LATEST UPDATES

Published at 8th of May 2023 08:54:39 AM


Chapter 2.31

If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again








“You can create a barrier around yourself which blocks off every magic?” On a clearing in a forest where most of the trees had been damaged to a certain extent, Hannah asked me question after question as to why she couldn’t hit me with her magic. So far, she mentioned magic cancelling out everything, space magic and whatever else there was.

“Nope.” I asked and swung the black sword at a tree with all I got. Wooden splinters flew around me as the sword dug into the bark and beyond.

“A dilation in time? You will get zapped in a few seconds.” Time magic would be nice to know, despite all its flaws … but no, that wasn’t it either.

“Oh, now your ideas are getting out of hand.” I said and pulled the curved sword out of the tree again. The edge of the sword was still incredibly sharp, much to my pleasure. It was probably due to the exotic material I still had no idea off. But I wasn’t a blacksmith anyway, so if it hacked apart my enemies, I didn’t intend to dive too deeply into its secrets.

“Something I am too mortal to understand?” She asked to solve the mystery.

“Nah. It is pretty easy in fact.” I admitted. There were only two reasons why she couldn’t do anything against me and both were fairly simple. I wasn’t willing to reveal either of them yet though.

“Then tell me.” She demanded and placed her fist on her hips unhappily.

“No. Do you know a nearby place where there are some of these demons?” I asked while seething the sword and hugging it tightly. It was a tad too long in my opinion but otherwise perfect.

“Don’t switch topics!” She said slightly depressed and pouted unhappily which honestly looked kind of cute.

“So there is. Can we make to there and back within two days?” I asked, completely ignoring her act.

“You do realise we are close to the capital city? Humanity would be long lost if there were many demons around here.” She said and frowned as she noticed I wouldn’t budge.

“Ehh? Going by the composition of your troops, humanity is lost either way.” I said unhappily while going through my memories of how her troops were slaughtered last time.

“What do you mean?” She asked and blinked rapidly, probably quite surprised by what I said.

“Where are the mages?!” I exclaimed. The battle a few years ago and the men I saw earlier that night had all one thing in common. I couldn’t see anything magical with them.

“… if you give humans the chance to die for the greater good or live in wealth, they will choose the letter. Even though the number of mages exploded, very few are in the army and even less work as mercenaries. Either they work somewhere safe or try their luck as adventurers and hopelessly overestimate themselves in forming their own party right away.” She said in resignation. So there was really no other mage except her in her mercenary group.

“Hannah … your reputation is horrible. That’s the reason. You are recruiting your men with the motto ‘live hard, die hard’ which may work with the less educated, but won´t with those who learned how to use magic.” I stated. Despite all, one must still attend a school teaching magic before being able to use it.

“Magic isn’t that hard.” She said unhappily. Just because she could do it and the system gave quite a lot of support if the preconditions were right, didn´t exactly mean that magic was that easy. There was still a lot to learn regarding it.

“And? Those who learned how to use it will always see themselves as superior … anyways, I need to see one of these demons myself.” I said, going back to the original topic. Books about them would only get me so far, especially when I needed to fight one of them eventually.

“…there is a forest with a few goblins half a day to the east.” She said and started to go back towards the camp.

“Perfect.” I grinned and followed her immediately, my beloved sword still in hand. “Hey, what are these things called in the human language?” I only knew its name in марсианин, which was quite useless on this planet.

“It is a Katana. I´m surprised you don’t know it.” She said which did hurt me a little bit. I knew every weapon there was, including how to use a paperweight as one.

“Oh, I do, but under the name спешка B цика блять” I explained and left the forest beside her. The sun was already rising yet again, but neither I nor Hannah were too bothered by the fact. She already took a nap earlier and I had my glasses on already.

“That’s a strange language.” She commented, probably never heard anything even closely resembling it.

“What do you expect from a folk that crowned drinking vodka as a national sport?” I said jokingly.

“… okay? Anyways, why do you want to see a few goblins? Couldn’t you just meet them like you met me all those years ago?” She asked with interest, even though it should be clear what I wanted to do with them.

“Nah, I would need an anchor for that which means I can only go to the people I have met more than a few times. And I wouldn’t be able to do anything with them if I were there with just my soul, would I?” I asked and nodded towards Marc who sat on a stool at the edge of the camp. He looked only slightly displeased as I patted his head as if he was a small child. “Good boy. Ready your men. We will travel east as soon as possible.”

“My men?” He asked surprised while looking towards Hannah.

“I think it is time for you to take up a bit more responsibility.” Hannah explained and glared at him as he swiped my hand away which was still going through his hair.

“You will not lead us anymore?” He asked and glared at me as my hand went back to his head. I seriously didn’t know what his problem was. After all, I was just patting his head because I assumed it would calm him down. I heard that children were fond of that somewhere …

“My place is somewhere else.” Hannah said which made me smile involuntarily.

“What are you talking about? Your place is here!” Marc shouted out angrily.

“Oh, Hannah, he has a crush on you.” I mumbled jokingly. Truly, there was a bit of love in his eyes, but it was more of a familial kind.

“He´s homosexual.” Hannah stated dryly.

“Hannah!” Marc exclaimed angrily.

“That’s legal these days?” I interjected in surprise. Could society have progressed from a chauvinistic one towards a more open society without my knowledge? Maybe I really should have read a few more romance novels. On the other hand … I seriously didn’t want to read more lines akin to ‘Grabbing it quickly, I squirt toothpaste on it and brush my teeth in double quick time. I feel so naughty. It's such a thrill.’

“Not really. Anything outside of societal norms are still shunned and illegal.” Hannah muttered and eyed Marc sternly.

“Woah, how do you hide it?” I asked and turned towards the constable.

“Hannah, this is clearly too much, no matter who she is.” He said and without any further warning, he unsheathed his sword and swung it at me in one go. He was fast. Way faster than I could react in any way due to the sun. But I didn’t need to.

Hannah´s sword stopped the blade right before it hit my throat, a mere centimetre away from drawing my blood. “I asked you how you hide your sexuality.” I said, not even bothered by the fact that he was still pushing his blade against Hannah´s. Finally, after several seconds of staring at Hannah, he spat on the ground and pulled his sword back again.

“I challenge you to a duel.” He said and pointed the tip of his black sword to me.

“I politely decline. See Hannah, I did work on myself while you weren’t around.” I answered happily. Really, my anger therapy lessons with tens of therapists or so did indeed work out somewhat. They all calmed my anger about my inability to calm my anger in the end … by dying.

“You … have you no shame?” He asked as I stepped past the blade to his side and placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Shame … having no shame is usually better than being a genocidal chick, isn’t it?” I asked Hannah absentmindedly.

“Yeah, most people would say that.” She claimed.

“Great, then I don’t have any shame … oh, what happened to the beavers?” I said and placed my index finger on my lips, deep in thought about these pitiful creatures which habitat I completely wrecked.

“The beavers? Oh, the beavers died out after you destroyed the only place where they could thrive.” Hannah answered.

“Well then, I am worse than a person who has no shame.” I smirked and stepped past Marc, entirely conscious that Hannah wouldn’t be able to protect me that well this way.

“What are you talking about?” He growled.

“That I do not care about your puny challenge. Get going.” I said and turned around even before he swung his Katana once more. “Really?” Once again, the blade stopped a few centimetres away from me, but this time, it wasn’t because of Hannah. He had stopped it himself.

“You will tell me exactly who you are.” He growled unhappily.

“Hmm … I´m the saint.” His blade cut into my skin, allowing a bit of blood to flow out freely. Sadly, he didn’t believe my claim, even though I wasn’t lying. I knew I should have done that instead. Maybe saying that I was her mother would have been a better idea.  “Okay, I´m your queen?”

“Quit lying.” For once, I tried so hard to speak the truth and someone who was oh so important to me didn’t believe me. I was so close to tears.

“How troublesome … maybe that helps you a little bit: Level up.” I said without a hint of emotion in my voice.

“Just because your voice sounds like hers, it doesn’t mean you are the saint. She is still sleeping inside the sanctuary and if not, why would she come here?” He did have a fair point. And answering truthfully there would look like a lie again.

“I guess you won’t be able to recognise my ring either … so there is really nothing I could do to convince you otherwise. You may behead me now.” I answered and nodded towards him.

“What?” He said and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Hmm? It´s not like it is going to matter anyway. But if you do, Hannah will probably take your head next, so you really shouldn’t.” I said and chuckled happily as Hannah slowly placed her sword on Marc´s neck. I really loved family drama a bit too much to be honest.

Marc needed several seconds to close his eyes and breathe out loudly. The sharp edge was taken away from my skin, along with Hannah´s sword on his. I knew very well why he chose to do so. He was scared. But not for his life. As he was saving Sofie, he wasn’t too bothered about the death of all his comrades either. No, he was scared of making the wrong decision prematurely. He still didn’t know what was going on between me and Hannah fully and murdering me could very well be the worst decision of his life then.

I grinned happily, presenting him with a fact that certainly surprised him once he opened his eyes once more. My usually friendly face resembled that of a complete madwoman, with a sightly tilted head, eyes radiating my craziness with an open mouth, just enough for him to see my left canine biting on my lower lip. It was the grimace I usually had when I indulged in what others may call evil, or even downright inhumane.

Despite my glasses, he could catch a glimpse of the abyss slumbering just beneath the surface of my face that mostly looked as friendly and innocent as possible. Just as fast as I revealed my true being, I hid it again and smiled happily at him.

“Let´s become great friends, shall we?” I asked and turned around, hugging the heavy sword and strolled towards the camp. I never got any answer from him if he wanted to be my friend though … maybe my offer was a bit ungenuine as well as I never had any intention of treating him in any way different from a subordinate.

Anyways, fifteen minutes later we were already riding towards the bright sun in the east, with me in the dead centre on my black horse, singing a song about fairies in an endless forest beyond the ocean. If there was really a forest though, or even fairies, nobody could say. Even before the mana increased, seafaring wasn´t that common as no islands except a few around the continent could be found. And afterwards, it was even more an impossibility to find new lands as the sea turned hostile to any boats daring to sail on it.

But not only that changed regarding travelling. Deep in the forest, I sensed death time and time again, tempting me to explore it somewhat. But just by feeling it, I could already tell that most of this feeling stemmed from common animals, unchanged since I fell into coma. It wasn´t just the world that changed. I did too.

And despite all the time passing in my absence, it still felt like all these years ago. Hannah was by my side, sometimes pointing towards a plant that only appeared after I left. Most of them were interesting to be honest. I wasn’t a big fan of botany, at least regarding anything non-poisonous, but the red flower that only grew when blood was spilled certainly piqued my interest. And truth to be told, I even assumed the pedals looked good in my hair as we halted, and I picked up a few of them. Marc on the other hand looked at me quite strangely though, especially as I smiled cutely towards him. Afterwards I rode up to him and poked his side playfully.

“So, how do you do it?” I asked while riding beside him.

“Do what?” He asked looking ahead stoically. He hadn´t made up his mind about me yet, but at least he didn’t see me as completely incompetent anymore.

“Hide what´s need to be hidden. You know, swinging the other way, your ability to sit nearer than a few centimetres away from your best buddies in a hot tub.” I explained while looking at his face intensely. His eyes darted to the nearest man to check if he showed any reaction nearly instantly. Living in a society as repressive as the human one was truly a bit too much for him.

“What are you talking about?” He asked quietly while gripping the reigns a bit tighter.

“I´ll keep poking until you answer.” I said with a haughty grin while poking his side once more.

“Fine, it is pretty rare for me to find anyone I am even remotely interested in and if I do, we usually part ways pretty soon afterwards due to my job.” The life of a mercenary … how sad it was. And so utterly boring as an answer. I did hope for a secret technique that could be used against humans or so … maybe a gay magic to emit pheromones over enemy forces in order to make them sexually attracted to each other. This way, I could easily … I read that in a book, didn´t I?

“I see.” I mumbled slightly bored and dispirited.

“Now its your turn. You don’t look like someone who can be in a healthy relationship.” He mentioned which made me frown a little. I did have healthy relationships … like the one with my mum. Okay, I hid the truth from her and she didn’t know how I was but I haven’t seen her that long so far anyway. Anyways, my friendship with Hannah was healthy. It was just that her dependence on me to show her a path into the future was a bit … unhealthy? And Aska? Well, that was another issue altogether.

“Hmm, men cannot handle a strong-willed woman by their side. It does seem we are both ill fitted for society …” I concluded and let myself fall back again as the conversation started to bore me quite a bit.

“If you say so.” He said, apparently quite relieved that he wouldn’t need to talk to me too much as well.

bloodyWriter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bomb

 

 

 

 

 

 





Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!


COMMENTS