happened to her, like the death of her brother, yet all she seemed to be upset about was the fact that she simply hadn¡¯t told her the truth.

    ¡°Ryle has a point. It wasn¡¯t you who forced them to do the things they did,¡± Durge said thoughtfully. ¡°In the end, every one of us makes their own decisions on how they go about life. That also applies to when bad things happen to them. Even if what happened to those guys was terrible, it doesn¡¯t give them an excuse to whatever they want here.¡±

    ¡°As someone who has been treated like crap by pretty much everybody around me, I can somewhat sympathize with those five,¡± Lexton said. ¡°When you¡¯re put in a position where it feels like everybody is out to get you, it¡¯s easy to view everybody around you as an enemy. That¡¯s pretty much why I became the way I was. I was certain that the people I was selling my stuff to wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use me for their own good, so I might as well do that to them first. It wasn¡¯t until I met you guys that I started to ease up on that sort of worldview.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this? You seem to be agreeing with me!¡± Ryle said. ¡°And this time you¡¯re not making any snarky comments about being surprised by it! Have you perhaps come to understand that even I hold some level of divine wisdom?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve just come to accept that even an absolute moron like you can be right every once in a while,¡± the kobold replied. ¡°You know what they say about broken clocks being right twice in a day and all that.¡±

    ¡°SCREW YOU!¡± the blonde shouted angrily.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ I¡¯m honestly not sure if I understood all of those things that were said. I mean, it was a lot to take in with different worlds and all,¡± Arkay said awkwardly. ¡°But I do know two things. What the things that the Five Overlords are doing are wrong and they need to be stopped. And I don¡¯t want this group to break up, no matter what.¡±

    Erin looked at her friends in shock, having expected that at least some of them would be angry at her, but it seemed like none of them were. Instead, it seemed like they were more than willing to still stay as her friends, despite the things she had done.

    ¡°I guess you were worried over nothing at all,¡± Zeldana said with a smirk. ¡°You could have told these guys the truth about yourself long ago and you wouldn¡¯t have had to go through all those pains over hiding your past.¡±

    ¡°Just to be clear, you knew about all of this, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ryle asked while glaring at the elf. ¡°The conversation between you and Erin that Arnie heard pretty much gave it away.¡±

    ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Zeldana said playfully as she put her hands up. ¡°I¡¯m still not fully aware of all the details, but Erin¡¯s been letting me know them during our travels.¡±

    ¡°And you never felt like telling us any of this?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°That was not for me to tell, I¡¯m afraid. It was Erin¡¯s secret, so I figured that she should be the one to tell you guys, when she was ready,¡± the elf explained. ¡°Besides, where¡¯s the fun in just giving you guys the big reveal?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re a real asshole, you know that?¡± Lexton said as he glared at Zeldana.

    ¡°I prefer the term thrill seeker myself, but I suppose your term is just as fair,¡± the elf said with a shrug.

    ¡°So¡­ You guys aren¡¯t mad at me?¡± Erin asked, getting the others¡¯ attention. ¡°You¡¯re not going to blame me for what happened to you all?¡±

    ¡°Well, I think we¡¯re all a bit mad over you keeping the whole thing a secret, but- Oof!¡±

    Ryle¡¯s explanation was cut off as the redhead suddenly hugged her without any warning. The blonde felt something wet on her shoulder where Erin¡¯s face was pressed against and soon realized that she was crying.

    Realizing that she needed to give her friend comfort, Ryle awkwardly put her hands around the redhead and gently patted her on the back, hoping that it would make her feel better. The others stared at the scene with smiles on their faces, happy to see that Erin was unloading all the weight that had rested on her shoulders all this time.

    However, the moment was soon broken.

    ¡°Guys, what should I do?¡± Ryle asked while looking at the others as she continued to awkwardly hug Erin. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m doing is working.¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had a little brother? Did you never do anything like this with him?¡±

    ¡°No, our roles were opposites from this!¡± the blonde replied in a slightly panicked voice. ¡°He was always the more mature one of us, so he often had to lend me a shoulder to cry on!¡±

    ¡°Oh my God¡­ You¡¯re so pathetic!¡± the kobold said in a frustrated tone as he shook his head. ¡°Okay, imagine that it¡¯s Arnie, who is hugging you and crying! Do what you would then!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna do such things with Erin!¡± Ryle cried out in a horrified voice. ¡°Besides, even if it was someone I could do those things with, I don¡¯t want all of you watching!¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about that kind of things, you stupid piece of crap!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°What is the matter with you!? Were you dropped on your head when you were born!?¡±

    ¡°What kind of things would she be doing if that was me?¡± Arkay asked innocently.

    ¡°It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t know,¡± Durge said with a sigh.

    ¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯re doing right now,¡± Lexton said as he massaged his temples to get rid of the headache he was feeling. ¡°You¡¯re offering her comfort during an emotional time and that¡¯s really all she needs right now.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Well¡­ I think I can do that,¡± Ryle said before turning her attention back to Erin and continuing to pat her on the back. ¡°There there¡­ It¡¯s all going to be okay. You feeling any better?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I stopped crying some time ago,¡± the redhead replied as she pulled away from the blonde. ¡°Your argument kind of put an end to it¡­¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Okay¡­ Sorry,¡± Ryle apologized awkwardly. ¡°This type of thing isn¡¯t really my specialty, so I was a bit unsure as to what I should do¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I feel better already,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Even if you¡¯re not very good at it, I could still tell that you really wanted to help me feel better. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± the blonde said with a grin. ¡°I think¡­¡±

    ¡°So¡­ What do we do now?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°From what I could tell, nobody here wants to break away from the group, so I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re still in business as usual?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say your assumption is correct,¡± Durge said with a smile before looking at the others. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you all agree?¡±

    The others nodded in agreement, confirming that there wouldn¡¯t be any changes to their little band. This made Erin feel even more relieved, as she still had some worries over some of her friends wanting to leave. Now those fears had been completely crushed.

    ¡°Are we still going to stay here?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound heartless or anything, but we are in the need of a place to stay and we were invited over here¡­¡±

    ¡°I get your point and I agree,¡± Erin said. ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury to be picky right now, so we need to take what we can get.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t this still a bit messed up?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, we knew the people who lived here and they just died. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit wrong?¡±

    ¡°Trust me. I don¡¯t like it all that much either, but we have to be realistic. We need a place to stay and this here is the best we¡¯ve got. We can¡¯t act all holier than thou right now,¡± the redhead explained before looking at the graves of the two elf sisters. ¡°Besides, they wanted to help us, so I¡¯m sure they would be fine with it. By staying here for the night, we can at least give them a proper goodbye before leaving.¡±

    The others agreed with Erin. Even if they did have personal issues with staying there, they had to face the fact that looking for a new place was most likely going to lead to them sleeping in worse conditions. At times like this, they needed to be realistic.

    It took some time for them to clean up the blood from the house and properly dispose of Stacey¡¯s body. Once they were done, it was already nighttime and they needed to go to bed. Most of the group used the same sleeping arrangements they had last time, except the rooms that used to belong to the two elf sisters were now being used by Zeldana and Lexton, with the elf taking the older sister¡¯s room and the kobold taking the younger sister¡¯s.

    <hr>

    With a long day behind them, most of the group fell asleep rather quick. However, Zeldana had trouble sleeping and she decided to go outside to get some fresh air, hoping that it would help her. As she was standing outside the house, she noticed a figure walking towards the building. Wondering who it could be, the elf decided to walk up to them.

    ¡°Hey there, pal!¡± Zeldana called out to the stranger. ¡°What brings you over at this hour?¡±

    Now that she had gotten closer to him, the elf could see that this new arrival seemed to be an older gnome carrying a large backpack. He was also using a long staff to move around.

    ¡°Oh, hello, miss!¡± the gnome greeted Zeldana. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for coming so late, but I have business at that house!¡±

    ¡°Business? This late?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°Just what sort of business are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°You see, there¡¯s a little girl who lives there that is extremely ill and I need to bring her the medicine to help her,¡± the gnome explained. ¡°Her sister asked me to bring an extra large amount and come as soon as possible. Apparently, she has made enough money to buy medicine for a couple of months!¡±

    The expression on Zeldana¡¯s face froze to hide her true feelings. This was apparently the healer that had used Julianna and Silvia to make a quick buck.

    ¡°Mind if I see the medicine?¡± the elf asked, keeping herself calm. ¡°I¡¯m their cousin and I want to make sure that what you¡¯re saying is true. There are all types of con artists and scammers going around these days.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± the gnome replied, unaware of the danger he was in as he handed a bag of his medicine to Zeldana. ¡°Here you go!¡±

    It only took one quick look for the elf to confirm that it was the same medicine that Julianna had been fooled into giving her sister. This was the healer that she had been looking for earlier.

    ¡°It¡¯s the same medicine! How wonderful!¡± Zeldana said with a smile, masking her true intentions. ¡°I can take you to where those two are! You see, the younger sister wasn¡¯t feeling very well and went outside with her sister. Just follow me and you¡¯ll see them soon.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± the gnome said with a smile. ¡°Please lead the way!¡±

    Just as Zeldana took the gnome away from the house, Durge walked outside. He was still dealing with his personal demons that had woken him up and he needed some time to clear his thoughts.

    As the orc as beginning to relax, he heard a horrifying scream coming from nearby. He was about to go and investigate what it was, only to notice Zeldana walk towards him.

    ¡°Did you hear that scream!?¡± Durge asked to which the elf nodded. ¡°What was it?¡±

    ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± Zeldana answered with a smile. ¡°I just happened to find the healer I was looking for earlier today.¡±

    ¡°...Did you kill him?¡±

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m nowhere near that merciful.¡±

 157. Momentary Rest

    Chapter 157

    Momentary Rest

    The next morning, everybody woke up in refreshed spirits. While the loss of Julianna and Silvia were still obviously weighing down on the group, the fact that the killer had been punished and the two sisters had been laid to rest allowed them to move on. Each of them had seen their fair share of death as it was, too, which helped them move forward.

    However, the one who seemed like they were doing the best out of all of them was easily Zeldana, as the elf seemed to have a strange glow to herself. Even if she tried to hide it, the others easily noticed a look of satisfaction on her face. While most of them didn¡¯t know what was the cause of this, Durge had a good idea what had Zeldana in such a good mood.

    ¡°...Okay, I have to ask, what is with you now?¡± Erin asked the elf, having grown tired of wondering what was up with her. ¡°I know you well enough to tell that something really special must have happened to have you in such high spirits!¡±

    ¡°Whatever might you be talking about?¡± Zeldana asked, feigning innocence in an obvious manner. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just that our breakfast is so good that I can¡¯t help but be happy!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the breakfast my ass! I know a psychopath like you isn¡¯t going to beaming the way you are, unless there¡¯s a real good reason for it!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Now, would you mind and tell us exactly what it is or-!¡±

    ¡°NO! You don¡¯t want to know!¡± Durge suddenly shouted, surprising everyone. ¡°Trust me. None of you want to know¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you really have to be like that?¡± Zeldana asked playfully. ¡°I was just beginning to contemplate whether I should actually do it. Don¡¯t you want to hear it again?¡±

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m trying to eat here,¡± the orc said in a desperate tone. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose my appetite.¡±

    ¡°...Just what the hell happened for it to affect you of all people that badly?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Believe me when I say that it¡¯s better you don¡¯t know,¡± Durge replied. ¡°I made the mistake of asking for details and had trouble sleeping last night.¡±

    With the orc so adamant about the others not wanting to know more, they decided to let it be. Durge was not someone who could be easily shaken, as he had experienced a lot of terrifying things in his life. To see him so shaken about whatever Zeldana¡¯s secret was, it became obvious that some things were better left unknown.

    Once the group had finished their breakfast, Erin decided to go to the town in order to find something to place on the graves of Julianna and Silvia. Arkay decided to join her, hoping to help her find something nice for the elf sisters. Zeldana also decided to come along, mostly just for fun, as she didn¡¯t have much to do at their current residence.

    Once the three of them had left, the remaining half of the group settled in to just relax the best they could. Lexton was going through some blueprints he had for future inventions and Durge was reading a book he had found in the house. Ryle, on the other hand, tried to just lay down and take it easy, which was proving to be more difficult than she had imagined.

    ¡°Bleh¡­ This is too dull for me,¡± the blonde muttered as she laid on a couch. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how you guys can do this for hours. This is way too boring for me!¡±

    ¡°Well, you see, most of us don¡¯t have the attention span of an overly energetic toddler, which is why we can stay still for more than five seconds!¡± Lexton said angrily, upset that his peaceful work time was being interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s a sign of maturity that obviously you lack!¡±

    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m mature! Very mature!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°You just refuse to see it!¡±

    ¡°Sure you are. Buying a big bag of donuts that you then proceed to devour without any sign of control is such a great sign of maturity. Not to mention, shouting you''re mature like some kid,¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°What are you going to do next? Go swim in the ball pit at a burger restaurant?¡±

    ¡°Bite me!¡± the blonde shouted angrily. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous of me, because I¡¯m-!¡±

    Ryle suddenly stopped herself, as all signs of anger washed away from her face. Instead, she began to look around, like she had just heard something.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°I think so¡­ I heard some noises from outside, like there were people moving about and talking with each other,¡± the blonde explained.

    ¡°Could it be just the others returning?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°I know it hasn¡¯t been long since they left, but maybe one of them forgot something.¡±

    ¡°...Nah. This doesn¡¯t sound like them. And I hear the sounds come from the back of the house,¡± Ryle explained before sniffing the air. ¡°And there¡¯s something else. I smell paint.¡±

    <hr>

    Outside the house that Erin and her friends were using, a couple of people from the town had decided to come over in order to give ¡°punishment¡± to Julianna and Silvia for their supposed crimes against the community. Just like when Erin and Zeldana had seen when they first came there, these people were trying to paint graffiti all over the house. They assumed that the older sister had most likely already left for work, leaving only the sick younger sister home. Even if the older one was still around, they were sure that they could handle her, if she tried to do anything.

    However, their assumptions would be proven wrong in more ways than one.

    As the group of townsfolk started spraying their paint, they were so focused on their work that they failed to hear the sound of someone coming out of the house, walking to the back where they were and getting behind them. It wasn¡¯t until one of them was tapped on the shoulder did they realize that there was someone behind them.

    ¡°Oh for the love of¡­ Piss off, Julianna!¡± the vandal that was tapped on the shoulder said angrily, thinking it was the older elf sister. ¡°You know good and well that you¡¯re getting what you deserve, so don¡¯t even try to make things worse for yourself!¡±

    Thinking that her threat had gone to the right person, the vandal resumed her work in painting graffiti on the wall. She soon received another tap on the shoulder, though.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said!?¡± the vandal asked angrily as she started to turn around. ¡°I told you to-!¡±

    The rest of her words died in her throat upon seeing who it was that was standing behind her. Instead of either of the elf sisters, there was a tall blonde woman and an even taller orc. Both looked like they were some sort of criminals and they were glaring at the group of vandals.

    ¡°Yeah, I heard you the first time, but you got my name wrong,¡± Ryle said. ¡°I don¡¯t take orders from people who can¡¯t even get that much right.¡±

    ¡°What the-!? Who are you guys!?¡± another member of the group asked in shock. ¡°What the hell are you doing here!?¡±

    ¡°You do know that we¡¯re the ones that should be asking that from you, right?¡± the blonde said. ¡°Anyways, to answer your question, the people living here invited us over, so we¡¯re staying here for the time being. I doubt any of you received your invitations.¡±

    ¡°...So you¡¯re just a bunch of outsiders then?¡± the vandal that was tapped on the shoulder asked, as she glared at Ryle and Durge. She was most likely the leader of the group. ¡°Makes sense. The traitors living here wouldn¡¯t associate with anyone else other than those who would come here to exploit us.¡±

    ¡°Wow. You know the stereotype about small villages and towns being very unfriendly towards outsiders? These people are pretty much the embodiment of that,¡± Durge said as he looked over to Ryle. ¡°You¡¯d think that these guys would be smart enough to try and not live up to it.¡±

    ¡°I know, right!? It¡¯s almost hilarious, if these guys weren¡¯t pissing me off!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Also, with how hostile these people are towards anyone that isn¡¯t from the town, do you think there¡¯s some level of inbreeding going on?¡±

    ¡°Just take a look at these guys. I¡¯m pretty sure the answer is right in front of you,¡± the orc replied.

    ¡°Hey! You better watch your mouth, assholes!¡± one of the vandals shouted angrily. ¡°If you piss us off, we might just-!¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    The threats were stopped by Durge throwing a quick punch at the vandal. The orc didn¡¯t put any real effort into the strike, but it was still powerful enough to send the target flying to the wall and knock him out cold. This terrified the other vandals, as they saw how easily one of their members was taken out.

    ¡°See that? That¡¯s just the start of what¡¯s going to happen to you guys, if you don¡¯t clean the crap you put on the wall, apologize and leave,¡± Ryle said as she cracked her knuckles. ¡°Now, what will it be? Think carefully before you give us an answer.¡±

    ¡°D-Don¡¯t you try to threaten us!¡± the leader of the group of vandals said in a terrified tone. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re the only ones who hate the people living here!? The whole town is on our side! All we need to do is go there, ask for help and we¡¯ll be back with an army of people before you know it! So how about YOU apologize to us!? If you do, we might show you some mercy!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go around making such threats, if I were you,¡± the voice of Lexton suddenly called out as he arrived at the scene. ¡°Have you ever heard of memorial site preservation act?¡±

    ¡°What the hell is that supposed to be!?¡± the group leader asked in a voice that was a mix of anger, confusion and fear.

    ¡°It¡¯s rather simple, actually. You see, due to vandalism performed against the graves of high-profile individuals, a law was put into place that prevents such things from being done,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°In short, graves and the immediate areas surrounding them are now protected by law, meaning that any acts of vandalism performed on them can lead to very severe legal punishments. These include hefty fines and even prison sentences.¡±

    ¡°What the hell does that have to do with us!?¡± the leader of the vandals asked. ¡°We¡¯re at least miles away from the town¡¯s cemetery! I don¡¯t see why we should be worried about any laws like that!¡±

    Without saying a word, Ryle and Durge stepped to the side, allowing the vandals to see the graves of Julianna and Silvia. All of them went wide-eyed upon realizing what they were looking at.

    ¡°Are¡­ Are those-?¡±

    ¡°I see you¡¯re starting to realize what you¡¯ve done,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Indeed. Those are the graves of the residents of this home, Julianna and Silvia. They sadly lost their lives not too long ago and were buried here, which in turn has made this place into a memorial site.¡±

    ¡°...S-So what!? It doesn¡¯t change the fact that those two betrayed our town!¡± the leader of the vandals said, trying to put on a brave front. ¡°Even if what you¡¯re saying about the law is true, it doesn¡¯t mean that anybody here is going to enforce it for the it for their sake!¡±

    ¡°That would be a very bad idea from them, as we could simply make a complaint in the next town,¡± the kobold said. ¡°I doubt they are as stupid as your hive of inbred imbeciles here, which means they will take over the case and handle it properly. This would lead to your local law enforcement officers ending up in jail and your charges becoming even heavier.¡±

    The vandals were looking at each other nervously, wondering what they could do in their current predicament. However, it seemed like none of them had any ideas, as no one spoke up.

    Seeing how he had backed his opponents into a corner, Lexton decided to finish the whole issue.

    ¡°I should also mention, that the law has a section dedicated to the defense of memorial sites,¡± the kobold said, getting the group¡¯s attention. ¡°It states that due to the heavy emotional tolls that vandalism concerning the resting places of their loved ones takes on them, family and friends are to be allowed to defend their memorial sites to the best of their abilities. This means that even if my associates were to beat you up so hard that you¡¯d need months of surgery, it would be very likely that they wouldn¡¯t be charged with any sort of crimes at all.¡±

    The eyes of the vandals went wide as they looked over to Ryle and Durge, who were both staring down at them with menacing grins. Both sides knew that if they were to fight it would only be a one-sided massacre.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it fun when laws dedicated to protect the elites of our society can be used for our own good? Makes the world a bit more fair,¡± Lexton said with a smug grin on his face as he walked up to the group¡¯s leader. He then grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her down so they were face to face. ¡°Now, how about you and your group clean up your mess and get the hell out of our sights, while we are still willing to act civilized?¡±

    The leader simply nodded, prompting the kobold to release her with a satisfied smile on his face.

    Once they had accepted their defeat, the vandals proceeded to clean up all the graffiti they had put on the wall. After they were done, they apologized and ran away as fast as they could.

    ¡°Well, that took care of that. Good thing we didn¡¯t have to resort to violence,¡± Durge said. ¡°Things could have gotten ugly.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that kind of the point of using violence?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Besides, while I¡¯m happy to teach those punks a lesson and see the scatter like a bunch of cockroaches, I¡¯m kind of mad that we didn¡¯t get to beat them up!¡±

    ¡°I understand your feelings on that, but you have to look at the bigger picture. If we had done that, as satisfying as it might have been, it most likely would have caused us bigger problems with the town itself,¡± the orc explained. ¡°A group of punks like this might not be an issue, but I¡¯d rather not have to fight a lynch mob.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ see your point,¡± the blonde said, imagining a group of angry townsfolk coming after them. ¡°That would have totally sucked¡­¡±

    ¡°Indeed it would have. Good thing we had someone on our side that could use logic and words to drive away the problem,¡± Durge said with a smile as he looked over to Lexton. ¡°That was a good idea from you, Lex.¡±

    ¡°It was nothing. I¡¯ve just studied laws in order to conduct my business. There are tons of convenient loopholes that you can use to justify pretty much anything,¡± the kobold said with a shrug. ¡°This one, though, was a bit special, as I made up a lot of it.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ You mean to tell me that you just lied through that whole thing!?¡± Ryle asked with wide eyes.

    ¡°Not all of it, if we¡¯re perfectly honest,¡± Lexton said thoughtfully. ¡°It is true that there are laws that protect graves and other memorial sites, even allowing people to use force in order to protect such places. However, it¡¯s a law that only applies to specific places, so it isn¡¯t something that can be used by regular citizens like us.¡±

    ¡°B-But you sounded so confident!¡± the blonde said. ¡°The way you spoke made me believe it was the truth! And I do my best to not believe anything you say!¡±

    ¡°First rule of con artists, always show confidence no matter what you¡¯re selling,¡± the kobold explained with a smirk. ¡°People find confidence in your confidence, which makes it easier to fool them. If it looks like you don¡¯t believe your own words, why should anybody else? You need to at least be able to sell the image of someone that truly believes they¡¯ve got something good.¡±

    ¡°...I can¡¯t believe I got fooled by you,¡± Ryle said in disbelief. ¡°I feel so dirty.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no shame in losing to someone better than you,¡± Lexton said in a mock comforting tone. ¡°It¡¯s just that in your case it must be a daily thing.¡±

    ¡°Why you little-!¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s calm down a bit!¡± Durge said, stepping between the two in order to stop them from getting into a fight. ¡°We managed to drive those punks away for now. Do you think they¡¯ll stay away from this place from now on or will they be back again?¡±

    ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to say that we managed to scare them away for good, I¡¯m afraid I know way better than that,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°People like them never learn from one time and often have to suffer serious consequences before they truly learn their lesson. I wouldn¡¯t be shocked if they¡¯ll be on the lookout for us leaving, so they can come burn this place to the ground.¡±

    ¡°But if it was all for nothing, why did you bother helping us?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I thought you were always a more logical guy who doesn¡¯t want to waste his time and energy on things that don¡¯t matter in the long run.¡±

    ¡°Even if I am like that, I still have a heart!¡± the kobold said angrily before calming himself. ¡°I suppose the reason I decided to step in was the same as you two. I just couldn¡¯t bear the thought of our dear hosts¡¯ home being vandalized right before me. While it might have been ultimately pointless, I still felt like doing something for them.¡±

    ¡°I agree. Not to mention, thanks to your intervention, we managed to avoid fully angering the rest of the townsfolk. I don¡¯t know if those guys were bluffing, but the chance of the entire town going against us was still a possibility,¡± Durge said. ¡°Even if ultimately pointless, the way I see it, this was the best outcome we could have hoped for.¡±

    The others nodded in agreement, before going back inside the house to wait for Erin, Zeldana and Arkay to come back. What they didn¡¯t know was that their friends were being followed by someone.

    <hr>

    In the town, Erin and her two companions were going through the town¡¯s market, looking for supplies that they might need and things to put on the graves of Julianna and Silvia. As they had expected, the local townsfolk were giving them nasty looks, showing their hostility towards outsiders. Despite this, they were always willing to sell them whatever products they had, so it wasn¡¯t too big of an issue, even if it made the trio feel uncomfortable.

    ¡°They don¡¯t like us, but they sure like our money, don¡¯t they?¡± Erin muttered as she took a bite out of a sandwich they had bought from a local stall. ¡°Is it just me or are they being a bit hypocritical?¡±

    ¡°Kind of. They do have their reasons for disliking us, even if it isn¡¯t unfair,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°However, they still need money in order to feed themselves and their families, so they simply swallow their anger and do their jobs in order to get their paychecks.¡±

    ¡°I get that, but isn¡¯t it obvious that they¡¯ve got no reason to hold a grudge towards us? That¡¯s something even most children can understand!¡± the redhead argued. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that if they¡¯re struggling, driving away potential customers isn¡¯t exactly going to help!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t like it anymore than you do! I was just pointing out their logic!¡± the elf said. ¡°I just know that there isn¡¯t much we can do about it, so we might as well just ignore it altogether.¡±

    Erin was about to say something back, when she noticed that Arkay was looking at a nearby stall that seemed to be selling some sort of clay and wooden dolls. All of them seemed to have similar designs and only varied in sizes or materials.

    ¡°What¡¯s up, Arnie?¡± the redhead called out to the cat boy. ¡°Are you interested in those dolls?¡±

    ¡°They aren¡¯t dolls. They¡¯re spiritual protectors,¡± Arkay said. ¡°People place them on graves in order to drive away overflowing magical energies from the resting places of their loved ones.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Erin was reminded of the lore of the game she used to play. Undead creatures, although rarely seen in the wild, were a thing within the world. Most of them were created through necromancy by magic users as servants. In a sense they were puppets made out of rotting flesh and bone.

    Sometimes there were undead that appeared on their own without having anyone control them. These were known as dead born, as they were essentially new creatures that had been born from the dead. Most of the time they were nothing more than feral beasts, acting on pure impulses. These creatures were born from unnaturally large gatherings of magical energy appearing in the area that their bodies were located at. Much like nature itself, magical energy could be unpredictable and cause such things to happen. Even creatures born from things such as rocks and other inanimate objects might appear in a similar fashion.

    However, in some rare cases, the magical energies would be so large and powerful that the animated object or corpse would end up developing a consciousness and a personality, thus becoming a new person altogether. This was essentially how the game had undead creatures as playable characters. This was still extremely rare, so most people would prefer not to see the remains of their loved ones walking again, especially since it would be a completely new being in the body anyways.

    Realizing that her friend wanted to prevent such a fate from befalling Julianna or Silvia, Erin felt like investing on the dolls would be a good idea. Picking up a hefty sum of cash from her wallet, she handed it over to Arkay.

    ¡°Here. Go buy two of those,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°And make sure that they¡¯re good quality.¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± the cat boy said with a smile, before walking over to the stall.

    ¡°...You mind going with him?¡± Erin asked from Zeldana. ¡°I¡¯d feel better if someone was watching over him.¡±

    ¡°Huh? I know he¡¯s the youngest among us, but you¡¯ve literally had him go on missions that could have easily gotten him killed!¡± the elf said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s old enough to do his own shopping?¡±

    ¡°I know that! I just don¡¯t like the idea of him being put at risk!¡± the redhead said. ¡°You¡¯ve seen just how hostile these people are. What if someone decides to do more than simply giving him mean looks? I¡¯d like to avoid that as much as possible!¡±

    ¡°Okay, but why aren¡¯t you going?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, why not go look after him yourself?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯d see right through me,¡± Erin replied. ¡°I want to show that we do trust him. Even if we are still worried¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll pretend to be interested in the junk they¡¯re selling over at the next stall,¡± the elf said with a sigh. ¡°But you owe me for this!¡±¡¯

    The redhead simply rolled her eye as she watched her two companions leave. Once they were far enough, she turned around and walked into a nearby alley. There seemed to be no one there, except for her.

    ¡°Alright, I got separated from my two friends,¡± Erin called out like there was someone else there. ¡°Is this good enough for you?¡±

    ¡°About time you got away from them,¡± the voice of the shadowy man said as he stepped out of a dark corner, like he materialized from thin air. ¡°I was about to just drag you here myself.¡±

    ¡°...What is it you want now?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°If it¡¯s just to give me a ¡°I told you so¡± speech regarding Stacey, I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    ¡°Well, there is that, but I think you might need to hear a few other things, too,¡± the shadow said. ¡°It regards your other friends. And Golorath himself.¡±

 158. Call to Work

    Chapter 158

    Call to Work

    Erin stared at the shadow man with a surprised look. The thought of other people from her world coming here had been a thought in her mind ever since she had seen Stacey, but considering how her former friend had been imprisoned as soon as she had arrived, there was no chance that she ever saw anybody else arrive here. However, it seemed like her questions on that regard would be answered soon.

    ¡°...By my other friends, I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re referring to the group that Stacey and I were a part of?¡± Erin asked, receiving a nod in response. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what do you know about them? Where are they and what are they doing?¡±

    ¡°One thing at a time. It¡¯s no good to be impatient,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°First, I¡¯d like you to think back on some of your recent actions. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already guessing what or who I¡¯m referring to.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s obviously Stacey that you¡¯re talking about,¡± the redhead said with a frown. ¡°I get that I made a mistake. A really big one. I shouldn¡¯t have kept her around and it caused not only friction within my team, but the deaths of innocent people. What more do you need me to say about it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not getting away from such a screw up that easily! Did you really think you could just brush away the deaths of two innocent people like that? Think again!¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°I warned you about having Stacey around. I told you that you can¡¯t help everybody and should have just abandoned her. Hell, even your own companions wanted her gone! Yet despite all the obvious warning signs, you decided to keep her around! And what did that get you? Nothing good from the way I see it.¡±

    ¡°Goddammit, I know! But what am I supposed to do about it now!?¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°I get that I shouldn¡¯t have just hoped for Stacey to become a better person and that just because we used to be friends is not an excuse for what happened! The fact is that I was scared of what might happen if I did leave her on her own and that fear caused this! I don¡¯t see what I can do anymore!¡±

    ¡°What I want you to do is learn,¡± the shadowy figure answered. ¡°I want you to understand that no matter what happens, some people are beyond your reach. You either don¡¯t have the resources necessary to help them or they are just such crap people that helping them is just a waste of your time. Either they are beyond help or just refuse it altogether. You should have realized that Stacey was not going to change no matter what you did and was only going to be a problem for you and your group. You will come across similar people in the future, so you need to be ready to abandon such people, no matter how much you might hate the idea. Got it?¡±

    ¡°...Alright, I get it. I won¡¯t try to save everyone like some sort of a superhero,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°Now can we get to the things that I really need to know?¡±

    ¡°You know, you¡¯re not really convincing me that you¡¯ve learned you lesson, okay? At least try to show some level of humility. It will go a long way,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m guessing that you wish to know about your old group, right? Well, much like Stacey and you, they were also brought here.¡±

    ¡°I feared as much¡­ If one of them was brought here, then I knew that the chances of the others being here was pretty high,¡± Erin said. ¡°Speaking of which, how were they brought here in the first place? And where are they?¡±

    ¡°The answer to your first question should be obvious. I mean, you were brought here in a similar manner, weren¡¯t you?¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°Or have you forgotten about the spell that transported you here?¡±

    ¡°I know that, but it came through my computer when I tried to access the game that this world is based on¡­ Or the game is based on this world. Whatever it is,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°The point is that knowing my old friend group, they would never even consider touching such things, so I doubt that they got here the same way I did.¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m unsure about the details, the Overlords must have found a way to get to them. After all, if they got to you, they could find a way to get to them,¡± the shadowy figure explained. ¡°As for where they all are, while I don¡¯t know the details, each of the Overlords is holding one of them as a captive, just like Stacey was with Golorath. The only one who isn¡¯t is Devinolux. I¡¯m sure you can guess why.¡±

    ¡°...I was supposed to go to him,¡± Erin said after thinking about it. ¡°My old group was made up of five people, so each one would get one of us. But ever since I got sent here instead of wherever I was supposed to go to, one of them was left empty handed.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Good to see you can at least make the most obvious of correct judgments from time to time,¡± the shadowy figure said in a slightly sarcastic tone. ¡°What I want you to do with this information is to simply be prepared for the time when you meet them. There¡¯s no telling what might have been done to them, after all. They could be even worse than Stacey, even if that is hard to believe. Just don¡¯t make any promises in regards to saving them, helping them or anything of the sort. Just know who you are going to face.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make those choices when I see them,¡± the redhead said with a determined look on her face. ¡°You also said that there was something you needed to tell me about Golorath. What exactly is that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯m not going to be as straightforward about. I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re going to have to figure things out for yourself later,¡± the shadowy figure said. ¡°I¡¯m just going to tell you this much. In order for you to beat him, you need to find his weakness. That lies in his character.¡±

    ¡°His character?¡± Erin asked, completely confused. ¡°What the hell is that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°That is for you to find out. If I keep helping you out all the time, you¡¯ll never be able to become strong enough to actually beat the Five Overlords,¡± the shadowy figure said as he was starting to disappear. ¡°See you next time. Hopefully, it won¡¯t be too soon.¡±

    With the mysterious figure gone, Erin was left standing in the alley on her own. The question of what he had meant by Golorath¡¯s character was still lingering in her mind. Was it a reference to the personality of Gabe? Or was there some other meaning to it?

    Seeing as how she wasn¡¯t going to find the answer by simply pondering on it like this, the redhead walked out of the alley. She soon found her two companions at the last place she had been at, waiting for her.

    ¡°Hey, where the hell have you been?¡± Zeldana asked in an upset voice. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you for some time now! I thought you were going to be waiting for us!¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Erin apologized. ¡°Something came up that I needed to take care of.¡±

    The redhead felt guilty about lying to her friends again, especially since she just told them the biggest secret she had been holding in. It felt wrong to her to not be honest with them, seeing as how her dishonesty had almost broken up their group not too long ago. However, she just didn¡¯t know how she was going to even attempt to explain what she had just dealt with. A mysterious man that seemed to be made from shadows that was secretly helping her and seemed to know a lot about her? Not exactly something that sounded all that believable.

    For now, Erin decided to keep this to herself, but she was going to tell the others about him, as soon as she learned enough. Right now, he was still a complete mystery to her.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything bad, was it?¡± Arkay asked in a worried tone. ¡°You can tell us, no matter what it is, you know?¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but there¡¯s no need to worry. It¡¯s nothing bad,¡± the redhead said with a smile. ¡°Anyways, were you guys able to find what you were looking for?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! We got a spiritual protector for both graves!¡± the cat boy said happily as he showed two clay dolls. ¡°I actually sense real magical energy coming from these, so they should be legitimate. With these on the graves, there shouldn¡¯t be any worries about anything bad happening to them due to some strange fluctuations of the magical energies.¡±

    ¡°The bastard at the shop was trying to screw over Arnie. He was asking far too big of a price for these and was trying to guilt trip him into buying them, talking about his deceased loved ones not being able to rest in peace, if he didn¡¯t buy them,¡± Zeldana said, joining the conversation. ¡°Once I heard him try to do that, I stepped in and told him that he would need a spiritual protector soon, if he didn¡¯t give us a fair price. We suddenly got a major discount.¡±

    ¡°Zeldana was really cool back there, when she helped me out!¡± Arkay said happily. ¡°I was honestly struggling, as I didn¡¯t know what to do! Thanks to her help, I was able to get what we needed without having to pay too much!¡±

    ¡°Glad to be of help!¡± the elf said with a proud look on her face. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not such a bad influence on kids after all?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a bit concerning, but I guess it¡¯s fine for now,¡± Erin said awkwardly, fearing what kind of an influence Zeldana could be. ¡°Anyways, is there anything else you guys need to do? If not, then I suggest that we start-¡±

    The redhead cut herself off, as she saw something further down the street they were at. It was a statue depicting the Five Overlords, similar to the one she had seen in Rockmoore Town when she had first arrived in this world.

    Upon seeing the statue, Erin walked up to it, followed by her two confused companions. For some reason, she felt like the statue before her held the answer to a question that was on her mind, but she couldn¡¯t tell what it was.

    ¡°Is something wrong, Erin?¡± Arkay asked, breaking the redhead out of her thoughts. ¡°You went silent all of a sudden when you saw the statue.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s just something that I was thinking about. I feel like the answer to that is right here before my eyes, but I can¡¯t place my finger on what it is,¡± the redhead said, still trying to figure the answer she was looking for. ¡°Just out of curiosity, were these statues made to look just like¡­ You know?¡±

    ¡°Your old buddies? Yeah,¡± Zeldana replied. ¡°I mean, what¡¯s the point of having a statue made of you, if it¡¯s not going to look like you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only seen the Five Overlords on TV and artistic depictions, so I can¡¯t really tell how closely these resemble the people themselves,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Don¡¯t they look like the people you used to know or something?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± Erin replied. ¡°I mean, they are not like the old friends I used to have, but rather the characters they used to play in the game, but I can still recognize each one of them. The thing that I¡¯m trying to figure out here is-¡±

    The redhead¡¯s eye went wide as she came to a realization and figured out what the shadowy figure had tried to tell her. When he told her that Golorath¡¯s weakness lied in his character, she had thought that there was some sort of a personal issue with the person behind the character, Gabe. Now she understood that the hint had been about the character he played in the game.

    The characters on the statues were based on characters they made when they did an evil playthrough of the game, as this was allowed in it. A lot of the characters they made back then reflected this choice, too, as many of them were demonic or generally seen as evil.

    In the case of Gabe, he had made his character a demon of gluttony. As the name suggested, it was a race based on the seven deadly sins from the Bible. The way these characters worked was that they could obtain all sorts of buffs and advantages through the act of eating large amounts of food. Much like every other race in the game, demons had their own weaknesses, which in this case were powers that had holy or light element imbued in them.

    This was the weakness that the shadowy figure had hinted at.

    ¡°I think I got it!¡± Erin said in a slightly excited voice. ¡°I know how we can beat Golorath!¡±

    ¡°You do?¡± Zeldana asked with disbelief clear in her voice. ¡°I mean¡­ Don¡¯t get me wrong, that sounds great and all, but you do realize that these guys have been undefeated for quite some time now? It¡¯s a bit hard to believe that you could figure out how to beat any of them just like that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at least curious to hear what it is,¡± Arkay said with a smile. ¡°What is this plan of yours?¡±

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly a plan, but a weakness that will help us defeat him,¡± Erin said with a proud smile. ¡°I just realized that he¡¯s a demon, so all we need is some sort of a weapon that¡¯s imbued with the holy or light element. We can then use that to defeat him.¡±

    The redhead waited to hear words of praise come from her two companions, but they had suddenly fallen silent. She looked at them to see a blank look on the face of Zeldana and an awkward look on Arkay.

    ¡°...I knew it was too freaking good to be true,¡± Zeldana said as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Erin, do you really think that you¡¯re the first one to ever think of that?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ What?¡± the redhead said, baffled over the response she got.

    ¡°I think what she¡¯s saying, Erin, is that it¡¯s obvious to everyone that Golorath is a demon and therefore has a natural weakness to holy and light elements,¡± Arkay said somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Things like that are practically common knowledge, so the resistance would have tried to utilize it in order to defeat him. And I¡¯m sure many others have tried it as well.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s still something that we can work with, isn¡¯t it!?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Why else would he give me such a clue, unless-!?¡±

    Upon realizing that she had accidentally revealed the existence of the shadowy figure, Erin quickly closed her mouth, but it was too late. Both Zeldana and Arkay had caught her slip up and were now staring at her with questioning looks.

    ¡°Excuse me, but who gave you a clue?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been traveling with you for quite some time now and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever met anyone that could be trying to advice you on how to beat the Five Overlords. Just who the hell are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ N-No one!¡± Erin tried to lie, but it was obvious. ¡°I just misspoke! That¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°Erin, can¡¯t you still trust us?¡± Arkay asked in a hurt tone that broke the redhead¡¯s heart. ¡°Is this similar to how you kept hiding your true identity from us? Can¡¯t you just tell us what this is all about?¡±

    Erin still wanted to resist and try to lie her way out of the predicament she had gotten herself into, but the hurt look on the cat boy¡¯s face caused her will to keep resisting to fade completely. There was no way she could keep lying, so she would just have to come clean.

    ¡°...Okay, I¡¯ll tell you guys what this is about,¡± the redhead said with a sigh of defeat. ¡°But can we do that with the others around? I think that would work out for the best.¡±

    Arkay nodded with a smile on his face, while Zeldana did so much more reluctantly.

    ¡°Fine¡­ But you better not try to slide out of this!¡± the elf said in a commanding tone. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that you keep your promise and tell us everything! Got it!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Erin said.

    <hr>

    With their business at the town done, the trio walked back to the house they were staying at and their friends were waiting for them. Once there, Arkay went on to place the spiritual protectors he had bought on the graves. As he did this, the group gathered at the graves for a moment of silence and to pray for their lost friends.

    ¡°...It¡¯s not right that they had to die like this,¡± Erin said with a sad look on her face, finally breaking the silence. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have allowed Stacey to come with us. I should have known better than to-!¡±

    ¡°Blaming yourself is not going to make anything better, Erin,¡± Durge said, as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°You had your reasons for keeping her around and tried to do your best in a bad situation. That obviously didn¡¯t go the way you wanted, but you can¡¯t hold yourself accountable for the actions of someone else. Stacey was the one to make the choice she did. You didn¡¯t do that for her.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and at least you gave the bitch what she deserved afterwards,¡± Ryle said with a slight frown, thinking back on what happened. ¡°Even if I do think you went too easy on her in the end.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­ I guess,¡± Erin said with a small smile, happy that her friends were there to support her. ¡°I just hope things go better, when we run into somebody else from my old friend group, like Stacey.¡±

    The way the redhead had worded her statement went unnoticed by most of the group, except for Lexton and Zeldana. The choice of words she had used stuck to them and they turned to look at her with questioning gazes.

    ¡°When we run into them? Is that what you just said?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°It¡¯s sounds like you¡¯re certain that we will face them in the future. Why is that?¡±

    Once the kobold pointed this out, the rest of the group had now caught on to what Erin had said. Instead of panicking or trying to explain herself, the redhead remained calm. She had, after all, resolved herself to tell the truth to the others.

    ¡°That¡¯s indeed what I said,¡± Erin said, confirming Lexton¡¯s suspicions. ¡°I do think we will run into them in the near future, as I just recently learned that Stacey wasn¡¯t the only one brought here from that group. Apparently, the rest of them are here, too.¡±

    ¡°But how do you know this?¡± Durge asked. ¡°I do get that it¡¯s very likely, seeing as the Overlords brought you and Stacey here due to old grudges towards you two. It wouldn¡¯t be a surprise at all if the others were targeted in a similar manner, as well. But we don¡¯t know if that has happened yet at all. Don¡¯t you think you should confirm this before jumping to conclusions?¡±

    ¡°It has pretty much been confirmed,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°I learned this from a reliable source.¡±

    ¡°Is this the thing you mentioned back at the town?¡± Arkay asked. ¡°The one you were planning to tell about to everyone here?¡±

    Now everyone had their full attention on Erin, wondering what she was going to tell them. The redhead took a deep breath, before sitting on the ground and looking over the others.

    ¡°Before I tell you about this¡­ person that I¡¯ve been meeting, I want you all to understand that I didn¡¯t really try to hide him from you,¡± Erin explained. ¡°I mostly just assumed that he didn¡¯t want to known about by anybody else other than me, because he seemed to only appear before me. Not only that, but I don¡¯t really know how to explain him either. He seems to be on our side, but is also very¡­ unfriendly towards me. Despite this, he has been helping us in the background for quite some time now.¡±

    ¡°Alright, enough of your explaining and dodging the question at hand already!¡± Zeldana said in a frustrated tone. ¡°Tell us about this mysterious person already!¡±

    ¡°...I was getting to that,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Anyways, I think he has helped me ever since I was brought to this world. When the¡­ things that pulled me in here were holding onto me, he intervened and saved me from their clutches. That¡¯s probably why I ended up at Rockmoore, instead of one of the strongholds of the Overlords.¡±

    ¡°And he has been showing up ever since then?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Occasionally, yes. He mostly appears when I either need guidance of some kind,¡± Erin replied. ¡°The first time he appeared before me was when I tried to use magic for the first time and kept failing at it. He came to me and granted me the ability to use it.¡±

    ¡°So that explains how you were suddenly able to use magic. I simply thought that you had never received any proper guidance, so it was more difficult,¡± Lexton said thoughtfully. ¡°Whoever this person is, he must have not only a great understanding of our world, but also some very incredible skills, as well. Does he have a name?¡±

    ¡°He has never told me his name. I personally just think of him as ¡°shadow man¡± and have left it at that. After all, it¡¯s not like I can just force him to tell me his identity,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Even if I haven¡¯t seen him actually fight, I can tell that he is strong from the times I¡¯ve met him.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen his face?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°If we knew what he looks like, we might be able to recognize him during our travels.¡±

    ¡°That is even weirder, as he seems to conceal himself in what I can only describe as darkness. And I don¡¯t mean that he stays in dark areas when he meets me, rather it¡¯s almost like his whole body is made out of shadows and darkness itself,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Whenever I see him, all I see is a male human body that is covered in shadows. I have never seen anything about him that would pinpoint to any sort of features that could help me recognize him.¡±

    While most of the others were surprised by the information in regards to the shadowy figure that kept meeting Erin, one of them was deep in thought. That was none other than Arkay, as he had some sort of an idea about the person they were talking about.

    ¡°Arnie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Erin called out to the cat boy. ¡°You look like something¡¯s on your mind.¡±

    ¡°...I might have figured something out about this person,¡± Arkay replied. ¡°The way you describe him makes it seem like he is what is known as a ¡°shadow puppet.¡± They¡¯re something magic users skilled in either necromancy or dark magic can create. And since it¡¯s one that can act on its own, the person who created it must be a very skilled one.¡±

    The redhead obviously knew about both methods of using magic. In the case of dark magic, the user would manipulate darkness and shadows in a way to combat their enemies. At start, all you could do was use magic to hide yourself or blind enemies, but later on you could form weapons and monsters out of shadows to aid you. This is where shadow puppets would come from.

    However, necromancy was a far more disturbing way of using magic, as it required the use of actual corpses to be animated and used in battle. Things like zombies, skeletons and other such horrifying creatures were in the usual arsenal of a necromancer. As your necromancy powers became better, you could create undead monstrosities out of anything, including dragons and giants.

    Despite her knowledge of these powers, Erin didn¡¯t know that necromancy could allow one to create shadow puppets. Judging by the name, it sounded like something made out of dark magic, instead of necromancy.

    ¡°I understand dark magic playing a part in something like this, but how could necromancy create something like that?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t necromancy just about making corpses move and serve you?¡±

    ¡°For the most part that is true, but the truly skilled necromancers can actually use their skills to summon the very souls of people and place them within bodies created out of the elements,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°When my father taught me magic, he told me that one of the schools of magic that you should do your best to avoid is necromancy. Not only do people not like the idea of seeing their lost loved ones walking about again, but some necromancers have even manipulated the very souls of people to their advantage. Even if you used your abilities for good, you would still be looked at with distrust and hate. Such skills are thus best left alone.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ So what you¡¯re saying is that this shadow puppet could have somebody¡¯s soul in it through the power of necromancy?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean that the shadowy person is actually just something that¡¯s being controlled by someone else in the background?¡±

    ¡°That is highly possible,¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°Although, I have heard that some necromancers have used their own abilities in order to give themselves new bodies. Maybe whoever this person is actually did something similar?¡±

    ¡°Whatever the case is and whoever he is, it seems that at least for now he is on our side,¡± Durge said. ¡°The question is, how long will that last? And does he have any other goals in mind?¡±

    ¡°From what he has told me, all he wants is for us to beat the Five Overlords,¡± Erin said. ¡°He just recently told me about Golorath¡¯s weakness.¡±

    ¡°You mean the information that everybody else in the world already knew? What great help,¡± Zeldana said sarcastically. ¡°Honestly, if that¡¯s the best he can give us, I doubt he¡¯ll be of any actual help in the long run.¡±

    ¡°Hey, he has helped us plenty of times! Not only did he prevent me from getting captured by the Overlords when I was brought here, but he also provided me with the ability to use magic and even kept our identities secret, when we defeated General Lune!¡± the redhead argued. ¡°Besides, you shouldn¡¯t be so judgmental towards him! After all, he seems to be your old friend!¡±

    Now all the attention was on the elf, who looked completely baffled. She had not expected things to get turned on her like that at all.

    ¡°What the-!? He is¡­ But that doesn¡¯t-!¡± Zeldana said, struggling to find a way to respond. ¡°Where the hell did you get that kind of an idea!?¡±

    ¡°Not too long ago, I actually met up with him. He happened to mention that you were the only member of our group that he approved of, which tells me that he knew about you even before we met you,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Although, I personally disagree with his assessment of the rest of you guys. In fact, I¡¯d say that you¡¯re all the best companions I could ever get!¡±

    ¡°Aww¡­ Thanks, Erin!¡± Ryle said with a grin, as the others also smiled.

    ¡°How sweet¡­ You¡¯re going to make me puke,¡± Zeldana muttered unhappily. ¡°Anyways, you¡¯re blaming the wrong person here! I have no idea who the hell this guy that you¡¯re talking about is!¡±

    ¡°Say what you will, but he sure knew you!¡± Erin said. ¡°He honestly seemed to know you on a personal level, as he even mentioned your psychopathic tendencies. Whatever those are¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t have anything psychotic in me!¡± the elf argued.

    ¡°Are you trying to convince us or yourself?¡± Lexton asked bluntly. ¡°I can promise you that one of those two will be impossible!¡±

    ¡°Screw you!¡±

    Deciding to stop the argument right away, Erin cleared her throat loudly. This put the attention back on her.

    ¡°Anyways, as you can see, the shadow man that has been appearing before me is a complete mystery. I don¡¯t know if he is ever going to reveal his identity to me, but I¡¯d say we can trust him for now,¡± the redhead said. ¡°So far, he just wants to defeat the Five Overlords. Whatever might come after that is something we will have to figure out for ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Although, I¡¯m still confused as to why he gave you such obvious advice in regards to Golorath,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Since you already know so much about this world, it seems pointless.¡±

    ¡°It could be that I¡¯m missing something important,¡± Erin suggested. ¡°He does seem the type who wants you to figure things out on your own, instead of giving you the answers. The hint regarding Golorath¡¯s character could be referring to something else entirely.¡±

    ¡°And what might that be?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The best I can hope for is that the answer becomes clearer when we actually go after him,¡± the redhead replied.

    ¡°Well, whatever that might be, I sure hope it¡¯s something better than what you came up with!¡± Zeldana said in a snarky tone. ¡°If it was, good luck getting anything with holy or light attribute anywhere near Golorath! Such things are completely banned in every area close to him. If you¡¯re so much as caught mentioning them, you will end up serving a lengthy prison sentence.¡±

    ¡°So he¡¯s not taking any chances then,¡± Erin said. ¡°Figures. Those guys might not have been popular back in my world, but they were all incredibly smart. I guess it was stupid of me to think that they would give their enemies a chance to fight back.¡±

    ¡°Well, whatever the case is, we¡¯ll figure things out better, once we start to move again,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re stuck hiding, remember? Not much we can do, until Rayleen contacts us once again.¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence! That¡¯s about to happen right now!¡± a familiar voice called out.

    Everybody turned towards where the voice came from and saw Ao standing there with a wide smile on his face. The dark-haired man simply waved his hand as a greeting to them. Everyone in the group let out screams of surprise and jumped back a bit.

    ¡°SINCE WHEN THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN THERE!?¡± Erin shouted out of shock. ¡°At least announce your arrival, you bastard!¡±

    ¡°Now, where is the fun in that? I gotta have some excitement in my life!¡± Ao said playfully. ¡°It honestly does good for you to have fun once in a while.¡±

    ¡°Why does your idea of fun have to include giving heart attacks to others!?¡± Ryle asked angrily. ¡°You¡¯re almost as twisted as Zeldana!¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± the elf yelled, offended by the remark.

    ¡°Anyways, all jokes and funny business aside, I did come here as part of my job,¡± Ao said, as he took out a piece of paper from his pocket. ¡°Here¡¯s the directions to the meeting place. Once you get there, you¡¯ll receive instructions for your next assignment.¡±

    Erin took the piece of paper from the dark-haired man and nodded. With their instructions received, the group packed up their things and drove away in their car.

    As they were driving away, Erin looked over to the house that they had used as their hiding place and thought about the sisters that used to live there. While she knew that there was nothing any of them could do about it, she still hated that the house would most likely get vandalized now that they were gone. All she could hope for was that at least the graves would be left alone.

    <hr>

    Sometime after Erin and her group had left, the group of vandals that were stopped by Ryle, Durge and Lexton returned. One of them had noticed the van parked outside was gone, which meant that the people they encountered had most likely left. Emboldened by this, the group decided to go back to the house in order to finish what they had started.

    ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the plan,¡± the leader of the group said. ¡°First we go inside and take anything that¡¯s valuable. After that, we set the whole damn thing on fire and then mess up the graves. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just go to the graves first, though?¡± one of the others asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. You gotta leave the best for last,¡± the leader answered with a grin. ¡°Now let¡¯s get to work.¡±

    One of the people in the group had a crowbar, which he was going to use to open the door. However, before he could do that, the door opened to reveal Ao, who had a smile on his face.

    ¡°I must say, manners are truly becoming a rare thing these days. Don¡¯t any of you know that you¡¯re supposed to knock on the door?¡± the dark-haired man asked. ¡°Better yet, it would be most convenient, if you gave a call about coming over in advance.¡±

    ¡°Who the hell are you!? A friend of those people that were staying here!?¡± the leader asked angrily. ¡°Get out of the way, unless you¡¯re looking to get messed up!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that. You see, I feel like I owe the original residents of this fine house a favor for the help they provided for my associates,¡± Ao said, as blue flames gathered around his hand. ¡°The least I can do is put maggots like you in their place.¡±

    Before any of the vandals could do anything, blue flames surrounded their bodies, burning them all painfully but not fatally. They were all left with their clothes in tatters, hairs on their bodies burnt and light burn marks covering their whole bodies.

    ¡°That took me a considerable amount of restraint and control. Next time you might not be so lucky as to get the same result,¡± Ao explained. ¡°Do try out your luck, if you feel like it. I wouldn¡¯t recommend it, though.¡±

    The vandals decided to never come anywhere close the house of the two elf sisters from that point on.

 159. A Bad Smell

    Chapter 159

    A Bad Smell

    Having received their instructions from Ao, Erin and her group traveled for a couple of days in order to reach a town called Gasrick. It was located relatively close to High Rock Peak, where Golorath of the Five Overlords lived. It was there that they would meet either Rayleen herself or one of her closest associates in order to receive their next assignment.

    The town was known for being a location of large gas reserves that was their main export. Geysers of gas could be seen erupting all around the town¡¯s vicinity and even the regular streets had cracks in them that spewed fumes from them. This made the town rather wealthy, as its natural resources were often sought after for different industries.

    However, while the town was essentially a treasure chest of natural resources, it also made it a very difficult place to live in. Due to the gases that often covered the whole area, the residents there required gas masks on their faces whenever they went outside and every building needed to be fitted with powerful air purifiers in order to prevent the fumes from causing issues. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for entire households to suddenly perish from complications caused by gases that managed to seep in due to a faulty purifier.

    Because of this, a lot of travelers would prefer to avoid the town as much as possible, since visiting it would bring unnecessary risks to your health. Even a good number of those who worked there chose to live in a different city or town and just traveled there for work, no matter how long it might take them.

    While others saw all of these issues as reasons to get away from the town, they made the town the perfect place for meetings that required privacy. Most people would be too busy trying to make their way indoors to listen to any suspicious conversations and the buildings were made as airtight as possible to avoid any leaks, which in turn made it more difficult to eavesdrop on the occupants.

    Having parked their van at a hotel that they would be staying at, Erin and her companions walked down the main street of the town, looking at the place they would be staying at. All of them were wearing gas masks that they had bought from a store located outside the town, leaving it unaffected by the natural gases Gasrick was famous for.

    Upon entering the town, a lot of them had been forced to give up some of the equipment they had, such as firearms, at the entrance. This was because of all the gases that would spill over the town. A good amount of them were flammable, so the town had strict rules in place to avoid any ignitions from happening.

    Erin wasn¡¯t too worried, as she still had at least a couple of knives that she could defend herself with and some of her friends knew how to handle themselves unarmed. This still left Lexton and Arkay defenseless, but the redhead was sure that they could defend the two of them.

    ¡°Man, and I had thought I had seen some of the most depressing places in the world. This one easily takes the cake in that category,¡± Erin said as she observed her surroundings and the very few local residents they saw. ¡°How could anybody live in this place?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the people living here really had a choice in the matter,¡± Lexton said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, a lot of people simply try to make the best of what they can have, which is probably the case with these people. At that point, it¡¯s more about how they can make the place livable.¡±

    ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t think these people have succeeded!¡± Ryle complained with a disgusted look on her face. ¡°This whole place smells like somebody took the nastiest fart and it spread everywhere!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s such delightful imagination from you, Ryle. Please never change,¡± the kobold said sarcastically.

    ¡°Hey, all I¡¯m saying is that this place reeks!¡± the blonde said. ¡°I mean, I get that there are people who have no choice but to live in the worst conditions, but what kind of a downtrodden absolute loser you gotta be for you to live in this dump!?¡±

    Ryle was about to continue her rant, only for her to see several of her companions furiously pointing at something behind her. Wondering what they wanted her to notice, the blonde turned around and came face to face with a local man, who was wearing a gas mask similar to her.

    The man looked like he had seen better days, as he had a tired look on his face and a slouched posture. His eyes were bloodshot and yellow, and his skin was a sickly gray color. Erin and the others could only wonder if the environment had something to do with his appearance, seeing as he was a human and such things shouldn¡¯t have been normal. His hair reached his shoulder and seemed to be dirty, but that could have just seemed like it due to his overall appearance. His clothes were simple and tattered, and he had an old top hat on his head.

    ¡°Oh shit! I didn¡¯t see you-!¡± Ryle began to say in a panic, only to stop herself in order to properly explain herself. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry about what I said, okay? It¡¯s just that we¡¯re new here and-¡±

    ¡°Nah, no need to apologize. You kind of described me accurately,¡± the man said in a tired and low voice. ¡°The only reason I live here is because I got into all sorts of trouble back home. This was pretty much the only place for me to go to.¡±

    ¡°I am terribly sorry that you had to go through such things. I¡¯d also like to apologize for the things my friend said, as they were uncalled for,¡± Erin said, walking up to the man and pushing Ryle¡¯s head down so that she was now bowing down. ¡°I know this might seem unreasonable, seeing as how our first meeting with you has started, but could you offer us with any directions? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already guessed that we¡¯re newcomers and could use some help.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all,¡± the man replied with a smile hidden behind his mask. ¡°Do you perhaps need directions? I can tell you where pretty much any place that is worth visiting here is.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it¡¯s a high number,¡± Ryle said, earning a smack to the back of the head from Erin.

    ¡°So where exactly do you need to go?¡± the man asked. ¡°Did you already have a destination in mind or were you hoping to have a tour of the town?¡±

    ¡°No need for a tour. We are simply here on business,¡± Erin said as she took out the piece of paper Ao had given her. ¡°Could you take us to a bar by the name of The Gassy Miner? We are supposed to meet with someone there.¡±

    ¡°...Of course I can. Everybody in this town knows that place,¡± the man replied after a small pause. ¡°But, my dear lady, that bar is known for attracting all sorts of outlaws, ruffians and other shady characters. You wouldn¡¯t be up to no good, would you?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ N-No! Of course not!¡± the redhead replied awkwardly. ¡°Like I said, we are new in this town, so we don¡¯t really know anything about it! We were just told to go there to meet the person we are looking for! That¡¯s all!¡±

    ¡°...If you say so,¡± the man said as he turned around and began to walk. ¡°Anyways, it¡¯s not too far from here. Just follow me and we should be there in just a couple of minutes.¡±

    As the group began to follow behind their guide, Lexton walked up to Erin in order to whisper to her.

    ¡°That was really smooth, Erin,¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m sure he totally believed you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± the redhead whispered back. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you do better when put under sudden pressure like that!¡±

    <hr>

    The sickly man, who had introduced himself as Sloan, led Erin and her group to a part of the town that somehow looked even worse than what they had seen so far. A lot of the surrounding buildings seemed to have been abandoned and were showing signs of neglect. There seemed to be even fewer people living in the area, as there were no people walking around and it was completely silent. It also looked like the town itself had given up on the place, as a lot of the streetlights were broken and trash was covering the streets. To make matters worse, the gases that spewed over there seemed to be thicker, making it difficult to see.

    ¡°Geeze! And I thought we had already seen the worst of it!¡± Ryle said as she tried to see through the gases surrounding them. ¡°How could this place actually get worse somehow!?¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Ryle, behave yourself!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°Remember that we have a local resident with us!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about offending me. Pretty much everybody who lives here is more than willing to admit just how awful this town is,¡± Sloan said casually. ¡°You especially won¡¯t hear anyone defending this part of town. Even the very few people that like living in this town hate this place.¡±

    ¡°Might I ask how it got this bad?¡± Durge asked. ¡°From what I heard, the buildings in the town were specifically built in a way that would allow the residents to live here safely. Shouldn¡¯t that apply to this area, too?¡±

    ¡°You can do as much as you want in order to make something safe, but you will never be completely safe,¡± the sickly-looking guide said. ¡°Even with all the strict regulations in place and all the technology available, there are still cases of families either suffocating or poisoning in their homes. Cases like that are far worse here, as the amount of gases is much higher. Even when your home does have a leak of gas, you could still possibly save yourself, if you manage to notice it soon enough. Here, however, that is much harder, as the amount of gas that even the tiniest of leaks gives you is massive.¡±

    ¡°In other words, this place became too toxic for people to live in?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°Seems like a waste of materials¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very difficult to build around these parts, due to the underground gas deposits. Before anything can be built, there has to be a very lengthy analysis done to ensure it is safe,¡± Sloan explained. ¡°Pretty much all the places that one can build upon have been used. This place was no different in that regard. At first, people thought that they could get used to it, but reality proved to be much harsher.¡±

    ¡°Does anyone even live here anymore?¡± Erin asked. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be much liveliness around here.¡±

    ¡°Some people still do, although they aren¡¯t exactly doing it because they want to. It¡¯s mostly those who are in such financial troubles that they can¡¯t afford to live in the better parts,¡± the sickly-looking guide explained. ¡°And then there¡¯s of course those with questionable lifestyles that simply wish to stay out of sight.¡±

    ¡°...We are not criminals, okay?¡± the redhead said.

    ¡°Never said you were. Just telling you about the history and makeup of our town,¡± Sloan said with a shrug. ¡°Just so you know, the more you try to deny something, the more it gives the impression that the opposite is the truth. I just wanted to point that out.¡±

    Erin felt like kicking herself for being so adamant on denying the nature of their work. Just as she was thinking this, she felt a painful kick to her shin from Lexton.

    ¡°Lex, what the hell!?¡± the redhead whispered angrily. ¡°What was that for!?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want us getting exposed, how about you just keep your mouth shut for now!?¡± the kobold whispered back in an equally angry tone. ¡°Seriously, the way you keep trying to convince this guy that we aren¡¯t criminals, you might as well pull out a megaphone and tell the whole neighborhood what we have been up to!¡±

    ¡°I get it! I get it!¡± Erin said. ¡°I just don¡¯t like being compared to actual criminals, okay? We are not trying to do anything horrible. We¡¯re trying to save the world, you know?¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but we don¡¯t know anything about this guy! For all we know, he could be leading us to a trap right now! He could be a bounty hunter, a hired killer or even one of the assassins we¡¯ve had to deal with!¡± Lexton explained. ¡°Remember that one person¡¯s hero is another person¡¯s villain.¡±

    The redhead nodded and they continued to follow Sloan, as he led them through the town. They eventually came to a building that had a sign hanging over the entrance that read ¡°The Gassy Miner.¡± The building itself didn¡¯t look much better than the others around it, except for the fact that there were actual lights coming out of the windows.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your place,¡± Sloan said. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. I have no interest in venturing further inside this establishment and I wish to spend as little time as possible around these parts anyways.¡±

    ¡°Understandable,¡± Erin said with a smile hidden behind her mask. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡±

    The sickly-looking man tipped his hat to the group, before walking past them. As he was leaving, Ryle took notice of something that she hadn¡¯t been able to do before due to the gases blocking her senses. There was something strange that was setting off alarm bells in her mind, but she was unable to figure out what it was exactly.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Durge asked, having noticed the blonde acting strangely.

    ¡°...No,¡± Ryle replied after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°I think I was just overthinking things.¡±

    Going through the front door, the group came to a small confined space before the entrance. They all managed only barely to fit in it and tried to open the door before them, only for it to remain closed. Once the front door behind them was closed, they could hear it locking itself automatically. Just as some of them were starting to get worried, they heard the sound of ventilation turn on and felt air being sucked up from above. After this was done, some sort of a disinfectant was sprayed from above.

    ¡°I see. So that¡¯s how they do it,¡± Lexton said to himself thoughtfully. ¡°I was wondering how they were going to handle this.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about, Lex!?¡± Ryle asked, still somewhat panicking over what was happening. ¡°How can you be so calm when we¡¯re locked in a box and getting sprayed!?¡±

    ¡°Because there¡¯s nothing to be worried about,¡± the kobold said with irritation clear in his voice. ¡°Think about it for a second. The outside of this place is filled with potentially toxic gas. If you were to start a business or even own a home in these parts, how would you avoid getting gas into your building if the front door is opened? They need to have a system that gets rid of it every time someone gets inside!¡±

    ¡°...Now I get it,¡± Erin said, thinking it over. ¡°The door was locked, so there would be no more gas coming inside. After that, the ventilation sucked up what had spilled into this room and now we¡¯re getting disinfected so that we won¡¯t carry with us indoors. Is that what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Glad to see somebody here uses their brains,¡± Lexton said. ¡°To answer your question, yes. That is exactly what¡¯s going on. This is basically just a cleaning up process that ensures the safety of those who are inside. Once it¡¯s done, we¡¯ll be allowed to go inside, too.¡±

    ¡°Well, they could have given us a damn warning!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°I almost pissed myself when the weird white gas started coming from above! I thought they were trying to poison us or something!¡±

    ¡°You do realize that you¡¯re wearing a gas mask, right?¡± the kobold asked bluntly. ¡°As long as you¡¯re wearing it, you shouldn¡¯t have to worry about any gas they might dump on us.¡±

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the case, but how the hell should I know that this isn¡¯t some sort of a super gas that goes through masks or can affect you even when you wear one!?¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Hell, with some of the stuff you¡¯ve made, I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t prepared something like that already!¡±

    ¡°...What an intriguing idea,¡± Lexton said, thinking about the idea of developing a more dangerous poison gas for his arsenal. ¡°Challenge accepted.¡±

    The way the kobold showed genuine interest and even excitement towards the idea sent chills down the spines of the others. Erin turned to glare Ryle, as she was the one who had given him the idea in the first place.

    ¡°Now look at what you did!¡± the redhead said. ¡°Would you mind and NOT motivate him to disturbing things that might be considered war crimes!?¡±

    ¡°How was I supposed to know he would take it like that!?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Besides, like I said earlier, I¡¯m surprised that he doesn¡¯t have it already!¡±

    ¡°Give me a couple of days. I¡¯ll have that fixed soon enough,¡± Lexton said reassuringly.

    ¡°I WAS JUST KIDDING!¡± Ryle yelled.

    Just as the arguing was about to heat up, the cleaning up process had come to an end. They could hear the door before them unlock, allowing them to finally enter the bar.

    Once inside the The Gassy Miner, the group was treated to a sight of what a bar in the bad part of Gasrick looked like on the inside. To say the least, it wasn¡¯t anymore uplifting than anything they had seen on the outside. The bar was dimly lit, making it hard to see really anything. They could tell that there were people there, but due to the darkness covering them it was next to impossible to make out any details on them. Silence hung over the place, as barely anybody was talking at all and those who were did so in whispers. Slow jazz music was playing in the background, adding to the depressing air that hung about.

    The only properly lit area was the bar itself, where an old orc with gray hair was cleaning glasses while waiting for customers to come over. Erin knew from the instructions she had been given that they would need to ask the bartender to lead them to their contact, so she walked up to the bar. The elderly orc was quick to take notice of the redhead and got his customer service front up.

    ¡°What may I get for you, miss?¡± the bartender asked politely, even though there was no smile on his face. Erin assumed that this was due to the overall atmosphere of the town itself.

    ¡°Hello, good sir,¡± the redhead greeted the old orc. ¡°My companions and I came here looking for certain associates of ours. They said they would be waiting for us here. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know where they are?¡±

    ¡°...Well, there certainly is someone that fits that description,¡± the bartender said with a frown, before looking towards a corner of the bar. ¡°See that guy sitting over there on his own?¡±

    Erin turned her gaze towards where the elderly orc had pointed and saw a lone man wearing a dark cloak sitting at a table in the farthest corner. Unlike every other customer, he didn¡¯t have a drink in his hands and was simply staring down at the table.

    ¡°That guy has been coming here for the last few days, asking about people that are supposed to meet him,¡± the bartender explained. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that the bastard doesn¡¯t actually buy anything, but he even smells horrible. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the laws around here prevent me from throwing him out without a good reason, he would have gotten a swift kick in the ass already.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± the redhead said somewhat awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t be bothering you any longer, once his business with us will be done. Thank you for your help.¡±

    ¡°Just get him out of here. I¡¯m getting sick of washing away the smell he leaves behind,¡± the bartender said. ¡°And if you really want to thank me, how about at least one of your friends buy something for once!?¡±

    Erin ignored the angry comment from the old orc and went back to her friends. She quickly got them informed on who they were meeting and led them over to the man sitting by himself.

    The redhead was about to greet the man, but the smell that came off him stopped her in her tracks. The bartender hadn¡¯t been exaggerating, when he had said that the guy before her had a terrible stench to him. Glancing over at the others, she could tell that they had picked up on this rather displeasing quality, too.

    ¡°H-Hello,¡± Erin greeted the man, struggling through the stench that was burning her nostrils. ¡°I believe you¡¯ve been waiting for us.¡±

    The man turned to look at the new arrivals, giving them a better look of himself. His appearance came off as a surprise, as he looked just like Sloan. Much like their guide, the man had bloodshot and yellow eyes and his skin was sickly gray. Either both men were related or they were affected by the same issues that made them look that way.

    ¡°Oh, hello there,¡± the man greeted the group with a smile, showing both missing and rotting teeth. ¡°Glad that you got over here finally. I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°So we heard,¡± Erin said, disgusted by the man before her, but trying to not let it show.

    However, there was someone who didn¡¯t bother hiding their disgust with him, which was Ryle. The blonde openly gagged from the smell.

    ¡°Ryle!¡± the redhead said sternly. ¡°Have some manners!¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m sorry and all that, but do you and a guy named Sloan perhaps work at the same place or something?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I don¡¯t know anyone by that name,¡± the man replied. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°You and that guy have the same smell.¡±

    <hr>

    Not too far from the bar, Sloan was walking down an alley, when his body began to suddenly break apart. Limbs and other parts began to fall to the ground, until he was no longer able to keep himself up and fell down, too.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­ Looks like one of my puppets fell apart,¡± a person hiding in the alley said with a sigh. ¡°No matter. I can always just make more...¡±

 160. Hiding in the Stench

    Chapter 160

    Hiding in the Stench

    ¡°RYLE! What¡¯s the matter with you!?¡± Erin cried out in anger and shock. ¡°Why would you say something so rude to someone you¡¯ve just met!?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the truth, isn¡¯t it!?¡± the blonde argued. ¡°The only reason Sloan¡¯s smell didn¡¯t bother me was because my nose was getting clogged up by all the gases in the town, but I managed to catch a whiff of it when he walked past me! Besides, it¡¯s not like you guys were exactly hiding your disgust either!¡±

    The current argument between Erin and Ryle had risen up due to the blonde claiming that the man they were meeting had a similar smell as Sloan, along with the fact that she did nothing to hide her disgust. The others at least had the decency to try and keep a straight face, which was something Ryle was not even trying to do.

    Just as the redhead was about scold the blonde again, a laugh came from the man they were meeting. This halted the arguing that was going on.

    ¡°No need to be defensive about it. I know better than anyone that I have a peculiar odor hanging about,¡± the man said with a smile. ¡°Unfortunately, this town isn¡¯t exactly the best when it comes to hygiene. No matter where you live or work, you are bound to catch some less than rosy scents from your surroundings alone. I¡¯ve just gotten so used to it myself that I barely notice it anymore, which is why I sometimes forget to wash myself properly.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you should make it part of your daily routine?¡± Ryle asked, earning a smack to the back of her head from Erin.

    ¡°I¡¯ve tried. The problem is that I tend to forget stuff that aren¡¯t as important as other things,¡± the man said with a shrug. ¡°Such as you guys meeting with a certain someone. Right?¡±

    Erin and the others immediately knew who he was referring to. It seemed like either Rayleen herself or one of her closest aides had come to the town to meet them.

    ¡°That is a good point,¡± Erin said. ¡°I thought that we were supposed to meet that certain person here, though. Has there been a change of plans?¡±

    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been any changes. They just cannot afford to show their faces in public, meeting questionable characters. You probably understand what I mean, don¡¯t you?¡± the man explained as he stood up. ¡°If you want, I can take you to them right away. Unless you want to have a quick drink first.¡±

    ¡°No need for drinks. We can have those later,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Show us the way, so we can go meet with our mutual friend.¡±

    ¡°Oh, son of a bitch!¡±

    Everybody turned their gazes towards where the cursing had come from and saw Zeldana on her way to the bar. It seemed like she had wanted to take the offer of having a drink.

    ¡°Zel, have some patience!¡± Erin scolded the elf. ¡°We can come back here later, once our business is done! Besides, we can probably find a better place for drinks anyways!¡±

    ¡°Hey, screw you guys, too!¡± the bartender shouted angrily. ¡°I just let you walk into my BUSINESS, where people are supposed to spend MONEY, and let you lot just loiter around without spending anything! Now you want to go and throw my place under the bus like that!? Thanks a bunch!¡±

    ¡°...Alright, we¡¯ll all have one quick drink, before we leave,¡± the redhead said with a sigh, feeling bad over using a business without actually paying. ¡°But we leave right after that!¡±

    <hr>

    After having their drinks that were offered by the man they were meeting, who had introduced himself as Clifton, the group walked out of the bar and began to head towards the place they would meet their actual contact.

    Where Clifton was leading them took them even deeper into the worse parts of Gasrick. Not only were there even fewer signs of life, but even the buildings and other infrastructure looked worse. The roads were cracked and filled with potholes, and the few street lights that were still standing didn¡¯t shine any light. The building were also abandoned a long time ago and were showing signs of vandalism and breaking down over time. To make things worse, the gases were somehow even thicker than before, making wearing a mask an absolute necessity. It was clear that unlike the previous parts, this was the most contaminated and worst place in the town.

    ¡°And just when I thought this town couldn¡¯t get any worse, it somehow does,¡± Ryle said while looking around at the surroundings. ¡°What is wrong with this place? Is there some sort of a contest over which area is the shittiest?¡±

    ¡°Ryle, could you just¡­? Never mind,¡± Erin said in an exasperated voice, not even bothering to scold the blonde. ¡°What¡¯s the point, when you won¡¯t even listen?¡±

    ¡°Come on, Erin, I¡¯m sure she listens,¡± Arkay said in a comforting tone. ¡°It¡¯s just that she¡¯s so quick to act that she forgets certain things.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure, Arnie,¡± the redhead muttered.

    ¡°Huh? Did you guys say something?¡± Ryle asked, proving Erin¡¯s point and causing her to let out a deep sigh.

    Meanwhile, Clifton had finally reached their destination, an old abandoned warehouse. He walked up to the front door and opened it, before turning to look at the group he was leading.

    ¡°The person you¡¯re looking for is inside,¡± Clifton said. ¡°Come on in.¡±

    As everybody began to move in, Ryle once again picked up on a strange smell. With how thick the gases that loomed over the area were, it was a miracle she was able to smell anything even with her heightened sense of smell. However, the smell was so strong that it managed to break through not just that but her mask, as well.

    What puzzled the blonde was that the smell was somehow familiar, but she couldn¡¯t exactly point out where she had first come across it. It wasn¡¯t until they stood in the middle of the warehouse and the door had closed behind them that did she remember what it was. She had picked up on it with both Sloan and Clifton, but most importantly it was a stench that she had become familiar with from her work as a bounty hunter.

    It was the smell of rotting corpses and it was surrounding them. Ryle¡¯s eyes went wide with shock as she realized this.

    ¡°IT¡¯S A TRAP!¡± the blonde shouted as she got her whip out and got ready for a battle.

    Ryle¡¯s warning had taken the others by surprise, but the soon readied themselves for battle, too. Almost as if in response to them taking their stances, figures began to emerge from the surrounding darkness. Once they were close enough, everybody except Ryle was shocked by what appeared before their eyes.

    The things surrounding them numbered in dozens, easily over a hundred. They were all humanoids of different races, ranging from humans and elves to orcs and even demonfolk. It took only one glance to tell that these people were not normal, as all of them had sickly pale gray skin and their eyes were pure white. To make it even worse, they all had parts of their bodies that were torn or cut open, yet no blood was flowing out.

    It was obvious to everyone that these were zombies, the most basic of undead creatures that one could encounter in the world. Much like in popular media from Erin¡¯s world, they were slow and had very little in terms of intelligence. While one zombie wasn¡¯t an issue, having dozens come at you all at once was not something you could take lightly. Even if you didn¡¯t get infected with a sickness that would turn you into one if they managed to bite you, you would still suffer from all sorts of infections, as their whole bodies were covered in filth and bacteria. Once you were slowed down by one, then the others could easily overwhelm you.

    Upon seeing the numerous shambling corpses, Erin was quickly reminded of the times when she and her friends had met an unfortunate end due to underestimating zombies. She knew well enough that this was not something to take lightly, but they now lacked the weapons to fight these foes to the best of their abilities. This was a perfect trap and they had walked right into it.

    Feeling angry over the betrayal, the redhead turned her furious gaze towards Clifton, only to find their guide laying on the ground in pieces. It was then that she understood that whoever was behind this ambush had even been the one controlling their contact in the town. He had been just another zombie like the rest.

    ¡°These things are everywhere!¡± Durge shouted as he pushed one of the undead attackers at a few others, knocking them all down. ¡°We need to find a way to get out of here, before they manage to crawl all over us!¡±

    ¡°Easier said than done!¡± Lexton yelled in a panicked tone as he was looking around for a way out, only to find zombies everywhere. ¡°This whole place is filled with these damn zombies! We¡¯re going to have to fight our way out of here!¡±

    Preparing for combat, Arkay began to ready a spell to throw at the surrounding zombies, only for Zeldana to stop him.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Don¡¯t! Remember what they said to us when we came to town!?¡± the elf said. ¡°If we us things like fire or anything else that could ignite the gases, we could blow ourselves up!¡±

    ¡°B-But what am I supposed to do then!?¡± the cat boy asked.

    ¡°Just stay behind us!¡± Ryle said as she pushed Arkay into the middle of their group, so that everybody was now covering him. ¡°We¡¯ll keep you safe, so just let us handle this for now!¡±

    Despite feeling ashamed over his inability to help, the cat boy simply nodded and accepted his role for now. He knew that the spells he had in his arsenal wouldn¡¯t be of any use now and might only make the situation worse.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stick together and move back to the door!¡± Erin instructed the group. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t let these guys break us apart, we can get through this!¡±

    The others nodded in agreement as they formed up and began to move in unison back where they had come from.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the zombies to get to their prey, as they moved in to grab, scratch and bite Erin and the others, who were trying to fight their way out of the surrounding undead horde. With most of their weaponry having been confiscated, they were forced to use the bare minimum they had left to defend themselves.

    Erin only had a few knives on her, which she used to slice off hands from zombies and stab them in the neck. She also used her hand to hand combat skills to keep the undead creatures at bay and especially utilized her artificial hand to deliver powerful blows to the surrounding enemies. She left her hand¡¯s flame mechanism unused, though, for obvious reasons.

    Ryle had better martial arts skills that the redhead, so she was able to deliver powerful blows to the zombies that broke necks and crushed skulls, which brought an end to the creatures that were hit. Even when she didn¡¯t deliver a killing blow, she managed to break limbs which made it harder for the zombies to pursue their prey. She also used her whip to throw some of the undead creatures around, thus helping slow down the horde.

    Durge was using his impressive physical strength to simply throw and push the zombies around, which sometimes resulted in killing them upon hitting the floor. The orc was at the front, leading the group to the exit, so his job was to clear the way. He couldn¡¯t use it on killing the zombies, as he didn¡¯t have his hammer with him.

    While Zeldana didn¡¯t have anywhere near the raw power that Ryle and Durge possessed, she still had some skills when it came to unarmed combat, along with numerous scalpels she could use with lethal efficiency. What was especially helpful for her was her medical knowledge, especially when it came to the structural weaknesses within the body. Using this to her advantage, she could easily dispatch numerous zombies by hitting them in places that killed them immediately. Even if the undead creatures didn¡¯t feel pain or fear, nor did they have functioning organs that really mattered to them, they could still be killed through damaging the brain or the spinal cord. This wasn¡¯t the first time the elf had encountered such monsters, so she was more than aware of what she needed to do.

    However, while everybody else was able push back against the undead horde surrounding them, all Arkay and Lexton could do was hide behind the others and try not to get in their way. The cat boy¡¯s spells were unsuited for the town they were in, as he could easily ignite the gases. As for the kobold, he didn¡¯t have his trusty pistol on him for the same reason and most of the vials he had were confiscated upon entering the town. He did have two of his golems on him, but he couldn¡¯t just use them right away. They needed to be saved for a moment where they were absolutely needed.

    After what felt like an eternity of fighting against the zombies, the group finally reached the door that they had come through. Durge wasted no time in opening it and simply tore it off its hinges and then proceeded to bash a few of the nearby zombies with it. With their way outside now open, the group quickly got out of the warehouse they had been trapped in.

    However, just as they were about to cheer in relief, their hopes of having escaped their ambush were immediately crushed. What was awaiting them outside was an even larger horde of zombies surrounding the warehouse. There seemed to be no way of getting away from these creatures.

    ¡°...What the hell?¡± Ryle asked in shocked as she was breathing heavily from the battle so far. ¡°How are there so many these freaking things!? Did all the fart gases covering this goddamn place suddenly turn all the inhabitants into zombies or something!?¡±

    ¡°I doubt there¡¯s anything natural about what¡¯s going on here! Nothing like this has ever happened without some form of interference from actual people!¡± Lexton said in a horrified tone, ignoring the blonde¡¯s fart gas comment. ¡°The only logical explanation for this is that there is a very powerful necromancer here! They¡¯re probably one of the assassins that have been coming after us!¡±

    ¡°And the kobold gets it right!¡± a voice suddenly called out from the roof of the warehouse, followed by the sound of someone clapping their hands.

    The group looked up to see a person standing on the roof. From what they could tell, he seemed to be a young human male and was wearing a hooded jacket that had no sleeves. He had black gloves on his hands that were adorned with blue gems at the back. He also had a shaved head and a tattoos of centipedes coiling around his arms. Theses tattoos seemed to join together at some point and move up to his face, where they circled around his left eye. Speaking of said eye, there was something odd with it, as it was completely yellow and its surrounding area was dark purple in color, making it look like it was diseased.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a guess and say that you¡¯re the one behind this whole mess!¡± Erin said as she glared at the assassin.

    ¡°My, what an absolutely obvious observation! You truly are a wondrous mind above others!¡± the necromancer said mockingly as he laughed. ¡°Just as you said, these little lovely puppets of mine were all brought here thanks to my abilities. The name is Desmond and I¡¯m one of the top assassins under the service of Lord Golorath!¡±

    ¡°Keep laughing, pal. It will make it easier for me to knock your teeth out!¡± Ryle shouted. ¡°How about you come down here and face us yourself!? I bet you won¡¯t be all cocky then!¡±

    ¡°Now why would I do that? It would make no sense!¡± Desmond said in a mocking tone, like he was talking to a toddle, which irritated the blonde. ¡°Besides, I believe in corporate world, managers don¡¯t do the dirty work themselves. They simply make their subordinates do it for them!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that you¡¯ve got numbers on your side, but you might not want to be so sure about your victory just yet!¡± Erin said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but we¡¯ve taken on quite a few of your colleagues already! You might have a lot of zombies with you, but if that¡¯s all it will only be a matter of time until we get to you! How about you quit while you¡¯re ahead and get out of our way!?¡±

    What the redhead was hoping for was to intimidate the necromancer by bringing up their accomplishments so far. The way necromancers fought was by summoning as many servants to their aid as they needed and then letting them do the actual fighting. Their own fighting capabilities weren¡¯t often all that great. If she could make him think that they would be able to tear through his horde of zombies easily and get to him, he might grow fearful and become easier to scare into running away.

    Unfortunately, this didn¡¯t seem to happen, as Desmond simply began to laugh.

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s supposed to scare me!? That¡¯s the best joke anyone has ever told me!¡± the assassin said while laughing uncontrollably. ¡°I know that you¡¯ve already beaten six of the other assassins, but so what!? They were all fools! Nothing but maggots beneath me! The fact that you beat them doesn¡¯t mean anything to me at all!¡±

    While Erin was worried over her threat not working, what the necromancer had said had brought up another question in the mind of one of her companions.

    ¡°...Did he just say six?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°When did we beat six assassins?¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I can¡¯t help but wonder about that myself,¡± Durge said thoughtfully. ¡°I was there with four of them, so were the other two before I joined the group?¡±

    ¡°We did face one of them before meeting you, but that¡¯s it,¡± Lexton said as he began to count down the assassins they had faced. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ There was the guy who controlled animals, the muscle lady at the arena, the guy that controlled puppets and those two elf siblings. That¡¯s five, so where does the sixth come from?¡±

    ¡°Maybe he counted the two elves as one, since they worked as a pair?¡± Ryle suggested.

    ¡°...Then he would have said we defeated FOUR, you gawking goon,¡± the kobold said.

    As the others kept wondering about the mystery of the assassins they had supposedly faced, the one in their group who knew the truth snickered to herself. Zeldana wondered how the one assassin that had gone without notice by everybody else would react if she knew this was going on.

    <hr>

    ¡°ACHOO!¡± a certain elf sneezed at her current job at a burger place, as she was in the middle of flipping the hamburger patties.

    After getting arrested at the hotel Stacey had been staying at, Zena had been released from police custody, after high-ranking official with direct ties to Golorath¡¯s court had recognized her as one of the Overlord¡¯s direct assassins. Even though people like her would have normally been considered traitors facing a death penalty, Zena¡¯s image within the court wasn¡¯t seen in high regard. It was decided that executing her would have been a waste of time and resources. Because of this she had been released with the condition that she would never go to High Rock Peak, where Golorath and his closest retainers lived.

    These conditions were more than acceptable to Zena, who didn¡¯t feel any desire to go back to her former place of employment. All she had of that place were bad memories of being mistreated and ridiculed. Feeling relieved over not facing immediate death at the hands of her former employers, the ex-assassin had gone out to find a new way of life for herself.

    However, this had proven to be more difficult than she had ever imagined. Writing on her CV that she used to work as a government killer wasn¡¯t something that she could exactly do, which left her with a large empty spot on her employment history. This wasn¡¯t looked at favorably by potential employers, which led to her being rejected from interviews many times. The only reason she had been able to land a job at Goldjoy¡¯s hotel had been due to them being desperate for willing employees during an important time.

    Seeing how her hopes for future employment weren¡¯t looking all that great, Zena had decided to go to college in the hopes of finding a new career for herself. The issue was that studies were very expensive to the point that even a former assassin under the service of one of the Overlords couldn¡¯t easily afford them. With no other choice, it was time to get a part-time job, which is why she was now flipping burgers.

    ¡°Goddammit¡­ Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯ve gotten sick from this place,¡± Zena said to herself as she wiped the snot off her nose. ¡°Unless someone is talking about me behind my back¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, rookie! Quit daydreaming and keep the spatula moving!¡± the manager of the burger place shouted angrily. ¡°We¡¯ve got a lunch hour on our hands and there¡¯s dozens of people waiting for their food!¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, sir! I¡¯ll get back to it right away!¡± the ex-assassin quickly apologized as she got back to work. ¡°Do you want me to get rid of the ones I¡¯ve got on the grill? I did accidentally sneeze on them.¡±

    ¡°Hell no! We don¡¯t have the time for that!¡± the manager shouted. ¡°Just send them out like you normally would! They won¡¯t notice a difference! And if they do, we¡¯ll just call it a new mayonnaise or something!¡±

    ¡°...The fact that this place is still better than my last job is honestly depressing,¡± Zena mumbled to herself with a sad sigh. ¡°At least I don¡¯t have to worry about my life constantly, but I still need to get my life together. I seriously hope I can find something way better, once I graduate.¡±

    <hr>

    Back with Erin¡¯s group, most of them were still wondering about the mystery of the sixth assassin they had supposedly defeated. Annoyed by their lack of awareness with their situation, Erin was starting to get more and more annoyed.

    ¡°Would you idiots mind and FOCUS!?¡± the redhead shouted angrily at her companions. ¡°Who cares about how many assassins we have or haven¡¯t faced!? We are facing one right now, so let¡¯s forget about everything else and take him down!¡±

    Realizing their mistake, the others quickly dropped their conversation and apologized to their enraged leader. With all of their attention back at Desmond, they prepared themselves for the battle ahead.

    ¡°You should have let them have their talk. After all, this is going to be the last time any of you will be able to talk to one another,¡± the necromancer said in a mocking tone. ¡°Soon you will all be dead and depending on the condition I leave you, I might just turn some of you into my special puppets. How cruel of you to not let your friends share their last words with each other¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure all the other assassins said similar things before they got their asses kicked!¡± Ryle said. ¡°You¡¯re about to become number nine on that list! Or was it eight? Seven? Who cares! We are kicking your ass!¡±

    ¡°Good job, Ryle. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s shaking in his boots right now,¡± Lexton said sarcastically.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± the blonde shouted back.

    ¡°Before we start this, can you tell us one thing?¡± Erin asked, ignoring her two bickering friends. ¡°Were you sent by someone else than Golorath? We were supposed to meet someone that had ties to a person we¡¯re working for. Did they send you instead?¡±

    ¡°None of us were ever sent after you. We rarely ever are,¡± Desmond replied with a smirk. ¡°All we were ever told were the basic details of you all and how to deal with you. Basically, kill the others and take the redheaded leader alive. After that we are left to tracking you on our own.¡±

    ¡°Then how the hell did you find us?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Just a very lucky coincidence,¡± the necromancer said with a wide smile. ¡°The two people that you met? They were actually known rebels that had been on our bounty board for quite some time. I did observe them for some time, which allowed me to learn that they were going to meet someone here. Sadly, before I could get them to talk, they both managed to kill themselves, leaving me in the dark about whatever operation they were taking part in.¡±

    ¡°So that means you had no idea we were coming,¡± Erin summarized. ¡°And that you don¡¯t know who we are connected to. Is that it?¡±

    ¡°Exactly! But that is going to change very soon!¡± Desmond said happily. ¡°All I need is just one or two of you alive to squeeze the information I want! The rest of you can face the same fate as your contacts!¡±

    ¡°...We¡¯ll see about that,¡± the redhead said as she narrowed her eye and pulled out a new knife.

 161. Army of Corpses

    Chapter 161

    Army of Corpses

    Even though they had been putting on a brave front, Erin and her friends were at a very bad disadvantage. Not only were they surrounded on all sides by Desmond¡¯s undead soldiers, most of them had lost a good amount of their combat capabilities. Due to the town¡¯s restrictions regarding the gases it was covered in, the group had been forced to leave a lot of their weaponry behind. Not only that, but some of them, like Arkay, were left practically defenseless from this, too. Only those with unarmed combat skills could fight this time.

    Not only were their options for defending themselves limited, but Desmond was also a very skilled necromancer. He might have only summoned simple zombies, but the amount was still staggering. Had it been anybody else, they would have been overwhelmed a long time ago already.

    Erin new that in order for them to survive, they needed to either get away from the zombies or take down Desmond himself. Whether necromancers or any other magician that summoned creatures to their aid, the things they summoned would either disappear or crumble once the summoner themselves was killed. The problem was that with zombies coming from every direction it was impossible to go after the necromancer himself.

    ¡°Alright, think about it. There has got to be some way for us to win this,¡± the redhead mumbled to herself, as she cut off a hand from an approaching zombie before kicking it away. ¡°I need to get back to the warehouse, so I can go after the necromancer. If we could just open a path there¡­ But would I be able to get to him fast enough, before everybody else gets killed by the zombies?¡±

    Not only was there no way for any of them to get back inside the warehouse, but finding a way to the roof might take too much time for the ones left to deal with the zombies. There was also the risk that even bigger threats could be waiting inside, ready to ambush those who were looking to harm the master of the undead creatures.

    What they needed was a direct and fast line to Desmond, like a fast elevator of sorts. This of course wasn¡¯t available, until Erin had an idea that made her eye go wide.

    ¡°Durge! I need a hand over here!¡± the redhead called out to the orc as she moved closer towards him. ¡°Can you throw me to the roof!?¡±

    ¡°Throw you!? Are you kidding me!?¡± Durge asked, shocked by the suggestion. ¡°Doing something like that might get you killed! Besides, you¡¯ll be facing against that guy all on your own! There has got to be a better idea than that!¡±

    ¡°Well, if you can think of one, I¡¯d like to hear it!¡± Erin argued. ¡°If you don¡¯t have one, then I suggest we go with what I just suggested, because we can¡¯t just stay here and fight these things forever!¡±

    The orc looked troubled as he kept hitting at the zombies that were approaching them, killing or pushing them away. Much to his displeasure, he couldn¡¯t think of any better idea. They needed a fast solution to their predicament and Erin¡¯s idea, as crazy as it was, provided them with one. He just hoped that he wouldn¡¯t end up regretting going along with it.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it!¡± Durge said as he moved closer to the redhead in order to enact her plan. ¡°Just be careful, okay!? We don¡¯t know what that guy might have prepared for you up there and I doubt he himself if a pushover! He is probably a tough son of a bitch himself!¡±

    ¡°Trust me! I¡¯m well aware of the risks!¡± Erin said. ¡°But we need to do this, if we want to get out of here alive!¡±

    The orc nodded, before suddenly grabbing one of the zombies by its feet and swinging it around a couple of times at the other undead creatures. This cleared the area somewhat so that he could properly throw Erin at her destination. Once there was enough room, Durge threw the zombie he had used as a temporary weapon away and grabbed the redhead by the back of her cloak. With a mighty swing, he sent her flying through the air and towards the roof of the warehouse.

    To say that Desmond hadn¡¯t been expecting one of his targets to get thrown at him would have been an understatement, as he was completely caught off-guard by what happened. One moment he was staring down at his opponents with a cocky smile, the next thing he knows is that he has to throw himself to the ground in order to avoid getting hit by a human projectile.

    Erin herself flew over the necromancer, before crashing down on the roof of the warehouse. The redhead was holding her face as she got up with her whole body practically burning from pain. Despite this, she simply glared at the assassin that had forced her to such an act and she was going to make him pay for doing so.

    Even if she was livid, Erin was smart enough to not let her anger completely consume her. Once on her feet, she quickly looked around in order to make sure that there was no one else there that would pose a threat to her. Seeing as how there was only Desmond, the redhead went back to planning the very painful vengeance she was going to enact on him.

    ¡°What do you say now, asshole? You were talking all high and mighty just a second ago! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re out of things to say!¡± Erin said as she walked towards the necromancer, every movement causing pain to spread through her body. ¡°Guess you should have taken my advice and left us alone! Now you¡¯re going to pay for that!¡±

    ¡°D-Don¡¯t you start acting up just yet! Did you really think that all I could do was summon zombies to do my bidding!?¡± Desmond asked nervously as he took out a large combat knife and held it at the ready. ¡°You don¡¯t get to become a top assassin through being a one trick loser! If you come any closer, I¡¯ll show you just how fearsome I can truly be!¡±

    ¡°...Then what are you waiting for? Come at me,¡± the redhead said with a smirk, causing the necromancer before her to tense up. ¡°You can¡¯t do that, can you? Otherwise you would have already charged at me.¡±

    ¡°W-What are you talking about!? Of course I can!¡± Desmond argued, his nervousness showing even more. ¡°I am more than skilled enough to-!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about and you know it!¡± Erin said, shutting the assassin up. ¡°You can¡¯t come at me with the intent to kill, because of your orders!¡±

    ¡°...How did you know?¡± Desmond asked.

    ¡°Your colleagues were a bit too talkative for your own good. They pretty much let it slip that they wanted me alive,¡± the redhead explained with a small grin. ¡°I might not be any kind of a combat expert, but I can¡¯t help but imagine that taking someone alive is a lot harder than simply killing them. Especially when it comes to someone like you, whose powers revolve around death.¡±

    ¡°There are still ways for me to-¡±

    Desmond was cut off, as Erin suddenly came rushing at him, swinging her knife at him with all of her strength. Even if she had nowhere near the same level of strength as Ryle or Durge, her training and combat experience had granted her more than enough power to put her above regular people. Even when the necromancer managed to bring up his own knife to block the attack, the blow carried enough strength to shake him to his core and push him back.

    Due to where he had been standing at the time of the attack, Desmond was almost pushed off the edge of the roof, but he just barely managed to keep himself in check. However, even if he managed to save himself from falling, he wasn¡¯t ready for what came next.

    With her opponent still shaken from the attack and focused on not falling, Erin was able to use the opportunity to shoot ice magic from her hand. Unlike fire, it wouldn¡¯t ignite the gases in the air and was thus safe to use. The spell struck the necromancer, encasing his lower body in ice and leaving him immobilized.

    Seeing his lower half covered in thick ice, Desmond desperately tried to free himself by hitting the ice with his knife. He knew that he was vulnerable to any incoming attacks and needed to get out as fast as possible. The necromancer¡¯s struggles were in vain, as he was only able to take small chunks out of his cold encasing and was soon faced with another attack.

    Having successfully robbed her opponent of the ability to move freely, Erin rushed towards him again with her knife at the ready. Desmond tried to protect himself, but wasn¡¯t able to put up a proper defense in time. The redhead¡¯s knife cleanly cut off his hand, causing him to scream in pain as his hand and weapon fell. Knowing that there was no need to show mercy, Erin then plunged her weapon into Desmond¡¯s chest, right at the spot where his heart was.

    For one small moment, the necromancer stood still with wide eyes, before glancing down at the blade buried in his chest. After that he simply slumped down in silence, signaling his death.

    As soon as the necromancer stopped moving, the zombies down below also stopped in their tracks. Without the magician providing them with magical energy, all summoned undead creatures would return back to being lifeless corpses. That was the end of their battle against their latest assassin.

    Or that¡¯s how it should have been at the very least.

    Instead of simply falling down lifeless like they should have, the zombies had merely stopped in their tracks. They were all standing around, almost as if waiting for an order of some kind.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Erin!? Did you kill the necromancer over there!?¡± Lexton asked in a worried tone, as he looked at the surrounding zombies. ¡°These things aren¡¯t reacting they¡¯re supposed to!¡±

    ¡°I stabbed him through the heart! That should have killed him!¡± Erin said while looking at the zombies in confusion, before placing her fingers on Desmond¡¯s neck. ¡°I feel no pulse from him either! He is dead for sure!¡±

    ¡°If Erin says that guy is dead, then I believe her!¡± Ryle said. ¡°Maybe it just takes a while for them to-¡±

    Before the blonde could finish her hypothesis, one of the zombies standing before her lunged at her with its mouth wide open. It was only thanks to her quick reflexes that she managed to avoid getting bitten, as she delivered a powerful kick to the undead creature¡¯s chin that broke its neck.

    Almost as if woken up by the one zombie that moved, the other zombies resumed their attacks at their prey. It was like nothing had happened at all.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    As this was happening, Erin was beginning to panic. Her whole plan had been to end the battle quickly by killing the necromancer right away, but that had somehow failed. As if to make sure she wasn¡¯t hallucinating or something similar, she went back to check on Desmond¡¯s body. Just like she had previously determined, he was completely dead. So then what was causing the zombies to move?

    However, when she was checking the dead necromancer¡¯s body, the redhead started to realize some things that she had missed. For starters, Desmond didn¡¯t have a gas mask on him, which was weird since wearing one was necessary in order to stay alive in Gasrick. As she began to inspect the body further, she started to notice things that were even weirder. Considering how he had just died, his body should have still had some level of warmth to it, but it was ice cold, like he had been dead for some time already. When she looked at the wounds, they didn¡¯t bleed the way they should have normally. It was almost like the necromancer himself had already been as much of a corpse as his zombies.

    Just as Erin was starting to realize what this meant, Desmond suddenly started to chuckle. He soon looked up and stared at her with the same arrogant smirk that had been on his face not too long ago.

    ¡°Took you by a surprise, didn¡¯t I?¡± the necromancer asked with a smile. ¡°I do have to say that you took me by surprise, too, but you are nowhere near my level. I will give you credit, though, you have gotten much farther than most people. Not that it makes much of a difference.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ How are you alive!?¡± the redhead asked in shock. ¡°I stabbed you through the heart! You should be dead already!¡±

    ¡°Stupid girl¡­ That only works on those who are actually alive. Stabbing a heart that has already stopped breathing is completely pointless,¡± Desmond explained as he finally freed himself from the ice encasing himself. ¡°This town is honestly the perfect battlefield for me. Most things that could actually kill me here are not suitable due to the nature of this place, essentially making me unbeatable. I truly am lucky today.¡±

    ¡°...No way. You¡¯re an undead yourself!?¡± Erin said, finally realizing what she was up against. ¡°This whole time you weren¡¯t actually alive at all!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m very much alive! Just not in the sense that most would think!¡± the assassin quickly said. ¡°I suppose you haven¡¯t heard about dead bodies being brought back to life through fluctuations of natural magic energy, though? If you have, then there¡¯s your explanation.¡±

    The redhead cursed herself in her mind. She was well aware of the natural undeads, including the ones that would develop actual personalities. Such beings were referred to in the lore as ¡°deadborns.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you actually know what this is about then. That¡¯s good. Ignorance is always such a painful thing,¡± Desmond said with a smile, before the centipede tattoo on his body began to suddenly move around, like it was alive. ¡°You know, I wasn¡¯t lying when I told you that creating simple zombies was the only thing I could do. While most people use the most basic forms of necromancy, I have developed my skills in a far more intriguing manner.¡±

    Suddenly, the centipede tattoo that had been moving around the necromancer¡¯s body shot out of the arm that had its hand cut off. The tattoo then proceeded to connect with the severed hand, allowing it to move and grasp the knife it had dropped. It was soon floating in the air, suspended by the centipede tattoo that now resembled a whip or a snake.

    ¡°I don¡¯t simply make dead bodies rise up and fight on my behalf. I¡¯ve learned to manipulate dead cells specifically. It allows me to do things like this with ease,¡± Desmond explained with a smile of arrogance on his face. ¡°How about it? Care to try fighting me again? I can assure you that you won¡¯t be so victorious this time. Not that you were in the first place.¡±

    Truth be told, Erin was not feeling confident in regards to her chances at victory. The opponent she had thought would be simple to beat had suddenly proven to be a much more dangerous opponent than they had imagined. Had Desmond just been a simple necromancer, there would have been numerous ways for them to defeat him, but finding out that he was actually an undead made things infinitely more difficult, given the circumstances they were in. The redhead specifically lacked the better tools she could use in order to defeat undead creatures. Even if her knives could get the job done, it was going to be a lot harder. With Desmond having far more deadly tricks up his sleeve that they were just discovering, what she had might not be enough.

    Despite the disadvantageous situation they were in, Erin held her knife at the ready. Even if their struggles were to be ultimately futile, they would still fight back with all their might.

    Just as Desmond began to use his new whip-like limb to strike at the redhead, down on the street, Arkay had noticed something strange. Due to having prominent magical abilities, the cat boy could sense magical energy flowing in his surroundings. When concentrating on certain places, he could tell just how much magic had been poured into a certain spot. While he hadn¡¯t noticed it earlier, the activation of the necromancer¡¯s ability had caused him to pick up on something.

    Much like any object that had magical energy brought into it, summoned monsters also had traces of magic within them. This included zombies and other undead creatures brought up by necromancy as well. However, the amount of magical energy within a summoned being was always smaller than the summoner themselves. This was because the summoner needed to provide their creature with constant energy in order to keep them around.

    Upon inspecting Desmond, Arkay realized that there wasn¡¯t enough magical energy within him for summoner. Even if the amount was larger than the surrounding zombies, it was nowhere near the scale and actual summoner should have. Instead, it looked more like Desmond himself was a something that had been summoned.

    Upon realizing what this meant, the cat boy¡¯s eyes went wide. They could battle as long as they wanted, but there would never be an end to it. The true necromancer that had brought all these zombies had been somewhere else all this time.

    ¡°ERIN! HE¡¯S NOT THE NECROMANCER!¡± Arkay shouted, getting the attention of the redhead and everybody else. ¡°THE PERSON CONTROLLING ALL THESE CREATURES IS SOMEWHERE ELSE!¡±

    ¡°Huh!? What do you mean!?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°The person you¡¯ve been fighting is some sort of a undead puppet, like the zombies! He doesn¡¯t have the amount of magical energy necessary to keep up this horde!¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°The person before you is probably just a specially crafted undead creature that is used in order to distract enemies from the real necromancer!¡±

    The redhead looked at Desmond, or the being claiming to be Desmond, with utter disbelief in her eye. Almost as if to confirm Arkay¡¯s claims, the person had an irritated look on his face.

    ¡°Dammit¡­ Guess he figured it out. Oh well. It was going to happen sooner or later,¡± the fake necromancer said. ¡°It¡¯s just as the kid said. This is not the real me. This was just some thug that died from a sickness that rotted his left eye. Still, thanks to the body being fresh, I could preserve it and use it as a substitute to fool people. Pretty clever, if I don¡¯t say so myself. It helps when you have corpses that still have intact vocal cords that haven¡¯t rotted.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ if you¡¯re not the actual assassin, where is the real you?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Did you think that I was going to tell you that?¡± the fake necromancer asked with a chuckle. ¡°You have to be incredibly naive to think that!¡±

    The zombie that had pretended to be Desmond then swung his whip arm at the redhead. She managed to block the attack, but another soon followed after it at a much faster speed. This cut the side of her leg, hindering her movement. More attacks soon followed with some of them being blocked, while some left her injured.

    Erin cursed as she knew what this was. Much like all the other assassins, Desmond was also trying to take her in alive, so he was just trying to wound her until she couldn¡¯t move. Once that was done, she could be easily captured and brought to the Overlords, most likely so that she could face the same type of torment Stacey had.

    The redhead tried her best to advance forward, so that she could take the fight directly to the zombie she was fighting. However, the differences in range and skill were making that nearly impossible. Not only could her opponent swing his weapon from a distance, but the attacks were so relentless and precise that it took all she had to try and block or avoid some of them. Unless there was a significant change soon, she wouldn¡¯t be able to last much longer.

    <hr>

    Back down at the streets, most of Erin¡¯s friends were pushing back against the surrounding horde of zombies that were coming at them. Even though they hadn¡¯t been overrun, the constant fighting had taken its toll on them, as they were all showing signs of exhaustion. Not only that, but some of them had even been bitten by the undead creatures, which caused their movements to slow down even further. While there was no worry over being turned into one of the undead monsters like in the movies Erin had seen, being slowed down created more than enough problems in their situation.

    As the fighting continued, Lexton, who was hiding behind the physically stronger members of the group, was trying desperately to think of a way out of the mess they were in. Even though he still had two golems at the ready, he wasn¡¯t willing to use them just yet. This wasn¡¯t because he was trying to be a cheapskate or anything like that, but because he needed to be absolutely sure that using her creations would lead to a result that was beneficial for them. He had learned many times through his life as a con artist that simply trying to rush through obstacles could lead to a much bigger mess than before.

    Suddenly, an idea came to him and he turned towards the other person hiding from the combat alongside him.

    ¡°Arnie, you said that you could see the magical energy within these things, right!?¡± the kobold asked the cat boy. ¡°Do you think you could trace where the necromancer that controls these things is!?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, but not from here!¡± Arkay replied. ¡°In order for me to do that, I need to be able to actually see where the magical energy is coming from! I can¡¯t do so from this spot!¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s a matter of perspective that¡¯s the issue, then I can fix that,¡± Lexton said as he pulled a vial out of his jacket. ¡°This should be able to do it.¡±

    Pouring the liquid that was inside the vial on the ground, it soon began to react and grow. In just a couple of seconds, one of the kobold¡¯s golems was standing in the middle of the group. After giving his creation some basic instructions, the golem proceeded to pick up Arkay and lift him up in the air. This was Lexton¡¯s idea for giving the cat boy a better view of their surroundings.

    ¡°Can you see where the real necromancer is now!?¡± Lexton asked.

    Looking around, Arkay was able to get an idea where the magical energy was flowing from. This was more difficult than simply seeing it manifest within a spell or an object as it was more faint, but it was still possible. What also helped was the large amount of zombies that all needed to be provided with a steady stream of magic, as it made the trail of energy more visible.

    After looking around for a few seconds, the cat boy was able to figure out the general direction the magical energy was coming from.

    ¡°It¡¯s coming from there!¡± Arkay shouted as he pointed at the general direction. ¡°If we go that direction, I should be able to pinpoint the exact location!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear!¡± Lexton said. ¡°Durge! Zeldana! Ryle! Move out of the way!¡±

    The three did as they were instructed, allowing the kobold¡¯s golem to run through the zombies, thus creating a pathway for them to get out of the horde¡¯s encirclement. Once they got away from the undead horde, Lexton instructed his creation to put Arkay down, before turning his attention back to the zombies that were coming towards them.

    ¡°Why are we stopping!? The necromancer shouldn¡¯t be far!¡± Arkay asked. ¡°If we move fast, we should be able to catch up to him!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but not with these things chasing after us,¡± Lexton replied as he pointed at the zombies. ¡°It won¡¯t do us any good to find the guy, if we are going to have these to deal with at the same time. You¡¯ll go chase after the necromancer with Ryle, while the rest of us hold these things back.¡±

    The cat boy was about to protest, but hand on his shoulder from Ryle cut him off.

    ¡°He¡¯s right, Arnie. The necromancer is probably going to have a bunch of tricks up his own sleeve that we can¡¯t handle, if we have to worry about a bunch of zombies chomping down our asses at the same time,¡± the blonde said before turning towards the kobold. ¡°Mind if I ask why you chose me for this role? Not that I mind, of course¡­¡±

    ¡°Not only are you one of our better fighters, but you¡¯re also the fastest. That¡¯s why I hope that you two will be able to finish this, before we get overrun by the zombies,¡± Lexton explained. ¡°But most importantly, if we do get overrun, I¡¯d rather not have to spend my last moments with an absolute troglodyte like you.¡±

    ¡°Good to know. I¡¯ll make sure to take my sweet time dealing with the creep behind all of this,¡± Ryle said sarcastically. ¡°You guys take care of yourselves and we¡¯ll make sure to put an end to this! Come on, Arnie!¡±

    ¡°R-Right!¡± the cat boy replied.

    ¡°Hold up! One more thing!¡± Lexton suddenly said before handing Arkay his last remaining golem vial. ¡°I¡¯d hate to send you out there with no way to defend yourself. Use this to take the bastard down.¡±

    The cat boy nodded, before going back to Ryle. The blonde then picked him up and carried him on her back, as she dashed away in search of their hiding opponent.

    ¡°...Alright, you two. This is going to be the toughest battle of our lives,¡± Lexton said as he addressed his two remaining companions while looking at the approaching zombies. ¡°Are you two ready to face it?¡±

    ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be,¡± Durge said as he cracked his knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s show them what we¡¯re made of.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s show them all the bits they find tasty, so they can pick out the most delicious parts in order to enjoy them to the fullest! Sounds like a fun idea!¡± Zeldana said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m not really feeling this plan of yours, Lex! Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to go with all of us after the necromancer, instead of sending just Ryle!? You know she¡¯s a moron, right!?¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I am well aware of her intellectual shortcomings, more than anybody else. However, when the situation calls for it, she always does what is required of her,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s with Arnie, so I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll be messing around. Idiot doesn¡¯t want to look bad in front of him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure¡­ Although, I can¡¯t help but feel you might have another reason for sending her away,¡± the elf suddenly said with a small grin. ¡°I¡¯m thinking you might have sent her away in order to keep her safe. She¡¯ll have a much better chance at getting out of here alive, while we are getting eaten by the zombies.¡±

    ¡°Now why the hell would I ever want to do that?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You two seem to be always going at each other, like you can¡¯t leave the other one alone. And there was that time you rushed after her, when you thought she was in danger,¡± Zeldana explained with her grin growing wider. ¡°I think you just wanted to get your secret crush away from danger!¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? THAT¡¯S NOT-!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ She has a bit of a point. It does seem like you two like to interact with each other quite a bit. Not to mention, you are younger than her, so in that sense she could¡­¡± Durge said thoughtfully, before looking at Lexton with wide eyes. ¡°Are you two perhaps-?¡±

    ¡°One more word. One. Freaking. Word! If I hear even one word that eludes to your disgusting ideas, I will personally feed you two to the goddamn zombies!¡± the kobold said angrily. ¡°Now shut your mouths and get ready to kill some undead!¡±

    The three of them turned their gazes towards the approaching horde of zombies. They could only hope that Ryle and Arkay were able to take down the necromancer quickly or it would be all over for them.

 162. Back to the Grave

    Chapter 162

    Back to the Grave

    While the rest of the group were facing against undead monsters brought up by the necromancer targeting them, Ryle was speeding through the empty streets with Arkay on her back in search of the assassin. Thanks to the cat boy being gifted in magic, he was able to see a trail of magical energy move through the air and end with the zombies. This allowed him to track the location of the one behind the magic. All they needed to do was find where the necromancer casting the magic was and take him down, which in turn would put an end to the zombies as well.

    However, even if Erin was dealing with the more advanced zombie that had pretended to be the actual necromancer and the rest were holding back most of the horde, there were still plenty of undead monsters left to hinder the progress for Ryle and Arkay. Whoever the assassin truly was, they weren¡¯t dumb enough to leave themselves completely defenseless while letting their zombies do most of the work. The empty streets still had plenty of zombies hiding behind corners and other spots, waiting for one of their targets to come close enough for them to take a bite.

    It was fortunate that Ryle wasn¡¯t just extremely fast and strong, but she also had incredible reflexes as well.

    ¡°Woah! That one got a bit too close!¡± the blonde said as she dodge out of the way of a zombie that came from behind a corner and tried to lunge at her. ¡°How the hell does this guy have so many zombies in the first place!? Did he commit a mass murder or something recently!?¡±

    ¡°I doubt that¡¯s the case. A lot of necromancers summon their regular undead on the spot, as you can often find at least something buried in the ground beneath your feet,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°If I were to make a guess, he most likely went to the local graveyard and brought up everything he could from there to use against us. This town is very dangerous to live in, after all, so I¡¯m sure there were plenty of materials for him to use.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­ This place just keeps getting better and better¡­ Why would anyone ever live here!?¡± Ryle said in disgust. ¡°Anyways, have you been able to keep your eyes on the trail that guy has left behind?¡±

    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s actually becoming clearer, which means we are getting closer to him!¡± the cat boy replied, looking at the trail of magical energy. ¡°Turn right at the next intersection! We should almost be there then!¡±

    The blonde nodded and followed the instructions given to her. Just as she got around the corner, a bunch of zombies were standing there, waiting to ambush her and Arkay. The undead creatures would have torn apart any normal person that was caught by surprise, but Ryle once again proved that she was anything but normal. The group of zombies ended up being nothing more than a mere annoyance, as she jumped over them with ease and landed behind them.

    ¡°Hah! Nice try, but you gotta do better than that, you worm-ridden bags of crap!¡± the blonde taunted the zombies with a grin on her face as she kept running. ¡°If this is the best this necromancer guy can do, this will be over quickly once we find him!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure,¡± Arkay said in a worried tone, as he stared towards where the magical energy was coming from. ¡°I sense a large concentration of magic ahead of us. I think he might have prepared something more than just regular zombies for personal protection!¡±

    ¡°Gah! That¡¯s going to be a pain in the ass to deal with! Although, I guess we should have expected just as much,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Once we find the place, you point out the necromancer and go somewhere safe! Let me handle the rest!¡±

    ¡°No! I refuse to simply hide while everybody else is fighting!¡± the cat boy said defiantly. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to drive out the necromancer, so you can take him down right away and end this quick!¡±

    ¡°Huh!? A-Arnie, I appreciate that you want to help out, but don¡¯t you remember!? You can¡¯t use your magic around here!¡± the blonde pointed out. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it just be better to instead let me handle this!? You¡¯ve done enough as it is!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to face the others, if I don¡¯t actually put my life at risk here!¡± Arkay said with a voice full of determination. ¡°Besides, even if I can¡¯t use my magic, I¡¯ve got ways to fight! Not only that, but I have a plan as well!¡±

    ¡°A plan!? What is it!?¡± Ryle asked, surprised that the cat boy had come up with something so fast.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to show this guy that he isn¡¯t the only one with disposable monsters!¡± Arkay replied, gripping the vial that Lexton had given him.

    <hr>

    The trail of magical energy led Ryle and Arkay to what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse, similar to the one their group had been led to by the necromancer¡¯s puppet. Ryle wasted no time in getting inside and simply kicked the front door down. Once inside, they followed the trail further inside, until they were in an area that was reserved to housing large boxes full of whatever the owner used to hold there. There they came face to face with the group of undead the necromancer had prepared for his defense.

    Looking at the group, one could easily make the mistake of thinking that they were just normal people, but closer observations would reveal their true nature. Much like the man they had faced earlier, none of them were wearing masks to shield themselves from the harmful gases that covered the town. You could also tell that none of them were breathing, as there was no rhythmical movements with their bodies that came from it. Both Ryle and Arkay were also certain that if you were to touch them, you would feel how cold they were and that there was a lack of pulse.

    However, this didn¡¯t mean that none of them could be the necromancer, as they could still be a naturally born undead. For all Ryle and Arkay knew, any of the five could be the real mastermind behind all of the attacks they had bee facing.

    Ryle¡¯s eyes scanned the group before her, analyzing each member before her in order to get an idea of their abilities and fighting styles. She could tell that each one of them had been an expert fighter before dying.

    First one was a male elf with two swords at his side. The longer seemed to be a rapier, while the other one was a simple short sword. The blonde could already imagine the fighting style consisting of incredibly fast thrusts that were accompanied by the occasional swings from the shorter blade.

    The second one was a female dark elf with a rather large halberd. While she had a very athletic build, she wasn¡¯t excessively muscular. This meant that she wielded her weapon with skill and control, rather than simple pure strength.

    The third one was a male human armed with a crossbow. Judging by the camouflage-patterned clothing he wore, he had been either a hunter or some sort of a guerrilla fighter. Ryle¡¯s nose managed to pick a faint smell of gunpowder coming from him. It seemed like the necromancer had switched his usual weaponry consisting of firearms due to the gases.

    The fourth zombie was a male dwarf, who was carrying a very large sword on his back. Judging by the muscles on his arms, he was more than capable of wielding the weapon with force. Unlike the dark elf, who would use her large weapon through skillful control, this guy was more on the side of hitting things as hard as he could, until they broke.

    Last one was a very large troll, wielding a massive club made out of a combination of wood, iron scrap and big animal bones. Judging by his appearance, he had most likely been a more savage troll that lived in the wilds and attacked travelers, unlike other trolls that lived as a part of regular society.

    A bead of sweat slid down the side of Ryle¡¯s face, as she stared at her opponents. There was a combination of speed, power, finesse and range within this group that was going to make the coming battle a tough one. Depending on how well the necromancer was able to coordinate their attacks, she might just be forced to focus on avoiding attacks and not get a chance to strike back.

    ¡°...Arnie, any idea if any of these guys is the necromancer?¡± Ryle whispered to the cat boy. ¡°All I can tell is that we¡¯ve got five tough bastards in front of us, but none of them give me the idea that any of them is an actual magic user. Unless he¡¯s hiding somewhere.¡±

    ¡°No, it has to be one of these five. They¡¯re the only ones giving off magical energy,¡± Arkay replied as he observed the five undead warriors. ¡°Whoever this necromancer is, they¡¯re very skilled at manipulating magical energy. They¡¯re actually making it circle through these guys in such a manner that it¡¯s impossible to tell where the original source is.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re going to have to beat all five of them?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m willing to go for it, but it¡¯s going to be tough.¡±

    ¡°No need to go that far. Just engage them in combat and make them move. The necromancer will eventually make a move that will expose himself,¡± the cat boy explained. ¡°The more complex and powerful moves these guys need to make, the more magical energy the necromancer will be forced to use. I will be keeping an eye for the moment one of them shows a large increase in their magical energy output. That will reveal us just who the real one is.¡±

    ¡°So I just gotta keep these guys moving, until the one hiding behind the scenes screws up? Got it,¡± Ryle said with a grin, as she lowered Arkay to the floor. ¡°You just get yourself to a safe spot and watch, as I make these guys dance way more than they ever did while alive. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find out the real necromancer in just a few seconds.¡±

    With their battle plan ready, the blonde walked up to her opponents as she cracked her knuckles. All five undead warriors took their stances, their attention fully directed at the opponent before them. Silence fell over the warehouse, as the combatants just stared at each other in silence.

    ¡°Are we going to do this or what?¡± Ryle asked arrogantly as she waved her hand in a way that beckoned the five to come towards her. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day here!¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The blonde¡¯s taunt seemed to work, as the five zombies she was facing sprung into action. The troll was the first one to attack, as it swung its club at Ryle. She was able to jump to the side, avoiding the strike that destroyed the concrete floor with ease. This attack was followed by the elf charging at the blonde with both swords drawn. Much like she had predicted, he used his rapier to send out deadly thrusts at a rapid fire rate, while occasionally swinging his shorter sword at her when there were openings that he could exploit. Ryle managed to weave through the attacks and get close to the elf, allowing her to deliver a powerful kick that sent him flying back.

    However, the blonde couldn¡¯t afford to stay still and catch her breath, as her ears picked up the sound of someone coming at her from behind. She jumped in the air and did a backflip, avoiding the large sword of the dwarf and getting behind him. Ryle was about to deliver a powerful blow to the back of the dwarf that would at least incapacitate him to some level, but the sound of crossbow being readied caught her attention. She barely managed to duck her head down in time, when an arrow flew over her.

    ¡°Hey! Watch where you¡¯re pointing that thing!¡± the blonde shouted at the human zombie, who was preparing his next shot. ¡°I don¡¯t like having sharp things getting shot towards me, jackass!¡±

    Not wanting to deal with projectiles flying at her, while also focusing on melee combat with the other zombies, Ryle dashed towards the archer in the hopes of taking him out of the picture. Just as she was about to reach him, a large blade similar to an ax came down at her and almost cut her head off. The blonde managed to step back in time, after she noticed something coming towards her from the corner of her eye.

    Now it was the dark elf that stood in her way. The halberd-wielding zombie swung her weapon around like it was a part of her body, twirling it around with ease and masterfully delivering powerful slashes that could cut through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter. The added length of the halberd¡¯s pole made the weapon a lot more difficult to deal with, as it could keep the opponent at a distance and not allow them to counterattack.

    Just as Ryle was busy trying to avoid the wild swings from the dark elf¡¯s halberd, she noticed the elf and the dwarf come from behind her. The elf was aiming to run her through with his rapier, while the dwarf was going to bring down his sword in order to split her in half. The blonde managed to move out of the way of the rapier¡¯s thrust and get behind the elf, kicking him in the back in the process and pushing him towards the dark elf. After that, she jumped to the side to avoid the dwarf¡¯s sword that crashed to the floor, before jumping towards him to punch him in the face and send him flying.

    With the dwarf out of the way for the time being, she turned her gaze towards the two elves and saw that the idea she had thought of while avoiding all the oncoming attacks had worked. By pushing the elf towards the dark elf she had hoped that at least one of them would have ended up hitting the other with their weapons, thus taking out one of her opponents. Just as she had hoped, the elf¡¯s rapier had gone through the body of the dark elf.

    ¡°Ha! Take that you corpse bastards! How do you like me now!?¡± Ryle boasted, before she saw the elf simply pull his weapon out of the dark elf¡¯s body, who seemed to be completely unbothered by what had happened. ¡°Oh right¡­ Zombies¡­ I forgot normal means don¡¯t work on you¡­¡±

    Just as the blonde was realizing how much tougher than she had initially thought, the troll came for another attack. This time the undead creature went to grab her with its free hand and managed to succeed, due to Ryle being distracted by her other opponents. The troll¡¯s large hand wrapped around the blonde¡¯s right leg and held onto it tightly.

    ¡°...Oh crap,¡± Ryle said, just before she was lifted off the ground and swung around wildly.

    The troll seemed to treat the blonde like some sort of a ragdoll, as she was being swung around while she screamed. The swinging came to an end when the undead creature was about to smash its opponent on the floor, but Ryle managed to escape just in time by slipping her leg out of her boot. While she managed to avoid being crushed, the momentum still caused her to fly through the air and crash into nearby crates.

    ¡°Ow¡­ That hurt like hell¡­ You better not ruin my shoe,¡± the blonde muttered as she got up with shaky legs. She noticed the crates contents and grabbed one of the cans the wooden box had held within. ¡°Great¡­ Canned food. I hate canned food¡­ Couldn¡¯t this guy have chosen something like a pillow factory as his hideout?¡±

    Ryle didn¡¯t have much time to be lost in thought about her feelings towards the cans she had found, as four of the five zombies came rushing towards her with the human archer getting to a better position to aim at her.

    However, the canned food she had accidentally landed on provided her with surprising weaponry to use against her opponents. Gathering some of the cans in her arms, she began to throw them at the zombies with all of her might. While such an act wouldn¡¯t necessarily be lethal when done by a normal person, the blonde was far from a regular person. Not only did she possess very strong physical capabilities, she also used her ki to strengthen her throws, transforming the cans into lethal projectiles that whizzed through the air like bullets.

    Seeing the oncoming attack, the zombies did what they could to defend themselves, but it was proving to be very tough. The speed at which the cans were coming at them wasn¡¯t something that could be taken lightly, even for undead creatures that didn¡¯t feel pain or have the same weaknesses in their bodies as living people did.

    The human archer was able to avoid all of the cans that were thrown at him due to having a better position to do so. The others were forced to defend themselves to the best of their abilities, which wasn¡¯t enough for all of them. The dark elf was able to handle the oncoming projectiles the best, as she deflected them all with her halberd. The dwarf simply placed his large sword in front of him as a makeshift shield that blocked most of the attacks, but a couple managed to slip past his defense and actually break his arm. Even if a broken limb didn¡¯t cause him to scream from pain and drop to the floor, it still left him unable to use one of his limbs. He was still a dangerous force to be reckoned with, despite losing an arm.

    However, the elf and the troll hadn¡¯t been as lucky as the others. The elf¡¯s weapons weren¡¯t best suited for defending against such an onslaught of projectiles and one of them soon hit him in the head, bringing an end to the zombie. The troll, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t move fast enough because of its massive size and could only bring its arms in front of it in order to shield its body. Multiple cans hit it in every visible part of its body, leaving the metal containers sticking out of it, like a strange pincushion. None of the attacks had been able to hit a vital part for a zombie, thus leaving it still operational.

    ¡°Damn¡­ I got only one of them, huh?¡± Ryle muttered to herself after launching her attack. ¡°Well, at least that¡¯s some progress¡­ Even though this is not going well for me at all.¡±

    Looking over her opponents again, the blonde tried to analyze the situation to the best of her ability. Since taking down all five of them would be a tough battle that she didn¡¯t feel confident she could beat, she tried to find out which of the five was the actual necromancer, so she could end the battle much faster.

    The elf was obviously not the necromancer, as he was down and the other zombies were still moving around. Ryle also doubted it was the dwarf or the troll either, as their movements were more reckless and straightforward, making them easy targets for counterattacks. While the dark elf seemed to be very skilled and good at avoiding most attacks, she was still being put at risk more than a person that was used to controlling others would like to.

    After thinking about it, the blonde came to one conclusion. The human archer had to be the necromancer, as he was constantly hiding in the background, leaving him out of harm¡¯s way. In her mind, this was the perfect spot for someone to hide and manipulate things from the background.

    ¡°Guess you¡¯ve been made, pal!¡± Ryle grinned as she turned her gaze towards the archer. She then dashed towards the human zombie with the intent of taking him down for good. ¡°Your ass is mine, punk!¡±

    The other three remaining zombies chased after blonde, which only served to enforce her belief that she was correct in her assumption. If the other undead creatures were so adamant on protecting the one she was targeting, then it must mean that he was the necromancer.

    However, Arkay had noticed something that questioned Ryle¡¯s assumption. He had been observing the zombies and hadn¡¯t seen anything in the archer that indicated he was the necromancer. Instead, it looked there was something else in him that was gathering magical energy. As soon as he realized what it was, his eyes went wide with shock.

    ¡°GET AWAY FROM HIM, RYLE! HE¡¯S NOT THE NECROMANCER!¡± the cat boy shouted as loudly as he could. ¡°THEY¡¯RE TRYING TO GET YOU INTO A TRAP!¡±

    Upon hearing the warning, the blonde reacted immediately and jumped to the side, even though she was just about to reach the archer. Almost as if following Ryle¡¯s example, the other zombies also jumped back, like they were avoiding their undead comrade. Soon after everyone had avoided the zombie archer, he was enveloped in a strange glow, before exploding.

    Ryle had managed to avoid the blast just barely, as the force of the blast pushed her away. She managed to somewhat land on the ground in a manner that allowed her to avoid damaging herself. She then rushed over to Arkay¡¯s side in order to learn what had just happened.

    ¡°Thanks for the save, Arnie! Had you not noticed what was going on, my ass would be toast right now!¡± the blonde said, grateful for the cat boy¡¯s help. ¡°But how did you know that it was a trap?¡±

    ¡°During your fight, there were no large fluctuations in the magical energy that the archer¡¯s body held within. Had he been the necromancer, I should have seen changes in the energy within his body,¡± Arkay explained. ¡°He was most likely kept in the back in order to give you the idea that he was the necromancer, so that you could be lured into a trap. Just as you were getting closer to him, I noticed strange energies build up in him, which was most likely a self-destruct spell that the real necromancer activated.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ But who the hell is the real necromancer?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Even if we have crossed out two of these guys, we still have three left! And I hate to say this, but I¡¯m not sure how much longer I can go on with these guys¡­¡±

    ¡°We might not be in such big trouble, in the end,¡± the cat boy said. ¡°I think I have figured out who the actual necromancer is!¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! Now I can focus all my efforts into pounding his ass into the dirt!¡± the blonde said with a grin as she cracked her knuckles. ¡°...By the way, who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the troll,¡± Arkay replied.

    Upon hearing the cat boy¡¯s response, the blonde turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering if he had been joking, but saw that he was completely serious. She then turned her gaze at the undead creature in question, wondering how it was the person they had been looking for.

    ¡°...Arnie, I love you and I think you¡¯re amazing and all, but are you sure about this?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be a jerk, but that guy doesn¡¯t strike me as someone who could perform any kind of magic at all, let alone control multiple zombies at the same time! He looks like he would struggle with reading books meant for toddlers!¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean, but there is actually a reason for this. I noticed a strange fluctuation of magical energy within that guy, when you were fighting them,¡± Arkay began to explain. ¡°However, there was something strange about it. Instead of the magical energy circulating in the troll¡¯s body itself, it seemed to be centering within something inside of it.¡±

    ¡°And that means what?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°I believe the necromancer is hiding within the troll itself!¡± the cat boy replied. ¡°I think he used the fact that zombies don¡¯t need internal organs to his advantage by hollowing out its body and hiding inside of it!¡±

    Ryle¡¯s eyes went wide at the idea that someone could do such a thing, but she then noticed that the troll seemed to back away upon hearing Arkay¡¯s theory. This was more than enough to destroy and doubts she might have had towards his assessment and she now focused solely on the large zombie.

    ¡°...Looks like you hit the nail on the head. The big guy seems to have taken a step back now that the gig is up,¡± the blonde said as she walked towards the zombies. ¡°You stay back here. I¡¯m putting an end to this right now.¡±

    Before anyone could react, Ryle sped towards the troll zombie like a bullet. Knowing that his life was in danger, the necromancer moved his other two zombies to intercept the blonde.

    The dwarf swung his sword with one arm, still able to make a powerful attack, but Ryle easily ducked underneath it. The dark elf tried to bring down her halberd on the blonde, but the attack was sidestepped with ease. The only one in front of her now was the troll, who swung his club wildly from side to side. This finally forced Ryle to step back, as she was almost hit with the massive weapon, which in turn allowed the other two zombies to catch up to her.

    However, just as the dwarf and the dark elf were about to cut down the blonde, an unexpected savior came to Ryle¡¯s rescue. Arkay had run after his companion and, upon seeing the two zombies approach her, had pushed his body to the limit in order to run towards the two undead creatures and jumped in front of them, causing them to trip on his body.

    For a very brief moment, Ryle looked with horror at her young friend being trampled, but that soon turned into boiling rage directed at the person responsible for it. Much like back when they had faced the Reaper Maggot, anger took over the blonde¡¯s mind as she dashed towards the zombie troll like a missile.

    The massive creature was about to step to the side in order to the oncoming attack, but found itself unable to move. Looking down, it noticed a strange purple slime that was covering its legs and holding it in place. It had even reached up to take hold of the troll¡¯s arms, pulling them down so that it couldn¡¯t defend itself.

    This was the golem Lexton had given to Arkay doing its work. Before entering the warehouse, the cat boy had released the creature in order to slip it inside unnoticed. Knowing that there would be only one chance to catch the necromancer off his guard, he had instructed the artificial monster to lay in wait until it received a mental command to attack. Once the necromancer¡¯s true identity had been revealed, Arkay had sent it a command to grab the troll and hold it still in order to make sure Ryle¡¯s attack would land.

    With an explosive force, Ryle flew into the troll¡¯s chest and burst through the creature¡¯s back, leaving a large hole in the process. As she came out of the other side, she was holding onto a short human male, who had been hiding inside the undead creature. This was the true face of the necromancer that had been controlling the horde of zombies.

    After landing on the ground, the necromancer that had now been brought out of his hiding place tried to desperately get out of the blonde¡¯s grip. Whether he was trying to fight back or plead for mercy would be left unknown, as Ryle¡¯s anger didn¡¯t allow him to do much.

    Without saying a word, the blonde gathered her ki into her fist, unleashing her signature move that absolutely demolished its target and sent him flying through several wooden crates and metal shelves. In that instant, their battle against the undead horde was over.

 163. Unexpected Appearance

    Chapter 163

    Unexpected Appearance

    Having finally crushed the necromancer who had targeted them, Ryle started to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she finally managed to quiet down her rage and get back to her senses. Upon reaching that state, the blonde remembered the thing that had set off her right in the first place. She turned around and rushed back to Arkay¡¯s side to check the cat boy¡¯s condition after getting trampled upon by two of the necromancer¡¯s zombies. Said undead creatures were laying on the floor with their controller defeated.

    ¡°Arnie!¡± Ryle called out to her young companion as she knelt next to him and picked him up. ¡°Are you okay!? Hey! Speak to me! Please!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m okay¡­ Just a bit banged up,¡± Arkay said, wincing at the pain his body was in. ¡°I kind of moved on pure instinct there, so I couldn¡¯t think of a better idea. At least it worked, even if it was quite painful¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, about that¡­ I¡¯m thankful for the help and it might have even saved me, but I would really appreciate it if you didn¡¯t pull stunts like that,¡± the blonde said somewhat awkwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t want you getting hurt on my behalf like that, especially if it could end badly¡­¡±

    ¡°I get that, but I need to do my part in this group, too,¡± the cat boy said while looking down in shame. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to just be a burden that needed to be protected.¡±

    ¡°Hey, you weren¡¯t being a burden, okay?¡± Ryle said, hoping to cheer up her young companion. ¡°It was only thanks to you that we figured out the guy we were facing earlier wasn¡¯t our real opponent and just a puppet he was controlling. And after that you led me to him, so we could finally put an end to this whole thing. If I¡¯m completely honest, you were the most important person when it came to beating that guy.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Arkay asked.

    ¡°Yeah. So don¡¯t look down on yourself so much. You¡¯ve got an important part to play in our group and you just did that perfectly,¡± the blonde said before standing up and lifting the cat boy in her arms. ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s go back to the others! I¡¯m sure they¡¯re worried about us.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Sure, but¡­ can you put me down?¡± Arkay asked awkwardly with a blush on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can walk by myself.¡±

    ¡°Nope! Not happening! You just got run over and are hurt, so I¡¯m not allowing you to walk around in your injured state!¡± Ryle said happily. ¡°Besides, I think I deserve some form of a reward for beating the necromancer.¡±

    As the two walked out of the warehouse, they didn¡¯t notice movement happening in the rubble the necromancer had flown into.

    <hr>

    Back with the rest of the group, Lexton, Durge and Zeldana were breathing heavily while struggling to stay up. The kobold¡¯s golem had long been overrun by the numerous zombies and destroyed, turning it into a large puddle of goo on the ground. The orc was leaning on a nearby wall to keep himself up, while the elf was sitting on the ground.

    The three of them had been just about to get overrun and torn apart by the horde of zombies surrounding them, but just as all seemed to be lost the undead monsters suddenly fell on the ground and stayed silent. After Durge carefully nudged one of them and it remained still, they came to the conclusion that Ryle and Arkay had defeated the necromancer and their battle was over.

    ¡°Well¡­ That got close,¡± Durge said while breathing heavily, the exhaustion from the battle and the damage done by the zombies having taken a toll on him. ¡°To think that we only came here to have a meeting with someone¡­ We just can¡¯t have an easy day in our lives, can we?¡±

    ¡°Only those fortunate enough to be born under the right conditions get to have it easy. For most of us, life is a struggle. We can only hope we are tough enough to take on the struggles ahead of us,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Or that¡¯s at least what my dad used to say. He also told me that those who live easy lives end up destroying themselves in the end, as they fail to build themselves up. Although, I wouldn¡¯t mind taking that over THIS right now¡­¡±

    ¡°...By the way, where¡¯s Erin?¡± Zeldana asked, realizing that their redheaded leader was missing. ¡°I know that we sent Ryle and Arkay after the actual necromancer, but we have no idea where she is right now. Do you think she¡¯s still fighting that bald guy on top of that warehouse?¡±

    ¡°I doubt that. Remember that the guy she was facing was actually just another zombie in the end,¡± the kobold explained. ¡°Now that the one controlling him is gone, he should also stop moving, much like the rest of these things. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll join us soon enough.¡±

    Almost as if summoned by Lexton¡¯s words, Erin appeared before her companions, jogging over to them. While at first the three were relieved to see their friend alive and well, they soon noticed the state she was in. The redhead had cuts all over her body that were bleeding, almost like she had run through a forest made of knives.

    ¡°Guys, you¡¯re okay!¡± Erin said in a relieved tone. ¡°I was worried what might have happened to you!¡±

    ¡°Forget worrying about us! You should be worried about yourself!¡± Durge exclaimed in a shocked voice. ¡°What the hell happened to you!? You look like someone threw you in a blender!¡±

    ¡°The guy I was fighting was a lot tougher than I expected. It didn¡¯t help that I didn¡¯t have all of my gear on me. As you can see, it kind of did a number on me,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Speaking of which, Zeldana, could you give me some medical assistance? I kind of need it¡­¡±

    ¡°Can I just have a minute!?¡± the elf asked angrily. ¡°I just finished fighting against an army of zombies here! Is it too much to ask for a moment to catch my breath!?¡±

    ¡°And I was obviously just having a leisurely picnic, while you were doing that,¡± Erin said in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Now how about you get your ass over here and do your job, before I bleed to death?¡±

    ¡°Oh, fine! If it stops your bitching!¡± Zeldana said in an exasperated tone as she got up and walked over to the redhead. ¡°Seriously, baby gets a little cut and immediately starts crying! These are just simple and basic wounds! Nothing interesting at all!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think injuries are supposed to be interesting in the first place,¡± Erin said as she glared at the elf. ¡°Can you do something about them or not?¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to insult me? This type of work is the basic of the basics!¡± Zeldana said as she gathered magical energy on her hands and began to ran them over the wounds, closing them in the process. ¡°Just give me a minute and I¡¯ll have these closed in no time.¡±

    The elf was soon done with treating the wounds and took a step back. No longer worried over her life, Erin took a look over her friends and noticed that two of them were missing.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Ryle and Arnie?¡± the redhead asked, worried over the safety of the two. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me something bad happened to them!¡±

    ¡°Relax. Those two should be alright,¡± Lexton said reassuringly. ¡°They went after the necromancer in order to put an end to this, which you can see that they succeeded in. Arnie was able to detect where the magic was coming from, so we had him lead Ryle to where the one controlling these things was hiding and take him out. And since all the zombies have now stopped moving, I¡¯d say that they were able to do just that.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but why only send out those two?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t their chances at winning have been better, if you all went after the necromancer?¡±

    ¡°We were kind of busy over here. I¡¯m sure you can see why,¡± the kobold said in a sarcastic tone as he motioned towards all the zombies surrounding them. ¡°We needed to hold back the majority of the enemy¡¯s forces, so that they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about getting overrun from the behind.¡±

    ¡°...You know, you could have told me that without the sass. I can understand reasonable explanations just fine,¡± the redhead said with a frown, not liking the tone Lexton had used while talking to her. ¡°Is it too much for you to be actually friendly for once? That¡¯s the kind of attitude that¡¯s going to get you into a lot of trouble at some point.¡±

    ¡°Give him a break. He¡¯s just being a bit moody over what he¡¯s been through,¡± Durge said. ¡°After all, things got a bit heated for him and he might have-¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T YOU DARE,¡± Lexton said in a threatening tone as he glared at the orc. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear anything coming out of your mouth!¡±

    Durge simply shrugged, not too bothered by the threat. This still led Erin confused, as she wondered what had happened.

    ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°Just what happened with you guys?¡±

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Lexton shouted defensively. ¡°Absolutely nothing happened here and you don¡¯t need to worry about anything!¡±

    ¡°He screamed and cried in terror, as the zombies almost got him,¡± Zeldana said as she snickered, causing the kobold to turn and glare at her. ¡°You should have seen it. It was priceless!¡±

    ¡°I DIDN¡¯T CRY!¡± Lexton shouted angrily. ¡°I might have panicked, but I think that¡¯s pretty freaking understandable! My golem got destroyed and I¡¯m not exactly equipped for close combat! What did you expect me to do in that situation!? Laugh maniacally!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I can understand being scared and all, but I never imagined YOU to actually start crying!¡± the elf continued teasing the kobold. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re always acting so tough and serious, yet there you were, bawling like a baby! What a sight to see!¡±

    ¡°For the last time, I DIDN¡¯T CRY!¡± Lexton shouted. ¡°Do you see any marks from tears on my face!?¡±

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fair enough. There¡¯s no proof that you shed any tears and you probably didn¡¯t,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug before a mischievous grin spread over her face. ¡°But I¡¯m sure we can all see the proof that you pissed your pants!¡±

    Just as the elf had said, there was a dark spot around a certain area of the kobold¡¯s pants that Erin now noticed. Upon realizing that his shameful spot was now the center of attention, Lexton did his best to cover it up.

    ¡°Y-Y-You asshole! You were just riling me up with false accusations so I would forget to cover that!¡± the kobold said in a voice that was mixed with anger and embarrassment. ¡°And it¡¯s not what it looks like! This is just drool from the zombies! It just happened to fall on that place!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Should we test it out then?¡± Zeldana said with a grin, leaning closer towards Lexton. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can figure out just what this mysterious substance truly is!¡±

    ¡°STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU CREEPY GODDAMN PERVERT!¡± the kobold yelled desperately.

    Erin let out a sigh and rolled her eye at the antics of the two, before walking up to Durge, hoping to get a much clearer picture of what actually had happened.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°So mind telling me what really went down here?¡± the redhead asked the orc. ¡°Something tells me that if I listen to either of those two, I will only get what they want me to believe.¡±

    ¡°You mean lies? That¡¯s pretty likely, seeing how those two are,¡± Durge said as he glanced over to Lexton and Zeldana arguing. ¡°Although, is this really a topic you should be focusing on? I¡¯m pretty sure that there are more important things for us to discuss.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ guess you¡¯re right,¡± Erin said, embarrassed over the fact that she had focused on something so unimportant. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I actually got swept into the stupidity of those two¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, sometimes it¡¯s just easier to go with the flow, you know? Makes things a lot easier to handle. That¡¯s how I lived a good amount of my life at least,¡± the orc said with a shrug. ¡°Anyways, I don¡¯t think you need to worry about Ryle or Arnie. Like Lexton said, it¡¯s obvious that they win, since the zombies stopped moving. They¡¯ll probably be here any second now.¡±

    ¡°That might be the case, but shouldn¡¯t we still go looking for them?¡± the redhead asked. ¡°I know Ryle is strong and all, so she¡¯s probably fine, but what about Arnie? He can¡¯t really defend himself here, so he could have gotten hurt.¡±

    ¡°That might be true, but I think you¡¯re forgetting something. Do you really think Ryle would allow anything to happen to him?¡± Durge asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t know where they went exactly. If we go looking for them, we might miss each other, so it¡¯s best for us to just wait for them to come back. Not only that, but if there are any other enemies around, we might get ambushed by them while scattered around. The best thing we can do now is remain calm and collected.¡±

    While she didn¡¯t feel good about not being able to really do anything, Erin knew that the orc was right. Going on around and searching randomly would only cause more issues, so it was better to have faith in her currently missing friends and wait for them.

    Luckily for the redhead, she and the others didn¡¯t need to wait for long, as they soon heard the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Ryle running towards them while carrying Arkay in her arms.

    ¡°Hey, guys! We¡¯re back!¡± the blonde called out to the others happily. ¡°We found the creep and kicked his ass big time! You can come and get your autographs right now!¡±

    ¡°Good to see you¡¯re all fine and in good spirits,¡± Erin said with a smile, relieved to see that her two friends were alive and well. ¡°Is Arnie okay? Is he hurt, since you¡¯re carrying him?¡±

    ¡°Well, he took a bit of a-¡± Ryle began to say, only for the cat boy to cut her off.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. No need to worry,¡± Arkay said. ¡°Just got a bit roughed up, but that¡¯s to be expected in battles like this, right?¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s true,¡± Erin said. ¡°So what exactly happened over there? I assume you found the necromancer and defeated him?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we did more than that! We completely destroyed him and the zombie gang he had set up!¡± Ryle said as she set Arkay down. ¡°You gotta hear this tale of awesomeness and just total badassery!¡±

    As the blonde went on to tell the tale of her and Arkay¡¯s exploits in their battle against the necromancer, which she was making a lot more grandiose than it actually was, the other part of the story backed away. The cat boy didn¡¯t feel like taking part in the storytelling, as he felt like he didn¡¯t have anything interesting to add to it. Instead, he went on to sit on a nearby bench, hoping to rest up a bit after a tough battle.

    However, due to the noise from Ryle¡¯s ramblings and being too tired to pay attention to his surroundings, Arkay failed to notice something approaching from behind, until it was too late.

    The necromancer he and Ryle had defeated, Desmond, was still alive. Much like they had theorized, he himself had been an undead creature, a deadborn, as people like himself were known. This meant that most attacks that would be lethal to regular people weren¡¯t able to kill him, as he no longer had the same requirements as people normally did. That is how he had survived Ryle¡¯s attack, which would have easily killed most opponents.

    While he might have survived, Desmond was far from fine, as the lower part of his body had been blown clean off, forcing him to crawl on the ground with just his hands. Not only was he left unable to move around properly, but he was left powerless after his battle.

    If he could, the necromancer would have used this opportunity to escape and find some way to get a new lower half for his body, but he couldn¡¯t. After failing to take down such important targets, he knew that returning would mean certain death at the hands of Golorath.

    With no chance of getting out of this alive, Desmond decided to do what he could in order to make his defeat at least less humiliating. He was going to take one of his opponents with him. That way he could accomplish more than all the other assassins so far had.

    The one the necromancer had decided to direct his wrath towards was none other than Arkay, whom he blamed for his defeat. He had originally underestimated the cat boy as a weakling that wasn¡¯t able to do anything, only for that supposed weakling to not only reveal his trick, lead another fighter to where he was hiding and even exposed his real hiding place. If it weren¡¯t for Arkay, Desmond was certain that he would have won.

    With no other options, the necromancer was going to at least take the one person he blamed for his downfall with him.

    Having crawled over to where Arkay was resting, Desmond gripped a knife he had taken from one of his fallen zombies. With a scream filled with rage, the necromancer lunged towards the cat boy from behind, holding the knife high in order to stab his enemy.

    Time seemed to slow down, as Erin and the others turned their attention to where the scream had come from. Eyes went wide as they all moved to defend their youngest companion, but they were not going to make it in time. Arkay himself tried to move out of the way while bringing up his arms in front of the blade, but there was no way that he was going to survive this encounter.

    Just as it seemed like the cat boy¡¯s fate was sealed, an unexpected savior came down from the sky.

    A figure fell down upon the undead necromancer, crushing him beneath it and crashing to the ground. The impact was so powerful that it sent Arkay flying away and stumble to the ground, and kick up a massive cloud of dust that covered the figure that had just come down.

    Despite the sudden arrival having saved their companion, Erin and her friends didn¡¯t know who this person was, so they got ready for another fight. It was only when they heard a familiar voice coming from within the cloud of dust that they could ease up.

    ¡°Arriving from the skies, the savior of the people! The one and only magnificent hero of the Western Continent!¡± the voice of Rayleen announced as she appeared from within the dust cloud, striking a heroic pose as she did so. ¡°The incredible! The beautiful! The simply stunning! RAYLEEN IS HERE!¡±

    After finishing her boastful speech, the warlord stood in silence while holding her pose and waiting for a reaction. Much to her displeasure, all she received was an awkward silence as Erin and her companions stared at her.

    ¡°HEY!¡± Ryaleen shouted angrily. ¡°WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THIS LACK OF REACTION!? DON¡¯T YOU THINK I DESERVE AT LEAST SOMETHING!?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­ None of us really knows how to react to what we just saw,¡± Erin said. ¡°I mean, what was that supposed to be? Some sort of a cheesy super hero entry?¡±

    ¡°Cheesy!? You called it cheesy!?¡± the warlord asked in disbelief and anger. ¡°How dare you call my entrance cheesy! Do you know how much I practiced in order to hone all of it to perfection!? The landing! The pose! The speech! All of those are the results of my blood sweat and tears! I think I deserve at least some clapping of hands for what I just accomplished!¡±

    ¡°Sure. Here you go. I¡¯m clapping my hands,¡± the redhead said bluntly as she clapped her hands a bit, which was far from genuine. ¡°Is this enough?¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t even trying! That¡¯s more like you¡¯re mocking me than praising me!¡± Rayleen complained. ¡°Besides, did your buddies lose the control of their arms or something!? Why are you the only one that¡¯s even giving me that much!?¡±

    Erin turned to look at her companions, who all gave her a look that pretty much asked if she was seriously considering the warlord¡¯s demand.

    ¡°Just humor her, guys,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°The sooner we get her on a better mood, the quicker we can get out of this whole mess.¡±

    After hearing the request of their leader, everyone in the group started to clap their hands slowly and awkwardly, similar to how Erin had done it earlier. Instead of pleasing Rayleen, this seemed to only further irritate her.

    ¡°Stop! STOP! That just pisses me off further!¡± the warlord screamed angrily. ¡°Fine! Forget showing proper appreciation to my stylish entrance! Can¡¯t expect everybody to have good taste!¡±

    Rayleen turned her back towards Erin¡¯s group, like a sulking child that got the wrong toy for birthday. Everybody looked at each other awkwardly, wondering what to do.

    It was then that the youngest member of their group acted by running up to the warlord.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Excuse me? Ms. Rayleen?¡± Arkay called out to the warlord, getting her attention. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not showing proper gratitude just now. It¡¯s just been a long day and we¡¯re all very exhausted. From the bottom of my heart, I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life earlier.¡±

    Rayleen tried to keep a stern expression, but it began to crack immediately. Soon a big smile appeared on her face, as she pulled the cat boy into a hug, much to the displeasure of Ryle.

    ¡°Awww! I can¡¯t stay mad when someone like you is being so darn earnest!¡± the warlord said happily, as she rubbed her cheek against Arkay¡¯s. ¡°And no need to worry about being saved and all that! It¡¯s just what I do!¡±

    ¡°I-I see¡­ Still, it¡¯s only right to show gratitude when someone does something good to you,¡± the cat boy said awkwardly, having not expected the embrace. ¡°I take it that you are no longer upset with us?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was never truly upset! I just like to show off here and now, and I was expecting more of a reaction from you guys! No need to worry about it!¡± Rayleen explained. ¡°Anyways, I saw earlier how you were able to figure out the necromancer¡¯s plan and all! That was some very impressive work you just did! Would you be interested in joining my forces? The pay is really good and the benefits are even better!¡±

    ¡°NO WAY IN HELL HE IS!¡± Ryle shouted angrily, as she walked up to the two and pulled Arkay away from the warlord. ¡°He¡¯s part of our group and is not going anywhere, so don¡¯t you even think about taking him for yourself!¡±

    ¡°Oh boo¡­ I just want to have one person around me who isn¡¯t a total stick in the mud! Is that too much to ask!?¡± Rayleen whined. ¡°Besides, if he was with me, he wouldn¡¯t have to risk his life as much as with you guys while contributing to a really good cause!¡±

    ¡°Sure! Because getting you and your goons into power is such a good cause!¡± the blonde said in a sarcastic tone, before she seemed to realize something. ¡°Hang on¡­ Now that I think about it, where are those thugs of yours? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be like a big shot or something? It¡¯s pretty suspicious that you¡¯re not with at least a couple of bodyguards.¡±

    ¡°Huh? I just came here alone because I could do so faster!¡± the warlord said. ¡°Besides, even I need some time away from those guys! Do you have any idea just how uptight they are!?¡±

    ¡°...Where¡¯s your mask?¡± Ryle asked.

    True to her words, while it was pretty much mandatory for you to wear a gas mask in Gasrick due to the poisonous air, Rayleen wasn¡¯t wearing one. Unlike Erin and her companions, the warlord¡¯s face was completely uncovered, much like the zombies they had faced.

    However, this fact didn¡¯t seem to register with Rayleen.

    ¡°Huh? Mask?¡± the warlord asked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    All of a sudden, Ryle jumped at Rayleen and began to pull at her face, almost like she was trying to see if it was real or not. The warlord had been caught off-guard by the sudden act, so she couldn¡¯t immediately react. It didn¡¯t take soon for her to get over her surprise and for the anger to rise.

    ¡°OW! Cut it out, you ass!¡± the warlord yelled angrily before slapping the blonde in the face. ¡°What the hell was that for!? My face isn¡¯t made of rubber!¡±

    ¡°Ryle, what is with you now!?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°I know that you have your antics and all, but what could have possibly compelled you into assaulting Rayleen¡¯s face like that!?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t assaulting her! I was checking if she was the real Rayleen and not some zombie impostor!¡± the blonde argued. ¡°Isn¡¯t it weird to any of you that she came all the way over here on her own without any escorts!? Not only that, but she¡¯s not wearing a gas mask around here!¡±

    The others took not of Ryle¡¯s observations and realized that she was right. Even if the warlord had somehow been able to come to them all on her own, it still didn¡¯t explain how she could be breathing toxic air without any issues.

    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ That does seem weird,¡± Durge said. ¡°There are so many poisons in the air that almost no living thing could live here, yet she¡¯s completely fine.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ Not to mention, this is the first time we¡¯ve seen her after that whole incident with Stacey,¡± Erin said. ¡°There¡¯s been plenty of time since then, so anything could have happened to the real Rayleen and her crew. Them getting found out and turned into zombies as punishment is entirely possible.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying!¡± Ryle exclaimed. ¡°Considering how the whole thing was just a big trap, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she got caught! Hell, even the messenger we met might have been a zombie as well!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know which is more frightening. The fact that this scenario could be true or the fact that Ryle of all people made these observations and came up with a very likely explanation,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Are we sure YOU are the real Ryle and not a zombie impostor?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯LL KICK YOU SCALY ASS ALL OVER THE PLACE, LEX!¡± the blonde shouted angrily.

    ¡°She¡¯s the real thing,¡± Erin said bluntly. ¡°That still leaves the mystery of the Rayleen before us, though¡­¡±

    ¡°What mystery!? I am ME! Who else could I be!?¡± the warlord argued. ¡°If you really need to make sure that I¡¯m not a zombie, how about you have someone in your group with medical skills come and do a quick check up!?¡±

    ¡°If you insist,¡± Zeldana said with a shrug. ¡°But don¡¯t get too mad, if my hands wander into places you¡¯re not comfy with.¡±

    ¡°...You better make sure those fingers never cross any unnecessary boundaries or I¡¯ll shove them where the sun doesn¡¯t shine,¡± Rayleen said as she glared at the elf.

    Zeldana simply shrugged at the threat and went in to check warlord in case she was just an undead impostor. She checked her pulse, heartbeat, pupils and body heat. This only took a few seconds, but everybody could tell that Rayleen was not happy to be subjected to such treatment.

    ¡°Well, what¡¯s the diagnosis?¡± Erin asked, once Zeldana was done. ¡°Is she the real deal or not?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s the real Rayleen alright,¡± the elf replied. ¡°Her vital signs are completely normal, so she shouldn¡¯t be a zombie.¡±

    ¡°Like I told you! All you had to do was believe me and we wouldn¡¯t have needed to go through that whole process!¡± the warlord complained. ¡°Seriously, did you need to touch me all over the way you did!? I¡¯ll never feel clean again after what you did!¡±

    ¡°That was too much for you? All I did was a thorough medical check up! Considering what we¡¯re talking about here, I¡¯d say I did just enough to confirm your condition,¡± Zeldana said. ¡°If you really want to feel dirty through my hands, I¡¯ve got worlds to show you¡­¡±

    ¡°Keep your hands away from me, you beast!¡± Rayleen shouted while covering herself with her arms.

    ¡°Alright! Alright! Enough with the antics! I¡¯m sure we have actual business to get to!¡± Erin said loudly in a commanding tone that left no room for arguments. ¡°I still have to ask, though, how are you fine around here without a gas mask? We were pretty much forced to buy our before we could get in here.¡±

    ¡°Huh? That¡¯s what go you guys all worked up?¡± the warlord asked. ¡°Do you have any idea who I am? I¡¯m a freaking warlord! I¡¯ve had to survive assassination attempts more times than you can count, including ones through poison! It got to the point where I developed a technique that allows my magic to burn any toxic stuff that goes into my body before it manages to affect me! I got so good with it that nowadays it goes to work automatically.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s why you were able to come here without any protective gear,¡± Lexton said in an impressed tone. ¡°That¡¯s very impressive and I have to say that I¡¯ve never heard of anything like that.¡±

    ¡°Finally seeing just how awesome I am? About time!¡± Rayleen said, putting up a front of pride and bravado. ¡°Hell, I didn¡¯t even know that there was toxic gas in the air when I came here! That¡¯s how well my skill works!¡±

    ¡°The fact that you just blindly rushed to possible death aside, I wonder if I could make something I can sell based on that idea?¡± the kobold said. ¡°I can already smell the money I¡¯ll be swimming in.¡±

    ¡°As long as you name the product after me, I don¡¯t see why not!¡± the warlord said.

    ¡°Okay, we¡¯re getting sidetracked again!¡± Erin shouted in an angry tone. ¡°Can we get back to the actual business at hand!?¡±

    ¡°We are talking about business here!¡± Lexton argued.

    ¡°Not that kind of business!¡± the redhead shouted. ¡°What I¡¯m looking to find out is why did you, Rayleen, come here in the first place!?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the warlord asked. ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you your next job.¡±

 164. The Big Target

    Chapter 164

    The Big Target

    Now that the necromancer assassin had been dealt with, Erin¡¯s group and Rayleen had decided to move to a better place to have their conversation. Much to the surprise of the redhead and her companions, instead of going to a more secluded area such as an abandoned building, the warlord decided to lead them back to The Gassy Miner. Once inside, Rayleen had taken one look around the room of people staring at her with wide eyes, before telling them all to leave. All the patrons wasted no time and practically ran out of the bar, like the building was on fire. With everybody else but the bartender gone, the group went to sit at a large table.

    ¡°This is better,¡± Rayleen said with a smile, as she took her seat at the table. ¡°Now we can have a proper conversation without any issues.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Erin asked. ¡°You might have driven away most of the people here, but they still saw you. Not only that, but the bartender is still here. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re exactly staying hidden by doing such things.¡±

    ¡°Who cares? I¡¯ve got a team that can easily make it seem like none of this ever happened!¡± the warlord said nonchalantly. ¡°Do you have any idea how many people try to pretend to be me in order to get free stuff and other benefits? This will just be another case of someone trying to use my identity to their advantage.¡±

    ¡°Seems pretty risky to try and pass off as one of the biggest figures on the continent,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t something like that warrant a hefty punishment?¡±

    ¡°Of course! If you¡¯re caught doing something like that, you¡¯re lucky to get away with a simple death sentence!¡± Rayleen replied. ¡°But no matter how big the risk, there are still idiots willing to try anything. That¡¯s just how the world is, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°...Fair enough, but what about the bartender?¡± Erin asked, pointing at the old orc. ¡°If he hears anything that we are talking about here, can¡¯t he just go and tell that to people who might not be all too friendly with you?¡±

    ¡°You think that he¡¯s going to tell on me? Watch this,¡± the warlord said with a cocky grin, before turning her attention to the bartender. ¡°Hey, old timer! Are you going to eavesdrop on us and tell others about it!?¡±

    ¡°NO! NOT AT ALL!¡± the old orc said in a terrified tone, while trying to clean his bar. ¡°IN FACT, AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE LEFT, NO ONE ELSE CAME TO THIS BAR TODAY! NONE AT ALL, SO WHAT IS THERE TO TELL!?¡±

    ¡°See that?¡± Rayleen asked with a smirk. ¡°That¡¯s called respect.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re confusing respect with terror,¡± Durge said.

    ¡°Different words, same meaning,¡± the warlord said, waving off the orc¡¯s claim. ¡°What matters is that he won¡¯t be spilling any secrets. He knows better than that.¡±

    ¡°And by knowing better, you mean WHAT exactly?¡± Erin asked with a glare.

    ¡°Oh, simply that if he goes around talking about things that he has no business talking about, he will soon find his bar torn to the ground and his internal organs outside of his body,¡± Rayleen answered like it was no big deal. ¡°The usual things.¡±

    ¡°And you want us to think that you¡¯re better than Golorath?¡± Ryle asked with a frown. ¡°Sounds to me like you¡¯re no different from any of the Overlords or their thugs.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I can promise you that once I¡¯m the one in charge, things will change for the better!¡± the warlord said, sounding offended by the accusation thrown at her. ¡°This type of thing just takes a lot of work, a lot of which is dirty. If you think that any revolutionary leader ever got into power without getting their hands dirty, then you¡¯re incredibly naive.¡±

    Erin and her companions didn¡¯t argue further. They knew that they were in no position to complain, considering the type of work they had been doing.

    ¡°...So what exactly is this next mission you mentioned?¡± the redhead decided to ask, not wanting to get stuck in a useless argument. ¡°Do you need us to go after someone else that is close to Golorath?¡±

    ¡°Nope! There¡¯s no use going after people that are ¡°close¡± to him. After all, even if his supposed wife was nothing more than a toy that he was willing to discard when it became convenient to him, I doubt there is anyone that he actually cares about,¡± Rayleen explained. ¡°I have to say, I¡¯ve seen a fair amount of cruel bastards, but this guy takes the cake. You have to wonder just what kind of a monster he truly is behind the scenes.¡±

    Erin frowned and clenched her fists over hearing such things being said about her former friend. As she knew who the Overlord had been before coming to this world, she wanted to deny the notion that he was a cruel monster, but she wisely kept it to herself. No matter what he might have been back in her world, the truth was that her actions had turned him into a monster, one that the people of this world had to suffer under. Trying to fight against the harsh truth was not going to do anything for anyone.

    ¡°Anyways, as for the person you¡¯ll be going after, this might sound a bit surprising,¡± the warlord said as she dug into her pocket and pulled out a picture. ¡°This is your next target.¡±

    Rayleen put the picture on the table and slid it over to Erin. The redhead picked it up, with some of her companions looking over her shoulder to see what was on it. Much to their surprise, the person on it wasn¡¯t anyone that looked like they were much of a threat. Instead, the person was a simple older female human dressed in a chef¡¯s outfit.

    ¡°...Is this some kind of a joke?¡± Erin asked bluntly. ¡°Who is this supposed to be? The owner of the bakery next door that sold you a bad cupcake?¡±

    ¡°You know, sarcasm isn¡¯t an endearing quality in anyone. It will only serve to piss off the person you¡¯re using that tone with, so you might want to avoid using it with ME,¡± Rayleen said in a tone that wasn¡¯t hiding her annoyance at all. ¡°As for who this is, her name is Madeline Fryer. She¡¯s a cook employed in Golorath¡¯s kitchen.¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Okay, so there is an actual connection to the Overlord. That¡¯s good to know,¡± the redhead said. ¡°But why do you need us to kill her? If she overcooked a steak, shouldn¡¯t that be a good thing for us? With any luck, she might give Golorath food poisoning.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of my awesomeness and all good things¡­ I do NOT want you to kill her! She¡¯s obviously insignificant in the larger scheme! You of course can kill her, if you want, but it¡¯s not the actual job!¡± the warlord explained in an angry tone. ¡°What YOU need to do is get her out of the way, so you can get inside Golorath¡¯s palace! Are you starting to see the bigger picture now!?¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You want us to replace a professional chef in Golorath¡¯s kitchen?¡± Erin asked and received a nod in response. She then turned to look at her companions. ¡°Any of you guys know how to cook like a professional chef? I sure as hell can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I do know a thing or two when it comes to working in the kitchen,¡± Lexton said. ¡°Not sure if I qualify as a professional, though.¡±

    ¡°I can burn things on a grill! That¡¯s cooking, right!?¡± Ryle said, only to receive judgmental stares from the others. ¡°...At least that¡¯s what I can do.¡±

    ¡°I think this kind of disguise requires more than simplistic caveman cooking skills,¡± Lexton said sarcastically. ¡°Perhaps you should start from the basics and discover fire again?¡±

    As Ryle cursed under her breath, Erin turned her attention back towards Rayleen.

    ¡°I believe I don¡¯t need to point out the obvious flaw in your plan here,¡± the redhead said. ¡°There¡¯s no one among us that can take up your target¡¯s place. We would just get caught immediately.¡±

    ¡°Who needs you guys to cook? My guys have faked a resume for you that will certainly guarantee that you¡¯ll be hired! All you need to do is make a little vacancy for that to happen!¡± the warlord said. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re in any real risk of getting discovered. That fat bastard Golorath has a whole army of cooks, chefs and servers prepping meals for him! They only recently were able to gather a crew that has the required skills and numbers that they can satisfy his gut without the risk of him turning wrathful and slaughtering them all!¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. They¡¯ve reached a comfortable balance that they probably don¡¯t want to be disturbed, so when we ruin it, they¡¯ll hire the first proper candidate on the spot,¡± Durge said, figuring out the plan. ¡°And once we get inside, I¡¯m guessing you want us to poison his food and therefore assassinate him, correct?¡±

    ¡°Finally! Someone who isn¡¯t a complete moron and can actually see the bigger picture!¡± Rayleen shouted. ¡°As for what you just said, that¡¯s a yes and no¡­ While I do want you guys to use something that will finally kill him, putting poison in his food won¡¯t do anything. That guy has a gut that can handle pretty much anything you put in it. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he was able to drink acid like it was water!¡±

    ¡°So if poisoning him isn¡¯t the plan, then what is it?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Simple. You¡¯re going to use this,¡± the warlord said with a small grin as she pulled out a vial and handed it to the redhead. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that it was very uncomfortable to carry that around, so you better appreciate this.¡±

    Erin looked at the vial and saw that it was filled with nothing but water. However, she could feel that there was something special about it and immediately realized what it was.

    ¡°This is holy water, isn¡¯t it?¡± the redhead said. ¡°It¡¯s the weakness of demonic beings like Golorath and yourself.¡±

    ¡°Bingo. You¡¯re probably starting to see where I¡¯m getting at,¡± Rayleen said with a grin. ¡°I need you guys to sneak inside Golorath¡¯s place by using the cover of the new chef to infiltrate. Once one of you is inside, they can let the others in. And when that is done, it will be up to you how you use that little vial to take down the big boy himself.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you making it sound a bit too easy?¡± Zeldana asked. ¡°The Overlords are not stupid. They have incredibly tight security protocols in place to prevent stuff like this from happening. They have specifically trained people that can detect holy magic, so that it will be caught before it gets anywhere near Golorath himself. That¡¯s how all assassination attempts so far have ended in failures.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because they never had one thing that we have. Insider information,¡± the warlord began to explain. ¡°Not only do we know the faces and names of their staff, but routes of patrols and other security. Even the tightest defenses have cracks that can be exploited. Not to mention, now is the perfect time to implement my plan.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Lexton asked.

    ¡°Because, in a couple of days Golorath will be having a special celebration to commemorate the day he and the other Overlords took over the world,¡± Rayleen answered. ¡°During that time, he will be ordering an insane feast of the finest foods imaginable, which you can imagine is going to put the kitchen staff through quite a lot. And they DO NOT want to fail, let me tell you! That¡¯s why when we remove one of their chefs, they won¡¯t hesitate to fill in that role as quickly as possible.¡±

    ¡°Just out of curiosity, what happens to the cooks and chefs that do fail?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Well, it kind of depends on Golorath¡¯s mood, you know? Some get their heads cut off, some get shot, some crushed, some get burnt to death, you get the idea,¡± the warlord said thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve even heard of some people getting eaten by him, but I¡¯ve never seen it myself.¡±

    ¡°...Okay, so anybody volunteering for the chef job?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Just so you all remember, I¡¯m no good at cooking anything.¡±

    While most of Erin¡¯s companions began to talk among themselves over who would take the job of disguising themselves and infiltrating Golorath¡¯s castle, the redhead herself was silent. She stared at the vial of holy water Rayleen had given her to use against the Overlord, who was her old friend Gabe. She had thought that she was prepared to kill him, as it was necessary in order to free the world from his tyranny. This was something she had old herself countless times already.

    However, now that she was holding what would essentially be the bullet that takes Gabe¡¯s life, doubts once again began to fill her head. Would she be able to do it? Even if she found a way to defeat him, would she have the guts to actually kill someone she cared about?

    Erin glanced at her friends, thinking back to all the time they had spent together and found her answer. She would have to do it. If not for herself, then for their sake.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± the redhead said, surprising everybody. ¡°I¡¯ll take the role of the one who infiltrates as a new chef.¡±

    ¡°Erin, are you sure? It¡¯s insanely dangerous!¡± Ryle said, hoping to get her friend to back out of it. ¡°I¡¯m sure if we think about this, there might be another-¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have any other plans, so this is the best that we can do. And since somebody has to do it, I might as well be the one,¡± Erin said in a determined tone. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve had my fair share of work in the kitchen, so I should be able to handle it.¡±

    Some of the others still wanted to protest, but could tell by the redhead¡¯s tone that there was no chance for them to change her mind. They could only hope her the best in the mission ahead.

    ¡°Well, glad to see you got that all sorted out!¡± Rayleen said. ¡°Don¡¯t know why you guys are taking this so seriously, seeing as I¡¯m not even expecting you to beat Golorath.¡±

    ¡°We are well aware of how you view us. We¡¯re here only to create the opportunity for YOU to take him down by wounding him,¡± Erin said as she glared at the warlord. ¡°I promise you that we will perform beyond your expectations and we will defeat him.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Sure. If it makes you feel any better,¡± Rayleen said, clearly not believing the redhead. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ve seen far more skilled people try and fail miserably. You¡¯re of course free to surprise me, but I won¡¯t be holding my breath.¡±

    ¡°Trust me. We will surprise you,¡± the redhead said before standing up. ¡°Now was there anything else or are we done here?¡±

    ¡°Not really¡­ Except for these details of your assignment,¡± the warlord said as she took out a piece of paper and handed it over to Erin. ¡°That has instructions on where to find the person you¡¯re looking for. Follow them and you should be able to accomplish this job easily. Also, don¡¯t feel too bad if you fail to kill Golorath. I¡¯m not expecting you to do more than wound him.¡±

    The redhead glared at Rayleen yet took the piece of paper regardless. Just as she was about to walk away, Ryle decided to ask something.

    ¡°Hey, while we are risking our lives going against the big bad himself, what exactly are you going to be doing during that time?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing much¡­ I¡¯ll just be going over to Dungard¡¯s place to beat him to the ground,¡± Rayleen said nonchalantly. ¡°That way I will be able to take the biggest military leader under Golorath¡¯s command, thus weakening his remaining forces considerably. I¡¯ll also be able to find out just what sort of a project he has been working on all this time.¡±

    ¡°We heard about that from Gotzmeyer. He is apparently working on some sort of a mining project,¡± Erin said. ¡°Any idea what that is?¡±

    ¡°No, which is why I¡¯m going there. I¡¯ve grown tired of not knowing just what¡¯s going on and I want some answers finally,¡± the warlord said. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t be worrying about that! Just focus on taking down Golorath, okay?¡±

    The redhead nodded, before putting on her gas mask and walking out of the bar, followed by her friends. While she walked, it might have looked like there was nothing wrong with her, but one closer look was enough to tell you that something was bothering her. Her fists were clenched and her body was also tense, like she was trying to force herself to stay calm and composed.

    The source of her unease was obvious. Erin was going to finally meet one of her old friends, one of the people she betrayed and destroyed. The redhead had often thought to herself what she would do, if she were to ever meet any of her old friends again. Never had she imagined that she would be aiming to kill them, but that¡¯s what needed to be done.

    With a heavy heart, Erin prepared herself for the battle ahead.

 165. Split the Party

    Chapter 165

    Split the Party

    Erin¡¯s group had moved to a town called Hills Peak, which was one of numerous towns that surrounded the center of the Western Continent, High Rock Peak. Due to the massive amount of commerce that was happening in the capital of the whole continent, these smaller towns had sprung up around it in order to profit from the people going in and out. In some ways, these towns were much more preferable to live in, as the military forces that were stationed there to keep the order were not as harsh and active as in the capital itself. While there was more money to be made in High Rock Peak itself, a lot of people found the much safer environment of the towns more to their liking.

    The reason Erin and her companions had come to Hills Peak was due to the fact that the target given to them by Rayleen, Madeline Fryer, was staying at. Apparently, working at Golorath¡¯s kitchen might have paid you quite a bit, but the amount of pressure and stress you had to work under was not really worth it. The tired chef had managed to get herself a small vacation just before Golorath¡¯s celebratory feast and was spending it in a nearby town. Even though she was on vacation, she knew that if there was even a small thing wrong due to her, she would lose her life immediately. That¡¯s why she spent her time off nearby, so she could get back to work on time.

    This proved to be the perfect opportunity to enact Rayleen¡¯s plan. Had Madeline been spending her time at High Rock Peak, removing her from the kitchen staff would have been a lot harder due to the larger amount of military personnel. Compared to the central, the nearby towns were practically lacking any kind of law enforcement. In fact, criminal organizations and other crooks targeted these towns, while avoiding High Rock Peak like the plague.

    The much more present criminal element proved to be also useful for Rayleen¡¯s plans, as the disappearance of a single chef on vacation could then be easily written off as her having bumped into the wrong person, thus sealing her fate. This was a fairly common occurrence in these towns, so it was unlikely that any further investigation would be dedicated to it.

    At the moment, Erin and her group were sitting at a table inside a local hotel¡¯s cafeteria. They had chosen a spot that was far from the others in order to talk in private, so they could discuss their future plans without having to worry about someone eavesdropping.

    ¡°So, what exactly are we going to do?¡± Ryle asked while taking a sip out of her soda. ¡°Are we really going to go through with this? I get that we need to get inside a heavily guarded place and all, but the way we¡¯re supposed to do it¡­ It just rubs me the wrong way, you know?¡±

    ¡°I understand how you feel. I don¡¯t like this anymore than you do,¡± Durge said before taking a bite out of his sandwich. ¡°Going after someone who isn¡¯t even a combatant and just happens to work for our enemy is not my idea of an ideal plan either, but we can¡¯t be too picky about our methods. The enemy we are dealing with is too big for us to start holding back. I¡¯m sure everybody else here feels the same way.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I think there is someone among us who might like this,¡± Zeldana said with a grin that got confused looks from everybody else but Erin, who simply looked angry. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Erin? After all, you had that whole thing with the maid from-¡±

    ¡°Shut your goddamn mouth right now or I will shut it for you!¡± the redhead shouted angrily. This earned looks from the other patrons, causing her to blush from embarrassment before apologizing. Once the other customers were no longer paying attention to them, she continued to speak. ¡°Zeldana¡¯s unnecessary and terrible jokes aside, I completely agree with the fact that this isn¡¯t something I¡¯d like to take part in, but Durge is right. This might be our best and only chance to get close to you know who.¡±

    ¡°Still, though¡­ I get what you¡¯re saying and all, but this just feels wrong. I get that we¡¯re not exactly working with clean hands here, but isn¡¯t this too much?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, going after some random chef is one thing, but going after her with our whole force? That just seems overkill.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about? That we¡¯re not playing fair?¡± Lexton asked sarcastically. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not your moral compass that isn¡¯t compromised or are you just mentally stuck in some distant past where basic hygiene was a mystery? That would explain a lot¡­¡±

    As the blonde and the kobold got into yet another argument that some of the others were trying to stop, Erin was lost in thought. There was something about what Ryle had said that stuck with her.

    ¡°Ryle¡¯s right,¡± the redhead said, surprising everyone. ¡°We don¡¯t need our whole group for this.¡±

    ¡°Okay, who the hell are you and what have you done with Erin?¡± Lexton asked. ¡°The real Erin wouldn¡¯t agree with the blonde caveman here on her idiotic ramblings.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Even I can have good ideas sometimes!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s cavewoman and not caveman!¡±

    ¡°I seriously doubt that,¡± the kobold said. ¡°The lack of feminine qualities says otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Why you scaly son of a-!¡±

    ¡°Okay! Enough of that! I¡¯m sure we don¡¯t want to get kicked out of here just yet!¡± Erin said in a stern tone, putting an end to the argument. ¡°Also, I¡¯m not agreeing with Ryle because of some strange idea of fair play or whatever. What I¡¯m thinking of is that we don¡¯t need our whole group for a simple operation like this. Instead, we could split our forces in half. While one group handles things here, the other goes to High Rock Peak in order to make preparations there.¡±

    ¡°What kind of preparations are you talking about?¡± Durge asked.

    ¡°Basically, I need you guys to prepare things like equipment, gather information on the city and any possible threats we might face there,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Also, it would help if you guys can find safe places to hide or even a possible escape route for when things¡­ You know, happen over there. It might also be good to do, just in case our ¡°employer¡± decides to cut us loose, once we¡¯ve done our part.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sensing that you don¡¯t exactly trust her,¡± Zeldana said.

    ¡°Should I? I¡¯d like to hear a good reason as to why we shouldn¡¯t tread carefully with her,¡± Erin said with a frown. ¡°Let¡¯s remember that we weren¡¯t convinced to work for her. She forced us to join forces with her and do what she tells us to do. Once we¡¯ve fulfilled our purpose, I see no reason to fear that she might want to ¡°keep us silent¡± in the end.¡±

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good point. I¡¯d say there¡¯s a really high chance that she will try to do that,¡± Lexton said. ¡°People like her don¡¯t want their dirty laundry to get discovered afterwards and want to only portray the best possible image. Since we know her dirty secrets, she won¡¯t hesitate to get rid of us as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°B-But we aren¡¯t the only ones who know, right?¡± Arkay asked in a fearful tone, worried over the idea of having to face against Rayleen and her forces. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are plenty of people within her subordinates who know about her plans.¡±

    ¡°Certainly, but they can also be silenced, either permanently or through threats,¡± the kobold pointed out. ¡°And let¡¯s not forget that most if not all of them are basically members of her fan club. They¡¯re probably not going to turn on her anytime soon. Unlike us, who are just temporary allies out of convenience.¡±

    Silence fell over the group as they thought about their current situation. Not only were they going up against one of the most powerful beings in their world, but they could soon face the reality of being hunted down by someone that was essentially their ally. It was not a prediction that was looking good for them.

    It wasn¡¯t until t loudest member of their group decided to speak up that the silence was broken and the atmosphere was lifted.

    ¡°So what!? Why should we be worrying about that!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I get that she¡¯s a tough opponent with a lot of thugs backing her up, but that never mattered to us before! I mean, haven¡¯t we constantly been going up against people that are like that!? Why should this be any different!?¡±

    The others stared at the blonde for a moment, having been taken by surprise by what she had said.

    ¡°I¡¯d say there¡¯s plenty for us to worry about, when it come to her specifically,¡± Lexton said. ¡°You should be one of the people that knows this best. After all, didn¡¯t she beat you with ease the first time you met her?¡±

    ¡°She just got lucky! That¡¯s it!¡± Ryle argued. ¡°The next time we go at it, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll beat her ass to the ground! I could probably take her while blindfolded!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure you could. And after that you would venture on to slay the terrifying monster hiding under your bed and thus save the world,¡± the kobold said sarcastically. ¡°How about you drop the bold claims and simply listen those who are smarter than you? I¡¯m sure we use terms that your tiny brain can hardly comprehend, but at least you won¡¯t have to face an early grave due to the rules of nature itself.¡±

    ¡°Shut it, scaly ass!¡±

    Just as another argument was about to break out, the sound of someone chuckling put a stop to it. What was really surprising was that the sound came from none other than Erin.

    ¡°I did not expect you of all people to say the thing that I needed to hear,¡± the redhead said with a small smile. ¡°Ryle¡¯s right. We have always been taking on the toughest challenges and opponents, so this is no time for us to back down all of a sudden. We just have to do what we can and win.¡±

    ¡°You know you make it sound easier than it actually is, right?¡± Zeldana asked with a smirk. ¡°But I do agree with your overall sentiment. Even back in the day, the people I worked with and I fully knew that the people we were taking on were not going to be an easy challenge. We still went on to fight them, despite the odds, as we knew that it was something we just needed to do.¡±

    Durge and Arkay didn¡¯t say anything. Both simply nodded in agreement with smiles on their faces.

    ¡°...I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m hearing this,¡± Lexton said in a voice full of disbelief. ¡°All of a sudden, the moron of our group has become the voice of reason? How the hell did this happen?¡±

    ¡°Hey, just because she isn¡¯t too smart doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t be right,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°The thing about her is just that instead of speaking from her brain, she speaks from her heart.¡±

    ¡°And you also have to remember that even a blind bird can sometimes find the worm,¡± Durge added. ¡°It might not be often, but it can still happen.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why, but for some reason the support you guys are giving is really starting to piss me off,¡± Ryle grumbled.

    Lexton didn¡¯t seem to be convinced yet, as he continued to stare down in disbelief. Erin took note of this and decided to say something she thought the kobold needed to hear.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Lex. I am completely aware of the danger we¡¯re in. I¡¯m sure the others are as well. We¡¯re just pointing out that this isn¡¯t too far from what we have been doing this whole time. We have constantly gone after opponents that were far above us, so we shouldn¡¯t be backing down now. Especially when this is what we have been aiming for all this time.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! And if you¡¯re feeling scared, you can just run away!¡± Ryle said with a grin. ¡°No one is going to blame you for it!¡±

    ¡°Who is running away here!?¡± Lexton asked angrily. ¡°I was just shocked that anyone would take the words of an imbecile like you seriously!¡±

    ¡°Ha! I guess that goes to show you that even you can get things wrong!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Who¡¯s the imbecile now, huh?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s still you, Ryle. There¡¯s no changing that,¡± Erin said. ¡°You just happened to say the right thing this time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thanks a lot!¡± Ryle whined.

    ¡°Anyways, I still think we should split up the group temporarily. I¡¯ll stay here with someone else to handle things with the chef,¡± the redhead said, ignoring Ryle¡¯s complaints. ¡°The rest will go to High Rock Peak to make any necessary preparations.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Sounds good enough to me,¡± Durge said. ¡°Who will stay here with you?¡±

    ¡°I was actually thinking that Ryle and I would be more than enough,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Not only is she strong, but very quick on her feet, too, so she should be perfect for this kind of a job.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­ I¡¯m perfect for this, but I only really don¡¯t wanna do it,¡± Ryle muttered unhappily as she sulked. ¡°Why do I have to take part in this? I¡¯m sure Lex or Zeldana would work just fine!¡±

    Said to people were about to chastise the blonde for her complaining, only for Erin to suddenly get up from her seat and walk up to her. They expected her to get angry and possibly yell at Ryle, but nothing like that happened. Instead, the redhead put a comforting hand on her friend¡¯s shoulder and spoke to her in a sincere tone.

    ¡°Because we need those two to do some very important work at where we¡¯re going, okay?¡± Erin said. ¡°All of us have things we can do that others can¡¯t, so they need to go there ahead of us. In the meantime, I need your skills here. I know you don¡¯t like this, but you¡¯re the only one I can count on here. Can you do that for me?¡±

    Ryle was taken aback by the sincere request from the redhead. She had expected to be shouted at and told to do what needed to be done, but the heartfelt explanation and plead from her friend was completely unexpected to the blonde.

    ¡°Aw shucks! How can I say no when you put it like that!?¡± Ryle said with a proud grin on her face. ¡°Of course I have to do it now! Not that you had to ask in such a manner¡­ We¡¯re buddies, right!? I¡¯m always ready to help!¡±

    As the blonde was too caught up in admiring herself over accepting Erin¡¯s request, Zeldana leaned towards the redhead to whisper to her.

    ¡°Is there an actual reason as to why you want her to partner up with you on this?¡± the elf asked. ¡°I get that her physical abilities will help out a lot, but I¡¯m sure anyone here could have been just as useful for a job like this.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d still say that she¡¯s the best suited for the job, but there is one important reason that made the choice obvious for me,¡± Erin whispered back. ¡°I figured I should separate her from Lex for a bit, so that he can work in peace. Besides, I doubt she could help any of you anyways.¡±

    ¡°...Good point,¡± Zeldana mumbled.

    ¡°Now that our two groups have been decided, was there anything special you wanted me to work on?¡± Lexton spoke up. ¡°Or should I just work on replenishing my own equipment for the battle in the near future?¡±

    ¡°Two things, actually. For starters, I was wondering if you could find more magic stones from me to use with my sword,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Those things can be really useful and I could use more of them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± the kobold said. ¡°What¡¯s the other thing you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like you to prepare some way for us to disguise ourselves,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Considering how often we¡¯ve been identified by the assassins that have been chasing us, they most likely know our faces. Having some way to help us blend in with the general population and stay out of sight could be really useful.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m way ahead of you on that. I actually recently began work on wigs and other things that will change our appearances to the point that we won¡¯t be recognized any longer,¡± Lexton said with a smirk. ¡°I doubt even you can recognize us when we meet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to that,¡± Erin said. ¡°Although, if we can¡¯t recognize you, how are we going to meet up again?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll have something prepared that will surely point you in the right direction,¡± the kobold said. ¡°You just focus on getting the chef that¡¯s staying here.¡±

    With their plans ready, the group split up to move on to their tasks. While most of the group got into their van and drove off towards High Rock Peak, Erin and Ryle stayed behind to go after Madeline Fryer.

    Neither of the two liked the sort of work they were tasked with, but they still knew that it needed to be done.

 166. Old Chef Out (Part 1)

    Chapter 166

    Old Chef Out (Part 1)

    With the rest of the group having left, only Erin and Ryle were left to handle the case involving one of Golorath¡¯s personal chefs, Madeline Fryer. The two of them still had some reservations in regards to doing the task given to them, as they couldn¡¯t help but view their target as nothing more than an innocent civilian. No matter how much they tried to convince themselves that this was a job that needed to be done, that bothersome fact remained.

    The two were getting ready to go to sleep for the night, as they had at least two days to complete their task. Once those two days were up, it would be incredibly difficult to have Erin replace Madeline as part of the staff in time. However, seeing as what they were up against wasn¡¯t any kind of a threat at all, both Erin and Ryle felt like they might as well rest up well for now. Things would be getting very hectic soon anyways.

    At the moment, Ryle was laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling in deep thought, while Erin was finishing her nightly preparations before going to bed. Just as the redhead was about to lay down, her blonde friend decided to speak up.

    ¡°Hey, so I was wondering about something,¡± Ryle said. ¡°How are we going to go about this while thing with that chef and all?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I mean¡­ I get that we are supposed to get rid of that Madeline lady in order for you to take her place and all, but does that mean we have to kill her?¡± the blonde asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t there some other method that we can use to get the job done? Like can¡¯t we just tell her to leave and then have you take her place?¡±

    ¡°I get what you mean, but I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not an option,¡± the redhead said with a sigh. ¡°Considering how terrified she must be of Golorath, she¡¯d probably prefer getting killed by us, instead of angering him. I doubt she¡¯d listen to us no matter how nicely we asked.¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s true¡­ I just don¡¯t want what happened with that Reaper Maggot thing to happen again, you know?¡± Ryle said. ¡°After all, you were really bummed out by it and stated that we should avoid having similar things happen ever again.¡±

    Erin was more than aware of what the blonde was referring to. She was talking about the explorers that were killed by the Reaper Maggot, while they stood by and let them die. It wasn¡¯t a memory the redhead liked to dwell on, but it was something that she would carry for the rest of her life. The fact that they had let innocent people, who had even come over to help them, get devoured by a monster while they did nothing to help wasn¡¯t something she would get over easily. She had hoped to avoid doing anything that horrid ever again, but it seemed like she was being pushed into a corner where she didn¡¯t have a choice. Or that was at least what she was telling herself.

    However, when she thought about it a bit more, Erin realized something that could make their job at least a bit more tolerable.

    The redhead took out the piece of paper with the instructions that had been given to them by Rayleen. What was written on it were details regarding their targets whereabouts and behaviors, most likely gathered by the warlord¡¯s personal spies. There was also a place that mentioned the hideout of said spies, so that Erin and her companions could go to them if they needed assistance. Upon noticing this, an idea came to the redhead.

    ¡°How about¡­ How about we let someone else worry about the chef?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Rayleen left some of her people in this town to assist us, in case we needed it. I think we could ask them to help us out.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°How could those guys help us out?¡±

    ¡°Simple. Once we have ¡°taken¡± Madeline, we¡¯ll go and drop her off to them and tell them to look after her,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°That way we won¡¯t have to harm her and we won¡¯t have to worry about her coming back to cause us any issues.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ that could work, but aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± the blonde asked, uncertain about her friend¡¯s plan. ¡°Those guys might be spies or whatever, but they¡¯re still Rayleen¡¯s goons. Do you think they¡¯re actually going to look after her, instead of simply killing her and being done with the whole thing? I¡¯m not so sure we can trust them¡­¡±

    ¡°I know, but we don¡¯t really have any other choice here! We don¡¯t want to kill her and we certainly can¡¯t keep her around, like some weird pet! Our only choice is to give her to Rayleen¡¯s people, tell them not to harm her and hope for the best,¡± Erin explained. ¡°If you have a better idea, I¡¯m all for it. And I¡¯m not trying to be sarcastic here. I could really use better ideas here.¡±

    ¡°...Nah. I¡¯ve got nothing,¡± Ryle said after thinking about it for a moment. ¡°Guess we just have to hope that the people we are allied with aren¡¯t as bloodthirsty and malicious as we fear they are.¡±

    With a plan in mind, the two of them went to sleep, as they had a tough day of work ahead of them.

    <hr>

    The next morning, Erin and Ryle were standing on top of the roof of a tall building. The two of them had binoculars with them as they were surveying the building across the street from them. The redhead had made sure that they both had a pair of binoculars this time, as she remembered how last time they were doing something similar a fight had broken between the two of them. She thought that even if her blonde partner wasn¡¯t going to be doing much in terms of observing their target, she could at least avoid another unnecessary conflict.

    At the moment, Erin¡¯s sight was locked on Madeline Fryer, who was sitting in her hotel room, enjoying a cup of coffee while watching TV. Even if the chef was on her own and was someone the two of them could easily handle, the redhead didn¡¯t want to risk alerting the authorities to their activities. The last thing they needed was to have the local police chase them while preparing to go after one of the Overlords.

    ¡°She seems to be just enjoying herself in her room. That doesn¡¯t leave us with much to work with,¡± Erin said while keeping an eye on their target. ¡°Unless she goes outside soon, we¡¯re going to have to wait for nighttime to act. Taking her in the middle of the day is not going to work out.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Ryle replied without moving.

    ¡°...You know, this brings back memories, doesn¡¯t it?¡± the redhead asked with a small smile on her face. ¡°You were the first person I ever really worked with. We might not have started out on the best of terms, but we¡¯ve come a long way since then. It¡¯s honestly pretty incredible when you think about it, huh?¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± the blonde replied, still not moving.

    ¡°First time we met, we just talked in a bar and that was it. I guess you had some sort of an idea that I¡¯d be a potential target or something, seeing as how you acted the next time we met,¡± Erin continued. ¡°Honestly, after the fight we had, I¡¯m glad we¡¯re on the same side. I don¡¯t ever want to fight you again.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± came the same reply from Ryle.

    ¡°The we had that whole bounty hunting gig together. Now that I think about it¡­ Did we ever get the money for it? You took the head with your brother and went to claim the reward, but I never remembered to ask about it,¡± the redhead kept on reminiscing. ¡°Then there was the whole thing with your brother¡­ I know it wasn¡¯t really my fault, but I¡¯ve always felt guilty about what happened. Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out, if he¡­ Maybe it¡¯s best not to think about such things. No changing the past, right?¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± the blonde said.

    ¡°But after all that, things have been moving like crazy. And now? Now we have a whole team with us, full of all sorts of characters,¡± Erin said with a smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I have ever properly told any of you guys this, but I am truly grateful that I¡¯ve got all of you with me. I don¡¯t think I would have made it anywhere close to where I¡¯m now, had it not been for all of you.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Ryle replied.

    By this point, the redhead had finally snapped out of her nostalgia and had realized how little her partner had been saying all this time. While she could somewhat see the blonde giving out simple replies, the topics she was discussing weren¡¯t ones she thought that Ryle would go over in such a manner, especially when it came to her brother.

    Having realized this, Erin turned her gaze towards the blonde, who was still looking down at something with her binoculars. Even if she couldn¡¯t see her eyes, the redhead could tell that she wasn¡¯t paying any attention to a thing she had just said.

    ¡°Hey, were you even listening to a thing I just said?¡± Erin asked angrily. ¡°You¡¯ve been giving me the same dull response to everything I just said! Do you even realize that I¡¯m right next to you!?¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Ryle replied yet again.

    Getting the exact same response as before angered the redhead. She now wanted to see just what was occupying the blonde¡¯s attention so much.

    ¡°Gimme those!¡± Erin said as she snatched the binoculars from her partner. ¡°What are you even looking at!?¡±

    The redhead began to look around the area Ryle had been looking at and soon discovered what had taken her attention so badly. Down at the street, Erin saw a young worker sweeping the streets with a broom, who was around Arkay¡¯s age and build, except he had dog ears and tail. Upon finding this out, the redhead slowly turned to glare at the blonde, who was trying to act innocent.

    ¡°There was a lot of¡­ Uhh¡­ Suspicious activity going on there! Yeah, that¡¯s right! Suspicious activity!¡± Ryle tried to explain herself. ¡°I mean, we shouldn¡¯t just be paying attention to the chef, right!? Who knows what else might be going around!?¡±

    ¡°I think the only suspicious thing here is you,¡± Erin muttered angrily. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that even when I fully expect you to not focus on the job, you still manage to disappoint me! I was here opening up my heart, thinking that we were having a heartfelt moment of connection and all you were doing was drool over some doggy boy! Is it too much to ask that you at least listen to me, when I really need it!?¡±

    The redhead walked a couple of steps away from her partner to continue her observation of their target, despite still being very upset. Ryle scratched the back of her head awkwardly, knowing that she had messed up and needed to do something to make things right.

    ¡°Hey, uhh¡­ I¡¯m sorry for not responding and being distracted. I should be taking my work more seriously and all,¡± the blonde said in an apologetic tone. ¡°But I just wanted to say that you don¡¯t need to feel any guilt over what happened with my brother. It wasn¡¯t your fault at all. Of course I miss him, but I¡¯ve learned to move on from my loss. After all, I¡¯ve got good friends to help me with that.¡±

    Hearing this, the redhead turned to look at her partner with a surprised look on her face. Had she been listening to her after all?

    ¡°Also, you¡¯re not the only one who is feeling grateful. I feel grateful over you being here, helping and protecting us when needed,¡± Ryle continued with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure the others feel the same way as well.¡±

    ¡°...So you were listening!?¡± Erin said with a big smile on her face. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner!? Now I feel bad over getting mad at you!¡±

    ¡°No need to feel bad!¡± the blonde said with a grin. ¡°I kind of deserved it, seeing as what I did.¡±

    The redhead was about to say something, but she realized that she hadn¡¯t been watching over their target for some time. Grabbing her binoculars, she looked at where she had last seen Madeline, which was her room. Finding the room empty, Erin began to look around in a panic, trying to find their target, hoping to catch her before she got too far from them. Much to her relief, she found the chef just exiting the hotel she was staying at.

    ¡°Madeline¡¯s on the move!¡± Erin said as she began to make her way off the roof. ¡°Come on! This might be our chance!¡±

    ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll be right behind you!¡± Ryle replied as she ran after the redhead, while muttering to herself, ¡°Thank God I was able to guess correctly what she was talking about. Otherwise she¡¯d probably be mad at me for the rest of the day.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take the two long to get back on ground level, where they soon spotted Madeline and began to follow her. They made sure to keep their distance, so that the chef wouldn¡¯t realize that she was being followed. At the moment, they were walking down the street in the middle of the day, as a lot of people were moving around.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°So what exactly are we going to do?¡± Ryle whispered to Erin. ¡°I mean, we can¡¯t really do anything right now, can we? There are too many people here.¡±

    ¡°We just have to wait and see where she goes. If we¡¯re lucky, an opportunity will present itself sooner or later,¡± the redhead whispered back. ¡°As long as she goes down a more secluded path or goes to a place where she isn¡¯t surrounded by people, we should be able to act.¡±

    The blonde nodded in response as they continued to follow Madeline. So far, the chef wasn¡¯t going to places that allowed the duo following her to capture her, as she went to places that had far too many potential witnesses, such as a cafe and a small clothing store.

    The fact that they hadn¡¯t made any progress and seemed to just be wasting time was starting to get to the two following Madeline, especially Ryle.

    ¡°Gaaah! This is driving me nuts!¡± Ryle complained as she pulled on her hair out of frustration. ¡°We¡¯ve been following her for hours! When the hell is our opportunity going to present itself!?¡±

    ¡°I understand you¡¯re frustrated, but you have to calm yourself! This whole thing will be ruined if we cause a scene!¡± Erin whispered to her partner, while looking around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. Thankfully, no one seemed to have taken notice of them. ¡°This is unfortunately the only way we can do this. Stay close and wait for our chance. We just need to stay calm and be patient.¡±

    The two had followed Madeline to what seemed to be a jewelry store. Not wanting to make their presence possibly known to their target, Erin and Ryle had decided to go hide and observe the chef from an ice cream shop that was opposite of the jewelry store from across the street. This allowed them to keep and eye on things, while also staying in hiding.

    Even though the two had managed to find a place to hide while keeping their eyes on Madeline, there was a bit of an issue with their hiding spot that was most likely contributing to Ryle¡¯s growing irritation. The ice cream shop was very clearly meant for kids, which was evident from the decorations and the person in the mascot costume of a big fluffy dragon walking around and interacting with the younger customers. To say the least, the pair had drawn some strange looks from the parents that had brought their children to the place, before moving away from them.

    ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say! How am I supposed to stay calm in this hell!?¡± Ryle asked angrily while pointing at their surroundings. ¡°Not only does this place look like a freaking birthday clown puked all over, but the sounds here are driving me nuts! There are kids running around and screaming, like bunch of banshees. The horrible music is like a drill in my ears. And if that stupid dragon comes anywhere close to me, I¡¯ll be arrested for brutal manslaughter!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not enjoying staying any more than you are, but at least I¡¯m doing my best to tolerate it!¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, I thought you would have liked this place. After all, aren¡¯t you into younger guys?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll smash your jaw, if you ever make a joke like that again,¡± the blonde said as she glared at the redhead. ¡°Guys around Arnie¡¯s age are one thing. I am NOT interested in little kiddies like these!¡±

    Before the arguing could continue, the two heard the sound of someone clearing their throat next to them. Both turned their heads to see a young male waiter standing next to their table with an awkward smile on his face while holding a notepad.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I was wondering if you two would like to place an order?¡± the waiter asked politely. ¡°If I might recommend something, we have a special strawberry and cookie serving that has been really popular lately. Would you like to try it?¡±

    Erin was about to politely decline and say that they were still looking at the menu in order to keep up the act, but Ryle managed to speak up before her.

    ¡°Yes, please! We would like to have two of those! Thank you!¡± the blonde said with a smile on her face.

    After writing down their order, the waiter said that he would bring it over soon and walked away. Erin turned to look at her partner, hoping to ask what she was doing, only to see Ryle stare after the waiter with a dreamy look in her eyes.

    ¡°You know what? Maybe this place isn¡¯t that bad after all,¡± the blonde said with a wide smile. ¡°If we have the time, I think we should come here more often. We could even become regulars.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we have the time for that. And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the ice cream that has made you like this place so much,¡± the redhead said with a frustrated sigh. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind, wipe the drool off your face and focus on the job. We never know when Madeline might leave the store and-¡±

    Just as she was saying it, Erin noticed Madeline walk out of the jewelry store she was at. Knowing that they couldn¡¯t afford to lose sight of her, the redhead quickly got up from her seat and began to make her way to the door.

    ¡°She just walked out and is on the move!¡± Erin said to her partner. ¡°Come on! We have to go after her, before we lose her!¡±

    ¡°C-Can¡¯t we wait just a bit!?¡± Ryle asked as her gaze shifted between the redhead and the kitchen, where the server had gone to. ¡°We just ordered to ice creams, so it would be incredibly rude to-¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re about to have something far more frightening to worry about than whether you get to catch a glimpse of the server boy! Namely me shoving my sword up your ass, if you don¡¯t get up and start moving!¡± Erin said angrily. ¡°Get your ass up and get going already!¡±

    Not wanting to find out whether her friend had been exaggerating in her threat, the blonde let out a sad sigh and got up. However, before she left, Ryle made sure to place enough money to cover both of their ice creams, along with a generous tip, which were later collected by a confused server.

    <hr>

    Following after their target, Erin and Ryle came to a movie theater. Madeline walked inside, most likely hoping to catch one of the films they were playing.

    ¡°This might be our chance,¡± Erin said. ¡°Come on!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Seriously?¡± Ryle asked while following the redhead. ¡°How is this our chance to¡­ Do the you know what? Movie theaters aren¡¯t exactly these private places for only one person to be alone at.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that! I¡¯m just saying that depending on how full the theater is, we might be able to pull off our job!¡± Erin said. ¡°With how dark the theater is and the sounds of the film playing, the other people there probably won¡¯t notice us. As long as the theater isn¡¯t too crowded, we should be just fine in completing this job.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Now I get it!¡± the blonde said. ¡°But what if the theater is full?¡±

    ¡°Then we just have to wait outside for Madeline to come out and follow her again.¡±

    The two entered the movie theater, which wasn¡¯t too crowded. While there was a good amount of customers walking around, it was nothing compared to the hustle and bustle of the town outside the theater. They soon spotted Madeline, who was looking at a listing of the films that were currently playing. The chef soon made her choice and began to head towards the ticket booth.

    ¡°Quick! We need to hear what movie she¡¯s going to see!¡± Erin said and followed after their target.

    ¡°Hang on¡­ Can we go see the new Griffon Orb film?¡± Ryle asked while looking at a poster. ¡°I¡¯m a big fan of the series and-¡±

    The blonde¡¯s explanation was cut short, when she saw the redhead give her the angriest glare she had ever seen. Ryle quickly shut her mouth and followed Erin¡¯s lead.

    At the ticket booth, it was Madeline¡¯s turn to speak to the vendor.

    ¡°Good day, madam!¡± the vendor greeted the lady politely. ¡°How can I help you?¡±

    ¡°Hello. I would like to go see the next showing of ¡°Beyond the Lines of Enemies.¡± I believe it should be coming up soon,¡± Madeline said with a small smile. ¡°Are there still empty seats available?¡±

    ¡°Plenty. The movie has been going on for some time now, so there are no longer huge crowds coming in to see it,¡± the vendor explained as he pulled up a monitor that showed the available seats in the room. ¡°You can choose any of the available seats from here.¡±

    Erin tried to take a peek at what seat Madeline picked, but wasn¡¯t able to get a good look. They would just have to pick their seats and try to find their target from there.

    After purchasing her ticket, Madeline headed towards where the screening was. Now it was Erin and Ryle¡¯s turn to talk to the vendor, so they walked up to him.

    ¡°Good day, ladies!¡± the vendor greeted the two politely. ¡°How can I help you?¡±

    ¡°Hello. We would like to buy two tickets to ¡°Beyond the Lines of Enemies,¡± Erin said with a small smile. ¡°Are there any seats available?¡±

    ¡°Plenty left. You may pick your seats from here,¡± the vendor said as he showed them the monitor. ¡°Are there any to your liking?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just take two from the very back,¡± the redhead said, choosing the seats for herself and Ryle. ¡°We¡¯ve always preferred those over others.¡±

    ¡°Completely understandable,¡± the vendor said as he printed out the tickets and handed them over. ¡°Here you go.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much,¡± Erin said politely as she turned to leave with Ryle.

    ¡°Have a nice couples¡¯ day!¡± the vendor added to the end, which made the two stop in their tracks.

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡± the redhead asked with her lone eye wide. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°Huh?...O-Oh! You two aren¡¯t actually a couple!?¡± the vendor said in shock, having realized his mistake. ¡°I-I¡¯m terribly sorry! It¡¯s just that the film you¡¯re going to see is quite often a very preferred date night movie, so I thought that¡­ I¡¯m so sorry! There were so many couples that came to see it, so I just-!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright! It¡¯s alright! It was just an honest mistake and nothing more!¡± Erin quickly said, hoping to calm things down before they caused a scene. ¡°Just to be clear, we aren¡¯t a couple. We¡¯re just interested in the film.¡±

    ¡°I-I understand, miss,¡± the vendor said still embarrassed over his mistake. ¡°I apologize for making such assumptions.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. These things happen,¡± the redhead said with a sigh.

    ¡°Yeah. Although, even if I did swing that way, do you think I¡¯d be hanging around someone like her?¡± Ryle asked while pointing at Erin. ¡°No way in hell would that happen!¡±

    ¡°...And just what do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked as she glared at her partner.

    ¡°Come on, be real! If a hottie like me was going around, chasing girls, don¡¯t you think I would have gotten someone that¡¯s better in the looks?¡± the blonde asked, unaware of how much she was angering her partner. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, you¡¯re not bad looking or anything like that. I¡¯d just place my requirements a bit higher than- OW!¡±

    Ryle¡¯s explanation was cut off by Erin grabbing her by the hair rather painfully and dragging her along.

    ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s just go see the damn movie already!¡± the redhead said angrily as she stomped towards the hall where the film would be screening. ¡°And you better not do anything else to further piss me off!¡±

    ¡°I get it! I get it! Can you let go of me already!?¡± the blonde pleaded as she followed behind Erin. ¡°I feel like you¡¯re going to turn me bald at this rate!¡±

    As the two walked away, the vendor was left confused as he stared after them.

    ¡°¡­Still not too far from what I¡¯ve seen some couples actually do,¡± the vendor muttered to himself.

    <hr>

    Erin and Ryle soon came to the hall, where the movie Madeline came to watch would be playing. They went inside and found that the place was already completely dark, making it harder for them to find their target. There were a couple of other people as well, making things more difficult, as they couldn¡¯t tell right away, which one was Madeline.

    For the time being, the two went to sit at their seats in order to not look suspicious to anyone that might be watching them. Once they were seated, the movie began to play and the sounds were loud enough to cover up their whispers, allowing them to communicate with one another.

    ¡°So which one of these is the one we¡¯re looking for?¡± Ryle asked in a whisper.

    ¡°I was kind of hoping you would be able to tell me that,¡± Erin whispered back. ¡°Can¡¯t you use your enhance sense of smell or something to pinpoint her location?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! I need to have her smell in order to recognize it and I haven¡¯t gotten close enough to her to pick it up!¡± the blonde replied. ¡°Besides, with all the candy and popcorn stenches that are stuck in this place, I have a hard time even picking up on yours and you¡¯re right next to me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­ Can¡¯t things be simple for us just one time?¡± the redhead muttered to herself. ¡°Okay, this is going to be a bit more difficult, but it should still be doable. We¡¯re just going to have to go at this in a more direct manner.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°We are going to have to crawl around, until we actually find Madeline,¡± Erin replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go to these people one by one, until we find the person we¡¯re looking for.¡±

    The blonde gave the redhead a look that pretty much asked her if she was being serious, but the look she received in response told her that Erin was not joking at all. With no other options, the two got on the floor and began to crawl towards the other people that were watching the movie.

    However, this was far from a pleasant experience, as the floor of the theater was far from clean. Stains left by spilled sodas were everywhere, making the spots very sticky. There were also popcorn, pieces of candy and other treats here and there.

    ¡°Ew! This has got to be some of the nastiest crap I¡¯ve ever crawled through!¡± Ryle complained as she pulled her hand off a spot on the floor that was sticky from soda. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that sewer pipe we had to go through, this would be the absolute worst!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not enjoying this any more than you are!¡± Erin whispered to the blonde while pulling a half-eaten lollipop out of her hair. ¡°We just have to tough it out and get this done! Then we can go back to our hotel room and take a shower. Hopefully this garbage won¡¯t stay on us¡­¡±

    After crawling through the muck and trash that covered the floor, the two had made their way to the person closest to their seats. They peeked over the seats and tried to determine if the person before them was their target, Madeline.

    ¡°Do you think this is her?¡± Erin asked. ¡°From the outline, it doesn¡¯t look exactly like her, but I would like for you to confirm through other means.¡±

    ¡°...Yeah, this isn¡¯t her,¡± Ryle said after sniffing the air around the person and wrinkling her nose in disgust. ¡°I get that we shouldn¡¯t be judging people by their appearance and all, but that Madeline lady didn¡¯t look like someone who had the qualities this guy does.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± the redhead asked.

    ¡°I mean that the person we¡¯re after didn¡¯t seem like someone that would eat BBQ and onion flavored snacks to the point that their whole body would smell like a dangerous gas leak,¡± the blonde explained as she pinched her nose. ¡°Not only that, but she also didn¡¯t look like her breathing would sound like her lungs were being crushed by fifty tons of fat.¡±

    After hearing the explanation, Erin leaned over to get a better look at the person before them and was able to see that the person truly wasn¡¯t Madeline. Instead of and older human woman, before them was a very rotund male ogre, who seemed to be shoving chips into his mouth so fast that he could barely catch his breath.

    ¡°Hur hur hur¡­ That was funny,¡± the ogre chuckled to himself as a more humorous part was played out in the movie. He then let out a sound that both Erin and Ryle recognized instantly and caused them to quickly crawl away in terror.

    With the first one being a miss, the two went through the other people as quick as possible. Much to their disappointment, none of them seemed to be the target they were looking for, as none of them matched her appearance. It was almost like Madeline was nowhere to be found.

    Just as they were beginning to lose hope, Erin and Ryle came upon the last person in the room. Upon a closer look, it seemed like this person was the one they were looking for.

    ¡°Do you think this is her?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°I think so. Not only have we gone through everybody else, but they don¡¯t seem to have anything on them that would tell me otherwise,¡± Ryle replied. ¡°If only I could hear their voice, I¡¯d be able to absolutely confirm it¡­¡±

    Almost as if having heard the blonde¡¯s wish, the person before the two of them let out a sniffle that reached her ears.

    ¡°Yeah, I think that¡¯s her,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Her voice sounds very similar to Madeline¡¯s. How are we going to do this?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll thrown my cloak over her and hold her still,¡± Erin said as she took off her cloak. ¡°While I¡¯m doing that, you hit her on the head and knock her out. Make sure not to use too much force, as we don¡¯t want to kill her. Then we get out of here quick and go back to our hotel room. If anybody asks, we¡¯ll just tell them that our ¡°friend¡± started to feel bad, so we¡¯re taking her home to rest.¡±

    The two got ready to spring into action, looking around themselves to see that none of the other people in the room were paying attention to them. They then timed themselves until there was a loud scene going on in the movie, before going for the attack.

    In one quick move, Erin threw her cloak over the person sitting before them and held onto them. At first, their target was taken by surprise and confusion, which prevented them from fighting back, but they soon began to struggle. Before they managed to fight for long, Ryle threw a strong punch at the back of their head.

    This should have knocked out your average person, but it seemed the person they were attacking wasn¡¯t normal. Despite taking a direct hit to the head from Ryle, their struggles just intensified.

    ¡°What the-!? Hit her again!¡± Erin whispered to Ryle as she struggled to hold back their target. ¡°Quick! I can¡¯t hold her back for long!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on it! I¡¯m on it!¡± the blonde responded, hitting the struggling person again with more power, yet this still didn¡¯t do the trick. ¡°What the hell kind of a chef is this!? How is she so tough!?¡±

    Before Ryle could attack their target again, they finally broke out of Erin¡¯s hold. They then took the cloak off and turned towards the two people who had attacked them, revealing who they were.

    Instead of the short older woman the two had thought they were dealing with, the person was actually a quite tall and much younger woman. In fact, saying that she was tall would be an understatement, as she was towering over the two kidnappers. To make things even more terrifying for the two, she had huge muscles and looked very angry.

    ¡°What the hell do you creeps think you¡¯re doing!?¡± the huge lady asked as she grabbed her two attackers and lifted them up with ease. ¡°First that one weirdo at the amusement park and now you two! I just seem to attract scum like you lately!¡±

    ¡°W-We¡¯re terribly sorry!¡± Erin apologized, terrified over what this person might do to them. ¡°We thought you were someone else and-!¡±

    The redhead¡¯s excuses were in vain, as her head was smashed against Ryle¡¯s. As the painful beating on the two began, Erin noticed from the corner of her eye that Madeline was coming back to the room. She then realized that the reason they hadn¡¯t found her was because she had gone to bathroom without them noticing.

 167. Old Chef Out (Part 2)

    Chapter 167

    Old Chef Out (Part 2)

    After their failure at the movie theater, Erin and Ryle were nursing their bruises in their hotel room. The muscled giant of a woman that they had accidentally attacked had given them a thrashing they would have been feeling for the next few days had it not been for Lexton¡¯s potions.

    The damages they suffered would have been even worse, if Erin hadn¡¯t figured out a way to distract the person beating them up. Using her artificial hand to shoot fire at one of the empty seats, the sudden burst of flames had surprised the muscle lady so much that the two of them managed to get out of her grasp and run out of the theater. Thanks to this, they also avoided getting caught by law enforcement, as all attention was focused on the raging fire.

    However, even if they had managed to avoid being too badly beaten and arrested, the fact that they had failed their mission was weighing heavily on them. They didn¡¯t have much time to capture Madeline in order to replace her, as there was only one more day for them to accomplish the task. They needed to be successful tomorrow or they would face the consequences of failing Rayleen, which was something Erin wanted to avoid as much as possible.

    ¡°Well, that totally sucked,¡± Ryle muttered as she picked a clump of dried blood out of her nose and flicked it away. ¡°How the hell is it that we¡¯ve beaten trained soldiers, expert assassins, bandits and giant monsters, yet some cook is giving us this much trouble? If the others knew about this, I¡¯d probably bury myself alive out of shame!¡±

    ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying. This isn¡¯t how I expected this whole thing to go,¡± Erin said as she took a can of soda out of a fridge and held it against her forehead to help ease her headache. ¡°Considering what we¡¯re up against, you¡¯d think that we would be able to do this with ease, yet we¡¯re having more trouble than ever before! It makes no sense!¡±

    ¡°You can say that again!¡± the blonde said in agreement. ¡°Who knew work like this was so hard!?¡±

    Meanwhile, unknown to Erin and Ryle, a certain ex-assassin was suddenly feeling very happy, while working at her part time job at a burger restaurant.

    ¡°Well, you certainly look happy for someone who is tasked with cleaning the toilets!¡± one of the other workers said, noticing the happy look on their colleague¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s got you in such a good mood all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°Not sure. I just got this strange yet nice feeling,¡± Zena said with a smile on her face. ¡°Something like how people who have wronged me are now getting what they deserve.¡±

    Back with Erin and Ryle, the two were trying to come up with a new plan for tomorrow so that they could kidnap Madeline.

    ¡°So what are we going to do? Are we going to try following her around tomorrow as well and try to find an opportunity to get her?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be all negative and a smart ass, but that didn¡¯t exactly work out well for us!¡±

    ¡°Normally, I would say that we should try the same thing again, despite our earlier failure, but I don¡¯t think we have the luxury to do so,¡± Erin replied. ¡°We are on a pretty tight schedule here, so we can¡¯t allow to waste any time. Our best option right now is to simply got straight to her and improvise what we do. I¡¯m sure we can manage it.¡±

    ¡°Great! I like the sound of that! I hate simply waiting and sneaking around like a bunch of creeps! Straight and forward is my way to go!¡± Ryle said excitedly with a grin on her face. ¡°...So what exactly are we going to do?¡±

    ¡°Simple. Tomorrow, when we find, her it doesn¡¯t matter where she is. We are going to go after her and grab her,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°So even if she is in her hotel room in the middle of the day, we are going for it. We¡¯ll take her out of her room and take her to Rayleen¡¯s people.¡±

    ¡°Awesome! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡± the blonde said as she pumped her fists in the air from excitement. ¡°Finally we do things my style! We¡¯ll just bust into the hotel, beat up the security, grab the cook and-!¡±

    ¡°Hold on! Hold on! That is NOT what I meant!¡± Erin quickly said. ¡°Just because we are going to use a more straightforward method, it doesn¡¯t mean we are just going to act like a bunch of bloodthirsty lunatics! That will only draw unwanted attention to us from the police and possibly even Golorath¡¯s people, if they happen to be here! What I meant is that we are going to go directly where she is, assess the situation there and improvise a plan on the fly!¡±

    ¡°...Isn¡¯t my idea just the same?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s about improvising in the end.¡±

    ¡°Not the type of improvising we¡¯re looking for. I especially would like to avoid having to improvise dodging bullets from whoever we might end up pissing off!¡± the redhead said. ¡°Look, just follow my lead tomorrow. You¡¯ll understand once we get down to business.¡±

    ¡°Fine. But my method would have still worked!¡± the blonde said as she went to bed.

    <hr>

    The next morning, Erin and Ryle returned back to the roof of the building they had been at yesterday when they were first observing Madeline. The only real difference was that they had arrived there much earlier than before, much to the displeasure of the still sleepy Ryle. Erin had decided to do this so that they would be able to get their sights on their target without any risks of her possibly slipping away.

    This unfortunately was not seen as a worthy reason by a certain blonde, who made her displeasure with the whole thing known.

    ¡°Hey, did we really have to come here at the goddamn crack of dawn!?¡± Ryle complained while yawning. ¡°I was just having the best dream ever about Arnie and that doggy guy I sawyesterday and-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, please don¡¯t tell me any further details of that. I am sure I don¡¯t need to hear them,¡± Erin quickly said. ¡°As for why we came here so early was for the simple reason of making sure that Madeline doesn¡¯t slip away from us.¡±

    ¡°How the hell could she do that? I doubt she¡¯s even awake! You don¡¯t do much slipping while still asleep!¡± the blonde continued to complain. ¡°I mean¡­ If she was a sleepwalker, then maybe¡­ But I doubt that¡¯s the case! Most decent people are still asleep at this time!¡±

    ¡°Actually, there are a lot of people who get up this early in order to start being productive. And I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d call you of all people decent,¡± the redhead said bluntly, as she took out her binoculars and began to look for Madeline. ¡°And this might be just needless worry on my part, but I don¡¯t want to waste any time for today, as this is our last chance to capture her for our mission. I intend to stick to her, until we have caught her and taken her to Rayleen¡¯s agents.¡±

    ¡°So¡­. Your plan is to essentially act like a stalker?¡± Ryle asked in an awkward tone. ¡°I get that you¡¯re driven to do this and all, but don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit too much?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M NOT A STALKER! I¡¯M A KIDNAPPER!¡± Erin shouted angrily, before realizing what she had said and an embarrassed blush came over her face. ¡°Just¡­ Just help me out with this, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure. Whatever you say,¡± the blonde replied as she rolled her eyes.

    For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, as Erin observed the window to Madeline¡¯s room, waiting to see their target. As she was doing this, Ryle watched over the streets in case the chef had already went outside and was returning, although she was getting distracted by other things getting her attention.

    It wasn¡¯t long until their patience was rewarded, as Erin saw Madeline walk past the window, stretching her arms after a good night¡¯s sleep. With the location of their target confirmed, the redhead called out to her partner.

    ¡°She¡¯s in her room!¡± Erin said as she started to run. ¡°Come on! It¡¯s time for us to get to work!¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Ryle said as she followed behind the redhead. ¡°So what exactly are we going to do, though? Are we just going to go through the front entrance?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not. A place like that must have at least a couple of security cameras there and we don¡¯t want to leave any proof that we were ever there,¡± Erin explained. ¡°Instead, we are going to find a less obvious entrance.¡±

    The blonde followed the redhead as she led her to the back of the hotel. There they hid behind garbage cans and watched as some of the employees unloaded trucks filled with necessities for the business, such as sheets, food and other such things.

    ¡°What exactly are we doing here?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I doubt these guys are going to just let us go inside.¡±

    ¡°Well, we aren¡¯t going to ask for a permission, so it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Erin replied. ¡°The reason we¡¯re here is because there is only one camera and just a couple of employees. If we time our movements carefully, we should be able to slip past all of them without getting noticed.¡±

    The blonde looked around and realized that her partner was correct. There truly was only a single camera, one which they could probably even disable with ease, if they had to. There weren¡¯t even that many employees over all. There was at most three or four members of the hotel¡¯s staff there to unload the two trucks parked there and they didn¡¯t seem like they were paying too much attention to their surroundings, as they were still sleepy from starting work so early. The truck drivers themselves were no better, as one of the two was actually asleep behind the wheel and the other one was reading a newspaper with sleepy eyes.

    ¡°...Alright, I see what you mean,¡± Ryle said. ¡°What do we do?¡±

    ¡°I need you to get ready to sneak over to the blind spot of the camera and take it out,¡± Erin explained as she grabbed an empty bottle from one of the trash cans. ¡°I¡¯m going to create a distraction for you. Once their attention is drawn to it, go there and pull out some of the wires on that camera.¡±

    The blonde nodded and waited for the redhead to do her part. Erin waited until there were just a couple of employees around, before throwing the bottle with all her might at a nearby window. The sound of breaking glass immediately woke up the sleepy employees, who all began to look towards the direction where the noise ad come from. During that time, Ryle went quickly and quietly behind the workers, until she reached the security camera. In one swift move, she grabbed some of the wiring and pulled them out, effectively breaking it. Before anyone had the opportunity to look behind them to see her, the blonde had already gone back to Erin.

    With the camera out of the way, the two only needed to wait until there was a moment where no one was looking at the back entrance that the employees were using to come and go between the back of the building and the trucks. As soon as an opportunity came, they quickly ran to the door and walked inside, hiding in the closest room that was unoccupied.

    ¡°Alright! We¡¯re in!¡± Ryle whispered excitedly. ¡°But now what? What are we going to do next?¡±

    Erin was about to answer, but as she looked around, she realized that they had come to the place she had hoped to find. It was a storage room that held all sorts of equipment, including uniforms.

    ¡°I think we already found what we needed next,¡± the redhead said with a smile as she walked up to one of the uniforms and picked it up. ¡°We¡¯re going to disguise ourselves as part of the staff and move over to where Madeline is staying. That way we won¡¯t be drawing any unwanted attention from the employees or guests.¡±

    Erin turned to look at Ryle, expecting the blonde to show signs of excitement for the great idea. However, instead of any sort of praise, she had a questionable look on her face as she stared at the redhead.

    ¡°...Are you sure about this? Have you forgotten how it all went down last time we did something similar?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you had fun, but I don¡¯t want to be forced into cleaning up mountains of sewage again!¡±

    ¡°Hey, that was bad luck! You can¡¯t really hold anybody accountable for it, except bad luck!¡± Erin said. ¡°Besides, it all worked out in the end, didn¡¯t it? We managed to go around unnoticed and got Stacey out of there. What happened afterwards¡­ didn¡¯t go well, but that¡¯s a different case entirely. The point is that we¡¯ll be able to move around without raising any suspicions from those around us, so we should be all good.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°Just so you know, if I¡¯m being ordered to clean up another massive breakout of turd water, you better believe I¡¯m making you do it with me!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, even if we get some sort of an order like that, we are only going to pretend that we¡¯re doing it for a moment, before leaving right away,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any desire to actually do any work for this place any more than you do.¡±

    Putting on their disguises, which consisted of red uniforms that resembled old time outfits worn by elevator operators, the two emerged from the storage room and started to make their way to the room where their target was staying. Just as Erin had predicted, they weren¡¯t drawing any unwanted attention from the people around them, whether they were guests or employees. Apparently, there were more than enough people working there that no one really knew everybody that worked there. Not to mention, the fact that it was still early in the morning and everybody was most likely still rather sleepy helped in that regard.

    ¡°So far so good,¡± Erin whispered as the two walked while making sure to avoid cameras. ¡°Look around for a large container. Like a big crate or something.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡± Ryle asked in a whisper.

    ¡°Because we are going to need something in order to transport you know who out of their room,¡± the redhead replied. ¡°We can¡¯t just carry her out like it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    The blonde nodded and looked around a bit more. Her eyes then fell on what seemed to be a cart that was full of blankets and other cloths. These were most likely dirty laundry that was being taken from rooms to be washed.

    ¡°Do you think that could work?¡± Ryle asked while motioning towards the carts. ¡°I¡¯d say she should be able to fit into one of those.¡±

    ¡°Good thinking,¡± Erin replied with a small smile. ¡°Let¡¯s grab one of those and get going.¡±

    The two waited until the worker who had brought the cart had walked away and was no longer paying attention, allowing them to grab the cart for themselves and move towards the elevators. Now they needed to get to Madeline¡¯s room, which posed a bit of an issue.

    ¡°Hang on¡­ How do we get to the right room?¡± Ryle asked as the elevator¡¯s doors opened in front of them. ¡°It¡¯s not like the room¡¯s number was written on the outside. Hell, we don¡¯t even know the correct floor she¡¯s on!¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about that. I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± Erin replied as they went inside the elevator and she pressed one of the buttons. ¡°I wasn¡¯t just looking a her when we were observing her movements. I actually counted the floors of the building, so I know which one her room is located at.¡±

    ¡°Wow! Really!? That¡¯s pretty impressive!¡± the blonde said while the elevator¡¯s doors closed and it began to move upwards. ¡°Guess you¡¯re quite the mathematician, huh?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not really that much. Simple counting really,¡± the redhead replied with a shrug. ¡°I honestly never enjoyed actual math all that much. It was only thanks to having good friends that I managed to get through tests in school.¡±

    ¡°By those friends, are you referring to the Overlords?¡± Ryle asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Or at least the people that they used to be?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ They really helped me out back in the day,¡± Erin said with a melancholy look in her eyes, as she began to think about her past. ¡°I was pretty good at school, but at some point I started to associate with the wrong crowds and my grades took a nosedive. I wasn¡¯t exactly failing, but I wasn¡¯t bringing back results that you could really be proud of, which my parents weren¡¯t happy about. When I started hanging out with Devin and the others, they insisted on helping me out, saying that I would come to regret not putting any effort into school. In a way, they were right, as there were far more possibilities open for me than if I had just been going as I had.¡±

    ¡°So what did you do after school?¡± the blonde asked, curious over her friend¡¯s past. ¡°I mean, you had the opportunities, right? Did you go to a fancier and more advanced school or did you get a really good job?¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Neither. After I¡­ did what I did to Devin and the others, I couldn¡¯t find a purpose for my life,¡± the redhead explained with a sad look on her face. ¡°I did keep up my studies either out of habit or in some weird way of honoring them, but I never managed to do anything with it. I tried to look for a way to live that would have atoned for the things I did to Devin and his friends, but I always knew that I could never make things right. In the end, I ended up becoming the disappointment that my parents feared I would be.¡±

    An awkward silence fell over the two as the elevator finally reached its floor and the two walked out. Ryle looked around and saw that they were alone in the hallway, so she decided to try and lift Erin¡¯s mood a bit.

    ¡°Hey, uh¡­ I just wanted to say that I know you¡¯re blaming yourself over what those guys did here and all, but you should remember that none of us blame you, okay?¡± the blonde said. ¡°Even if they had a rough time back in your world and all, it doesn¡¯t give them the right to come here and mess things up for anyone. And the way I see it, you trying your best to stop them is doing more than enough to make amends for whatever you might have done back then. At leas you¡¯re in the clear in my books.¡±

    The redhead was a bit taken aback by the sudden comfort speech she received, but it made her smile regardless.

    ¡°Thanks, Ryle,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to remember that.¡±

    ¡°No problem! Just saying what I¡¯m sure the others feel as well!¡± the blonde said with a big grin. ¡°Anyways, now that we are on the right floor, we need to find the room, right? Any idea which of these is the correct one?¡±

    ¡°I think I know which one it is,¡± Erin said as she began to walk down the hallway while looking at the doors. ¡°I have somewhat of a rough idea as to where Madeline¡¯s room is from the time we were watching it from across the street. If my estimations are correct, then the right door should be¡­¡±

    The redhead trailed of as she kept walking past the doors, until she came to a stop in front of one of them.

    ¡°This one,¡± Erin said.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Ryle said as she stood next to the redhead. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? What are we going to do?¡±

    ¡°Simple. We knock on the door and tell her that it¡¯s room service,¡± Erin explained. ¡°If she tells us that she didn¡¯t order any room service, we¡¯ll just tell her that it¡¯s a regular inspection, where we go to rooms to change sheets and do some cleaning. Even if she tells us that some employees came already to do those things, we¡¯ll ask her to let us in just to make sure everything is as it should be.¡±

    ¡°And once we¡¯re in, what do we do then?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to get her attention, so you can sneak up on her from behind and knock her out. Then we¡¯ll just use something we can get our hands on to tie her up, hide her in the dirty sheets and take her with us,¡± the redhead explained. ¡°Although, try not to use too much strength, okay? This isn¡¯t some burly thug that deserves to have their skull cracked open. Try to be as gentle as possible.¡±

    ¡°You do know that there isn¡¯t really anything gentle in knocking someone unconscious, right?¡± Ryle asked.

    ¡°Just¡­ try not to leave her with any permanent damage at least,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°The whole reason we¡¯re doing this the way we are so that we could avoid unnecessary deaths.¡±

    With their plan ready, the redhead gently knocked on the door and waited for a response. When they heard nothing, she tried knocking on the door again, using more force this time.

    ¡°I¡¯M COMING! I¡¯M COMING! WAIT A MOMENT!¡± a shrill voice shouted from the other side of the door, surprising both Erin and Ryle.

    The voice they had heard didn¡¯t sound like Madeline at all. Instead, the person shouted much older and far less gentle than the person they had followed around yesterday. Just as they were wondering about who it was that was on the other side of the door, it opened to reveal someone completely different from the person they were looking for.

    Instead of Madeline, there was an elderly gnome lady, who had a cane and was looking up at the two of them with an angry glare.

    ¡°You youngsters these days are so damn impatient! If someone doesn¡¯t immediately answer, you get all upset and start acting up!¡± the elderly gnome complained. ¡°Well? I am here! What is it that you two want!?¡±

    Erin and Ryle shared an awkward glance, before turning their attention back to the gnome.

    ¡°Our apologies, madam. I believe we might have come to the wrong room,¡± Erin began to explain in order to not cause a scene that would blow their cover. ¡°You see, we¡¯re from room service and-¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re from where!? Well, it¡¯s about time! I¡¯ve been demanding that someone would get sent over here since yesterday!¡± the gnome lady said as she stepped away from the door. ¡°Get in already! You two have some work to do!¡±

    The redhead glanced at her partner, only to receive a shrug in response. Knowing that the old gnome would most likely start complaining loudly and possibly even contact the other staff, the two were forced to comply with her request for now. They needed to keep up the act of being hotel employees for now.

    Walking into the room, Erin and Ryle looked around, wondering what it was that had the old gnome so upset. However, no matter where they looked, everything seemed to be in perfect order and not even a speck of dust could be seen anywhere. They had to wonder what it was that had her in such a bad mood.

    ¡°So? What are you two waiting for!?¡± the old gnome asked angrily. ¡°Get to work already!¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ We are more than happy to help you with whatever the problem is, but we¡¯re having an issue telling what exactly is wrong,¡± Erin said in a polite tone. ¡°What is it that is wrong with the room? Could you point us to it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of-! Are you two completely blind or just stupid!?¡± the old lady said with her anger clearly rising. ¡°LOOK AROUND YOURSELVES! Can¡¯t you just see everything that is wrong around here!?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, madam, but I really can¡¯t see anything wrong,¡± the redhead said, flabbergasted over how the gnome could have anything to complain about. ¡°If you could just work with us a bit, we-¡±

    Erin was cut off, as the old lady suddenly jumped up and struck her on the head with her cane.

    ¡°How dare YOU, a simple worker, ask ME to work!?¡± the gnome said in an offended tone. ¡°I AM A PAYING CUSTOMER! I¡¯M NOT THE ONE WHO WORKS HERE! YOU¡¯RE THE ONES WHO DO ALL THE WORK HERE! AND YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP ME HAPPY!¡±

    ¡°Hey, she didn¡¯t mean it like that!¡± Ryle said, angry over her friend getting mistreated. ¡°All she was asking for was for you to-¡±

    The blonde ended up facing the same fate as Erin with the gnome hitting her on the head with her cane.

    ¡°Shut your mouth! I can¡¯t stand listening to people who are obviously idiots and you certainly sound the part!¡± the old lady said angrily. ¡°I should have known just by looking at the two of you that you weren¡¯t the smartest people! Honestly, you just look like a pair of thugs! Where do they get people like you!?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get your ass kicked with the shit you keep pulling, you old bastard,¡± Ryle muttered in a low tone that only she and Erin heard, prompting the redhead to hit her with her elbow.

    ¡°Well, madam, since we are so incompetent, could we ask you to properly guide us?¡± Erin asked, straining to keep up the polite act. ¡°As you¡¯ve said yourself, we aren¡¯t as smart as you are. Therefore, might you be so kind as to assist us just a little bit, so we can serve you in a manner that is more fitting?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I suppose you have at least some potential to be a halfway competent employee. If nothing else, you know how to speak properly to your betters,¡± the old gnome said thoughtfully. ¡°Very well. Even if it isn¡¯t my job, I suppose it could be seen as my civil duty to offer guidance to incompetents like you two. So listen up well and do as you¡¯re told! I am not going to tolerate any misbehavior from either of you! Especially when I have decided to graciously help you!¡±

    ¡°You are truly kind,¡± the redhead said as she bowed her head a bit, still playing the part of the overly respectful employee. ¡°Now, would you be so kind to guide us on what it is you need us to do?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually quite simple and the two of you should be able to handle it with ease!¡± the old lady said as she walked up to a nightstand next to her bed. She then took a handkerchief out of her pocket and quickly wiped it over the piece of furniture before showing it to Erin and Ryle. ¡°Here! Do you see what I¡¯m talking about!?¡±

    Both Erin and Ryle leaned closer, struggling to see what the issue was. They then spotted a very thin layer of dust on the handkerchief.

    ¡°...That¡¯s it? That¡¯s what you¡¯ve been complaining about? A very tiny amount of dust?¡± Ryle asked bluntly. ¡°Seriously, how could this be such a big-¡±

    The blonde¡¯s complaints were cut off by her partner pulling her closer.

    ¡°Shut up before she uses that cane of hers again!¡± Erin whispered. ¡°We just need to play along for now. This whole thing will be ruined, if she starts a ruckus and gets the actual staff involved!¡±

    ¡°Of course this is a big problem! What do you think I¡¯m paying you for!?¡± the old gnome continued to rant. ¡°I was promised that my room would be spotless and that¡¯s what I expect! So get to work, you two! I don¡¯t have all day!¡±

    Erin and Ryle shared a look before getting to work. The faster they got done with this, the sooner they could go back to their actual mission.

    <hr>

    A couple of hours later, the two were still working in the old gnome¡¯s room, as she had more than one issue that she demanded to be solved. Besides the very tiny amount of dust that was supposedly covering everything, they were also tasked with making the old lady¡¯s bed look absolutely perfect and to wipe all surfaces to the point you could see your reflection on them.

    While Erin and Ryle were more than capable of doing this, the issue was the old gnome¡¯s level of demand. No matter how well the work was done, it was never good enough. There was always some flaw, something wrong or it just didn¡¯t meet her expectations.

    To make matters worse, the constant nagging and complaining from the old gnome was starting to get on their nerves. Ryle had to hold herself back from simply punching the old lady and even Erin was beginning to think similar thoughts, even if it meant that their cover would be blown.

    ¡°Would you two put some more effort into this!? You¡¯re like a pair of fat sloths, just dragging your feet around!¡± the old gnome yelled angrily. ¡°I expect this room to be completely spotless and I won¡¯t take anything less from you! And you better get it done or else you can forget about tips!¡±

    ¡°No amount of tips is worth this crap,¡± Ryle mumbled to herself as she tried to hold back her anger. ¡°I¡¯m about to go and strangle that old bitch, if she nags at me one more damn time.¡±

    ¡°Normally, I would be against it, but I¡¯m starting to think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Erin whispered to the blonde, equally angry. ¡°I¡¯ll help you bury the body as well.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Stop whispering over there! It¡¯s rude to talk in front of your customer among yourselves!¡± the old gnome yelled. ¡°Besides, if you have the time to talk, you have the time to move those hands of yours and get some actual work done! So focus on your work!¡±

    Hoping to avoid further nagging, Erin and Ryle stayed silent and focused on their work. At the moment, the redhead was wiping a table and the blonde was cleaning a ceramic flower pot that had some flowers in it to decorate the room.

    Looking down at the table she had been wiping for some time now, Erin tried to judge if it was done well enough to satisfy the old gnome. Despite the fact that the piece of furniture was literally glistening from all the work she had done, the redhead knew that it wouldn¡¯t be enough. She reached for the bottle that held the chemicals meant for cleaning different surfaces, but the tiredness and frustration over what she had been through was getting to her. Almost right after opening the bottle, the plastic container slipped out of her hand and spilled its contents all over the table.

    ¡°WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU INCOMPETENT BUFFOON!?¡± the old gnome screamed in fury as she ran up to Erin, cane at the ready to be swung. ¡°Can¡¯t you even use your own hands properly!? Isn¡¯t it already bad enough that you¡¯re absolutely useless at your job!?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, madam!¡± the redhead apologized. ¡°I promise I will-!¡±

    Erin¡¯s desperate pleas were cut off, as the old lady began to swing her cane violently on her head.

    ¡°You can make all the promises you want, but what does it matter when you can¡¯t keep them!?¡± the old gnome yelled while she kept swinging her cane at the redhead. ¡°You¡¯ve already shown that you can¡¯t do the simplest of tasks, so why would I listen to anything you say!?¡±

    While Erin was getting attacked, Ryle stopped what she was doing. Her anger had finally reached a breaking point and she was not going to allow her friend to get treated in such a terrible manner.

    Deciding that it was time to put an end to the abuse they were suffering, the blonde sneaked up behind the old gnome, while still holding the flower pot. Then she held it over her head and simply dropped it, crashing it on the gnome¡¯s head and knocking her out.

    While Ryle looked satisfied and even proud of what she had done, Erin looked horrified.

    ¡°RYLE, WHAT THE HELL!¡±?¡± the redhead yelled. ¡°Why the hell would you do that!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I thought we were both sick of her attitude and mistreatment! I just decided to finally put a stop to it!¡± the blonde said. ¡°Besides, I couldn¡¯t just sit back and watch while she was beating you with her stick! I had to put a stop to it!¡±

    ¡°While I¡¯m grateful that you felt the need to defend me and all, I still think you went too far this time!¡± Erin said. ¡°Even if she was mean and abusive, she was still an innocent old lady. What you did might have actually killed her!¡±

    ¡°Oh, please! With the way she was going, she was far from a frail old lady! I doubt she¡¯s going to suffer more than a simple migraine!¡± Ryle said nonchalantly. ¡°Besides, no way was she just an innocent lady! I don¡¯t think anyone who is actually innocent would act like that!¡±

    Ignoring her friend¡¯s excuses, the redhead went to check the old gnome to see of she was still alive. Much to her relief, she detected a pulse and even heard breathing.

    ¡°Well, good news is that she¡¯s still alive¡­ Thank God for that,¡± Erin said as she let out a sigh of relief. ¡°But once she wakes up, we are going to be in big trouble! There¡¯s no way she isn¡¯t going to complain to the other employees, who are then going to come looking for us!¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s that a problem?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°By the time she wakes up, we¡¯ll be long gone from here! We are already close to the person we really came looking for, so all this does is put a time limit to how long we can stick around!¡±

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right¡­ But we still shouldn¡¯t just leave her like this. Let¡¯s at least wrap her head, put her on a bed and do as much as we can to make sure she doesn¡¯t suffer too much damage from this,¡± the redhead said. ¡°It¡¯s the least we can do for getting her involved in this whole mess.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I suppose we owe her that much,¡± the blonde said. ¡°I still think you¡¯re overthinking this.¡±

    Erin was about to respond, but something happened that caught both of them by surprise. All of a sudden, the old gnome began to move, slowly getting up from the spot on the floor she had been laying on. This shocked the redhead so bad that she quickly ran up to her partner, who was also staring at the gnome with wide eyes.

    Once she had gotten up, the old lady slowly turned to look at her two attackers. The cold and empty stare in her eyes sent chills down the spines of Erin and Ryle, who were terrified by the sight.

    Both got ready to be attacked in response to what they had done, only for the old gnome to not do so. Instead, she slowly walked away from them and headed for a nearby closet. She opened its door and began to rummage through it for something.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Madam?¡± Erin called out, but received no response. ¡°Are you alright? Do you need some help?¡±

    ¡°Hey, shut up!¡± Ryle whispered to her partner. ¡°The less attention we draw from her the better!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m completely alright. I just thought that my normal methods aren¡¯t enough,¡± the old gnome said calmly. ¡°I just thought that I needed some better tools to properly educate you two.¡±

    ¡°And¡­ what kind of tools would those be?¡± Erin asked, fearing what the answer was going to be.

    ¡°Tools like this!¡± the old lady said as she pulled out a large spiked club from her closet and held it at the ready, while glaring at Erin and Ryle. ¡°Clench your teeth and get ready for some proper education!¡±

    Erin and Ryle screamed in terror, as the gnome ran towards them.

    <hr>

    After a brutal beating, both Erin and Ryle were thrown out of the old gnome¡¯s room, who promised them that they would be fired by the end of the day. This didn¡¯t matter to either of them, as they weren¡¯t actual employees, and were just happy from having finally escaped their torment.

    ¡°Well¡­ That totally sucked!¡± Ryle cursed as she gently rubbed her sore body. ¡°How about next time you actually get the right door!?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t do this on purpose!¡± Erin said while also holding the most painful spots on herself. ¡°Besides, how could I have known that the granny from hell lived here!?¡±

    Just as they were slowly getting back up, a familiar voice called out to them.

    ¡°Oh my! My what happened to you two!?¡± a gentle and kind voice asked in a worried tone.

    Both Erin and Ryle froze upon hearing this voice. They immediately knew who it belonged to before even looking up. Before their eyes stood Madeline Fryer, their target.

    Upon seeing the person they were supposed to kidnap looking at them with wide eyes, Erin¡¯s mind began to run through all the worst possibilities. Had she somehow recognized them from the incident at the movie theater? Or had she heard any of the commotion that happened in her neighbor¡¯s room? Was she going to call the staff?

    However, all of her worst fears were proven wrong, when Madeline knelt down and offered her a helping hand with a kind smile on her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry about what my neighbor did to you two. Are you hurt?¡± the older woman said. ¡°Come. Let¡¯s get you both treated in my room.¡±

    Erin and Ryle shared a look of wide-eyed surprise, before allowing Madeline to help them up and lead them to her room. Once there, she proceeded to treat both of their injuries with some medical supplies she had with herself.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that I brought these with me just in case. I mostly keep them around for work, but I do take them along from time to time,¡± Madeline explained as she rubbed a soothing ointment on the bruises Erin and Ryle had. ¡°There. Does that feel any better?¡±

    ¡°Actually¡­ it does,¡± Erin said as she gently touched one of the bruises that had ointment put on it. ¡°It feels a lot better! Thank you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± the older woman said with a smile, as she walked away from the two. ¡°My neighbor can be quite the violent person, as she has driven many other employees to the point of tears. It got so bad that I thought they stopped sending people to her. I guess I was wrong, though, seeing as you two were sent there.¡±

    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t like we were sent, rather than we just found the wrong door,¡± Ryle said, only to receive an elbow jab from Erin to shut her up.

    ¡°Since the two of you are here, would you like to have some cookies?¡± Madeline suddenly asked, as she pulled a batch of freshly-baked treats from the oven. ¡°I enjoy cooking and baking, but I often make way more than I can handle myself, so it would be nice if these didn¡¯t go to waste.¡±

    Despite being completely taken by surprise, Erin and Ryle both accepted the cookies they were offered and ate them happily. Smiles came to their faces, as they savored the taste of the what were possibly the best cookies they had ever had.

    ¡°I see that you like them,¡± Madeline said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad. Eat as much as you want, since I¡¯ve got plenty more!¡±

    ¡°These are really well-made,¡± Erin said with a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, these are the best I¡¯ve ever had!¡± Ryle managed to say with multiple cookies in her mouth. ¡°Have you ever considered opening your own bakery or something!?¡±

    The question seemed to stir something within Madeline as her body suddenly froze for a moment and a saddened look came to her eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ actually work as a cook, which was my dream ever since I was a child,¡± the older woman said in a quiet and sad tone. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s not as pleasant as I had imagined¡­¡±

    An awkward silence fell over the room, as Erin glared at Ryle for her question. All the blonde could do was shrug with an apologetic look on her face.

    ¡°But let¡¯s not worry about such things! After all, I¡¯m still on vacation, so we should enjoy ourselves!¡± Madeline said happily, having pushed away the sad thoughts from her mind. ¡°Now, do you two like cake? I was just planning to make one and I would love for you two to try it!¡±

    The pleasant atmosphere and Madeline¡¯s kind nature almost brought tears to Erin¡¯s eye, as memories of her own mother and grandmother came to mind. It had been quite some time since she felt such loving care from another person.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Erin? I just remembered something,¡± Ryle suddenly whispered to the redhead. ¡°You remember what our job was, right? Are we really going to¡­ You know?¡±

    The realization over what they had to do hit Erin like a truck. They already had reservations over attacking someone who was harmless and innocent, but having actually met Madeline and being treated so kindly by her made the idea unbearable.

    Still, as much as she hated to admit it, they had no choice in the matter.

    ¡°...I hate my life,¡± the redhead muttered. ¡°No other choice. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    Getting up from the couch she had been sitting at, Erin walked up to Madeline, who was in the middle of preparing her cake.

    ¡°Excuse me, madam?¡± the redhead called out, getting the older woman¡¯s attention. ¡°I just wanted to say that we are incredibly grateful for the kind treatment you¡¯ve given us. You truly brightened our bad day.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, dear,¡± Madeline said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just happy that I was able to help.¡±

    ¡°Also¡­ It pains me to say this, but I have to apologize.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Apologize for-?¡±

    The rest of the older woman¡¯s question was cut off, as Ryle sneaked up behind her and hit her over the head, knocking her out. Madeline¡¯s unconscious body fell over into Erin¡¯s arms, who caught her before she hit the floor.

    ¡°For that,¡± the redhead replied to the unconscious woman in her arms in a sad tone.

    With their target knocked out, Erin and Ryle proceeded to tie up and gag her, hoping to prevent her from causing any trouble in case she woke up while they were still carrying her around. They tore up some of the sheets in order to make the bindings they used.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve done plenty of stuff that¡¯s bad in my life, such as kill people,¡± Ryle said in a depressed voice. ¡°But this is one of the times I feel absolutely horrible over what I¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°I know how you feel. This was just wrong on so many levels,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°We can only hope that Rayleen¡¯s people won¡¯t do anything bad with her.¡±

    With their target captured, Erin went to check if the hallway was clear for them to leave. However, much to her shock, it was filled with people, all seemingly leaving their rooms at the same time.

    ¡°What the-!? Why is everybody on the move right now!?¡± the redhead asked after closing the door and walking back. She then looked at a clock on the wall and realized the answer to her question. ¡°Of course! It must be lunch time and all the guests are on the move!¡±

    ¡°So what do we do!?¡± Ryle asked while holding Madeline over her shoulder. ¡°With a place this big, all the hallways, elevators and stairs are gonna be filled with people! Not only that, but there¡¯s going to be a lot of staff walking around!¡±

    Erin thought about what they could do. Going out just like that was not an option, as they would just get caught. However, they couldn¡¯t simply wait around either. She had seen some of the employees move around, most likely going to rooms while the guests were out in order to do some cleaning and other tasks. In other words, they were stuck in a situation where they couldn¡¯t leave or stay.

    It was then that the redhead had an idea. If they needed to get the people out of their way, they just needed to force everyone to leave.

    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Erin said as she removed the glove covering her artificial hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to start a fire and cause the building to evacuate. That should give us a chance to escape in the middle of the chaos and confusion.¡±

    ¡°Woah! You¡¯re going to go all pyromaniac!?¡± Ryle asked in a shocked voice. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea!? You might burn the whole place down!?¡±

    ¡°Right now, I¡¯ve had such a shit day that I no longer care,¡± the redhead replied as she readied her hand. ¡°All I want is to get done with this job.¡±

    Without any further talk, Erin fired a small fireball from the palm of her mechanical hand, setting some of the furniture in the room on fire. It didn¡¯t take long for the fire alarm to start blaring and the sound of the people outside the room starting to run. Covering Madeline with sheets in order to hide her, the two soon joined the panicking mass of people, using the chaos and panic to slip out of the hotel and run away.

    Their job was now completed, even if they didn¡¯t feel good about it at all.

 168. New Faces, Same Friends

    Chapter 168

    New Faces, Same Friends

    After having completed their mission, Erin and Ryle found a train that would take them to where the rest of their group would be waiting for them, High Rock Peak. It was also the place where their target, Golorath of the Five Overlords was. They would soon go after one of their main targets after a long journey.

    To say that Erin was feeling nervous would be an understatement, as she was not only going up against a very powerful opponent, far more powerful than anything they had ever faced before, but she would also come face to face with one of her old friends. Or would it be more appropriate to call him one of her victims?

    The redhead knew that Gabe, mostly known as Golorath, needed to be stopped. It was the right thing to do and the only way things would get better in the Western Continent. She had told herself these facts over and over in order to steel her resolve. Despite these efforts, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she had the strength tho actually go through with it, once she met him. In all honesty, a large part of her hoped that she could somehow resolve the whole thing without any violence at all.

    ¡°Hey, you okay?¡± Ryle called out to Erin, having noticed the internal plight the redhead was in. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to get sick. Is something bothering you?¡±

    ¡°...I guess there would be no point in trying to lie to you,¡± Erin said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ worried and overwhelmed. I mean, you know what we are going to be facing, right? It¡¯s not exactly like I can¡¯t just ignore the facts of what we¡¯re trying to do.¡±

    ¡°I kind of assumed that¡¯s what it was about,¡± the blonde said. ¡°It¡¯s only natural to feel that way. Not many people would have the balls to even think of doing this.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t sound too worried, though,¡± the redhead said. ¡°How can you remain so calm? Aren¡¯t you the least bit scared? After all, this is an opponent far beyond anything we have faced.¡±

    ¡°True, but most of my life I¡¯ve been going up against people that were supposed to be far above me in every way. All of our journey so far has been like that as well,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to say is that overall this is just another day that ends in y for me. I¡¯m more concerned about you, though.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why would you be worried about me of all people?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m only worried about you. I¡¯m worried about the rest of the crew, too,¡± the blonde explained. ¡°It¡¯s just that I know this means a lot more to you than anyone else. For us, the guy we¡¯re going against is just another bad guy. He might be the biggest one out there, but he¡¯s still just a baddie. For you, however, there is a lot more history between you and him. That¡¯s what worries me.¡±

    ¡°...If you¡¯re worried that I won¡¯t be able to do what needs to be done, don¡¯t be,¡± the redhead said in slightly sterner voice. ¡°I know what I have to do and I will see it through.¡±

    ¡°No one¡¯s questioning that, Erin. I¡¯m more than willing to believe that you will put an end to the guy,¡± Ryle quickly said. ¡°What I¡¯m worried about is how it will affect you. I mean, messy past aside, didn¡¯t you say that he used to be your friend and that you actually cared about him? Those kinds of feelings are hard to set aside, no matter what might have happened. You sure you¡¯re going to be okay after going through something like that?¡±

    ¡°...I wish I could say that I will be, but I¡¯m not so sure,¡± Erin said as she looked down in sadness. ¡°I know that the things he has done are unforgivable, but I still remember the good old days with him and the others. Gabe especially was an incredibly kind and considerate person. Even if it¡¯s hypocritical of me to say this, the thought of harming a person like him¡­ it just feels so wrong to me. I¡¯d say that the world would be a better place with more people like him.¡±

    ¡°Well, since you know a side of him that none of us have ever seen, I¡¯ll take your word for it. Still, we have to do what we have to do,¡± the blonde said with a shrug. ¡°If you start to hesitate, I can take over for you and put an end to him for you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the offer, I guess¡­ But there¡¯s no need for that,¡± the redhead said with a determined look in her eyes now. ¡°I promised myself that I would see this through and I intend to keep that.¡±

    ¡°Good to know. If nothing else, in case you need a shoulder to cry on, I¡¯ll be more than happy to provide you with one,¡± Ryle said with a small grin, hoping to ease the tension, which seemed to work as Erin let out a small laugh. ¡°Besides, if there¡¯s anything to worry about, we should be worried about that cook we left with those thugs. I hope they won¡¯t do anything bad to her¡­¡±

    What the blonde was referring to was how they had quickly dumped Madeline on Rayleen¡¯s agents that were stationed at the town they were at. To say that they were surprised by the two of them suddenly leaving a tied up unconscious woman to them would be an understatement. Before they could ask what the two were doing, Erin and Ryle were already running away while telling them to take good care of Madeline. They hadn¡¯t been in the mood to get into an argument after everything they had been through, so they just figured to take the agents by surprise before they could voice any complaints.

    While neither of them felt good about leaving Madeline with a bunch of shady characters, they didn¡¯t have any other options for completing their mission in a manner where the cook was allowed to live. They just hoped that the rumors about Rayleen being much kinder than the other warlords were true. Otherwise, they feared what would happen.

    ¡°I know what you mean. I don¡¯t feel all that good about the decision we ended up making,¡± Erin said with a sad frown on her face. ¡°But there isn¡¯t much we can do about it now. All we can do is hope for the best.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Ryle said.

    Just as they finished their talk, the train they were on arrived inside a tunnel that went through the mountains that surrounded High Rock Peak. Lights inside the train carts were switched on so that the passengers wouldn¡¯t be left in complete darkness. After a few minutes of traveling through pitch black darkness, they arrived at the other side of the tunnel with light pouring through the windows.

    Both Erin and Ryle were amazed by the majestic and tall buildings that made up the city. All over them you could spot large statues of mighty warriors decorating them. The statues ranged from smaller ones that were situated on top of roofs, to massive goliaths that looked like they were competing in size with the buildings.

    ¡°Wow. Talk about decorating your home,¡± Ryle said as she looked at the statues in wonder. ¡°Think those are based on real people?¡±

    ¡°Most likely. High Rock Peak is a city that is known for its many mighty warriors,¡± Erin said. ¡°My guess is that at least some of these were made in order to honor whoever they depict.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s badass¡­ I wonder if I could get a statue like that made of me one day?¡± the blonde asked.

    ¡°...I highly doubt that,¡± the redhead replied.

    ¡°If you enjoy looking at the statues, do as much of it as you can now,¡± a voice suddenly said from behind the two. ¡°After all, they won¡¯t be here for long.¡±

    Erin and Ryle turned around to see an older man standing behind them. He was a human and, outside of a rather good physique, didn¡¯t seem like anything special, except for one thing. The look in his eyes and the overall atmosphere surrounding him made him look like he was incredibly tired. It was like he had been working without being able to sleep for weeks and just wanted to rest.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Why won¡¯t the statues be here for long?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to guess that not only are you new around here but you also don¡¯t watch the news all that much,¡± the man said. ¡°It was decided not too long ago that all of the statues would be taken down and replaced with statues of Lord Golorath instead.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? Why!?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Pretty much every city and town you go to has either a statue or some other thing depicting the Overlords! Why does he need to destroy these ones and replace with himself!?¡±

    ¡°Simple. He wants to be the only one that is given such respect,¡± the man explained. ¡°Can¡¯t have anybody else take the spotlight away from the big bosses themselves, can you? That¡¯s why he intends to make the city in his own image. I¡¯m just surprised it took him this long to do so, but I guess he just recently got tired of the sights and wanted to make a change.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ But these statues are a big part of the city¡¯s history, aren¡¯t they!?¡± Erin asked. ¡°How can people around here just let something like that happen!? Don¡¯t they protest or something!?¡±

    ¡°You must have lived a very sheltered life, if you think any of the Overlords give a damn about any protest we might do,¡± the man said. ¡°The moment any group gathers to voice their complaints, all they do is send in the troops to fire at them. Whoever survives and doesn¡¯t get away is then taken to prison and is never seen again. Do you think people really want to risk that?¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Maybe so, but there has got to be something the people here can do!¡± the redhead kept arguing. ¡°Are they just going to roll over and let others walk all over them!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just how it is, I¡¯m afraid. When you¡¯re powerless, no one is going to listen to you, especially those that actually have power. You can say all the pretty words and things you can think of, but in the end it¡¯s all about who has the strength to do what they want,¡± the man explained before looking out of the window. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand you, though. I actually have a personal stake in this thing, as there is a statue dedicated to my father there. Ever since I was just a little boy, it was my greatest pride to know he was honored in such a way.¡±

    ¡°Yet you¡¯re just going to let them take it down?¡± Ryle asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you even feel a bit pissed off about that?¡±

    ¡°...My anger is already gone and I have come to accept things the way they are. And do you know how I was able to do that?¡± the man said. ¡°I realized that there are things far more important than a lone statue. In the end, you have to put things in perspective and come to terms with what really matters to you.¡±

    The man then walked away, leaving Erin and Ryle behind to sit in silence.

    ¡°What do you think he meant by those far more important things he mentioned?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Who knows? Probably his own life, if I had to make a bet,¡± Ryle said with a shrug. ¡°People often abandon everything around them, once its their own ass one the line. I¡¯ve seen it happen way too many times in my life.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Something about that guy told me that he wasn¡¯t giving up just to save his own skin,¡± the redhead said thoughtfully. ¡°I can¡¯t explain it, but it looked to me like he didn¡¯t want to live, except there was something that wouldn¡¯t allow him to die. My guess is that whatever that thing is, it¡¯s the important thing he mentioned.¡±

    As they finished their conversation, the train came to a stop, as they had finally arrived at the station. Stepping out, the two made sure to wear clothing that would help hide their identities, such as hats and hoods.

    As they were walking around the city, the two immediately noticed that there was a strange air surrounding the people of the city. While most seemed to be heartbroken and sad, there were also those who seemed like they were enjoying themselves, the complete opposite to most of the population. Upon looking a bit closer, it became clear that the ones who were happy were those that had a higher standing in society, such as wealthy merchants, nobility and others.

    ¡°Man, this place is either the most depressing city in the world or the happiest place, depending on who you look at,¡± Ryle said while observing the people. ¡°I doubt it¡¯s too big of a mystery to see how these people are so divided.¡±

    ¡°I agree. The sad ones are probably the original citizens that Golorath¡¯s people have subjugated,¡± Erin said. ¡°They have most likely been forced to swallow all sorts of humiliations and shame in order to just be allowed to live. The happy ones, on the other hand, are those who are thriving from the current situation, most likely through sucking up to Golorath and his people.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a mess¡­ If we didn¡¯t have work to do here, I¡¯d be getting the hell out of here on the next train,¡± the blonde added. ¡°These types of places can only give you trouble.¡±

    As they were walking, Erin felt someone tug on her cloak. She turned around and saw a young kobold child with yellow scales looking up at her with a smile on his face.

    ¡°Hey, miss!¡± the child greeted the redhead happily as he offered a piece of paper to her. ¡°My daddy is running a new restaurant nearby! Would you and your friend like to visit it?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sweetie, but I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t,¡± Erin apologized with a smile, doing her best to not upset the child. ¡°My friend and I are unfortunately busy, so we can¡¯t go visit your daddy¡¯s restaurant right now, but we¡¯ll keep it in mind. Thanks for the offer, though!¡±

    The redhead turned around and was just about to walk away, when she felt someone pinch the back of her leg very painfully, causing her to let out a small yelp. Shocked by what had happened, she turned around to see the same kobold child looking up at her with a smile, except this time the expression seemed to be forced.

    ¡°I must insist, miss, that you follow me to my daddy¡¯s restaurant,¡± the young kobold said as he once again offered the piece of paper to Erin, except more forcefully this time. Even his voice had a hidden tone of anger behind it. ¡°At least take this and look it through. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll change your mind.¡±

    ¡°Your salesman skills need some work, kid!¡± the redhead said with a frown as she took the paper and looked at it. ¡°How do you expect people to-?¡±

    Erin¡¯s voice cut off, as she saw the written text on the paper. Instead of it being an introduction to a restaurant, it had just a very simple text hastily written on it.

    SHUT UP AND FOLLOW ME, YOU IDIOTS!

    -LEX

    The redhead looked up from the paper with a wide-eyed look on her face as she stared down at the kobold, who now seemed to have a more satisfied look on his face.

    ¡°It changed your mind, didn¡¯t it?¡± Lexton asked with a slightly smug tone. ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll show you where the place is!¡±

    As the kobold began to walk away, Erin and Ryle shared a shocked look, before looking at their disguised companion again.

    ¡°How did he¡­ How did he manage to pull that off?¡± Erin asked. ¡°I know he¡¯s good at making all sorts of things, but I never knew he could pull that off!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so surprised by how he changed his appearance, as much as I¡¯m surprised by his whole ¡°innocent child¡± act that he pulled off,¡± Ryle said. ¡°Seriously, I can¡¯t believe that for a moment, I actually thought that he was adorable.¡±

    <hr>

    Following behind Lexton, Erin and Ryle were led to the more secluded parts of the city, which were the alleyways of the poorer area of the city. There they saw even more people that had most likely been broken by the new leadership, as there were plenty of homeless and other downtrodden people. The redhead also noticed that a lot of the people there seemed to be severely injured, as a lot of them not only were covered in bandages, but had visible scars and some were even missing some of their limbs and other body parts.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Lexton said as he finally came to a stop in front of a rundown building with boarded up windows. ¡°The others are waiting inside.¡±

    The kobold opened the door and let the two he had led go inside first, before following behind them. Once inside, Erin and Ryle saw the other three members of their group, all in their own disguises.

    Zeldana had somehow made herself look much older, as she now looked like a grandmother that needed a cane to walk around. She had also switched her regular red nurse outfit for more regular clothing to complete the disguise.

    Their youngest member, Arkay, had been made to look even younger than before. He also had a wig on his head that not only gave him a new hair color and style, but it also hid his cat ears.

    However, the most shocking disguise was the one worn by Durge, as he was dressed as a woman, complete with lipstick and a wig with long blonde hair. His clothing had also been changed to match his new look and make-up had been applied to his face to hide his scars. To top it all off, he even had fake breasts to complete the look.

    Despite how good the disguise was, the orc didn¡¯t look pleased in the slightest.

    ¡°D-DURGE!? Is that you!?¡± Erin asked in a shocked tone while pointing at the orc. ¡°Why are you disguised like that!?¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t want to use the age changing pills, as I feared it might affect my combat capabilities, so I asked Lex to give me something else,¡± Durge explained. ¡°I was hoping he would just change my looks a bit, but¡­ He had a different idea.¡±

    The truth behind the orc¡¯s request was that he feared his own internal problem might have gone out of control if he were to weaken his body, even if only temporarily. Still that was something Durge wanted to keep to himself for the time being and made up an excuse.

    ¡°Hey, I do good work, don¡¯t I?¡± Lexton said proudly. ¡°Besides, you should be thankful that I gave you that look. After all, you are benefiting from it, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°If by benefiting you mean all those weirdos offering free drinks and other crap, I don¡¯t see how that¡¯s such a good thing!¡± the orc said angrily, before letting out a depressed sigh. ¡°Seriously, how the hell is THIS supposed to be charming!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Durge¡­ You naive and innocent soul,¡± the kobold said. ¡°You have no idea just what kind of things people are into these days, because this is just the tip of the iceberg.¡±

    ¡°...I don¡¯t even want to know what you¡¯re thinking of,¡± the orc mumbled.

    ¡°Personally, I¡¯m really surprised by Ryle,¡± Lexton said. ¡°I was certain that she would-¡±

    ¡°BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!¡± the blonde laughed uncontrollably.

    ¡°...Never mind,¡± the kobold said.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this, Durge!¡± Erin quickly apologized to the orc. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her to stop right away and-!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s fine. I was expecting that reaction from pretty much everybody,¡± Durge said with a sigh. ¡°Just let her laugh it up and she¡¯ll run out of steam soon enough. That¡¯s what happened with Zeldana and Arnie as well.¡±

    ¡°...Oh! That¡¯s¡­ a very mature way to handle this, Durge. I¡¯m quite surprised,¡± the redhead said before letting out a snicker. ¡°To be honest, now that I¡¯ve gotten over my own shock, it is quite hilarious!¡±

    ¡°Just¡­ get it over with already!¡± the orc said in a frustrated tone. ¡°We have more important things to talk about, you know!?

    After letting the two newcomers laugh it up for a moment, they seemed to finally calm down, even though Ryle could still be heard snickering from time to time. Erin, who had laughed as much as she could at Durge¡¯s predicament, decided to ask about the disguises Lexton had made.

    ¡°All in all, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself with what you¡¯ve made here, Lex. I was just expecting wigs and maybe some fake facial hair, but this is some very impressive work,¡± Erin said while looking at every one of her disguised friends. ¡°I do have to ask, though, how were you able to make it so that it looks like your ages have changed?¡±

    ¡°Well, you know that potion Ryle had that changed me into a baby? I decided to look into it and make some improvements,¡± Lexton explained with a smirk as he pulled out vials with different colored liquids in them. ¡°Now we¡¯re not just stuck to only becoming younger, as we can also change our ages to make ourselves look older. And the control is much better, as I don¡¯t necessarily have to become a useless larva again.¡±

    ¡°I wish you would use the word baby or infant instead,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Still, this is very impressive, as it gives us more options in regards to disguises.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I also figured out a way to change the color of my scales while I was at it. No big deal,¡± the kobold said nonchalantly. ¡°Speaking of disguises, though, I was meaning to bring something up.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Erin asked.

    ¡°Oh, nothing big¡­ Except the fact that you two had the absolute WORST DISGUISES EVER!¡± Lexton shouted angrily, taking the redhead by surprise. ¡°Seriously, what the hell were you two idiots thinking!? A hood and a hat!? That¡¯s how you¡¯re going to hide yourselves!? You were lucky that I found you before any law enforcement or military personnel did! Would it have killed you to put on a fake beard at least!?¡±

    ¡°L-Look we were on a hurry, okay!? We just decided to hide our features enough that we wouldn¡¯t get recognized right away!¡± Erin quickly explained. ¡°Besides, we didn¡¯t get caught, did we? So it¡¯s all good in the end, isn¡¯t it!?¡±

    ¡°...Sure. All good in the end,¡± the kobold muttered in an annoyed tone. ¡°You asked me to provide us with disguises, yet you aren¡¯t smart enough to make one for yourself. It¡¯s not exactly a good sign.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of disguises, something else caught my attention,¡± the redhead said as she looked over to Zeldana. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you decided to make yourself into an elderly lady as your disguise. I would have thought that you¡¯d hate the idea.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me!? This is the best thing ever!¡± the elf said with a big grin. ¡°Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve been able to mess with people? I¡¯m constantly asking people to do favors for me, like carrying heavy stuff and giving up seats! Most of the time, I just have suitcases full of rocks that I make people carry for me and then tell them it wasn¡¯t mine at all! I then tell them that it¡¯s just my bad memory that made me think it was mine! Even better, I can make life unbearable for others by pretending that my hearing is bad! You should have seen the people at the burger place I visited!¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s not joking,¡± Lexton said with a sigh. ¡°The person handling the register was ready to strangle her, after she messed with her for almost an hour.¡±

    ¡°The fact that you¡¯re taking such joy from doing things like that is both disturbing and sad,¡± Erin said. ¡°Anyways, enough about everybody¡¯s costumes. Let¡¯s talk about how things are here in the city.¡±

    Lexton and the others prepared themselves for telling Erin and Ryle everything that they had learned so far. Not just in regards to their job, but Golorath, the city and even Rayleen.