On the streets of the city of Bourn
Neil and his group walked down the cobblestone street toward the Vaiolet Tavern, the branch of the mercenary guild in that city.Their boots struck dry against the damp ground; a cold breeze slipped between the buildings, carrying the distant murmur of merchants closing their stalls.
Ever since they had delivered June to her father's house, none of them had spoken a word. The silence had grown so heavy it was almost a weight on their shoulders. To break it, Sam said:
—"Good thing they were kind enough to hire a cleric to treat you all."
Debora barely frowned, eyes fixed ahead, keeping her pace steady.
Debora: —"It was the least they could do for protecting their daughter."
Jeff turned his head toward me, half-smiling like he was fishing for something.
Jeff: —"Hey, Raymond."
—"What do you want?"
Jeff: —"Just curious... where are you from?"
I didn't know whether to answer truthfully, but that would mean saying something like: "Hey man, your life is a lie. Your world is a VRMMORPG that hasn't even launched in reality yet."Way too problematic. So I went with the origin of the original Sam.
According to his memories and what I could deduce, he came from a village in a mountainous region. From the snow in some memories, I guessed it was up north.
Hmm... interesting. Wait, am I overthinking this?
Debora: —"Hey... hey, pay attention!"
I blinked, shaking my head.
—"Ah, sorry... I drift off too much... anyway, what was I saying?"
Jeff: —"Where you're from."
—"I'm a native of the North."
Noelle tilted her head, curious.
Noelle: —"You're from there?"
—"Yup."
Noelle: —"Hard to believe I've never heard a single story about a genius like you."
—"I'm no genius, just strong... Besides, I only got my power recently."
Debora arched a brow.
Debora: —"Got it?"
—"The story's a bit long. Truth is, a goddess granted me her blessing." (The strongest lies are the consistent ones.)
Neil Obraham, arms crossed, nodded as if it all made sense.
Neil Obraham: —"A blessing? That explains your abnormal power."
—"Yep." (Damn, maybe I should go into politics? Infrastructure... MY GOVERNMENT WOULD BE AMAZING.)
Jeff: —"And what's the goddess's name?"
—"She didn't tell me. Besides, why do you want to know?" (Nah, politics is too messy... better to live peacefully once I've got my city.)
Jeff: —"To pray at her temple and ask her to bless me."
Brock: —"The only blessing you'd get is having your mouth shut."
Jeff: —"It wasn't my fault we got attacked."
Debora: —"Of course it was."
Jeff: —"Deby, you said yourself you didn't believe in death flags."
Debora: —"That changed, idiot. You're paying for your stupidity with three rounds."
Jeff: —"But that's my whole cut."
Brock smirked and clapped him on the back.
Brock: —"That's the least you owe."
Jeff: —"Fine, I'll do it."
—"Hey, where do I take this guy to claim the bounty?"
I jerked my thumb at Cedric, slung over my shoulders like a sack of flour. His eyes were open, wrists and ankles bound, a rag in his mouth muffling his grunts.
Neil Obraham: —"You mean that sack of potatoes? Bring him to headquarters."
—Will they allow it?
Debora: —"Of course. They'll just demand a cut of the reward."
—"Really? How much?"
Noelle: —"Depends on the bounty and the criminal."
—"Fine by me."
Brock: —"We're here."
I looked up. The carved wooden sign read Vaiolet, and the place smelled of freshly polished timber. Unlike the Bang branch, everything here seemed in order: tables aligned, the bar spotless, and a civilized murmur instead of the usual shouting.
We approached the bar. Neil-senpai and the others introduced me to the administrator: an older woman with her hair tied back, intense violet eyes, and a posture that radiated authority.
Violeta: —"Welcome to my branch... You must be the ones old Bang told me about?"
—"Excuse me, when did Bang do that?"
Violeta: —"Oh, you must be his star messenger?"
—"You know me?"
Violeta: —"Bang has bragged plenty about you, kid."
—"But how do you know it's me?"
Violeta: —"I have my sources."
I knew it. I've been drawing too much attention... no doubt several people are already watching me.
—"Right... hey, can I claim the bounty for this guy?"
Violeta: —"Isn't that...?"
Bryan Neil: —"Yes, the one you're thinking of. That's him."
Violeta: —"When and how did you catch him?"
—"On the way here."
Violeta: —"This is unexpected... I'll contact the proper authorities and bring your reward shortly."
Neil made a move to speak, but I cut him off.
Neil Obraham: —"Wait!"
—"Shut up, Senpai."
Neil Obraham: —"Hold on, I need to talk to Violeta."
—"I need to talk to you first."
Neil Obraham: —"Fine... Violeta, I'll speak with you later."
Violeta: —"No problem. I'll be back in half an hour."
She motioned, and two assistants carried Cedric away. Then she disappeared into the back to call the authorities.
Noelle was watching me intently.
Noelle: —"What are you doing, Raymond?"
—"You all got hurt fighting most of the bandits. It's only fair to split the bounty."
Neil Obraham: —"But we didn't defeat Cedric or his men. You did."
—"Doesn't matter. Think of it as compensation for not stepping in sooner."
Debora: —"Fine by me."
Jeff: —"You're generous, brother."
—"So now I'm your brother?"
Jeff: —"Sure, if that's what you want."
Neil Obraham: —"Then we accept your proposal."
A tall, broad-shouldered man approached, bald and eyebrowless, his steps firm, his gaze arrogant. He bore the insignia of a Platinum-level mercenary.
Clato: —"You're the ones who caught Ravenok?"
Jeff: —"Yeah, big guy."
Clato: —"Then you'd better give me the credit for the bounty."
Brock: —"You kidding me?"
Clato: —"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Neil Obraham: —"Sorry, but we won't do that."
Clato: —"How about a wager?"
Brock: —"I'm listening."
Noelle and Debora:—"Brock!!"
Clato: —"Come down to the cellar in half an hour. If you beat me, I'll give you something far more valuable than the bounty."
Brock: —"Deal."
Clato walked off, passing Violeta, who led him to the rear door that opened to the cellar.
Debora: —"What's wrong with you, Brock?!"
Brock: —"You know I can't resist when someone says "wager."
—"Don't blame him, Senpai. If he offered something more valuable, that means it's worth it."
Brock: —"See? The kid gets me."
—"But let me make something clear."
Neil Obraham: —"Go ahead, Raymond."
—"I'm taking part in whatever that guy proposed. If I win, I keep what he offered. You all keep Cedric's bounty."
Neil Obraham: —"Fine. It's your decision."
Noelle: —"Are you sure about this?"
—"Yeah, don't worry."
Debora: —"You know... sometimes it feels like you're not a child. Well, makes sense: you're twelve, almost an adult."
Brock: —"True. You're strange... but you act like a grown man with experience."
—"Hahaha." (Sometimes I act like a kid, other times like an adult... Damn Default trait, piece of SHIT!)
Jeff: —"Kid, you'd better win."
—"So soon I stopped being your brother?"
Jeff: —"Sorry."
We kept talking, joking, teasing, until the half hour was up.
And then...
Half an hour later
While Neil and Bryan's group waitedVaiolet Tavern (Mercenary Guild)
From the back door came a steady, metallic pounding, like a drum climbing the narrow stair. The sound grew until four knights burst into the tavern. Their armor, a dull gray, seemed to swallow the light. On each chest, the insignia of the Dark Sun burned like a warning.
They walked with the confidence of those who never ask permission.
—"Where's the trash? Where's the anarchist?" —growled Officer Benjamin Craus at the front, his voice rough as stone scraping bone.
Violeta stared without blinking. Then she dipped her head slightly, raising one finger to point toward the guild's storeroom. There, a pair of messengers had already tied Cedric to a chair again.
—"He's in the storeroom, Officer Craus" —she replied in a tone so neutral it was impossible to tell whether she was pleased or indifferent.
The knights advanced unhurriedly but with the weight of inevitable judgment. Cedric watched them arrive, eyes distant, as if elsewhere. One of them, without a word, kicked him in the chest. The blow knocked him off the chair and left him sprawled on the floor.
—"Filthy parasite... slave scum" —the aggressor spat, hauling him up by force.
Another knight leaned close, the shadow of his helm covering his face.
—"Ravenok, for the crimes of murdering nobles, extortion, robbery, and for leading the carrion... I have the pleasure of telling you your head will roll this very afternoon in Weisberg Square." —As he spoke, he shoved a rough gag into his mouth, earning a muffled gasp.
Cedric didn't resist. No curse, no plea. Only his eyes, dark and deep, lost in a thousand thoughts but anchored to a single resolve.
"You... maybe you were right... but... seriously?... You tell me to endure this rotten system?... I'd rather die, but taking this filth down with me. This filth that thinks... it is... noble!"
The knights turned toward the door. Violeta was already there, waiting, a step inside the shadows.
—"Here's the bounty. A thousand silver coins for facilitating the capture." —said Officer Craus, tossing her a leather pouch that jingled like execution bells.
—"Always a pleasure doing business with justice." —she replied, not the faintest smile on her lips.
Craus leaned in slightly, as if to make sure his words sank in.
—"Tell those who caught him their names are already in the Kingdom's records. They'd better stay in line... or they could be next."
They turned and dragged Cedric toward the exit. Their boots struck the wood like a clock marking the end of his time.
When he crossed the threshold and the gray light of the street washed over his face, he no longer looked like a prisoner...
...but like a sheathed sword.