Chapter 46, Payment or punishment

Zelaria

I continue running through the night, never stopping and never slowing down. I pass a few travelers sitting around fires next to the road where the grass is low enough to give them a good view, no doubt on the lookout for [Grassland Wolf] monsters. They were more common to the northwest of the capital where there’s an abundance of copses and thickets, hiding prey seeking shelter, be it animal or man. The fungus invasion has obviously brought a change to the fauna of the kingdom though as I run into four packs of them in the few hours of darkness before dawn arrives.

They’re pathetically weak but I still use every pack I come upon to grind the skill levels for [Telekinetic Blade]. It’s quite a neat skill. Activating it creates a rectangular blade from the tip of whichever hand I choose and I can use it on both after waiting for the cooldown to finish, activating it a second time.

They’re invisible except for a barely noticeable distortion as the blade no doubt imparts its telekinetic force passively to everything touching it, be it air, dust or something else. I can only make them 8 centimeters in length at the maximum and the limit on the amount of mana I can invest makes them nearly harmless, to me that is.

To the weak monsters they’re deadly and I have a great time carving them up. Using them feels very strange though as there’s no resistance at all, the blade not being physical instead cutting the flesh by imparting the mass it passes through with enough telekinetic force to rip it apart in the direction I’m slicing.

The pathetic mana drain of 250 mana per second per blade is barely enough to tear the flesh on the monsters approaching level 20 and I actually have to cut them slowly to make sure that the flesh parts correctly, not merely causing internal bleeding. Using slower movements to cut more cleanly goes against everything I’ve done with a blade up until this point, making it a challenging adjustment.

I’m able to cut faster and faster though as the skill slowly levels, kill by kill, only needing to cancel the skill and activate it again with more mana invested to increase the telekinetic force contained. I also discover that shortening the manifested blade gives it a greater “sharpness” at the cost of range as the telekinetic force becomes denser in the smaller volume. Shortening the blade might be a great way to cut extra tough opponents if I’m lacking the telekinetic power. Being able to create shallow cuts is better than not being able to cut at all.

It’s a great shame that I can’t keep them active all the time though, my mana regeneration being far from enough to support even one blade indefinitely. I don’t think I’ll be able to use them constantly any time soon though and I suppose I’ll have to get used to activating and deactivating the skill quickly between slashes when I’m in battles that require me to spend mana wisely.

Ding! Skill [Telekinetic Blade] has leveled from [1] to [6].

As I run through the morning, the sun's rays at my back and thin clouds racing me far overhead in the blue sky, I swiftly realize that the attitude of many merchants, workers and adventurers is one of both gloom and determination, clearly speaking volumes of their belief that the kingdom will fall to the invaders.

Most of them are moving away from the west, instead taking roads going south, north or east and only a few are heading to the capital like me. Most people I run past going in the same direction as me are adventurers ranging in levels 50-150, most likely those that can’t resist the lure of the increased rewards offered by joining the resistance.

With my increased running speed I reach the eastern gate of the outer district before the sun’s zenith. I can more clearly see the full scale of the migration of people setting out to make their fortune elsewhere, having given up on the kingdom. The guards collect a fine from everyone leaving the city, a nasty powermove to squeeze the last bit of money they can out of the people leaving for good no doubt.

I move to the short line of people queuing to enter the capital, studying the various people both entering and leaving. I even see a luxurious carriage being drawn by two white stallions exit the gate, no doubt a highborn or wealthy family also moving away and abandoning their previous home. Then it’s my turn with the guard.

“Entry fee is 2 silver.”

Two silver? Isn’t that an increase by a magnitude of 10 from their previous entrance fee? I still summon the coins onto the table in front of the guard, getting waved through without the usual ‘StaTe THe PurPOsE oF YouR viSiT’ twattle I expected. They might as well abandon the interrogation for good as I can’t see anyone with nefarious intentions being honest or having any qualms about lying. Or do they have some sort of truth sensing skill? That would be terrifying but also explain it.

“Next!”

Passing the guard and walking past the long queue of people waiting to get extorted by an exit fee, I go through the enormous gates and arrive at the outer district. It looks the same as last I saw it, no burnt down houses, bloodstains, corpses or fungus men. I’ve made it in time.

I breathe out a sigh of relief before starting to make my way towards the eastern Adventurers’ Guild. Deciding to speed things up a bit I sling a silver at a coachman about to pass me by, naming my destination and entering the coach without him having to stop.

The streets aren’t as packed but I still can’t run on them, making one silver a small price to pay if I can get my business done sooner.

“Zel, are we going to take the time to sell the monster cores to a store or are we settling for taking a loss but dumping it all at the guild?”

“Good question… I think we’ll get rid of all our baggage at the guild this time. With this many people leaving we might not get a good deal at the local market as the economy is most likely unstable right now “

“Alright.”

As I near the guild I jump out of the coach before flinging another silver at the coachman. I can be so generous at times and people should praise me for it. I shake my head before walking the last distance towards the guild, the doors almost standing open constantly. There’s more activity going on here than the rest of the city from what I can see as adventurers move in and out, almost everyone is in a hurry.

I get a few glances thrown my way but most seem too preoccupied to give me as much attention as I’d expected to get, my own beauty and exotic weapon being so eye-catching and all that. Am I feeling disappointed? I’m not sure. I’ve never really craved attention but has that been because I’m so used to getting it? I’d always considered myself quite modest mentally, if not in wardrobe, but maybe that’s not really true…

There’s quite a lot of adventurers packed around the noticeboard and the counter but I get some space to myself thanks to the ring blade’s sharp edges keeping people at a distance. Should I maybe disperse it when in a city? It would be awkward if someone got hurt by accident or if someone asked me to sheath it. How would I even do that?

Standing in the queue for a few minutes, the acceptance and completion of postings luckily not taking very long to accomplish by the seasoned clerks, it’s finally my time to step forward. The beautiful woman behind the counter looks tired, bags under her eyes and clearly overworked but still putting on a weak smile for me, showing great worth ethic.

“How can I help you?”

I present my token, showing my accepted postings.

“I’ve completed all three postings.”

The clerk reads through each one before nodding and pointing towards the rune inscripted, black metal plate set into the countertop. I look between it and her, confused.

“You want me to place all the gathered items on that small square of metal?”

It’s barely 10 centimeters wide, how am I supposed to fit everything on it? Or is she expecting me to somehow take them out one by one? That would take forever.

“Is this your first time completing a gathering posting? You press your spatial storage device against it before summoning the items, directly transferring them to us.”

Curious if still a bit confused I do as she says, placing my hand on the surface and summoning one of the venom sacks. It disappears from my storage but doesn’t appear anywhere on the counter and I raise an eyebrow at the clerk who places one of her own hands next to mine, nodding in confirmation that I’ve done it correctly.

Delighted to find a new and convenient magical device I quickly summon the remaining 62 venom sacks, 10 stalks of Farilograss and 2 Azelian Blood Caps, having them all just disappear without leaving a trace.

“We can’t pay you for the three extra venom sacks as they are only bought in bulk of 20.”

“It doesn’t matter, you’ll get them as a bonus from me. How about monster cores? Should I put all of them in there as well?”

I couldn’t care less about three venom sacks and am much more interested in how to sell the cores. She indicates for me to raise my hand and spatial ring before having me press the token against the runic plate. The token shudders slightly as I press it against the plate before I once again have to remove it. She touches the token once more, marking the postings as completed.

“Now you may deposit all the monster cores you wish to sell to us.”

“What was all that about?”

“You transfer the items before marking them with the postings. It helps us keep things organized.”

Pressing my ring against the plate once again I summon every core except for those I’ve put in my collection, seeing a massive space clear up and leaving me all fuzzy with happiness as all that baggage is taken off my hands. I also deposit the three [Adventurer Tokens] I’d picked up from my delve, their previous owners having been sucked dry by [Baltest Shrivelers].

“Adventurer tokens? Thank you for turning them in. Now to count the cores… Let’s see… 188 Grade 1 cores and 30 Grade 2 cores… That comes out at 7 gold and 44 silver. I’ll add it to the payment for the postings. Wait one second.”

She walks through the back door and is only gone for about 10 seconds before returning, somehow holding a pouch filled with coins.

“26 gold and 4 silver, please count it.”

26 gold?! That sure is a lot of money but I’m sure she hasn’t given me more than I’m owed. I quickly count before sending it into storage.

“It’s correct. Thank you. I was also tasked with delivering this by a representative posted at the Grizklesat dungeon. She said that you’d know what to do with it.”

I bring out the letter and present it to the clerk who accepts it with raised eyebrows, seemingly studying it carefully without opening it. Her eyes dart back and forth across it and grow wider every time. That’s odd… Well, it’s none of my business. As I turn to exit the queue and head out she speaks.

“Hold on a moment.”

I stop, turn around and look at her in confusion. She’s still looking at the letter and I’ve done my part, what else could she want?

“Please, come with me.”

“Why?”

I’m getting more confused by the second and somehow feel like I’ve fucked up without deviating from the instructions.

“I’ll tell you, but not here.”

She proceeds to lead me to the staircase, walking up past the second floor before stopping at the third and entering an empty meeting room. It looks far too luxurious to be an ordinary meeting room for rent. There’s two couches in the center of the room, a crystal candelabra hanging between them with an ornate table of metal and glass beneath.

“Please sit here and wait.”

“You haven’t told me why I’m here like you said you would. What makes you think I’ll sit here and wait?”

She looks conflicted and a little anxious but clearly steels herself, taking a deep breath.

“I lied. I can’t tell you why but I can tell you that not staying here might cause…-”

Seeming to struggle with the correct word she bites her lip before continuing.

“-let’s just call it unpleasant consequences. If you stay here and wait like I ask, you will soon understand why. It’s just that I can’t be the one to tell you.”

I stare, my eyes almost subconsciously glowing brighter, and she gulps a little nervously before looking away.

“Please? I’ll probably lose my job if you leave.”

Throwing my hands in the air I spin on my heel, dropping into the couch like a tossed sack of flour.

“Just get it over with quick. I’ll leave if this takes more than half an hour.”

She squeaks before dashing out of the room, having to rush back to close the door she’d forgotten in her haste.

“What is going on?”

“No idea, Ari. I’m pretty sure that we got lied to though. This has already deviated completely from what the representative told us would happen.”

Charles Windsnatcher

She decided to show up now?! Honestly, after all this time… Better late than never, or maybe not, it’s the king after all.

I break my momentum as I reach the third floor window, robes whipping about me with the wind and drawing a few gasps from the people on the street below. Why did she need to be in such a hurry?! Making me rush like this to make it in time, so annoying.

His majesty doesn’t allow flight in his city even for me except barring emergencies. Is this an emergency? I honestly have no idea how the king would react if I treated it like it wasn’t and accidentally arrived too late.

Opening the latch of the window with [Wind Manipulation] I step in on the carpeted floor of the corridor before closing it behind me and walking towards the room she’s supposed to be in. Opening the door and stepping in I freeze, staring at the gorgeous woman casually leaning into the sofa, an arm slung over its back as her silver-rimmed golden eyes look at me, an eyebrow raised in a curious manner.

The spell she has me under, or skill more likely, breaks as I notice some sort of white ring with an inner golden glow matching her eyes slowly spinning in the air, unsupported, next to her.

“What the fuck is that?”

Shit. Good fucking job, Charles. That was an excellent way to open the conversation. Her curiously raised elegant eyebrow goes even higher.

“Who the fuck are you?”

Clearing my throat and closing the door behind me I step towards the sofa opposite hers, seating myself in as dignified a manner as possible while smoothing out a few new wrinkles in my best suit from the short flight. She continues to stare, her eyes almost luminous with the intensity of her gaze, or am I imagining it?

“My name is Charles Windsnatcher, Regional manager of the Adventurers’ Guild in the Riverflow kingdom.”

She seems a little surprised but much less so than I’d thought she’d be if the information we have on her is correct.

“Pleasure, name's Zelaria.”

She sounds anything but thrilled.

“Why am I here, Charles?”

It’s my turn to raise eyebrows at her. Only diamond ranks, the king or his advisors have ever used my first name casually since I came to my position. She frowns before crossing her arms beneath her generous bust, stretching the thin white fabric and exposing even more of that perfect cleavage-... Snap out of it! This isn’t the time or place.

“You have an audience to attend.”

“An audience? No, I don't think so. You’ve got the wrong person.”

“You have an audience with his majesty, the king.”

She blinks. Then blinks again before suddenly bursting out into a guffaw slowly tapering off into a lovely laugh tinkling like music. When she finally composes herself, wiping a tear out of one eye, she smiles and sighs before leaning back into the couch.

“No, but seriously. Why am I here?”

“I’m not joking, miss Zelaria.”

Her frown returns and I feel her identifying me. Is she wondering if she can escape his majesty again? It will be my head on the block if she does, not even an invasion will put an end to the king's vicious temper. Knowing that I’m far above what she’s at but still curious, I reciprocate.

[Mana Machine v. 2.3 (Arcane Mage) | Arcane Telekineticist (Arcane Mage) - Level 298]

We’re both surprised in equal measure. She no doubt wasn’t expecting my level of 487 and I wasn’t expecting her absolutely insane jump in levels. Wasn’t she reported to have been below level 190 when she left the capital? It may have felt like it was forever ago she escaped under our watch but it’s only been about two months. A hundred levels in two months…

That’s not impressive, it’s insanity. How the fuck did she manage it? If she fought alone as we suspect then gaining levels quicker is a given but not this much. The only way to have this kind of growth is to be in constant danger and seriously lethal situations while still making it out alright. And her body… It’s perfect, not only in figure and form but there’s not a scratch on her. How??

“Why does the king want to see me? It makes absolutely no sense. I haven’t even been in the kingdom for more than nine weeks, only stopping by the capital after having passed a single town...”

She tapers off, a vacant look taking over her eyes but I snap her out of it.

“You will have to hear it directly from the king. It isn’t my place to say.”

“What if I refuse?”

There’s no need to say anything and I just look at her, she knows the answer already.

Sneaking a look at her out of the corner of my eye I can see her fascinated expression as she studies the oil painted canvas depicting the disaster of Redrecur’s Rage, the wind and fire dragon tearing a whole town apart, leaving a several kilometer long scar in its wake. She seems more interested in this piece rather than the many impressive paintings of battles against the empire or portraits of great heroes we’ve already passed on our way.

She’s not very impressed by the interior of the palace and I can’t fault her for that. His majesty has steadily over-decorated everything during his years of reign, making most of the palace look gaudy. Especially the double doors to the throne room now coming into view, even the royal guards outside of it wearing gold enameled silversteel, not one piece left unadorned.

“Halt!”

Zelaria and I stop at the barked command from the royal guard, surprised. I may not hold power here but I’ve never been spoken to like this before. Zelaria looks at me, clearly asking what the fuck we’re standing around for when a few seconds pass in silence.

“Isn’t his majesty ready to receive us?”

“Of course, sir Windsnatcher. It’s just that we can’t allow her to bring weapons into the throne room out in the open. You know this, don’t you?”

Shit, I’d forgotten she was armed in the rush to get here. I may have been distracted by her ass as well but that’s not the point. Looking back at Zelaria I merely nod and she sighs before making her weapons… vanish? Fade away? Disintegrate? What the fuck did she do? Even the ring behind her back is gone, I hadn’t even registered that it was a weapon but of course it was. I should smack myself for being this distracted. I haven’t slept for a week though, I deserve some slack.

“You may pass?”

Even the royal guard sounds unsure but steps aside hesitantly, opening the double doors with his colleague.

We step smartly through the double doors, standing still before they close behind us with a soft thud, Zelaria looking around with renewed interest at the many jewels, statues and paintings lining the walls. Artfully engraved gold-veined, white marble columns holding up the vaulted and painted ceiling, showing more signs of battle, bravery and the family tree of the royal line. The last living descendant of said line sitting on the golden throne placed at the center of the dais.

Standing to the right and behind his majesty is Chief Minister Serranix, immaculate as ever. No one else from the king's court is here though, most likely purposely being left out from this audience with only us four and five royal knights being present. There’s surely one spy or another listening in and the information will leak anyway, maybe even from the royal knights themselves. This is a time of uncertainty for the whole kingdom after all.

As we near the throne I halt, Zelaria doing the same beside me. I bow low to the king before rising and walking up to stand at his left side, I look back down at the gorgeous woman I would honestly love to woo, hoping against hope that she won’t impale herself on the king’s ire. This isn’t my audience after all.