Blurb:
Sapper was just a goblin.
Then she killed an Otherworlder and stole his forbidden System.
Now, quests for XP and gold dictate her every move.
She levels up with inherited magic, but one rule looms: reveal the System, you die.
Watch her play a deadly game no one else can see.
Chapters:
- Chapter 1 - A Goblin Learns the Game
- Chapter 2 - The Goblin Gets Better
- Chapter 3 - The Goblin Forms a Party
- Chapter 4 - The Goblin Joins the Ranks
- Chapter 5
Chapter 1 - A Goblin Learns the Game
A young man watched, staring at the men lounging in the distance, his hands resting on his thighs, sitting on his haunches. "What's this?" he asked. He noted several goblins approaching. He got up immediately, his feet padding over the packed earth near the riverbank, the inner side of his toes caking with mud. A splitting sound struck, and by the time he looked again, the men were impaled with arrows. "What!" he exclaimed, rushing over, scanning in 360 degrees around him, and taking out his machete.
Shooting all manner of spears, each warping forward, leaving faint crimson trails, the goblins arose from the bushes at the forest edge. Their forms burst into the open air, their feet stomping diligently against the clearing earth.
A spear struck him on the head, and he fell to the ground. Along with him fell many others who were stationed at the settlement.
One of the goblins stopped to retrieve her spear as the rest passed her by, snickering. "Well, look what we have here," she said, her hand already closing around the young man's knife.
She tucked it into her sash and prowled, converging with the rest as the battle came to an end.
After a short meeting, many of the goblins returned to their tents. Some went out for a walk or hung around outside, like her.
But as she was walking, she slowed down to a halt. Her spear glowed blue.
[You have just killed an Otherworlder. As a result, you are now the owner of their System.]
[Status opened automatically for first-timer. Say "Status" to open it again.]
[Name: Sapper]
[Health: 700/700]
[Level: 14]
[Race: Goblin]
[Group: Bloxxers]
[XP: 20/700]
[Gold: 101]
[Mana: 700/700]
The glow vanished.
"W-what was that?" she asked.
[Rule: Reveal System to Anyone -> Fatal]
[Inherited Skill: Fireball]
[Native Skill Identified: Warping Spear]
Sapper stared at the ground, eyes flicking left and right. "Huh!?" she exclaimed. "This isn't what I signed up for. What should I do now?"
The next morning, at a desk in the town guild, where papers flew and quest boards gleamed with new quests written in gold ink, she handed over a bag of gold. "I'm paying the fee," she said, accepting two documents from the clerk before she turned around and left.
Outside, her former co-workers darted her a look as they poured inside, streaming around her. Discussion on the quests trailed off behind her.
She looked at her spear again, staring for a while before setting her gaze on the road to the monster fields.
When she arrived, she said in the rush of the plains wind, "System. Current quest."
[Quest Update: Gray Slime Slayer]
[Kill Five Gray Slimes.]
[Reward: 500 XP]
A man shouted nearby, jerking his hand back as his metal gauntlet dissolved inside a gray slime.
Eyes soft, she raised her hand forward. "[Fireball!]"
[Used Fireball (-100 Mana)]
[Mana: 600/700]
A ball of fire emerged from the palm, growing larger and larger before shooting out in a straight line, striking the gray slime where it stood.
[Gray Slime (22 HP): Took 28 Damage -> Slain!]
[XP Gained: +100]
[Total XP: 120 (Next Level: 700)]
[Loot Acquired:]
[Corroded Weapon Hilt - The blade is entirely gone.]
[Pitted Copper Coin (x14)]
[Small Etched Agate]
[Quest Progress: Gray Slime Slayer 1/5 (+1)]
The man stared at her. "You," he said. "You can use spells?"
She opened her mouth, then closed it. "Uh..."
"What is it? W-what did you do?"
A deliberate inhale. A muffled "I don't know."
"That's great." He offered, shaking her hand, handing her a pouch of water. "I want to join you. Is that alright? We need a goblin like you."
She tilted her head.
He said, "You guys are tough, right?"
She laughed. What is this guy on about?
She eyed her spear again, holding it point-up butt-down. "Excuse me." Walking around the guy, she left.
He raised his hands slightly before lowering it. His shoulders slumped a little.
She picked up the pace.
By the time she arrived in another part of the fields, she took a mat out of her bag and unrolled it, laying it out flat on the grass. She then took out 5 mana potions, lining them up.
Meanwhile, a herd of gray slimes roamed nearby.
She raised her hands.
"[Fireball!]"
"[Fireball!]"
"[Fireball!]"
She launched six fireballs in total, taking out four slimes. All five potions were used.
When Sapper got back to town at dusk, she quickly booked an inn room. Once she lay down inside, she said "Status."
[Quest Complete: Gray Slime Slayer]
[Objective Met: Kill Five Gray Slimes.]
[Reward: 500 XP Gained!]
[Guild Bounty: 50 Gold (Claim at Town Guild)]
[Quest Progress: Gray Slime Slayer 5/5]
[Name: Sapper]
[Health: 750/750]
[Level: 15]
[Race: Goblin]
[Group: None]
[XP: 320/750]
[Gold: 55]
[Mana: 750/750]
[Skills:]
[Fireball (Inherited)]
[Warping Spear]
[Items:]
[Spear]
[Young Man's Knife]
[Vest]
[Skirt]
[Bracers]
[Bag]
[Mat]
[Quest Contract]
[Adventurer's License]
[Corroded Weapon Hilt (x5)]
[Pitted Copper Coin (x70)]
[Small Etched Agate (x5)]
[Empty Water Pouch]
The next morning, sunlight hit her eyes, making her wince. She was awake now, but her lids remained closed. When they did open, her body was too heavy. Moments later, she got up, groaning.
"The hell," she rumbled, eyes drifting around. Her belongings lay where she'd tossed them, cluttering the room.
Her gaze rested on the door.
She stayed still for a while, her eyes the only one moving. Then, as if her thoughts locked into place, she straightened her head. Right, time to go.
Getting the items back in the bag, she got out discreetly, semi-hurrying down the hallway, thudding her bag against the wall as she reached the stairs, keeping abreast of the railings until she jumped down to the first floor, then raising her bag, adjusting it as she shot out.
Out on the street, she reached a store, checking her gold and one of the bags on display.
After paying, she wore it alongside the old bag, dividing the current inventory between them, before walking into the heat of the sun.
After finding a spot near the jungle with a wide view of the surrounding plains, she mumbled, "System. Quest."
[No Active Quests.]
[Would you like to browse available local quests from the Town Guild Registry? (Requires Guild Connection Fee - Already Paid)]
The spear remained in her grip. "Yes... but first...
"What are the conditions of reveal?"
[You are prohibited from revealing eight key pieces of information: your level, XP, health points, mana points, the rule, the inherited nature of Fireball, the Otherworlder, the System-mandated Quests, and any System notification. Saying 'System' or 'Status' where it will be overheard and understood by anyone else is also prohibited.]
She loosened her grip.
[Generating results...]
[Page 1]
[1. Dog Save - Find and save a dog from a forest. Reward: 1G, 10XP]
[2. Cat Save - Save a cat from a tree. Reward: 1G, 10XP]
[Go to next page?]
She blinked hard before releasing the tension. "OK!"
[Generating results...]
[Page 2]
[1. Pick Berries - Pick 15 berries. Reward: 2G, 20XP]
[2. Collect Papers - Collect Kindred's papers from across town. Reward: 4G, 40XP]
[Go to next page?]
"Go!"
[Generating results...]
[Page 3]
[1. Rabbit Hunt - Kill 5 rabbits. Reward: 5G, 50XP]
[2. Gray Slime Hunt - Kill 2 gray slimes. Reward: 20G, 200XP]
[Go to next page?]
"Again!"
[Generating results...]
[Page 4]
[1. Join Tamer's Party - Assist Tamer's group (3 days). Reward: 150G, 1500XP]
[2. Join Mark's Party - Assist Mark's group (11 days). Reward: 750G, 7500XP]
She paused. "Tamer?"
[Quest Information: Join Tamer's Party]
[Reward: 150 gold and 1500XP]
[Tamer leads five: herself and four tamed goblins. She needs your Help for three days.]
[Help: Tamer will tell you as she goes. With no immediate penalty on failure, you may end the quest at any time.]
With that, she returned to the guild. "I'm here for the 5 Gray slimes quest because I haven't gotten the gold yet." Opening her bag, she showed the loot and quest contract.
The clerk, who took her fee the day before, then confirmed it. "OK." He briefly stepped away, and another man appeared moments later, holding out a bag of gold. "This is 50 for 'Gray Slime Slayer,' first of many," the man said, smiling proudly, his eyes indicating her buried adventurer's license.
"Yes, thank you," she said, accepting it, squinting at him as he left. "Also, is a person... her name is Tamer... is she here?"
The clerk said, "Tamer? Yes. They were here. Are you here for the quest? Someone already took that job. Just 5 minutes before you came here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. So, what were you planning?"
"Didn't... think about that." She turned and made for the exit.
"Sure, sure. It's alright." His eyes never left the goblin.
Neither did several others across the room.
"System. Browse. Page 4." she said once she returned to the wilderness.
[Generating results...]
[Page 4]
[1. Join Mark's Party - Assist Mark's group (11 days). Reward: 750G, 7500XP]
"Mark," she said both here and later at the guild.
"He's just sitting right here," the clerk said, pointing with his eyes.
One man sat up straighter, standing up. Raising his hand at the wrist in greeting, he approached her and said, "You know Tamer?"
She smiled politely, shaking her head. "No, I just wanted her quest."
His eyes widened fractionally before snapping to the waiting grinning clerk. "Wait a second."
Moments later, after Mark grabbed a copy of her license and quest contract at the counter, he said, "Right. OK. Come follow me."
She and the clerk shared a nod. "Sure," she said, following Mark outside, where they found Tamer eating seated at a stall.
[Quest Information: Join Mark's Party]
[Reward: 750 gold and 7500XP]
[Mark leads two: himself and Tamer. He needs your Help for eleven days.]
[Help: Mark will tell you as he goes. With no immediate penalty on failure, you may end the quest at any time.]
"Tamer, she asked for you," Mark said, strolling aside into the shade, adjusting his shoulder bag.
"She did?" Tamer turned around, staring at Sapper's bags. "Hey you. Are you goblin?"
"Yeah." The goblin nodded politely.
Tamer glanced at Mark, a slight wince in her expression. "You look like one. Anyway, what? Are we gonna start?" Tamer's own goblins appeared from behind the stall, shorter than Sapper.
The goblins went first, then Tamer and Sapper.
Mark finished the rest of Tamer's food, slurping, before he caught up with the two.
He handed Tamer the goblin's license. "Sapper," Tamer said, turning to her. "So that's your name."
Sapper blinked several times before saying, "Yeah."
Tamer smiled cheerily. "Okay great. Now that that's over, let's get you up to speed." She produced a notebook from Mark's bag, opening it to a bookmarked page.
"So, I know it's hard," she said firmly, "but you're just going to have to bear with me. When I designed this mission, we had a few testers. Frankly, none of them made it look good; it just didn't seem feasible. So now that's you're here, I'm wondering whether you can pass the test. We'll have to test you first, but don't worry. It won't be that hard. I just want to make sure that if this flies, we avoid... unforeseen complications. We don't want any more... mooks. Does that make sense?"
Sapper stopped and stared for a good while. Tamer waited, head tilted and brows raised. "I hope you don't mind me asking," Sapper said, to which Tamer said no, "but why didn't you set a condition... then?" I don't get it. What is she saying all of a sudden? This wasn't in the contract.
Affirming her words through soft murmurs, Tamer then made a sound like clearing the throat. "For the quest? You never really know. Perhaps the worst are that good. Sometimes, I've seen bottom-ranks pull it off, I'm serious. Rank almost always serves as a deterrent, but what we're doing is not that simple. So even the best struggle. We still hope that some diamond in the rough comes out and gives us everything we wanted. So, our condition is simply 'Anyone can join, as long as they pass this simple rudimentary first-things-first test.' It sounds scary, but it's pretty simple."
"Really?" OK, I get it, but at the same time, what the hell, ma'am. This was not in the contract.
Tamer eyed Mark, pressing her finger against her lips before lowering it. "Well, simple for me, maybe not for you. I know the world's terrifying—monsters, all kinds of stuff. But it's really just a method. You know what method is? Well, you think straight, and you get shit done. It's pretty easy. But we're all for the good of humanity, and, you know, goblinity. That's something in my agenda as well. But what we really want is just a simple job done. Can you do that?" She returned her finger to her lips.
Sapper's expression stiffened. "I'll try." OK, this is not my thing. I'm leaving.
"Don't say that word. That's not enough. I want you to say, 'Yes, I will do everything that I can.'"
The sun was setting. She missed Tamer's request. Her gaze had settled on Mark.
Tamer raised her brows, eyes flicking between Sapper and Mark, who echoed her confusion. "What?" he said. "Is there anything?"
Sapper stopped. "I'm ending this quest."
Later, in the quiet, booked inn room, Sapper sunk to the floor, head leaning against her spear shaft.
"Ugghhh. I need someone who's better, someone who treats everything like a transaction. Any more than that and it's just—ugghhh." She closed her eyes. A deep breath. Before another, a breeze blew. A flicker of her eyes. The window was letting in the wind. She closed it, and the latch clicked shut. She sat, rubbing her brows, covering her mouth. Looking around, she tensed her grip, the spear stiffening. On the floor, she tapped with the spear's butt, and with enough time, she started knocking. The noise masked her muffled voice. "System. Browse. Page 4." Then, she stopped, uncovering her mouth. She gasped, gulping for air. Her spear was laid aside.
[Generating results...]
[Page 4]
[1. (NEW) Join Witchman's Party - Assist Witchman's group (2 days). Reward: 100G, 1000XP]
"What? What is it?"
[Quest Information: Join Witchman's Party]
[Reward: 100 gold and 1000XP]
[Witchman leads thirty: himself and twenty-nine other adventurers. He needs your Help for two days.]
[Help: Witchman wants you and 10 other adventurers to fight monsters in a dungeon with his group. The penalty for ending the quest early is 150 gold, unless you can prove that there is just cause.]
Her head heavy, clutching it, she lay down, falling asleep.
...
An image. Blurry. Vivid. Full.
"This isn't what I signed up for. What should I do now?"
Sapper stared. Her eyes widened.
She returned to camp. I can't stay here.
Damn it!
"Hey, Sap," said a gruff voice in the camp.
She turned.
...
Sunlight pried her eyes open, back in the room.
Chapter 2 - The Goblin Gets Better
A man with an ax slammed down, crushing a kobold cannon.
Fire burst, swallowing the man.
A water mage emerged, extinguishing the flames.
A boulder rolled down the hill, forcing the two to dodge.
Several macemen behind them ran aside in a line before assaulting a group of kobolds who fell into a pit.
The kobolds screamed as their flesh tore apart.
At the end of the battle, a man dressed in green called them.
"Fix up, clean up, get your things, and move on. We have to get there by 9. Our adventurers...
"They're waiting."
Holding the spear, Sapper wore a cheap helmet, tucking the young man's blade into her sash and picking up a shield. OK, we're ready.
She went off, heading to the meeting location, a business smile on her lips.
The green-dressed man greeted her when she arrived. His name was Oslo.
She lined up, being one of the first.
Once everyone came, each holding their two documents, he said, "Sapper. That's all? No last name, middle name, or whatever? Not from around here?"
She glanced at the others before removing her helmet. "No. I'm very much from around here. Just not here-here."
"'Here-here'? As in?" He pointed down.
"Yes."
"OK. Anyway... Adamson. 'Know your blades, know your stripes,' huh?"
He and Adamson had a staring contest before he said, "OK, who's next. Richard, right? Great. We need a guy like you. Haven't heard of your type in a long time. Strong, muscly..." Richard slightly frowned.
Oslo averted his gaze. "Sorry, just checking. Hope you guys are not too bothered—oh right! Guys, drinks. We need them. OK guys, follow me. I'll give you all a nice meal."
Meanwhile, down the sidewalk, a figure was pacing around.
The green-dressed man gave the people behind him a smile lasting a moment. Then, he turned, projecting his voice. "Hey, you find anything yet!"
"Café here down the street!" said the figure, waving them over.
The great volume of passersby drowned out every other sound, including the discussions the other members were having.
Adamson was the last to go. Sapper, still holding the spear, helmet, and shield, looked like a pile of clothes. Richard was already inside before Oslo could add anything else. The rest complied.
Inside, Sapper sat down comfortably, her eyes shifting between the others. What are we doing here? Is this normal? Should I ask? Or would I be exposing my ignorance? Think.
I have only one life.
After the group waited a while, Oslo leaned forward and exclaimed, "Oh there it is!"
Dishes were brought to the table in droves.
"Hey guys, don't worry. It's on me. I'll handle the rest! Just eat!"
Adamson glanced at Sapper before tilting to Richard's reaching hand.
"Utensil," Adamson said.
Sapper's eyes reflected Adamson before leaping to Richard.
Richard stopped, checking the others' hands. He shrugged and used the serving fork, taking several pieces of pork.
Sapper joined in, trying the soup, her face glowing against the magical yellow light.
Adamson leaned back, getting an eyebrow raise from Oslo.
The other eight adventurers, Maria, Cristina, Enzo, Abbie, Cassie, Elyca, Naomi, and Stephen—were too busy eating.
After they finished, Sapper thanked Oslo, retrieving her items.
Lexi stood alone, watching the distance, as Oslo rounded up Witchman's members, the ones who had wandered off. "Guys! Adventurers! Please!"
Sapper approached Lexi.
Lexi frowned. "What?" she said, tension in her voice.
"Nothing. Why?"
"Nothing." Her brows remained furrowed.
"OK then." She walked away.
Oslo's gaze cut through the adventurers and members, seeing them interact.
Sapper lined up first, Lexi joining later.
Adamson remained last, with Richard this time, who gestured, talked loudly, and howled with laughter. Her expression was flat, her eyes vacant, but she had a slight smile.
Maria watched, indicating them to Cristina and Enzo with a glance.
Oslo smiled. "OK, we're heading into the dungeon today. Anyone feeling alright? Under the weather? Just tell me, and we can do this tomorrow. It's 2 days for a reason. We only really need one trip, but in case you need a break for the day, we can wait."
The silence said enough.
"OK, let's move on to the quest."
"First, two adventurers will watch the cannon mana. Report any warning signs, like particles or the stench, to Marc and Cheenie." The two just named raised their hands.
"Then, six will go with Witchman. He'll go where skeletons converge. Once they're all dead, find the dungeon boss and report back to him. It's not gonna move, so don't attack it. It'll start chasing if you do. Let him do the rest... on a side note, if he asks you questions, you don't have to answer. He's looking for recruits, so he wants people with him at all times."
"Anyway! The other three. Go inside and make sure no one sneaks up behind the six. Be the three to the six like the six are to Witchman, understand?"
A murmur of yeses spread.
"Where's Witchman?" Lexi asked.
"Not here right now. He will be at the dungeon. He's currently on a quest. I know, I know. That sounds like just cause for ending the quest, but it's fine. He entrusted me with all this stuff anyway. Anyway, what's next?"
He turned, approaching the rest of Witchman's members. "OK, when it comes to the cannons..."
The adventurers followed along.
All marched to the dungeon, where they found caches and wagons waiting.
A man dressed in purple and yellow was sitting on the ground, staring at them.
"Who's that?" said Elyca.
"Witchman."
Witchman waved Oslo over, talking for a moment, making him bend over.
After they were done, Witchman stood up, strutting to the dungeon entrance.
A ghostly blade materialized in his hand.
He struck a skeleton that had just emerged.
Another came. He slashed it so hard it dissolved. Hushed voices spread among the adventurers.
Oslo sent the six he designated earlier, which included Sapper, telling the rest to start preparing the fortifications and cannons.
Are we just supposed to watch this guy kill them all? Sapper watched the rest of the six all wearing their armor and adjusting their items, consumables, and weapons.
After Witchman finished off several groups of skeletons, he sat down. "OK, go."
The six nodded, walking up to him.
A group of skeletons blocked the path.
Sapper thrust with her spear, blocking an arrow with her shield and catching an arrow with the top of her helmet, before casting "[Fireball!]"
The rest of the six kept a distance.
Witchman got up, slashing through the skeletons, behind which another wave of skeletons emerged.
When they reached the middle of the dungeon, he called to stop. "Now, go look for the boss."
Sapper nodded, drinking a mana potion right after she cast her third "[Fireball]." It flew, taking a lot of space, lighting up the path and denying the skeletons passage, slowing them down.
Meanwhile, one skeleton drew the bow, straining its crusty wood, before releasing. The arrow flew, striking Sapper's shield. He shrieked, raising his hand.
The moment he snapped it down, a volley of arrows shot. Sapper's fourth fireball incinerated them.
Witchman tilted his head, eyes on her.
The rest of the six's gaze shifted away from the skeletons.
Her form stood in the path.
"Goblin adventurer." He stood. "Stay here. Let them do the scouting."
She stopped raising her hand for another fireball, turning slowly to him.
He beckoned her.
"What is your power?"
"Fireball?"
"That's what it's called? I haven't seen that in... Anyway, clear these skeletons for me. Do you have enough?"
OK, can't say mana, right? "I do." She opened her bag and showed him four mana potions.
"Go."
She cast [Fireball] five times, killing five waves.
"Thank you." He got up. She sat down.
He slashed. "What's your name?"
"Sapper."
He struck. "I see."
He kicked and tore.
"We found it," said Elyca.
"That was fast." Sapper sat up straighter. His eyes darted from her back to Elyca.
"Let's go," he said, advancing through the passage. Sapper powered past him. Elyca trotted along.
At the boss location, they soon arrived, coming face to face with the rest.
"OK. Stay a distance. Since it's faster than me, I need you guys to alternate with me." He was staring at Sapper the whole time.
The six nodded, especially Sapper, who met the gazes of the rest.
The boss woke up after being hit. Witchman used Sapper's spear.
He ran first, getting a head start.
The boss, a giant skeleton, took a while to get out of the wall, before it dropped down, making a boom that reached the entrance and Oslo's ears.
Oslo raised his hand. "Get ready!"
Sapper grabbed the spear before launching it. It thwacked it, leaving a red trail.
The boss stopped, staring her down and changing target to her.
Witchman thanked her before he threw a rock, drawing its attention again.
They repeated this through the dungeon until they reached the entrance. It forced itself through the hole head-first, but by that point, Witchman, Sapper, and the rest of the six were out. Here, it was Oslo's entire arrangement's turn.
A barrage of attacks flew, magic, spells, fire, arrows, cannon shells, hitting its head.
The head rapidly crumbled, before the body fell back, slamming the ground.
"Good work team," Oslo said, hands indicating everyone present, darting a look at the six. Witchman pinned Sapper with a look. Adamson laughed as he showed his mana-dirtied hands to Richard. Elyca approached the body, waving Naomi over. Lexi was having a conversation within a group among Witchman's members. Maria, Cristina, and Enzo shared looks, holding a left-behind skeleton they had taken down together. Abbie and Cassie were seated listening Marc and Cheenie narrate a story and explain their experiences with cannons and adventuring. Sapper met Witchman's eyes as he strutted away without a word. She closed her eyes, resting. The rest of Witchman's members started tidying up, shuttling to Oslo with inquiries, requests, and concerns as he got the eleven adventurers ready. He and the caches, cannons, and defenses left their eyes last as they went home.
They scattered once they were in town, Sapper returning to the inn.
Her eyes scanned the main street ahead, groups of adventurers swarming the nearby market square.
When she was back inside, she stared outside the window, noticing clowns and all kinds of people gathered outside. It was a festival.
The next day, she returned to the guild, grabbing her 100 gold. The boss gave her only 100 XP, but the quest and skeletons gave her 1,000 and 2,400, respectively.
Mark was there, without Tamer. The clerk was quieter this time. The other man behind the counter, who gave her the gold, did not greet her.
"Sapper."
She turned.
It was Witchman. "You're here," he said. Mark's head snapped up, eyes finding him.
Sapper and Witchman met face to face, sitting down. "I don't remember you being here," he said.
"I'm new."
"Great. That means you're still looking for quests?"
"Yes."
"Wanna come with me? I'm looking for a troll named Jason. He's a kind of brother of mine from another mother. So I was hoping if you'd like to come with me. This can be formal, informal. I can talk to the clerk and have this be a formal quest. What do you think?"
"What I think? Sure. Talk to the clerk."
Witchman smiled, standing up and heading to the counter.
After he was done, he handed her the quest contract.
"Aren't you supposed to hold it?"
"No, no. I read it already. Anyway! Let's head out. You need a break? We can eat outside, or you can talk to Oslo if you have any concerns. He's not here, but he'll be here tomorrow. You want to wait for that. Don't worry. The quest won't start until you do."
Sapper paused, eyes flitting around. "Well... I can start now. But can you brief me on what's going on?" She gave a polite smile.
Witchman pinched his chin, looking up. He paused.
"Jason is a troll, so... very dangerous. Buy health potions just in case. I'll give you money, don't worry."
He handed her 100 gold to buy two.
"I mean, any more info? What are we working with? I've never seen a troll."
"If that's the case, just stay back. Watch me and him talk. If he fights, you'll get your info." He left the building, stepping down the stairs, entering the main street.
Sapper leveled a look at Mark before she left, gamboling down the steps.
Having met her gaze, he bit into a fried Saba banana, eyes neutral.
On the street, Witchman said, "Also, if you need info, try books, if you haven't."
She said sure, finding one in the market: "Essentials of Trolling."
"Is this useful?" she asked.
He shrugged. "You'll see. They're a hit or miss if you get them here."
They headed down the street, riding a wagon. "Have you ever ridden one of these?" he asked.
"Yes."
They reached the city boundary, bustling with wagons, animals, goods, and people.
Plenty of groups waited here with mud-caked feet, many among them standing at the forest edge. Those who did regularly checked the passersby for familiar faces, but only one group approached Witchman and Sapper.
"Matthew," said the woman in front.
Witchman nodded. "Let's go." He turned to Sapper. "They're with us."
"Matthew?" Sapper said.
"Yes, that's my real name."
As they started leaving, the woman said, pressing her lined forehead, looking ahead, "My name's Charlotte. What's your name?"
"Sapper," Witchman answered, his eyes sweeping over her. "Oh sorry, go ahead, Sapper."
Sapper smiled respectfully, eyes lingering on her light, worn, faded, and many-pocketed clothes. "I'm Sapper."
Charlotte nodded, leaning on a man as she walked, her pack scuffed, many items strapped to it.
Sapper met the eyes of Charlotte's group, nods and smiles spreading.
Right as she looked away, a woman came through the others and said, "Sorry, Matthew, can we stop somewhere? I know we just started going, but Shekinah has been waiting for five hours already."
They headed to an eatery, sighs fatigued, smelling of dust, sweat, road grime, woodsmoke, leather, and old campfires. Inside, they made minimal contact with city dwellers, their few looks suspicious. Sitting at a long table, they put their dented canteens down, feet shuffling and gear clinking underneath. They shared remaining water and scraps of food, lightening their load.
Head still on the man's shoulder, eyes closed, Charlotte said, habitually tapping her gear with her foot, "OK, everyone, please inform Witchman about what happened."
Beard grown-out, the man wrinkled his nose, bringing a hand between his face and her hair, "Sir... We encountered a beastman." He showed him his worn weapon hilt, indicating the broken blade.
Witchman frowned, brows raised, taking it.
The others waited patiently, leaning back or on their packs, eyes closed. Some slumped, warily still, feet planted firmly on the ground.
Shekinah and the woman who asked to stop had sat next to Sapper, who also rested, her closed eyes shifting slightly, restlessly.
She thought, *Where am I? This is all so strange. I haven't had time to prcoess this. Where am I right now?"
The dishes had already arrived when she opened her eyes, and the group's dishes were all but empty. Witchman was the only one still eating. She had yet to touch her dish.
"Sapper, are you not hungry?" asked Charlotte, hair unkempt, tangled, and tied-back messily.
"Sorry, I was thinking." She leaned forward and planted her hands on the table, gripping the utensils, spearing the fried tofu and lean beef. It had tomato sauce, carrots, potatoes, and green peas, the scent making her salivate.
Chapter 3 - The Goblin Forms a Party
When Sapper finished eating, everyone left.
Once they were deep in the rainforest, Witchman called to stop in a small canopied glade. The group took out mud-stained, foliage-covered outfits from a nearby cache tucked in a mossy hollow, changing their clothes.
After they set up camp, he called Sapper, meeting her halfway, his damp feet pattering over loamy earth, crossing sun dapples.
She placed the rain-streaked clothes she removed and folded into her bag, wearing a spare outfit Witchman procured from within the group. "What?"
"Wanna train with Shekinah?" he asked, shuffling his feet through leaves. "She told me she wants to see how strong you are."
Sapper peeked around him at Shekinah, who was already removing her bag and nudging aside the bags into a pile with her feet.
With a sweat-glistened face, Shekinah swaggered up to her, picking a mango off the ground. "Hello. I'm Shekinah."
"Sapper." She removed her helmet.
"Yes, I heard. How's your arms?" She slowly opened the mango, using her nails.
"My arms?"
"I heard you were a spearman. Doesn't that place weight on the arms?"
"No? I don't think so?"
She paused to eat the mango first. "Oh, OK, my bad. Let's fight!"
Sapper smiled tentatively, then turning to Witchman, her mouth opening.
"That's mine by the way," Shekinah interrupted. She pointed at Sapper's outfit, then gestured to herself with her thumb.
Witchman and Sapper's gazes shifted slowly to her. "Oh, thank you," Sapper said, poking the muddy fabric.
Shekinah stared, holding the thumb pose, eating a mango on her other hand.
Sapper's eyes drifted down to a line of ants crawling next to a fallen, decaying log below her, the other two following her.
The barest frown appeared as Sapper looked up. "No, I'm not going to fight you." Her eyes followed the tip of her spear to the mango tree above, where the wind blew against canopy leaves, rustling.
I'm wearing leaves, ma'am. Mud and leaves. What do you expect me to do?
After finishing the mango, Shekinah said, "Well, tell me if you want to." She pivoted on her heel and stalked out of the conversation.
Below the towering trees, the remaining two resumed their conversation.
"Where are we going next?" Sapper asked.
Looking at glimpses of the sky, he said, "Ask Charlotte. I'll be gone for three hours."
After staging a discussion with the group, he left the camp and vanished beyond the trees.
"Status," Sapper said after finding a private place, forming a cone with her hands over her mouth and speaking into the dirt. She was braced on her knees and elbows, head meeting the earth.
[Name: Sapper]
[Health: 950/950]
[Level: 19]
[Race: Goblin]
[Group: None]
[XP: 520/950]
[Gold: 118]
[Mana: 600/950]
[Skills:]
[Fireball (Inherited)]
[Warping Spear]
[Items:]
[Spear]
[Young Man's Knife]
[Vest]
[Skirt]
[Bracers]
[Bag (x2)]
[Cheap Helmet]
[Shield]
[Adventurer's License]
[Quest Contract (Find Jason with Witchman)]
[Essentials of Trolling]
[Mat]
[Corroded Weapon Hilt (x5)]
[Pitted Copper Coin (x70)]
[Small Etched Agate (x5)]
(Empty Water Pouch)
Sapper stared, absorbing it all before snapping her head to the ground, looking aside, shaking her head, hands trembling briefly. She looked up, meeting the gaze of Elaine, the woman who had asked to stop for Shekinah.
"What are you doing?" Elaine asked.
Sapper got up, falling midway, before getting up again on her knees, eyes blinking. "P-praying."
"Uh-huh. Didn't know gobs prayed." Elaine touched the tree next to her, running her fingers across its rough bark, leaning against it, eying it.
Her head turned toward Sapper. "What do you believe in?"
Sapper opened her mouth before closing before opening again. "W-well... I am a goblin, so..."
"So?"
"It's a private thing."
"Really?"
Elaine stared.
Sapper's gaze drifted away, resting on the spear next to her and scanning the gaps between the trees. Elaine's darted wherever she looked.
"What are you looking at?" Elaine said.
Sapper missed her question.
Elaine stopped, giving a thumbs-up and easing herself off the tree.
"OK then," she said, leaving.
Sapper's lips parted.
The spear glowed briefly. Sapper looked where Elaine was last visible. She grabbed it and stood up, running off.
Her breath ragged, the thuds of her feet stomping the earth, her eyes fixed on where the camp would appear.
Elaine was nowhere to be seen.
She stopped.
"Witchman?"
A spear launched from the bushes.
Elaine stabbed at her.
"What are you doing!?" Sapper said.
"Gob!" She stabbed at her several times.
"What did I do! What did I do! Why!"
"You killed Jared!"
"What! When! When!"
"System," Elaine said. "Show."
[Retribution Quest:]
[Cause: Murder of Otherworlder Jared by Sapper (Goblin)]
[Objective: Exact Vengeance. Eliminate Sapper.]
[Reward: Retribution Fulfilled (Significant XP)]
[Failure: Target Escapes. Vengeance Unclaimed.]
She immediately swiped the notification away.
Elaine stabbed while her vision was obscured.
Sapper cast "[Fireball!]"
Elaine absorbed the fireball's impact. "Are you serious!?"
Sapper ran away.
Elaine chased.
Sapper returned to camp. "Help!"
Shekinah and the rest watched the two, stopping Sapper, who told them everything.
"Elaine?" Shekinah said. "Why?"
Elaine dropped on her knees, smashing her spear against the ground repeatedly. Sounds ripped from her throat.
A sudden stillness swept over the group. They watched, eyes widened, faces paled. Tears welling up. Gasps. Choked sounds. Whimpers. Some turned away. Stunned silences.
Sapper witnessed this, the goblin.
When Witchman returned, he saw the group eating together, Elaine laughing next to Skekinah, Sapper resuming her dynamic in it.
"System," Sapper whispered, the sounds of the rainforest drowning her voice out. "Did she hear it?"
[[Rule Reveal System to Anyone = Not Broken]]
She didn't?
The next morning, everyone left, resuming the Jason quest.
Sapper scanned the group's faces, complexions pale and eyes puffy, Elaine blurring among them. They greeted Sapper as usual, chatting and bantering with each other, but she caught the lingering hoarseness in Elaine's voice.
She approached Witchman. "I want to leave, go home."
Witchman stopped and told the group to wait for them. He led her out of earshot. "What? What happened?"
"I don't know... Elaine tried to kill me."
"What!? Why?!"
"I don't know. I think she's mad. But no one's saying anything. They just acted like nothing happened."
Witchman covered his mouth, his eyes drifting aside. "OK, I will need to get someone to bring you home, not from the group of course. I will contact Mark."
"How?"
"I have a Scroll of Far-Sending. It will tell Mark to come here and take you home. Are you okay with that?"
"Why? Is he not busy?"
"There's gold attached of course."
"OK. Should I pay you?"
"No, no. If you do, I'll feel bad. Whatever happened, I believe that you have a good reason to leave. So I need to make sure that you get home, whatever it takes."
"T-thank you."
He sighed. "You're going to have to wait for Mark."
She nodded. "Where?"
"You know how to get back to the city boundary?"
"No."
He gave her a series of directions.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Just... here..." He handed her a spare Scroll of Far-Sending. "Tell Mark if you have any problems."
He sent Mark using the first Scroll of Far-Sending.
By nighttime, she returned home, having stayed quiet the whole way, appreciating the views.
Mark compressed his lips. "OK, we're good?"
"Yes. Thank you, Mark. Really."
Mark watched her leave.
When she got back to the inn, she pressed a hand against her chest, hyperventilating.
She gradually waned, falling asleep.
She woke up. It was still the afternoon. She groggily got up, looking out the window.
She rubbed her temples. "Where am I?"
Ten days passed. She did not take a single quest, walking around outside till nightfall every day.
She got up and put on fresh clothes, returning home.
Goblins watched her from the forest edge.
She entered.
"Sap," her brother said.
"Hi." She put down her things inside her room before heading back down.
Her mother looked at her. "Fefen."
Sapper offered a subtle, closed-lip smile.
A month later, she left. "Thank you everyone."
She went to another town's guild.
"I'll pay the fee." She handed over a bag of gold.
After finding a quiet place, she said, "System. Browse. Page 4 to 1."
[Generating results...]
[Page 4]
[1. Join Richard's Party - Assist Richard's group (1 day). Reward: 75G, 750XP]
[2. Join Peter's Party - Assist Peter's group (7 days). Reward: 100G, 1000XP]
[Page 3]
[1. Steel Mite Hunt - Kill 5 steel mites at Black Curl. Reward: 25G, 250XP]
[2. Kobold Hunt - Kill 2 kobolds at Sulemen Tower. Reward: 10G, 100XP]
[Page 2]
[1. Accompany Traveler - Help Mr. Janet get home (Sasaa Village). Reward: 2G, 20XP]
[2. Find Lost Necklace - Find Red's lost necklace around Satchetstock. Reward: 4G, 40XP]
[Page 1]
[1. Read Book Aloud - Help Ms. Lauren study. Reward: 1G, 10XP]
[2. Carry Bags - Carry John's bags to wagon. Reward: 1G, 10XP]
"Some of these are useless," she muttered. "Kobolds for 10 gold? And is that the Richard I know? Where are the big quests? I was hoping to join again, but now, I'm not sure. 7 days for Peter's group is too much. Steel Mite barely gives anything. And who would want to help Mr. Janet for 2 gold? Unless you're literally..." ...level 1. "Then I don't see the reason to take these quests... These quests... leave much to be desired... Wait a minute... Page 5."
[Generating results...]
[Page 5]
[1. Kill Dreiden - Hunt him down in the Sulemen Forest. Reward: 1000G, 10000XP]
[2. Kill Man-of-War - Hunt down Man-of-War around Lemenbu. Reward: 2000G, 20000XP]
"Page 6."
[No results available...]
Wouldn't this require a group? Wait, what if I could make a group and hire adventurers to help me kill Dreiden?
"But how?"
She returned to the guild, watching the many adventurers shuttling about, her gaze lowering, eyes vacant.
A group entered.
Her gaze rested on them, seeing an adventurer behind them.
The adventurer stopped, adjusting his bag, moving aside as a river of people, a sea of faces, flowed in.
She walked up next to him.
"Sir, excuse me, might I please have the time?"
"About 2 PM."
"Thank you..." She turned away before looking back. "Are you alone?"
"Alone?" He looked around. "No. I'm not alone. I'm in the guild, but if you're asking if I work alone, then yes I do."
"Is it OK if we... work together?"
"No. I don't intend on working with anyone. I've had my fair share of them, and nothing is convincing to go back."
"OK. I get it. I'm actually alone right now for that very reason."
"Well?"
"Well then, I was hoping we could go together on a quest."
"How can I trust you? You seriously think I'm standing around here for sale?"
"No, no. I was just hoping we'd form a group to kill Dreiden."
"Dreiden...?"
"The quest board says 'Dreiden,' and he's 1000 gold and... yeah" Crap, I almost said XP.
"OK. That means he's strong. Why should I form a group just to die?"
"Well..." She looked around. "Everyone's got their own group for a reason. Even if you don't want to group up again, we can form our own if you want, on your terms, and mine."
He paused, turning his head aside. "OK. I'll... consider it." He left her, walking to the counter and grabbing a quest contract.
She interrupted him as he was walking out. "Wait, how will I contact you?"
His brows raised slightly, lips easing open. He glanced aside toward the exit. "Meet me tomorrow here. I'm always here around this time."
They separated.
She took a quest.
"Richard, it's you," she said upon meeting up.
Richard looked at her. "You're the goblin. Sapper, was it?"
"You remember the dungeon? With Witchman? And Oslo?"
His head raised at Oslo. "I do. That's when I met..." Adamson strolled through the doorway, sitting down. "Her."
"So what are we doing?" Sapper asked.
"We're actually on a quest. It's Peter's, if you've seen it. Tomorrow is the first day. We're fine with you taking Peter's quest, but this quest is only for the first day. We just need another pair of eyes so we don't feel naked there."
"OK. That helps. But what do you mean by 'another pair of eyes'?"
He started speaking as soon as she said "another," overlapping with her. "Oh, well, that's... we just need someone to make sure that whatever happens, we got backup. Just accompany us specifically. If they put us in groups, I want you with us, since I can trust someone who works for me directly, not like a temporary co-worker thing if you had just taken Peter's."
"Great. Clear. That's what I'm looking for." She stood up, walking out.
"You didn't finish the meal we gave you?" Adamson said. Sapper stopped, glancing at the food.
"No, no, it's fine," Richard interjected. "I was hoping she wouldn't eat it either." Sapper left.
She read the quest contract for Richard's. It read, "9 AM to 9 PM."
The next day, she missed the full-day quest, arriving at the guild at 2 PM.
The lone adventurer was absent for another 30 minutes.
"I apologize," he said.
"Yeah, we good?"
"Yeah, let's go. What are we doing anyway?"
"We're meeting our first adventurer."
"First? Who?"
"Slime Guy."
Chapter 4 - The Goblin Joins the Ranks
Slime Guy looked at them. "You called me?" he said.
"Yeah, you got the message?" said Sapper.
"Yeah, I did. How'd you know I'd come?"
"Well, we talked this morning already."
"Right? But what if I bailed on you?"
"That's possible, and that would make me sad if you did."
"I guess. So, who is this?" He looked the lone adventurer over.
"I told you already," she said. "He's the first adventurer."
"Wait, isn't he the first one?" said the lone adventurer, his eyes on Slime Guy.
She said, "Well, you're both the first one since we have yet to form the group officially."
"I guess you're right."
"So what's the name?" said the clerk, eying Sapper's skin.
"Well," she said. "Slime Squad?"
"Really?" said the lone adventurer. "How about Smart Killers?'
Slime Guy said, "No, no, a simple name like Group 1 should do."
She said, "Hmm... sounds good!"
"Seriously?" Slime Guy said.
"Yeah!"
"OK, let's do it then! Group 1!"
The lone adventurer said, "Wait, wait!
"Damn it...
"Didn't even consult me on the name. Can I even trust you in the fight?" He smiled slightly.
Sapper said, "You're right. What should the name be?"
"Hmm, how 'bout Dog Fighters?"
"Okay then. Nate, you?"
Slime Guy, or Nate, said, "It's fine. I was just joking."
"Sure? No take-backsies, 'kay?"
"OK." Nate eyed the lone adventurer's armor.
They exited the guild.
"Who even is this guy?" the lone adventurer said as they walked down the street.
"Timothy, ask him," Sapper said. "He's right here."
Nate said, looking confusedly at her, "I am here." Sapper raised a brow back, looking over at the lone adventurer, or Timothy, prompting Nate to look as well.
"Oh... yeah," Timothy said. "Um, what is your ability?"
"Ability? Except for slimes, I hunt pretty much anything," Nate said, giving Sapper a knowing look.
"Hmm, but are you reliable?" Timothy said. Nate raised his hands palm-up, his face scrunched. Sapper bounced along, eyes wandering from one marvel to another.
They reached the monster fields. "Where does Dreiden sit on our calendar?" he said.
"Not until we get enough members," she said. "So we're here to see our options."
They shifted their gazes to the people in the distance.
First was a woman facing a slime.
She raised her hands, dashing forward before pivoting on her heel, missing a slime with a right kick. Fist shot out. She followed by slamming down her heel from a high arc. But she got caught. She shouted help, as her friend, a mage, magically sped her up.
After escaping and recovering, she struck deliberately across the belly and scurried back, avoiding a reactive jump-and-slam. She distanced as the slime threw its belly around like a limb, swiping sideways. It hit her, sending her staggering back, the impact blasting a burst of white air out behind it, drawing a sharp cry of pain. She fell to her knees, collapsing head-first, her fist loosening.
Before the slime could kill her, she got on her knees, out of breath, watching impatiently as the late afternoon sun crept down, her friend standing between her and the slime.
She got out, her friend catching up.
Second was a group.
Its members watched the woman and her friend leaving the fields. One of them raised his hand, casting a spell, blasts of air pushing a slime into a pit, trapping it. They grabbed spears and rocks and began assaulting it, laughing.
"This won't work," Sapper said.
Nate slowly nodded. "Yeah, I guess, but I'm surprised hearing that from you. I thought you wanted this."
"Yeah, I did," she said, "but based on what we've learned so far from all this, I don't think we can form a working group that makes us all happy in one go. I think we should still keep working together, but in our own time."
"How long's that?" said Timothy, rubbing the skin under his eye.
"Gonna take? Before we start making progress? Well... a long time at least."
"What do we do while waiting?"
"We can join quests that work for us. We don't have to force working together until we can find windows that overlap. Goals and needs come first."
"Makes sense. I'm all for it. Plus, I never really wanted to get into this right away anyway."
"I'm just happy to be here," Nate said. "After seeing her fireball, anything works for me."
"Fireball?" said Timothy.
"Let's talk soon," said Sapper.
"Ey, wait!" he said.
"OK, see ya!" Nate said.
It's like we're working covert, Sapper thought upon entering her lodge that evening. Her fellow lodgers watched her, distancing themselves.
The next day, she stood at the quest board, observing the adventurers. The woman and the group from the monster fields yesterday came at different times, but she was there the whole day.
The next day, she tailed the woman, who went to a nearby monster forest, passing by over a hundred adventurers, a river of people, a sea of faces.
She stopped midway, pausing, staring at the forest, sitting on a nearby bench.
Several more adventurers passed by, glancing at her adventurer outfit before turning their gaze ahead.
Adventurers continued to shuttle between the town and the monster forest via this junction.
An hour later, she saw the woman returning with tired eyes, resuming her tailing.
When they reached the guild, Tamer was there. Sapper left, pacing the length of the building outside.
When the woman went out, she followed. The woman stopped at an inn before entering.
Sapper went inside, scanning the ground floor.
The woman went upstairs.
Sapper booked an inn room, and it upstairs.
She entered her own room and placed her ear against the wall, eying the hallway outside through her slightly open door.
She later fell asleep.
The next morning, she woke up earlier, peeking around the door.
When the woman went out, she did the same.
The woman went to the bakery.
Sapper watched from the side before ordering some herself.
The person at the counter stared at her clawed hands before handing her some hot early morning pandesal.
She ate as she drank, heading to the guild, where she saw the woman taking another quest, much earlier in the day than yesterday.
They went to the forest again.
This time, she followed her.
They went past all kinds of adventuring groups, some only one, some two, some in the tens.
After joining a group waiting for her, the woman went to a dungeon, but not inside or immediately outside at the entrance. They kept a distance.
Sapper watched.
Skeletons exited, and each of them shot, taking down one before leaving as an influx of skeletons poured and fanned out.
They returned later only to shoot again. They were killing one at a time, cutting down the mass of skeletons inside.
Some hours later, the group entered the dungeon.
Sapper went closer, the darkness of the dungeon and the intense sunlight obscuring her vision of the inside.
When the group ran out, Sapper distanced herself, vanishing beyond the trees.
The next day, she returned to the guild, sitting down.
When the group from the monster fields, the one that trapped the slime in the pit, came, she tailed them.
The group went to many stores: armor smiths, mage shops, weapon smiths, storage shops, food shops, and many more.
They stayed longest at the market, selling all their loot here directly instead of giving it to the guild.
They scattered at the end of the day, not a single moment spent fighting monsters.
The next day, she returned to the guild. When the woman's mage friend came, she followed her.
The mage entered a building, and an hour later, Sapper left.
She went to the forest by herself, rubbing her fingers against each other.
When she reached the dungeon that the woman's group raided two days ago, she opened her hand at the entrance and said, her fingers heating up, "[Fireball!]"
The skeletons ran farther inside. She shook her hand, walking closer before firing again.
She did it five more times, but not a single kill notification appeared from this barrage.
She stared between her hand and a skeleton's blade on the ground at the entrance before leaving.
She travelled to her former town, stopping by the guild. At the end of the day, she left.
She returned the next day, sitting down the whole day.
She went again the next day, doing the same.
She did this for three more days, then she stopped.
She stood outside for the next five days.
Witchman came.
"Can I talk to you?" she said. "I realized that you were the reason I could kill all those skeletons."
He glanced between her and the group behind him, which included Charlotte, Oslo, Shekinah, and, finally, Elaine.
After they went to a corner in the guild, she said, "Can you help me? I realized you were the reason I could kill all those skeletons. I tried doing it alone, but I can't even get inside!"
Witchman smiled weakly. "You want to join? Elaine's there though, so you're going to have to compromise."
She paused. About a month and a half had passed since what Elaine did to her.
"I don't know," she said. "What do I do?"
"It's up to you. But if you want to know, I'm hosting a raid party with several other groups. That's why the whole gang is here."
She sighted Elaine through the crowd, compressing her lips.
"I'll do it," she said, biting her lips.
The next day, Witchman helped her off a carriage. "OK, just take your time." He shouted, "Oslo, grab the poles!"
Oslo said, "OK guys, we just need to grab a few poles. You, don't forget your bag. You forgot it once already. Joshua, keep a slow pace this time, you don't want to rush it. If you don't, we're already dead. Marsley, make sure the heaps of sand you put doesn't stop our attacks. We already saw you trying the ceiling trick, but we don't need it if it ends up disrupting our established rhythm. We need to integrate it slowly. Samuel, perfect that attack, don't stop. Do not diverge just yet. Adapting is good, but wait for that bridge. Good, we have the poles ready. Great! Let's go!"
They readied the tents, putting together a camp.
Two hours later, many groups arrived, settling in the empty tents.
Some had already taken the 15-minute walk to the dungeon in question, returning with immediate information about the shifting monsters inside the dungeon. This added to the bulk of info they gathered before today.
Sapper was sitting down on one of the crates, watching, resting her chin on the palm of her hand, one arm lying on her thighs and the chin-holding arm standing on its hand.
As soon as the coalition started marching, Witchman went up next to Sapper. "Hey," he said. "I was wondering... Can you use your fireball right when I say? I hope I'm not being overbearing. This is not essential to the mission, but we will shift gears if you're interested. It will be a great benefit... What do you think?" He hid his lips.
She raised her brows. "Yeah... sure... But I don't know what that means. Sorry."
"No, no, it's fine. It's alright. I just wanted to check with you, see if you're OK. But you'll be useful, I promise. We just need to get the right timing. It'll depend on the others..." He tried to smile, locking eyes with her.
She looked aside. "Well, yeah... Sorry, I'm new to this. Can I be with you?"
"The entire time? Sure, yeah, that's what we were planning. I'm the only one you know most here in terms of combat, so it would do good for us, especially you. We don't want you to be uncomfortable."
She furrowed her brows. "Why're you like this? Is someone making you do this?"
"No. I'm honestly just nervous. It's normal. I'm used to it. This is a big quest, and I've done them many times before. But yeah... thanks Sapper for coming..."
She opened her mouth before she closed it, nodding, her lips compressed.
When they arrived, many magic shields, fortifications, and equipment, excluding cannons, were visibly prepared, not a single attack for 45 minutes.
During that time, some made small talk with her, though nothing of lasting substance, just general greetings and welcoming.
An hour in, they bombarded the closed-off entrance, demolishing it and making the ceiling crash down and destroying the debris from all that as well.
The entrance ultimately became much larger.
They forcibly entered, pushing in with shields upon shields.
Sapper was at the very back, standing on tiptoe, peeking at the front as calls, marches, and commands and large equipment noises split the air, her eyes flitting at Witchman every now and then. What do I do? she thought, pulling at her lower lip.
The coalition's vanguard plowed further inside.
Once they broke through the first bulk of defenses, the enemies scattered, settling in various strongpoints within the dungeon itself, fragmenting the coalition's front line. But the same brute-force tactic worked. The coalition overloaded one side, surprising their way through with massed ranged non-projectile mages and ground forces—which included both projectile attackers and melee forces—in close coordination.
Outside, Witchman hurried Sapper, running inside with her, catching up with the coalition vanguard. "We're going to use you at the front, is that OK? The next one will need your fireball!"
"OK!" she said.
When they reached the front, a giant woman made of ice stood in the middle, slamming down with her gigantic club. She cast "[Eternities of Splendor]", healing herself, then cast "[Ice Tomb]", freezing several in ice. But these were immediately cancelled by magical shields and buffs.
"Go!" Witchman said. Sapper raised her hand, "[Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!] [Fireball!]"
She stopped. "You're done?" he said. She nodded.
"Great! Get the Hilt inside her! We just need a little more Sapience!"
She averted her gaze, walking dazedly aside, grabbing the side of her head. "Ugh... I feel weird," she said.
The noises continued, and shouts and screams echoed.
Eventually, it ended.
Sapper sat down on the ground next to a crate, eyes dull, her face sagging at the sides. Close to her, Witchman was seated on a crate with hands holding it between his thighs, laughing as he waved. "Yeah, yeah!" he said as a conversation with two passersby ended.
When her gaze settled on him, he smiled, giving her a thumbs-up. "No Elaine," he mouthed, pumping his fists.
She let out a short, knowing puff of air through her nose, smiling slightly.
Chapter 5
As the coalition ended, she returned to an inn room.