¡°I can¡¯t believe how uncomfortable these clothes can get,¡± Rowan grumbled. He thumbed the stiff collar of the suit he¡¯d been forced into and tried to get more comfortable.
To be perfectly truthful, it wasn¡¯t the suit that was bothering him. It was the manifestation of his nerves. It was hard not to be on edge when he could hear a loud and boisterous crowd just outside his door.
Things were moving far too quickly for his liking.
After being declared the official mayor of Rest¡¯s Remorse the day before, Rowan had thought that Camilla would handle everything else. He could be mayor in name only and keep doing the things that he had been, adventuring and heroing. Those hopes had been dashed as soon as the sun rose the next day, when he was informed that he would be attending a ¡®gathering¡¯ with every notable figure in the town.
He wasn¡¯t quite sure why they would all decide to attend. He did have a strong suspicion that they were eager to scope out their new mayor and his abilities. The biggest problem was, Rowan didn¡¯t really have many abilities he was proud of.
¡°You¡¯re really saying that? Really?¡± Milena growled, making Rowan wince as his eyes went briefly to the wolf kin.
The unfortunate woman was stuffed into a getup even worse than his. She had first been given a dress, but when the maids of the mayor¡¯s manor saw the outcome, they dropped that idea faster than a hot pot. The suit that Milena wore now had a rather nice and flattering cut, but the way it made her fur puff out was a highly suspect fashion choice.
¡°They didn¡¯t let you attend in a plain robe, huh?¡± Rowan sighed, shaking his head.
Milena just growled at him, her fangs snapping.
¡°Easy now, we¡¯re all friends here,¡± Marcus laughed, looking even better in a suit than Rowan did. Which was frankly unfair, since the man had required a hole to be cut into his pants for his tail to poke through.
Milena huffed and turned away from them.
Truth be told, Rowan didn¡¯t look too shabby himself. Despite how uncomfortable they could be, the suits for all three of them were about as high quality as one could hope for. They were dyed into a classic black with golden swirls that rimmed the sleeves of the jackets and had the baron¡¯s crest embroidered on the backs.
Rowan didn¡¯t begrudge Kayden for it. He had thrown in his lot with the baron and the extremely blatant sign of his allegiance would hopefully go a long way on keeping people from pushing too hard on certain matters.
There was only a single person in the room who seemed entirely unfazed by the impending gathering. The final member of his party.
¡°Relax, would you?¡± Olivia Sutton teased, green hair perfectly framing a face that bore just a hint of casual makeup. She was also dressed in black with gold accents and her family crest. Her dress, however, was much fancier than what the rest were wearing. The sleeves were puffy, trailing behind her as she walked, and the top of the dress had a luxurious amount of material. But as the dress came to her hips, it began to slim and accentuate her body before billowing out past her legs.
The dress was horribly impractical and Rowan was complete certain there was no way Olivia could manage to fight in it, even if her only job was chucking potions. It also made her look ethereal and beyond beautiful, which was extremely distracting when she was attached to his arm, hugging it gently to her side.
Maybe this world isn¡¯t so bad after all.
¡°Easy for you to say. You actually look like you belong at one of these functions,¡± Milena said, her tail curling around her waist like she was trying to give herself a hug. Marcus was hiding his anxiety much better but it was obvious that he, too, didn¡¯t think he belonged there.
¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to be meeting nobles,¡± Olivia sighed, looking the two over again. ¡°They¡¯re just mercenaries and famous adventurers.¡±
¡°Exactly, that¡¯s worse than nobility,¡± Milena quipped, eyes narrowed.
¡°How does that make sense? Nobles are by far the more touchy, intimidating sort. No offense, Olivia,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Well, you see, we actually care about what these people think about us, unlike with nobles.¡± Marcus jumped in. ¡°They¡¯ve all earned their power. They¡¯re respected because of who they are. What if they don¡¯t like us? What if they don¡¯t think we can make it in the profession? Especially the Mercenary King. If he doesn¡¯t like us¡¡±
Just like that, Rowan felt a gulf open between him and the twins of his party. Like them, he had been thinking about life after being a hero. The twins were probably going back to living as mercenaries and this was their chance to impress the celebrities of their profession. But Rowan, for the first time, wondered if his choice of going back to Earth was the right one. Could he really just forget everything that happened here and live a normal life again?
¡°If it helps, I think that once they get to know you, they¡¯ll be impressed,¡± Rowan said before his mind could fully process all the words coming out of his mouth. ¡°I mean, I bet that not a lot of them ever stood up to an epic ranked demon before. And even if they did, they kind of lost, considering this is where the demon army broke through.¡±
That was a sobering thought and the group fell silent, staying that way until a side door opened, admitting Lady Sutton into the room.
While Rowan and the twins were obviously nervous and looked a little awkward in their clothing, Camilla¡¯s flowing silver dress accentuated her beauty and gave a certain air of nobility to her bearing.
Instantly, he felt more than a little unprepared himself.
¡°They might have lost,¡± Camilla said as swept past them and positioned herself in front of the door like she was planning to protect them from what was beyond it. ¡°But they have the men we need if you want to be the true leader of this town. Or to keep you safe when we venture into the demonic wastes. They¡¯re important. Of them, the Mercenary King is the most important. He¡¯s an epic, the only one in this town that isn¡¯t on our side. We get him on our side and half the battle is won.¡±
Rowan nodded seriously. ¡°Sorry, I meant it as a way to cheer us up.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s a good thought to have.¡± Camilla¡¯s tone inflected upward. ¡°These are the men who lost against the demons. They deserve your time because of their resources but they don¡¯t deserve your respect yet.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
¡°Good. It¡¯s time,¡± Camilla announced, fingering a dagger and tucking it into her dress. ¡°Prepare yourselves.¡±
Rowan¡¯s hand twitched for his spear. Without it, the world felt a little more threatening, like it was closing in on him. Even his thoughts felt slower and more fragile. He settled for the next best thing and threaded his arm through Olivia¡¯s and relaxed when she patted his hand.
The door was pushed open, and the sounds of chatter and arguing intensified.
He took a deep breath and glanced at Olivia. With her there, he would make it through the gathering. Camilla stepped forward and pushed open the door.
¡°I present to you, Lord Rowan Clairfont, his party, and Lady Camilla Sutton, their advisor and guardian,¡± one of the servants announced.
The room they entered was large and well-lit. Tables edged the walls, covered in food and drink Rowan thought looked expensive. The men and women, too, were dressed in quality clothes.
Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that the entire thing looked at least a little off. It reminded him of the reception he¡¯d attended at the palace in form but there was something missing from the spirit of the gathering.
When Rowan took a closer look at the attendees, the difference hit him.
All of these men and women looked awkward in the clothing and finery. They held themselves stiffly, or moved like warriors rather than the nobility Rowan had seen before. There was a certain atmosphere that nobles had, which these people lacked.
And that difference was made plain when one of the attendants spoke up. ¡°Well, well, well, we finally get to meet our new mayor. Shame what happened to the last one, of course, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do much better.¡±
Rowan scanned the crowd and found the voice¡¯s owner, a mercenary surrounded by a cadre of other men. The mercenary had a blade at his hip. The presence of weapons carried so openly threw Rowan off balance for a moment and he glanced at the baroness.
¡°Florin Zest. A pleasure to meet you,¡± Camilla said with an inflection in her voice that made it obvious she didn¡¯t care much for the man. ¡°I see that you¡¯re armed to the teeth.¡±
¡°Oh this?¡± Florin pointed at his blade. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a toothpick.¡±
¡°Still a toothpick that you shouldn¡¯t have brought.¡± Camilla looked the man straight in his eye. ¡°Do you see me or the hero carrying weapons? If we had known this was supposed to be a show of force, we¡¯d have brought in the army.¡±
Florin''s eyes flicked up and down. When he didn¡¯t see a weapon on the baroness, he relaxed slightly. ¡°Apologies, Lady Sutton. But you know me, [Blood Reaver] isn¡¯t a class that deals in finesse.¡±
Even though Rowan had personally seen Camilla playing with a dagger just moments before she entered the room, he didn¡¯t bother to speak up.
¡°We all have our flaws. I see you have your guild with you today. Your men have been causing trouble in the town. The townsfolk have been complaining,¡± Camilla stated.
¡°They¡¯d be harping about chickens not laying eggs if they could.¡± Florin dismissed the concern. ¡°We¡¯re right at the edge of the demonic wastes. Things happen.¡±
¡°You should know that these days, a rare class doesn¡¯t count for much,¡± Camilla said flatly. ¡°We live in tumultuous times.¡±
Florin flushed red and gritted his teeth. Camilla smiled and turned away.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
But before Rowan could celebrate the minor victory that the baroness had won, a buttery smooth voice greeted them.
¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve last seen you, Camilla. It¡¯s good to know you are still so very¡ pleasant.¡±
Camilla paused, took a deep breath, and turned towards a woman in a wine-red dress who was trailed by two cloaked figures. ¡°Tamara. It has been too long.¡±
The other woman tittered, her black eyes sparkling with amusement as she swirled a goblet of some kind of drink. Rowan noted that, out of the entire gathering, she was the one who looked most at ease in the setting.
¡°My gods, I haven¡¯t seen you since I was last at the Mage Tower,¡± Tamara purred. ¡°It¡¯s a shame, really. The kingdom could really use my magic, especially for how destructive it can be. There¡¯s beauty in strength.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t speak for the king or the kingdom,¡± Camilla warned. ¡°But I imagine that if you could control your class better, then they might look favorably at your situation. Instead, you¡¯ve been here, taking on apprentices.¡±
¡°And deny the world of my [Mage] class variant? Never,¡± Tamara said in mock shock. ¡°I must say, I¡¯m surprised to see your family has managed to snag a hero. I thought that was reserved for truly powerful families.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m not surprised you¡¯re not well-informed, considering the fact that the Mage Tower sent out a notice with the consequences if you or your apprentices so much as dared to step foot in the kingdom,¡± Camilla retorted. ¡°Say what you want, Tamara. I am a Sutton.¡±
Rowan noticed how the baroness hadn¡¯t included mention of the woman¡¯s surname.
Seems like the mages weren¡¯t the only ones to disown her.
Now that she had vanquished the early troublemakers of the gathering, Camilla took a deep breath and turned toward the real power in the room. Situated near one of the tables and feasting at his leisure from a plate piled high with food was a man who looked like a miniature mountain. The man picked a slice of meat from his plate and gingerly took a bite. It almost seemed like he was there to eat free food.
But Rowan¡¯s enhanced perception could see beyond the surface. For starters, there was a whole group of men and women who stood just a few paces away in a vaguely circle formation. Second, the man was perfectly comfortable with his size. His formal dress shirt had a couple buttons unbuttoned, revealing a stretch of well-toned muscles. Rowan got the feeling that the extra weight wasn¡¯t a hindrance but rather part of the man¡¯s strength.
When Camilla and the hero party drew closer, he paused mid-bite and smiled. Instead of greeting or disparaging them, he nodded at the food along the edges of the room.
That seemed to do the trick of stopping the baroness in her tracks.
¡°Mercenary King,¡± Camilla said coolly.
¡°Camilla, could I get a moment with the hero?¡± the man asked. ¡°The roast here is absolutely delightful. We can talk after you eat. I¡¯ll be here.¡±
Camilla stood still, taking measure of the man before her. The pressure built with every passing moment before her gaze swung to the food and she decided that the confrontation could wait. She glanced at Rowan and gave the slightest nod.
Marcus was the first to split, guiding his sister over to the food table and shooting the man a grin as he started to pile food together. Soon enough, his plate was almost as full. The living mountain laughed and nodded approvingly. Finally, both Camilla and Olivia stepped away, leaving just Rowan behind.
¡°So, you¡¯re our new mayor?¡± the Mercenary King asked.
Rowan didn¡¯t hear any hostility in the voice and took that as a good sign.
¡°Unfortunately.¡± Rowan decided to go for honestly, even if he could feel the baroness¡¯s eyes digging into his back. ¡°I¡¯m here a bit ahead of schedule and the circumstances aren¡¯t the best, as you¡¯ll probably agree.¡±
The man laughed, nodding along. ¡°True. The old mayor¡ well, it¡¯s a shame what happened. I hear you¡¯re not even at rare yet. Is that right?¡±
Rowan hid a wince. ¡°Just a couple levels off. Turns out, beating two rare tier demons and surviving an epic doesn¡¯t guarantee you¡¯ll earn all that much experience.¡±
¡°Heh, don¡¯t I know it.¡± The mercenary paused to shovel some more food into his mouth, looking Rowan over like he was searching for something. ¡°At least you seem like a fighter. Got the physical build. Or the start of one.¡±
¡°Start of one?¡± The comment threw Rowan for a loop. Frankly, he was in the best shape of his life. The stats and exercise had worked miracles, giving him a toned, well-muscled body that managed to look balanced and natural in spite of his bulky stature.
¡°Aye, start of one. You¡¯ll still need to exercise and work for it to get into the best condition, lad. Stats and fighting can do much, but they¡¯re not a replacement for hard work. You should always keep in mind that stats enhance what you have,¡± the mercenary said.
Rowan could recall the baron giving him similar advice a long time ago. He hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time, given how fond the man was of grueling training. But it did make sense.
¡°What would you recommend then? What should I do to train?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°First, figure out what sort of workout is best for you. What are you trying to build yourself up for? Speed? Endurance? Strength? Once you know that, you can introduce the right routine to your day. I¡¯d advise you to stick to it, lad, no matter what else is happening. You¡¯ll be able to push much harder than most with your stats and level. Especially when you hit rare. ¡±
Rowan nodded, giving the man¡¯s muscles another look. He supposed the mercenary would know what he was talking about. ¡°That does make sense.¡±
¡°Might just save your life one day,¡± the mercenary said. ¡°Even being able to fight for a couple minutes longer can be the difference between life and death.¡±
Camilla walked up to the two of them with Olivia in tow. ¡°As much as I hate to interrupt, we do need to talk about other matters, Lucius.¡±
¡°I suppose we do, Camilla. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you, or Kayden.¡±
Behind Camilla, Olivia stiffened slightly. No one had said anything about the Mercenary King knowing her parents. Though with how Camilla knew Tamara, the uncontrollable mage, Rowan supposed that the baron family was a bit more well-connected than they let on.
¡°Yes, it has. I ate the food and waited while you had your conversation with Hero Rowan. Let¡¯s talk business.¡± Camilla walked up next to Rowan. ¡°You know why we¡¯re all stuck here, Lucius. We¡¯re going to need your help. I¡¯m asking for your help.¡±
The mercenary put down his massive plate of food to properly face the baroness. ¡°You know I can¡¯t promise you that, Camilla. My oaths and my responsibilities lie with my men, first and foremost.¡±
¡°Yes, and those men were, as I recall, hired on to bolster the defenses of the kingdom against the coming wave of demons.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re doing. Why do you think the town didn¡¯t fall? We were hired to defend it, and so we did. The building on the outskirts might be a little damaged, but all the civilians were safe, and the wave was diverted.¡±
¡°It was diverted into my family¡¯s lands!¡± Camilla hissed, struggling not to let her voice rise further even though everyone in the room had been sneaking glances their way for a while. ¡°They nearly broke through. Two villages. Gone. All lives lost. It would have been worse if it weren¡¯t for these children and the assistance of another hero.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry for that. I really am. But what was I supposed to do? Chase after the demons? Order my men to their death? We¡¯re only being paid to defend this town, Camilla. Not to venture deeper into the wasteland, not to guard the borders. Just the town,¡± the mercenary said. His voice was soft but also determined.
For a few moments, Camilla stared at the man¡¯s face. Her green eyes meeting his pale gray ones. Even from the side, Rowan knew that the mercenary wasn¡¯t going to offer his men to help the expeditions.
¡°What about a job then?¡± Camilla said, calming down slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll hire your men. Or even you personally.¡±
¡°We¡¯re already on a job. You know what that means. Until our pay dries up or we¡¯re dismissed, we will stay our course.¡± The mercenary paused and glanced at Rowan. ¡°If you want me to train them a little, I can do that. But that¡¯s the most I can offer. I¡¯m sorry if it¡¯s not what you wanted to hear.¡±
¡°Fine, Lucius.¡± The baroness closed her eyes for a few quiet moments. She gestured at Rowan and the rest of the hero party. ¡°We¡¯ll find someone else.¡±
When they were far enough away, Marcus walked closer to Rowan. ¡°So that was the Mercenary King. Scary.¡±
¡°He seemed nice enough, even if he wouldn¡¯t help us,¡± Rowan said. ¡°By the way, why is he called the Mercenary King?¡±
Marcus almost tripped mid-walk. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard of¡ Oh right, you¡¯re not from here. He¡¯s the most famous mercenary to live. When he was young, he was known as a madman who only took the most dangerous jobs on the frontier. He was a legend even back then. When he reached the rare tier, he decided to form a company.¡±
¡°The men around him?¡± Rowan asked as he shot the mercenaries a glance.
¡°Yeah. The Mercenary King isn¡¯t just a title. It¡¯s the name of his class. He single-handedly improved the status of mercenaries in the Rhys kingdom,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Even his company takes after him. They do the most dangerous jobs.¡±
¡°He¡¯s just a man,¡± Olivia said from the side. ¡°Mom? What are we going to do now?¡±
¡°The Mercenary King isn¡¯t the only one here,¡± Camilla said. ¡°Florin and Tamara are the second- and third-largest independent powers. But there are more mercenaries here than just them.¡±
Over the next few minutes, Camilla realized that she had overplayed her hand. The smaller factions were more than willing to talk. They had nothing but praise and good words for their new mayor. But when the topic shifted to the expedition into demonic lands, the mercenaries immediately excused themselves.
After the fourth rejection, Rowan found Camilla staring at the far wall. There, both Florin and Tamara were lounging against the table and looking back with smirks. The man said something out of the side of his mouth that sent the mage into titters of laughter.
Camilla tried one more time. Even with her target pale-faced and stuttering, she couldn¡¯t get them to say yes to adventuring outside the town. The baroness let out a long breath.
¡°Should we leave?¡± Rowan whispered to her.
¡°This was put together in your honor,¡± Camilla said wearily. Her eyes were duller than before.
¡°And I don¡¯t care. If we¡¯re not getting anywhere, I¡¯d rather leave,¡± Rowan said.
She turned for the door. None of them said a word until they were back in their temporary home.
¡ª
¡°We need more men,¡± Camilla said as she looked at the remaining town¡¯s troops. ¡°A lot more men. A frontier town has a garrison of at least a thousand.¡±
There were not a thousand men in front of them. Barely two hundred souls remained of the town¡¯s army. And each and every one of them suffered some kind of injury. Rowan could see several slings, too many bandages to count, and even a couple of people struggling to stand on crutches.
The only silver lining was that the town¡¯s training ground was remarkably undamaged. Racks of weapons stood arrayed on one side of the large courtyard, and dummies and all kinds of obstacles were clustered on the other. There was even a running track that stretched around the perimeter.
The stellar training ground was almost ironic compared to the men who now stood on it.
¡°Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair,¡± Rowan mumbled. The quote seemed fitting. Not even Olivia bothered to ask him what that was supposed to mean. But as he looked over the ranks, he found a strange strength in the men in front of him. These were people who had been battered by demons and monsters. Yet, they had chosen to stay, to fight again when they could have deserted or left the frontier.
Rowan cleared his throat and stepped forward. He could still hear Bron¡¯s voice in his head. The mark of a good leader is someone who can inspire and to inspire requires an inner courage to face the difficulties head-on.
¡°Men. My name is Rowan Clairfont. You may know me as a hero blessed by Aristaeus, the god of soldiers. And that word, soldier, is exactly how I would describe you. I know you as the soldiers of Rest¡¯s Remorse. As the soldiers who didn¡¯t run when a group of demons and monsters were charging at you. As the soldiers who stood their ground and fought when things were at their darkest. As the soldiers who still continue to fight even when no one would blame you for retreating for rest.
¡°Our path ahead is not easy. I¡¯m not going to stand here and downplay things. Until we slay the Demon King, there will be hard fighting. I will be there with you every step of the way. We will bleed. We will sacrifice. But we will triumph. A long time ago, I was told that the measure of a person isn¡¯t what he does when things are easy but rather when times are hard. Seeing you all here when the future is dim, I can say for certain that you all are heroes.¡±
For a few seconds after Rowan¡¯s speech, there was just silence. A small sweat began to form on the back of his neck.
Did I say the wrong thing? Did I just screw everything up?
A cheer rose from the front row. It was small but infectious. The other ranks began to add their voice to the cheer until the whole army was hollering for Rowan.
Nope. I said the right thing.
Rowan waved at his men and the cheering intensified. He felt both a weight leave his shoulders and a new one take its place. They weren¡¯t alone in the town anymore but he now needed to figure out how to get the men back into fighting shape.
¡°Any chance you¡¯ll be able to heal them up?¡± Rowan asked Olivia quietly. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot of men but every bit helps.¡±
¡°Probably. Just not with the ingredients I have on me, though. We¡¯ll need to head out into the town and look for some, or maybe ask your chamberlain to order in the ingredients.¡±
¡°Sounds like a date,¡± Rowan murmured before he remembered who was with him.
¡°A date, is it?¡± Camilla asked. ¡°This is all you have left in terms of troops, and you¡¯re still angling to seduce my daughter?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s¡¡±
¡°No matter, after that speech, you get a pass. Your plan does have some merit.¡± Some light had snuck back into Camilla¡¯s eyes as she looked at the remaining army of Rest¡¯s Remorse. ¡°Go on. Plan your outing with my daughter and make sure to procure enough materials for those potions. I¡¯ll need them and more.¡±
Rowan shuddered. Something about Camilla¡¯s words reminded him of Kayden and the brutal training he had undergone. The men weren¡¯t going to have a fun time under the baroness¡¯s care. The only question now was if that was also going to be his fate too.
Chapter 36: A Simple Outing
As it turned out, organizing a day out on the town with a baron¡¯s daughter wasn¡¯t the simplest thing in the world. There was planning out which parts of town to visit, learning the town¡¯s power dynamics, and more importantly, figuring out which outfit to wear.
¡°I can¡¯t believe the way this makes me look. I don¡¯t look that fat in it, right Rowan?¡± Olivia grumbled, glaring down at her simplistic dress like it was at fault.
¡°Of course not.¡± Rowan¡¯s answer was immediate and determined. He didn¡¯t know a whole lot about relationships, but he definitely knew the right response to a question like that. ¡°You look great, no matter what you wear.¡±
¡°That sure sounded sincere,¡± Olivia laughed.
¡°Well, I did mean it,¡± Rowan said calmly as he squeezed her hand and, for the first time, it was Olivia who blushed first.
¡°Hero Rowan, Miss Sutton,¡± the chamberlain¡¯s voice sounded from outside of the carriage. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±
Rowan opened the door and let Olivia out first. Although he had been joking, this was as close to a date as they ever had. It was just going to be the two of them. The chamberlain was just there to escort them to the right place.
¡°Thanks,¡± Rowan said, ducking out of the carriage. ¡°So, this is it?¡±
¡°It is. We¡¯re in the outer parts of the town,¡± the chamberlain said. ¡°Rest¡¯s Remorse isn¡¯t a big town but still large enough. I would imagine that the combination of you and Miss Sutton should be enough to handle any trouble that comes your way.¡±
That was true. Rowan still had trouble remembering that he was only a few levels away from rare while Olivia was already there. And having a rare class wasn¡¯t something that happened to everyone. The other rare tier people in the city all had their own mercenary groups or companies.
¡°And this dress is absolutely necessary?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°Not even the poorest commoners dress this badly in the barony.¡±
The chamberlain had a sad little smile as he climbed back onto the carriage. ¡°The Rest¡¯s Remorse is on the frontier. Survival is a struggle here. When the two of you are ready, just walk up to any guard and let them know to admit you.¡±
¡ª
¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± Rowan said after just ten minutes of walking around.
There were two types of people in Rest¡¯s Remorse and zero middle ground. The first were mercenaries, fighters, and crafters. They looked well-fed, happy, and overall confident in their lot in life. They strode down streets with a sense of purpose and destination. The second, and far more numerous, were the downtrodden, people who looked so poor, weak, and starved that it turned Rowan¡¯s stomach to even catch a glimpse of them.
¡°It doesn¡¯t. Even a monster wave couldn¡¯t have done this.¡± Olivia gripped Rowan¡¯s hand tighter. ¡°This town isn¡¯t that poor.¡±
Rowan realized that Rest¡¯s Remorse, at least on paper, was his. It was his responsibility to do something about the crippling poverty he saw.
¡°Let¡¯s keep walking. I want to see more of the town,¡± Rowan said. He had to first figure out if this was an isolated instance of poverty, whether they were on the wrong side of town or if there was a wealth gap like this everywhere.
The two of them gradually made their way from the outskirts of the town to the center. While Rest¡¯s Remorse was not the most beautiful town Rowan had ever seen, the houses were still built in neat little rows. Every building built out of stone that was weathering the conditions of the frontier without any issue. Almost every home looked fresh and perfectly fit for habitation. But no matter where they went, they saw gaunt, haunted-looking people.
¡°Where are the children or the elderly?¡± Rowan asked. After a couple more minutes of wandering the streets, there were quite a few things different about Rest¡¯s Remorse. The most striking of which was the fact that most of the starving figures looked to be around his and Olivia¡¯s age, or slightly older at best.
¡°Hm? Could you repeat that?¡±
¡°Children and elderly. I haven¡¯t seen many of either. I saw maybe two kids the entire time. And the only older person I saw was that one older man at the general store we passed.¡±
¡°Frontier towns aren¡¯t exactly geared towards families or the elderly,¡± Olivia admitted as her teeth worried her lowered lip. ¡°The people who come here are those looking to prove themselves.¡±
¡°So, all of these people¡¡± Rowan trailed off, daring a glance at an alley where a man just a few years older than him sat, looking blankly at the wall across from him.
¡°Most likely combat class commoners. A lot of people aren¡¯t happy taking up a crafting or lifestyle class. Even if they have a bad heart card for it, they still try to become fighters,¡± Olivia said.
¡°Isn¡¯t that how mercenary bands grow?¡± Rowan asked. Rest¡¯s Remorse seemed to be half populated by mercenaries.
¡°Yeah. Still, they can¡¯t take everyone. It¡¯s not easy to take someone with a common heart card to the uncommon tier. Getting them trained enough to kill a higher tier monster takes time and resources. Besides, if they don¡¯t have a good heart card, it¡¯s unlikely they¡¯ll have good cards in general.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t they leave then?¡±
Olivia turned to Rowan. ¡°Travel is expensive. The three-week carriage ride we took? That would have cost enough to feed an entire family for a year.¡±
¡°So, the people, they travel all the way to the frontier, use up their savings if they had any, and end up like this?¡± Rowan asked, taking in the town with a whole new perspective. The shiny buildings and well-paved roads looked like death traps.
¡°It wasn¡¯t this bad in the frontier town my family ran,¡± Olivia said. ¡°Or most other frontier towns. There are usually safeguards in place. Work for those who failed or at least an opportunity to earn their way back to their families. What¡¯s happening here¡ I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°So, the best and the most promising get recruited into the established companies. And everyone else just slowly withers away?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°No.¡± Olivia paused in her step as understanding dawned on her face.
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Normally, people in a frontier town go out and hunt demons. They¡¯d kill a few corrupted beasts and slowly build their strength that way. But that doesn¡¯t work anymore. No, it wouldn¡¯t. Not with an impending demon invasion. It¡¯ll be easy to find uncommon tier monsters and a group can even find rare tier demons with a bit of effort. But common tier creatures? Those are scarce now.¡±
That made a certain amount of sense. In essence, Rowan realized, without a group, strong cards, or a ton of training, an average commoner with a beginner fighting class was completely stuck. They couldn¡¯t leave unless they had money, and they couldn¡¯t make money unless they were willing to risk their lives at finding the occasional common tier creature.
¡°Wait.¡± Rowan picked up on something he had vaguely heard but ignored at the time. ¡°You said that for them to get an uncommon class, they had to kill a higher tier monster. Why is that?¡±
¡°Because they have common tier heart cards,¡± Olivia explained. ¡°Advancing your class beyond your heart card¡¯s tier requires a catalyst. In this case, a common class slaying an uncommon tier beast would be enough. That¡¯s why the [Blood Reaver] is still at rare. He hasn¡¯t found an epic tier demon that he can defeat yet.¡±
Rowan nodded along as dots began connecting in his head. ¡°One more thing, when we left, Kayden told us to be careful of the monsters in the frontier. That they had different cards. Why did he say that?¡±
Olivia glanced around them to make sure no one was listening on. ¡°Because some monsters on the frontier have killed. Not just their own but people. We don¡¯t know if everything in the world has a system but if a monster kills a person with a card they could use, it¡¯s added to their deck.¡±
Rowan realized what Olivia was saying. The common tier combatants trying to forge their own path were literally feeding themselves and their cards to the monsters in the town¡¯s vicinity.
¡°We should get what we need and go back,¡± Rowan said, feeling incredibly tired all of a sudden.
The idea of a date was gone from his mind and the parts of town he was looking forward to exploring simply filled him with a quiet dread now. For her part, Olivia nodded too, just as eager to put all the unpleasantness behind her.
That, unfortunately, did not work out.
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¡°What do you mean, the apothecary is gone?¡± Olivia asked. There was a slight edge to her voice as she glared at the man who blocked their way.
¡°I mean, the old woman packed up and left after the demon invasion,¡± the man drawled, looking far too nonchalant in the face of an angry Olivia. ¡°She sold the store to me, and I don¡¯t deal in herbs.¡±
¡°Then where can I find some? You can¡¯t tell me there was only one single apothecary in this entire town.¡±
The man stared at Olivia blankly, shrugged his shoulders, and then closed the shop¡¯s door in her face. The closed sign stared back at her as she fumed, and Rowan thought for a moment that she was about to bust down the door and drag the brand-new shopkeeper out into the street by his beard.
¡°Come on, he¡¯s not worth it,¡± Rowan said, tugging on her hand.
¡°I can¡¯t believe this. Is there anything in this town that¡¯s the way it should be? Mercenaries don¡¯t care about hunting monsters, shopkeepers are leaving, and the life here is little better than a slum,¡± Olivia complained.
Rowan was coming to understand more and more that Rest¡¯s Remorse was nothing but trouble. The standing army was all but destroyed, the town filled with factions in a naked power grab, and no one seemed actually interested in improving things.
He dipped his head down and started walking back.
A man, or boy, really, stepped out of one of the many alleys, setting himself in Rowan¡¯s and Olivia¡¯s way. ¡°Hey. I saw you were looking for the old apothecary, right?¡±
Olivia said nothing, simply eying up the boy. Rowan didn¡¯t have the same tact. ¡°Correct. We need some potion ingredients. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know where we could find some of those, would you?¡±
¡°I might,¡± the boy scoffed, crossing his arms in front of his scrawny chest. ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s skip the tough act,¡± Olivia said, not thinking much about the boy¡¯s bravado. ¡°Five gold and you take us there. I¡¯m feeling generous and don¡¯t want to waste my time.¡±
¡°Twenty,¡± the boy snapped back, his eyes dipping to the coin purse hanging off Olivia¡¯s hip.
She snorted. ¡°It¡¯s four now. Even here, that¡¯ll get you a solid couple of days¡¯ worth of food. Don¡¯t push it. We don¡¯t need to ask you for directions.¡±
The boy began to protest, trying to make himself look bigger, but some of his self-preservation instincts must have twigged because he quieted down quickly.
¡°Fine, four.¡± The boy didn¡¯t look pleased, but he did turn around and start striding down the street. ¡°Follow me.¡±
The two did, though they left a healthy enough distance between them and the stranger.
¡°You don¡¯t think he¡¯s leading us straight into an ambush, do you?¡± Rowan muttered, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the figure in front of them. The boy navigated through the town like he owned it, taking them through side paths and slanted alleys. It didn¡¯t escape Rowan¡¯s notice that they were heading closer and closer to the town¡¯s wall.
¡°I don¡¯t think so. And even if he is, I wouldn¡¯t worry about it. He¡¯s what, fourteen? Look at him, whatever ambush team he can put together won¡¯t be able to do a thing to us,¡± Olivia whispered before raising her voice. ¡°I¡¯m rare tier, and you¡¯re almost there yourself.¡±
Rowan was tempted to point out that he was without his spear, but Olivia¡¯s lack of concern did make sense. Doubly so since he knew she made sure to pack a few nasty potions when leaving the manor. At the time, he had wondered if they were meant for him if the date went the wrong way. Now? He was glad she had done so.
¡°Fine, fine. We do need those ingredients. You really think a shop this far out made it through unscathed when it was this close to the wall?¡±
¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out.¡±
Their guide didn¡¯t continue walking for much longer, slowing a little as he entered one of the last few streets that separated them from the wall.
Here, the destruction was even more pronounced.
The streets were in disrepair. The paved stones were cracked or entirely missing, and there were even a few deep furrows in the ground where combat had happened. Likely the handiwork of some massive beast.
The houses, too, were almost entirely ruined. A couple were gone entirely, with only the foundations there to prove that they once existed. Surprisingly though, there were also some houses in okay condition. Rowan thought he saw faces peeking out of empty window slots, but when he took a second look, there was nothing. Then, he saw their destination.
¡®Ophis Apothecary¡¯ had definitely seen better days. The board with its name on it barely hanging onto the building¡¯s fa?ade and one of the glass windows was cracked.
The boy shot them a glance and knocked on the door. The house exploded in noise. There a clatter and cursing echoed out.
¡°Clarke? Is something wrong? Did someone else catch a fever?¡± A bedraggled looking man rapid-fired his questions as soon as he saw who stood in front of his shop, his eyes searching the boy for injuries. When he didn¡¯t find any, he smiled in relief.
¡°No, Mister Ophis, I just have some customers for you.¡± The boy tried to put on a gruff front but when he looked back at the duo that had followed them, he didn¡¯t look nearly as self-assured.
Olivia stepped forward, nodding at the man in greeting. ¡°We went to Tasha¡¯s Cauldron, but the store¡¯s closed. She sold it and moved out of the town, and the new owner isn¡¯t open yet, or in the same business.¡±
The man hadn¡¯t expected her to be so upfront with him, but he recovered quickly enough. ¡°Ah, well, can¡¯t say I¡¯ve got as good a stock as Tasha. Still, I should be able to help. Please, come inside.¡±
Olivia paused long enough to hand off five gold coins to the boy who¡¯d led them there. Rowan smiled when he noticed that her heart had softened after the tough negotiating tactics earlier. Surprisingly enough, the boy joined them inside the apothecary.
Rowan entered the shop last, taking time to examine their surrounding while Olivia chatted with the shopkeeper. The very first thing he noted was that it definitely didn¡¯t look like any store he was familiar with. Even the glimpse he caught of Tasha¡¯s Cauldron¡¯s interior was far more in line with what he expected. There were shelves and drawers that contained all kinds of merchandise.
Here, the front room was furnished with cots and sickbeds, some more comfortable looking than others. The entire collection was definitely not purchased at once, with different styles, colors, and even sizes.
More alarmingly, two of the beds were occupied, by a boy and a girl around their guide¡¯s age. Rowan shuffled closer to them and checked to make sure that they were still breathing. They were. Both were pasty, drenched in sweat, and shivering. But they were in a deep sleep, not even stirring from the commotion in the room.
Rowan refocused on the conversation between Olivia and the shopkeeper, Ophis, just in time to get an explanation for what he was seeing. ¡°I¡¯m not a trained doctor or anything, no. Don¡¯t have a class for it, either. Still, I am an apothecary, so I can at least provide treatment.¡±
¡°I suppose this is because of the recent demon attack?¡± Olivia asked, eying the trio of teenagers. She likely wouldn¡¯t admit it, but Rowan suspected she regretted being so harsh with Clarke before.
¡°Oh, no. I¡¯ve been doing this sort of thing for ages. Lots of young folk come through without enough money for proper treatment. As I said, I try, but I can¡¯t always help them all. Things have just been worse since the attack, but they¡¯ve always been bad,¡± Ophis said. He didn¡¯t shy away from those facts, but his eyes did flit over to check on his patients.
¡°So, you make potions?¡± Olivia asked as she went to the far side of the room where it looked more like a typical shop. There were hundreds of small drawers that covered the space from the floor-to-ceiling. She looked back at the shopkeeper, who gestured that she was free to explore. Olivia opened one of the drawers and made a small sound of approval.
¡°Potions? I can¡¯t make those. Don¡¯t have the training or the recipes. Besides, my class lends itself more to salves and tonics. No instant effects for me, just slow recovery and boosting the body¡¯s natural processes,¡± Ophis replied.
¡°Really? You can¡¯t make any potions, yet you¡¯ve managed to keep a small clinic running?¡±
¡°Potions are nice, but you don¡¯t necessarily need them.¡± When Ophis saw Olivia¡¯s affronted look, he seemed to realize who he was talking to. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s much better to have them, of course! I¡¯m just saying I¡¯m doing my best regardless.¡±
¡°Hmmm,¡± Olivia hummed. ¡°You know, if you¡¯re willing to offer me a discount, or if we can come to some sort of an exchange deal, I¡¯d be willing to brew some potions for you.¡±
The man blinked, clearly not expecting the offer. ¡°How good are you at potion crafting, young lady? That¡¯s not exactly a profession that¡¯s easy or cheap to get into.¡±
Rowan let out a laugh, drawing attention to himself for the first time. When he realized everyone was looking at him, he launched into a quick explanation. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. She¡¯s just a rare-ranked alchemist.¡±
Ophis said nothing. He glanced at Olivia¡¯s clothing.
¡°Ugh, these stupid clothes,¡± Olivia grumbled. She dipped her hand into one of the small pouches she carried, bringing out a potion. ¡°Here, you can try this out on one of them.¡± She motioned at the two sleeping teens.
Ophis accepted the potion cautiously, and even uncorked it to sniff at the bottle¡¯s opening. ¡°Excuse me for just a moment.¡±
He went deeper into the shop, past all the drawers and into a different room, before coming back with two small beakers. Rowan noted that instead of following Olivia¡¯s suggestion, he chose to split the potion into two servings.
¡°The potion won¡¯t be as effective if you do that,¡± Olivia said with a slight hint of disapproval.
¡°They¡¯ve already taken several tonics. This will do nicely to give them an extra kick and will even boost their healing beyond their current injuries. It will work,¡± Ophis replied.
Olivia shrugged in return, letting him work. Clarke, however, looked like he was about to try and stop the shopkeeper before the two exchanged glances and the boy reluctantly backed down.
The potion spoke for itself. After the liquid was painstakingly fed to the two slumbering teens, their cheeks grew rosy, and their expression relaxed.
¡°Well, I have to say, you definitely weren¡¯t lying.¡± Ophis sighed in relief, even as he stood to offer Olivia a bow with an apologetic smile. ¡°I meant no offense, but too many people try to come in here making similar claims.¡±
¡°They do? And what happens? What does your potioneering guild do?¡± Olivia looked genuinely taken aback.
Ophis laughed. ¡°We don¡¯t even have a branch of the potioneering guild here. You¡¯ll find all kinds of false potions being sold here. Out here, laws are far more¡ lenient. And the consequences of a bad potion resolve themselves.¡±
Rowan shuddered as he realized what Ophis meant. ¡°What do people use for healing?¡±
¡°Still potions. Just that they¡¯re a scarce resource on the frontier. All the mercenary companies, not to mention the mayor¡¯s men, have a stranglehold on potions.¡± For the first time, Ophis¡¯ words turned bitter. ¡°It¡¯s almost impossible to get your hands on a potion without a connection to one of the factions that have taken root in Rest¡¯s Remorse. And they don¡¯t care about our lives.¡±
Olivia frowned. She was about to say something when Rowan stepped forward and grabbed her hand. ¡°You wanted to buy potion ingredients, right?¡± he asked.
¡°I¡ yeah,¡± Olivia said as she went to picking out the potion ingredients with Ophis looking on.
Rowan stepped back to the edge of the room and let his mind wander.
On paper, the system was designed in a way where anyone could advance. As long as a person put enough effort in, they could improve and better their station.
But the heart cards complicated that. Where some people would hit their ¡®limits¡¯ early with a common heart card, people like Rowan could rise all the way up to epic unhindered. And the nobles exploited that complication, adding more and more layers until the promise of the system was a distant fantasy.
A commoner had to travel to the frontier to get a normal chance at fighting an uncommon monster. But once there, they had to risk their lives without any potions or fallback options. It was either life or death.
Rowan remembered his own beginnings, when he struggled to even pierce the hide of a corrupted boar. Unlike most people, he had an epic tier baron teaching him how to fight. What did the commoners have?
As Rowan looked over the two patients still in their slumber, a question started to rise in his heart. What could be done about this? More to the point, what could he do about this?
Chapter 37: A Much Needed Upgrade
Over the next two days with Olivia holed up in her new makeshift laboratory, Rowan had plenty of time to think about what he could do for the town. He didn¡¯t have any money and a quick trip to the chamberlain confirmed that the town¡¯s finances were more or less in shambles.
But the chance to earn came when Olivia exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations by putting the army back on their feet in two days and Camilla sent the whole group out on a hunting expedition.
Out in the wild, any apprehension that Rowan had about the demons quickly disappeared. After the wave, most of the monsters left behind were mostly the runts. Perfect for an army looking to rebuild its confidence and for a hero who needed some real combat for his new deck.
¡ª
¡°Hold the line!¡± Rowan roared. He sprinted forward against the wave of monsters charging at them. Lightning swirled around Rowan¡¯s spear as he thrust forward recklessly, trusting in Marcus¡¯ aura protection. That trust was rewarded when the monster¡¯s counterattack slammed into Rowan¡¯s stomach and failed to pierce through either skin or armor.
That didn¡¯t mean the strike did nothing. Rowan¡¯s stomach ached and his lungs fought for breath. But that was nothing compared to what the monster experienced. The spear buried itself in the monster¡¯s flank and a discharge of electricity locked its muscles in place. As Rowan poured more mana into the attack, the lightning began to wreak havoc on the monster from the inside.
Rowan got the experience alert a few moments later and ripped his spear out of the carcass with perhaps a little too much force, almost flinging blackened monster pieces into one of his soldiers.
The man was thankfully too busy to notice, contending with his own nightmare monster. The army was facing a very specific type of monster, one that had writhing limbs resembling human hands and a stubby torso lined with maws. Luckily, appearances weren¡¯t everything. The soldiers were holding the line.
¡°Push!¡± Rowan yelled and only some of them stepped forward for leverage. Even with Camilla¡¯s training, the Rest¡¯s Remorse soldiers were neither as disciplined nor as skilled as the baron¡¯s troops had been. What kept them together was their number as well as the fact that every last one of them were in the uncommon tier.
¡°Press the attack!¡± one of the officers commanded from behind Rowan. His unit moved forward and split the monsters into two groups.
Rowan looked around to find that the rest of his party had joined him. Olivia and Milena were raining explosions and curses down upon the enemy while Marcus led the charge of the soldiers. In moments, Rowan was surrounded by soldiers with spears. They worked in concert, waves of strikes impaling and grinding down the monsters.
Thankfully, the creatures weren¡¯t endless. After another fifteen minutes of chaos, the last one fell, and heavy gasps for air briefly reigned the battlefield.
¡°Everyone, rest up. We¡¯ll be moving on in half an hour,¡± Rowan shouted, stalking through the throngs of soldiers and checking on their injuries. Despite the hard fighting, all the soldiers were more or less okay. Reassured that no one needed emergency treatment, Rowan found his way to the officer who had pushed his men earlier. ¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Happy to serve under you, Hero Rowan,¡± the officer bowed.
¡°You¡¯re a spear class?¡± Rowan pointed to the spear in the officer¡¯s hand.
¡°Me and my men all started as [Spearmen],¡± the officer replied. ¡°All ninety-eight of us.¡±
Rowan remembered Camilla mentioning that the spear division of the army was the largest out of the two hundred and twelve surviving soldiers. ¡°It was a good formation that you used to break the monsters into two groups. What¡¯s your class?¡±
¡°[First Spear], Hero Rowan. My class revolves around commanding, leading and fighting alongside men who have placed their trust in me.¡±
¡°Rare?¡±
¡°Rare,¡± the officer confirmed. Although Rowan¡¯s army was far smaller than it should have been, there was the beginning of a core cadre among those still alive. The average soldier was uncommon, while some of the officers were starting to reach rare.
¡°Got it. Keep up the good work and you¡¯ll have my trust too,¡± Rowan joked. ¡°But good job today.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
Rowan patted the officer on the shoulder before stomping his way to his party members and out of earshot from the soldiers.
¡°We can¡¯t keep doing this,¡± Rowan said in lieu of a greeting, collapsing on a massive, gnarled branch of a tree that had been knocked down by Olivia¡¯s potions. ¡°If we go deeper into the wasteland, they¡¯re all just going to die. Those were monsters that we would have brushed off in Felton¡¯s Mill.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that bad, Rowan,¡± Olivia said. ¡°Every army needs a bit of time to train.¡±
¡°I get it, I really do,¡± Rowan sighed. ¡°But they¡¯re supposed to be professional soldiers. A standing army of a frontier town. I guess I was hoping for¡ something more.¡±
¡°It¡¯s why one of the strongest mercenaries on the continent was put in charge of defending Rest¡¯s Remorse. Give the army a bit of time. They¡¯re used to steamrolling everything as a thousand strong force, not fighting individually. They¡¯re not like the Sutton guard, trained for group combat from day one.¡±
¡°Trained is putting it lightly,¡± Rowan grumbled. ¡°You give your guard optimized decks. Together, a couple Sutton soldiers could take down an entire platoon of equal rank.¡±
¡°And you can build the Rest¡¯s Remorse army to the same quality,¡± Olivia countered. ¡°It¡¯s not easy but it wasn¡¯t easy for father and mother either.¡±
Rowan thought about that. He had no idea what cards his army had but they weren¡¯t very standardized. Almost every soldier fought for themselves or in small groups with people that they knew. The only exception was the Spear Division, but even there, the only common denominator was their weapon.
¡°That¡¯s not the thing really bothering you,¡± Milena said from the side. Rowan met her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you this upset over other people before. Not even the villagers back at Felton¡¯s Mill.¡±
Rowan froze and deflated. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m being unfair and unreasonable.¡±
¡°We¡¯re here to help.¡± Surprisingly, Marcus beat Olivia in making the offer.
¡°Thanks but it¡¯s not something that can be helped. It¡¯s my card. Ravaging Lightning Lance is strong. It¡¯s one of the best cards I have. And yet¡¡±
¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡±
The frank question from Marcus made Rowan realize what he had been trying to avoid. ¡°Maybe, yeah. When I use it on my spear, it¡¯s almost like it¡¯s forcing me to charge. Like I have to be in motion for it to work. Does that make sense?¡±
When neither Marcus or Milena responded, Olivia took up the conversation. ¡°It¡¯s more common than you might think. Starting at the rare tier, cards aren¡¯t exactly just things anymore. They have their own quirks, their¡ personalities. Like a tiny bit of whatever they originated from still lives on.¡±
Rowan shuddered, thinking about some of the urges he sometimes got when he overused his Lavish Feasting card. Or the fact that he was still trying to deal with Keen Spear in a healthy way.
¡°It¡¯s that, but it¡¯s more. The card scorches whatever is unfortunate to be in its path.¡± Rowan thought back to the fight, where he had wanted to only poke at the monsters and push them back. Instead, he ended up killing one of them in a single blow. ¡°It¡¯s a good problem to have but it forces me to change my entire fighting style. Blood Siphon is almost entirely useless when the wound¡¯s cauterized thanks to Ravaging Lightning Lance.¡±
¡°That¡¯s tough,¡± Olivia commented. ¡°We can try looking for a card to trade for back at the town. You don¡¯t have to get every single card on your own. It¡¯s fine to get it through a trade, or even as a gift. Like Inspect, if you ever bothered to use it.¡±
Rowan grinned. The baron had gifted him the Inspect to help keep him safe and give him an advantage outside of combat but Rowan found that it was much easier to rely on Olivia¡¯s inspections, especially when his mana pool was so much smaller.
¡°Yeah I know.¡± Rowan stood back up. ¡°And guys? Thanks for being here. I was letting my emotions get the better of me. The Rest¡¯s Remorse army might not be the best, but I shouldn¡¯t have blamed them. They have us and we have them.¡±
While the rest of the hero party encouraged him on with smiles, Rowan went back to rallying his beleaguered troops. As he watched them stumble about and reluctantly rise to their feet, he wished the baroness was with them. She had elected to stay back and organize the financial recovery of the town. That and also keep an eye on the other players around.
If anyone caused trouble because the army was gone, they were in for a painful lesson that Lady Sutton was an army by herself.
Rowan took a few minutes to confer with the officers of the army before deciding to risk things and dive deeper before heading back to town. The spear division officers put it best, an army was like a knife that became sharper with each grind.
On paper, Rowan agreed with those words. But in practice?
¡°Who came up with the name demonic wasteland?¡± Rowan asked Marcus as they struggled to make progress through the blighted landscape. ¡°I was thinking a plain of barren dirt and enemies that we could see coming from a mile away.¡±
¡°And instead you got a jungle,¡± Marcus joked. ¡°That¡¯s demonic mana for you. It doesn¡¯t kill things, just warps them into something unrecognizable.¡±
¡°Unrecognizable is putting it lightly. Those monsters earlier were nightmare fuel. And the mosquitos before that?¡± Rowan was referring to the disgusting, puppy-sized mosquitoes whose bodies were mostly just wings, a massive, bulging blood sack, and a wickedly sharp proboscis. When poked, they burst into a shower of diseased-looking blood.
¡°Welcome to the frontier.¡± Marcus shrugged.
Over the next few hours, the army burned down three separate copse of trees. It wasn¡¯t because of how the trees looked, though they were withered and gnarly. It was something much worse.
When the trees spotted the army, they began to wail while their roots lashed out like spears. Even their trunks bulged and disgorged waves of short humanoids with bark for skin that attacked with no regard for their own safety.
Rowan was just a hair away from calling it quits and heading home. But the worst monster they had encountered was barely at the start of rare. It hadn¡¯t been fun fighting so far but they hadn¡¯t been in any real danger. And the army was getting stronger with every fight.
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It was only several minutes after the last torching when Marcus suddenly froze.
¡°Wait, do you hear that?¡± Marcus whispered, his ears twitching and shifting like a wolf would when trying to catch a sound.
Rowan shook his head, looking around in confusion. Other than the wind rustling through the leaves and the incessant sound of things slithering around, there was nothing his ears could pick up. ¡°What is it?¡±
Marcus frowned, focusing harder, then pointed to the right of where they were headed. ¡°That way. I hear water, and¡ a voice? It¡¯s singing, or maybe sobbing? I can¡¯t tell and that¡¯s creeping me out.¡±
¡°Do we check it out?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Honestly? No clue. I¡¯ll one hundred percent bet you that whatever it is, it¡¯s not a person.¡±
¡°You know what? Let¡¯s do the smart thing here.¡±
Rowan waved over the girls and shared the issue with them. Predictably, Olivia rewarded him with a praise.
¡°We can¡¯t ignore it,¡± Milena said. ¡°If it¡¯s somehow a person, we need to find them. And if it¡¯s a monster or a demon, it¡¯s probably alone, which means that we get an easy chance to take out future invaders.¡±
¡°Mother mentioned that there aren¡¯t any demons in the area that we can¡¯t take on as long as we¡¯re careful. She¡¯d know if there was an epic tier demon in the area, the last one changed the weather,¡± Olivia added. ¡°Plus, if we go back with the news that we cleared out a demon, that goes a long way in convincing the rest of the town to support you.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t disagree. It was going to be a good deed or a nice chunk of experience. Either way, he had a whole army with him. After communicating his plans with the officers, they set out. This time, the entire hero party was at the front, not least because they were some of the strongest people in the entire army.
Five minutes later, Rowan heard snippets of what Marcus had. Rowan was impressed. The shield bearer had focused stats in vitality and wisdom but somehow still managed to hear the sound earlier than anyone else.
Looks like there are some things that the system doesn¡¯t account for. 1 point in strength does not equal someone else¡¯s point in strength.
The sound that floated through the air was the definition of eerie. It was a siren song, carrying feelings of grief and pain, especially when the creature broke its aria in favor of sobs or wails. Now that Rowan had heard it, he couldn¡¯t unhear it. The sound crawled inside his ears and nestled in his mind.
The only hint for what they would see was the sound of water and they soon caught sight of a river. The water, like everything else in the demonic wastes, was an unclean thing.
Bobbing along on the river¡¯s surface were corpses of fish, globs of some black matter, and unidentifiable splotches of color. The smell alone threatened to make Rowan lose his breakfast, and the twins looked even worse.
The army traced their way along the river and found the singer.
Lounging beside the river, her fishtail languidly bobbing on its surface, was a mermaid straight out of Lovecraft¡¯s nightmares.
She had four arms, two of which were bracing her against the ground, but they were thin, anemic, spindly. Her skin was somewhere between pasty gray and purple, with large diseased patches of flesh that looked like they had maggots infesting them.
Her face was caught between a rictus of pain and a snarl. Milky white eyes spun in their sockets. She had hair, after a fashion, but it was missing in patches and it was so filthy and clumped up that it looked more like rags torn into strips.
Oddly enough for what Rowan thought was a freshwater creature, jutting out from her forehead was a lure much like those on an anglerfish, and it glowed softly in the partial darkness of the forest.
Rowan wasn¡¯t entirely sure what the worst part about the creature would be.
Was it the fact that the creature was an approximation of a female form, fully bare and looking like it was at least ninety years old? Or was it that every single inch of its flesh writhed like there were things trying to burst out of it?
Either way, Rowan wanted to back off and call the whole thing off.
On the other hand, his troublesome card was, for once, looking promising. This was not a fight he wanted to take his time on and slowly bleed his opponent to death. This was a fight where the quicker he could scorch the mermaid from the world, the better.
With one final deep and nauseating breath to steel himself and a quick few gestures at his companions to prepare, Rowan moved.
Deciding not to spare his mana pool, he pushed nearly everything he had into Ravaging Lightning Lance. Four lances formed from pure lightning flashed into existence around him, and surged towards the creature alongside his own blazing spear.
The mermaid noticed immediately, yet didn¡¯t pause its song. If anything, the appearance of enemies made its voice swell harder, and for just an instant, Rowan felt like he was seeing double. Then Marcus¡¯s aura snapped around his body and he was free of whatever effect that was.
The next moment, he was close enough to strike, and the tip of his spear sank into the creature¡¯s side with no resistance or attempts to dodge. He knew, then, that something was wrong, but it was too late to try and abort his assault.
Ironically, it was the arcs of his lightning that saved him when the creature¡¯s skin burst where he¡¯d punctured it and disgorged a tide of blackened blood and what looked like demonic maggots on steroids.
The mermaid seemed to carry a whole river insider her as a wave of blood washed over Rowan¡¯s legs, carrying the tiny critters along. But the gaping maws of the maggots were too busy spasming from the combined might of five lightning strikes at once.
¡°Corrupted Naiad Cambion, level thirty six!¡± Olivia yelled.
¡°Get away from it! There¡¯s something weird about the water, I¡¯m half out of mana,¡± Marcus yelled as he ran forward a few steps, thought better of it, and stopped.
Rowan was already backpedaling, spewing out curses as he got a good look at the wound he dealt and seeing that the entirety of the mermaid¡¯s body was filled with just black blood and critters.
¡°Hit it! Hit it with everything you¡¯ve got!¡± Rowan shouted at the top of his lungs, even managing to conjure a much smaller lance of lighting and sending it spiraling into the creature.
From there, the fight devolved into chaos. The mermaid staggered and twitched as it fought to get closer to them. Her wriggly passengers began to jump into the river and use that as a way to close the distance against the army. Luckily, Marcus¡¯ protective aura prevented any serious damage from happening.
Rowan had no idea what success would look like, and he was eternally thankful that by the time every last one of its spawn was dead, the mermaid also faded to ashes under a particularly strong fire potion from Olivia.
Exchanging a glance with the spear division officer, Rowan marched his army away from the creature and the disgusting stream of water. After fifteen minutes of near-sprint pace and finding a patch of safe ground, he practically collapsed while people did the same all around him.
Olivia snuggled into his side, ignoring the way his pants and the lower half of his chest armor stank of fish and the sea. ¡°Whatever that thing was, I hope we never see anything like it again.¡±
¡°I solemnly promise that we¡¯re going to stay far away from any large bodies of water if we can at all help it from now on,¡± Rowan agreed, hugging her a little closer and feeling immensely better with her warmth so close to him.
¡°Your card worked out this time though.¡± Somehow, Marcus found a way to find the positive.
¡°True.¡± Funnily enough, that still wasn¡¯t enough to make Rowan feel better about it. Whether it was his own aversion or some influence from his class, he didn¡¯t want to keep using it.
¡°How close are you to rare? Let¡¯s go back when you get there?¡± Milena asked. A single look at the woman told Rowan that she was definitely eager to be done and on her way back to the relative safety of the town already.
He couldn¡¯t blame her.
¡°Level thirty-nine, almost there,¡± Rowan sighed, wishing he could hurry the leveling process along.
The fact that he was the only one lagging behind the rest of them upset him. Everyone else was already rare and even some of the officers were a tier higher than him. It was true that he had climbed to near their heights in months when the others spent years to get to that level. But he still felt behind.
¡°Just thirty nine, he says,¡± Marcus teased.
Rowan took the words in stride as he reached for his pack. ¡°Hey, guys. I have a bit of a request. Two things really. The soldiers deserve some kind of a reward. It doesn¡¯t feel right for me to have thousands of card scraps when they¡¯re still struggling for cards. And¡¡±
¡°Go on,¡± Olivia said.
¡°And I want to try and upgrade my original class card again. I have it up to uncommon now, so it¡¯s still worse than the Ravaging Lighting Lance.¡±
¡°You really don¡¯t like that card, do you?¡± Olivia sighed, thumping her forehead against his shoulder. ¡°Even though we worked so hard to get it from that thing¡¯s mount?¡±
¡°Yeah, sorry, it¡¯s just not a good fit for me. I might be spoiled, but I just can¡¯t make it fit.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s fine, really. Everyone comes across a card like that eventually, at least according to our mother.¡± Milena¡¯s voice grew quiet by the end, but she soldiered on. ¡°You should do it. Both of them, I mean. I¡¯ll contribute my scraps as well.¡±
¡°And mine,¡± Marcus added.
¡°Of course, you can use mine.¡± Olivia smiled.
With the go ahead, Rowan shrugged off his rugged backpack and carried half the scraps to the officer. He had originally doubted the wisdom of carrying such valuable card scraps earlier when Olivia told him to do so, but it was all coming in very handy.
¡°For the men,¡± Rowan said as he handed it over to the spear division officer. ¡°All of the men. I promise there will be more.¡±
The officer saluted back. With that out of the way, Rowan began rolling for the right cards. It took more than a few tries but he eventually had a set of nine good candidates to try the fusion with.
|
Grim Spear x 4
Imbue your spear with the intent to cause harm, making your mana take on the properties of a minor curse. Your foes will be sapped of their strength with every successful blow you deal.
|
|
Mighty Spear x 2
The strength of your spear grows overwhelming, crushing the defense of your enemies at the cost of your mana.
|
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Greater Mana Infusion x3
Infuse your weapon with mana, and then deal a deathly blow.
|
In a way, the selection reminded him of the cards he¡¯d chosen when he got Essential Thrust, especially the greater version of Mana Infusion, which in his head meant his chances of success were better.
With just a moment of hesitation when asked if he wanted to fuse the cards, he hit yes.
The cards floated up and coalesced into a green light, coruscating and wavering for several long seconds. When the light grew unstable and almost broke apart, Rowan heart leapt into his throat. He was suddenly regretting all of his life decisions that had led up to this point.
Thankfully for his sanity, the entire thing froze, surged together, and took on a blue sheen just a moment later.
Finally, a brand new card was revealed, hovering in the air before dropping down into his hand.
|
[Class] Reaping Spear (Rare, Active)
This card allows you to alter and channel your mana in a way that will make your spear an implement of death. Each of your blows will enfeeble your opponents and each inflicted wound will linger, filling with death mana that will make it more difficult to heal.
|
Rowan¡¯s breath left him in a relieved whoosh, and a smile slowly stretched across his lips. He didn¡¯t even have the presence of mind to feel embarrassed when he whooped in triumph and snatched Olivia up to spin her around in celebration.
¡°It worked! It worked, it worked, it worked. And it¡¯s absolutely perfect.¡±
Rowan was still grinning when he finally put her down, switching out this new card with the Ravaging Lightning Lance and letting out a breath of relief when he felt it settle into his deck.
It fit there perfectly, like it was always meant to be a part of him. The lighting lance card, meanwhile, had always made him feel like there was a small electric charge buzzing in his chest.
A howl ripped through the air. It was joined by another, and another, until the infernal forest was echoing with howls and the sound of trembling plants.
Rowan sighed, running a hand through his hair in resignation. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have been so loud.¡±
¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine.¡± Marcus simply chuckled, hefting his shield again. ¡°Besides, this is going to give you a chance to test out your new card!¡±
Rowan grinned. ¡°Men of Rest¡¯s Remorse. Form up on me!¡±
¡ª
The fight ended just as quickly as it began. The wolf-like creatures that erupted out of the forest were strong, but they were no match for an army two-hundred strong and newly invigorated by the promise of card loot.
For the first time since the expedition, Rowan could say that he actually enjoyed the fighting. Where the lightning lance had fought him for control and practically jerked his body around to suit its preference, Reaping Spear flowed easily and effortlessly.
He could summon the effect with a mere fraction of his mana, as little as a single point, yet it made his spear as sharp as a legendary blade. Nothing could block his attacks. That wasn¡¯t all. Rowan could feel the way his opponent¡¯s vitality was sapped away into his spear with every blow he made. He was even vaguely aware of the patches of death mana his strikes left, allowing him to track the movement of every enemy he struck.
The effect was thanks to some combination of his class, heart card, and the new class card. And he was only capable of hanging onto the movement of the mana for up to a minute. In the middle of combat? That was practically an eternity.
As the final foe fell, Rowan felt a chime in his head. He opened the system window immediately.
|
Class evolution requirements met.
Classes available for selection:
Spearmaster, Dark Spear, Lighting Lancer, Sacrificial Spear, Curse Adept, Berserk Spearmaster, Acolyte Of Blood, Syphon Adept
|
Oh. These don¡¯t look all that friendly.
Chapter 38: To Deal A Blow
¡°Rowan?¡± Olivia asked, her voice breaking Rowan out of his thoughts.
¡°Yeah, sorry.¡± Rowan spun around and offered her a guilty-looking smile. ¡°I hit rare but there¡¯s a problem.¡±
¡°Problem?¡±
¡°The options are a bit, um¡ grim?¡± Rowan said and decided to explain things by sharing the system tab that listed all of his class upgrade options.
It took several very long seconds for the rest of his party to read through Rowan¡¯s options. And then they all broke into laughter in unison.
¡°It¡¯s not funny. Why are you all laughing? Keep it down,¡± Rowan hissed, looking around again to see the soldiers sending funny looks their way.
¡°Are you worried that your class choices sound evil?¡± Olivia tittered, only worsening the hero¡¯s embarrassment. ¡°Oh, Rowan. It¡¯s not like that.¡±
¡°Then what is it like? I mean, look at those options and tell me they¡¯re normal.¡±
¡°Oh, they¡¯re not normal. At all. They¡¯re one hundred percent Rowan flavored,¡± Marcus laughed, shaking his head at the window Rowan had shared with him.
At this point, even the densest person in the world could see that Rowan¡¯s worries were unfounded. Rowan himself relaxed too. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡±
¡°Oh come on now. You choose to constantly throw yourself into danger, you go for the most dangerous and risky builds, and you enjoy using two cards that are practically cursed. Now you¡¯re wondering how you ended up with these choices? They¡¯re almost as bad as mine.¡± Milena joked.
¡°I¡¯m not that bad.¡±
¡°Yes, you are. Ask anyone,¡± Olivia said as she ticked through the options again. ¡°Class upgrades come from notable achievement or performing the right set of actions for the system to label you as compatible with a class.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying that I¡¯m a dark, cursed hero type?¡± Rowan asked, his shoulders slumping a little.
¡°Have you looked through the descriptions for these classes? A lot of classes have weird names and they¡¯re perfectly fine. These? They¡¯re on a different level,¡± Olivia said.
Before Rowan could go back to his system screen, Milena agreed with Olivia with a mumble. ¡°My choices when I hit rare were pretty suspicious looking too. [Dread Shaman], [Marrow Lord], and [The Repository of Curses].
¡°Wait, timeout,¡± Rowan said. His head felt like it was about to explode with all of the information being thrown at him. ¡°You¡¯re saying that class names don¡¯t mean that much? So if I picked [Acolyte of Blood], I¡¯m not going to get hunted down by an inquisition or something?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Olivia exclaimed. ¡°Why would you think that? If anyone was going to get hunted down, it¡¯d be the [Blood Reaver] if mother hasn¡¯t already gotten to him.¡±
¡°Okay, okay.¡± Rowan took a deep breath. ¡°Sorry, I got ahead of myself there for a bit.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think anyone ever told you. No one knows how classes are named besides the system,¡± Olivia explained. ¡°There are some pretty self-explanatory ones, which are just a basic profession names. But then you have the infamous examples, like [Herald of The Pink Dawn] which has absolutely no logic to it.¡±
¡°Huh, what does that class do?¡±
Olivia blinked. ¡°Oh. Um. Well. Milena?¡± Her cheeks turned a rosy red.
¡°You brought that one up Olivia, you get to explain it,¡± Milena cackled, taking inordinate joy in seeing her friend flustered.
¡°It¡¯s a specialized class,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Rather popular in the less reputable parts of town.¡±
¡°Less reputable?¡±
¡°A bagnio.¡± When Rowan still showed no signs of recognition. ¡°The cathouse.¡±
¡°Ah.¡± Rowan wasn¡¯t too sure how to respond to that. He escaped into his system menu for individual class upgrade options.
[Spearmaster]
You have proven your mastery of the spear, allowing you to further advance the spear path.
By picking the [Spearmaster] class, you will get a large boost to the strength of all cards and attacks related to the spear. You will also master and improve in all spear-based combat skills much faster.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A large boost to the effectiveness of your dexterity and strength stats
- A medium boost to combat maneuvers and synergy with other spear wielders
Class penalties:
Attached card: Spear Mastery (Rare, Passive)
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It was the most basic of the basic upgrade options and Rowan dismissed it.
¡°Look sharp!¡±
Rowan closed his window and ducked as a soldier sailed over his head. Marcus¡¯ aura billowed out and enveloped around the soldier, saving him from a painful reckoning with the ground.
In front of the army, far too close for comfort, was a ridiculously muscular gorilla. As Rowan watched, the colors of the jungle shifted and dozens more beasts appeared, all apparently in possession of some kind of camouflage-based card.
¡°Defensive formation!¡± Rowan called out. ¡°Spearmen on the flanks and in the back.¡±
If there was a benefit to the constant fighting, it was that he was learning how to command an army. At the start of every engagement, the soldiers instinctively looked to him. Every word that he said mattered. After that, the officers could take over and give more granular instructions.
¡°Olivia?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Uncommons. A couple rares, nothing we can¡¯t handle. Stay there and wrap up your class advancement, we¡¯ve got this,¡± Olivia said, her self-assured tone brought a grin to Rowan¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s time we got some experience for ourselves.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Rowan said, quickly scanning and dismissing the some of the options so he could join them sooner.
[Lightning Lancer], [Curse Adept], and [Syphon Adept] were allquickly thrown out of the equation. If his experience with the lightning card he owned were anything to go by, he wouldn¡¯t appreciate having a class that focused on lightning. And the latter two choices seemed to be more suited for solo fighters.
There was a roar in the background and Rowan risked a glance.
Marcus was tanking hits from two larger than normal monsters, while the soldiers were holding back the regular variants. Milena was building up her wall of miasma again, and Olivia was recklessly chucking potions left and right, as usual.
The army was working.
Rowan almost dismissed [Acolyte of Blood] as well, but a secret part of him liked the sound of the class name. Besides, while he was often thwarted by various odd physiques, his bleed effects came in handy more often than not.
[Acolyte of Blood]
You have made your enemies pay the price of offending you in blood, and wrestled control over this primal element of mana for yourself.
By picking [Acolyte of Blood], you gain the ability to cast a variety of blood-based spells and enchantments that will enfeeble your foes, bolster your allies, and make your weapons far more deathly. You will also gain an innate understanding of mana manipulation and the use of Blood Arts in battle.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A massive boost to the effectiveness of your intelligence and dexterity stats
- A massive boost to the growth of your mana pool
- Debuffs, poisons, and other debilitating effects will be less effective against you
- You become capable of sensing and tracking every entity with blood flowing through their veins within a certain limit
Class penalties:
- Part of your spell casting costs will be paid in blood
- Buffs, healing, and boosting effects will grow much less effective when used on you
Attached card: Blood Rite (Rare, Active)
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Rowan closed out of the class description.
If I was a spell caster, this would have been amazing. But it doesn¡¯t even mention using a spear.
So [Acolyte of Blood] was out. Rowan checked on his friends. They were doing okay, and one of the larger monsters had fallen. The soldiers still left something to be desired but no one had died or gotten seriously hurt. Their teamwork was strong enough that they could pull the wounded back but not enough such that they could reliably bring down their opponents.
They need more training on how to attack. Not marches through the wastes and fighting whatever comes up. Individual, specialized training.
Rowan dipped his head down to read the last two class descriptions.
[Berserk Spearmaster]
You will not fall before your foes.
By picking the [Berserk Spearmaster] class, you gain the ability to imbue your body and weapon with the unbridled power of rage. You can maintain your boosted state and delay the effect of exhaustion and injuries as long as you have a target in sight. If you fail to designate a new target within sixty seconds, your boosted state will wear off and all the delayed effects will be applied to you simultaneously. The berserk state cannot protect you from the loss of limbs.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A massive boost to the effectiveness of your strength and dexterity stats
- A grand boost to the power of your combat cards
- All fear and debilitating effects are rendered useless against you
Class penalties:
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
- Your reasoning capacity will be reduced for the duration of your berserk state
Attached card: Rage (Rare, Active)
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[Sacrificial Spear]
You are willing to sacrifice your very self for the destruction of your foes.
By picking the [Sacrificial Spear] class, you gain the ability to trade mana and vitality for massive boosts to your damage that will grow in proportion to your offered sacrifice.
Warning: Be wary, lest you burn yourself out.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A massive boost to the effectiveness of your strength and dexterity stats
- A massive boost to the effectiveness of your damaging or debilitating effects
- You grow much more capable of ignoring injuries and negative effects during battle
- You gain an extremely accurate innate understanding of your current condition and an instinct for the impact of using various cards
Class penalties:
- External attempts to help you heal or recover from the damage caused by your sacrifices will be ineffective
Attached card: Blood For Blood (Rare, Active)
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Rowan grimaced. Both classes were great options. The hard part about decisions isn¡¯t when you have a bunch of bad ones, it¡¯s when you have two good ones.
For most people, the berserker option was lethal. Accumulated damage applying at once was more or less a death sentence. The harder they fought, the more likely they¡¯d die. Rowan actually had a chance to survive the damage, especially in combination with his two recovery cards.
On the other hand, the sacrificial option was equally attractive. It was a bit of an assumption but the wording on the class penalty meant that his recovery combination didn¡¯t count as an ¡®external healing attempt.¡¯
It came down to the question of preference. Did he want to keep fighting for a long time or dish out a massive amount of damage at once?
A roar ripped through the air and Rowan found the army now fighting against a monster that was twice the size of the other gorillas. It almost made the others look cute.
¡°Need help?¡± Rowan asked as he jogged a few steps forward.
¡°You read all of your class options?¡± Olivia asked back.
¡°Not yet.¡±
¡°Then no. We¡¯ll handle this.¡±
The new gorilla stomped on the ground, and a miniature earthquake rippled through the army. It scanned its opponents before settling on and charging at Marcus.
The shield bearer managed to angle his shield at an angle that dissipated most of the power from the charge. But the blow still rocked him back. In the change of momentum, Milena stepped in with a thick fog of miasma while the spear division flanked the monster.
They had things under control.
[Dark Spear]
You have slain corrupted foes and your spear has been quenched in their blood.
By picking the [Dark Spear] class, you gain the ability to turn the power of corruption against your foes. With every corrupted monster and demon slain, your strength grows.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A massive boost to the effectiveness of your strength and dexterity stats
- A massive boost to your affinity with corruption, rot, and disease mana
- You gain the ability to bind a spear to you so you may grow alongside it
Class penalties:
- Your mind grows more fragile and prone to instability
- Your chances of succumbing to corruption increase
Attached card: Corruption Wielder (Rare, Passive)
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Truth be told, Rowan almost chose [Dark Spear] after he read the beneficial effects. It was like the class had been designed for him. The stats were in the right place, and the specialization was perfect. After all, he was about to fight the demon king. Plenty of corrupted and demon opponents in the future.
But the class penalties were almost too high for him to accept. It wasn¡¯t just the fear of his mind growing more fragile. It was the cascading effects that would have with Keen Spear and other cards. Olivia had mentioned that rare and higher cards had their own spirit. [Dark Spear] meant that he¡¯d be more susceptible to their effects in the future.
¡°Don¡¯t panic! Stay collected!¡±
Rowan closed his system window to find a completely different world. The giant gorilla had somehow beaten attempts at containing it and was now rampaging through the army. No one seemed to be in too serious of trouble, but Marcus was looking paler by the second.
And then his aura broke. For the first time, Olivia looked scared. She paused her potion throwing as the gorilla smacked away the officers trying to maintain order. And then the monster focused on one specific officer. It ignored everyone else as it closed its paw on the spear division officer.
In that instant, Rowan knew what class to choose. It was an odd feeling. A moment ago, he had been unsure of his choices. And now, when his hand tightened on his spear and his intent sharpened, he knew that he made the right choice.
The new class slipped into place around what Rowan imagined was his soul, and power surged through his body. When he dug his heels into the ground and rocketed forward, the exhilaration he felt was just barely tampered by the seriousness of the moment.
The anger at the beast for hurting someone was there. But it was a quiet, mastered thing. The emotion that Rowan really felt was one of desire.
His spear lit up with the crimson glow that had been his trademark since reaching the uncommon tier. But the red color began to intensify and darken until it was pulsing a red-purple. Rowan felt energy leave his body, his attack sapping away at some vital part he didn¡¯t even realize existed. He didn¡¯t care. New strength surged into his limbs, assuring him of his eventual recovery.
When Rowan landed in front of the monster, poised for a strike, the Stalwart Hero¡¯s frame was almost gaunt.
The lack of muscles did nothing to mitigate the power of his strike when the spear dug into the monster¡¯s flank.
Power exploded out of the spearhead, surging into and tearing through the demonic gorilla¡¯s belly. The creature had barely enough time to attempt a pain-filled roar before the sound was aborted.
There was head-sized hole, starting at the front of the gorilla¡¯s stomach and exiting out its back. A shower of blood sprayed over Rowan but that was the gorilla¡¯s last hurrah.
The monster released its grip on the spear officer and looked down in shock. It swayed, stumbled, and collapsed in concert with an experience ping from Rowan¡¯s system.
Through a haze of shock, Rowan noted that the monster just gave him almost as much experience as the demon mount. That meant it was a high leveled rare. And he had just slain it with a single hit.
Then reality reasserted itself, and each and every one of the smaller gorillas surged at Rowan to avenge their leader.
Unfortunately for the monsters, they had the entire Rest¡¯s Remorse army in their way. It was a slaughter and Rowan joined in as soon as Lavish Feasting rebuilt enough of his muscles.
Rowan began to understand what it meant to have a rare class. He danced around blows that would have required serious dodging before and dealt near-lethal blows almost casually.
Hell, Rowan realized that he was having a ton of fun.
The way he could feel his body more intensely than ever before blew him away. He could feel every single source of his power, his mana, his blood, and even the vague, ephemeral concept of ¡®vitality¡¯ that his class had described.
By the time the final gorilla monsters fell, he was back in top condition, a grin almost etched on his face.
¡°What was that?¡± Marcus was the first to reach Rowan, and the awed quality to his voice made Rowan¡¯s grin grow if that was possible.
Seeing the rest of his party gathering around him, Rowan simply shared the description of his newest card in lieu of an answer.
|
[Class] Blood For Blood (Rare, Active)
Offer up your mana, blood, flesh, and vitality to fuel a strike that will fell your foe. The power of this card grows exponentially with the size of the offered sacrifice.
|
¡°All of those options, seven or eight of classes available to you, and you pick the one that gave you a card that has an actual, solid chance of killing you if you overuse it?¡± Olivia asked, exasperation obvious in her voice.
Rowan resolved, then and there, to never share his class description with Olivia. It was the only class he¡¯d ever seen with an honest-to-god red text warning attached to it. Some things were better held close to chest, especially when they could result in a lengthy lecture from his favorite alchemist.
¡°I guess so?¡± Rowan said.
¡°Only you, Rowan, only you.¡±
Rowan smiled. [Sacrificial Spear] came with its problems, there was no denying that. It cut into his survivability but he also just felled a rare tier enemy, in a single blow. If they ever encountered another demon mount, or even an epic demon, he wasn¡¯t going to be useless anymore. Even if all he managed to do was deal one single good blow, he could make them bleed.
And that, more than anything, was what had guided Rowan¡¯s next choice.
¡°Officer? I never got your name,¡± Rowan said as he joined the spear division officer.
¡°Bryson. My name is Bryson,¡± the officer replied. ¡°And thank you, Hero Rowan. I wanted to gather my men first but I owe my life to you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s my job,¡± Rowan joked. When the officer didn¡¯t understand, Rowan cleared his throat. ¡°But I need your help. I just made a mistake.¡±
¡°A mistake?¡± Bryson asked.
¡°I killed the monster.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s a problem?¡± Bryson said slowly like he didn¡¯t want to offend Rowan by not understanding things.
¡°It is,¡± Rowan said. He turned to the soldiers and saw starry-eyed faces. Not a single one of them saw fit to feel bitter over the fact that he¡¯d dragged them all out of the town, constantly killed off all the rare ranked monsters and the majority of the uncommon ones to level up before them. ¡°Can you ask everyone to come closer?¡±
¡°Men, form up,¡± Bryson yelled. His voice cut through the air like his spear had cut through the monsters, and the troops tensed before springing to comply.
¡°How many of you are at the max uncommon level? Raise your hand if you are,¡± Rowan called out.
Hesitantly, at first, then with much more gusto, hands rose into the air. A full tenth of the soldiers had their hands up.
Ever since arriving at the frontier, Rowan had a nagging question at the back of his mind. He could understand how the rest of the kingdom was stuck at the common levels. It was hard to find opponents to fight. But that logic didn¡¯t apply to the soldiers stationed on the frontier.
¡°How many of you have fought and killed something higher rank than yourself? I mean something at the rare tier,¡± Rowan asked.
The hands went down. No one had, which made sense since they were all at the uncommon rank.
¡°How many of you could have killed something at the rare rank?¡±
This time, a few hands came up. Rowan noted the people they came from and realized that he knew a couple of them. One was an extremely quick swordsman who rescued his comrades when they slipped into an unfavorable condition in battle.
Another of the soldiers, a woman with a pair of axes, tackled each battle with ferocity that outshone even Rowan¡¯s own, and actually avoided sustaining a single wound the entire day.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill the rare ranked opponent?¡±
No one responded.
Bryson was the one who answered Rowan. ¡°Army policy states that higher rank kills are reserved for the highest-ranking officer.¡±
¡°Do you agree with that policy?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Different policies make sense in different eras. We¡¯re entering a new one,¡± Bryson said.
It was a diplomatic answer and Rowan¡¯s estimation of the officer rose.
¡°Okay. Hands down everyone.¡± Rowan turned to look at Olivia. ¡°How much more time do you think we can spend out here today?¡±
The question earned him a soft smile and a fond shake of her head. ¡°One, maybe two hours at most. It¡¯s too risky to spend the night outside of the walls without a larger force and a lot more preparation.¡±
¡°I can work with that.¡± Rowan nodded, then faced the troops again. ¡°Listen up! We¡¯re staying out here for as long as we can today, and we¡¯ll be hunting down every rare tier creature we come across!¡±
His voice carried over the gathered crowd, and Rowan immediately saw most of them slump just a tiny bit. A few of them, though, brightened and looked at Rowan with something very closely resembling hope. They were the ones who put two and two together.
¡°We¡¯re going to hunt them down and teams with the largest number of max level uncommon members will get priority for the kill. It¡¯s not going to be a perfect system, but let¡¯s try to get as many of you to rare as we can today, okay?¡± Rowan didn¡¯t need to yell those words. The dead silence after his first sentence meant they naturally carried across the army.
As one, the soldiers erupted into cheers. Rowan could feel the tides of morale changing. They weren¡¯t just willing to fight, they were excited to do so. And the number of unhappy faces could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Ironically, most of them were the officers.
Rowan quietly noted the ones that seemed to disapprove of his actions and was glad that Bryson wasn¡¯t among them. If they continued to feel that in a couple of days when he had more than a few of their peers to pick from as replacements? Well, he didn¡¯t know any of them, nor did he know why they were elected to their stations.
Familiarity wasn¡¯t something a person could count on when a new ruler rolled into town.
¡°Bryson, can you get the men ready for marching in five minutes? We¡¯re going to hunt as much as we can until we need to head back,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Yes, Hero Rowan,¡± Bryson said.
Rowan walked over to Olivia and slipped his hand into hers as they watched the army reorganize itself.
¡°So I have a question,¡± Rowan started, ¡°why does the army have that policy? Doesn¡¯t it make sense to help people rank up higher?¡±
Olivia giggled. ¡°You did all that on instinct? Remind me to never bet against those instincts. But now that you¡¯re rare, the only way you can progress is to kill monsters at the rare or higher tiers. The same applies to the officers. Why would a commander let soldiers advance when they can climb the ladder of power themselves?¡±
¡°Am I making a mistake?¡± Rowan asked softly, looking over the gleaming faces of their troops.
¡°No, mother would have abolished the policy too. Father prefers to keep his troops as high ranked as he can and the officers hold power through personal courage and intelligence instead of raw power. That¡¯s why his army was the first thing he was stripped of when he was demoted.¡±
¡°Just how influential was your father when he was a duke?¡±
¡°Influential enough that if he so chose, I¡¯m pretty sure half the kingdom would have backed his rebellion.¡± Olivia¡¯s voice was flat, and a tiny bit frustrated.
¡°You know, Olivia?¡± Rowan said. ¡°If I get close to really making you mad, please remind me never to upset you instead of immediately chucking potions.¡±
Surrounded by the racket of happy troops, Olivia Sutton offered the hero a wide grin, slipping her arm around his. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡±
Chapter 39: Growing Pains
Over the next hour, the army managed to hunt down six rare monsters, a rather stunning number made possible only by one explanation.
¡°Am I a monster magnet?¡± Rowan wondered.
¡°Maybe,¡± Olivia laughed. ¡°Just enjoy it.¡±
Although only six rare tier monsters had been taken down, the army had gained an extra twelve rare tier soldiers. Everyone¡¯s spirit was high as they marched back toward home.
It was a start. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Nor was it perfect. Rowan was quickly realizing that the solution to his army strength wasn¡¯t as simple as helping some of them reach rare. It helped, but even if all the soldiers managed to reach rare in the next few hours, it still wouldn¡¯t be enough to really change things.
Most of the soldiers had taken the basic [Spearmaster] or equivalent rare classes which meant they got a new card and a nice boost to the effectiveness of their stats. But in terms of actual combat, it was only a marginal improvement. It would probably take two or three full parties of four to fight a rare-tier monster that Rowan could slay with a single spear strike.
They needed more training, better decks, and simply more experience against enemies. Even at the most basic level, the makeup of Rowan¡¯s party was far superior to even the best party that the army could put together. Most of them were bog-standard melee fighters and although a division of spearmen was a scary thing to face on flat ground, there were dozens of ways that a demon army could tear them apart.
As the men joked with each other on their way back, Rowan slunk to the back of the march where he was joined by Olivia.
¡°Hunt wasn¡¯t to your liking?¡± Olivia asked.
¡°No, not that. We¡¯re going to need so many more soldiers if we want to have a fighting chance,¡± Rowan groaned, rubbing his face in frustration.
¡°Mother will help with that. She might grumble and complain that we need to learn, but she¡¯ll help. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll manage to browbeat the mercenaries into helping out eventually,¡± Olivia tried.
Rowan didn¡¯t see things that way. If there was one thing that Rowan¡¯s limited history knowledge taught him, it was that a reluctant ally was way worse than an insidious enemy.
¡°We still need strength that we can call our own. We need more men in our army,¡± Rowan said. That was his best short-term solution. What they couldn¡¯t achieve in skill or cards, they would make do in bodies.
¡°Or you could reach epic.¡± Olivia¡¯s face paled. ¡°Sorry, that was a joke. Please don¡¯t try to do that.¡±
Rowan opened his mouth to tell her even he wasn¡¯t that reckless, but snapped it shut with a click when he realized that his past two classes were called [Reckless Spear] and [Sacrificial Spear]. There was good reason for her to worry.
The army made its way back into town without problem. Once again, Rowan was glad for the officers who could handle the logistics of moving and settling so many men. He was free to head straight back to the mayor¡¯s manor.
As Rowan passed through the streets, he suddenly swung his head in a particular direction. The [Blood Reaver] stood in the shadow of a half-collapsed house and met Rowan¡¯s eyes. The mercenary had a bottle of something dark in his hand, which he raised up against Rowan.
For a second, a small voice in the back of Rowan¡¯s mind wondered what would happen if he ordered his troops to attack. It¡¯d make his life easier and a show of force would bring the other mercenaries in the town to heel.
But then the moment passed and Rowan kept walking.
¡ª
The next few days passed by in a haze. While Camilla worked the mercenaries, Rowan led the army into the wilderness. By the end of it, all the soldiers were either at the upper half of the uncommon levels or new owners of rare classes.
As the sun set on another day of training, Rowan made his decision. It was time to be a ruler.
He had an idea. It wasn¡¯t a good idea. It wasn¡¯t even necessarily feasible. But it was one that could be the answer to his problems.
The meeting room, once a symbol of the town''s prosperity, now felt cavernous and cold. Maps littered the table, each marking a reminder of their precarious situation.
¡°Thank you all for coming,¡± Rowan said. Sitting around the table were Camilla and the chamberlain. In some ways, this was the first meeting they had together since he became mayor.
Camilla entered, dark circles under her eyes betraying nights of difficult negotiations. "Not a problem," she said, looking at Rowan with a glint in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m surprised though. You haven''t been very interested in what happens in your domain.¡±
¡°My domain? The kingdom takes back the town when this is all over right?¡±
¡°Of course not, why would they? It¡¯s in their best interest to look after and make things more convenient for any heroes that choose to stay.¡±
¡°I just assumed¡ well, never mind. That¡¯s not why I brought everyone here.¡± Rowan took a moment to organize his thoughts again. ¡°Do we have extra equipment? Besides the ones that are currently assigned to the soldiers.¡±
¡°We do,¡± the chamberlain said, his weathered hands fidgeting with a quill. ¡°Most of the equipment from those who fell or left was salvaged.¡±
¡°Okay, then. What are our finances like? Can they support the current army comfortably? What if we double those numbers? Or even a full one thousand soldiers again?¡±
¡°Full thousand?¡± Camilla said as she pursed her lips. ¡°I''m afraid not. The town has simply suffered too much damage for that. There''s too much to fix and too many businesses to rebuild. And the real costs of maintaining an army comes from the price to feed them. Five hundred, though? That would be manageable.¡±
¡°Okay, one last question. How exactly do people recruit potential soldiers?¡±
Camilla traded a glance with the chamberlain. ¡°The process is slightly different depending on which noble house you''re talking about. For the Sutton House, anyone with an uncommon heart card that''s combat or combat-adjacent is welcomed. As well as someone with a rare or higher crafting, support, or lifestyle type heart card. Past that, we give tests to anyone with a common heart card that''s focused on combat and select the best.¡±
¡°Okay perfect. This is what I¡¯m thinking. We put out a recruitment notice. We accept every applicant that passes our fitness tests until we have five hundred soldiers employed.¡±
Camilla sighed. ¡°That won¡¯t work. Heart cards aren¡¯t just indicators, Rowan. They¡¯re the essence of a person''s potential. I heard about what you¡¯ve been doing with the army. I think it¡¯s a good idea to boost morale right now but you¡¯ve noticed the problem with it right? The soldiers have trouble fighting higher tier monsters.¡± Camilla waited for Rowan¡¯s nod before continuing. ¡°Adding more recruits would stop you from raising champion fighters. The officers would be weaker, which means that when there¡¯s a demon they can¡¯t stop, it¡¯s a massacre.¡±
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¡°All we need is to give them a chance.¡± Rowan pushed on. ¡°A chance to level up to uncommon or even rare. It won¡¯t matter what their heart card is at that point. It won¡¯t be easy but we can have some of the new rare tier soldiers lead them on leveling expeditions. A whole army of uncommon or rare soldiers has to count for something. We defended Felton¡¯s Mill with less.¡±
¡°It¡¯s different.¡± Camilla frowned. ¡°Do you have any ideas how many people you have loitering around the town with delusions of becoming a combat class in spite of having heart cards or conditions that even the mercenaries didn¡¯t want?¡±
¡°A lot of them,¡± Rowan answered, thinking back to his outing with Olivia. ¡°Most of them stuck and starving. This is a beacon of hope for them.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not hope if you fill your army with useless chaff and drag the whole town down,¡± Camilla hissed.
Rowan leaned back, stunned by the vehemence from the baroness. The chamberlain stepped in to explain things. ¡°What Lady Sutton meant is that swelling your numbers by drawing in raw recruits is how armies fail. The breaking point for any army is around ten to fifteen percent losses in a single battle. No matter how well trained a soldier is, when his friends start dying, his will to fight plummets.¡±
¡°Even mercenaries, known for their independence, make sure to only recruit those with heart cards that have potential. Our problem isn¡¯t in quantity. It¡¯s in quality. We need trained men and only the mercenaries have it at the moment.¡±
¡°But?¡± Rowan could hear that there was something Camilla wasn¡¯t saying.
Camilla calmed down enough to lean back into her chair. ¡°My apologies Rowan, I didn¡¯t meant to snap at you. The mercenary companies are proving more uncooperative than I anticipated. The last few days have been trying.¡±
¡°Apology accepted,¡± Rowan said immediately. ¡°Is it Florin and Tamara?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Camilla said slowly as if she wasn¡¯t sure herself. ¡°They have something to do with this but they don¡¯t have anywhere near the influence to unite all the mercenaries together. It almost feels like the whole town is in on a plan that we were not informed of.¡±
Rowan''s thoughts immediately turned to Kayla. He swirled the idea briefly around before dismissing it. She had no reason to do something like that. Curiously, he never doubted that she could do it.
¡°So what do we do?¡±
Camilla looked like she had swallowed a lemon. She turned to the chamberlain. ¡°When the previous mayor of Rest¡¯s Remorse fell, what happened to the army?¡±
The chamberlain paused. ¡°The army retreated to the inner walls and held the town there. They performed bravely.¡±
Camilla turned back to Rowan. ¡°As much as I think this will probably end in tragedy, I don¡¯t think I have a better alternative. Any more time spent on the mercenaries at this point would be foolish. They¡¯ve chosen to remain stubbornly independent.¡±
¡°Lord Rowan,¡± the chamberlain had a twinkle in his eye as he addressed Rowan. ¡°What do you need from us?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have the first idea about how to recruit or train an army,¡± Rowan admitted. ¡°But I think the soldiers can be more than a cleanup crew. What we need is probably a combination of training, levels, and equipment.¡±
¡°Lord Rowan, I feel like it would be a mistake if I didn¡¯t say this. What you are proposing will tax the town¡¯s treasury to the limit. We won¡¯t have enough funds to hire one of the mercenary companies if we proceed down this path.¡±
¡°I believe it. Let¡¯s try recruiting more soldiers from among all the interested commoners and we¡¯ll go from there.¡±
¡°Very well. It will take a few days to organize the recruitment. We need to clear a testing area, prepare criers and notices, and more,¡± the chamberlain said.
¡°Rowan, is this really what you want?¡± Camilla asked one last time.
¡°It is.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll help. I just hope this works out.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t reply, but he hoped so too. He prayed for it to every deity that would deign to listen, including Aristaeus.
¡ª
As it turned out, anxiously awaiting the start of a new recruitment experiment wasn''t ideal for one''s nerves. Rowan managed to hold up well the first two nights, but on the third evening, he didn''t even bother trying to sleep.
Instead, he attempted to sneak out to the mayor''s private training courtyard as soon as darkness fell. Attempted, because there were more than enough servants walking the halls, even at night, to notice him. Rowan discovered that nothing ruined a good sulk quite like running into a maid who immediately insisted on asking if he required assistance.
On this particular evening, his failure to sneak about was doubly pronounced. A voice rang out into the still night air, mere minutes after Rowan started mindlessly thwacking away at a training dummy.
¡°Somehow, I knew I''d find you here.¡±
A part of Rowan had expected Olivia to eventually find him. Or perhaps her mother, who seemed to walk without sound. Out of everyone, though, the last person he expected was Markus.
Yet there he was, a light smile on his lips and a mischievous twinkle in his ice-blue eyes.
¡°Can''t sleep either?¡± Rowan always reached for deflection whenever he was caught off guard.
"No, I''m good. It''s you I''m worried about. You''ve been off for days, even before you organized that meeting with Olivia¡¯s mother. Come on, why don''t you join me and explain what''s bothering you? I promise I won''t judge."
The wolf kin easily folded his legs under him and plopped right down on the dirt of the practice yard, patting the spot next to him.
Rowan wasn''t given to grand emotional outbursts. He didn''t even know how to express his emotions most of the time. There was, however, something appealing about the offer. So, eventually, the hero sat.
¡°Marcus, do you think I''m messing it all up with my plan? That it''s not worth trying to recruit commoners?¡± Rowan asked quietly, avoiding the wolf kin''s eyes in case he immediately said yes.
¡°I don¡¯t know, Rowan. It¡¯s not the kind of question members of my race ever have to confront.¡±
¡°Wait, it¡¯s not? Then how do you even organize your armies? Do you have a way to manipulate the heart card people get?¡±
¡°Hardly. You¡¯re just forgetting that our society is much more tight-knit than human culture. You don¡¯t just ignore when a member of your family is hurt or suffering. Most people have the chance to pursue their interests because we want to keep everyone happy.¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t it be like that here?¡± Rowan wondered, keeping his eyes trained on the plethora of the stars in the night sky. He hadn''t really gotten a chance to admire them since that fateful ride from the capital with the baron.
¡°Numbers, I imagine. Our tribes are much smaller. A strong tribe doesn''t even rival this town in size. We do have Grand Chiefs who rule over a series of tribes, but that''s different. There''s still some blood link between the Grand Chief and the people under their protection.¡±
¡°I''m not sure whether our future recruits will make things better or worse. I don''t want to get attached if some of them die or fail, but still... I don''t even know how I could possibly help them succeed.¡±
¡°Rowan, have you ever heard the story of the Thorn Knight? I know it''s unlikely, considering your origin,¡± Marcus asked.
The sudden pivot threw him off, but Rowan eventually shook his head. ¡°I''m afraid not.¡±
¡°Well, it''s one of the most popular stories out there. We don''t know her name anymore, or whether she was rich or poor. We only know she desperately wanted to be a knight, and that her heart card was extremely poor."
Rowan scoffed, shooting the wolf kin an unamused look. ¡°You''re trying to make me feel better with a fairy tale.¡±
¡°It''s not that. We know the Thorn Knight existed. You see, when her system awakened, she didn''t get a damage card, or a buff card. She got a true damage reflection card, the Thorn Guard. At common tier, too.¡±
¡°That doesn''t sound great.¡±
¡°It wasn''t. The card could only bounce back five percent of damage taken by the cardholder. So, to use her card, she had to fully tank all damage coming her way.¡±
¡°Unpleasant.¡±
¡°Except she didn''t let that stop her! She left home, honed her build, and eventually became an immortal juggernaut that would grind all attackers down to nothing. I''m skipping parts, obviously, but the point stands.¡±
Rowan sighed, letting himself fall back to stare at the stars again. "That common cardholders can grow and become amazing, too?"
¡°Exactly. Everyone agrees the Thorn Knight got her happily ever after. Some say she settled down and started a family. Others say she became a queen and started her own bloodline. Some claim they know her real name and what she became: Locke, the Goddess of Knights and Valor.¡±
Rowan smirked a little. ¡°I can''t imagine her church likes that idea much.¡±
¡°Actually, her church doesn''t mind. It''s the other followers of High Gods that get uppity at the implications. Still, no one can deny that Locke''s priests, paladins, and followers use a lot of thorn and damage reflection themed miracles and incantations.¡±
Rowan laughed, feeling a little better. It wasn''t some revolutionary tale, and it hadn¡¯t made his problems go away. But having a friend willing to miss sleep just to hang out with him lifted his spirits.
¡°Hey Marcus?¡±
¡°Hm?¡±
¡°Thanks for coming to find me.¡±
The man was silent for an uncomfortably long stretch. When he spoke, Rowan could hear the smile in his voice. ¡°Nothing to thank me for, Rowan. Nothing at all.¡±
They sat there a while longer in companionable silence. When Rowan returned to his bed, he actually managed to get some sleep that night.
Chapter 40: To Pick A Soldier
Rowan looked out over the sea of suspicious faces. His recruitment campaign had taken the town by storm, first met with doubt, then derision. Nearly everyone seemed to have a thing or two to say about the ideas of recruiting commoners that even the mercenaries had passed over. Now, as he prepared to open applications, the air thrummed with tension.
¡°Those of you who want to support your families, fight for your home, climb up the tiers - you''re welcome here,¡± Rowan declared, his voice carrying across the square. ¡°Today, some of you will get the chance to pursue your ambitions. We will be picking out a total of three hundred new recruits. As a recruit, you will be putting your life on the line. Every day. It¡¯ll be painful and it¡¯ll be dangerous. But it¡¯ll also be a chance for you to change your life. And yes, your heart card quality doesn''t matter.¡±
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some cautiously stepped forward, others back. Years of mistrust had taught these people to look for angles, for ways they''d be exploited.
Sadly enough, even if he did have bad intentions, Rowan couldn¡¯t see a single reason someone would scheme against these people. Most of those who had shown up looked several stages past desperate. Thinning frames, unkempt appearance, and clothes that were falling apart.
The second half of the gathered crowd was the polar opposite of the first. Curious and bored mercenaries were watching the gathering and snickering.
Well, most of them were snickering.
Rowan noted that those bearing the insignia of the Mercenary King¡¯s company fixed their attention on him. What exactly they were looking for he did not know.
"Applications are now open," Rowan announced, gesturing to the waiting clerks. "Step forward if you¡¯d like to join our army."
Rowan ran his eyes over the crowd one final time and stepped back to join the rest of his party. The stage had a little sitting area with some basic refreshments. This was done at the insistence of Rowan, since he was planning to stay right there and oversee things.
If he simply left and someone caused trouble, his entire recruitment plan would fail.
¡°You did well.¡± Olivia whispered, offering him a smile as he got seated.
¡°Doesn¡¯t really feel like it. No one is even moving forward.¡±
People hovered just far enough away from the awkward-looking clerks to not be perceived as approaching them. Some looked tempted more, but ultimately, it seemed like the word of their new mayor, hero or not, wasn¡¯t enough.
Then, a determined teenager pushed through the crowd. "My name is Clarke. I''m a level one [Swordsman]," he declared, voice wavering slightly. "My heart card is Gullible Thoughts."
The clerk got to work as soon as the young man opened his mouth, expertly filling out the application form. ¡°May I know what your heart card does?¡±
Now that he had admitted his card¡¯s name out loud, Clarke was remarkably more willing to discuss its effect. ¡°It''s just a common tier. It slightly improves my chances of catching someone when they¡¯re lying to me. It¡¯s pretty obvious as a feeling I get when it works.¡±
¡°Excellent. Now, can I ask you to do fifty push-ups for me, please?¡±
The young man looked more than a little embarrassed, but complied anyway. Rowan felt for him, but he was the one who insisted on at least testing that much. He needed able-bodied recruits and even with their dilapidated states, fifty push-ups was possible through sheer force of will.
Clarke didn¡¯t even struggle with the task. The clerk pulled out a smaller form, filled it out, and stamped it. ¡°Here you go, young man. You are to report to the military training field next to the mayor¡¯s mansion tomorrow morning.¡±
Looking more than a little shell-shocked and stuck staring at the slip of paper, Clarke nodded and then wandered away from the clerk. Instantly, two more people stepped forward and found their own clerks.
Rowan looked over the crowd once more. They were starting to stir. He could almost sense the thoughts percolating through the crowd. There was still doubt but he could feel the embers of hope rising. The doubt wouldn¡¯t disappear in a single day but he could fan the hope some more. Rowan nodded to a couple of the rare-tier soldiers, who went into the crowd and began advertising as the living embodiment of what was possible.
¡°That was nerve wracking.¡± Rowan admitted as he sank into his seat a little more easily. It was ridiculously soft, and he was more than a little happy at being able to enjoy it properly.
¡°Were you worried no one would apply, oh mighty leader?¡± Milena teased, but Rowan wasn¡¯t fooled. The beast folk was just as nervous as he was initially. Her tail was practically fighting her to poof out.
¡°Yes, yes I was. If no one applied after all of this, it would have been more than a little embarrassing and a waste of time and money. Can you imagine what Lady Sutton would have done to me?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit much to be so afraid of your mother in law?¡± Marcus drawled, though quickly shrunk into his seat when he was nailed to his chair by a sharp glare instead.
¡°That¡¯s extremely rude, Marcus. Rowan isn¡¯t terrified of my mother!¡± Olivia, eyes twinkling with cruel delight, turned her attention to Rowan. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±
This time, Rowan definitely blushed.
¡ª
As the day dragged on, the recruitment proceeded mostly without hitch. Though Rowan was worried about one of the other town factions would try something to mess with them, the worst they had to deal with was the threat of heatstroke.
The sun beat down relentlessly onto the world and Rowan ordered chilled water for the crowd. It was another expense on an already overtaxed budget but if a little bit of ice could build a positive image of him in the town, he¡¯d take the trade any day of the week.
The other hitch in the recruitment process came at the very end.
The problem presented itself as a small, malnourished girl. Her size wasn¡¯t the issue. Nor was her health, since almost every one of the new recruits was malnourished or weak.
The problem was that she was rather loudly arguing that her age shouldn¡¯t disqualify her application. The clerk kept his voice calm and immediately flagged one of the people in charge of water distribution so the girl could have a drink.
That only made her argue harder.
¡°The hero mayor said that our heart card doesn¡¯t matter! We only need to do fifty pushups, right? Well, I can do that!¡± To prove her point, she did them, then pouted up at the man. The effect was rather ruined when she could only barely see above the edge of the desk he worked behind.
¡°The quality and effect of the heart card doesn¡¯t matter, yes. However, the implication is there that you need to have a heart card,¡± the clerk repeated, for about the fifth time. ¡°You¡¯re only eight. Why don¡¯t you come back in a couple years?¡±
Rowan was just about to intercede when Olivia sighed and stood up.
The girl didn¡¯t notice her at first, too busy arguing, but the onlookers sure did. They opened up a path, allowing Olivia to slip up behind the girl and plop her hand on her head.
¡°You are an awfully determined little thing, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not little!¡± The girl protested, pushing away Olivia¡¯s hand and spinning around, only to falter when she caught sight of the alchemist. ¡°Oh. Um.¡± Just like that, her courage fled her, and she drew in on herself like she was trying to make for a smaller target.
¡°Tell me, can you help with cooking? Carry things around? Any experience with past work?¡± Olivia asked.
Having something to latch onto, the little girl immediately launched into a reply. ¡°Yes, yes, and yes. I used to help out in the tavern near where we lived.¡± She paused, then, as though she was afraid that wasn¡¯t enough, rushed to add. ¡°Everyone said I was super useful!¡±
¡°Well, I suppose we¡¯ll see about that,¡± Olivia said haughtily, but Rowan could see the spark of delight in her eyes. She waved to one of the water distributors. ¡°Can you please take her back to the manor? Tell whoever¡¯s in charge of the kitchen that she¡¯ll be assisting with meal distribution for the new soldiers.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t want to-¡± The girl¡¯s words came out rushed and angry, before the fight left her. ¡°I mean¡ thank you.¡± She obediently trailed after the man who was put in charge of guiding her.
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Ironically, Olivia seemed a lot less sure about her decision after making it. She snuck a few glances at Rowan as she made her way back. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you? I mean, I know it¡¯s your manor and all, but when I saw her, I just¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Rowan said, placing his hand on hers. ¡°I was about to do something similar myself. Not going to just let a kid run around if she¡¯s desperate enough to apply to be a soldier.¡± Olivia offered him a smile, and Rowan realized he would have approved her request just to see that expression. That made all kinds of feelings squirm in his chest. ¡°In spite of everything, I really don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to hit the numbers we were going for.¡±
Plenty of people had come to see what all the fuss what about but far too many people were still milling around. It was obvious that only a fraction of the total number intended to apply.
¡°Honestly? That¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like you have a battle to fight tomorrow. Give it time. None of them know what you¡¯re planning to do with the new recruits, it¡¯s natural for them to be skeptical,¡± Olivia replied.
At the end of the day, Rowan walked away from the square with two hundred and thirteen new recruits. Not quite the three hundred he¡¯d wanted, but it did effectively double the number of souls under his command.
The thought both thrilled and terrified him.
¡ª
The next day dawned sunny and pleasantly warm. For the first time in days, Rowan actually got enough sleep the previous night and managed to outrun his troubles for a few moments.
The baroness was still doubtful about the success of his plans, but even she had congratulated him on the number of new recruits when they returned the day prior.
Now, he basked in the sun as ten new officers surrounded him.
Behind them were rows of tables, carrying literal piles of bread and similarly robust food items there. The food wasn¡¯t anything special, just stuff that wouldn¡¯t spoil in spite of sitting out in the sun for a couple of hours. Still, for the recruits who had been struggling at the very bottom of the local society as recently as yesterday, it was a veritable feast.
¡°They should be here soon, my lord,¡± one of the officers, a woman named Rayne, said. She looked as eager to get her hands on the recruits as he was. ¡°They¡¯re currently receiving their new gear and some basic instructions on how to care for it at the barracks.¡±
¡°Wonder what they¡¯ll think of us later today,¡± another officer, Trevor, said. ¡°I must admit that your plan for them is quite something, Lord Rowan.¡± He, unlike Rayne, sounded worried for the recruits.
Rowan looked to Bryson, who had remained quiet through all of the chatter. In designing his army, Rowan had taken direct inspiration from Kayden. The men all reported up to Bryson, the spear division officer that Rowan had promoted to lead the army. In fact, the training program was also copied from Rowan¡¯s time under the baron.
¡°It¡¯s good to have compassion for the people under your command,¡± Bryson said. ¡°But you coddling too much will only get them killed on the battlefield. Better to sweat in training than bleed in a fight.¡±
Rowan hadn¡¯t picked out the most powerful or talented combatants to lead the new troops. Instead, he¡¯d picked out the most patient and detail-oriented ones. In the time the baroness and chamberlain were preparing the recruitment drive, he had spoken to the army¡¯s officers at length and even interviewed some of the potential officers himself.
Finally, the recruits started to trickle in.
The came alone or in pairs. No real groups had formed just yet. Some looked uncomfortable in their new armor while others were right at home. It was a ragtag army, one that would need to be trained. Which was just what Rowan intended to do.
¡°Okay. Now that you¡¯re here and you¡¯re properly equipped, we can start. First, I want you to meet your future superior officers.¡±
One by one, the officers stepped forward and loudly announced their names before falling back. Most of them were quite young, something the recruits had noticed too judging by the considering and greedy gazes of some.
If they thought they¡¯d be getting a quick and easy promotion out of joining up, though, Rowan was eager to disabuse them of the notion.
¡°Excellent!¡± Rowan gave his most bloodthirsty, unhinged smile. ¡°Now that¡¯s over, let me make one thing clear. As you are now, you are useless to me. Most of you are barely in good enough shape to recruit to begin with. So, from today, we¡¯ll work on fixing that. In other words, I want you to run.¡±
Confusion was apparent in the ranks of the recruits, even if several of them were quick to head for the running track that circled the training grounds. Rowan noted those immediately and subtly signaled for Trevor to note down their names later.
He wasn¡¯t upset when most of the recruits didn¡¯t follow to do the same. After all, motivating them and building up good habits was why he¡¯d promoted new officers to begin with.
Still, when Rayne stepped forward and cracked an actual whip, he did wince a little. ¡°His lordship said to run, little recruits. So, you¡¯ll run.¡±
The recruits got the message. But on the track, they were pitiful. They were slow. Their stamina was so ridiculously low that Rowan wondered if he had ever been that bad himself.
Still, they tried. And when their bodies faltered, his officers were there, hounding, prodding, and threatening them to continue. It was mostly Rayne who was doing the last part, but Rowan had to admit he was reluctantly impressed.
By the time a mere half an hour was over and they were allowed to stop running, Rowan¡¯s recruits were a sweaty and exhausted mess.
Then the officers pounced, once again shouting instructions and beginning the next set of exercises.
He had the foresight to not give them a hearty breakfast before training began. But that didn¡¯t seem to be enough when some of the recruits began throwing up. Rowan stayed in his place even as the smell of the training grounds grew progressively worse.
¡°You can leave anytime you want,¡± Rowan said, his voice echoing above the heavy breaths. ¡°I¡¯m not here to chain you to this army. But neither am I here to run a charity. If you want a purpose, then you¡¯ll first build yourselves into a force. Hearty meals don¡¯t come cheap.¡±
Once the allotted time for torment ran out and the recruits were reduced to quivering messes, an army of servants marched onto the training grounds. Much to Rowan¡¯s amusement, the little girl whose name he still didn¡¯t know was among them.
As they went about forcing a pair of potions down each of the recruits, Rowan had to stifle a sigh. This was the most expensive part of his whole plan and easily the most risky one. He had assurances from Olivia it would work and she¡¯d done her best to minimize the costs too.
As the potion effects took hold, he watched as the recruits¡¯ condition visibly evened out to something approaching functional. Then, of course, a monstrous hunger took hold, and Rowan suspected that even without instructions from the servants they wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to head for the food.
¡°Impressive and horrifying,¡± the hero muttered, watching with wide eyes as his new recruits descended upon the food like a host of ravenous demons.
There wasn¡¯t even a crumb left by the time they were done.
¡°Okay, you sorry lot,¡± Rayne commanded. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve eaten, you are to return to your assigned barracks. You have two hours of rest time, so use it wisely. If any one of you doesn¡¯t show up here after that time is up, I¡¯ll come to drag you out here myself.¡±
With that ominous warning, Rayne allowed the weary crowd to shuffle off in search of shelter. Most of them looked incredibly drowsy and Rowan sighed as he realized that a number of them would likely get to see that the woman wasn¡¯t making idle threats.
Rowan didn¡¯t enjoy torturing the recruits, but this was something that they needed. Camilla had done her best to teach Rowan about the basics of running an army and discipline was a core tenet in every fighting force. Everyone had to know the rules. That was the only way to command hundreds of men in a single direction.
But with the potions Olivia had brewed, the recruits would actually survive the process.
It was a special recipe, one that was inspired by Rowan¡¯s own Lavish Feasting and Persistent Regeneration combination. One potion made digestion ridiculously effective, allowing the body to take in far more energy than normally possible. The other used that energy to heal and build muscle.
In other words, Rowan was putting them through a cardio and recovery regime from hell. So long as they could complete what was coming at them, his recruits would at least be in acceptable physical condition. Olivia had warned that it wouldn¡¯t be effective once they had a decent number of stats, likely around ten, but it was more than enough for his current purposes.
Especially since the cardio program was only half of the equation. Once the morning break was over, it was time for the recruits to start combat and weapons training.
If he was being honest with himself, Rowan felt more than a little depressed at how pitiful class variety was among his recruits. There were so many [Swordsmen] there that he was absolutely certain that the only thing that had guided their decision-making was youthful exuberance. For some reason, the [Swordsman] classes were the epitome of honor and power in the kingdom he now called home.
But it did simplify things somewhat. Even with a couple of more unusual classes, standardizing the training regime for the new troops wasn¡¯t difficult. The officers all had extensive experience with the weapons they were teaching, and he could always temporarily pull others from the original army.
Rowan was reluctant to do that too much, especially since those troops could dedicate their time to hunting monsters and boosting their levels.
In fact, he would be joining them soon. He insisted on being there for the recruit¡¯s first day, but there was absolutely no reason to idle away watching them training. He wouldn¡¯t let himself fall for the pitfalls the baroness had pointed out to him.
His troops needed to be strong, yes.
But the hero party had to grow too.
¡ª
It was absolutely amazing what two short weeks could accomplish, Rowan reflected as he watched the recruits train.
Just a short time ago, the basic exercise would all but crush them. Now? They were breezing through it now even with a heightened level of difficulty.
¡°I have to say, I know I provided the potions for it and all, but this is¡ impressive,¡± Olivia said, looking inordinately proud.
And she had more than enough reason to be.
¡°I don¡¯t think I say this as often as I should, but you¡¯re amazing, Olivia,¡± Rowan said. She giggled, bumping him with her shoulder. ¡°You think they¡¯re ready for heading outside of the town?¡±
¡°Oh yes, I should say they are,¡± Milena said approvingly, eyes rowing over the recruits and looking for signs of weakness. ¡°Honestly, I can barely even recognize them. I watched them get recruited and this is an incredible transformation.¡±
In a way, Rowan was extremely flattered to hear her say that. He¡¯d picked up a bunch of half-starved, hopeless men and women.
Now?
Well, no one would mistake them for starving peasants ever again. Each and every one of them looked healthy, and the corded muscles they sported hinted at their profession.
Of course, the fact of the matter remained that they were untested. These troops had received the best training he could offer to them. But they were still mostly common classes. They needed experience.
And they also needed to be put under a real stress test.
¡°I am extremely proud of your progress,¡± Rowan announced. ¡°I still remember the way most of you looked that first day after your initial training. But, look at you now! However¡ I¡¯m afraid this is not enough.¡± He could see their faces fall at his words. He¡¯d started building them up, only to snatch further praise away. He had to admit that the baroness¡¯s advice was quite effective most of the time. ¡°Now that your foundation is set, it¡¯s time to deliver on my promise to you. I promised you levels. I promised you that you would rise through the tiers. So, it is time that my promise be kept. Tomorrow, you will accompany my party into the wastes. Tomorrow, you earn your first levels.¡±
His new troops didn¡¯t disappoint him.
He could see the hunger in their eyes, the desire to grow and become better. As cheering rose up around him, Rowan smiled.
Chapter 41: The Proving Grounds
Before anything else, Rowan broke the recruits into four groups. It would be unruly to march two hundred fresh soldiers into the demonic wastes where the weakest monster was at the uncommon tier. They needed to lessen their footprint.
The leaders for the other three groups were Olivia, Marcus, and Milena. Although Rowan had known that he would have to temporarily dissolve the party due to system rules for days now, it didn¡¯t make things any easier.
The fact that he couldn¡¯t easily check on their status weighed on his mind but there was something else to cheer him up.
¡°Stick with me, and you¡¯ll never go hungry again!¡± Rowan muttered under his breath, chuckling a little and humming along to the Lion King song echoing through his head.
If pressed, the Stalwart Hero could honestly say that he was in a great mood.
He had doubled his troops, the general affairs of the town were in order, the baroness was doing a predictably stellar job of running the financial recovery projects, and his own little initiative was working out great. After all, with an abundance of uncommon creatures to hunt, the recruits were very quickly getting leveled up.
¡°Isn¡¯t this too easy?¡± One of the recruits whispered rather uselessly. Rowan¡¯s perception stat wasn¡¯t for show, and his ears had always been quite keen even before getting boosted by the system.
¡°I mean, maybe?¡± another recruit said.
¡°Would you two prefer to fight a full health uncommon tier monster instead?¡± their final companion, who had much higher intelligence if Rowan was the judge, piped up. ¡°I¡¯d like to remind you that we¡¯re still in the low commons.¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t just force-feeding them levels. But he was making their lives much better and their effort was bearing fruit that much quicker.
Some people got advantages. Rowan was just of the opinion it was finally his poor recruits¡¯ turn.
Being at the edge of the wilderness, it took a while before a group of monsters was willing to attack them. But when they did, Rowan, like the other rare-tier soldiers and officers, jumped into action. He picked one nasty looking beast in particular.
With his stats and cards, the uncommon monster could do nothing to stop him from dismantling its defenses. However, right before his carefully aimed attacks would render it useless, Rowan pulled back.
This left a bloody, enraged beast on its last legs against three fresh-faced common-tier recruits. It was a fair fight, perhaps a bit too fair. The recruits were soon fighting for their lives.
Rowan circled around the fight, ready to step in if things went wrong. But he also had enough time to chat with his subordinates.
¡°I have to admit, Hero Rowan, that this is highly unusual. It¡¯s usually the other way around, crippling monsters for our officers instead of the lowest recruit,¡± one of the officers said after finishing up his group¡¯s fight.
¡°That¡¯s the hope, Jacob. With any luck, we¡¯ll have them up to the basic uncommon tier in record time. After all, it¡¯s not that hard to drag someone out of the common tier.¡± The admission made Rowan briefly feel horrible, but he discarded those feelings quickly enough.
The world wasn¡¯t perfect, but he was working on it one step at a time.
By the time his chosen three recruits barely downed their enemy and broke into a celebration, Rowan was smiling alongside them.
¡°Rayne, what¡¯s the current status report on the recruits?¡±
¡°Sir, we¡¯ve got two parties up to uncommon already, with another three very close to the early double digits. The rest are still leveling at an expected rate.¡±
Rowan nodded, reassured. That lined up nicely with what he¡¯d seen in the last few fights. The recruits under the leadership of the more experienced or talented soldiers or officers were advancing swiftly with relatively little trouble. The trick was to weaken the monsters enough that they wouldn¡¯t be a danger to the recruits but still strong enough for real combat experience. It was a fine line to walk.
¡°That¡¯s excellent news. Keep up the good work, and we¡¯ll be done with this much sooner than any of us expected to be,¡± Rowan said.
It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Rowan had expected to spend weeks training all the recruits into shape. Rayne had accelerated things so much that Rowan wondered if he should just put her on new soldier training from now on. While it was true that pretty much all of the recruits had nightmares of her, the results were undeniable. Her party was the only one besides Rowan¡¯s that had advanced to the rare tier.
¡°Yes, Lord Rowan,¡± Rayne replied as she went back to her own group of recruits.
Rowan looked back at his own group, which had finally taken down the beast and were now celebrating in their own ways. Funnily enough, the experience wasn¡¯t only beneficial for the recruits. Back when the baron was teaching him, Rowan sometimes relied on rote memorization instead of truly understanding the instructions. Combat had taught him the meaning behind some of Kayden¡¯s instructions, but teaching the recruits and skillfully weakening a foe had Rowan reexamining his understanding of the spear.
So far, because he was fighting opponents that were often a tier or more higher, Rowan had been all aggression and no tact. His fighting style was to overwhelm an opponent in the first few seconds with a flurry of card combinations. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing per se, but it meant that he didn¡¯t have a lot of answers for defense or deflection if the battle started to slow down.
The baron also had a hand in this. The maneuvers he taught Rowan were the basic foundation, but the forced training meant each of these moves were sharpened to maximize damage instead of skill. All that meant Rowan¡¯s style was uncomplicated and damage heavy.
There were two solutions to that. The first would be to slow down and train with an actual spear master on technique. For the moment, that was about as likely as the demons retreating. So the second, and more promising, solution was to minimize the drawbacks of fighting with wild abandon.
I really need to upgrade that card already, Rowan grumbled to himself, inordinately annoyed that his Persistent Regeneration was still stuck at rare. One single uncommon tier Rapid Regrowth card or another rare tier Persistent Regeneration, and he¡¯d be able to get a full set of ten, netting him his second epic card. But the card just stubbornly refused to come, even with card scrap fusing.
Before Rowan could spiral too far into contemplating his build, a commotion started up to his left. Knowing that¡¯s where one of the forward teams was sweeping through the corrupted jungle, he immediately led his party of recruits towards the noise.
To Rowan¡¯s delight, he found a large, brown-golden viper with rows of eyes running down its sides. The monster was vicious, churning up ground with every strike of its tail. It made a perfect excuse for Rowan to get some exercise.
He streaked forward, leveraged his upgraded dexterity stat, and buried his spear deep into the monster¡¯s side right through one of its blinking eyes. It screeched and thrashed in pain.
¡°You three, what are you doing? You¡¯re fighting this thing,¡± Rowan commanded. His recruits paled and he hoped that they had enough trust in him to follow his orders. Luckily, they stepped forward.
The following battle was a blur of action, one that pushed Rowan¡¯s limits in an entirely different way. He wanted the three to have experience with fighting something vastly beyond their own limits, but he also needed to keep them alive.
This meant a fancy dance of Rowan flitting around and getting in front of every blow he could, diverting them while minimizing the amount of mana he used to hurt the monster.
¡°Keep your wits about you! Aim for the areas I¡¯ve already damaged, or go for the eyes. For the love of all that is holy or unholy, please stop trying to pierce its scales on your own!¡± Rowan yelled.
The recruits were starting to understand, some faster than others. Once they were back in town, Rowan decided he needed to set up lessons on combat, especially since one redhead seemed fond of metaphorically bashing his head against a wall.
With most of the monster¡¯s body gradually accruing wounds, it became obvious that it was flagging. Its defeat was apparent, to both parties. So, when its eyes suddenly firmed up and turned vicious, Rowan knew what was about to happen.
He pushed his dexterity stat to its utmost and became little more than a blur as he slammed into the recruits, knocking the breath out of their lungs but pushing them far enough away from the battle to be unaffected by what was about to come.
A second later, the viper erupted into a red haze, a thick blood mist that swallowed Rowan, instantly doing horrible things to his flesh. The viper then unhinged its jaws and a stream of black liquid shot out, tinging the cloud black.
The reason the monster hadn¡¯t used the card before was obvious. Its body grew more emaciated, its remaining scales grew dull, and even the flow of blood from its wounds slowed as the vital liquid was consumed and converted into an attack.
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It didn¡¯t feel good being at the center of the monster¡¯s attack.
But Rowan¡¯s pain resistance had been tempered by the demon¡¯s mount and nearly getting eaten alive. Even as his skin sizzled and his muscles corroded, he moved.
His spear briefly blazed with ominous colors, and this time, when it impacted the creature¡¯s head, the monster was blown apart, bits of flesh, bone and brain raining onto the jungle away from Rowan.
Then he was speeding away even as his regeneration card kicked in, allowing him to exit the cloud of death looking a bit more like a person and less like a melted monstrosity.
¡°Lord Rowan!¡± One of the soldiers rushed forward, already fishing out a healing potion. ¡°Here, hurry, you must¡ª¡±
Rowan laughed and waved the man away. The recruits watched as the hero¡¯s body restored itself right in front of their eyes. Rowan thanked the soldier before addressing the gathered crowd.
¡°Now, I hope what happened will be a lesson to you all. Never assume that your enemy can¡¯t do anything to take you down with them. The monster used a card that was practically suicidal. But it was backed into a corner. There, even the faintest glimmer of survival is magnified.¡±
Some of the braver recruits began to ask questions about the fight. Rowan answered them as well as he could. Though he did gently steer any questions about his build away. As much as he was loathed to admit it, he didn¡¯t fully trust the people in his army yet.
Plus, the lack of conclusive proof of what his build actually was would hopefully work to keep people on their toes and more hesitant to do anything unwise.
¡ª
Rowan tried not to show any favoritism during the training. But eventually, he upgraded his party of recruits to the uncommon tier and found his way to commanding Clarke and his two friends, the boy who had led him and Olivia to the apothecary at the edge of town.
He hadn¡¯t really done it much with the other recruits, but here, he struck up a conversation almost immediately with a smile. ¡°So, how¡¯s the army treating you so far?¡±
Rowan enjoyed the way Clarke squirmed a little anyway. ¡°It¡¯s been good so far, sir. Rough, but good,¡± Clarke said meekly, clearly unsure how to act around the hero.
¡°You know I don¡¯t hold our meeting against you, right? You did nothing wrong back then, and we were trying to remain anonymous for a bit longer while exploring the city. So, relax. I¡¯m not going to feed you to a monster,¡± Rowan joked. ¡°Or maybe I will. Gotta stay on your toes.¡±
Clarke relaxed, or at least tried to. His muscles remained tense and his eyes were constantly sweeping over the jungle surrounding them. That, Rowan could understand. Even for someone who¡¯d been desperate to become a combat class, venturing into the wastes was likely nerve wracking.
Especially since the boy was still level nine, and that was five levels higher than he¡¯d been in the morning.
¡°You were the one who helped us, right, sir?¡± one of the others, a girl whose name Rowan still didn¡¯t know, cautiously asked.
¡°Not really, no. We made a deal with the apothecary that your friend guided us to, but he was the one who fed you the potion. And the one responsible for said potion was Olivia. I was just along for the ride. What are your names?¡±
¡°Flora, sir.¡±
¡°Oliver, sir.¡±
That made Rowan pause for a moment, and shoot the boy an amused look that clearly unnerved him. It was somewhat ironic he shared such a similar name to the baron¡¯s daughter, and Rowan made a mental note to mention it to her.
Then, a thought came to Rowan and he decided to do something slightly rude that was only slightly tempered by his standing and status as their employer. ¡°Tell me a bit about your classes?¡±
All three of them flushed and looked a little reluctant, but Clarke eventually spoke up.
¡°I¡¯m a [Swordsman], sir. Plain as bread, absolutely nothing interesting about my deck. I did manage to get a card that suits me. I got Sturdy Body from one of the uncommon monsters we fought today.¡±
Just a single extra card? Somehow, Rowan had forgotten how difficult it could be for commoners to get a decent deck clobbered together. Even those who advanced to uncommon often had only their class card in the correct rarity. In a very real way, the presence of the wastes was a blessing in this regard. So long as they could survive venturing into it, the recruits would eventually get something good.
¡°What about you two?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°I-I got the [Mercenary] class,¡± Oliver said.
That caught Rowan¡¯s attention. ¡°Explain.¡±
If he was a little brusque, he didn¡¯t care. If memory served Rowan right, the only way to unlock that particular class was to do a job as a mercenary. Or to get hired on by a mercenary company as one of their recruits.
Rowan had some serious doubts about the boy¡¯s ability to do the former, especially on the frontier. The latter? Well, it felt a bit too on the nose for the mercenaries to be sending someone with such an obvious class to spy on him.
Noticing Rowan¡¯s sudden intensity, Oliver hurried to explain. ¡°You must have noticed I¡¯m taller and sturdier than I should be at my age, sir.¡± The boy motioned at his body. That much was true, since he had filled out much more quickly and impressively than most other recruits.
¡°What about it?¡±
¡°I have some dwarf blood on my mom¡¯s side of the family. Makes my muscles denser, and my frame bulkier. My father¡¯s family are all extremely tall. They say we have some ogre blood, but that¡¯s nonsense, obviously.¡±
Maybe it wasn¡¯t all that nonsensical, seeing that Oliver had chosen a pretty massive maul as his weapon.
¡°And how does that tie into your class?¡±
¡°So, I was always bigger than usual for my age. And my family owns a smithy, so I was working there as an apprentice. But I wanted adventure, to become famous. So, before I got my full system access and my heart card, I came up with a plan. Because I looked tougher and older, I lied to a merchant.¡±
¡°What was your heart card again?¡±
¡°Metallic Instinct. Perfect for a smith, even at common, it lets you sense flaws in metal and correct them more easily. For someone who lied his way into escorting a merchant to the frontier wanting to be a mercenary, though? Not as great.¡±
Not as great was definitely a gentle way of putting it. The boy seemed genuine enough and more than a little upset by his own story. Rowan chose to put his mistrust aside for the time. ¡°I see. Well, thanks for sharing your story with me. And what about you?¡±
The last question was directed at the girl in their party and she briefly squirmed under the scrutiny. Rowan noticed that she seemed generally averse to attention of any kind. Even with her friends, she preferred to blend into the background.
¡°I¡¯m a [Ranger]. Plant Identification heart card. Not much of a nice story to tell. I was born here, like Clarke. My dad was a scout for the town and he even took me out to the shallow wastes a couple of times. Nothing like now, but it was enough for me to unlock my class.¡±
Rowan nodded, having known a bit more about her than the other two. Ranged and support oriented classes were a priority in any army, his included. Rayne had mentioned her in passing earlier.
¡°That¡¯s impressive. We can always use a bit more ranged coverage. How decent are you with the bow?¡±
Flora unhooked the bow from her shoulder, nocked an arrow, and pinned a leaf to the trunk of a tree.
¡°Lethal,¡± Rowan complimented.
¡°Thank you, sir.¡±
The following period was genuinely enjoyable for Rowan, if for no other reason than getting to see the coordination between three people who were familiar with and trusted each other. That alone put them a step above average.
Whereas some of the recruits frequently checked on their fellows and refused to commit to an attack in fear of no one guarding their backs, the three had no such compunctions. Each blow was dealt with near wild abandon, and more than once they placed their trust fully in the hands of their companions.
Or maybe it was Rowan¡¯s presence bolstering their courage?
When he decided to hang back further and tell them he¡¯d only interfere if things became dire, this assumption was proven false. They definitely did trust each other and work well together.
Honestly? Rowan was a little worried about their future. They¡¯d eventually get a more permanent fourth party member, and he wasn¡¯t sure how well they would take to the new member. If that particular choice was made badly, the group could fall apart.
Of course, the same risk held true for every single trio running around following their assigned soldier or officer right now.
¡°Excellent work. However, Clarke, please stop trying to get yourself killed. I know you want to be more useful, but please learn to dodge or block.¡± Rowan didn¡¯t miss the irony of that particular statement, seeing what his fighting style was.
Hells, there was a decent chance the boy had picked up the recklessness from watching him.
¡°Yes, sir,¡± Clarke said reluctantly, eyes downcast.
¡°Oliver, please, for the sake of my sanity, stop swinging so close to your allies. Also, keep in mind that some creatures have acidic, poisonous, or corrosive blood. If you keep splattering them like that, you¡¯ll have to deal with the consequences eventually.¡±
The boy looked sheepish, but also more than a little enthusiastic about splattering more enemies. Rowan just sighed and moved onto the sanest member of their little group.
¡°Flora, amazing work. You supported the two of them with cover fire, didn¡¯t put an arrow into either of them and jumped into melee when you had to. Just make sure not to lose track of how many arrows you have again. You know who to talk to about replenishing those, so do it.¡±
She squeaked out a thank you and then bolted towards a bored-looking party absolutely buried under a ton of bags, a massive backpack, and even a few rolls that held various smaller weapons strapped down and secure for easy transport. They¡¯d get their chance to train and be subbed by a different party soon enough.
When Flora finally came back with a half-full quiver, Rowan sighed. There was still some more work to do here.
He shook his head and stalked forward, heading for the nearest source of noise and combat. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you all to uncommon today so you can actually defend yourselves out there without a chaperone.¡±
¡ª
By the time they were forced to head back to town, Rowan was content. As it turned out, it was kind of easy to force people up to uncommon if you dedicated an entire day to power leveling them in a place with nothing but higher tier enemies.
Since he remembered the baroness¡¯s advice, Rowan had even taken all the rare tier enemies for himself, too. In a way, at least it made sense. His blessing meant that the experience was used to its utmost, boosting the party he was responsible for far faster.
The day had even yielded one final, glorious surprise, and Rowan couldn¡¯t stop grinning as he eyed the card he held. A copy of Rapid Regrowth had been dropped by a particularly nasty giant lizard monster, which actually gave him some trouble in spite of being uncommon.
Not because it threatened his safety, of course.
It had the unnerving ability to detach its tail like regular lizards did, except the detached tail then grew a maw at the stump and tried to munch down on anything living around it. Rowan had barely managed to keep the party accompanying him at the time from getting chewed on.
But the reward was worth the effort and Rowan was loathe to keep waiting. He fished out the extra copies of Persistent Regeneration and Rapid Regrowth and started fusing them together.
The light show caught the attention of the soldiers, but they seemed uninterested when the green light turned blue. But when Rowan unequipped his regeneration card to complete the set of ten, they started paying attention.
Purple light far brighter than any of Rowan¡¯s previous lower-tier fuses lit up the surroundings. Briefly, everyone was blinded, and Rowan blinked away stars to see his brand new card.
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Nature Renewal (Epic, Active)
Your body yearns to restore itself to its natural state no matter the damage dealt to it, drawing on mana, energy reserves, and muscle mass to achieve this quickly. Part of this cost is offset as the body intakes ambient mana. This trait allows lower-level regeneration to be active at all times as a passive effect.
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Rowan felt the change the moment he equipped the card. Each and every one of his cells yearned to be whole, to be flawless. They sucked down on ambient mana, and Rowan felt minor aches, pains, and inconveniences that he didn¡¯t even know existed disappear.
Well, isn¡¯t this nice? Rowan¡¯s smile grew, and it was bordering on malicious as he started to cackle.
If his soldiers stepped further away from him, well, he was too busy feeling happy to care.
Chapter 42: Heartache
Once the excitement of the new card faded slightly and Rowan no longer felt like he was over the moon, he realized that he had messed up.
Fusing the card on the spot was an impulsive decision made out of his desire to avoid delaying the moment. It also meant that each and every one of the soldiers and recruits now knew that the hero had a brand new, epic card added to his deck.
Put simply? The baroness was probably going to kill him when she heard about this.
Well, she¡¯d try, Rowan thought smugly as they approached the ruined town gates, whose repair still hadn¡¯t started. My new card is going to make dying a whole lot more difficult.
The fact that his new card actually drew partially on mana, not to mention ambient mana, was a game changer. If he could master the use of the card, he could still boost his regeneration while sparing its draw on his own mana and bodily resources.
It would be nowhere near the full extent of what the card could do, of course. Still, in a battle? Especially a prolonged one? Any amount of completely free regeneration was invaluable. And with Rowan¡¯s build? He could keep a low-level sacrifice running near indefinitely with Blood for Blood while using Natural Renewal¡®s ambient mana regeneration to restore his body without dipping into Lavish Feasting.
Once he was inside the town, Rowan caught sight of the rest of his party and their respective groups. Out in the waste, he had pushed a little harder and stayed a bit longer, just so that the last of the recruits could hit uncommon.
He sped up, leaving the soldiers a short distance behind him, as he went to rejoin his Olivia and the rest of his party.
Rowan was so caught up in his happiness and desire to brag about his new card that he never even saw the attack coming. There was no warning, no sudden dramatic surge of bloodlust that would alert the hero and allow him to react.
One second, he was happy, healthy and whole. The next, Olivia¡¯s eyes had widened and a long, wickedly curved blade was sticking out of Rowan¡¯s chest.
The next second, the blade¡¯s twin flashed in front of the hero, and dug deep into his throat, opening it up with ridiculous ease.
Blood burst from both wounds as Rowan gasped, the instinctive reaction doing nothing but filling his lungs with blood. If he wasn¡¯t so used to pain, Rowan would probably have collapsed there and then. His throat and chest were gushing blood that his ravaged heart, with a blade in it, pumped through his body.
Instead, with a near-silent hiss replacing the roar Rowan wanted to make, the hero spun around with his spear.
His refusal to drop dead and the sudden movement forced the assassin to let go of the weapon in Rowan¡¯s chest, but the hero was far more thankful for the way his assailant instinctively backed up, creating some distance between them.
It would have been tricky to skewer the assassin with a spear if the man had chosen to stick close to him. As it was, fueled by his anger and his sacrificial card, Rowan drove his spear towards the man¡¯s left arm that still gripped a weapon.
Even in his trance, Rowan knew to not fuel Blood for Blood with that much energy. He could feel the majority of his reserves plummeting as they struggled to repair his body. Still, what energy he did use was more than enough to cause a miniature explosion that blew the man¡¯s arm off at the elbow.
The assassin screamed, eyes wide with pain and fear as he backpedaled further. Rowan snarled out of his healed throat and took a determined step forward, only to falter when the blade in his heart sliced new wounds.
His regeneration was doing its best, but the blade hadn¡¯t been removed, and when the flesh tried to seal over it, the weapon reacted.
Rowan wasn¡¯t sure what the exact enchantments on the thing were, but it was apparently sharp enough that it was slowly sliding its way down his body by sheer virtue of its honed edge.
He fumbled at his back, but his hands were too slicked with blood and the blade¡¯s handle was at too awkward of an angle for him to grip it.
The assassin took the distraction for the opportunity that it was. The masked man dashed for one of the alleys that went between relatively intact houses. Rowan¡¯s soldiers and the twins gave chase, but the man was far too swift, managing to keep ahead of them even with a bleeding stump of an arm.
¡°Rowan!¡± Olivia¡¯s voice let Rowan smile in spite of everything, and the relief that followed when she gripped the blade and ripped it out of his chest was indescribable.
He tried to take a deep breath, but broke into a coughing fit instead. Each heaving cough was accompanied by flecks of blood as his body purged the liquid that was never meant to find its way into his lungs.
A part of Rowan found the whole thing humorous. There he was, in another world, coughing blood like a cultivation protagonist.
The weary chuckle must have worried Olivia because she clasped her hands around his cheeks roughly and forced him to look her in the eye. She obviously never had first aid training. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not healing right? He didn¡¯t even hit you in the head.¡±
Rowan flinched before he realized that she was joking. There was an undercurrent of worry and fear in her voice. He leaned back in and dragged her into a short hug. Olivia hissed something about getting blood all over her, but judging how hard she hugged him back, she didn¡¯t mind. Probably.
¡°We need to catch him. We need him alive,¡± Rowan grunted after a second, letting go and bending down to pick up the spear he dropped in favor of holding her without even meaning to.
Cool swept through him, and he pointed at one of the recruits that had lingered, horrified and confused.
¡°You. I want you to take these blades and get them to the mayor¡¯s manor as quickly as you can. The rest of you follow and protect him.¡± Rowan gave his orders swiftly, eying the hand and part of an arm still gripping one of the blades. ¡°Take the arm too.¡±
Rowan swirled around and stared at the commotion in the distance. The assassin and the soldiers chasing had moved surprisingly far from them in the time for him to fully recover. Without thinking more about it, Rowan sprinted.
It was exhilarating to draw on his dexterity for the first time since his second class evolution, and Rowan realized with a start that he wasn¡¯t nearly as limited in his options to pursue as he thought he was.
Instead of heading for one of the alleys that zigzagged between the crumbling buildings, Rowan ran straight at one of the ruins.
One of the walls had partially collapsed, leaving a jagged splinter of stone that resembled a very dangerous set of stairs. But when Rowan¡¯s feet landed on the stone, they did so with surety and balance the hero still marveled at.
He ran right up to the peak of the collapsed wall, then leapt. He came down on the partially collapsed roof of the next house, and the chase was on.
It was glorious.
Rowan had done exactly zero parkour in either of his worlds. He was sprinting off pure instinct and the keenness of movement afforded to him by his stats and body awareness.
He vaulted over a collapsed portion of a roof. He slid down the cracking shingles, leaving them clattering in his wake, then launched himself off the roof¡¯s edge and onto the next in a move that caused the wall of the ruined building to shudder and collapse.
It was an obstacle course straight out of a video game, and Rowan loved it. What he loved even more was the speed at which he was gaining on the fleeing assassin.
Finally, he was just a few rows of houses away from the action, and he even caught a glimpse of the battle through the breaks between them.
The assassin was faster, better trained, and clearly at the high end of rare. Rowan¡¯s soldiers and the twins weren¡¯t missing an arm and losing a ton of blood though.
Rowan took a special kind of vindictive pleasure at the sight of the damage. And when the assassin reached in one of his pouches and pulled out a potion, Rayne¡¯s whip cracked through the air.
It struck the potion perfectly, sending the liquid and glass shards down on the road.
The assassin tried to retaliate by drawing a throwing dagger from somewhere, but the blow was effortlessly stopped by Marcus¡¯ aura of protection, and the delay allowed the cloud of miasma pursuing the man to finally catch up, clinging to his clothes and further sealing his fate.
That¡¯s when the angry hero made his final leap, eating the impact damage and the havoc it would wreak on his knees in favor of dramatically appearing just a short-distance away from the fight.
Rowan had to admit he loved the flare of fear he saw in his assailant¡¯s eyes and the way even his soldiers flinched. Marcus just grinned, of course, and Milena rolled her eyes.
¡°You¡¯re trapped and without a weapon. If you value your life at all, you will surrender now and be taken into custody,¡± Rowan declared, rubbing his neck as he did. The regenerated skin was still a little tender, even if the tingling feeling was rapidly fading.
The reminder of the assassination attempt did make him wish the assassin refused to comply though. Even with Keen Spear, anger was blazing through Rowan. He would have been dead if it weren¡¯t for his card combination. There was going to be a price that had to be paid.
For some reason, the assassin just stood there, his eyes slowly scanning over the hero party and their arrayed troops. Olivia caught up to them.
¡°There¡¯s nowhere for you to go,¡± Rowan growled. ¡°Surrender now.¡±
The man must have reached the exact same conclusion as Rowan because his shoulders slumped. Relief was just about to enter Rowan¡¯s body when the assassin suddenly collapsed, face buried in the ground.
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Olivia cursed as she rushed forward, and shoved the assassin onto his back. She didn¡¯t even hesitate as she quickly ripped the mask off his face, but by then, it was too late.
The man¡¯s face was melting.
His features were far too damaged to ever make out what he used to look like, and the copious amounts of blood leaking out of his mouth would have been reassurance enough that he was dead all on its own. Its black color and sludge-like quality was only further confirmation.
¡°Poison,¡± Olivia spat, looking incredibly angry. ¡°Potent and fast acting. He was dead before he even hit the ground. Probably had a suicide pill in his mouth the entire time.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t respond.
What was there to say after someone had stabbed him in the back, slit his throat, and then committed suicide?
The man was clearly a professional instead of some opportunistic idiot who got paid a couple gold coins to take out the annoying new mayor. That only left one question. Who?
Rowan assisted Olivia with trying to find the assassin¡¯s identity. The man¡¯s skin was spotless, his pockets empty of everything but the tools of his trade, and even those were rather nondescript.
Hells, even the potions were bog-common, the only hint that there was something special about the man being the fact that he had them at all. Since not even the town¡¯s apothecary had them, that cast suspicion in the direction of the mercenary companies. But this could have just as well been an outsider sent by some noble to carry out the assassination mission.
The final clue were the blades, but those had been sent ahead. Still, no matter how useless the corpse was, Rowan wasn¡¯t about to leave it behind.
¡ª
¡°There¡¯s very little useful information I can offer you about these weapons,¡± Camilla Sutton said, handling the two short swords gently.
¡°Nothing at all? There¡¯s no assassin order who uses blades like it exclusively or something?¡± Rowan sighed, knowing that it was absolutely a ridiculous long shot after how prepared the assassin had been.
That coaxed a smile out of Olivia¡¯s mother, but she shook her head nonetheless. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. They¡¯re obviously enchanted, and enchanted well. Honestly? These are nearly on par with blades I¡¯d feel comfortable using myself. And I¡¯m at epic.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t there a chance we could use that to learn more? People capable of crafting weapons like that aren¡¯t common,¡± Olivia pointed out, somehow angrier over the assassination than Rowan himself was.
¡°They might not be common, but every serious noble house has one in their employ. The only thing this tells us is that your would-be assassin was well-connected. The weapons don¡¯t have a crafter¡¯s mark, for obvious reasons, so hunting down the person who made them is very much a bust,¡± Camilla said.
¡°What about finding the person who sent this guy? I mean, I know that security hasn¡¯t been the best in the town since its near destruction, but I don¡¯t think someone this powerful and high level can just operate out of town without being noticed,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°What makes you so sure he was unnoticed or that he wasn¡¯t a native?¡± the baroness countered, sounding tired. ¡°I am unfortunately fairly certain that he was both known and a local.¡±
Rowan leaned forward immediately, eyes glowing hungrily. ¡°You know him?¡±
¡°Know him? Hardly. However, you might remember that I¡¯ve mentioned a ton of problems in the town, mostly in the form of illegal activity. This place is rife with it. Frontier towns are prone to the problem as it were, but this¡ I honestly don¡¯t know what the previous mayor was doing.¡±
¡°It¡¯s that bad?¡±
¡°It¡¯s that bad. Managing this town has been a headache. Black markets operating in open air, contraband that was kingdom-wide banned, disregarding of laws, including protection of commoners and lower tier individuals, and so, so much more.¡±
Olivia went around the desk and offered her mom a hug.
¡°I apologize,¡± the baroness sighed. ¡°It feels like a lifetime since I came to Rest¡¯s Remorse. Anyway, for your question, Rowan, I¡¯m pretty sure there are underground guilds and a couple black companies operating in this town.¡±
Rowan had no clue what she was talking about, but judging by the gasps and concerned faces, it was pretty important.
¡°Care to clue in the guy who¡¯s not from your world?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Right, sorry. Underground guilds and black companies are, as their names imply, illegal gatherings of people who cannot afford to appear openly in view of both local and international laws.¡±
Camilla paused there, but Olivia was thankfully ready to fill in. ¡°They have banned classes. Some of their members are also wanted criminals, traitors, and fugitives. But the biggest problem is definitely the banned classes.¡±
With a flicker of unease, Rowan recalled what Olivia had said when she reassured him that no one would try to kill him just because his class name sounded edgy. ¡°What are those, exactly? I¡¯ve already seen some classes that sound¡ sketchy. Including my own.¡±
¡°Oh, not yours,¡± Olivia said as a look of understanding dawned on her face. ¡°Banned classes are those who are either outright malignant or whose unlocking requirements are so vile no one will tolerate their holders. The most relevant of those, for you, are demonic classes. They belong to those who accept demonic heart cards and use them to replace their own.¡±
While Olivia explained things, the baroness moved off to one of the cabinets that lined the walls of her temporary office and pulled out a tall bottle of wine and five cups. Rowan raised an eyebrow as Camilla distributed the drinks before collapsing back into her chair with a weary sigh.
¡°What Olivia is missing is that once a corrupted or demonic heart card is accepted, the process warps the user¡¯s class too. These classes are often extremely powerful but come at the cost of the person¡¯s sanity or humanity. All of the people who use them either go mad or gradually transform into demons themselves. Any time we find one, they¡¯re immediately placed on cross-kingdom bounty lists and hunted on sight.¡±
Rowan nodded. ¡°Checks out. What about examples of banned classes? Is it stuff like [Necromancer] and the like?¡±
It was Milena that made a noise of disgust, rolling her eyes so hard that Rowan swore she almost lost them. ¡°Oh please. People always say stuff like that, but necromancy is a perfectly valid and innocent profession. Just because they handle corpses doesn¡¯t make them evil.¡±
¡°True,¡± the baroness interceded. ¡°The classes I¡¯m talking about are much, much worse. [Plague Adherent], for example. To unlock that particular evolution of [Apothecary], you need to purposefully infect at least two hundred people with a deathly illness. Then, there¡¯s the other vile classes, like those that let their users steal stats through torture and other depraved rituals.¡±
Rowan shuddered, suddenly realizing that he definitely didn¡¯t know as much about his new world as he likely should have. But his mind made the connection to something more immediate. ¡°What about [Blood Reaver]? That definitely doesn¡¯t sound like something you¡¯d get for behaving lawfully.¡±
Unfortunately, the baroness just shook her head. ¡°The class has had negative connotations historically. Most earned it through pillage, rape and slaughter. However, it is possible to unlock it through particularly vicious culling of monsters, which Florin claims he¡¯s done.¡±
¡°I doubt that,¡± Marcus muttered, wrinkling his nose. ¡°He smells like he takes regular baths in blood and then rolls around in the corpses afterwards.¡±
¡°There have been aspersions as to the veracity of his claims, but nothing was ever proven,¡± Camilla said. Rowan had noticed some time back that the baroness had a tendency to fall back on formal language when upset.
¡°So what¡¯s our best option?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°Is there anything that we can do? I mean, I¡¯m the mayor, and he¡¯s in my town.¡±
¡°Florin is a man not many like, but whose services many rely on. He¡¯s been building connections to various nobles for decades. The only reason he isn¡¯t at epic already is because, even for him, paying or earning access to an epic ranked dungeon under noble management is highly improbable. That¡¯s the safer option, and he¡¯s enough of a coward to continue working towards it instead of looking for a proper fight out in the wastes. Too risky for him.¡±
The answer was clear. Florin, whether he was a monster or not, was out of their reach.
¡°What is he even doing here then?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°The wastes are right next to us, and this place was recently invaded by an army of demons. If he hates risk so much, why stay? Why come here in the first place?¡±
¡°Good question. The simple answer is, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve written to my husband and some of my contacts, but it will take time for any replies to get to us. This is highly unusual, however. I thought the Mercenary King was the only major player in town, only to find Florin and Tamara, of all people.¡±
Rowan noticed the slight emphasis that Camilla put on the name Tamara. He snuck a glance at Olivia, but his friend¡¯s face betrayed nothing but concern for her mother. The baroness had history with the mage. But Rowan wasn¡¯t about to go poking his nose into her business, seeing as he had no interest in losing it.
¡°So what do we do?¡± Rowan asked.
No one had any answers. Thankfully, the silence was interrupted by a knock at the door. The chamberlain strolled into the room, looking unflappable as ever.
¡°Please tell me you have some good news for us,¡± Rowan said, as he searched for some kind of good news.
¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Lord Rowan. I¡¯ve done as you asked and checked the body after organizing a search in the area where you were attacked. The results, though, are less than ideal,¡± the chamberlain said.
¡°Let me guess, no discernible proof of affiliation on the body, and absolutely no clues on where this guy came from?¡±
¡°Well, that is close enough my lord, yes.¡± The chamberlain hesitated. ¡°However, it appears that the man who attacked you was spotted before.¡±
Instantly, the old man became the center of undivided attention in the room. ¡°Don¡¯t keep us in suspense,¡± Olivia said tensely, and Rowan didn¡¯t like the way her hand twitched towards her potion bag.
¡°The assassin was seen hanging around the city gate you were regularly using for the last few days. He did nothing of note, loitering around and occasionally purchasing some food. He never spoke, never took off his mask, and would vanish every time after purchasing a meal.¡±
Rowan cursed quietly and paced in the confines of the room. The information made him feel stupid.
He knew there were people unhappy with his presence in the town. He also knew that they might eventually try to do something about it.
In spite of that, he¡¯d happily traipsed his way into the wastes and back on the same route every single day. Frankly, it was a bit of a wonder that he hadn¡¯t been attacked earlier.
It wasn¡¯t that Rowan was still angry over the fact that he was attacked. That was unpleasant and it hurt. Still, out of the entirety of their party, he was uniquely suited to surviving the ordeal. Even Marcus, if he was caught off guard and the right weapon and poison combo was used, would die more easily than him.
It was the thought that others could have gotten caught up in the mess that got to him.
What if Olivia had been right next to him and the assassin decided to slit her throat instead of his? After all, most of the time, stabbing someone through the heart was more than enough to keep them down.
I haven¡¯t taken enough precautions. I haven¡¯t organized the army right. I even broke them all up into groups, increasing the odds of an attack. I ¡ª
¡°Rowan!¡± Olivia¡¯s voice snapped Rowan out of his daze, and he froze, rooted to the spot. ¡°Are you back with us now?¡± Olivia was standing right in front of him and looking him in the eye.
Rowan swallowed thickly and looked away. ¡°Yes. Sorry. Did you say something?¡±
¡°We were just talking about increasing patrols and boosting the numbers of guards and soldiers traveling together at the same time. It might not do much, but it might discourage something as blatant as this.¡±
¡°I also believe it would be a good idea to have them on the lookout for anyone suspicious,¡± the chamberlain supplied. ¡°If we¡¯d known about someone watching the gate, then we could have acted earlier.¡±
The baroness disagreed. ¡°No. That would be a waste of time and manpower. How do we even define suspicious? With the number of homeless and destitute in this town, we¡¯d be shaking down every poor soul that dares loiter in place for too long. They don¡¯t deserve that, and it would be pointless besides.¡±
¡°We should offer a reward,¡± Rowan said, eyes sparkling as he happened upon the perfect idea.
¡°A reward? For reporting suspicious activity?¡± The doubt and disapproval in the baroness¡¯s voice was more than enough to communicate her opinion on the matter.
¡°Not that. We should offer a reward for every actionable piece of information people can give us on the assassin. Even if he¡¯s been loitering around the gate for the last few days, where was he before that? He¡¯s not a wraith. He must have traveled through the town to get there. He lived here.¡±
¡°That¡ could work, but, my lord, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t exactly have a lot of resources to pull on for this,¡± Henry said, sounding more than a little apologetic.
¡°Then don¡¯t. Offer a meal to everyone who comes to report something, and tell them that they¡¯ll get an uncommon card if their words lead to anything. I have more than enough of those, for now. I bet we get something useful out of all the reports before I run out.¡±
¡°You might just get a bunch of fake reports,¡± Camilla said.
¡°But it could also work,¡± Rowan insisted.
¡°True. Do it, Henry. Leave the cards you are planning to use for that with me, Rowan,¡± Camilla said.
Rowan turned over the stack of cards he¡¯d earned that way and looked at the chamberlain again, he had been so absorbed with his own problems that he didn¡¯t even realize that the man had a name. Rowan had always known then man as the chamberlain instead of his real name.
¡°This will certainly be helpful. Any cards that you¡¯re not planning to use, scrap, or trade them, I suggest handing over to me. Not just as rewards but in general,¡± the baroness addressed them all. Then, apparently losing patience with them, she motioned towards the door. ¡°Go rest. There¡¯s nothing else we can do today.¡±
They complied.
Rowan headed straight for his room, having taken a quick bath to get rid of all the blood when they arrived. On the way there, however, he had his hand stolen by a certain alchemist.
When she followed him into his room and cuddled up into him, he didn¡¯t protest. That had stopped back when her parents arrived at Felton¡¯s Mill, but that night, Rowan slept better than he had in weeks.
Chapter 43: To Track An Assassin
When the first day passed without any results, Rowan thought that the assassination attempt was going to meet a quiet end. He obviously didn¡¯t know Camilla Sutton, the woman who had once struck fear into the minds of all who opposed her family as duchess, well enough.
As day after day passed with little information, Camilla¡¯s dormant coals of frustration grew into a bonfire of anger. She began taking actions that she probably would have otherwise avoided.
Suddenly, businesses were hit by fines and legal trouble, mercenary companies found their services rebuffed, and certain key establishments, especially those under the mayoral office¡¯s purveyance, were refusing to service outsiders entirely.
The last point became a pretty big deal, especially in a town where everyone was at least nominally loyal to the mayor. The mercenaries would soon find themselves running low on supplies and when that happened, it was anyone¡¯s guess as to what would happen.
¡°Still no information?¡± Rowan asked as he signed the latest orders drafted by Camilla that imposed even more restrictions on the mercenaries. The baroness was playing a dangerous game but it was one Rowan supported wholeheartedly.
¡°Nothing useful. But with more pressure, someone¡¯s bound to step forward,¡± Camilla answered.
¡°Do we really need to keep staying inside?¡± Olivia hissed. ¡°Unless they bring an epic, no one¡¯s going to be able to touch us.¡±
¡°Olivia, you do realize there are people who want you dead out there, and there are more ways to kill a person than in straight combat. Especially when you¡¯re going to be parading in front of them willingly?¡± Camilla countered.
In moments like these, it was easy to see that the baroness wasn¡¯t just worried about Rowan¡¯s life. There was a very real fear that someone would go after her daughter next, who was nowhere near as well-equipped to survive having her heart destroyed as the hero was.
¡°People have wanted to kill me my whole life.¡± Olivia tried a different tact. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me otherwise! The first time someone tried to poison me, I was two years old. I know that for a fact because you keep reminding me of it.¡±
Rowan choked a little on the tea his chamberlain had handed to him.
¡°Exactly. And I¡¯ve kept you alive through all of that. Don¡¯t you think I am keenly aware of what it will take to keep you breathing?¡± Camilla brushed off Olivia¡¯s argument with ease.
¡°Mother, I love you, but I will not abandon the people I consider friends and the responsibilities I¡¯ve taken on in favor of sitting pretty and safe in my room.¡±
¡°You are also free to sit in this office. Maybe finally take the time to learn about governance for once. Seeing as you seem to be keen on eventually marrying a hero, it¡¯s only fair to learn how to act as a lady in your own right,¡± Camilla said, her words finding their mark with deadly accuracy.
Olivia sputtered and Rowan gave a sheepish grin. He noticed that she didn¡¯t actually protest. It was sort of hard to argue the fact that they¡¯d spent the last three days going to bed together. They hadn¡¯t done anything but cuddle and sleep, of course.
¡°We¡¯ve already increased the security around the town,¡± Rowan said. For the time being, he resolved to put his feelings on the subject aside and help sort out the argument. ¡°We¡¯ll alternate our routes out of and coming back into Rest¡¯s Remorse. But we can¡¯t very well abandon all the plans we have, both for the sake of personal growth and the growth of our troops.¡±
For just a moment, the baroness¡¯s eyes flared with something cold and wrathful. Fortunately for Rowan, she took a moment to breathe before speaking up again.
¡°If I find out you took unnecessary risks, any unnecessary risks at all, you won¡¯t need to worry about demons getting to you. Do you two understand me?¡± Camilla said.
In spite of her mother¡¯s anger, Olivia looked nothing short of ecstatic as she bounded over to give her a hug with quiet assurances that she would be fine, before fleeing the room quickly to resume her regular preparations for the next day¡¯s hunting.
Rowan could have just fled himself. However, curiosity got the best of him. ¡°Why? I mean, I¡¯m glad you agreed, but why?¡±
¡°Because she¡¯s not just my daughter anymore,¡± Olivia¡¯s mother admitted, pain in her voice. ¡°She has her own goals and responsibilities now. If I continue pretending that¡¯s not the case, she¡¯ll just grow to resent me eventually.¡±
Rowan couldn¡¯t find the words to respond to that. He nodded solemnly and managed a quick sentence before he left.
¡°I¡¯ll do my best to take care of her.¡±
¡ª
¡°We¡¯re almost done with the basic prep.¡± Rowan¡¯s eyes glided over the rows of soldiers marching back to town, and there was no denying the surge of pride and happiness in him.
Within a week of starting their live training, the recruits were already showing remarkable results and becoming real soldiers. However, higher levels only told part of the story, and a very incomplete one, at that.
All of the new soldiers were now at uncommon. One very rare, and very valuable class had even been dragged up to rare. In the spear division, one of the soldiers had managed to land the [Standard Bearer] at the uncommon tier. In its rare form? It was a game changer.
¡°Only the basics, hmm? Not going to declare us ready to explore the wider area, and even launch an expedition of our own?¡± Olivia teased, but Rowan could detect a hint of underlying seriousness.
He hesitated. ¡°We might be able to, honestly. We have a lot of rare classes, which is rare enough in any army apparently. The additional recruits we just got would make things a whole lot easier too. But if we bite off more than we can chew, the whole thing could collapse,¡± Rowan said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford a defeat. Not yet.¡±
¡°Then we¡¯ll stay the path,¡± Olivia declared. ¡°We have time. We don¡¯t need to rush into any decisions yet.¡±
¡°We have some time. Which is slipping away from us already,¡± Rowan sighed, and took a moment to look around.
Thanks to Camilla, the town was in a better state. Most of the rubble had been cleared, while the collapsed houses were demolished and scavenged for any and all useful material. In other words, the town looked cleaner, and the plots of land where houses once stood showed promise of a better future.
¡°You¡¯re worried about the expedition?¡± Olivia guessed.
¡°Yeah,¡± Rowan admitted. ¡°It¡¯s better if we face the challenge head on, like we¡¯ve been doing.¡±
¡°You mean I¡¯ll be forced to watch while you do something borderline suicidal?¡± Olivia quipped and Rowan¡¯s face twitched slightly. Recently, Olivia began using comments and other little things to remind him when he stepped too far out of line.
It happened when he did or said something stupid, just like when he charged a rare tier, odd-looking mud crab monster that almost bisected him with its claws. Learning what exactly would happen if he took damage like that wasn¡¯t in his plans for the day, so after a quick use of Blood for Blood, Rowan emerged victorious and in one whole piece.
That did get him thinking about the limits of Natural Renewal combined with Lavish Feasting. Knowing what he could survive was important in judging the risks he could take for the future. But that experiment would have to wait.
¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to wait until the kingdom forces the issue. If we leave early, we can decide what to do instead of having to follow their demands,¡° Rowan explained.
¡°That¡ makes sense, I suppose. Our king hasn¡¯t been very sensible or reasonable as of late.¡± Olivia grumbled, no doubt thinking about her father¡¯s political position. Rowan knew he didn¡¯t have the full picture there, and whenever he tried to subtly ask, she would rebuff him.
Politely, but firmly.
¡°Do you think we could have everything ready to go in a couple of days? I realize this might not be the ideal timing, but then again, it might be useful to get out of the town while your mother figures out the assassination attempt,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Possibly. You do remember that you asked me to prepare a whole lot of different, often highly situational, potions, right?¡±
¡°I know.¡±
Rowan tensed slightly as he noticed a few pairs of eyes watching him. At the moment, they were too far to be a threat. Ever since the assassination attempt, they were giving assailants no easy opportunities.
For starters, the hero party stuck together, no longer disbanding to optimize the army training schedule. That meant Rowan was under Marcus¡¯ meticulous aura protection at all times. The shield bearer¡¯s ability to use his aura as a damage sponge was prodigious. His own vitality stats allowed him to shrug off damage that would take his sister¡¯s or Olivia¡¯s life.
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Second, Rowan had his own healing combination. He made sure to never overtax Lavish Feasting during normal fighting. The extra energy from the card might be the difference between life and death.
And third, the group was in the middle of an entire army. Around them were rows of soldiers, all looking ready for war and pretty pissed at the prospect of someone trying to kill their mayor. Rowan¡¯s soldiers, new and old, really did seem to love him. A part of that was self-interest in that Rowan was willing to share experience and card drops. But there also seemed to be a deeper loyalty, they were following a hero who genuinely had their best interests in mind.
¡°I just hope something happens, soon. Mom is going to be absolutely enraged if we fail to discover anything in the end, and trust me, no one wants to deal with her when she¡¯s like that.¡±
¡ª
Olivia¡¯s words were nearly prophetic, since the baroness¡¯s mood went lower and lower the longer they went without results. This, in turn, resulted in harsher treatment for the guilds and companies in the town.
Finally, it got bad enough that Camilla won a Pyrrhic victory.
¡°They¡¯re finally starting to crack. I knew they would, eventually, but I was really starting to think I¡¯d have to do something drastic to bring them to that point soon,¡± Camilla explained to Rowan and Olivia after they returned from their latest leveling trip.
Rowan didn¡¯t want to imagine what drastic meant to the baroness. Half the taxation documents he had stamped were severe enough that the town¡¯s own income was suffering.
¡°What did they say?¡± Olivia asked.
¡°That two-bit mage and the Mercenary King messaged us. The latter to show support and deny any and all involvement in the attack. The former to express her condolences and apologies over not being more useful for our investigation. The problem is, I think they¡¯re being sincere,¡± Camilla said.
¡°That¡¯s a good thing right?¡± Rowan asked, failing to see the reason why the news was making the baroness frown so much. ¡°I thought we wanted more allies.¡±
¡°Yes, but we¡¯re never going to have that¡ mage, on our side. The same applies to Blood Reaver. They¡¯d both sell us out in a second if they could. The Mercenary King is different, of course, but¡¡±
But, he was also the Mercenary King. The man had already stated that he wasn¡¯t going to help in the expeditions. Short a miracle, nothing was going to budge the troops under the Mercenary King.
¡°What about Blood Reaver? Has he contacted us?¡±
¡°No.¡± Camilla looked conflicted. ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious he knows something.¡±
¡°So he¡¯s our main suspect?¡±
¡°Not yet. There¡¯s something here that I¡¯m missing. Something that explains all of this.¡±
¡ª
It was another day before a letter from Florin arrived, expressing his regret over the attack and the difficulties they were facing due to the less scrupulous members of the mercenary profession. He didn¡¯t share any relevant information about the assassination attempt. Just a bland letter for the sake of sending a letter.
Just a couple hours after Florin¡¯s letter, a second one from Tamara arrived.
Rowan and the rest of the hero party were summoned to Camilla¡¯s office and found the baroness stalking around the room in short, frighteningly controlled steps.
Taking the letter, Rowan¡¯s eyes catching on the relevant paragraphs quite easily in spite of the rambling nature of the text itself.
It has come to my attention that certain, less trustworthy members of my new profession have taken residence in the Rose¡¯s Delight inn. Their activities have been growing increasingly rowdy as of late, which is why my apprentices heard about them.
I¡¯ve taken the liberty of looking into them, at least superficially. I have to say that they are worryingly well-equipped, and that it seems like they won¡¯t be running out of funds any time soon.
They certainly don¡¯t seem to think so, if the way they¡¯re acting is anything to judge by.
The rest of the letter, before and after those lines, was useless.
¡°What does this mean?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°Well-equipped. Won¡¯t run out of funds soon. Does that mean there¡¯s a noble backing them?¡±
¡°Most definitely,¡± Camilla answered. ¡°I bet that she knows who. But she¡¯s dangling that information in front of us as bait. She¡¯ll never tell us. She just wants to know how much we know.¡±
¡°And what do we know?¡± Rowan said.
¡°Not enough.¡±
Rowan resisted the urge to frown. These days, his emotions didn¡¯t bubble up to his face as often. It had started back at the village when Bron taught him about what it meant to lead men. Slowly but surely, Rowan was getting better control of his emotions, even without Keen Spear.
The current situation was sorely testing his patience though. If there was another faction backed by nobles in the town, that just made the whole situation a lot more complicated.
¡°I say we hit first,¡± Olivia said. ¡°Honestly, I can whip up some kind of fire accelerant. More homes around here are made of stone, but it¡¯s not impossible for them to catch fire. Have them meet us on our territory.¡±
Rowan looked at Olivia blankly for several moments, before her suggestion caught up with him. ¡°Olivia! We¡¯re not committing arson. Especially with bystanders in the building.¡±
His slightly murderous alchemist sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right. It would be awfully hard to get any evidence if it all went up in flames.¡±
¡ª
The baroness had the inn watched for the last six hours while Rowan put things in place, soldiers strategically moving into the district in pairs of twos and threes.
It was a hard task. The Rose¡¯s Delight inn was too central on the street it was located on and soldiers didn¡¯t make for the best spies. Still, by some miracle, the enemy group didn¡¯t notice them. People came and went from the inn, armored but not jumpy.
For the last two hours, Rowan decided to watch the inn himself. At first, things looked normal but as time went on, fewer and fewer people began to exit the somewhat large building.
They know. I don¡¯t know how but they know that we¡¯re here. And now they¡¯re preparing a counterattack, Rowan thought. He signaled for the rest of his party to be alert.
As the minutes passed and nothing happened, Rowan began to doubt his judgement. He started to develop a slight headache. One second, he was staring at an innocuous person crossing the street, the next, he was blinking stars out of his eyes. He forced himself to relax and when he finally unclenched his shoulder muscles, the pain in his head eased too.
¡°We should go,¡± Olivia whispered.
¡°Everyone¡¯s in position? Perimeter is set up? I don¡¯t want any of them escaping,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Not even a mouse can slip through undetected,¡± Olivia confirmed.
¡°Then let¡¯s do it.¡±
Rowan gave the signal and soldiers popped up from their hiding spot. One more hand movement and everyone was charging toward the inn.
The hero party was in full fighting formation as it burst through the door of the inn. Marcus was in the lead with Rowan just behind. Olivia and Milena were side by side in the back, ready to give support if they encountered a foe.
They didn¡¯t.
Rowan slowed down his step as he took in the insides of the inn. It was a charnel house. There wasn¡¯t a single surface that wasn¡¯t stained in blood in some way.
The teams of mercenaries, oddly well-equipped but otherwise unremarkable, were sitting around the tables. Most of them still had half-full drinks in front of them. Some of the mercenaries had managed to react and died with a weapon in hand. It didn¡¯t seem to make a difference, seeing how they still died in the end.
Near the back of the room was the person Rowan assumed to be the leader. She was a head taller than everyone else and had been nursing a pint of lager when she died. Her killer had somehow dealt a lethal blow before she could even put down her drink and she bled with the tankard still in her hand. Blood spooled out of her wounds and dripped onto the table and floor below.
The worst, for Rowan at least, were the staff.
One of the terrified waiters was nailed to the wall by an axe that had been driven through his stomach, handle first. A waitress laid on the floor, the only thing distinguishing her from the mercenaries was her apron. Another waitress and what he assumed was the matron of the establishment were slumped over the counter that served as the divider between the tavern and the kitchen.
With morbid curiosity, Rowan noted that the attacker had broken off the leg of a chair and driven it through the matron¡¯s eye as the killing blow.
No one spoke, for a little while.
¡°How? We were all out there. We saw some of these people enter the inn!¡± Marcus whispered. ¡°We should have heard or seen something.¡±
The slaughter had happened right under their noses.
Rowan glanced back at the soldiers still crowding the doorway and realized they needed to control the situation.
¡°Officers only. Everyone else, stay back. Spread out. Look upstairs. Actually, scratch that, we¡¯ll take the upper floor. Stay here and don¡¯t let anyone else come or go,¡± Rowan commanded.
Now that his hasty instructions were given, Rowan led the way up the stairs, cautious and angry. Marcus followed second. The formation felt instinctive. Marcus had a defensive aura, which meant that he could provide protection without encumbering Rowan¡¯s attacks. More importantly, the shield bearer in the second spot meant he was closer to the girls and more readily capable of helping them.
The second floor was more of the same.
Every single room had a corpse or two, save for the ones that were completely empty.
The trend continued until they reached the final room, and realized that it had once been a mix of bedroom and study. Rowan used the word ¡®was¡¯ because the room had been entirely ransacked.
Papers were strewn all about the floor, furniture was broken and shattered, making the floor a minefield of splinters, and, Rowan noted, there were a few dying embers in the room¡¯s fireplace.
¡°Shit, they burned everything,¡± Rowan cursed.
¡°What about these papers?¡± Marcus bent down to pick up some of them.
¡°Probably useless.¡± Rowan crouched down to look at a couple of them. Most were blank and the ones that had writing on them talked about mundane things. It was a dead end. Someone had beat them to the inn and made sure that nothing, person or paper, could give Rowan a clue about who was here. ¡°Shit.¡±
Rowan sent some of the officers on the first floor to still pick up the papers and comb through them for any hints of who the mercenaries were or what they were doing in Rest¡¯s Remorse. On instinct, he called in a couple of the soldiers and pointed at the corpses.
¡°Search them. If you know anyone who has a heart card good for this kind of stuff, bring them. Anything goes,¡± Rowan said.
Almost as soon as his voice fell, a hand near the back of the crowd of soldiers shot up. Rowan motioned the soldier to the front and was surprised to see Clarke.
¡°I found this in one of the bodies near the door. I thought he looked funny. He had this in his mouth,¡± Clarke said as he offered a bundle of fabric forward.
Rowan took the fabric and gently unfurled the strands to reveal what it held. After a few passes, he found that the fabric had a pattern and held a signet ring. Both had the same symbol. An eye, rays of sunlight that formed lashes, and a crown hovering at the top.
¡°How did you think to look there?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Um, you met the doctor. Before I became a soldier, he had me helping with all sorts of things, while we took care of these two.¡± Clarke motioned at his party members. ¡°Lots of the little ones used to try and hide meds in their mouths, and especially under the tongue. So, I guess I picked up a thing to two. His face just looked¡ off.¡±
¡°You certainly did. Thank you,¡± Rowan stated honestly, still eying the crest before turning to Olivia and arching his brow.
¡°Can¡¯t help you much here, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Olivia answered. ¡°That doesn¡¯t belong to a noble, but that¡¯s all I can tell you. I¡¯m not exactly up to date with illegal guilds and mercenary companies enough to be of help. What I can tell you is that what we found was put there by the man himself.¡±
¡°So, you mean, he wanted someone to find the crest? That why he stuffed it in his mouth?¡±
¡°Judging by the torn and desecrated bodies of some of these corpses around us, yes. It seems like every shred of their affiliation was removed and carefully destroyed. He probably wanted someone to know at least a hint of truth about this place.¡±
Now that she pointed it out and Rowan looked more closely, it was true. Lines that were far too pale around people¡¯s fingers showed where they used to wear bands just like the one in his hands. Patches of clothes where an insignia should have gone were also missing.
Rowan just stared at the trinkets the man had so desperately wanted to safeguard and promised that he would get to the bottom of everything. No matter what it took.
Chapter 44: A Moment of Levity
The aftermath of the massacre was enough to disrupt the whole town for days to come.
Someone had slipped under the nose of the army, including the hero party, and slaughtered a whole inn¡¯s worth of people before slipping out unnoticed. All Rowan had for his efforts were a symbol hidden by a dead man.
¡°Why did I have to open my mouth and suggest a festival?¡± Rowan complained, dodging yet another thorn-covered vine on his way out of the wastes.
¡°Because you¡¯re worried and you like to do nice things. To be fair though, the jury is still out on the topic of your intelligence,¡± Olivia teased, light on her feet and words because she wasn¡¯t contributing to the transport of their hunt¡¯s haul.
¡°I thought your mother was going to order a massacre,¡± Rowan protested. ¡°I said the first thing that came to my mind.¡±
When Camilla Sutton had heard about what happened, she was absolutely livid. The fact that someone had ventured into their town and done such a thing? She was ready to flip the town upside down to find the culprit. It was beyond the fact that someone tried to assassinate the hero. It implied that someone or some force had strong, durable roots in the local settlement, and that no one was safe in the long term, from mayor to maid.
¡°She wouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Olivia said, serious now. ¡°Someone who could do all that while we were outside would have to be either a very strong rare or epic. Even if we turned Rest¡¯s Remorse upside down, we wouldn¡¯t find them.¡±
¡°Either way, I¡¯m glad we have a festival instead of some kind of austerity,¡± Rowan said. He had suggested the event to alleviate the mood of the town.
The only silver lining of the massacre was that Rowan had positioned the army to stop bystanders from wandering into the street which meant that news hadn¡¯t spread throughout the town. As far as most people in Rest¡¯s Remorse knew, their mayor and hero had suffered an assassination attempt and this was a triumph against the enemy.
An exciting, positive public event was just the sort of idea that Rowan¡¯s tired brain could come up with to turn the mood of the town around.
That was why, for the first time since their training outings into the wastes, the army was hauling monster parts back to the town. They had elected to leave corpses behind in the past to stay nimble. But today, they needed to show their progress in more substantial forms.
The only ones spared from having to lug dead monsters were the support classes with the wrong stat distribution to meaningfully contribute. At the moment, there were exactly three of those in the army. A shaman, an alchemist, and a standard-bearer.
¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t help out somehow, my lord?¡± the anxious-looking standard-bearer inquired.
¡°You get to sit out today, Burke. Just be quiet and happy for it. Trust me, you don¡¯t want to be carrying a bunch of meat around in the humid confines of a jungle,¡± Rowan said.
Burke was, like Rayne, one of Rowan¡¯s unexpected finds in the army. Even when nothing wrong was happening, the man looked vaguely worried. Burke claimed it was his eyebrows. They did, admittedly, give his entire face a complexion of quiet concern. Rowan though it was more than that. The eyebrows didn¡¯t help, but Burke had a permanent slouch, like he was expecting a blow at any time, and would wring his hands like something was on his mind.
But appearances were deceiving. The man was one of the bravest and most loyal soldiers of Rowan¡¯s army. Burke had received the class and embraced it about as well as anyone could have. Although his physical stats were far behind his peers, he would charge ahead of the army, inspire bravery, and offer buffs to the men and women behind him.
¡°Maybe we should get you some more monster meat to carry, hm? Rowan?¡± Olivia teased.
Rowan ignored her. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they¡¯d be heading to the square immediately after their return for the planned festivities, Rowan would have liked to spend a solid hour straight washing himself.
Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t long before they broke through the cover of trees and today, the outline of the town in the distance was practically glowing.
The people under Camilla had gone full out on the preparations for the day. In spite of the approaching darkness of the night, the town was brighter than ever. The sound of song and music even carried all the way to the army.
As the army drew closer to the gate, they were greeted by a myriad of happy and hungry faces. Rowan¡¯s soldiers fanned out and surrounded the hero party, keeping them firmly in the middle of the press of bodies.
Rowan waited until they were close enough that he could see the eyes of the town¡¯s residents and hear their words.
¡°People of Rest¡¯s Remorse,¡± Rowan called out. ¡°Your army has returned. We¡¯ve slain the monsters plaguing this town and taken the best cuts. The meat is for you. Only by sticking together through thick and thin can we rise above the demons. Enjoy.¡±
In less than a few minutes after entering the town, most of the soldiers were relieved of their burden. The citizens, like an industrious line of ants, quickly funneled the meat toward the town center, where bonfires blazed. The group of soldiers with Rowan¡¯s party in the middle of the army moved slower, but that was mostly owed to Rowan refusing to relinquish his own pile of monster parts.
Part of that came down to him wanting to finish the journey on his own. Part was guarding his party¡¯s portion of the upcoming meals, since an assassin could easily find a chance to apply poison. Finally, a very frustrating chunk of this came from Camilla¡¯s advice.
She wanted people to see their hero working and sweating to provide for them. Even if none of them personally ate the meat he brought in, it would leave an impression that said their new mayor was doing his best to help the town. It was more than a little manipulative, but Rowan saw no legitimate reason to deny her request. Town management, he was learning, was full of these small tricks that chained together to something greater.
Once they finally made it to the square, Rowan dropped his burden and fully appreciated what Camilla Sutton had been able to organize.
The festivities weren¡¯t overly ostentatious, or even a true festival at all. However, the baroness had sourced chefs to cook all the meat and plenty of drink to go around. That appeared to be all the people of Rest¡¯s Remorse really needed.
After making sure that his meal was well guarded, Rowan made his way toward Camilla. Ironically, the baroness responsible for the festival stuck to the stage that had been erected for recruitment and kept herself separate from the celebratory mood. Rowan watched as she nursed a drink and scanned over the crowd, pausing only on the mercenaries who joined the festival and were enjoying the atmosphere.
¡°You think they¡¯ll cause trouble?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Hmm?¡± Camilla blinked before refocusing on the hero. ¡°Oh no, they wouldn¡¯t dare. But it¡¯s good for them to know that I¡¯m watching them. Metaphorically and literally.¡±
¡°Got it. Remind me to never cross you,¡± Rowan deadpanned.
A slight smile graced Camilla¡¯s face as she turned away from Rowan and stood, pulling herself to her full length above the crowd below.
¡°A moment of your attention, please!¡± As always, Camilla¡¯s voice carried easily, seemingly with no real effort on her part. The festival slowed to a halt as conversations quickly disappeared. ¡°I would like to take a moment to thank Hero Rowan for helping organize this event. Your new mayor has both graciously provided the food for this gathering¡ and offered up the cards he and his party have fought and bled for in order to make the event more exciting!¡±
Of course, every single soul, from the most hopeless commoner to the most excited mercenary, knew what she was talking about. The festival wasn¡¯t just about food and drink. They had attached an opportunity to the event: the card trading market.
¡°As you may well know, for the next twenty-four hours, everyone is invited to relax, feast, and browse the cards on offer. We have both an excellent collection of cards up to and including the rare tier, as well as a significant number of scrap cards of every rarity for purchase.
¡°If you¡¯re lucky, you might just have the opportunity to set yourself and your family up for life! So, please, be merry and enjoy yourselves. I hope this will be a day you fondly remember for a very long time.¡±
A deafening applause and roars of approval answered Camilla¡¯s speech and Rowan let it push him into one of the plush, comfortable seats that had been set up on the stage.
Camilla walked back from the edge of the stage and saw Rowan¡¯s expression of content. ¡°You look like you just avoided a fatal disaster.¡±
¡°I really thought you were going to make me join you and give a speech.¡± Rowan admitted. The prospect of talking to hundreds, even thousands, of people didn¡¯t terrify him quite as much as it used to, but if the goal was to relax and enjoy the day, he definitely didn¡¯t want to kick things off that way.
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¡°Not today.¡± Camilla had a small smile on her lips. ¡°Rowan, you know, you¡¯ve been nothing but surprises for me. At first, I thought that you were just going to be another hero who came to our world for a quick trip. But you weren¡¯t. So today, you get to spend time with my daughter and simply enjoy yourself. Next time, though? It¡¯ll be you giving the speech instead of me. You know that you¡¯re at the center of all this.¡±
Rowan knew. He really did. With everything that was coming, he could hardly afford to pretend that he could stay by the side forever. The different clashing spheres of influence, desire, and thirst for power all had him in the middle. So far, he¡¯d even taken some of the power for himself, even if it was only to protect the people he cared about.
¡°I think I¡¯ll ask Olivia to take a walk with me,¡± Rowan tried, giving Camilla another look.
¡°Just remember what I told you about security. You can¡¯t very well be of use to anyone if you¡¯re not around anymore.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t reply, but he did subtly motion at some of the soldiers who were still on-duty for the current shift to follow at a respectable yet actionable distance. Quite frankly, though, he didn¡¯t see as much point in it as Olivia¡¯s mother did.
The two of them were stronger than most soldiers. So if anyone could protect Olivia, it would be him. In spite of that, it was better to keep the baroness happy.
Rowan found Olivia easily enough. She was just a short-distance away, chatting with an older lady who roasted the meat they¡¯d brought in. She was using a custom blend of spices, which he figured was the reason she caught Olivia¡¯s eye in the first place.
Rowan paused. He watched the way Olivia¡¯s face flickered against the fire, the way she was relaxed and at ease for the first time in a considerable time. There was some of that underlying tension still there but for the first time in a while, she wasn¡¯t thinking about how to kill monsters or practice chucking her combat potions.
I should do more events like this. If only for what it does for Olivia.
A few moments later, Olivia somehow felt his eyes on her and looked around. Their eyes met. Rowan¡¯s feet took him closer to her.
¡°Would you like to walk around with me? Just the two of us? As a date?¡±
Rowan waited. He could feel each beat of his heart in his ears. He wondered how he could possibly be so bad at the whole thing. It wasn''t his first experience with dating, but it sure felt like he was doing it all anew. For the first time, Rowan wondered what his intelligence and wisdom stats were doing.
All they seemed to do was make his mana pool bigger or speed up his mana regeneration.
¡°I¡¯d absolutely love that,¡± Olivia chirped. Before Rowan knew what was happening, they were strolling down the street, each with a skewer of meat in their hands.
Rowan took a tentative bite and remembered the day he first tried the corrupted squirrel. There was no question that Olivia had good taste. The skewers with the lady¡¯s special spice blend were scrumptious. He tried to commit the seller¡¯s face to memory, but it kept escaping him. He was just happy to be spending time with Olivia, alone.
¡°What¡¯s your favorite memory?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± Olivia gave him a confused look, like the route he was taking through their conversation didn¡¯t fit her expectations.
¡°We¡¯ve been training and fighting ever since we got to know each other. It¡¯s been nonstop.¡± Rowan lifted his hand and brought Olivia¡¯s with his. ¡°But this is nice. I really like this. Right now is probably one of my favorite memories since I came to this world.¡±
Olivia took a moment to think as her face went blank. ¡°Before all of this. Back when father was still a duke. Everyone was always busy, mother, father, and brother, but one day, they took a break. It wasn¡¯t even a holiday or a birthday or anything. We just spent the time together and went on a picnic at a lake. It wasn¡¯t just us, but I remember how happy I was. I remember how wonderful the lake looked.¡±
Halfway through the description, Rowan stiffened slightly for two very different reasons. The first was Olivia herself. She wasn¡¯t quite like him. Rowan never had a ton of friends, and for the most part, he was okay with that. She, on the other hand, thrived in the company of others. Sought it out. The second reason was because like Olivia, Rowan had a family. It was easy to forget that sometimes when fighting monsters with a spear but he had been in this world for months now, alone. He also couldn¡¯t fully commit to staying. Not yet. So if their relationship progressed and one day the demon king was defeated?
Rowan shook his head, refusing to think about that.
¡°What about you? Favorite memory?¡± Olivia asked back.
It took a while for Rowan to shake his thoughts back into place. When they did, he dug through them for a cherished memory. ¡°It was when I got my own apartment for the first time. Think of a castle but a different person lives in every room. I was in college and I couldn¡¯t wait. Wait, do you know what college is?¡±
¡°Some kind of guild?¡± Olivia guessed.
¡°Close enough. Anyways, I had a terrible time at college before. Then I moved out to my own place and I got a pet cat. It was bliss. All alone with a nice warm drink and a feline friend. I was happy.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fun,¡± Olivia said as she shot him a grin and pulled food from a vendor and shoved it in his direction.
Rowan was about to warn about poison before remembering who he was with. If Olivia¡¯s experiments were anything to go by, she was an expert in all things toxic.
Fifteen minutes later, Rowan was regretting not stopping things sooner.
¡°This fruit juice. I haven¡¯t had it since I was a kid,¡± Olivia said, radiant as ever. ¡°You should try it.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to puke if I eat anything else,¡± Rowan tried.
¡°Juice doesn¡¯t count.¡± Olivia thrust the drink forward again. ¡°Come on. Just try a little sip.¡±
Rowan took the fruit juice and drank it down. A small part of him hoped he would throw up on her shoes. To his chagrin, he both liked it and didn¡¯t puke.
It was the little things that made his evening. The way she smiled at him when she thought he wasn¡¯t looking. The way she grinned when she knew he was. And the way she pushed him out of his comfort zone and tried to get him to try as many things as possible.
Rowan could honestly say that he was having more fun with Olivia Sutton that he ever did with Blake and Kayla or their¡ final, half-forgotten friend who didn¡¯t need to go through the horrors of being summoned to another world.
Olivia knew it too. She was gradually honing in on Rowan¡¯s tastes. At first, he liked about sixty percent of the stuff she was handing him. By the end, everything she gave him was wonderful and each time, Olivia had a tiny smile to go with the food.
Can I really go back to my own world when this is all over? Work a normal job and forget about the time I was a hero and fighting for my life? Or Olivia?
In that moment, Rowan wished desperately that he could take Olivia with him when he went back. But, even if that were possible, he¡¯d be stealing her from everyone who she knew and placing her in a very, very confusing society.
Olivia ran off to one of the food stalls to the side and bought a mountain of food. Before Rowan could protest, she took a giant bite, leaving cheap sauce all over her left cheek.
Olivia belongs in this world. And maybe, just maybe, so do I.
That kind of resolution felt like it should be accompanied by a sufficiently dramatic gesture. Rowan leaned in. Somehow, Olivia intuited what he was about to do. He could almost taste their last dish on her lips, even though their lips hadn¡¯t touched yet.
¡°I am so very glad that I could find you, Mayor Rowan.¡± The cool voice of Tamara cut through the refreshing evening air, and Rowan jerked away from Olivia as quickly as he could.
Olivia spun around and glared at the disgraced mage with such vitriol it could have spontaneously turned into a deadly spell, or at least a potion recipe she could brew and poison the woman with later.
¡°Can I help you?¡± Rowan asked brusquely.
¡°Do I come at a wrong time?¡± Tamara asked, suddenly wary and a bit confused. She seemed to genuinely not understand what had almost happened before she arrived, so Rowan decided to cut her a bit of slack.
¡°No, it¡¯s fine. What did you want to say?¡± Rowan said.
¡°Hero Rowan, I want you to know I had nothing to do with the assassin. If you tried, you could probably dig up some kind of link between us. That¡¯s also true for every mercenary in this town. Not everything is as clean as people would like to pretend it is,¡± said Tamara.
¡°And why are you telling me this?¡±
¡°Because, as far as I¡¯m aware, we have common enemies, you and I.¡±
¡°Who?¡±
¡°The person who believes she¡¯s the mayor.¡±
¡°Really? What makes you think I¡¯m against the parents of the girl I am honestly extremely fond of?¡± Rowan said, his anger coming back again.
¡°I¡¯m not strictly opposed to your in-laws.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t even bother with the correction. ¡°I¡¯ll note that you very carefully didn¡¯t say you¡¯re not opposed to me. That¡¯s a bit of a concerning start for an alliance, isn¡¯t it?¡±
The mage arched a brow as Rowan smiled back. That¡¯s right, I¡¯m a relatively quick study, and Camilla is scary when she wants you to memorize stuff like picking out hidden meanings in words.
¡°I understand,¡± Tamara said as she relaxed her shoulders. ¡°Let me say this then. I¡¯m not directly opposed to you. I have my goals, yes, and have to represent the goals of certain interested parties. However, there¡¯s very little you have to worry about from me.¡±
¡°And why should I believe you?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Because I¡¯m here.¡±
¡°What about your fellows? Blood Reaver and the Mercenary King?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure, at least when it comes to Florin. The Mercenary King is, was, and always will be loyal to the letter of the law. Even if he¡¯s sometimes reluctant to follow through on the spirit of the agreements he¡¯s signed.¡±
¡°The Mercenary King?¡± Rowan was really enjoying the use of these questions. He didn¡¯t need to offer any new information while extracting the maximum possible from the woman.
¡°It¡¯s a small thing. Unless you go around kicking kittens and puppies for fun, he won¡¯t bother you. He¡¯s rather fond of animals.¡±
¡°And Florin?¡±
¡°Ah, yes, Florin. Good old Florin. Don¡¯t trust the snake, hero, no matter what he offers you. People tend to just die or disappear when it¡¯s convenient for him. Can¡¯t say too much on the subject of morality because I¡¯m not much better myself. But, if he lives by any kind of code or believes in loyalty, it¡¯s only to himself. First and foremost, always.¡±
Rowan frowned. None of this was new information but it almost sounded like she was sincerely trying to warn him of something. He took a second look at her. For a second, he wasn¡¯t sure if he was still talking to Tamara. This woman was far more open. Far easier to see through. Flecks of her emotions seeped through the fa?ade like she was a novice at the art of negotiations. This didn¡¯t seem like it was the same woman he had met at the gathering.
Before Rowan could ask his next question, he was distracted by his spear. The weapon was turning cold and there was a cool stream trying to sneak up his arm. He looked down and noticed that it was struggling against something.
When the stream shattered against something strong and resilient, Rowan was suddenly the recipient of a mild headache. He looked to find Olivia stumbling slightly, slipping on the slight indentation of a sewer grate.
Rowan turned to face the mage. She was gone.
¡°Well, that was something. Suitably creepy. What was Tamara even trying to do?¡± Rowan muttered, drawing closer to Olivia.
¡°I think we need to talk to my mother about the whole thing,¡± Olivia said, looking around to see if the woman was still next to them.
¡°You think it can wait?¡± Rowan asked.
Olivia shrugged. ¡°It can wait. Whatever she or the Reaver wants to do, I doubt it¡¯ll happen tomorrow. We have better things to do today.¡±
Indeed, they did.
The mood, after their near kiss, was far better. Rowan knew she was interested. And now, she knew Rowan was too. From there, there was no reason to rush things.
They toured the celebration, checked out the cards people had traded, and even looked at the cards the mercenaries were peddling alongside the main attractions.
The selection wasn¡¯t great, and it catered mostly to uncommon and common classes. Still, it was something, and it definitely helped broaden Rowan¡¯s horizons on what cards made possible in his new world.
That evening, the two were once again together, and Rowan couldn¡¯t help but notice that for all the teasing, Olivia¡¯s family had never actively gotten in their way of exploring their feelings.
But with Olivia¡¯s warmth in his arms, that hardly seemed to matter.
He didn¡¯t even notice the ease with which he left his weapon by the door.
Chapter 45: Duty
The next morning, Rowan realized that it was time.
He had dragged his feet the past few days with the festival and everything. He was as ready as he would ever be. It was time for him to do his duty, to lead expeditions into the waste.
With Olivia, he slipped into the meeting room with the chamberlain and the baroness on the particularly chilly morning and shared the good news.
¡°The preparations are mostly complete. The old army is now entirely at the rare tier and several of the most promising new recruits are starting to bump up against that tier as well,¡± Rowan stated proudly.
Unfortunately, Rowan seemed to be the only one who was excited about that. The chamberlain was still doubtful of the effectiveness of putting so much experience into the hands of non-elites while Camilla had grudgingly accepted Rowan¡¯s strategy. He still hoped that the results would win both of them over.
¡°I¡¯ve also prepared enough potions to support an expedition too,¡± Olivia said, though the slight bags under her eyes showed she had pushed herself to accomplish that.
Of course, Rowan would have looked the same if it weren¡¯t for his regeneration card. After all, he woke up with her and watched her work, keeping her company.
¡°And you think you¡¯re ready?¡± Camilla asked. Rowan shook his head. ¡°We only get one chance at this. We still have two weeks from when we need to make an expedition. You don¡¯t want to use all that time?¡±
¡°This is the best time,¡± Rowan answered. ¡°With the festival being a success, we need a show of might. If we wait and go out later, we risk new variables entering the equation.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Camilla agreed surprisingly easily. ¡°But we can¡¯t do this quietly. Not when the whole kingdom is watching and waiting to see how you perform.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t just slip out with the army without anyone knowing where we¡¯re going?¡± Rowan sighed as he knew the answer to that. ¡°Won¡¯t a big announcement open us up to ambushes? We still don¡¯t know who ordered the assassination, but that hardly matters when they can strike against us directly out in the wilderness. Especially if they know that we¡¯re going to be gone from the town for a while.¡±
¡°Whoever they are, they¡¯re clearly worried about getting caught. This implies they at least can¡¯t risk publicly being seen as responsible,¡± Camilla dissected her learnings. ¡°They won¡¯t be able to act out of the ordinary either. We haven¡¯t found them because they¡¯ve entrenched themselves in the city. If they suddenly try to change their behavior, we¡¯ll notice it.¡±
¡°That¡ makes sense,¡± Rowan allowed, then asked the same question that had been bothering him for days. ¡°Any news on the insignia we discovered at that inn? Or the ring?¡±
The baroness looked like she¡¯d bitten into something sour, and the expression made her face look far more severe than it usually did. ¡°No. I reached out to some of my acquaintances, but the underground guild was clearly started and based in Rest¡¯s Remorse. There¡¯s still something bothering me about that eye motif. I¡¯ll keep digging.¡±
Rowan nodded, pleased that there was some news for once, even if they weren¡¯t exactly positive. ¡°Then let¡¯s make the announcement tomorrow, and handle things as they come.¡±
¡ª
The announcement was a mess.
Some things were good. The town, still high on the embers of the festival, wholeheartedly approved the expedition even though failure would rob the town of its army. The army, still settling into their new classes, were thrilled at the chance to further prove themselves.
But the mercenaries, who had been standoffish the whole time, changed.
All of a sudden, every two bit mercenary in town was thrilled about the idea of applying to accompany the expedition. It was the most extreme change in attitude Rowan had ever seen. There were people who just a day or two earlier were sneering at him, now believed their chance for glory was in the expedition. It must have given them whiplash from how hard they¡¯d pivoted.
Even two of the three largest mercenary companies had contacted them with offers of troops and supplies.
Rowan and the baroness rejected each and every one.
¡°You know, if this had happened when we just got here, I would have pushed for us to accept them all,¡± Rowan muttered, eyes narrowed as he glanced over the latest letter asking that a minor company be allowed to join the army for the duration of the expedition.
The baroness scoffed. ¡°Yes, and I would have likely allowed it. I don¡¯t know if this is going to work but our inspection yesterday showed that your troops are reliable. More than I can say for these mercenary companies.¡±
Rowan was inordinately pleased with that admission, even if he tried not to show it. Camilla Sutton wasn¡¯t someone who gave out compliments lightly.
¡°Anyway, we¡¯re rejecting all of them, right?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Of course. The change in attitude alone is worrying. You know yourself that none of them were willing to support us before,¡± Camilla said.
¡°Do you think it has something to do with our accomplishments, the assassination attempt, or the celebration we put on?¡±
Rowan strongly suspected this had something to do with Tamara but after the mage blatantly admitting that she was against Camilla, Rowan held the information back. The woman had seemed eager to clear her name of the accusations against her, even if Rowan didn¡¯t understand why. It wasn¡¯t like he was in a position to take on an entire mercenary company at the moment.
¡°This is probably a mix of wanting to get some of their people into your army so they can spy or try something more malicious,¡± Camilla said. ¡°There¡¯s probably also some good intentioned people. Now that people know you better, they feel safer following your lead. Still, not a good enough reason to just accept them.¡±
Rowan agreed with that sentiment. If he accepted mercenaries who wanted to join up simply because they felt safer now, there was every chance they would abandon him when they felt the opposite. It was much, much better to take only the people he could trust with him.
Of course, his army was still untested. But the hero felt that the time they spent together was enough to at least give them the benefit of the doubt.
¡ª
There was one final thing Rowan had to do before his troops were fully ready to set off, and it wasn¡¯t very pleasant. As he stalked in front of the rows of soldiers, he struggled to open his mouth.
He was a hero, though, and even more importantly, their leader.
¡°As you well know, we will be heading out on our very first expedition together soon. I would love to say it won¡¯t be dangerous. That all of you are guaranteed to make it back. I can¡¯t do that.¡±
Rowan took a deep breath, then looked at his soldiers, pausing to lock eyes with a couple of them. None of them seemed cowed by his words. If anything, they just looked more determined.
¡°This is why I want each and every one of you to write a will. You can find the paper and writing supplies at the administrative office attached to your barracks. You can also have one of the clerks pen a will for you, if you don¡¯t know how to write yourself. In the will, you¡¯ll need to designate a beneficiary, or beneficiaries, if that¡¯s what you prefer.¡±
Once again, Rowan paused, letting them just absorb his words.
¡°Your designated beneficiary will receive all personal effects, wealth, and whatever we can recover and bring back to them should you fall. They will also receive monetary support from the mayor¡¯s office.¡±
There wasn¡¯t much he could do for those left behind if their loved one didn¡¯t come back. Still, he could make sure they didn¡¯t starve or immediately slip back into poverty. After all, his new recruits had just improved their own standings.
¡°That would be all. Prepare. Spend some time with the people you love. We will be setting off tomorrow, marching against the demons.¡±
¡ª
That evening, Rowan found himself standing in front of the baroness¡¯s study.
She had requested to see him, but the way she had phrased the message had him hesitating to before the door.
Odds were, she wanted to talk about Olivia.
While he was busy building up courage and dreaming up a thousand and one silly scenarios for how things might go wrong, he was suddenly embraced from behind.
¡°What¡¯s got you worrying so much?¡± Olivia¡¯s voice was low and teasing, and Rowan immediately relaxed. The idea of facing down her mother with her by his side was nowhere near as terrifying as doing it alone.
¡°Camilla asked you to come too?¡± Rowan asked, turning around and leaning against the door.
She let him pull off the maneuver, but kept sticking to him in a way that made him blush.
¡°Yeah. I was wondering what it was about. Want to make her keep waiting while we spend a bit of time together out here?¡± Olivia asked in her special voice that Rowan found very hard to say no to.
Before Rowan made the cardinal mistake of saying yes to Olivia, the baroness¡¯ voice emanated from beyond the door and brought everything to order.
¡°I really don¡¯t know whether you¡¯re bold or stupid to flirt in front of an assassin¡¯s door. Just come in, the both of you.¡±
At least she sounded more resigned than angry, Rowan thought to himself as he rearranged his clothes and pushed the door open. He ignored the way Olivia was pouting at him.
¡°How can we help you this fine evening, Lady Sutton?¡± Rowan noticed that he was picking up the same speech patterns as Camilla, resorting to formality when uncomfortable.
¡°I have a couple of things for you before you set off.¡± Camilla gestured at two packages on her desk. One was long and thin, all wrapped up in expensive leather. Next to it was a smaller package, something Rowan identified as a box wrapped in paper. ¡°I was also going to leave you with a couple warnings, but I don¡¯t really think that¡¯s worth much at this point. I strongly suspect my daughter will be the danger, rather than vice versa.¡±
Rowan had just managed to improve his composure, but now it was in tatters once more and his cheeks were scarlet. Olivia managed to keep her reaction down to a very smug, cat-like grin. She didn¡¯t even bother to reply to the accusation.
¡°Go on, then, take these,¡± Camilla said. ¡°The smaller one¡¯s yours, daughter.¡±
Olivia complied, and Rowan fought down his mortification for long enough to do the same.
The second he picked up his package, he knew exactly what was inside.
A spear.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Rowan¡¯s eager fingers were surprisingly clumsy as he struggled to undo the leather straps holding the weapon hostage. In spite of that, he had to admire the overall quality of the packaging. The leather was dark, ridiculously soft, and oiled. The straps were distanced by about five inches from each other, and they kept the spear secure within its protective covering.
When Rowan finally unfurled it, he even discovered there were smaller straps attaching the spear directly to the roll of leather.
Of course, what caught his attention far more was the weapon itself. It was a work of art.
The body of the weapon looked like it was forged out of a single, solid piece of metal. The metal itself was dark as night, with flecks of color that resembled stars strewn throughout. Subtle grooves marked the spear¡¯s length, making it easier to grip it more firmly.
What really made the weapon stand out was its front half. The head of the weapon was jagged and vicious. The spear tip was made to sink into flesh and savage its target. The blade was a little over a foot long, which was perhaps the best indication that this was a monster slaying tool instead of one meant to be used against other people.
Just before the sharp edges of the spear tip melted into the shaft, was a blood-red icosahedron crystal. Each edge promised misery, sharp and gleaming under the light. In fact, the crystal wasn¡¯t forged into the spear. Instead, what looked like veins of scarlet emanated from the crystal and merged into the spear.
Frankly, Rowan was terrified of even touching the spear, not because he thought it was cursed, but because of the sheer value he imagined it had.
¡°Stop staring at it like that,¡± Camilla laughed, clear and clean and thoroughly amused. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how much that cost. Actually can¡¯t. My husband handled it and pulled on a ton of favors to get it done besides. Favors that were owed to him from when he was a duke. So, take it.¡±
Finally, Rowan did. And the second his fingers brushed against the spear, a status window popped out.
|
You have come in contact with an unbound soul artifact. Do you wish to bind to the item and reveal its properties?
Spear of The Blood Well
This spear was forged out of the remains of a vicious ancient artifact that once grew mighty enough to threaten even the gods. Its wielder was slain, its spirit crushed, and its body broken. All that was left behind was a mere spark. That spark was enough to birth the seed of a new legend.
This spear will feast on the blood its wielder spills and grow alongside them.
|
Oddly, when Rowan¡¯s fingers firmed up on the weapon and the familiar chill descended on his thoughts, he felt complete. It felt like a piece of him was finally slotted back in. When the link took hold, it improved some innate quality he didn¡¯t even know he possessed. His nose felt stuffy all of a sudden.
With a shuddering breath, Rowan raised his eyes to meet Camilla¡¯s. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly do enough to repay you for this. Thank you.¡±
The woman seemed to think little of his thanks. ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s our duty as your patrons. However, if you must repay me somehow, use that to skewer anyone who goes after my daughter.¡±
¡°I was already planning on that.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Ignoring the distraction of her own gift, Olivia felt the urge to intervene. ¡°You know, it¡¯s a bit weird to hear the two of you bonding over the idea of killing people.¡±
Rowan grinned. ¡°Sorry, what did you get?¡±
Olivia held up a very odd, long arm guard, more of a vambrace, really, with slots in the leather.
¡°It¡¯s neat,¡± Olivia gushed. ¡°See here? I can slot in potions, and they¡¯ll stay connected to my skin. This way, I can just keep copying potion effects for my attacks without having to grip one with my left hand.¡±
Rowan made some noises about how smart the item¡¯s design was and watched as Camilla seemed to puff up out the corner of his eyes.
They spent the next few hours together talking about the expedition and what to expect. Even without getting a new spear, Rowan would have enjoyed spending that time bonding with Olivia and her scary mother.
It paid to have a good relationship with one¡¯s potential in-laws, after all, and Rowan only freaked out a little when he realized that he now considered the baroness as a potential in-law.
¡ª
It felt like the entire town had turned up to see them off on the day of their departure. Most of the mercenaries had slight scowls on their faces, on account of being turned down. The regular townsfolk, at least, had no such compunctions.
They cheered, they waved, and some would occasionally surge towards the marching soldiers to offer a bundle of food or trinkets.
Rowan saw more than one teary-eyed goodbye, but did his best to ignore those. A part of him wondered how many of his soldiers would never return from the expedition. He knew that it was a twisted way of looking at things, that these people were likely going to have a much worse life filled with poverty without him, but he still despised himself a little for recruiting new soldiers.
He was, knowingly and willingly, asking people to die for him in defense of a town that did very little for them.
Rowan gripped his spear, leaned into the cool confidence it instilled in him, and focused on the world passing him by instead.
Like before, it was misleading to call the area beyond the frontier as wastes. There was plenty to see. In a strange way, Rowan was even starting to enjoy the odd coloring of the jungle. It was like a child had decided to paint everything without ever seeing the real thing.
He soon grew tired of it.
In their past outings, the army stuck to the relative outskirts of the wastes. The trees were large and overgrown, and things were out to kill them. Every so often, the two problems became one. Some trees had thorny roots that whipped out of the earth when someone passed too close to them. Why those roots also had thorns when they were buried underground most of the time was a biological mystery.
But these were threats that Rowan could understand.
As the army ventured deeper, the threats became more varied. For one, their surroundings grew brighter from glowing fungal growth on the ground and nearby trees. Their enchanting glow was genuinely pleasing to look at.
¡°Masks!¡± Olivia yelled. ¡°Find a piece of cloth and breathe through it, take slow breaths. Only exceptions are if you have a rare class or above forty points in vitality.¡±
The army slowly compiled. Rowan looked back in confusion. Olivia answered by pointing at the root of a tree. There, Rowan saw the body of a small creature, fungi bursting out of every inch of bone or rotting skin. It was easy to understand Olivia¡¯s panic now. Around them, masks were already looking a little stained blue.
¡°You sure I don¡¯t need a mask?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°You¡¯ll be fine. Just a few spores,¡± Olivia said lightly. Rowan didn¡¯t think a few spores was something ignore, especially with the corpses of animals around them. His face must have left a clue because Olivia continued on, ¡°These are a common tier creature. They can¡¯t infect anything more than one tier higher than them. Even if everyone breathed it in, they¡¯ll only feel more tired and lethargic.¡±
At least the fauna was less tricky to deal with.
Throughout their march, various uncommon monsters would leap into their ranks before being put down by the rare and uncommon soldiers. There were only two notable exceptions.
The first had been a bit of a scare, but ultimately little more than a nuisance.
A small hummingbird, wings moving so quickly they were invisible, was suddenly just there in the middle of the troops. When it charged into the nearest soldier and rebounded off his chest armor, everyone laughed.
It then stabbed its proboscises-like beak into the man¡¯s neck and the laughter stopped.
The frightened soldier gurgled and batted at the bird, but couldn¡¯t get it off. It was only when one of his party members stepped forward and kicked the bird with the grace of a professional footballer that he was finally freed.
A squirt of blood shoot into the air out of his wound, but his fellows descended upon him immediately, feeding him a healing potion.
The bird, meanwhile, was entirely unharmed. It just buzzed louder, wings fluttering more quickly in anger, and tried again with a blood-smeared beak.
Chaos broke out from there, with people striking at the bird using everything from someone¡¯s pack to fists to proper weapons. The little bugger was stunning resilient and when someone actually tried to trigger a card effect, their strikes somehow went through it.
In the end, it took Milena working with Rowan to bring it down. Her curse slowed the bird¡¯s erratic movements and Rowan got the chance to skewer it with his brand new spear. It was alive for a few moments before the spear went to work, feasting on the bird¡¯s blood. With such a small body, it only had a few twitches before going limp.
Before Rowan checked his loot screen, Marcus was already yelling.
¡°I didn¡¯t even know you could have something like this! Do you realize how many possibilities this opens up? It counts as a shielding effect.¡±
To be fair, Rowan understood the fuss once he saw the card.
|
Ethereal Reprieve (Rare, Active)
Shield yourself from harm by temporarily turning your body incorporeal. The duration of the effect depends on the amount of mana invested. The cost of upkeep increases based on the amount of enemy mana trying to interfere with the effect.
|
Essentially, it was a battle of mana. Against mages or incorrectly built alchemists, the card wouldn¡¯t be of much use. But against Rowan who had a low three-digit mana pool? Marcus would be nearly invincible. The card went to him, replacing one of his class skills.
Their second battle of the day was much harder, and explained why people didn¡¯t just head into the deep wastes every other day for experience and loot.
It had been a few hours since the hummingbird. Scouts were sent further out to secure the perimeter but everyone was in a pretty upbeat mood. Rowan could almost hear the soldiers thinking that the demonic wastes weren¡¯t that bad.
And then one of the soldiers started screaming.
Near the front, a female soldier frantically swiped her weapon around her and hit absolutely nothing. The claw marks perilously close to her jugular were proof enough she wasn¡¯t delusional. Before they could help her, a second wound opened up on her throat and she collapsed to the ground.
¡°Close rank. Form up,¡± Rowan yelled. ¡°It¡¯s an invisible enemy. Stay alert. Keep close to your party and form up on me.¡±
A few seconds later, another soldier collapsed with half of his side missing. Then, a soldier lost a chunk of his arm. The invisible attacker was somehow everywhere. A spurt of blood erupted from a soldier whose lost a chunk of his thigh. Somewhat fortuitously, the spray of blood also left a few flecks of the liquid on the attacker, and a keen-eyed ranged fighter pointed out where it was.
¡°Melee stay back. Ranged, attack.¡±
A whole barrage of strikes hit the area, but instead of bringing it down, they made the monster angry.
The army suddenly found themselves staring at a short, vaguely humanoid weasel with a crazed look in its eye.
It smirked, shoved its bloody claws into its mouth, and its eyes started to glow red. The downed soldiers started screaming. Their veins bulged and squirmed like there was something wiggling inside.
To Rowan¡¯s mounting horror, Marcus¡¯ aura shielding was helpless. It didn¡¯t save the soldiers from the attacks earlier and couldn¡¯t bring an end to whatever the weasel was doing now.
Rowan tried to push forward but found his earlier orders working against him. Everyone was clumped together and he couldn¡¯t get to the front quick enough. In his desperation, Rowan threw caution to the wind. He filled his weapon with as much mana and life-force as he could afford, and launched it.
With his dexterity and strength stats? His throw more than rivaled any ballista from his old world.
He didn¡¯t quite manage to nail the monster head on, its instincts and dexterity helping it jerk to the side, but when the spear buried itself into the tree behind, the wood exploded in a shower of plant bits.
Luckily, that was enough to break the monster¡¯s concentration and its ability¡¯s effect.
It also provided the time needed for four rare tier soldiers to step forward and attack. The first of them led with a sword, edge shining and aimed straight for the monster¡¯s heart. The dazed monster managed to dodge, slip between the man¡¯s legs, and savage his ankles on the way out.
The second soldier wielded a spear and was one of the few solo users of the weapon in the army. His strike buried deep in the forest floor when the monster made a little hop, landing on the shaft of his weapon and scurrying up it. Before it could do damage, the third soldier launched some kind of close-range mana attack that launched the monster away.
The final soldier was the best of the group. She drove her dagger at the thing, weapon shining black. However, when the monster hopped to the side, face lit up in malicious glee, the soldier accelerated and drove the dagger into the monster¡¯s shadow.
When the monster moved to strike against her, it suddenly found itself incapable of moving even a single muscle.
The third soldier returned to finish the job with a single heavy strike that would have been impossible without the others¡¯ teamwork. It worked. The monster lost its head and the screaming subsided.
¡°What in the world was that?¡± Rowan asked, half paying attention to the trees around them for more attackers and half watching Olivia heal the wounded.
¡°That was probably a fully maxed out rare. And¡¡± Milena trailed off, sounding distracted. Rowan didn¡¯t have to guess what she was doing, since he knew exactly what could stop a conversation like that. ¡°And my new card.¡±
A couple minutes later, the card that had caught her eye was in her deck and the rest of her party were admiring it. The delay mostly came down to the fact that they needed to calm down the wounded soldiers, and Rowan personally commended and rewarded the four soldiers who stepped forward first.
|
Blood Boiling (Rare, Active)
Draw on malice and anger towards your target to cause their blood to boil within their veins. You can designate up to four different targets for this spell effect. The spell effect will fail if the targets are behind wards or other magic defenses. However, once the effect is in place, it will only stop if you lose concentration or run out of mana. If you have drawn or tasted the target¡¯s blood, the curse can bypass all magical defenses and its power is strengthened. The curse is also more effective when performed through an appropriate ritual.
|
It was, hands down, one of the most complicated cards Rowan had ever laid his eyes on. It was also one of the most exciting ones, since it was basically a checkmate as long as they got the target¡¯s blood and more mana than an opponent.
Pulling himself up, Rowan scanned his army. After a day of basically hiking and fighting only, the men were getting tired. He ordered a quick march to create some distance from the last battlefield before they would set up camp for the day. For the first time, Rowan got to see the value of having so many followers.
Tents were set up in record time, neatly and to exact specifications. A group of soldiers broke off, building a cooking area from scratch and settling in for cooking a simplistic meal. Meanwhile, other soldiers formed a perimeter, went scouting, or even tried to chop down a tree or two for firewood.
In contrast, if the four of them were they alone, even just setting up sleeping shifts would have exhausted them.
As Rowan settled into a tent with Olivia that night, he was still patting himself on the back for his recruitment initiative.
Chapter 46: Forewarned
Fighting deep inside a jungle was a whole new ballpark compared to what Rowan was used to. In spite of the danger, he was actually enjoying the experience.
Putting his enhanced dexterity and strength to full use was sheer joy.
As he dodged the thorny vines of something that could only be described as a walking sunflower with an undulating jaw in place of its mouth, Rowan launched himself halfway up a tree¡¯s trunk, pushed off that to somersault forward, and aimed his spear from midair straight down into the creature¡¯s face.
This conveniently let him avoid the shower of plant matter and uncomfortably sticky juice that followed. Marcus was not that lucky, and the whine he made was heartbreaking.
¡°Why? Why must you do this to me? My poor tail. My poor, poor tail,¡± Marcus growled, looking at his formerly fluffy, now matted down, tail.
¡°Sorry. Next time, I¡¯ll bring along a professional [Groomer],¡± Rowan teased. Predictably, it did nothing to improve the forlorn wolf kin¡¯s mood, but it did provoke a reaction from his sister.
¡°We honestly should. Look at him, complaining when his tail is the only real point of contention for him. What about me? Do you know how hard it is keeping my fur spotlessly clean in these conditions?¡± Milena grumbled.
Unlike the two front liners, Milena and Olivia both looked spotless. Staying in the back and pelting enemies with curses and potions had its own benefits.
¡°Marcus, your aura defense didn¡¯t stop things?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°No,¡± Marcus sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not like the aura is going to stop everything. Especially when what¡¯s happening is thanks to my sister¡¯s new card.¡±
Blood Boiling was a card perfect for Milena. She now had direct damage against enemies and even though it wasn¡¯t as effective when she didn¡¯t draw or taste the blood of her opponent, just regular use was more than enough to bring the combat power of the party up a notch.
¡°I didn¡¯t know that was going to happen. No one said anything about the target exploding,¡± Milena said.
¡°You know, the card is very literal right? The blood is literally boiling. It¡¯s really hot,¡± Marcus complained. ¡°You¡¯re buying my [Groomer] visits next time we¡¯re in town.¡±
Rowan would have indulged in the friendly banter for longer but reality had other plans. One of their scouts, a man called Dale, a [Forest Wraith] if Rowan was remembering right, stumbled out of the tree line looking pale as a ghost.
The troops showed remarkable improvement, recruits and old guard alike, when all turned focused and battle ready in less than a second.
¡°Report!¡± Rowan barked, cutting through the man¡¯s panic and dazed state.
Dale¡¯s eyes found Rowan. ¡°We-we did as you asked, sir. We went as far as we could last night, just to see if any powerful beasts or demons made a lair along our route. But, sir, there¡¯s chaos out there.¡±
The man broke into coughs, sputtering and wheezing. Rowan realized just how drained he was. He looked ready to collapse, and even with all his levels and rare class, the man¡¯s legs were quivering like jelly.
Rowan unclipped the emergency health potion from his belt, striding over and pushing it into the man¡¯s hands. ¡°Drink this. It¡¯ll help.¡±
The potion did its job swiftly. The man¡¯s complexion eased the second he¡¯d finished drinking and he cleared his throat experimentally before giving his full report.
¡°There¡¯s a monster, probably a demon, rampaging out there. It looks pretty badly hurt, but it¡¯s still ripping right through all the local rare tier monsters that have claimed territories in the vicinity. It looks, well, it looks like some kind of flightless bird monstrosity,¡± Dale said. ¡°The other scouts are keeping watch over it but I¡¯m not too sure how long they can hold out.¡±
The news, Rowan realized, was both good and bad. On the one hand, the thing was clearing out the monsters and doing their job for them, even if it was ¡®stealing¡¯ their experience points. On the other, from what the man was saying, Rowan guessed the creature was epic tier. And so far, Rowan had only seen one epic tier non-human, a demon.
¡°How are the local monsters reacting?¡± Rowan asked.
Dale looked confused.
¡°Are they all defending their territory or pulling back?¡± Rowan clarified.
¡°I think only the first few monsters fought it. The fighting died down when I left,¡± Dale answered.
¡°Shit,¡± Rowan cursed.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Marcus asked from the side.
¡°The monsters, they¡¯ll either flock to the new creature¡¯s side or they¡¯ll flee. Some of them are going to be in the direction of Rest¡¯s Remorse. If they hit the town while we¡¯re out here, it¡¯s going to mean trouble,¡± Rowan said. He held back the worst news of it all. The scout had reported that the monster was already badly hurt. There was something out there that was strong enough to badly wound an epic tier monster who, even weakened, could tear through local rare tier monsters?
¡°It¡¯s also an opportunity,¡± Olivia pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s already wounded and we¡¯re a lot stronger than we were before. It¡¯ll be different this time.¡±
Rowan knew what she was referring to. The epic tier demon at Felton¡¯s Mill was like a massive, unassailable rock that hung over everyone¡¯s head. They would have all been corrupted or died if it wasn¡¯t for Kayla coming to help. As Rowan looked at each of his party members, he saw their fighting spirit. They wanted to prove themselves.
¡°We also know it¡¯s there,¡± Milena added. ¡°We¡¯re not going to be the ones surprised this time. If we ambush the monster just right, we¡¯ll have a shot.¡±
¡°And it¡¯s not just us anymore,¡± Marcus said. ¡°We have a whole army to kill the damn thing.¡±
Rowan considered their words. The stated goal of the expedition was to just venture out into the demonic wastes, cull the local monster population, and return to the town at the end of the month. They were only eight days out. Could they go back earlier if they defeated the epic monster? Probably. But was it worth taking that risk when they already finished a third of the expedition already?
¡°It¡¯s a risk,¡± Rowan said slowly. He glanced over at the soldiers huddled around Dale and watched as their expression changed as the scout relayed his story. Their faces went from hopeful to fearful. As Rowan watched, Dale struggled free of their care and came back to Rowan.
¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry. The monster. It came from deeper in the wastes.¡± Dale paused and did a dry gulp. ¡°This is my theory. I think the monster is coming in our direction.¡±
Rowan digested the scout¡¯s words. ¡°Does that mean it¡¯s going towards Rest¡¯s Remorse?¡±
The scout hesitated before giving a slight nod.
¡°Okay,¡± Rowan said, showing outward calm when his inner thoughts were anything but. The risk pendulum just swung in favor of fighting the monster. With his decision made, Rowan went on to his next task, convincing the army to follow him. ¡°Men. I¡¯ve just received news that in our path is an epic tier monster. The good news is that it¡¯s hurt. The bad news is that it¡¯s coming toward us and likely our home, Rest¡¯s Remorse. Now, we could turn tail and run back to the town, praying that the monster changes course. Or we can strike, deal damage, and kill the monster before it ever threatens our families.¡±
Even as Rowan spoke, his mind was spinning with alternate possibilities. There were two epic classes in both the baroness and Mercenary King back at Rest¡¯s Remorse. There were also mercenary companies that would be forced to help the defense. But he shoved all of these thoughts aside. They came with their downsides. What he needed right now was faith.
¡°Even if we don¡¯t succeed in taking the monster down, we will persist. The monster is reported to already be hurt. Every bit of damage we deal on top of that will make life back home a bit safer,¡± Rowan called out. ¡°For now, bunk down and rest. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll bring the monster down together.¡±
Rowan could see some soldiers still unsure of things. The newer recruits were, on average, in the later half of the uncommon tier. Impressive, for sure, but insufficient to fight an epic monster. He needed to find a way to make the monster seem mortal, to bring faith to the rest of the army, to make it easier to fight than desert.
A thought occurred to Rowan as he turned to his party.
¡°I have a plan.¡±
¡ª
Rowan¡¯s first order was to send someone towards Rest¡¯s Remorse to give them warning and time for preparations. Strong enough to trek through the demonic wastes alone but also with good organizational skills, Rayne proved perfect for the task.
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The second task was sending Dale back to coordinate with the other scouts and keep information flowing.
Dale¡¯s words still echoed in Rowan¡¯s mind. The scout had described the monster as a ¡®flightless bird¡¯ which meant two possibilities. Either the bird had been injured and couldn¡¯t take flight anymore or that it never had the ability to do so in the first place. Both cases meant Rowan could start the much less glamorous third part of his plan, digging.
The army didn¡¯t have too many shovels but with enhanced stats and surprisingly soft ground, they were able to make do with their weapons.
¡°Olivia, different task for you,¡± Rowan said. ¡°What¡¯s the biggest potion you ever brewed?¡±
¡°Biggest in terms of effect?¡±
¡°Yeah, like if you made ten potions and poured them together, does that create a bigger effect?¡±
¡°I think so?¡± Olivia said slowly. ¡°It should work in theory, but only for combat potions. Usually, if I needed a better potion, I¡¯d usually just make an upgraded version of it.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t need the best potions you can make, just a whole lot of them,¡± Rowan said and gestured at the water barrels that the army had brought with them. ¡°Can you fill them with combat potions?¡±
¡°All of them?¡±
¡°All of them,¡± Rowan confirmed.
As Rowan went to grunting and using his spear to dig a giant moat in the ground with the rest of the army, Olivia poured one potion after another into the empty water barrels, dropping an occasional herb in as well while doing plenty of weird stirring motions and incantations.
About half an hour later, Rowan¡¯s curiosity got the better of him. It definitely wasn¡¯t because his vitality stat was lagging behind his strength stat, making blisters an actual possibility due to the mismatch.
¡°So what potion are you making?¡± Rowan asked as he straightened his sore lower back.
¡°Lightning potions,¡± Olivia answered without looking up.
¡°Why lightning?¡± Rowan asked, genuinely curious. ¡°Why not normal explosion or fire potions? Those would probably be pretty effective.¡±
Rowan noticed the twins were listening in on the conversation too, so at least he wasn¡¯t the only one confused. But they were forced to wait for her answer a little while as Olivia finished another round of chanting over the potions.
¡°Two reasons. One, we have no idea what kind of monster we¡¯re dealing with here. So I made something as general as possible. Lightning is pretty hard for most monsters to deal with. And second, most of the monsters in this area are plant-based. They¡¯re not necessarily afraid or weak to it, but they all dislike fire. If we go around chucking fire potions, we¡¯ll piss off more than just our target. Trust me, we don¡¯t want that.¡±
¡°Indeed we don¡¯t,¡± Rowan grunted as he went back to work. A part of him was genuinely impressed at the speed the army was excavating the clearing. The hole they were digging was already a couple yards deep and the officers were now leading men into felling trees and sharpening them into stakes.
Every couple minutes, one of the scouts would pop out of the woods and report the latest progress on the monster. It was still heading their way, still ripping through everything in its path, and still a threat.
Once the hole was big enough, Rowan ordered the stakes pounded into the sides of the pit. They were secured together by vines, tough enough to serve as very prickly rope.
By the time they were done, Rowan was looking at a pit large enough to temporarily inconvenience even a small dragon. It was less of a trap and more of a way to change the environment to one that was actively beneficial for the humans. The front of the pit facing the jungle was a bit higher than the rest, forming a slight funnel that would hopefully drive the monster into the uneven terrain where they could keep it down.
The trees, sharpened on both sides, were driven into the dirt and bound together in three rows along the side of the pit. Would they kill the monster on their own? Probably not. But if the monster was already hurt when it attempted to climb out or attack someone? Every little bit counted.
It was just in time. The explosions and cacophony rising from the jungle far ahead were doing a lot to keep everyone on edge, leaving everyone on edge. With most of the preparation done, it was Rowan¡¯s turn to give his army one final edge.
As Rowan stood in front of the hole they¡¯d dug, tired, dirty, and a little cranky, he first took the time to assess the state of his army.
They were, overall, in much the same state as him. Still, their spirits didn¡¯t falter yet. They stared at him with quiet determination and not a single one of them looked like they were about to run for the proverbial hills.
Rowan felt proud.
¡°We have done as much as we can to prepare. Look at what you managed to build with the power you now wield.¡± Rowan motioned out to what was once a narrow field, and the change was stark. ¡°Even without all of this, I would rate our chances against the monster highly. It is wounded. We are not. It has rampaged for days, whereas we are about to rest and recuperate for the fight ahead of us. We could face it head on and win. So, why did we work so hard, then?¡±
Rowan let the silence stretch and build until he noticed some unease finally appear on the faces arrayed before him. Finally, he smiled and decided to break the awkwardness.
¡°We worked hard so we can all get through this ordeal. If we fight it directly, we will win, but some of us will be lost. This way? This way, we can do our very best to eliminate casualties. This way, all of you get to go back home alive and well.¡±
That finally stirred their feelings up the way he¡¯d intended, and the cheer that went up brought a sincere smile to Rowan¡¯s features. These were his soldier, his responsibility. He really meant every word he said. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who would be content to waste days of his life helping people advance just to sacrifice them in one fell swoop.
Of course, even his hoping for the best would likely not be enough to prevent casualties. But, that was a reality he selfishly refused to acknowledge.
¡°Now, please, do your best to rest. Take the time to prepare any way you can so that we can all get through this together. I will, however, be calling out names. When you are summoned, please come up, so we can boost our chances of victory even further. When it¡¯s time for formations, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±
Rowan turned away and walked over to his party, letting out a huge breath of relief. From the latest scout report, they still had an hour or two before the monster would arrive. It was far too early to get into formation. The last thing Rowan wanted was an army half tired from waiting.
¡°Not much of a public speaker huh?¡± Marcus asked.
Rowan just grimaced and nodded. He was getting used to it, but if he was being honest, it was highly unlikely that he¡¯d ever feel fully comfortable with that sort of thing. He preferred to just fight, rather than lead.
Olivia had somehow already set up a couple of collapsible chairs and even had a table in front of her. A small, relatively fragile table, but a table nonetheless.
The baroness was insistent that they take as many amenities as possible along that would make their life in the field more comfortable. At first, Rowan scoffed at that. Now, though? He was looking forward to giving the woman a hug when he got back to Rest¡¯s Remorse.
Her suggestion of a half-decent bed was better than any divine blessing at the end of a long, tiring day. And the extra luggage was easily absorbed by the manpower in the army.
¡°How many cards do we have? I wasn¡¯t keeping track, beyond just checking if there were enough duplicates for fusion or if one of us could use the cards for something,¡± Rowan said.
Olivia instantly understood what Rowan wanted to do. ¡°One hundred and forty-four. At least at the rare tier, which are the most useful right now.¡±
After the first day of the expedition, the hero party had further divided responsibilities. Rowan was in charge of talking to the soldiers and keeping their spirits up. Marcus worked with the officers, Milena helped the scouts, and Olivia snatched up the role of treasurer. She managed all of the army¡¯s loot.
There were some benefits to being born to nobility. Olivia had a far keener sense of what should be kept, what counted as a ¡®rare¡¯ rare card, and what they should scrap as quickly as possible. Some of those cards she¡¯d even set aside and labeled as rewards.
These were separated into what classes would find them useful and then she handed them off to Rowan. In her own words, it was up to him to reward, discipline, and generally manage the troops.
Judging by the increased interest in performing well and the way soldiers would puff up when handed a reward personally by their heroic mayor, Rowan figured her logic was sound.
Now, Olivia pulled out a sheet of parchment, unfurled it, and revealed a thorough list of all the soldiers and their classes, as well as their latest recorded level. She was meticulous about updating the list, too.
¡°Adam, [Scorchflame Swordsman],¡± Olivia said.
Rowan repeated the name, calling for the soldier. His voice carried across the army thanks to a very basic mana manipulation trick for addressing large crowds. Though it was called basic, Rowan went through twelve healing potions before learning how to pull the trick off without shredding his own vocal cords.
As the soldier approached, Olivia quickly shuffled stacks of cards in front of Rowan, then pretended to be absorbed in her list. Rowan sighed, knowing the message she was trying to send.
¡°Good, you¡¯re here, Adam. We need everyone at their best, so we¡¯re distributing additional cards for this coming battle. You know what you need most for your build, so go ahead and pick.¡± Rowan gestured at the cards laid on the table. ¡°They¡¯re free.¡±
The soldier obviously hadn¡¯t expected that, but quickly did as he was directed, shuffling through the cards until he found the one he liked, thanked them for it, and then left.
The stacks of cards were separated into debuff, body enhancement, offense, defense¡¯, movement¡¯, healing, and, support categories. That being said, the healing, debuff, and support stacks were tiny. Adam picked his card out of the movement stack.
The mood in the camp visibly improved when they realized that cards were being distributed, and Rowan took the opportunity to ask a question that was bothering him while another soldier headed towards them.
¡°How are you picking people, exactly?¡± Rowan muttered quietly to Olivia so they wouldn¡¯t be overheard.
¡°By tier, class rarity, and contribution. I want people with powerful classes, preferable at the rare tier, but who haven¡¯t had much chance to distinguish themselves and earn cards on their own to get a bit stronger. We don¡¯t even have enough cards to cover everyone,¡± Olivia said.
¡°And you¡¯ve been keeping track of all that?¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t?¡± The judgment in Olivia¡¯s green orbs was obvious, so Rowan just shut up and looked away.
The process of handing out cards seemed to drag on forever, but it really didn¡¯t take that long. It was only a bit over an hour and a half later that the final card was given away. The man who picked it up didn¡¯t look all that thrilled, but he took it anyway.
The further along into the process they got, the more Olivia started gouging the leftover cards and guessing at who might want or need them. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but Rowan was genuinely blown away by how she was planning everything out.
And then they had given away all their cards, which meant there was now nothing to do but fret.
The monster was still coming closer and closer. The latest report from the scouts said thirty minutes and Rowan made sure that when the scout went back to the team, he had a truly prodigious number of potions.
Their mission was simple, manipulate the route and progress speed of the epic monster. They were instructed to find and draw in every high level rare monster into its path they could, and even provoke it from time to time by throwing potions at it directly.
Wounded as the monster was, he had little doubt that it could overwhelm rare and uncommon tier humans who were trying to annoy it.
Higher tier monsters are smarter. It might have already realized what¡¯s going on. Rowan suddenly thought perhaps he had made the wrong choice.
¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Olivia¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts as her hand fell on his knee. He realized he was bouncing his leg, something he was instructed not to do during lessons with the baroness. It was apparently in poor taste to let his soldiers know he was terrified of the possibility that he was leading them all to death.
Rowan let out a long breath. He gathered himself and stood up. He had made his decision hours ago. This wasn¡¯t the time to question things, it was time to act.
¡°Men, to your formations. We¡¯re fighting this monster. And we¡¯re going to win.¡±
Chapter 47: Grisly Duty
Dale¡¯s life used to be a whole lot more dull. That was before an army of demons destroyed his chosen home, his lord died in battle, and they were left out to dry until a new and confusing mayor rolled into town.
Somehow, between the time when he was expected to just put in the minimal amount of work and the present, he found himself with a rare class, an actual army of peers, and his abilities finally appreciated. The consequence? He was getting chased by an oversized chicken from hell.
Frankly, he still wouldn¡¯t trade with his past self even if he could.
An explosion jerked Dale out of his thoughts, sending him shooting forward and safely out of reach of the rapidly approaching jaws of the epic monster.
It wasn¡¯t the right moment to get distracted, but when you were moments away from death and incapable of personally affecting the outcome, Dale found that people got introspective.
¡°Thanks!¡± Dale managed to grunt out, his mana refilling just enough for him to get off another use of his movement skill.
His body immediately unraveled.
Every inch of his being turned into plant matter that then sank into the tree he was touching. He was transported into a world both infinitely familiar and utterly alien.
He could feel the sun kissing the top of his leaves. He could feel the corrupted ants eating through the topmost layer of his skin, even as a number of them fought off other intruders who would have caused more grievous harm. Most importantly, he could feel his roots deep within the earth and where they touched upon the roots of a different tree. He slipped his consciousness down, and suddenly, he was a different tree, then another, and another.
Within mere seconds, he teleported hundreds of steps away, melting out of a beautiful corrupted pine tree and gasping for breath that rushed to fill his newly recreated lungs.
A grimace marred his features when Dale¡¯s realized that he¡¯d traversed barely a bit over half the distance he should have managed. This deep within the wastes, every tree was at least partially sentient, and each and every one distrusted his intrusion enough to resist his passage.
¡°I thought you really were a goner, old man,¡± a young voice quipped from above him, but Dale didn¡¯t have enough energy or enough time to argue with the newcomer.
A tiny part of him was bitter at the way the boy had progressed from a recruit to one of the most promising scouts in the entire army, force-fed enough experience to reach all the way to rare in a matter of weeks.
For a soldier who had lavished in the frontier army from the tender age of twelve all the way up to forty-two before finally being allowed to advance, it was practically an insult. Though, a bigger part of Dale understood he was blessed to be in that position at all.
The new mayor was a little odd and a bit inexperienced, but many owed him their new stations in life, and Dale would throw away his life if the man demanded it. Not because it was his duty to, but because it was something truly required if the hero went as far as to ask.
Not that he wasn¡¯t doing something very close to that already.
Chucking a potion in the face of an epic tier monster before fleeing was a bit like suicide.
Around him were the other scouts. Young Ilsa would have been out for the count entirely, if it wasn¡¯t for the top quality healing potions they were supplied with. Losing almost the entirety of one¡¯s thigh tended to be rather permanent and traumatic.
As it was, she was just limping along behind them. So long as no monster discovered her, she would be just fine.
Thankfully, they were drawing closer to their destination, all while miraculously managing to steer the epic monster in the right direction.
Lesser monsters had already riled up or scared away in a direction that wasn¡¯t Rest¡¯s Remorse well before the arrival of the epic monster. Any rare tier forest dwellers, meanwhile, were enraged and led straight into its jaws.
This had done the job of both slowing down the terror and preventing a monster tide.
Everyone understood exactly why either one of those could not be allowed to happen, so every scout willingly risked their lives for the cause. This was the sort of thing they signed up for in the first place, even if it came almost three decades later.
¡°We¡¯re almost there, old timer, don¡¯t give up on me now!¡± the infuriating youngster shouted, making Dale grit his teeth.
That¡¯s what he got for acting as a mentor and helping the young man unlock a particularly potent class.
Besides, Dale wasn¡¯t flagging. He was just¡ conserving some strength by moving a tiny bit slower. Leave it to the youth to overlook the importance of such important strategic details.
He could tell it was true, however. Just ahead, when he briefly vaulted over the treetops, he could spot an unusually large break in the jungle¡¯s trees.
When Dale lost to the pull of gravity, caught one of the tree¡¯s branches and swung ahead, he also caught sight of the few monsters they hadn¡¯t managed to deal with.
Well, a few was more like fifty or so possum-like critters that angrily chittered as they fled.
Nonetheless, a smile tugged at the ranger¡¯s face. They¡¯d done an acceptable job, over the course of more than twelve very intense, very painful hours. They had all pushed their bodies as far as they could go, but soon, they¡¯d get to see a brand-new legend in the making.
Or witness their heroic mayor get eaten.
Either way, Dale was ready for a bit of rest. If he was going to die, he wasn¡¯t going to die tired.
¡ª
Rowan was glad that he had assembled the army slightly earlier than necessary. The epic monster¡¯s arrival was preceded by a wave of frightened enemies, fewer than Rowan thought but enough to have been a threat if they crashed into an unprepared army.
At the front, Rowan dealt with most of these monsters. Dealing with uncommon tier enemies had turned into a somewhat boring routine. Rowan would thrust and the monster would die. There was no technique or elegance to the fighting. It was just repeating the same motion over and over again.
It was only when he finally caught the sound of trees crunching in the distance and felt the faint tremor under his feet that he got serious.
¡°Incoming! Everyone, get ready!¡± Rowan yelled, and it had an immediate effect.
Soldiers scurried away from him, racing to the other side of the pit where they wouldn¡¯t risk getting between the hero and his quarry.
Rowan just gripped his spear tighter, a smile on his lips and eyes straining to catch any sign of the monster¡¯s approach. His spear lit up too, energy in it already building and straining against his control.
Moments before the encounter, he realized they had miscalculated slightly and hopped on top of the barriers, moving to make himself a bigger target to greet the arrival of his foe.
The confirmation of what was approaching came when a group of nineteen battered scouts shot straight out of the jungle, one of them almost falling into the pit himself and laughing the entire way.
The hero¡¯s stomach squeezed when he realized one of them was missing, but the screech-roar of the epic monster distracted him from worrying further.
¡°Get to cover! You have health and stamina potions waiting for you! Be ready to run if something goes south!¡± Rowan commanded.
Rowan couldn¡¯t help but note how his voice sounded, calm and ready. Back at Felton¡¯s Mill, the mere sound of an epic tier demon¡¯s voice had left him frozen and powerless. Now, while the screams of rage did unnerve him, they didn¡¯t affect his ability to function.
It wasn¡¯t just because of Rowan¡¯s higher tier either, since a glance told him the uncommon soldiers behind him were shaken but fine.
Is it because we¡¯re facing a monster and not a demon? Or am I more ready for a battle now? Rowan thought, then shoved the line of thinking down as the battle literally barreled toward him.
The monster burst out of the trees like a wrecking ball. If it weren¡¯t for Marcus¡¯s aura of protection, Rowan would have been forced to evade or be skewered by large wood splinters. Still, in spite of the physical protection, the mental hit Rowan took almost cost him when he stood there blinking instead of attacking.
The monster looked like a dinosaur.
The oversized monster was majestic, without any of the regular signs of demonic corruption, and if it weren¡¯t for trying to bite him in half, Rowan would have gladly just stared.
Rowan launched himself forward, choosing to catch the big thing by surprise and ramming his spear against the inside of its lower jaw. Over the past few minutes, Rowan had slowly but steadily channeled a ridiculous amount of energy and life-force into the weapon, and it weren¡¯t for Lavish Feasting, he would have been reduced to a skeleton twice over.
Thanks to that, the strike was the strongest he had ever done.
The explosion that ensued rocketed him backwards, into and then through the barricades they¡¯d set up. He tumbled end over end, once, twice, thrice, and then he ran out of earth. Rowan¡¯s final impact with the ground all the way down in the pit drove the air out of his lungs and left him blinking stars out of his eyes.
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In spite of that, as he gingerly moved his body, he realized nothing was actually broken. Standing was merely a matter of will. His badly bruised muscles protested, but Rowan managed the feat just in time to see an enraged dinosaur with murder in its eyes diving for him.
He tried to curse, but he didn¡¯t have the breath for that. He jumped aside, only for the creature¡¯s head to shoot forward unnaturally quickly.
Rowan should have died then and there. The monster¡¯s head was big enough that its jaw clamped around Rowan¡¯s lower body. Even though the regeneration combination was powerful, Rowan doubted it could fix an entire lower body missing.
Luckily, he didn¡¯t need to test that. His initial blow had done enough damage that the monster couldn¡¯t fully close its jaws. Its lower jaw dangled, connected to its face by a single, glistening string of something. Blood vessel? Muscle? Skin? Rowan didn¡¯t know and didn¡¯t care.
The monster¡¯s teeth met Rowan¡¯s midsection from the side and he was launched once again, this time straight into the stakes. Luckily, Rowan was small enough that he bounced off the side of a tree instead of getting impaled and staggered to his feet quickly enough to avoid the next attack in favor of the dinosaur ramming into the stakes itself.
Its shrieks of pain and anger tore through the air. The monster staggered a few steps back, revealing a stake fragment partially lodged into the ruin of what was once its lower jaw.
Finally, Rowan had a chance to get a real look at his opponent.
The monster was majestic, yes, but it had also definitely seen better days. There was still blood dripping down from its mangled face. Minor wounds crisscrossed most of its body, with even a couple of chunks missing from its legs and back. Its wings, short feathers jutting from its front legs, looked completely broken and burned.
The most grievous injury the monster had suffered was on its chest.
Two massive cuts met in the shape of a cross, revealing the monster¡¯s cracked ribs and internal organs. The edges looked seared. In places, the intensity of the heat that had accompanied the blows was intense enough that its bones looked warped and cracked.
And yet, the thing still stood, screeching for Rowan¡¯s blood.
The monster blurred forward, trying to awkwardly sink its claws into something vital. Rowan met the strike with one of his own, but the force of its blow overwhelmed his own and drove the shaft of his spear painfully back into his ribs.
Again, he was sent flying, and this time he could feel the broken ribs poking into his internal organs. Ruptured liver, collapsed lung, and nicked heart.
He desperately heaved for breath while his regeneration inflated his lung again, and only managed to barely catch sight of the charging epic in time to attempt another dodge through blurry eyes.
Much of his shock, he succeeded.
Suddenly, attacks from above spared him the need to immediately scramble again. Arrows, beams of light, Milena¡¯s miasma, and even a couple of potions rained down on the monster.
So, the hero took just a second to think.
The lessening pain and the lesson he¡¯d paid for in blood finally made him realize something crucial. The epic monster was not faster than him.
The thing hit like a truck, and he was willing to bet any number of his renewable limbs that its vitality was utterly insane, but he didn¡¯t think it had more dexterity than him.
Finally, a chance.
As his body finally finished fixing itself, Rowan launched himself into the fray, heedless of the potential to become a victim of his own allies.
The hero focused on his dexterity like he never had before. He weaved between grasping claws, he dodged the kick from the monster¡¯s back leg, he lunged away from its desperate attempt to use its jaws again.
All the while, his spear danced too.
He couldn¡¯t damage its skin or feather much with casual attacks. Even the ranged assault was doing minimal damage against those. He could, however, aim for previous injuries.
The tip of Rowan¡¯s spear found shallow wounds, deepening them. The serrated edges of the spear slid along the rips in flesh, widening them. Each time, a burst of blood responded, prompted by the uncommon Blood Siphon.
As he set about the grisly work, Rowan could feel his weapon vibrating subtly in his hands. Somehow, a part of him knew the weapon was luxuriating in the combat. It relished every drop of epic blood that it came in contact with. And in spite of all the mess and visceral combat, the weapon remained spotless.
Not everything could work out in his favor, of course.
An arrow missed its original mark when Rowan and the monster switched places, sinking into his arm. The explosion of a potion singed his hair and the skin of his face, rendering his right eye blurry for a time. A particularly vicious streak of sword energy even bit into his leg, making him falter and almost literally eat a tail strike from the bird monster.
Finally, the moment Rowan was waiting for happened.
The dinosaur paused, stumbled, and then released an unearthly screech. Its carefully aimed attacks turned into a flurry of blows that were aimed at every direction without pause, and its eyes reddened before suddenly exploding right out of its head.
The blood curse had taken root. Milena had finally tracked down the blood from his initial altercation with the monster and started her ritual.
Empowered as the card was by both the requisite catalyst and a proper method of use, it was wreaking havoc on the monster¡¯s internals. So, Rowan limped his way over to the wall of the pit as far from the monster as he could, then hollered at the top of his lungs.
¡°Now!¡±
Up above, a carefully selected pair of soldiers stepped forward. The only feature they shared was the bulk of the bodies, and only in the sense that they were both ridiculously muscled.
The two giants hefted a barrel of distilled potion each, and then, leveraging their prodigiously high strength stats, they threw.
They weren¡¯t the most proficient at aiming, but with the size of their target, they didn¡¯t need to be. One barrel landed right on top of the monster¡¯s back. The other landed at its feet.
Both instantly exploded.
Rowan huddled up right against the wall and covered his head as best as he could. In spite of that, the sheer force and heat of the ensuing explosion left him shaking in pain.
A whole section of his armor was charred and partially sealed with his skin, every hair on his body was probably gone, and he felt more than a few bones snap when he was flattened against the stakes he¡¯d been so proud of just a little while ago.
Unseen to Rowan, Marcus had gasped, doubled over and collapsed onto his knees only to throw up on the spot. No damage was immediately obvious on his person, but he was in just as much pain.
His state only eased when Olivia finally just drenched him in two bottles of healing potion, having given up on trying to pry his clenched jaw open. To her credit, the area she targeted first was his face and the small amount of potion the wolf kin inhaled was probably helpful, too.
After relaxing his muscles, Marcus found a potion bottle getting stuffed into his face. It took another two and a near choking before he became cognizant enough to beg the alchemist to stop.
By contrast, Rowan was very much aware of the damage. His body¡¯s most pressing issues had fixed themselves quickly enough, but his energy reserves were all but fully gone and he came to the unfortunate conclusion that healing his skin would be¡ difficult.
The heat had fused it with his armor, and while his healing was angrily buzzing at the wound, it wasn¡¯t making the problem go away, either.
Every time he moved, the shifting of his body tugged painfully on the affected area, making him grunt.
He refused to fixate on that.
Rowan straightened, his eyes desperately eying the cloud of dust and smoke for any sign of moment. To his mounting horror, he found it.
The next moment, a mournful keening cut through the air, and the hero let out a shuddering breath as he staggered forward to charge at his fate.
If he couldn¡¯t somehow finish off the monster, he didn¡¯t want to imagine what would happen when it got out of the pit.
Closer and closer he went, relying on a mere dusty silhouette as his weary feet dragged him on. Each step was an agony, but at least his ability to attack wasn¡¯t all that impaired.
His life force could feed the sacrifice card entire on its own, and he wasn¡¯t dead yet.
A twitch alerted him that he was quite close to his target, and the gradually settling dust let him make out more detail a few moments later.
The monster was alive, but only by the barest of margins. A massive chunk of its body was missing, including both of its front legs, a good potion of its chest, and its left leg. It had been driven against the edge of the pit too, and its defenses were weakened enough for the stakes there to pierce into its flesh.
Blood, still somehow seeping out in spite of how much it had lost already, hissed and bubbled where it fell, Milena¡¯s ritual holding strong.
It was in pure agony, and even then, at the sight of Rowan, it tried to twitch towards him and attack.
He couldn¡¯t even respect its drive and determination. This was a monster with no intelligence, its eyes were dull and full only of unbridled bloodlust. Whatever this creature¡¯s mind was, if it wasn¡¯t entirely demonic to begin with, it had been reduced to a puppet of the demons¡¯ desires.
The Stalwart Hero raised his spear, aimed, and drove it through one of its eyes. He couldn¡¯t even afford to collapse on his back when he got the notification that signaled that the deed was done.
That sort of luxury was reserved for people who weren¡¯t leaders of an entire army.
Rowan opened his mouth to announce their victory, then faltered and broke into a coughing fit. The dust bothered him and his throat felt raw and scratchy after the heat wave he had just endured. He did manage, in the end. ¡°The monster is dead!¡±
Rowan even managed to keep his voice from faltering or cracking, and when the cheer broke out, he was immensely proud of himself.
Eager, proud eyes soon pierced the settling dust, landing on the hero who was casually leaning on his spear stuck into the carcass of their foe. Rowan looked remarkably untouched by the entire battle, in spite of the way his Lavish Feasting was dull and colorless in his chest.
The card had never been run that low before, and it was crying out in anguish to refill its reserves. He did his best not to think about how appealing the half-cooked flesh of the monster suddenly smelled.
¡°Drink this, immediately.¡± Naturally, Olivia was the first to make her way to him. The rest of the army seemed to be too caught up in their celebration to notice, and the twins were busy fussing over each other. She, however, had noticed that his casual demeanor and stylish pose against the spear was actually a desperate attempt to stay upright.
Rowan eyed up the potion, but ended up shrugging in the end. Or at least he tried to do that, before pain shut down the attempt. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t really move my limbs right now, or I¡¯ll just fall.
The alchemist growled, glared, the finally huffed and uncorked the potion. Rowan figured she would just do her best to feed it to him somehow. His eyes shot wide open and then fluttered closed when she downed the potion, dragged him forward, and sealing his lips with hers instead.
He ended up only getting a very small dose of that particular potion, and was blissfully unaware of the renewed cheering and quite a bit of happy laughter. However, when the kiss was over, he did feel more capable of functioning.
¡°Maybe I should get grievously hurt more often,¡± Rowan breathed, refusing to wilt when she nailed him with another glare.
¡°Just drink this, you reckless idiot.¡± This time, Olivia brought the new potion vial up to his lips. ¡°Why did you stay down there? You could have jumped out. I know you could have jumped out. You had a whole army waiting for to help you.¡±
¡°It seemed like the smart thing to do, at the time.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not capable of smart ideas in the middle of combat. That¡¯s been proven, time and again. Next time, just stick to the plan that doesn¡¯t require you, a damage dealer, to tank the stupid epic monster and get caught in a death trap¡±
Olivia was hissing and had some good point, but she was also hugging him. So, who was really winning that argument?
¡°I really hate to upset you more, but I¡¯m going to have to make a weird request,¡± Rowan warned her, then when he got a concerned look, resigned himself to clarifying. Not fully, of course, because that would be boring. ¡°I need you to skin me.¡±
Olivia froze, first, then her eyes fluttered down to his ruined armor in understanding. ¡°You know, I really thought that the first time you asked me to undress you would go very differently.¡±
The hero just sighed and kissed the alchemist again.
¡ª
Several days journey to the north-east, a different pair of emerald eyes was fixed on a missive. ¡°Make sure everyone on the list gets this, immediately.¡±
The old man who had spent decades of his life struggling against the various hostile factions trying to steal the authority of the mayor¡¯s office grinned, and happily accepted his task.
The hero had sent word of a wonderful opportunity and his chamberlain was not about to fail him.
Likewise, Camilla Sutton, the baroness of the frontier, was nearly giddy with anticipation. An ill-fated relationship was likely to draw to an end soon, and she would relish every second of the chaos and her former friend¡¯s grisly demise.
It would be grisly. She would make sure of that herself.
Chapter 48: To Catch A Mockingbird
The town of Rest¡¯s Remorse was on full alert. Unfortunately, that really didn¡¯t mean as much as it should have, seeing that its mayor and standing army were both away in the wastes.
Officially, the reason was that a minor monster wave might attack the town. Normally, this wasn¡¯t much of an issue. But with the incomplete repairs of the town¡¯s wall? Potentially deadly.
Hence, the mercenaries.
Unofficially? Every single mouth in town was gossiping about the messenger who had rushed into the settlement and then stumbled her way over to the mayor¡¯s mansion. The messenger who brought news of another epic tier demon driving their army towards Rest¡¯s Remorse.
An attack they couldn¡¯t possibly survive.
The town had almost as many mercenaries as when they faced the original threat. They even had two different epic tiers, the hero¡¯s mother-in-law and the brave Mercenary King. What they didn¡¯t have was an army to man the defenses, or the defenses themselves.
This meant that the very first wave of monsters would be enough to form cracks in the perimeter and then the slaughter would start.
Every single soul that could afford to so tried to buy or organize passage out of town the second they found out. At the gates, they were met with a heavy rebuff and ordered to stay, ¡®for their own safety.¡¯
There was even grumbling and whispering among mercenaries that they should abandon the job and just flee. Surprisingly, it was the big three who stepped forward and announced that the citizens would have their protection, and that battle would be done no matter what.
The Mercenary King¡¯s response was expected. He and his would fight to the last, no matter the odds, once they accepted a request. The other two mercenary companies raised a lot of eyebrows with their newfound resolution.
After all, the Blood Reaver was known for abandoning all but the wealthiest and most influential of his clients if things went bad. The mage didn¡¯t have a much better reputation.
Camilla Sutton, of course, had expected that reaction.
¡°The spies we posted next to their headquarters report that there¡¯s been no changes, my lady,¡± Henry, ever efficient and loyal, delivered the news.
¡°I expected as much. What about the underground guilds and companies we have discovered?¡± Camilla¡¯s eyes were busy scanning over the town map in front of her, briefly pausing over the areas marked in red.
¡°They¡¯ve accepted more deliveries in the last two days than they had in the last three weeks. You and the hero were right. They¡¯re not choosing to flee. Our spies have also noticed a number of them setting up inside the sewers, most of them here, here and here.¡± The chamberlain deftly pointed on the map.
The baroness scoffed. ¡°Really? How is it that supposed professionals are so pitifully predictable?¡±
¡°They expect us to be on high alert and fully focused on our defenses. You even declared you would take to the field yourself if need be.¡±
¡°Still¡ this feels¡ too easy. Are you sure they haven¡¯t managed to get to the officer? Reyne, was it?¡±
¡°She¡¯s currently in the former mayor¡¯s own secret chamber. No one but me knows where it is located.¡± The chamberlain looked proud of that.
¡°For now, I¡¯ll content myself with being thankful for such a room existing at all,¡± Camilla said. ¡°But we do have a problem.¡±
The chamberlain nodded gravely.
When the baroness first heard about the hero¡¯s plan, she ran a simple test. She put out an official notice and left the ¡®details of the real situation¡¯ sitting on a scroll in her study.
When she went to meet with the mercenary leaders the next day, everyone but the Mercenary King seemed to know what she was going to tell them ahead of time. They did their best to feign shock, and Tamara was almost passable at the charade. But Camilla saw through them. She didn¡¯t survive as a duchess for decades to be lain low by the paltry acting skills of two ambitious idiots.
While there was no direct threat to her life, Camilla was still uncomfortable with the notion that they could spy on her private quarters in some way. She knew that the greatest dams started with a single leak. Even if she was one of the strongest people in the town, the situation could quickly spiral out of control.
¡°We need to do something about it,¡± Camilla stated. It wasn¡¯t a question. Where Kayden often joked about Olivia¡¯s obsession with potions and research, Camilla was the same way. Except she focused on ferreting out secrets that could threaten her family. It was a wonder that she wasn¡¯t blessed by Zarina.
¡°We should consider training up some classes that can counter such interference, my lady. I will share the suggestion with Lord Rowan, but he might find the process a tad distasteful.¡±
The baroness grimaced, knowing that the man was right. Even her own husband preferred to rely on artifacts, wards, and enchantments for security. Classes that could counter spies, infiltrators and worse were exceedingly difficult to acquire. The worthwhile class upgrades were even more hellishly difficult to unlock.
¡°I don¡¯t think he would forgive either of us if we recruited twelve-year-olds just so we could mold their classes into that. And that might impact his relationship with my daughter. What I¡¯m trying to say, Henry, is to do nothing of the like without permission,¡± Camilla said.
¡°Which I am unlikely to get, Lady Sutton.¡±
Camilla refocused on the task at hand. ¡°Be that as it may, it¡¯s not like the potential recruits would become immediately useful. We¡¯d need months, years perhaps, before we could rely on them.¡±
The old chamberlain inclined his head, conceding the point.
¡°Are there any new orders I should relay to our new agents?¡±
¡°No, and I don¡¯t expect any to be needed. Now, we simply wait. They should be here any day now.¡± Camilla¡¯s voice betrayed her eagerness, and the two of them exchanged an excited grin.
¡ª
After finishing his fight with the epic tier monster, a fight that was significantly easier than expected, Rowan received word from Camilla about her plans.
Rowan had fun with it. Marching on his own town and faking the impression of a monster wave, was a nice break from fighting and almost dying to an epic tier monster.
Rowan pointed at a tree.
¡°Marcus, I think that tree is looking at you funny,¡± Rowan said.
¡°On it,¡± Marcus laughed. He charged straight into the tree with his shield in front of him and leveled the plant.
The two of them laughed at the destruction while soldiers around them all generally made noise and destruction of the jungle that had given them so much trouble just a few days ago.
¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re wasting energy on things like this,¡± Olivia grumbled, looking away from the havoc the hero and his army were inflicting on the nearby scenery.
Rowan kept laughing until he chocked on a combination of dust, leaves, and splinters.
¡°Oh come on, you know why we¡¯re doing this. It¡¯s not my fault that you can¡¯t contribute because it would be too obvious,¡± Rowan teased.
Pretending that an epic tier was advancing on the city was relatively easy when most of the scouts that could potentially see through the ruse were on your side and the mercenaries were too busy gearing up their defenses for thoughtful probes. It also helped that Rowan had a couple of the scouts setting up a perimeter and stopping anyone from seeing that it was a human army marching on the town, not a monster one.
For that reason, all the strength-based classes in the army, and even a few others with particularly destructive abilities, joined in on the fun.
Some of the destruction was intention. They had to make a path for the massive body of the epic monster, which was being transported on a cobbled together from the remains of the barricades and more thorn vines.
After making sure that Rowan was alright, Olivia began the process of chewing out both him and Milena. Rowan for destroying some of the creature¡¯s teeth, and Milena for literally boiling its blood away. As it turned out, the thing¡¯s proper name was [Corrupted Dragon-blooded Bird of Zearnash], and while the name didn¡¯t mean much to Rowan, Olivia practically had stars in her eyes at the potential of getting her hands on any creature with the remnant blood of dragons running in its veins.
The fact that said blood was missing was a point of great anger for her, but she eventually contented herself with its body. She assured them it would be more than worth hauling it back to the town and even threatened bodily harm to Rowan who suggested just eating it. So, there they were.
Rowan¡¯s good mood couldn¡¯t keep his worries at bay forever though.
¡°Just a couple more hours,¡± Rowan muttered, worrying at his lower lip.
The plan was sound. The baroness riled the town up with news of a supposed epic demon driving an army towards the town. Then, if any of the mercenaries or underground guilds took the bait and attempted to backstab the defenders, purge them from the city.
This was going to be the best shot of rooting out Rowan¡¯s strange enemies and figuring out their intentions. Rowan seriously doubted they would choose to skip out on such a good opportunity when they tried to publicly assassinate him already. After all, with the demons as the excuse, they couldn¡¯t even be blamed for any deaths in the town. As long as no survivors made it out, they could brush the whole thing under the rug.
¡°You¡¯re not getting worried now, are you?¡± Olivia asked quietly, doing her best to keep any such discussion out of the ears of nearby soldiers. ¡°This was your plan as much as mother¡¯s.¡±
She was referring to what he had told Reyne. In a fit of overconfidence, Rowan had sent her back with word that he was sure to defeat the monster and that the news could be used as an opportunity to root out their lurking enemies.
¡°I know, I know. It¡¯s just¡ we¡¯re bringing the fight to the town. The people there don¡¯t deserve to get caught up in pointless political conflicts or whatever¡¯s actually going on. We killed an epic without losses and now there¡¯s a decent chance my army will die fighting other humans?¡± Rowan did his best not to sound bitter, but there was no keeping the anger and disgust out of his tone. If only he could get his hands on whoever was responsible for the mess and stop all this from being necessary.
¡°They¡¯ll be fine. You helped them advance and they¡¯ve got levels backing them up now. A ton of the recruits levelled up to rare on our way back too,¡± Olivia said.
She was right, of course. In spite of the hero party hogging most of the rare enemies, when recruits slowly maxing out their uncommon tier levels, they helped them advance.
The hero party was also growing at a rate all three of Rowan¡¯s party members praised as prodigious thanks to taking down the dinosaur monster. Rowan himself had already passed level fifty.
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¡°They can still die to a stupid mistake or a lucky shot,¡± Rowan sighed, giving voice to his worries once more.
Olivia said nothing more on the subject, choosing to just grab his hand in a silent show of support.
Rowan chose to walk the rest of the way with her, his appetite for wanton destruction thoroughly soured.
¡ª
¡°Go ahead. Make sure you don¡¯t run straight into the monster wave, though.¡± Rowan gave the order, earning a wan smile from the young scout before the scout launched himself ahead.
Rowan couldn¡¯t remember the man¡¯s name, and would take steps to remedy that, especially since he had made amazing contributions in the fight against the epic, saving the lives of several other scouts in the process. Right then, however, the scout looked more like a beggar than a rising star of the hero¡¯s army. His clothes were stained, ripped, and even bloody.
In other words, they were perfect for putting on a show of warning the town of an approaching beast horde that¡¯s supposedly fleeing a demonic army.
The irony of the situation was that the beast horde was actually real. The wanton destruction of the jungle had flushed out hundreds of monsters that called the wastes their home. But instead of being a serious threat, the wave was a harmless flood of weak enemies that the baroness alone could slaughter to the last.
The scout was dispatched and the monsters were driven out, and finally, only one last stretch of trees separated Rowan from what would soon, hopefully, be a town cleansed of internal enemies. When the final tree fell, Rowan looked at Rest¡¯s Remorse with anticipation.
Of all the things Rowan had imagined, his plan working too well was not on his bingo list.
The town was on fire, multiple plumes of smoke grasping for the skies.
¡°Shit,¡± Rowan cursed. ¡°Leave two parties to guard the corpse. The rest of you, with me, charge!¡± Rowan paused only for long enough to sneak his arm around Olivia¡¯s waist before he broke into a sprint.
The alchemist gave a squeak of surprise, but didn¡¯t protest. She wasn¡¯t fast enough to keep up, and Rowan could tell just by the way her body had stiffened that she wasn¡¯t about to be left behind.
His dexterity was thankfully enough to eat up the distance quickly enough, past the blood-soaked dirt and the bodies of the uncommon monsters, beyond the crumbling walls, and right into the bedlam the town had turned into.
Already, groups of mercenaries were fighting on the streets, people were screaming, and the fires were growing.
Thankfully, some of the men had the blue ribbon tied around their upper arms, just like he¡¯d arranged with the baroness.
¡°Can you do something about the fires?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Yes, but¡ª¡±
He didn¡¯t wait to hear more and left Olivia behind, out of harms way. Then, Rowan let his body move the way it wanted to.
In an instant, he was in the middle of the first melee. He twisted around the blow of his ally, swept aside an attack that would have landed on the same ally¡¯s back, and buried his spear right through the throat of an enemy.
Rowan didn¡¯t let himself hesitate, didn¡¯t let the realization that he was no longer fighting monsters take root.
Out of the five enemies in the skirmish, he claimed the lives of four, and then he was moving on again. Running. Picking out target.
Up ahead, there was a swordsman with a large cleaver-like sword who was capable of sending energy slashes through enemy and ally alike. Rowan managed to sneak up on the man, poured a bit of his regenerated energy into Blood of Blood and took care of the enemy.
It was utter chaos.
Rowan¡¯s next target was a skilled whip user, demolishing a whole line of houses on his own when his glowing weapon simply passed through stone like a knife through butter. He met Rowan¡¯s charge head on and Rowan had to push his dexterity to the utmost. Rowan slipped right and sacrificed a couple fingers to redirect the whip before he was close enough to skewer the man.
An arrow pierced through Rowan¡¯s thigh. He looked up to see a female archer on the roof of a nearby house. Another arrow went through his left shoulder before he closed the distance. The final present from the archer was taking Rowan¡¯s ear off before he made sure she couldn¡¯t shoot ever again.
Those were just the most notable of his enemies. The most dangerous ones. Rowan lost track of the fighting soon afterward. He had no idea how many mercenaries he came across and dispatched when moving from one skilled enemy combatant to another.
He didn¡¯t want to count anyways.
The town was in complete chaos and the mercenaries were much tougher fighters than Rowan expected. Almost every encounter left him with a new wound that Natural Renewal struggled to heal. However, by and large, they wore the insignia¡¯s of the Blood Reaver¡¯s company.
Tamara¡¯s men were nowhere to be seen, and that filled Rowan¡¯s stomach with more than a little dread.
The attackers were also not exceptionally well armed. Their equipment was of high quality, but it came nowhere near the level of what the slaughtered underground guild had in their possession, let alone the enchanted blades of his would be assassin.
¡°Out of my way,¡± Rowan roared. As he got closer to the mayor¡¯s manor, the fighting thickened. And in the frenzy, no one listened to him. In spite of knowing just how deadly the baroness was, a part of Rowan feared for her safety. Gritting his teeth, Rowan charged forward with his spear.
Before Rowan could get far, a body was launched through a wall just to the right of him, and a mercenary with a blue armband tumbled to the ground, broken and unmoving. Out of the hole stepped Florin, looking worse for wear but still very much alive.
¡°Florin!¡± Rowan screamed. The mercenary leader looked dazed, absent-minded even. He stepped forward and buried one of his twin sabers into the man he had downed. The weapon pulsed, and blood streamed out of the corpse before settling on the blade, making its red color a tad richer.
Rowan screamed again, this time to express his anger. He went at the [Blood Reaver] from the side, and made use of his dexterity to slide right into range, his spear¡¯s tip trained at the man¡¯s throat.
The spear was batted to the side. Then, with a smidgen of life returning to his eyes, Florin looked at Rowan.
¡°The hero. Of course. Let me guess, there¡¯s no epic demon coming our way at all?¡± the man laughed, and stopped abruptly. ¡°Abandoned. Me. Think they can just use me and discard me, do they? I¡¯ll shit on their little cult once I¡¯m through with slaughtering them all.¡±
As unstable as the man looked, Rowan couldn¡¯t let that pass. He paused. ¡°What cult? What¡¯s going on.¡±
¡°Failed? Piss you. I¡¯ll piss on all of you. I¡¯m going to become an epic today, you hear me? I¡¯m going to rip the power out of that bitch¡¯s chest, and then I¡¯m coming for all of them,¡± Florin yelled.
A slash passed right by Rowan¡¯s nose. Rowan couldn¡¯t even see the strike and was saved by an instinctual flinch. He tried to retreat but the Blood Reaver pressed on the assault, sticking close to the hero.
Flash after flash of Florin¡¯s blades lashed out, and Rowan was only barely keeping up, stopping the wounds from becoming cuts that could cripple him. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but Florin was both faster and more skilled than him.
The dance the Blood Reaver weaved with his sabers should have left him open to assault. Wielding two blades with such proficiency went well past the human limits. And yet, his arms moved completely independently of each other and could both attack and defend at the same time.
Rowan realized, even as he earned another nick on his cheek, that Florin was using two different types of swordsmanship at once.
Rowan was starting to pant, his chest heaving in air. His feet landed on something slick, and he had to commit to a dash to the side just to avoid falling. The maneuver cost him when Florin¡¯s blade sank deep into his thigh, sliding right through the muscles and weakening his left leg to the point he could barely stand.
Of course, the flash of pain made another thing become painfully apparent.
He was bleeding, and not just a little.
A wide-eyed glance around showed that his clothing was absolutely bathed in blood, and that he¡¯d painted the area they fought in red.
His cuts weren¡¯t healing.
Rowan didn¡¯t even feel them.
¡°How are you standing?¡± Florin asked, sounding genuinely confused. ¡°You¡¯ve lost enough blood to kill three people. I know. Trust me.¡±
Rowan refused to rise to his bait, taking the chance as the man idly twirled his weapons to run his mana actively through his body.
It was hard. The mana that typically flowed easily through the ethereal channels within him stuttered and dragged, like invisible obstacles were in its way. Obstacles that Rowan couldn¡¯t even detect without serious effort. Pushing his mana a step further, he forced it through the blocks, only for each of them to resolve into a wound.
It was only then that his regeneration card latched onto the injuries, quickly remedying the issue.
Until that point, it was only struggling along to replenish his blood.
The Blood Reaver blinked, eyebrows climbing as he watched the wounds seal up and disappear, leaving unblemished skin behind. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be. Guess heroes aren¡¯t for show after all! Wish I could keep that card once I¡¯m done ripping it out of your heart, but eh. Not worth dying for. Can you heal from this?¡±
Florin twirled his right blade one last time, then gripped it tightly, raising it above his head.
All of the blood in the vicinity, be it on the ground, on their clothing, or even inside of Rowan¡¯s body, trembled. Then, all of the red fluid lifted off and floated right into the Blood Reaver¡¯s saber.
There was a rumble in the distance too, and with a start, Rowan realized that a tidal wave of blood was rapidly approaching them from every side.
The Reaver¡¯s weapon rapidly increased in size and volume, and that was just from the blood immediately around them. If the rest of the blood tide reached the man, Rowan wasn¡¯t sure how he could win.
There was only one chance for victory. A slim and dangerous one, but a chance none the less.
One of Florin¡¯s swords was busy accumulating blood, leaving only a single blade for the mercenary leader to use. Rowan swiped aside the man¡¯s first blow and waited. Although Florin used two different sword styles, he never switched styles between arms. As expected, the man¡¯s next move was a vicious stab, threatening to skewer the hero.
Rowan didn¡¯t even try to dodge the attack.
He shifted his hold on his spear, gripping it close to the tip with both hands and allowed the saber to slide right into his rib cage. Once there, Rowan immediately trapped the blade with his elbow and drove the tip of his spear into the underside of the Reaver¡¯s jaw.
Florin didn¡¯t even get to look surprised. He experienced a brief moment of pain, and then the power inside of the spear blew the entire front of his face off.
Rowan wasn¡¯t in much better state himself.
He coughed, and flecks of blood landed on the ground before he stumbled back, the motion and the dead man¡¯s grip on the saber ripping it out of his chest. Rowan glanced down and grimaced at the sight.
Florin¡¯s blows were clearly empowered in some manner. The area around the wound he was ravaged in an odd, concentric pattern that had sliced through the nearby flesh. In a way, it reminded Rowan of a flower. But the odd beauty of the wound wasn¡¯t enough to distract Rowan¡¯s body from the fact that his organs had almost been turned into mush, and he collapsed to his knees.
The wound, again, wasn¡¯t healing on its own.
With a snarl of anger on his lips, Rowan fumbled at his belt, grabbing the healing potion there and quickly swallowing it down while trying to marshal his mana into breaking the card effect messing with his regeneration.
The potion barely kept aware for long enough to succeed.
It did work though, and with one final disgusted glance at Florin, Rowan began making his way forward again. He was just a few streets away from the mayor¡¯s manor, and the explosions he was hearing from that direction weren¡¯t very encouraging. Thankfully, he only ran into another two groups of enemies on the way there. Both were surprisingly powerful and well-trained, but still nothing compared to Florin.
And then, finally, Rowan laid eyes on the place that was slowly becoming home. The building was a mess.
The entire front fa?ade was charred, and the majestic doors were nowhere to be seen. The source of the explosions also quickly became apparent.
A man wielding a massive great sword was currently engaged in combat with the baroness, the Mercenary King, and, of all people, Tamara.
The baroness flitted between the massive mana slashes the man was launching, while the Mercenary King calmly and methodically dismantled them using his sword and shield combo. Tamara, meanwhile, was pelting the stranger with blue-colored fireballs that were wreaking absolute havoc on the street.
The battle had already extracted a grisly cost. Corpses were strewn all over the street, most of them ripped to shreds like someone had patiently cut them apart slice by slice. Some, however, were charred black or even lay dead with no easily discernible wounds.
As Rowan took in the scene, the combatants also noticed him.
The stranger immediately pivoted, sword lighting up brighter still as he triggered some sort of movement card. His impressive bulk came barreling right in Rowan¡¯s direction, and his feet were ripping apart the street with every step.
The trio reacted just as quickly.
The Mercenary King blinked right in front of Rowan, a dome of energy erupting out of him and inserting itself into the path of the stranger¡¯s sword. The two forces clashed and cracks developed on the barrier before someone else broke the deadlock.
A blood-red bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, the heat and force of it collapsing the barrier entirely while also turning the ground into glass.
The stranger, on the other hand, took the lightning bolt head on. He locked into place, muscles steaming and spasming.
Finally, the baroness appeared behind the enemy, and her hands became a blur Rowan couldn¡¯t follow. A second later, a cloud of blood erupted from the man, and the energy haloing his blade guttered out. He slumped down to the ground like a doll.
¡°Could you learn to actually aim that bloody thing?¡± the Mercenary King bellowed at the top of his lungs, eyes firmly fixed on the mage.
¡°I was just making an opening for dear Camilla,¡± Tamara said huskily, sending the baroness a wink that was answered by a glare. ¡°Not my fault you were just standing there.¡±
¡°I swear I¡¯ll drag you down and ¡ª¡±
¡°Enough. We need to check on our troops and make sure all the enemies are down. You can argue later. You know where to go,¡± the baroness snapped, stopping the arguments before it could devolve into actual combat.
And Rowan could tell it would have happened too. The Mercenary King was obviously angry, and Tamara had a look in her eyes that reminded Rowan of a dangerous cat looking for her next prey.
The two obeyed, both moving quickly in different directions. That left Rowan with the opportunity to finally voice his confusion.
¡°Why isn¡¯t she dead?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Trust me, I¡¯m wondering that myself. Tamara struck at the traitors before even we could,¡± Camilla said, relaxing her shoulders now that the stranger was dead. ¡°She¡¯s why you¡¯re not coming back to an empty town.¡±
¡°I¡¯m really going to need to ask you to elaborate.¡±
¡°We knew where they were massing. Or, well, where most of them were massing. The second the monster wave showed up following the warning from your messengers, they were poised to strike. Tamara ambushed them first, before they even made their move.¡±
Rowan just shook his head and grimaced. ¡°Why?¡±
¡°I have my guesses, but I¡¯m currently more thankful than annoyed. They had two epic tier fighters, Rowan. And more troops than we could ever have guessed. If she hadn¡¯t sided with us, things could have been much worse.¡±
¡°We won?¡±
Camilla nodded. ¡°We were winning even before you came. But that was the final nail. We¡¯ve won.¡±
Rowan glanced down the street, where people were dead or dying.
They¡¯d won, but was his scheme actually worth it?
Chapter 49: The Spoils of A Burning City
In spite of Rowan¡¯s fears, the town was actually in relatively good condition. The fires had broken out in several places, but the fact that most homes were built almost entirely out of stone did a good job of preventing the flames from spreading.
Olivia¡¯s intervention had also played an important role. She had single-handedly extinguished the worst of the flames.
The swift arrival of the hero¡¯s army was another thing that changed the whole event from catastrophe to inconvenience, and Rowan was extremely proud of each and every one of them.
Marcus and Milena chose to stick with the army, supporting and overseeing their advance, and their unified front shattered all enemy groups they encountered. Other than some injuries, they didn¡¯t even suffer losses.
But it wasn¡¯t all good news. The mercenaries, especially those under the Mercenary King, had suffered heavy causalities. The number of enemies and the intensity of fighting both surpassed all of their expectations. They had won, but had taken a real risk of defeat in the process.
Then, there was the matter of Tamara. The woman was entirely too helpful, enthusiastically leading her disciples in rooting out every last enemy hiding within the town.
She even used ¡®scrying¡¯ to locate hidden cashes, room, and even a whole hidden production facility that catered underground guilds and companies by using enslaved crafters. Privately, both Rowan and the baroness were convinced that she knew about all of those because she¡¯d used the facilities herself.
It was hours later, in the baroness¡¯ study, that they finally had a chance to chat and complain.
¡°At least the civilians are mostly okay,¡± Rowan grumbled, holding a cup of chilled wine to his chest. Henry had shown up with a whole pitcher as soon as they sat down, then made himself scarce.
¡°They shouldn¡¯t have been involved at all to begin with, but it¡¯s not exactly easy to control the spread of chaos and damage when you have rare and higher combatants fighting in the middle of town. The evacuation and fear of the incoming horde did help,¡± Camilla said.
¡°I saw what some of them could do when they don¡¯t care about collateral damage.¡± Rowan grimaced, mind immediately drifting to the whip mercenary whose weapon sliced through the nearby homes with remarkable ease.
¡°We did win, though. Mostly. I wish our victory didn¡¯t come at the cost of putting even more power in the hands of that insane mage,¡± Camilla sighed, sinking deeper into her chair.
¡°Wait, what?¡±
¡°We formed a party while we fought,¡± Camilla explained. ¡°It¡¯s easier to coordinate that way. So, when we killed those two epic tier combatants¡¡±
Rowan just stared at her blankly. ¡°Are you telling me that the dangerous and unstable mage you hate is now epic tier as well?¡±
¡°I can still kill her. The Mercenary King can, as well,¡± Camilla countered. Rowan didn¡¯t like how defensive she sounded. ¡°And she¡¯s unlikely to try anything now. Unfortunately, I know her. She figured out the winning team, so she¡¯ll stick with it for the time being.¡±
¡°I¡ really don¡¯t like how little that guarantees.¡±
¡°You and me both. Now, why don¡¯t you go work on getting my daughter to forgive you? Leaving her behind while you charged into a flaming town isn¡¯t the romantic gesture you think it is.¡± Camilla said as she closed her eyes. ¡°I still have a lot of work to do to tide this over properly.¡±
That was definitely a fine suggestion and Rowan even had a solid idea of how to make that happen.
¡ª
If there was one thing war was good for, it was apparently experience and cards. Rowan had, over his time fighting various mobs, received a ton of unique and interesting drops. However, the cards he¡¯d earned by slaughtering fellow humans were both of overall higher quality and more useful.
He wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that.
What he was sure about was the best way to make use of those cards.
¡°Olivia? Can I come in, please?¡± Rowan knocked on her door. He could hear her moving about inside. But no response came back. He signed and got ready for a wait, awkwardly adjusting the straps of the bag he had over his shoulder.
It was another ten minutes before the door opened.
¡°What do you want? Why haven¡¯t you run off again?¡± Olivia scowled.
¡°I¡¯m the hero,¡± Rowan said. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he knew that he had said the exact wrong thing. ¡°My Lavish Feasting was recharged. It was kind of reckless, but reckless was kind of my whole thing.¡±
Olivia scoffed and turned away, but she did leave the door open, so he followed after her.
¡°What do you want, Rowan? I¡¯m not in a good mood right now,¡± she grumbled, hesitated, then added. ¡°Maybe in like an hour or so.¡±
¡°I wanted to talk to you about something else. I want you to use these to build a deck for yourself,¡± Rowan said, taking the bag off his shoulder and dangling it in front of the alchemist.
Olivia took the bag from him, opened it, and stared. ¡°Rowan. I can¡¯t just take all of these! Do you realize how many cards are in here?¡± she whispered, slightly awed.
He couldn¡¯t blame her. There were a little over three hundred rare cards in the bag, the sum total of everything they earned on the way back to the town and in the slaughter within it. Some of the cards were potentially useful, but if sacrifices had to be made, they were willing to make them.
¡°We talked about it,¡± Rowan said. ¡°Me, Marcus, and Milena. We just want you to have a decent deck. All of our cards more or less synergize with each other. Marcus has his insane buffs, I have my combo, and Milena is, well, Milena. Not entirely sure how her class works, to be honest. I don¡¯t mean to insult you, but your cards are a mess.¡±
¡°Well, then, thanks for the voice of confidence!¡± Olivia replied.
¡°It¡¯s not¡ I can¡¯t seem to say anything right today, can I?¡±
¡°Nope, not at all.¡±
¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll say all the wrong things at once. Half of your cards are for crafting or identification and the other half is for fighting. I get why, but that¡¯s why I put you down. If you want to fight on the front lines, you need to be able to hold your own. So, use those cards, please?¡±
Olivia hesitated, and for a long few seconds, Rowan thought she would decline. Finally, she let out an exhausted sigh and nodded. ¡°Fine.¡±
Instantly, Rowan was in a much better mood. ¡°Great! Here, take a look through these, I think they might have something useful.¡± He pulled out a whole extra bundle of cards, handing them over. These were the cards found in the underground workshop, presumable stolen from or collected for some of the alchemists there.
Olivia took the cards, quickly cheering up as they worked on putting together a true battle alchemist build. With each new card that they found, both of them got more and more excited. In the end, they only had to scrap about half the cards Rowan brought.
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Olivia Sutton
Level 59 Combat Alchemist
Deck (6/6):
[Heart] Pursuit of Brilliance (Epic, Passive)
[Class] Combat Application (Epic, Active)
Caustic Presence (Rare, Active)
Alchemic Fire (Rare, Passive)
Alchemist¡¯s Reach (Epic, Passive)
|
The first win of the day was Olivia¡¯s decision to throw caution to the wind and attempt an upgrade of her class card. Luckily, Combat Conversion improved to Combat Application, which further boosted the power of any copied potions and even made it possible for her to create multiple ethereal potion copies at once.
From there, things only got more interesting with her two new cards.
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Caustic Presence (Rare, Active)
Shield yourself in an aura with alchemical properties by copying a material or potion in your position to both protect yourself and attack.
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Alchemic Fire (Rare, Passive)
Sense and boost the power of all alchemical fires, explosions, or caustic reactions in your vicinity at the cost of mana.
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Alchemic Fire was an odd combination of passive and active effects, somewhat reminiscent of Rowan¡¯s own new regeneration card. Even more impressive was the fact that it was so versatile at rare when Rowan¡¯s card was at epic.
Speaking of epic, of course, there was Olivia¡¯s final new card, and an actual find from the underground workshop rather than a fusion.
|
Alchemist¡¯s Reach (Epic, Passive)
Manipulate the range of your potion and alchemical reactions as well as the tolerance range of various concoctions and materials during brewing, at the cost of mana.
|
Rowan didn¡¯t fully understand the card, but Olivia assured him that it was amazing. The obvious part of it allowed her to either minimize the effects of her attacks to one area, or to spread out their destructive potential.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
The second half was production focused, and could apparently make it easier or harder for ingredients to tolerate things like temperature, pressure, and more. Olivia said something about the card making a ton of new recipes viable, but again, not Rowan¡¯s field of expertise.
All in all, Olivia was over the moon with all the new improvements she got, and Rowan was right there with her.
Thanks to the new cards, she was a whole lot more deathly, and even capable of handling herself in a one versus one scenario somewhat. The Caustic Presence, at least, would serve as a nice way to buy time and make some distance from any attackers.
They ended up spending time together much later, but with how much fun they¡¯d had going through the various cards and options, Rowan didn¡¯t mind.
¡ª
It was almost a foreign concept but Rowan was actually told to rest and do nothing for a couple of days. Rather firmly, at that.
The rest of his party and even Camilla were worried about his mental health and wellbeing. Apparently, most people didn¡¯t go from battle to battle like he was doing. The fact that Rowan was hero or that he literally had a card that was meant to keep him in peak physical condition? Apparently irrelevant.
So Rowan found one of the many empty rooms of the mayor¡¯s manor and set himself to go through some casual spear forms. The spear felt so natural in his hand at this point that practicing forms was perfect for clearing his mind while thinking through what he wanted to do with some of his new loot.
In the past, loot had always been something that Rowan could equip or scrap in hopes of fusing a better card. This time, part of his gains included things that didn¡¯t cleanly fit into either category.
Heart cards, to be exact.
The hero knew exactly how much people valued those, and why. With a single good heart card, a family could set itself up for generations. Entire fortunes were even built around a single rare heart card.
Epic heart cards? That¡¯s the stuff noble families were often started with.
And now Rowan had one of those, along with two separate rare tier heart cards.
|
[Heart] Terror Hound (Epic, Passive)
Detect and track all sources of fear and unease in your vicinity. When those feelings are directed at you, you receive a minor boost to your two highest stats for every source.
|
Rowan wasn¡¯t exactly sure who he killed for the card to drop, but if he was a betting man, it was probably Florin, the Blood Reaver. Of course, the heart card had some slightly disturbing implications. In spite of that, it was invaluable for a scout class, and even fighters of every kind would relish having the thing in their deck.
The other two heart cards were a lot humbler but just as powerful.
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[Heart] Sharpened Edge (Rare, Active)
Imbue your weapon of choice with a cutting aura that will enable it to slice through creatures and materials at the rare tier or lower with ease. The effect is reduced when used against higher tier enemies and its effectiveness depends on mana consumption.
|
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[Heart] Eyes of a Predator (Rare, Passive)
Your eyesight, dynamic vision, and hand-eye coordination are all significantly improved. You will also have a much easier time tracking prey, no matter the environment you find yourself in.
|
These two, at least, were rather obvious when it came to who dropped them. The whip mercenary was responsible for the Sharpened Edge, and the archer was the likely former owner of Eyes of a Predator.
What it all came down to was simple: Rowan could easily start three brand-new families which would likely be eternally grateful to him. Well, or at least grateful to him for the next few generations. The problem was, he had no idea where he could possibly find the right candidates to receive the cards.
He briefly toyed with the idea of tracking down the little girl who managed to weasel her way into the hearts of Olivia and most of his mansion¡¯s staff, but the idea of forcing her down a path of combat didn¡¯t sit right with Rowan.
Of course, after stressing over the question for a while, he sighed and resolved himself to finally face the real reason why he was brooding.
Rowan leaned his spear against his shoulder, and pulled a card out of his pocket. Its border was purple and the image at the front was a slavering maw.
|
Gluttonous Banquet [Epic, Passive]
Gorge yourself on every available source of sustenance, breaking it all down using mana and storing the energy away to be used at a later date. You are limited to storing energy equivalent to thirty times your body weight.
|
The card was, on paper, amazing. It also came straight from the epic tier monster they killed. Almost as soon as it showed up, Rowan had plucked it out of his loot screen and placed it into his cardholder. But he hadn¡¯t equipped it or mentioned it to anyone else.
Deep in Rowan¡¯s chest, there was a quiet feeling of dread when he read the card¡¯s description.
His hesitation was not entirely logical, but neither was the feeling of hunger that constantly lurked just underneath the surface of his thoughts. Ever since his rise to rare granted him an increased awareness of card effects, he could feel Lavish Feasting lurking. Waiting. Pushing him to eat more.
And the description for that particular card was ¡®food.¡¯ The card often took certain liberties with the interpretation of the word, especially with the way it acted up around corpses. Gluttonous Banquet came with no such promises, and only claimed it would draw on ¡®every available source of sustenance.¡¯
Would he feel tempted to take a literal nibble out of his friends if he equipped it? What about other, less desirable sourced of ¡®sustenance?¡¯ It turned his stomach just thinking about the question.
There was also the fact that his current, rare version of the card would mentally scream out when it wasn¡¯t given full charge. And that one was limited to three times his own body weight. Gluttonous Banquet was ten times more demanding.
Of course, Rowan knew that he couldn¡¯t exactly run from a useful card. He¡¯d just need to be prepared.
¡ª
A couple hours later, Rowan found himself in the mansion¡¯s empty dining room, all the servants sent away and a feast fit for a king laid out on the grand dining table in front of him.
Rowan looked around the room. He was alone. Around him were stone walls and metal ornaments. Both inedible. Even the table was a heavy marble while the plates were porcelain. All impossible to bite.
Before Rowan began, he thought back to the strange life he was now living. Just a few days ago, he was at the head of an army, marching through demonic wasteland where they were sieged on all sides by monsters and corrupted plants. And now he was sitting at a table, holding his fork like a proper noble. The juxtaposition was jarring.
More than that, the list of things that should have been driving him insane as someone used to modern comforts was extensive. Yet, he could quickly identify all of these, put them aside, and deal with the important things on his agenda without getting distracted.
Truly, his Keen Spear was more than pulling its weight.
The one thing that his heart card couldn¡¯t do, it seemed, was help him commit to the task he needed to do.
For the first time since Rowan laid eyes on the card, Lavish Feasting left his deck, and he gasped as it felt like a part of his soul just left him. Almost instantly, he felt more tired. Then, before he could second guess himself, Gluttonous Banquet went into his heart deck.
The feeling that immediately assaulted him was intense.
A deep, gnawing hunger rooted itself into the center of his stomach, demanding he do something about it.
The hero obliged.
One by one, the many dishes arrayed in front of him vanished down his throat. He couldn¡¯t taste the food at all and he was barely stopping long enough to chew.
By the time he swept through the entire feast prepared for him, the card¡¯s reserves were barely half-filled, and it was demanding more.
With a near manic gaze, Rowan¡¯s eyes flicked between the tastefully arranged plants, the many cloth covers, and even the nearby chair. He hadn¡¯t even thought of these things as edible before. Now? He was almost drooling to eat them.
Desperately, Rowan¡¯s hand shot to his left and grasped his spear once again, fingers still sticky from his feeding frenzy.
Instantly, some of the intensity to his urges fell off, and he could think somewhat clearly again. That was an instant relief but he couldn¡¯t very well spend the rest of all his time with a spear in hand, could he? And it wasn¡¯t like it was comfortable to live with a constant gnawing pit at the bottom of his stomach.
If he couldn¡¯t find a way to ease the effects of the card, it was as good as useless to him. Rowan opened his system screen and was about to remove Gluttonous Banquet when he paused.
It confirmed something Rowan had long since suspected. Cards could be dangerous, whether they were inherently ¡®evil¡¯ or not. Some seemed to suit his nature perfectly, and just slotted into his deck with no fuss at all. Others had to be wrangled, managed, and carefully monitored.
Gluttonous Banquet definitely belonged in the latter category, yet was a pretty central part of every ¡®optimal¡¯ build he could think up. With the increased energy storage capacity, he wouldn¡¯t have been nearly wiped out in his battle against the epic tier monster. With the increased storage capacity, he could keep fighting well beyond the limits of nearly every mortal creature out there.
He needed to find a way to use it. He had to.
Keeping a tight grip on his spear, Rowan called out to the people in the hallway for two more rounds of food and tried to look away from the plants in the meantime. After two more hours, his card was finally sated.
He could feel its frustration that it couldn¡¯t fit any more energy. It desperately wanted more. It was a near certainty that as long as he consumed even a scrap of power, the card would be back at it again. However, for the time being, it was a price he was willing to pay for security.
¡ª
¡°You know, for someone who claims he¡¯d rather not be in the middle of constant trouble, you¡¯re being awfully mopey that mother won¡¯t let us out of her sight yet,¡± Olivia drawled, shooting Rowan a grin from her position on the bed. She had her feet up against the headboard, and her head somehow dangling off the edge, watching Rowan where he sat reading a history book on the floor next to the bed.
¡°I¡¯m not being mopey! I just think it¡¯s unreasonable that she¡¯s stopping us from levelling up. We¡¯re so close to finally getting to epic, and yet we¡¯ve had to spend the last three days since our return just lying around.¡±
¡°It¡¯s called rest, Rowan. Also, you know why this is necessary. Mom¡¯s not sure yet whether there are still more people hiding and preparing to cause trouble. Sure, Tamara is helping, but that¡¯s part of why mother is suspicious to begin with. The army¡¯s doing fine on their own.¡±
¡°I know, I know! I just¡ Is it weird that I feel anxious? We did an amazing job, and we can obviously manage some of the epics now. But, it still feels like I should be capable of¡ more. That we should be capable of more. And we¡¯re so close to that.¡±
¡°Rowan? Take a deep breath and remember, for a second, how far you¡¯ve come in these few months. You caught up with years of hard work and then surpassed that. And yet here you are, complaining that you think you¡¯re not doing well enough?¡± Olivia teased, reaching over to muss his hair.
Rowan just groaned, throwing his head back and resolving himself to his fate. He knew better than to try and get her to stop. It just encouraged her.
¡°When¡¯s the last time we did nothing? Really did nothing? Because, even in that village, after my parents came, we were more recuperating than relaxing. Maybe when we went on that outing together?¡± Olivia was clearly trying to get under his skin, but it worked. His face flushed.
¡°Still, this feels suffocating.¡± Rowan closed his book. He wasn¡¯t the most well-adjusted hero, but Rowan really didn¡¯t feel that he could be blamed. Everything he¡¯d been through since his arrival in his new world had definitely left its mark. Now, he was a constant ball of tension and desire to do something.
The only time he felt at peace, the only time he really relaxed, was when he was Olivia. But that could only go so far.
*It isn¡¯t right to so completely depend on someone, *****Rowan thought. He had come to the realization that there was no stopping the affection he felt for the silly alchemist. But it¡¯s only a matter of time until she gets tired of me. And then a good thing will have turned bad.
Rowan felt arms wind around him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s really bothering you?¡±
The hero hesitated, worry, anxiety, and worse all swirling in his chest. He was never the best at expressing himself. Social anxiety and self-doubt and even creeping depression always got in the way when it mattered.
¡°I¡¯m not annoying, am I? Or too¡ pushy? I don¡¯t bother you when you¡¯d rather be alone?¡± Rowan asked quietly, looking as far away from her as he could.
Olivia didn¡¯t answer right away, instead slipping off the bed and pushing herself into his side to finally catch his hand between hers gently. ¡°Rowan, what brought this on?¡±
¡°I mean, every time I¡¯m upset or feel off or whatever, I immediately go looking for you. That¡¯s¡ that¡¯s not okay. I should, I don¡¯t know, be able to deal with it on my own.¡±
Olivia groaned, tugging on him insistently until he finally fell over, scooting back as he did so he ended up with his head in her lap. ¡°Rowan, I guarantee that you never bothered me. I like spending time with you. And I look for you when I¡¯m down, too,¡± Olivia whispered, running her fingers through his hair.
Rowan¡¯s heart was threatening to burst out of his chest, but with a deep breath, the hero finally spoke. ¡°I think I¡¯m in love with you, and I have no idea what to do about it.¡±
To his shock, his answer was a giggle. ¡°And you think I know what the right thing to do is? I¡¯m in love with a clueless hero whose bed I climbed into and who still thinks he bothers me!¡±
Rowan blushed and covered his eyes with his hand. She continued to laugh, but he couldn¡¯t really say he minded much when she leaned down and kissed him.
As it turned out, rest days went by much faster when the hero could spend a decent portion of the time kissing his chosen princess.
Chapter 50: March of the Inexhaustible
Nothing really lasts forever. That was especially true of Camilla Sutton¡¯s desire to keep her daughter and potential son-in-law out of trouble at all costs. Five days after the fire, when the entire town was appropriately swept through, cleaned up and restored to relative order, she organized a meeting between the most important local figures of authority.
In practical terms, that came down to her, the Mercenary King, Tamara, and the hero party.
¡°Thank you all for coming. I know we¡¯ve had a rough few days, what will all the chaos and the cleanup, but I want to start by thanking all of you for what you did.¡± Camilla¡¯s voice was still colder than strictly necessary whenever her eyes swept over Tamara, but not even the mage could complain about the level of cooperation and good will the baroness had shown with her actions in the last few days.
¡°Of course. It¡¯s only fair that we help out the town we live in,¡± the mage said happily, lips tilting in an almost taunting smirk as she stared at the baroness unblinkingly.
The Mercenary King just grunted, looking distinctly uncomfortable. ¡°I owe you. My job is to keep the town safe. If you two hadn¡¯t been there, they would have managed to bring the town down. Then I¡¯d fail my contract.¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t really sure what that said about the man who was more worried about the potential failure of his contract than about his own death, but it sure said something.
¡°No one could have guessed there would be two epic tiers just waiting to strike,¡± Tamara, oddly enough, spoke up first. ¡°I¡¯m sure you could have managed regardless.¡±
¡°Doubt it.¡±
If Rowan was occasionally dim when it came to emotions, then the Mercenary King was outright a stone.
The baroness¡¯s smirk and Tamara¡¯s grimace at being rebuffed were amusing, but Rowan felt it was best to push things along. ¡°Yes, to summarize, Rest¡¯s Remorse is safe now. That means we can focus on pushing for things to get better around here.¡±
¡°Oh? And what suggestions do you have for that, hero?¡± Tamara purred. Rowan could feel Olivia bristle beside him. He was pretty sure that the mage wasn¡¯t flirting with him but she seemed to enjoy getting a rise out of everyone.
¡°Schools, for starters. I know we don¡¯t have a whole lot of very young children around here, but we do have a surprising number of young adults who have not yet awakened their classes. More knowledge and experience help with getting better class offers, right?¡±
¡°What exactly do you mean when you say schools, hero?¡± Tamara asked. ¡°Because I assure you, if you¡¯re planning to teach them how to become [Scholars] and [Scribes], you¡¯ll fail. You can¡¯t even find teachers for classes like that around here.¡±
Rowan sighed, knowing she was right even if he didn¡¯t strictly like it. ¡°No, nothing like that. Just basic combat lessons, along with some reading and writing. Most of them want to be combat classes, anyway.¡±
Rowan still had those heart cards burning a hole in his pocket.
¡°That could work, I admit. At least it¡¯s likely to produce some slightly more useful classes than the usual rabble we get this far out on the frontier with no proper schooling. Let me tell you, recruiting disciples is harsh out here when most are completely illiterate,¡± Tamara said, making a complete reversal in the span of a couple of sentences.
That brought Rowan up short, for a moment, and the way he looked at the woman changed a little. It was true enough that she was unpleasant, but he sometimes forgot she was running a mage cabal all her own. If anyone had experience with getting frontier children up to snuff, it would be Tamara.
¡°Do you maybe have any suggestions? Even when it comes to setting up these initial, bare-bones schools?¡± Rowan asked earnestly, making the mage shoot him an odd look.
¡°Well¡ I suppose I could contribute, a little. Got plenty of apprentices who would love a chance to teach snot-nosed brats. They¡¯re fond of gutter rats, for some reason,¡± Tamara said dismissively but, oddly enough, without any real malice or judgment. Once again, Rowan was quite confused about who, exactly, Tamara was. He was starting to suspect he didn¡¯t have the full picture.
¡°Yes, well, that would be wonderful,¡± Rowan said. ¡°My other idea are public projects, like we¡¯ve been doing already. People need jobs and some basic security in their lives, and we need people willing to work on fixing up the town. They¡¯re not perfect for it without the right classes, but every bit helps.¡±
This, too, easily passed muster, even if the Mercenary King wasn¡¯t really contributing much to conversation. In fact, his first time chiming in was when Rowan asked for more ideas on how to help people and improve the town.
¡°Need to recruit more mercenaries. Bunch of my men got maimed or killed this time around. Will take care of them, but been new blood too. I¡¯d like permission to do it,¡± the Mercenary King said.
Rowan was briefly confused, before memories of some of his recent lessons with the baroness resurfaced. Before a major recruitment drive, the mercenaries needed direct permission from their local mayor, lord, or similar.
Naturally, Rowan had no real reason to decline. ¡°If you can find enough people for it, go ahead. I had a rather rough time of it when looking for soldiers.¡±
¡°They didn¡¯t know you. If you try again now, you¡¯ll have a lot more applicants. Still, plenty of people want to join my band. Got a reputation,¡± the Mercenary Kind said.
Rowan¡¯s smile turned a little wooden, but he couldn¡¯t deny that made sense. He was a new, untested mayor, practically asking for their lives. ¡°Well, with that little tidbit, does anyone else have ¡ª¡±
Before Rowan could finish his sentence, a creature of light and fire burst through the open window of the room. What happened next was ordered chaos. In spite of the fact that no one openly carried weapons into the meeting, everyone was equipped to kill in mere seconds. Daggers and short swords were aplenty, and Rowan had no clue where Tamara got the glowing mage orb that suddenly orbited around her.
Ironically, Rowan seemed to be the only person without a weapon. He had something better. Olivia already had a whole pile of potions arranged on her arm, ready to throw.
Thankfully, before violence could break out, the fire bird started to speak.
Hero Rowan,
I am sorry to inform you that Hero Blake is currently in grave danger. He has ventured much too far into the frontier, and he and his party have been separated from their army. We have a way to track them down, but the closest reinforcements of notable strength are still months away.
You and Hero Kayla both are, therefore, charged with finding and retrieving the hero. Should he be dead already, then you are to retrieve his heart card. It must not be allowed to fall into the hands of demons.
Attached here, you will find the item that will lead you to your fellow hero. Make haste and make sure you don¡¯t fall prey to the same hubris.
Sincerely,
King¡¯s own Seneschal,
Patrick Rubeus
The constructs odd, echoing voice came to an end as it erupted into flames even more intense than before. When the light show finally ceased, two items drifted down to land on Camilla¡¯s desk, showing an unsealed letter and a compass-like item made of some odd, black material.
Rowan immediately picked up the latter, finding that its pointer was stuck following some point far north. By the content of the letter, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what it was.
¡°How did they make this thing?¡± Rowan asked quietly, deeply disturbed. ¡°Do they have one of these attuned to me? Can they track me wherever I go?¡±
The messenger construct had, after all, tracked him down quite well. Rowan suddenly felt more than a little sick.
Tamara just scoffed. ¡°No, they don¡¯t have one for you, stop looking so pale. Unless you willingly gave a drop of your blood. I¡¯m guessing they just asked your fellow hero for one, seeing how close he is to the king.¡±
¡°Tamara is right, Rowan.¡± The baroness reluctantly agreed, crossing her arms across her chest. ¡°And that was just a messenger summon, they can find their targets wherever as long they have the right name. I¡¯m much more worried about the hero.¡±
¡°Great Hero Blake,¡± Tamara spat out with a bit more venom in her words than Rowan expected. ¡°How did our paladin get separated from his army? How did they even let this sort of thing happen? And why are they sending the other heroes to risk their cards too?¡±
¡°Of course, you¡¯re worried about the cards and not about the lives of the heroes,¡± Camilla snapped.
¡°Oh, come off it. If Hero Blake charged straight into the wastes, that¡¯s on him. I¡¯m just worried about what will happen if he dies and that card makes it to the demon king,¡± Tamara said.
¡°Wait, what happens if the demon king gets a hero heart card?¡± Rowan jumped in, suddenly more than a little alarmed.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
All of the older generation in the room suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable, while the other members of Rowan¡¯s party looked as confused as he felt.
¡°It¡¯s a conversation for later. Let¡¯s just try and prevent that,¡± Camilla rushed to say. ¡°Good thing you trained up your army because you¡¯ll need more than a little support to pull this off. I really can¡¯t believe this is happening.¡±
For a second, silence reigned. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll be enough?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°I know we fought and beat an epic recently, but it was quite badly hurt, and we¡¯re not quite at epic yet ourselves.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m coming with you. I know there¡¯s plenty to be done around town, but I can¡¯t just let you venture out there on your own. It¡¯s too much,¡± Camilla said.
¡°No.¡± The Mercenary King spoke up.
¡°I¡¯m sorry? It sounds like you¡¯re against me supporting the hero¡¯s party, which, might I remind you, contains my daughter.¡±
¡°Exactly. I¡¯m saying you should stay. There¡¯s much you need to do here, still. I¡¯ll go.¡±
The baroness¡¯s anger changed into shock.
¡°You? You¡¯re going to get off your behind and finally do something that¡¯s not just sitting in this town all day long?¡±
The Mercenary King sighed as he stood. ¡°Yes. You are an assassin. In combat such as this, you are out of your element and you know it. I should go. My entire skill set is based around leading armies into war. Monsters or humans, it doesn¡¯t matter what we¡¯re fighting.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll follow the army, as well,¡± Tamara offered before the Mercenary King could make his exit. ¡°None of you have mages under your employ. Having the support of me and my disciples is going to be invaluable.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ not my decision to make. Actually, none of this is my decision to make,¡± Camilla admitted. ¡°Rowan, would you prefer I accompany I? Or would you like the Mercenary King and Tamara come with you?¡±
The hero didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he took a moment to gauge the reactions of everyone in the room. The Mercenary King looked indifferent, if a little bored. Tamara was the perfect picture of subservient innocence and that was nearly enough to turn his stomach. However, he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to turn away a mage, even one with strange intentions.
¡°Lady Sutton, you should stay in the town, these two should be plenty,¡± Rowan said, despite the grimace he made.
Tamara shot him a winning smile, and the Mercenary King simply grunted.
¡ª
The next day dawned bright and early, the first rays of the rising sun illuminating quite the procession on its way out of town.
An army, a thousand strong, was marching.
Rowan¡¯s soldiers were naturally there, but the addition of another five hundred troops under the Mercenary King¡¯s banner were more than welcome. They did wonders to calm Rowan¡¯s flip-flopping stomach.
Of course, he was entire uncertain how to feel about the groups of mages floating well above the army, observing the march with boredom or indifference. Tamara¡¯s disciples apparently preferred to spend their mana so they didn¡¯t have to walk. But Rowan noticed the fact that she had a full fifty apprentices under her.
Rowan bitterly wished they could use horses or any other mount to speed up the journey ahead of them. Unfortunately, the only thing they had was the odd tracking device and their own feet. No regular animal was going to survive within the wastes for very long without getting corrupted, and even tamed beasts would be driven insane in no time.
¡°Hey, I know things aren¡¯t exactly in our favor, marching deep into wastes, but we¡¯ll be fine,¡± Olivia whispered, nudging Rowan with a playful smile.
Rowan couldn¡¯t exactly reciprocate. ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s¡¡± He trailed off, terrified to even share the fears that had gripped him upon the announcement of the danger Blake was in. The Stalwart Hero was nowhere near as indifferent about the whole situation as he pretended to be.
¡°You can tell me, you know? I keep telling you that.¡±
¡°He¡¯s my friend, Olivia. My best friend. I have no clue where I¡¯d be without him, and now he¡¯s stuck somewhere in the middle of the wastes with hordes of monsters after him.¡±
It was true that Kayla had changed. Rowan wasn¡¯t sure how or why, but the woman he met only had a vague resemblance to the person he called friend once. Blake, however, had gone out of his way to warn him of approaching danger with his letter.
Even if he¡¯d changed, it wasn¡¯t to the extent that Rowan would struggle to recognize the man anymore.
¡°We¡¯ll find him. If a hero dies, trust me, the kingdom will know,¡± Olivia said. At a questioning glance from Rowan, she clarified. ¡°I did a bit of reading, yesterday. The previous mayor didn¡¯t have an amazing library, but it¡¯s satisfactory enough. When a hero dies to demons, there¡¯s some kind of an oracle.¡±
¡°Do you know why they were so worried? About the demons getting Blake¡¯s card?¡±
Unfortunately, Olivia shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s only mentions of a ¡®calamity¡¯ that typically follows the death of a hero when it happens at the hands of demons. There weren¡¯t mentions of the event outside of that. It¡¯s like the authors didn¡¯t want to write it down.¡±
¡°Well, at least we know it¡¯s extremely bad then. Maybe we can press the Mercenary King or Tamara for an answer, or ¡ª¡±
¡°Lord Rowan.¡± The Mercenary King¡¯s deep, booming voice cut off the hero, and the pair looked up to see the man approaching.
¡°Yes? Is there already a problem with the troops?¡± Rowan asked. That would have been a real impressive feat, if for no other reason than that they were only starting to approach the wastes proper.
¡°I would like to formally request to both be included in your army, and that I be granted the right to stand in as the acting general of the troops until you are ready to step in yourself,¡± the Mercenary King said. Rowan felt like there was more at play than it seemed. He hesitated to reply but eventually nodded. ¡°I need you to verbally acknowledge my request, your lordship.¡±
¡°Why? Why is this so important that I need to officially and verbally approve it?¡± Rowan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he was already scanning for ways to make distance from the Mercenary King if the worst happened and combat broke out.
¡°A lot of my class effects and cards are tied into empowering and leading an army. However, I can only affect those who are officially under my command,¡± the Mercenary King explained.
¡°Are you telling me the system stops you from using your cards if you don¡¯t have official authority over the troops? How is that even possible?¡±
¡°I do not know. All I know is that it¡¯s how it works. I suppose it¡¯s the solution to being able to affect more people than just your own party.¡±
¡°But Marcus has a defensive aura ability, and he can use it on anyone he wants to?¡±
¡°I am not a system scholar, your lordship. I cannot give you the answers you want. If there¡¯s a difference, it¡¯s due to both my ¡®monarch¡¯ style class and the fact that I don¡¯t have a defined range at which I can buff my troops. They just need to be marching under my command.¡±
Rowan sneaked a glance at Olivia, who gave him a little bit of a nod.
¡°Okay then. Lucius Orgrim, I officially accept you as part of my army, and name you general of my troops whose authority is second only to my own.¡± Rowan paused. ¡°Would that work?¡±
The man grinned, some of the tension falling off his shoulders. ¡°Well, let¡¯s find out, lad, shall we?¡±
It was Rowan¡¯s turn to grunt in dissatisfaction. ¡°What happened to your lordship?¡±
¡°Eh, I¡¯m technically under your employ right now, lad, but it¡¯s bad for business to act too unfamiliar. Still, seeing as I¡¯m your right-hand man, right now, let¡¯s get this started. March of Heroes.¡±
The Mercenary King¡¯s voice echoed through the air and every soldier and mercenary gave a little jolt. The mercenaries seemed used to it, most of them grinning, but Rowan saw the way the soldiers were suddenly glancing around in confusion.
He couldn¡¯t blame them. A well of energy seemed to be opening up in the center of his being.
¡°Forward, march!¡± the man barked, and Rowan¡¯s eyes widened to the size of saucers when his leg lifted without him even meaning to do it.
Rowan had a feeling that he could fight off whatever was happening, but when his strides took him much further and much more steadily across the terrain than he could have managed without serious engaging his dexterity stat, he didn¡¯t.
The sheer ferocity of the march and the unified movement of the army should have been an impossibility. A glance at Olivia revealed that she was keeping up effortlessly with the more physical classes.
¡°How? How are you doing any of this?¡± she asked, barely paying attention to the ground she was covering in record time.
¡°First time seeing a true commander or ruler class at work?¡± the mercenary teased, a huge grin on his face. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m stuck out here on the frontier, lass? Because I¡¯m utterly indispensable for the defense of one of the shabbiest frontier towns? No offense, lad. It¡¯s just the truth.¡±
¡°Why are you here, then?¡± Rowan¡¯s curiosity got the best of him, even if he did feel like he might regret asking the question.
¡°Can¡¯t have two monarchs in one kingdom. Thankfully, [Mercenary King] is not a class that demands territory or the like. But it¡¯s still a monarch class. No king is going to let me take root in their domain. But, I¡¯m too useful to just get rid of. So demon duty it is for me.¡±
Rowan considered the man then. In spite of the grim things he was saying, he felt that Lucius was still perfectly relaxed, and even satisfied with his lot in life.
¡°Why take such a class, then?¡± It was Olivia that asked the question, but Rowan was just as curious.
¡°I needed a way to lead and protect my men. They put their trust in me, count on me to help them secure a good life for their families. Why shouldn¡¯t I take the best class to help me do just that? Consequences be damned.¡±
Rowan could respect that. The man looked gruff and guarded most of the time, but with all the new information, Rowan couldn¡¯t exactly blame him. It was probably hell navigating the politics of having a ruler class without any land or legitimacy for such a claim.
¡°Thank you for telling us,¡± Rowan said.
The man gave him a look, before breaking out into a small. ¡°No problem, hero. You know, I wasn¡¯t sure what to think, at first. Especially when you took a bunch of hapless civilians into the wastes. Still, you¡¯re alright, lad. Keep it up.¡±
With those words, the Mercenary King rushed ahead, taking a leading position at the head of the army. Amazingly enough, the effect they were under got an additional minor boost, and Rowan scoffed.
He didn¡¯t mind being ¡®supplanted¡¯ as leader, as long as the benefits of that were apparent. Plus, even a temporary reprieve from his duties was welcome.
¡ª
If anyone tried to explain the gulf between powerful epic classes and their lower tier counterparts before their march, Rowan would likely have scoffed. Sure, the difference was supposed to exist, but describing it as ¡®insurmountable¡¯ was surely false.
Unfortunately, the actions of the Mercenary King proved the true strength of epic classes quite thoroughly.
Two days. Their march continued, unhindered by any sort of breaks, for two days. Two days of no food, drink, rest, or sleep. Just mindless marching to the will of the Mercenary King.
They didn¡¯t even run into any trouble. The hero¡¯s army had done an amazing job pacifying the region¡¯s more powerful monsters, and the leftovers took a single look at the overwhelming mass of humans and booked it.
And Rowan couldn¡¯t even tell where the time had gone. One second he was still falling into the rhythm of the march, and the next, they were finally being told to slow down and recuperate. The funny thing was, he wasn¡¯t even excessively tired.
His legs ached a little, and he could go for a hearty meal, but there was no gnawing hunger, muscle pain, or his new energy storage card going wild with desire for sustenance. Just a gentle easing out of the march.
Needless to say, all of the soldiers began to look at the Mercenary King in a different light.
¡°I hate seeing him use that card. He tried to use it on me once, too, and I threatened to burn him for it. I won¡¯t have anyone using mind control effects on me, no matter how mild or benign,¡± Tamara proclaimed. The mage landed on her feet from the platform and then grimaced, looking at the dirt with the kind of disdain typically reserved for one¡¯s worst enemies. Considering the fact that she was still wearing an expensive, beautiful dress, that wasn¡¯t necessarily far from the truth.
¡°Not everyone has a floating platform to use. I¡¯m surprised you decided to come down to join us lowly mortals,¡± Rowan said, a bit more coldly than he necessarily needed to.
¡°You really don¡¯t like me, do you?¡± the mage sighed, rolling her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised, not with Camilla acting as your mentor, but I¡¯m really not your enemy, Rowan. Is there anything I can do to prove that to you? Anything at all?¡±
Rowan was about to thank her for the offer when a thought came into his mind.
¡°There is one thing. How fast is your flying construct, exactly?¡±
¡°If you want me to fly ahead and try to reach Hero Blake before the rest of the army, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to decline. If he¡¯s been ¡®cut off¡¯ from his own army, the number of monsters there is not negligible. Nor are they likely to be weak.¡±
¡°Oh, no, don¡¯t worry,¡± Rowan assured her. ¡°I have something slightly different in mind.¡±
Chapter 51: Breaking Into Traps
¡°You advanced into an epic class,¡± Rowan stated.
Tamara had a split second¡¯s worth of hesitation before she nodded.
¡°Do you have a way of finding other epic tier monsters?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°I do.¡±
¡°Then all I ask of you is to help me hunt them. My party¡¯s close to the limit of the rare tier and if we can advance into epic classes, then everyone wins.¡±
Seeing Tamara¡¯s reaction, Rowan wondered if he was about to be attacked on the spot. Her fact went through a whole gamut of emotions before settling into a wry smile.
¡°Fine,¡± Tamara said. ¡°Get your party together. We¡¯ll hunt while the army rests.¡±
¡ª
Fifteen minutes later, they were all slowly lifting away from the ground, making Rowan¡¯s stomach plummet with a curious mixture of primal fear and excitement. Amusement park rides had nothing on the spell mages used to get around.
¡°What was so important you got the mages to give us a lift?¡± Marcus wondered, staring at the ground that was growing ever distant with fascination.
His sister was taking the whole thing much worse, and Rowan was truly starting to worry that she would empty her stomach all over the unfortunate mages.
¡°Tamara has graciously agreed to help us,¡¯ Rowan explained. ¡°With Lucius taking care of the camp for the night, we can take our time tracking down an epic ranked monster. If we can all rise to epic before we get there, we¡¯ll be much safer.¡±
¡°Tamara? She wants to help us get to epic rank?¡± Olivia didn¡¯t outright call him out for being a liar, but her tone of voice strongly suggested what her true opinion of the subject was.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t say want is the right word. She offered to help me with anything, and I took her up on it,¡± Rowan quipped, managing to avoid sounding smug. It wasn¡¯t his fault that she hadn¡¯t bothered specifying what was on the table.
¡°The woman was stuck at the peak of the rare tier for years, and now she¡¯s helping someone else with advancing into epic?¡± Olivia muttered relatively quietly, but the violent mage was close enough that Rowan could tell she was listening in.
As her facial muscles twitched, Rowan hurriedly minimized the damage. ¡°It is her innate generosity at play, I¡¯m sure.¡±
At least Olivia caught on relatively quickly, rolling her eyes but finally falling silent.
¡ª
When he was brought before it, the beast was already on the verge of death. Reluctant or not, there was no way to deny that Tamara had followed through on her offer.
The once majestic snake was missing a large chunk of its tail, its body was riddled with lighting scars, and its eyes were blinded. Even the weak flickering of its tongue betrayed its current state. Yet, strangely, staring right at the incapacitated epic tier monster, Rowan wasn¡¯t feeling particularly happy.
¡°There it is, boy. Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± Tamara¡¯s voice was still somewhat husky, but it came out with a flat inflection that betrayed her true feelings.
Rowan could sense her desire. She wanted the epic monster for herself, and she definitely earned it, if the few traces of blackened cloth on her chest were any indication.
Her apprentices looked rather tired as well, with more than a few sitting on their floating platforms in meditative positions. Those who were still fully aware were busy glaring at the hero and his party, though they looked away when their master swept her eyes over them.
¡°Truly, I can¡¯t thank you enough. This will go a long way towards assuring that our mission this time is successful,¡± Rowan said, stepping forward with a spear in hand.
Is this what Blake and Kayla had gone through? Having monsters literally served up to them on a platter? Rowan wondered. Then, he brought down his spear.
As it was, Rowan finally got the message he was looking forward to for so long.
|
Class evolution requirements met.
Classes available for selection:
Flawless Spearmaster, Spear Marionette, Spear of Unity, Monarch of Blood, Fragment of Brilliance, Consecrated Spear, Herald of Ennui.
|
Rowan sighed and closed his eyes, allowing himself just a single moment of quiet relief and victory. Then, he turned to his dazed companions, no doubt dealing with their own slew of notifications and options.
¡°It¡¯s about time we caught up, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asked playfully, ignoring Tamara¡¯s gritted teeth.
¡ª
Rowan was more certain than ever that the master mage was not following them out of the goodness of her heart. Her decision to team up with Camilla and Lucius was suspicious from the start, but giving up on an epic ranked monster when she could either hog the experience or potentially ascend a student?
Rowan would be a complete fool if he bought any of her excuses at that point.
He went back to the army first. Then, it was only when the Mercenary King accepted his request to guard them while they fiddled with their systems that he relaxed and sank into the many class upgrade options offered to him.
[Flawless Spearmaster]
The peak of humanity¡¯s spear mastery is defined by you.
By picking the [Flawless Spearmaster] class, you will get a grand boost to the strength of all cards and attacks related to the spear. You will also achieve an innate mastery of every spear style you come across.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of your dexterity and strength stats
- A large boost to combat maneuvers and synergy with other spear wielders
- Improved combat instinct and spear style application
Class penalties:
Attached card: Flawless Spear (Epic, Passive)
|
Once again, while not necessarily horrible, the base class upgrade version was lackluster. The very next option he viewed more than made up for it, though.
[Spear Marionette]
Some people fear the loss of their humanity, others embrace it.
By picking the [Spear Marionette] class, you invest your soul, mind and essence into your spear fully. Your former body will become a mere shell for you to showcase your mastery.
Warning: This class will trigger a racial change from [Human] to [Cursed Armament]
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of your strength, vitality, dexterity, perception, intelligence and wisdom stats
- You may choose to possess any creature capable of wielding a spear and transform them into your shell
- Immunity to all mind-altering, debilitating, and debuff effects
- As long as your true body persists, you can replace your shell as many times as required
Class penalties:
- Your shell cannot venture more than ten yards away from your true body
- The loss of your shell renders you incapable on acting independently until you acquire a new one
Attached card: Cursed Spear (Epic, Passive)
|
The sheer implications of the class were more than Rowan was willing to deal with. For one, he wasn¡¯t exactly ready to give up on his humanity and become just a weapon. In fact, the idea of that sort of terrified him. It might have worked if he was fighting by himself and without any attachments. But even though the class was overall appealing, it was a step too far for who he was now.
[Spear of Unity]
You fight for them, as they fight for you.
By picking the [Spear of Unity] class, you will gain the ability to designate eight [Knights] who will fight by your side as your companions.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of two chosen stats
- You will gain an innate understanding of your [Knights]
- Your [Knights] will be able to select and duplicate the effects of one of your cards at will, though the selection can only be made once
- You will gain ten percent of the stats your [Knights] possess and thirty percent of their experience gain will be shared with you
Class penalties:
- A [Knight] must willingly accept their designation
- If a [Knight] breaks their connection to you or is dismissed, you cannot elect a replacement for a year
- You can draw on the power of your [Knights], but be wary lest you harm them
Attached card: Knight Designation (Epic, Passive)
|
Rowan was tempted by the class, especially considering everything it promised. It did not, after all, specify what tier the knights had to be.
Then there was the promise of stats, and even the ability to select which stats he wanted to improve. Still, he wasn¡¯t going to make his choice without considering every option.
[Monarch of Blood]
You shed blood for them. That blood now protects them.
By picking the [Monarch of Blood] class, you will gain the ability to imbue your weapon with the power of this Origin Element. All of your subjects will benefit from your affinity, and related classes will be both stronger and easier to acquire.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of your Wisdom and Intelligence stats
- An innate sense of your subjects¡¯ condition, general sentiment, and even location of notable subjects
- A grand boost to your affinity to the blood element
- The ability to store blood and blood mana in your weapon
- Immunity to blood loss
Class penalties:
- An increased affinity for slaughter
- A growing urge to amass blood and blood mana
Attached card: Blood Banquet (Epic, Active)
|
Rowan was really not sure how to feel about the fact that he was offered a class like that. On the one hand, his affinity to blood-related cards was, at that point, not really something he could deny. On the other, which of his decisions had led to the unlocking of that class?
Was it his slaughter of demons and demonic beasts? His willingness to take human lives in defense of Rest¡¯s Remorse? Or was it the fact that he was willing to potentially plunge the town into chaos just to identify the hidden rebellious elements?
He moved on, before his mind could spiral further.
[Fragment of Brilliance]
You burn like a dying star.
By picking the [Fragment of Brilliance] class, you will gain the ability to imbue the power of your strikes with the totality of your being.
Additional beneficial effects:
- An ascendant boost to the effectiveness of your Strength and Dexterity stats
- The ability to channel every force that makes up your being
- A grand boost to your mental resilience
- No strike can fell you in one blow
Class penalties:
Attached card: Moment of Brilliance (Epic, Active)
|
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Just¡ nope. Rowan was a lot of things. Reckless. Somewhat willing to sacrifice pieces of himself if that meant everyone would come out the other end of a conflict alive. What he wasn¡¯t willing to do was outright committing suicide on the battlefield.
That, of course, left him with two final class choices. And just by looking at their special effects on his status screen, he was already not a huge fan.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
So, he resolved to go through both of them quickly.
[Consecrated Spear]
Your will aligns with that of your God.
By picking the [Consecrated Spear] class, you will gain abilities that conform to the portfolio of your Divine Patron.
Additional beneficial effects:
- An ascendant boost to the effectiveness of two chosen stats
- The ability to channel the might and presence of your Divine Patron
- A minor inheritance of your Divine Patron¡¯s portfolio
- An innate sense of and the ability to command all of your Divine Patron¡¯s followers at or under your own tier
Class penalties:
- Diverging from the will of your Divine Patron will render your class unusable
Attached card: Divine Descent (Epic, Active)
|
[Herald of Ennui]
They fear you, as is your right.
B?y? ?p?i?c?k?i?n?g? ?t?h?e? ?[?H?e?r?a?l?d? ?o?f? ?E?n?n?u?i?]? ?c?l?a?s?s?,? ?y?o?u? ?w?i?l?l? ?g?a?i?n? ?y?o?u?r? ?o?w?n? m?????i?????n??????o?????r??????? ??????p?????o??????r?????t?????f????o????l?????i?????o??? ????o?????f????? ??????[???E???????n?????n???????u?????i????]?????.?????
A?????????d???d??????i????t???????i?????????o???????n?????????a??????l?????? ???b??????e?????n???????e????f????i??????c???????i?????a????????l??????? ?????e??????f????f???????e?????c??????t????s?????:??????
- Y?????????o??????????????u???????????? ???????????????a????????????s??????c?????????e??????n???????????d??????????????a?????????n???????????????????c?????????????????e????????? ???????????????????b???????????e????????????????????g?????????????i???????????????n?????????????s???????????
- ????????????A????????????????n?????????????????? ????????a???????????????s???????????????c?????????e????????????n???????????????d?????????????a????????????????????n?????????????????t?????????????????? ????????b??????????????o???????????o?????????????????s???????????????????t???????????? ??????????????????t???????o????????????? ?????????????????t??????????h????????e?????????????????? ?????????e????????????????f?????????f??????????????e????????c?????????t????????????????i????????????????v???????????????e????????n????????e???????????s???????????????????s???????????????? ????????o???????f??????????? ???????????s????????????t??????????????r????????????????????e????????????n????????g???????????????t???????????????????h???????????,??????? ??????????????v??????i????????????t???????????a????????????l????????????i???????t?????y?????,??????????????????? ??????d???????????????????e????????????????x????????t??????????????e????????r????????i??????????t?????????y?????,?????????????? ?????????????????p?????????????e?????????????r????????c???????????e???????p???????????????t????????????i?????????????????o???????????????n???????,???????????????? ??????????????i?????????n????t????????????e???????????????????l???????????l???????????i?????????g??????????e??????????n????c?????????????e????????????? ???????????????a??????????????????n???????????d??????????????? ??????????w?????????????i???????????????s?????????????????????d??????????o?????????m????????????? ????????????s?????????t????????????a?????t?????s?????????????
- ?????????????T???????????h???????e???????????? ?????????????r?????????i????????????g???????????????????h????????????t?????? ?????????????????t????????????o????? ????????????c???????????o????????????l??????l??????????e????c?????????????t??????,??????????? ?????d?????????e??????????v????????????o????????????????u???????????????r???????????????,????? ????????a?????????????????n???????????????d???????? ??????????????????i??????????????n????????f?????l???????????????u?????????????e??????n???????????c??????????????e?????????????? ????????????s???????????o????????????u??????l????????????s????????????
- ?????????A???????????n???????????? ??????????i?????????????n?????????????????n????????a?????????t????????e????????????? ??????????????s???????????e??????????????n???????s???????e??????????????? ???????????o???f???????????????? ?????????a?????????????l???????l????? ??????????????w????????????????????h????o???????????? ???????f?????????????o????????????l??????l??????????o?????????????w??????????? ????????????????????y??????????????o???????????????u???????????? ????????????????a????????????n?????d???????? ???????????????????w????????????????o??????????r???????s?????????????????????h??????????????i???????????????p???????????? ????????????????????y????o????????u???????r????????????? ???????????p???????o??????????????????r??????????????????t?????????????f???????????o?????????????l????????????????i?????????????????o????????
??????????? C??????????????????????l???????????????a???????????????????????s???????????s????????????????? ?????????????????????p????????????????????????????e????????????????????????????n????????????????????a???????????????????????????????l???????????????????????????????t????????????????????????????????i??????????????????????e??????????????????s???????????????????????????:???????????????????????????????????
- ???????????????????????????T????????????????????????h???????????????????????e?????????????????????????? ????????????????G???????????????a?????????????????????????????????????t????????????????????e??????????????????????s????????????????????????????? ??????????o??????????????????f????????????????? ????????????????????H?????????????????????e????????????l??????????????????l???????????????? ?????????????????????????????a??????????????????r????????????????????e??????????????????? ???????????o??????????????????????????????????p???????????????????????e?????????????????n??????????????????? ??????????????????f??????????????????????????o??????r???????????????????? ??????????????????y????????????????o???????????????????????????????u????????????????????
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|
Right... Rowan just quietly closed out of that particular status screen window, silently promising to himself never to open anything marked in red again.
That still left the matter of picking his new, epic class.
Except, there¡¯s really only one acceptable choice, no? Rowan thought, with lots of conflicting feelings.
The monarch class was powerful but a horrible fit for him overall due to the stat emphasis. The two classes he checked out last were out because neither of them was something he was willing to risk. He was Rowan Clairfont and not anyone¡¯s puppet or sacrifice or whatever.
Speaking of puppets, he would be lying if he said that [Spear Marionette] didn¡¯t appeal to him. It was powerful, it came with some rather insane benefits, and it would even make any future worry about his physical body a moot point.
Of course, there was the small drawback of forever abandoning his humanity and essentially becoming a magical parasite.
Feeling more resigned than happy, Rowan navigated his way back to [Spear of Unity], and hit accept.
¡ª
¡°I can¡¯t believe how good this feels!¡± Marcus was all smiles, his hands constantly balling up and unclenching as he kept testing the newfound power within his body. Somehow, the excited wolf kin was forcing his way past the mind-numbing effect of Lucius¡¯s card and chattering away. It probably helped that he was the same tier as the Mercenary King now.
The others seemed just as thrilled as their advancement, each and every one brimming with newfound confidence.
All of them except for the hero. He was caught in a bit of a dilemma.
For his new class to work properly, he was expected to find and select [Knights]. Ordinarily, the hero would say that his party members were the perfect candidates for that. What stopped him was the instinctual knowledge of how to use his class.
More importantly, it was the ¡®innate understanding of [Knights]¡¯ benefit that was giving him pause.
Did he want to have that kind of thing over his party members? He considered them all friends, and Olivia more than that, but did he want to be in their heads at all times?
The simple answer to that question was no, he didn¡¯t. People kept secrets for a reason. They didn¡¯t share each and every emotion they felt for a reason. And while there was no guarantee that his class effect would be that intrusive, Rowan wasn¡¯t willing to bet on something like that. Especially when a ¡®test¡¯ of the class feature would render him unable to elect a new [Knight] for a full year.
The worst part of the whole thing was that he knew the twins wouldn¡¯t really mind. Olivia would definitely choose to opt out, but he¡¯d never ask her anyway.
Still, the doubts, the fear, and the desire to maintain their friendship kept the hero silent.
The march continued on.
¡ª
The first inkling Rowan got that something was afoot was when the tracker keyed to Blake took them right past the battlefield where they fought the dinosaur monster.
There was a feeling, then, that he knew where the whole thing was leading. When a mere day later they came across another battlefield, that feeling crystalized into certainty.
The ground was churned up, trees were scarred and toppled, and all throughout the battlefield, scorched scars were present. There wwere remains of beasts, monsters and even something Rowan strongly suspected was a true demon.
The thing that had hurt the epic tier monster enough for them to kill it was most likely his old friend.
¡°How far are we from the other hero, lad?¡± The Mercenary King had chosen to fall back so he could address Rowan.
For some reason, all of them refused to even consider carrying the odd compass around themselves. Only Rowan held it and he had already taken it out. Over the course of the last day, the magical device started to glow and even lightly shake. It was entirely guesswork and his own intuition, but Rowan gave it his best estimate.
¡°Another eight, nine hours of marching, I think. In that direction.¡± Rowan pointed, but he really needn¡¯t have bothered.
The damaged jungle practically formed a path for them to follow. Rowan could even make out tracks where the boots of countless soldiers had trampled down the dirt.
¡°I¡¯ll have everyone get ready then,¡± Lucius sighed, before his gaze turned stony. Rowan watched as every bit of the man¡¯s joviality evaporated, and in its place emerged the perfect ruler of the battlefield. Rowan briefly wondered which of the two was the actual personality of the Mercenary King. Either way, he was glad to have the commander ready.
As the army continued its march and scouts were dispatched ahead, Rowan expected trouble. For that reason, he and his party found themselves at the head of the procession, right alongside the Mercenary King. Tamara, too, started flying lower, ready to react to any ambushes or similar trouble.
Contrary to these preparations, however, the only thing they found were corpses. Human corpses.
Unrest swept through the troops, but it was quelled quickly enough when the Mercenary King¡¯s epic ranked aura suddenly swept over the entire army.
Rowan found that it reminded him of the day they faced the knight demon. But instead of panic and helplessness, the Mercenary King¡¯s aura steadied the army¡¯s spirits and quelled any sign of doubt. Rowan could feel the aura try to seep into his own skin before being blocked by Rowan¡¯s mana. For the first time since his advancement, Rowan reached out for his mana, and what he found stole his breath away.
His mana had shifted, turning from something light and ethereal into a viscous, persistent force. He felt like a single thought would allow him to impose his weight, his very existence, onto the world around him. That he could force everyone to acknowledge the fact that he was an indelible piece of reality.
For the very first time, Rowan understood exactly what the epic ranked aura was.
That understanding also led to more questions than before. What was the difference between his aura and the Mercenary King¡¯s? What about the epic tier beasts he had killed, with or without assistance? The dinosaur monster was just a stronger version of rare beasts and Tamara¡¯s own fight with the snake monster was tough but not impossible. Neither monster showed an aura.
Regardless, Rowan pushed his thoughts aside. The number of dead humans in their path was rapidly multiplying. More interestingly, he could also tell that most of the people were killed while trying to run.
Some had died clawing their way forward, some were left in pieces, clearly torn apart by a massive beast of some kind. Some even appeared entirely unblemished, save for the looks of agony on their faces. And when the scouts made their way back, he was almost shocked to see them alive.
¡°Lord Rowan, Chief,¡± one of the scouts said, stepping forward. The others, Rowan noted, were all looking pale and struggling to catch their breaths.
¡°Report, lad. This isn¡¯t the time for formalities.¡± Lucius scolded lightly, eyes still fixed on the ravaged forest and the corpses ahead of them.
¡°There is a large gathering of beasts ahead, sir. A few demons too. Five in total, that we could see. The hero is still alive.¡±
That was a relief, and a sigh escaped Rowan before he could even think to stop it as his eyes fell briefly closed. ¡°How can you be sure? Did you see him?¡±
¡°No, sir. However, the beasts and demons are all gathered around a massive barrier. I suspect it¡¯s some kind of miracle-based spell, because of the mana color. Golden,¡± the scout reported.
The Mercenary King sighed and nodded, then immediately gave his order. ¡°We advance, at top speed. We need to recover the hero as quickly as possible. If you agree, of course, Lord Rowan.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t need to think about that one. ¡°Yes, I agree. We should proceed as quickly as possible.¡±
¡°Very well. Tamara, you caught all that, right?¡± the Mercenary King shouted up at the mage, who snorted and nodded her head. Rowan hadn¡¯t even noticed when she¡¯d drifted lower to listen in. ¡°Good. In that case, advance ahead of us. I trust you won¡¯t have trouble with laying down cover fire?¡±
The way the woman grinned was positively malicious. ¡°Indeed I won¡¯t. I¡¯m looking forward to really letting loose for the first time since my advancement.¡±
She didn¡¯t wait for further instructions. The platform lifted, taking her into the sky along with her disciples. Rowan sighed. He still wasn¡¯t sure he could trust her, but time would tell. They had bigger things to worry about, like breaking into a trap meant for Blake. If it was a trap at all, and not a result of his recklessness.
¡°Very well. Let us advance,¡± the Mercenary King bellowed orders, and another card effect swept over the troops.
Rowan felt the attempted intrusion, and allowed it to happen this time. When the Mercenary King broke into a sprint, every soldier in the army joined him in perfect unison, power coursing through their bodies. Even Rowan felt a minor boost, though it was clearly not as effective on him as it once used to be when he was keeping a rare class.
It didn¡¯t take very long for them to spot the barrier in the distance. A massive, glowing dome rose over the trees, groups of mages hovering above it as flames and lighting rained down from the sky.
Then, the monsters were in their sight too, and Rowan felt the army lurch and then speed up even more. The Mercenary King was pushing hard but when they slammed into the back of the monsters, Rowan was convinced that it was worth it.
Soldiers that would typically struggle to face a single enemy at their own tier fought like they were possessed. Weapons flashed out with unerring accuracy, slicing and striking with a truly exquisite ferocity.
Rowan contributed too. His weapon moved faster than he could ever manage before, scything down one rare tier beast after another in his rush to reach the barrier.
The epic tier monsters and demons had responded to the appearance of mages and were clustered near the far side of the dome. Ranged abilities were flying through the air like they didn¡¯t cost mana, but so far, Tamara was holding.
And the distraction meant that he count cut his way through right up to the barrier, his party and the Mercenary King right by his side. Already, Rowan could see vague shapes of people on the other side, but the opaque nature of the spell didn¡¯t let him glean much more than that.
¡°Go! We¡¯ll distract them for now, regroup with the other hero,¡± the Mercenary King shouted, pivoting to face the horde of monsters.
Rowan surged forward, hand reaching out for the barrier experimentally.
His fingers slipped right through.
The hero party stumbled, expecting the barrier to pose at least some resistance to their entry and entirely unprepared for what they would see inside.
Three women scrambled to their feet, immediately imposing themselves between the newly appeared party and the form of a man lying on the ground.
Rowan had quietly stewed in all sorts of doubt while on their way there. Would Blake be different? Would he still be the friend he¡¯d known for so long? Not once, however, had he suspected that he wouldn¡¯t find him alive.
¡°Blake!¡± Rowan stormed forward, completely ignoring the questions and warnings the women threw his way. Some kind of mana bolt slammed into Rowan, but Marcus¡¯s defenses held and he didn¡¯t even notice.
He pushed his way past them and collapsed on his knees as his eyes fell on the pale face of his best friend. There was blood smudged there, and cold sweat collected on his brow. Rowan¡¯s stomach flipped, then fell, before a dizzying sense of relief when he noticed the slow rise and fall of Blake¡¯s chest.
¡°He¡¯s alive.¡± Rowan breathed out quietly, screwing his eyes shut. ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡±
¡°Who do you think you are, doing something like that?!¡± A surprisingly strong hand closed on Rowan¡¯s shoulder, then stiffened when Rowan didn¡¯t budge at the attempt to shove him.
He turned slowly, cold eyes falling on the auburn haired woman, whose expression was starting to look a whole lot more worried when faced with his glare. ¡°Better question is, who are you to stop me from checking on my best friend?¡±
The answer was as smug as it was instant. ¡°I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e.¡±
Rowan blinked. Oh. Well alright, then.
Chapter 52: To Face A Legend
¡°Fianc¨¦e?¡± Rowan repeated, startled enough to momentarily forget the urgency of their situation.
He wasn¡¯t the only one who had something to say on the subject.
¡°Since when?!¡± another woman snapped.
¡°Can the two of you stop fighting for a second?¡± the last member of the party demanded, falling to her knees next to Blake just like Rowan and quickly grabbing his hand. A soft glow rose from her skin, slowly seeping into the hero¡¯s body. His eyelids fluttered, but he gave no further signs of life.
Rowan refocused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡±
¡°We were doing fine, making solid progress into the wastes when we got attacked. I-I think that thing was at the legendary tier. It just stabbed Blake through the stomach and then disappeared. That¡¯s when the other monsters showed up¡¡±
The third woman trailed off, but Rowan could guess what happened from there. Judging by all the bodies they encountered on the way, the soldiers got slaughtered.
¡°And you can¡¯t heal him still?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°No. I¡¯m not actually a healer,¡± the woman said, taking a second to brush her brown hair out of her eyes and glare at the huffy blonde who had taken exception to the other woman¡¯s claims of Blake¡¯s marital status. ¡°She is. I am just boosting his natural regeneration.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not my fault the wound is cursed, or something!¡± the other woman snapped, clearly still paying attention. ¡°I tried everything, healing, purification, and cleansing rituals. All my cards too! It¡¯s like the wound is a permanent part of him.¡±
Her voice hitched at the end and she turned away. Whatever their issues with each other were, Rowan strongly suspected that they still cared about Blake. Mostly because he wasn¡¯t sure anyone could truly hate the man if they gave him a chance.
That wasn¡¯t enough to stem Rowan¡¯s frustration though. Are you telling me he¡¯s dying and they¡¯re still stuck playing out a stereotypical harem anime scene?
Before he had to contemplate that further, Blake¡¯s eyes shot open.
The hero coughed, then broke into wheezes, rolling over on his side as a foul, tar-like liquid came streaming out of his mouth, eyes, ears, and nose.
Rowan recoiled so quickly he was almost on the other side of the barrier by the time he caught himself. His reaction was instinctual. A deep-seated revulsion that threw him for a loop.
¡°Blake?¡± Rowan asked quietly when the man gagged one last time and collapsed onto his back again.
Blake¡¯s eyelids fluttered, and a moment later he was on his elbows, squinting in Rowan¡¯s direction. ¡°Rowan?¡±
Rowan really didn¡¯t want to, but he made his way right back to his friend, doing his best to ignore the foul liquid. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you for worrying me like that,¡± the Stalwart Hero hissed, drawing the other man into an awkward hug.
Blake returned a weak laugh, leaving Rowan alarmed at the lack of strength.
¡°What¡¯s happening to you?¡± Rowan asked quietly. There was a tear in Blake¡¯s shirt, he finally realized, and all Rowan could see through it was blackened skin, obsidian-like in its quality.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t try to stand, Blakey,¡± the auburn haired woman intervened immediately, going to kneel behind the hero and drawing his head back onto her lap. The glares the other two sent her were glacial. ¡°He¡¯s been like this ever since. He passes out, wakes up, throws up, and then passes out again.¡±
Her confession didn¡¯t make Rowan feel better.
¡°Can we risk moving him? We need to get out of here, quickly. If you really saw a legendary demon lurking around here, then we¡¯re all as good as dead at the moment. One and a half heroes and a single army isn¡¯t going to cut it,¡± Rowan said.
¡°It¡¯s fine, Rowan. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not going to fall here. Lady Sarina wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡± Blake spoke with such strength, such conviction, that Rowan looked at him with disbelief.
¡°What¡¯s happening, Blake?¡±
Even Rowan wasn¡¯t sure what he was asking. Was he asking about his injury? Or was he asking about why he said the name of a frustrating, no-good Goddess with such devotion?
¡°I think the demon is trying to possess me. Or corrupt me. I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s using the wound as a link of sorts. When I pass out, I encounter it in my dreams. It¡¯s¡ gotten close, a few times. There¡¯s no need to worry, though. My Goddess had protected me each time.¡±
Rowan looked the man in the eyes, and for the first time, realized he could see a light in them. Not a metaphorical light or even a reflection. It was an honest-to-goodness, inner glow nonsense.
With what he had encountered very recently, Rowan suddenly had a very bad premonition. ¡°You picked the blue class, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Blake¡¯s eyes widened in surprise for a second, and even though he said nothing, Rowan had his answer.
¡°Shit. Okay. Shit. Never mind.¡± Rowan shook his head, trying to refocus. ¡°Listen, we need to move. How sure are you that the demon isn¡¯t going to reappear?¡±
¡°Very. As long as it¡¯s focusing on corrupting me, it¡¯s not going to be able to move around or even do much. I know it¡¯s somewhere relatively close by, which would typically be a great opportunity to strike, but¡¡±
¡°But you¡¯re half-dead and there are epic tier monsters out there. Listen, I need to know what the lot of you can do if we¡¯re all going to make it out of here alive.¡±
Rowan addressed that last sentence to Blake¡¯s party, to the immediate displeasure of them all.
The blonde didn¡¯t hesitate to protest. ¡°You can¡¯t just demand to know such ¡ª¡±
¡°Amanda Rhys, [Light-winged Saintess].¡± Blake cut her off, pointing at her and giving Rowan a mini heart attack when he recognized the surname. ¡°Jacques de Vort, [Bulwark of the End].¡± Blake¡¯s hand pointed right at the auburn-haired woman, who scoffed. ¡°Mirabella Treagon, [Blessed Fortifier].¡±
Rowan heard Olivia¡¯s sharp intake of breath and a hiss of recognition at the last name, but there was little he could do about it at the moment.
¡°Thanks, Blake. So, healer, defender, and buffer,¡± Rowan concluded.
¡°Barrier master, there¡¯s a difference,¡± Jacques grumbled, crossing her arms. ¡°I¡¯m the whole reason we can chat here like this and why our hero is even still alive.¡±
¡°And my buffs are just, what? Entirely unnecessary for you? Because if you can keep going without me, I¡¯ll happily focus on amplifying Blake¡¯s healing,¡± the Treagon grumbled, her words ignored by everyone except for Blake, who sent her a winning smile.
Rowan wanted to pull his hair out.
¡°Okay, okay. Blake, you¡¯re going on my back and I don¡¯t want to hear any complaints.¡± Rowan addressed his friend first, before refocusing. ¡°Can you empower us the way you can him? Because if what he said about the demon is right, we can probably kill most of the powerful enemies here and then flee.¡±
The trio grimaced and exchanged looks, but the desire to see Blake safe clearly won out against whatever issue they had using their abilities on anyone else.
¡°Fine. We can use our buffs on you, I guess. We swore to act in service to our hero, and this is close enough.¡±
Please, princess, don¡¯t sound so thrilled. Rowan complained in the safe confines of his mind, but didn¡¯t voice anything.
¡°But, if I stop, will you be okay?¡± It was the Treagon that protested, looking genuinely terrified to stop using her amplification on Blake.
¡°I¡¯ll be just fine, my lady. Have faith in our goddess and she shall provide.¡± Once again, Blake sounded so sure of that, Rowan¡¯s stomach turned.
¡°Yes, well, let¡¯s see about securing you and get a move on. Just please try not to puke on me?¡± Rowan asked hopefully, even as Olivia pulled out a length of rope from her ridiculously and unnaturally large bag with a sadistic grin.
¡ª
When the barrier suddenly fell, Rowan realized just how much it was doing. The sights, the sounds, the smell of battle all became briefly overwhelming.
The Mercenary King was pulling off a small miracle, fighting three epic beasts with only his lieutenants by his side. Tamara had another two distracted, raining what Rowan could only describe as ordnance down upon them while her apprentices worked to distract, defend, and corral.
The normal soldiers were doing quite well too, though Rowan didn¡¯t miss the bodies, torn apart and squashed under the feet of the advancing horde.
Their chat and preparations had cost precious lives in the army and Rowan was ready for payback.
That¡¯s when the buffs hit him. The Treagon girl erupted into a cascade of light far brighter than what she¡¯d put on earlier, and the corona of light broke up into four strands which sank into Rowan and his party members.
Instantly, he could feel every last source of his strength surge in power, his body, mana, and spirit magnified in a way that felt glorious and left him feeling like he could topple mountains.
A moment later, the princess took action. Her power was equally impressive as a massive sun erupted out of nowhere overhead then collapsed into a million shooting stars.
Most of these landed on the bodies of the soldiers or the hero party, but quite a few sank into the bodies of monsters too, with the largest number congregating in the five epics.
The effect was immediate as a gentle warmth spread throughout Rowan¡¯s body. Meanwhile, each and every affected monster broke into pained howls, yips, hisses, and a myriad of other sounds.
Emboldened, Rowan rushed forward, heedless of the strangled gasp Blake made when they suddenly accelerated.
His first victim was a monster fighting against the Mercenary King¡¯s group, a humanoid with spindly arms, twiggy body, and absolutely no facial features.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
As he channeled power through his body and into his spear, Rowan marveled at how easy it was. The amplifier¡¯s abilities gave him so much more to work with and the saintess¡¯s blessing made handling it all so much smoother.
Rowan experienced a brief surge of jealousy.
The power of the buffs means that the second his spear so much as touched the odd monster, a whole section of its body disappeared in a shower of gore. A good third of its torso was gone. All Rowan had to do was hop back and watch as his card synergy drained the creature of all its blood due to the excessive damage he¡¯d dealt.
His spear rejoiced at this, all the flecks of blood and flesh disappearing into its shaft, and Rowan relished in how easy that was. If he had buffs like that from the start, what would he have been capable of?
Of course, that¡¯s when explosions erupted around the other two epic monsters, frighteningly contained and literally blue. The bolstered flames made possible by Olivia¡¯s new class drew cries of agony from the monsters and his jealousy evaporated.
Sure, Blake had a whole party designed solely around buffing the power of a hero to the absolute utmost.
However, did he have a kick-ass alchemist girlfriend?
Milena, too, seemed reluctant to be upstaged. She raised her hands and a storm of black bolts erupted out of them. She was obviously relishing the moment, and as the bolts made contact, Rowan could tell why.
Every single enemy touched by the bolts showed immediate signs of one of her curses.
Some were suddenly weakened, ghostly faces pushing against their skin from the inside of their bodies in a way that made Rowan want to puke. Some collapsed, writhing in agony as their bodies cooked from the inside. Many more still were suddenly rendered blind, deaf, and incapable of feeling anything, stumbling around like newborns.
Rowan swallowed thickly, recognizing that the epic tier was treating the wolf kin well.
He turned towards Marcus, half-expecting to see the man suplex one of the monsters into submission or cow them all using his aura or something. The shield bearer just had an awkward smile back.
¡°I mean, they¡¯re not going to be able to touch a single one of our people from now on until I go down?¡± Marcus offered weakly. Rowan laughed.
Then, Rowan was moving again. He trusted his party to have the original trio of beasts handled, especially since one was down and the other two were almost cooked to death. He decided to make the most of the occasion and go for the other epic tier monster.
The monsters harassing Tamara and her mages were the oddest of the bunch.
One of them was a squid-like thing with far too many legs that were stretching to impossible lengths. Tamara was successfully burning the legs that came close but the creature kept regenerating and trying harder.
The other resembled a statue, and it seemed to just be standing there, staring at the different mages. The only sign of anything being wrong was that a few mages would suddenly stumble at times, and then send a volley of attacks against the creature that it just tanked through, not even moving.
Rowan chose to deal with the statue first.
¡°You won¡¯t be able to hurt it,¡± Blake rasped in his ear, almost making Rowan stumble. ¡°Here, let me help.¡±
Before Rowan could stop him, Blake reached out and gently touched the shaft of his spear. The weapon lit up, and through their bond, Rowan could feel that it was suddenly more. Tougher, heavier, sharper, pressing against the very world around it.
Gritting his teeth at the way Blake was pushing himself, Rowan nonetheless committed to the strike. His body grew visibly gaunt in a matter of seconds while he positioned the spear like a lance, pointing it straight at the monster¡¯s rocky head.
The monster actually turned to face him even if it didn¡¯t bother to dodge, and its eerie red eyes met Rowan¡¯s. The hero felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to his head but the impact was blunted, robbed of most of its strength.
The saintess¡¯s blessing wavered in strength, but it didn¡¯t matter.
Rowan¡¯s spear didn¡¯t waver.
It met the creature¡¯s face, taking it right in the eye.
Rowan had to admit that without Blake¡¯s help, he likely would have failed. It felt like he was trying to drive his spear straight into a diamond wall. But when his spear pulsed with the bright golden light, the wall gave way.
Ironically, the creature wasn¡¯t made out of rock throughout. Once its stony exterior cracked, brain matter and blood were sent soaring into the sky. A couple of the mages cried out, and Rowan laughed at their expressions of disgust. Blake whooped right with him.
¡°Goddess, I dislike mages. That was great,¡± Blake chuckled, his arms briefly tightening around Rowan¡¯s chest. ¡°By the way, whatever card you¡¯re using, it¡¯s freaky. Why are you almost reducing yourself to a skeleton?¡±
¡°Blake, if you keep distracting me, I¡¯ll feed you to the thing,¡± Rowan threatened jokingly, making his friend laugh again.
¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare, you looooooove me too much,¡± Blake teased.
¡°Why, Hero Blake, are you coming onto me? Is there something you¡¯d like to tell your girlfriends about why you haven¡¯t picked one of them?¡±
Rowan marveled at the way he could afford to joke with his friends as he dodged the whip-like appendages of the squid monster. Just a couple of days ago, a single epic tier monster would have pushed him to his utmost.
Now? Now he was having fun.
Blake laughed louder, but before he could make an inappropriate comment about how Rowan was the one tying the two of them together, the sky turned into flames.
Tamara was clearly not amused by the hero intervening and stealing her experience. The entire light show turned into a single, thin column of fire. It barely covered the main body of the monster, but then flames went from red to white to blue, and the thing evaporated. For just a moment, Rowan was thoroughly impressed by the woman¡¯s strength and control.
Then her apprentices started falling down while she just looked smug, and Rowan realized that her attack wasn¡¯t without its costs.
Blake shared Rowan¡¯s insight. ¡°Did she train up a whole lot of apprentices just so they could manage the fallout of her spells?¡±
Rowan strongly suspected that the answer to Blake¡¯s question was yes, but they didn¡¯t really have more time to waste. A glance back told him that the other two epic monsters were dead too, and that it was time to run before the legendary showed up again and ruined everyone¡¯s day.
¡°Lucius! Lead a retreat!¡± Rowan bellowed across the battlefield. A card effect swept over the army, and then they were moving, fighting against what monsters they had to while struggling to get away.
At least Marcus was good for his word. Rowan saw plenty of monsters take advantage and strike against unprotected backs, but all that led to was a few grunts from the shield bearer.
Not that they could afford to let them take potshots forever.
¡°We¡¯ll cover the retreat!¡± Rowan really shouldn¡¯t have bothered with that particular order because his party members were already on it.
Olivia was chucking her conjured potions left and right, this time focusing on explosion range instead of on focused strikes. While Milena and Rowan demolished the monsters and Marcus focused on protecting everyone, she was building a barrier of fire none of them dared try to pass.
That did leave them on the wrong side of the conflagration, but Rowan met Marcus¡¯s eyes, nodded, and decided to trust the man. He plunged right into the flames, and while Blake let out a strangled grunt and started glowing of his own accord, neither of them felt the sting of heat or the choking of the smoke.
They were through in a couple of seconds.
Any monsters that tried to copy them bitterly regretted it and were burned down in seconds.
¡°Keep retreating. Lucius, if you can push them faster somehow?¡± Rowan yelled. ¡°We need to make as much distance between us and the legendary as possible.¡±
That earned Rowan a wild-eyed look, but to his credit, the Mercenary King didn¡¯t even bother to ask. He just intensified his card effect far past what they experienced in the past and the entire army practically flew down the path they¡¯d followed previously.
Rowan felt a grin sneaking its way onto his face and exchanged a victorious look with Olivia, who was suddenly by his side. His fingers twitched towards hers, but even he felt a little awkward trying to hold hands while fleeing a monster horde and carrying his best friend on his back.
Nonetheless, they¡¯d done it. The legendary didn¡¯t show up, their losses weren¡¯t catastrophic, and they got Blake and his party out. The three women were sort of struggling to follow along because they were, for some reason, unaffected by the Mercenary King¡¯s buffs, but that didn¡¯t matter much.
They were alive.
¡°Don¡¯t mean to alarm you, Rowan, but I might be taking another nap soon.¡± Blake¡¯s voice was thoroughly drained of energy, so much so Rowan almost stopped in his tracks to check on him.
¡°What¡¯s happening? Talk to me here,¡± Rowan said.
¡°I can feel it coming on. Every time. The thing in my chest squirms and then tries to extend up into my head. Either I manage on my own, or Lady Sarina protects me, and I end up puking it all out. It¡¯s just unpleasant.¡±
Rowan¡¯s heart started beating faster as his mind replayed the moment when the knight demon grabbed him back at Felton¡¯s Mill.
¡°Jeesh, mate, you really got yourself into a mess this time,¡± Rowan tried for a joking tone, and just ended up sounding miserable.
¡°Tell me about it. My Goddess didn¡¯t even want me coming here. Wanted me to finish getting rid of all the heretics back in the capita, but I didn¡¯t want to keep waiting and let people get hurt.¡±
The way he said ¡®heretics¡¯ was so vicious and full of vitriol that Rowan shuddered. He wasn¡¯t sure what to think or feel on the subject.
This was Blake. His best friend. He kept catching glimpses of the man he knew and cared about. However, this new Blake the Zealot was a grim reality too.
I no longer trust Kayla already. Now, something weird¡¯s happening with Blake, too. How do I even know I can trust him? Unless¡
It suddenly hit him, and quite hard, at that.
Running at the back of his own army, surrounded by party members he was willing to trust with his life, Rowan realized how much he¡¯s changed.
He was more than willing to put his life into the hands of Olivia, Marcus, and Milena, no questions asked. He was so afraid of messing up those friendships, he didn¡¯t even want to bring up his new class feature with them.
And yet, the second Rowan was reunited with Blake, he was tempted to offer him a spot as one of his [Knights]. Somehow, a space had grown between the two of them. But Rowan also had a practical reason for the thought. His regeneration card might help the situation.
After all, it was supposed to ¡®restore a body to its natural condition.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t like with Bron, where giving him the card would have been useless since the card was too low-tiered. The card was at epic now, and its effect far more powerful and pervasive.
And making Blake a [Knight] would let him pick one card out of Rowan¡¯s deck to copy.
¡°Hey, Blake. Might have a solution.¡± Rowan wet his lips, hesitating just for a second before pushing on. ¡°I just got to epic, and my class is called [Spear of Unity]. I can select eight people to link my class with. If I do, they get access to a copy of one of my cards, of their own choosing. It doesn¡¯t count against their deck either. And I have an extremely powerful regeneration card¡¡±
Rowan trailed off, ignoring the startled looks of his party members and the way he was pushing his guilt down.
¡°Really think it would help?¡± Blake asked.
¡°Didn¡¯t have time to switch cards around with us in combat and rushing about right now, but yeah, I think it would. The card says it returns your body to its ¡®natural state.¡¯ I doubt that means corrupted as hell.¡±
It didn¡¯t even take Blake a second to decide. He didn¡¯t even ask about potential drawbacks to doing it, or what Rowan would get out of the whole thing. ¡°Let¡¯s go for it.¡±
So, for the very first time, Rowan reached out for his new card, triggering its effect.
¡°Huh, yeah, got a window asking me if I want to accept and an offer of cards to select,¡± Blake said. ¡°You¡¯ve got some pretty nice ones. Good. See the card, too. Well, here goes.¡±
Blake finalized his choice, and hit the final yes. A stream of power opened up between the two heroes, linking them, letting them tap into a part of each other¡¯s strength.
A smile touched Rowan¡¯s lips as he felt the blazing ball of trust, friendship and care emanating from Blake towards him. All doubts were squashed. All suspicions washed away. This was still his best friend, even if things had changed a bit.
And then a flash of something cold and dark snuck through the bond too and Rowan barely had the time to gasp before he was falling.
¡ª
Rowan jerked and blinked awake, only to hiss in pain and confusion. All around him, a blighted land stretched, dead and barren. In spite of the cloudless sky, the only source of light was the weak, reddish glow of a flickering sun. Even with it at its zenith, the sky was practically black as pitch.
¡°Rowan? What are you doing here?¡± Blake¡¯s voice was hurried, panicked.
Rowan blinked and looked around again, this time immediately spotting his best friend. He wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d missed him the first time, with the land as open as it was and the link between them still blazing bright.
Except, not everything was as it should be. Rather than a man of flesh and blood, Rowan realized that Blake was cast out of pure, golden light. Every detail was there. Everything was moving and working as it should. He just didn¡¯t look like a human being. And right there, in his chest, a ball of miasma and foulness coiled, trying to stretch its tendrils higher. They were already up to the hero¡¯s neck and grasping ever onwards.
A startled glance down revealed that Rowan wasn¡¯t exactly in his own body, either. His form was made out of reddish energy with a black tint, but at least he didn¡¯t have a parasite squirming in him.
¡°I¡ª Wait, where am I?¡± Rowan demanded, quickly clambering to his feet. His spear materialized in his hand, almost like magic. But looking at it was a challenge. The entire weapon was darkness, blood, and some strange matter wrought together in a beautiful whole.
¡°This is what happens every time I pass out,¡± Blake said. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re here, or why you can summon that.¡± He pointed at Rowan¡¯s spear, almost pouting. ¡°I¡¯m stuck with only my class and cards. You know what? It doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s coming. I can feel it.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t have time to wonder at the fact that Blake didn¡¯t have a bound weapon, especially when his friend was sponsored by the king instead of a backwater baron. Rowan was a bit preoccupied by the storm cloud tearing its way across the horizon, making an even bigger mess of the blighted lands.
There really wasn¡¯t much the two heroes could do. They fell in together, Rowan clutching his spear, Blake summoning a sword and shield made of light.
Finally, just before swallowing them whole, the storm cloud stopped.
¡°My Lord will be so proud of me. Two heroes, for the price of one!¡± The voice was ripe with madness, malice, and a twisted kind of worshipful devotion that made Rowan feel sick.
When Rowan finally felt the thing¡¯s aura sweep over them, almost driving them to their knees, there was little doubt left.
They were face to face with a legendary demon.
Chapter 53: Broken Light
Rowan made the first move.
His spear became a blur as it shot straight for the demon¡¯s face. Unfortunately, it was flicked away before it could ever get close.
Rowan tried again, undeterred. His sweep was kicked away, his stab was simply blocked by an impenetrable hand, and his furious kick was absorbed with no trouble while leaving a dull ache in Rowan¡¯s shin.
Blake wasn¡¯t faring much better. The other hero was glowing in a corona of light, hacking and slashing, but each and every one of his attacks was outright absorbed by curtains of darkness that would flicker into existence a fraction of a second before the attacks would impact.
¡°Just. Die!¡± Rowan hissed, struggling to empower his spear for some reason. His mana was flowing into it but it was sluggish and difficult to control. But he managed a decent strike with the renewed effort. The tip of the spear exploded against the hand the demon was blocking with, and a couple of its digits were lost in the process. A large cut marred its palm too, bleeding black ichor that repulsed Rowan.
The demon grunted and took a quick step forward. Before Rowan could react, the demon used the very same appendage to backhand Rowan across the face.
The world turned into nothing but dizziness and pain. Rowan was vaguely aware that his body was tumbling over the ground, but awareness was an impossibility when faced by the sheer agony of having his face entirely caved in.
And yet, with a gasp and a whimper, he came to. He was on his back, staring at the depressing sky, with actual, functioning eyes.
I don¡¯t want to think about it, but¡ Didn¡¯t one of his eyes pop out of his eye socket, and wasn¡¯t the other reduced to a mess running down his face?
He lifted a trembling, functioning hand up to his face and gingerly touched it. Everything was still there, all the bones and skin and other pieces in the right places. The only trouble was, when he pulled his hand back, it was covered in a red-black residue.
¡°Rowan, don¡¯t just stay still!¡± Blake¡¯s shout jerked Rowan back to awareness, even if he sort of wanted to continue ignoring reality when he laid eyes on what was happening.
Blake was getting savaged.
The hero was bleeding gold all over, and the mass of darkness was already inching its way up his jaw. Rowan suspected that the only reason Blake was still in the fight was the glowing silhouette embracing him from behind.
The figure was barely there and the most visible feature were the arms crossed around Blake¡¯s neck. Even then, when the silhouette turned and looked in his direction, Rowan instantly knew who it was.
The Goddess of Light herself, protecting her champion.
With gritted teeth, Rowan managed to force his protesting body upright, focusing on shoving more power into his spear tip. It was even harder this time around, both because his mana was fighting him more ferociously and because there was less of it.
Rowan could tell that his regeneration was working, but like everything else, it seemed muted, barely there.
They were losing.
At least the demon was focused on Blake at the moment, a cruel smirk on its lips as it methodically worked to dissect the hero. The demon seemed to benefit from the oddness of the place. Like Rowan¡¯s face, its hand was back to normal.
Shuffling slowly to the creature¡¯s back, Rowan tried to find anything resembling a weak point. The closest that came to it was the creature¡¯s tail that Rowan spotted for the first time, long and sinuous and deadly looking with the myriad of spikes that adorned it.
If I cut that off, I don¡¯t think anything¡¯s going to change¡ Then again, I¡¯m not too sure if anything changes with how everything seems to heal in this place.
Rowan grimaced and decided to just commit. Steps lighter than they¡¯d ever been, Rowan drew closer, counting on Blake and the sounds of the ongoing battle to mask his approach.
¡°Honestly, the two of you,¡± the demon giggled and then his head turned to the sound of a snapping spine a full circle to stare right at Rowan. ¡°What are you hoping to accomplish?¡±
Its tail moved faster than Rowan could react, blood filling the hero¡¯s lungs as the spiky appendage speared right through his chest.
Rowan would have collapsed on the spot as a pain worse than anything he¡¯d experienced before filling him. The only problem was that he was literally dangling on the demon¡¯s tail.
Blake screamed a wordless cry of frustration and fear, erupting into an ever-growing ball of light that managed to make even the demon frown. The monster whipped around, launching Rowan straight into Blake¡¯s chest and making both of the heroes crumple to the ground in a heap.
Blake¡¯s light continued to build.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got you,¡± Rowan¡¯s best friend whispered, and then the world was consumed by light.
¡ª
Rowan blinked his eyes open to the same depressing scenery, struggling to make sense of what was happening. They were obviously still in whatever hellscape the demon favored for its shenanigans, but the creature was nowhere to be seen. Which was definitely a good thing, considering the way Rowan¡¯s body ached and protested even the slightest bit of motion.
¡°You okay there?¡± Blake grunted, and Rowan startled upon realizing he was still lying on top of the other hero.
¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± Rowan mumbled, managing to stagger upright and offer his friend a hand. Blake took it, and then they were both standing. ¡°What in all the hells is going on?¡±
Blake just sighed. ¡°The same thing that happens every time I pass out. I have no clue what this place actually is. A mental realm? The demon¡¯s mind? Whatever it is, I always fight it here. And I always lose.¡±
The other hero absentmindedly rubbed at his throat, and Rowan realized there were runes, sigils, and more engraved there. Like the thickest choker in existence, they encircled Blake¡¯s throat, glowing brighter every time the tiny smidgen of darkness tried to worm its way higher.Even though the darkness¡¯ progress had been reset, Rowan just wasn¡¯t willing to bet on the effectiveness of Blake¡¯s new defensive measures for very long.
¡°How do you always get out?¡± The question was a little desperate, but who could blame Rowan for trying?
His friend, unfortunately, shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t, Rowan. So far, Lady Sarina was able to pull me out every time I¡¯m on the verge of¡ not dying, exactly. Just¡ it feels like I¡¯m getting slowly unmade while fighting the thing.¡±
Rowan was forced to reexamine them both and he didn¡¯t like what he saw. The color of their ¡®bodies¡¯ which had once been so rich was slowly leeching away. Blake was more an off-white than golden now, and Rowan¡¯s own red and black were diluted.
Granted, he had no clue what that meant, but it couldn¡¯t be good.
¡°You¡¯re clearly doing something right, though. You managed to drive him off, for now,¡± Rowan said. And it was true. Whatever the light Blake wielded against it was, the demon was nowhere to be found.
So, Rowan didn¡¯t like the odd look Blade gave him. ¡°I didn¡¯t drive him off. I shifted our location. I can¡¯t win but I¡¯ve been learning how to run and buy time to recover a little. Problem is, every time I do, he ends up finding me.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
Rowan really couldn¡¯t find a single difference about the plains they were currently in compared to their previous location. Everything was still dead and barren and the sky was just as gloomy as before. Blake pulled him from his contemplation by tugging on his hand. Rowan didn¡¯t know where exactly the other hero wanted them to go, but he wasn¡¯t about to doubt his expertise on what they should do. ¡°Where we headed?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Nowhere. Just can¡¯t stay still. He shows up faster when I do that. Listen, Rowan¡¡± Blake trailed off, refusing to look at him.
¡°Whatever you want to say, just do it. We¡¯ve known each other for long enough that I can tolerate a stupid question or two,¡± Rowan said, desperate to lift the mood a little. He didn¡¯t like the gravity Blake had injected his voice with.
His friend sighed. ¡°Please¡ I want you to break whatever bond we formed before we both ended up here.¡±
¡°What? No! I know I¡¯m not much help, and my healing card isn¡¯t working the best here, but it¡¯s still helping, and I won¡¯t leave you here!¡±
Rowan was pretty sure he was right on every count, too. While his regeneration card wasn¡¯t its usual reliable self, he could feel it working when he focused, struggling to pull color back into his ethereal frame.
¡°You wouldn¡¯t be here without the bond. And I¡ I don¡¯t think we can win, even if we¡¯re fighting together. That thing¡¯s a Legend. We need all of our armies and Kayla by our side if we want to actually kill it,¡± Blake said. There was a deep bitterness there, especially when he mentioned Kayla¡¯s name.
Desperate for both some answers and to change the subject, Rowan latched onto that. ¡°Speaking of, I met Kayla, briefly. She wasn¡¯t really, how to say it, herself? What happened in the capital after I left?¡±
Blake hunched in on himself, and Rowan was briefly worried his friend would just shut him away and refuse to talk further. The emotions he was feeling through their bond were a mess. It was a churning storm of doubt, fear, disgust, anger, regret and so much more.
¡°When we ended up here, Kayla started¡ changing. I don¡¯t know what she went through, exactly. We only had brief chances to meet up with each other,¡± Blake said, his voice growing low as he forgot about moving and stood in place.¡± Still, she grew colder and colder, and then she stopped visiting altogether. The last time we met¡¡±
After the moment of silence stretched into two, Rowan asked, ¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°She said a bunch of stuff about how I shouldn¡¯t trust Harold. The king, I mean. How he¡¯s been plotting since before we arrived at the world. She insulted my Goddess and said that Lady Sarina was just using me, too. The fight got bad and she left. She hasn¡¯t spoken to me since.¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t sure what to say. More to the point, he wasn¡¯t about to disagree with any of the stuff Kayla had apparently told Blake. The king was suspicious at best, and the less said about the Goddess of Light, the better. Frankly, a part of Rowan was upset that Blake was so mindlessly following a Goddess that was at least half the reason they were here in this mess. Rowan took a deep breath and picked a different approach.
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¡°Why do you think she said all of that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Blake exploded, teeth audibly clenching as his hand tightened on Rowan¡¯s arm. Rowan thought he looked desperate for reassurance. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡¡±
It wasn¡¯t the best approach, but Rowan wasn¡¯t about to just drop the subject entirely. Especially not if he wanted to keep his friendship with Blake. ¡°Well, did the king say or do something to her? Surely, you didn¡¯t just dismiss her without asking?¡±
¡°He didn¡¯t. I¡¯m sure of it. Why would he? He¡¯s been nothing but nice to me, and Amanda says¡ never mind what she says, Harold has our best interests at heart, okay? And my Goddess has protected me time and again! I wouldn¡¯t be here if she didn¡¯t pull me out every time things got really bad,¡± Blake protested.
Rowan sucked in a frustrated breath through his teeth, taking the time for fear of saying something indelicate. He observed Blake¡¯s current state. A gold color was definitely leeching back into his frame, and the more of it accumulated, the faster the process got.
¡°You¡¯re healing up pretty nicely,¡± Rowan tried.
¡°Yeah.¡± Blake allowed himself a smile. ¡°I still think you should break our bond and leave, but the card is helping. This is the first time I¡¯m actually healing while stuck in here.¡±
Rowan hummed in contemplation then decided to go for the throat. ¡°Do you actually trust the king and his daughter?¡±
To his credit, this time, Blake didn¡¯t rush to answer. ¡°I think so. They helped me. Got me good equipment. Trained me. Helped me level up. Wouldn¡¯t have even met my current party without all their help.¡±
¡°The party that can do nothing but buff you up? You saw what my party could do, back at the fight.¡±
¡°Please don¡¯t remind me, that wolf kin mage was scary.¡± Blake actually shuddered, making Rowan smirk.
¡°Shaman. But point still stands.¡±
¡°I know, I know. But¡ trust me, they¡¯re not¡ bad. They like to argue, but they work great as a team when they¡¯re supposed to. Besides, you caught them at their lowest. They¡¯ve burned through a bunch of their mana protecting us and trying to keep me alive,¡± Blake said.
¡°Blake, just because someone does the bare minimum after stealing you away from your own life doesn¡¯t mean you should trust them.¡±
Blake slumped even further down.
¡°We can¡¯t just keep second guessing everyone¡¯s motivations, Rowan,¡± Blake said. ¡°They want their world to be safe. Sure, they summoned us without consent, but would you really just go back right now if you could?¡±
Rowan tried to say yes. But stopped just short of the words forming in his throat. The second he thought about Olivia, his party, and even the baron and his wife, he couldn¡¯t say the words anymore.
¡°Thought so. You¡¯re way too nice to walk out on all the people who need you.¡± Blake offered Rowan a smile but it was a small, fragile thing. ¡°Kayla would leave. She just wants to be done with it, I bet. You know she always had trouble caring about anyone or anything.¡±
Kayla had some issues. That was true. However, that sounded more like self-justification to Rowan, but again he said nothing. If he defended Kayla, he would also feel compelled to admit that until very recently, he was fully on board with leaving the second he could.
Eyes fixed on the ground, Rowan struggled to come up with an argument, any argument, to make Blake understand how horrible an idea it was to trust the king. Instead, he got thoroughly distracted by the soft, green shoots under their feet.
¡°Blake, does this ground look different to you?¡± Rowan muttered, looking around.
While there were a ton of differences he was only starting to understand between his real body and the one he was currently stuck in, it seemed that stats carried over well enough. The extra perception helped Rowan spot all the emerging greenery all around them.
The problem was, he was pretty sure that hadn¡¯t been there before, since they hadn¡¯t made much progress walking and he would have noticed if they suddenly popped up.
¡°There are plants? Why are there plants here? This is the first time I¡¯m seeing anything like this,¡± Blake said in wonder, stopping and kneeling to gently inspect one of the fragile shoots struggling to grow.
¡°You really shouldn¡¯t make it a habit to run like this, you know. It¡¯s horribly rude to give your host the slip like that.¡± The oily voice of the demon had both heroes spinning around, only to find the creature examining them with more than a little amusement.
¡°We¡¯re in your world then, are we?¡± Rowan asked, mind racing for ways to distract the creature for as long as he could. Anything was preferable to getting outright curb stomped.
The demon just shrugged, offering them an open-mouthed smile with far too many teeth. ¡°Shall we continue where we left off?¡±
Blake seemed to have an objection to that, however, seeing as the hero grabbed Rowan closer and once more erupted into a storm of light.
The scream of frustration from the demon would have amusing, if the two heroes didn¡¯t just blink into existence in yet another stretch of lifeless wasteland. Well, not entirely lifeless. With a frown, Rowan realized that the same shoots were present all around them once again.
¡°I managed to do it again,¡± Blake said, wonder in his voice. ¡°I typically don¡¯t manage to do the disappearing trick twice.¡± He looked down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them with wonder. ¡°I feel so much better than I did before.¡±
¡°My card is working then,¡± Rowan concluded, and a simple visual inspection proved him right, too.
Blake was back to where he was upon their appearance in the infernal realm, golden and glowing. In fact, a closer look even told Rowan that the darkness swirling in the hero¡¯s chest was shrinking. It was sluggish now, its grasping tentacles barely rising from the hero¡¯s chest.
¡°It is. It really is. If we can just stay ahead of the demon, we might win.¡± Blake gave Rowan a dazzling smile, making it difficult to continue being upset.
¡°We should get moving again then. We¡¯re safe for now?¡± Rowan asked and got a nod in return. ¡°Then it¡¯s time to talk about something else.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t like that look in your eye, Rowan,¡± Blake said.
¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t have gone and accepted a party with three women in it, Blake. Now, before that freak catches up again, spill the beans. What¡¯s up with the whole harem protagonist thing you¡¯ve got going on?¡±
Blake groaned and blushed, but Rowan wasn¡¯t about to just drop the subject.
¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. I honestly think most of them don¡¯t even like me,¡± Blake groused, making Rowan quirk an eyebrow his way. ¡°I¡¯m serious! Getting a hero into the family is a big deal. Pretty sure they were ordered to pursue me, so I don¡¯t want to force them into an awkward position.¡±
Rowan had to agree with part of that, making him wince a little. ¡°Still, you can¡¯t tell me they¡¯re constantly fighting over you like that without at least some personal feelings involved.¡±
Blake blushed again, making Rowan laugh. ¡°Oh, shut it. Okay, so maybe they care a little. Honestly¡ I think Mirabella actually does like me. If any of the three do, it would be her. And, I mean, I might like her too.¡±
This time, Rowan couldn¡¯t help himself. He groaned in frustration. ¡±The Treagon. Out of all of them, you like the Treagon?¡±
¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Blake asked defensively, giving him side-eye.
¡°Oh, nothing much. They just stole all of the land, power, and even the card collection of my girlfriend¡¯s family.¡± Rowan scowled, giving his best friend the stink-eye back.
At least Blake seemed suitably shocked. ¡°What? That can¡¯t be right. I didn¡¯t hear anything about that.¡±
¡°Well, I bet they don¡¯t go around discussing how the only reason they¡¯re dukes is because they stole everything they own from the Suttons. Honestly, you saw how slimy and disgusting Duke Treagon was during that whole mess they called a welcoming feast,¡± Rowan said.
¡°I mean, he¡¯s not pleasant, sure, but his daughter¡¯s not like that. Honestly, you¡¯d probably like her if you gave her a chance. I can see the two of you talking about some random book together,¡± Blake teased, even if there was a slight edge of discomfort to his voice.
¡°We¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll have to make sure she¡¯s good enough for my best friend. Still, you actually care about her? It¡¯s not just infatuation, or whatever? You¡¯re in love?¡±
Faced with the earnest question, Blake blushed and nodded. This time, Rowan managed to restrain the groan he wanted to make. After all, there was a chance that Blake was right and the woman was a sweetheart. It didn¡¯t change Rowan¡¯s feelings on the matter of her family though.
¡°Well, as long as she makes you happy, I guess. I can at least promise I won¡¯t be mean on purpose. And I¡¯ll stop Olivia from poisoning her. Or I¡¯ll try to,¡± Rowan said.
¡°Your girlfriend¡¯s the alchemist then, I take it?¡±
¡°Yeah, she¡¯s amazing, right?¡±
¡°Well, if you fancy dating something who can literally blow you up.¡± Blake teased, and the two friends exchanged glances.
Even stuck in a nightmarish reality, hunted by a too powerful demon, the two broke down into laughter as they allowed themselves to finally relax a little.
Sure, things were horrible. But at least they now knew their friendship wasn¡¯t over, as Rowan had privately worried it might be. Blake was probably in the same camp.
¡°I¡¯ve missed talking to you, man,¡± Blake admitted quietly, smile on his lips.
Rowan was about to agree when he ran face-first into a tree. ¡°What the heck?¡± He sputtered, trying to get what he was fairly certain were pine needles out of his mouth. His mouth had been open when he ran into the branch and the earthy taste was altogether not pleasant for him. ¡°There are trees?¡±
¡°First time I¡¯ve seen any,¡± Blake admitted, glancing around in worry at the veritable wall of trees that had formed up in front of them out of the blue.
A quick glance back revealed the same plains as before, with the exception of the plant shoots now standing even higher.
And then the angry roar of an approaching storm also announced the unwelcome return of their stalker. As he looked in the approaching demon¡¯s direction, however, Rowan was more confused than anything. He could spot the monster¡¯s head forming up out of the cloud and its expression was livid. He was also wreaking complete destruction as he went, leaving the ground barren in his wake.
Things were changing and Rowan had no idea if they were good or not.
¡°Can you get us out again?¡± Rowan asked.
Blake looked worried, hesitation obvious in his posture and features, but still nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±
¡°No!¡± the demon screamed. ¡°Don¡¯t you¡ª¡±
The light flashed again, cutting off the angry demon¡¯s bellows.
When Rowan looked around, he was surprised to find they were standing, once again, at the edge of the tree line. Somewhere far off in the distance, he could even spot the lighting flashes of a storm.
¡°We should keep moving,¡± Blake insisted, plunging into the forest without a single look back. A contemplative look on his face, Rowan followed.
¡ª
The trees were thick, and growing thicker as they went, but that wasn¡¯t what worried Rowan. The demon was finding them faster and faster. At first, they¡¯d walk for half an hour or more before the monster reappeared and Blake was forced to pull off his disappearing trick.
Now, however, they were barely lasting ten minutes before the demon would show up, roaring in fury and demolishing the trees around him.
Another thing that worried Rowan was the darkness in Blake¡¯s chest.
Natural Renewal was clearly doing work because Blake¡¯s golden complexion was shinier than ever. Even the darkness had curled into a tight ball, but that¡¯s where the progress on that front had stalled out. The obsidian ball of shifting shadows stood lodged right above Blake¡¯s heart, and it was stubbornly resisting any further attempts at diminishing it. That, along with the rapidly improving color of trees and the quality of soil under their feet, got Rowan thinking.
Clearly, they were moving closer to the center of something, seeing as they could physically spot the places where they¡¯d fled the demon behind them, darkness howling above the tree tops. But was that a good thing?
Would they manage to get away from the demon entirely, or would the infernal simply corner them at the center and devour them on the spot?
More importantly¡
Rowan took a deep breath. ¡°Blake, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re in the demon¡¯s world at all. I think this is your world. Or mind. Or soul. Or whatever. Why it¡¯s a prairie followed by a forest, I don¡¯t have a clue.¡±
Blake stopped, looking back at Rowan with wild eyes. ¡°You think? I mean, I feel something calling for me, from up ahead. I feel like I have to get to it. Think we¡¯ll be able to leave, if I do?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, but I guess we¡¯ll have to find out?¡±
Blake didn¡¯t need more encouragement, and the two heroes broke into a run. They were hesitant to do so before, since the ground was oddly treacherous and full of roots, but the enraged roars of the demon in the distance were good motivation.
As they drew closer to whatever was calling to Blake, a smile slowly grew on his face, and his steps became surer and more hurried. ¡°I can feel it. We just need to get there, Rowan, and ¡ª¡±
Blake cried out in pain as he ran headfirst into an invisible barrier. A barrier that, a second later, turned pitch black and rose into the sky, shouting their location for all to see.
¡°There you are, you fools.¡± The demon¡¯s voice echoed from everywhere, and its storm corrected its course, coming right for them. ¡°Think you can run from me? This is my playground. Mine.¡± The trees around them were violently ripped out of the ground as the demon once more coalesced into physical form. ¡°Foolish. So foolish. Misery was lost to us, but I was hoping at least Ennui and Malice would come along more easily. Now, I see I was mistaken to be as kind as I was to you two. One [Holy Paladin] and one [Spear of Unity]. Your precious gods and classes won¡¯t protect you.¡±
Rowan¡¯s mind raced, looking for any possible solution. He wasn¡¯t going to let the demon¡¯s ominous words come to fruition. Failing to come to an obvious way to fix what ailed them, though, he desperately fell back on the only thing he had. Words. ¡°Why do you know what class I was offered when reaching epic?¡±
The demon cackled, shaking its head. ¡°Oh Ennui, dear Ennui. Did you think you can travel between the planes unnoticed? That your soul can slip into the world we¡¯ve been monitoring for generations unaltered? We know you. We know all of you. You would do so much better on our side.¡±
¡°How? Why would we even want to join you?¡±
Rowan was barely aware of what he was saying or hearing, his eyes were staring at the squirming ball of darkness in Blake¡¯s chest.
¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you? You would have to give up the local spark of divinity, true. But what we offer is so much better. Why not ascend early and take your place by our side as we bring this world to heel?¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t dignify that with a response. Instead, his gaze met Blake¡¯s, and he asked a question of his own as his energy slowly seeped into the tip of his spear. ¡°Do you trust me?¡±
Rowan received a nod without any hesitation, and with a sad smile, Rowan drove the spear right into his friend¡¯s chest.
Chapter 54: Peace at Last
Several things happened all at once when Rowan¡¯s spear sank without resistance into Blake¡¯s translucent chest.
First, the demon screamed as the ball of darkness evaporated at the spear¡¯s attack. Second, Blake let out a startled gasp of a man who had just touched a red-hot stove top but somehow expecting it to be cool. And third, the glowing outline of the Goddess Sarina formed behind the partially corrupted hero.
Rowan¡¯s power exploded the very next instant, opening a sizable hole in Blake¡¯s back and eradicating every last trace of the corrupting influence within him. As Rowan took stock of the damage, his eyes met the glowing orbs of the goddess, and he could see the distaste there plain as day.
¡°This once. Once. I help you in return for this favor,¡± Sarina sneered, her voice echoing within Rowan¡¯s mind as she thrust her hand in his direction. A beam of light erupted from it, striking the Stalwart Hero right in the middle of his chest, and then his senses vanished in favor of absolute darkness.
Words unfurled before Rowan.
|
[?F?r?a?g?m?e?n?t? ?o?f? ?G?r?a?s?p?i?n?g? ?M?a?d?n?e?s?s?]? slain!
????C????o????n????g?????r???a????t????u????l????a???t????i????o?????n????s????, ,??????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????y??????????????o??????????????????????????????u???????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????h???????????????????????????????????a?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????v???????????????????????????????????????????????e????????????????????? ???????????????????????e????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????a?????????????????????????????????r????????????????????????????????????????????????????????n????????????????????????????????e????????????????????????????????????d???????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????9?????????????????????????????9???????????????????????????????0???????????????????????????????0???????????????????????????????????????????0??????????????????????????????0????????????????????????????????????0?????????????????????????????????????????????0???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????x?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????p?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e????????????????????????????????????????r??????????????i??????????????????????????????????????e??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????n?????????????????????????????c???????????????????e?????????????????????????????????????!??????????????????????????????!
|
Seeing the obvious corruption of the status window didn¡¯t startle Rowan nearly as much as seeing the garbled font in blue. Still, he didn¡¯t have all that much time to reflect on things, since the very next instant, he was gasping back into awareness.
¡°Rowan! Rowan?¡±
Rowan cracked open his eyes and saw Olivia¡¯s tear-streaked face. A goofy smile rose on his face. ¡°Oh, hello there.¡±
And then he passed out.
¡ª
When Rowan woke up again, he did so slowly. He first became aware of the softness under his skin, enveloping most of him in its embrace. The next thing he noticed was the sound of humming and tinkling glass. His heart skipped a beat when he recognized Olivia¡¯s voice. He relaxed into the bed. Olivia wouldn¡¯t be humming a tune if they were still in immense danger.
Rowan finally blinked his eyes open and dispelled his last vestiges of terror and anxiety. A smile found its way to his face as he watched his favorite alchemist whirl around the working stations around her.
For some reason, he was laid out on a bed which had been brought into her potioneering lab. Despite the potions being brewed, it was a pretty good place for a nap. All the windows were heavily curtained. Rowan could even remember a rather tense conversation where the baroness forbade her daughter from boarding up those same windows fully.
He wasn¡¯t sure how long he just laid there and watched her work, but Olivia eventually put down the various vials, stretched, and took a glance in his direction. The second she spotted him, she was by his side like she¡¯d learned to teleport.
¡°You¡¯re awake. How long have been awake? No, wait, don¡¯t answer that. I feel like you¡¯re just going to upset me.¡± Before Rowan could answer, Olivia was kissing him, and Rowan definitely didn¡¯t want to interrupt that.
Some fifteen or so minutes later, once Olivia had worked through most of her frustration by assaulting his lips, she was curled up on his chest and Rowan could no longer continue ignoring reality, no matter how tempting.
¡°How are we here? What happened?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°You passed out and traumatized the lot of us, is what happened,¡± Olivia grumbled, but there was no real heat in her voice.
¡°A bit more detail, dear?¡±
¡°Well, after you used the secret new ability you refused to share with us, you and the other hero both passed out. His party freaked out and we weren¡¯t far behind. The corruption on his chest briefly flared up, but then it actually got better. We all calmed down a bit, at least until you both woke up again. You were fine, but seeing him throw up blood all over the place and pass out was¡¡±
¡°Traumatizing?¡± Rowan offered hesitantly, earning a glare for his efforts.
¡°Sure. Traumatizing is a serious enough word. Anyway, after that, he was finally corruption free, so we figured you were both well enough to move. There was a thoroughly terrifying roar somewhere in the distance, felt like it flattened us all for a second, but nothing all that significant happened.¡±
It was Rowan¡¯s turn to pause as he caught onto the implication she¡¯d tried to gloss over. ¡°Nothing all that significant? Meaning something happened?¡±
Olivia huffed, but clarified. ¡°There was a bit of a disagreement,¡± she hedged. ¡°You know, with the other hero party. Well, and your fellow hero Kayla, when she finally showed up.¡±
Rowan tried to sit up, but with Olivia intent on keeping him down, the attempt promptly failed. He settled on using his words. ¡°Kayla showed up? When?¡±
¡°Just about when we were arguing with those infuriating women about how we weren¡¯t about to escort them all the way to their frontier town, and that they¡¯d have to either shut up and come with back to Rest¡¯s Remorse or be left behind,¡± Olivia grumbled, and while that was very interesting, it also wasn¡¯t what Rowan was in a hurry to learn about.
¡°Focus, please, dear. Kayla?¡±
She sighed, sinking into his chest again. ¡°Not much to tell, I¡¯m afraid. She showed up with her mage army, and then demanded we hand both you and Blake over to her. We refused, obviously, which she wasn¡¯t entirely happy with.¡±
¡°Did she try to push the subject?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Might have, if we didn¡¯t have so many epic tiers with us. I don¡¯t think she ever expected to see so many gathered in one place. Did you know she only has her mentor at the same tier as her? She doesn¡¯t even have a proper party, apparently,¡± Olivia said.
That was definitely a surprise for Rowan. He was under a strong impression that Kayla would have way more epic tiers following her than either him or Blake. If that was true, then he had to wonder why she was in such a disadvantageous position.
¡°That honestly doesn¡¯t sound like the Kayla I know. She¡¯s many things, but she wouldn¡¯t just cripple her own power base like that,¡± Rowan said.
Olivia simply shrugged, prodding him in the side when Rowan spent a little too much time fidgeting and too little time acting as a proper pillow.
¡°Anyways, we scared her off. Then the brainless trio finally realized they didn¡¯t have an army or particularly useful classes, so they stuck with us. Much to my regret. More to the point, much to my mother¡¯s regret. The princess is becoming an issue,¡± Olivia said.
¡°An issue I need to go out there and do something about?¡± Rowan ventured, feeling quite reluctant to follow through on that particular course of action so soon after waking up.
Olivia considered that for a moment, then thankfully shook her head. ¡°No. Not that urgent. She¡¯s just trying to boss everyone around and take the place over. Surprisingly, those other two aren¡¯t as bad. Anyway, my mother just stonewalled her, citing that you¡¯re currently in a coma and therefore incapable of turning over control of your army to a passing royal.¡±
¡°She wants my army?¡± Rowan¡¯s voice dropped an octave, betraying his feelings on the matter. ¡°On an unrelated note, how hard would it be to cover up the death of a princess?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not go committing regicide. Yet. If she pushed too far, I¡¯ll let you know when it¡¯s okay. And yes, she wants it, but can¡¯t rightly have it. Legally speaking, the nobility isn¡¯t obligated to give up private armies to the crown. Technically, as a hero of the kingdom, you count as a high noble.¡±
Rowan let out a relieved breath, then decided that the princess and the rest of Blake¡¯s party was a future problem. For the time being, he was going to spend some time with his favorite alchemist and then work on his problems for there.
¡ª
Gods dammit, past me, Rowan complained, staring blankly ahead while the blonde woman in front of him who prattled on and on for what seemed like an eternity.
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The moment word got out that Rowan was once again up and on his feet, the princess started demanding meetings. If it weren¡¯t for the rare tier guards that were posted outside of his room, she would have simply barged in. Point of fact, she had tried to do just that in spite of the guards. Ironically, she simply didn¡¯t have the strength to force the issue in the way she wanted to.
As it turns out, being a saintess left a person with very few offensive measures against anything that wasn¡¯t a corrupted, demonic, or undead creature. Rowan was just happy that the blast of light did nothing more than temporarily blind his guards and make them feel oddly warm, like they were in someone¡¯s embrace. Otherwise, he would have been forced to hunt down a princess, and neither of them would enjoy the fallout of that.
Rowan couldn¡¯t rightly avoid meeting his nominal ruler¡¯s daughter forever though. Which is why he was stuck in a meeting featuring the baroness, the Mercenary King, the full hero party, and the saintess-sized menace.
The Rhys princess was trying her best to clobber everyone over the head with bogus justifications on why they should all bow, kiss her feet, and then pledge themselves to her service forever more in a glorious show of devotion to king and country. Everyone was refusing to do so, much to her frustration.
When she started up a fourth round of circular arguments on the same subject, Rowan finally had enough. ¡°No, I will not hand over authority over my army. No, the Mercenary King will not be leaving with you. And no, my party and I will not subordinate ourselves to Hero Blake so we can attempt a ¡®through and righteous cleansing of the wastes.¡¯ We barely survived. I¡¯m not throwing everything away to charge at a legendary demon.¡± By the end of his words, Rowan¡¯s voice had grown to a complete shout. Noticing that, he collapsed back into his seat. ¡°Princess Rhys, I understand where you¡¯re coming from. Blake is my friend. I won¡¯t let anything happen to him. But there¡¯s more at stake than just him. Plus, he¡¯s still comatose. I believe he could benefit from your healing.¡±
The princess sputtered, spouted some nonsense, and finally left. Rowan wanted to groan in relief, but reined himself in to look relatively dignified.
The Mercenary King, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care about looking regal. He chuckled then broke out into full on laughter. ¡°Well, look at you, lad. Right as day. If you can shout that loudly, you¡¯re recovered. Still, had a question on my mind, you see. Why didn¡¯t she ask for Tamara to be present too?¡±
Camilla scoffed, crossing her arms and bringing her elbows down on the huge table they were sitting around. ¡°She¡¯s the princess. Probably doesn¡¯t want to associate herself with a disgraced, banished member of nobility, epic tier or not.¡±
That made perfect sense, though Rowan felt like it wasn¡¯t quite enough to explain everything. Nonetheless, they had other things to worry about. ¡°What is Blake¡¯s condition like? Tried to visit him, but his party members weren¡¯t letting anyone into his room.¡±
¡°I saw him, briefly, when the soldiers brought him in,¡± Camilla said. ¡°He looked fine. A little pale, sure, but fine. I¡¯m guessing he was just more badly hurt due to whatever happened while you were passed out. Speaking of, I¡¯m told it was due to a card effect?¡±
Rowan flinched a little. Curiosity was plain on all of his party member¡¯s faces, and even the Mercenary King leaned forward a little. Frankly, he trusted all of them but he still hesitated to speak.
¡°Of course, you don¡¯t have to tell us if it¡¯s a secret.¡± Olivia came to Rowan¡¯s defense.
¡°It¡¯s okay. But what we talk about here doesn¡¯t go beyond that door,¡± Rowan demanded, motioning towards the double doors that the princess just used.
¡°Aye, lad, we¡¯re fine with that,¡± the Mercenary King rushed to agree, ignoring the glare Camilla sent him for trying to work his way into the group.
¡°Right. So, I picked up a class called [Spear of Unity] which gave me slots for eight [Knights] who I can designate at will. When I do, and they accept, which is a requirement, they get to use a duplicate of one of my cards. It doesn¡¯t count against their deck either.¡±
The Mercenary King whistled, leaning back in his chair, and Rowan could tell that everyone else was obviously interested too.
¡°And the cost the [Knights] have to pay for that privilege?¡± Camilla asked.
¡°That¡¯s honestly why I didn¡¯t bring it up before.¡± Rowan admitted, worrying at his lower lip. ¡°I¡¯m linked to all of my [Knights]. I can feel most of their emotions, and though I didn¡¯t really push at the link yet, I might be able to catch snippets of thoughts too.¡±
That definitely did the job of quashing further interest, since everyone looked understandably reluctant to place themselves in such a position. All but Olivia, who was looking at him contemplatively.
¡°I also get ten percent of the stats each of my [Knights] have, as well as thirty percent of all experience they earn. The stat sharing is sort of like yours.¡± Rowan nodded at the twins. ¡°I don¡¯t steal those, just share them.¡±
¡°And the experience?¡± the Mercenary King asked, frown on his face.
¡°I don¡¯t know. Haven¡¯t had much chance to test it out. Though¡ I¡¯ll note that there¡¯s no tier restrictions on choosing knights. If I can just pick a common tier soldier, and then help them level up quickly to the peak of rare? That¡¯s a very nice chunk of experience instead of having to exclusively hunt epic tier monsters.¡±
¡°You could go all the way to the peak of epic, all without getting stuck because of a lack of monsters,¡± Camilla said, catching onto the implications what the class brought. ¡°And you¡¯re already linked to the other hero.¡±
¡°Unless he asks me to break the bond.¡± Rowan tried to temper her expectations, though he didn¡¯t deny the usefulness of having Blake be one of his [Knights].
¡°We need to test this. I¡¯ll find you a promising common tier,¡± Camilla said. ¡°We can¡¯t waste that slot on someone you won¡¯t fully benefit from in terms of stats, especially if class quality somehow affects things. Hero Blake might ask you to break the bond? That means you can cancel your link to your knights? Are there drawbacks to doing so?¡±
Rowan grimaced, a part of him instinctively unhappy with the mere suggestion of doing such a thing. A second later he realized it was his new class card influencing him and pushed the feelings down as far as they would go. He used his deck. He couldn¡¯t afford to let his deck use him.
¡°Yeah, I can cancel the link,¡± Rowan said. ¡°Unfortunately, it takes a year for the slot to refresh.¡±
The baroness hummed thoughtfully, fingers drumming on the table. ¡°It makes sense. Otherwise, you could just continue training people from common to epic and then dropping the link, never even having to risk your life for progression.¡±
Rowan shrugged in resignation. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure he¡¯d go for such a thing regardless. Somehow, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure it was healthy to be power leveled that way, even if it could theoretically let him improve his tier. Case in point, he was thoroughly unimpressed by Blake¡¯s party, even if they did have fancy class names.
¡°We can look for [Knights] and experiment with my class later. For now, I¡¯d honestly prefer we figure out what to do. Can we help Blake awaken sooner? What do we do with him and his party once he is awake?¡±
¡°That depends. How much do you know about the man? I know you mentioned you were friends, but is he likely to cause problems if he stays here?¡± Camilla responded.
Thankfully, Rowan didn¡¯t even need to lie or try to twist the truth.
¡°Blake won¡¯t be any trouble, trust me. We talked a little already and he hasn¡¯t changed enough from when I knew him. He seems pretty big on Sarina nowadays but otherwise he¡¯s the same good guy I know.¡±
¡°You talked? I heard everything that happened, and from what I¡¯ve heard, that didn¡¯t seem like enough time to reconnect,¡± Camilla said.
¡°The two of us didn¡¯t just pass out,¡± Rowan admitted, then launched into the explanation of what they¡¯d gone through together, leaving out a couple of details about what the demon said in the end but otherwise talking about his entire adventure. ¡°I still don¡¯t know what that was all about. Were we stuck in Blake¡¯s head? His soul?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a mental realm battle,¡± the Mercenary King said. ¡°There are records of high tier demons doing so but most such battles are lost.¡±
¡°Lucian¡¯s right. There¡¯s simply not enough knowledge about such things. Sarina would know, obviously, and she might share her knowledge with Hero Blake,¡± Camilla said.
The baroness¡¯s suggestion was sound, but Rowan winced at that, knowing there was little to no chances of him ever getting that kind of explanation from the Goddess¡¯ champion.
¡°Do you think Blake will wake up soon? He has my card but I honestly don¡¯t know what my attack might have done to him, or how quickly any such wounds would heal,¡± Rowan asked.
Camilla glanced at the others before responding. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Hero Blake is alive because of divine intervention. Typically, people corrupted to that extent would either perish or turn. Without seeing him, I can¡¯t tell you what might happen.¡±
¡°Right.¡± Rowan didn¡¯t like it but the baroness was right. ¡°What about our army? What are our losses like? It didn¡¯t seem like we¡¯d lost too many before I passed out, but¡¡± Rowan trailed off, hating the fact that he was thinking in terms of numbers instead of human lives. Those people had trusted him, put their lives into his hands, followed him into danger.
To Rowan¡¯s surprise, it was the Mercenary King who answered. ¡°It wasn¡¯t too bad altogether, lad. Twenty-seven of mine, and six of yours. Tamara lost none of hers, of course. Frankly, I¡¯d call it a miracle, but I know we have mostly your shield bearer to thank.¡±
¡°I was just doing my job,¡± Marcus mumbled when all the eyes focused on him, blushing even harder.
¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re so great at it.¡± Rowan stretched to pat the man on the shoulder. Then, he turned his attention to his sister. ¡°And Milena, I saw you unleashing hell in the fight. What in the world did your epic class do to you?¡±
Milena hadn¡¯t stopped grinning since the conclusion of the battle, and it didn¡¯t seem like her good mood would run out any time soon. ¡°I can finally fight properly, that¡¯s what it did to me! No more waiting forever or casting lengthy rituals for the most basic spells and curses.¡±
¡°Yeah, you were eradicating those monsters almost as fast as I was. But still a bit slower than me,¡± Olivia said, and when the two women¡¯s eyes met, Rowan could practically see the sparks flying. Frankly, he was feeling sorry for whatever enemies they would encounter in the future in their newborn rivalry.
The baroness¡¯s face lit up at the reminder of her daughter¡¯s epic class. ¡°Olivia, don¡¯t be rude to your party member. Especially now that you¡¯re an epic class. You have to have some class.¡±
¡°Because father was refusing to let me fight on my own! I told you I could do it,¡± Olivia grumbled and crossed her arms, a picture-perfect copy of her mother.
¡°Gotta say I¡¯m a little jealous, kids.¡± the Mercenary King admitted, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you how long it took me to claw my way up to epic. It really does pay off, teaming up with a hero.¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯re welcome to join us more officially, if you¡¯d like,¡± Rowan offered, knowing it was unlikely that anything would come of it. After all, the Mercenary King had all but outright stated that the reason he was stuck in Rest¡¯s Remorse and so unwilling to ally with the new mayor was pressure from the kingdom. If he was seen as making moves in direct opposition to the official king¡¯s interests, he could get into a ton of trouble.
Much to Rowan¡¯s shock, though, the man didn¡¯t immediately turn down his offer. If anything, he was holding the gaze in a way Rowan wasn¡¯t sure he liked.
¡°We¡¯ll see, lad. We¡¯ll see. For now, I¡¯d like to excuse myself. Gotta make up for the losses we took, if I still have your permission for recruitment?¡±
¡°Just keep in mind that we need a couple of good candidates to test out Rowan¡¯s new class,¡± Camilla said. ¡°If you find someone promising, send them our way. I bet they wouldn¡¯t say no to having access to an epic card at common.¡±
The Mercenary King huffed in amusement but nodded. ¡°Sure. Rob me of my best potential recruits. I¡¯m leaving before you shake me down for more.¡±
The fact that the man actually jogged out of the meeting room sent the hero party, and even the baroness, into soft chuckles.
¡°We really should think about doing another recruitment drive, too. If we can afford it?¡± Rowan aimed the question at the baroness, who looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding.
¡°It¡¯s not impossible. We¡¯ll need to plan around our expenses a bit more carefully, but we should be able to pull it off. As long as you don¡¯t outright double your army. We should be able to support another two hundred or so recruits.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think we could find enough people to double our numbers to begin with,¡± Rowan said with a grimace, and by lack of disagreement, he was probably spot on.
Rest¡¯s Remorse wasn¡¯t the biggest of frontier towns even before it was attacked twice. Now? They would likely be scraping the very bottom of the barrel when looking for recruits, and fall short regardless.
¡°We¡¯ll think of something,¡± Olivia reassured Rowan. ¡°We can put out a recruitment notice through messengers and send those to the nearest settlements. Likewise, we can even petition the king for more troops.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t think it would be that easy. Stealing people from under the noses of other nobles wouldn¡¯t be easy, frontier or not. Similarly, he legitimately doubted that the king would be willing to do anything to help. And even if the king did, that help would likely have strings.
Still, Olivia was right. They¡¯d think of something, together.
(End of Book 2) Chapter 55: To Do One鈥檚 Duty Still
Rowan¡¯s worry came to pass over the next few days. There was very little progress on finding good recruits, let alone one who could help him test out his new class feature. But he was frustrated by an entirely different problem. One that stemmed from his best friend and the trio of women who were part of his party.
¡°Three days,¡± Rowan hissed, stomping through his room as Olivia watched on in amusement. ¡°They¡¯ve been stopping me from visiting him for three days!¡±
¡°Rowan, you¡¯re going to fall through the floor at this rate,¡± Olivia quipped, and even though he felt the urge to glare, Rowan took the moment to assess her claim.
His angry stomps weren¡¯t exactly raising dust clouds, seeing as the room was meticulously clean. He did, however, have to admit he was causing actual damage to the carpet. And, now that he was looking a little closer, maybe to the floor too?
¡°How¡¡±
¡°We¡¯re at epic now, you dummy. And one of your main stats is strength. I wasn¡¯t exactly kidding when I said what I said. If you put in enough effort, you¡¯re going straight through that floor,¡± Olivia said.
Rowan scoffed, but there was no denying the blush that graced his cheeks. Typically, his increased stats and newfound abilities didn¡¯t get in the way of his daily life. Although each increase in strength meant he was significantly stronger, he had to make an effort to use the added power. Ever since his ascension to epic tier, everything felt more instinctual. His cards, especially the epic tier ones, felt more like extra limbs than something he needed to tap into.
He could wield his stats with much higher proficiency and power. It wasn¡¯t that Rowan couldn¡¯t use them before. But he now had better instincts on how to handle all his rapidly earned power, whereas a part of him felt that his past self was like a toddler stuck in the body of a superhuman athlete. Could he walk, talk and function normally? Sure. Could he do it at peak efficiency? Hardly.
¡°Sorry,¡± Rowan grumbled. He strode over to collapse on the bed, his head falling onto her lap. ¡°You know, your mom is scary.¡±
¡°Scary is the least of it,¡± Olivia replied.
Rowan had been briefly carried away with his new epic tier class and its stats. So much so that he asked the baroness for a spar. It didn¡¯t end well.
Apparently, Natural Renewal could do much more than patch up simple wounds. That was both a good and bad thing. Camilla began cutting away deeper and deeper chunks of Rowan during their fight until Rowan had to stop because of the pain. It was true that he learned more in that spar than he did in weeks, but it was also the case that parts of him were still suffering phantom pain even now.
¡°If those three were as scary as Camilla, I would have given up. But they¡¯re now. I just want them gone, you know? I guess the other two aren¡¯t that bad, overall but the princess is making me want to lead a rebellion. Is she next in line to the throne?¡±
¡°It¡¯s still up in the air, actually. Her older brother, the king¡¯s eldest, is the crown prince right now. However, she is part of the hero party, and aiming to marry the hero too. She might end up inheriting the throne if she pulls that off and proves her power,¡± Olivia said.
Rowan grimaced, shuddering at the mere idea of having that woman on the throne. ¡°I really hope not. If she does end up taking over, we¡¯re rebelling against the kingdom, please promise me that?¡±
Olivia froze for a moment, her hand pausing where she was running her fingers through his hair. And then the spell was broken with a giggle. ¡°I promise. You and me against the kingdom. Well, my parents would probably join in too.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all we¡¯d need, no?¡± Rowan teased in turn, grabbing her hand and pressing a soft kiss against her wrist. ¡°I bet your mother could take out most of the capital all on her own.¡±
Olivia sent him a smug smile full of confidence, before her eyes caught on his lips. She leaned down and Rowan closed his eyes. And then a knock jerked her away from him and Rowan himself shot upright, eying the door.
¡°Who is it?¡±
¡°Excuse me, sir, but there¡¯s a commotion at the training grounds. I thought it best to inform you personally.¡± Henry¡¯s voice floated through the heavy wooden doors.
¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± Rowan groaned as he stood and rearranged his clothing a little. It would not do for the mayor himself to show up to resolve a problem looking all disheveled. ¡°You¡¯ve got more information for me than that, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid it has to do with the princess.¡±
Rowan groaned again, much louder this time.
¡ª
The training ground of Rowan¡¯s army had undergone a rather positive transformation as of late. For starters, the baroness¡¯s work meant that the town had many more resources to spruce the place up. Higher quality training equipment, like dummies that could slowly regenerate from damage, were merely the tip of the iceberg. The ridiculously heavy weights meant for people with high stats were a particularly nice benefit and one Rowan was starting to take advantage of himself too.
The most significant change, of course, was to the soldiers themselves. There was a morale to them that didn¡¯t exist before. Whereas they used to carry themselves listlessly and like they were afraid someone would beat them senseless for stepping out of line, they now stood proud and confident.
They had reason to feel that way.
They¡¯d reached heights they previously thought impossible in regards to personal strength. They were paid much better, letting them take good care of themselves and their families. And, perhaps most importantly, they knew they had the support of their mayor.
The dead soldiers were few in their last mission, but seeing the families of the fallen receive the pension, along with all personal possessions of their fallen and even several high-quality cards, was enough to bolster the army¡¯s loyalty to Rowan. It was, after all, something Rowan promised to do. He knew that the hallmark of a great general was following through on promises and building trust.
It was for this reason that the army had taken such exception to the princess barging in on their training and demanding they swear their loyalty to her.
When Rowan arrived, things were on the very verge of violence. The princess was shouting about loyalty, royal rights, the stupidity of peasants, and quite a few insults aimed at Rowan himself. The soldiers were silent and gripping their weapons tightly.
Rayne, on the other hand, was nodding along with a smile. ¡°With all due respect, your highness, please fuck off.¡±
Rowan blinked. The princess blinked. Both of them stood frozen for a long moment, before the princess cocked her arm back, her hand whistling through the air in what was looking to be a devastating slap.
Rayne didn¡¯t flinch, just smiling at the other woman and letting things the blow come closer and closer to her face.
In a flash, Rowan appeared right next to the two, his hand clamping down on the princess¡¯s wrist. He stopped the attack before realizing that the woman¡¯s main attributes were wisdom and intelligence. There was little chance of her getting free, but even less of a chance for damage even if she could strike an unencumbered blow.
¡°Release me this instant! You have no idea what you¡¯re doing!¡± the princess hissed, spinning around to face her newest adversary, before freezing in place once again.
Apparently, she hadn¡¯t expected Rowan himself to show up because she looked at him like a deer caught in the headlights.
¡°Can you explain to me, your highness, why you are here and harassing my troops?¡± Rowan asked as calmly as he could manage, which wasn¡¯t all that calm at all. ¡°Especially when I¡¯ve told you, time and again, that you don¡¯t have the authority to claim them?¡±
The princess flinched, then her own glare redoubled as she gave her arm a sharp yank. Rowan let her free herself before he folded his arms behind his back.
¡°You will regret treating me this way, mayor,¡± she hissed his title like it was an insult. ¡°Blake, chosen of Goddess Sarina, will awaken soon! Then, we¡¯ll see whether you can afford to be so rude.¡±
With those parting words and another venomous look, she stomped away. Rowan let out a long sigh, trying to cleanse himself of all the frustration and anger the woman¡¯s sheer presence had caused to bubble up in him. It wasn¡¯t enough that they were blocking his perfectly normal and justified request to see his friend in his own home, she was also set on pissing him off every time they crossed paths.
Like Blake is going to take your side, Rowan thought bitterly, before facing his troops again.
¡°Thank you for not stabbing her,¡± Rowan said sincerely, to the chuckles of his troops. ¡°If she shows up again, which I will try to prevent, simply ignore her. In fact, it¡¯s about time we got back to our excursions into the wastes. That will help you stay far away from her and earn some loot and levels besides.¡±
That, at least, was met with approval. No one would say no to more levels and cards.
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It was two birds with one stone. Now that the soldiers were strong enough, they could push back the demons and keep Rest¡¯s Remorse safe. And they¡¯d gain valuable combat experience for the future.
If Rowan was being entirely honest, though, that wasn¡¯t the main reason he wanted to get away from the town.
The bond he¡¯d established with Blake was once an indelible link straight to his emotions. Near or far, he was supposed to have a solid grasp of whether his [Knight] was in good condition or not, and the rough idea of what he was feeling.
Now, the bond was all but dead.
Only flickers of something passed through it, and Rowan was terrified that it might entirely wink out at any second. What exactly that meant for Blake and his current state, Rowan wasn¡¯t sure. He did know it was unlikely to be anything good.
At least that same vague sense of his understanding implied that Blake did still have access to his card¡¯s effects and that his friend was alive. That, more than anything, was helping Rowan cling onto the dregs of hope.
Regardless, a sense of foreboding had taken root in him, and it refused to let go.
¡ª
Nothing major changes happened for the next few days. And in spite of his worry, Rowan was deeply enjoying the new routine.
He and Olivia were spending more time together, even if most of that was spent in her laboratory as she guided him through her latest experiments and her brewing efforts. Now that she was more or less officially the main alchemist of Rest¡¯s Remorse, she couldn¡¯t dedicate all her time to new recipes. Most of the time, she was making potions that had a clear need. She didn¡¯t really complain though. If anything, she seemed to take an inordinate amount of pride in the fact that she was supplying the town with a frighteningly large number of potions.
The other addition to Rowan¡¯s itinerary was the resumption of his classes with the baroness. The never-ending stream of laws, leadership know-how, and so much more was mind-numbing. At least Olivia was being forced to endure it all right alongside him.
It was, however, at the start of one of these classes that the baroness greeted them with an unusually bright smile.
¡°Something good happen, mom?¡± Olivia asked as she seated herself, a smile rising to her own face in response to her mother¡¯s good mood.
¡°For once, yes. Your father is going to visit us in about two weeks. He wants to see the town himself, and he¡¯s found a couple of promising candidates for Rowan¡¯s [Knight] slots.¡±
That caught the hero¡¯s attention completely, both due to the fact that his class would finally have a chance to grow and because Olivia¡¯s father would be arriving soon.
He exchanged an excited, if slightly worried, look with his favorite alchemist.
They would have a lot to discuss with her parents when they arrived. For the time being, however, all they could do was prepare.
¡ª
Almost a week and a half after coming back to Rest¡¯s Remorse, a message found Rowan while he was engaged in some light sparring with Marcus in the training yard, if ¡®light sparing¡¯ was the fitting description for a clash that left literal craters in the ground.
Blake was finally awake.
It should have calmed Rowan down and finally let him breathe a little easier. Instead, he found his heart racing ever faster as he drew closer to his friend¡¯s room. The bad feeling he had was reaching a crescendo, and in spite of the assurances from his class, he was convinced he¡¯d open the door and find Blake dead in his bed.
When Rowan finally reached his door, he couldn¡¯t even bring himself to open it for long, painful minutes. It was the brief sound of laughter that finally compelled him to act, even if the sound was definitely off.
The three women immediately bristled at the mere act of the door opening, but he caught tears glistening in their angry eyes.
However, his full attention was squarely on Blake. The room had a large set of glass windows on the wall opposite the door. Those windows were wide open, letting the gentle afternoon sun filter into the room and paint everything in shades of yellow and orange.
Even under those hues, Blake was deathly pale.
His skin glistened with sweat that reflected the light, making the fact that his every movement and exertion was a torment apparent. He looked, well, like someone who had spent a week and change in a coma.
¡°You are not supposed to be here,¡± one of the women said.
¡°Amanda, please. Can I have a bit of time alone to talk to Hero Rowan?¡± Blake¡¯s voice was scratchy and as weak as the rest of him. In spite of that, there was an undercurrent of authority and steel there that had the frustrating princess clamp her mouth shut. Rowan was genuinely surprised to see her defer to him so readily. With how many times he had to stop her from ordering his staff and soldiers around, not to mention thwarting her many poaching attempts, Rowan was fairly certain she would be more than happy to get rid of him if she could.
¡°You know, I genuinely admire you,¡± Rowan opened the conversation as he sat on one of the chairs conveniently positioned next to Blake¡¯s bed. ¡°How have you survived having them in your party? Without killing one or more of them, I mean. All they do is argue and cause trouble.¡±
Blake sighed, sinking back down onto the bed now that the women were out of earshot. Instantly, an even deeper sense of weariness settled about Blake and Rowan hated the fact that he apparently thought it was important to push himself that much just to put on a front.
¡°They¡¯re not that bad,¡± Blake said.
¡°Once you get to know them, I assume?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°No.¡± Blake smirked, even if the expression quickly shifted into a grimace. ¡°They actually get worse once you do that, for a little while. It all evens out when they figure out they don¡¯t have to be awful and prickly around you.¡±
¡°You have the patience of a saint, Blake. I really don¡¯t. So if you don¡¯t tell your princess to stop trying to poach all my soldiers and a good chunk of my staff I¡¯m going to chain her up and throw her into the dungeon. I haven¡¯t seen it but I¡¯m sure I have one somewhere around here.¡±
Blake laughed. ¡°Please don¡¯t. Can you imagine how annoying she¡¯d be if you did? She¡¯d drive all your jailers insane, and then what would you do?¡±
¡°I¡¯m only part joking, Blake. Olivia¡¯s mother is on the verge of stabbing her and she¡¯s had decades of experience holding back her real feelings as a duchess.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do something about it, promise,¡± Blake said, his smile once more growing brittle as a surge of pain flashed through his body.
Rowan instantly felt worse about taking up so much time talking about someone who, on the whole, wasn¡¯t that important. Now that Blake was awake, the connection between the two of them was stronger. Rowan could tell, vaguely, just how much pain his friend was in. How hollow and tired he felt. To say Blake wasn¡¯t feeling the best would be an understatement.
¡°Do you want me to post up a guard next to your bed?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°Might not be able to manage it easily, but I can probably get the Mercenary King and Marcus to take up the shifts. I don¡¯t want those three getting ideas into forcing you to marry them on your sickbed.¡±
Maybe it was a bit crude, but Rowan tried for the joke anyways. Apparently, it worked, since Blake first sputtered, then laughed.
¡°I can handle them just fine, thank you very much. What about you, though? That alchemist of yours pushing for a wedding already?¡±
Rowan did blush but it was just a light reddening of his cheeks. The last few days were definitely good for him and Olivia and their relationship didn¡¯t feel like something vague and barely defined anymore.
¡°She doesn¡¯t have to push me. As soon as all of this mess is sorted out, I¡¯m planning to ask her to marry me,¡± Rowan said, his heart jumping to his throat. The admission was more meaningful than anything else he could say. He finally sorted his feeling out, fully and truly. There was no more escaping the truth. He cared about the people around him now far more than he ever cared about anyone back on Earth.
Blake fell silent, eying his friend carefully for several drawn out moments. To Rowan¡¯s surprise, he broke into a soft smile right after.
¡°So, you¡¯re staying.¡± That wasn¡¯t a question. It wasn¡¯t judgmental, either, which Rowan was rather thankful for.
¡°I am,¡± Rowan said.
¡°Good. This place is good for you, Rowan. You¡¯ve always been withdrawn. Hesitant to engage with anyone. I¡ I¡¯m proud of you, you know? Hell, you came to save me. And now you¡¯re planning a future with a beautiful woman!¡± Blake exclaimed.
Blake¡¯s voice was slightly teasing, true. But the sincerity that shone through was almost enough to make Rowan choke up. A couple of tears escaped from him.
¡°You really think so? It¡¯s not¡ wrong, to just stay? I mean, I know we haven¡¯t even won against the legendary demons, let alone the big boss, so it¡¯s a bit early to be thinking about stuff like this.¡±
¡°I know you love to ramble and second guess everything, but don¡¯t. We¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ll be fine. Then you¡¯ll have your happily ever after and everything is going to be okay,¡± Blake said the words forcefully.
Somehow, Rowan didn¡¯t feel like Blake was entirely talking to him. It felt like a mantra the man had been repeating since waking up and the deepening pallor of Blake¡¯s complexion worried him.
¡°So, what about you? Planning to stay as well?¡±
Blake blinked a couple of times, breaking himself out of the stupor that had claimed him. The smile he offered Rowan was blinding.
¡°Yep. I can do so much more here than I ever could have back home. There are people in actual danger, here. People who need me. My Goddess still needs me to go back to the capital and eradicate all the malicious heathens there!¡± As Blake spoke, his cheerful voice rose, and the end of his sentence may as well have been a shout of pain. Rowan watched, stunned, as Blake¡¯s lips quivered, and tears started to slip down his cheeks. He quickly covered them with the back of his arm. There was little Blake could do for the way sobs jerked his body around, however, even if the way he was biting down on his lower lip silenced them.
¡°Blake? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Rowan hovered half out of his chair. He had no clue what to do or say. Making people feel better was typically Blake¡¯s job when they were together, and to see him so vulnerable was entirely enough to knock even the alarms going off at the mention of heathens out of Rowan¡¯s head.
¡°I¡¯m useless, now, Rowan.¡± A sob escaped the other hero as he spoke. ¡°Useless. I can¡¯t help you. My party¡¯s probably going to abandon me too when they find out. I can¡¯t help anybody anymore.¡±
Rowan¡¯s mind spun, his eyes immediately flashing over Blake¡¯s body. His first thought was a crippling injury, but the fact that all of Blake¡¯s limbs were moving normally definitely precluded that one.
Blake was still weak from his coma. However, Rowan was fairly certain that he would recover rapidly between the potions Olivia could make and Rowan¡¯s own regeneration card.
¡°Blake? Why do you say that?¡± Rowan asked slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong, but we can fix it. I promise you, we¡¯ll fix it.¡±
Rowan¡¯s best friend removed the arm covering his red eyes and peered into Rowan¡¯s face. ¡°I was lost, Rowan. My Goddess told me as much. She was trying to delay the inevitable, but I was¡ I was going to get corrupted, sooner or later.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re not, right? You¡¯re not corrupted. We got rid of what the demon was doing. I got the system notification and everything.¡±
¡°You did.¡± Blake chuckled, the smile he offered Rowan profoundly sad. ¡°I don¡¯t have a clue how, but between what you did and your class effect, you did. Corruption isn¡¯t so easy to deal with though. It has, consequences.¡±
Rowan¡¯s worry and stress and days of waiting were starting to make him irritable. A ball of emotions swirling in his chest pushed him to demand an answer. Instead, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke gently.
¡°What kind of consequences, Blake?¡±
In lieu of an answer, the other hero shared a system screen with him.
Blake Trevlin
Level 56 [Fragment of Light]
EXP: 843/6000000
Deck:
ERROR!
Your deck is currently locked!
Card detected:
[Heart] Light Scion (Epic)
|
¡°I¡¯m broken, Rowan,¡± Blake whispered quietly, averting his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not even at Epic anymore, and my class and deck¡¡±
Rowan could see it in his expression. Blake was convinced that it was over and that there was little he could do to recover from this new kind of injury.
Rowan wasn¡¯t as convinced.
¡°You still have your heart card,¡± Rowan said, sticking to the facts. ¡°And you still have the ability to earn experience. We¡¯re going to fix this, Blake. I don¡¯t know how, but we¡¯re going to fix this.¡±
His best friend gave a sad little smile, shifting just enough to give Rowan an awkward hug. The Stalwart Hero didn¡¯t mind.
He wasn¡¯t lying.
They¡¯d find a way to give Blake back the power that was stolen from him, and then they¡¯d take the fight to the demons, kings, and even the gods. Whatever it took to help his best friend.
Not A Chapter - Taking a break for a week
Hey guys!
A small but important announcement today.
Writing Legend of the Spear Saint has been great. It¡¯s something I truly love doing, and it''s heartwarming to see all of your comments (I do read them, even if I do not always reply). Unfortunately, as I¡¯m learning now, writing chapters of such length puts me and my editor under a huge strain.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Talking with my editor, we decided to pause posting for a week. This will give us time to both take a breather, I can build a better backlog, and it will also let them catch up with editing.
Thanks again for all your support, and we¡¯ll see you all next week, on the 30th.
(Start of Book 3) Chapter 56: Steps to Recovery
The spear¡¯s shaft met the edge of a sword in a cascade of sparks, both weapons spared from damage only by virtue of their quality and the thick mana coating them.
Rowan took several hurried steps back in response, trying to stay well out of range of his sparring partner¡¯s retaliatory strikes. The spear demanded he keep his enemies at a relative distance.
In spite of that, he needn¡¯t have bothered, really. His partner¡¯s follow-up strikes steadily grew slow and sluggish. Their initial ferocious power trickled away into nearly nothing, in spite of the swordsman¡¯s best efforts to keep supplying mana to his strikes.
The man was beyond flagging already, so Rowan chose to end things with a blisteringly quick jab and swipe of his weapon.
The jab struck precisely against the sword¡¯s blade, parrying it aside and opening the man¡¯s defense. A step and swipe then introduced the shaft of his spear to the man¡¯s head, who promptly folded with a startled yelp.
¡°You ass! You know how much that hurt?¡± Blake hissed, one hand pressed gingerly against the side of his head while he squinted blearily up at Rowan.
In response, Rowan grinned and offered him his hand. ¡°Not my fault that you don¡¯t know when to stop. If I need to keep reminding you with little boops every once in a while, I¡¯ll do it. Better me than some monster or demon out in the field.¡±
¡°Little?¡± Blake looked away and grumbled. The Radiant hero looked tired and resigned, even more than his weary body suggested. ¡°Like I¡¯ll be making it out of this town any time soon...¡±
For just a moment, Rowan had no clue how to respond. The anguish and worry in his best friend¡¯s voice was enough to give him pause. Of course, he promptly rallied and bopped Blake again, making it a point to poke the sore spot on the other hero¡¯s forehead.
Ignoring the pained hissing, Rowan dragged Blake towards one of the benches. ¡°Stop that. I keep telling you, you¡¯re gonna be fine.¡±
Rowan stuck to that prognosis, no matter how bitter, tired, angry, or frustrated Blake became. And he seemed to be rotating through those emotions every hour, at least.
It wasn¡¯t like Blake ever took those emotions out on others. Even Rowan, insistent on keeping him company as he was, was spared from any emotional outbursts. Somehow, that was worse for the hero, though.
Instead of lashing out or arguing or doing anything at all, Blake insisted on bearing all the emotional turmoil squarely on his own shoulders.
The loss of his class due to a corruption attempt by a demon? His fault. The loss of his army who were nearly slaughtered to the last soul? His fault. The fact that he was surrounded by three women, one of whom was set on upsetting every sentient creature within a thousand-mile radius? His fault.
To be fair, some of that might have even been true. The loss of his army and his garbled status window were direct results of his recklessness. If he hadn¡¯t insisted on charging ahead in an attempt to eliminate all threats before his party could get stronger, he wouldn¡¯t be in that mess.
Unfortunately, Rowan could somewhat understand his motivation.
Being summoned to a different world wasn¡¯t exactly easy on a person¡¯s psyche. Rowan himself had struggled, singled out due to a bad heart card and an even more problematic divine patron. It wasn¡¯t every day that a former patron god of a kingdom claimed a hero, after all.
He was even forced to rely on a singular patron in the form of a frontier baron, sent away to that faraway frontier, and then pushed into defending a small village from a large demonic horde.
Rather importantly, however, Rowan wasn¡¯t forced to do all of that in total isolation. He had Olivia with him ¡ª who had rapidly grown into more than just a friend ¡ª and the sincere support of Baron Kayden Sutton, limited as it was.
Blake didn¡¯t really have that.
The king himself chose to take the hero in, but the more Rowan heard about the reality of his best friend¡¯s circumstances, the less ideal they sounded.
Blake was lauded as a hero. A savior. The chosen of Goddess Sarina herself. For most, the status might go to their heads, overwhelming the responsibilities that came with the corresponding power. For Blake? It just forced him into a corner. His frustratingly self-sacrificing personality constantly drove him to try and live up to people¡¯s hopes and dreams, and the responsibilities of being the hero.
So, when each of the heroes were eventually sent to the front line to engage in combat against the demon, it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising that he¡¯d ended up acting the way he did.
At least he wasn¡¯t acting like Kayla. Rowan shuddered thinking about his other friend and fellow hero. She seemed to take to politicking like she was born for it, but Rowan was far more unnerved by the way she always showed up just a little late.
Just a convenient step away from preventing things from getting out of hand.
She had saved his life from the final boss of the monster horde and she dispatched the ugly thing threatening the village of Felton¡¯s Mill. But she only acted after far too many lives were lost, a crucial officer in the baron¡¯s army was out of commission, and Rowan himself was about to die. She looked unbothered by it all, floating from up on high.
Likewise, she only showed up to Blake¡¯s rescue after Rowan had done all the work and passed out with his fellow hero, trying to take them into her own custody.
Rowan was more than a little glad she¡¯d been foiled there. Or allowed herself to be foiled.
This way, he could at least cling to the notion that she wasn¡¯t purely malicious and that some of his friend¡¯s former personality was still present.
¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you insist on these daily practice sessions,¡± Blake grunted, collapsing onto the bench bonelessly and throwing his head against the wall it was built into with a dull thud. Rowan winced a little, and Blake winced a lot.
¡°Because you¡¯re getting better, dumbass,¡± Rowan grumbled, plopping himself down next to him and reaching for one of the pitchers of blessedly cool water the serving staff had laid out for them. He filled two glasses, then pushed one into Blake¡¯s hands. ¡°And I mean that in all sorts of ways. Now drink.¡±
¡°You know, it¡¯s not good to chug down water immediately after an intense workout. Especially cold water,¡± the Radiant Hero complained, but did as he was told.
Rowan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s only true when you don¡¯t have a magical physique and healing powers. I¡¯m sure whatever issues the water would have caused are irrelevant to you now.¡±
He meant it too. Already, the mana slowly seeping into Blake¡¯s body was visibly improving the hero¡¯s complexion. Rowan could literally watch his cheeks, flushed with exertion and slicked by sweat, return to normal.
It was all thanks to the card Rowan could share with the other hero thanks to his latest class, [Spear of Unity]. Designating someone as his knight allowed them access a duplicate card from his own deck. His epic tier regeneration card was doing wonders for Blake and he felt good about his choice, regardless of the man¡¯s current status.
Unfortunately, while it was able to treat a part of Blake¡¯s injuries and keep him in relatively good physical condition, it could do frustratingly little for the metaphysical wounds. Being nearly crippled with corruption and then having said corruption violently purged through a spear to the chest had done more than just fracture Blake¡¯s class and set him back in levels. The other hero¡¯s stats weren¡¯t even showing up properly, and a weakness had gripped his body unlike anything that conventional healing could fix.
And people had tried.
Olivia, with all her amazing alchemy skills, failed. The few healing-oriented mercenaries found in the city of Rest¡¯s Remorse were likewise helpless. Even an inspection by the baroness, Olivia¡¯s mother and Kayden¡¯s wife, Camilla Sutton, failed to produce any meaningful results.
As far as she could tell, Blake¡¯s body was working just fine.
The first clue they got was when they forced Tamara, the resident exiled mage of the kingdom, to take a look at him. According to the woman, Blake¡¯s mana was on the fritz, rampaging through his body and refusing to properly settle.
At least Rowan¡¯s card seemed to be doing something for Blake¡¯s state. Even when he was perfectly healed up physically, the card kept drawing on mana, and he was seeing a slow improvement to his condition.
Being active and sparring at least a little also seemed to supercharge the process, pushing Blake to relative health even faster, which is why Rowan was regularly tormenting him in spite of his protests. He definitely, definitely wasn¡¯t thoroughly enjoying teasing his friend.
Blake seemed to have a few things to say on the subject. ¡°You¡¯re impossible and I hate you,¡± he grumbled, even if he did so with a slight smile.
Rowan immediately clutched at his chest, pretending to slump against the other hero. ¡°Your words have slain me where I stand. Very well, then. Abandon me in favor of your harem¡ I mean, party. I totally meant to say party.¡±
Rowan knew he¡¯d won that particular exchange when Blake flinched and gave him a look of total betrayal.
¡°Don¡¯t say that. Never say that.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not my fault they¡¯re acting like they¡¯re all married to you already and have complete authority over your autonomy and how you should spend your time,¡± Rowan said, his bitterness only slightly faked.
There was a princess he desperately wanted to hurt just a little. You know, in the name of equality, and all that.
Before Rowan could convince himself that stopping himself from punching such an annoying person in the face just because she was a woman would be misogynistic, sexist, and generally not the right decision, Blake interrupted his thoughts.
¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking about, but stop it. I don¡¯t need a mind reading skill to know it isn¡¯t anything productive.¡±
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¡°I¡¯ll just say this much my friend: I genuinely do not know how you live with them.¡±
¡°They¡¯re not that bad.¡±
¡°Around you.¡±
And it was true, much to Rowan¡¯s eternal frustration. All three of the women, the princess and two daughters of high nobility, were on their very best behavior around Blake. For the former that still meant being unbearably bossy, but she did it in a far more subdued and classy way.
Catch her away from Blake? Well, as Rowan had learned first hand, she¡¯d insult you, demand you turn over authority over your army, and then order you never to approach your own best friend ever again. Naturally, he ignored her, but that seemed to only incite her anger further, making her even less bearable to be around.
¡°Speaking of women¡¡± Blake trailed off, and Rowan followed the direction he was looking to see what he meant.
Immediately, his eyes caught on the way light played over the forest green tresses of Olivia Sutton, turning them an odd shade of greenish silver and copper. The sight took his breath away for a second, and the way her green eyes sparkled with amusement in Rowan¡¯s direction didn¡¯t help.
Naturally, he ignored the noises of disgust coming from his best friend as he blitzed across the training ground in a second, sweeping the alchemist off her feet and spinning her around before pulling her in for a kiss to silence her giggles.
¡°Hey, you,¡± he whispered quietly, entirely incapable of hiding the giddy happiness that filled his voice.
¡°Hey yourself. You know, didn¡¯t we go over doing this when you¡¯re all sweaty from exercising?¡± Olivia teased, but locked her arms around Rowan¡¯s neck and ran her fingers playfully through his hair all the same.
¡°Like Blake¡¯s good enough to make me sweat,¡± Rowan taunted just loud enough for the other hero to overhear.
¡°I resent the accuracy of that comment!¡± Blake shot back from across the training ground, the smile that playing across his features reassuring Rowan that he wasn¡¯t actually upset.
Naturally, Rowan once more ignored him. ¡°Why do I have a feeling you didn¡¯t just come to steal kisses and hang out, though?¡±
¡°Stealing kisses? Me?¡± Olivia scoffed, then sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re right. Mother needs to speak with you, she¡¯s waiting for us in her study. You should take your friend along too.¡±
Olivia wasn¡¯t rude to Blake, or confrontational, or anything similar. She did, however, seem keen on keeping a certain distance from him for some reason.
Rowan had noted it but ignored it at first, until he finally couldn¡¯t help but ask her directly what was happening there.
The answer surprised him, as much as it made sense, and it rang in his ears every time he thought back to that moment.
¡°Listen, I don¡¯t hate the man. If anything, I value the fact that he¡¯s your friend. But, I don¡¯t think I can really be friendly with him as long as he¡¯s actively traveling and associating himself with a Treagon. It¡¯s bad enough that we¡¯re hosting her.¡±
Rowan understood. He really did. He never pushed for all that many details, but the Sutton house weren¡¯t always barons. They used to be dukes. At least they were until they lost their standing to the Treagon family more or less overnight.
The baron never budged on the subject when Rowan tried to subtly or directly inquire about how such a thing could happen. He was, however, more than happy to discuss how treacherous and untrustworthy Treagons were.
From the very moment Olivia and her mother realized one Mirabella Treagon was now in their midst, they¡¯d both done their level best to entirely ignore her existence. Funnily enough, the woman in question more or less followed their lead herself.
Out of the three spoiled brats following Blake around, she was the best behaved. It was like she didn¡¯t even exist within the walls of the mayor¡¯s manor.
Be that as it were, Rowan did his best to jolt himself back to the present. If the baroness was looking for not just him but Blake too, then it was unlikely that they should tarry.
So, with much reluctance, he separated himself from his favorite alchemist.
¡°Oi, on your feet lazybones, we need to have a chat with Olivia¡¯s mother,¡± Rowan called back, making Blake groan and look at him with all the petulance of a child told that they can¡¯t have another five minutes in bed. To his credit, though, he did stand up on slightly wobbly legs with no further complaint.
¡°You know what I need to do?¡± Blake griped as he limped his way across the training ground, falling in step with the other two as they adjusted their pace to his. ¡°I need to hire a mage to float me everywhere. Goddess, am I jealous of that class.¡±
Blake scowled a little, and Rowan wondered if he, like him, was reminded of their likely former friend at the admission.
¡°Yeah, well, it¡¯s not like you have space to complain. You can make solid constructs out of light and pull all sorts of other nonsense with your heart card. I can only work on stabbing things ever better.¡±
It was a gross oversimplification, of course, and Rowan had to admit that he was offered several choices to branch out into magic over his various tier evolutions. Unfortunately, any childish desire to wield cosmic forces fell to the wayside in the face of practicality and choices that wouldn¡¯t mess up his entire build.
Even then, there was plenty he enjoyed about his class, and more as time went on. There was so much to be gained through increasing spear mastery, subtle mana manipulation, and more. And that wasn¡¯t even mentioning the possibilities his latest class evolution offered.
If he could just get around to designating more [Knights], he could get bonus stats, passive experience gain, and a steady path to greater power. Just the stats alone, like a few more points in perception, wisdom or intelligence would be amazingly beneficial. The ability to better sense his mana, to grow it, and manipulate it better, would be huge.
That was a pretty big and frustrating if, though.
Finding people worthy of knighting was proving to be profoundly frustrating, and everyone seemed to have an opinion of their own on what would constitute a perfect [Knight]. From their stat spreads, to their current tier, to vetting their loyalty, dedication, and character.
Further complicating things was the fact that he could only designate a replacement after a year if he was ever forced to strip someone of their status as a knight, as well as the limited slots he had available.
¡°Jealous, Rowan?¡± Blake taunted softly and bumped into his friend¡¯s shoulder, a smile taking the edge off the words as he winked.
Rowan was thoroughly amused that Olivia stiffened, her hand briefly squeezing down on his own a little tighter than necessary.
¡°Yes, actually. I can do wild things to hurt something, but actual, honest to goodness magic? Bleh. Not that it would work with my stats, of course. I know that. Still doesn¡¯t stop me from resenting you a little. Especially since you have so many stats in wisdom you can actually get creative.¡±
¡°Yeah. All my wisdom stats.¡± It was Blake¡¯s turn to wince, and Rowan briefly regretted his comment. He firmed his heart, though. It wasn¡¯t like they could endlessly dance around the subject without ever bringing it up.
¡°Anyway, I was thinking¡ª¡±
Rowan never did get the chance to share his splendid idea, because the figure of the baroness practically teleported in front of them. All of them flinched back, her sudden presence and the slap of the slightest bit of her aura more than enough to startle them.
Even though he was at the epic tier himself, there was an edge to the baroness¡¯s aura that Rowan had nothing but healthy respect for.
¡°There you are. I thought I was clear that this was a matter of some urgency,¡± Camilla snapped, her eyes briefly flickering over to Blake before dismissing his presence.
¡°You said to meet you in your study. We¡¯re on our way there, mother. You didn¡¯t say I needed to hurry,¡± Olivia groused, but quickly shut her mouth when her mother leveled an unimpressed look her way.
¡°Just¡ follow.¡± Camilla sounded equally tense as she did upset, in a way Rowan had come to associate with dealing with annoyances too important or too powerful to just make disappear.
¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s not the kingdom, right? We came back only recently, and the number of epics we killed this time around should be enough to keep the local monsters in check for quite a while,¡± Rowan ventured, trying to get a sense of what they were about to be dealing with.
Unfortunately, the baroness grimaced and nodded her head. ¡°There¡¯s a messenger that arrived quite suddenly at our gates. They¡¯re not accompanied by an honor guard, but they did present the official writ of royal authority. They want you and your party present, for some reason.¡±
The way she looked at her daughter suggested that she wanted her as far from the messenger as possible. Still, Rowan liked to imagine he saw a tiny bit of worry when she looked at him.
¡°And of course, there¡¯s no other explanation or warning he saw fit to offer?¡± Olivia gritted out, trying to crush Rowan¡¯s fingers in a fit of rage. It was a good thing that his strength did reinforce his body a little, and his alchemist was so averse to investing in body stats.
¡°Her. And obviously,¡± the baroness replied in a clipped tone of voice. ¡°Now, I want you to do as we practiced. No obvious shows of emotion. No weakness.¡±
Rowan wanted to sigh, but he did as was commanded. He briefly relaxed his facial muscles, letting them slip into an expression of indifference marred only by the slightest smile. Then he locked them in that position, straightening his posture as he went.
The whole exercise was frustrating at the best of times, let alone when he wanted to brain the king¡¯s messenger with his spear.
Still, the baroness had been putting his party through rigorous social training just for such occasions.
Olivia, naturally, needed no such training. She fell into the role easily and naturally, like it was second nature. The trouble with Rowan¡¯s favorite alchemist wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t received etiquette lessons.
It was that she typically chose to forgo them.
Surprisingly, even Blake followed their example. The other hero was, all of a sudden, the perfect study in royal posture. The fact that he could pull that off still didn¡¯t surprise Rowan as much as the fact that the baroness had spoken so openly in Blake¡¯s presence, though.
It seemed that, even if she disliked the man, Camilla was willing to take Rowan¡¯s word for it that he was at least somewhat trustworthy.
Then their unfortunately short journey was over, and they were stepping into the atrium of the mansion where guests or important figures were supposed to be greeted.
Except, instead of a whole array of servants on both sides, the space contained a much more interesting cast of characters.
Representing the manor and the mayor¡¯s seat was Henry, Rowan¡¯s chamberlain ¡ª as odd as it was for him to still have one. Rowan¡¯s party members, the wolf kin twins Milena and Marcus, stood by his side like bodyguards.
On the opposite side was a woman wrapped in a traveling cloak.
She was surprisingly young, by Rowan¡¯s estimation, around her early twenties. Her clothing, what little of it he could see under the cloak, was made out of rich and vibrant fabric. Unfortunately, most of it had flecks of mud, and the entire lower half of her cloak seemed caked in it.
Whatever message she bore, it was important enough to make her rush all the way from the kingdom to the frontier.
Of course, things couldn¡¯t possibly end there. It wasn¡¯t enough for them to have to deal with a messenger of the king. So to even things out, standing between the two sides like she was the star of the show, was Princess Amanda.
Behind her, the other two members of Blake¡¯s party stood, though they looked uncertain and hesitant at best.
That didn¡¯t stop the princess from shooting Rowan the smuggest look possible.
¡°I apologize for forcing you to wait,¡± Rowan started them off, stopping a respectful distance away and forming the final point of the social square they found themselves stuck in. ¡°I was training with my fellow hero, and we hadn¡¯t received prior notice of your impending arrival.¡±
All of that was a polite way of saying, ¡°What the hell are you doing here, lady?¡± but the woman just smiled and waved his excuse away. ¡°It is no matter. My arrival is rather sudden, I know. However, his majesty felt that delaying this matter would be unbecoming.¡±
¡°We are ready to serve at his majesty¡¯s leisure, of course,¡± Rowan said, lying through his teeth.
Judging by the smug look of victory on the princess¡¯s face, it was very likely that they might need to kill the messenger and then check if Blake was okay with them offing one of his party members.
At least it wouldn¡¯t be that hard to do it, seeing as she¡¯s basically just a healer. That was the only comforting thought Rowan could manage. Rebellion would not exactly be the best solution to whatever problem the king was about to throw their way, but it was one he was surprisingly willing to commit to.
The messenger took that as her cue, extracting a rather large roll of ceremonial parchment. Frankly, Rowan wanted to sigh. Most of the kingdom used paper, an ¡®innovation¡¯ made possible by one of the previous heroes.
That the kingdom¡¯s officials insisted on parchment was a matter of tradition, and while it did add to the atmosphere, it all felt a little contrived. The grandiose way the messenger spoke didn¡¯t really help, either.
¡°In the name of his majesty, I am here to proclaim the following edict:
¡°Rowan Clairfont, the summoned hero and champion of the kingdom, for his part in the most efficient rescue of Hero Blake and his party, is declared a Marquis of the kingdom. He is to be granted Rest¡¯s Remorse, which is hereby declared a city, and surrounding lands up to the kingdom¡¯s existing borders as his fief. He may establish up to three lesser settlements within these lands, and may lay claim to the subsidy relevant to his rank annually whether it be in terms of coinage or in cards.
¡°Olivia Sutton, member of his party, is granted the title of Viscountess, and granted the right to establish an additional city within the confines of her ancestral lands as an existing noble. She may lay claim to the subsidy relevant to her rank annually whether it be in terms of coinage or in cards.
¡°The twins, Marcus and Milena of the hero¡¯s party, are hereby recognized as honorary nobles of the kingdom attached to the holdings of Rowan Clairfont, granting them the right to establish one minor settlement each which falls under their autonomy and outside of the authority of the local Marquis. They may also lay claim to the subsidy relevant to their rank annually whether it be in terms of coinage or in cards.
¡°You have the thanks and friendship of the royal family, and we wish you the very best in your future endeavors.¡±
Chapter 57: Of Kings and In-laws
Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly at all, it wasn¡¯t Rowan who spoke first. He was stun-locked and missed the opportunity.
¡°What? Father is making him a noble?¡± the princess shrieked. She sounded downright horrible, and looked just as betrayed. Like she had been just told that people were getting ready for her execution, and she needed to attend at her earliest convenience.
¡°Correct, Princess Amanda.¡± The messenger turned towards the insufferable woman, and Rowan didn¡¯t miss the slight smile she wore. Or the fact that she was addressing the princess by name.
¡°He can¡¯t do that! That¡¯s not ¡ª¡± She cut off herself. Her face grew frighteningly blank, before the fires of anger made their reappearance. ¡°I sent a missive with my request to my father days ago.¡±
That was news for Rowan. Very unwelcome, very unpleasant news.
Oh, he had no delusions that he could keep the princess under lock and key, but he would have liked to know she was contacting the king himself while under his roof. He sent his chamberlain an ugly look, which the man weathered without so much as a shift in expression.
That was the downside of establishing yourself as a benevolent figure, Rowan supposed.
Then the fact that he was officially a Marquis hit him.
Up to that point, his authority came from the fact that he was a hero and the local mayor. It wasn¡¯t an inconsiderate amount of authority, but he was definitely not an official noble in any capacity.
He wasn¡¯t trained on how to act like a noble. He wasn¡¯t even trained how to act as a minor local lord yet.
Before he could start hyperventilating, though, Rowan steeled himself to continue to function. ¡°I thank you for your good tidings, and the well-wishes of our king.¡± He actually managed to sound polite and earnest. ¡°Would you care to join us for a meal? My chamberlain will prepare a room for you to rest.¡±
¡°Ah, that will not be necessary. I still need to make my way to Hero Kayla¡¯s current posting post-haste. I will be continuing my journey immediately.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t shout in joy or breathe a huge sigh of relief, and he was inordinately proud of himself for that. Of course, what the messenger was actually saying caught up to him rather promptly. ¡°Hero Kayla? Is she receiving a similar missive?¡±
¡°Unfortunately, no.¡± The woman did look regretful, at least to Rowan¡¯s eyes. ¡°There is a minor matter of the neighboring kingdom¡¯s activity along that particular border. It is nothing to worry about, I assure you. The defenses of our kingdom are still as solid as ever.¡±
Rowan highly doubted that, considering all the recent nonsense he¡¯d been through, including but not limited to the demon wave that had broken through Rest¡¯s Remorse itself and flooded into the baron¡¯s lands.
It was difficult enough dealing with the demons, and now it sounded like they needed to potentially worry about sabotage from supposed allies too.
¡°Of course. His majesty¡¯s grace will continue to protect us,¡± Rowan said, throwing every polite combo of words he could think of at the messenger in the hopes that she¡¯d leave even a little bit faster.
There was a bit of a snag when the messenger realized that she hadn¡¯t turned over a very elaborate wooden box, but that at least was rectified easily after the baroness noticed. It contained signet rings meant to denote the newly risen nobles¡¯ new status, as well as serve as seals. Without that catch, things would have been far more complicated than they already were.
Thankfully, Blake used the opportunity while they were seeing the royal messenger off and sorting that out to slip away himself. When they reentered the atrium, he and his party were long gone. A good thing, too, considering the way the baroness had gone still and stared down the princess due to her outburst.
¡°Walk with me.¡± The baroness coldly demanded. There was little the hero party could do but comply.
Surprisingly, Henry too elected to join them, trailing behind at a ¡®respectable¡¯ distance. Rowan sort of hated the fact that he could properly gauge and evaluate said distance now.
¡°They made us all into nobles.¡± Rowan stated the obvious just as they reached Camilla¡¯s study, earning a slight glare from her as she opened the door and almost stomped her way to her designated seat.
¡°Yes, they did. More importantly, they made my daughter a Viscount.¡± The woman growled, making a tent of her fingers in front of her.
Rowan hesitated, eyes flitting between mother and daughter. Olivia had a deeply conflicted look on her face, one Rowan didn¡¯t like at all. ¡°Isn¡¯t that supposed to be a good thing? It¡¯s a step closer to your previous title.¡±
¡°It would be¡ if Olivia was the designated heir of the barony.¡± The baroness sighed in a rare moment of open weakness. ¡°However, that would be her older brother. The same brother who is currently stuck ¡®studying¡¯ in the capital.¡± The bitterness was palpable.
Rowan didn¡¯t know what to say to that. There had been oblique mentions of a sibling in the past, but Olivia never actually discussed the man with him. Point of fact, she typically kept away from any topics concerning her family and their history.
Obviously, there was something he was missing, but he didn¡¯t even try to pretend he actually understood all the intricacies of the noble scheming.
He opted for honesty. ¡°Explain it to me like I¡¯m six, please.¡±
Olivia chortled, but it was a sound more tired than amused. ¡°It means that my parents need to either transfer the right of succession over to me from my older brother, or eventually put him into the awkward position of a baron having a viscount on their land as an attached noble house.¡±
¡°Which is an issue because¡?¡±
¡°Because that¡¯s a recipe for disaster. It¡¯s a bit convoluted. I need to marry eventually, and that would give my husband¡¯s family the opportunity to meddle. Granted, the same issue crops up if my parents designate me as the heir. My brother has an official longstanding engagement to prevent such nonsense, but the king himself could designate a ¡®suitable suitor¡¯ for me and cause all sorts of trouble because I don¡¯t have one.¡±
Rowan stiffened at that, eyes growing almost unnaturally wide. ¡°He can just order you to marry someone?¡±
Olivia looked distinctly discomforted, but eventually nodded. ¡°Yes. If an ¡®important noble¡¯ fails to ¡®find the right spouse or enter into an engagement with a prospective spouse of good breeding¡¯ by their age of majority, the royal family has the right to step in for the sake of ¡®preserving an important bloodline¡¯ of the kingdom.¡±
Rowan felt mounting horror at the news, indecision and doubt warring inside of him. The twins, too, seemed to have a couple of things to say on the subject.
¡°Wait, does that technically apply to us too, now?¡± Milena immediately asked, looking, if anything, even more panicked. ¡°We were just made into nobility too, right?¡±
¡°Technically, yes, it does. However, you are not from a longstanding noble family, and your designation as nobility fall under the scope of the frontier as Rowan¡¯s attached noble houses. Things are a bit different out here. In fact, the special dispensations for frontier lords are the primary reason there¡¯s never been a noble house with territory solely within the frontier.¡±
¡°I have special rights as a frontier noble?¡± Rowan latched onto that, trying to follow any train of logic that would take him away from how worried and pained Olivia looked.
¡°Correct. You have far more freedom and far fewer obligations to the crown. It is understood that as a frontier lord bordering the demonic wastes, you cannot receive the normal support the kingdom would typically offer. Likewise, demands and expectations placed on you would differ.¡±
¡°So, we¡¯re safe?¡± Marcus asked just to confirm, even if he was already exchanging relieved glances with his sister.
The baroness sighed, glancing her at her daughter. ¡°Yes, you are safe. This is why every noble house has at least minor holdings within the kingdom proper. It allows the king to maintain more direct control and exert more influence. The crown must have failed to procure a territory quickly enough if they¡¯re resorting to this.¡±
¡°Why make us nobility at all? Why now?¡± Rowan asked, somewhat disgusted with himself at the fact that a part of him was starting to regret ever setting out to rescue Blake.
¡°Your achievements are starting to pile up, and popular hero or not, the public will be interested in tracking your progress. You should¡¯ve received an honorary title a long time ago. Now? The crown was forced to recognize your efforts after saving the hero adopted by the king.¡±
That, more than anything, was a slap to Rowan¡¯s face so profound he actually reeled back. ¡°Adopted?¡±
¡°Yes? Were you not aware of the fact that he was accepted as part of the royal family? That automatically makes him a part of the king¡¯s own household, and necessitates an appropriate reward for rescuing him. Besides, saving the other members of his party requires similar compensation, too.¡±
There was a lull in the conversation. A tense moment of silence as everyone just stopped to process everything that had been said.
Rowan¡¯s eyes, of course, drifted back to Olivia.
He knew her well enough to recognize all of the signs of profound distress. The way her hands shook ever so slightly, in spite of all the hours she¡¯d spent on training herself to keep them steady in her lab. The way her lips quivered. The way her eyes darted around as she desperately looked for a solution. Even the deepening pallor of her skin was something he could easily track.
He¡¯d certainly spent far too much time sneaking glances of her face to miss such a change in her complexion.
The problem was, Rowan was terrified. There was a fear, a seed of doubt, that refused to shrivel up and die within his chest.
He more than cared about her. He loved her, without a single doubt. He wanted to spend ¡ª well, not all of his time with her, that would quickly grow overwhelming for them both ¡ª but at least most of it. So, what was there to hesitate about? Why wait?
Deep down, he knew he had one, single trepidation. A tiny, insecure part of him wasn¡¯t completely sure he would turn down an offer to return home.
There was genuine joy, wonder, and a surprising amount of happiness in his new life. But there was also so plenty of pain, uncertainty, and inconvenience too.
His heart card and his sheer desire to prevent himself from collapsing into an inconsolable puddle on the ground did much to keep Rowan¡¯s mind together. Plenty still chaffed at him.
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The horrible conditions when he was out on expeditions. The level and lack of technological development that made long-distance travel a chore, not to mention anything like modern entertainment options. The tasty, yet admittedly odd food that was just a little off from what he expected.
And of course all the trauma, fear, pain, and guilt. Couldn¡¯t forget that.
So, what would really happen if he came face to face with the choice between staying with his newfound friends or even family, and going back to the world of convenience, coziness and low expectations?
Could he really guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t crack?
And was that enough to justify seeing that expression on his favorite alchemist¡¯s face?
In that moment, Rowan decided that it wasn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t bother thinking further. He just stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug.
It was the cowardly part of him that justified cradling her head against his shoulder as touching and thoughtful. If it let him avoid eye contact? Well, that was a nice little side benefit.
¡°Olivia, will you please marry me?¡± He didn¡¯t apologize for the missing ring, the lack of explicit parental approval, and whatever thousand and one other local traditions he was likely trampling all over. He didn¡¯t rightly care about those.
Apparently, neither did she. ¡°Yes, you absolute dummy.¡± She sobbed out, and then she was kissing him and crying and Rowan didn¡¯t even mind all the tears making the experience taste decidedly awkward. He was far too happy and relieved to care.
He asked the question, and now all the decisions were behind him. More importantly, she said yes.
The happy couple and the twins both missed a happy little smile on the baroness¡¯s face.
¡ª
It was only an embarrassing amount of time later that Rowan actually paused to think about the legality and official recognition of his proposal.
By that point, both of them were properly seated in front of Olivia¡¯s mother, and the twins and Henry had been ushered out of the room under the guise of ¡®dealing with family affairs¡¯. So, Rowan moved to immediately clarify the issue.
¡°I don¡¯t mean to undermine my proposal, but¡ is it actually valid? Do we need the approval of the crown or anything?¡±
¡°How can you be both so competent and so hopeless at the same time?¡± Camilla¡¯s response to the proposal came only after she had internally collected herself. ¡°Are you sure you want this one, daughter?¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t be more sure.¡± Olivia was quick to reassure her, with only a mild glare.
¡°Very well. Rowan, the answer to your question is that as nobility, one of you being a high noble at that, you need to submit your engagement request to the royal family. If the king deems the engagement to be valid and unproblematic, then you would be made an officially engaged couple, to be married at your convenience."
¡°Somehow, that sounds like the perfect opportunity for the royal family to block marriages they don¡¯t like,¡± Rowan hissed. ¡°What even constitutes a ¡®problematic¡¯ engagement?¡±
¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that bad. They can delay and they can cause trouble, but they can¡¯t say no without a very good reason. For example, the lineage of the houses is carefully considered to avoid any potential dangers of incestuous relationships. If there are no problems of that nature and similar, an engagement is almost always approved.¡± Olivia reassured him with a light smile, in a much better mood now.
¡°Almost always still implies they can get away with denying a marriage if they really want to.¡±
¡°Hardly.¡± Camilla took over again, leaning back in her chair in a much more relaxed posture now that the twins were gone. ¡°Feuds, coercion, and the like are the other reasons a marriage might be turned down. Not that it¡¯s an issue, in this particular scenario. You don¡¯t need to worry about royal approval.¡±
¡°Yep!¡± Olivia was practically bouncing in her seat, and Rowan found her cheer infectious. ¡°I am marrying into your family because you have the higher rank title. So, the frontier laws apply. Out here, the highest ranking local noble has the right to approve marriages. There are no dukes out here, so that would be you!¡±
Rowan wanted to cackle evilly, but contented himself with a smile. ¡°So, I need to ask myself if I¡¯m okay with my own marriage? Hmmm, I don¡¯t know¡¡±
Olivia rolled her eyes and poked him in the side, provoking laughter. It really did feel like a huge rock had been lifted off his chest.
¡°The best part is, because I¡¯m marrying into a marquis family now, I can leave my own title to my brother,¡± Olivia said smugly, which Rowan found adorable. He failed to hold himself back from lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to her fingers.
He found the way she blushed even more appealing.
¡°I¡¯ll get to drafting the relevant documents right away.¡± The baroness approved and was highly motivated, much to Rowan¡¯s relief. He was perfectly content with leaving those parts of his duties up to her still.
He didn¡¯t like the glint of promise in her eyes that she would be teaching him all about his newfound status and the requisite skills to live up to it, though.
That did leave him with an opportunity to have a bit of fun. ¡°Thank you, mother,¡± he quipped, a smile growing on his face as Camilla flinched and then looked at him with wide, startled eyes.
Eyes that promptly narrowed at him dangerously, as a smirk to match his grin emerged.
¡°You are welcome, son. Of course, you are aware of the fact that your brand new fianc¨¦e¡¯s father, who was not informed of this engagement prior to it forming, is set to arrive in two days¡¯ time, correct?¡±
Rowan swallowed thickly, and thoughts of levity and happiness fleeing him like wildlife before an apex predator.
He had, in fact, forgotten.
¡ª
Rowan nervously toyed with his new signet ring, eyes set on the horizon. By all accounts, the ring should have reassured him.
He was a marquis, waiting to meet a baron.
Naturally, it was his other newly obtained ring that was making it hard to relax.
He and Olivia had made a personal visit to the most skilled local blacksmith, and Rowan had to admit that the man managed to work a wonder at record speeds.
Their rings were crafted out of the bluish-green tint of mythril silver, with flecks and swirls of precious stones naturally included in the design. It was as though the smith had managed to melt the sapphires and emeralds used in the making of the rings, incorporating them far better in the design.
Perhaps he had done that.
Whatever the case was, they were left with a pair of rings that were as beautiful as they were spotlessly smooth. Considering the fact that they would be taking them into active war zones, that was an extremely important quality to insist on.
Rowan had a predominantly green ring sitting pretty on his finger, while Olivia¡¯s hand was graced by its blue counterpart.
The rings were perfect, and the generous rewards Rowan handed over to the smith were, in his opinion, more than justified. No matter the disapproving looks he got from the baroness when he handed over one of the few heart cards he had.
That still didn¡¯t shield him from having to greet his new father-in-law.
When the visiting procession came into view, Rowan¡¯s breath hitched in his throat. They¡¯d been warned a couple of hours ago by a forward scout, true, but that had only exacerbated the sense of expectation Rowan was struggling with.
The baron had graciously accepted him into his home, and Rowan had then effectively proceeded to snatch away the man¡¯s daughter.
Olivia, of course, had no compunctions or fears. She was already excitedly waving at the emerging silhouettes of her father and his men on horses, and all but vibrating in place in her eagerness to greet him.
Funnily enough, the baroness was barely doing better. Long years of etiquette training and impeccable decorum were likely the only thing keeping her from bolting ahead to meet them.
In a way, Rowan understood. If he was separated from Olivia for as long as the baroness was forced to spent time away from her husband, he¡¯d likely feel the way she did too.
Then the figures came into proper focus, and Rowan forgot all about his worries for a time.
¡°Bron!¡± Olivia¡¯s gasp clued the hero in the second she spotted the officer herself, and then the only thing stopping her from running ahead was her hand in his.
Rght there at the front, riding practically side by side with the baron, was Bron. Rowan didn¡¯t hesitate to fully engage his perception, pushing at what its meager number could allow him to do.
The man wasn¡¯t fully healed. Not nearly. He could make out the bandages perfectly well, and they still covered his limbs like mummy wrappings. Bron¡¯s face, however, seemed fully recovered. Even his hair had grown out a little, reminding Rowan once more of his own unruly mess.
Rowan didn¡¯t even bother trying to hide the fond smile that played over his features. She looked so happy in that moment, so relieved, that he wanted to hug her. Giving into the impulse, he did. Then he felt the freezing pressure of an aura even with how far out the baron still was for a moment.
That brought the jitters right back, and they didn¡¯t fade again until the man was finally in front of them, immediately getting swamped in hugs by his wife and daughter the second he was off his horse.
Bron needed assistance getting off his own, but then the second he was stumbling on his feet, he was patting the hero¡¯s shoulder with a grin.
¡°Well, look at you! Don¡¯t you look way more impressive than you were back at Felton¡¯s Mill? I even hear you¡¯ve finally been made a noble, eh?¡± Then the man scanned Rowan¡¯s fingers for the signet ring, and found something else entirely. ¡°An engagement ring? Didn¡¯t hear about that one.¡±
Rowan would later swear that he could pinpoint the exact millisecond Bron¡¯s words reached the baron and the moment the man processed them fully.
The weight of his attention was a fully physical thing.
¡°It seems we need to talk, boy,¡± Olivia¡¯s father ground out, and Rowan eyed the horse he¡¯d so recently vacated with contemplation.
Surely, he could snatch the animal and make a run for it, right?
¡ª
Rowan had expected shouting. Maybe some menacing intimidation or even a plain attempt at politely discouraging Rowan¡¯s interest in his daughter.
What he did not expect was for the baron to trade a few quiet words Bron, snatch him up, and go in search of Blake. Now, with two startled heroes more or less literally in hand, he led them to what could only be described as controlled chaos.
In other words, a rough and tumble celebration organized on the spot.
Several hours and plenty of thoroughly confusing conversations later, most of them centered on how to split his time between his duties and his wife, and the baron¡¯s advice was rapidly turning into slurred nonsense.
¡°You need to follow your friend¡¯s example better, son,¡± the baron rumbled. His cheeks flushed before he flinched at the term he¡¯d unconsciously used, and then glared like it was Rowan¡¯s fault that he had said the words.
¡°He never was good at parties. Or drinking. Or drinking parties,¡± Blake slurred, slumping sideways in his seat. If he hadn¡¯t been seated next to the wall, Rowan was pretty sure he¡¯d be on the floor by that point.
¡°Well, we¡®ll have to remedy that, ey?¡± Bron shouted merrily, raising his own glass and downing it. Again. For what seemed like the thousandth time that night.
Rowan had no clue what the actual alcohol content of the spirits they were drinking was, but his bet was on high. Which made the fact that Bron wasn¡¯t even flushed yet all the more confusing.
Rowan was relatively fine too, but that was only by virtue of his regeneration card. It really didn¡¯t like it when he had alcohol in his system, and it was working double time to purge him of it. Thankfully, against all biological processes, that didn¡¯t just dump ludicrous amounts of liquids into his bladder.
Less thankfully, Rowan could actually see plumes of purged chemicals rising from his skin, not to mention smell them. He positively reeked of medical grade rubbing alcohol.
¡°Of course,¡± Rowan answered reluctantly, lifting his glass so it could be refilled once more by the enthusiastic officer. ¡°Why are you trying to poison me again?¡±
¡°Poison you? We¡¯re just celebrating your good fortune!¡± the frustrating officer insisted, downing yet another cup of alcohol with relish.
Rowan just grimaced, followed suit, then promptly broke into coughs. That was even stronger than what Bron had forced on him before, and there was absolutely no chance he was enjoying even a hint of the taste the drink supposedly had.
Presumably it was some kind of expensive whiskey or some such, just like the rest of the bottles they¡¯d raided from the manor¡¯s cellars. Rowan would really have preferred wine if he was forced to drink at all, but that didn¡¯t seem to be in the cards.
Outside their window, the sounds of laughter, arguments, and not only a few fights rang out. The mayor¡¯s army and the troops that had accompanied the baron were making merry as well.
If someone had told him a near cripple, incapable even of breathing without pain, would provoke a citywide party, Rowan would have readily chided them for their overactive imagination.
As it was, he could only stare at Bron mute with astonishment. Less than a day after the baron¡¯s arrival, he was already showing a whole new side of his personality to Rowan. Now he knew why Olivia liked him so much.
¡°Listen here, boy,¡± the baron suddenly rumbled, face even redder than it was mere moments before. ¡°I like you. You are¡ respectable. However, you better protect my daughter with your life. If you¡¯re going to drag her into nonsense, at least make sure she doesn¡¯t end up hurt, okay? I failed at that. I let my family get involved. Don¡¯t let them do that to you, too.¡±
The baron broke into ramblings, eyes drifting slowly shut, as Rowan watched on in astonishment. He¡¯d originally expected the man to be confrontational, if not outright deny the legitimacy of their engagement. Instead, he asked his daughter if she was happy, and then legitimately congratulated them. It was one of the more confusing moments in Rowan¡¯s life.
¡ª
Seeing his father-in-law slump over into the lap of his comatose best friend was something Rowan would carry with him for years.
¡°How are you not passed out already?¡± Rowan directed the question at the officer who was happily polishing off an entirely new bottle of drink.
¡°Because I know my limits, and because drinking an elixir that you really shouldn¡¯t be able to survive tends to do all sorts of wacky things to your body.¡±
Rowan jabbed his finger at the passed out baron accusingly. ¡°He¡¯s epic. You¡¯re not.¡±
At that, finally, a sly smile quirked Bron¡¯s lips. ¡°He¡¯s also the one that¡¯s had three bottles of liquor clearly marked out as something to be consumed only by epic tiers and above.¡±
Rowan stared, then chuckled, then laughed. By the time he was finally brushing happy tears out of his eyes, he already managed to finagle Blake¡¯s arm over his shoulder.
¡°I¡¯ll put Hero Blake to rest first. I can¡¯t get your lord standing with my arms full already,¡± Rowan complained.
¡°Only if you come back to keep me company.¡±
Rowan snorted, thoroughly amused. ¡°Fine.¡±
Stumbling his way over to Blake¡¯s quarters, where he handed him off to the trio of grumpy, upset women, and then over to where Kayden was staying close to his own room, Rowan even meant to keep that promise.
Of course, when Olivia opened the door to his room and dragged him in for a kiss, all thoughts of doing so evaporated.
Chapter 58: To Name a Knight
Rowan didn¡¯t have a particularly high vitality score. He did, however, have an amazing regeneration card and the good sense not to drink himself into a stupor.
So it was that out of the group of people who stumbled their way onto the training grounds the next morning, Rowan was the only one blessedly free of any headaches, nausea, or other signs of indulging in excess. They had all agreed to meet there the night before, but none of them anticipated that just standing up straight would be so difficult.
Even Olivia had woken up wincing and glaring at the world, though she had swiftly remedied all that with a couple of choice potions. That meant that she was chipper and smiling when her parents dragged themselves over to her like zombies.
¡°Yes, mom, dad?¡± Olivia quipped like butter wouldn¡¯t melt in her mouth, her grin a thing of utmost smugness.
¡°Give up the potions, you brat,¡± the baroness hissed, clearly refusing to play any of the games her daughter was up to. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who approved your engagement while your father was away.¡±
That seemed to do the trick, or Olivia just wasn¡¯t willing to torment her parents. She quickly doled out a pair of potions to them each. Throwing back the oddly colorful concoctions, the effect on the baron couple was immediate. Stiffness left their shoulders, their postures improved, and even the bags under their eyes were partially erased.
Once more, Rowan was reminded of just how amazing his favorite alchemist actually was.
¡°These are the potential [Knights] you have for me, then?¡± Rowan muttered while the duo finished gathering themselves, eyes sweeping over the five people shuffling away from the family scene.
They were obviously suffering from the effects of last night too, but Rowan didn¡¯t really care about that much. What was far more important to him was the apparent age of the knight hopefuls. Not a single one of them looked like they were a day older than fourteen.
And in a world where people often physically matured more quickly due to the presence of the system, that wasn¡¯t exactly promising.
¡°The best that I could find.¡± The baron confirmed with unquestionable pride. ¡°They all have an excellent heart card that will take them far. Not necessarily a high ranking heart card, but the point stands.¡±
¡°And how old are these potential recruits of mine?¡± Rowan couldn¡¯t help the question.
¡°They¡¯re from the newest batch, obviously, so they¡¯re all around thirteen,¡± the baron admitted easily and without even a hint of guilt, even if the words made Rowan flinch.
That felt¡ young. Granted, people considered their children partial adults from the moment they awakened the system around age twelve in this new world of Rowan¡¯s, but that didn¡¯t mean he shared the sentiment.
In fact, in many ways, he felt that the treatment of children was odd.
They weren¡¯t expected to marry at that age. Mercifully enough, that was reserved for late teens or early twenties. Instead, they were, if they chose to pick up a combat class, expected to readily charge at the nearest available monsters within their tier.
The only obstacles preventing more child soldiers were the long training times and absolute chore that leveling up was. Most soldiers in the frontier army were fifteen or sixteen, unless they were a real combat prodigy. However, his blessing made things a bit morally gray. Granting children access to a powerful card was practically begging them to act recklessly.
On top of all that, any [Knights] Rowan acquired would naturally be folded into his army, and that wasn¡¯t the safest place to be.
In spite of those facts, he remained silent. He didn¡¯t ask the potential recruits why they chose to follow the baron all the way out to the frontier and risk their lives either. Instead, he focused on the resolve in their eyes that shone through even with how dazed and wrung out some of them seemed.
¡°Fine,¡± the Stalwart Hero sighed, more than a little resigned. ¡°Let¡¯s see what they can do.¡±
¡ª
Two spears met with a loud clack, but while one got pushed aside and driven into the ground, the other proceeded to travel along its intended trajectory and met the tender forehead of a girl with yet another thump.
A sword rose up towards Rowan¡¯s back with power born of desperation, but he twirled out of the way with laughable ease. His perception lent him more than enough awareness to be aware of the strike from the start, to the point where he didn¡¯t even need his boosted dexterity stat.
Of course, he swept out the wooden spear he was using for the bout and applied just enough strength to clobber the final knight prospect into near unconsciousness in retaliation.
¡°Stay down, if you¡¯ve had enough.¡± Rowan¡¯s voice was cold and cutting, more than enough to signal his thorough lack of amusement with their pathetic attempts to prove themselves. Or that was the attitude he was trying to project, at least. On the inside, he was cringing, stuck between trying to test them and wanting them to willingly flunk out.
After all, to an outside observer, Rowan was abusing a group of young teens. Rowan¡¯s sensibilities agreed with the sentiment wholeheartedly.
Unfortunately, what he needed wasn¡¯t an amazing card or the right kind of background. Those things were likely to help the recruits along, of course, but ultimately, they weren¡¯t that important. What he did need was the grit and determination to keep going.
He needed the sort of recruit who would keep pushing when their limbs were almost torn off in the hopes of getting out of combat alive. And he so very desperately wanted them to stay alive if he did take them on as his [Knights].
Three of the recruits showed that resolve.
A red-haired spear wielder, a rarity that had Rowan raising his eyebrow questioningly at the baron, a plucky young swordsman, and a shield-hammer combo wielding brute of a man. Well, boy, but with his stature and size, Rowan really had trouble associating the knight prospect with a thirteen-year-old.
Those three were still struggling. Still trying to stand and crawl back into some semblance of a stance to continue fighting. That was in spite of the way Rowan had dismantled them, especially the shield wielder at that.
The boy¡¯s left arm, the one he used to lug his shield around, was broken. The fingers of his right hand were in only marginally better state, but you could spot the swelling and redness with ease.
The spear wielder¡¯s forehead was red, weeping a bit of blood, and looked like it had the beginnings of horns growing out of it. She insisted on trying to meet his strikes each and every time with flashy, overhead blocks. So, Rowan kept beating on her in hopes she would learn. Today was clearly not the day that would happen though.
The swordsman was the worst off out of the trio.
His left leg dangled behind him, his left arm was stained with blood where Rowan ran it through to stop him from wielding both hands for his strikes, he had multiple lacerations along his right shoulder, and the bump on the back of his head, coupled with the way he stumbled with unfocused eyes, hinted at a concussion.
Gods damn it, I¡¯m going to have to accept them at this point, aren¡¯t I? Rowan took a deep breath, then let it out in one, frustrated gust.
He really didn¡¯t want to.
¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Rowan snapped, irritated at himself, the baron, and the world he¡¯d been thrown into in general. The kids froze, trying to focus on him through bleary eyes as he stomped off in Olivia¡¯s direction.
He threw the practice spear aside, a frown thoroughly dominating his features. It faltered a little when Olivia closed the distance between them and enveloped him in a hug, but even that wasn¡¯t quite enough.
¡°How are you feeling?¡± she asked quietly, eyes rowing over his face in search of an answer she failed to readily find with how closed-off his expression had grown towards the end of sparring.
¡°Like I just beat up a bunch of children who I now feel obligated to accept into an army that¡¯s going to be trying to commit a very elaborate suicide in the future.¡±
Olivia winced, but didn¡¯t really have a good answer to that. Instead, she pulled out one of her potions and proffered it to him. He recognized it immediately as a very mild healing and stamina potion blend. ¡°Want a pick me up?¡±
¡°No, thanks love,¡± Rowan mumbled, for once, entirely indifferent to the presence of her parents as he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m just in a bad mood. Save the potion for them. Speaking of, could you heal them up for me, please?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Olivia answered with a smile and one final hug, before quickly heading in the direction of the suffering knight hopefuls.
Rowan wanted to continue his stomping tantrum all the way up to his quarters, but he had an obligation to stick around and talk to the kids. So he waited, giving the baron a chance to strike.
¡°Well? What do you think about your prospective recruits?¡± Kayden asked conversationally, though he did keep a careful eye on the way Rowan scowled at him.
¡°They are¡ fine,¡± the hero snapped, then paused and tried to moderate his response. A deep breath and a moment to let the tension bleed out of his shoulders did enough to let him at least maintain civility. ¡°They show promise. I hate how young they are.¡±
Both of the statements were true.
Frankly, the swordsman and the spear user were almost as good as Rowan was, in terms of pure skill. Now, that might seem like a boast on Rowan¡¯s part, or failure on theirs, considering the fact that the hero had only been fighting for a couple months at best.
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That was, however, a gross underestimation of the effects of his tier ups.
Nearly every class Rowan picked came with a direct upgrade to his base ability to wield a spear. All of them made it easier to use his weapon and master it, pushing the spear to the farthest reaches of its potential.
Now, Rowan wasn¡¯t exactly there yet. Not by a mile. However, he did have the solid foundation hammered into him by the baron and his otherworldly arrival benefits. He¡¯d taken that, and then improved it through a whole lot of encounters with monsters.
Live combat was a great teacher by necessity, and he¡¯d even had the chance to spy on some of the other spear users, their training, and the way they fought. Most of what he saw didn¡¯t apply to him. After all, those spear men tended to fight in formations, under strictly controlled and organized maneuvers. But that wasn¡¯t to say they didn¡¯t have a trick or two to teach him still.
So, while Rowan was by no means a master of the spear, he was very solidly an advanced wielder of it, thanks to all the system nonsense.
The fact that the kids were almost there as well? It was impressive.
Even the two Rowan had handily laid out to the point where they took their lot in life and passed out were similarly promising. They just didn¡¯t have the grit needed to punish themselves in a silly attempt to throw away their lives faster.
¡°Will you be accepting them?¡± the baron pushed again, eyes briefly going to the trio Olivia was doing her best to patch up.
They were quickly getting better, seeing as the potions of an epic ranked alchemist were some of the very best you could ever get your hands on.
Rowan¡¯s first instinct was to say no, just because he wanted to. ¡°Yes,¡± he growled instead. ¡°Yes, I will. The three of them, at least. The other two just won¡¯t cut it out in the wastes. I refuse to feed them to monsters.¡±
Rowan thought that he saw a brief flash of some emotion in the baron¡¯s eyes. Understanding, perhaps? Or pity? It didn¡¯t matter because it vanished as quickly as it appeared. ¡°That is reasonable. I¡¯m happy to know you at least found the other three to your liking.¡±
Liking was a very strong word, but Rowan wasn¡¯t about to continue acting like a petulant teen forever. ¡°Thank you for all your effort. I¡¯m going to talk to them and see if they actually want to join up now that they understand the risks and suffering a bit better. Just¡ if you look for more candidates¡¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
The tug of war between his gratitude that the man cared and was trying warred with Rowan¡¯s innate disgust over the whole thing. ¡°Just¡ I¡¯d prefer it if they were, a bit older, perhaps?¡±
¡°That would be difficult, lad. Not many good prospects around that aren¡¯t already beholden to one lord or another. You need either a solid foundation, or the best possible high-tier you can find. Most people who are still stuck at common are stuck there for a reason.¡±
Rowan disagreed with that, with his own army being a great example of people who just needed one opportunity to advance their station in life, but he wasn¡¯t about to fight with his finance¡¯s father over the subject just yet.
One day, when all the major threats were gone and he could sit down and do something about all the rampant discrimination? Sure. But not before then.
¡°All I¡¯m asking is that you try,¡± Rowan insisted again and waited for the baron to nod before turning to observe his future knights again.
The trio was finally more or less in shambling shape, so Olivia led them in his direction. Thinking about just how he wanted to handle the encounter, Rowan decided to keep things simple.
¡°Can you maybe take care of those two?¡± he asked the baron couple, and at their nod, moved on. He offered Olivia his hand. She took it with a smile, and Rowan turned towards his mansion.
It still felt weird to refer to the structure as such. In Rowan¡¯s mind, it was the mayor¡¯s mansion for the longest time. It may have belonged to him by virtue of the king¡¯s say so and the previous owner¡¯s death, but it still didn¡¯t feel quite real.
It didn¡¯t feel like he deserved it.
But, for better or for worse, Rowan lost a lot of that compunction after returning with Blake in tow. He¡¯d risked his life, bled and fought, and protected the town. Well, city now, he supposed. If that didn¡¯t make him worthy of laying claim to a single fancy home, what did?
Rowan was still doing his best to ignore the fact that he¡¯d ¡®inherited¡¯ all the servants that came attached with it though.
A small, somewhat petty part of Rowan did find amusement in the way the trio lumbered behind the couple like zombies. The healing potions did a thoroughly amazing job of healing up their injuries, but the effect they had on stamina was minimal.
So, he treated his stroll to the kitchen, and then to one of the upstairs meeting rooms, like one final part of their test.
None of them failed.
So it was that the Stalwart hero found himself seated across from three young teenagers in a comfortably luxurious room in his mansion, ignoring the way they eyed the basket full of finger foods with amusement.
Rowan cleared his throat. ¡°First, I need you to know I am genuinely impressed with the way you handled yourselves. It is not easy to keep pushing past your breaking point like that, and that you did, speaks volumes of your dedication, grit, and bravery.¡±
They perked up at that, shooting each other small smiles. Rowan wasn¡¯t sure if they knew each well, but even if they were near complete strangers, a sense of camaraderie seemed to have grown between them due to his test.
¡°Having said that, I want to have a chat with you all before I officially make you [Knights]. First, do any of you actually know what that means?¡±
For a few moments, no one spoke, before the oddly muscled boy finally found his voice. ¡°Um, it has something to do with your class, my lord? Baron Kayden told us you are looking for eight people to join you, but¡ isn¡¯t that more than a party? Don¡¯t you have your own party already, too?¡±
He seemed deathly afraid of even speaking out so much, so Rowan offered the boy a reassuring smile and a nod. ¡°Excellent questions. Yes, I do. And yes, it is. You see, my class is somewhat unique, from what I¡¯ve been told. I have the ability to designate eight [Knights] and share certain benefits with them.¡±
Rowan stopped there, curious whether any of them would be brave enough to venture any further questions on their own. The spear user finally did, though her voice broke the first time she attempted to speak. When she finally managed, it was mouse-like and hesitant. ¡°What kind of benefits?¡±
¡°Another good question. Well, for me, I get a percentage of the stats my [Knights] have, and even get a share of some of their experience gain. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t ¡®steal¡¯ the stats or anything. Actually, I¡¯m not sure if experience is siphoned away or just shared, still need to test that out.¡±
¡°And the [Knights]?¡± she asked again, this time far more sure of herself. His praise was working as intended.
Rowan leaned forward with a smile at the question. ¡°The [Knights] get to pick one of the cards I have in my deck. When they do, they get a copy of that card to use as they wish, and it doesn¡¯t count against their own deck. For the record, I have epic tier cards in there.¡±
The effect was as immediate as it was predictable. The flash of desire, bordering on greed, flared up in each and every one of them.
Rowan could perfectly understand.
All of them were barely awakened. Level one, each and every one of them. The baron had apparently kept them as such, declining to let them level up until they were either accepted into the hero¡¯s service or turned down in order to maximize the benefits Rowan would get.
Naturally, that meant that the trio was far, far away from even making it to uncommon. Their cards, likewise, were confined to the common tier, or if they were particularly lucky, they had one or two uncommon cards from their inheritance.
Even if their families somehow had an epic card lying around, they would have to make it all the way up to rare before they could ever equip them in their decks. That¡¯s how the rules of the system were: one tier higher than your own was all that you could equip.
So, to hear that he could make it possible for them to wield an epic tier card from the very start? One that didn¡¯t even take up a slot in their decks? Yeah, that had more than a little appeal.
In fact, rare or even epic tier individuals would likely feel tempted as well. A whole additional card, at the tier where cards were rare and getting a useful one is even more difficult? If Rowan¡¯s regeneration card was common knowledge, he could easily see powerhouses applying to ¡®assist¡¯ him with his duties to the frontier at the cost of giving them access to a [Knight] slot.
Granted, none of them knew that Rowan was capable of feeling the emotions of everyone he designated as a [Knight], but then again, that was a secret he wasn¡¯t about to share with anyone but his closest allies.
¡°What kind of cards do you have?¡± the swordsman asked hungrily before flushing when all eyes turned on him. ¡°Um, lord, sir?¡±
The way he tacked on the attempt at politeness gave Rowan a good-natured chuckle. He didn¡¯t rush to assure him it was okay to be casual. Unfortunately, the last few months in his new world had taught him better.
¡°To answer the unasked question, yes, I have a damage-oriented combat card. It¡¯s rare, but it¡¯s powerful. No, not all of you can use it properly. Only she could.¡± He motioned at the spear user, who grinned like she¡¯d won the lottery. ¡°I also don¡¯t recommend you pick that card if you do decide to join as my [Knights].¡±
¡°Why not, my lord? It¡¯s an epic tier card, right? That means nothing could stop me from getting up the tiers!¡± The girl was practically bouncing in her seat, eyes sparkling in her eyes.
Rowan really hated to be the bearer of bad news.
¡°My build is a bit¡ unusual. The card is powerful, yes, way more powerful than people typically associate with spear cards.¡± Wasn¡¯t that an understatement? ¡°But it would also outright kill you if you¡¯re not careful when using it. It draws on your mana, life force, blood and even flesh to fuel its might. You¡¯re more likely to turn into a desiccated corpse than win if you use it.¡±
Rowan tried to break the news gently, but all three of them paled and immediately shot him odd looks. Probably because he was not a desiccated corpse.
¡°What I do recommend you pick is my regeneration card. It¡¯s at the epic rank, too, and it saved my life way more times than I can even count.¡± Rowan shuddered a little, incapable of keeping bad memories at bay entirely.
He needed the assistance of his heart card and its ability to make emotions feel like distant inconveniences to deal with the worst of his traumas at first. Now, Olivia¡¯s cuddles mostly kept nightmares at bay.
In spite of that¡
The memories flashed through him like daggers. Teeth digging into his skin, his eyeballs popping like grapes. Corrosive blood sweeping over his body, threatening to eat it away until it was nothing but a rapidly melting skeleton. Fire and concussive force playing havoc with his body, until there was no discernible difference between his skin and his leather armor that had fused together.
Rowan shuddered.
Without that particular card that had started off a not-so-humble rare tier won from a demon, Rowan would probably look more like the Frankenstein¡¯s monster than a human. He really didn¡¯t fancy the thought of being little more than a mound of scar tissue.
Predictably, the thought of the card appealed most to the shield and hammer user, who leaned forward eagerly. ¡°A regeneration card, my lord?¡±
Rowan was more than happy to move on from his traumas, and so launched into an explanation immediately.
¡°Correct. It can restore your body fully back to a pristine state, and even has some effect on soul injuries, according to what we¡¯ve been able to observe. It also has the nice added benefit of improving stamina. You¡¯ll never be forced to stop fighting until you¡¯re somehow put down or your enemies are dead if you use it right.¡±
He did neglect to mention that most of his own staying power was owed to Gluttonous Banquet, a card that let him gorge on food well past his normal capacity and store away the energy it produced for future use. He could, in fact, store thirty times more energy than his body could naturally manage.
This synergized perfectly with both his regeneration card that dipped into that energy pool, and his suicidal attack card that drained his body of all it could offer.
All together, he could hit much harder than he should, and if his defenses were paper thin, well, he could come back from some serious punishment.
In fact, Rowan wasn¡¯t exactly sure he could die until all his energy was exhausted.
¡°Now, I could do something reckless like cut off my own arm to show you just how the card works, but I don¡¯t want to ruin the upholstery with my blood, and my lovely fianc¨¦e here would probably kill me if I did something that stupid. So, you¡¯ll have to trust me when I say nothing short of complete bodily destruction will be able to kill you if you pick that card.¡±
Rowan planned to provide his [Knights] with a card that could keep them in the fight longer. He did, after all, have both the rare and uncommon tier versions of the Gluttonous Banquet at one point or another. Getting more of those wasn¡¯t impossible.
¡°Before all of that, however¡¡± Rowan paused, letting his eyes drift over the kids sitting across from him. Hope. Worry. Intrigue. Desire. So many emotion warred on their faces. ¡°I¡¯d like to get to know you a bit better. Why sign up for this? Kayden did not tell you about the benefits, obviously. So, why decide to come here just so you can become one of my [Knights]?¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t going to turn them away just because they failed to provide a good answer to the question. Still, Rowan felt compelled to know. If their motivations and personal ambitions would be better served elsewhere? He was going to do his very best to get them there.
The Stalwart Hero made himself comfortable, ready to push until he had all the details he wanted.
Chapter 59: Personal Flaws
Rowan¡¯s eyes swept over the trio of [Knight] hopefuls, curious to see if he would need to encourage them to speak or if they¡¯d gather the courage on their own. Interestingly enough, it was the spear wielder who chose to speak out.
¡°My name is Fia. Just Fia. My family isn¡¯t wealthy or anything like that, I was just lucky. I got an uncommon heart card, one that makes any spear-based combat card stronger. I thought they¡¯d turn me away because, well, you know, spear. But then the baron ended up bringing me here.¡±
Rowan smiled wryly, looking at the girl with more than a little pity. If he had caught a ton of criticism for being a hero forced to wield a ¡®weak¡¯ weapon like a spear that didn¡¯t have high-end attacking card options, she must have been in an even worse position.
After all, [Spearman] was typically considered a class best suited for large groups, not solo powerhouses. The class went in the direction of quite a few good team combat-based upgrades. Then again, the more Rowan learned about the system, the more he came to suspect that the established upgrade path for the spear class was more a result of people¡¯s attitude about the spear than the other way around.
Both Olivia and her mother mentioned having to create or rediscover classes on your own. If no one was interested in the spear because it was weak, couldn¡¯t that also mean that it just needed a larger or more talented pool of people to help develop it?
Regardless, Rowan didn¡¯t allow himself to become too swept up in the theorizing and focused again on the conversation at hand. ¡°So, when you heard about the opportunity to work with a hero that uses a spear himself, you said yes?¡±
The girl nodded with a light blush and refused to meet his eyes. ¡°Yeah. I mean¡ If anyone can help me become at least somewhat competent with the class, it¡¯s you.¡±
She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but Rowan wasn¡¯t sure if he should encourage her. As he¡¯d told them already, his combat style was more than a little problematic. Still, having heard all about her motivation¡ ¡°Fine, then. Pick the regeneration card, got it? Can¡¯t help you if you don¡¯t.¡±
Rowan focused on his newest card, and it eagerly provided its power. Just like that, the girl winced as a system window popped up in front of her, providing her with the option to accept her designation as a [Knight] and select her preferred copied card.
¡°Thank you! Thank you so much! I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t regret this!¡± She squeaked out, then devoted herself to finalizing the process.
Rowan turned his attention to the shield and hammer wielding boy. ¡°What about you? What¡¯s your story?¡±
Put on the spot, the boy looked like he¡¯d rather avoid the topic for as long as he could. Eventually, though, he did speak up.
¡°I¡¯m¡ I¡¯m not entirely human,¡± he admitted, gesturing at his body. Rowan had actually been wondering, to be fair. In spite of supposedly being thirteen years old, the guy looked like he could snap the hero in half.
¡°That¡¯s fine. It doesn¡¯t bother me. You do know that I have two wolf kin in my party? They¡¯re more reliable than almost anyone I¡¯ve met,¡± Rowan ventured, trying to reassure the boy before he bolted for the door because he looked about ready to do that. ¡°How about you share your name with us?¡±
The boy flushed, looking mortified that he¡¯d forgotten. ¡°Greg. My name¡¯s Greg. My ma named me. My dad¡¯s¡ not around. He was a halfling too. Troll. People don¡¯t really like that combination, and he was way more obviously a mixed blood. We had to move from our previous home, but then he left so we could live in peace. I¡ I want to find him, some day. It¡¯s not his fault. None of it¡¯s his fault.¡±
Greg said that, but Rowan noticed the way he¡¯d hunched his shoulders, the way he tried to squeeze himself into the groaning sofa under him. While the boy didn¡¯t resent his father, Rowan strongly suspected he resented himself.
Though, that did leave one question that needed to be asked. ¡°Trolls have excellent natural regeneration. Did you happen to inherit that?¡±
The boy looked relieved that his family history would not be discussed anymore, but he didn¡¯t seem much happier to talk about his natural gifts. ¡°Yes. I can keep regenerating, but, well, it pulls a strain on my body. I¡¯ll eventually pass out, when I don¡¯t have the energy to keep healing.¡±
Rowan hummed, impressed with the selection of recruits the baron had found for him, in spite of how their age made him feel. ¡°What about your heart card? The baron mentioned all of you have good card synergy.¡±
¡°Mine lets me absorb part of any damage I take and temporarily store it as a charge, then unleash it when I attack. It¡¯s rare tier too, so it¡¯s pretty decent,¡± the boy stated proudly, hope slipping back into his expression.
Apparently, healing until utter exhaustion wasn¡¯t something Greg was proud of, simply because it came as part of his lineage. Rowan wanted to scoff. He would have killed to have such an ability naturally, especially back when he first arrived in this new and terrifying world.
¡°That¡¯s pretty great, I¡¯ll admit. I value your ability to heal yourself more. You clearly picked some kind of defender class, right? That will be invaluable for you. Anyway, I suggest you pick my Gluttonous Banquet card, it¡¯ll serve you well.¡±
Rowan sent the boy an offer of knighthood too and then turned to the final applicant, whole smiled at him wanly.
¡°I don¡¯t really have a sad backstory, I¡¯m afraid.¡± The boy started with a joking tone that almost covered up the nervousness lurking underneath. ¡°My name is Desmond Baker, and my father is one of the baron¡¯s officers. I¡¯ve been taught to use a sword my whole life, and I think I¡¯m good at it.¡±
Rowan nodded along, then prodded the boy for more information. ¡°And your heart card?¡±
The swordsman paused and tried to hide a wince before continuing. ¡°Rare tier. I can, well¡ If I keep attacking, it lets me keep hitting harder and harder. The catch is, I can¡¯t stop chaining hits without penalty. If I take longer than two seconds, the effect drops. And¡¡±
¡°And?¡± Rowan didn¡¯t like the way the young man didn¡¯t want to continue his explanation.
¡°And I can¡¯t really control it well. The strength of the blows continues to grow, but my ability to deal with the recoil or even wield that strength doesn¡¯t grow in concert with it. If I keep it up too long, my arms snap.¡±
Rowan leaned back into his seat. ¡°Pick the regeneration card,¡± he ordered, then sent final member of his newly acquired knights an invite, too.
He really didn¡¯t know what else to say. The baron had, whether he planned on it or not, played him. Each of the trio was, in one way or another, flawed. Each of them could be made so much more powerful with Rowan¡¯s help.
The spearman needed his advice and help to get her class off the ground and deal actual damage. The defender needed his Gluttonous Banquet if he wanted to last longer in battle and properly leverage his lineage. Meanwhile, the swordsman needed his regeneration card if he wanted to survive his own heart card.
Briefly, Rowan wondered what was wrong with the other two he¡¯d decided not to accept before discarding the thought. No second guessing here. Each of the three in front of him were going to need grit and determination if they wanted to grow more powerful. Getting hurt was going to be an inevitability in their futures, not something that could be avoided.
No matter how potentially promising the other two were, if they were going to fold at the first step, Rowan wasn¡¯t going to go back on his decision.
Rowan felt the exact moment each of the three finalized their decisions. There was an odd jolt that traveled through his body, and then he was aware of them.
Fia was a bundle of anxiety and expectation, hope blooming freely in her chest to the point Rowan had to fight back his own smile.
Greg was still wound tight with shame and doubt. It felt like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop every second now. He expected the knighthood to be cancelled, and to be asked to leave.
Finally, Desmond was pure anticipation and relief. Likely, Rowan guessed, because of finally having a way to deal with the injuries his heart card could so easily inflict on its user.
Be that as it were, the hero was thoroughly drained from all the interactions, in spite of a newfound strength blooming within his body. ¡°That will be all, for now. You three can head off to the barracks. Look for Clarke when you¡¯re there. He¡¯ll help you settle in.¡±
The trio recognized the dismissal for what it was, and with a few final words of thanks, filed out the door. Belatedly, once they were already out of sight, Rowan realized he didn¡¯t actually tell them where to find the barracks.
Oh well, that should be an interesting experience all on its own for them, Roan thought, before he was thoroughly distracted by his favorite alchemist plopping herself onto his lap.
¡°Well, what do you think of them now that you¡¯re done getting to know them a bit better?¡± she teased, laying her head on his chest and looking up at him with a small smile.
He took a second to wrap his arms around her and get a bit more comfortable before replying. ¡°I really don¡¯t like how young they are. Past that, though¡ yeah, they have potential. I mean, their heart cards really are good for them. Even I don¡¯t have a straight damage boost heart card like Fia.¡±
And didn¡¯t that feel annoying to admit? Sure, he was deeply thankful for what his heart card could do for his mental health. However, Keen Spear definitely left a lot to be desired in a whole variety of ways, and Rowan couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he could have done with a more damage-focused card.
Could he have moved away from his near suicidal battle style? Maybe he could even have contributed to the fight against the very first epic he encountered, rather than be stuck watching as Kayla obliterated it.
His self-doubt was abruptly ended when Olivia twisted in his arms and pulled herself up to kiss him. For a few blissful seconds, there were absolutely no thoughts in his head at all.
¡°I understand why you feel that way,¡± she finally whispered when they parted, a gentle look in her eyes. ¡°But there¡¯s very little we can do about that. They need to fight. To grow. If they really wanted to pursue whatever ambitions or dreams they have, they would have ended up in similar situations regardless.¡±
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The hero groaned and lay his head on her shoulder, pulling her closer. ¡°I know. I know. I really don¡¯t like this world sometimes. Then again, you¡¯re in it, so¡¡±
She giggled and wound her fingers into his hair, pulling him back so she could kiss him again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sweet! Guess I need to remind you why this world can be nice.¡±
¡ª
As reluctant as he was to run away from Olivia¡¯s kisses, Rowan did do so eventually. There was plenty to do, after all. Classes with her mother, training with the soldiers, prep work for future expeditions. On and on the task list went, so he headed towards the training grounds and she split off back to her lab.
For all her grousing over not getting to spend more time with him, Olivia did love spending time with her experiments. Especially lately, considering the fact that she hadn¡¯t managed to do much yet with the new, exotic materials they¡¯d recently acquired.
She still had the flesh of a draconic creature, as well as the blood and some materials collected from several of the epics they killed while rescuing Blake. They hadn¡¯t managed to take as much as they would have liked in their reckless escape from the scene, but something was better than nothing.
So, Rowan¡¯s favorite alchemist had more than enough tasks of her own.
Meanwhile, Rowan was no longer able to ignore the feeling of strength, no matter how subtle, that had taken root in his chest.
For the first time in a very long time, Rowan took a thorough look at his status.
Rowan Clairfont
Level 63 Spear of Unity
EXP: 900,000/3,000,0000
Mana: 65/65
STR: 68* (+3)
VIT: 15 (+3)
DEX: 68* (+3)
PER: 23 (+3)
INT: 13 (+3)
WIS: 14 (+3)
Deck (6/6):
- [Heart] Keen Spear (Epic, Passive)
- [Class] Knight Designation (Epic, Passive)
- [Class] Reaping Spear (Rare, Active)
- [Class] Blood Siphon (Uncommon, Passive)
- Natural Renewal (Epic, Active)
- Gluttonous Banquet (Epic, Passive)
Blessings:
- Awakened Blessing of the Stalwart Hero
Bound Weapons:
|
The first thing that stood out was the fact that he finally, finally, had more mana to play around with. And he would have gladly invested more in his intelligence stat if he had any points to spare at all.
The second thing that demanded his attention was the confirmation of what he feared, and one of the main reasons why he¡¯d avoided pulling up his entire status recently: Blake wasn¡¯t giving Rowan the extra stats which he should have gotten from designating the hero as a [Knight].
Particularly annoying was the fact that he should have gotten at least eight or so stats in both his strength and wisdom, the two stats that [Holy Paladin] prioritized.
Still, even with all that, Rowan couldn¡¯t deny that he was starting to feel excited. Already, just from designating level one [Knights], he got an extra three points in every stat. That was an equivalent to stats he could gain from nine levels.
I really need to hurry up and find more knight candidates. Even if they¡¯re not particularly exceptional, the stats alone will help me immensely. To say that Rowan wasn¡¯t tempted to just venture into the barracks and start making [Knights] would have been a lie.
The only thing that stopped him was knowing that such reckless behavior would be a waste. If he could pick out or train competent fighters and then give them an extra card from his own deck, they¡¯d be far more useful in the long run than any immediate boost to his own stats.
Rowan was so caught up in his thoughts, and so used to venturing to the training grounds set aside for his use, that he was barely aware of his surroundings. Only when he finally set foot inside the walled-off section of the manor grounds did he realize there was already someone there.
Desperate shouts of frustration filled the air as Blake drove a practice sword into a training dummy, again and again. Frustration burned in his eyes, and his face was fixed in such a rictus of frustration that Rowan was tempted to back off and leave.
It was only their friendship and the tears streaming down Blake¡¯s cheeks that kept him rooted in place, silently watching as the other hero finally faltered, sword slipping from cramping fingers, and collapsed to his knees.
To say that Rowan was caught up in indecision would have been an understatement. The desire to help his friend warred bitterly in his chest with the knowledge that he likely didn¡¯t want to be in such a state.
Thankfully, Blake took the pressure of making a choice from him.
¡°I know you¡¯re there.¡± Blake¡¯s voice was practically a whisper, barely loud enough to reach Rowan. ¡°Saw you on my way down. You might as well stay.¡±
Bitterness. That was the main emotion that tinged the statement. That, and an unhealthy dose of self-loathing. Rowan ventured closer, approaching the way he would a wounded animal. Of course, he scolded himself for that just moments later, then plopped himself into the dirt right next to his friend.
A glance at said friend¡¯s hands revealed that they were raw and bloody. Rowan had no clue how long he was out there, but he was apparently proficient at tormenting himself. At least his borrowed regeneration card was already working hard to fix the problem.
¡°What happened?¡± Rowan asked. It was a simple question, but encompassed so many others he¡¯d rather have asked.
When he spoke again, Blake¡¯s voice was remarkably calm. ¡°I saw you. With those kids. [Knight] hopefuls, right? Did any of them pass?¡±
¡°Three. The other two gave up too quickly. Can¡¯t take them out there if they¡¯re going to quit on me the first time something tries to put them in the ground,¡± Rowan answered without much thinking, then had to fight down a cringe when he realized how it might come across.
The other hero gave a bitter laugh. ¡°Yeah, that checks out. Hey, Rowan? Do you think I¡¯m weak?¡±
¡°Where¡¯s that coming from now?¡±
¡°I saw you testing them. I didn¡¯t stick around until the end, but they were good. You might not have been taking them very seriously, but they did push you. I saw that, so don¡¯t bother denying it. Do I ever do the same, when we train together?¡±
They only started very recently. It took several days for the other hero to even regain enough mobility to be able to start. However, Rowan hesitated to answer his actual question.
The truth of the matter was that the answer was a resounding no. Blake wasn¡¯t utterly horrible or anything like that. But he fought like a beginner. His attacks were sluggish, his skill nothing to write home about, and the less said about the quality of his stances the better.
It was like someone put Blake through a couple of swordsmanship classes until he was able to copy how most of the moves should look, and then called it quits.
¡°That bad, huh?¡± Blake ventured when the silence stretched. ¡°Yeah, you don¡¯t need to say anything, I guess. I know you¡¯ve been trying to help me fix that, you¡¯re not exactly known for your subtlety.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know a whole lot about using a sword,¡± Rowan said lamely, trying to use it as an excuse for his lack of comment. It was true too. He had no clue how to help his friend without bringing in an expert. All he could do was fight and let him figure things out on his own.
Blake scoffed, then leaned back on arms that were still trembling from his exertion. ¡°Yeah, no. Stop that. I just suck. You know I suck. I know I suck. We all know I suck. Guess that¡¯s why I got my ass handed to me so badly.¡±
Rowan wanted to protest. To point out that, from what the other hero had mentioned, he could use blessings, miracles, and other priest spells that he relied heavily on in combat. But then, wasn¡¯t his class supposed to be focused around weapons combat and supported by those spells?
Rowan didn¡¯t know a whole lot about paladins, but he was pretty sure of at least that much.
¡°We can train together. If, well¡ if you don¡¯t mind, I can ask the baron to help. Or maybe Bron. Or any one of my sword wielding officers. Better the first two, really. They know a whole lot about the sword, but the latter can keep things quiet if you prefer that.¡±
¡°You really think they¡¯d train me? I mean, I drank with Baron Sutton yesterday, but that was more down to your engagement than anything else. Congratulations again, by the way.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡± For at least a moment, a smile spread across Rowan¡¯s face. Every time he was reminded of his new pre-marital status a warmth blossomed in his chest. It was just slightly blunted by their current conversation. ¡°And yes, I think they will, if we ask.¡±
¡°Even though Mirabella¡¯s family stole their lands and title?¡±
Rowan hadn¡¯t expected that question. His head whipped to the side so fast he could swear there was a crack in his neck that made his regeneration card kick in. ¡°What?¡±
Blake laughed, even if it was a bleak, humorless sound. ¡°Again, Rowan, I¡¯m not blind. I asked her when I noticed all the tension. I know she comes from the Treagon family, but she¡¯s really not like that, I promise.¡±
Rowan had a guess that something like that happened to the Suttons. He released a weary sigh, then let himself fall back fully. When he thumped onto the ground, Blake joined him a second later.
¡°I know I probably shouldn¡¯t get wrapped up in all the politics and dislike her myself, but it¡¯s kind of difficult when both my in-laws and my fianc¨¦e feel so strongly on the subject. I do promise they¡¯ll stay civil. And yes, I think Kayden would train you even with all the drama.¡±
What Rowan failed to mention was that Kayden Sutton was far more likely to dislike Blake due to his patron goddess. As one of the very few followers of Aristaeus left among the noble ranks, the literal chosen one of the light goddess was likely to rub him the wrong way.
Still, Rowan was pretty sure the man wouldn¡¯t say no. He was set on protecting the kingdom first and foremost. An incompetent hero could not properly assist with that task.
¡°Well, if my opinion counts for anything, I don¡¯t blame you for that. Just, please try?¡± Blake asked. ¡°She¡¯s probably my favorite member of my party. Never tried to marry me, doesn¡¯t get crazy overprotective, she¡¯s just¡ there. And helpful.¡±
Rowan felt the need to groan. He¡¯d already known that the woman was Blake¡¯s favorite. Knowing his friend, even with how dense he typically pretended to be on the subject, Rowan suspected he was actually tempted to start a relationship with the Treagon.
That¡¯s what the last few days of observation told him, at least.
¡°I¡¯ll try. For you. Now, no avoiding the subject anymore. What happened here?¡±
It took several long moments for Blake to respond. When he did, he just sounded tired. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can do this, Rowan. My swordsmanship is a mess. My magic¡¯s barely there and I can do nothing with it. Even my connection with my goddess is cloudy and weak, at best. My stats too. They¡¯re not working.¡±
¡°So, what exactly are you trying to say?¡± Rowan asked, his heart hammering away in his chest. He really didn¡¯t like the way Blake was talking. He sounded far too resigned.
¡°Maybe I should go back to the capital. Maybe they can, I don¡¯t know, fix me? Or if they can¡¯t, maybe I can join the church fully. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d do so badly as a priest. Or maybe I should just go out into the frontier and see what happens.¡±
He said it like a joke, but the amount of self-loathing imbued in those last words let Rowan know exactly what his best friend was hoping for.
In less than a second, Rowan was on his side and looming over the other hero, a scowl etched on his features. ¡°No. You¡¯re not going to say shit like that again. You¡¯ll feel helpless and you¡¯ll hate it, sure, but if you suggest you want to commit suicide one more time I¡¯ll-!¡±
He cut himself off, his stomach roiling as he fought down the anger and fear. The pained expression on Blake¡¯s face broke his heart, but served as a great reminder that blowing up at him wasn¡¯t going to fix a single thing.
So, Rowan pushed his depressingly low intelligence and wisdom stats as far as they could go. How can I fix this? Such a simple question, with seemingly a simple solution that was immediately apparent: Blake felt useless and weak. All he had to do was make it so Blake wasn¡¯t useless or weak.
Of course, that would demand a bit of a gamble.
¡°You know what, Blake? That¡¯s actually a great idea,¡± Rowan lied through his teeth, fear hammering away inside of him. ¡°Why not go out into the wastes? In fact, we¡¯re going tomorrow. Together. I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t bring your party along, but I¡¯ll understand if you do.¡±
¡°Rowan?¡± Blake asked uncertainly, but the Stalwart Hero was already walking away, thoughts tumbling through his mind.
Blake¡¯s stats weren¡¯t working. His class was all scrambled, and his level was lower than it was supposed to be. In fact, even his deck was locked away behind errors and whatever system nonsense happened when the corruption that had taken root in the hero was violently removed.
Removed by Rowan¡¯s spear going through Blake¡¯s chest.
The Stalwart Hero shook away the guilt, nausea, and disgust with his own weakness. He¡¯d done what he had to. The alternative was letting his best friend become a corrupted demonic creature, or even a true demon outright.
Besides, there was one thing they could focus on, one thing that was giving him hope: Blake still had an experience bar.
So, what would happen if they filled it?
Would it jostle his stats into action? Would it give him back a fraction of his former strength? What if they got him all the way back to epic?
It wasn¡¯t going to be necessarily simple, but with the hero blessing experience boosts, it wasn¡¯t exactly an unreachable goal, not with Rowan¡¯s entire party at epic now.
The only trouble was, he didn¡¯t want to dangle that hope in front of Blake. If they tried and they failed, something told Rowan that his best friend would be utterly crushed.
And the Stalwart Hero wasn¡¯t sure he could pull him back from that particular cliff.
Chapter 60: Resolve
Rowan would forever deny the accusations that the two of them sneaked out of the city. Or that it happened just a single day after his decision to do something about his best friend¡¯s depression.
But for all of his denials, it didn¡¯t change the fact that it was more or less true.
Rowan had organized several parties of experienced soldiers to accompany them. Likewise, convincing his party members into playing along was a simple affair. But trying to reason with the three overprotective women Blake had following him around?
That wasn¡¯t something Rowan was willing to tackle without very good incentive.
No, it was much easier to kidnap Blake right out of his room. Besides, it was kind of funny when Rowan entered the room, bundled him up in the covers, and just carried him out. The other hero looked amused rather than upset, and bringing a smile to Blake¡¯s face was nice, however briefly.
Getting him into gear was a little more embarrassing, seeing as Blake was forced to shimmy out of his pajamas in front of a whole group of onlookers, but he gamely got through thatn too.
Blake only put up a minor fight when Rowan tried to offer him a sword, but Rowan managed to talk sense into him eventually. He was not going to let his best friend fight with only a light construct, which would disappear the moment he ran out of mana.
¡°You do, of course, realize what¡¯s going to happen when they realize their hero has vanished during the night right?¡± Olivia quipped, pressing herself close to Rowan¡¯s side as they made their way out of the city.
¡°Well, it probably won¡¯t be pretty,¡± the hero readily admitted, but the self-satisfied smirk more than attested to the fact that he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll actually come hunt us down in the wastes, though?¡±
Olivia laughed, and Blake scoffed. ¡°They¡¯re probably going to be asleep when we get back. Was it really necessary to get up this early anyway?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that bad,¡± Rowan defended himself, eying the sky.
True, the sun was only starting to peak over the horizon. Still, if they ventured into the wastes early, they could return well before nightfall. That was a rather big priority for Rowan, all told. In spite of getting relatively used to it, he did prefer his own bed to sleeping in a tent.
Cuddling up with Olivia was a whole lot easier that way.
¡°You¡¯re the boss,¡± Blake said.
There was a sort of peace about Blake that confused Rowan. Just the day before, the man was a mess. Enough of a mess, in fact, to prompt Rowan¡¯s insistence on the excursion. Now? He seemed far more at ease with himself, even if there was an odd stiffness to his movement.
¡°You good?¡±
¡°Yes, why?¡± Blake looked legitimately confused by the question.
¡°It¡¯s nothing, sorry for pushing,¡± Rowan mumbled, deciding to drop the subject for the time being. They did have an entire day ahead of them, after all.
¡ª
When they were well within the wastes and with scouts sent ahead to find something for them to fight, Rowan turned towards Blake and his newer, less experienced knights. Blake just gave him a small smile but the three looked more than a little worried about their surroundings.
¡°Now then. All three of you have decent skill with your chosen weapons. Good work. What you need now is leveling experience, so that¡¯s what we¡¯re out here for. Welcome to the wastes.¡± Rowan paused, taking the chance to gauge their reactions. In spite of the fear he felt from them, they seemed to be determined to make the most of the outing if their expressions were anything to go by. He could work with that. ¡°Since most enemies out here are at least at the uncommon tier, you¡¯ll be working with Hero Blake. He¡¯s currently weakened due to an injury, but he¡¯s still more than skilled enough to cover you and let you show off what you know. You can¡¯t really party up with him, since he has his own party already, but ¡ª¡±
¡°Actually, they can,¡± Blake cut in, causing Rowan to shoot him a confused expression. ¡°I temporarily disbanded my previous party. They were using the party link to track me down whenever I needed a moment to myself, so¡¡±
¡°Ah. Well, that¡¯s lucky then, I suppose. Turns out, you lot are going to be leveling up even faster than I expected,¡± Rowan said.
Rowan watched as Greg, the party¡¯s defender and current party leader, sent an invite to the hero with eyes so wide they were threatening to pop out. There was definitely some hero-worship going on there, literal and metaphorical, that Rowan found kind of cute.
Still, he needed to move things along.
¡°Here¡¯s the advice I can give you: whatever kind of combatant you want to be, put your all into it. I¡¯m not a swordsman or guardian, so I cannot comment there. However, Fia, I want you to commit fully to each and every attack you made. You have party members. Trust them to cover you from damage.¡±
She nodded seriously, while Greg paled at the responsibility that suddenly landed in his lap.
Rowan wasn¡¯t entirely convinced it was the best possible choice for the girl to follow in his footsteps. Still, with her heart card, she needed to get a more aggressive class if she wanted to make good use of her advantages anyway. So, the least he could do is get her started down the right path.
¡°By the way, I don¡¯t want any of you trying to play hero, yes I¡¯m talking to you too Blake. Do not get all self-sacrificial to block each other from damage, or try to get in the killing blow as quickly as you can. You have excellent regeneration, each and every one of you. Plus, my party¡¯s here too. You¡¯ll all live, so just focus on your jobs and doing them well!¡±
Rowan got a round of nods from the younger trio, and a solid pout from Blake. Rowan was just about to let his worry get in the ways of things and lecture them some more when the scouts returned.
¡°My lord, we¡¯ve discovered a group of uncommon monsters just to the east of here. There are three, all around starting levels for the tier, and they¡¯re those weird lizard things we ran into when building the fake monster stampede. Should I lead the recruits there?¡±
Dale, as always, was a picture-perfect example of dedication and efficiency. It drew a smile to Rowan¡¯s face to see him again. With all the chaos happening recently and with the hero party hitting the epic tier, there really wasn¡¯t much excuse to venture out into the field personally again.
Of course, Rowan authorized the request for the level grinding expeditions to continue. At that point, there wasn¡¯t really a soldier in his army that was still stuck at uncommon. As far as the hero was concerned, a mere three recruits didn¡¯t count.
¡°Go on, then. We¡¯ll be right behind you. Knights, I want you on his tail. Engage as soon as you spot the enemy.¡±
Having given his orders, Rowan watched the group surge after the scout. Dale was slowing down his pace to allow everyone to keep up. Out of all the soldiers under Rowan, the hero was fairly certain the man had one of the highest levels.
¡°I don¡¯t want any of you jumping in to save them at the first sign of trouble,¡± Rowan addressed the three parties of soldiers who were still hanging around them, the fourth one they brought along being the scouts.
¡°Not even me?¡± Marcus ventured uncertainly, brow furrowed. ¡°You know, I can easily keep them one hundred percent safe.¡±
¡°I know, that¡¯s the problem. I want to see how they do against opponents when faced by actual monsters. Besides¡ I really need Blake to get his act together. He¡¯s not really okay at the moment. Trust me, he needs this. Besides, they do have my Natural Renewal.¡±
¡°True. Well, okay, if you think that¡¯s best.¡±
Rowan really wasn¡¯t sure of anything, but he had to try something. If he left things alone, he¡¯d probably regret it for the rest of his days.
He refused to share that with the rest of the party, though. Instead, he rushed after the rapidly fading silhouettes of the knight party.
Ironically, they almost overtook them.
The speed at which mere common tier classes could move was far below epic tiers. For Olivia and Milena, even if they never invested a single point in their physical stats, there was a certain quality to their mana and bodies from being at the epic tier. That meant they could personally witness the very first clash between the newly formed party and their opponents.
The monsters were vaguely humanoid lizards who nonetheless preferred to move around on all fours. Rowan hadn¡¯t fought them personally, but he knew they didn¡¯t use any particularly special or tricky cards from reading reports.
The worst they could do would be to maul the four a little, but they were overall safe. His regeneration card prevented wound infection, and Greg was protected by his natural toughness as a troll halfling too.
For a moment, just a split second, really, Rowan saw Blake hesitate. It was right before the battle. Rowan saw himself, back when he first arrived in the world, reflected in Blake then. The Radiant Hero could no longer tap into most of his strength. Would that be enough to rob him of his courage, too?
Blake rid Rowan of that fear when he charged forward with a cry. It wasn¡¯t a particularly brave or intimidating cry, but it was definitely filled with enough frustration and anger to make the lizard creatures flinch.
His first strike was a critical hit too. The sword took on an iridescent sheen as Blake channeled his mana into it, using his heart card to sharpen the edges of the sword with light constructs far sharper than most natural metals.
All that meant the sword parted flesh like water, and be it arms or the creature¡¯s torso, they were all neatly sheared through.
The entire top of the lizard creature listed, then collapsed back in a spray of blood.
The show was, unfortunately, a little much for the inexperienced recruits. All three of them froze up, and that ended up costing Blake.
The leftover lizards leapt at him, claws first. Which was when he complemented his amazing opening with a critical fumble.
Blake stood there and glared, preparing his sword for a swing. His body flared with light, and while that was enough to briefly stop the claws and fangs of the first lizard, the addition of the second one was enough to both stagger the hero and break through his defenses.
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He only managed to get out a strangled ¡®ack¡¯ before he was on his back and the monsters were chewing through his limbs.
The gory sight of their ally going down jerked the other three into motion.
Greg swung his hammer around and brought it down on the nearest lizard¡¯s head without thinking, dazing the creature and denting its skull, but also drawing a scream from Blake when the attack pushed the creature¡¯s teeth deeper into his flesh.
Fia, meanwhile, followed Rowan¡¯s instructions to the letter. With a manic look in her eyes, she squared her shoulder and charged the other lizard. She was aiming straight for its face, which Rowan figured could go either very well or very badly, but the monster turned to hiss at her.
In other words, it shifted and opened its mouth at exactly the worst moment possible.
Her spear met the back of its throat, and then the young spearwoman lifted the monster off of Blake, muscles pumping with all her strength before she slammed everything down and speared it to the ground.
It thrashed and struggled, but it took mere seconds before life bled out of it, both literally and metaphorically.
That left their intrepid swordsman, who paused mid-charge at the sight of his teammate taking out a monster on her own before rounding on the other lizard and desperately trying to get a stab in where the creature was now writhing on the ground and getting hammered again and again by Greg.
It laid on the ground a minute later, with plenty of shallow cuts and looking a lot like tenderized meat.
Honestly, Rowan had no clue what to say. No, that wasn¡¯t entirely right. He had several choice words he wanted to say.
¡ª
¡°What were you thinking, freezing up and trying to tank those monsters like that?¡± scolded Rowan, inspecting Blake for leftover scratches, bruises, and other marks of combat.
His regeneration card still wasn¡¯t working at full capacity for the other hero, but with the assistance of one of Olivia¡¯s healing potions, Blake was right as rain in minimal time. Really, Rowan was just fussing over him because he was a big idiot who ate attacks to the face willingly.
¡°Um, that I could defend myself using my heart card?¡± Blake ventured, a hesitant smile on his face. Somehow, the other hero looked happy with the way things worked out in spite of being used as a chew toy.
It infuriated Rowan, and he really hoped that his glare showed that properly.
¡°You too, Greg. Check to see if you should start swinging wildly before you do it. And while we¡¯re at it, try to make it possible for your allies to fight alongside you. You almost brained Desmond several times.¡±
¡°Sorry, boss. I mean, my lord,¡± the part-troll mumbled sheepishly, rubbing his head.
Rowan didn¡¯t have time for that. ¡°Desmond, I know you wanted to contribute. And you¡¯ll have a chance to do it, trust me. However, that doesn¡¯t mean you should try to butt in on this big lug here making mincemeat out of a monster. He was clearly in a panic and not paying attention. Pick your battles more carefully.¡±
He turned towards the final member of the group, who sent him a hesitant smile and wave. ¡°My turn?¡± Fia asked. Rowan¡¯s lips threatened to twitch into a smile, but he smothered his amusement.
¡°Yes. Your turn.¡± Rowan paused for a dramatic moment, before finally letting that smile show. ¡°Good job. Lucky shot, don¡¯t get me wrong. But still. You committed, you succeeded, and you held on until the damn thing stopped twitching. It¡¯s all I could ask of you.¡±
¡°Thank you, my lord!¡± she beamed, then shot a look of superiority at her teammates. Well, for Greg and Desmond, at least.
A blush rose on her face when Blake shot her a happy grin. Rowan really wanted to scoff and brain him just a little with his nice, metal spear. Blake had enough trouble at home without accidentally winning over Rowan¡¯s newest recruit.
¡°Okay, the lot of you are just fine now. Well, Blake has shredded armor, but he¡¯ll live. Might remind you not to just eat enemy damage in the future.¡± Rowan took the chance to glare menacingly again. Blake once more returned a radiant smile. ¡°Get ready to move out. Scouts found another group.¡±
And they did. Dale had slipped away to rendezvous with his party while Rowan and Olivia took care of the aftermath and the twins looked on in amusement. He¡¯d shown back up before they were even done with a few whispers of other discovered monster groups.
Rowan was tempted to lead them straight towards the poisoned mushroom monsters the man told him were further east, but decided that kind of test could wait a while. Instead, he told the scout to take them towards more of the lizard things.
With how numerous they were now, Rowan was pretty sure they had been displaced en-mass into the territory near his city by either the dinosaur epic that had tried to make its way to Rest¡¯s Remorse or by the massive battle waged to rescue Blake.
Either way, they were convenient opponents for the knights. As far as he could tell, the only really troublesome card they had was one that allowed them to make their teeth and claws extra sharp. That was how they so easily tore through Blake¡¯s borrowed armor set.
For just a moment, Rowan wished they¡¯d taken along the hero¡¯s own set of armor.
While Blake didn¡¯t have a particularly good sword, it wasn¡¯t even bound like Rowan¡¯s own spear was, his armor was superb. It had easily seen him through the earlier monster siege, and didn¡¯t even have a scratch as far Rowan saw.
That was also exactly why he didn¡¯t want Blake to have it while they were trying to get him back to epic. It was far too much of a crutch. If he¡¯d had it, he could have made it through the fight unblemished.
But, what happens the first time he fights something that doesn¡¯t care about armor? Like, oh, I don¡¯t know, a legendary demon? Rowan thought, genuinely upset and worried. Whoever trained Blake to fight like that needs to be shot. Or ran through with several spears, rather.
Rowan was ready to volunteer his services there.
Before they could reach the next group of monsters, he wanted to make sure his fellow hero understood exactly what was on the line. ¡°Blake?¡±
¡°Hm?¡± Blake turned, shooting him one of his frustratingly charming signature smiles.
¡°If you just stand there and let a monster savage you, I¡¯ll help you fulfill your masochistic tendencies instead. I¡¯m going to carry you back to the city stuck on my spear like a kebab,¡± Rowan said that menacingly enough his friend actually paled.
¡°You wouldn¡¯t, right? Right?¡±
Rowan said nothing. He just stared.
It wasn¡¯t like Blake he could call him on his bluff when he actually meant every word he said. He¡¯d either learn, or Rowan would force him to.
¡°O-okay! I get it! I promise!¡±
¡°Good.¡±
¡ª
Blake did, as he said, ¡®get it.¡¯ Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t mean that he was suddenly and magically graced with the right mentality and muscle memory.
He froze up, and hesitated. Overall, he was a big doofus that worried Rowan to no end. Rowan ended up spending at least half of the trip oscillating between panic and desires for violence. If there was one thing Blake was good for, though, it was following through on his word.
Not even once did he try to consciously tank the attacks of the monsters. He tried to dodge or force a distance. As battles went by, he was even getting better at playing keep away, much to Rowan¡¯s relief.
So, he improved from battle to battle. Killing lizards, battling poisonous mushroom treants, crippling weird glowing spiders, it all helped hone Blake¡¯s instincts.
In fact, seeing how quickly he was improving, Rowan was baffled at how he¡¯d ended up with such a sloppy fighting style to begin with. He¡¯d always known Blake as someone highly athletic. So if Rowan had managed to learn how to fight, logic dictated that Blake should have been more than fine as well.
The answer was as obvious as it was sickening: sabotage. Someone had made sure that a hero adopted by the king himself was a subpar fighter at best. Someone had led him to overly rely on his greater stats, cards, and blessing to claim his victories.
The only question was who. Was it his party who wanted him gone? A rival of the king who somehow weaseled himself into a position of trust and authority within the court? Or was it the worst possible option, the king himself being to blame?
Rowan simply didn¡¯t know.
And as he watched Blake fight, he resolved not to care overmuch either until they got strong enough to do something about it together.
To finish out the day, Rowan asked the scouts to find one final group of lizards for his knights to battle. This time, there were four of lizards in the group, and Rowan could not have been more proud of the way they handled themselves.
To start things off, Greg released a loud shout of rage that had all four of the enemies perking up. With his tower shield at the front and firmly planted between himself and violence, the defender met their charge.
Meanwhile, Fia and Desmond fanned out around him, her using her spear on Greg¡¯s left and the swordsman using his great sword on the right.
They responded perfectly to the lizards¡¯ attempts to slip past the shield, harrying them to remain behind the barrier while Greg enthusiastically brained any of the monsters that tried to scamper over his shield.
And then there was Blake, rushing in from the side with his sword blazing.
No matter what Rowan said, the hero refused to see reason and properly stick behind the shield bearer, but at least this time he didn¡¯t embarrass himself.
His sword slid through limbs with expert ease, aiming to disable, cripple, and generally deal unpleasant injuries rather than trying to end things in one glorious attack right at the start.
A part of Rowan was a bit upset at how quickly the other hero had gotten more proficient with his blade. His attacks didn¡¯t belong to any particular style, true. They weren¡¯t exactly graceful, either. Forced to fight for his life without any security or big battle ending moves, Blake had adopted a butcher¡¯s efficiency with his chosen deathly implement.
Each strike had no pointless frills and was aimed right where the hero needed it to go. His sword sliced, stabbed, and even parried claws or fangs at times. The latter might have been a good way for a swordsman to quickly destroy their own weapon under different circumstances, but Blake¡¯s light manipulation and construct conjuring was just as overpowered as the first time Rowan saw it. Worse really, since he¡¯d had considerable time to practice since then, and it was the one thing he really did put effort into in the past.
His light kept the sword razor sharp, unblemished, and looking like he¡¯d only just accepted it from the armorer, who had withdrawn it from the fresh equipment supply just that morning.
Of course, Blake was still hardly perfect. He was eventually forced to fall back after dicing up two of the lizards when the others tried to get him from the sides, seeing him as an easier target than the shield.
However, he kept his wits about him, properly falling back while keeping him enemies at bay with shallow, quick strikes, and did more than enough to distract them until the other knights could strike.
Strike they did.
Fia¡¯s admiral ferocity shown at the start of the day only burned brighter as it continued. With a silent thrust that was backed by her full strength and the wight of the body, she drove her weapon into a lizard¡¯s throat. From there, Rowan got to watch a repeat of her first fight.
Desmond, meanwhile, was far more in his element than he was in the morning. Hours of beating down uncommon creatures gave him level after level, and that was doing plenty to bolster his courage. Unhampered by the doubt and fear of total inexperience, he was starting to show promise.
He fell upon the monsters and damn near took his chosen target¡¯s head off with a merciless swing of his great sword. In the end, the lizards were cleaned up without so much as a scratch.
Only Greg was left looking dissatisfied by the battle, glancing between his shield and his hammer speculatively.
¡°Marcus?¡± Rowan quietly caught the wolf kin¡¯s attention, then pointed in the direction of the part troll boy. ¡°Could you maybe do something about him?¡±
Marcus looked confused for a second, before understanding flooded his features. With a determined nod, he marched off towards the boy and with a few hushed words took him aside. Frankly, Rowan knew Greg was in the right hands.
Marcus put everything, heart soul and stat points, into defending his party. If there was anyone who could properly explain the importance of a tank to a party¡¯s long-term survival and success, it was him.
Frankly, Rowan was pretty sure that Blake¡¯s presence was the only reason Greg wasn¡¯t being showered in compliments and thanks. With the hero added into the mix, a fighter determined to risk his life in the dumbest ways, Greg hadn¡¯t had a real opportunity to shine yet.
On that subject, Rowan marched closer to the celebrating trio. ¡°You know, I really wish you¡¯d just start fighting with a bit more caution.¡± He grumbled in Blake¡¯s direction. ¡°You are setting a bad example for them.¡±
The puzzlement on Blake¡¯s face clearly said he had no idea what Rowan was accusing him of.
¡°Not everyone runs around with solid light constructs, top quality enchanted armor, and a whole party dedicated to keeping them alive, Blake.¡±
¡°Oh. Well, um, I¡¯ll work on it?¡± Blake did look sheepish, but Rowan sincerely doubted he¡¯d take his words to heart.
In Blake¡¯s head, the whole thing was simple. If he risked his hide by charging in, other people are safer. Ergo, it¡¯s an amazing thing and he¡¯ll keep doing it.
¡°Don¡¯t lie to my face, you ass.¡±
Before Blake could come up with an excuse, they were interrupted by Dale¡¯s return. The scout didn¡¯t look worried, but he was definitely approaching them quickly enough to get Rowan¡¯s attention.
¡°My lord, there¡¯s another group of these lizard monsters not far from here. They¡¯re led by a rare tier, which is noticeably bigger and stronger than the rest. We think it only tiered up recently, given the small size of the group.¡±
They¡¯d come across similar groups throughout the day, and Rowan had insisted they avoid them for the time being. Blake¡¯s frustration may be clear on his face since he needed experience, but it wasn¡¯t something Rowan was willing to risk just yet.
¡°How many are there?¡±
¡°Just four, the rare tier included.¡±
Rowan blinked. That really was a low number. All of the rest had at least twenty uncommon lizards following them around. ¡°Okay, lead us around them. We¡¯re done for the day, anyway.¡±
¡°Wait.¡± It was, of course, Blake¡¯s voice that cut in. Rowan sighed, knowing exactly what was about to come out of his mouth. ¡°I want to fight it. There¡¯s only three others, right? You guys can take those on your own?¡±
Predictably, the rest of Blake¡¯s temporary party nodded quickly.
That left the Stalwart Hero staring directly into Blake¡¯s eyes, wondering what to do. He almost startled at what he saw there.
Resolve. Quite unlike anything he¡¯d seen from Blake in the last few days. It shone through, loud and clear, reminding Rowan of the Blake he¡¯d always known.
As such, there was really only one thing Rowan could say. ¡°Fine. But if you somehow get yourself killed, don¡¯t come crying to me.¡±
The knight party broke into excited chatter, and Rowan couldn¡¯t entirely resist a smile. Perhaps the outing would be good for his old friend after all.
Chapter 61: Struggle
Rowan had been caught up in worry, fear, and more than a little doubt ever since Blake¡¯s awakening. That¡¯s why it was such a relief to see a real smile on the man¡¯s face. Not a smile that he put on when he knew Rowan was looking, since he long ago grown adept at spotting those, but a sincere, genuine smile of hope.
When those first experience points started trickling in, when he realized that there was a way for him to potentially regain strength, Rowan¡¯s chest swelled with happiness for his friend.
To see him marching forward, determined to face down an enemy at his own tier in spite of all his weakness? Rowan might have been acting all grumpy, but truth be told there were few things he¡¯d rather see than that.
In spite of that, there was a trace of underlying worry about what could happen when Blake faced down his foe in true, one-on-one combat. Which was why Rowan subtly slowed down his steps, letting the excited and nervous knights make just slightly more distance between them and his own party.
Olivia noticed immediately of course, seeing as they were walking hand in hand, but she just sent him a sly smile and played along.
Milena and Marcus took a bit longer to catch on, but no one could make the claim that the twins were slow on the uptake.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Marcus asked, his eyes shooting between Rowan and Blake. ¡°Want to call this off after all? It might be a bit much.¡±
¡°No, no.¡± Rowan took a deep breath and then tried to release all his worries with it. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hold him back. Not now. Not when he¡¯s finally starting to believe that he can get back on his feet. Just¡ keep an eye on things, yeah? You can react a whole lot faster to such things than I can.¡±
¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be ready to use my aura if need be. Still, you really think this is a good idea? What if he, you know, gets hurt? Badly?¡±
Rowan ignored the question for the moment because he honestly didn¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t want to outright say it, but Rowan could understand Marcus¡¯s worry.
Throughout the day, they got to see what the kingdom¡¯s darling hero was really made of, and none of Rowan¡¯s party members were particularly impressed. Milena, in particular, had stopped paying much attention to the fight long ago.
Now, she was still stuck with her nose in a thick book with a rather suspicious cover, one that Rowan was absolutely made of some kind of leather or, dare he say it ¡ª skin.
¡°What?¡± Milena noticed the way he was looking at her and curled her lips in a literally fanged grin. ¡°Like my book? Your mother-in-law got this grimoire for me. Neat, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m going to be so much more useful when I master some of the rituals in here.¡±
¡°I thought you chose to follow your particular advancement path because you knew rituals and such that you could use already?¡± Rowan asked. He was most definitely not changing the subject just because he didn¡¯t want to face the fact that his best friend might be in danger. It was completely down to his fascination with the [Shaman] class, of course.
Milena¡¯s smile dimmed a little and she turned back to her book, but she did answer. ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly have many. Sure, I could make temporary familiar bonds like I did in Felton¡¯s Mill, and I can summon Ancestral Spirit, and I do have a couple other rituals, but¡ Well, when we left our home, we didn¡¯t exactly take much with us. We couldn¡¯t.¡±
Rowan shot Marcus a look, and the other twin filled in for the unasked question. ¡°It would have been stealing. Some of the scrolls that [Shamans] use are unique. We couldn¡¯t exactly rob our own clan of important artifacts. The shield and staff were made for us, and the rituals my sister knows are relatively common.¡±
That didn¡¯t sound like the whole truth, not really. Rowan seriously doubted that a ritual which summoned the souls of one¡¯s ancestors was common, but he wasn¡¯t willing to press.
¡°Anyway, what you should be worrying aren¡¯t my rituals,¡± Milena said. ¡°Let me repeat Marcus¡¯ question: Is your friend going to make it?¡±
The question sent another stab of doubt through Rowan chest.
The facts of the matter remained. Blake was practically crippled, and most of his stats¡¯ effects were sealed off, leaving him with a physique barely on part with a strong uncommon tier. His mana was impacted too, losing some of its, for lack of better words, ¡®weight and volume.¡¯ His cards were also an issue none of them knew how to solve yet. And while he was coming along nicely with his sword skills, they still weren¡¯t great.
In spite of that¡
¡°Yes. Yes he will. He can do this.¡± Rowan chose to believe in his friend and reassure his party. It wasn¡¯t something he could pin down and define properly. However, that look in Blake¡¯s eyes? Well, he couldn¡¯t exactly ignore that.
¡ª
It didn¡¯t take them long after their little chat to draw close to the group led by the rare tier.
The creatures, according to the scouts, were hunting and scavenging for food. Before Dale left the group to inform them of their presence, the lizards had managed to bring down a couple other forest denizens too.
As such, when they finally cautiously drew close, the group of four were caught up in stuffing their faces with meat from wolf-like monsters.
This gave Blake and his temporary party a chance to strategize a little, which they were taking full advantage of in quiet whispers.
¡°I¡¯m going to charge straight at the leader, but if I get surrounded, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to handle them all.¡± Blake seemed pained to make that particular admission, but Rowan just saw it as progress.
If he could stop being stubborn and trying to handle everything himself, his friend might just survive the coming battles after a hopeful recovery.
¡°I can try and taunt all of them?¡± Greg offered, then quickly rushed to explain when the rest of his party shot him disbelieving looks. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with the rare, I know I can¡¯t, but my taunt¡¯s unlikely to affect it anyway.¡±
¡°That sounds like a great idea, then,¡± Fia quipped with a grin. ¡°That will draw all the uncommon lizards to us, and our intrepid leader can handle the rare on his own. Sound good?¡±
Blake looked like he was about to protest her nickname for him, but eventually smiled and nodded his head. ¡°Sounds good. Besides, that lets us keep our plan nice and simple. If we try for something complicated, we¡¯ll just mess it all up. Trust me.¡±
From where Rowan was standing and listening in, he had to fight the urge to chuckle. That particular comment sounded like it came from experience.
With that done, the group finally straightened and with what was starting to resemble familiarity, charged forward.
That sent an odd twinge through Rowan¡¯s chest.
Was it cruel of him, to force them to team up like that, knowing that the trio would not be able to continue fighting with Blake? He was watching in real time as the other hero won them over with his sincerity and natural charisma.
When it was time for them to part, and the time would come much sooner than anyone would like, would they be able to work smoothly with Blake¡¯s replacement?
The battle started with Greg¡¯s roar echoing through the wastes, and Rowan tore himself away from his downward spiral.
The lizard monsters startled from their meal, immediately whirling around to face the intruders. There was no hesitation as they went on the offensive, but there was a cruel gleam of something resembling intelligence in their eyes.
While the rare tier squared up and started charging straight for the appearing humans, the other three dispersed, going for a flanking maneuver that would let them take advantage of their leader¡¯s superior presence on the battlefield.
Of course, that was when Greg took advantage of his card effect, and three of the lizards stiffened before pivoting and heading straight for them.
Surprisingly, this was enough to actually give their leader pause, and in a show of definite cognitive improvement, the thing let loose a string of hisses at its subordinates.
When said hisses were ignored, rage lit up in its eyes, but whatever revenge or punishment it had planned were interrupted by Blake¡¯s advance. With a shout of his own, the hero¡¯s sword lit up and slashed towards the monster with surprising speed.
For once, however, Blake¡¯s speed failed him.
The hero¡¯s eyes widened as the lizard leaned away from the strike, its feet firmly planted even as the top half of its body jerked out of the way, tipping so far back a low-level human would not have been able to copy the move.
At the same time the lizard surged forward, its own claws shone menacingly as it took frantic swipes. Some of them landed on Blake¡¯s arm while one caught him right across the chest, and the hero stumbled back with a low hiss of pain.
The aura of light and the hero¡¯s armor might as well not have been there at all. The monster hadn¡¯t even aimed at particularly tattered sections of the hero¡¯s protections. Its claws simply sank right through the treated leather.
For a second, just a second, Rowan felt strongly tempted to ask Marcus to intervene. Then Blake¡¯s face was crumpled in a scowl, and the hero started to fight with a ferocity he¡¯d lacked before.
His sword left trails of light in the air as he slashed again and again. This time, he didn¡¯t aim for the monster¡¯s chest or even head. This time, his strikes were focused on its limbs, preventing the rare tier from taking free potshots when the hero missed.
And he did keep missing.
Blake¡¯s new strategy was to keep the lizard on the back foot, but it was all that it achieved. As Rowan watched, it quickly dawned on him exactly why the reptilian monster¡¯s movements seemed so familiar to him.
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It was like he was watching himself fight, back when he still heavily relied on the Feline Physique card. Rowan highly doubted it was the exact card the lizard was using, but even if it was adapted to its own reptilian body, the effects were similar. The lizard¡¯s ability to dodge and control even the minuscule movements of its own body were all honed to a fine edge.
The question was, what would Blake do about that?
The hero in question was already starting to pant. His exhaustion still wasn¡¯t bad enough to prevent him from fighting effectively, but it was definitely starting to slow him down a little. Enough, in fact, that the lizard¡¯s own attacks were starting to get through.
Shallow cuts were opened all along Blake¡¯s forearms, only to seal over and stop bleeding in a matter of seconds. The reptile noticed this too because its hisses grew from something resembling amusement to angry and agitated.
Obviously, its strategy of slowly bleeding Blake to death wasn¡¯t going to succeed easily, though Rowan privately thought it might still work out if it persisted.
Blake¡¯s regeneration still came at a cost, after all. Even if such ¡®miniscule¡¯ wounds could be mostly healed by the card¡¯s draw on ambient mana, there was a limit to such things. A very small amount of hero¡¯s own energy was still getting consumed.
Paired with his use of attacks and attempts to defend himself? Blake definitely had less stamina in this particular battle than the lizard did.
Apparently, Blake understood that just as well.
With a sudden hardening of his features, Blake drew back. He created a false opening and hoped to counterattack, but his opponent chose to pause as well instead of immediately pursuing. As they stared at each other, the two enemies took the opportunity to catch their breath.
And then, with a sudden glow that covered his entire body, Blake was moving again.
Blake raised his sword high, then brought it down with a two-handed brute swing that had Rowan wincing. The sword sang as it cut through the air, moving faster than Blake had managed since his awakening.
It still wasn¡¯t fast enough.
Blake was trying to cleave the lizard monster right through its left shoulder in an awkward blow, yet the creature easily twisted around the sword and surged forward.
Its eyes were glowing with malicious glee, claws stretched out and on a direct path to disembowel Blake. As the sharp implements started to break through his skin, the hero didn¡¯t even flinch. If anything, the smile on his face was downright vicious.
Flexing his arms, the hero changed the trajectory of his sword just so. The attack shifted and sailed through flesh and bone easily, slicing off the lizard¡¯s left leg at the hip.
Of course, the hero didn¡¯t come out of the exchange unscathed.
The monster¡¯s claws swiped over his stomach, and Rowan had to fight down his rising panic as he fully expected Blake¡¯s entrails to come tumbling out. Except, that didn¡¯t happen, much to the confusion of both Rowan and the lizard.
Confusion which Blake immediately punished with another blow that caught the monster in its side. It very nearly spilled the monster¡¯s own guts across the jungle floor, but it managed to pull back without dragging the sword with it.
It might have managed to lessen the severity of the hero¡¯s blow, but the monster lost its balance in the process, tumbling to the ground ¡ª its lack of limb preventing it from landing properly. Blake was there a second later, following up with another angry swing of his sword.
The monster tried to redirect the blow with its right forearm, but the hero¡¯s sword simply cleaved through that limb too, sending it off high into the air.
From there, what followed was the work of a butcher.
Blake¡¯s anger and the adrenaline of battle made him bring his sword down again and again, until the lizard was little more than a pile of mutilated flesh. Rowan wanted to step in, yet didn¡¯t.
There were tears glistening in the other hero¡¯s eyes, and Rowan was pretty sure that the adrenaline was only part of the equation of what was happening. He¡¯d deal with that, eventually, but for just then he directed his attention fully to his other [Knights].
The kids had done just as well as Blake. Better, really.
From the very start of their battle, they were calm and in control.
Greg engaged his skill, and then turned himself into the immobile fortress he was getting so good at pretending to be. His level of expertise was drastically different than when they had set out that morning.
He no longer needed to brace his shield fully on the ground. With lower monster numbers, he kept the shield outstretched, and each motion or twist of the weapon battered an enemy away. It was a lovely augmentation to the man¡¯s angry hammer blows when the lizards dared to try and sneak past him.
Fia was performing well too. Rowan had taken the chance after their last battle to ask if she would like to try a slightly different style next time she fought, just to see how she liked it.
She didn¡¯t seem to enjoy this kind of battling all that much, but she was flawlessly harassing one of the lizards with light, numerous jabs of her spear. Rowan didn¡¯t want to admit it, but that was the kind of stance that he could only pull off when he finally reached the uncommon tier.
Meanwhile, the last of the trio looked a bit underwhelming in comparison, at least if you just judged them on the flashiness of their attacks.
Desmond¡¯s weapon of choice was a great sword, and he was doing an admirable job of keeping Greg¡¯s other flank secured. The boy no longer went all out, trying to claim his own glory in battle.
Instead, when the lizard he had his eyes on finally ventured too far and got bonked, he surged forward and performed a textbook downward swing. Metal met limb, and the metal won.
From there, the swordsman was quick to masterfully dismantle the monster, all from the safety of his position behind a defender.
Fia¡¯s foe went down to a finely placed strike that skewered the monster through its eye, and the final lizard died shortly after a shield bash threw it to the ground. Before it could recover or dodge to the side, Greg took a step forward and brought the shield down without mercy.
The move reminded Rowan of a guillotine, especially since it had the exact same effect on the monster.
That left them with a clearing full of dead creatures, three panting knights, and a hero who was hobbling towards the ground with a pained yet victorious smile. Naturally, Rowan immediately chose to meet Blake halfway.
¡°Amazing work,¡± Rowan muttered, eyes rowing over the other hero¡¯s body and cataloging the fading injuries. ¡°How did you stop that blow to your stomach? I swear that thing¡¯s hand was halfway inside of you at one point.¡±
¡°I-I didn¡¯t,¡± Blake admitted with a wince. Then, at Rowan¡¯s disbelieving look, he gripped the front of his armor and pulled it up.
An angry, long red line was revealed. It was no longer bleeding, but now that Rowan knew what to look for, he immediately spotted the suspiciously dark stains that stretched all across the lower half of Blake¡¯s body.
¡°What the hell? Sit down, you idiot!¡± Rowan shouted immediately, using one hand to force his friend to do just that as he motioned to Olivia to come closer. ¡°You know you don¡¯t have my card running at full strength yet. What were you thinking?¡±
¡°I was thinking that if I embarrassed myself further you might just decide to put an end to things and kill the thing yourself.¡± Blake was clearly not regretting any of this, given that he was still smiling. Rowan really wanted to slap that smile right off his face, but the thought of hurting him further stopped him.
Then Olivia appeared, and Rowan¡¯s rapidly rising blood pressure calmed a little as she forced several potions down Blake¡¯s gullet.
For once, the alchemist looked just as confused and worried as Rowan was. ¡°How are your insides not outsides right now?¡± she demanded, still fussing over the hero yet unsure how else to help.
Rowan was wondering the same thing himself, at least until he spotted the faint glow around Blake¡¯s wound. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re using your light constructs to keep your wound shut, aren¡¯t you?¡±
The smile Blake shot him was dazzling. ¡°Yeah! I never thought about using them this way before! Honestly, this was great. I need you to find me another rare monster, because this fight was so much more useful than all the others, and¡¡±
The hero finally trailed off, noticing something on Rowan¡¯s face that was enough to give him pause. Good thing too because Rowan was just about ready to sock him in the face, consequences be damned.
In silence, the trio watched the wounds littering Blake¡¯s body slowly close and fade away like they¡¯d never even been there, including even the blow that would have disemboweled anyone else.
In that silence, Rowan stewed.
A part of him knew he was being ridiculous. He had admittedly done much worse, to the point where Olivia had wanted to kill him herself a couple times. Trying to crawl his way into a dragonic demon with caustic blood? Yes, not the smartest of moves anyone could make. He wasn¡¯t really the best person to be scolding Blake, and he knew it.
Still, at the time, there were things he put his trust in. His regeneration card, for one, and most importantly, Olivia and the twins.
The fact of the matter was, Rowan was one hundred percent certain that Blake would have tried to pull off that nonsense whether there was someone backing him up or not, and that¡¯s what set him off.
Rowan bent down, grabbed the other hero under his shoulder, and started dragging him away. ¡°Can you please give us just a couple of minutes, love?¡± He tried to keep his voice even and relatively chipper as he tugged, but he could tell he¡¯d failed just by the look Olivia shot him.
It was fine, he¡¯d talk to her later and explain.
Thankfully, none of the others made a fuss of things. His soldiers would not overstep, and the twins, while concerned, were busy praising the trio of recruits and offering them advice.
Marcus was particularly taken by Greg, and Rowan was pretty sure he considered the boy his apprentice at that point.
¡°Where are we going?¡± Blake asked quietly, the smile slipping a tad now that they were drawing away from the others.
¡°We need to talk. Well, I need to talk, you need to listen,¡± The Stalwart Hero growled, a part of him hoping Blake would try to contradict him.
Infuriatingly, he didn¡¯t. His only answer was a quiet ¡®okay¡¯.
When they were finally far enough away to avoid the ears of someone with a high perception stat Rowan stopped and turned to face his friend. For a long few moments, they just started at each other.
Then the Stalwart Hero gnashed his teeth and pulled his hand back, ready to throw a punch. Blake¡¯s didn¡¯t even waver.
Rowan spun around, burying his hand in a tree.
The loud noise of impact and the shower of splinters startled him for a second. Caught up in his anger, the hero had completely disregarded the effects of his stats, and a shudder of fear at just what might have happened if he had struck Blake flickered through him.
¡°Why are you doing this shit again?¡± Rowan asked quietly, back still turned. ¡°We talked about this. Fuck, you promised you were done with it. You fucking promised, Blake, long before we ended up here! You promised that you¡¯d ¡ª¡±
Of all the things he¡¯d expected his friend to do or say, Rowan didn¡¯t expect Blake to hug him. It was awkward and more than a little hesitant, but it did do the job of shutting him up.
¡°I¡¯m not, okay? I¡¯m not,¡± Blake whispered, quickly drawing away and raising his hands when Rowan turned around to glare at him.
¡°The hell are you saying you¡¯re not? Doing that to yourself just to kill a rare tier monster?¡± Blake demanded and crossed his arms over his chest to stop himself from lashing out again.
He wasn¡¯t typically violent. Even with all his rage, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to hurt Blake in the end. But if the other hero kept pushing him, Rowan really didn¡¯t know what would happen.
¡°Oh come off it.¡± This time, some of Blake¡¯s own anger showed. ¡°I didn¡¯t do a single thing you haven¡¯t already, and you can¡¯t tell me otherwise. I talked to Marcus and Milena, you know? I¡¯ve heard all about what you¡¯ve done with this regeneration card.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not working at full strength! What if it couldn¡¯t heal you quickly enough to keep you on your feet? What then?¡±
¡°Then you would have jumped in and helped me. Don¡¯t pretend you wouldn¡¯t have. I noticed the way you were looking at me. I was never in any danger, especially since Olivia is such a good alchemist. Or were you lying to me when you were bragging about her?¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t lying! And still! We could have been too late. If it got you and obliterated your brain or whatever, that¡¯s game over! No retries!¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I was protecting my head, you idiot! I didn¡¯t let it chew on my face, did I? I just let it get me in the stomach, that¡¯s all! I killed it right after!¡±
¡°Yes, and you almost ¡ª¡±
The whispers had become shouts by now, and Rowan knew they should stop. He knew what could happen in the wastes if you crossed certain lines. In spite of that, when a beast crashed through the trees behind him with a roar, he was still startled.
That didn¡¯t stop him from answering its anger with his own, a scream of frustration leaving him.
The monster was a bear, or at least one of the creatures that resembled one. It was also rather sizable and on its hind legs, it stood well above Rowan¡¯s own height.
That didn¡¯t help it when he buried his spear in its leg and obliterated it, sending the creature pitching forward. It also didn¡¯t help when he buried his fist in its stomach, showing the bear away from him and sending it crashing into a nearby tree.
It also didn¡¯t help when the angry hero descended on it, spear flashing and carving through limbs until the monster was reduced to a whimpering pile of fur that was barely clinging onto life.
¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± Rowan snapped, looking back at a sheepish Blake who didn¡¯t look sure whether he should stay or bolt. ¡°Going to finish it off or what?¡±
¡°Urgh, this reminds of the way I leveled up the first time,¡± the other hero grumbled, affecting levity as he strolled up to the bear.
¡°Yes, well, it¡¯s rare. Probably higher level rare. I¡¯m not wasting it just for you to feel better right now,¡± Rowan hissed, prompting Blake to roll his eyes.
In spite of that, the other hero did as he was told and stabbed his sword into the monster¡¯s heart. For a moment he looked startled, then a smile actually swept over his features.
¡°What now?¡± Killing the monster had helped, so Rowan¡¯s voice was hallway to civil once more.
¡°I leveled up,¡± Blake said.
Chapter 62: Chasing Light
There was a lot of grumbling, complaining, and even a little bit of cursing, but Rowan managed to drag Blake away from the scene of the slaughter and back to the main group.
Only for a little while, though.
Olivia was the first to notice them and walked up with a questioning glance pointed toward the trees that the two heroes had left.
¡°Can we make camp?¡± Rowan¡¯s voice was caught between a growl and a plea.
She took one more glance at the treeline before turning her attention back to the now-bloody Rowan and Blake. ¡°Fine. But you¡¯re telling me everything once we get back to the city.¡±
The parting kiss Olivia gave Rowan loosened the final bit of ice and anger that had been gripping his heart.
When he dragged Blake away from the rest of the group for the second time, Rowan was far more gentle. He also didn¡¯t forget to ask the scouts to fan out around them and keep any monsters from bothering them if they got loud again.
That may have limited their ability to monitor nearby threats and left the main camp with less forewarning, but be it the first signs of arrogance or perhaps even simple confidence in his party¡¯s abilities, Rowan wasn¡¯t worried about his army.
Some ten minutes of stomping and a short encounter with a monster that seriously overestimated itself, Blake and Rowan were once more alone.
This time, they weren¡¯t in a clearing, and there wasn¡¯t even a particularly notable landmark around. All that surrounded them were the trees, the gentle sound of leaves crinkling in the wind, and a nice little spot made of gnarled roots where they could sit.
Rowan collapsed on the spot first and threw his head back, letting it thud against the tree¡¯s hard bark. Blake hesitated, but ultimately did the same.
¡°So¡ you leveled up, huh?¡± Rowan ventured, all of a sudden reluctant to delve straight into the subject he¡¯d dragged him out to tackle.
¡°Yeah! Felt amazing, really. Level fifty-seven! I swear I can even feel some of my stats returning, if I really focus.¡± The grin threatened to sprain Blake¡¯s cheek muscles if he kept it up much longer. Blake had hope.
At that admission, Rowan briefly brought up his own status. His eye twitched when he saw the erratic behavior of his stat screen. The pluses next to his stats would glitch and go up, then quickly revert back to normal.
Blake blabbered on. ¡°And one of my cards! It¡¯s not really back, yet, but if I push just right, I can get some of its effects.¡±
¡°Huh,¡± Rowan grunted. ¡°What does it do?¡±
¡°Body reinforcement, but active. It gives way more of a boost than a passive card might, but it draws on your mana pool. So, you know, tradeoffs.¡±
¡°Huh, if it¡¯s useful enough for you to use it, I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s pretty great. Epic tier, right?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Nah. It¡¯s just rare.¡± The look of pure shock Rowan shot him made Blake guffaw. ¡°What? Did you think they¡¯d just stuff me full of epic tier cards?¡±
Rowan scratched his cheek awkwardly and looked away. ¡°Kind of, yeah.¡±
¡°I mean, they did help me upgrade all my class cards to epic, so there¡¯s that. I even got another epic card on top of that myself. But yeah, apparently letting me get some cards myself was meant to ¡®build character¡¯ or whatever,¡± Blake snorted, and even Rowan smiled.
¡°Probably cheapened out at the last second.¡±
¡°Probably.¡±
A silence stretched, and this time, it felt a tiny bit more comfortable than before. Just talking and joking like they used to put Rowan at ease.
Of course, he knew better than most that just because Blake was willing to do all that didn¡¯t mean the problem he was afraid of wasn¡¯t lurking around the first corner.
¡°Hey Blake, remember when we met?¡± Rowan asked, nostalgia and a healthy dose of regret slipping into his voice.
Blake snorted, but Rowan could hear the smile in his voice. ¡°Yeah. The pitiful introvert, lurking at the edge of the class after moving, too awkward to talk to anybody.¡±
¡°Oh please,¡± Rowan scoffed, unable to keep the annoyance entirely out of his voice. ¡°Not my fault most of them were looking at me like I was about to beat them up and steal their lunch money. At their age, too!¡±
¡°Well, you were always kind of tall and blocky, weren¡¯t you? Real miracle you managed to snag yourself a fianc¨¦e before I did.¡±
¡°Yeah, well, vision of beauty, why haven¡¯t you proposed to your Treagon yet or whatever? Wait, stop changing the subject! Remember how we became friends?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not just going to ask a girl who probably doesn¡¯t even want to be around me to marry me, Rowan,¡± Blake said. ¡°And yeah, I remember, what¡¯s your point?¡±
¡°Blake¡ She doesn¡¯t act like someone who doesn¡¯t want to be around you. Anyway, I¡¯ll never forget that day either, even if what you did was¡ most definitely not smart.¡±
Rowan could perfectly recall the day, as he just said. He was a horribly awkward transfer student. Blake was the plucky center of the class. And the idiots that cornered him in the bathroom? Well, they were idiots, convinced Rowan was some kind of standoffish rogue planning their downfall or whatever.
He never did get to the bottom of what kind of class hierarchy he¡¯d threatened with his appearance.
All that mattered was that he had been cornered by four surprisingly buff guys, and he wasn¡¯t skilled at or predisposed to violence. They¡¯d tried to take advantage of that, and if Blake hadn¡¯t intervened, Rowan would have limped away sporting more than a few bruises and fractures.
As it was, Blake was the one with the bruises, but the idiots were definitely the ones who ended up with fractures. Never before that day had Rowan seen someone so utterly enraged over what they perceived was blatant injustice.
It was only later that he learned that was Blake¡¯s default response to that kind of situation: if possible, assist, then strongly discourage perpetrators from ever trying that kind of nonsense again.
It was more than a personal belief in justice or some such. It was a compulsion.
¡°I get that you¡¯re trying to draw parallels here, but there aren¡¯t any, Rowan. I beat up some bullies and got a little hurt, but I don¡¯t regret it. Likewise, it¡¯s not like I risked my life to kill that lizard either. Some pain and blood, sure, I risked those. But not death.¡±
¡°And how long before you start slipping again? How long before you try and pull shit like walking up to an actual, armed gang and trying to get them to leave the people they¡¯re beating half to death alone, huh? Or, I don¡¯t know, how long before you charge into the wastes again without a plan?¡± Rowan asked.
At that, finally, Blake froze and shut up, posture tense and lips pressed tightly together. ¡°I was just trying to help.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the problem!¡± Rowan shouted, then caught himself and bit his lip until he tasted blood. More calmly, he continued. ¡°Blake, this is the stuff we forced you into therapy over. You¡¯re not invincible, not even now. You can¡¯t just run around trying to hero everyone¡¯s lives into perfection.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it our job? Isn¡¯t that what we¡¯re supposed to do? What we were summoned for?¡±
¡°No, we were summoned to kill the demon king when he shows up. And yes, we need to kill the legend tier demons before then, but not at the cost of your life.¡±
¡°And what if we¡¯re too late? What if we take too long, and things get worse?¡± Blake was whispering again, and Rowan could easily recognize the way he¡¯d turned in on himself, eyes slightly glossy.
¡°Tell me, did you do the exercise we came up with? Did you calm down, assess the pros and cons? Weigh what you want to do versus other potential solutions? Just, give yourself time to think, before doing something reckless?¡±
The silence was telling, as was the morose ¡®no¡¯ that broke it.
¡°And would you do the same thing now, what with everything that¡¯s happened?¡± The question was at least somewhat cruel. Rowan just hoped it would drive the point home.
¡°So many people died because of me, Rowan,¡± Blake confessed, drawing his legs up to his chest and pressing his head against his knees. When his voice came out again, it was muffled. ¡°So many. I knew them, you know? The officers, a lot of the soldiers, too. And they¡¯re now dead. Because of me.¡±
The only reason Blake didn¡¯t know them all by name, Rowan was betting, was because he didn¡¯t get to spend much time with them. Blake was heroic like that.
Rowan was trying, and failing, to get to know most of his soldiers. Some deep part of him was yelling that he would be the one to lead them to deaths. He didn¡¯t need their faces haunting him in his sleep alongside all the other night terrors that struck whenever Olivia wasn¡¯t with him.
With a heavy heart, and feeling like a manipulative asshole, Rowan twisted the knife. ¡°And what if you party members died? Actually, how would they feel if you died? You can¡¯t pull off suicidal shit like that anymore, Blake. You just can¡¯t.¡±
Rowan ignored the sobs that slowly picked up and hit his head against the tree again. The pain wasn¡¯t much, but it kept his head clear, and it felt like a tiny bit of self-flagellation. He let go of the spear a little.
For the first time in a long while, he sincerely missed Kayla. Everything about her. The good, the bad, and the ugly. He¡¯d probably welcome even her new self.
Their relationship was complicated, to say the least. Whereas Blake had adopted him relatively late, Kayla was with him from childhood. Both of them were messed up in their own ways. Somehow, they kept each other together.
Rowan really should have known that things would fall apart the second they were taken out of their familiar, comfy reality and thrust into a whole new world.
¡°Just do better, please?¡± Rowan asked quietly and threw his arm around Blake¡¯s shoulders, ignoring the way they were shaking.
Blake wasn¡¯t suicidal.
Blake didn¡¯t reach for self-harm.
He wasn¡¯t even stupid.
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The problem with Blake, as his therapist eventually told Rowan and Kayla, was that he saw no inherent value in himself. His childhood, messed up as it was, had left him convinced that there was something he needed to constantly make up for. To atone for.
So, jumping off a bridge if it meant potentially saving someone from drowning? Sure, sign him up! It was an extremely messed up and dangerous attitude even in a relatively ¡®safe¡¯ world. Out in the demonic wastes? Rowan didn¡¯t regret what he was doing for a second.
It hurt him. He wanted to stop. But he didn¡¯t regret it.
It wasn¡¯t like Kayla was conveniently around to fill in for him.
The thought of the individual in question sent his thoughts spiraling in a different direction.
Kayla. The ever perfect. Ever ready to jump down the throat of anyone who doubted her. A perfect mirror for Blake, with completely opposite needs and desires. If Blake wanted to help people, Kayla wanted attention and control.
All of it. So her life could never spiral into a nightmare again.
In a way, Rowan trusted her implicitly with Blake¡¯s wellbeing exactly for that very reason. According to the drunk ramblings of the woman herself, she adored him. Wanted him all for herself. When she was at her lowest, he was always there to help.
No matter that he came to school with more bruises than she did.
¡°Fuck. When did it all go to hell, dammit?¡± Rowan hissed, thumping his head against the tree again.
He didn¡¯t expect an answer. He got one anyway. ¡°When we showed up here, I guess?¡± Blake¡¯s voice trembled with both a sob and a laugh.
Rowan wasn¡¯t quite so sure. Maybe it was the third or the thirteenth time Blake and Kayla broke up over his recklessness before inevitably getting back together? The queen bee and her loyal knight, stuck like glue throughout their education all the way up to college.
He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to say that out loud.
¡°Well, it certainly seems to have helped bring out your bad side,¡± he said instead, fully expecting the shove he got in return for the comment.
¡°Oh really, mister perfect hero? What about you, then? What deeply messed up side of you did this place bring out?¡± Blake quipped.
Rowan decided to indulge Blake¡¯s blatant attempt to direct attention away from his issues. ¡°There were no ¡®messed up¡¯ parts of me for this world to bring out, Blake. I do, however, now have a myriad of traumas and mental scarring that¡¯s unlikely to heal.¡±
He¡¯d meant to say it jokingly. It came out more bitter than anything.
It took Blake another few moments before he asked his next question, and it wasn¡¯t anything Rowan expected. ¡°Are you planning to leave, if, I mean, when, we win? Are you going to return back home?¡±
¡°I thought we touched upon this discussion before? Well, to answer your question¡ no, I don¡¯t think I will. I mean, I have a fianc¨¦e now. I¡¯m actually starting to like this world, at least when it doesn¡¯t suck as hard as it currently does. Besides, I was made a noble. Someone¡¯s gotta take care of Rest¡¯s Remorse.¡±
¡°That someone doesn¡¯t have to be you.¡±
¡°Well, what about you smarty pants? When we kill the demon king and you get the choice, are you going back to the life we used to have?¡±
It said a lot that Blake didn¡¯t answer for long, quiet minutes. When he finally did, he just sounded tired. ¡°I don¡¯t know. If you asked me just a couple weeks ago, I¡¯d have said no. Now¡¡±
¡°Now, everything sucks, and you just want it all to be over with?¡±
¡°More or less, yeah. My system is still messed up, but I guess we¡¯re fixing that. My party members are all up in arms, I got my entire army killed, and I can¡¯t even feel the presence of my goddess properly anymore. It¡¯s so weak now. I can¡¯t hear her voice, or feel her guidance. It¡¯s just gone.¡±
Selfishly, Rowan considered hindering Blake¡¯s attempts to recover his class if that meant his connection to the goddess of light would remain severed. He didn¡¯t press the subject, though. ¡°So, does that mean you¡¯re leaning towards going back after all?¡±
We¡¯ll see, I guess. Once everything¡¯s done. Or at least, once this stretch of my journey¡¯s done. Hells unholy, do I wish I¡¯d just listened to my goddess and stayed in the capital longer. I could have actually done something useful, instead of ending up like this.¡±
¡°You mentioned that before. What does she actually want you to do that¡¯s so important?¡± Rowan managed to ask the question casually, without any fidgeting. He was inordinately proud of that achievement.
¡°There are heretics in the capital. I don¡¯t know how my goddess found out about them, but we intercepted a couple of their couriers and even busted some of their meetings. They¡¯re always too quick for me to properly pin down, though. They have powerful classes on their side.¡±
Rowan shot him a disbelieving look. If there was someone capable of standing up to a near fully realized hero, then he imagined the king would be up in arms over it too, rather than sending one of his best trump cards away. ¡°Really?¡±
Blake¡¯s cheeks flushed, and Rowan could swear he spotted shame in his expression as his friend ducked his head, breaking their eye contact.
¡°Well, they¡¯re either strong, or, um, I was weak? I mean, I know my heart card is good. And they guided me through the tiers to the class the king wanted me to have, so there¡¯s no way my prep was inferior to the heathens. Still¡ seeing you, and your party, it kind of feels like I wasn¡¯t doing all that well?¡±
Rowan thought back to watching Blake fight. His assumption was that Blake¡¯s stats and cards, not to mention class, let him perform more than a little better in combat. Still, if that was the extent of his skill, then the Stalwart Hero really couldn¡¯t say much to make his friend feel better.
¡°Well, when we get you all fixed up, we can have some practice bouts? Just, who taught you to just stand there and take all the punishment? Because let me tell you, they need to be fired. It¡¯s like they gave you basic combat training on how to swing a sword and then shipped you off to level.¡±
Blake once again ducked his face out of view, making Rowan¡¯s eyes narrow dangerously. ¡°Um, well, they kind of did do that. I mean, it¡¯s on me. Isn¡¯t it? That I couldn¡¯t figure things out on my own from there?¡±
With gritted teeth, Rowan spoke. ¡°No, Blake, it¡¯s not on you. I¡¯ve had what certainly felt like months of training. I know it wasn¡¯t, but Kayden almost literally hammered the basics into me. How to move. How to breathe. Handling all the spear stances. That¡¯s not something you can just pick up on your own!¡±
Maybe Rowan was wrong, and all of that was something people expected heroes to just know. Still, the baron¡¯s attitude and approach to his training suggested otherwise. And if that was the case, then why was Blake¡¯s training so badly fumbled?
Even Rowan was treated better!
¡°Maybe they were in a hurry,¡± Blake supplied, even if his voice was plaintive and clearly dubious of his own suggestion.
It was a minor miracle, really. Still, to know that Rowan¡¯s constant complaints about the king were finally starting to chip away at Blake¡¯s natural predisposition to trust people no matter what the circumstances.
¡°There¡¯s something there, Blake. I mean, and I do hate to bring this up, but Kayla left you with a warning, didn¡¯t she? What exactly did she tell you when you last saw her?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure. I-I wasn¡¯t really listening properly. She said something about some kind of scheme. About how I needed to be more careful, and that I shouldn¡¯t trust Harold, the king. Maybe I should have listened to her a bit better, but she was acting off since our arrival. I could barely recognize her.¡±
Rowan did his best to rack his brains, thinking back to before their arrival to their new world. Were Blake and Kayla going steady, or were they in one of their off periods? He wanted to curse when he realized they¡¯d broken up again just a couple of days before it all went down.
Typically, they would have been back together by the end of the week, and then Rowan wouldn¡¯t have to worry about them for months. Clearly, the timing of their abduction was highly inconvenient.
¡°You can¡¯t remember anything else? Nothing at all?¡±
¡°No, sorry. My goddess wanted me to continue leveling up and hunting for the heretics, so I didn¡¯t really pay attention to much else.¡±
The admission was another strike against Sarina¡¯s agenda, whatever it was. Really, the more Rowan learned about the goddess, the more he became convinced she needed to be replaced yesterday. Her spot in the pantheon was better off in someone else¡¯s hands.
¡°Dammit, Blake, when the hero chosen by the goddess of secrets tried to tell you something, no matter how you feel on the subject, you listen. You can overanalyze whether it¡¯s a trap or whatever later, but first, you listen.¡±
¡°I get it, I get it! I¡¯ll do better.¡±
¡°I sure hope so.¡± Rowan filled those words with as much grouchiness and sarcasm as he could fit.
Overall, though, Rowan was satisfied with how the conversation had gone. If he could just keep Blake from doing stupidly reckless things in the future, he¡¯d count himself a winner. Even if his fried was chronically incapable of distrusting suspicious individuals.
As such, Rowan forced himself back to his feet, twinging a little when the stiffness brought on by their awkward sitting position made itself known to his muscles. To his relief, it didn¡¯t even take a full second for his regeneration card to kick in, and then the pain melted away.
¡°Want to head back? The others are probably waiting for us, and it is getting pretty late, all told,¡± Rowan offered, signaling that he was willing to drop all the uncomfortable subjects for the time being.
He expected his friend to jump on the opportunity. Blake always hated when Rowan or Kayla pulled one of their interventions, but this time, he actually shook his head no.
¡°Actually, I was hoping you¡¯d help me test something,¡± Blake admitted as he stood up. ¡°It¡¯s true that I haven¡¯t been using my heart card all that well. I always kept to the basics of conjuring weapons and armor with it, but it occurred to me that I don¡¯t have to strictly use it only for that today.¡±
Rowan scoffed. Of course, he wasn¡¯t saying no because he wanted to talk more. At least he couldn¡¯t fault his fellow hero for what he was trying to do. Frankly, anything that would help him stay safer was a win in Rowan¡¯s book.
¡°What did you have in mind? Want to test some kind of a new shield or something?¡± One could hope, and Rowan certainly was doing that.
¡°No. I actually want you to block a couple of my strikes, then I¡¯ll tell you before I test out my theory, and you can tell me if it worked?¡±
¡°Typical that you¡¯re already planning out new attacks. I told you that you need to stop being so reckless in battle. I did tell you that, didn¡¯t I? That constant charging in won¡¯t cut it?¡±
¡°Yes, Rowan, you told me. Now, are you going to help me or not?¡±
Instead of a verbal reply, Rowan took up his position opposite Blake, making the best of the space they had between the thickly clustered trees.
The other hero took a deep, centering breath, drew his sword, and attacked. Just like before, it wasn¡¯t anything to write home about.
With Blake¡¯s level up, the attacks came more quickly and carried more power behind every swing, but that was it. Rowan was still easily keeping ahead of the assault, each strike blocked in almost lazy motions thanks to his dexterity and strength.
Blake gave up after about a minute of relentless strikes, jumped lightly on the balls of his feet, then nodded. Rowan took that as the signal and squared up a bit more tightly, actually paying attention.
If Blake did somehow pull off some ludicrously powerful attack, then Rowan wasn¡¯t going to let himself get run through just because he was getting cocky.
As it turned out, that was a good thing.
Blake¡¯s entire body light up as his mana wound around his limbs and torso. The only part of him that wasn¡¯t covered was his head, a fact that Rowan immediately took note of. If this were a real battle, that¡¯s where he¡¯d aim first.
Then Blake was moving, and it was unlike anything the hero had done before.
Rowan¡¯s eyes widened a fraction when he realized that the speed of the attack now almost approached something that could threaten him when he wasn¡¯t fully committed.
Thanks to his previous caution, he didn¡¯t let the strike slip past his guard. Likewise, that was the only reason his spear wasn¡¯t launched out of his grip.
The strike was powerful in a way none of Blake¡¯s previous attacks were. It carried far more strength than the hero was supposed to be capable of bringing to bear, to the point where the entire length of Rowan¡¯s spear quivered with a sonorous sound of echoing metal.
Blake¡¯s face was lit up in pure glee, and then the hero¡¯s limbs blurred again, striking again and again. Slowly, Rowan¡¯s own lips turned up in a smile, then he broke out into laughter.
They were sparring. Actually sparring, rather than Rowan taking time out of his day to indulge or look after his recovering friend. His happiness was such that he tapped into his stats more fully, pushing back at Blake¡¯s progress to see how well whatever his new trick was would hold up.
Thankfully, the trick held up wonderfully. Blake even managed to push himself a tiny bit more, speeding up his strikes and upping their ferocity.
Of course, that¡¯s when weapons clashed, rang out, and Blake¡¯s elbow snapped.
Rowan had to quickly abort his own retaliatory strike, and only managed due to his recently bump in perception and dexterity thanks to all of the recruits leveling up some and investing their stats.
¡°What was that? How did you manage to break your own arm?¡± Rowan demanded immediately, stabbing his spear into the ground and reaching out to inspect the limb.
Blake, meanwhile, was staring at it like it had betrayed him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Really. I promise. I kind of twisted it too far? I guess I should admit that I wasn¡¯t exactly using my body stats to manage all of that.¡±
Rowan wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the admission. So, his answer was simple. ¡°Explain.¡±
¡°It¡¯s my heart card. I mean, if I can manipulate light, and create all this armor, then why can I sort of force my body to move the way I want? It¡¯s a bit like I was piloting myself inside a robot suit. I mean, my heart card feels like a perfect extension of myself, you know? It¡¯s so easy to use it.¡±
Rowan did not, in fact, know what that was like. His heart card was passive in nature, but that was neither here nor there.
¡°Then how did you get hurt?¡±
¡°I twisted my arm awkward, as I said. It couldn¡¯t quite stretch the way I wanted it to, but my light armor didn¡¯t care, and¡¡± Blake motioned awkwardly at the hand Rowan was already helping him secure in a fixed position.
He didn¡¯t have a sling handy, but he could find plenty of dried-up looking vines around, even if most of them were covered in thorns.
Rowan¡¯s feelings were dancing somewhere between fondness and exasperation. In spite of that, he couldn¡¯t quite stop himself from smiling in tandem with his friend. His happiness was practically radiating off of him in waves.
¡°Just be more careful, okay? Still, I have to say I¡¯m proud of you. That¡¯s amazing! I wonder what it will let you do in tandem with your stats once they¡¯re recovered.¡±
¡°I know, right? Still! This means I¡¯m no longer useless. You can let me fight rare tier enemies without hovering, and maybe we can even go after an epic!¡±
Rowan¡¯s heart twinged at the way Blake once again discarded his own value so casually, and he wasn¡¯t quite sure he¡¯d be willing to let him tag along on an epic hunt just yet, but the outlook of Blake¡¯s recovery was looking brighter and brighter by the day.
And that, at least, was a good thing.
Chapter 63: Tense Dealings
The way back was a slow sauntering affair, mostly because Rowan refused to push anyone harder than was necessary.
Besides, no one really cared about their glacial progress towards the city. The radiance of Blake¡¯s mood was infectious. Even Olivia, predisposed towards disliking the man, couldn¡¯t keep a smile off her face.
Granted, with how she kept sneaking glances at Rowan, that was mostly down to the fact that Rowan was also sporting a smile. Rowan still counted that as a win. So long as there was some kind of connection between her and Blake, however indirect, Rowan was pretty sure he could finally get the two to become reliable allies, if not good friends.
A link, so to say, between his old life and his new reality.
He didn¡¯t want to be forced to choose between them. Partially because he knew exactly what his answer was going to be. The truth of the matter was that Olivia would win ten times out of ten if it really came down to it, even if that made him feel more than just a little conflicted at times.
There was something to be said about that. About choosing a future he so badly desired over a past he sometimes feared wouldn¡¯t be enough to keep a friendship alive. A fear that started gnawing at Rowan every time his old friend started invoking the name of his goddess.
Still, he¡¯d be damned if he wasn¡¯t going to do his very best to keep both of them in his life. He just needed to make sure that no frustrating nobles or gods could sink their claws too deeply into Blake. And he could do that, if his friend let him offer up the help he needed.
For the time being, Rowan had to focus on a much simpler task: getting them back to the city as quietly as he could manage.
There was no real way to hide the passage of six entire parties, especially when they contained so many important figures, but that didn¡¯t mean he needed to cause enough of a fuss that even Blake¡¯s party members would catch wind of it immediately.
The good news was that their way back wasn¡¯t mired by the annoyance of dealing with monsters that gave little to no experience.
The scouts did their jobs perfectly, allowing the tired knights to avoid any more combat encounters that could quickly grow tricky in their current states. Rowan or one of his party members could always step in and assist them, of course, but he was trying to teach them a valuable lesson here.
They needed to be able to take care of themselves, out in the field.
So, with hopes of getting to rest soon, they charted their way through the wastes, and then slipped into the city.
¡ª
Rowan was feeling pretty proud of himself when they slipped into the manor¡¯s back entrance, especially since they¡¯d managed to avoid the vast bulk of the crowds traveling the newly minted city so they could get home before the rapidly approaching twilight.
He asked one of the scouts who had grown up in Rest¡¯s Remorse to lead them through the back alleys typically familiar only to the locals, and had even dispersed most of their entourage, leaving only one party of soldiers to accompany them.
It wasn¡¯t like the threat of assassins was particularly notable after everything they¡¯d cleaned house. He was even feeling proud of how few servants they encountered on their way to the main staircase that would let them access the higher floors.
Rowan¡¯s pride didn¡¯t last. Almost as soon as they reached the staircase, they were met by a trio of glowering women who had posted up right there in the middle of the hall, prominently blocking their way up.
¡°Where have you been? Bed¡¯s empty! No note! You could have been abducted! We were out of our minds with worry and do you care?¡± the princess shouted, advancing with intent and menace. ¡°You could have died! You could have been ¡ª¡±
She cut off abruptly mid-sniffle, finger poking into Blake¡¯s chest, as though realizing, for the very first time, that she had an audience.
Rowan couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Please, do continue,¡± he said politely, motioning for her to do just that with a beatific smile.
Of course, the only thing that did was make her switch targets. ¡°And you! I know you had something to do with this. I knew you were a bad influence on our hero from day one, but I really didn¡¯t think you¡¯d go as far as to encourage such stupid recklessness.¡±
Rowan strongly suspected she would have advanced on him too. Fortunately, his brave alchemist stepped right in her path, imposing herself between him and the crazed princess.
The princess glowered in response, but Olivia¡¯s only response was an unimpressed sniff. Something seemed to pass between them, an unsaid acknowledgment or something similar borne of an odd level of familiarity, before the princess actually backed off.
¡°We are leaving. I am not going to stay here a minute longer if it means having to trust your life with this rabble,¡± she bit the word out so angrily Rowan actually winced a little, and even Blake frowned.
For a moment, Rowan thought he might admonish her, but then she whirled around and grabbed his hand, trying to drag him away.
Much to the princess¡¯s shock, the hero didn¡¯t budge.
¡°We¡¯re not leaving, Amanda. And you are not putting my life in anyone¡¯s hands. I am. I know Rowan, and I trust him. He¡¯s already helped me make a significant step forward, or have you not noticed? I can access more of my stats now, and even my deck is starting to recover.¡±
A whole host of emotions fluttered across the princess¡¯s features, most of them positive. Most notable among them were happiness and relief, but there was also something ugly lurking there too. She then composed herself remarkably quickly.
¡°So, we owe your friend a favor for helping you kick-start your recovery,¡± the princess said. Rowan really thought she didn¡¯t have to say the word with such distaste. ¡°Very well. I will make sure we pay him back. However, that doesn¡¯t mean we should stay here. I keep telling you this, but it really is unwise for us.¡±
¡°No, Amanda. Just no. I like it here. It¡¯s not even just because of Rowan. I¡¯ve met his party and some of Rowan¡¯s recruits too, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I want to stay here for the duration of my recovery. Maybe longer, too. It would be easier to organize a joint expedition if I do that.¡±
Blake¡¯s refusal to comply was apparently shocking enough to temporarily paralyze the princess. Right after, however, Rowan saw the way she sent them calculating looks. He recognized that look, that of a person wondering just how far they could push.
She was also obviously unhappy that their little spat had an audience. Unfortunately for her, Rowan wouldn¡¯t bow out and leave Blake alone. Something told him she was pretty confident that she could bully him into acquiescence if Rowan did that.
At least if he could secure a solid promise from Blake to stay, he could trust in his tendency to prioritize promises over all else.
¡°Blake, we need to return to our town. We need to show people there that you¡¯re okay, and that we¡¯re setting up another expedition to try again. We can¡¯t just stay here,¡± the princess said. This time her voice was calmer, cajoling.
It still didn¡¯t work.
A brief flicker of pain did radiate out of their bond, the bond which Rowan had done his best to suppress and ignore for the duration of their outing, but Blake didn¡¯t back down. ¡°That sort of thing can be arranged using missives. It¡¯s not just that I don¡¯t want to go back right now, Amanda. I can¡¯t.¡±
That admission, more than anything, seemed to jolt the princess out of her insistence. It was as he watched the pain and hurt slip into her guarded expression that Rowan was finally forced to acknowledge a simple fact.
She cared.
She actually, genuinely cared.
Now, he wasn¡¯t exactly willing to bet on how long the princess had been nursing feelings towards the hero she was accompanying. Perhaps, at the start, she approached him with less than sincere intentions. But somewhere along the line, Blake¡¯s natural charisma and genuinely good nature must have won her over. Rowan had seen that kind of thing happen plenty of times before, but he had no clue what to do about it then and there.
His eyes flickered instead over to the other two women.
The de Vort woman wasn¡¯t easy to read. She had mostly chosen to follow the princess¡¯s lead for the duration that Rowan had known them. However, there was something in her eyes. Even if Rowan couldn¡¯t call it love, it was, at the very least, fondness.
The Treagon, of course, did not need to be mentioned. The woman was quiet and withdrawn, but her care for the hero in her party was more than apparent. She looked stricken now, like she wished she could reassure him.
Rowan wanted to groan loudly and walk away from the scene. It was a harem situation after all, and he was stuck watching Blake play it out.
¡°Very well,¡± the princess said at long last, taking a literal and metaphorical step back. ¡°Perhaps we can stay for a little while longer. However, I would like to request a formal meeting with the noble of this domain.¡±
Her eyes snapped onto Rowan, then slid down to Olivia, daring her to say no.
¡°That can be arranged,¡± Rowan¡¯s alchemist quipped, and he had to fight really hard not to feel like he was just betrayed. ¡°Would you like to meet tomorrow morning? Perhaps first thing in the morning in fact. It wouldn¡¯t do to delay.¡±
Rowan could hear the smirk in Olivia¡¯s voice, and he couldn¡¯t deny that he loved the way the princess stiffened before reluctantly agreeing. After living under the same roof as the stuck up royal for so long, there was no way Olivia was unaware of the fact that she didn¡¯t like waking up early.
That was the clue he needed to realize that the game was very much on.
¡°In that case, I believe it is best that we retire for the time. Would you not agree as well, Blake?¡± The princess switched her attention back to the hero, and this time, he could do little but nod.
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With one last glance at Rowan and a hesitant smile, Blake was practically dragged up the stairs. Something told Rowan that it was unlikely that he¡¯d get to sleep in his bed alone that night, even if the Stalwart Hero had no real clue how his friend felt on the subject.
It was definitely not his former relationship with Kayla that was holding him back.
The two were a lot of things. Friends, lovers, more, and all in between. But, Rowan never could figure out if they had actual, sincere romantic feelings for each other. There was far too much codependency and obsession tied up in that relationship for it to ever truly be healthy.
Then again, the irony and hypocrisy are not lost on me. Rowan chuckled, be it at his thoughts or at what he¡¯d watched play out, he didn¡¯t know.
He understood very well that his feelings for Olivia were definitely several levels above regular affection and somewhere in the ballpark of ¡®I-need-her-to-sleep-and-function.¡¯ However, she wasn¡¯t just a coping mechanism for him.
Rowan made sure to take a long, hard look at his feelings. The warmth brought to him from a mere mention of her name or a stray thought in her direction was sincere. He loved her. He well and truly did. If he also happened to need her, well, it was a happy coincidence that they got along so well.
¡°Do you think there¡¯s going to be trouble?¡± Rowan asked his fianc¨¦e, stepping forward to entwine his fingers with hers.
¡°Oh, I know there will be. You can¡¯t deal with royalty without them causing some kind of a fuss, after all. We¡¯ll just have to be ready for whatever nonsense she throws our way tomorrow. Unless, of course, you want to kick them all out? We could do that.¡±
¡°I thought you were starting to like Blake?¡± Rowan questioned, and there was no accusation in his voice. He was genuinely curious about what his fianc¨¦e thought about his best friend.
¡°I say this with the utmost reluctance, but yes. He¡¯s not as bad as I feared that he would be. He hasn¡¯t done anything egregious so far, and he does earnestly consider you a friend. So, for now, that¡¯s enough. I would still kick him out though because that would solve all our current problems neatly.¡±
In other words, she didn¡¯t like Blake enough to let him continue inconveniencing her family. Rowan could work with that.
¡°Thank you, for putting up with them for me,¡± he mumbled against her hair as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
The flush on her cheeks brought a smile to his lips.
¡°Stop teasing me! Let¡¯s just get something to eat and then finally head to bed for the day. I¡¯m not going to tackle her royal pain in the ass without enough sleep.¡±
Naturally, Rowan had absolutely nothing against that plan.
¡ª
The next day found the Stalwart Hero sitting across from Blake and his party in one of the rooms dedicated to such meetings within his fancy manor.
On his left sat the baroness in all her scowling glory, her husband on the other side of her. On his right sat Olivia, and if anyone noticed that they were holding hands under the table, they didn¡¯t see fit to point it out.
Everyone was tense, including three daughters of nobility who flanked Blake. But the hero himself was absent-minded. Rowan tried and failed to decipher the odd look on his friend¡¯s face.
¡°You wanted to have a meeting. Well, we are here. You can speak your piece.¡± Olivia¡¯s opening statement was not particularly polite or friendly, but with only the two groups in the room, she apparently didn¡¯t feel the need to act differently.
The princess took a sharp breath and fought back whatever her first reply was, much to Rowan¡¯s shock. ¡°We would like to ask for an official alliance. Hostilities benefit none of us, and so I propose we pool our resources together, at least until the threat of demons has been eliminated.¡±
Olivia didn¡¯t immediately scoff or say no. Instead, her eyes slowly swept over the group arrayed in front of her, carefully gauging each of their reactions.
The Treagon looked worried but also content, the de Vort looked disinterested in the discussion, keeping her eyes on Blake, and the princess was, well, the princess.
¡°Would you please elaborate on this ¡®we¡¯? Do you mean to imply that you speak in the name of our king, or do you freely represent your hero¡¯s party?¡±
Here, for the first time in a while, Rowan got to see a smug grin on the princess¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t really miss it. ¡°As of yesterday, all three of us are engaged to the hero. The engagements are both valid and binding, and we will strive to finalize our marriage as soon as we are able.¡±
Immediately, Rowan¡¯s undivided attention was on Blake, left eye twitching as some of his exasperation showed on his face.
He really wanted to strangle his friend.
For his part, Blake flushed and looked away from everyone, but Rowan in particular. He also didn¡¯t speak up to deny the princess¡¯s claims, which only made her smug grin grow. The other two women looked more than satisfied with the arrangement as well, if the way the Treagon was now cozying up to the hero was any indication.
¡°Congratulations, then,¡± Olivia offered, sounding like she wanted to say anything but. ¡°You did not, however, clarify who you are representing in this meeting.¡±
The princess flushed, and that same old petulance shown true for a moment. She must have prepared herself for the barbs, because she actually managed to hold herself back once more.
¡°I represent Hero Blake and his fianc¨¦es, as well as the town of Gilbert¡¯s Folly that is currently under Hero Blake¡¯s command.¡± The speech sounded officious and precise, much like Olivia¡¯s own tone.
There was a subtle difference though. Whereas Olivia spoke confidently and with force, clearly in her element in spite of preferring a lab to the negotiations table, the princess lacked that assurance. She was making up for it with fire, but it was still an unavoidable fact that she came across as stiff and inexperienced at best.
¡°I see. And what can you offer to this proposed alliance?¡± Olivia asked.
That had even Rowan eying her hesitantly. The princess obviously hadn¡¯t expected the question either, if the sudden sputtering and darting eyes were anything to judge by.
¡°I, well, that is¡ A hero! Of course, having the guaranteed assistance of a second hero is invaluable under these circumstances. And, I think, no, I¡¯m certain that our town can field a second army, larger than the army you have here to accompany us into the wastes.¡± The princess¡¯ confidence began to crumble.
¡°Having a second hero around would be nice, yes. But only if he can actually use his powers. Need I remind you that it¡¯s us helping him level up to epic again? Assistance in battle against demons is, therefore, already implied.¡±
Another score for Olivia, and another sputtering session for the princess. At that point, Rowan was starting to realize that something odd was happening.
Sure, the princess was a brat, and he genuinely didn¡¯t like her. However, her behavior went past that. If he didn¡¯t know better, Rowan would think that she¡¯d never been coached on dealing with other nobles for a single day in her life.
Blake had apparently had enough of watching his brand new fianc¨¦e flounder too, because he leaned forward and laid his elbows on the table. ¡°Listen, I know Amanda¡¯s been pretty rude, but I think what she¡¯s been trying to say is pretty simple: I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help. We will, I mean. I mean that.¡±
Olivia eyed him with a measure of exasperation, even if Rowan could tell she was fighting not to smile. ¡°Oh really? Whatever you can, hm? Does that mean we can expect you to support us with cards? How about additional funds and supplies? We could use some building materials, for example.¡±
¡°I mean, I¡¯m pretty sure we have some extra funds? I didn¡¯t really look at our finances much when I took over the town, but the mayor seemed to be on top of things?¡±
It was Rowan¡¯s turn to jump into the conversation with considerable exasperation. ¡°Wait, what mayor? Your town has a mayor?¡±
¡°Yes? He¡¯s in charge of the town. Don¡¯t you have one?¡± Blake asked. Rowan really didn¡¯t think his friend needed to look that baffled.
¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Rowan gritted out, leaning back in his seat. ¡°He got eaten by monsters before I ever showed up. How are you still in charge, then?¡±
¡°Because I¡¯m a duke?¡±
¡°You¡¯re a duke?¡±
The two just stared at each other, both flabbergasted, before Olivia loudly cleared her throat. ¡°Yes, yes, Hero Blake has, due to his adoption into the royal family, officially been declared as a Duke of the kingdom. There was some rumbling from the temple to make him a Grand Duke, but it didn¡¯t work out.¡±
¡°Obviously,¡± the princess jumped in this time with a dainty snort. ¡°To claim that title, you need to be of royal blood. Or to be married to a member of the royal bloodline and have a designated heir born from that union. Maybe Blake will get the title now.¡±
Rowan did a double take so quickly his neck was starting to hurt. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡±
¡°No! Why would you ask me that? Obviously, I¡¯m not pregnant! We¡¯re not even married yet!¡±
¡°But you said you¡¯d need a designated heir to ¡ª¡±
¡°Rowan,¡± Olivia cut him off, and she didn¡¯t sound very happy. ¡°Could you please stop cutting in? I¡¯m trying to negotiate with the princess.¡±
Rowan stopped, letting his shoulders droop. ¡°I get it. And I get that it¡¯s important. But can¡¯t we get to the demands already? We know we¡¯ll say yes, they know they¡¯ll say yes, so do we need this bit in the middle?¡±
The baron was fighting laughter and losing, if his chuckles were to judge his inner battle by. The baroness was trying to glare at him over her daughter¡¯s head, but the way her lips were twitching was betraying her feelings on the subject too.
Olivia was upset with him though, but then again Rowan was pretty sure that was because he wasn¡¯t ¡®properly taking care of his interests¡¯ as she told him she¡¯d do before the meeting.
¡°Okay, that¡¯s it. The two of you, out. We don¡¯t need two offworlders throwing in comments they understand nothing about. We¡¯ll take care of this, and we¡¯ll let you know what we hash out in the end. You two go hit each other with sticks or something.¡±
Rowan knew he was being scolded, but couldn¡¯t help the grin regardless. So, he stole a quick kiss from his adorable fianc¨¦e and then hurried away from her grumbling about dignity to snatch Blake out of his chair.
Before they could change their mind and call them back, the two heroes fled from their fianc¨¦es.
¡ª
While he was more than happy to leave all the politicking to Olivia, there were a couple of things Rowan wanted to clarify himself.
That¡¯s why the very first thing he did after putting some distance between them and the negotiations room was press Blake against the wall with his hand on the other hero¡¯s chest.
¡°Okay, Blake, what the hell?¡± Rowan rightfully demanded, forcing his friend to maintain eye contact as he glared.
¡°Um, lovely weather we¡¯re having?¡±
¡°Forget about the weather! What in the world happened yesterday? I leave you chipper about your success after having that depressing talk with you, and now I find out that you¡¯re engaged? Did they blackmail you into this? Emotionally, I mean. Or literally I guess, if they somehow found dirt on you¡¡±
Blake slumped a little, forcing Rowan to put in more effort into holding him against the wall. ¡°Look, like the two of us did, me and my party¡ talked. There was a bunch of stuff I didn¡¯t know, okay? Stuff about their families and them that I didn¡¯t think to ask before.¡±
¡°Stuff like why Kayla was convinced the king is scheming something?¡±
Blake briefly looked reluctant to answer, but eventually relented under his glare. ¡°Yes, stuff like that. Look, I¡¯m still not sure about Kayla, but¡ there might be something. Amanda clammed up when I asked her about it, but I didn¡¯t get anything out of her.¡±
¡°And so you decided to marry her? Are you now certifiably insane?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not. Might not have gotten that little tidbit of information out of her, but I did learn about a ton of other things.¡±
¡°Like what? What would possibly convince you to marry all three of them when you were waffling on whether you even liked the Treagon?¡±
¡°She¡¯s not going to be a Treagon for long, so please stop with the hate already.¡±
¡°Answer the question, Blake.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Rowan¡¯s best friend huffed, then shifted away from his hold and headed down the hallway. ¡°Did you know they raised them to eventually accompany a hero? All three of them? And that they¡¯re not the only ones?¡±
¡°What are you even talking about?¡±
¡°My party members, obviously. According to them, girls and boys are picked out from among high nobility when hero summoning is near, and then groomed into ¡®ideal¡¯ party members. I don¡¯t need to explain exactly what they prepare them for, do I? Two sets of girls, two sets of guys.¡±
That briefly made Rowan falter, the ridiculousness of what he was hearing making him lose his footing in spite of his high dexterity. He recovered instantaneously, but it didn¡¯t stop his mind from spinning away instead.
¡°But¡ they never tried that kind of thing with me, though?¡±
¡°Nor did they try with Kayla, apparently. Nine people, raised to pander to heroes and then discarded. Well, not discarded. Sold off to interested nobles as spouses, if Amanda¡¯s to be believed. No use wasting perfectly good trading goods.¡±
The anger in Blake¡¯s voice was visceral, and if he had the heads of high noble families in reach, Rowan was pretty sure they¡¯d all end up dead.
¡°I¡ I wish I could say I¡¯m all that shocked, but they did treat us as like goods at an auction, Blake.¡±
¡°I know that! I know that. What was I supposed to do, though? Tell them I don¡¯t want them? That they¡¯d follow me around for a while then go home so they can be shipped off to some strangers? They said they, um, they said they fell in love with me. I-I believe them. So, I said yes.¡±
For several long moments, neither of them spoke. Rowan eventually sighed and continued, ¡°That¡¯s messed up. Everything about that is messed up.¡±
¡°Yeah, tell me about it. At least I finally talked them into trying for an alliance with you, though. That¡¯ll help. Right? Can never have enough reliable allies.¡± The attempt at levity didn¡¯t really work, but it did make Rowan think.
Apparently, nobility were all about utility. And they did need allies within the city willing to support and accompany them out into the wastes. Just as importantly, he needed [Knights].
If most nobles really were so mercenary as he was now starting to think they were, well, maybe there was one resource he could exploit within easy reach.
Chapter 64: Negotiating With Terrorists
The next day was tense. If there was one thing to be thankful for, it was the fact that Blake¡¯s party members were, for once, actually cooperating.
This meant that Rowan could send them off into the wastes with his [Knights] and some soldiers for accompaniment with minimal worry.
Granted, he still worried a little.
A part of him expected the princess to kick up a fuss and do something stupid in an attempt to establish herself more firmly, but he couldn¡¯t dedicate his existence to babysitting a bunch of grown-ass adults who should know better.
There were more important things to do. One of which needed Camilla¡¯s approval. And so, Rowan found himself in the baroness¡¯s study. It was a rare occasion that Olivia didn¡¯t accompany him there, but his favorite alchemist was missing from the occasion.
Even with all the explosions that still accompanied Olivia¡¯s alchemical tinkering, Rowan still felt that he was in a worse off position than she was.
¡°You want to do what?¡± The baroness¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t cold. It was glacial. It was Fimbulwinter sweeping across the world to announce the beginning of Ragnarok, and epic tier or not, Rowan almost quailed under her mighty gaze.
Almost.
¡°I would like to approach your least favorite epic tier mage and try to recruit her as one of my [Knights] in anticipation of our campaign to track down and then eliminate legendary tier demons,¡± Rowan said.
His train of thought was simple: if he laid out all the facts, then maybe the baroness would approach the discussion with the calm rationale of civilized discourse.
¡°You will not be taking that snake into your service, or so help me every god and goddess out there I¡¯ll stab you in the back myself. At least that way you¡¯ll know it¡¯s coming and I¡¯m sure your card and my daughter can patch you up!¡±
Rowan winced. Maybe that was hoping for just a little too much the hero winced internally, taking a deep breath and gearing himself up to try again.
¡°I know it¡¯s a bad idea.¡± Rowan saw the baroness open her mouth, and quickly jumped to continue before she could say something scathing. ¡°But! Just hear me out, okay? I swear it¡¯s not nearly as bad or as stupid as it sounds.¡±
¡°Oh. Sure. Go ahead. I¡¯m certain that your idea of giving that woman access to an additional epic tier card, especially one that seems to naturally draw in ambient mana, is completely logical and won¡¯t come back to haunt us.¡± the baroness snapped, leaning back in her chair.
Rowan took a deep breath. ¡°I told you, my party, and the mercenary king how my new class works. However, Tamara chose to skip that meeting. I might not have said a thing if she did attend, but she didn¡¯t. And none of the aforementioned individuals is likely to share info with her, right?¡±
The baroness eyes him for a long moment, before finally and reluctantly nodding. ¡°Right.¡±
¡°Well, then, she doesn¡¯t know. Obviously, the stat benefits and experience sharing are something I¡¯ll tell her about. With what we now know about those, she won¡¯t have a reason to object, anyway. So, do you think she¡¯s likely to accept if she doesn¡¯t know I¡¯ll be able to feel her emotions?¡±
The baroness processed that, nibbling on her lower lip in a way that was eerily reminiscent of her daughter. At long last, however, a slow smile swept over her features. ¡°Yes, I do think she might say yes. Especially if she believes it¡¯ll make you more inclined to trust her.¡±
¡°Exactly. And if I have direct insight into what she¡¯s feeling and keep her relatively close, we¡¯ll at least have some warning before she inevitably betrays us. Besides, I need those stats. If I have more mana and the ability to better use it, I genuinely think I¡¯ll be much better off.¡±
There were a few things Rowan wasn¡¯t saying, of course. For example, he wasn¡¯t entirely convinced Tamara would betray them. She seemed selfish and opportunistic. But if ¡®Rowan¡¯s side¡¯ was winning, he really saw no reason why she might turn on them.
Clearly, though, the way he¡¯d couched his argument was enough to please the baroness. Camilla¡¯s smile grew further as she asked her final question. ¡°And you can cancel your [Knight] designation at any point, correct?¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°Excellent. Then, let¡¯s discuss the details of this arrangement.¡±
Rowan sighed and let his shoulders slump just a smidgen. The hardest part was done. Now, he just needed to actually deal with Tamara herself.
¡ª
Rowan had, upon his arrival in Rest¡¯s Remorse, attended a gathering meant for its most influential mercenaries and local figures. It was held in a venue in one of the town¡¯s nicer neighborhoods, and it was also the first and last time he¡¯d rubbed shoulders with the local elite.
Since then, he was much more interested in his soldiers and regular citizens than whatever the rich elites were doing. Especially since they were remarkably unhelpful by every possible metric.
They hadn¡¯t deigned assist the town when it needed to defend against the monster horde that ruined entire sections of it. They didn¡¯t offer up funds to repair said sections of town. And when Rowan took over? Their streak of neglect continued.
In fact, some of them even chose to flee when the suspicions of a new monster wave lead by an epic demon spread through town. After all, the baroness could only stop the less affluent commoners from running.
The merchants with particularly heavy purses and whatever ¡®nobility¡¯ the town had? There was little she could do when they had plenty of illegal ways to circumvent any notices or even laws she enacted.
This meant that Rowan¡¯s journey through the wealthier part of his city was an odd juxtaposition of well-appointed homes that were either the peak of maintenance or that looked like they were on the verge of falling into total disrepair.
Sections of neighborhoods that were still clearly lived in stood directly across from neighborhoods and homes that had obviously been abandoned in a hurry.
Some enterprising individuals from less wealthy parts of town had clearly learned about the situation too. Many of the abandoned homes had pieces of furniture, decorations, and more strewn across lawns where the looters chose to discard them. Whether it be out of anger or due to their minuscule value, Rowan couldn¡¯t tell. The windows and doors hung on for dear life, but the buildings¡¯ insides had been gutted like fish and left for all to see.
And deep within this depressing city district stood a building that was doing its level best to pretend it was a mage tower.
The building was oddly blocky, and reminded Rowan of something vaguely like an apartment building. It was definitely taller than all of its neighbors, yet didn¡¯t stretch as high as the hero had been assured true mage towers did.
Apparently, there were laws about that sort of thing.
No building other than those owned by or registered under the mage association could surpass a certain height. Magic was, according to Olivia, a substance that had a tendency to swirl up towards the sky. The higher you got, the more turbulent and more abundant mana got.
You could, of course, also go in the opposite direction and dig deep where subterranean deposits of mana slept, but most of those were crystallized or difficult to rouse and put into motion.
Humanity and most mortal species were therefore stuck in the awkward middle of the sandwich: the part where mana existed but didn¡¯t tend to pool or gather naturally.
Mage towers were the first answer to this conundrum. They were a way for mages to reach towards the heavens and claim what they saw as rightfully theirs. In turn, everyone else was banned under the height limit, and the days of upwards expansion in cities were halted.
Tamara¡¯s home was doing its best to push these limits to their breaking point.
Rowan was pretty sure you¡¯d need ridiculously precise tools, or perhaps a spell, to prove that she hadn¡¯t crossed the line and was, in fact, at the very edge of it.
Likewise, the tower was much better appointed than its neighbors. There were reliefs carved in its faces, twisting statues of various monsters and even luxurious tapestries depicting battles and various fantastical forms of magecraft. It was like time and weather were irrelevant in the face of the magical might Tamara was trying to claim as her own. And at the epic tier, she might even be actually capable of fielding some of the force she had been so badly trying to project.
Unfortunately for Rowan, he hadn¡¯t been allowed to venture out to the tower on his own. Both the baroness and his fianc¨¦e had put a quick veto on that idea. Instead, he was accompanied by an entirely excessive number of fifty soldiers, each of them dressed in the finest gear they could field.
Neither the baroness nor her daughter were there to accompany him either, though that was something he insisted on.
Camilla was still sparse on the details of just why she hated Tamara, but the feeling was clearly mutual. Olivia, meanwhile, was tainted by association. If there was even the slightest chance to make things easier by leaving them behind, Rowan was willing to try.
So when Rowan finally stood before the doors of the pseudo-tower, he motioned for his lead escort to knock on them.
Dale stepped forward and lifted the massive door knocker attached to the wings of doors pretending to be gates. He briefly grunted under the strain of lifting the thing, and when he let go, it produced a boom that echoed loudly and hollowly throughout the structure.
A few seconds later, the doors to swing open outwards, forcing the scout to scramble back and revealing a lush carpet that stretched all the way to a set of spiraling stairs and a ceiling that was much too much for what Rowan expected.
¡°Welcome, welcome, please come in, Lord Clairfont,¡± Tamara greeted, sweeping towards in a dress that was even less practical than her usual fare.
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Clearly the woman was going all out that day because the abomination of silk and fur was trying to smother her in its softness. No normal human could possibly manage walking in something that tight.
Rowan was suddenly extra glad he¡¯d insisted Olivia stay behind because he was pretty sure his fianc¨¦e would take particular exception to him going anywhere near a woman dressed that way.
¡°Thank you for your hospitality, and for greeting us so quickly on such short notice.¡± Rowan gave a shallow bow, one for which he¡¯d been excessively coached. The exact angle, the position of his arms, legs and even the way he moved his head, were drilled into him over the course of several hours.
He was convinced that because of his stats and cards, he¡¯d mastered the move within the first fifteen minutes. But Camilla and Olivia had insisted he keep practicing for another hour afterwards. Even now, he couldn¡¯t feel the slightest difference between that first moment the movement clicked and the last bow the mother-daughter duo made him give before deeming him ready. He was pretty sure they were just having fun tormenting him for leaving them behind.
Be that as it were, Tamara looked delighted to receive his greeting.
¡°Think nothing of it, my lord. It is my honor to swiftly present myself at your leisure.¡± The words were, as it so often happened with the woman, laced by a dangerous and suggestive undertone Rowan ignored.
It was all pageantry and nonsense anyway.
He sent his notice that he intended to visit the woman the day before, right after discussing the matter with the baroness. Likewise, if it turned out that she hadn¡¯t been tracking his progress through the city using either magic or mundane scouts, Rowan was willing to cut off both of his hands.
Several times, even.
As plastic as the whole affair was, Rowan still couldn¡¯t deny that the show Tamara was putting on was impressive.
Her students were strewn about the massive space that shouldn¡¯t have fit within the tower, acting industrious while they handled all sorts of tools and scrolls.
Everything had the soft, ethereal glow of mana ¡ª even the most unassuming items.
Plenty of different scholarly implements and scrolls were floating, some even zipping around the room when one student or another summoned them with a mere beckon of their hands.
It was here that deep envy gripped Rowan once again.
Magic. The very essence of what dreams are made of, and something he had spent an inordinate amount of time daydreaming about as a kid.
If he could just master such a mystical force, then perhaps the experience of being stolen from his home and forced into a battle that wasn¡¯t originally his would have been worth it.
Instead, Rowan was stuck wielding a long, pointy stick.
Tamara must have noticed his hungry expression because she sent him a sly grin. Mercifully, she stayed silent as they left his soldiers by the doors and took the spiral staircase that hugged the wall all the way to the top.
There, the staircase ended in a doorway, and beyond that yet another set of stairs. At the top of those, however, was yet another floor.
This one may have looked much comfier and more lived in, but it was equally fantastical nonetheless.
Floating couches, tables, and more dotted the vast open space. It was at least as tall as the previous floor was. Another spiral staircase swept up the walls, but this time, said walls were covered in various doors rather than bookshelves.
Rowan spotted one of the students emerging from one of the doors, offering a glimpse of a sizable, comfortable room that looked like their personal quarters.
¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind a bit more walking, my lord,¡± Tamara demurred, and Rowan elected to simply nod, not trusting himself not to say something stupid as he admired the interior of the mage¡¯s tower.
Once more up the stairs they went, all the way up to the top.
This time, though, the stairs led straight up to a trap door rather than dipping into a wall, giving Rowan a close-up view of the opaque, glittering material of the ceiling. There was something odd about it, but he only realized what it was when Tamara pushed the trapdoor open and they stepped into the space beyond.
The floor was made entirely out of one-way glass.
Beneath them stretched the space dedicated to rest, mingling, and relaxation of Tamara¡¯s students. She had the perfect view to observe them at her leisure.
Rowan instantly wondered how many of them knew just how much of their privacy was in the hands of the mage. More importantly, if she felt so comfortable making such a blatant show of force and influence, did freedom even exist within her tower?
It wasn¡¯t exactly a stretch of the imagination that she had more than one scrying spell or ward installed within the building, letting her glimpse into whatever aspect of her students¡¯ lives she pleased. Rowan had to fight down a shudder.
It wouldn¡¯t do to show blatant disgust with his host¡¯s personality even before pitching his proposal to her.
¡°So, what can I do for the illustrious new noble of the kingdom?¡± Tamara purred, making her way daintily towards a massive desk that was almost buried under a pile of papers and arcane implements Rowan could make neither heads nor tails of, and taking a seat.
In fact, that was the general theme of the space. Controlled chaos composed of things Rowan couldn¡¯t understand.
In one corner, there was a potion setup that reminded the hero of Olivia¡¯s own bubbled away. In another, books fluttered through the air, snapping at each other like hungry birds. To the side were jewelry tools and magnifying lenses of every size, shape and thickness.
The things went on and on, and the various doors that dotted the walls of the room only added to its mystique. After all, if that¡¯s what Tamara left out in the open, what did the mage see fit to hide?
Rowan tore his attention from everything that surrounded him with some effort and took a seat of his own in front of her desk before finally focusing on the woman.
¡°I have a suggestion I¡¯d like to make. Tell me, how much do you know about my epic tier class? Did you happen to hear anything about it at all?¡± Rowan asked.
The question was as much a test as it was an opening for their discussion, and Tamara did very little to offer up actionable intel.
¡°Not much, I¡¯m afraid. Really, I must admit that your soldiers and servants are surprisingly loyal. All of my attempts to dig deeper into what class you earned when I helped you hunt down that epic were met with failure,¡± Tamara said.
An admission of weakness, a hint at her influence and a reminder of the favor she did for him all rolled into one. She was good, Rowan would readily admit, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to play her game at all.
¡°[Spear of Unity]. The class I got is called [Spear of Unity], and it¡¯s a little odd. Honestly, it¡¯s not the ideal scenario I was hoping for. I wanted something more versatile with high damage potential, but I wasn¡¯t offered a class that worked unless they also came with serious strings attached.¡±
Was he giving away too much information too quickly? Perhaps, but that would hopefully set her at ease and butter her up a little before he got to the core of what he was offering.
¡°Oho? Why, I am terribly flattered that you would be sharing details of your class so readily with me. Is there a problem with your class that I might be able to assist you with, then?¡± She leaned forward eagerly, running her tongue over her lips as she did so.
Rowan leaned back in his ridiculously comfy seat and fought off the urge to curse. Of course mages got all the most premium furniture on top of all their cosmic powers. The damn thing was probably enchanted to be extra comfortable and it did its job perfectly.
He was feeling more relaxed than ever, in spite of his attempts to keep his mind sharp. Everything in that room seemed design to distract and draw the eye.
¡°You could say that. You see, my class gives me eight slots for [Knights] I can pick. It gives me access to some of their experience and stats. I¡¯ve already tested it out. I don¡¯t ¡®steal¡¯ either from people. I just get a percentage based on what they earn and the stats they have. Guess the system just creates it all into existence, I don¡¯t know.¡±
Tamara looked intrigued, but not overly engaged just yet. ¡°And I suppose you would like me to take up one of those [Knight] slots? I can understand why. The stats of an epic tier such as myself would be a significant boon no matter the percentage you¡¯d get.¡±
Rowan ignored the implied question of just how large of a fraction he¡¯d get. He was there to negotiate and prove his sincerity, but if he was that open with all of his personal information he was sure to draw suspicion instead.
¡°Exactly. I¡¯m not happy to admit it, but I couldn¡¯t invest nearly as much into my mana pool as I¡¯d like while leveling up. That¡¯s left me with a very nice foundation for my boosted stats, of course, but I¡¯d love to shore up some of my weaknesses. It¡¯s not like there¡¯s nothing in it for the [Knights] I choose.¡±
¡°I would love to hear more about that, of course,¡± Tamara led on, leaning even further forward. At that point, her chest was pressed against her desk suggestively, and the twinkle in her eye said she knew it.
Like every self-respecting engaged man would, Rowan kept his eyes firmly on the woman¡¯s face.
¡°Any [Knight] I choose gets direct access to my card deck, and they can pick out one card from it. They then get a copy of that card that doesn¡¯t count against their own deck limit. I haven¡¯t tested yet what happens if I remove or upgrade any of my cards, but I really don¡¯t think the system would make my [Knights] dependent on my whim. There are probably safeguards in place.¡±
¡°Hmmm, you would be surprised. There are plenty of classes that are rather ruthless to any subordinates the class designates through them.¡± Tamara drew back a little, like the suggestion of potential issues was enough to give her pause. In spite of that, there was little the woman could do to conceal the glint of greed that was now shining in her eyes.
She was a disgraced former noble cast out by both her family and the Mage Association. She didn¡¯t have the kind of support most mages got to enjoy, and she definitely didn¡¯t have a pool of inherited cards to draw on.
That meant that each and every card in her deck was something she¡¯d earned. And for an independent class? Even one as well-established as her? Epic cards were the epitome or power and luxury. Rowan was willing to bet she didn¡¯t have more than two.
And that was counting her newly minted class card.
¡°Well, I suppose we¡¯ll find out. Really, though, this isn¡¯t a monarch class, or anything in that vein. For the most part, the class description and its effects all point towards a more equal relationship between peers, rather than between a master and subordinate.¡±
¡°So, with one of your cards on the line, you would like to offer me a position as one of your [Knights]?¡± It was a question, and Tamara didn¡¯t pretend like it wasn¡¯t.
Instead, her eyes bore into his, searching for lies, traps and anything else that might hint as to his true intentions. ¡°Correct,¡± Rowan said slowly. ¡°I need to fill those slots badly before I¡¯m forced to march against legends. I can¡¯t spend months carefully vetting all the potential candidates. Besides, I¡¯d like to think I can trust you.¡±
That, finally, earned him a beaming smile and got the woman to lean forward in interest again, but she didn¡¯t give him an answer immediately. ¡°You know, I really thought I¡¯d be having a different conversation with you when you finally visited my tower.¡±
¡°How so?¡±
¡°Well, you see, [Spearman] isn¡¯t typically a very prestigious and impressive class. Plenty of people would resent it. And while such choices are typically set in stone¡ well, for a skilled mage, few things are truly impossible.¡±
Rowan¡¯s breath hitched in his throat, and he hated the way Tamara¡¯s eyes smugly fixed on his own. ¡°You mean¡?¡±
¡°It is possible, with the right rituals, to change your class. Not much could be done about your heart card, of course. Still, a mage is an incredibly versatile class. You could have made it work. Of course, I acknowledge now that sacrificing your current path would be far too much of a waste to consider that.¡±
Rowan fought down the turmoil and the traces of desire. He wanted his magic but he tried to focus on what was important. On what the woman across from him was implying.
¡°You mean you would like to take me up on my offer, then?¡± Rowan managed to keep his voice from breaking or trembling, which was a massive win in his books.
¡°Correct. I¡¯d love to take advantage of such a unique opportunity. I dare say I suspect what a couple of your cards are, and if I¡¯m right, then I definitely won¡¯t regret my decision.¡±
¡°Very well, then. If you truly feel that way, I¡¯d be more than happy to accept you as one of my [Knights].¡± With that, Rowan sent the invitation and watched as the woman¡¯s eyes lit up in delight.
Out of everyone he¡¯d chosen as one of his [Knights], she was the one who made her selection the fastest.
The second she did, a rush of power thundered into Rowan¡¯s veins.
Slowly at first, then all at once, a fundamental shift came over his mana. It became purer, more potent, like a whole new dimension was added to his intelligence and wisdom stats.
That¡¯s when it finally hit him.
What he was getting was a percentage of a person¡¯s stats, of course. However, that also covered stats that were improved, boosted by their class choice and honed to a razor¡¯s edge.
A force of mana unlike anything he¡¯d felt before build up within him in seconds, and his composure was sorely tested as he fought the urge to grin like a lunatic and test his mana pool then and there.
He still couldn¡¯t fight down a smile, of course, but he¡¯d take whatever wins he could get.
¡°This was, as I¡¯d suspected, definitely worth it,¡± Tamara admitted happily, taking the hero aback by the sincerity of her words. ¡°Now, if my hunch is correct, you¡¯re not here solely to discuss your class and this wonderful exchange of ours?¡±
Rowan grinned fully now. The happiness over his improved stats, as well as the surety of the emotions he could feel drifting in from the mage, mingling into a sense of newfound confidence.
¡°You¡¯re right. As I mentioned, we¡¯ll need to tackle the legendary demons soon, and on that front, we could definitely use your help.¡±
Tamara matched his grin. ¡°Let¡¯s hear what you have to say.¡±
Chapter 65: Heart to Heart
Rowan oscillated between disbelief, mild dread, and utter elation as he left the mage tower. Things had gone unexpectedly well with Tamara, and the novel feeling of mana swirling around in his chest was evidence of that.
He had so much more of the energy to work with all of a sudden, it was sort of ridiculous. The sensation wasn¡¯t necessarily unpleasant, but it was almost overwhelming. Newfound power aside, he had other things to consider. Most notably, the feelings he was now interpreting from the shifty old mage.
There was nothing alarming, but the smug bite of her satisfaction was more than a little discomforting. Rowan also felt more than just a little vindication from her, which was not an emotion he¡¯d expected to feel.
There was something there. Something he wasn¡¯t fully understanding, even though he now had a literal direct line to the woman¡¯s innermost feelings.
Rowan was so distracted by his musings as he entered his manor that he nearly walked straight into the princess. She was waiting for him with a stormy expression on her face.
¡°Ah, I apologize,¡± Rowan said, already dreading whatever their interaction would lead to. ¡°I assume you are waiting for Blake, right? He¡¯s probably not going to be back for a couple more hours.¡±
That was an understatement, but Rowan didn¡¯t care. If the woman chose to haunt the halls waiting for her fianc¨¦ to return, it wasn¡¯t his problem.
As he went to go past her, however, she made her determination clear. She was waiting to bother him.
¡°I¡¯m not waiting for Blake. I¡¯m still happy to spend time with him ¡ª even with his ridiculous insistence on sticking with that party you introduced him to ¡ª but the reason I stayed is because we need to talk.¡±
Rowan¡¯s first impulse was to make a hasty excuse and make a run for it. That¡¯s also what his second and third impulses were. Unfortunately, after looking the princess in the eye, he got the feeling it wouldn¡¯t work.
She looked oddly composed and determined. Her usual arrogance and empty bluster were gone, and the only thing left reflected in her eyes was a steely sort of spirit that he¡¯d never associated with her before.
¡°Fine. Let¡¯s talk.¡± He was annoyed at being cornered, but there was really nothing he could say.
They walked under a tense silence to a small, nearly forgotten library. It was one of the manor¡¯s designated meeting rooms, which supposedly made it ¡®safer¡¯ than the rest of the house even if he still didn¡¯t understand why.
As they sat down at opposite sides of the table, he watched as her resolve began to crumble.
¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Rowan¡¯s voice was the perfect blend between bored and obnoxious. As he was hoping, it made her sit up straight in her chair.
It still took her a couple of moments to get the words out.
¡°Blake trusts you, for some reason,¡± she opened, her tone tinged with more than a little bitterness, ¡°and I have come to accept that. This means that we need to¡ work together.¡±
Rowan¡¯s first instinct was to taunt her again. He chose to be better than that, just for Blake. ¡°I¡¯m¡ glad that we can move past our issues. It would make Blake miserable if we continued fighting.¡±
¡°Yes, quite.¡±
Another silence. Rowan sighed, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Can I just ask why? Why do you hate me so much? Any why did you really want to talk?¡±
¡°I mean, you were supposed to be¡¡± The princess took a deep, steadying breath. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to do better than Blake.¡±
¡°You mean, you were upset that when we finally met, I wasn¡¯t some useless sap who couldn¡¯t even reach Blake¡¯s feet?¡±
¡°No! Yes! I mean, Blake shouldn¡¯t have needed your help to begin with! That wasn¡¯t the plan at all.¡± She slumped over in her chair, and a bad feeling took root in Rowan¡¯s stomach.
¡°The plan?¡± The pit in Rowan¡¯s stomach steadily grew more uncomfortable. He had a feeling that this was related to the king¡¯s scheming. ¡°Amanda? What plan?¡±
She winced and looked away. ¡°Blake was supposed to be the competent one. He was supposed to be the one to kill the demon king. To rally the people to him. You weren¡¯t even supposed to be here!¡±
¡°Why, Amanda? Why is it so bad that I¡¯m not failing? Is it because of my patron god?¡± Rowan pitched his voice lower, keeping it gentle.
¡°The kingdom isn¡¯t in a good spot right now¡¡± Amanda admitted, still refusing to meet his eyes. ¡°A lot of the original nobility is upset, and the peasants aren¡¯t exactly happy either. This wasn¡¯t a good time for the demons to reappear. It¡¯s like ¡ª like someone is plotting against us. The king thinks so, at least.¡±
The king. Not father, or dad, or whatever. The king. Rowan found the wording very interesting.
¡°Are you saying the king thought I had something to do with it? Why?¡±
¡°Not you, in particular. However, it¡¯s suspicious that you appeared right when the people could be roused into a rebellion with the right leader put in front of them. Most of the lower classes still worship Aristaeus.¡±
¡°And so he wanted me out of the picture, or at least as weak as possible.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
Rowan eyed the woman again. He would have thought that the admission would make her feel better, or at least less nervous. Instead, she looked even more on edge than before.
¡°Is that all you wanted to talk about? Nothing else? Because I¡¯m really not upset. I mean, I¡¯m not happy, don¡¯t get me wrong. But I kind of knew that the king wasn¡¯t happy with me already. Hard to miss that when he forced us into combat to the death on day one in the name of the prophecy.¡±
If anything, his attempt to reassure her made her look even more miserable. Rowan noticed her eyes and the way she was gnawing on her lower lip.
¡°The prophecy¡ it wasn¡¯t real.¡±
¡°What?¡± Rowan was stunned.
¡°The prophecy wasn¡¯t real. There was no prophecy.¡±
¡°You mean to tell me he just forced us to fight for, what? His entertainment?¡± Rowan¡¯s voice had gone decidedly dangerous, which he realized a moment later when she looked ready to bolt for the door. ¡°Wait! Sorry, just, I need a moment.¡±
Rowan focused on breathing, eyes closed. He rubbed his temples. He could practically hear feel his heartbeat through his eyelids. Slowly, his hands unclenched, but he didn¡¯t even know when he¡¯d closed them around his chair¡¯s armrests.
He winced a little when he saw the damage his fingers had done, the perfect impression of his hand impressed into the sturdy wood. If he¡¯d squeezed any harder, he would have shattered the chair.
¡°Okay, okay. Now, why would your father do that?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Heroes are dangerous,¡± the princess stated quietly, still not looking him in the eye again.
Considering the fact that his expression was probably the manifestation of anger, Rowan didn¡¯t blame her.
¡°Dangerous? You steal us from our world and force us to fight your battle, and we are dangerous?¡± Rowan half-yelled.
¡°It¡¯s¡ It¡¯s a pretty well documented thing, actually. Heroes often turn on the kingdoms who summoned them, and things are bad enough as they are. We need the heroes, yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean we have to like them. Or get along with them.¡±
¡°So you mean to tell me that you don¡¯t actually love Blake?¡±
¡°No!¡± the princess roared, eyes blazing as she finally faced Rowan properly. ¡°I do! He¡¯s the best thing that happened to me my whole life! He could have been cruel, or violent, or neglectful, but he¡¯s not and I want to help him and you¡¯re not helping with that and ¡ª¡±
She clamped her mouth shut suddenly, looking pale again. At least she didn¡¯t break eye contact this time, Rowan thought.
¡°How am I not helping, Amanda? And you don¡¯t have to look at me like I¡¯m going to strike you down for your impunity. I¡¯m not exactly a saint, but I¡¯m not going to hurt you either. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been violent towards you,¡± Rowan said.
He didn¡¯t tack on a ¡®yet¡¯ both because he didn¡¯t want to threaten her and also because he was starting to believe that she cared about Blake.
¡°You haven¡¯t been,¡± the princess admitted. ¡°And you¡¯re trying to help Blake. It¡¯s just¡ you don¡¯t understand. He¡¯s supposed to be out there, winning. He¡¯s supposed to have an army. Not you. Why do you have an army?¡±
She was starting to sound like a broken record, and Rowan was becoming more and more confident that there was something she wasn¡¯t telling him.
¡°Why is it bad that I have an army? And why is it so important that Blake be the one to have an army?¡±
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¡°Because¡ because that¡¯s what the king wanted. He wanted Blake to prove he was the chosen of Sarina. To prove that the kingdom chose right. Your success is giving the rebels ammunition.¡±
Rebels. That was the very first time she brought them up explicitly, and Rowan could see the moment she realized it too. The flush of her cheeks, the panic in her eyes. Something told him the rebels weren¡¯t supposed to be common knowledge.
¡°I promise you, I have nothing to do with rebels. Neither I, nor my fianc¨¦e¡¯s family, for that matter. I¡¯m just trying to do my job. I¡¯m going to stop demons from killing a whole lot of people, and help Blake recover. I really don¡¯t think that¡¯s unreasonable.¡± Rowan watched as the princess bit her lip again, and he was struck by how childish she looked. She looked more like a chastised child than the princess of a kingdom.
¡°Is this why you tried to commandeer my army so many times? Why you tried to get them under Blake¡¯s command?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Yes.¡± Her voice was quiet, resigned. ¡°He needs to rebuild his army and start making achievements soon.¡± To Rowan¡¯s ears, she sounded desperate.
He leaned back, hand tapping away at the table as he contemplated things. She was desperate. Far too desperate for a princess who was simply upset about the state of her kingdom.
In fact, Rowan strongly suspected this whole situation wasn¡¯t about the kingdom at all. She always framed those parts of their conversations as her father¡¯s demands and expectations. She¡¯d never once stated that she cared about that.
The only thing she seemed to care about was Blake.
¡°So¡ there¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me. I get that the king might be disappointed. I guess I even understand why he was upset to see three heroes instead of two. However, you still need us to kill the demon king. Why the hostility? Why are you so worried about Blake? He needs to recover before he can be useful.¡±
The princess froze, her eyes shining with panic and briefly flitting towards the doors. ¡°I¡¡± She trailed off, breathing more heavily. If Rowan didn¡¯t know better, he would have thought she was about to have a panic attack.
He leaned forward, and this time, his voice came out lower as he tried to sound soothing. ¡°Please, help me understand. You know I care about Blake. What¡¯s happening here?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t tell you,¡± she whimpered, eyes wide and panicked. ¡°I can¡¯t. I want to, but I can¡¯t. I just, I need you to help him get better soon. I need him to show the kingdom that he can still fight. Please.¡±
¡°Okay, I promise. I promise. Calm, now.¡± Rowan rushed to reassure her, noticing the edge he¡¯d driven her to. He felt more than a little flustered himself. He¡¯d never been good at reassurance, or any kind of moral support.
The princess nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can to help Blake. Everything. I don¡¯t care what I have to do, but I¡¯ll keep him safe. I love him. I want him to stay with us. We¡¯re supposed to get through this, and have a family. Be happy. I just want us to be safe.¡±
There was just one problem with it all.
If she was so desperate to help Blake, why was she pushing him straight towards the demonic wastes before he¡¯d even earned his class back? If she was so desperate to get him out there and racking up achievements, then there could only be a single reason for it.
She was convinced he¡¯d be in more danger if he stayed at Rest¡¯s Remorse and did nothing.
That, more than anything, was enough to send a shiver of fear down Rowan¡¯s spine.
¡ª
Calming a frightened princess was an involved affair, and Rowan eventually resolved things by dumping her in the kitchen. She was surrounded by plenty of desserts and a couple of servants to fuss over her.
The woman still looked a little shell-shocked and more than a little traumatized. She was nibbling on a cookie when Rowan finally made his escape.
He had intended to head straight to Olivia¡¯s lab so they could discuss things together, but Henry tracked him down before he could. The man looked as poised as ever, but there was a hurried quality to him that almost threatened to break that composure.
¡°Lord Rowan, sir. You have a guest waiting for you. I directed him to your study, but you might want to see him at your earliest convenience, sir,¡± the chamberlain said.
Reluctantly, Rowan changed course. ¡°Who is it that can make you so flustered, Henry?¡±
¡°The Mercenary King, sir.¡±
Well, Rowan thought, that would do it.
¡ª
Rowan found his guest sipping on a dainty cup of tea that looked ridiculous in his massive hands and waiting patiently.
The moment Rowan opened the doors of his study, the Mercenary King zeroed in on him with uncanny focus.
There was an intensity to the man that Rowan had seen once before.
Typically, the Mercenary King was stoic, withdrawn. Rowan had the privilege of seeing his relaxed, jolly side while they were marching, but there was none of that here. Rowan had last seen this level of laser focus moments before the man led Rowan¡¯s army in a charge against the monsters.
¡°Lucius, to what do I owe the pleasure?¡± Rowan hoped that invoking his name instead of his title would make the man relax. If anything, the man looked even more focused.
¡°I come to you with a request, and to discuss our future cooperation. I¡¯ve given this a lot of thought and I believe that I¡¯ve found the best way forward for us both.¡± The Mercenary King put the tiny teacup down carefully, then crossed his arms across his chest as he watched Rowan take his seat across from him, brow furrowing briefly at the cold, weirdly formal tone.
¡°I¡¯m listening. I promise I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help. We¡¯ve fought together, and I know that you didn¡¯t need to help us. That means a lot more to me than I can put into words.¡± Rowan meant it, too ¡ª but he did reflect the same frigid tone right back.
¡°I¡¯m glad to hear you say that, Lord Rowan. In that case, I want you to make me one of your [Knights].¡±
Rowan¡®s world flipped upside down for the second time that day.
One of the few people aware of the full extent of his class and its effects was asking him to use that same class on him.
Rowan opened his mouth to ask questions, then thought better of it.
Lucius looked, for lack of a better word, determined. He knew what he was asking for. And if he¡¯d decided it was still worth all the hassle? Rowan would not deny him. It wasn¡¯t like the proposition was all bad.
¡°I accept. Whatever you need, you¡¯ll have it,¡± Rowan said solemnly, then sent the invite to the mercenary.
The man cracked a small smile, relief and something else warring on his face. ¡°Thank you, lad. Let me take a closer look at this.¡±
It only took Lucius a couple of moments to make his way through the menu that would make him a [Knight]. When he did, Rowan gasped.
A wall of energy slammed into him, almost making Rowan double over as his body creaked and shook. A sense of vitality, solidity, and resilience washed over every inch of his flesh. It almost felt like his body had ballooned outwards, only to condense back down to its previous size at a much higher density.
There was a secondary change to his mind and mana pool too. Both grew a little, but it was the speed at which his mind made connection and the speed of his mana regeneration that were really boosted.
Vitality and wisdom then. Rowan found the main stats of the man known as the Mercenary King surprising, but he wasn¡¯t about to complain.
He may have gotten the evolution of the mind stats from Tamara already, but the boost to his vitality was going to be invaluable.
Already, he could feel that his body could hold a ton more energy. In response, Gluttonous Banquet¡¯s own limits surged upwards, letting him save up even more energy for future use.
Of course, his soaring mood was somewhat dampened when the link between him and Lucius was finally complete, and the Mercenary King¡¯s emotions slammed into his own.
Vindication, relief, quiet self-satisfaction. These positive emotions, mostly caused by Rowan accepting the man as his [Knight], were by far eclipsed by what lurked underneath. Anguish. Worry. Regret. Disgust. A gaping chasm of helplessness. And all of it seemed to have something to do with Rowan.
The hero could tell that much, clear as day. His eyes fixed on the Mercenary King¡¯s, and he could feel the man willing him to understand.
There was something deeply, bitterly wrong. Lucius knew full well of Rowan¡¯s ability to peek at his [Knight¡¯s] emotions, and the man was doing his very best to encourage him to do just that.
¡°What were you hoping to discuss? Our future campaign to put those legendary demons down, perhaps?¡± Rowan exuded casualness and amusement.
The hero knew that they should be safe. The manor was home to more than a few epic tier individuals. The baroness herself had an assassin-based class and could notice intruders with plenty of advance notice. In spite of that, the sheer turmoil Lucius was feeling immediately put the hero on edge.
¡°Yes, exactly. I know that you¡¯ll have to venture out sometime soon, Lord Rowan. The job ahead of you won¡¯t be easy. In light of that, I¡¯d like to offer up my own mercenaries as backup. If you¡¯ll have us, we¡¯ll join you so we can put an end to this demonic threat.¡± The contrast between what the mercenary king felt and what he said was horrifying.
Rowan swallowed, taking a few moments to parse his way through the Mercenary King¡¯s emotions.
¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t expect that. I hope you know I mean no disrespect, but I was under the impression that you couldn¡¯t move without royal approval. The situation with Blake was, as I understood it, an exception. One made possible by the royal request to assist the hero in question quickly.¡±
¡°These are trying times, lad. Of course, we can¡¯t always move only on the king¡¯s say-so.¡±
Rowan felt each emotion like different ingredients in a dish. The bitter twist of a lie. The regret over its necessity. Then, heady satisfaction.
¡°I understand. I appreciate it, truly. Having you there to assist us will be a major boon, since I know that you¡¯ll help keep us safe. Your abilities will be invaluable for anything we plan to do. On that note, do you have any suggestions on the way we should approach hunting down the demons?¡±
¡°You can leave your back to me. If you hand over command of your army, I¡¯ll keep any lower-level threats from intervening in your battle against the enemy leaders. It¡¯ll keep you fresh and ready to face foes to assure your victory.¡±
Bitterness, again. A sour taste, along with a pinch of horror.
¡°That does sound good. However, I would like to remind you that my party won¡¯t be alone. We¡¯ll have Blake and his party with us as well. Are you sure you want to leave us to deal with the leaders of the demonic army while you take care of everything else on your own?¡± Rowan tested the man.
A swelling wave of disgust. Of anger and supreme annoyance. All of it tinged by vicious self-satisfaction. ¡°Yes, of course. I know how close you and Hero Blake are, so it doesn¡¯t surprise me to hear you¡¯ll be fighting side by side. Regardless, I¡¯d still like to do my part.¡±
¡°Of course ¡ª We¡¯ll be happy to have you. Your speed boosts alone will be invaluable. I see no issues with placing my soldiers in your hands, so I¡¯m looking forward to what else you can do with them.¡±
Amusement, now, and a curl of relief.
¡°Thank you for your trust, Lord Rowan. I look forward to seeing the demonic forces shattered. I¡¯m confident that you¡¯ll be facing the demon king in no time, so we can bring a close to this crisis as quickly as possible.¡±
Annoyance, disbelief, resignation.
¡°Thank you for your sincere trust in my abilities. I¡¯m sure that my new epic tier class will allow us to make it through this unscathed. After all, I¡¯ve finally caught up to my peers. That has to count for something, right?¡± A plastic smile slowly crept up Rowan¡¯s face, stopping just before his eyes.
Lucius answered in kind, a swirl of pride and worry coming through their bond. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave you to continue making preparations. I believe it won¡¯t take much longer for you to be ready to rout the demons, then?¡±
¡°Correct. We need several more weeks, but that will pass in no time. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be impressed by all the progress we¡¯ve made by then.¡±
¡°Of course. If you¡¯ll excuse me, my lord?¡± The mercenary king gestured at the door, and Rowan readily nodded.
¡°Go ahead. Contact me at any time if you need assistance to prepare. Potions are something I can assure you we can provide, at the very least. At superlative quality, too. My fianc¨¦e has been hard at work so even the weakest of our soldiers have the best chances of survival possible.¡±
That, at least, wasn¡¯t double speak. Olivia had devoted a stunning amount of time and effort to making the most of her epic alchemist class. While it was highly geared towards combat, it still let her surpass her past accomplishments as an alchemist.
¡°Thank you, I will keep that in mind.¡± The Mercenary King nodded, and then he was finally gone.
Rowan immediately collapsed in his chair, a tired sigh escaping his lips as he placed his hands on his face. If his chat with the princess wasn¡¯t enough, then Lucius¡¯s visit was the final nail in the coffin.
The Kingdom of Rhys was not their friend.
He¡¯d known, or at least suspected that, for a very long time. The question that gnawed at him was the why of it all.
Why be hostile to your own summoned heroes from the start? Why try to sabotage the people who are supposed to help you protect your kingdom? Why make a potential enemy where you could have had a valuable ally?
Rowan didn¡¯t know, but he resolved himself to find out.
Once the demon king was dead, the king was next in his crosshairs. And he really didn¡¯t care what Blake¡¯s princess had to say about that.
Chapter 66: For a Future
Rowan paced back and forth in the library. Organizing a meeting in a hurry was surprisingly tricky, especially considering the fact that he needed to get his full party, Olivia¡¯s parents, and Blake in one room. I guess the stress was going to catch up to me at some point, might as well be now.
The baron couple had been busy ever since the engagement celebration, catching up and working on improving the state of Rest¡¯s Remorse. Doubly so, now that the engagement meant that their daughter would eventually be directly in charge of the city.
Rowan¡¯s pacing continued above, and Blake¡¯s sword swings were being practiced below. Sweat dripped down his forehead into his eyes, and he was forced to pause. The kingdom¡¯s chosen was using every waking moment he had to grow, to get back to where he used to be. He managed to claw his way back up to level fifty-nine before eradicating the local rare population.
In order to find more prey, Blake would have to spend the night outside of the city walls, but both Blake¡¯s party and his gaggle of fianc¨¦es were still leery of letting him do that.
In response, the fallen hero spent his time strengthening Rowan¡¯s fledgling [Knights], intent on staying sharp and building a backup party beyond his gaggle of fianc¨¦es.
Rowan was, overall, amused. But also somewhat worried that Blake might have effectively stolen his newest recruits.
The combination of complications he¡¯d unearthed meant that he had to force a meeting regardless of people¡¯s busy schedules. He managed to gather everyone a couple of minutes later, but people were shooting him ugly looks at their schedule being disrupted, unaware of the severity of the situation.
¡°I know all of you have plenty of things to do, so I¡¯ll keep this brief. Yesterday, I met with Tamara, Lucius, and Amanda. The things I¡¯ve learned talking to the latter two are somewhat¡ troubling.¡±
The room exploded with stunned silence. Blake¡¯s eyes narrowed at Rowan¡¯s admission that he¡¯d had words with his fianc¨¦e, and the mention of Tamara was enough to warrant a particularly icy look from the baroness.
¡°What did you learn, exactly?¡± Blake demanded, prompting Rowan to launch into the story.
It took a while to cover the nuances, especially his chat with the Mercenary King. ¡°So, overall, I¡¯m afraid that we¡¯re stuck. I have no clue what orders Lucius got, but they¡¯re obviously not benevolent if he felt the need to warn us in such a roundabout way.¡±
¡°Whatever they¡¯re planning, they¡¯re planning to pull it off during your venture into the wastes. It isn¡¯t as if you¡¯re going in blind,¡± Kayden supplied, looking the calmest out of everyone in the room. Camilla was shocked and worried, but her husband showed quiet resolve. There was something in his eyes Rowan couldn¡¯t pin down, something between pride and resignation that made him vaguely suspicious.
¡°Knowing when it will happen still doesn¡¯t help us stop it,¡± a wolf kin quipped. Marcus had his arms crossed over his chest and his fur was all puffed up. Hearing the news that the king might be working against them had rattled him, but he clearly wasn¡¯t cowering.
¡°True, but we can make educated guesses. We know they need us to fight the legendary demons. So why? If they want those gone, why are they so eager to end us before we kill the demon king?¡± Milena rumbled with a vicious look in her eyes.
Rowan shot a questioning look at the baron, but the man was silent now. Lips pressed into a tight line. It was Camilla who spoke up next.
¡°There are plenty of stories about heroes, most of which end with the death of the demon king and the heroes¡¯ return to their world. But when the heroes decide to stay? Occasionally, it ends quite badly for the local nobility.¡± She hesitated, eyes flitting between the two heroes. ¡°What story is the king thinking of that¡¯s frightening him so much? Without that, it doesn¡¯t make any sense. Why be afraid of people you chose to summon?¡±
¡°Technically, Gods summon heroes. The chosen kingdom just helps facilitate the process,¡± Olivia chimed in, grinning mischievously even when her mother shot another glare her way.
Thankfully, her interruption eased the stifling atmosphere of the room considerably.
¡°Olivia, behave. There are too many stories to be sure. There are some stories that paint heroes who stay as paragons who start prosperous kingdoms and go on to be the best of kings. There are just as many, however, about heroes who proceed to act like tyrants and monsters. Heroes with a maligned sense of justice that ends up driving the world into war.¡±
Rowan panned over to Blake, only to find his fellow hero shooting the same look back at him. Rowan was really loath to admit it, but he could easily see the way such a thing might happen. And while he¡¯d like to say he wasn¡¯t tempted to try and change things, it would be a lie.
The way lower classes were treated here made him want to act out. And Blake? Well, Rowan strongly suspected that there wasn¡¯t much his friend wouldn¡¯t do if his goddess asked him nicely. That was still something the Stalwart Hero needed to confront his friend about.
¡°So, that¡¯s it? The king is worried that we¡¯ll destroy his kingdom afterwards?¡± Rowan asked bitterly once he managed to get out of his staring contest with Blake. ¡°Couldn¡¯t he stop us easily enough? The kingdom must have enough epic tiers to form a small army.¡±
The baroness shrugged, visibly uncomfortable. ¡°The king may be powerful, and he does have a strong following, yes, but you overestimate how many nobles would willingly fight for him. Besides, if the stories are to be believed, heroes become much more powerful when they finally strike down the demon king.¡±
¡°More powerful how? Do our blessings get boosted somehow?¡± Blake asked eagerly, eyes lighting up in expectation.
¡°All I can tell you is that it happens, and that it¡¯s intrinsically linked to heroes. The details of the process are kept a closely guarded secret. I¡¯m not sure anyone knows, past the royal family, of course.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Rowan echoed, stealing another glance at Kayden.
The baron¡¯s face was carefully blank, and though he maintained eye contact when he caught Rowan looking, the hero got a strong feeling he¡¯d prefer not to.
The Stalwart Hero felt frustration bubbling up. Time after time, he found himself talking to people who were supposed to be his allies. And time after time, they refused to tell him the whole truth.
The most painful part of the whole affair was that he strongly suspected that they actually couldn¡¯t. The princess had used very precise wording. And he¡¯d never seen the baron with a look on his face quite like that one before.
Thinking back to all the discussions they¡¯d had, the man always skipped over certain topics. Certain topics that mostly had to do with hero cards and why they were so appealing. For the time being, Rowan decided to shelve his suspicions in favor of practical matters.
¡°Whatever the king is scheming, I think it¡¯s safe to assume we¡¯ll face a knife to the back while we¡¯re fighting the legendary demons. This means that we need to worry about the demons and the scheming both. Any suggestion on how to deal with that?¡±
¡°Power,¡± the baron immediately spat out, the word coming out with both distaste and stubborn insistence. ¡°We need you all to be as powerful as you possibly can be. This means no more wasting experience, cards, and training time. I admire what you¡¯re trying to do, but this is not the time.¡±
Rowan wanted to object, but couldn¡¯t. ¡°What do you suggest, then? It¡¯s not like we can benefit much from hunting down uncommons and rares. Well, other than Blake, no offense buddy.¡±
¡°None taken.¡±
The baron ignored the byplay. ¡°Sure, you can¡¯t benefit from killing them directly. Your [Knights] can help, but you need to increase your overall strength. In this case, it means working on your decks. You can¡¯t tell me you all have a perfect spread of epic cards.¡±
He eyed them all like he was daring them to countermand him, but none of them did.
¡°Getting enough cards to pull something like that off is going to be tough,¡± Rowan said hesitantly, thinking about his own cards. He still had an uncommon in his deck after all, even if Blood Siphon was a pretty solid card.
¡°Not if you pool all of your resources. Think like a Duke. If you order all your troops to sally out and collect cards for you, think about how many cards they can collect in a day. If each soldier contributes five uncommon cards a day, you¡¯ll meet your needs soon enough.
Rowan twitched. He genuinely hated the idea of sending his men into combat and then demanding their hard-earned trophies just so he could empower himself. A part of him wanted to insist on heading out himself and earning everything himself.
¡°Do not give me that look, young man.¡± Surprisingly enough, it was Olivia¡¯s mother that snapped at Rowan. ¡°You made a commitment to keep my daughter safe. Now, you¡¯re going to honor it. With everything in your power, keep both of you safe. You might see it as a grievous injustice, but there is practical merit to that tradition here. You must gather power to protect your people, too.¡±
There was a tense moment of silence while everyone waited for Rowan¡¯s answer. Even Blake¡¯s eyes were fixed on him, though Rowan couldn¡¯t figure out what his friend was thinking. ¡°Fine,¡± he spat out at long last, sagging at the agreement. ¡°But I wish I disagreed.¡±
Rowan understood the underlying logic. He understood why Olivia¡¯s parents were pushing for that particular course of action. Still, he felt like he¡¯d fundamentally failed the people who put trust in him. His shoulders sank. That means I¡¯m failing myself too.
¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ve got plenty of time to buff everyone up to epic if that¡¯s what you want once all the demons are dead,¡± Olivia offered with a sad smile, squeezing his hand underneath the table.
That did make him feel better.
¡°I¡¯ll stop pouting, don¡¯t worry. I recognize that it¡¯s¡ immature, I guess. I just wanted to do things differently. Is that really so bad?¡± He might have been talking to Olivia, but Rowan really asked the question to the room at large.
¡°It¡¯s not. But even back home, similar rules are respected by all. You need a strong leader to protect everyone and give them a chance to grow,¡± Milena supplied softly, surprising Rowan.
¡°I¡¯m with you on making everyone stronger, you know that dude,¡± Blake chimed in with a genuine smile on his face. ¡°But I don¡¯t think you¡¯re letting them down, Rowan. Hells, I know for a fact your soldiers all love you. It¡¯s kinda weird, to be honest. You were never this popular back home.¡± He winked.
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Rowan rolled his eyes at the good natured teasing, but another surge of optimism coursed through him. If he looked at it like he was asking for help, maybe it wasn¡¯t the worst thing in the world. Everyone needed a hand occasionally, right?
¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll organize an assembly and pass out the orders. Is there anything else we can do to prepare? What about you guys?¡± He addressed his party members, unable to deny his curiosity. ¡°Do you need something special to make your new classes work better?¡±
They still hadn¡¯t sat down and properly discussed their new classes, much to the hero¡¯s chagrin. Even Olivia had weaseled her way out of telling him what she got, though he could tell it was because his frustration amused her.
Milena pulled at her fur a bit while she considered things, but still answered first. ¡°Afraid not. Well, I obviously need scrap and cards so I can upgrade my deck¡¯s rarity, but otherwise, I¡¯m set. I got [Ancestral Shaman] years earlier than I thought I would. Really, I should blame you for throwing off my schedule.¡± Milena¡¯s smile was light and teasing, making Rowan grin.
¡°I¡¯m similarly set. My class was¡ a bit of a surprise, honestly. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get something so unique.¡± The other half of the twin set said, then surprised Rowan when a system window came up in front of him.
[Bulwark Of Salvation]
You are the saving grace, the life-sparing shield, the final bastion between your allies and death. Hold fast.
By selecting the [Bulwark Of Salvation] class you will gain the ability to prevent, redirect, and delay damage dealt to you and your allies.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of your vitality and wisdom stats
- A massive boost to all your resistances, including resistances to esoteric effects
- You can trigger a five second window of time where all damage taken by you and your allies will be delayed and stored instead. You can hold onto this damage for ten seconds, before it is all dealt to you or an ally of choice.
- If your Wisdom and Vitality stats total is twice that of your enemy, you can shift all stored damage to them when in direct contact with them. Weapons and armor are treated as an extension of your body in this instance.
Class Penalties:
- A grand decrease to your damage output
Attached card: Salvation¡¯s Blessing (Epic, Active)
|
¡°That¡¯s¡ impressive, especially damage onto an enemy,¡± Rowan remarked, eyes going back to the description of shifting damage to an enemy again and again. With it, as long as he had some relatively weak monsters within reach, it was unlikely that Marcus would ever go down.
¡°It¡¯s impressive, sure, but you need to read the descriptions a bit more closely. I can only hold one ¡®charge¡¯ at a time. Even if the damage from it doesn¡¯t trigger, I can¡¯t sponge more hits until I offload the current charge. I can still get obliterated.¡±
Marcus was aiming to be humble, but there was a gleam in his eyes that told Rowan he was more than a little proud of his class.
He¡¯d also chosen to share freely, something his sister hadn¡¯t done. Rowan could only assume it was because her own class came straight from their clan, and was likely considered sensitive in some shape or form. He didn¡¯t begrudge her for keeping the details to herself, regardless.
¡°And you, you little gremlin?¡± Rowan snarked jokingly, looking down at his favorite alchemist. ¡°Are you going to finally tell me exactly what class you got, or are you going to keep teasing me?¡±
She gave him a Cheshire grin, and Rowan almost resolved himself to waiting longer before another system window popped up in his notifications. His eyebrows climbed higher the further he read.
[Alchemist of Entropy]
The world is your playground. Dissolve or enrich it as you please.
By picking the [Alchemist of Entropy] class you get to tap into the Law of [Entropy], imposing it on the world or reversing its effects.
Warning: This class deals with a Fundamental Law. Y?????o?????????????????????u?????????????????????????????? a??????????????????????????????????????????????r??????????????????????????????e??????? n????????????????????????o?????????_??????t??????????????????? r????????????????????????????????????e???????????????????????????_?_?a????????_??????????????????????????????????????d?????????????????????????????y????????????????????_??????????????????????????.
Additional beneficial effects:
- A grand boost to the effectiveness of your intelligence and wisdom stats
- A grand boost to the growth of your mana pool
- Your mana bears the flavor of [Entropy]
- You can leverage [Entropy] in your alchemical pursuits, dissolving certain traits of your ingredients or condensing others
Class Penalties:
- They Are Watching
- ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????????, ?????
Attached card: Entropy¡¯s Embrace (Epic, Active)
|
¡°Olivia, dear, you never get to tell me to stop being reckless ever again.¡± Rowan somehow managed to say that without gritting his teeth or sounding upset.
¡°Whatever do you mean? I did nothing wrong.¡± Olivia¡¯s expression of perfect innocence was not working as intended, but Rowan found it difficult to feel upset. He¡¯d done his fair share of stupid things, after all.
Unfortunately for Olivia, she¡¯d apparently neglected to let her parents know about her class prior to the meeting as well. And, judging by the way the baroness was choking on her own spit and staring at her daughter with bulging eyes, she wasn¡¯t happy.
Even her father looked pained, though the way he was staring at her spoke more of resignation than of any real anger.
¡°Can I ask why, of all things, you chose to pick a class like this, daughter? You know as well as I do that plenty of [Alchemist] classes are monitored if not outright forbidden by the temples.¡±
¡°I did it because I refuse to be a burden, and because I refuse to be weak. With this class, I can match any one of you,¡± Olivia declared, steel in her voice.
Rowan didn¡¯t doubt what she was saying for even a second. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what the class entailed, but it certainly looked like it would have plenty of application in direct combat. Whatever else might happen due to her choices, Olivia was unlikely to feel vulnerable again.
¡°Just¡ let me know what I can do to help you improve your cards, okay?¡± Rowan offered, and got a dazzling smile in return. ¡°I¡¯ll even refrain from ribbing you about all your complaining ¡ª but only if you decide to be less reckless than me.¡± He added, and the smile was replaced by a scowl.
¡°You can be such an ass,¡± Olivia grumbled, but Rowan felt like he was the winner when she gave him a small smile anyway.
¡°Yes, yes, touching emotional moment aside, we need to finish up here. Anything else we need to plan for? We¡¯ve got our epic tier classes, and we¡¯ll be working on getting our decks up to the same tier, too. Can we do anything else?¡± Marcus got the group back on track.
¡°Well¡¡± a very meek Blake sheepishly said, ¡°I¡¯d like some help, if that¡¯s okay? I need to go deeper. Rares are pretty much gone from the area, and I¡¯m not getting nearly enough experience to get back to epic any time soon. Maybe a small hunting trip?¡±
¡°I can help with that, if you¡¯d like,¡± Rowan offered immediately. His mind went back to the conversation he had with the princess.
¡°We can help. I¡¯ll come with. I need to experiment a bit with my new class anyway,¡± Olivia joined in immediately, wrapping her arms around Rowan a bit more tightly. He shot her an apologetic smile in turn, only for her to roll her eyes at him.
¡°I could use an outing, too. I haven¡¯t played around much with my new ability to shift damage to an enemy. It¡¯s not a good idea to test that kind of thing when things are dire,¡± Marcus offered as well. All eyes fell on his sister.
Milena huffed and threw up her hands in exasperation. ¡°What? Don¡¯t look at me like that! I¡¯m all for solidarity and all that, but I need to study, unlike the rest of you. Rituals don¡¯t perform themselves, you know? I¡¯ll be staying, thank you very much. You lot have fun.¡±
¡°Do you think your party will want to tag along too, Blake?¡± Rowan ventured hesitantly, making his fellow hero sigh.
¡°Almost definitely. I¡¯ll ask them to stay this time around, though. Maybe they¡¯ll accept if I ask them to hang out with your knightly trio?¡±
¡°I swear, they follow you around like lost puppies. I tried to make an elite party of [Knights], and you snatch it right out from under me,¡± Rowan complained, but his joking tone made it fairly obvious that he wasn¡¯t actually upset.
¡°Well, maybe you should take better care of your subordinates, man!¡± Blake shot back with a cocky smirk.
Rowan just huffed. ¡°Maybe.¡± Or maybe I should just keep them away from ridiculously charismatic heroes instead. ¡°Okay, well, if that¡¯s all for today, let¡¯s get to it. I¡¯ll get my troops together and pass on my orders, then we¡¯ll head out tomorrow to wrap up Blake¡¯s recovery.¡±
There was a wave of general assent, and then people started streaming out of the room. Rowan stayed seated though, with Olivia still attached to him.
With the meeting done, he suddenly felt tired and worried. It felt like the final moments of peace before a storm were slipping out between his fingers.
¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, you know?¡± Olivia said quietly, scooting her chair closer and plopping her chin on his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll be ready, and whatever the demons and kingdom throw our way, we¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°I really want to believe that. I do. It¡¯s just¡ I¡¯m worried. I just want to stay here, with you,¡± Rowan admitted, guilt and dread swamping him. ¡°But I don¡¯t want anymore of my soldiers to die either.¡±
He knew full well that plenty of resources and struggle had gone into his journey already. People had paid the ultimate price on his behalf, at his command. To falter now and choose to hide would be spitting directly on their memory. Even then, the temptation remained.
Olivia sighed and brushed her hands through his hair before firmly forcing him to face her. The kisses that followed didn¡¯t solve all of Rowan¡¯s problems, but they definitely made them feel more distant and bearable.
¡ª
Rowan¡¯s summons had gone out, the soldiers had mustered, and now the full array of his troops stood before him. A bit over five hundred souls, each and every one sworn to him. Each and every one willing to march at his order, to glory or to death. The sun was still low in the sky, but it was high enough that it¡¯s golden light crept over the walls.
He took advantage of the officers doing final inspections of their troops to delay the moment he¡¯d have to start his speech. He was usually queasy before making large troop announcement like this, but knowing how sharp the thorns were on the path ahead, Rowan tasted bile in his mouth and swallowed it down as stealthily as he could.
Finally, the last uniform was straightened, the last piece of armor forcefully polished, and the last warning about sloppiness and military etiquette given out.
Which meant it was time for him to open his mouth.
¡°Thank you for gathering here so quickly. You still have your normal duties to attend to, so I will be brief,¡± Rowan opened, sweeping his eyes over the arrayed troops.
He knew all of them at this point, if not by name then by features. It was hard to force himself to commit their faces to memory, when it was so much easier to pretend they were a faceless mass afraid of death. It would be much easier to send a nameless grunt to their death than it would be to send a soldier named John, who married his childhood friend only the week before.
That wouldn¡¯t be fair to any of them. He would remember who they are, future pain be damned.
¡°I¡¯m here today to inform you that we¡¯re almost ready. The time to charge into the wastes is nearing, and we will bring the demons to heel. We will kill the leaders of their armies, legendary tier or not. And we will bring triumph over demon kind. We will have another peace again. That I promise you.¡±
Rowan felt pathetic, making that particular promise. It was hard to stand tall when feared he¡¯d have to ask them to take up arms against fellow humans immediately after.
He still meant every word.
¡°To do this, however, we need to finish our preparation. For this reason, I give you the following orders: I need you to go out into the wastes in force, and cull as many monsters as you can. Bring back their cards, so that we can guarantee our victory against demons. I promise you, we will not fail your hard work and effort. The cards you collect will be invaluable for the task we have been entrusted with.¡±
He expected to hear jeering, not cheering. He thought he¡¯d see unhappy faces, at the very least. Instead, the Stalwart Hero¡¯s heart broke a little when he saw the proud smiles and determined expressions. Are they actually happy about this?
Their Lord, their Hero, had given them a task.
His army would do their best to fulfill it.
¡°Thank you once again for your service. Thank you for your loyalty. I couldn¡¯t ask for a better army. Even if the king were to offer me his royal guard to replace you, I¡¯d choose you over them in a heartbeat.¡± Rowan¡¯s speech concluded, sincerity ringing in his every word. He bowed.
A ripple spread through his army before they returned the gesture. Rowan only barely kept the smile on his face as he walked right through their ranks, exchanging greetings and comments.
Olivia was right by his side, a steadying presence in the whirlwind that was his mind.
Why don¡¯t they resent me?
¡°You did amazing out there,¡± his fianc¨¦e whispered once they were in the manor, away from all the orders and the weight of expectations.
¡°Did I?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°You did. You realize they wouldn¡¯t so readily follow any of the previous mayors in Rest¡¯s Remorse, right? Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, you¡¯ve improved their lives, Rowan.¡±
That, at last, brought a smile to the hero¡¯s lips. Perhaps it felt a bit hollow, to improve someone¡¯s life and then ask them to risk it all.
They had a war to win and a future to fight for. Rowan swore he would do whatever he could to bring them all back.
Chapter 67: Mending Light
It felt fitting to venture out of the city with a smaller group.
The baroness would typically insist on having at least two parties of soldiers following along, but this time, Rowan was able to dissuade her. Bringing up the fact that the men would be best put to work hunting down more cards was what did the trick.
As such, it was only Blake¡¯s party, Rowan, Olivia and Marcus that made their way deeper into the wastes.
Somewhere along the line, Rowan realized that he¡¯d lost his fear of the place.
Where once he might have felt on edge, now, the embrace of the wild, twisted jungle felt just as welcoming as the walls of Rowan¡¯s manor. When paperwork was involved? The wastes actually won out the popularity contest.
Even then, Rowan felt that the main source of entertainment on that particular trip were Blake¡¯s party members.
The three women looked so resigned yet determined that Rowan actually felt like giggling. It didn¡¯t help that they dressed almost like they were planning to walk into some high class gathering instead of heading into combat too.
All of them wore dresses that were just shy of completely impractical.
¡°You know, I really wonder what¡¯s going to happen to your harem if we need to run or something,¡± Rowan mumbled to Blake, keeping his voice faux-quiet.
Judging by the way the said harem stiffened and shot him glares, they definitely heard him.
Looking at the self-satisfied smile on Rowan¡¯s face, Blake could do little other than sigh.
¡°Can you please not poke fun at them? I¡¯d like it if you got along. At the very least, try to stay civil? I know snark comes naturally to you, but please?¡± He was complaining, but then again, only Rowan was in the right position to see Blake¡¯s smile.
¡°Sure, sure, I can do that, just for you¡ for now.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Blake rolled his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t ask for more than that, I suppose.¡±
¡°No, you really can¡¯t, not after the stuff you and Kayla pulled at that Christmas party!¡± The look in Rowan¡¯s eyes turned decidedly malicious when he noticed that he suddenly had the undivided attention of Blake¡¯s ladies.
Blake had gone pale and unnaturally still, something that the women also picked up on.
¡°Now, what¡¯s this about a¡ Christmas? Party?¡± Jacques, the member of the trio Rowan knew least about, asked with a blinding smile and more than a little vindictiveness.
¡°Another day, I think,¡± Rowan laughed, relishing in the way his friend¡¯s face had gone completely red.
Maybe they were heading into a demonic infested landscape riddled with monsters in order to claw back Blake¡¯s full strength.
In that moment, though?
Rowan was relaxed and happy, surrounded by friends and a trio of acquaintances he might just be able to learn to like too. And for the Stalwart Hero? Well, that was enough to improve his day.
¡ª
Their progress was swift, but they still encountered their fair share of opposition. And, every time, Blake insisted on stepping in himself to take care of whatever threat got in their way.
Frankly, Rowan was impressed.
The last time he saw his fellow hero fight, Blake was still awkward, trying to scrounge together something approaching an actual combat style.
Blake hadn¡¯t exactly reached the peak of mortal swordsmanship while Rowan wasn¡¯t looking. He had, however, put together an absolutely vicious style of swordsmanship that fit him oddly well, even if one wouldn¡¯t think him capable of fighting with such savagery at first glance.
Blake¡¯s style was all about maiming and permanently damaging his opponents if they somehow managed to survive an encounter with him.
At the same time, there was an odd, almost artificial quality to Blake¡¯s movements that made it even harder to anticipate his strikes and face him in direct battle.
As Rowan watched the other hero take apart a bear-type monster, Rowan seriously wondered how he¡¯d fare against his friend in one-on-one combat if they competed in pure skill.
Blake would dash forward, leave a shallow wound on the monster, and then immediately zoom back like a marionette with its string yanked. This would enrage the rare tier monster, and it would swing and claw with wild abandon.
The way Blake contorted around those strikes made Rowan wince, but his fellow hero found an opening to jerk his sword up with such force that it nearly cut fully through one of the bear¡¯s meaty paws. All that done from a position where he should have had zero leverage to deal a blow that powerful.
From there, Blake slipped right behind the monster, spinning around the kick it tried for by collapsing forward onto all fours, and once again lashed out.
A spray of blood and the bear¡¯s screams of pain announced its collapse onto its right side, both its front and back leg utterly savaged and incapable of supporting its weight.
After that? Well, that didn¡¯t count as combat. It was a simple execution.
In spite of that, Blake didn¡¯t rush in like he might have done in the past. He calmly and methodically disabled every limb that tried to reach for him, until he¡¯d made a full circle around the monster and once more stood in front of it.
His sword fell one final time, and the bear¡¯s cries petered out.
Rowan didn¡¯t even resist his urge to clap, shooting his best friend a dazzling grin when he turned around to give him a look that was asking whether the congratulations were sincere or mocking.
¡°I can¡¯t believe how much better you are, now!¡± Rowan gushed, walking forward to thump Blake on the back.
The other hero winced and stumbled forward, awkwardly shaking himself off. ¡°Thanks. Do you need to try to break my back though? Cause I mean, ow. Be a little more gentle, please.¡±
Rowan rolled his eyes, entirely unamused. ¡°Oh come on, I barely even touched you!¡±
Surprisingly enough, the look he received in return was very nearly scathing. ¡°Rowan, I¡¯m genuinely telling you to stop trying to break my back. This is, like, the third time.¡±
Rowan opened his mouth to tell Blake that he didn¡¯t even engage his strength, then stopped.
His strength was no longer was it used to be. A bit of thinking and pulling up his status screen that almost half his knights had chosen that particular stat as their main source of strength, and the knight trio was coming along very nicely, already well into their early rare tier levels.
The revelation startled him, making Rowan spin towards Olivia immediately. ¡°Wait, with the way my strength¡¯s been growing, I never hurt you, did I?¡± The very prospect of that had made his face grow pale.
¡°Oh, sure, get all concerned about hurting your fianc¨¦e by accident. Your best friend? Who cares if you¡¯ve been doing domestic violence to him,¡± Blake commented from behind.
Olivia chuckled and stepped forward, landing a quick peck on his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Rowan, you¡¯d never hurt me. You¡¯ve always been exceedingly gentle with me. Well¡ almost always.¡±
Her smile was a taunting, wicked thing, and it made Rowan flush so hard even his neck colored red.
¡°I feel a story there,¡± Blake purred, plopping an elbow on top of Rowan¡¯s shoulder and making the Stalwart Hero stumble. ¡°Want to share?¡±
¡°What to explain what you and Kayla were doing that one time you told me to visit then didn¡¯t answer the door?¡± Rowan quipped right back, which did the expected job of getting Blake to back right off. His expression looked pained enough to almost make Rowan regret the comment, especially when he spied the reactions of his harem trio. Almost.
¡°Your fianc¨¦e is off limits when it comes to jokes. I got it. Locked and loaded. Don¡¯t need to teach me that lesson twice. I¡¯ll behave!¡±
Rowan took the moment to eye his best friend, then grinned. ¡°Good. Keep it that way. Now, shall we continue on our merry way?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s.¡±
As they proceeded deeper into the jungle, the trio of women descended upon Blake like vultures ready to pick a fresh carcass apart, and Rowan contentedly fell back to walk with his own party members.
¡°Well, what do you think?¡± Rowan asked, sweeping their surroundings carefully in search of any ambushes or suddenly emerging predators.
Being out and about on their own was refreshing, but he was seriously starting to regret not bringing a scout along.
¡°He¡¯s good. Not the best we¡¯ve seen, obviously, but he¡¯s definitely good. Gotta say, whatever he¡¯s doing to move like that, it freaks me out.¡± Marcus shuddered lightly at the admission, shooting the other hero a quick glance. ¡°It kind of reminds me of the way some demons move, really.¡±
¡°True. Still, you can¡¯t deny that it¡¯s effective.¡± Olivia chimed in with a reassuring smile sent in Rowan¡¯s direction. ¡°Really, you don¡¯t need to worry about him anymore. We¡¯ll help him find an epic, level him up the final time, and then head back home. Sure, we might need to camp out, but that¡¯s not too bad.¡±
Rowan worried away at his lower lip, before he finally decided to bite the bullet. ¡°Yeah¡ about that, how are we going to find an epic tier out here without any scouts?¡±
Olivia blinked at him in confusion, then broke into laughter so loud it drew the attention of Blake¡¯s party before she waved them off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you just looked so adorably worried and confused, I couldn¡¯t help it!¡±
¡°Well, it¡¯s not my fault! Or, well, it is. I just wasn¡¯t thinking. Do we need to turn back? I¡¯ll be a bit awkward, but better than wondering out here for days.¡±
¡°No, Rowan, we don¡¯t need to turn back.¡± Olivia said with fond exasperation, smile still upon her lips. ¡°I can find an epic for us, no problem. Well¡ actually, you can probably do it too, now that I think of it.¡±
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
¡°I¡¯m not a scout, you know? That said, neither are you. How exactly do you propose we do what you¡¯re suggesting, love?¡±
The little term of endearment earned him another smile, but it didn¡¯t distract his favorite alchemist. ¡°Epic tier monsters have an aura, just like humans do. Now, it won¡¯t be particularly powerful, but it¡¯s there. Here¡¯s the question, though: what is an aura?¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t need to think particularly hard on that question. ¡°It¡¯s mana, isn¡¯t it? Tiering up makes a person¡¯s mana stronger and heavier, for lack of a better term. And when an epic tier actively expels their mana, it has a significant effect on anyone in their vicinity who doesn¡¯t have the same level of mana or incredible willpower.¡±
¡°Correct! Now, here¡¯s a hint why most monsters have a lackluster aura. They don¡¯t really understand how to properly use it. Their aura is mostly bound to their flesh, and it takes a lot of time, practice and effort for them to learn how to project it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ fascinating, but I still don¡¯t get where you¡¯re going with this.¡± Rowan admitted, furrowing his brow. ¡°How will that help up find an epic tier monster?¡±
¡°Well, even if most of it is bound to their bodies, monsters constantly leak a certain amount of aura. And as we just ascertained, aura is mana. So, all we need to do is look for areas around us that have denser pockets of mana.¡±
¡°You can do that?¡± Rowan found the suggestion thoroughly impressive, and couldn¡¯t stop that from showing in his voice if he tried.
¡°Of course I can, silly. I¡¯m a class that uses a ton of mana manipulation and sensing. Now, typically, you need to commit to a class that boosts the quality of your intelligence, or maybe wisdom, in order to really master the process. However, with your nonsense class, you got the benefits of such a class through your [Knight].¡± She was grumbling when she mentioned that, making Rowan smile helplessly. Olivia really didn¡¯t like how he¡¯d chosen to accept Tamara as one of his knights. She understood. She supported it, even, when the logic was explained. She just didn¡¯t like it.
¡°So, um, what do I need to do to start on the whole sensing thing, then?¡± he asked, trying to hurry her along past the awkward part of the conversation.
She shot him a half-hearted glare, but she acquiesced to the change in subject nonetheless. ¡°Well, for starters, you need to learn how to disperse your mana around you without letting it slip your control. If you just let it go, then you¡¯ll use up your mana pool in no time. You need to keep it a part of yourself.¡±
Over the next few hours, as they headed deeper and deeper into the wastes, Rowan struggled and failed to do what Olivia described. Rowan was fairly sure that she wasn¡¯t giving him excessively vague explanations just for the fun of it or to get back at him.
At first, he was even having trouble just expelling mana from his body in a controlled manner. Such attempts resulted in something that resembled offensive blasts of mana rather than anything else. Apparently, his relatively high amount of mana for a physical class was getting in the way there.
Mages would typically start on such exercises when they were just starting up, and they¡¯d need to keep them up in order to maintain precise control of their mana as their pool of it grew.
According to Olivia¡¯s comparison, he was trying to do an exercise people usually tackled with the lightest possible training sword while wielding a large, heavy two-handed broadsword.
Graceful and refined control this did not make.
Eventually, though, just before they decided to call it a day, he did manage to softly disperse his mana into his surroundings and maintain that level of output.
The problem then became the fact that he was leaking mana like a sieve, rather than successfully ¡®hanging onto it¡¯ in any way shape or form.
¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Rowan snarled in frustration, wanting so badly to hurl his mana away from himself on purpose. Unfortunately, it was doing a good job running away from him all on its own. ¡°It just stops being a part of me the second I release it. I don¡¯t think my class can do this stuff, love.¡±
Olivia was looking at him with exquisite amusement on her face when he gave that admission. ¡°Rowan, this isn¡¯t some advanced technique that only mages and mana wielding classes can do. It¡¯s a basic exercise. Trust me, you can do it.¡±
¡°You say that, but I haven¡¯t managed to do it once!¡±
¡°And do you think that¡¯s because it¡¯s impossible, or are you just trying to do it wrong?¡± his fianc¨¦e demanded, making Rowan¡¯s rage deflate right on the spot.
¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m doing it wrong,¡± he mumbled, not at all petulantly.
¡°Okay, here, let me try and guide you through it. Give me your hands.¡±
Rowan scooted forward in their hastily erected tent, until their knees were touching where they sat with their legs folded. Olivia took his hands in hers gently, and then Rowan gasped when he felt something brush across his skin. The sensation repeated itself, reminding him of a gentle breeze tickling his skin.
¡°Feel that? It¡¯s my mana. When you keep your connection to your mana, you can sense it, control it, and shape it. It¡¯s what lets mages and a lot of other direct mana users shape spells, rituals, and the like. We don¡¯t need you to be able to do any controlling or shaping right now. You just need to sense your mana.¡±
¡°But, it vanishes immediately. Completely and utterly,¡± Rowan said quietly, almost like he was afraid of talking too loudly and scaring the sensation of Olivia¡¯s mana playing over his skin.
It felt warm, soft, and just a little nippy. He liked it.
¡°Just focus, silly. Actually, the process of sensing your mana and keeping your connection to it needs to be mastered almost simultaneously. If you can¡¯t sense it, you can¡¯t hang onto it. And if you can¡¯t hang onto it, it stops being your mana, so you can¡¯t really feel it anymore.¡±
¡°How am I feeling your mana right now, then?¡± Rowan asked, still luxuriating in the sensation Olivia¡¯s mana was giving him.
¡°Your mana is a part of you. It¡¯s one of the reasons higher tiers are so much tougher than lower ones. The mana passive reinforces your body, including your skin. So, when I run my own mana over you, it¡¯s coming in direct contact with your own reserves. If you ever drain yourself fully dry, it will become impossible to sense mana too.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t particularly like the implications of that, but if he was ever forced to such a brink, then he was probably on the verge of losing whatever fight he was in.
Instead of complaining about things he couldn¡¯t change, he focused on getting this one thing down. Slowly, still letting Olivia keep hold of his hands, he made a tiny improvement.
From the sensation of just letting mana rush out of his, he transitioned to the feeling of mana slipping through his fingers. It felt like, the harder he fought to hold on to the mysterious substance, the harder it was to actually leverage it.
He went to bed that night feeling frustrated, but like he was making actual, noticeable progress towards earning a new and useful skill for the first time in a while.
¡ª
The next day, Blake was ready and raring to go. While Rowan had eventually succumbed to very comfortable sleep and woke up feeling refreshed, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised to hear that Blake hadn¡¯t caught a single wink at all.
¡°So, I take it you¡¯re excited to track down an epic and finally get back to the tier yourself?¡± Rowan asked jokingly, only to be hit by the most dazzling smile he¡¯d seen from his friend in recent history.
¡°Yes! Goddess, I can¡¯t tell you how horrible it feels to be so far behind everyone else. I mean, your entire new extended family is at the epic tier! Our parties are at the epic tier! Those mercenaries at it too! It feels like I¡¯ve been standing in place for the longest time.¡±
¡°You realize that¡¯s not true, right? You¡¯ve made amazing progress. In fact, if you fought the you from a couple weeks ago, back when you were at epic, I bet you¡¯d have a chance to win.¡± Rowan wasn¡¯t even joking.
¡°Yes, yes, I know I¡¯m doing better and all that,¡± Blake said dismissively, literally waving the argument away. ¡°But I¡¯m not at epic, right? And heroes need to be at epic to be useful.¡±
¡°Then what was I until a couple weeks ago, hm? An ornament to make my party look nicer?¡± Rowan quipped, mostly managing to keep any bitterness out of his voice.
At that, Blake¡¯s eyes got huge. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that! Really! I mean, I was just saying, that¡¯s what I¡¯m like, not ¡ª¡± He broke out into stuttering, before he finally noticed the smug smile on Rowan¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, you ass!¡±
He couldn¡¯t help it, Rowan broke into laughter as he dodged away from Blake¡¯s retaliatory swipe. ¡°Sorry not sorry! Stop acting like the epic tier is something commonplace, though. It¡¯s not. I¡¯ve got a full army, and none of them are at the epic tier yet. Besides, you¡¯ll probably get there today.¡±
That alone was enough to restore Blake¡¯s smile, and the man went right back to being annoyingly chipper. Rowan, meanwhile, fell back to his place by Olivia¡¯s side.
¡°Ready to continue practicing?¡± Olivia asked.
¡°I am. Still, do you mind helping Blake find his epic? I¡¯ll obviously keep working away at it, but I want to quickly help him get back to that stupid tier. I think it¡¯ll do wonders for his sense of self-worth. Not that he should need it.¡±
¡°You know¡ Blake and his party are really not what I expected them to be,¡± Olivia admitted with a thoughtful look on her face.
¡°What were you expecting, then?¡±
She didn¡¯t answer that question, but she did shout out to Blake. ¡°Blake? If you want to find an epic, I¡¯d head that way.¡± Rowan¡¯s favorite alchemist pointed, and off they were.
¡ª
Rowan wasn¡¯t one hundred percent sure. However, as they drew ever close to whatever monster Olivia was tracking, he did think he was starting to get flashes of insight into the mana around him.
The entire wastes were tinged by mana. Something slithering, slimy and malignant, hiding within every plant, every bush, and even the soil itself. It made him want to recoil, but it did do much to solidify his sense of his own mana in his mind.
That¡¯s why, a mere hour and a bit after they set off, Rowan finally managed to hold on to his mana. And he really wanted to punch something at just how foolish it was to attempt such a thing in the literal sense.
Instead, he found that the trick was to sort of expand his sense of self, extending it past his own skin and becoming something vaguely defined to his own senses.
That, of course, made him realize he¡¯d done such things before, even if instinctively and with no idea what was happening. Several times before, he¡¯d gotten impressions of demons and particularly powerful foes using mana.
Now, he knew exactly how to force those impressions whenever he liked. Sort of.
Regardless, as they finally drew close to the epic¡¯s stomping ground, he was more than satisfied enough with his progress to shelve further experimentation.
And he was definitely certain they were drawing close.
The ground and trees were pockmarked by scratches and craters, and the jungle looked worn out and worse for wear even when compared to its usual stark beauty.
¡°It¡¯s a big one, whatever it is,¡± Marcus supplied, putting his hand against one of the scratch marks. It dwarfed the size of his hand, making it apparent that they weren¡¯t about to fight a teddy bear.
¡°Well, I mean, how bad could it be?¡± Rowan quipped, feeling more than a little certain of their victory.
Even with just the three members of his party, he was willing to give taking down the epic a shot. After all, they¡¯d scythed through the epics that had besieged Blake, easily taking them down.
In spite of his own casualness, Rowan felt Marcus¡¯s aura slip over him, preparing them to face anything that the epic might throw at them.
¡°Rowan¡¯s right! This is going to be easy with all of us here, you¡¯ll see,¡± Blake supported his friend with a smile, sword already in hand and a smile on his lips.
The princess, for once, didn¡¯t share his enthusiasm. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think we should still ¡ª urgh!¡±
The woman was cut off when one of the trees they were just passing by moved, bringing two massive claws down on top of the princess and the de Vort. The attack was as vicious as it was sudden, and the massive shockwave it released threw enough dirt in the air to stagger everyone.
Rowan cursed but kept his footing thanks to his high dexterity. The rest weren¡¯t so lucky. Only Marcus and Blake managed to remain standing too, and all three of them rushed at the monster at the same time.
It was only when Rowan was practically on top of it that he could finally see what was attacking them. A massive, monstrous chameleon with claws that ended in wickedly sharp, long point and a tail that was cutting through the air to the accompaniment of whip cracks.
Rowan roared, mana and vitality spiraling around his spear as he readied a strike. Right before he committed, a flash of newfound strength filled him as Mirabella Treagon staggered to her knees, erupting into light that bolstered her allies.
Blake was closer to the creature, so when their attacks landed, they landed at nearly the same time. Blake¡¯s cut into the wrinkly scales, and failed to penetrate past a couple of inches.
Rowan¡¯s dug deep into the base of one of the creature¡¯s legs, and the following explosion tore out the limb entirely.
In spite of that, the monster was still able to lash out, its tail hitting the Stalwart Hero right in the middle of his chest and launching him into and through the nearby trees before it brought down its front paws again, this time leveraging both to turn Blake into a pancake.
Blake cried out in pain, but when the monster pulled back, he wasn¡¯t a mere smear in the ground. Instead, Marcus¡¯s face paled further, even as he finally drew close enough to lash out with his mace.
The weapon landed lightly, almost like it was wielded by someone with barely enough strength to lift it. Then the chameleon monster rocked back, bones squealing and snapping as it partially slumped against the tree it still clung to.
With a sputter and curse, the princess dug herself out of what was a nearly two feet deep hole, a corona of light forming up above her as it washed over her allies, melting away fatigue. Jacques took action took, panes of force forming up around each of the humans that would stop the blows of monsters while letting their own through.
In spite of that, there was little need for them to act. The monster was whimpering, struggling to even lift its limbs again. A fact that Blake was more than willing to take advantage of.
With a vicious shout of his own, the hero launched himself into the air, bringing his sword as high as it would go before driving it down into the monster¡¯s skull.
For a moment, Rowan feared it would still not be enough. Then, the monster¡¯s skull sagged, its shattered state failing to let it withstand the damage, and the killing blow was dealt.
Even then, for several long, tense moments, the chameleon squirmed on top of Blake¡¯s sword like a particularly large worm caught on the tip of a fishing hook.
And then it stilled, and the clearing was washed away in a surge of light that erupted out of Blake.
Chapter 68: The Legendary Expedition
The manor was a swarm of activity, servants and soldiers bustling about every corner in a united front, all working towards making everything perfect for the moment of departure.
In the midst of all that, Rowan found himself with little to do but wait.
No one was going to let him contribute to putting together bundles of equipment for the soldiers, most of all the servants. They were likely to have an aneurysm if the Marquis himself were to pick up supplies to polish and maintain armor and weapons.
Perhaps it wasn¡¯t that there was little to do, but his main task was more than a little nerve-wracking.
Rowan took a deep breath, looked down and hesitated.
It wasn¡¯t hard to understand why.
Having claimed a whole lot of resources just to progress his own deck, Rowan had a very nice set of cards ready to go.
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Spear of Malaise (Rare, Active) x3
Cursed Blade of Sundering (Rare, Active) x3
Bloodwhisper Spear (Rare, Passive) x3
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And, of course, the final piece of the puzzle:
| [Class] Reaping Spear (Rare, Active) |
With a final deep breath in and a quick bit of praying to Lady Luck, Rowan hit the fuse button on his interface.
A purple light erupted forth, so wobbly that Rowan was convinced the fusion would fail. Yet, as seconds crawled by, it began to stabilize slowly and relief surged through him.
Eventually, a card dropped down in front of his in all its new glory.
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[Class] The Grim Spear (Epic, Active)
Empower your spear with mana that deals devastating injuries. Death, rot, and corruption mana will infest every wound dealt under the effect of this card, and each wound will resist healing and regeneration effects.
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Rowan let his breath out, and a grim smile stretched across his lips as he imagined just how difficult that particular card was going to be to deal with.
Most people following the path of the spear had cards with low offensive potential. However, Rowan was pretty certain that even an underwhelming offensive class could make its mark with a card like that.
Rowan sent the card back to his deck, and directed his attention to the next upgrade he had lined up. This one, he was far less sure of.
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[Class] Blood Siphon (Uncommon, Passive)
Each wound your spear inflicts will provoke severe bleeding, draining your foes of their life essence. The bleeding effects grow in proportion to the damage dealt.
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The card was as simple as it was useful, and it had served him well. However, he didn¡¯t really get many good options to merge it with. He had enough cards for a total of three attempts. And a single failure would outright destroy the card.
Although Rowan only had three attempts, he had five different card combos that he could use in crafting the fuse and enough cards to try any combination he pleased.
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Blood Crest (Uncommon, Passive)
Collect the blood you spill in special crests that can be drained for a boost to your healing.
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Bracken Blood (Uncommon, Passive)
Each wound you inflict has a chance to inflict your opponent¡¯s bloodstream with a rot-aligned poison.
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Carving Strike (Uncommon, Active)
Each wound you inflict is widened, causing more severe blood loss and injuries.
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Flesh-seeker Spear (Uncommon, Passive)
Your spear sinks into flesh easily and hungrily, inflicting deeper and more severe injuries.
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Blood-churn Spear (Uncommon, Active)
Apply mana to your spear so that every blow you inflict on your enemies speeds up the circulation of their blood, resulting in more severe blood loss.
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He could pick two cards and fill out all the slots with them, or try to mix a bit of every card in hopes of a stronger end result.
Unfortunately, the warnings he¡¯d received were very clear on one subject: If he introduced more than four different types of cards to the fusion, including the class card itself, it was all but guaranteed to fail.
Three cards it is.
Picking an active card while trying to upgrade a passive would be risky, but Rowan eventually made his choice. Carving Strike, Flesh-seeker Spear, ****and Blood-churn Spear would be the ingredients that went into his new rare card.
Rowan his closed his eyes and finalized his choice.
What? This doesn¡¯t feel right at all.
The system worked so subtly that he was typically entirely unaware of what went into the process of card fusion. This time, however, Rowan could feel the flood of his own mana that surged out of his body and sank into the melting cards. It just didn¡¯t sit right, somehow.
The light that surrounded them fluctuated and shook, shuttering on the very verge of explosion. Rowan knew that very second that his attempt to fuse the cards would fail.
He reached too far, and the cards were refusing to play nice.
And yet, in the middle of that floating sphere, he felt something. A presence that was so quiet, such a small part of his deck, that he didn¡¯t even get any real feedback from it. A simple, quiet card that did its job, and did it well.
Without even meaning to, Rowan used every last bit of advice that Olivia gave him on their outing to reclaim the mana that the system had taken from him. As he did, his awareness of his class card surged.
It relished in blood, it yearned to spill it, it yearned to grow.
So, Rowan fed it every scrap of mana he had to let it do just that. And all throughout the process, he urged his mana to calm, to coalesce, to forcefully seize the cards that were fighting the process of getting ground down and integrated into his own.
He imagined all the different ways they could strengthen and contribute to the fusion, and Blood Siphon listened.
The cards reached out too. One by one, bolstered by their unified strength, their individual cries harmonized into one. The fusion devoured every scrap of power it needed to succeed.
Rowan slowly opened his eyes, unsure of what he was seeing. A blue hue came into focus, as a card drifted in front of him, gently laying itself to rest on something¡fluffy? He wiped the bleariness from his eyes, and the blood he saw on his hands shook him completely out of his delirium. It seemed that in his efforts to merge the cards, he¡¯d passed out onto the carpet, blood dripping from his nose. He must have fallen right out of his chair
¡°We¡¯re not doing that again, okay?¡± Rowan groaned to no one in particular as he pulled himself to his feet, staggering and shaking like a newborn calf.
In spite of that, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that the results were worth it.
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[Class] Scarlet Flood (Rare, Passive)
Every wound you inflict is much deeper and wider than it should be, and will severely drain your enemies of their life blood. The cursed nature of your strikes ensure continual bleeding, the severity of which is directly proportional to the amount of damage dealt.
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Rowan loved it, especially loved the ¡®severely¡¯ part. The system didn¡¯t mess around, so for something to get flagged with those words it had to be impressive.
Of course, that left him with another jump he needed to make.
¡°I swear, if the process goes as poorly as it did this time, I¡¯m letting it fail. I really don¡¯t think I can stop an epic tier fusion from blowing up in my face,¡± Rowan grumbled as he awkwardly wiped blood from his face, but the pulse of understanding he got from the card he¡¯d yet to banish back to his deck made him pause.
Exploring the mystical bond he seemed to have with his deck, Rowan blinked in both surprise and confusion.
More than any other card he possessed, more than even the epic tiers, Scarlet Flood felt both aware and like a true part of him. The conflict between the two traits should have sent him mind reeling, yet he understood and accepted it as par for the course.
It felt like a part of him, as if some deep, primordial part of his core personality had come awake and now dwelled within his chest. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t a good discovery. That piece of Rowan had an urge to stab things to death and then watch them bleed out. Rowan grimaced, pushing down his discomfort.
¡°I¡¯m really gonna need a therapist when this is all settled.¡±
Rowan¡¯s card selection for upgrading Scarlet Flood to epic was better, and he didn¡¯t need to struggle nearly as much to come up with a final list. If anything, he was impatient for this mana to refill out of an abundance caution.
At long last, though, the moment was there.
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Do you want to fuse [Class] Scarlet Flood (Rare, Passive) with the following cards:
Aura of Devouring (Common, Passive) x3
Draining Assault (Common, Active) x2
Bloodhound Spear (Common, Passive) x4
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Y/N
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The thrum of power, of sheer potential, threatened to make Rowan lose his seat again. He felt the card suck him in, and he witnessed as it hunted each of its future constituents down with ruthless efficiency.
If there was ever any doubt that the fusion would succeed, it disappeared within moments of triggering it.
When the slaughter was over and his new card hovered in front of him, Rowan felt a faint amount of awe.
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[Class] Scarlet Envy (Epic, Passive)
Your blows are the heralds of a scarlet flood. You thirst for the power trapped within the blood of your victim, and you can now claim it. When your weapon causes a wound, you can channel your mana into increasing the severity of their blood loss.
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Rowan had noticed a curious tendency as the tiers of his class and cards continued to climb. Both the verbosity of his cards¡¯ description as well as their vagueness grew right alongside their power.
His heart card¡¯s description was vague from the start, and the epic tier classes all had more spiritual and mystical allusions than they did actual, useful information. There was enough detail to make a solid selection, but beyond that, he was left with a lot of guesswork.
In spite of that, he knew exactly how his new card was supposed to work. The second it coalesced and became part of his deck, his awareness exploded beyond the confines of his body.
He was aware of the servants hurrying down the hall outside of his room. He could sense the twins in their rooms, bent over their own decks. He could even, spiraling down the connection with his knights, sense them, too.
Rowan could do all this because he could feel the blood coursing through their bodies.
He knew that the second his spear left a nick on their skin, he could coax the blood out, draw it to him, and devour it until it empowered him instead.
Rowan let out a shuddering breath and banished the card to his deck. He swiped his eyes over the collection of cards he now owned, and felt a tiny bit worried.
He did, after all, own two cards with direct allusions to deadly sins.
Deck (6/6):
- [Heart] Keen Spear (Epic, Passive)
- [Class] Knight Designation (Epic, Passive)
- [Class] The Grim Spear (Epic, Active)
- [Class] Scarlet Envy (Epic, Passive)
- Natural Renewal (Epic, Active)
- Gluttonous Banquet (Epic, Passive)
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¡°Are we the baddies now?¡± Rowan chuckled, whispering the words under his breath as he scanned the list again and again.
If he was being fully honest with himself, it didn¡¯t bother him all that much. He was perfectly willing to leave the blatant heroics to his best friend. He wanted to do only one job, and the purpose he was summoned for would finally be complete.
Then, he¡¯d have a whole life to live at his leisure ¡ª provided he put a stop to whatever plotting was going on in the kingdom, of course.
¡ª
Rowan found Blake exactly where he expected the other hero to be: in the training yard.
The grim determination and hurry to reclaim his power had left Blake¡¯s features, leaving behind a dazzling smile and a surety that reinforced every motion of his body.
The trio of [Knights] Rowan expected to find were there too. They¡¯d been all but adopted by the other hero, and Rowan couldn¡¯t find it in himself to be upset when Blake was finally making sincere friends in their new world.
The person Rowan wasn¡¯t expecting to find there, however, was Bron.
¡°You¡¯re doing so well now, mister hero!¡± the baron¡¯s officer taunted as he smoothly glided out of the way of Blake¡¯s sword, flicking his own just so to make Blake¡¯s weapon ring and almost jump out of his hands. ¡°But you need to do better.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not my fault that you¡¯re so slippery!¡± Blake quipped right back, easily recovering the stability of his stance and going right back to his attempt at skewering the spry older man.
A part of Rowan felt amused. Another part of him wanted to slap both of them upside the head and send Bron back inside and into a bed, where he belonged.
The older man had yet to recover from his use of Olivia¡¯s potion. His limbs were covered in bandages as tight as a mummy¡¯s, and Rowan knew for a fact that even light activity hurt him. The potion had burned both his skin and muscles away. And while the skin had recovered fairly quickly, the muscles had only just recently grown back before their arrival at Rest¡¯s Remorse.
Yet there he was, sparring with Blake and taunting the hero like a man half his age. Some days, Rowan felt like he was trying to herd a bunch of cats.
He followed the walls of the workout space, all the way around, until he reached the benches where Blake¡¯s party members sat and watched. ¡°What is going on here, exactly?¡±
¡°What does it look like?¡± the de Vort snorted daintily and rolled her eyes. Rowan would have been upset, if his limited interactions with the woman didn¡¯t teach him that she treated more or less anyone with that same level of disdain.
It made her relationship dynamic with Blake interesting. Especially when Rowan caught them kissing in an empty meeting room.
¡°Well, it looks like Blake it trying to skewer a half-cooked man who should be resting, and whom I consider a dear friend. Or am I missing something?¡± Rowan snarked right back, earning a small smile from the woman.
¡°No, you¡¯re right. Though shorty here¡¯s got them covered, so don¡¯t you worry.¡± She plopped her hand down on the head of the Treagon scion, who was, in fact, much shorter than her own considerable height.
It was then that Rowan finally noticed the subtle blue sheen that covered the bodies of the people sparring, both Bron and Rowan as well as the [Knights]. Granted, the latter were mostly swinging their weapons absent-mindedly while watching the other two spar. Rowan resolved to scold them later.
¡°And whose idea was this, from the start? Bron should really be resting, that stubborn old fool,¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Bron¡¯s, actually. Even before the trip, he tracked down Blake while he was training to restore his class. He¡¯s been helping him with swordsmanship ever since.¡±
As Rowan examined his best friend a little closer, he was starting to see it. There was a trace of the style that the baron¡¯s troops seemed to favor. It wasn¡¯t quite matching up to anything coherent enough to be called a school of swordsmanship, but it was there.
I¡¯m going to have to thank Bron later.
The two finally wound down their practice, with Bron scoring one final point against Blake. On the other hand, Blake hadn¡¯t even managed to touch the officer a single time.
Of course, while Bron was likely pushing himself more than he should have been, Blake was holding back. With his return to Epic tier, the chances of Bron winning a fight against the other hero were low, even if the baron¡¯s officer was back to peak form.
Rowan was still caught between disbelief and mild envy over Blake¡¯s new class.
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[Flawless Beacon of Radiance]
You have reforged your Light so that it may shine upon all and guide them to a better tomorrow.
You have earned a fragmented portfolio of [Freedom].
You have earned a fragmented portfolio of [Radiance].
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That was all that Blake had shared about his new class, and that most of its other effects were similar to what he had before. In spite of that, the mention of portfolios made Rowan pay attention.
He still didn¡¯t know exactly what those entailed. However, every mention he¡¯d heard of them came in the context of the divine. It was also important to note that the description of Blake¡¯s class no longer explicitly mentioned Sarina.
The bond between the hero and the goddess was not gone.
The second Blake got his new class, Rowan felt a connection bloom between his friend and something inhuman, something completely alien. It radiated energy directly into Blake¡¯s soul, almost threatening to sever the link Rowan¡¯s class had wrought.
The link held.
Rowan endured as he felt the alien¡¯s feelings slipping through, nudges and impressions that the goddess was sending Blake¡¯s way. The Stalwart Hero had worked long and hard to properly isolate himself from the emotions of his [Knights]. Yet, the goddess¡¯ attention threatened to burn right through his effort.
Even when he was doing his best to block it all out, he could feel her lurking. The only fix to the issue seemed to be distance, seeing as it muted all impressions he got from [Knights] until they were near entirely gone when he ventured far enough from them.
Blake, of course, was ecstatic. The return of his goddess had as much to do with his good mood as his ascension back to epic.
In spite of that, Rowan was glad to feel a thread of doubt and suspicious inside of his friend¡¯s heart. He was willing to embrace his goddess, even trust her, but all the revelations about the king and the hostility of their new world had finally put him on guard.
Frankly, that was all that Rowan could really hope for. Blake wasn¡¯t someone who would just break away from the goddess on Rowan¡¯s suspicion, no matter how much the Stalwart Hero suspected the gods of scheming something.
If the goddess did try to get him to do something egregious, Blake might hesitate now and think for himself.
¡°Rowan! When did you get here?¡± Blake¡¯s voice tore him away from brooding, making Rowan genuinely smile.
¡°Oh, he¡¯s been chatting with your ladies for a while now. I understand that you prefer to focus on your training, but you really should work on your awareness too lad,¡± Bron mocked softly, even as he quickly made his way over to a bench.
The old officer sat down and the blue glow vanished from where it clung to him. The baron¡¯s officer practically collapsed, as his vigor seemed to leave him all at once.
¡°You know, I¡¯m extremely grateful that you¡¯re helping Blake. I really am. But are you telling me that you won¡¯t pass out if I poke you right now?¡± Rowan teased, making his way over to Bron quickly.
Surprisingly, Blake was looking at the man with pity but didn¡¯t make a single move to help. Bron waved away a potion when Rowan pulled one out of his pouch.
¡°Those won¡¯t help me much, lad. You know this. I¡¯m going to have to heal slow and steady, like all the regular folk get to do. No fancy healing for me.¡±
¡°We haven¡¯t had a chance to chat much. The baron mentioned trying, and failing, to help you heal,¡± Rowan ventured, taking a seat next to Bron. Blake joined them a moment later, sitting on the other side of the officer.
¡°Aye. The baron really did try his best. Nothing works, though, and neither of us wanted to make a trip to one of the bigger temples to see if they could do something, either. Honestly, the closest anyone¡¯s gotten to helping me is the lady here.¡± He motioned to the Treagon, some conflict obvious in his voice.
The girl flushed and looked away, muttering something about doing her part to help Blake train.
¡°Thank you for toughing it out for me. Really. I¡ haven¡¯t had many people do that sort of thing for me,¡± Blake admitted quietly, toying with his sword and checking over its blade as he did.
Rowan felt embarrassment and genuine, bone-deep affection for the officer coming from the bond he had with his best friend. Rowan didn¡¯t doubt for a second that if Bron just asked, Blake would rush headlong into stupid amounts of danger.
¡°Don¡¯t mention it, lad. I was curious about what a friend of Rowan¡¯s would be like. I have to say, you didn¡¯t disappoint. You have a genuinely good heart. I hope you manage to keep it. Now, Rowan, walk with me? I¡¯d like to have a quick chat, before you run away into the wastes again.¡±
Rowan rolled his eyes and grumbled, but he complied. Bron didn¡¯t put up too much of a fight when he insisted on helping the officer make his way back into the manor, a tremble in his limbs betraying the exhaustion and weakness he felt.
¡°You know, I really do think he¡¯s alright,¡± Bron began the moment they were out of earshot, shooting Rowan a smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t know what to make of him, at first, but he really is the knight in shining armor stereotype. He¡¯s not just pretending.¡±
¡°He¡¯s not,¡± Rowan said softly, patting the officer on the back. ¡°Blake¡¯s good people. Just a little¡ self-destructive.¡±
¡°Noticed that, too.¡± There was silence for several moments, as they just focused on reaching their goal. ¡°I want to ask you for a favor, lad,¡± Bron said at long last, voice serious enough for Rowan to pause and look him in the eye.
¡°Just say it, old man.¡±
The old man scoffed, shaking his head. ¡°Younguns these days. Anyway, I¡¯d like you to make me your [Knight].¡±
Of all the things Rowan expected the man to say, that wasn¡¯t one of them. ¡°You do know what that entails, right? All the details?¡±
¡°Yes. The baron explained it to me.¡±
¡°And you know that it¡¯s unlikely to actually help you?¡±
¡°Yes. The potion effect isn¡¯t gone. Any healing and regeneration effects I could get from your card wouldn¡¯t work.¡±
¡°Then why?¡±
¡°Because, Rowan, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re making the best possible use of your class.¡± Bron¡¯s voice was earnest and dire.
¡°Explain.¡±
¡°Has anyone tried to claim the card your class gave you? Or did they just immediately snatch up whatever card could help them fight better, or survive?¡±
That did the job of silencing the hero. Technically, there was nothing in his class or card description hinting that people couldn¡¯t pick his Knight Designation card, and get some [Knights] of their own. However, Rowan was reluctant to experiment.
Not only would the person making that choice have to take the risk of giving up an actually useful epic card in favor of one that might not even work, the hero had no idea of what would happen if the card did work and he was eventually forced to cancel his [Knight] designation for whatever reason.
Would the whole string of [Knights] collapse outright? Would the links remain? There was far too much vagueness to the whole thing to risk it.
¡°I don¡¯t think refusing to take risks is a bad approach to system mechanics you don¡¯t fully understand, Bron.¡±
¡°True. But you have a person willing to experiment right here. I can¡¯t benefit from the other cards you have until I recover, and that might take¡ years, at least. If this works out, I can get some experience myself, and who knows? More stats might speed up my recovery.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know¡¡±
¡°What do you have to lose? I¡¯m pretty high up the rare ranks, so the stats you get won¡¯t be bad. Besides, I think you¡¯ll get a¡ pleasant surprise, if you do pick me,¡± the man promised with a crooked grin, refusing to elaborate further.
¡°Fine,¡± Rowan agreed just as they made it back into the manor and sent his invitation. And Bron accepted, betting his future and dreams on a chance.
As he did, and the bond formed, a fire bloomed inside of the Stalwart Hero¡¯s chest. ¡°Oh, you ass!¡±
Rowan gritted his teeth in pain as the system ruthlessly modified his body. By the time the process was over, Rowan was covered in sweat, and Bron was the one holding him up. The baron¡¯s officer had a shit-eating grin, mirth shining in his eyes.
¡°Doesn¡¯t feel great, does it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to punch you the second I feel better. Also¡ thank you,¡± the hero added quietly, a smile tugging at his own lips as he spared a glance at his status.
¡ª
The preparations were finally done. The soldiers were armed, outfitted, and ready. The two hero parties were as well-prepared as they could possibly get. Rowan had even given out the leftover cards they had after their upgrades, giving his men one final boost before the time to march came.
The Mercenary King and Tamara were both present too, ready to join the Legendary Expeditions.
Rowan found the moniker ridiculous, but he couldn¡¯t do much to stifle the mutters of his men and most of the town when it got out that they were planning to finally take the fight to the demons.
¡°I put my trust in you, in each and every one of you. I trust you to have my back. I trust you to protect your comrades in arms. I trust you, to give everything to our cause. Because that is the only way for us to triumph.¡±
Rowan¡¯s voice boomed out over the gathered crowd. Over a thousand men and women, all ready to follow him into battle.
¡°I refuse to contemplate the chance of failure. So, when we return, we¡¯ll do so as heroes. And those of us who may perish in our quest, know that I will make sure your loved ones are safe and happy. Your families will never want for anything again. Now, march!¡±
To the hollers of approval and applause, Rowan motioned for the Mercenary King to trigger his cards. In a few minutes, the army led by two heroes ventured forth from Rest¡¯s Remorse, intent on slaughtering the four generals of the demon king.
Chapter 69: Civilization
Slipping into a frenzied mood was easy, it was simply a matter of getting carried away by the emotions of a crowd. Retaining that frenzy and keeping a positive upbeat attitude after hours of marching through the wastes? Now that was difficult.
The mood of the army slowly settled, leveling out into a quiet indifference induced by the Mercenary King¡¯s abilities. In spite of the loss of that initial positivity, Rowan was simply happy to see that gloom hadn¡¯t dominated the troops.
Whatever he might say, however hard he might work, it was impossible to guarantee that everyone would be able to return alive.
So, the fact that no one had broken away from the march towards potential death was a relief.
The thought disgusted Rowan. After all, by the same token, the ones most likely to survive were the epic tier classes. There were few things, past the legendary demons themselves, that had a real shot at taking out the two hero parties.
The Mercenary King and Tamara were, of course, in just as good a position. Doubly so considering the fact that they had Rowan¡¯s card to fall back on.
Yet as Rowan tapped into his card to see what his [Knights] were feeling, he found that the emotions from the two were diametrically opposed.
While the Mercenary King marched with a sense of dread and bleak anticipation in his chest, Tamara flew overhead with an overwhelming sense of giddiness. She was eager for what was to come, hungry, almost.
The problem was, Rowan couldn¡¯t figure out whether the source of her emotions was the thought of getting to kill a legendary tier being, or if it came down to her awareness of the scheme brewing on the horizon.
¡°You really think that the demon who ambushed you is situated close to the spot we rescued you from?¡± Rowan asked, less for the answer and more for something to take his mind off all the swirling worry.
¡°Yes. I had a scout under my employ¡ he was brilliant, and the only reason I felt confident trying to quickly locate and take out all the legendary demons. He said we were close, when the ambush happened.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t there a chance that he was sensing the demon himself, though?¡± Milena offered from the side, though not in a confrontational tone.
¡°I¡¯m not sure how his cards worked. He was convinced that we were close to the demon¡¯s base. He said something about a ridiculous amount of demonic energy being located ahead, far more than even a truly powerful demon ought to possess,¡± Blake offered.
¡°So, logic would mean that there might be a base with multiple demons there instead?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Blake shot Rowan a sunny smile. ¡°All we have to do is track it down, and we¡¯ll have our first legendary demon in our sights.¡±
¡°The legendary demon that almost took us both out,¡± Rowan cautioned, sensing that Blake was eager to prove himself once more.
Blake¡¯s face fell briefly at the reminder, but his optimism came back in force a moment later. ¡°True, but you returned the favor! From what guidance my Goddess can offer, it seems like the demon is hurt. He had to invest heavily into the process of trying to corrupt me. So, when that was disrupted, violently, he took damage too.¡±
Cautiously, Rowan cast his senses into his bond with Blake. The other hero wasn¡¯t lying, optimism and hope being the predominant emotions he was feeling. Of course, the underlying sense of artificial calm to his emotions betrayed the goddess¡¯s influence too.
¡°Let¡¯s hope that¡¯s right,¡± Rowan muttered, casting his eyes on the gloomy jungle ahead.
¡ª
The foliage around started showing signs of trauma and combat. The ground went from being soft with leaves underfoot to being bare, pock marked, and deeply scarred. Charred remains of half dissolved plants were strewn about, and the thicker greenery was tangled and mangled. It was impossible not to recognize where they were. This was where Rowan and his party rescued Blake.
However, the other signs of the conflict had vanished. There was no trace of blood or bone to be found. It was like every last piece of proof that humans and monsters had fought and died there was erased by some higher power.
Or, more likely, by the hungry jaws of The Waste¡¯s inhabitants.
This made it a very convenient spot to set up camp. With the trees and most foliage completely removed, and somewhat flat ground even, the process was easy, too.
As such, Rowan gave out orders for his troops to rest. The only ones who couldn¡¯t afford to rest yet were the soldiers assigned to patrols, but they would be switched out regularly to avoid exhaustion.
¡°How soon do you think the scouts will return?¡± Rowan posed the question to the Mercenary King as the other man made annotations on a map stretched over a makeshift table. One of the collapsed trees had been cut to size and dragged into the command tent, allowing for a bit more convenience.
¡°A couple hours at most, lad. The forward troops had to kill a couple of monsters that were acting out of sorts. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were some sort of early warning system for the demons.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean we shouldn¡¯t be here?¡± Blake asked immediately, standing up from the spot he¡¯d claimed on the floor. ¡°They could be marching on us right now.¡±
The Mercenary King offered the other hero a kind smile and a shake of his head. ¡°I doubt that. These are at best the outskirts of their claimed territory. They wouldn¡¯t count on simple beasts if we were deep enough in their lands.¡±
¡°These are not their lands,¡± the princess snapped, then winced when all eyes went to her. ¡°We are still within the territories that our kingdom used to own,¡± she added, more quietly.
¡°Be that as it were, does anyone actually know what we might be able to expect to see out there? What do the demons do when they take over an area?¡± Rowan ventured, trying to rather blatantly change the subject.
¡°Depends on the species,¡± the Treagon offered, looking thoughtful. ¡°Some tend to create burrows and spawning pits. Others just amass, living in herds or prides with or alongside wild animals. Some never really settle down, choosing to haunt the countryside, devouring all they come across.¡±
¡°So, we can expect anything from an immediate full-scale battle to what amounts to embattlements and traps,¡± Rowan concluded.
¡°That¡¯s accurate, yes lad,¡± the Mercenary King confirmed, looking troubled. ¡°Be warned, though, there are¡ stories about demons. Some say the subjugation armies come across odd things when they venture into the wastes during a demonic surge. Disturbing things.¡±
¡°Disturbing how?¡±
¡°No one seems keen to discuss that. Couldn¡¯t find a single report that made a lick of sense,¡± Lucius admitted, then shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Didn¡¯t look too hard, of course. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d ever need that sort of thing. We always played defensive roles in wars and battles.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not going to be an issue, is it?¡± Olivia asked, perhaps a bit more sharply than necessary.
¡°No, I don¡¯t anticipate it will.¡± The Mercenary King¡¯s smile turned downright bloodthirsty. ¡°With how long we were stuck in Rest¡¯s Remorse, I suspect my men are eager for combat.¡±
There really wasn¡¯t much anyone could contribute to the discussion past that, letting them all fall into a companionable silence.
Things might have been different, had Tamara chosen to join them. However, the Mage was still with her disciples, hovering high above the tents. There was talk of sending them out to scout, but the woman turned down the suggestion quickly, reluctant to expose them to ¡®unnecessary risks.¡¯
It was a bit over three hours later, just when a string of unease was starting to underline the mood in the tent, that the scouts finally stumbled into camp.
Dale had led the scouts in their outing, and it was him who approached the main tent to give their findings.
¡°Welcome back, soldier. At ease. Your report?¡± Rowan rushed through the greetings, eager to know what had put the slightly dazed look on the man¡¯s face. Dale was by no means unflappable, but Rowan swore the man had taken facing down an epic without batting an eye.
¡°I-I don¡¯t really know how to describe it, my lord,¡± the man spat out, looking pale. ¡°They¡¯ve definitely dug in. There¡¯s, I hesitate to call it a settlement, but¡ they have a solid presence just ahead. A defensible presence.¡±
¡°Do you mean to tell me they have actual defensive positions? That they¡¯re prepared for our army?¡± the Mercenary King growled, pushing for more information.
¡°Well¡¡±
They settled in, eagerly listening to the man¡¯s report.
¡ª
Rowan¡¯s army, by virtue of being an army, wasn¡¯t capable of traveling stealthily. Sure, their numbers weren¡¯t heaven defying, or enough to cover the horizon, or anything like that.
Their chances of approaching the demons¡¯ base of operations without being spotted were slim.
It was a good thing that Rowan was now in a world where that wasn¡¯t a prerequisite for victory.
Frankly, in the context of the Rhys kingdom, Rowan¡¯s army was in a very solid position. Having a predominantly rare-tier army catapulted Rowan leagues ahead of most noble houses, no matter how comparatively ¡®small¡¯ their numbers were.
As such, they advanced proudly, and struck down every monster, beast, and whatever else they came across in their march quickly and efficiently. Those that fled before them were allowed to get away. After all, why take the unnecessary risk of letting a party stray too far from the main group?
Yet, in spite of their blunt approach, no army marched out to meet them. No surge of demonic beasts tried to wash over them, either.
They were, in large part, uncontested.
Even the Mercenary King believed that their approach would be involve costly battles, and the contrast to what was happening put him on edge.
When they finally reached within sight of their destination, that became the least of Rowan¡¯s concerns.
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¡°A part of me genuinely thought the scouts were hallucinating,¡± the Stalwart Hero mumbled, eying what was ahead.
The only way to describe it was as an unholy amalgamation of castle bits and massive mansions, with a very small castle town.
Towers, walls, crenelations, and more were right there alongside ornate windows, beautiful eaves, and several grand doors for ease of access to the various parts of the massive building. It was all done up in tasteful grays, blacks and midnight blues. Frankly, the whole thing looked like something Picasso would come up with if he were an expired gothic architect.
And there was also not a soul guarding the place.
In spite of that, it was hard to mistake the estate for a ghost house or an abandoned castle. Vague figures of people swept past the windows in industrious fashion, clearly visible yet difficult to make out.
It reminded Rowan of looking at low-resolution videos back on Earth, where the screen let him see something was there, yet the limitation of the device prevented him from understanding more.
¡°Well, I suppose none of us expected things to be easy,¡± Rowan commented. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed the way we planned.¡±
At his command, a student chosen by Tamara began to mutter into a large crystalline ball they were carrying in one hand and the collection of mages overhead burst into motion. The field of force that bore them spaced out, and the chanting picked up. The light show that followed was something Rowan found inspiring.
In front of each group, a spark quickly became a conflagration, growing in power and intensity. The red of the flames was quickly overtaken by white, then blue, as they pumped more and more mana into the spell.
None, of course, were as impressive as Tamara¡¯s spell. While most of the fireballs grew to at most a yard in diameter, hers quickly grew to the size of a small house, and then every time it fluctuated past that, it kept condensing.
Rowan could feel the heat of the flames all the way on the ground and wet his lips in nervousness. More than the flames, he was getting a pretty good idea of the excitement roaring within the banished mage¡¯s chest.
Then, finally, the projectiles streaked through the skies.
Their passage scorched and warped the air, leaving mirages in their wake. The explosion that followed the impact was almost enough to swipe the front lines of Rowan¡¯s army off their feet.
In fact, had the Mercenary King not roared and broken out in a dazzling aura that left Rowan feeling heavier and more rooted to the ground, the hero suspected that¡¯s exactly what would have happened.
With the impressive display, Rowan couldn¡¯t help the anticipation that bubbled up inside of him at the presumed level of destruction the mages had wrought.
As the dust cleared, Rowan faced a near pristine building.
The only sign of the assault at all was a long, winding crack that stretched over one of the windows, and Rowan was fairly certain that was the impact area of Tamara¡¯s own spell.
¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Milena muttered quietly, and it was all Rowan could do not to curse and agree.
He did curse when the crack in the glass sealed over, then vanished completely.
¡°We¡¯re going to have to go in,¡± he announced bitterly, eying the entrance to the mansion.
It wasn¡¯t like gaining access seemed like it would be difficult. If anything, the grand gate into the mansion was wide open, providing a generous view into the interior.
The dazzling decorations inside, especially the twisted forms of various statues sprinkled throughout the hall, all glittering in what was suspiciously similar to gold, almost seemed like they were taunting him.
¡°What would you have me do, my lord?¡± the Mercenary King stiffly inquired, eying the entrance. ¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult to march inside in full force. Still, I request that you let me send a few squads of my men ahead. They¡¯re familiar with tight fighting.¡±
Rowan mulled that over for several seconds, but he couldn¡¯t come up with anything objectionable to the suggestion. ¡°Very well. They can go right ahead of us, then we¡¯ll follow. I want you to understand that we¡¯ll be rushing ahead to support them if it seems like they can¡¯t handle whatever¡¯s in there.¡±
¡°Thank you for your consideration of my men, my lord.¡±
The Mercenary King barked out orders, and a few squads of men slipped across the divide between them at the mansion.
Rowan felt like every step closer to it was making his skin crawl.
There was something deeply unnatural about the sight of the grand structure, simply plopped down right in the middle of the dense jungles. Some of the nearby trees were even reaching out for the mansion, nearly touching its walls.
Far worse was the realization that drawing nearer did not allow him to peek into the structure any better.
The figures flitting past the windows remained frustratingly vague, and space seemed to stretch between them and the grand hall, keeping its interior to what they originally gleaned.
Even when the front-line troops stood just a few yards away from the gates, that didn¡¯t change.
¡°Forward, march!¡± the Mercenary King yelled, realizing that the entire army had frozen in anticipation.
The front-line soldiers bravely marched forward in lockstep, eight entire parties plunging past the gates and into the demonic domain proper.
And then they vanished.
A ripple of worried chatter swept over the army when no one could catch even a single glimpse of the soldiers that should have been standing just within the hall. For the second time that engagement, Rowan wanted to curse.
¡°My lord, if we employ a scout and a mage, we can¡¡± the Mercenary King broke into a suggestion immediately, but Rowan raised an arm to forestall him.
¡°No. Thank you, Lucius, but¡ no. We¡¯re not just going to feed more people to this thing. We need to go in, sure, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to risk reckless losses like this. You and Tamara are here to do your part. Now, it¡¯s our turn.¡±
The two hero parties immediately stepped forward in lock with Rowan, determination on each and every one of their faces.
Even Blake¡¯s harem members looked determined, even if it was obvious that fear had a considerable grip on them.
As if she were summoned by the mention of her name, however, Tamara came floating down.
¡°Heading inside?¡± The simple question somehow came out as a sultry taunt as she sent Rowan a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m coming with.¡±
¡°I, of course, shall also be accompanying you,¡± The Mercenary King proclaimed, giving leave to the [Knights] which were still nominally Rowan¡¯s to step forward as well. Rowan even saw a couple of the scouts bravely venture forth, eyes shining with determination.
Unfortunately, they all just made him sigh. ¡°I¡¯d like to remind you that we¡¯re not sure this will be all that our enemies have to throw at us. Wanting to help is well and good. However, if all our strongest combatants venture inside, what¡¯s stopping the demons from ambushing our army?¡±
The Mercenary King faltered, but the rest, even Tamara, looked as determined as they were at first. ¡°There is no shame to doing your part out here,¡± Olivia declared imperiously, clearly picking up on her fianc¨¦¡¯s reluctance to take along so many people.
¡°It¡¯s like she says: We need you out here. Your people especially, Dale. I¡¯m counting on you to scout out the vicinity and eliminate any chances of an ambush. Lucius, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could do what you can to bolster the army in preparation of monsters boiling out of this¡ thing. Finally, Tamara, keep trying to bring it down? It can¡¯t just regenerate forever.¡±
¡°Actually, depending on how it was built, it can,¡± the mage corrected, her face slipping into one of the rare focused and serious expressions she was capable of. ¡°If the structure taps into the ambient mana or even some kind of local mana well, then yes, it might well be indestructible. I¡¯m better off following you inside.¡±
Rowan tilted his head, closely examining the woman¡¯s expression. It was calm, cool, even a little teasing, like it usually was. Using their bond, however, he could feel the swirling mess of desire and envy.
The banished mage wanted to get into a fight. To earn experience and rare cards no doubt, but it was still something that Rowan could rather safely take advantage of.
At least he could still not detect any nefarious scheming from the woman.
¡°Fine. I guess we could use a mage¡¯s wisdom,¡± Rowan conceded, much to the obvious delight of the woman.
¡°Gather around me!¡± Blake proclaimed the second they were all done double-checking their equipment. When everyone complied, they erupted into light.
The light felt heavy, somehow. Like it was weighing down Rowan¡¯s shoulders. It also felt soft, nourishing, protective, like a hug on a particularly cold and gloomy day.
With that, Blake plunged into the gate, and the group faithfully followed.
The second Rowan¡¯s leg was over the threshold, the world rippled, stretched, and snapped around him. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from stumbling, light nausea sweeping through his system.
¡°Welcome, one and all, to my master¡¯s estate,¡± a voice rasped ahead, and Rowan tensed when he realized that someone had managed to get so close to them without them immediately spotting them.
When his eyes snapped onto the speaker, the sight made him pause.
The creature wasn¡¯t quite like any they¡¯d faced before. Its skin was charcoal black, with a texture that resembled the material as well. Not a single spec of hair could be seen on it, and the only color that stood out against the darkness was the gold of its eyes.
Light smoke wafted from every inch of its skin, too. Enough that it obscured its dimensions and features a little, making the creature look ethereal.
It was also wearing a dashing gray suit with a red undershirt and purple tie, like it had stepped out of a wedding or some historical drama piece.
¡°Who are you, fiend, and what do you want?¡± Blake demanded harshly, eyes focused on the creature.
Rowan could feel Blake¡¯s roiling disgust, distrust and instinctive desire to hurt the creature. What annoyed the Stalwart Hero was the plastic feeling the emotions had.
¡°I am but a humble servant to my master,¡± the creature assured them in its raspy voice, a smile that was almost invisible due to its peculiar characteristics still fixed firmly on its face. ¡°He is waiting for you in the audience room.¡±
¡°Well, I think we should expedite things and¡¡±
¡°Blake, please,¡± Rowan snapped, stepping forward to place a hand on his friend¡¯s shoulder. Rowan wasn¡¯t exactly about to suggest they trust the creature. However, a single glance around instilled some amount of caution in him.
Servants, some dressed like maids in practical dresses and aprons and some in suits of lower quality than the messenger¡¯s own, lined the walls of the place. They all watched them intently, some clearly whispering to each other.
It was, perhaps, the singular most disturbing thing Rowan had ever seen because it meant that the creatures had a true civilization.
No, not creatures, the Stalwart Hero corrected himself. Demons.
Because that¡¯s the only thing he could imagine the servants were. They were far too humanoid in appearance, and far too capable of reason. Yet, not a single conversation with the baron couple, Olivia, or any of the other natives so much as hinted that demons could be so organized.
They were almost¡ human.
After all, it wasn¡¯t as though the servants were sneering and jeering at the humans like normal demons would. If anything, most looked quite thoroughly bored. Like people, stuck at a job and trying to get through a day.
¡°Before we commit to anything, I have a question. Where is the previous group, that came in before us?¡± Rowan asked as he stared straight into the demon¡¯s eyes, intent on catching him out in a lie.
¡°They were simply not granted access to this place,¡± the demon answered smoothly and with a smile. ¡°They have been detained, until our master concludes his meeting with you.¡±
¡°I see. May I assume they haven¡¯t come to harm?¡±
The demon shrugged, making Rowan¡¯s eyes narrow in consternation. ¡°Are you perhaps ready to follow me now, sirs, madams?¡±
Blake was shooting Rowan a look somewhere between pleading and disapproval, making the Stalwart Hero¡¯s lips twitch into a smile.
¡°Ah, not quite,¡± Rowan quipped, and before anyone could otherwise react, rammed his glowing spear straight through the demon¡¯s stomach.
To the hero¡¯s slight shock, the strike smoothly slipped past the demon¡¯s skin, and the following explosion rained blood and guts onto the grand staircase and doors that stood behind the demon.
The demon¡¯s eyes widened to comical proportions, before his body seemed to lose its coherence. He fell apart before their eyes, collapsing into a cloud of rapidly fading smoke.
The attack signaled a shift all around the room. The servants sprung forward, fingers lengthening into claws and jaws unhinging to reveal rows of obsidian-like fangs.
Most were aiming directly for Rowan, screams of rage on their lips.
And then they slammed straight into barriers courtesy of the de Vort, buying everyone precious seconds to react.
Milena and Tamara were the two fastest to respond, spells bursting forth in a variety of colors and to a variety of effects. Almost every spell that Tamara cast was purely offensive, burning, freezing, slicing or blowing the servants apart. Milena¡¯s repertoire, meanwhile, left most of her victims writhing uselessly on the ground. Most of them died still shortly, expressions of pain, fear and anguish fixed on their faces.
Naturally, the others burst into action too.
Olivia¡¯s assault was even more destructive than the other two, bolstered by her ever-increasing mastery of alchemy. Blake¡¯s party, meanwhile, focused on support and buffing, the strength welling up within Blake¡¯s body proof enough of their competence.
To Rowan¡¯s surprise, mopping up the servants didn¡¯t take long at all. There were nearly fifty of the demons in the hall with them, yet they fell all quickly under the onslaught of attacks from the humans.
In fact, for all their intelligence and seeming sophistication, Rowan could tell that perhaps only the head butler was at the epic tier, and at very early levels too. After all, his ambush was enough to speedily take out the monster all on its own.
When the final enemy fell and quiet fell over the hall, everyone tensed, expecting some kind of retaliation or reinforcements. Instead, everything remained silent and still. Not a single new combatant joining the fray.
¡°Do you think they¡¯re all deeper in? Is anyone even watching us?¡± Marcus asked, confusion evident in his voice as he looked around.
¡°They either didn¡¯t expect us to do that, or they just don¡¯t care,¡± Rowan supplied, sighing as he stretched out his shoulders.
The weirdness of the whole situation was freaking the Stalwart Hero out, and the discomfort of killing the polite demons was immense.
In spite of that, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to regret his actions.
He didn¡¯t know a lot about the demon kind. There was, however, one invariable fact: demons did not do diplomacy. Demons didn¡¯t take hostages. Being near a demon meant a person was either in the process of getting corrupted or dying.
He would show the demons exactly the same amount of mercy and consideration, civilized beings or not. All he had to do was his job.
Chapter 70: War
¡°Should we move on?¡± Blake phrased it as a question, but his eyes wandered off towards the double doors under the sweeping staircase even as he spoke. Rowan could practically hear the words the Goddess of Light was whispering in Blake¡¯s ears, egging him onwards.
Rowan, however, was set on finally doing things right.
¡°Of course not. We came here with an army, planning to fight an army.¡± Rowan turned away from his friend, eying the hall that was decidedly more grim thanks to the newly unleashed slaughter staining most of it. ¡°We couldn¡¯t do much from the outside, but maybe we can do something now to let the army in?¡±
¡°Maybe.¡± It was Milena who spoke, and Rowan finally noticed that her eyes were flitting about the place erratically, taking in every aspect of the hall. ¡°There¡¯s¡ something here. I don¡¯t really understand it fully, but it¡¯s there.¡±
¡°I feel it too,¡± Olivia supplied, moving closer to a row of the creepy statues. ¡°There¡¯s mana emanating from all of the decorations, but the emissions coming from the statues put them all to shame.¡±
¡°Could breaking them possibly bypass the problem?¡± de Vort wondered, moving closer to examine one herself. ¡°Maybe these are acting as fulcrums?¡±
It may have been his own suggestion, but Rowan quickly lost the thread of conversation as it grew more technical. The other two of Blake¡¯s wives chimed in, offering up their own highly specialized theories about mana.
As he leaned against the railing of the stairs, Rowan felt that it was a blessing, frankly. His mind was still swimming with the image of the demon¡¯s face, frozen in time from when it was shocked at the spear¡¯s power. The full might of his newly added epic card was astonishing.
The previously impressive butler demon was now mostly a head, a pair of legs, and a smear, and Rowan couldn¡¯t stop his eyes from drifting to it.
In spite of his conviction, in spite of knowing that demons would never willingly accept to work with humanity without insisting on corruption playing a part in their alliance, it still stung to deal the first blow.
¡°You okay?¡± Blake asked quietly, worry plain on his face as he approached, positioning himself so that Rowan was partially shielded from the rest of the room.
Rowan almost made the mistake of lashing out, of making a hurtful quip in the face of his best friend¡¯s concern, but settled on a sad smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Blake. Really. I just didn¡¯t expect them to try and host us.¡± He gestured around the room vaguely, his smile growing strained.
¡°Yeah, that was a shock,¡± Marcus said quickly, pulling closer too and fully blocking Rowan from the sight of the others. ¡°Never even heard a single story about them trying to be civil.¡±
¡°Probably an attempt at an ambush,¡± Blake grumbled, but his emotions twisted out of the spiral the goddess seemed to be nudging him towards a moment later. ¡°Listen, this was tough for me too, but¡ well, if they¡¯re that human-like, then it¡¯s obvious: we¡¯re at war. And they started it.¡±
¡°At war¡¡± Rowan tasted the words on his tongue, and they were bitter. A war that he had just begun to accept. One that he assumed would be against mindless monsters intent on killing and nothing else. But the words still gave him a jolt of energy that he needed to get moving again. ¡°Thank you, both of you.¡±
The sincerity in his voice was obvious, and brought out smiles from both of his friends. Rowan was just about to continue their conversation when the low chanting started.
All three of them immediately gripped their weapons, spinning around on where the sound was coming from, only for their eyes to fall on the sight of Milena glowing an ominous shade of purple and floating a foot off the ground, legs crossed under her.
The others were gathered around her, either holding ritual implements at certain distances away from her, or walking around the room and sprinkling what appeared to be red powder around the room.
The chanting picked up, and more items and powders were laid around the room, causing unearthly voices to spring forth, and the torches that illuminated the place to flicker, wink out, and come back an unnatural, bloody red.
¡°How are we in a creepy demon mansion and your sister is the most frightening thing in here?¡± Blake tried for a joking tone of voice, but his voice did grow a bit too squeaky towards the end.
Even Rowan had to admit that Milena cut an imposing figure, her white fur now marked by rapidly appearing glyphs and sigils, all the while that same creepy glow intensified. Then the wolf kin straightened, stretched midair, and landed one foot almost daintily on the ground.
There was a thump that spread from the point of impact, then crackling lines of purple energy erupted towards every corner of the hall. They covered the floor in moments, climbed the wall, overtook the ceiling, and finally, slowly, facing great resistance, made their way up the statues.
The statues creaked and shook, before they started to move. Each of them snapped out of their poses, stumbling, staggering. They were trying to desperately make their way closer to the wolf kin shaman, but faltered mere steps after their animation.
One by one, they froze again and collapsed to the floor, scattering in a thousand little pieces. The second the final statue fell, the world twisted in its wake.
The space around Rowan felt like it was compressed, kneaded, and then cut, causing things to burst out of midair.
Things that Rowan recognized.
The bits of what used to be their forward team rained down on the floor, limbs carelessly torn away from bodies, armor crumpled and cut.
Following in their wake was also a very startled ground of almost fifty demons, who landed on the floor of the hall in a heap, moaning and struggling to move.
Rowan was in motion before he could even process what he saw or felt. Mechanically, barely belaying the anger that churned in his chest, his glowing spear raised and fell, reaping one demonic life after another.
The others joined him too, but it couldn¡¯t have been called a fight. It was an execution. The demons seemed to be on the upper rare tier in terms of strength, but they were disoriented, very nearly knocked out by the ritual Milena had cast.
It was only when their grisly work was done that Rowan realized that figures were streaming into the hall from its main entrance.
¡°Easy there, lad.¡± Hearing Lucius¡¯s voice was a relief on its own. The older man scanned the hall, looking for threats that the hero parties hadn¡¯t already churned through.
He found none.
An explosion sounded a moment later, actually shaking the entire mansion. The sound of shattering glass and screams accompanied it, but it all brought a smile to Rowan¡¯s face. The screams were decidedly inhuman.
¡°Good to see you again. The hospitality of the demons didn¡¯t agree with us,¡± Rowan quipped, spinning his spear to get rid of some of the nervous energy bubbling up inside him.
¡°Good to be here. I have to say, our Radiant Hero impressed me. I thought he¡¯d have charged after the enemy leader by now instead of making sure we could follow.¡± The Mercenary King¡¯s mirth was the only thing that softened the blow of the accusation.
Blake looked suitably chastised, but Rowan just laughed.
With that, unfortunately, it was time to finish regrouping and recommit for another attack. Soldiers continued to stream into the mansion, whose hall now was somehow even bigger. Rowan ignored what they were doing as he eyed the doors ahead of them.
He might have missed it before his training with Olivia to sense mana. Now, the sensation was unmistakable. The demon they¡¯d come to kill was right behind those doors, and for some reason it was content to wait.
¡°That¡¯s our stop.¡± Rowan gestured towards the doors, even as he ventured closer to them. ¡°Want to accompany us in there?¡±
¡°Of course, lad,¡± the Mercenary King quipped. ¡°In fact, let me open the way for you. You lot! Get up to the second level, and get ready to storm any rooms you find! We¡¯re attacking simultaneously in two minutes!¡±
The soldiers rushed to obey, lieutenants and officers quickly claiming control over their groups and coordinating the process. Rowan just quirked a brow at Lucius in question.
¡°They¡¯re giving us a chance to strike first. It would be foolish not to take it.¡± The man¡¯s comment did resonate.
¡°And what do you think you¡¯re doing without me?¡± The voice made all of their eyes snap up to the second story, only to land on a frustrated-looking Tamara. She glided through the air, her disciples close on her tail.
¡°I thought you¡¯d be busy ¡ª you know ¡ª with all the screaming,¡± Rowan admitted, sending the woman a smile. The eagerness and anticipation he kept feeling from their link hadn¡¯t diminished in the slightest. If anything, with access to the manor, it had only grown.
¡°That rabble? Please, we already took care of what opposition we faced. I was just hoping you¡¯d see reason and just exit the building when you took down its protections. We could have reduced it to rubble, and fought the demon at our leisure.¡±
Rowan frowned, unable to argue the woman¡¯s point. In spite of that, the coiling of voracity in her chest made him hesitate to agree to the plan. There was something there that he didn¡¯t really understand or like, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
¡°Well¡¡±
¡°No, we do this the right way,¡± Blake was the one who cut in, eyes suddenly blazing with divine light. ¡°My Goddess demands it.¡±
For the very first time, Rowan felt mildly grateful for the effect that the divine had on Blake. If both his instincts and the Goddess agreed, then maybe he was right to be cautious.
Tamara opened her mouth, likely to argue, when Lucius interrupted her. ¡°It¡¯s time. Let¡¯s not argue on the eve of battle.¡± With no hesitation, the large man stepped forward, took a deep breath, and brought down one of his feet on the doors with all the might he could muster.
For an epic tier class, strength focused or not, that meant that the doors nearly exploded as they opened, flying off their hinges and slamming into the walls.
The sight that was revealed actually made Rowan pause in his rush forward.
The throne room beyond the doors was massive, stretching the full length and width of a football field, if not further.
The floor was sterling silver, polished to such a shine that it may as well have been a mirror, and perfectly reflecting the intricate, sculpted arches of the roof that depicted all manner of creatures, be it beasts or humanoids, draped over each other in slumber.
Balconies lined the walls above the floor and along the sides of the room. Rowan would have admired it, had they not been filled to the brim with all sorts of demons dressed in clothing fancier than he had seen even among the kingdom¡¯s nobility. He shivered.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Of course, at the far end of the room, seated in a suitable gilded throne even more ornately carved than the ceiling, was the legendary demon.
Its throne, in stark contrast to the ceiling, was full of depictions of creatures waking up. The closer to his seat they got, the more aware and animated their expressions became. Each and every one of them was twisted in unnatural rapture. Diamonds and other precious stones stood in for their eyes, giving them a crazed quality with the way light refracted off of them.
The demon himself was almost easy to miss, if it weren¡¯t for the aura of pure might that emanated from him. It was almost tangible, and it brought a lead-like tang to the air.
Unlike in the dream Rowan and Blake shared, the demon was not a gaseous giant with barely defined features, out to crush them like ants. He was frail, with robes that were practically draping off him.
His face was sunken and gray, like a patient left unattended for too long. His wickedly sharp claws had a dull glow to them, looking like evil Christmas ornaments. Even the tail and horns that gleamed wickedly with obsidian-like shards attached to them didn¡¯t inspire much fear.
The demon¡¯s eyes were the only sign of his might. They shone with an inner gray light, resembling the spokes of an ever-spinning wheel. Rowan could swear that in spite of the distance, in spite of the impossibility of it, he was drawn into those eyes and saw countless souls chained to those same wheels, screaming in anguish, ecstasy, and a thousand other emotions.
Then the doors on the upper level were torn open, and the shouting and screaming that followed broke Rowan out of his reverie. The single moment that seemed to stretch forever was over.
¡°Well, well, you finally arrive,¡± the demon rasped, taking his time to get out of his seat of power even as ten epic tier combatants rushed towards him. ¡°And in such a rude manner.¡±
The demon didn¡¯t seem to care about the slaughter of his people. He didn¡¯t so much as glance at the upper gallery, where soldiers took to stabbing a little too happily, even for Rowan¡¯s taste. He had eyes only for the two heroes in the lead.
A wordless growl that tore its way out of Rowan¡¯s throat. His spear had grown in its radiance progressively, and now he thrust it forward with the full might of what his card build could support.
The demon swatted at the spear with a single hand negligently, then rocked to the side when the explosion that followed made him stagger and lacerations opened all over said hand. Black, oily blood erupted out of the wound, spiraling into the air, and then getting sucked towards the spear itself.
Most of it instantly seeped into Rowan¡¯s weapon, like it usually did, but some of it sank into his skin too, sending a jolt of power and energy through him.
The demon glared at the appendage like it had betrayed him, but the reflection was cut off by a screech of agony when Blake burst into a divine glow and slipped his sword right between the demon¡¯s ribs.
An explosion of demonic mana threw all of them back, streaming from the demon for several long seconds. Most of his assailants were sent rag dolling over the floor, but Tamara, floating as she was, was positively launched into the wall right above the double doors.
Rowan could just barely track her. The woman impacted the wall with a loud, wet thunk, started falling, then was catapulted out of the throne room by the continued emission of mana. The emotional feedback Rowan got from her dulled, sending a spike of worry through Rowan.
¡°THAT GODDESS! THAT DIVINE PARASITE! SHE WILL REGRET EVER WOUNDING ME!¡± The demon¡¯s bellows followed the release of mana, his eyes crazed as he examined his hand and chest.
The demon¡¯s robe were now fully torn up around his chest, revealing a gaunt mess of scabs and wounds that were there even before Blake¡¯s attack. The wounds looked infected and raw, with a mild golden glow sputtering out of them every couple of seconds.
Rowan saw the opportunity for what it was, bringing all of his mana to bear and forcing it out of his core and into the rest of his body as deeply and as thoroughly as he could. He spared what little was left to feed his spear further, but he¡¯d been building another strike from the moment he landed his first one.
With his agility engaged more powerfully than it ever was before, Rowan practically teleported across the space of the throne room. The world seemed to move like molasses around him, the very air of the room pressing back.
Then he was there, and the demon¡¯s eyes widening in realized of his speed right before his spear punched forward, aimed right where Blake¡¯s previous strike had landed.
The spear¡¯s tip further widened the weakened flesh easily, but it bit deeper than Blake¡¯s sword did. It scraped right by the ribs, met some small tearing resistance, and finally sank into and through the demon¡¯s heart.
Blood erupted around Rowan. More blood than he ever thought any creature of the demon¡¯s size could possess.
The blood swept over his spear, and even its gluttonous nature couldn¡¯t keep up with the feast that was being provided. It seeped into Rowan¡¯s skin, and Rowan felt a jolt of fear when he felt the tendrils of corruption from the foul liquid start questing forward.
Yet, the Scarlet Envy did its job flawlessly, the card¡¯s effect viciously tore power out of the blood and directed it all into Rowan¡¯s own reserves with no regard for the corruption¡¯s supposed effects.
Rowan¡¯s mana was guttering out just a moment earlier, consumed to the extreme by the rush and blow. Now, his reserves were rapidly refilling, and he sent whatever dregs he recovered spiraling into the card that promised him even more damage against the demon.
The demon¡¯s screams echoed out into the throne room with a desperation that was almost enough to knock Rowan out of his concentration, and the monster¡¯s hands fell to clasp around the hero¡¯s spear, fighting to push it out.
Yet, empowered by the demon¡¯s own blood and driven by sudden manic bloodlust, the Stalwart Hero didn¡¯t budge an inch.
Another explosion of mana erupted in the room, finally sending Rowan back. However, unlike before, he was barely forced to stumble away, even if the spear finally left the demon¡¯s body.
Rowan¡¯s head was spinning. The smell of unholy blood nearly overpowered his senses, and odd, hysterical laughter began to echo in his ears. It was grating, full of madness and vitriol and emotions best left unnamed, and he couldn¡¯t tell where it was coming from.
¡°Rowan!¡±
The word, his name, Rowan recognized, made him jerk in the direction of the speaker.
A human female was on her knees, left on the floor by the blast, but the way she looked at him irked him. It was a look full of worry, and he didn¡¯t like it. He didn¡¯t need concern from such-
A blow to his cheek sent the hero smashing into a wall, ears ringing. Through blurry eyes, he spotted the demon teetering on his feet, the wound on his chest torn open to the point of showing all the mangled organs inside of it.
The sight wasn¡¯t reminiscent of anything inside of a human, especially the shriveled, crystalline-looking heart.
The laughter, though, persisted. Rowan so very badly wanted it to stop. Blood, welling from his torn lips and inner cheek made him choke, and the awful laughter cut off for a moment.
Clarity swept over Rowan¡¯s battered mind, and suddenly, he understood. He choked back the laughter threatening to bubble up again, groaning as his face knitted itself together.
With steps trembling from too much energy stuffed within his body, he staggered towards the legendary demon again.
Their foe was no longer paying attention to him, though. Instead, the monster¡¯s eyes were fixed on his own chest, disbelief and anger writ large across his features.
Then those eyes snapped up to meet Rowan¡¯s, and the pure, unadulterated hatred within them made the hero stagger. Before Rowan could regain his footing, the demon let out an ear-piercing screech. It was nothing like the sound that had come out of the creature before. It wasn¡¯t an expression of pain, or fury, or anything that mundane. It was a sound filled with everything that the demon was, everything that the monster encompassed. A wave of madness, of vicious suffering, of fractured awareness and a thousand crippled dreams, flooded everyone ¡ª both human and demon alike.
Between one blink and the next, Rowan no longer knew where he was. He didn¡¯t know who he was. What he was.
He was a student sitting an exam, eyes briefly shooting towards one of his friends there with him and wondering at the score they¡¯d get.
He was a lonely boy, cuddling up to a car as he hid from the notice of everyone.
He was a child, sniffling the bitter tears of betrayal that cut their way across his face at the mere thought of a friendship he thought was solid and true.
He was a hero, laying siege on a demon with a handful of true allies and an army full of people he wasn¡¯t sure he could trust.
He was a monster, drowned in blood and fear and anger, with a desire to endure total madness just to secure another drop of the liquid.
He was¡
The scream cut short, and Rowan collapsed to his knees. He was shaking again, but this time the sensation came from the terror gripping him. His mind, a thousand different conflicting shards that had started to drift apart, clicked back into place again, and he heaved shuddering breath. Rowan used the last of his strength to raise his head and catch sight of the demon, feet dangling in the air.
Before the monster stood Milena, holding a long, wicked-looking spike of crystalline material glittering in the light of the room. A blink drew Rowan¡¯s attention to the fact that the weapon had grown out of her staff, and that she¡¯d driven said weapon up through the demon¡¯s jaw, holding up the monster like a wetly flapping flag.
Before he could even begin to process what had happened, a status window practically exploded in front of Rowan¡¯s face. The font seemed to almost shine, and the letters appeared to slightly wiggle in place with a faint golden glow.
|
Congratulations!
You have slain [Sybelin, The Earl of Grasping Madness], one of the Four Demonic Pillars!
|
A sudden fire erupted inside of his chest, and Rowan¡¯s mind¡¯s eye was drawn to the core of his being where a heart card was briefly began to glow.
|
Calculating¡
Conditions 3/8 fulfilled.
Error!
Unsealing requirements not met.
|
The glow died down, and Rowan slumped when his normal vision was restored, leaving him gasping for air that somehow seemed insufficient to fill his lungs now. Hands gripped him, laying him on his side and quickly fluttering over his bloodied features before they pulled away and the mouth of a potion bottle was forced between his lips. He drank greedily, the jolt of energy finally letting him open his eyes to look up blearily at his extremely worried fianc¨¦e.
¡°Hey there, beautiful,¡± Rowan managed to barely croak out. Between one blink and the next, the fire in his chest died down, and it became so much easier to function. ¡°Sorry for worrying you.¡±
¡°You idiot, charging in like that. And what happened back there?¡± Olivia was asking, but before she could really get going or let him get in a word, she suddenly bent forward, and her lips were on his.
For a glorious couple of minutes, there wasn¡¯t much talking to be had. There was only the two of them, and a glorious feeling of being alive and well.
Then Marcus had to clear his throat, and Rowan was thrust back into the arms of reality. He glared up at the beast folk, who was smiling wryly.
¡°I can¡¯t let you just lay there all day,¡± Marcus insisted with a grin, which faded into seriousness with his next question. ¡°What happened back there? Is everything alright? Blake went down at the same time you did.¡±
Rowan quickly looked around, finding the other hero in the middle of the three women he was engaged to. He had a put-upon look on his face, but then again, there was a slight smile tugging on his lips. Rowan rolled his eyes, and decided to leave him to it.
¡°There was a notification, from my system.¡±
¡°Yes, about us killing a Demonic Pillar, I got that too. Didn¡¯t put me on the floor, though.¡±
¡°No, not that. Something about unsealing¡¡± Rowan muttered, absently rubbing his chest. ¡°I have no clue what it was about. Well, I have guesses, but¡¡± Rowan gestured vaguely around the room. Even if there was no one obviously listening, he was loath to share potentially sensitive information.
¡°It¡¯s fine, we can talk about this later,¡± Marcus assured him, then offered him a hand. ¡°Lots of things to do, anyway.¡±
Over the next several hours, Rowan found out that Marcus was great at understating things.
They had to down potions, regroup, and then immediately start sweeping through the mansion in search of any demonic survivors or loot to be had. They barely even paused to congratulate Milena on her final blow, though Rowan could tell that a lack of celebration didn¡¯t bother her.
The wolf kin was too giddy for that. She was more than willing to describe in intricate detail the process of simplifying a ritual into an instant cast spell, which she¡¯d managed to pull off on the spot to kill the demon.
Apparently, her ability to throw off the demon¡¯s madness curse was something less worthy of discussion, and simply chalked up to her ¡®class related resistances.¡¯
By the time they were done pilfering the monstrosity of a castle, Rowan no longer felt like the leader of an army that had just overcome a major obstacle to lasting peace and prosperity. He felt like a wrung out commander who¡¯d rather not have to look at yet another corpse of someone he¡¯d chosen to lead into battle.
He may not have killed them himself, but every body that was discovered was like a knife right through Rowan¡¯s heart. He¡¯d managed to lead his army to victory with practically trivial losses the last time, but his lucky streak simply hadn¡¯t held.
Over a hundred and twenty people were dead this time. Some died in the initial attempt to enter the manor, but most of the losses occurred when the demon had used his madness inducing scream to kill them all.
Those that had been lost to the scream were the worst to handle. They weren¡¯t exactly dead, but all the mages agreed that their minds, and souls, were completely gone.
Even Blake¡¯s [Saintess] confirmed as much, the princess looking unusually severe and pale after giving her verdict.
The only thing the two heroes could do was grant those soldiers the mercy of true rest, and while Rowan had insisted on doing the job himself, he¡¯d also thrown up no less than four times. Blake had joined him without a word, and refused to leave the room he¡¯d been left in to do the grisly work. Surprisingly, Rowan¡¯s best friend held up better than he did.
They didn¡¯t even have time for a proper burial. The soldiers were all gathered in the throne room, and a grand pyre was set. As he stared absent-mindedly at the flames, his arms wrapped around Olivia, Rowan was interrupted by yet another notification.
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Congratulations!
[Marhet, The Countess of Whispering Wounds], one of the Four Demonic Pillars, has been slain!
|
This time, Rowan wasn¡¯t knocked off his feet when the unsealing process triggered again, the met conditions ticking up by one, before failing again. However, the heat that had sprung up in his chest was there again.
Rowan¡¯s eyes met Blake¡¯s. Neither hero knew what to say, nor what the sudden notification would mean for them.
Chapter 71: Heroics
The battle, the funeral pyre, and the mansion they¡¯d set aflame were now behind them, figuratively and literally. However, Rowan couldn¡¯t help but feel like they¡¯d taken a step forward right into the murk of some kind of ominous swamp.
¡°It¡¯s Kayla, right? It has to be¡¡± Rowan repeated for about the tenth time, once again receiving unhappy grumbles from Blake in return. Even though he wasn¡¯t the biggest fan of Kayla either, Rowan didn¡¯t understand Blake¡¯s issue with Kayla after their arrival in their new reality, but he did have a pretty strong hint now.
Every time the heroine¡¯s name was brought up, an unpleasant cocktail of anger and distrust would boil up in Blake. That wouldn¡¯t be so bad, but the problematic part was that Rowan could tell that the emotions were not fully his own. Rowan could feel the goddess up in his friend¡¯s head, contributing to those emotions. Stoking them. Encouraging them.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
¡°It¡¯s not important.¡± Once more, Blake gave the exact same response, eyes fixated angrily on the horizon. ¡°You know what we need to do. So, let¡¯s just do it.¡±
¡°And where, pray tell, do you want us to head?¡± Rowan finally snapped, biting his lip to stop from saying anything else. ¡°Which way do you want to go?¡±
They¡¯d won. There was no denying that. But they¡¯d also taken losses. Plus, it would take time for them to track down the next legendary demon.
Blake¡¯s response to the question was unexpected. The other hero froze, eyes fluttering shut. When they opened, they glowed with a divine radiance, and snapped to a particular spot on the horizon.
¡°That way.¡± There was no uncertainty, no trace of doubt that mere mortals would allow to slip into their voice. Just the plain surety of divine knowledge as Rowan¡¯s connection to Blake fed him a fraction of the radiance the other hero¡¯s soul was bathed in.
Rowan grimaced. No matter how much he disliked the gods, even he couldn¡¯t deny that the second-hand emotions were enough to affect him a little. Just not enough to inspire him to instantly charge into the deeper wastes.
¡°I get that you¡¯re zealous, but we still need to wait until morning. We should be in bed as it is. Or better yet, back in town to recuperate.¡± Rowan¡¯s complaints fell on deaf ears as his best friend navigated past the tents, venturing to the very edge of their camp.
They didn¡¯t want to sleep anywhere near the scene of their former battle, so the army had marched until sunset before setting camp. Thanks to Blake, the route had taken them deeper into the wastes, but they were proceeding carefully. Despite that, Rowan could easily tell that Blake¡¯s opinion on the matter of their marching speed was going to be contentious come morning.
¡°Blake, really, can you calm down?¡± Rowan was forced to grab the other hero¡¯s shoulder, finally resigning himself to slightly harsher methods. ¡°Are you going to do the same thing again? Just charge until everyone else dies besides your party?¡±
The flinch and sudden haunted look in Blake¡¯s eyes made Rowan want to wince, but there was no taking the comment back. At least it did its job of jerking him out of whatever the Divine insight had done to him.
¡°It¡¯s¡ different?¡± Blake ventured cautiously, cringing at the look of disbelief Rowan sent him. ¡°It really is?¡±
¡°How? How is rushing going to fix anything?¡±
¡°It¡¯s different because my goddess actually wants me to be here now! I¡¯m no longer going against her wishes. She obviously wants me to do this, if she¡¯s providing me with guidance. Besides, the girls, I¡¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
Blake was hesitating, and his face did an almost funny cycle between paling and blushing, but he did eventually get the words out. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fail them. They need me to do better. Even in this last battle, I didn¡¯t perform up to expectation.¡±
¡°Blake, you wounded that thing badly enough that I could take advantage and almost finish him, and then Milena managed to resist his final efforts and kill him. That¡¯s no small part to play. When I first tried, I could barely get past the demon¡¯s skin!¡±
¡°That¡¯s just my goddess¡¯ blessing¡¡±
¡°And who was the one who used the blessing?¡± Rowan was on the verge of snapping, again. The only thing that held him back was the sad expression on Blake¡¯s face. Thankfully, Blake began to cheer up soon after, a smile stretching across his face. And Rowan would have been even happier if he couldn¡¯t feel the whispers of the goddess nudging him to feel that way. But for now, he would take it.
¡°You know what? You¡¯re right! Okay, sure, I get it. I need to be more careful. For¡ for them, I guess,¡± Blake mumbled.
¡°Finally! Now, how about we finally go get some sleep?¡± Rowan asked.
¡°That sounds great! I hope I¡¯ll have enough space in my tent leftover for that.¡±
This time, when Rowan laughed, the sound was pure relief and amusement. ¡°Your fault, my friend. I have but a single fianc¨¦e, so I don¡¯t have any issues with tent size.¡±
¡°No, you have issues with a different kind of size.¡±
Rowan just about face planted at the innuendo, whirling to face Blake with wide, startled eyes. ¡°Did you just make a¡¡±
Congratulations!
[Balkar, The Count of Stoic Pride], one of the Four Demonic Pillars, has been slain!
The moment of levity evaporated in the face of heat in Rowan¡¯s chest. He gasped and clutched the front of his shirt as the heat ramped up past the point of its previous peak.
Calculating¡
Conditions 5/8 fulfilled.
Error!
Unsealing requirements not met.
Once again, the unsealing failed and Rowan was left glaring at the status window, willing it to provide a full and proper explanation of what exactly was happening.
It declined to do so, if its immutability was any indication.
Neither of the heroes got particularly restful sleep for what remained of the night.
¡ª
The next morning, it wasn¡¯t only Blake and Rowan who looked like they were missing sleep. Each of the epic tier classes looked like they¡¯d been put through the wringer.
The hero parties were caught up in the doubtful mood of their nominal leaders.
The Mercenary King was a jumble of nerves, fear, expectation and guilt.
Tamara was the only one with a relatively stable mood, though the coil of excitement Rowan kept glimpsing was definitely growing to be a worry.
Ironically, in spite of that, most of them looked perfectly fresh and ready for the day, especially since four people had access to Rowan¡¯s Natural Renewal.
¡°We need to set out immediately.¡± Blake¡¯s version of, ¡®Good morning,¡¯ wasn¡¯t exactly well received. It was coated with the palpable anxiety that Rowan had hoped he¡¯d smothered yesterday. Once again, his brow furrowed when he felt the goddess¡¯s influence.
¡°What need is there for such a rush, hero?¡± assured Lucius. ¡°We all got the notification yesterday. There¡¯s but a single legendary demon left, and we¡¯re well ahead of schedule.¡±
Fortunately or not, while the hero parties were caught up in doubt and suspicion, most of the army was in a celebratory mood, and Lucius was working to emulate them. After all, the notifications had come one after the other, bolstering their conviction and courage.
The man was smiling and a perfect picture of health. Even his clothing and armor were nicely polished and maintained.
If Rowan couldn¡¯t sense his actual feelings on the subject, he¡¯d likely have been fooled.
¡°That¡¯s the exact reason we need to rush,¡± a buzz-kill Blake snapped. ¡°One of those kills may have been Kayla. Both? I refuse to believe that she could have pulled that off. That means there¡¯s something out there, plotting something.¡±
¡°Plotting to help us kill the demon king?¡± Marcus¡¯s voice was calm, but the tone he used made his implications clear.
¡°You don¡¯t understand, it¡¯s¡!¡±
¡°Blake, it¡¯s fine.¡± Rowan cut in, feeling the other hero¡¯s emotions spike dangerously and artificially. ¡°We¡¯ll be okay. Deep breaths.¡±
¡°But, we only got one of them. And the experience¡¡± Blake trailed off, flushing at the looks Rowan¡¯s party sent him. ¡°I just want us to be ready to fight the demon lord, that¡¯s all.¡±
¡°I understand your concerns. Speaking of, we wanted you to have this.¡± Rowan led the conversation towards a healthier topic, pulling a card out of his pack and presenting it to Blake.
The other hero¡¯s expression was full of both shock and wonder as he took it, odd emotions dancing across his features too quickly to identify right after. ¡°Are you sure?¡±
Rowan could understand his hesitation. Funnily enough, it wasn¡¯t even him who suggested this particular course of action last night. His party had come together to evaluate their progress and sort out their loot, and it was Milena who pushed for one of the two drops to go to the other hero party.
According to the woman herself, ¡°It would breed bad feelings if they walked away from the encounter empty-handed.¡± Rowan could see the wisdom of what she¡¯d insisted on as the posture¡¯s of Blake¡¯s party members relaxed, losing a lot of their rigidity.
¡°We wanted you to have it so you stay safer. Gods know that Rowan spends enough time worrying about you,¡± Milena teased gently, toying with her staff.
Rowan flushed when the attention of everyone focused on him, then coughed. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. But really, the card should be useful.¡±
And it was.
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The Mind Electric (Legendary, Passive)
Your mind is your bastion, capable of housing all dreams and nightmares. None shall threaten your sovereignty.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
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Rowan had briefly tested it, with Milena¡¯s help, and the description really didn¡¯t do it justice. After all, it had allowed him to weather the effects of the other card that dropped without even flinching.
|
Kiss of Madness (Legendary, Active)
The glimpse of eternity in a water droplet, the aria of heavens in the screeching of a storm.
|
The description was utterly useless, but in line what he was starting to associate with higher tier cards, the more poetic the description, the more profound the effects.
That card had gone to Milena with absolutely no contest or doubt. She¡¯d landed the last blow, and the thing was practically tailor-made for a [Shaman] class. According to the woman herself, it allowed her to cast a curse of madness, either as a spell or a ritual.
The effects of both were ridiculous, and threatened to shatter the mind of anyone who so much grazed against the curse¡¯s area of effect. Rowan couldn¡¯t explain it, much like he couldn¡¯t explain what happened to him when the demon used the card. It was like his mind was forced to expand, to take in more and more information all at once, to live through every second of his life and his current reality all at once. The worst part of the whole thing was that thinking back on the experience filled him with longing. For just a moment, every part of him was there, expressed and on the surface. He understood every facet of his own being.
But it was a mirror that threatened to shatter and take his mind with it.
For all that Kiss of Madness was aggression, The Mind Electric was the complete opposite. The card allowed its owner to recognize any curse¡¯s effects, categorize them, and then shove them aside in favor of restoring his own will and sense of self.
That was why, when Milena suggested Blake have it, Rowan was fully aboard.
With baited breath and anxiety burning in his chest, Rowan took in the sight of his friend eying the card. His face was perfectly blank now, but with their bond, Rowan could tell what he was feeling.
Desire warred with an odd sense of caution.
Gratefulness warred with a profound sense of being undeserving.
On and on, the contrasting feelings warred inside of Rowan¡¯s best friend, each opposite more artificial than the last.
Then, at last, Blake raised his eyes to meet Rowan¡¯s own. Hesitation met nothing but sincerity, and The Stalwart Hero stepped forward, gently pushing Blake¡¯s hands that had a death grip on the card until the orange card gently pressed against the hero¡¯s chest.
Blake took a shuddering breath as a purple card materialized in front of him and plummeted to the ground, and the legendary card dissolved into motes of light that went straight into his chest. Immediately, a rush of changes surged through Blake¡¯s connection to Rowan. It was like watching a flame lick up against a gasoline puddle, the whole thing turning into an inferno in a matter of seconds.
Each emotion combusted and evaporated, before a sense of calm and emptiness surged back down the connection. The inferno stilled, and in its place was a lake, its surface calm like a mirror.
Slowly, owlishly, Blake blinked and looked around, then down at his now-empty hands. For several long seconds, no one spoke.
¡°Each and every one of you, so dramatic.¡± Rowan swung around when a new voice sounded around them. The voice was smooth and undeniably human, yet when the whole group rounded on the source in a panic, they spotted a plump, shiny black raven giving them the stink eye.
¡°Kayla?¡± Rowan¡¯s voice was full of disbelief, but there was no denying the familiarity of the voice. Or the fact that it was coming from a raven.
¡°Correct, tis I. The greatest mage to grace this kingdom.¡± The raven saluted them with a wing mockingly, turning its head to the other side in that distinctly bird-like fashion.
¡°I¡¯ve had nowhere near enough to drink to deal with this,¡± Rowan sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. His eyes flitted between the bird and his best friend, but Blake was oddly non-responsive.
Oh, he was there and he was focused. Rowan could tell that much by the flicker in the man¡¯s eyes, but he could no longer feel a single emotion coming from him. Not even a hint.
¡°Like you were ever fun enough to drink this early,¡± the raven scoffed, then fluttered forward and landed right on Rowan¡¯s left shoulder, purposefully smacking him in the face with a wing and its tail as it perched itself there.
¡°Not that I¡¯m unhappy with the visit, but what exactly do you want?¡± Rowan groused, taking in the reactions of the group.
His own party had mostly glares to spare for the heroine-and-raven, having been there when she admonished Rowan for his lacking prowess after easily killing an epic they were all about to die at the hands of.
Blake¡¯s party, if anything, was even more hostile.
They drew closer to their hero, looking like lionesses about to fight to keep their male out of the clutches of a different pride. Rowan thought that the raven was smirking, somehow.
Blake himself was still nearly emotionless, making Rowan start to regret ever giving him the card.
It was, however, the feelings of the two Rest¡¯s Remorse powerhouses that worried him.
The Mercenary King¡¯s guilt spiked again, and with it came a sense of resignation.
Meanwhile, the ecstatic glow of Tamara¡¯s emotions was more than enough to give Rowan pause. With concentration on his face, he focused on his connection to the woman, but other than happiness and expectation, he got nothing else.
¡°Well, if this idiot here could finally learn to listen,¡± Kayla started off crassly, pointing a wing at Blake. ¡°I¡¯d like to meet up, and offer up a bit of advice. After all, there¡¯s no going back now. It would be a shame if we failed right at the finish line.¡±
¡°Just tell us what you want, Kayla. I¡¯m not going to play your games. I¡¯m just¡ tired.¡± When he spoke, Blake genuinely sounded like he was hanging on through sheer willpower. Whatever the card¡¯s effect had done, it was obvious that the other hero was struggling. Instead of haste or anger, there was just a deep weariness in his expression.
¡°Can¡¯t do it like this. You really think a familiar I¡¯m possessing is a good replacement for an in-person meeting? No. For now, I¡¯d like you to continue heading west. It¡¯s deeper into the wastes, yes, but it¡¯s where we need to go regardless. You¡¯ll find a spot where two rivers meet easily enough. Make camp there.¡±
¡°And let you do what, ambush us?¡± Blake snapped, but there was no real heat in his voice.
¡°You missed a familiar, Blake. If I really wanted to, I could have dropped potions or something on your tents. Or channeled a spell through it if I wanted to go big. Now, please let the adults do the thinking, and just follow along like you usually do, okay?¡±
Kayla¡¯s voice was sugary sweet, but her words made Blake go completely pale. Rowan edged a bit closer to his friend, ready to catch him if he passed out. Thankfully, no such thing happened, and without even waiting for a response, the bird took flight, then melted into a mass of shadows overhead.
The shadow drifted over the army camp harmlessly, even if they did provoke a couple shouts of surprise.
The two heroes could only stare, each with complicated emotions of their own.
¡°Right, well. I¡¯m putting this to a vote. Everyone who wants to actually do as she suggested, hands up.¡± Rowan wasn¡¯t about to waste time, but he really wasn¡¯t sure whether to hope people voted for or against.
He did decide to put his hand up, however, and a second later, his party followed suit. With great reluctance and great exuberance respectively, both Lucius and Tamara raised their hands as well.
The real surprise was when a pale-faced princess followed suit, earning looks of angry shock from the other two girls in her party.
¡°I suppose you two are against,¡± Rowan said. The two girls nodded, shooting more looks of betrayal at the princess. ¡°And you, Blake?¡± Blake just stared at his friend, making no move to either protest or acquiesce. Rowan winced. ¡°Right, then. Well, I guess we¡¯re going.¡±
¡ª
The mood among was the troops was still generally positive as they set out, traipsing through the jungle of the wastes. Supported by the cards of the Mercenary King, that was unlikely to change.
The mood among the leaders of the army, however, could use some improvement.
Three girls were still clustered around Blake like someone would try to steal him, while the man himself was a dazed mess.
Rowan didn¡¯t want to ask for the card back. He really didn¡¯t. But by the time the sun crested over the horizon and they finally found their way to the destination Kayla had specified, he really was starting to feel tempted. Blake was like a block of ice, impossible to read and melting with weariness.
At least Rowan¡¯s own party was ready and functional. They¡¯d slipped a little ahead of the others, and Rowan took the chance to fill them in on everything that was happening and his own fears and suspicions on the subject.
¡°So, somethings coming to a head,¡± Marcus said. It wasn¡¯t a question, and the wolf kin grim expression only went to accentuate the fact.
¡°Almost definitely,¡± Rowan confirmed, massaging his forehead. ¡°And Blake¡¯s still out of it.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not getting any feelings from him at all? None?¡± Milena asked to confirm, leafing through a large old grimoire instead of one of her more recent acquisitions.
¡°Not a hint. Zero. Zilch. Nada.¡± The string of strange expressions earned him a few odd looks, making him wonder for the first time in a while how his communication ability actually worked.
Milena sighed and closed her book, shrugged, then put it away. ¡°Best I can tell, the card gave Hero Blake blanket immunity to mental effects. You could probably work with him to figure out how to make it possible for you to sense him, but that means you¡¯d need to explain the whole thing to him first.¡±
¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think I want to do that,¡± Rowan admitted with a wince, looking away. In a very real way, he¡¯d broken Blake¡¯s confidence as much as the Goddess did.
Maybe more, considering the fact that he¡¯d been friends before landing in a new dimension. It was admittedly for his own good, but still, Rowan was firmly hoping that Blake would never learn about it.
¡°I¡¯m more worried about your other friend,¡± Olivia said, hugging Rowan¡¯s arm a little tighter. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she wants, but the Mercenary King¡¯s reaction hints that she¡¯s involved with the King¡¯s plans. And then there¡¯s Tamara¡¡±
Olivia trailed off, but the look in her eyes anything but friendly. It seemed Olivia was now ready to carry on the torch of her mother¡¯s anger.
¡°I¡¯m not sure whatever Tamara¡¯s planning is malicious, per say,¡± Rowan hurried to reassure, desperate for even a single ally more. ¡°It¡¯s more like she¡¯s just¡ excited, and yes, I hear myself and know how it sounds. She felt the same when we fought the legendary, though. Complete with disappointment that followed. Maybe she just wants the experience and cards, and knows this is a great opportunity to get them?¡±
¡°Why isn¡¯t she saying anything, then?¡± Olivia protested, turning up her nose at the idea that the mage was blameless.
¡°She wants to swoop in and heroically rescue us, earning our undying gratitude?¡± Rowan offered, even if the reasoning was rather thin.
Olivia scoffed, and he was forced to admit he agreed. ¡°Anyways, just, please be ready? We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re walking into.¡±
¡ª
Their destination was almost impossibly beautiful. Located at the intersection of what appeared to be two major rivers, the surroundings were oddly flat and jungle-free.
The rolling meadows hugged the banks of the rivers, and grass enchantingly swayed in the gentle wind.
There were only a few things that spoiled the beautiful view.
First, no matter how much it added to the scenery, the unfortunate fact of the matter was that both the grass and the rivers were a deep shade of purple. While the rivers were nowhere near as revolting as the one they came across closer to the city, Rowan was pretty sure that a single sip of the water contained enough poison to kill the entire army. The river was still filled with filth, corruption, and corpses.
The second thing that marred the view was the corpses themselves, drifting by. Various beasts and monsters dotted the river banks, some of them quite fresh, some of them quite not. All of them rather smelly if you got too close.
Otherwise, a pleasant and enticing smell dominated the air, wafting off the purple river water and making Rowan¡¯s mouth water.
¡°Lovely locale, here,¡± Rowan snarked in a vain attempt to distract himself from his building thirst.
Oddly enough, it was the princess that stepped forward with a heavy frown on her face. A corona of light ignited around her, and then rolled over the army. It temporarily banished the smell, and with it, took the tingles that had snuck up on Rowan and which he didn¡¯t notice until they were gone.
¡°Waiting here is a terrible idea,¡± the princess declared, turning to eye up the Stalwart Hero. ¡°The poison in the river dissolves into the air, especially where it¡¯s drying on the banks. Inhaling it for just half an hour is enough to be lethal.¡±
Her proclamation wasn¡¯t exactly loud, but it was still enough to reach the ears of the closest soldier ranks and then spread out like a ripple.
Rowan sighed, eying up the river and what insisting on meeting there could mean. ¡°We¡¯re here already. Any Ideas?¡±
¡°I can set up wards,¡± Milena volunteered, eying their surroundings. ¡°And that stretch of land between the rivers isn¡¯t all that big. We can probably hold it rather easily, especially with the wards added to the mix. Any land troops, would be forced to cross through poison to reach us.¡±
¡°I can help with that, I suppose,¡± the de Vort contributed to the conversation, eying up the wolf kin speculatively. ¡°And good idea on the positioning. We¡¯re going to need all the advantages we can get, I suppose, since someone decided we needed to be here.¡±
More glares were exchanged with the princess, but Rowan cut them off and got them moving.
Transporting the entirety of their army across the river was a chore, but between the mages and the princess¡¯s healing abilities, they managed.
From there, Rowan frankly enjoyed watching the two spell casters work on their warding. The arrangement of symbols carved into the dirt, items buried in it, and ancient chants were all things he found fascinating. He was able to let his mind relax a bit in the monotony of the ritual casting.
When it was done, honest to goodness force fields sprung up around them, glowing and opaque, before they faded away from view. With the shields in place, the princess performed one final purification ritual, and their temporary base was done.
Gone was the sweet, compelling scent, or the way Rowan¡¯s surroundings gently rippled at the edges of his vision. It was an odd thought to have, but he almost missed the beauty of it.
That wasn¡¯t a thought he could spend much time contemplating, however, because the sound of whistling precluded the sight of a small army of mages cutting through the sky on their way to them.
At their helm stood Kayla, in all her arrogant glory. The heroine looked like someone stepping out of her carriage into the reception hall of a ball, clad in a glamorous dress that shifted through hues of black and violet with every movement of the material.
More tellingly, Kayla¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t fixed in a smirk. It wasn¡¯t the practiced disdain Rowan knew she tested out in the mirror on occasion.
She was stone-faced, focused and intense.
The heroine was on a war path, and Rowan was only mostly sure her ire wasn¡¯t directed at them.
Chapter 72: Tense Encounters
Stats were a wonderful thing. They rearranged fundamental biology, granted superhuman abilities, and gave a physique worthy of being preserved in marble.
They allowed people to bend the world to their will, making them hyper-aware of supernatural forces that are otherwise intangible. Stats were what helped heroes step beyond the realm of humanity and perform feats typically reserved for myths and legends.
They also make people hyper-aware of their surroundings, to the point where the vaunted abilities of detectives like Sherlock Holmes were mere child¡¯s play.
Rowan now had a lot of stats. Stats he pushed as far as he could to analyze the situation at hand.
Kayla¡¯s army was practically¡vibrating? Their demeanor could charitably be called focused. Rowan, without any of that charity, thought they looked paranoid. How can you lead an army that looks so jittery? What¡¯s going on here?
They glared and squinted at everything they saw. The setting of the meeting, the troops, the barriers they had set up, nothing seemed exempt. More than that, they didn¡¯t seem to be really focused on the heroes nor their parties. Instead, an outsized portion of their attention landed firmly on the Mercenary King.
There were an astonishing five hundred or so mages. Rowan couldn¡¯t understand how Kayla had managed to land her grubby fingers on that many but here they were. A whole section of fifty had their focus solely on Lucius.
The man pretended not to notice or care, but through their bond, Rowan could feel the echo of worry, fear, and shame.
The final thing that Rowan noticed, and that he didn¡¯t need his stats for at all, was Tamara¡¯s reaction.
Glee, vindication, and a twisted sense of fulfillment swept through the woman at the sight of Kayla. None of Kayla¡¯s many mages seemed to pay Tamara any mind either. A couple of eyes briefly paused on the exiled mage, sparked with something like recognition or approval, and then moved past her.
A bitter smile tugged on Rowan¡¯s lips as more than a few hints fell into place. There was something larger at play here. He didn¡¯t have the whole picture but there were enough clues that he wondered if the situation would come back to bite him.
¡°Kayla!¡± Rowan shouted up to the woman who was still staring down imperiously at them without a single word. ¡°Would you and your party please come down so we can properly talk?¡±
For just a moment, Rowan thought he saw the woman¡¯s lips twitch. ¡°I suppose that would be for the best,¡± she conceded, then stepped off the platform.
Even knowing that Kayla would never stupidly risk her life, Rowan felt his stomach flutter. The heroine went plummeting through the air, the dress somehow perfectly clinging to her form instead of ballooning around her, even if it did flutter.
Just before she was about to impact the ground, her momentum completely disappeared, leaving her to float delicately a foot off the ground. ¡°Lead the way,¡± she said as she gestured.
Rowan grunted and led her towards the main tent they¡¯d set up just for the occasion, with plenty of sound dampening and anti-scrying wards courtesy of the mages in their parties. Rowan idly noted that Kayla didn¡¯t let her feet touch the muddy ground until they were inside where she landed on the carpet.
The others weren¡¯t so lucky. Marching boots tracked in mud and purple grass that disappeared a few instants later thanks to special cleaning wards. As it turned out, the intersection of two rivers wasn¡¯t the best place in the world to set up camp, even if it was convenient.
¡°Not going to have your party join you?¡± Rowan asked in genuine curiosity, only to earn a dismissive snort.
¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± Kayla claimed with no sign of deception. If anything, she looked downright proud to say that.
¡°Don¡¯t ¡ª wait, how have you been functioning as a hero without a party?¡± The tone of Rowan¡¯s voice might have been a bit too incredulous, but at least the emotion was mirrored by everyone else present.
In fact, it was enough to finally snap Blake out of his silence. ¡°Stop playing games, Kayla. Even you need support.¡± His words were infected with anger, but they lacked most of their usual bite and vitriol. If anything, to Rowan, his best friend looked fragile, like he was desperately trying to pretend that everything was normal. That he was fine.
¡°Blake,¡± Kayla acknowledged him with the single word and a look, then completely dismissed him on her way to the table they¡¯d set up. Circular, of course, so they wouldn¡¯t have to deal with pride, jostling for significance, and other drama. ¡°Not everyone needs a divine mommy to hold their hand. Or a trio of women.¡±
The disdain in Kayla¡¯s voice was a dark, bitter thing. Enough so to make Blake wince and shut up, even if anger did flicker over his features for a moment.
Rowan was definitely growing worried. Not just because Kayla and Blake¡¯s uncertain relationship, but because the effect of the card he¡¯d chosen to gift to his best friend might have some kind of unintended consequence. For the first time, Rowan wondered if Blake would be able to deal with the card at all.
Of course, the trio of girls took that as a cue to draw closer to Rowan¡¯s friend, holding onto him or standing in front of him defensively, and Blake¡¯s tense posture loosened just a smidgen.
¡°Kayla, you asked us to come here. You stopped us from following the only clue we had in favor of this meeting. If you could stop sniping at us and just tell us what you want, things would be so much easier,¡± Rowan said, taking the reins of the conversation.
Rowan expected the challenge to be met by equal amounts of disdain, but when Kayla turned to look at him, she was just amused.
¡°You know, Rowan, I almost discounted you. Almost. Even helping you with that puny epic was, at most, minor entertainment and a long shot. Seeing you now, though¡ well, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d manage to drag this idiot back to a semblance of usefulness, let alone your personal growth.¡±
The first signs of his own tempter started to show, if not on Rowan¡¯s face, then with the spear he kept by his side at all times. It started to spark with blood-red energy shot through with black strings. ¡°Allow me to repeat myself. Be civil, at least useful, or go away.¡±
Rowan was gritting his teeth by the end of that sentence, so focused on Kayla that his eyes practically looked like they were shining. Or they might have been actually shining, mana slipping out of his control.
¡°Oh, fine,¡± Kayla scoffed, leaning casually back in her chair. ¡°But first, everyone not engaged to a hero, fucking a hero, or sworn to their service, get out. That means you two.¡± She looked in the direction of Rowan¡¯s only two [Knights] who hadn¡¯t pledged their allegiance to him.
Kayla¡¯s proclamation was met by a brief stunned silence, but to Rowan¡¯s eternal surprise, both Tamara and Lucius stood up with no complaint. The Mercenary King¡¯s face was frosty, and Tamara looked like a kicked puppy, but they obeyed.
When they were gone, Kayla casually motioned with her hand as an ornate book to materialize above her palm, floating in all its ominous glory. A pulse of magic rolled out from the book, phasing through everything in the tent and marking it.
Thousands upon thousands of ridiculously small runes formed up everywhere in a display that took Rowan¡¯s breath away. Most of the physical classes in the room immediately tensed and went for their weapons, then paused when the casters didn¡¯t seem concerned, just awed.
¡°There, no chance of anyone spying on us now. So, my master, or former master, I guess, and the barbie doll¡¯s father,¡± Kayla motioned casually at the princess, ¡°are coming here to kill us.¡±
That particular statement went over about as well as a brick could gently go through a window. Especially when said ¡®barbie doll¡¯ paled, wobbled on her feet, and collapsed back into Blake¡¯s chest. The uproar of noise, questions, and curses did nothing to ruin Kayla¡¯s sly smile.
If anything, she looked incredibly smug as two high nobles, the other two members of Blake¡¯s party, tore into her for answers. Marcus just stared at her blandly, his sister was freaking out and fumbling with her own grimoire, and Olivia established a death grip on Rowan¡¯s arm.
The two male heroes went through a full hard reboot process themselves, but even then, it didn¡¯t seem like they¡¯d taken the news anywhere near as hard as the rest of the room.
Suspicions or not, hearing that the person who was the ultimate authority of the kingdom was gunning for them was a whole new thing.
Rowan closed his eyes to block out the twinkling eyes of the mage hero that were still fixed on his own, took a deep breath, and brought the butt of his spear down on the carpet, hard.
The motion shouldn¡¯t have achieved much. However, intent and mana did odd things at the best of times, so the mini explosion that followed did more than enough to quiet the room and draw attention to Rowan.
He didn¡¯t even ruin the carpet, as long as the scorched spot didn¡¯t count!
¡°How do you know about this? How long do we have, and why does the king want to sabotage his own heroes so gods damn badly?¡± Rowan was growling there at the end, but he didn¡¯t overly care.
He¡¯d done his very best to perform the duty they¡¯d kidnapped him for, and now he was finding out, pretty decisively if Kayla¡¯s expression was anything to go by, that they most definitely wanted him dead. Before he could do the thing!
¡°Okay, let me handle that in order of importance!¡± Kayla chirped, leaning forward like she was confiding a secret in the middle of a school yard instead of giving out state-level secrets. ¡°We have about two or three hours before they get here. It would have taken them days to organize and track us down if my master wasn¡¯t involved. As things stand, that¡¯s all we¡¯re getting now. Second, do you remember the god whose blessing I received? Do you really think that someone blessed by the goddess of secrets couldn¡¯t figure out when someone¡¯s keeping a secret that could cost them their life?¡±
Kayla¡¯s voice was, if anything, even more amused. There was a note of danger there too, but Rowan didn¡¯t blame her for feeling highly uncharitable towards people plotting her murder.
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¡°Finally, as to the reason why, that would be power. Lots and lots of power. Oh, and fear of heroes, I guess, there¡¯s also that,¡± Kayla said, her smile growing.
¡°Power and fear,¡± Blake spat. ¡°I suppose I can understand power. Killing a high tier individual provides plenty of experience, and heroes are supposed to be special. Why in the world would they fear us? Fear me? I¡¯ve done everything they wanted! Everything!¡±
Rowan winced, grateful for the wards once more.
¡°Well, you did, for a while,¡± the heroine of secrets drawled, shooting Blake a lazy wink. ¡°You played a nice little paladin, jumped on every order, and did everything they wanted. Then you argued for Rowan¡¯s sake, tried to stay in the capital because your goddess wanted you to, lost your army, and teamed up with Rowan. That¡¯s as good as mutiny against the king.¡±
¡°You¡¯re telling me he wants me dead for just having basic free will?¡± Blake asked emptily, looking through Kayla rather than at her.
¡°Exactly, now you¡¯re getting it! The thing you two don¡¯t understand is that heroes are a big deal. Now, obviously, they¡¯ve done everything they could to truncate our power and reduce us to useless puppets that would, hopefully, die in a mutual destruction move against the demon king, but we¡¯re not a good example of what heroes can be.¡±
¡°Explain.¡± Interestingly, it was Olivia that made the demand, shooting Rowan an alarmed look.
If he didn¡¯t know her any better, Rowan would have assumed that his fianc¨¦e was scared of him. Instead, he could tell that the panic came from the fact that she was terrified her family had somehow messed up when providing him with support. That they¡¯d somehow ruined his potential.
¡°Blake¡¯s the best example. With that heart card of his, and oh man am I jealous, he could have qualified for a half dozen unique and dangerous classes with minimal effort. Minimal. Effort. The only thing he wasn¡¯t supposed to do was select a base starting class. And that¡¯s what the king made him do! Then, they paraded him around dungeons and power leveled the holy shit out of him, pardon my pun.¡±
¡°They were trying to help¡¡± the princess protested weakly, but the wretched expression on her face spoke enough on its own.
¡°Ha! Sure, ¡®help.¡¯ Anyway, that ended with him getting folded the first time he went up against a demon at his own tier. I mean, seriously, Blake? Pathetic. Now, there does seem to be something different about you now, and I have it on good authority that you somehow ¡®fixed¡¯ yourself, but no clue what that means yet.¡±
¡°And that information wouldn¡¯t happen to come from a certain mage with a dubiously dangerous build, would it?¡± Rowan snapped, crossing his arms.
The dazzling grin he got in return was infuriating. ¡°Come on now Rowan, don¡¯t be a grump. They tried the same shit with me. All the leveling and class picks into the least optimal build, and teaching me only a pathetic few spells that mostly relied on parallel casting with a whole contingent of mages to work. Powerful and flashy, but useless without support.¡±
¡°And I suppose you somehow overcame that on your own?¡± Marcus was the one who asked, looking like he was immensely enjoying all the drama. And also eying up Kayla in a manner that made Rowan¡¯s eyes widen and fill him with a certainty that he¡¯d need to have a talk with his friend about crazy and what not to do with those.
¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t possibly comment on that!¡± Kayla laughed. ¡°Anyway, that leaves us with Rowan. While they at least pretended to give us levels and amazingly powerful cards, they didn¡¯t even bother with such things for you. They publicly offloaded you on the lowest ranked noble in the kingdom, and one who had their family ruined just recently. You got practically no support, past some advice and training, which didn¡¯t even come with hero-unique class paths or secrets!¡±
Olivia looked vaguely ill, prompting Rowan to draw her closer and glare at Kayla. ¡°I did just fine on my own, thanks.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s the thing! You did! Like the first few generations of heroes, you made your own way, got your own cards and experience, and managed to make it all the way up to epic. Then, you picked the class that could let you level up to legendary way faster than expected. Oh, they freaked out over that!¡± Kayla was entirely too cheerful for all of this. The laughter didn¡¯t do much to lift anyone¡¯s mood, but Kayla obviously wasn¡¯t done once she caught her breath. ¡°If that wasn¡¯t enough, you turned around, took over that stupid border city, and actually made it work for you. Before rescuing Blake and earning his loyalty, of course.¡±
¡°He¡¯s my friend. There¡¯s no need for loyalty, we were always going to help each other!¡±
¡°Were you? Were you really? While you were freaking out over what his goddess and king were doing to him and the way he was acting?¡± Kayla scoffed, then shook her head in exasperation. ¡°Frankly, you got ridiculously lucky. If it weren¡¯t for Blake¡¯s little accident, he probably would have fought you at the mere suggestion from his king or goddess. Really, it probably wouldn¡¯t have taken much, would it Blake? Did it feel nice to be brainwashed? Did it feel like you were doing something useful with your life?¡±
¡°I ¡ª¡± Blake clearly wanted to protest, but the paleness of his face and thin sheen of sweat all suggested Rowan¡¯s best friend was about to have a panic attack.
¡°That all compounded along with the general distrust and fear they had of heroes from the start. Turns out, historically, when you kidnap someone and shove them into a war, they don¡¯t tend out to develop into the most stable of individuals.¡± The saccharine cheeriness of Kayla¡¯s voice was revealing a dark undertone.
¡°We did hear some stories of atrocities heroes of the past committed,¡± Rowan admitted, suddenly uncomfortable with the subject.
¡°Oh, yes, ¡®atrocities¡¯ is right. The power you need to accumulate to kill a demon king isn¡¯t a small thing. Heroes would war, suffer, and then find themselves unable to cope. Most went back to their worlds to chase after normalcy. Some, though, end up so warped they don¡¯t want to or don¡¯t feel like they can leave. Those almost always cause widespread devastation.¡±
¡°There¡¯s not that many stories,¡± The princess protested weakly again. ¡°My father wouldn¡¯t only use those to make a decision. You can trust him.¡±
For the first time, Rowan noticed how woodenly she was talking. She didn¡¯t exactly have a vacant look in her eyes, but it was like someone, or something, was forcing the words out of her mouth.
¡°I was wondering, you know,¡± Kayla said conversationally, rounding on the girl. ¡°But now that I see you up close, yep, I¡¯m certain. He really did curse his own daughter, didn¡¯t he? Huh. Or he had you cursed, I guess. Cursing isn¡¯t exactly something a king does personally.¡±
¡°I am not cursed, and I am not saying any of this against my own will.¡± The princess¡¯s voice went even more bland, and Rowan fought down the urge to interrupt what was going on. Blake had no such compunctions as he spun the princess around, taking her in with terrified eyes.
¡°He cursed you? Is that why you joined my party? Is that why¡ I mean, our¡. That night before we left¡¡± Blake was stumbling over his own words, looking more pale by the second.
Thankfully, his fianc¨¦e cut him off by diving into his embrace, squeezing her arms around him. ¡°No. No, that¡¯s me. That choice was all me,¡± she whispered, this time with actual emotion in her voice.
Blake slumped in relief, but he didn¡¯t really look any happier.
Rowan struggled to get the words out that would get their discussion back on track. ¡°So, he was worried we¡¯d get strong and then go off the rails?¡±
¡°Not just that, no¡¡± Kayla muttered, looking distracted. It took her a minute to tear her eyes away from Blake, and Rowan would swear he saw pain and a flash of regret on Kayla¡¯s face before the unbearable smugness made its return.
¡°What else is there, then?¡±
¡°Well, yes, he was worried we¡¯d try to go all ¡®social progress¡¯ on him over slaves, working conditions, treatment of lower classes, and stuff like that. You know, just typical hero stuff. Or that we¡¯d just go insane and become tyrants. But, he also wants more power and to secure the future of his kingdom, and if I have it right, that¡¯s the bigger thing.¡±
¡°Can someone finally stop dancing around the issue and finally tell me why killing us is such a big deal?¡± Rowan snapped, rather angrily.
¡°Because under the right conditions, with a hero card in hand, you can ascend to godhood.¡±
And isn¡¯t that one hell of a proclamation to make with a ridiculously calm expression? Rowan thought bitterly.
¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, it¡¯s obvious nothing less would make a king inclined to take stupid risks before the demons are gone. Those things have legendary cards, you know?¡±
¡°I know,¡± Rowan snapped on instincts, then shook his head. ¡°How?¡±
¡°Best I can tell, and my theory¡¯s been backed up by recent events, we don¡¯t have access to our full hero card effects. You noticed that in addition to the purple glow, our cards have golden rays of light around them?¡±
Nods came from both heroes, making Kayla grin.
¡°Well, that¡¯s a sign of divine tier. My best guess is because we were summoned here by gods, they can¡¯t prevent a piece of their divinity from sticking to us. What they can do, however, is lock it away behind requirements. Ridiculous requirements. I¡¯m still on four out of eight, even though there¡¯s only the final legendary demon and the demon king himself left to kill.¡±
¡°Really? I¡¯m only at three out of eight,¡± Blake muttered, confused.
¡°Well, then it seems like you need to catch up, lover boy.¡±
It was only Rowan¡¯s extremely heightened body awareness and control that let him prevent any outward signs of his surprise. Somehow, at five out of eight, he was ahead of his two peers.
Eyes turned towards him, obviously expecting his own progress report. ¡°Four of eight, as well.¡±
The words were delivered flawlessly, but he still caught the shadow of a frown on Kayla¡¯s face. He was really starting to hate the whole goddess of secrets blessing thing.
¡°So, what do you suppose happens when you hit all the requirements?¡± Milena asked, pure curiosity on her face.
¡°Well, the way I see it, our heart cards probably turn Divine,¡± Kayla shrugged, making a shudder pass through everyone in the tent.
A divine heart card. The ability to pass right through the tiers. All of them. Until, finally, you were made a true god yourself.
The sheer idea boggled Rowan¡¯s mind. Although¡
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be useless?¡± de Vort¡¯s question cut through the awkward mood, focusing everyone¡¯s attention on her. ¡°I mean, what kind of ridiculous stuff would you need to do to get enough experience to hit divine? Demonic invasions don¡¯t happen every day. You¡¯d die of long age long before getting enough experience.¡±
A hiss left Rowan¡¯s lips, and several other details finally fell into place. ¡°Unless demons are always around and trying to invade. Until you let them stick around until you¡¯re done grinding. Waiting before you kill the demon king.¡±
Kayla¡¯s grin was as good as a declaration that Rowan was right. ¡°That¡¯s how I see it too. Demons have a tendency to grow quickly, ridiculously fast. Research says they¡¯re strong from the start actually. It¡¯s only crossing over into our world that cripples them temporarily. The more they hang out here and the more people they kill, the more they get back their original abilities.¡±
¡°A whole lot of legendary enemies, served up to whoever wants to take the risk.¡± Blake wrapped up the conversation, looking as disgusted as everyone else.
¡°Well, that. Or these idiots get our heart cards, and then muck everything up by getting killed and demons swarm everything until dragons or other divines wipe them out.¡± Kayla shrugged, looking unconcerned. ¡°It¡¯s happened before.¡±
Rowan took a deep, calming breath. What Kayla was saying was fascinating. It was fascinating and terrifying and he didn¡¯t want to think about it. However, they had bigger things to worry about.
¡°Is everyone forgetting that a king is coming to kill us?¡± Rowan asked in exasperation, and judging by the reaction of everyone but Kayla, they really had forgotten. ¡°What do we do?¡±
¡°Well, obviously, I have a few ideas¡¡± Kayla¡¯s smile had lots of teeth, and for the first time, Rowan felt relieved she¡¯d chosen to reach out.
¡ª
Rowan was carefully monitoring his bond with Lucius, and the man¡¯s anxiety had been climbing ever higher since the meeting started.
At first, it was tinged with hope. However, the longer no one showed up to talk with him, the more the hope died. And then, finally, it winked out in a whirlwind of anguish and resignation.
Just in time for a massive magic circle to light up in the middle of the Mercenary King¡¯s section of the camp.
There were shouts, confusion, and even fear raging outside the tent. Interestingly enough, the emotions seemed to be prevalent even among Lucius¡¯s own troops, at least from what everyone could see on the scrying glass provided by Kayla.
Then the light of the circle reached a crescendo, and three figures formed out of the light of mana at the center of the ritual.
A grouchy tower master Kayla once answered to.
A warrior in gleaming armor that made Blake draw in a startled breath.
And the king himself, dressed for war and with blood staining parts of his armor.
Actually, on a second look, Rowan realized that all three of them showed some signs of combat. Kayla was right, then, when she suggested that the king was likely the one responsible for the death of the final legendary demon so he could boost the power of his assistants.
That most likely left them with three legendary tier humans about to try and kill them all.
The king finished forming out of light, then looked around himself curiously. His eyes alighted on Lucius, but before he could speak, a man confidently stepped forward.
¡°Greetings, your majesty. If it would please you, my lord, Hero Rowan, invited you to join them at the meeting.¡± Bron looked confident. In control. Rowan assumed that the man was anything but, judging by the near meltdown when he first heard that he was put in charge of greeting the king.
In spite of that, he¡¯d done an admirable job.
Admirable enough for the king to shoot him an indulgent smile, shake his head in exasperation, and then motion the scout to lead the way.
Things were official. They were about to meet the man set on murdering them.
Chapter 73: The Goal
The king sat in the chair he was offered, wry amusement still dancing in his eyes. This wasn¡¯t the man Rowan had met in the throne room, back when he was first summoned to his new and dangerous world.
That man was stern, focused, the kingdom personified, and cast out of granite.
This man was relaxed, irreverent, and full of easy self-confidence that filled a room and kept it on edge. Not because the person emanating it was obviously dangerous or threatening, but because they demanded attention. Because it felt natural to hang onto their every gesture, just in the hopes of fulfilling whatever need they might indicate.
Likewise, the man before him did not keep his power carefully leashed and ready to uncoil. It was spooling around him, like a well-worn, supremely comfortable cloak.
This was a man unwinding at the end of a long day filled with nothing but stress and anxiety.
Or rather, a king unwinding after he cornered the pesky little heroes that were causing trouble in his domain so he could slaughter them all and open up his path towards divinity.
¡°I have to say, out of everything I expected, it wasn¡¯t this,¡± the man mused, letting his eyes roam over the assembled hero parties. They paused longer on his daughter, pale, shivering and ready to pass out, but he didn¡¯t make any special note of her. ¡°How curious. How did you know I was coming?¡±
¡°Please, like you were very subtle about what you were planning to do,¡± Kayla said, dismissing the king.
In spite of that, Rowan felt a very, very faint pulse of fear from the woman. He licked his lips, trying his best to ignore both the newly formed bond and the feedback he was getting.
It did, however, reassure him that Kayla apparently had no way of stonewalling him completely, unlike Blake.
The other hero was still acting off, even if the revelations about the princess and her immediate reassurance that she wasn¡¯t forced into their relationship had done wonders to bring more life to his features.
¡°I do believe I was, yes. Why, even the man who betrayed me and refused to follow my plans did not share the details of them with his new ward. Isn¡¯t that so, Rowan?¡±
The king¡¯s eyes found Rowan, and the hero froze in spite of his best efforts. There was a vague, orange glow in the other man¡¯s eyes. A glow that made it feel like he was seeing right through the hero and into the depths of his heart, judging, piercing, searching for personal faults.
¡°My father? My father knew about this?¡± Olivia demanded, her voice more outraged than Rowan had ever heard it. Even the sudden attention of the king was not enough to make the alchemist back down. ¡°He would have said something. Done something.¡±
¡°And he did!¡± The king laughed, light and airy and frustratingly pleasantly. ¡°He took the hero he could, didn¡¯t he? As for doing more, no, I don¡¯t imagine he could. Not with the limits placed on him upon his refusal.¡±
Rowan¡¯s mind spun back to all the conversations he¡¯d had with the baron. All of the veiled references. All the refusals to pursue certain topics. His face twisted as he realized how much he¡¯d pushed the man for certain answers he simply could not give.
It was only after the group had gleaned or earned information elsewhere that the baron was really willing to discuss things and get involved, and even then, to a very limited extent.
¡°You cast our family low just because he didn¡¯t want to help you kill heroes? You promoted her family because they accepted?¡± Olivia pointed at the Treagon accusingly, making the girl shrink in on herself, eyes wide and shocked.
¡°Correct.¡± King Harold sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Your father was my best friend. My loyal Duke. The one I knew I could count on to support me. To suddenly be betrayed like that¡ It wasn¡¯t easy.¡±
Olivia¡¯s face twisted into something dark and ugly, but it surprisingly wasn¡¯t her who lashed out. ¡°Betrayal? Refusing to toy with the fate of the kingdom is not betrayal. The goal of all this, is it really worth risking so many? Sacrificing so many?¡± Blake growled out, eyes glowing with divine light.
For once, Rowan knew his friend wasn¡¯t being influenced. He knew that the anger and the vitriol were genuine. Especially since not a whisper of emotion passed through their link.
¡°You do not know what you¡¯re talking about, boy,¡± the king snapped, straightening for a second as his presence filled the room, threatening to crush everyone. Then, with a sigh, he settled back down and the aggression bled out of him.
¡°Then enlighten us. Why do all this? Why not just help us and send us away? You could have manipulated us into leaving. Forced us into leaving. Don¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t,¡± Rowan insisted, eyes fixed on the king.
¡°You are right. I could have. However, where would that leave us? Rebuilding a damaged army, trying to patch up the frontier, rushing to prepare for the future invasion before time runs out¡ No, that is no way to live. No way to guide a kingdom.¡± The king¡¯s voice was impassioned.
He looks crazy, look at that determination. What kind of heart card makes a man this deluded?
¡°And this will fix it? It will make all of that better?¡± Milena mocked, the beast folk¡¯s gaze narrowed and suspicious.
¡°You have no right to accuse me of anything, northerner.¡± The king¡¯s voice went flat as he turned to Milena. ¡°Your people hide away, safe away from all major conflicts. When¡¯s the last time your armies bled against demons? When were your numbers last decimated?¡±
¡°Before or after the most recent conflict with humans?¡± Milena mused, making the king¡¯s face twist in displeasure. ¡°We bleed, when our neighbors say we must. Your plight isn¡¯t unique. If you weren¡¯t fighting demons, you¡¯d be fighting each other. The tribes have seen it. Our history goes back far further than you¡¯re making it out to.¡±
When he spoke next, the king¡¯s voice was decidedly smug. ¡°Oh, that will stop too, I assure you. When we grow far enough from the slaughter of demons, we will sniff them out. Who will be left to challenge us then? The other kingdoms? Our so-called neighbors, who refuse to send armies, supplies, or any form or assistance? Those circling to devour the carcass of my kingdom?¡±
The man paused, taking a deep breath. ¡°No. Things end here. With you. You will die, and the cycle will go with you. With the kind of power we will wield, with that kind of lifespan, heroes won¡¯t matter. Other gods won¡¯t matter. They¡¯re stuck in their heavens, only able to watch! They can¡¯t do a thing.¡±
The surety of the man was startling enough to make Rowan almost believe the nonsense he was spouting. If he hadn¡¯t seen the way commoners were treated, the way the kingdom was content to sit and let the lower classes suffer, the way the baron was demoted for saying no¡
Well, he might have believed it.
¡°And who¡¯s going to join you in your ascent, hm?¡± Kayla mocked, eyes drifting between the trio. ¡°Three heroes, three cards, three potential chances to earn apotheosis. My master and the head of your knights will become divinities too?¡±
The expressions of the people named were something between avarice and caution. Their glances at the king, full of fear and anxiety, were also rather telling. His silence was too.
The king finally turned to regard the heroine in a way that reminded Rowan of a rather unpleasant looking animal sizing up prey. Before he could respond, Kayla twisted the knife. ¡°Or are you going to keep them stuck at the legendary tier, and take all the power for yourself?¡±
¡°You were amusing.¡± The man sighed, like he was genuinely sorry. ¡°And then you started spouting venom. Truly, I hoped that you would die during your test at the start of our acquaintance. That goddess of yours¡ so very troublesome. More so than the patrons of your friends, even.¡±
¡°You do know you will be antagonizing the gods too?¡± Blake asked conversationally, but the king laughed.
¡°I do indeed. Nothing for you to worry about, however. It¡¯s time for you to die, I¡¯m afraid.¡± The man reached for his sword, and Rowan tensed.
Then the dome of darkness sprang up around them, cutting off the outside world.
It was time to see if their plan would actually work.
Lucius had done as he was ordered.
He tagged along with the heroes, an artifact capable of transmitting his location in hand the entire time. He¡¯d triggered the artifact the second he knew that the third hero was planning to join up with the rest, and then again when she finally arrived. Finally, he¡¯d organized the few men he knew he could trust with his life to set up the ritual circle.
All the while hoping, praying to whatever deity was out there and willing to hear him out, that Rowan had caught on. That the hero had used their link to full advantage, and accepted his presence in the expedition solely as a means of monitoring and catching the Mercenary King in the act.
Then the summoning started, his emotions reached a crescendo, and the heroes did nothing at all to stop him.
Lucius¡¯s hands were shaking, at that point, almost to the point of uselessness.
The emotions that built up in his chest were too much.
He¡¯d finally met someone he believed he could trust. Someone he saw as worthy of following one day. A young, earnest hero, looking to make a difference in the world. And his contracts completely prevented him from providing any aid, instead driving him to harm the man.
There was nothing to be done about it. No way to alter the contracts, to step out on his own. He¡¯d signed away his free will knowingly, all to spare the people who followed him from a swift execution for the cheek of him accepting a class like [Mercenary King].
An affront to nobility.
So, as the king patted his shoulder and instructed him to round up the hero¡¯s troops and bring them to heel, as Lucius¡¯s body started shaking even harder, there was nothing he could do.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
He could only shout out orders for his men, grasp hold of his sword, and start heading out of his camp.
¡°Going something, at this time of day?¡± Tamara¡¯s voice was silky and smooth, and one of the sounds he loathed most in the world.
¡°Tamara.¡± The name was a mangled snarl, more than making his feelings on the subject clear. Lucius was in no mood for small talk. ¡°I suppose you won¡¯t come quietly, will you? And that you somehow know? No matter, this will be the one kill today I¡¯ll actually enjoy.¡±
Lucius took a deep breath to shed all the stress and tremors, grasped the hilt of his sword as he reached for his shield, pulled it out, and took a stance, right there in the middle of the camp. Or he tried to.
Instead, the Mercenary King watched with wide eyes as the blade slipped past numb fingers that were barely twitching even when he tried to close his fist. ¡°What is this?¡± is what the large man meant to say, but the sounds that came out of his mouth were garbled white noise.
¡°Really. Did you think my lady wouldn¡¯t know? That a mage of her talent and caliber wouldn¡¯t account for you in her plans?¡± the deranged magus laughed, loud and shrill, as she let her levitation magic drop.
Lucius was locked in place, every muscle quivering in an attempt to do something as the woman drew near. She raised her arm slowly with a taunting smile on her face, taking her time and safe in the knowledge that he was helpless.
His soldiers around them were starting to stir, to whisper and protest what happening, but none of them dared step forward. None of them were, rightly, crazy enough to charge an epic tier mage confident enough to stroll through their camp and apparently capable of immobilizing their leader.
¡°No, you big dumb lump of muscles, my lady is much greater than that. She is the beacon of truth, the gift of our goddess, the purveyor of secrets that slip past any set of lips. She is the one who is going to guide us back to the greatness we deserve and destroy those fools in their towers,¡± Tamara said.
Fanaticism. Plain, rabid fanaticism. Even when control of his body had been snatched from him, Lucius hadn¡¯t been afraid. After all, that meant that he couldn¡¯t follow orders. Couldn¡¯t make things a bit easier for the king.
Now, though, Lucius was afraid.
As figures in cowls stepped out of seemingly nowhere, emerging from all around the main tent, then thrust their hands up into the sky, heralding the appearance of a dark, churning dome, that fear only grew.
He¡¯d heard stories, of course. Stories about cultists that served the goddess of secrets alongside her priests, willing to throw all semblance of true life away to become one of her Secrets. An order with stealth abilities so profound they bordered on divine. Or heretical, depending on who you asked.
The fact that he¡¯d never once associated any of the events in Rest¡¯s Remorse with them galled him, especially when all the unexplained things that happened over the years began to float to the top of his mind.
Of course, this also brought along a certain symbol that had recently been retrieved within the city. An eye, rays of sunlight that formed lashes, and a crown hovering at the top.
A symbol and insignia, which now that he thought about things, bore a striking resemblance to another.
An eye behind a veil, with two hands coming up to cover the eye, yet still left enough space to peek through. The symbol of the goddess of secrets.
The Mercenary King tried to gurgle out a question, or perhaps a plea, eyes flicking to the tent and the heroes that he knew were within it, heroes he couldn¡¯t even see with the barrier in the way.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lucius. We won¡¯t hurt you, or your people. The troublemakers are already being dealt with. Non-lethally, of course! So, why don¡¯t you take a little nap?¡±
The Mercenary King couldn¡¯t utter a single word as the world narrowed to a single pinprick of light, then winked out completely.
Once again, Rowan was immensely grateful for his enhanced stats. Even with the difference in tiers, they let him process in a fraction of a second all the different reactions of the king as the barrier went up around them.
Amusement, incredulity, then anger. ¡°What is this? This is impossible! The only ones who could ¡ª¡±
The man¡¯s tirade was cut short when a dagger whipped past his head, the blade was angled right, and then swiftly drawn over his throat.
Wet gurgles escaped the king as blood erupted from the wound in unnatural amounts, soaking the table and the entire front of the man¡¯s armor.
The Tower Master and Head Knight reacted instantly, spell and blade drawn and readied in a fraction of a second.
Neither could do much when the man who attacked their king seemingly phased out of existence.
¡°Find him!¡± the king¡¯s knight snapped, closing the distance to his king and reaching out to try and steady him somehow. ¡°He can¡¯t have ¡ª¡±
The man reappeared, or rather came into focus, slotting into reality like he¡¯d always been there and Rowan¡¯s eyes were simply refusing to process his presence. His dagger whipped forward once again, but before it could do much, a gauntlet gripped his wrist and squeezed.
The assassin gasped in shock or pain, Rowan couldn¡¯t tell, before the former won out when he looked down into the angry eyes of the half-kneeling king.
The king wrenched him forward and drove a fist into his stomach, doubling over the assassin and giving the Tower Master and Head Knight enough time to strike.
Except a moment later they were blinking in confusion, attacks readied to hit yet incapable of even remembering who their target was. The king seemed to have the same issue, frowning as he loosened the fingers grasping at empty air, then howled in pain as another shower of blood bathed the room, this time from the dagger dug deep into the side of his neck, right into an artery.
The assassin faded away and dodged the strike entirely, but Rowan wasn¡¯t feeling particularly good about their situation because the king was still moving like he¡¯d never been hurt to begin with.
Rowan couldn¡¯t even catch sight of his wound healing. One second it was there, spurting blood. The next it was gone, sealed over, and the only sign of it left was all the scarlet liquid all over the place.
Another eruption of blood. Another snarl of pain. Mounting panic on the faces of the kingdom¡¯s representatives. All of these things were details Rowan was extremely grateful his stats let him catch.
So, he couldn¡¯t have missed it if he¡¯d tried when vicious desperation entered the eyes of Amanda¡¯s father.
¡°Filthy infiltrators. You think you can slip into my kingdom from that bitch¡¯s lands? That you can toy with me?¡± The king was snarling, red, frothy liquid spilling between his lips from all the wounds he was taking. ¡°I know who brought you here.¡±
The heroes and their retinue had backed off towards the opposite side of the tent, setting up as many barriers and precautions against retaliation as they could. A decent number of the wards were preset too, boosted by as much mana as they could put into them.
They should have been enough.
However, things were hardly going to plan.
Kayla had strutted in, promised them to turn an ambush into a counter, and introduced a legendary assassin from her goddess¡¯s order. One whose skills and poison would be enough to instantly take out the king at the very start of combat.
The rest of the process was supposed to be a simple mop up of a panicked mage and a distraught knight.
She¡¯d even demanded that Rowan make her his final [Knight], apparently unaware of how the other hero¡¯s card worked exactly but knowing that it would provide some kind of security to her.
The same link that now let Rowan know exactly how terrified out of her mind the heroine was as she became the sole focus of an enraged, undying king.
Rowan had to admit, he really didn¡¯t like it when the shoe was on the other foot.
The king lurched towards Kayla, suddenly having to deal with dozens of wounds that ranged from deadly to crippling as the assassin upped his game. Rowan could even spot sprays of black, diseased blood, and whole sections of the king¡¯s body that sloughed away, only to be replaced less than a second later with unblemished flesh.
That was to say, the king was making progress, slow and steady, and their assassin was floundering.
Freed up by the increased attack speed of the assassin, the Tower Master and Head Knight were cutting loose too. Most of their attacks missed entirely, and some even hit the ruler of their nation, but they didn¡¯t seem to care.
Their attention was focused solely on taking out the boogeyman before he could take them out himself.
¡°Stop the bastard!¡± It was all Rowan could say to rally the others as he rushed forward, blocking the king¡¯s path himself.
The man snarled at the hero, striking out. His arm was hamstrung no less than five times in that one motion, robbing his blow of most of its strength. Even then, when the strike landed on Rowan¡¯s spear, it almost drove him to his knees.
Instinctively, even as he stumbled to the side, Rowan lashed out. There were enough holes in the man¡¯s armor now that it was harder to find an intact piece of medal, and when the tip of Rowan¡¯s spear slipped into the king¡¯s skin, Rowan was almost shocked. He had been aiming at the king¡¯s heart, and the man hadn¡¯t stopped him.
Almost as shocked as the king himself was when the blow to his chest sank deep into his flesh, sending a torrent of blood spinning out of his body and into the hero. He ripped the weapon away, gripping it to stop the weasel from slipping away, then struck.
Rowan couldn¡¯t react quickly enough. With the king being dissected by the assassin, his dexterity was enough to let him keep up. However, the second the man¡¯s blood had washed over his spear and up Rowan¡¯s arm, he froze up.
Because the power within it was intoxicating.
As Marcus jumped in front of him, taking the blow on his shield, and Blake joined the fray, hacking at the king¡¯s arm in an effort to force him to release Rowan, the Stalwart Hero himself could only hear the echo of his card¡¯s voice: more.
He was ready to oblige.
The battle turned into a whirlwind of chaos, of barely dodged blows and razor-sharp focus. In the middle of that, Rowan and the king looked like they were having an entirely different battle altogether.
The king was tearing into everyone who dared come close with impunity, taking all the punishment that came down on him in return as barely an afterthought, and painting the room with more blood than ten elephants should have combined.
Rowan, too, was taking damage. The king was not unskilled enough for the hero to avoid that, but most of the wounds came from taking a blow meant for one of the others, or even charging into strikes on purpose just to open up the king to more attacks.
Unlike the king, however, Rowan wasn¡¯t loosing blood.
His card¡¯s voracity grew with every wound he inflicted, and as more and more power was sent thrumming through the hero¡¯s system, the card¡¯s ability to control blood grew.
Ribbons of the stuff were sent splashing out of Rowan¡¯s body, only for them to come curling back around, seeping right through his skin again.
And as that happened, Rowan could feel the power build. He could feel it reaching some kind of threshold, and then¡
Perception +1
Vitality +1
Strength +1
The notifications started very slowly rolling in, his card yanking the power of the king directly into Rowan¡¯s bloodstream.
The man seemed to notice it, too, when his eyes focused on Rowan briefly with burning hate.
With the scream of an animal, the king burst into motion several times faster than before. His sword carved up his enemies faster than the saintess could heal them up, and then he pushed off towards the mages trying to build up their spells.
Straight towards Kayla.
Rowan didn¡¯t know why he did what he did next. He didn¡¯t know what made him press on the power of his card, making it burn through all the power currently stored within his body.
The boost, no matter how wasteful, did let him react.
Rowan practically teleported right in front of the sword set to skewer Kayla, taking the blade right through his heart.
The blow savaged his insides, and even Rowan¡¯s regeneration card stuttered briefly before it kicked into gear again.
The blow did not, however, prevent him from retaliating.
Rowan¡¯s spear effortlessly punched through the king¡¯s chest and right out his back almost at the exact second Rowan took the man¡¯s sword, and both fighters froze for just a moment as their eyes locked.
Then the flood of blood burst from the king.
The rule of Rowan¡¯s Scarlet Envy was simple: the more grievous the damage, the more energy invested into the blow, the more mana fed into the card, the bigger the bleed effect.
And the bleed effect was, on this occasion, quite considerable.
The world around Rowan was washed away in the red tide. The power thrumming in the blood, the vivid scarlet color, the smell of copper that was oddly alluring, they all superimposed on each other, captivating the hero and pushing him to drive every dreg of his mana, even as it regenerated, into Scarlet Envy.
So he did.
The space around the two became a sphere of churning, roiling blood, where nothing else mattered other than the scarlet liquid.
Rowan¡¯s card desired the blood, and he sought to provide.
The king desperately pushed at his own regeneration card, looking to overwhelm the hero¡¯s capacity before it was too late.
Rowan couldn¡¯t hear, or see, or even perceive anything beyond the blood. Beyond the need to keep it coming, not even the sword that had become encased in his own flesh.
He couldn¡¯t see the sight of the assassin backing off, then going for the knight first. Couldn¡¯t see Kayla, vindictive joy on her face, as she drove the most powerful spell she could manage into her master¡¯s back.
He couldn¡¯t see the concern on his friend¡¯s faces, the panicked shouts, as the expression of sheer power building between the king and the hero drove them back.
He couldn¡¯t because Rowan was drowning. Even then, he refused to sink before the King expired first. Mind caught in a daze of focus, the Stalwart Hero stubbornly held on.
Chapter 74: Unified Objective
The passing of a legend was a powerful, complicated thing.
The last time, Rowan had been a bit too busy dealing with his own problems to feel anything. This time, Rowan got to feel the full impact even though he was gasping for breath and still reeling from the impacts of his deck.
The second the man¡¯s will broke and life drained fully out of the king¡¯s body, the world shuddered. Something out there was fundamentally altered. Ripped away, forever.
Even with all that the man had cost him, with all that his presence and actions meant for Rowan and his allies, a sense of profound sadness took root in his very soul, made all the worse by the fact that it was his hand that had taken the legend¡¯s life.
He did not, however, feel even a hint of remorse.
No, the only thing that Rowan could muster was a profound sense of relief when the flood of blood finally stopped sinking into his skin. No longer supported by the voraciousness of his skill, Rowan toppled on top of the desiccated corpse, just focusing on trying to breathe.
With the demon, the energy that had come in was torn to shreds, tamed, and then forcefully assimilated. Looking back on the process now, especially with a different point of comparison, Rowan realized that the blood had affected him. He very nearly lost his mind, the literal thirst for blood overwhelming him.
With the king, there was no need for such complicated absorption processes. The blood was torn out of the man¡¯s body, and its power was shoved right into Rowan¡¯s.
Rowan felt bloated. He felt like another drop of blood would send him over some kind of edge he wouldn¡¯t recover from.
And then his Natural Renewal triggered.
Rowan spasmed, resisting a scream only by the virtue of the fact that his muscles were too stiff to release it. Scarlet Envy and Natural Renewal were both powerful, essential cards in his deck.
One worked subtly, in the background, always a reliable presence that barely even made itself known. The other was controlling, demanding, and he couldn¡¯t miss the impulses it sent at him if he tried.
And now the two were caught in outright war, with his body as the battlefield.
Scarlet Envy had earned itself a bounty of blood and power, and it refused to relinquish its prize. Natural Renewal saw the power for the poison that it was, and fought to purge it through any means necessary.
Both cards reached out at once, laying their claim to the well of power Rowan had sundered from the king¡¯s body, and anything caught in their game of tug suffered. That anything just so happened to be Rowan¡¯s entire soul and body.
And it was both, Rowan could feel it.
The physical pain was just one portion of the agony he was suffering. His soul, his deck, or pretty much every part of him, was under just as much pressure. Pressure that made it hard for him to think, to focus, to do anything.
Vaguely, Rowan was aware of the voices shouting his name. He might have even felt a hint of the hands gripping him, turning him onto his side. And vaguely, he heard angry words exchanged about blood and choking and potions and danger.
None of that mattered to him.
Then the words popped up in front of him.
|
Error!
Safety margins exceeded!
Card use exceeds intended parameters!
Querying database for past precedence on direct intervention¡
Divine influence detected!
Loading solution¡
|
Briefly, Rowan felt relief. Letters formed around the presence of the two cards, and they faltered. Hope sprung forth.
Then Rowan¡¯s heart card erupted into a halo of purple-golden light, and the pain surged back even more intensely.
|
Divine influence detected!
Cards limiters failed!
|
For a moment, Rowan¡¯s world was nothing but pain. The power inside of him pulsed, struggling to both worm its way into his body and to surge out of his body as orange-colored vapor.
|
System intervention failed!
Initiating contact with administrator¡
Attempt failed!
Loading procedural guidelines¡
Attempt failed!
No procedural guidelines found!
? ?? ?????, ??????.
|
If he could have, Rowan would have whimpered. Right there, plain as day, his death sentence was declared.
They had won, they did the impossible. They made a plan, well, Kayla made a plan, and Rowan was the one who stepped in to save the day. They all served their part. They exceeded expectations. They managed to kill people so far above them that they should have been pancaked a couple of hours ago.
And he was going to die just because his card got too greedy.
That, if anything, was finally enough to snap Rowan out of the pain, the suffering, and the fear. Ascribing emotions to his cards was one thing. Clearly, they carried some level of awareness. Some level of agency, too.
However, it was ultimately he who decided to fully engage the card. He who had clung to every scrap of power he could so he¡¯d hold out until the moment when Harold finally drew his last breath. He wasn¡¯t about to foist responsibility for that on anyone, least of all the card that had saved his life.
Of course, with that realization also came the one about what he had to do.
Trying to separate himself from what his entire being was going through was impossible. So, Rowan didn¡¯t. He embraced the pain, both of his body and his soul, and he dove right into it.
Right into the conflict which drove his cards to clash and rend his body apart to begin with.
Rowan had never tried such a thing before. Never felt his cards quite as closely as he did at that particular moment. His perception went past the illusion of cards, straight to the bundle of energy that made them up.
Energy trapped, leashed, and bound around the tiniest fragment of soul stuff, just enough of it to be more than a simple object, just enough for the ¡®card¡¯ to continue performing a skill it once knew in life.
Rowan reached out for his two struggling cards, and then, like he would do to children, sternly asked them to play nice, please and thank you.
To the Stalwart Hero¡¯s shock, it worked.
The two forced tearing him apart paused, glared at one another, and started working together.
|
Error!
Card balance achieved!
Loading prior solution¡
|
Things jolted, then started flowing together even more smoothly. Natural Renewal pushed the energy towards Rowan¡¯s soul, and Scarlet Envy happily gobbled it up, integrating it there.
The orange energy made Rowan¡¯s soul swell as it was concentrated there, but some massive presence, far beyond anything Rowan had ever felt, divinity included, reached out and poked the core of his being.
The nudge was slight, but it sent countless ripples over the sphere of Rowan¡¯s soul, ripples that made integrating the orange energy ridiculously easy. Rowan wasn¡¯t sure how long that continued. He watched, transfixed, until that vast presence gently pulled away.
He did know, however, that he was tired. Beyond tired, really.
With one final weary sigh, his whole being basking in a sense of relief, the Stalwart Hero passed out.
¡ª
Consciousness came back to Rowan in very slow increments.
The first thing that he truly felt was the slow, gentle rocking underneath him, and some kind of rough cloth that covered his body. It reminded Rowan of the one time he¡¯d used a hammock, or of stepping onto a boat.
That was enough to send a jolt through his consciousness that fought to bring him back to the surface, but it didn¡¯t really help speed things along.
The next thing he became aware of was the steady squelching sound from all around him. That threw him for a loop, but when he finally forced blurry eyes open, they landed on a pair of boots that was steadily making its way through mud.
Marching. He was in the middle of a marching army.
That was plenty reassuring on its own. If they still had an army that could march, then it was likely that the rest of their plan, past the disastrous beginning of it, had gone well enough.
Rowan tried to call out, but even opening his mouth made him aware of how dry and cracked it felt, sending him into a coughing fit that immediately provoked shouting and calls for help.
Then a familiar pair of hands was there, cupping his face and forcing him to look up. He gazed lovingly into his fianc¨¦e¡¯s eyes, at least until she proceeded to stuff a potion bottle into his mouth.
Rowan¡¯s first instinctive reaction was to gag and try to get away, but the second the sweet liquid touched his tongue, he could think of nothing but getting more of it into his system. He drank deeply, refusing to even come up for air until the entire bottle was gone, then mumbled a request for more.
Olivia obliged him the first time, but bopped his nose when he asked for more still. ¡°That¡¯s a potion, you dummy.¡± Her voice was relieved, but fragile. ¡°It¡¯s meant to help your body replenish missing nutrients and liquids. That one packed an equivalent to eating five feasts and chugging gallons of water, all in a single bottle. And you¡¯ve already had two.¡±
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Rowan grumbled, but grabbed her hand and collapsed deeper his back, relieved and breathing easier. The feeling of having a desert in his mouth had fled as well, leaving him feeling fatigued and oddly wrung out, but fine enough.
It was only then that he realized how much his card had spoiled him. Somehow, over the course of just several months, he¡¯d gotten used to the feeling of perfect health. Especially since his acquisition of Natural Renewal and the way that card seemed to soothe even the most remote corner of his soul.
That fact that he could even feel as ¡®bad¡¯ as he currently did was vaguely alarming in that sense.
¡°What happened? Where are we?¡± Rowan asked softly as he took a second to look around himself. Other than the vague withering jungle look of the wastes, he could not figure out where they¡¯d taken him at all.
It was, however, interesting to note that he was apparently on a stretcher, and that they¡¯d laid him on the ground when he finally started showing signs of being awake.
¡°Well, after that stunt you pulled with the king, the battle wrapped up rather quickly,¡± Olivia said, shifting slightly so she wasn¡¯t kneeling next to him in an awkward position. ¡°The other two really weren¡¯t much of a threat, not with that Cartian assassin there to assist us.¡±
The woman¡¯s expression was still sour, and Rowan was brought back to the moment when Kayla had revealed that she was in contact with the kingdom dedicated to the Goddess of Secrets. It wasn¡¯t pretty, especially the reactions of the nobles in their midst, but then again, that sort of thing was easy to overlook when you had your own king gunning for your head.
¡°What about the army? Did they manage to stop Lucius from doing whatever that asshole of a king was forcing him into?¡± The question wasn¡¯t as dire as it would have been if there wasn¡¯t a sea of soldiers around them, but the fact that they still had an army didn¡¯t really tell Rowan how much of said army was left.
¡°Apparently, their half of the plan went off without a hitch. The poison they slipped to the Mercenary King worked flawlessly, and the dosage was perfect. Actually, he woke up just before you. He¡¯s at the head of the army with the rest, helping us march faster and eliminate threats. They should be here soon, actually.¡±
As if that were their cue, the army parted ahead of them, revealing the worried faces of Rowan¡¯s friends and allies as they made their way over.
In the lead was Lucius himself, face forlorn and wrinkled with worry. ¡°It is an immense relief that you are finally awake, my lord,¡± the big man whispered, falling to his knees right there in the mud. ¡°You can now leverage whatever punishment against me that you please. The only thing I ask is that you spare my troops.¡±
Rowan genuinely didn¡¯t know what to say to that for a solid few minutes. The only thing that finally prompted him to speak was the growing tenseness of the kneeling man¡¯s shoulders.
¡°Please stand, Lucius. And I do think I¡¯ve asked you to call me Rowan before, so you can start there with your ¡®punishment.¡¯¡± The Stalwart Hero took a deep breath, waiting for Lucius to follow his directions. ¡°Now, as far as I¡¯m concerned, that¡¯s the end of that.¡±
¡°But, my ¡ª I mean, Rowan, I ¡ª¡±
A raised hand forestalled further arguments as Rowan slowly struggled to his feet. Olivia protested at first, but she helped him up when she saw that he was serious, and Blake rushed up to do the same, shooting Rowan a relieved smile.
When he was finally up and feeling only slightly woozy, Rowan met the Mercenary King¡¯s eyes. ¡°Listen, Lucius, I know none of that was your choice. I know that you were forced to betray us. You wouldn¡¯t have tried to warn us, such as you could, otherwise. So, I refuse to punish a man who was so obviously pained by what others were forcing him to do.¡±
¡°Well said,¡± Blake beamed, clapping a hand on Rowan¡¯s shoulder and earning himself a warning hiss from Olivia.
Lucius himself was silent, but Rowan almost swore that when the big man nodded at him, there were flashes of tears in his eyes.
¡°Oh, enough with the sappy shit,¡± Kayla crowed, thoroughly ruining the moment with her cocky grin. If he couldn¡¯t sense a deep well of envy and discomfort through their link, Rowan would have felt far more upset. ¡°We need to keep going. You do feel good enough for that, right?¡±
Rowan took a shaky step forward, but when his body cooperated and kept him upright, he nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll manage.¡±
¡°Good. We can talk as we march. We need to wrap this up quickly and take care of the more important problems,¡± Kayla said.
Olivia tensed at the woman¡¯s reminder, expression getting guarded. It was enough to make Rowan desperate for context that would make her react like that.
¡°What actually happened while I was out?¡±
The more Rowan walked, the more his body shed its sleep, and the better he felt. By the time they made it to the front of the army and called for the march to continue, he felt practically good as new. The only thing that lingered was a vague sense of being stretched a bit too far, deep in his core.
¡°It¡¯s more of what was happening when the king got word of us setting off and launched all his plans at once,¡± Kayla grumbled, her steps growing more aggressive in response to her agitated mood. ¡°There¡¯s war. Well, civil war? Or there was supposed to be one.¡±
¡°I hope you understand that you¡¯re making absolutely no sense!¡± Rowan snapped, the mere idea of what such a thing might mean for the baron making his gut churn.
¡°Relax, you worry wart. Your precious baron family is just fine. Well, most of them, anyway. I did make some moves to protect your lady love¡¯s brother, but you¡¯ll understand when I say he wasn¡¯t strictly a priority, right?¡±
Growing frustrated with the woman, Rowan instead turned to Olivia, knowing she¡¯d have grilled Kayla for whatever she was worth at the first sign of trouble coming after her family.
¡°My brother¡¯s stuck in the capital, as you might know. That¡¯s where all the danger is. My parents are still in Rest¡¯s Remorse, and the king¡¯s army was dispatched to first encircle the barony and wait for his orders before either razing it to the ground or extracting my father¡¯s surrender. The same thing is happening to all the nobles that refused to follow the king¡¯s orders. Surrounded, and waiting for his royal majesty to swoop in as a prospective divinity and lay down the new rules,¡± Olivia explained.
¡°So, they¡¯re not in any immediate danger?¡± Rowan sought to clarify.
¡°My brother might be. If the king¡¯s agents have him. But she,¡± Olivia angrily motioned towards the smug heroine, ¡°assures me that my brother¡¯s been in collusion with Cartian agents that have been trying to cause an insurrection for a while, and that they¡¯ll protect him. For what good her word is.¡±
¡°Hey, I¡¯ll have you know you¡¯re talking to the brand new Duchess of the Kingdom of Cartian, Her Holiness the Saintess! My goddess is a big deal over there. They contacted me the first moment I had to myself after being welcomed to this world.¡±
Kayla¡¯s words were dripping with smugness, and Rowan really didn¡¯t like the way satisfaction was radiating off of Tamara who was following a step behind the heroine at all times.
¡°I see you even have your first loyal follower,¡± Rowan said, eyes set on the exiled mage who winced but then met his gaze with no remorse.
¡°Hardly the first. No, that distinction belongs to the Deputy Tower Master of the Rhys Kingdom. Turns out, when the whole system is built on the basis of keeping mages under strict management and control, it¡¯s easy to undermine an organization. Only the Tower Master was allowed basic liberties, like, you know, even leveling up to epic.¡±
Rowan noted, from the corner of his eye, that Blake and his party were looking distinctly uncomfortable. Curiously, the princess looked relatively well. She stood proudly next to Blake, and didn¡¯t look the slightest bit like someone who¡¯d just watched her father be drained into an exsanguinated corpse.
¡°Guess you¡¯re the highest-ranked person around here now. Congratulations.¡± Rowan¡¯s voice communicated exactly how indifferent he felt about the topic, but Kayla preened regardless.
At least she did until the princess herself spoke up, sounding just as smug as the heroine. ¡°Actually, she isn¡¯t. That honor would go to Blake.¡±
Rowan immediately arched an eyebrow at the other hero, who flushed and looked away.
¡°Apparently, ah, as Amanda¡¯s future husband, I¡¯m second in line to the throne?¡± Blake asked.
¡°We¡¯ll make you the first,¡± the princess spoke with iron in her voice, eyes flashing dangerously. ¡°My brother may be heir apparent, but he¡¯s barely at the epic tier, and practically nothing in a fight. The kingdom needs a strong ruler to weather what¡¯s coming for us. On that subject¡ I¡¯d ask that you check out your rewards from this last battle, please.¡±
The princess was clearly directing her words towards Rowan there at the end, making him furrow his brow in confusion. The rewards, whatever they might be, were party wide. There was no reason to consult him in particular.
When he shot his party members a questioning look, he was met by wry smiles.
¡°Look, my friend, we¡¯re not going to steal loot that clearly belongs to you. That regeneration card the king had¡ he was going to slaughter all of us, eventually. He wasn¡¯t as directly deadly as the assassin, but that guy was already in a bad way with how fragile he was. He had to retreat back to Cartian for treatment post battle. Whatever you did, it saved all our lives,¡± Marcus explained when no one else did.
Rowan finally dove into his system to check things out. And then promptly froze.
There, just to the right of his class, was a big, fat, 78. Somehow, while he wasn¡¯t looking, he¡¯d jumped almost to the very peak of the epic tier. Two levels were all that separated him from the next level up and the potential to become a legend himself.
Even as he watched, the experience counter ticked up. It was a negligent amount, just a couple thousand experiences which was a drop in the bucket at that point, but it was there. A quick glance around revealed that every one of his [Knights] were accounted for, and most definitely not in combat.
That left one final option, prompting the Stalwart Hero to dive deep into his deck in search of the Knight Designation links.
He didn¡¯t think he could have done such a thing before killing the king, but the experience had left Rowan keenly aware of himself and his power. That made it easy to track down all the solid links that made up the connection between himself and his knights.
As well the four, weak tethers that connected him to someone else.
Bron¡¯s gambit must have worked, Rowan thought excitedly, though the emotion dimmed somewhat when he chased those links to their other end.
The hero couldn¡¯t explain how he knew, but his instincts, or his card perhaps, clearly told him that the new, second generation knights did not have the ability to [Knight] others. The explanation came naturally to him: they could only pick cards from Bron¡¯s deck, and while he could use it, Knight Designation wasn¡¯t his.
Rowan moved past the disappointment easily, attention drifting instead to the loot notification blinking in his status window.
The window unfurled, and the two cards that were revealed took Rowan¡¯s breath away.
|
[Heart] Founding King (Legendary, Passive)
You are the parent of a nation, and all shall exalt you for it.
|
|
Eidolon Body (Legendary, Passive)
Your body is the peak of Perfection, and it seeks to maintain that balance.
|
Rowan¡¯s breathing picked up, eyes fully focused on the second card. The reaction of Natural Renewal within his deck was visceral. It felt like the epic consciousness of the card was bowing down to its clear superior.
Instantly, Rowan claimed that card, and the rest of his party members denied rolling for it just as quickly.
The Stalwart Hero didn¡¯t exactly rip his former lifeline out of his deck, but it was close. The moment he did, a wave of weakness and wariness swept through him. His body, in no uncertain terms, let him know that it was on the verge of breaking.
The only thing that was holding him together were the passive effects of his regeneration card. With it gone, all its work was starting to unravel. Before the Legendary card could react, Rowan gripped it and willed it away into his deck.
And Rowan was whole again.
No, he wasn¡¯t whole. He was better than whole. Cracking sounds rang out into the jungle around him as his body squirmed, flesh and bones altering themselves, shifting in ways that optimized his build.
Rowan wasn¡¯t hideous. Before the fight, he had been in the best shape of his life, complete with a six-pack his self-torture had earned him. He was, however, rough looking. He was always looming over others, and his squareish frame and features didn¡¯t do him any favors. Olivia clearly didn¡¯t mind, citing on multiple occasions that she loved him and thought he looked cute.
Now, though, all of that was changing.
His features shifted just so, softening in places while sharpening in others. His shoulders were just that tiny bit less door-like, and more graceful. His proportions all still there, yet optimized in a way that, when everything settled, left the surrounding women shooting him appraising glances he¡¯d typically seen directed only towards Blake.
Not that the other hero was in a position to notice. The second Rowan had replaced his old card, change had swept over his [Knights] as well. Not to the extent it did to Rowan, but he could tell that they were definitely benefiting from it. Somehow, the System knew that they wanted the new legendary card to make up for the loss of Natural Renewal.
¡°That was¡ intense.¡± Blake finally breathed out, raising his hands to feel out his own face and grimacing lightly.
¡°And how do you think I feel?¡± Rowan challenged, only to blink when his voice, too, came out subtly different, more pleasant.
¡°Boys, boys, you¡¯re both pretty,¡± Kayla laughed, but there was an unmistakable smile on her face as she felt out her own changes.
There was one person who wasn¡¯t happy to just sit around and wait, however.
¡°Is that it?¡± The princess flushed when all the eyes turned to her. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m sorry, but¡ you didn¡¯t get any other cards, maybe?¡±
Rowan considered her, then finally sighed and summoned the other card. Founding King materialized in the air, and the second it did, the princess¡¯s eyes were glued to it as she swallowed thickly.
¡°There¡¯s also this one,¡± Rowan said unnecessarily, waving the card just because the way Amanda¡¯s whole head tracked the glowing rectangle was amusing. Blake¡¯s glare made him stop. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s important?¡±
¡°It¡¯s¡ It¡¯s the main Legacy of the Rhys kingdom. The card that acknowledged its creation. Every royal bloodline has a card like that, if they¡¯ve proven themselves before the System. It¡¯s also possible to earn the Golden-age King card, but it¡¯s a bit weaker, or at least with a different effect. That one¡¯s with my brother.¡±
Rowan stared at the card. Suddenly, just like that, he had something that would let him establish himself as the founder of a Royal Dynasty.
He didn¡¯t like it.
¡°You want it?¡± Rowan asked bluntly, offering the card up to Blake whose eyes bugged out.
¡°Seriously, mate?¡± That was the response when the other hero finally managed one. ¡°Just like that?¡±
Rowan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a single card. Maybe I could give it to my own kid, but then what would I give to the rest of them? I want my kids to have siblings they don¡¯t have to go to war with over authority. Your fianc¨¦e clearly wants this card though.¡±
Olivia had flushed a scarlet red, but her eyes softened when Rowan explained his reasoning, doubly confirmed by the way she was snuggling up to him all of a sudden.
¡°Then¡ thanks.¡± Blake let out a sigh, claimed the card, then passed it off to Amanda. The princess hugged it to her chest, looking like she was about to cry.
A stab of avarice and envy made Rowan¡¯s eyes shift over to Kayla, but the heroine just shot him a wink. Then she had to ruin the moment.
¡°Once again, let me be the voice of reason! We¡¯re marching on the seat of our enemies, people. Focus up. I know we won¡¯t exactly reach our destination any minute now, but still!¡±
Rowan rolled his eyes, then paused. ¡°Wait, the seat of our enemies? Where the demon king is? But¡ don¡¯t we still have one final legendary demon left?¡±
The heroine shrugged, looking unconcerned. ¡°Don¡¯t know what to tell you. Everything I¡¯ve learned, both through mundane and divine means, shows the two are together. Blake¡¯s goddess was pointing us in this direction too. No one knows why, but it seems the demon king is holding this particular general of his close.¡±
Rowan took a deep breath, then let it out as he gripped Olivia¡¯s hand.
Apparently, they were marching straight as the demon king now.
¡°How fun.¡±
Rowan¡¯s voice suggested it would be anything but.
Chapter 75: Pursuit
Their march towards the final battle of the war between humanity and demons was a hurried, wild thing. The Mercenary King wasn¡¯t hurt during the whole debacle with the king, but he was definitely left with something to prove.
As such, the pace he set was at the limit of what his cards could help the army withstand. Rowan and the other epic tiers had little trouble, of course. But any lower level rare tiers were visibly starting to struggle when the march was finally called to a halt some three days after they¡¯d set out.
Oh, they¡¯d had several rests along the way, but even with them accounted for, the soldiers had only gotten around ten hours of sleep overall against over sixty hours of marching.
¡°Are they going to be able to actually fight tomorrow?¡± Rowan¡¯s voice betrayed his worry as he swept his eyes over the troops they passed on their way to the central tent.
¡°My cards are perfect for this kind of thing, my lord. Don¡¯t you worry one wit about what might happen to them. They¡¯ll be ready.¡± Lucius¡¯s voice was steel, and his eyes flinty enough to catch fire.
The man had almost entirely dropped any kind of casualness. It was only at rare occasions that he slipped up now, seemingly set on truly treating Rowan like nothing less than his sworn lord. It was stifling, even if Rowan was aware of all the benefits of having the man in his debt.
¡°I trust you, of course. I just¡ worry. This is it. This is everything that we¡¯ve been working towards. If we can just pull this off¡¡± Rowan sighed, dropping his head on his chest as he walked.
He couldn¡¯t voice all of his doubts, all of his fears. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t perfect, but he¡¯d managed to get through all the obstacles he¡¯d faces so far with relatively few losses. The worst he¡¯d fared was the mansion of the legendary demon, and there was little he could readily do about dimensional shenanigans. Despite that, those losses stayed with him.
Something also told him that the final legendary demon and the demon king after them wouldn¡¯t be quite as simple to dispatch.
So, as he walked past rows and rows of tents, of soldiers who¡¯d willingly placed their lives in his hands and followed him all the way out to the heart of the frontier, Rowan couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many of them he¡¯d be able to bring back home.
They were still a day out from encountering their final challenge, at least according to the nebulous senses of Blake and Kayla, and his confidence was already starting to show cracks.
Olivia could clearly tell as much, too. She¡¯d spent most of their time glued to his side. She was right there at the moment too, hugging his arm to her chest in a way that Rowan definitely found a little distracting.
He would have been able to appreciate the moment far more if he wasn¡¯t wondering if both of them would survive the battles ahead.
When they finally reached the tent, voices were already echoing from inside it. Rowan easily recognized them as Blake and Kayla, though he didn¡¯t like the sharp tones he was picking up.
¡°And I¡¯m telling you, for the thousandth time, that we can¡¯t just throw people at the problem while you blow everything up from the sky!¡± Blake snapped as Rowan pushed open the curtain separating the interior of the tent from the outside world, the sound suddenly growing much louder.
¡°I ¡ª¡± Kayla had a feral snarl twisting her features, and Rowan knew there would be deadly venom on her tongue.
¡°Really?¡± the Stalwart Hero cut in resolutely, sending both of them disapproving frowns. ¡°I leave you alone for, what? Twenty minutes? Fifteen? And you¡¯re already on each other¡¯s throats?¡±
Rowan would have expected Blake¡¯s fianc¨¦es to be right there with him, but all three of the women were, surprisingly enough, absent. Tamara was there, but the woman was studiously staring at a corner of the tent and pretending like it was the most fascinating thing in the world, so she was no help whatsoever.
¡°She started it!¡± That was Blake¡¯s stunningly wise response, and Rowan really wanted to facepalm at how whiny the other hero¡¯s voice was.
¡°And I am, as such things go, ending it. Now, can you two actually explain to me what caused this whole mess to begin with?¡± Rowan was trying to be patient, he really was. However, the sheer tension between the two reminded him of all the times they chose to broke up.
They usually showed up a couple of days later, looking loopy and sporting stupid grins. He was fairly certain that would not be happening this time though.
Whatever fight they had before parting in the kingdom¡¯s capital, Rowan could tell that something fundamental had been broken in the relationship between them. He strongly suspected that Blake¡¯s issues and his goddess¡¯ influence were a strong reason why, but it wasn¡¯t like Kayla didn¡¯t have plenty of fun hang-ups herself.
¡°I¡¯ve been trying to explain to this idiot here that we should have the army storm whatever defenses we discover at our destination. While the foot soldiers do that, I can prepare a Gran Ritual with Tamara¡¯s help. They¡¯ll be practically nothing left of our enemies if you can buy us enough time to pull that off,¡± Kayla said as if it were a perfectly reasonable plan.
¡°And how many soldiers will die during the wait? How many lives would be lost so you can prove that you¡¯re the biggest and baddest mage around?¡± Blake¡¯s voice was scathing, and Rowan could see that it made Kayla¡¯s blood pressure soar with incredible ease.
¡°I¡¯m trying to ensure our victory here, you bloody idiot! If you have issues with doing what¡¯s necessary for our victory, then you can shove your sword ¡ª¡±
¡°Kayla!¡± Rowan took another deep breath, counting to five. Really, it was his fault. He knew they were a hive of issues and just about as willing to set things aside as a honey badger hopped up on poison, and he¡¯d still tried to make them get along.
¡°Do you see what I¡¯ve been dealing with, Rowan?¡± Blake demanded, crossing his arms. ¡°If she could have her way, we wouldn¡¯t even have an army by the time things are through.¡±
Rowan was tempted to snap back, but the entire thing was rubbing him wrong. Instead, he looked his best friend in the eye and posed his question. ¡°What¡¯s really bothering you here?¡±
Blake froze like a deer caught in headlights, while Kayla perked up, smelling blood. The smile she sent the other hero was positively vicious. ¡°I think he¡¯s just sore I was right, in spite of what he said to me when we parted the last time.¡±
Blake gritted his teeth, but Rowan noted that he didn¡¯t exactly deny the accusation.
¡°Okay, listen. I¡¯ve known you both for a while now. I have no idea what happened between you. But! Blake, we both know you weren¡¯t entirely yourself up until recently. Likewise, Kayla, you¡¯ve been kind of¡ well, horrible, to say the least. So, I¡¯m going to walk out of this tent, and take Tamara and Olivia with me. We¡¯re not going to let anyone inside, but we¡¯re also not letting you out until both of you sort out your shit!¡±
That said, Rowan angrily marched out of the tent, glaring at the banished mage until she reluctantly and sheepishly followed.
The next hour or so was admittedly awkward, what with hints of shouting making their way to them in spite of Kayla¡¯s magicked up tent doing a marvelous job of dampening sound. However, when the two heroes finally emerged, they did so looking relieved, and even with faint smiles on their faces.
It was much easier to sort out their plans after that.
¡ª
About a day later, they were finally close enough to the seat of their enemies for the heroes and their parties to sneak ahead of the army for a quick peek.
The first sight of their enemies was admittedly intimidating. They were situated right in the middle of the ruins of some ancient, once glorious city.
Ruins swept up into the sky, grand homes hinted at former greatness, and a fortress that did a solid job of pretending to be a castle jutted out from the center of it all.
It was the only thing that still stood intact.
Some spots on the walls of the glorious structure were still white, hinting at the marble originally used it in its construction. These spots practically shone with inner radiance, like they were trying to shout out their divinity to the world.
Such pieces of the fortress were by far in the monitory, however, and confined to its outskirts. They seamlessly connected to some kind of dark material that did the exact opposite, swallowing up every trace of light that landed on it.
There was an odd, patchwork quality to the transition between the two materials that made up the structure. It was almost like some giant had come across a ruined city, and decided to rebuild the most glorious building it knew in the middle of everything.
Except, for lack of identical material, shiny white marble was substituted for black stone.
Rowan couldn¡¯t tell how he knew, but he felt that this was a result of countless decades, of millennia of conflict that spilled out and destroyed everything in the vicinity only for some otherworldly force to swoop in and revert the damage imperfectly.
Perhaps, at the start, there was a lot less black in the fortress¡¯ construction. How many times did it have to get destroyed to get to that point? How widespread was the destruction? Were they about to contribute to the last few spots of white disappearing?
Of course, while the fortress was breathtaking, far more important were the troops manning it. The same amphibians that Rowan had once fought all the way back at Felton¡¯s Mill clambered over the walls, patrolled the ramparts, and manned the gates.
The difference was, these particular specimens were far larger and more menacing. Rowan was wiling to bet that not a single one of those were under the rare tier, and each and every one looked ready and dedicated.
Far above these ¡®basic¡¯ troops, wraiths cut across the sky. There was a whole cloud of them releasing ghastly wails into the darkened skies, but four stood out even from where Rowan was watching. Those four, the hero knew, were likely to be in the epic rank, and far more dangerous than their lesser kin.
Finally, there were the troops that were making Rowan¡¯s palms sweaty and his armor stick uncomfortably to his back.
There were dozens of featureless knights, just like the one that had almost ended him before Kayla summarily executed it.
Rowan knew there was little reason for him to fear the monsters. He¡¯d advanced far past the hero he used to be back then. However, there was something about them that screamed danger and despair at the hero. Something that made them stand out even in comparison to the wraiths overhead.
As he continued to watch the armored silhouettes haunt the walls of the fortress, he realized what was bothering them.
They weren¡¯t acting like monsters. They were acting like people. His haphazard count put the number of knights at twenty, and every time they crossed each other¡¯s paths, the monsters paused, clearly conversing.
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Rowan obviously couldn¡¯t tell what they were talking about at such a distance, but their motions were animated, almost cheerful.
The knights were also the only monsters with true individuality. The wraiths looked pretty identical to each other, and while the amphibians did have some characteristics that set them apart from each other, Rowan would struggle to pinpoint which was which if he was unlucky enough to be introduced to them.
The knights didn¡¯t have this issue.
Each armor was personalized in a way that showed great care and even greater craftsmanship. Their weapons differed wildly too, from swords to mallets to flails and even a spear. These weren¡¯t just some mindless mobs out to conquer another world. These were people, sentient and fully in command of their faculties.
Granted, that only made their sins worse.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ve seen enough.¡± Rowan whispered hoarsely, mind spinning. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±
The others were similarly silent and worried, so their way back to their temporary camp was silent and fraught with worry.
¡°There¡¯s so many of them.¡± It was the first thing said in their meeting, and de Vort¡¯s worry was echoed on the faces of everyone there.
Just the number of amphibian troops was¡ worrying. Rowan would easily put them at two or three thousand from what he was able to gauge. Adding on top of that the hundreds of wraiths, along with a whole contingent of epic tier knights?
Yes, they had reason to worry.
¡°We can do this.¡± Surprisingly, it was the Mercenary King who spoke up, face set in an expression Rowan entirely didn¡¯t like. ¡°As epic tiers, we¡¯ll need to seriously push ourselves, but I can empower the army long enough to give us a real fighting chance. I¡¯ll just say it now: I can, at most, last half an hour. After that, it¡¯s up to the soldiers themselves.¡±
Rowan gnawed at his lower lip furiously, but he had no choice but to eventually nod his head. ¡°That¡¯ll have to do. Can you mages do something about those wraiths, Kayla?¡±
At that point, Rowan really didn¡¯t even want to bother directing a similar question at Tamara. The woman had spent the entirety of their last march right by Kayla¡¯s side, pandering to her every whim, and their bond showed she was ecstatic the entire time. It was plainly obvious who was in charge of the mages.
Kayla took a deep steadying breath then nodded, an unusually solemn expression on her face. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Rowan could tell from their bond that the heroine was nowhere as calm and certain as she wanted to appear, but the Stalwart Hero certainly wasn¡¯t about to pour cold water on their morale.
¡°Okay, then. Jacques, Amanda, can we count on you two to protect the army as well as you can manage? Marcus, I think, can handle protecting all the epic classes, right?¡± The beast folk offered up a nod and a grin, which Rowan returned.
The women exchanged a look and then glanced at Blake worriedly, but they eventually confirmed they would do their best.
¡°Okay, then, I guess the rest of us are on the offense. Unless you¡¯d like to take up a more defensive post, my dear?¡± Rowan directed the question at Olivia, but she just shot him a look and rolled her eyes.
He couldn¡¯t help the smile that tugged at his lips, giving the tense moment just a touch of brevity as he lost himself in her eyes.
Blake clearing his throat snapped them out of it.
¡°Right, well, is that our whole plan?¡± the other hero asked, eyes fixed on Rowan.
The Stalwart Hero simply shrugged. ¡°Not much else we can do, I¡¯m afraid,¡± he admitted, once more savaging his lower lip. If it wasn¡¯t for his healing, it would be past tender at that point. ¡°We can only hope things go well.¡±
Everyone nodded and gave their assent, and so their final planning sessions was sealed.
¡ª
Rowan was convinced that something would go wrong and that they¡¯d be discovered before they were ready. In spite of that, no such thing occurred.
The demonic forces seemed completely content to man their fortress and pay attention to nothing else, even if that something was basic scouting of their surroundings. All that meant the humans were free to properly mass up, get in the right formations, and perform their final equipment checks.
Rowan really didn¡¯t want to give any grand speeches, and even briefly hoped for an early attack on their position, but as the nominal leader of the army, the job did fall to him.
¡°I can¡¯t know your reason for joining this army,¡± the Stalwart Hero began, sweeping his eyes over his troops from one of Kayla¡¯s floating mana platforms. ¡°Some of you likely joined due to money, some because of levels, and some because you want to make this world safe for your loved ones.
¡°I¡¯ll say this now: your initial motivation doesn¡¯t matter.
¡°We are here now, all of us, because we managed to pull off what many didn¡¯t think we could do. We are here now, because we killed a legendary demon, overcame the scheming of our own allies, and because we managed to climb higher up the tiers than anyone expected!
¡°We are here now, because in every battle we faced, every challenge we got, we won!
¡°Now, it is finally time for the last step. It is time for us to excise the presence of demons from our world, and reclaim the peace they stole from us. Today, we are going to make sure that all our loved ones can rest easy knowing they¡¯re safe! Are you with me?¡±
The answering roar was so loud that Rowan knew the demonic forces had heard it. It also made his blood roar in his veins, to see these people so readily put their lives in his hands. He flexed his legs, jumped, and slammed down in front of the army like a meteor. Raising his spear high, the Stalwart Hero let his voice echo out over his troops.
¡°Charge!¡±
The Mercenary King roared, and then the entire army was moving. The man¡¯s entire body had swelled up with gold and red mana, making every vein squirm and every muscle bulge. The rest of the soldiers seemed to be in a similar state, their stats suddenly pushed to new heights and their courage unnaturally bolstered.
Rowan saw none of this.
The Stalwart Hero put his words to action, literally tearing up the ground with his steps as he streaked towards the fortress.
The fortress¡¯s front gate was closed, and looked to be made of extremely solid metal that even modern artillery would struggle again.
Rowan didn¡¯t care.
As he picked up speed, pushing his body beyond anything he¡¯d ever done before, he also threw his life-force, mana, and every shred of his health into his spearhead. The tip of his spear resembled a small sun when he finally slammed into the gate head-on, before the defenders could even understand, let alone respond to what was happening.
The explosion was deafening as the entire construction exploded. Metal creaked and warped, before it shot upward like the payload of a catapult and decimated the entire wall of the fortress. The gate¡¯s arch crumbled too, rocks and dust raining down on the panting form of the Stalwart Hero.
Rowan was in excruciating pain. His opening move made it trivial for his army to stream into the fortress and bypass most of the issues that came with a siege, but it wasn¡¯t without a price.
Every muscle in his body was shredded. Every bone was at least cracked. The only reason he was even standing half-slumped against his spear was the sheer force of his regenerating mana keeping him upright.
In the time it took to experience all of this pain, his body was already halfway recovered.
The legendary card Rowan had earned off of the king¡¯s demise was stitching his body back together almost as quickly as it had come apart.
The defenders of the fortress had only just started to scramble and sound an alarm as he shook himself off, cracked his neck, and went in search for some demons.
He was distantly aware of the screaming of his troops as they charged in his footsteps, and then the snap of bows as the demonic forces finally managed to rally. He needed to find a way to the top of the wall, but he couldn¡¯t spot stairs anyway.
It took Rowan a second to realize the flaw in his thinking. He blinked and shrugged, then leaned on his stats, every single one of them. With one bounce that left a small crater in the ground, he slammed halfway up the wall, and pushed again, using the momentum to launch himself the rest of the way up.
Then he was on top of the wall, and his spear found the throat of the nearest archer daring to shoot at his troops.
The battle developed into a whirlwind of pain, worry and death from there on. No matter how many amphibian soldiers Rowan killed, there was always another one popping up to face him. No matter his ferocity and clear relish as he ripped their fellows apart, the enemy soldiers rushed up to face him.
Rowan could respect that.
It made it easier to kill as many of them as he could manage, seeing as they were delivering themselves to him.
The wraiths were a bit trickier. Several times, one of those would manage to sneak up on him in the chaos of battle. Every time, he would experience water suddenly filling his lungs, and his body struggled to move under the sway of the wraiths.
The amphibians would rush forward, and the Stalwart Hero¡¯s blood would flow like a river, making the ramparts slick and tricky to maneuver.
Unfortunately for them, his stats were far beyond theirs, and no matter the damage, his body refused to shut down. An inner explosion of mana would rip apart the card effect and let him deliver swift retribution against the wraith that dared get in his way, and the soldiers were then mopped up quickly.
He didn¡¯t care that such stunts left his body shredded from the inside out because the damage would always fade within a matter of seconds.
It was only when he heard the alarmed shouts of soldiers and Blake¡¯s scream of pain that Rowan was snapped out of his bloodlust, suddenly realizing that he was surrounded by a corona of blood that swirled into him from every direction.
A frantic look around let him spot his fellow hero down in the courtyard of the fortress, surrounded by the entire troop of demonic knights. He was fighting valiantly with Lucius, Olivia and the Treagon by his side, but they were getting pushed back by the overwhelming number of epic tiers arrayed against him, and Blake was bleeding from his side.
Blake hadn¡¯t quite inherited the improvement to Rowan¡¯s card. Blake¡¯s link registered the change in Rowan¡¯s deck, and the [Knight]¡¯s previous regeneration card was replaced by a slightly superior version, but the epic tier card that allowed the link to form struggled to properly replicate the effects of a legendary.
If Rowan didn¡¯t do something, Blake would eventually get torn apart.
So, it was a rather good thing that the Stalwart Hero could simply take a running start, leap, and then land right on the back of one of the knights, spear first.
The spear caught the epic demon right in the back of its throat, and the amount of power Rowan infused into his weapon let it shear right through the thing¡¯s armor. Seawater splashed upwards, a bit falling on Rowan¡¯s lips as the hero twisted his weapon and blew apart the knight¡¯s head.
He could have, with his allies there, approached the battle carefully. He could have fought with grace and poise and tactics.
Instead, Rowan charged into the midst of the demonic knights like a rabid beast. They rallied relatively quickly, running most of their attention at the insane hero so willing to throw himself into the middle of danger, but that only sped up their deaths.
Rowan gave even better than he got, dealing lethal damage in exchange for letting them tear his body apart. Their focus on the undying hero also let the rest of Rowan¡¯s allies act, potions and weapons flashing forth to reap the lives of the epic tier monsters.
One by one, the empty suits of armor fell, failing to do more than slightly slowing down the Stalwart Hero. Their doom was particularly sealed by the regular soldiers, who were constantly swarming out of the fortress, seemingly intent on not letting a single person set foot inside.
Each time Rowan was feeling dizzy from loss of mana, life force and blood, all he had to do was direct his attention to the amphibian soldiers. They fell easily, feeding him their lifeblood and keeping the Stalwart Hero in the battle.
When the tide of enemies stemmed and then finally faded to nothing, Rowan was a mess.
His armor and clothing were barely rags clinging to his skin only because they were caked on there by the copious amounts of dried blood, and the hero was desperately panting for breath. He felt like he couldn¡¯t get enough oxygen into his lungs.
On the other hand, he also felt oddly electrified and jittery, like his body was only capable of moving in instinctual spasms.
¡°You absolute idiot¡ have any idea¡ how worried I was?¡± Olivia¡¯s voice was barely a string of wheezed as the exhausted alchemist stumbled over to him, pale and shivering from mana exhaustion. Heedless of the state Rowan was in, she closed her arms around him and pulled him close.
Rowan let out a shuddering breath, as some of the tension left his body.
¡°How¡¡± Rowan¡¯s voice cracked, forcing him to cough and wheeze before Olivia forced a water skin into his hand. He drank greedily, before finally refocusing. ¡°How did our troops do?¡±
Olivia went to say something, then clicked her mouth shut and shook her head. ¡°Follow me.¡±
Rowan did.
They stumbled their way past the gate, and the Stalwart Hero let out a hiss of pain and regret when he saw the field outside of the fortress. He¡¯d done his best, like Lucius had, but there was little he could do when his troops had to charge across a kill field, and that was before the enemy soldiers had streamed out to meet their own in combat once it was obvious that their tactical advantage was lost.
Bodies littered the ground everywhere Rowan looked, both of monsters and of men.
Suddenly, the Stalwart Hero just felt so very, very tired.
¡°How many?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lucious admitted, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll do a count later. We need to head deeper into the fortress. The demon king and his final lieutenant must know we¡¯re coming by now. We can¡¯t delay.¡±
He was right, but Rowan didn¡¯t need to like it. With one final reluctant glance, Rowan headed towards the interior of the fortress¡.
¡only to be immediately intercepted by Kayla.
¡°You are not going anywhere looking like that,¡± the heroine snapped angrily, with more than a little disgust on her face.
Rowan went to protest, but the look on Olivia¡¯s face stopped him dead. He resigned himself to his fate. At the very least, Kayla knew more than a couple cleaning spells, and it wasn¡¯t that hard to get a replacement for his armor.
Apparently, the baroness had packed a replacement and sent it with Olivia, explicitly in case ¡®Rowan did something stupid.¡¯ The accusation stung, but not as much as the fact that it was apparently warranted.
With that out of the way, however, they were finally ready to venture deeper into the creepy depths of the dark fortress.
At least finding their way through it was easy. There was a massive main corridor that led directly to its depths, and with all of their enemies sacrificing themselves in a frenzy rather than letting them approach the fortress, they faced no opposition.
In fact, their progress was smooth sailing, right up until they ran into a pair of imposing doors. The others hesitated, but Rowan had very little to worry about anymore.
He strode forward, and, finding no door handles, placed his hands directly on the doors, only to freeze.
Offer blood and enter
The system message practically forced itself into his head, and the doors refused to budge no matter how much power he brought to bear.
With a sigh, the Stalwart Hero banged his head against the doors.
Chapter 76: The Bastion
¡°I really, really hate this,¡± Kayla repeated, for what felt like the millionth time.
The doors were, without a shadow of a doubt, still an issue. It didn¡¯t matter what they did. It didn¡¯t matter how much power they threw at it, heedless of their own reserves.
It didn¡¯t budge.
It stood proud and defiant, and offered the exact same message every time someone touched it.
¡°Can¡¯t just magic up a solution every time, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Blake joked, trying to keep both his voice and expression light. It failed, and not just because of the fact that he kept sending the doors nervous glances.
¡°I¡¯m still saying to just let me do it,¡± Rowan tossed out, feeling the anxiety anger practically coursing through his veins.
The mere idea that after all they¡¯d done, they would be ground to a halt by mere doors was just about driving him insane.
As were the attempts to get the bloody thing ¡ª pun fully intended ¡ª open.
They¡¯d pushed. They¡¯d tried to pull. They cast spells on it. They punched it. Kayla begged. Olivia tested potions. Marcus sang at it, and Milena had drawn on the thing with chalk just to see if it would react.
Nothing.
The three heroes and their parties were left in the middle of enemy territory, in one spectacularly creepy fortress, with wounded and dead troops aplenty, and no way to progress forwards.
Except, of course, doing just what the doors asked.
¡®Offer blood and enter¡¯ wasn¡¯t exactly rocket science, at least as far as Rowan was concerned.
¡°And let you probably almost kill yourself¡.¡± Olivia¡¯s deadpan voice was tired, but Rowan got the sense that was mostly due to his frankly horrible luck. Just luck. Luck that was in no way shape or form indicative of the hero¡¯s recklessness.
Rowan winced and looked before forcing himself to look his fianc¨¦e in the eye. ¡°Listen, out of all of us, I¡¯m the only one who has an abundance of blood to spare. If there¡¯s anyone who can open these doors safely, it¡¯s me.¡±
¡°Unless, of course, its demands aren¡¯t based on volume. Unless it demands the life of the person providing the blood. Unless it¡¯ll, at least, weaken the person trying to pass to the very limit. Unless every person who needs to pass has to offer up their blood.¡±
Rowan sighed, thoroughly frustrated by the fact that Kayla seemed keen on pointing out every possible way the door¡¯s demands could go wrong for him, again and again.
¡°Yes, yes, unless all of that happens. Listen, do you have any better ideas? Well? I¡¯m listening! Yes, everything you just said can happen. But, they could also equally not happen. Is sitting here doing nothing, trying things we know won¡¯t work, really a better idea than taking a single risk? At this point, isn¡¯t it our best bet to just give my blood the old college try?
¡°We¡¯re not just sitting!¡± Kayla was getting snappier, and Rowan knew that meant she was getting closer and closer to caving. Well, that or snapping at him, or Blake, or any poor sod who happened to be unlucky enough to be close.
It was a fifty-fifty shot at best.
To be fair to the woman, she really was trying. Once Milena¡¯s recklessness had proven that the doors didn¡¯t particularly object to chalk, the mage hero had taken to covering every inch of it, and most of the hallway, in incredibly detailed runes, glyphs, and symbols Rowan didn¡¯t even know the names of.
All of them pulsed with an odd inner light in a myriad of different, shifting patterns. Apparently, the configuration was supposed to help Kayla find weaknesses, analyze the function of the door, and even potentially force it open.
Unfortunately, over the span of slightly over six hours, none of those things had happened.
If anything, Kayla looked more confused than when they¡¯d started, to the point her emotions were starting to crack even through the well-set fa?ade that the heroine had learned to put up since their arrival in their new world.
¡°Really? Because I¡¯m pretty sure that our troops disagree, considering they saw fit to send up sandwiches three hours ago,¡± Rowan countered.
That was the one good thing about the whole scenario. Their troops had the time to sit down and rest, even if the tension among them was palpable.
Things were also still awkward between the different factions that made up the army, especially between the hero-sworn fighters and the mercenaries Lucius was leading. It seemed that fighting alongside each other had done a ton to loosen those divides, even if they¡¯d yet to crumple.
¡°Fine!¡± Kayla finally snapped, spinning away from the doors and stalking towards Rowan. The Stalwart Hero was quick to start backing away in the face of sparks that rose from the woman¡¯s skin as her mana became agitated enough to gain physical expression. Kayla cornered him against the wall as she poked his chest, giving him a little zap. ¡°If you¡¯re so set on trying to kill yourself in new and inventive ways, just do it!¡± The heroine motioned at the doors but didn¡¯t move an inch. ¡°Go on, have at it!¡±
Rowan looked imploringly at Olivia, but she just smirked at his plight. With a grumble, he squeezed away from her and ignored disapproving stares from most of his friends and allies as he walked up to the door.
He briefly examined the door, eying the two spikes that replaced what would traditionally have been the door handles.
With one final look back and a shrug, the Stalwart Hero impaled his palms on the spikes.
Instantly, a presence in the doors reached out, grabbed hold of his blood, and yanked it closer. Rowan gasped, feeling a surge of dizziness as the speed of his blood loss almost took him off his feet.
Of course, as he knew it would, his brand new and legendary card kicked in immediately. Mana surged, energy seeped out of the world and through his body, and found purchase deep inside his bodes. New blood welled worth, coursing through his emptying veins.
The doors just pulled harder.
Rowan had just enough time to wonder if he was making the worst and potentially final mistake of his life before he spotted a change in the spikes.
They¡¯d remained a stark bone-white, devouring blood instantly. Now, however, a crimson color was starting to well up from the base of the spikes. It climbed higher slowly, almost reluctantly, but it was climbing.
¡°It¡¯s working,¡± Rowan managed to grit out to the rest of them, then redoubled his focus on his card, nudging it along.
Blood production kicked up a notch, and Rowan found just a hint of relief.
Then finally, after what felt like a minor eternity, the doors clicked open.
The connection to his blood fell away, the suction stopped, and Rowan pulled his palms away as quickly as he could. He watched the wounds there steadily seal over, until not a mark was left.
The spikes were now blood-red, and the Stalwart Hero really didn¡¯t like looking at them.
¡°Well, that worked!¡± Rowan chirped, affecting a smile as he turned around.
Olivia groaned, looking like she wished it hadn¡¯t, and Kayla nodded along.
¡°He¡¯s going to be even more reckless, now,¡± the heroine concluded, shooting Olivia a commiserative look. ¡°My condolences.¡±
Insultingly, everyone seemed to agree with the sentiment.
Rowan just huffed and rolled his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s the thanks I get for all my good work.¡±
¡ª
In spite of the others trying to tease him and imply otherwise, Rowan was not, in fact, tempted to rush ahead to try and quickly finish things.
He knew the value of having an army, or at least an elite unit, as support now. The heroes definitely could not have made it all the way to the central part of the fortress without the support of their armies. And while the effect they had on the battle against the king and his henchmen was limited, the soldiers definitely deserved praise for how they handled themselves against the very first legendary Blake and Rowan triumphed over.
The battle against Sybelin, the legendary demon, was tough enough on its own. Without the soldiers eliminating the threat from the gallery of demons simultaneously? Rowan wasn¡¯t so sure it would have gone so well.
As a result, he was perfectly content to watch as their troops assembled.
Compared to how many people in the army, the final count for those at the epic tier that would enter the door with them really wasn¡¯t much.
A grand total of five people, not counting the Mercenary King and Tamara.
Senior scout Dale, with his dedication and constant effort to keep everyone safe, and on a freshly charted path.
The [Knight] trio, Fia, Greg, and Desmond, who seemed intent on chasing after their leaders ¡ª be it to glory or to inevitable death.
And then, finally, Clarke.
Rowan¡¯s thoughts on the boy were complicated.
The final count and reports on the survivors who had managed to both survive the battle and claw their way up to epic was the first time Rowan had thought about the boy in a long time. It was a small, callous change that the Stalwart Hero was less than thrilled by.
The boy had put his trust in him. He had been the first to volunteer, when Rowan¡¯s army was in need of new recruits and a thorough reformation. And, in spite of that, Rowan had slowly but surely drifted apart from him. Somehow, along the way, a lot of the people he knew and cared about within his ranks had faded from his mind, become just a background of marching troops.
Now, the boy stood before him, and there was little chance anyone would overlook him again.
The boy was taller, with a much bulkier build. Rowan¡¯s eye could now spot signs of his training from the calluses and the way his muscles were built around the sword. There was a hardness and determination in the boy¡¯s posture.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Plenty of that was commendable. Clarke was an epic tier now, after all.
However, it was the boy¡¯s eyes that Rowan didn¡¯t like. He could barely force himself to meet them. Eyes that were hard, full of anguish and an unhealthy amount of rage.
A little fact suddenly flitted through Rowan¡¯s mind: if a party sticks together, really sticks together for long enough, then it was impossible for a single person to advance to epic and for the rest to be left behind. Not unless tragedy fell on the other members.
Tragically, Rowan knew that vitriol was not directed at him. No, it seemed squarely aimed at the demons, and what stood behind the final doors set between them and all of their goals.
Rowan didn¡¯t know how he found himself in that position time and again, but when every piece of equipment was checked, when everything was in order and everyone was ready, all eyes fell on him.
¡°This is it. Whatever we face on the other side of that door, if we can kill it, we¡¯re safe. Everyone we love and care about will be safe,¡± Rowan made the declaration calmly, like it didn¡¯t hurt to get the words out, knowing that that particular list was now much shorter for some people. ¡°Shall we?¡±
Without waiting for a response, Rowan turned and pulled the doors open fully, letting the light of the torches spill into the dark hallway.
The corridor ahead was long, and dark. Unlike the rest of the fortress, not a single torch graced the walls. This wasn¡¯t much of an impediment, as Kayla simply waved her hand and conjured a cluster of lights to hover above them, but it did make the group pause as they took everything in.
A dazzling array of murals enveloped every inch of the passage, floor, walls and ceiling alike.
Rowan awed at the incredible detail. The murals captured the wanton slaughter between humans and demons, seas of faces set in snarls, twisted in pain, or lost to despair. Each and every figure was so lifelike, Rowan swore they couldn¡¯t have been lifted from an artist¡¯s imagination.
In fact, they probably weren¡¯t.
At first, Rowan easily recognized the weapons, armor, and even some of the crests that the humans in the murals wore. The further from the doors they got, however, the more his recognition faltered.
It wasn¡¯t that the weapons were unrecognizable. They were simply growing cruder, rougher, like something that a child might put together based on an idea of armor. There was a whole section of the murals that caught nothing but a tide of demons slaughtering people with barely any weapons.
Then, things changed. The level of technology jumped, far past what even the current kingdoms employed.
Weapons that glowed in mystical colors. Armor that seemed to shift and twist even when depicted in a static image. Feats of magic that would stun the mind.
The gradual decline followed, until everyone was wielding sticks and getting slaughtered once more.
Again and again the patterns repeated, and a sudden realization left Rowan with the sour taste of ash in his mouth.
The murals weren¡¯t witness to the technology of humans degrading time after time. The direction of their walk was wrong. They bore witness to humanity rising up, fighting their way to the peak of their world, only to be completely wiped out.
Slowly, other races entered the murals. Beastfolk, then elves, then dwarves and more. With each addition, they grew more numerous, until Rowan saw a depiction that reminded him of why those same races were a relative rarity today.
They fought. Tooth and nail, literally and figuratively, and were reduced to pitiful numbers during every cycle.
And according to what Rowan knew, most of those races did not have the virility of humans.
They were literally driven to near extinction, not by human hand, or the hand of the divine, but by a cycle that ground ever onwards in this new world of his.
Olivia let out a shuddering breath, her eyes flitting between every depiction of elves, and Rowan realized she¡¯d reached the same conclusion he did. Wordlessly, even heading into battle, Rowan reached out for her hand.
She gripped it, and they continued in silence.
¡ª
The passage may have seemed endless, and it was certainly much longer than should have fit inside a fortress of this size. In spite of that, the end arrived eventually.
Rowan, with his stats, was the first to spot the opening ahead of them, but not by much. This hastened their steps, the parade of misery underfoot making them all eager to face anything, even combat.
Even though he was expecting it, Rowan almost froze at the sight of the demon waiting for them.
The creature was shaped like a knight, just like most of its main troops were. Except, where the lesser specimen were almost a parody of waterlogged armor, the demon here was clearly a step above them.
The knight¡¯s armor was polished to such a sheen that it caught and reflected all light in dizzying reflections. Unlike the other armor, there were no apparent gaps in its defense.
The demon resembled a statue cast out of some strange, alien metal more than a living thing, especially the way it stood stock still, hands gripping the hilt of a sword placed tip first on the ground.
As they drew close, Rowan realized there was something off about it.
It reflected light, sure, but it also seemed to absorb part of it, and that part went to illuminating what was within the demon. The armor was slightly transparent, and what it offered was a glimpse into a dark, devouring depth of an ocean.
¡°Visitors!¡± a voice echoed out just before they stepped foot inside the hall, breaking their stride. ¡°I have so longed for someone to come here. To reach this deep within these unholy walls.¡±
The demon finally moved as it spoke, its head twitching, then its fingers. It was almost like a titan casting off the weight of stone that had encased it during its slumber. Or if it was throwing off the weight of time it had accumulated.
And the sight was glorious.
As its awareness and mobility returned, the ocean that made up the creature¡¯s body lit up. Fish, twisted yet still beautiful, gave off a low incandescence. Corrals jutted out of the depths, their crystalline structure making them miniature suns under the waves. Entire stretches of glowing plants, reaching for some unseen sky.
Rowan felt like some omniscient observer, witnessing the rebirth of a colossal ocean that thrive with live of every shape and size.
¡°I welcome you, with a heavy heart,¡± the demon proclaimed as it switched its sword up, and gripped the handle tighter.
Rowan had stood in front of people that had meant him harm before, and every time, their intent was a sharp, cruel thing. Or at the very least merciless and set on the clinical elimination of what got in their way. The demon didn¡¯t feel that way. If anything, the aura that blanketed the space, trying to push back the heroes and their entourage, felt distinctly sad.
¡°Who are you? Why would you be happy about our arrival?¡± Blake ventured, confusion leaking through. Apparently, he felt it too.
Rowan thought the demon would strike, if it deigned to reply at all.
He was wrong.
¡°I am but a humble wretch, torn from my home, twisted, and forced to serve. Strike me down, heroes, so that I may finally rest. Strike me down, and deny my master his hold over my home,¡± the demon all but pleaded, body shaking even as it settled into an offensive stance.
Somehow, there was only a single question that came to Rowan¡¯s mind. ¡°What were you, before all this?¡±
The knight lacked all features, and yet Rowan felt like it was smiling. ¡°A defender. A leader. A foolish dreamer. My people are gone. My master took me, and then I took them.¡±
A flicker in the darkness of the demon¡¯s depth. A single glimpse of a massive castle under the seas, glorious in its alien construction, and surrounded by massive, interconnected dwellings. A glimpse of people, strange yet still beautiful, with the features of various underwater races interwoven in their appearance.
And then darkness, choking, grasping, reclaiming the split-second image of a happy past.
But not before the illusion was stripped bare. Not before the current state of the species, as decaying, rotting bodies trapped in shells of armor, was revealed.
¡°Free me, heroes, so I cannot be forced to bring my people back to suffer further.¡±
Blake didn¡¯t need further encouragement as he surged forward, sword erupting into holy light.
The knight flinched, but then he blurred forward, and the only thing that kept Blake¡¯s head attached to his body was an instinctive attempt to dodge backwards. A red line appeared on his neck, and then erupted into blood before swiftly clotting again.
Marcus shouted as he made his aura erupt, the protective effects intensifying and growing into a spectral armor that overlaid each of his allies. Jacques stepped forward as well, layering shields on themselves again and again as she sought to make the approach much more difficult for the demon.
Rowan ignored the chanting of Kayla and Milena, freely diving into the path of the saintess¡¯ beams of light that passed over him harmlessly and even energizing them while making the demon screech in agony.
Patiently, building up his strike as far as he dared, he stalked around the fighting, aiming for the knight¡¯s back.
The knight, now that he was moving, felt unstoppable. Each of the creature¡¯s movements shook the room, but its unnatural construction let it withstand the quakes.
Blake quickly learned how useless trying to match its strength. His sword was almost blown out of his hands when it was parried, paling in front of the demon¡¯s monstrous strength. He staggered backwards, spared by Marcus¡¯s shield bash which managed to distract the demon from a follow-up strike, but failed to make it so much as budge.
The knight wound up for an overhead blow, and Rowan moved in.
He knew that the armor seemed flawless, but he still refused to do something as stupid as aim for the center of the knight¡¯s chest. His blow instead fell on the knight¡¯s armpit with a heavy force.
The ringing explosion staggered everyone, and the knight listed then collapsed onto its side, but the immediate retaliatory strike toward Rowan suggested that the demon wasn¡¯t truly affected.
Rowan slid to the side and out of the way, seeking to try against the knight¡¯s helmet, but he badly misjudged the dexterity of the demon¡¯s blows. Whipping the sword back around with easy grace, the knight drove it straight through Rowan¡¯s legs.
With a strangled cry, the hero collapsed to the floor, dying it with his blood. The knight immediately raised its foot, ready to bring it down and pulp the hero¡¯s skull.
Then the demon spasmed, locking up for just a brief second. That allowed Rowan to tumble aside, bone, muscle and skin already erupting out of his stumps and forming new limbs.
A cry of rage erupted from deeper within the fortress, and the knight cried out as a red glow enveloped it.
¡°Hurry¡ heroes¡ I cannot ¨C aaaaaaaaargh!¡± A screech of fury echoed like the ocean¡¯s wrath erupted from the knight. It was on its feet fast, sword swinging faster than before.
One blow, two, three, all delivered in a blur against anything within reach. Marcus staggered again and again, barely resisting them, and Blake¡¯s weapon was finally launched out of his hands with a sickening snap of his fingers and the eruption of blood where the skin between the cracked.
Then the knight was upon him, barriers of force barely redirecting its blows as it sought to end the scrambling hero.
Rowan swung his spear and connected with all his might into the back of the creature¡¯s leg. The knight winced, but didn¡¯t fall, still swinging for Blake. Then Clarke was there, driving his sword into its other leg with a wordless cry of terror and rage.
With this, the knight fell and the ground under it shone with a magic circle as gravity in that area intensified to insane levels. Gravity that the Mercenary King stumbled into, planting his shield on the small of the knight¡¯s back and pressing down for all he was worth.
Rowan joined in immediately, biting back a scream when the increased gravity pulled on his flesh, on his muscles, on his organs, but he refused to relent. He pinned down the arm that held the knight¡¯s sword and ignored the flailing that occasionally nicked him, his regeneration more than up to the task.
It grew increasingly easier when first Blake, then Marcus joined in.
Rowan risked a brief glance, spotting a pale-faced Tamara who was trembling with her arms held out in front of her. Olivia flitted between her and Kayla, force-feeding both women her potions. The magic circle seemed to be Tamara¡¯s work, her face in full concentration and beads of sweat on her forehead, but Kayla looked much worse off.
The mage heroine was trembling, eyes closed and lips silently moving as two voices echoed out of her, hands bent over a flickering point of light that made Rowan nauseous just to look at it.
Then, like it pained her greatly, Kayla took a step forward, dragging herself closer to the battle. The point speck of whatever spell she was casting moved erratically between her hands, rubber banding back and forth like it hated the mere act of motion.
In spite of the strain, Kayla made it all the way up to the gravity field, then stepped into it. Instantly, the heroine folded, screaming as she struggled to keep the spell from coming in contact with the floor.
Blood burst out of her ears, eyes, nose and even mouth, yet she crawled closer, never once stopping her chant. The knight, seeing her approach, intensified its struggles. Blake was tossed off with such force the hero bounced off a wall and then the floor, but before the knight could do much with its freed hand, Clarke jumped in, pinning it down once more.
Finally, slowly, Kayla pushed her arms the final distance. The spark of light refused to follow, hanging for just a second longer in its previous location, then it surged forward and landed on the knight¡¯s helmet.
A thrum rang out, and the world held its breath.
Then everyone staggered as the pieces of armor they were struggling with crumpled inwards.
The full weight of the world the knight was linked to, the entire force of the ocean he harbored, brought down crushingly on its own body.
The final echo of a breath was heard from the demon, before its armor went dark one final time, for good.
The scream of agony and such potent rage that Rowan felt it in the depth of his soul washed over them as red light erupted from further inside the fortress, but it could do nothing to stifle the grins that every single fighter sported.
|
Congratulations!
[Cyraenan, The Earl of Cloying Resentment], one of the Four Demonic Pillars, has been slain!
|
|
Calculating¡
Conditions 6/8 fulfilled.
Error!
Unsealing requirements not met.
|
Chapter 77: Unstable
¡°No, I don¡¯t want to,¡± were the exact words that Kayla, the Hero of Secrets, deigned to offer up when Rowan finally decided to prod her with his foot to see if she was alive and urged her to get up. ¡°Mom, just five more minutes, please?¡±
The heroine had never looked this bedraggled for as long as Rowan and Blake had known her, so neither could quite help smiling.
While the two heroes knew her well enough to ignore the image she was putting on, she was doing a rather convincing impression of a poor maiden who had given her all in the conquest of their enemy and left to languish on the ground. Both Clarke and Marcus were giving the woman keen attention, having totally fallen for her acting.
Well, Clarke was blushing furiously and trying to look in any direction other than her, while Marcus was sneaking glances as he made his way over. ¡°Maybe I could help you up, my lady?¡±
Rowan choked on a laugh at the sudden, awkward, suave voice of his friend, but it was when Kayla demurely offered up her hand that he couldn¡¯t keep it in any longer.
Blake joined him a second later, and then all three heroes were laughing as loudly as their lungs could manage, fear and anxiety mixing into a heady cocktail of reckless joy at still being alive. They let out a collective sigh as they came down from their high.
Marcus looked both confused and slightly mortified, but that was quickly solved and morphed into a full-body flush when the heroine in a rumpled and slightly torn dress finally got to her feet and kissed his cheek in passing.
¡°You got something good, right?¡± Blake asked as Kayla casually waved her hand, causing a wave of mana to sweep over her and erase all signs of the battle as dirt disappeared, bruises faded, and her clothing mended and readjusted itself.
¡°Duh? Course I did.¡± Kayla¡¯s expression was downright smug, but Rowan could hardly blame her.
His own experience bar had jumped right past level seventy-eight and into seventy-nine from the kill Kayla claimed, so he could only imagine how much experience she got. Not to mention the cards.
¡°One of them I¡¯ll be keeping for myself, but¡¡± Ponderously, like she really didn¡¯t like what she was doing much, the heroine materialized an orange-colored card, then suddenly tossed it at Marcus.
The poor man was so out of it he almost fumbled the catch despite his stats, but then froze when he saw whatever was on the face on the card. ¡°Are you sure¡?¡±
It didn¡¯t take more encouragement than a nod from Kayla for Marcus to quickly go through the process of changing his cards, then shuddered as an outline of a full plate set of armor flashed around his body then faded.
A moment later, he also shared the card description with everyone in his party.
|
World Layer (Legendary, Passive)
You are inextricably linked to the world of Avalus Atlantis, and it lends you its protection.
|
¡°You got the knight¡¯s armor?¡± Milena whispered in awe, then faked a scrunched up expression of bitterness. ¡°So not fair. A kiss from a pretty heroine and then a gift on top? When¡¯s the wedding?¡±
Kayla tittered as Marcus blushed again, and the entire group felt just a little more at ease. Just a tiny bit more normal.
It was almost possible to pretend like they weren¡¯t all getting the shivers. An immense aura could be felt from the final stretch of hallway, emanating from just around the corner. It was putting them all on constant edge.
They couldn¡¯t delay forever, and they knew it.
After realizing that there was nothing else to do, they easily fell in together and set out to meet their final challenge.
Rowan badly wished he could walk alongside Olivia, but he wasn¡¯t about to waste his advantages by walking at the rear or force her to expose herself to direct hits by having her upfront. As such, it was him and Marcus that walked ahead, Rowan¡¯s regeneration and the wolf kin¡¯s new defenses being the best bet of surviving the opening salvo.
Except the immediate blow never came, even as they walked past the final murals that showcased a single glowing figure standing tall in the face of a demonic monstrosity. Rowan found the figure oddly familiar, but there was something far more pressing taking up his attention.
The same monstrosity on the mural was right in front of them, seated on a throne of bones and wreathed in a red haze.
|
Warning!
You have entered an area of Unstable Reality!
|
|
Warning!
You are in the presence of the local Demonic Origin entity!
????????, ??? ???Q??? ?? ????? ??????, ???????? ???!
B????????????????????????????????????????????????o??????????????????????????????w??????????????????????????????????????????????? b???????????????????????????????????????????????e??????????????f?????????????????????????o???????????????????????r????????????????????????????e???????????? y????????????????o???????????????_??????u?????????????????????????r???????????????????? s??????????????????????????????????u?????????????p??????????????????????????????????????????e??r????????????i?????????????????????????????????????????????o?????????????????????r?????????????????????????????????????????????,??????????????????????????????_????????????? m?????????????????????????????????????o????_????????????????????????????????????????r???????????t??????????????????????????????????a????????????????????????????????????????????l???????????????????????????????????s????!?????????????????????????????????_??????????
|
The presence of the demon was overwhelming. It drew the eye, refusing to release the beholder.
In a way, the demon almost looked angelic, in the biblical manner. Its main body was an emaciated humanoid figure, completely covered in blood-red eyes that continued to cry black ichor, staining everything.
Its face was devoid of everything but three sets of eyes too, and a pair of black feathers jutted out of the back of the demon¡¯s skull, curving forward and up like a faux halo, or a pair of horns. Its arms and legs were tipped with wickedly sharp claws that looked metallic, just like its sweeping, galaxy-colored wings did. Those, too, were covered in more eyes, but these were closed in slumber, still weeping, but refusing to dare glance at reality.
Then a tear spread across the demon¡¯s face, raw flesh gaping for a second before the hole deepened and a tongue, teeth, and a functional mouth formed. ¡°You ruin everything, once more. Little mortals, standing in the face of infinity.¡±
Its voice stabbed deep into Rowan¡¯s conscious, evoking feelings of dread and guilt and self-disgust at his own existence.
The churn of emotions was thankfully enough to let the hero tear his eyes away from the many crimson orbs that dotted the demon¡¯s flesh, finally letting him take in the rest of the room.
The space was large, but most of it was taken up by four towering pillars. The said pillars were now cracked and lifeless, the murals of four different demons that once adorned them fading. Rowan easily recognized Cyraenan and Sybelin, which meant that the other two were legendary demons as well.
Chains twisted around and into the pillars, then extended into the demon king¡¯s flesh, piercing deep into his back. Most of the chains were blackened and cracked at that point, though four still bound him to his throne and shone a deep scarlet.
¡°You can¡¯t leave well enough alone. Can¡¯t you see? You can do nothing to stop me. Nothing but delay. Time after time, you force me away, force me to claw my way back here. You would be so much happier in my embrace. Accept me. Accept the Ruler of Demons, and you will be at peace.¡±
The speech was interrupted by laughter and jeering.
¡°??! ???? ?? ??? ?????! ??? ??? ???? ???????¡±
¡°??? ???. ?¡¯? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??. ??? ???????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??????¡±
¡°??? ??????? ???????, ??????? ?? ??? ??????!¡±
Nausea unlike anything before struck out at Rowan, and it was only his Eidolon Body activating that let him avoid emptying his stomach. Some of the others were not that lucky, and the sound of sick splattering made the Stalwart Hero clench his teeth.
His eyes swept over the hall in a hurry, but he regretted it when the twisting lines of space that warped into inhuman faces only made the sensation worse.
¡°Silence! Begone, you wretches who mock your own king! I will kill these fools, claim this world¡¯s power, and then reclaim my throne!¡±
¡°??????! ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????.¡±
¡°???, ? ???Q???, ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????¡±
¡°???????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ???.¡±
With a roar of rage and madness, the demon king lurched up off his throne.
The Marquis of Empty Dreams challenges you!
The local Unstable Reality has been sealed!
The lettering of the demon¡¯s title started out as a dark orange, lightened, then faded back to dark before slipping through purple and even down into blue, before flickering back to its original color.
The chains that bound the demon to its throne tightened and tugged at its flesh as it moved, causing drops of ichor to splatter into the already present puddle, but the demon ignored it all, and the chains seemed to slowly extend from its efforts.
Rowan took that as his sign to strike.
The tip of his spear exploded against the demon¡¯s chest, but it felt more like striking concrete. In spite of that, the Stalwart Hero redoubled his effort with another strike towards the monster¡¯s legs. Instead of meeting tough resistance, it easily sliced through.
Overcommitted, Rowan pitched forward and was met by the demon¡¯s claws.
For a fraction of a second, they were slicing through him easily and made it several inches into his flesh. Then they became blunt, useless instruments and he was flung against one of the four pillars to the sound of every bone in his body snapping.
Screaming in pain as his body knit itself back together, Rowan watched as the front line fighters of their party launched themselves forward.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Marcus took the center position, letting the demon rain down blow after blow and not flinching an inch. Each time the demon was about to land a hit, the outline of the knight¡¯s armor flashed around Marcus, and he merely grunted.
Clarke had figured out his footing in the mad scramble against the knight earlier, and he was now committed to hit and run tactics, weaving in and out of range as he dealt blow after blow. Some left angry gashes that slowly sealed in the demon¡¯s flesh, while others bounced off harmlessly.
The Mercenary King, backed up by the trio of Rowan¡¯s [Knights], was following the young man¡¯s example.
The left Blake who became a corona of holy energies that pulsed and extended with each of his strikes. The demon seemed entirely incapable of stopping these attacks, to the point where its flesh sizzled and cooked from sheer proximity.
The casters were just as effective, strikes of magic, healing, and protection raining down on the combatants as they strained their mental stats to keep up with and target the right figure in the chaotic melee.
After a few seconds, Rowan managed to shamble over, then take a proper strike as his body returned to its rightful state, spear moving like a meteor in a blaze of black-streaked red energy.
They were winning.
The demon was fighting like an animal, but it could do little to truly punish them. Rowan caught onto its fluctuating strength quickly, and his heart soared as he realized that in spite of all the obstacles, they managed to damage the demon king before it could really establish itself and become a true part of their world.
And then reality exploded.
¡°Enough!¡±
The scream of frustration tore causality apart, and the room wobbled into a horrible spherical mess of matter and energy. On what used to be the far wall, a wide-open gate erupted into being, revealing ethereal chains that wound around the demon. It fought to keep its footing, the chains of the throne grounding it in place somewhat, but Rowan could tell it would eventually lose.
That didn¡¯t help them in the moment.
Rowan felt torn into a million different pieces. His left arm was moving so quickly it blurred through the air, while his right was swimming in molasses. His head felt like it was two meters away, and pieces of his torso were in at least twelve different dimensions.
Rowan¡¯s mind swam as it broke under the stress of merely processing what he was seeing, and then the demon was moving.
A careless gesture and its claws easily reached Desmond, slicing the knight¡¯s body into countless ribbons. Another twitch of leg sent a massive foot crashing down, and turned Fia into a smear. Clarke roared and swung, but the panels of space and time adjusted just so that his arm ceased to exist. Another strike, and Tamara puffed into a cloud of blood as space itself squeezed her.
Marcus screamed, blood erupting out of him as his card fought and failed to contain the kind of damage that had easily slaughtered his companions.
The demon turned, and with every ounce of its strength, brought down one of its wings on Marcus.
The wolf kin cried out at a billion different volumes, and the armor that formed around him actually showed signs of cracks. In spite of that, the beast folk stubbornly reached out to deliver his own hit, and for the first time the demon reeled as all the damage Marcus did manage to absorb was transferred back to it.
For just a moment, the demon¡¯s hold on reality slipped.
In the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the slaughter, only a single human stood with a peaceful expression on her face.
Her eyes took everything in, the space and time that fought to restore themselves and the chains that still bound the demon, tugging it in both directions. She saw the demon reach out, seeking to prevent its domain from unraveling so it could finish wiping them all out.
And she made a decision.
¡°[Bulwark of the End]!¡± Jacques de Vort¡¯s voice was determination itself as her mana, her life force, and everything that made up her soul exploded outwards, and the laws of reality themselves turned their eyes in the woman¡¯s direction.
Every soul in the space was caught up in a vision of the woman, standing tall and proud, with a sad smile on her face before the vision fractured, taking a life with it.
The demon¡¯s control once more wrapped around the world, but when it brought its fist down punishingly on Marcus to finish the fight, it was met by a thin protective field.
The field looked spun out of the thinnest glass imaginable. But it held against the demon¡¯s attack.
Roaring in pain as the full force of its attack landed on its own flesh, the demon chose a new target. It clawed out at Blake, but its claws bent and began to crack. Feathers of alien metal shattered when they were brought sweeping out at Olivia. A beam of destructive red force was released in a moment of despair, but it washed over the casters without so much as ruffling their clothes.
Rowan gasped in relief the moment the protective field settled on him, and even with all the space-time craziness going on, he felt firmly rooted to reality. As the demon pointlessly rampaged, the hero struck.
Rowan didn¡¯t aim for the creature itself. Blake had beat him to it and was screaming as he laid into the enemy, sword and fist flashing. But he was barely doing any damage and it was healing faster than the pace Blake could create those tiny wounds.
Instead, Rowan¡¯s spear aimed for the throne, right where one of the chains sprung up out of it. With an explosion that shook the space around them and sent time and space into yet another wonky spiral, the chain snapped off alongside a whole section of the throne.
The demon was tugged towards the gate violently, and certainly noticed. It turned its hate-filled eyes on Rowan, and the hero was suddenly the focus of a whirlwind of blows that sent the demon¡¯s own blood and flesh flying around when it failed to reach him.
The others, however, noticed what Rowan was doing.
With a rage that Rowan didn¡¯t think the man capable of, the grim-faced Mercenary King tore into the throne.
Another chain snapped, another lurch of the demon closer to the gate.
It spun, panic and fear finally showing on its face as it tried to strike at every soul in the room at once. It couldn¡¯t damage them yet, but it was keeping them stuck in place and the protective film that covered them was growing dimmer and losing its slight shine even as the demon¡¯s own ability to resist the forces of reality was slipping.
It was then that Blake¡¯s rage reached a crescendo, and the hero ignited even brighter, pushing his way closer to the throne. With a hate-filled scream, one of the last two chains was severed along with most of the throne.
The demon sailed through the air, incapable of resisting anymore, before the twisted world stuttered and abruptly turned back to normal. The demon slammed into the now empty stretch of wall, its singular chain glowing weakly, cracks showing throughout. With hate-filled eyes, it raised its head.
¡°Empty¡ dreams,¡± it rasped its declaration, and crimson light erupted.
¡ª
Kayla huffed, carefully maintaining a practiced expression of disappointed indifference. Her eyes swept over the hall and the nobility gathered there, before once more falling on the terrified face of the man who had failed her.
¡°Repeat what you just told me.¡±
¡°M-My Queen¡ We did our best! I swear to you! The capital of the Rhys kingdom will fall within the week! I apologize for the delays, but I swear ¡ª¡±
The man was cut off when one of Kayla¡¯s sworn knights stepped forward and landed a blow on the back of his head, making him collapse like a puppet. To the pin-drop silence of the room, he was dragged out of the hall, his fate plain to all.
¡°I do not allow for failure. You will either obey¡ or you will serve me in other ways,¡± the Hero Queen declared, settling down on her throne with a smirk.
¡ª
Blake abruptly came to, eyes blinking wide as he took in the room around him. Confusion warred within his mind, flashes of murals and blood spinning away in his thoughts even as he took in the calm, beige tones of his room within the castle.
¡°Blake? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Amanda mumbled quietly, making his face flush when the woman rose up out of bed, leaning on her arm and rubbing her eyes sleepily. ¡°How early is it? I¡¯ve told you we¡¯re not doing anything until noon.¡±
Blake really wanted to look away from the expanse of soft flesh before him, but it was rapidly emptying his head of any lingering nightmares, so he was practically forced to look!
Mirabelle¡¯s soft giggle sounded from Amanda¡¯s other side, and the woman plopped her chin down on the princess¡¯s shoulder, shooting Blake a conspiratorial smile. ¡°Told you we can¡¯t keep him in bed until noon.¡±
¡°True, though we did try.¡± Jacques drawled as she wrapped an arm around Blake¡¯s back, and the hero froze.
Rage. His entire world was rage.
¡°Blake, what¡¯s wrong?¡± the woman behind him asked, worry slipping into her voice.
The hero turned slowly, reluctantly, until his eyes finally landed on her face.
| Your fragmented portfolio of [Freedom] is reacting! |
| Your fragmented portfolio of [Radiance] is reacting! |
Blake¡¯s world was rage. And he wasn¡¯t about to let any illusion lull him away from reality.
The Hero of Light screamed, and the world around him cracked.
¡ª
Rowan blinked, and waved away an annoying fly that would just not stop buzzing around his face. The night was clammy and hot, and he was just thankful that the mosquitoes were not out in force yet.
¡°Can you please stop playing with the insects and walk a little faster? They¡¯re waiting for us, and it should really not take this long for us to walk to the store,¡± Olivia complained, swinging their hands and doing her best to make him walk faster.
¡°And what if I¡¯m just enjoying a stroll with my girlfriend, hm?¡± Rowan quipped right back, resisting the smile that threatened to take over his face.
Olivia sighed, but did snuggle up closer to him. The new angle gave him a view right down the front of her loose shirt, and she caught him in the act and giggled mischievously.
¡°You know what? You were right. I wouldn¡¯t want to leave Emma waiting with those five idiots. Who knows how far they¡¯re going to push her sanity.¡±
Something about the mention of that name made Rowan flinch, then look around. When he met Olivia¡¯s eyes again, the fear faded. He¡¯d stress over exams or whatever it was later. He had his lovely girlfriend right there next to him, and not even his best friend¡¯s complicated romance was enough to distract him.
And then Rowan¡¯s world was washed away in a tide of rage.
Olivia¡¯s voice didn¡¯t matter. The pain of hitting the pavement didn¡¯t matter. The only thing that dominated his thoughts was the pure rage slamming into his soul through the link with his best friend.
A link? Rowan¡¯s thoughts screeched to a halt as memories came flooding in.
The world around him shattered, dominated by an animalistic scream.
¡ª
Rowan jerked upright, his head still swimming in pain unlike anything he¡¯d ever experienced before. Through blurry eyes, he could spot the bodies of his friends scattered around him, their eyes closed in slumber.
All but one of his friends, that is.
Blake¡¯s howls of rage and agony were echoing through the chamber as the sound of combat spread, and Rowan finally forced himself to stumble to his feet, looking towards where the commotion was.
Light was gushing out from under Blake¡¯s skin, scorching everything around him as he threw himself against the demon king again and again. Rowan was practically watching in real time as the strikes grew stronger, more refined, more vicious.
The demon was on the back foot, barely managing to keep a step ahead of the hero, placing limbs in the path of his sword just to prevent Blake from reaching vital organs.
Even then, the spray of its black blood was stemming, exhaustion was weighing down its limbs, and fear was the chief emotion that dominated its unnatural features.
¡°No! No! Not again! I will not be forced to give up once more! I¡¯ll-!¡±
With the scream of a wounded animal, Blake¡¯s sword flickered and cut straight through the demon¡¯s jaw. The lower half of its face and a flapping tongue landed wetly a few feet away, silencing the demon¡¯s tirade and turning its speech into wordless cries of horror.
Blake didn¡¯t stop attacking, but his focus shifted.
Inch by inch, limb by limb, he brutalized the being who declared itself the demon king, until it was reduced to a whimpering mass of flesh in front of the crazed hero. Even then, a single chain linked it to the throne.
The chain looked ready to snap from the many cracks that spread throughout it, but the demon clung to its lifeline stubbornly, refusing to fade from the mortal plane.
Blake stood now, sword gripped in his hands so hard it was creaking, his breathing ragged and eyes still wild.
Slowly, like he would approach a highly dangerous animal, Rowan stepped forward.
¡°Finish it, Blake. Just cut the chain, or stab it in its heart, or cut off its head. Finish this,¡± Rowan implored quietly, daring to lay a hand on the other hero¡¯s shoulder.
Blake shuddered and made a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I want it to suffer.¡±
¡°How long? Until it bleeds out, somehow? You do see that it doesn¡¯t even have blood leaving what¡¯s left of its body anymore. Or are we going to wait until it somehow regenerates?¡± Rowan kept his voice calm, conversational.
Even then, Blake practically growled as he spun to face his friend.
¡°It killed her! This thing killed her! I promised I¡¯d protect them, and ¡ª¡±
Rowan hugged his best friend, making the other hero freeze. For a long moment, the Stalwart Hero was convinced he¡¯d just get stabbed. Then Blake dropped his sword and clung to Rowan as sobs wrecked his body.
¡°You didn¡¯t fail, Blake. Jacques de Vort made her own choice. For you and Amanda and Mirabella. For all of us. Just because she chose to protect you, doesn¡¯t mean you failed her.¡±
Blake sobbed harder, but Rowan didn¡¯t care about the snot and tears dripping down his shirt. He did stiffen when a new set of arms wrapped around them, only for a startled glance to reveal the pained face of Kayla.
Rowan didn¡¯t know how long the three of them stood there like that, shivering and pretending like tears weren¡¯t streaming down their cheeks, but when they broke apart, they refused to look at each as if by an agreement until they¡¯d wiped their faces clean.
¡°Well, you gonna stab it then, or should I?¡± Kayla asked, affecting that same cocky tone she always used. It sounded weak and hollow at the moment, but Blake still sent her a fond smile.
Slowly, like he was performing a ceremony, Blake picked up the sword he¡¯d dropped. With determined steps, he drew up to the demon king, and with his eyes locked on one of the few pairs of crimson orbs left on the creature¡¯s face, he brought the blade down.
A whisper, a cursed promise, touched the minds of the heroes. ¡°You accomplish¡ nothing¡ a dream¡ cannot die¡ I will¡ return¡¡±
The final chain shattered, and Rowan¡¯s world tilted sideways.
|
Congratulations!
[Somantis, the Marquis of Empty Dreams], the source of Demonic Corruption, has been slain!
|
|
Calculating¡
Conditions 8/8 fulfilled.
Unsealing requirements met.
|
Chapter 78: Blame
When Rowan came to, his world was nothing but golden radiance.
The concepts of up and down, of left and right, of space and time, simply did not exist. All that was there was himself and the Divine Void around him.
Then, footsteps.
Reality realigned itself, and the Stalwart Hero was standing once more. He was also suddenly granted a body again, as evidenced by the fact that looking around at the space of pure infinity with no angles or breaks anywhere in sight was giving him a headache.
¡°I do apologize. Is this better?¡± A voice rose up from the void, making it twist and bunch until Rowan was standing in a cozy, humble room.
It was some kind of cottage, with a beautiful view of a forest just outside, a crackling hearth, and a table set for two.
One of the chairs was taken up by a man of large stature, his hair a wild mane and beard flawlessly trimmed close to his skin. He was dressed humbly, but every shift in his stance made the tunic he was wearing strain against the muscles it was trying to cover.
No matter how disarming the man looked, as Rowan stared into a pair of pale blue orbs, he knew exactly who he was talking to. ¡°Aristaeus.¡±
The god gave the hero a lopsided smile. ¡°Rowan. You really should sit down, you¡¯ve had a rough go of it.¡±
Rowan could feel his regeneration card burning in his chest, but he did feel worn out. With great reluctance, the hero collapsed into the chair, eying up the god who, what seemed like an eternity ago, had laid claim to him. ¡°So, what is this, exactly?¡±
¡°Well, I guess some would say this is a reward for all that you have done. The defining moment of your journey, where your divine patron descends to offer you their favor. Really, though, this is just where the system-mandated process of giving a hero what he deserves is going to happen.¡±
Rowan sighed, already feeling even more drained by the interaction. ¡°Okay. Fine. Then just hand whatever it is that you¡¯ve got for me so I can go back.¡±
¡°Ah, but first, I have to ask: Would you like to go back home, hero of mine? You do have that right, now.¡±
|
Your Divine Patron, Aristaeus, offers you a way back home!
Are you going to accept?
Y/N
|
With a roll of his eyes, Rowan hit no. ¡°Really?¡±
Aristaeus grinned merrily and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Sorry, but it is a requirement. You count as a Divine Summon. As your summoner, I must offer you a chance to be returned to your world of origin after you¡¯ve fulfilled your end of the contract.¡±
¡°My end of the contract, you say. Like you ever asked for my opinion. Like you didn¡¯t just kidnap us and tell us what we have to do.¡± Rowan didn¡¯t even bother keeping the bitterness out of his voice. If the god was going to smite him, it would probably have happened a while ago.
Aristaeus just laughed. ¡°Hold still, now.¡±
His hand shot out faster than Rowan could blink, plunging right into the hero¡¯s chest.
Only shock kept Rowan from disobeying the command, but he felt his body lock in place anyway when the god gently extracted a purple-gold glowing card from his chest. Unlike the last time he¡¯d seen his heart card, Rowan noted that the gold was by far the more predominant color. Golden cracks were all over the card, and Rowan could glimpse something underneath them.
¡°I really do dislike the way we cripple hero cards before we send you down. Not my choice, of course. I¡¯m just a minor divinity. Still, it¡¯s not right,¡± the god muttered quietly, reaching out with his other hand.
He grabbed for the card, but his hand closed around a glowing chain instead. The chain was chock-full of divine mana, glowing like a miniature sun. The god tightened his grip, and the thing shattered. More cracks spread over Rowan¡¯s heart card. One by one, the god revealed and snapped eight glowing chains, and Rowan could do nothing but watch as the god worked.
When the last divine construct was crushed, the golden glow of Rowan¡¯s card erupted, sending shards of its previous purple face flying everywhere. In the previous card¡¯s place, a card that looked like it was cast out of solid gold remained.
Aristaeus flicked it at Rowan, and the second it slipped into the hero¡¯s chest he drew in a ragged breath, doubling over.
¡°I¡¯m apologizing a lot, but I really am sorry for how unpleasant that was. Still, considering the fact that I just tore out a core part of your soul, fiddled with it, and then replaced it, what could you expect?¡±
¡°C-Core part of my soul?¡± Rowan wheezed, rubbing at his chest. It wasn¡¯t his flesh that was feeling achy, but the gesture still made him feel a tiny bit better.
¡°What do you think Heart Cards are? When people access their system fully for the first time, it plucks a piece of their soul¡¯s core, does diagnostics, and then crafts a personalized card for them. Now, people can reject their own heart card in favor of another. Or even go without. That¡¯s not deathly, since the system takes only a tiny amount of their soul.¡±
¡°Then why don¡¯t people replace their heart cards more often once they¡¯ve chosen? On that subject, why do people get different card tiers? Why doesn¡¯t everyone start at common?¡±
Rowan knew he should be freaking out at least a little. His calmness, stirred only the slightest bit by whatever emotion the God evoked, was unnatural. At the very least, he should have been desperate to go back to Olivia. But he wasn¡¯t, and since he was there already, a part of him demanded answers.
Aristaeus sighed and laid his arms on the table, giving the hero a pitying look. ¡°I get it. The system really isn¡¯t fair, is it? The sad truth is, not all souls are of equal quality. Some can handle higher tiers of power naturally, and others need to perform incredible feats for the system to recognize and decide to grant them some of its power so they could advance.¡±
Rowan¡¯s mind spun at the implications, but he pushed right on. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me why heart cards can¡¯t be replaced. Also, how come nobility consistently get better grade cards? And how do heroes never get lower tiers?¡±
¡°Sheesh, so many questions. Still, I guess you deserve your answers. Let¡¯s start from the top, shall we?
¡°Hero cards are never low in tier because the summoning itself imbues your souls with incredible power. Even if the summoning didn¡¯t look for people with strong souls to begin with, which it does, heroes would still turn out epic. Incidentally, the stronger the soul of the summoned, the less power is consumed. That¡¯s why three or even four heroes pop out on occasion. Those are clusters of people with incredibly powerful souls.
¡°As for the nobility¡ well, the basic answer is often right, and that¡¯s the case here. Strong parents give birth to strong children. The soul of a parent imparts a piece of its power to their child at the moment of conception. When you¡¯ve been hoarding power for generations, the advantages tend to pile up.
¡°Finally, heart card replacement is extremely difficult under most circumstances because the second you accept a heart card, it becomes a piece of your soul¡¯s core. Doesn¡¯t matter who it came from, it¡¯s grafted right into your being. Obviously, if the card isn¡¯t yours, that can have some¡ consequences.¡±
Rowan didn¡¯t like the sound of that.
On second thought, he really didn¡¯t like the sound of that, especially considering the fact that he had just handed off a legendary tier heart card to Blake. ¡°What kind of consequences?¡±
The god rubbed his beard. ¡°Well, you¡¯re grafting a piece of someone else into the core of your being. Obviously, you¡¯d be a tiny bit influenced by that. Some very subtle attitude shifts. Small new preferences and tastes. You might suddenly like some food you used to hate, or vice versa, that kind of thing.¡±
¡°And it¡¯s impossible to avoid this?¡± Rowan was suddenly feeling sick.
¡°Sure it¡¯s possible. Don¡¯t accept heart cards from strangers and just stick to your own!¡± Aristaeus guffawed, then sighed when he saw the look on Rowan¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, fine. No, you can¡¯t avoid it. I should also note that the higher the tier of the heart card, the bigger the impact. It¡¯s not possession or rebirth or anything, but it¡¯s there. It¡¯s why, for example, all royal bloodlines are known for certain character traits.¡±
Rowan slumped and looked away. He was going to have to confront his best friend on the subject, but there was really little he could do. If the happy couple decided to hand off a legendary card to their kid, who was he to stop them? Really, should he be trying to stop them at all? It was a powerful card.
Power came at a price.
Looking back, wasn¡¯t Rowan doing the exact same thing to himself? Perhaps he wasn¡¯t permanently welding pieces of someone else to his soul, but he¡¯d definitely shoved different cards into his deck readily enough.
Even as he sat there, the immense power of his Eidolon Body thrummed through his being, filling him with cocky pride, Scarlet Envy cried out for him to try and skewer the god sitting across from him, and Gluttonous Banquet tried to get him to devour everything in the room.
Granted, the emotional numbness made it even easier than usual to deal with those issues, but they were definitely there. In comparison, the rest of his cards must have originated from calmer individuals because they were almost inert by comparison.
¡°You know, you still haven¡¯t checked out your card,¡± Aristaeus pointed out smugly, making Rowan squint his eyes at him.
He knew.
He was just putting it off, suddenly and inexplicably worried about taking a peek. After all, one¡¯s heart card was apparently supposed to suit them perfectly, and while he loved his Keen Spear, Rowan wondered at the changes it would undertake now that it was restored to what it was meant to be.
He couldn¡¯t delay forever though.
|
[Heart] Divine Spear Insight (Divine, Passive)
With a spear in hand, the world reveals itself before you.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
|
Rowan took a sharp breath as the details of the card fell into place. The description was vague, a mere teaser of the card¡¯s potential, but he knew.
The card would make him a terror with a spear in hand. His mastery over his emotions would grow. Spear combat would become a triviality, and even the slightest nick of his spear would reveal every detail of his opponents to him.
There it was, the ultimate ability to peek at the system status of anyone he fought, simply granted to him by his new shiny card.
He looked up at Aristaeus, bitterness broiling within him. ¡°I could have really used this sooner.¡±
¡°I know.¡± For just a moment, the god looked genuinely more miserable than Rowan did. ¡°Do you have a clue what it¡¯s like to watch? To see them throw heroes into the fray, all the while hobbling their potential to survive?¡±
¡°Then why watch? Why are gods even playing these games?¡±
¡°Because they¡¯re afraid, Rowan.¡± The admission floored the hero. ¡°They don¡¯t want new gods jostling for influence and power. They don¡¯t want to wane and be forgotten, only to get killed by some uppity upstart. I¡¯m the youngest of the gods, and I¡¯m still so very, very old.¡±
The Stalwart Hero looked at the god across from him then, taking him in fully. This being of perfection, of ultimate power. Yet, in spite of his status, worry lines were obvious on his face, and Rowan couldn¡¯t help but feel that he looked tired.
It was also the moment recognition finally sparked within him.
¡°The mural. The very first mural. You were the one who fought the demon king first,¡± Rowan whispered, awe bleeding into his voice.
If anything, Aristaeus looked even more tired. ¡°Correct. I was there, at the start of the cycle. Rather, I am the beginning of the cycle. Me and that wretch of a delusional demon.¡±
¡°Explain.¡±
Aristaeus sighed and drove a hand through his hair roughly. ¡°How do you think all of this started, Rowan? How do you think the first invasion happened?¡±
¡°The demons discovered this world, ripped a path to it, and invaded?¡± The question was tenuous, almost pleading. Something told Rowan he would really dislike whatever answer he got.
¡°I¡¯m afraid not. You see, once upon a time, summoning a person, a thinking, reasoning being, from beyond our world, was considered impossible. Legendary summoners, arcanists, and magic researchers all tried to do it and they all failed. Travel between worlds is not a gentle process.
¡°This persisted, until one Carreen Zola stepped onto the scene. He was a man so beloved by gods they granted him the ability to wield a secondary class. At the peak of his power, he was both an [Archpriest] and an [Arcanist] of world-wide renown. And then he begged the gods for assistance with the ritual.
¡°With him performing a ritual and the gods powering and controlling it, they reached out, plucked a soul, and brought it to this world. In doing so, the dimensional veil protecting this world was devastated with a hole was punched right through it. What do you think came through that hole?¡±
Rowan¡¯s voice was a stunned whisper. ¡°The demon king.¡±
Aristaeus scoffed. ¡°A demon whose mind was so twisted it proclaimed itself a king of its kind, sure. And the gods? Well, they weren¡¯t exactly expecting such a thing. They¡¯d long withdrawn their direct presence from the world as a way to stop their incessant warring from scarring their reality beyond repair. That left them with only one solution.¡±
¡°You.¡±
Aristaeus¡¯ smile was bitter. ¡°Me. They slapped them blessings on me, wished me luck, and threw me at the demons. In spite of all that followed, even though the greatest mortal civilizations were damaged almost beyond repair, I won. And when I did, I ascended. They didn¡¯t expect that, either.¡±
There was still something that bothered Rowan about the story. ¡°If that¡¯s true, if they know why and how the demons are invading this world, why haven¡¯t they tried to fix it? Why haven¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Me? Because I can¡¯t. When I ascended, I made the mistake of putting my trust in the older gods. They claimed that I needed to join them, to isolate myself in a divine kingdom, for the good of all. Then they bound me with all the agreements and accords they themselves were under already.¡±
¡°They didn¡¯t even let you try to fix the problem first?¡± If there was more than a little disbelief in Rowan¡¯s voice, he didn¡¯t think he could be blamed for it.
¡°They didn¡¯t because it¡¯s not necessary. The dimensional veil is part of every world, and worlds are living, breathing things. It¡¯s the same as you suffering a minor cut. It hurts, it bleeds, but it scabs and seals over.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s true, then why is the cycle still happening?¡± Rowan demanded.
The god shot him a pitying look and shook his head. ¡°Think, Rowan, and then you tell me why.¡±
He went to argue, but the weight of the truth slammed down on his shoulders. ¡°Hero summoning. The demons come back because heroes are still being summoned.¡±
¡°Correct. It¡¯s hard to tell from a mortal point of view, since the temples always send out warning and oracles ahead of time, but corruptions only ever starts to appear after the heroes are summoned.¡± Aristaeus¡¯ proclamation also added to the weight that was now pressing down on the hero, threatening to drown him.
¡°But¡ how¡ why¡ They don¡¯t want more gods! You said it yourself! Why would they¡!¡±
¡°Because demons and devastation and the appearance of heroes all paint gods in a positive light. They are the protectors, the ones who summon champions who fight in their names, and this drives worship. Demons also drag otherworldly souls into our reality when they invade, and when they are slaughtered, our world is enriched. The world gods are intrinsically linked to, empowering them further.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a massive farming method, then? Summon heroes, let the demons in, then kick back and harvest the bounty?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
For a long, long while, neither the hero nor the god spoke. Rowan¡¯s eyes were blankly fixed on the table, without even the ability to really perceive it anymore. Aristaeus eventually sighed and stood so he could land a hand on the hero¡¯s shoulder.
¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±
¡°It kind of feels like it is,¡± Rowan said.
The god smiled wryly, and Rowan saw pure anguish in his eyes. There they were, the very first and last heroes, united in their misery. ¡°I know. I suggest you check out your status, though.¡±
Having no better idea, Rowan did.
|
Congratulations!
Class evolution requirements met.
System evaluation in progress¡
Class generated!
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[Spear Saint]
You are the spear of your people, and you bear their hopes, dreams and burdens.
This class grants you the ability to tap into your spark of divine potential, enhancing every aspect of your being and setting you on the path of apotheosis.
Warning: This class will trigger a racial change from [Human] to [Demigod]
Additional beneficial effects:
- An ascendant boost to the effectiveness of all your stats
- The ability to feel the Devotion of your people, and through their belief, harvest power
- All spear-related cards gain an ascendant boost to their effectiveness
- As a demi-god, your lifespan is limitless
Class penalties:
- Your name is upon their lips
Attached card: Spear of Devotion (Legendary, Passive)
|
|
Congratulations!
You have earned a portfolio of [Spears]!
You have earned a portfolio of [Hope]!
|
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[Class] Spear of Devotion (Legendary, Passive)
You draw on the Devotion of your people so that their faith may empower your blows.
|
¡°A demigod?¡± Somehow, that was all that Rowan could manage.
The god laughed, and the sound was so full of vindication Rowan shrunk in on himself. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s perfect. Can you imagine what those old idiots are going to think when they find out about your class?¡±
¡°That I¡¯m better off dead?¡±
¡°That, yes. Oh, I can also picture the terror on their faces.¡± Aristaeus looked wistful as he spoke. ¡°I was hoping for something like this when you picked your last class. It gave you a nice base to build up to demigod status, that and your city. It¡¯s going to be tremendously important for you to take full advantage of it.¡±
¡°Because I can ¡®harvest power¡¯ from ¡®my people?¡¯¡± Rowan asked.
¡°Experience. You can harvest experience. Every time they feel grateful, every time they hope or pray for your well-being, you will be able to harvest experience. Emotions are powerful things, Rowan. Now, you can tap into them too.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t choose this,¡± the hero protested because the idea of cultivating devotion as a commodity he could exchange for progress did not appeal to him.
¡°You didn¡¯t. No one gets to choose, not when they become a Legend or a Divine. This is no longer about picking your path. It¡¯s about following who and what your choices forged you into.¡±
Rowan let himself fall until his head hit the smooth wood of the table. He might have protested the morality of treating people like cattle, but he was more than aware of the fact that the comparison wasn¡¯t quite fair.
He just had additional incentive to treat them well now.
No, it was the other implication of his new status that worried him far more. His brand new limitless lifespan. He was immortal.
Olivia wasn¡¯t.
As if reading his mind, Aristaeus spoke up again. ¡°You know, you need to pay more attention to your reading comprehension. Your status told you that you can harvest experience from people. No one ever said anything about having to use that experience yourself.¡±
Rowan tilted his head just enough to the side that he could shoot the god a glare. ¡°So, I can share my experience with my party? Get them up to, what, Legend before they hit the ceiling? Unless my fianc¨¦e is going to turn into a demigod too, I really don¡¯t see how this is going to fix any of my new problems.¡±
Aristaeus¡¯ smile grew. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. However, I wouldn¡¯t be worried about her if I were you. After all, your beloved is an Alchemist.¡± Rowan shot up in his seat, a question already on his lips. Before he could speak, however, the god beat him to it. ¡°Well, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s all the time we have. Until we meet again, Rowan.¡±
Rowan cursed, the cackling laughter of a god followed him as everything around him dissolved back into the void, and then it rose up to swallow him.
¡ª
Rowan blinked his eyes, and swayed.
He was already tipping over when his body finally decided to cooperate and his stats kicked in, firming up his footing.
¡°Stop and answer you¡!¡± Blake¡¯s voice rang out, drawing Rowan¡¯s attention to the other hero where he stood, spinning on the spot and looking around like a man possessed.
¡°Blake?¡± Kayla asked hesitatingly, hand to her head as she looked around. ¡°Wait, am I back to the exact moment when the vision started?¡±
It certainly seemed that way to Rowan. Everyone else was still passed out on the floor, and the body of the so-called demon king was only starting to dissolve and flake away as black-tinged mana.
That realization finally forced Rowan into motion as he raced over to Olivia, tenderly checking her over for any signs of wounds. He let out a long breath of relief when he realized she had none. For all appearances, she¡¯d simply decided to take a nap on the floor.
Scooping her up, he turned to the other two heroes, only to find them studying a massive gate that had materialized on the far wall at some point.
¡°What is that back?¡± Rowan asked as he walked closer cautiously, shifting his hold on Olivia so her head was cradled against his shoulder.
¡°Probably so the ¡®demon king¡¯ can slip its soul back to where from,¡± Kayla groused, glaring at the gate ineffectually. ¡°We can¡¯t pass through. I tried.¡±
¡°Of course you did,¡± Rowan sighed tiredly as he ventured a little closer himself, eying the gate.
¡°No, really. If you try, you¡¯ll just get a system message.¡±
¡°She¡¯s right.¡± At the look Rowan sent him, Blake flushed and looked away. ¡°What? I¡ might have wanted to try and make sure that thing couldn¡¯t come back.¡±
¡°And potentially leave everyone who cares about you behind, Blake?¡± Rowan chided, but his curiosity was no piqued.
Slowly, cautiously, and making doubly sure that no part of Olivia could even brush up against the gate, Rowan pushed his left hand forward. It met an invisible shield long before he could even start crossing the gate¡¯s threshold.
|
?????!
??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???.
???????? ?? ? ?????? ???????????
?/?
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Rowan never clicked the no button faster than anything he had ever done in his life. The only thing that eclipsed the sense of dread the messages inspired was the contemplative look on Kayla¡¯s face.
¡°Kayla, no.¡±
The heroine shot him a smug smile, opened her mouth, then reconsidered. ¡°Okay, fine. I¡¯m not about to say ¡®Kayla yes¡¯ and then make the worst mistake of my life, but I want you to know it was close and entirely your fault!¡±
Rowan rolled his eyes and elected to ignore her, turning to watch Blake collect his fianc¨¦es instead. The pained expression on the man¡¯s face sent Rowan¡¯s stomach churning and made him pull Olivia closer against his chest.
That was apparently enough to rouse her from whatever she was experiencing, and Rowan felt a smile of his own growing when she practically blinded him with the grin she gave him. ¡°Morning, love.¡± The adorable alchemist murmured, snaking her arm around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss.
Rowan didn¡¯t exactly fight her, and when they finally parted so they could breathe, he gently pressed his forehead against hers. ¡°Are you ready to go home?¡±
The question left him with all the weight of his exhaustion, the fear that had raged in him, and the anguish at all that they¡¯d lost.
Her small smile still made it all worth it. ¡°Yes.¡±
Chapter 79: Settling In
When the group of demon king slayers finally stumbled out of the fortress, they were met with resounding applause, hollers, and congratulations. The army transformed into a roiling mass of faces, all looking to have a moment with the heroes of the hour.
Rowan just felt tired.
Even with their ecstatic mood taken into account, the soldiers looked like a sorry lot. Most were dirty. All had tear tracks running down their faces. They were celebrating like people on death row given one final opportunity to run wild.
In the midst of all that, with the wild difference between their state and their emotions, Rowan found himself numb to all that had happened. His fellow demon king slayers seemed to share his sentiment.
The brief moment of their own elation over their survival had swiftly given way to profound sorrow when they were forced to clean up the battlefield.
They, and the rest of the army, refused to leave the bodies of their allies to rot in there, but with how thorough the demon king¡¯s destruction was, scraping their dead off the floors and walls would be closer in nature to hazmat cleanup than something that could be described as ¡®collecting their remains.¡¯
They ultimately decided not to even make the attempt. Working together, Kayla and Olivia were able to produce a flame that burned so hot it started to warp the ridiculously tough murals of the demonic lair.
By the time they were done, not even ashes were left, and Rowan was struck by a profound sense of loss.
He hadn¡¯t known any of the fallen particularly well. However, just the tragedy of Fia and Desmond¡¯s young age was enough to weight down Rowan¡¯s conscious. It was funny, in a way, but now that she was gone, he would miss Tamara.
Blake, of course, had it far worse than him. The other hero moved through the crowds blank-faced and completely zoned out, focused only on gripping his two fianc¨¦es as close to him as he could. Even the twins were sticking unusually close together, and Rowan noticed the way they would occasionally glance at the other, like they were checking if they were still there.
The Mercenary King, at least, still had his soldiers. They welcomed him with other arms, and the man was soon contributing to the local noise pollution with the best of them.
That left Kayla as the odd one out.
The heroine swept her eyes over the gathered crowds, evaluated the conduct of her mages, and then found herself standing all alone, with no one to grip close or fuss over.
Food was brought out, emptying almost the entirety of their supplies that were meant to support them on their way back, and the mercenaries managed to offer up a decent stock of spirits. Rowan didn¡¯t stop the chaos from spreading, nor did he try to reign the soldiers in.
There was, of course, a secondary reason why the celebration was so awkward for Rowan.
Every time a soldier would approach him to earnestly express their thanks, every time one of them gave a muttered prayer that contained mention of his name, Rowan could feel a trickle of something well up in his soul.
It was just pooling there at the moment, but it practically felt eager to the Stalwart Hero¡¯s mystical senses.
He could tell just how easy it would be to use it, to transform it into something else ¨C into experience.
It was these odd feelings that drove him to slip out of his and Olivia¡¯s bed later that night when everyone else had gone to sleep. With the world eerily quiet, there was no one and nothing stopping Rowan from claiming a seat right next to one of the guttering bonfires that had blazed so brightly such a short time ago.
¡°Somehow, I thought I¡¯d find you here.¡± Rowan turned his head towards Blake, who stood there, pale and lightly shivering. ¡°Want me to get this thing going again?¡±
¡°Nah, I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Blake assured him, plopping down right next to Rowan.
¡°Ugh, boys. I¡¯m not interrupting a touching moment, am I?¡± Kayla¡¯s voice quipped from the other side of Rowan, and then she was sitting next to him too.
Ruefully, the Stalwart Hero shook his head, then collapsed backwards so he could have a proper view of the stunning night sky. With the bonfire all out and not a tree in sight for miles, it was the most enchanting scene Rowan had seen in a while.
¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep either?¡± Rowan pointlessly asked, keeping his eyes trained skyward.
¡°None of us could, apparently. I mean, it¡¯s not every day that you come face to face with a god whose obligated to answer your questions.¡±
Kayla¡¯s comment made Rowan furrow his brow and tilt his head to face her. ¡°Obligated? Honestly, Aristaeus looked downright happy to be having a chat.¡±
¡°Lucky you. I¡¯m stuck with the Goddess of Secrets, remember? Pulling those out of her is like pulling teeth. Worse, really. At least force helps there,¡± Kayla grumbled, but Rowan knew she¡¯d likely have it no other way.
¡°Sarina was¡ well, it¡¯s passed,¡± Blake conceded, and all three friends fell silent.
¡°Did your gods¡ did they talk about the cycle, at all?¡± Rowan finally whispered his question, unsure how to broach the subject.
¡°Of course she did, I made sure to ask about it. Really, I can totally believe that it would be the divines themselves who kicked off this shit party everyone¡¯s had to deal with since. And of course, they¡¯re trying to keep people from ascending by messing with the system.¡±
¡°Wait, what?¡± Rowan was sitting up now, alarm obvious on his face.
¡°What what? Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t noticed all the inconsistencies and then asked for clarification?¡± Kayla taunted with her signature smirk of superiority.
¡°Kayla, not the time, I want to know about this too,¡± Blake joined in.
¡°Traitor,¡± Rowan hissed. ¡°You¡¯re implying that she could keep taunting me if you didn¡¯t want answers as badly!¡±
¡°Do you want me to explain or not?¡± the heroine snapped, and the two guys finally decided to shut up.
She gave it a few moments longer knowing they were prone to breaking out into bickering quickly, then finally launched into an explanation.
¡°You know how people say the system constantly grows? That¡¯s because it does. It¡¯s testing things, evolving, checking to see what works. Most changes roll out automatically, but some require direct admin access to confirm. Gods can act as very low-level admins, so they¡¯ve been vetoing a whole host of upgrades meant to take the system further and make it more convenient.¡±
¡°Like what?¡± Rowan demanded, outrage easily slipping into his voice.
¡°Like the ability to upgrade your heart card, or crafter-based tier progression systems that don¡¯t necessitate a world where everyone ventures outside of civilization to kill something if they don¡¯t have a heart card of sufficient quality.¡±
¡°They¡¯re saying no to that? That¡¯s just¡ barbaric!¡± Rowan growled, but he couldn¡¯t find it in himself to doubt the claims. Frankly, that sounded exactly like something a bored divine creature set on keeping their position would do.
¡°It¡¯s something, all right. Just be grateful they can¡¯t completely cut off all the ways to progress through tiers and levels, or we¡¯d be in real trouble.¡±
¡°You know¡ it¡¯s kind of ironic, and makes me want to smash my head against the wall, but I really can¡¯t blame the king for what he did with all the information laid out like that,¡± Rowan admitted.
¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? Right?¡± Kayla looked less than amused.
¡°I mean, if his plan did work, he could have prevented future summons and fixed the problem permanently.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a pretty big if. I¡¯ll tell you right now, he couldn¡¯t have managed with what the gods do to hero cards so that they¡¯re neutered versions of the real thing,¡± Kayla insisted, and Rowan quickly latched onto the subject.
¡°I¡¯m assuming, then, that you got all the details on the requirements that had to be met in order to unseal our hero cards? And did you meet all of them yourselves?¡± Rowan asked.
An odd expression swept over Kayla¡¯s face before she collected herself and shot Rowan a smirk. ¡°You know, you¡¯re asking for a lot right there, asking us to trust you with such personal details like the state of our heart card.¡±
Blake rolled his eyes, but Kayla¡¯s joking tone prevented any danger of an argument breaking out. ¡°No on the details, but I did get my heart card unsealed too,¡± Blake said.
¡°Mine¡¯s divine as well, and you two are no fun to tease anymore. Anyway, yes, I got the details from my goddess. Apparently, past the murder of all the demonic leaders, you need to kill one of the legends yourself, to be present when the ¡®demon lord¡¯ dies, and receive the approval of at least three different gods.¡±
Rowan latched onto that last requirement, disbelief coloring his face. ¡°Wait, how did any of us manage to get enough gods to sign off on us unsealing our heart cards? Isn¡¯t that the sort of thing that they¡¯d work as hard as they could to prevent?¡±
¡°I had the same question,¡± Kayla admitted. ¡°Apparently, you¡¯re to blame.¡±
¡°Me?¡± Rowan almost looked affronted.
¡°You. Apparently, my goddess absolutely loved it when you managed to somehow provoke citywide panic among people scheming against you, and decided to officially endorse you. Without telling anyone, of course. I think she thought no one else would be foolish enough to do it.¡±
¡°And the last god that had to sign off on me getting a shot at Divinity?¡±
¡°That would be his goddess.¡± Kayla motioned at Blake, who looked more surprised than Rowan. ¡°When you saved his life, she reluctantly did it as a gesture of good will towards Aristaeus. She didn¡¯t know she¡¯d be the third to do so.¡±
Rowan took a moment to process that, before grinning smugly. ¡°Checks out. Divine reluctance to coordinate, right there. Okay, that was me, what about you two?¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
¡°Well, when that happened, all the gods received a notification about it. Then our goddesses got upset, and leaned on Aristaeus to reciprocate. Once he did, it was simple for the two to find a subordinate god of theirs to approve of their chosen.¡±
¡°So¡ we¡¯re in the position to possibly ascend, just because the gods decided to get prissy that their own toy wasn¡¯t as successful as the others?¡± Blake sounded so done with gods that Rowan felt immense satisfaction.
It wasn¡¯t all that long ago that his best friend was the perfect picture of devotion. No matter what future held for them, Rowan would never regret handing off that mental defense card to Blake.
¡°Pretty much, yes,¡± Kayla confirmed, and all three of them fell into a comfortable silence.
Their stories weren¡¯t done. There would be much to do. Much to plan around, and even scheme, to protect the people they cared about or pursue personal ambitions. The chances of them clashing in the future were also non-negligible.
In spite of all that, in that moment, they were almost better off than before their summoning. The dysfunctional, broken pieces of their friendship had been dragged to the surface, and at least somewhat resolved.
And they could still call each other friend.
¡°I want a promise from both of you,¡± Rowan suddenly declared, keeping his eyes fixed on the stars. ¡°No matter what happens, no matter what we become, let¡¯s at least try to avoid becoming enemies and killing each other. I promise, here and now, that unless you directly threaten the people I love, I¡¯ll¡ well, not necessarily support you, but I¡¯ll be your friend.¡±
Rowan appreciated the fact that neither of them rushed to agree. He could tell they were seriously considering his request, and all the implications it had.
¡°I promise.¡± Blake was the first to make the declaration, voice solemn.
Kayla took a bit longer, expression shifting between emotions too complex to easily name, but she eventually sighed and nodded her head. ¡°Fine. I promise, too. Really, how hard can it be for us to avoid killing each other?¡±
¡°Pretty hard, I¡¯ll reckon,¡± Rowan said with a grin. ¡°Thank you, though. Funny how things worked out. If you asked me when we first got here, I¡¯d have thought we¡¯d all jump on the chance to go back home.¡±
Nobody said anything in response to that, and their thoughtful faces didn¡¯t give away much about how they were feeling. Still, when he stood up and went to rejoin Olivia in their bed, Rowan was content with the way things had turned out.
¡ª
The next morning, Rowan woke up early and found himself in the unenviable position of forcing his army back into action thanks to the bleak realities of their situation. For one, the remnants of a battlefield that had claimed upwards of six hundred lives didn¡¯t make for a very good place to rest.
The soldiers had done their best to retrieve bodies and sort out the belongings of the dead while the hero parties sought access to the inner reaches of the fortress and fought the last two demonic leaders, but that still left plenty to be done.
In the end, they resorted to a similar way of honoring the dead to what the heroes had employed. Massive pyres were constructed, and the air was thick with the nauseating smell of cooking meat before Kayla took pity on everyone and cast some sort of spell to protect their noses.
The heroine slipped away shortly after, without a word of parting.
Kayla didn¡¯t hate the other heroes. In fact, the disdain she¡¯d started to nurture towards them had been broken down, and last night had cleared the air between them fully.
Still, it was a basic fact of reality that she wouldn¡¯t be able to spend much time with them, be it now or in the future.
Her troops were at least not too badly damaged, with only a quarter of their number falling in combat. This meant that most of her long-term plans were still intact, and her eyes narrowed dangerously as she guided the mages towards the Cartian kingdom.
Blake wasn¡¯t in as much of a hurry to leave, and surprisingly, his two noble ladies didn¡¯t press for it either. This time, none of Rowan¡¯s party members protested their presence.
In Olivia¡¯s own words, ¡°I¡¯ve kind of grown fond of them. Yes, even the Treagon.¡±
Rowan supposed that there was definitely some truth in that you couldn¡¯t risk your life alongside someone without growing to respect them at least little.
When all the work was done, and it was finally time to set out, Rowan found himself standing in front of his troops one more time. His eyes scanned their faces, the odd duality of happiness and grief shining through.
One thing united them all: they were ready to go back home.
¡°I know how difficult what I asked of you was. We ventured here, with no support from the wider kingdom, with a fraction of the numbers we should have had. In spite of that, even with the king himself trying to stop us, we¡¯ve prevailed.
¡°The demons are routed, their leaders dead, and our lands safe! Their corruption vanes as we speak, and the land they tainted can now be cleansed. I promise you, one and all, that is what we shall do. Rest¡¯s Remorse will recover, and then it will grow.
¡°No matter what the future has in store for us, you and yours will never find yourself wanting for anything again. You have my promise as your lord and as the man who fought alongside you.¡±
Rowan bowed, and the cheers he was met with were deafening.
He meant every word.
Maybe he couldn¡¯t ensure universal peace. The kingdom was likely in chaos at that very moment with the king missing. But he would do everything he possibly could to prevent his people from getting swept up in it all.
Rest¡¯s Remorse was already out on the frontier. It wasn¡¯t a place any kingdom would be in a hurry to claim, not with the demon¡¯s slain and their corruption no longer driving the levels of monsters ever higher.
Likewise, Olivia had assured him that her alchemy would let her perform minor miracles when it came to cleansing and enriching the land around their city. For the first time in countless generations, industry and agriculture would witness a resurgence in the area.
Hopefully, that would give all of Rowan¡¯s citizens stable livelihood and employment. Still, that was something for the future.
For the time, they focused on a mad rush home. No one wanted to spend any additional time out on the frontier, and the Mercenary King put his all into getting them back as quickly as possible.
They still saw combat.
The source of demonic corruption might have been destroyed, but the many creatures already affected by it weren¡¯t. Some ran when confronted by the overwhelming number of humans marching past their territory, but just as many challenged them freely.
Some of these remnants were actually powerful enough to reach the epic tier.
Those Rowan enthusiastically hunted down himself. He didn¡¯t need the experience himself anymore, but he wanted his party to be as high of a level as he could help them get to, and epics would likely become harder to come by in the future.
Of course, the steady buildup of power in his chest brought on by his new class was reassuring on that front, even if he still needed to experiment with it.
Monsters or not, they were still traveling faster than when making their push into the wastes. They didn¡¯t need to worry about preserving their strength or ambushes by the legendary demons. All in all, it took a mere five days to make their way from the core of the wastes back to Rest¡¯s Remorse.
The first sight of the city was a balm on Rowan¡¯s soul. There was no hostile army surrounding it, and no monsters anywhere in sight. The city walls, now completely rebuilt, towered higher than ever and practically gleamed in the light of day.
Banners were hung from the same walls, and wreathes of flowers decorated them. There was a festive atmosphere to the city, and they hadn¡¯t even stepped foot inside it yet.
They were spotted well before they reached the gates by guards patrolling the battlements. This meant that, by the time they were walking past the entrance to Rowan¡¯s city, people were already lining the streets.
Rowan doubted that the whole thing was spontaneous, but the true hero¡¯s welcome they received, complete with the flower petals raining down on them and people cheering their names, was touching.
More than a few soldiers broke down crying, or even broke rank to clasp their arms possessively around their loved ones.
Rowan didn¡¯t mind.
In fact, he immediately proclaimed that while those who wanted to accompany them all the way to the mayor¡¯s manor were free to do so, the soldiers were officially free to reunite with their families. He felt more than a little honored when the vast majority of the army chose to stay.
They found Kayden and Camilla, along with the manor¡¯s staff, waiting for them in front of the building. The baroness did not wait for them to close the distance, instead surging forward to envelop her daughter in a hug. Rowan was touched when she dragged him into the same hug a moment later, gripping them both like she was afraid they would vanish.
¡°With everything we heard¡ and what was happening¡ Welcome home, both of you. Welcome home,¡± Camilla whispered tearfully, only holding them tighter.
Rowan missed the wistful way Blake was watching the interaction, but the hero¡¯s fianc¨¦es didn¡¯t. He got plenty of hugs himself, even as they were practically dragged into the house. Kayden watched them go with a smile and a brief hug, staying behind to declare to the army that they were free, and to invite them to a feast prepared in their honor.
As the cheering soldiers headed off to the training grounds where tables were being dragged out, the baron¡¯s family congregated to the dining room, where a feast of their own waited. Blake, too, was invited to the more private setting, provoking embarrassed mutters of thanks, especially when the baroness hugged him too and thanked him for helping protect her family.
No one spoke while they ate. The food, after all the travel rations, the fighting, and the stress that was finally draining out of their bodies, tasted divine. When they were finally done, however, Rowan couldn¡¯t put off his questions anymore.
He opened his mouth, but a thousand different things to ask surged up, and he could only settle on ¡°What happened?¡±
The baron sighed and leaned back in his chair, but his expression was more wistful than upset. ¡°Shortly after the first announcement of a legendary demon falling, we got news that an army was laying siege to all the border fortresses between our territory and the rest of the kingdom. One army even ventured deep into our lands, laying siege on our home itself. When they found out we weren¡¯t there, they sent out a messenger demanding our immediate return and surrender.¡±
¡°They didn¡¯t push all the way out to Rest¡¯s Remorse itself?¡±
¡°No.¡± The baroness seemed amused by the suggestion. ¡°The King certainly has plenty of soldiers under his command. However, trying something like that would still stretch his armies thin. No, they just sat there and pressured us to comply.¡±
¡°It was looking like we might just have to do that, too. Especially when a messenger came, declaring that if we did, our daughter would be spared when the heroes were executed for their rebellion against the kingdom.¡± The baron¡¯s voice was incredibly bitter.
The news made both Rowan and Blake bristle. The only thing that prevented a more visceral reaction was the fact that the problem was already dealt with.
¡°They¡¯re not laying siege on your lands anymore, right?¡± Rowan hurried to ask, wondering if the kingdom had any clue about the death of their monarch.
¡°No, they¡¯re not. That was brought to a swift conclusion when the death of the king came out,¡± the baron confessed, making Rowan frown and shoot the princess a questioning look.
The woman looked confused, but then blushed as a look of realization crossed her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forgot you wouldn¡¯t know. When a king or other important officials are instated, they link to special artifacts. When they die, those artifacts immediately send out an alert to the linked watcher on duty.¡±
¡°So, people knew about it the second we killed the king?¡± Rowan¡¯s words made the baron give him a startled look, and the baroness to smile smugly.
¡°I did tell you it was them,¡± the woman declared, looking pleased.
Her husband looked conflicted. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed that, but¡ I¡¯m just happy you survived.¡± There was plenty he wasn¡¯t saying, and Rowan could see that.
Then again, the hero had heard plenty about what the relationship between the king and the baron used to be like before it soured. In a way, Rowan imagined that it would be like him hearing about Blake¡¯s demise.
¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m sorry it had to come to that,¡± Rowan offered.
¡°No, no, he¡ he wanted to protect our kingdom, but the way he decided to do it¡.¡±
¡°Um, on the subject, what is happening in the capital? If you happen to know?¡± It was the princess who asked the question, and in spite of trying to look relaxed, the anxiety in her voice was impossible to miss.
¡°It¡¯s not good, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the baroness confessed, giving the woman a look of pity. ¡°Your brother and sister have erupted into all out hostilities. The crown prince is the designated heir, but no one knows what happened to the king¡¯s heart card, and the elder princess has supporters of her own.¡±
¡°I¡ see.¡± Blake¡¯s princess looked anything but pleased.
Rowan didn¡¯t know whether the princess harbored a desire to claim the throne for herself, but the trio would have their work cut out for them. After all, Blake had outright expressed their intentions to return to the capital post-haste. It was all Rowan could do to convince them to rest for a day.
Blake¡¯s party excused themselves shortly after, leaving the baron¡¯s family alone. It was with a small, happy smile that Rowan reflected on the fact that he was part of that family now.
¡°Your friends will be heading off to the capital, won¡¯t they?¡± the baroness asked, clearly picking up on the trio¡¯s tension. ¡°Will you be heading out with them?¡±
¡°No.¡± And Rowan meant it too. He wasn¡¯t going to abandon Blake entirely, but he was neither willing to immediately jump into another conflict nor happy about all the potential politicking.
¡°What, then, will you two be getting up to?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Olivia drawled as she lay her head against Rowan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°With the kingdom in chaos, it will take a while for anyone to come bother us, unless we get involved voluntarily. And, well, I¡¯ve always wanted at least three children. We do need to get started on those.¡±
Rowan flushed scarlet, much to the amusement of his in-laws. Olivia did drive a very good point home though.
For the first time since his arrival in his world, there was nothing truly hanging over the hero¡¯s head. No quest to save the world. No ticking timer that was pushing him onwards before the demon lord could grow beyond any mortal¡¯s ability to handle.
He had the time to enjoy his new life, and to properly settle in.
He wasn¡¯t going to waste it.
Side Story: The First Hero Summoner
It had long been theorized by [Scholars] that there are infinite parallel universes and realities. Those theories eventually led to the development of the summoning rituals, with [Scholar] Vindictis Estarial discovering the formula of the Spirit Summoning, otherwise known as the Familiar Contract.
Ever since then, the question of whether other humanoids could also become the targets of summonings has been explored from many angles without any progress, thus being mostly ignored and treated as little more than a passing curiosity. That was, until the blessed dual class [Arcanist / Archpriest]{1} Carreen Zola tried a completely different and new approach.
He theorized that mana had inherent tiers of power defined by their concentration and an additional undefined element. The example he brought forward was the rarity tiers in the Cards, and especially the Heart Cards everyone received upon reaching the age of majority. {2} He explained that what the system called ¡°Rarity¡± was, in fact, more than just an indicator of how difficult it was to acquire one. It was also a descriptor of the type of mana those cards used and were made of. Other [Scholars], while initially opposed to the idea, could not counter-argue that the mana fluctuations upon the formations of cards or Heart Cards varied by tier and even color, with the following reference table being created:
Rarity ¨C Color
- Common ¡ú White
- Uncommon ¡ú Green
- Rare ¡ú Azure
- Epic ¡ú Magenta
- Legendary ¡ú Orange (the color of divine mana)
For about two decades, this was the agreed upon system, although Careen Zola still felt that there was something missing. He had witnessed a blessing once in his youth and knew that the color of divine mana was not the same as that of Legendary Cards, as much as kings and other Legendary card holders disagreed. Due to endangering the monarch¡¯s claims of demi-godhood, he ended up being chased from the kingdom he resided in, eventually finding shelter in the Church of Sarina and the Pantheon of the Effervescent Sun. {3}
Even though Zola changed his class to [Deacon], he didn¡¯t stop researching the nature of mana and trying to create a summoning ritual for intelligent life. As he made more and more discoveries in the field of Mana, the higher stationed clergy started taking note of him, with even one of The Seven showing passing interest in his work. Eventually, his work {4} earned him the Legendary version of the class card Arcanist, it being one of the few documented examples of the world bestowing legendary cards outside of combat.
During that time, he had already advanced his class and station to [Bishop] and chose to continue pursuing his existing class instead of performing the class-change ceremony and leaving the church. Impressed by his dedication to his gods and religion, the gods eventually chose him as their [Archpriest] at the age of 67 and bestowed upon him the [Blessing of the Second Class], one of the rarer and more expensive gifts they could give. Of note here is that he requested the gods grant him the boon while he stood in a measuring and recording array.
He then used that data to not only disprove the then prevalent notions that Legendary mana was divine mana, but also added a new color to the existing table, thus resulting in the following:
Rarity ¨C Color
- Common ¡ú White
- Uncommon ¡ú Green
- Rare ¡ú Azure
- Epic ¡ú Magenta
- Legendary ¡ú Orange
- Divine ¡ú Gold
In notes he never published but were found locked in a hidden safe decades after his time had passed, he noted that Divinity itself just seemed to be a tier of mana, instead of some unreachable concept, and that, in theory, if one managed to level and tier up their Cards enough to reach the peak of Legendary Tier, they would only need a Divine Catalyst in order to condense their own Divinity and Domain. A Catalyst which existed in every Divine Being, and later also found to exist within Summoned Heroes under certain conditions and power level. {5} But this is the topic of a different book.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Continuing from his ascension to the seat of power of the Pantheon of Seven, [Archpriest] Zola turned to the gods for help with the last phase of his experiment. His previous attempts to form a stable, if one way, passage between worlds using Legendary mana had not been a full failure, but their results were gory and left the subjects of such transportation unable to stay in the world of the living. He had experimented with fishing for and transporting just the soul, but even then, Legendary mana created a tunnel that was too unstable and shredded the soul whole. By the time the soul reached the summoner, all that was left of a person was a word, or maybe if they were lucky, an image.
Zola assumed that he needed a higher tier of mana and control in order to properly stabilize the dimensional tunnel and bring through the unharmed souls of recently deceased individuals. He prayed to the Goddess Sarina, asking for her to possess him and to try and complete the ritual together. This was the date of the first success, and the arrival of the first Otherworlder on Esteria.
It was also the date of the arrival of the first demon king through the weakened veil of our world.
¡ª
[1] While dual-classes are rare, they are not unheard of. The system and the gods reward effort and faith, respectively. If one manages to prove themselves with noteworthy achievements to their name, The System will eventually grant them a powerful boon that is aligned with their desires. For a full list of all known system boons, please reference ¡°A History of The System¡± (203 PD), by [Historian] Orpha Zolla. Divine boons are granted in the forms of blessings to the ones favored by the gods. Due to it being costly to do, they are only usually provided to exceptional believers or the [Archpriest] of their Pantheon. With some variations, they seem to mostly be a mirror of system-granted boons, albeit touched with the ¡®flavor¡¯ of the deity or pantheon that granted them. For more information, please refer to ¡°The Gods and their Miracles¡± (46 PD), by [Bishop] Inga Orpheus.
[2] The age of majority as defined by The system is fourteen cycles by the Taylan Calendar. {6}
[3] The Pantheon of the Effervescent Sun is composed of seven High Gods and dozens of Lower Gods. The Seven are: 1) Sarina, Goddess of the Everlasting Light, 2) Petrut, God of Unwavering Strength, 3) Lindiwe, Goddess of Love and Beauty, 4) Issac, God of the Sun, 5) Ta''oma, God of Death, 6) Ivka, Goddess of Victory, and 7) Nestori, God of the Hearth. The full descriptions of each god as well as a list and descriptions of all the Lower Gods can be found in ¡°The Gods and their Miracles¡± (46 PD), by [Bishop] Inga Orpheus.
[4] The full list of Careen Zola¡¯s discoveries and accomplishments can be found on Page 300 of this book, or in the appendix under the chapter titled ¡°Discoveries and Research (Parts 1 through 7)¡±. Additional information can be found in the book ¡°The Life and Works of Careen Zola¡± (168 PD), by [Historian] Elisabet Aistulf.
[5] Information on the history of the discovery of Divine Catalysts within the bodies of Heroes, and the subsequent Great Cataclysm thereafter can be found in ¡°The Sins of Esteria¡¯s People¡± by [Divine Inquisitor] Alphius Yudes.
[6] The Taylan Calendar was named after its creator, the [Astrologist] Alexis Taylan who spent most of his life looking at the night sky and the celestial cycles. According to it, a cycle is 300 days, divided into ten groupings of 30 days. A Season spans roughly a third of a cycle, for a total of three seasons. Most of the world has adopted a similar calendar system, if by different names in some regions.
New Story: Revenant Hunter Shoutout!
Apologies for the ping, but wanted to share a new story with you guys!
A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of reading Revenant Hunter ahead of time, and honestly, it''s one of my favorite books. It reminds me of the great apocalypse stories out there like Solo Leveling, Omniscient Reader''s Viewpoint and the like. The difference, of course, is in the unique spin placed on it. You see, the author combined an apocalypse story with another thing I really enjoy: roguelites. These are the games where you pick your character, gear up, and then tackle all the levels and bosses ahead of you until you either triumph or perish, and it''s most often the latter. Well, the power system in the book is much the same, and it works amazingly well! There''s going to be epic moments, there''s going to be drama, and you''re going to watch the MC suffer, but it''s never going to be pointless or just the author picking on both his characters and us as readers. So, give this book a shot, and I think it''ll surprise you!
So if a rougelite + monster hunting + party dynamics sounds fun to you, please check it out and show AG some love!
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Revenant HunterYou could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
[Roguelite meets monster hunter. An action progression fantasy with party dynamics, monster invasions, and lots of strategy.]
When a young sailor¡¯s life is torn apart by monsters, there¡¯s only one path left for him: the way of the Revenant.
Davon lost everything to the rising tide of monster attacks. Becoming a near-immortal warrior gives him the chance to enact vengeance. Joined by Kai and Lyla, two other new Revenants, Davon embarks on the mysterious journey of reliquaries, resurrection, and costly power.
Then a new kind of monster invades the mainland. As humanity scrambles to defend itself, Davon and his new team must quickly learn to master their abilities and navigate the horror of war. With each other to lean on, they just might restore hope to the Revenants ¡ª and for themselves.
Expect daily updates for book 1!
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I Started a New Series! Shadow Immortal!
Heeelloo everyone!
Earlier this week, I launched a new series, Shadow Immortal!
It''s cyberpunk! Space! Eldritch monstrosities from beyond the stars! Weak to strong storylines! I love all of these things and I love both reading and writing about them. Shadow Immortal is a book I¡¯ve wanted to write for some time now because cyberpunk settings have an inherent grittiness mixed with hopefulness.
These are stories where you see characters fall lower than you do in most others, yet they still have the chance, no matter how slim, to crawl their way back up. Likewise, the struggle of man versus machine and what it means to so thoroughly alter yourself is something I ADORE.
Will you get the power you need, protect your friends and loved ones, and tear the life you want out of the universe¡¯s hands, or will you let yourself become a monster? That¡¯s what Adrian eventually needs to face on his journey. Along with all the corpos, gangs, and a thousand other dangers a universe such as this might contain, of course.
I¡¯m not going to spoil more, so if what you heard appeals to you, please join me for this ride!
A. T. Valentine
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Shadow Immortal [Cyberpunk LitRPG with Cultivation]
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Adrian was born a couple hundred years too late to witness humans ruling the stars. The days of relentless scientific advancement are long gone. Humanity¡¯s former cradle has become the birthplace of nightmares, so Adrian lives on a world far from Terra.
But Adrian has a secret. His eyes are failing him, and in this age, blindness means death. When the chance arrives to earn a couple quick credits for a new pair of cybernetic eyes, he jumps on it. Only, Adrian gets more than he bargained for. With a slew of gangs, corpos, and a ruthless scientist now on his tail, he needs to do his best to survive and keep their hands off the prototype tech stuck inside of his skull.
Oh, and his new eyes are making him see horrors beyond mortal comprehension, but no biggie¡ right?
Expect:
+ A world where sci-fi meets eldritch nightmares, and everyone is worse off
+ A determined MC who¡¯s out to make life better
+ A unique cyberpunk/eldritch world
+Daily 2k+ chapters
What NOT to Expect:
- A story where MC has tons of plot armor
- A story where only the MC is capable of using his head
- Cardboard side characters
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