Walking through the ruins, I can't help but feel like this Dyeyong guy is just getting us onto some very hard mandatory side quest... however, if I know anything from my life on Earth, there is one thing a person shall never do – get into debts. And if we don't get pardoned by the mayor... we may be in trouble later. Even if I do not personally want to help him. Moreover, I doubt Alaric will miss a chance to do something stupid and almost die while trying to help others. Well, it is what it is.
We make our way to the big house I broke into before. The door was not just open, but barely hanging on the hinges.
"By the way, the damage to my precious gates will also be pardoned, 'Saint'", says the mayor.
It gets the rest of the party to look at me. Please, don't make me explain to them how I suddenly become a main character in "Kyle MD" medical drama...
We proceed into the second floor, right into the study where I found the silver petals. The clock on the wall was steadily ticking. Looks like since my last visit, the silver is gone. I really hope it isn't gone into his stomach again, because I am not helping him again!
"Well then, please, take a seat", Mortan sat down behind his desk, now devoid of plate and its silver.
All that is on the table now is a small cup, probably with tea. We also sit down, on 4 chairs that weren't here before. He really had prepared to greet us, didn't he?
"So, let's get to the business. What is it you want?", I ask.
"Just a little thing for you to do. I am sure that the 'hero' will have no problems with a small task, is that so?", his voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Alaric flinched a bit as the mayor said the word "hero". He's putting on a smile, but... this day was really harsh on the guy, wasn't it?
"And... what's your end of the bargain?"
"I see that the supposed Saint isn't as pure and innocent as the prophecy says. Well, as a businessman, I can respect that", Mortan chuckles, "All the depts you would own to the city of Othburten will be forgiven, and your journey won't end in prison after being unable to pay them off."
"Hmm... I see", I nod.
"I assume we're fine the-"
"I would like to also request a free night for all of us in some hot- I mean, an inn in the town. It is evening right now, and we wouldn't want to travel in the dark. Will that be possible?"
"I-", he stutters after my words, "I see... yes, very much so. You are a shrewd man, Saint. Are you sure you don't want to stay? Lord of Chains would take kindly to such an enterprising young man."
"You flatter me."
"Uhm, may I say something?", Elaina raised her hand, as if we were in school.
"Of course, mage, speak."
"We are being pardoned... a very big dept, from what I can see about the ruined landscape. Is it really a 'small task', as you claim?"
Good point. If it would be some fetch quest, or "kill 10 boars collect 5 apples", I doubt he would allow us to get scot-free. It shall be something... bigger, right?
"Ah, seems like I... underestimated the hero's friends."
"Please, good sir, nobody here is that stupid. I was thinking the same thing", said Alaric.
No, I... I doubt he was.
"In that case, I see no reason to prolong it further. It is a closely guarded secret, so... you four will be the first ones to know of it."
Mayor Dyeyong pulled some paper from below his desk. It seemed like a contract... because of course it did. Everything in this city looks like a contract.
We stood from the chairs and walked closer to the desk. The paper was, in fact, a contract. However, it was... very weird. Only one party mentioned – being, of course, mayor Dyeyong – and it seems like Othburten and its mayor gets nothing from this contract. The terms were as follows: "Mortan Desbet Dyeyong II, mayor of Othburten, agrees to transfer 1/4 of the taxes gathered to the 2nd party, as well as keep at least 80% of Othburten's infrastructure operational at all times. In case of failing either of the above obligations, Mortan Desbet Dyeyong will pay The Price with Othburten and everyone in it."
"By The Price!", said Elaina, Boldwyn and Alaric.
"The hell?!", I look at him, "What is this contract?! How is it beneficial to you?! Why would you sign?!"
"Yeah, the man's right! This is bullcrap. Did the second party force you to write it or what?", Boldwyn was also shocked.
"Please, all of you, there's nothing to be surprised about. All mayors of Othburten pen such a contract down. Reason being... well, some stones better left unturned. I am sure that smart people as you would understand it."
Tsk. He isn't telling us, is he?
"Shouldn't we discuss a more pressing matter? Such as me 'paying with Othburten and everyone in it'? Stopping it is exactly a task I have for you."
"What does it even mean? How can you even pay with a city?", asks Alaric.
"Oh, it is very simple. You just need to look in the window. It should start any moment now."
We quickly dash to the window behind mayor's back, while he calmly sips on tea. Behind the window we see the part of Othburten that wasn't destroyed. Nothing was happening. I could hear every single tick of the clock right above my head. I looked at the clock – 8:59. Almost 9 PM. So, what is-
"It can't be!", yelled Elaina.
I look at the window. One by one, countless huge tragedy and comedy masks appear above the city. Purple, violet, dark red... and all of them are laughing, even the "sad" ones. My head hurts. My head hurts, damn it! And it isn't because the laughter loud or anything! Their laugh fries my brain! And not only that! Mere seconds after seeing the masks, my vision went almost blind! I can't see beyond like a few meters away from me! I feel like my eyeballs are melting out of their orbits... I fall to my knees. Looks like others in the room are in pain too... damn it! Uhh...
"L-larger Restoration...", I barely manage to say under the crushing pain.
Suddenly, it's gone. Headache and ringing sound inside of my head is gone, and eyesight become normal. I quickly stand up and yell "Larger Restoration!" again, 4 times. Mayor, as well as Alaric and company also return to normal.
"It's... it's The Price!", says Elaina.
"What?!"
That's... that's the Lord of Chains? A god?!
"What the hell is it, silver-eater?!", I grab mayor by the collar.
"Your mage is correct. That is The Price. And now, He is yours to deal with."
"You're kidding! We may be heroes, but... it's a God we are talking about!", Boldwyn yelled at him.
"Does it seem like my problem? I decided to make a gamble, betting on you. If I decided wrong, well... I guess I will just go down with you, and my city."
"Everyone, just run! We aren't citizens, so-", Elaina tried to run towards the door.
"You are wrong. Contract clearly says that The Price will take everyone within Othburten. As such, you will not be able to leave it", Dyeyong said calmly.
"To hell with this madman! Alaric, Kai, let's get out of here!", Boldwyn also rushed towards the door.
We made it out of the mansion. I also used Haste on myself, as well as the rest of the party, twice. This way, we would be able to reach the gate of Othburten in no time! We just need to keep running, so-
"Careful!"
Alaric stops me and Boldwyn, as an enormous chain erupts from the ground, breaking the house that was at that place apart. Countless masks in the sky seem to watch us now, their laugh changing from villainous to hysterical, as if he... or, rather, He saw the biggest joke in His life. More chains started appear to around us, right after we made our way to the square. It seems like He has no intention of letting us go.
"Look!", Elaina pointed at the sky.
The chains that were previously aimed somewhere above suddenly surged downwards, intending to crash into us.
"Scatter! It's impossible to stop a God!", yelled Boldwyn.
However, it was late. I already, instinctively, yelled, "Enhance Ability! Shield!" The huge barrier appears in the sky, between chains and us. Yeah, what was I even thinking? I can't possible stop a godlike being! I closed my eyes and covered my head with my hands, bracing for impact, knowing it would not save me...
...huh? I thought my body would be a pancake by that point. I open my eyes and look around, seeing confused party... and the chains that were stopped by my seemingly weak barrier spell, that couldn't even block Seraphine's attack.
"Kai... how did you...", started Alaric.
"No time to think about it! We need to-", Boldwyn attempted to drag him further.
But it was no use. The masks stopped laughing. A voice pierced out minds again, like the laughter did before.
"...run?"
That voice was... metallic. Unnatural. Non-human. It was a chorus of overlapping whispers all saying the same word at the same time. It was weeping, laughing, commanding. All at once. And most of all... it was non-human. That voice wasn't coming from "somewhere". It was in our heads, making us halt. Finally, the chains that were coming from above fell down around us. Our heads were forced to turn right, towards the main road. I couldn't say a word.
I could see the tip of something gigantic move above the roofs of 3-floor-tall buildings. And soon I was able to see what it was. Some... thing grasped the edge of the building. Its shifting shape resembled an arm... but a deformed one. it was more akin to an end of tentacle with fingers... far too many fingers. The number of fingers was constantly changing, as that... thing was slowly moving. It was made of chains – countless small chains that were shifting even while it stood still.
Then, that... tentacle pulled the "main body" from behind a building – a huge... sphere? Cube? A strange figure? I couldn't make it out. Its form was changing every second. Around it, in 2 diagonal circles, theatrical masks were floating, and at the center was some kind of... an eye? I am not sure. It looked more like a shining orb, but... words failed to describe that thing. Was that the... Lord of Chains? Or merely an avatar? That entity was moving, gripping the ground and buildings with its long and thick tentacles of chains that spread from its main body. Its movement was slow, but inexorable, as it advanced towards us. And we couldn't move a muscle.
After it left the street, looks like that... thing couldn't freely move without walls to grab. The central mass of chains fell to the ground with a heavy "thump". The innumerable chains it was made of started to "crawl" away like a nest of snakes. Soon, they gathered and reformed again in front of us.
Now, it stood as a towering humanoid figure, about 2 or 3 meters tall. It was like a tall man sculpted from interlocking shackles. It had 3 legs and 4 "arms"... if these elongated, multi-jointed appendages ending in quill-like fingers could even be called that. In place of its face was a porcelain mask... with no features, except for a vertical line where mouth should be. The comedy and tragedy masks still orbited around its head... well, "head".
Alright, genius, what now? Let's say The Price lets us move. What next? At this point, I wouldn't even be afraid to use Teleport or other high-level spells. But what if He chases us? If He is a god in this world, perhaps, I can stop Him in my Demiplane? But it's too dangerous, what if that thing will see me again?... to hell with that. If I won't try, I'll die, or lose my soul, or freedom... or whatever, but it sure will be worse than-
"Speak."
The Price's voice, or, rather, voices rang in our heads.
"Your case."
It was clear Lord of Chains didn't speak like humans do... well, He wasn't one to begin with, so I guess it makes sense. I still couldn't move, but... at least I could talk.
"Benevolent Faceless King in Shackles, we are an important mission! Can you perhaps...", started Elaina, but was cut short.
"Irrelevant."
"But if we don't kill the Demonlord, they will eventually come for You, too!", said Alaric.
"Irrelevant."
"M-may I speak?", I said.
Perhaps Alaric grew a bit, but... intellect is still not his strongest side, I see.
"We are not citizens of Othburten. The mayor has no right to pay with our lives... or our ouls... or whatever it is you demand."
"Contract. Everyone inside. No citizens."
What... what does it even mean? I may be proficient with paperwork and even know a thing or two about the law, but... it's so much harder when you argue with someone who speaks in such a manner!
"Do you mean... You are disappointed that citizens evacuated, so You can't have them?", assumed Boldwyn.
"Wrong. Everyone inside. Anywhere. Take. They inside. You inside."
That's kinky.
"So, the number is irrelevant, right?", I need to know this, we may still have a chance...
"Contract. Nothing about number. Only cost."
"So, let's say, we disappear from this city right now, You will not... chase us?"
"Chase unneeded. Everywhere my domain. You inside. You outside. Same for purpose of contract."
Right, I forgot I am talking with a god here. He may as well be omnipresent.
"Yet... may we see the contract again? It seemed very strange, You know. The mayor and the city were getting nothing off of it."
"Irrelevant. Contract is law. Everything else irrelevant."
"But in my world, contracts are null and void if-"
"Ah, so you are the otherwordler She talked about so much!"
Wh-what?...
"That changes things. Why haven't you said so originally, hm?"
The mask of comedy stopped in front of His... another mask and started talking. The main body was still remaining without any movements. This voice didn't appear in our heads but was actually coming from the mask... and it was unbearable! Not because it hurt us like before, but... it was just so sarcastic and high-pitched that it made me want to punch this mask in the face!... even though it itself is the face!
"What... why does it change things?!", said Alaric.
Now I also realized that... we could move again. However, as He said before, running away wouldn't do anything, so... the only options were fight and defeat Him, or... somehow prove that contract was either not broken, or was null and void. And I doubted first option is doable.
"Well, when we are talking about the law, it's important so that said law will be the same for everyone here, isn't it? And it's clear that Mr. Saint's law is different from ours!"
"But... isn't the law also absolute?", Alaric was very confused.
"Is it now? Don't you mortals endlessly look for loopholes and workarounds?"
The hero lowered his head.
"See? I oversee law being executed. Not it being precise and all-covering."
"So... where does it leave us? Considering I am not even from this world, can You just let us go?"
"No."
The comedy mask started floating again, and the voice changed back to that emotionless sound in or heads.
"So, what exactly does it change, then?", I shrug.
"Plead case. Your world's laws."
Oh... that makes it much simpler... I think.
"If someone was forced into signing a contract by, let's say, threats, then said contract is null and void. Here, it's clear that this is an absolutely restrictive contract that can end his life, as well as lives of... how many people live here? Thousands? Well, as well as lives of many more citizens. No sane person would ever sign something like that unless they were forced to."
"2nd party. I am. No threats. No force. State otherwise. Present proof."