As expected as we ran out of the hatch, we were immediately confronted with what looked like the same guy who shot down our dragon, a staff similar in design to my stick, except the bulbous end of his staff held in it an emerald orb.
He floated menacingly, right in the middle of some trees, the wind billowed around him, blowing his hood right off, to reveal… a shiny bald head.
I suppressed a laugh.
No… you just never expect the villain to be bald? I wasn't trying to be mean, really?
The chief and the rest of the elves made it up now, and it was a standoff.
He scanned us with his head, his remaining follicles flowed like thin blades of grass. He spoke, his voice extended and echoed thanks to some sort of magic. "I heard tales of your plight." He set his gaze on me, and after noticing that I took a defensive stance.
"You… I feel a faint energy on you, Mara… Her curse, how is it radiating off of you?"
I stayed silent.
"No matter, after I kill these insolent elves, I'll question you all I want, then… I'll use you as a guinea pig. A human who can absorb curses with their body… ah, how exciting!"
What a creep. Sorry, I'm not into old men.
"Anywho… goodbye." He raised his arm, and in sync the elves pulled back on their bow strings, releasing them. It looked like a single huge arrow thanks to the accuracy, but a tile shaped shield appeared, covering the area hit. And they clattered to the ground.
Slowly, he descended. Leaves dispersed as his feet touched the ground. Nobody moved, any action was futile. Still, we were on guard. He held his hands behind his back, looking over the people who were on guard but could do nothing, he cackled. "I admire your struggle, really… mere mortals standing in the way of 'his' resurrection and the leader's profits but. This is where your futile struggle ends."
He seemed to be priming an attack, holding his palm towards us. What do we do? Block it, no, we definitely can't.
-Ding!
My wind wandered back to the village, after I had tricked the village elderly I was a healer with my chiropractor skills. It was the first skill I fooled my way into. [Simple Heal] By all means a crappy skill. It could heal wounds but it takes time to take effect, and the moment the person's eyes close completely, there's no helping them.
But the delay was also a blessing.
Like when we fell from the dragon, I spammed it, and when we fell we did take a lot of damage, almost all my bones were broken but… since it was delayed, all I had to do was wait a couple seconds in terrible pain, and definitely not close my eyes.
And the first time I tested it. Slitting the tip of my finger. About 15 seconds. I just need to take this attack for 15 seconds. Some kind of beam from the look of his stance. I've taken worse, no I haven't but. I have to take it. For the sake of the elves and princess.
"HEY! BALDIE! WHY DON'T YOU KILL ME FIRST, I'M AN OUTLIER YOU KNOW, A CURSE-EATER. WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE I'M HIDING, BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, RIGHT?"
He looked rightfully confused, but there's no reason not to. And using his arrogance, I knew insulting him would convince him. He turned his palm towards me who had stepped away from the rest. Smirking, I looked at the princess who looked blankly at me.
"Arrogant human… What is your name?"
I flipped him off. "Just start, baldie."
"Alright… I'll grant you a quick death."
Here it comes.
An energy formed in front of his palm, for a split second before extending towards me. I looked down, the beam had already created a gouging hole in the middle of my torso. But, I put my palm on my body. Coughing up blood, I thought to myself, [Simple Heal.]
He was already confused when I didn't immediately flop dead, but when I took a step towards him, he started to panic.
But his pride didn't allow him to accept his failure, he continued.
Blood tribbled down my lips, the feeling of my body constantly reforming and being destroyed was foreign, it was like a terrible dream. Why is this happening to me? I just wanted to be… a hero. Biting my lips, I approached the man, we were face to face, he looked terrified at me. His beam still destroying me and with me silently using [Simple Heal]
But to him… I must appear to be immortal.
[Totally looking for a job]
[Someone fully believes you are a 'Demon']
Spinning Roulette…
[You have obtained the unique race skills, [Demonic Backpack]
[Effect Details: For as much as your mana can allow, you can summon your weapons at will, and store up to ten items in a sub-space.]
]
In a daze, my eyes glossed over the status window. My pupils swayed across the forest. Settling on my hand, which was holding the stick. He increased the power, so much so that it reached my chin. But, my body reformed anyway. My mana was draining quickly. My mind was wandering. I raised my arm, my stick loomed over him.
He yelped, looking at the others he went to aim his beam at them, knowing he can't kill me. But, it was too late
-Thunk!
[Thunk!]
[Enemy is stunned for ten seconds!]
The beam stopped, and the man stood still with a dumb look on his face. The beam's energy kept my collapsed torso from falling over so I fell flat on my face. The hole closed with a gross sloshing sound. But I couldn't get up… drool dribbled out of my mouth.
Mana exhaustion.
Luckily the princess was there, seeing the mage suddenly stopping as she dashed in, her sword traveled almost faster than her body. The point entered the man's head. And he fell, dead.
It was the first time I ever saw a person die but… looking at my own condition I didn't feel bad, I looked up at the princess who was catching her breath and looking over the bald mage. Smiling, my eyes closed.
A wave of exhaustion crashed over me. Both the mana drain and being rebuilt and destroyed constantly. But… isn't waking up taking a while? How long will I be unconscious for. Oh wait, I hear something.
"Cal-" Oh, is it the princess?
"Calvin! I saw you opening your eyes! Open them quickly!"
Not the tone I expected.
Groggily, I opened and closed my heavy eyelids. Every time I closed them I felt the sweet embrace of sleep pulling me closer. The princess was sitting on the bed beside mine, forgetting they gave us the same room. "What? Did something else happen? This time you'll take the beam on, alright?"
"There's no beam, but. It's been a week."
What, a whole week! I shot up, and my back started to ache.
"Don't rush yourself. You seriously pushed yourself way too hard this time. Honestly, it was gross, watching you being disintegrated but walking towards the enemy anyway. I questioned if you were really human, but it was also really brave. As expected of my knight!"
Where'd all this excitement come from?
But, it was still nice.
"So… did anything happen at all?"
She looked up, thinking about it. "Not really, the elves were really happy and grateful though. We held a festival for you while you were asleep."
Doesn't the subject of a festival usually participate in it?
A faint smirk spread across my face, followed by the princess's.
[You have slain a (Plot-Relevant) villain, Rank five, Bald-Blizzard.]
[Effects of skill (Did I miss anything?) have activated.]
What's this?
A reward, if it's one, I'd like a skill.
[You have earned the (hatred of the bald.)]
[Any monster or human that is bald will feel a faint dislike for you.]
Ah.
Valerie tilted her head, as I had suddenly stopped moving to read the screen in front of me. "What is it, did you get another skill?"
Rubbing my head full of hair, I slightly winced. "Something like that?"
"If you feel better, come to the town center, we'll be leaving soon."
Ah right, we need to assassinate her brothers. We've wasted a lot of time in the elven village as well, not that I regret it. But she must want to get back to it.
"Right."
She nodded and left the room.
Resting my head against the soft pillow for about thirty seconds, I removed the covers.
The town square was quiet, besides the sound of the forge thumping. Making me realize I was actually in a cave this whole time. And an empty cave is scary.
Silently, I started speed-walking towards the center of town.
As I expected, what waited for me was the princess and the chief. They seemed to be talking seriously judging by the looks on their faces. If only I had an enhanced hearing skill like a ranger. I'll have to get that one day.
But my archery was never anything impressive, even the elders who gave me two skills practically for free just cheaply clapped after I narrowly hit the target…
"Calvin, what are you doing against that wall?"
Concealing my surprise, I stepped out of the dark. "I was waiting for you to finish up your conversation."
She squinted, turning back to the chief. "Again, thank you for everything. We'll definitely come back soon."
"After you slay your kin, correct?"
"Yes."
What a weird conversation.
She walked us to the stairway, and as Valerie started to walk up them, blurted out.
"Good luck, Valerie, Hoglin-Summoner."
"You too." I said, not letting anything show.
It was weird seeing the sun again, to me it was a day after I slayed the bald man, but it had actually been a week. Was the sun always this damn hot?
For some reason, I stood still, as the princess didn't take a step forward. In fact she was acting completely weird? First, she just stood there, then she lowered her head and made a thinking pose. Finally, she turned to me, a faint trickle of sweat fell down her forehead.
"I don't know where we are."
Hm, that is not good.
It was looking bleak, that is until my least favorite skill rang. [Did I miss anything?]
It'd been silent this whole time, along with my passive skill [Indent]
To be honest, all I needed was [totally looking for a job] anyway.
It was a vision that wasn't a vision, a sort of deja-vu like feeling. The hero, Marcus and the hero party, all my friends from the village who had grown into cheat-level heroes. In a dungeon, Roscharz Duchy. Vague info entered my brain without permission like a flood.
My vision became clearer as soon as it was over, an aftereffect of these "visions" one time it happened in front of an old lady during one of my sword-shows and she called me, 'A handsome boy' After.
The princess must've noticed it as well.
"Did you see something Calvin?"
How'd she know I had a skill like this?
"I'm assuming you have a skill that can."
How does she know what I'm thinking?!
"Your face."
What am I thinking about right now?
"Getting strong skills."
…
"We need to head that way." I pointed to my right.
I tried to limit my thoughts on the walk, spending the time going over all the skills I wanted to absolutely obtain. My knowledge of skills was well above an average person who only studies their own class and similar classes on occasions.
Whenever I was given money, I'd run to the nearest merchant and purchase any class book they had. They were crumbs compared to what the rich know but it was enough to learn of some good ones.
Speaking of which, there was one merchant lady who always gave me free skillbooks at the village. I wonder how she's doing?
Valerie stared daggers into my side.
She must think I'm ignoring her.
But honestly… I don't know what to talk about! She's a princess, I'm a commoner. I'd say we're at least above friends thanks to our experiences together, but that only applies to battles.
"Um, what's your favorite food?"
"Bread."
"Really? You didn't eat fancy dinners at your castle?"
"I was always training, and you can eat bread while you swing a sword."
The image of this young lady swinging a sword while bread swings around in her mouth popped into my head.
"Pfft."