[Strength improvement +1] ‘Perfect timing. We’re just about finished for the day.’
Far away from Bordertown and nestled in a small clearing deep in the heart of the forest, I settle down my backpack full of pelts while everyone else gets comfortable around the campfire. After a tiresome day of nonstop walking, darkness has set upon us so making camp and getting rest is a must.
The rest of our caravan have settled themselves down nicely as well as Lena, she’s already down on the ground as the fire crackles underneath the stary sky.
I’m slightly surprised the first thing she does when I join her is to give me a quick hug, then lie down like she wants to nap already. I reckon she’s finally eased up to the people we travel with by now.
Over the course of several hours, there were plenty of chances for them to try and do something, they seem like genuine folk. At one point, I did feel like eyes were watching us through the forest though. These caravanners seem to expect the bandits having scouts and that being the cause.
“Naxon will be on watch first and I’ll take the second shift tonight. Reckon we’ll be okay if we rotate between two of us every night. The chances are, they’ve already seen us.”
“Aye, we should be alright but ya never know, can’t always predicts what the scourge might do. Anyone else feel up to volunteering first?”
…
The dreaded silence fills the campfire as the caravanner known as Naxon shakes his head from nobody taking his shift. I was thinking about it, then I remembered Lena likes to snuggle in her sleep. It’s not like I can rob her of such an important need, right?
While the two guy’s check through their stock and crunch down on some bread, the female caravanner known as Lilith very slowly starts to slide her bottom over to me in particular. Something appears to have caught her attention.
“Mhm elf… what cha reading?”
“D-Don’t worry about it!”
Quickly hiding my book back into the pack, please note this isn’t a reflection of my personal tastes! I just took one look at the cover, thought it was too absurd and curiosity got the better of me.
I now know there are lizard people in this world, just this is not what I had in mind…
The Busty Draconian Maid
Spoiler
"My, what a strong and mighty double tail you have!" The Master spoke while polishing his spear collection. The hardened but also polished wood glistened against the candlelight, a beautiful sight for the maid who understood how to work such an erect piece of equipment.
Miss Twin-Tails couldn't help but blush, the Master had always been complimentary but never to her two tails before. She always had a sore spot when it came to her backside, she was considered an outcast to all lizard folk and always wanted to be normal.
"Please Master, the Mistress will lose her mind if she knows you're helping me!" Miss Twin-Tails desperately tries to finish dusting the shelves as fast as possible because of the Master, he is just too damn helpful. The Master's spear only needs to be polished by the maid, especially such a firm and stiff one. Yet, he's doing it himself!?
"Oh my! Now I'll have to clean myself off." Wax dripped onto the Master's spear as well as getting onto his birthday suit, coating the outfit in a gloopy white substance that is hot to touch.
"No no no! I'll get the bucket immedi-… woah!" Miss Twin-Tails immediately panics, rushing off only to slip over the books she had placed on the floor. She was going to fall straight over...
Except, the sticky and now moist Master is there to catch her, already shirtless and sweaty in attempt to get the wax off. If it wasn't for him, who knows where this clumsy dragonoid would've ended up...
[collapse]
[Intelligence improvement +1] “Before we dumb down for the night, you two care to answer my question?”
“Naxon… let them have their privacy.”
“Mhm, everyone has skeletons in their closet. Just leave them be.”
Unsure what exactly the caravanners are discussing, even Lena sits up and looks confused.
“Aye, I’m just curious really. To see a free elf travelling with nobility, both of you with a closeness between two species I’m yet to see no less. You have to be humping, am I right?”
…
And the silence falls again when this idiot asks something he shouldn’t, only sound to be heard is the rest of the caravanners facepalming and crickets chirping. Is it that hard to believe Lena isn’t a noble? It’s funny considering how little I care on the fact he assumes we’re already an item.
Lena however seems more irritable about what was said and gets herself off the ground, does she want to punch him or something? Actually, scrap that. By the way she’s wobbling along, she just needs the loo.
‘Heh, guess she got up too fast… hold up.’
In her haste to get off the ground, Lena experiences that dizzy rush everyone gets and trips over one of the many backpacks scattered around. However, this causes a shiver down my spine and an involuntary gulp.
“I… I knew it! I knew you fuckers were hiding something! Who the hell carries around trophies like this? Even dragons don’t do this shit!”
Overflowing out of the bag like a tsunami, dozens and dozens of bones litter the campsite. Not a single animal pelt in sight comes from the knocked down bag. All the bones appear to be human.
“Before you two judge us, a little context might help. We are caravanners, just we look to make profit anyway we can.”
“Mhm, have you any idea just how much human bone meal sells for on the black market? It’s highly illegal because just a chest full can go for actual gold!”
“Aye, it’s not like we killed all of them. No one else was giving them a burial so we’re just doing the lady Seraphim’s work. The Goddess would be pleased knowing everything is getting used.”
Lena looks sickened from this and I shortly join her, only after I notice something else. Don’t really see the problem with collecting and selling human remains, everyone has to make a living somehow. The problem I have is with the sizing of some of the bones…
“What kind of deranged fuck thinks collecting smaller bones like this is a good idea?”
“What are we to do, leave that brat’s corpse to the wolves? It’s not like anyone will miss a stray who roamed the streets.”
“Aye, the runt tried to steal from us! Whatever happens to him after is fair game.”
“Mhm, you two don’t need to justify our reasons to them. The fact they know means they need to be dealt with.”
And that’s that, these fuckers must die. Both me and Lena know it, they’ve done something even I can’t forgive and we know about their secret. We have to fight…
But, before she gets the chance to show them the anger of their God, most likely Seraphim, they charge at the both of us all wielding short swords. So much so, even Lena hasn’t a chance to change form as the two blokes aim for her neck.
Lena dodges and blocks the sword with her dagger, having to retreat while I fight off the woman.
Clash! We swing at each other, the iron clatters and my hands rattle. I have to stand strong and try to surpass my status limitations, I haven’t a clue if this woman is weak or strong yet.
“Argh! Thought you had my back… Lena?”
Blood gushes from my back as I’m swiped at by one of the men, a deep cut but I’m still able to stand. I thought she had those two?
“ARGHHH!!! I’m going to fuck you all up; how dare you do that!”
Lena’s rage grows expeditiously, practically exploding into her dragon form. Her aura even seems more sinister than usual, black as the darkness itself and almost like a fog that you can choke on.
‘Heh… you lot are totally fucked now.’
“Oh s-shit… guess we know what that s-strange energy was.”
“What kind of bullshit is this!? Aye, I didn’t sign up for this shit!”
“M-Mhm… no n-no no!”
All of the caravanners instantly change intent, desperately trying to flee from the enraged beast. Physically shaking with fear, all stumble and trip, the two men running to the east and the lady to the west.
“J-Just let us go, we w-won’t say a-, AH!”
[Dexterity improvement +1] Before they get the chance, I swing at the retreating woman and catch her fully off guard, the tip of my blade slicing deep into her the back of her neck. How do you fuckers like that!?
‘Really would be nice to know just how much damage was just did, Guide. That must’ve been a crit.’
Unfortunately for me, my hit may cause her neck to gush blood but she still stands strong, albeit slightly stunned and trying to stop the bleeding.
[57 damage was inflicted, Sera, reminder that humans have a minimum HP total of at least 100. This guide still thinks there is an ability that will enhance the system and may automatically do what Sera is asking for.]
‘Need you in the here and now, Guide. Whether I’m still too weak is irrelevant!’
The woman’s sword narrowly grazes my face, the weight of her own blade appearing to cause her problems as she can’t immediately regain her block. It’s fortunate for my own sake that she’s just as unskilled at wielding a weapon as I am.
“DAMN YOU ALL!!! THIS IS GOING TO HURT MORE THAN STEPPING ON A THOUSAND LEGO PIECES!!!”
[Speechcraft improvement +1] ‘I levelled speech from Lena? Think she may have taken that literally… need to stop telling her about Earth now.’
While I’m still fighting by own battle, screams echo throughout the forest from the men and I can just about see the faint outline of Lena’s swinging tail. There’s… a load of blood splashing from behind the trees. Don’t ask on what Lena just screamed, we talk a lot and it appears I’ve convinced her on the agony that can physically and mentally cripple a person.
“W-We can talk this o-out, mhm?”
‘She says that right as she’s trying to cut my head off.’
Wild swing after wild swing goes in my direction as I make sure to keep the distance and not allow her to get close, the woman fights like a cornered beast. I’m going to have to close the gap eventually and I will, just when the right moment appears. Now!
Again, the woman swings at me and this time catches my arm. This matters not though. Managing to withstand the pain, I instantly counter, almost throwing my blade and myself into her torso.
[38 dmg inflicted, Sera.]
‘Heh… thought that might happen.’
She pauses and recalls, coughing up blood giving my time to let go of the sword impaled in her chest and go for something else…
‘Double slash, now!’
Slash! I get my backup dagger and ram the damned thing into her neck, blue aura covering the both of us as double slash connects! That must’ve killed her, right? Right!?
[76 dmg inflicted… target appears to be deceased and level 4 has been obtained.]
‘Not the time, Guide. I’ll level up later.’
[Look around, Sera, and see for yourself. No more hostiles are in this area.]
Doing what the Guide suggests, I’m… not sure what to say. Leading away from the campfire is a noticeable trail of blood drenching the ground in a horrid crimson red. Think I’ll do myself a favour and avoid finding Lena… dread to think what mess she’s made of those two.
‘Urgh… heave-ho and all that.’
My blade still sits within the dead woman so there’s still that to take care of. Tally-ho… not sure I’m using them right.
Taking it out and giving it quick wipe down, blood drips onto my hands, physically making me gag. Thankfully, the Guide can sense I’m in need of distraction right now.
[Like usual, Sera has the choice of +10 to HP, SP or MP again. Another ability point has been obtained but this guide predicts Sera will save it for when more.]
‘You’re correct, Guide. Still need to focus on survival so health again it is.’
[STATUS][Name: Sera][Species: Elf][Level: 4][EXP: 73/100][Age: 22][Gender: Female][Skill Points: 2][Health][66/120][Stamina][53/110][Magic][100/100] [STATS]
Spoiler
Extra bonuses from P.I.S.S.E.D.
DEX:
5% One-Handed Damage
1% Movement Speed
[collapse]
[Perception: 7][Intelligence: 9][Speechcraft: 9][Strength: 7][Endurance: 9][Dexterity: 12]Now that the adrenaline really had begin to falter, the campfire begins to die and my stomach begins to twist even further. Even more so when the silhouette of a human can be seen approaching. Thankfully, Lena isn’t covered in fresh blood.
“You okay, Sera? Damn it… that bitch cut you, didn’t she!?”
“Heh, tis but a scratch, dragon. Remind me to trust your gut next time... freaking caravan folk.”
Maybe I’m a little shaken from killing another human… no, I think I’m handling things best I can. We just need to get out of here as soon as possible before that God awful smell kicks in. It was do or die after all, we had to fight.
“Erm… Sera? Do we do anything about those bones? All these people they collected, should we do something for them? Or find where they were headed?”
We can still see the remains of the bones in and around the burnt-out campfire, nothing has changed on this. No gigantic packs of wolves sneaking up on us and taking the bones that way. I guess we could become the scavengers and sell them ourselves… not sure that’s a good idea.
If Lena’s suggesting we go on a quest to find who’s buying and repurposing the bones, this is unrealistic for now. Discovering a secret black-market and destroying a bunch of shady people sounds great and all, I have to be too low levelled for a quest like that, right? I can’t afford to Leroy Jenkin’s or YOLO this life just yet.
“Think we need to report this to the guild first. Do me a favour and help me pack them away.”
“Okay dokey, Sera!”
And so, that’s what we begin to do, the cuts received in that battle not needing much in the way of bandaging so we can get this done now. Honestly feels like we’re part archaeologist packing up the bones like this. All we need is a fedora, a whip, and a giant boulder chasing us and we’ll be set. Never liked snakes anyway so I’m nearly there.
“Heh, think I’m way too weak, Lena. Knew this would be a challenge but I’ve got more than just a mountain to climb.”
“Everyone has to start somewhere, Sera. Besides… I can give you training if you’d like!”
Already brightening up the atmosphere, Lena offers her hand and I’ll obviously accept. It’s just that is she any good with a blade? I did see her block one attack… albeit that’s nothing to go off.
“I’ll take any help I can get… it’s just that you are trained with a weapon of some kind, right Lena?”
“Well Sera… my parents did teach me how to use a blade before I first went off into human lands. I still remember most of it! A lot of it is just technique related. Yours can’t be that bad, just look at what you did to that woman!”
For my own sanity, I’m going to try not looking at what I just did. There’s an unfortunate problem with that though. Being a loot goblin and all, I’m going to have to learn to live with this, aren’t I? These lot could be carrying bags of gold and diamond for all I know!
“Let’s leave whenever you’re ready, dragon. But first, help me loot them, please? The stench of death is already lingering.”
But of course, they weren’t carrying anything valuable, that would be way too easy. They were carrying a decent amount of coin though…
[CURRENCY: 175c][CAPACITY: 10/11]