"I want your help in killing gunlaug."
The words had barely left Caster's mouth before the room seemed to tilt into stillness and the absurd remark lingered in the air.
After a while of staring, Effie spoke again.
"Are you crazy?"
'OH! She said the thing!'
Effie didn't stop there, she flatly continued.
"It's impossible."
Caster gave her a singular chuckle, as if he believed it was possible.
Effie chuckled slightly as well, she already had the impression of a crazy guy from him, but now she was certain. So she loosed up as well.
"What? You don't believe me? You see those skulls hanging on the bright castle? Well, we can't from this far but you must know they exist. I'm sorry but they are the skulls of people that tried to kill gunlaug and miserably failed."
Effie was trying to scare him slightly, but more than that, she was warning him. To not dare to go against Gunlaug.
Caster indifferently replied: "I know."
"And yet you want to challenge him? You've been on this shore for a month, do you honestly believe someone who has long saturated their core will lose to you?"
"I won't challenge him right now. It is the end goal. After I am ready. That is where you come in..."
"No! No I don't come in. I don't want to participate in this farce."
Sighing, Effie continued.
"Gunlaug has been strengthening himself for eight years, he also has many people under him that are incredibly strong. And he even has a transcendent rank armor. You can not defeat him."
Effie wanted to speak more, but Caster interrupted her.
"Just hear me out first, okay? It does seem like a crazy idea, sure. But do you think even Gunlaug can hunt over twenty awakened abominations in a single day and coming out unscatched? That's what I did. And I don't believe gunlaug can do that."
Effie interrupted again.
"That doesn't mean you can get past his defences."
"Stop interrupting me! I have a nearly surefire plan in the works. I already have a spy in the castle too. He'll help me at the cusp of my plan. You don't need to do that. You just need to hunt with me."
"Sorry but, no can't do that."
"Yeah I know, I know. If you're getting a companion it must be strong and stuff like that. And the more people you're hunting with, the more you'll have to share. But it's just the two of us, sharing wouldn't hurt here, you'd still get enough. More than enough actually. And I am strong, so I should fill all your boxes."
Effie shook her head.
"No. If i form a cohort with anyone, Gunlaug will send his men for them. Because I refused to work for him. He thinks something along the lines of 'If I can't have her, nobody can'."
Effie chuckled after that.
"That's okay. His men won't kill me."
"Why?"
"They're not strong enough."
Effie laughed like a maniac.
"You're hilarious, Buster."
'It's Caster, you piece of shit! Don't give me weird ass nicknames like that...'
"In any case, we'll just hunt together. I'll use the food we collect to feed people, after giving you your share. We'll equally divide the soul cores we get. There is literally no down side to this. I am not even asking you to fight alongside me when I get Gunlaug. I just want your help to absorb more shards."
Effie seemed to consider the companionship seriously after this. It was actually beneficial for her. The risks decrease massively when in groups, and if the group is small, she won't lose much of her portion for the food.
"Fine, kiddo. I'll accept it."
'That's the third nickname you gave me Effie...'
Ignoring that, Caster extends his hand for a handshake. Effie slaps it away, laughing.
'Fuck you!'
"Don't be so serious with the formalities man."
Caster looked at Effie with a defeated look.
"Sigh... fine, fine."
Afterwards, Effie eyed Caster before asking: "So when are we starting?"
"Tomorrow, after noon. When I've distributed the roles to the people who want to help."
Effie yawns before turning back leasurely, her hands behind her head as she walks away.
"I'll be on time, hopefully."
"Fuck you mean hopefully? I'll tear your door down if you're not on time."
Laughing again, Effie turned her head around and winked before replying back snarkily.
"Try me."
Caster shakes his head with a defeated smile on his face, laughing back with her.
He had more to speak with her, but he let her go. Now was not the time to reveal what he revealed to Kai. She'll find out soon.
***
It was the morning. Well, noon to be exact.
People were starting to crowd near Caster's camp.
It started with three people, who looked to be friends, coming up to Caster. He told them to wait, perhaps more people will come.
And come they did.
'Pause.'
Soon, over two and half dozen people came to him. To ask for work.
Caster had spent the night thinking what he should make the people do, and he had thought of a certain level of hierarchy.
Coughing, Caster caught their attention.
The thirty two people looked at Caster intently. Waiting to see what their lord would ask from them.
"So, hello again people. I presume all of you are here to volunteer. Just confirm this to me, yes or no."
The group of people unanimously said yes, pleasing Caster a little.
"Good, I will give you guys tasks that may range from menial tasks to physical intensive tasks. Some might even be dangerous. So, you can leave at anytime you wish to, none of this will be forced work."
The group seemed to be pleased to hear that. The conditions offered to them were truly otherworldly, literally true as well, who'd proved ethical work conditions in literal hell.
"First, some of you will be in charge of cutting up meat and giving them to each person that comes to ask for food in the morning. Make sure it is only in the morning though, when i set the time for it. We don't have too much food either."
Looking around to see if more people are going to join.
'It seems no one else is joining for now.'
"The second task is to follow me and Huntress Athena out to the hunts."
As soon as he said that, the crowd got agitated a bit.
"But sir, we are not nearly strong enough to help with that..."
"Silence, who's asking you to fight? Let me finish. The people who follow us there will only be there to move the carcasses back to the outer settlements. We'll provide security. And yes, Huntress Athena has agreed to join me in my hunts."
"That is still to dangerous for us people without any memories."
"Like I said, this is volunteer based, so none of you are forced. We'll also not just take anyone for it, the person needs to be decently strong, otherwise there is no point. Those that join us for this work, will be provided with soul cores, and potentially memories, if we get them. I plan to create squads that can work independent from me eventually."
The people were genuinely impressed with the thoughtfulness of him. He came out as genuinely caring. It was the first time they felt that way towards someone since coming to the god forsaken shore.
The people started murmering among each other, discussing this job. No one seemed to be too enthralled about choosing that but it was at least in their considerations.
Seeing that, Caster was slightly surprised. He didn't think people would be considering that job this early. He thought maybe it would take a few days to weeks maybe. This was much faster than he anticipated.
'Seems like I have accumulated a lot of trust with just a speech and food.'
After that, he continued.
"Then there is the third task..."