One Too Many
I regretted jumping off the roof as soon as I landed. A cold wave of pain shot up from my foot. It made me shiver. Puckering my lips, I played it off.
"That guy from yesterday called us over. The other party's already headed over." He pointed to a tent, situated right beside the city gates. It stood out amongst the red, smaller tents. The NPC soldiers seemed to be avoiding it for some reason.
A few people were injured in and out of tents, reminding me where I was.
I looked over at Valerie, who was crouched and inspecting her sword.
I looked back at Gregory.
"Alright, lead me there."
Gregory nodded and we walked to the tents, the sound of screams and cries grew louder. Did the person who made this dungeon need to make it this realistic…?
The smell of metal came from two sources.
My dad once said I should sign up for the kingdom's army seeing me swing my sword. If I had listened, would I end up like those guys?
Peering through the open flap. I saw Pythia staring through my skull. Her neck was basically spilling over her chair to stare. I honestly didn't have a positive impression of her. But she's scary so I'll just smile.
Gregory slipped in after me and Valerie entered.
Taking a seat in one of the twelve chairs set up in the tent.
Esmerelda was splayed on her chair like a hooligan.
Swallowing a wad of spit, I grabbed the back of a chair and took a seat. Staring at the hardened, smoldering expressions on each member.
Gah… so awkward!
Are all adventurers like this?
"Should we go over our next moves?" I couldn't hold it in and started the conversation.
Baan looked visibly pleased he didn't have to.
"Right, I'll start." Kiran raised her hand, even though she didn't have to. Her whole vibe was sophisticated and sorta intimidating. So of course she would speak up. Somehow, I thought we'd get along well.
"The information on this floor is scarce… and this is for one reason, it is an incredibly annoying variable."
"One thing is always the same, the first wave is hoglins. The second could either be Were-spiders, or Kobolds. Looking at our two party's compositions I'm the only mage, we have an archer and a saint who should stay in the back. Then… four attackers, two martial artists and two swordsmen."
She scanned us all, I felt like a piece of meat.
"These two are our vanguards, they're clearly the strongest." She pointed two fingers, one at Valerie, the other at Gregory.
Esmerelda didn't bother commenting on that. It was right.
Then, she looked at me. Her eyebrow slightly twitched.
"You…"
I pointed at myself. Why'd she stop? I'm strong too!
The thief placed her hand on Kiran's shoulder. "Ah, he's a thief as well! He just has an item that lets him summon pigs." So that's it. She just didn't know my class… thank you lady who's name I do not know.
"Right then, two thieves, one with a summoning skill, how peculiar."
Piece of meat.
"How many can your item summon?"
Pythia shot up. "Yeah how many?"
I chuckled. "50. Maybe 51 after a good nap."
Kiran stared. Her piercing gaze almost had me look away.
"Where did you get such an item?"
"An heirloom. It's been in my family for centuries."
"… Then-"
She was about to keep prying, when Esmerelda sat up, gripping her knees. She yawned. "Quit your yapping Kiran. The guy got lucky. All us adventurers got a few secrets too."
"Tch, I wasn't trying to interrogate him, you bison. I was simply curious."
"What's important is, training! You. Cutie with the rapier, let's fight."
Valerie jerked. Before replying with a slight stutter. "Are you talking to me?" She was wearing her hood, so there was no way she could see her face.
"Yes! I want to fight you!"
How delightfully straightforward.
"Right now?"
"Yes!"
Before they could, however, we heard a rustling. And a leakage of light enters the tent. The parties all turn to look at the new person. The NPC from yesterday, a fleshy pink scar ripped down his right eye. He had a cool, boss-like atmosphere.
But amongst the monsters in the tent, he felt almost small. Never thought I'd see the day when someone who looks like that doesn't scare me.
He walked to the single desk in the tent, a small window above it let in light.
"First of all, I'd like to thank you for your help in our fight. As much as it pains me to admit, we wouldn't have won this battle without you." He bowed down, placing his head on the desk. Before sitting up, and gripping a fist. "However… There will be more monsters that our small border town has no means to overcome. Thus… we are prepared to give the largest contributor to our victory a new skill." The way he said skill was finite.
Huh, a skill for being the MVP, kinda like my ring…
But why was Kiran so shocked?
And Gregory as well.
It kind of made me scared. Being left out of the loop didn't feel… nice-
Buzzing!
There was a buzzing sensation. One of my main classes skills. [Did I miss anything?] It reacts mainly to Marcus, but recently it's been quiet. The last time it buzzed it was for me… and next thing I knew I got the [Whacker] class.
It was useful, but didn't announce itself.
Why?
No, everybody was surprised.
"A skill. Like an item that can grant one, like Calvin's?" Gregory stumbled over his words.
"No. A skill. An incredibly strong one at that." The commander said.
Valerie was looking at me. Which she hadn't done since the rooftop.
"Impossible! That- that can't be done." Kiran stuttered.
Pythia was looking at me as well.
Ah right, everybody here is tethered to a single class. And believes it is tied to their soul.
If anyone could use multiple skills… Then what are classes for in the first place?
"I see you all are overjoyed at the idea. Then, I'll take my leave. Fight hard, for us." The commander stood up, leaving the stupified tent to process this new info.
It was illogical, going against the laws of the world. Demons could imitate many classes but that's all. Imitation.
I wasn't so delusional to think, 'what am I then?' I just happened to get a class that lets me imitate others, then happened to stumble into my power. I clenched my hand into a fist.
Still, it reminded me of what I SEEM like.
"Now that the boring talk is over… how about that duel?" Esmerelda pushed past the heavy atmosphere. Seemingly uninterested in what the man had just said.
"Okay." Valerie responded quickly, knowing the duel would be a good mood-booster, I was in support of it.
Gregory stood up, hiding his surprise well. The elven archer didn't know as much about humans and classes so she didn't get why everyone was reacting like this to something she presumed was, 'good?' Kiran, the thief, and Pythia exited the tent.
Pythia walked back to the inn. Shooting me a glance as she did. I couldn't read the emotion she was trying to convey but… maybe she didn't hate me any more. So confusing!
Anyway, Esmerelda led us with trained steps to a small patch of dirt, the tents were splayed to give enough space for fights. Cargo boxes for seats, men wearing tunics beating each other senselessly. A box split into two with a few schmeckles in both.
"I scouted this place out last night, and watched a few fights as well. Tried to enter, and accidentally punched a guy's face so hard he had to get healed."
"These people are so weak… I didn't even use mana."
She smirked, staring at the princess who was half her height, beside her.
"You won't bore me though, right?"
"I'll keep you entertained, Bison."