Sentence-stewing...
Sentence-stewing...
Chapter 1.36
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the traveller +58
An anti-social, barefoot runner from Earth who works as a messenger in Izril.
aka City Runner, Miss Runner +11
A dangerous type of spider creature that lives in nests.
aka Shield Spiders, spiders +2
The geographical region surrounding Liscor that periodically floods.
aka Floodplains, the Floodplains +1
An incredibly famous and powerful half-Gazer adventurer exploring northern Izril.
aka Gazi, the female adventurer +7
A half-Elf mage belonging to the Horns of Hammerad who offers Ryoka a taboo alternative for her leg.
aka Ceria, Springwalker +1
The Minotaur captain of the Horns of Hammerad, who wields a massive battleaxe.
aka the Minotaur, Beriad of the House of Minos +6
A class for people who operate vehicles like wagons for transport or delivery.
aka [Driver], The driver +2
The Human vice-captain of the Horns of Hammerad.
aka the vice-captain, vice-captain of the Horns of Hammerad +2
A Human mage from Wistram Academy, specialized in Elementalist and Illusionary schools, who admits to necromancy.
aka the mage, Mister Mage +30
“I’ve heard of that.”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
“The flesh—”
“It's fine.”
“Marital what?”
“That’s what happens when you move bone around. But now the leg can be healed properly since the bone is repaired. Let’s heal—”
One of the [Mages] in the Horns of Hammerad.
aka the wispy-haired [Mage], the [Mage] Sostrom +2
“Hold it.”
“Give me the potion. What’s the hold up? Come on—”
“We must clean the wound first. A healing potion can accelerate an infection—”
“Dead gods, he’s right.”
“That would not be…a good outcome.”
“Infection? What? Healing potions accelerate infections?”
“That’s one of the reasons why adventurers can’t heal everything. That and poison stops healing from working properly. Hey, Pisces—Pisces!”
“What?”
“Does this building have anyone in it? Can we get some hot water? Or just water? We could boil our canteen water I guess.”
“We have cooking supplies. Calruz has them in his bag of holding.”
“I could inquire within, but the owner is out.”
“Who runs an inn with just one person? Nevermind. Uh—thanks.”
“The Minotaur is correct, Springwalker. Clean the wound. Too bad you never took that alchemy class, eh?”
“Go to Rhir, Pisces.”
“Vinegar. Or soap. Hot soap and water.”
“What?”
“Wash the wound. I know soap is not what you put on a wound—it doesn’t matter if you’ll heal it. Wash any grit straight out. Do hurry, though. The longer the wound is exposed, the sooner it will fester.”
“We’ll have to dump it over the wound. Ryoka Griffin, do you need something to clench with your teeth?”
“Do it. I’ll be fine. This—this is payback, isn’t it?”
“I assure you, it’s merely practicality.”
“I’ll be fine. Just pour it on—fast.”
“Don’t burn her leg off. Just get that slime—grab my arm, Ryoka.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sure?”
“Yes—argh! Fuck you! I’ll kill you! You motherf—”
“Ceria—now.”
“Looks good. I’m going to dispel the magic now. Ryoka, how does it feel?”
“S-sorry.”
“No problem.”
“I can’t feel anything. But it looks good. Go ahead.”
“[Dispel Magic]. Alright, I’m ready to put the spell back. Ryoka? How’s it feel?”
“How’s it feel—”
“I take it you’re feeling better, Ryoka?”
“I’m great. Better than great.”
“How did—I’ve never seen anyone do that.”
“I have. Tumblers and performers have those kinds of Skills. Do you have the [Performer] class, Miss Ryoka?”
“No, I’ve just got skill. You should see me do parkour or tricking.”
“Par—what?”
“It’s a type of running. Or—I guess you could call it a type of martial arts.”
“You are full of surprises, aren’t you? And your leg doesn’t hurt? You don’t feel any twinges or pain?”
“None.”
“Pisces did his work well, then. I thought he would. He might be an idiot, but he’s a competent one.”
“I’m glad. Well, uh, what should we do now? It’s been a long trip, and there’s the inn or Liscor…Ryoka, did you want to, uh, do anything?”
“I’m going to run back.”
“What?”
“I’ve gotta run. Sorry but—”
“We understand. I’ve broken bones before, too.”
“I don’t want to get in your way. I can probably find my way back on my own if you want to stay—”
“Nonsense.”
“We’ll follow in the wagon and pick you up when you slow down. There’s over a hundred miles between here and Celum. Even I—you couldn’t run that far.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Um, thanks anyways, though. But if you need to rest—I know you were up all night.”
“We’ll give the horses a stamina potion, don’t worry.”
“Ponies!”
“If you’re going to run, stick to the road. Monsters around here are fairly dangerous. Stay away from the big rocks. They’re actually giant monsters in disguise.”
“Thank you. I really mean it.”
“Enough words. Run already!”
“Let’s see if our [Wagon Driver] wants a break and get on the road if you want to follow her, Gerial. It looks like she’ll go at least forty miles before she runs out of steam.”
“Fast. But that’s why she is worthy.”
“It’s worth repaying our debt to her, but it’s too bad we can’t stay in Liscor, Calruz. You know those new ruins are nearby. It might be worth getting the drop on the other adventuring teams and exploring it first.”
“Not without a full-fighting party. There’s a reason none of the cowards around here have dared breach the upper levels yet. If we come back, it will be after we know what monsters have been sighted there and our wounded have recovered.”
“Practical, I suppose. I’m just surprised to hear that coming from you, Calruz.”
“Why? Because I am a Minotaur?”
“No, because you’re you.”
“I’m no fool, and the Horns of Hammerad aren’t Gold-ranked. Not yet. A proper strike force will take setting up. Let alone the provisioning. We will wait. Now, let us follow the quick Ryoka Griffin.”
“Another day and night of riding. Too bad we couldn’t stay at the inn.”
“Bah, it doesn’t look that inviting anyways. It’s got holes in the roof, and if the [Necromancer]’s a customer, I shudder to think what the rest of the guests are like. Let’s go!”
“…Does anyone smell smoke?”
“Hey! Wait! No fair! Let me take off my armor! And my boots!”
“Humans. Huh. I wonder if Erin knows her?”
“Or maybe this is like Florida or California. No snow, no searing heat. That’d be nice. No, wait, Florida’s got muggy mosquitoes and crocodiles. Michigan rules. Yep, yep.”
“[Dangersense].”
“I wish—”
“Oh god.”
“Oh god. Is that armor?”
“I’d say stop, but you don’t understand me, do you? Last chance!”
“I’ve held a dying friend and known pain. Try and kill me. You can’t eat a broken heart.”
“Come on. I’ll bury you deep.”
“Kingslayer Spiders? No—Shield Spiders.”
“Hello there.”
“Hello.”
“A nest. I have heard they are a hazard around here to travellers.”
“Yeah. It’d be bad if you fell in without seeing it first.”
“Did you do this? By yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“May I ask how?”
“I closed off all the entrances with dried grass and wood. Then I started tossing burning branches into the pit.”
“Where did you get the wood?”
“There’s a forest over there. Bunch of trees and lots of dead wood.”
“Krakk trees. They do burn well, but you were lucky none of them exploded. They do that quite often, and the shrapnel is deadly.”
“They did explode.”
“Oh?”
“I threw rocks at the trees until they exploded. Then I picked up the branches. It’s not dangerous if you make them explode first.”
“I see. Clever.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you do that as well?”
“Few could best a Shield Spider with their bare hands.”
“It wasn’t hard. I flipped it and started stomping.”
“You have a Skill. [Lesser Strength]. Even so, I see you were injured.”
“Yeah. I had a healing potion.”
“If you’d been bit, the potion would have done you little good. Shield Spiders have a decently strong venom.”
“Lucky I wasn’t, then.”
“Shield Spiders are considered to be a Silver-rank threat. A nest of them though…I wouldn’t be surprised if a team of Gold-rank adventurers were dispatched to handle it.”
“Okay. Thanks for telling me.”
“You are a Level 11 [Innkeeper]. I am surprised you were able to accomplish such a feat. Few would be so brave, even ten levels higher. And you are no adventurer.”
“How do you know that about me?”
“I see it.”
“Ah.”
“I wanted to see if I could fight. And the spiders—they were going to follow me.”
“Shield Spiders are notorious for tracking and killing prey across dozens of miles. You were wise not to run.”
“I guess. But I wanted to fight. To see if I could.”
“Ah.”
“And? What have you learned?”
“…That I’m good at killing things.”
“It’s strange. Up until this point, I never realized I was a murderer.”
“Murderer? That’s an interesting word. I would not use it to describe you.”
“Murder is the sin of taking lives that matter. We who fight such monsters are exterminators. Killers, perhaps; murderers, no. A murderer should not be suffered.”
“I’m not like you. I’m no adventurer. And I don’t want to be. That’s what I learned.”
“Oh? Then why fight? [Innkeepers] don’t level from fighting monsters.”
“You guys all say the same thing. It’s always about leveling with you. That’s not what I meant. I—I’m a killer. But I don’t want to be. And I don’t want to be a warrior, either.”
“Then why fight? Why not run?”
“So I can defend myself. So I don’t get people killed for trying to protect me.”
“Ah. But you have done more than that. This nest was a threat to many. You eliminated it. You spoke truly: you do have a talent for fighting.”
“I don’t want to be a killer. So I guess I’m stuck as an innkeeper.”
“You have talent in killing things. You might be a good adventurer, especially since you wiped out a nest by yourself. Why are you ashamed of—”
“Killing? That’s a terrible thing to be good at. No.”
“A talent for war is never wasted. What a shame you don’t see it that way.”
“…Go away.”
“My apologies. I didn’t want to offend you.”
“Too bad. This—this isn’t something to be proud of.”
“I killed them.”
“I killed them all. And they—they scream when they die.”
“They would have killed you.”
“Babies.”
“Spawn. They are as dangerous as adults in numbers.”
“They’re babies.”
“You might call them that.”
“If you like, I can end them now—”
“Are you going to pull me up?”
“Of course.”
“What are you going to do with that?”
“Dunno. I could raise it.”
“I wouldn’t. It would bite and consume you first chance it got. Shield Spiders cannot be tamed. Unless you had the [Beastmaster] class, this child will eventually take your life.”
“Yeah, probably. This was a stupid idea.”
“…Sorry. Really, I am.”
“What a curious Human you are.”
“…Is that your way of saying I’m an idiot?”
“Not at all. But I have met many Humans. Many Humans and many races, but never one as curious as you. Many bolder or grander or more dangerous—but never one so oddly as this.”
“Thanks. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I am part Gazer. It is in my ancestry. You may call me by the name others not of my race give me. Gazi.”
“Oh? I’m Erin Solstice. A…an [Innkeeper].”
“Yes, I saw.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Innkeeper Solstice. I am an adventurer wandering through these lands.”
“Nice to meet you. Again. I’ve got an inn nearby. Would you…do you want something to eat?”
“That would be most welcome.”
“Okay. Okay then. Follow me.”
“Don’t you want to claim the bounty on the Shield Spiders before you go? Their carcasses will not burn up in the flames.”
“…There’s a bounty on Shield Spiders?”