Chapterchewing...
Chapterchewing...
Chapter 1.15
Klbkch rushes to the inn and uses a healing potion to save a near-dead Erin Solstice. After disposing of the Hobgoblin's corpse to prevent reanimation, Klbkch returns to Liscor to physically discipline a drunken Relc.
At the eastern gates of Liscor, a tired Drake on duty watches as Klbkch speeds past. Utilizing his [Enhanced Movement] skill from his [Guardsman] class, the Antinium races toward the inn.
Upon arriving, Klbkch finds the inn heavily damaged. The front door is smashed in, smoke pours from the kitchen, and the common room is completely wrecked. Among the destruction, he discovers Erin Solstice on the brink of death. Klbkch immediately administers a healing potion, successfully pulling her back from the edge and saving her life.
Investigating the aftermath of the brutal attack, Klbkch identifies the slain Goblin Chieftain as a Hobgoblin, a highly dangerous evolutionary subtype. Surviving the desperate, close-quarters battle allowed Erin to acquire two new skills: [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw]. To prevent the Hobgoblin from being reanimated as an undead monster, Klbkch drags the corpse outside, dismembers it, and buries the pieces.
After ensuring Erin's safety and neutralizing the immediate threats, Klbkch returns to Liscor. He tracks down his patrol partner, Relc, who is heavily drinking at a local bar. Holding Relc accountable for his negligence during their patrol, Klbkch beats him up, leaving the Drake bruised on the tavern floor.
Using his [Enhanced Movement] skill, Klbkch rushes past a tired Drake on duty at Liscor's gates to reach the inn.
Klbkch discovers a severely injured Erin Solstice in the ruined inn and administers a healing potion to save her life.
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.as
aka Erin, the traveller +64
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +27
An Antinium Senior Guardsman in the city’s watch; arrives at Erin’s door and greets her.
aka Senior Guardsman Klbkch, ant-man +31
Klbkch identifies the dead Goblin Chieftain as a dangerous Hobgoblin and buries its dismembered corpse to prevent reanimation.
Following her desperate fight, Erin acquires the [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw] skills.
“They’re murderers. And so am I. Don’t kill them.”
“Many clues lead me to this conclusion. Your curiosity about levels and classes, your mysterious arrival, and this ‘Michigan,’ which is no nation recorded in any book or map. But most of all, it was this last moment. No Human would weep for a Goblin.”
“All those that Think—Feel. From Feeling do we Act. It is in Action that we Level. All those who Think have a Class. And it is in that Class which we find destiny.”
“Your leveling is stupid. Your skills are stupid. I hate your world’s classes, I hate your city, and I hate you.”
“The Antinium? We do not weep.”
“I mean no offense. It is simply that all beings know how classes and skills work.”
“Is there something you wish to ask of me, Miss Solstice?”
“Worry not. The healing potion worked. The bandage has stuck to your skin.”
“Good. Thank you. So. What now? Did you—what did you do with the body?”
“I see. It is a long way to Rhir. Here. Please accept this.”
“Relc. He killed two Goblins and beheaded them.”
“I’m just having a bad—I mean, it’s been—I hate this world. But I didn’t mean that last bit about you. You’re okay. Everyone else can go to hell.”
“No, it’s not. We don’t have levels, and we don’t learn Skills like we’re in a video game. We don’t have classes except for ones in school, and we don’t need levels to learn things.”
“Yeah. I changed the subject. Humans do that when they don’t want to talk about something.”
“I do not mean this country or even this continent. You are not from here, are you?”
“I took no offense, Miss Solstice. I realize you have gone through a traumatic event. The fault lies with me for not being more receptive to your distress. I should have provided more comfort and companionship. In that, my partner Relc is occasionally more effective than I.”
“Allow me to apologize on both our behalves. Words cannot express my shame.”
“Good night to you. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience. I shall take my leave.”
“Good thing you’re here. Let me tell you, that Erin girl? Stupidest Human I’ve ever met. Do you know what she did this morning?”
“I’m okay. Really. I just—I’m from somewhere else. Another world. This place is different. I just—I just don’t want to talk about it right now. It’s been a bad day.”
“I do not understand your reasoning. But I will accede to your request. Know that I will defend myself with lethal force if attacked, however.”
“Many would argue otherwise, Miss Solstice. Goblins are considered monsters and bandits for the purposes of determining crime under Liscorian law. They are killers who prey on the weak. You have nearly died at the hands of one.”
“Miss Solstice? Miss Solstice, you must drink.”
“No? If you feel unable to travel, I can—”
“It is the way of the world. All races that think are given the ability to level and take classes.”
“Learning skills is not merely a matter of levels. Classes and leveling are simply the basis of our lives so we may grow faster from what we do. It is a fact of life.”
“Not at all, Senior Guardswoman Beilmark.”
“They’re vicious, evil little monsters. And they’d probably eat me if they could.”
“Indeed not. Two individuals taking the [Soldier] class, for instance, may learn different Skills at the same level. It is a matter of need and inclination which allows individuals to learn skills. For instance, while Relc is a higher-level warrior than I, he is not of a higher level in the actual [Guardsman] class and thus does not possess the [Detect Guilt] skill.”
“To put it simply, classes are general ways of life that individuals take. In life, one might choose to become a [Butcher], or perhaps a [Musician]. It is simply a matter of fulfilling the requirements. Often, they are known, but there are exceptions. One cannot simply take [Ruler]-type classes for instance.”
“They are worthy skills. Unusual for the [Innkeeper] class, but not unheard of.”
“One last question, Miss Solstice, if I may? What caused the Goblin Chieftain to attack you in the first place? It is rare that the tribal leader takes any aggressive action if unprovoked.”
“Say rather that it has become obvious. It is an unbelievable statement, but it is the only one I can come to.”
“How’d you figure it out?”
“Miss Solstice. Are you well?”
“After I killed the Goblin—I gained a new skill. Two, actually. [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw].”
“May I ask why not?”
“That is indeed one of the ways to learn such a class. But in any case, classes increase one’s proficiency at their role with each new level. And with that increase in ability, Skills may be learnt. But there is no one set of Skills for a class.”
“Did someone teach you that?”
“May I ask how you know?”
“Another sign you do not belong to this world, Miss Solstice.”
“It is part of the lessons any child learns. The exact wording comes from a book: The Book of Levels, which was originally written nearly twenty thousand years ago. Copies of this text are among the few mainstream works that have been faithfully reproduced into this age. I have studied it extensively upon coming to this continent to understand the mentality of the peoples here, as well as levels and classes in general.”
“Respectfully, I must disagree. Though the Goblin Chieftain is dead, his tribe may seek vengeance.”
“…Thank you. Um. Thank you.”
“It is not known. But our oldest texts tell us of this truth.”
“It is simply how we live our life. This is a universal truth throughout the world. Is yours not the same?”
“No Human. No Drake or Gnoll, Selphid, Dullahan, Beastkin, or any creature from this world would.”
“I have disposed of the Goblin Chieftain’s body. However, there are many Goblins still hiding nearby. If you feel safe here, I will dispose of as many as I can. If not, I will escort you to the city and then return with reinforcements to—”
“That’s fine. They’re gone, anyways. They ran off when they heard him screaming.”
“This is true. Over a quarter of the deaths of travellers on the roads around Liscor are due to Goblin attacks. They are murderers.”
“You are not from here, are you, Miss Solstice?”
“I had made the observation that you were not from this world, Miss Solstice.”
“It’s wrong.”
“Not really. Sort of. I guess? But why are there levels in the first place?”
“That’s stupid.”
“I buried it outside. Far from the inn, in pieces, to prevent chance reanimation. Worry not.”
“Oi, Klb! You won’t believe what that stupid Human did this time.”
“I’m not in shock. I’m really not. I’m just—tired.”
“Then you have a commonality with many non-Antinium species. My apologies. I should not be asking such questions now. You are still in shock.”
“Of course. Forgive my rudeness. But if I may, I would like to suggest a course of action.”
“Really? Why’d I get them? And aren’t skills like…set?”
“I just know. Please. I’d really like to be left alone.”
“You are still suffering from this encounter. Your mental state is unbalanced.”
“You will be weak for at least a day afterwards. However, you will recover in full. You are lucky; there was no infection that the healing potion could have exacerbated.”
“I will remain here with your permission. It would be unwise to—”
“Thanks for dealing with those drunks, Klbkch. I owe you one.”
“No. No killing Goblins.”
“But why is that how things work?”
“Hey, what’s gotten into you, Klb? Decided to take me up on a night out for once? Pull up a seat.”
“Well then, explain it to me.”
“…I didn’t mean that.”
“Well then. Take care, Miss Solstice.”
“Right, you’ve got to be born into it.”
“I’d like to be alone now.”
“Really? No one? What about Drakes?”
“Or whom. Who did it? And why?”
“I thought as much.”
“I’m not in shock.”
“As you say.”
“One more thing.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Very well then.”
“And they’re murderers.”
“I—I’m alive.”
“They won’t.”
“Was it obvious?”
“Do you understand?”
“Ow. What was—”
“Drink.”
“Guh.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“You’re fine.”
“It’s okay.”
“What about your people?”
“Oh. I see.”
“Oh—ow! Good to know.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Really?”
“By who?”
“Ah. Miss Solstice?”
“No.”
“Um. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”