I went to sleep really late last night. Not only the tension of having Grendel break into the guild basement to retrieve Marcy's prized bow but also making the rats erase his tracks and monitoring everything... It was tiresome, but I had to see the big guy out of town to be able to close my eyes.

The way those thieves treated us was really disturbing. They were led by Gunther, one of our former classmates from the Mirfield guild. Of course, he knew the whole 'monster bride' incident and used it to hush us.

But tomorrow, I am going to get back at him.

"Helen, wake up! Hell broke loose down there, look!"

Marcy wakes me up, it is early morning. The sun is still licking the east horizon. But there are a lot of people down on the streets. Guild people. It seems Grendel's little heist was discovered. What did he do this time?

"What happened?"

"Someone broke into the Guild basement and stole everything. Left only wooden logs in there. Nobody knows even how these wooden logs got in there. They are too big to fit through the stairs."

"When you say 'someone' you mean that 'someone', right?"

"Probably, but I was sleeping. Did you see anything?"

"I saw nothing with these my two eyes and I shall swear to it!"

Some guild people saw us on the room window and called us down.

"You two, do you know anything?"

Marcy took the lead, "About what?"

"About the 'log thief'. He wiped the guild storeroom clean!"

"Yes, I heard of him when I was eating my breakfast. And no, I don't know anything about someone that steals with logs."

"You were involved with that Gunther guy. You are outsiders and suspicious."

Marcy gets a bit enraged, "Let me tell you what is suspicious. Is the reason Gunther is still allowed to rob other adventurers in broad daylight without the guild stepping in. Like he did to us yesterday."

"I-I don't know what you are talking about."

"then should I ask Gunther himself? What is your name again?"

The guild officer goes away. It surely is suspicious. How would Marcy's bow end up in the guild vault if Gunther's thugs took it? "Let's dig into this, Marcy! I want my baubles back."

"Yeah. I want to put an arrow up Gunther's ass now. Let's go."

I summon three pups back to town, Sly, Twitch, and Shiver. Emory is too big for this kind of things now.

After some questions and copper coins thrown around, we found the place Gunther is using as a haunt. Sly is good at infiltration, so he went in first.

"They are just lazying around. There are some town girls they took for a spin last night, and everyone seems wasted."

Marcy clicks her tongue, "I bet these idiots just burned all our coin on booze and whores. Did you see our stuff?"

"No. Sly is still searching. He said there is a faint smell that resembles ours, but it is masked by all the stronger smells of the party they had yesterday."

I don't mind if people want to have their fun together with a dozen other people if everyone agreed to, but at least clean yourselves.

"How are we doing it?"

"Troll style? How would Grendel do it if he were here?"

"The big guy would kick the door and spank those idiots until they talked."

"Sounds like a plan." I cross the alley into their door and kick it. The door shakes and makes a loud noise, but doesn't break open.

"What the heck are you doing, crazy girl? This is not how you kick open a door! Don't use the point at the middle. You put the sole of the foot next to the lock!"

"Tehe!" I take a step back and kick it again. It opens, but moments before my foot actually reached the door. I overreach and end up kicking some guy in the nuts.

Did it hurt this much? He is bent over and crying...

"Helen, I have something I need to tell you..." Marcy comes from behind and startles me.

"What is it?"

"You are no longer in a magician job. Tamers are strong. I think this guy is lucky your kick just grazed his family jewels."

"How would I know? I don't hit stuff with my hands, feet or weapon too often."

Gunther's voice comes from the inside, "What is this noise down there!"

Marcy answers, "Hey, Gunther, I've come to collect your debt!"

He comes to the front room with a sword in his hand, "What fucking debt are you talking about, tit-brains? And why is this monster bride soiling my front porch?"

"Our stuff you took yesterday, we are here to get it back."

"Where is Tommy? I told that dickhead to make sure you two wouldn't dare show your pussies around here anymore."

Marcy uses her taunting tone, "I am most happy to inform that Tommy was eaten by a blood mantis. All those idiots that went with us are dead."

I stop her, "There is no use to tell him this. Too much information. Gunther, apologize now and I'll let you go. Say one more slur and you will regret it." I begin a chant under my breath.

"To hell with that? Me, apologize? What will the flimsy little consumption winter girl do? Cry? Call Julius to help you once again? Julius is dead! Or did that monster's dick fuck you so hard your brains drained out your pussy?"

That is it, he is having it! "Marcy, get away from the door!"

Marcy steps aside and I trigger the chant's final word. I only have MP to cast it once, but I've had it. Through sly that is right behind Gunther, I cast Nova Blast.

Gunther is blown forward and is ejected by the blast from the house, slamming into the wall on the other side of the street. His back is a mess. The spine is crushed by the explosion, ribs were pushed aside and look like the teeth of a beast biting him from the inside out.

Sly runs and hides. The other occupants of the house are coming to the front because of the blast.

"What was that noise? Damn it's them bitches from yesterday? Where is Gunther?"

Marcy points at the soon-to-be corpse on the other side of the street, "Right there. Now if you don't want to join him, tell where is our stuff!"

The guy is obviously scared, "I don't know, Gunther gave the stuff to the resistance guys!"

"And where can I find these resistance guys?"

"They hang out in the Envenomed Toad! It is a tavern in the slums!"

"Thanks, dear. Say, do you know who we are?" Marcy uses a threatening tone.

"No, I don't know!"

"Good, good. You shouldn't. Did you see any redheads today?" She passes a knife-hand over her neck.

"No, I didn't!!!"

"Good, good. That is the trick. See nothing, tell nothing. If I have to see you again, there won't be a third time. Now go back to your orgy and forget about us. Helen, please make sure nobody bothers them."

"Yes, sir! {Stone Wall}!"

"And get Gunther's sword. He won't be needing it anymore."

Helen has gained 3 levels. +19 Skill Points. Marcy has gained 2 level.

As we go to the slums, Marcy comments, "I think Grendel is right. People do give more Exp than monsters."

After navigating the alleys and evading some slums denizens, we found the Envenomed Toad. I've set Gunther's sword on my waist, but I am unsure as to the reason I should have a sword. I don't even have the skill at a decent level. I only picked level 1 because Grendel insisted.

Marcy enters first, but gives me a warning, "Keep the hand on the sword's pommel."

We go inside and I direct the rats to the back door and alleys.

inside I see the worst gathering of thugs, drunks, and other lowlifes.

One of them decides to harass us, "My, my, what pretty ladies we have here today! Short on the coin, my dear. I'll give you three coppers for a kiss!"

Marcy kicks the guy in the nuts and he passes out, "Next?" She calls out.

Most of the regulars go back to their business. I can't help but be a bit scared.

A bearded and very muscular man with an apron approaches us, "Ladies, what can I get you today?"

Marcy goes straight to the point, "The Resistance. They are with some stuff I want."

"Go to that table at the back. I'll see what I can do."

We cross the tavern dodging the would be gropers and reach the table. Marcy looks at it and then stops without sitting. Some woman's scornful voice comes from behind us.

"My, my if it isn't Hrothgar's lapdog's bitches!"

I turn around and she is right behind me, "And you are?"

"Your worst nightmare. Do you really think you are leaving this place alive?"

I decide to face her. There is no use in being timid right now, "Actually, yes. It would be very troublesome for you if we were to be hurt here."

"What? Is your man coming to get you out of a pinch?"

"No. There is no chance our 'man' is coming to get us out of anything, right Marcy?"

Marcy giggles but comes to my side, "Are you the resistance? You have some of our personal belongings. We really don't want trouble, so if you can, please return it to us."

"Yes, but you are getting nothing back. Your things are in my room."

I call her, "Say, miss resistance, why do you say the king's name with this much scorn?"

"Name's Carla. and Hrothgar is a plague! Ever since he ascended to the crown, the situation of the western cities of the kingdom went from bad to worse! I'd love to see him dead. But aren't you in that Hero Beowulf's party? Don't try to lie to me, I've seen you strutting around town in Colchester with these very eyes."

"Yes, but Beowulf is not in the service of Hrothgar. He only took one request that was in his own interest."

Marcy cuts in, "Say, Carla, you seem to be very tough. Would you want to make a bet?"

"What bet is it?" Marcy is looking more and more like Grendel.

"Simple. How much is the stuff you took for us worth to you? I'll triple that if you win. We leave with our things if we win."

"Good enough odds, but what are we betting on."

"Take a punch from our main caster. If you take the punch without taking a step backward, you win. Here. Five gold coins." And Marcy puts five gold coins on the table."

"This skinny girl here? What is she using, augmentation magic?" Sorry, is this about me?

"No. Just her own muscle. Do we have a deal?"

Carla faces one shady guy and tells him, "Fritzgerald, if this girl spends a single MP I want to know."

"Right, boss." The shady guy answers.

"Come at me, skinny girl. And let me tell you one hint, you strapped the sword backward."

"Go, Helen, I have five silver coins that say you can knock her out. Anyone want to take that bet?"

And Marcy goes around the tavern getting coins from the regulars. This is blowing out of scale!

Carla gets impatient, "Alright, time is up, betting is closed. Come, little one. Make me feel at least a tingle!"

"Where should I punch? The belly?"

"Hit her chin!" Yells Marcy while she shoves a coin pouch in her cleavage.

I focus and aim at her chin. Carla is even propping it out. "Come, girl. I don't have all day.

I root it down and throw my punch. "Hey!"

I flinched and closed my eyes as the punch was about to land. I hear a cracking when it lands.

A sound of something soft hitting the ground. I open my eyes and Carla is knocked out.

Marcy comes back and swoops the gold coins before anyone can react; Passing by me, she whispers "Told you tamers were strong," She then speaks to the shady guy, "Fitzgerald, is it? Care to get your boss to her room and hand back our things?"