Halberd person decided to cooperate with me. Not that I gave him a choice. We have to do something about that duck billed dinosaur thingy- whatever it’s called. A Razor Claw Drago-?

“That’s a Razor Beaked Drake.” He answered. “So, what did you have in mind?”

He’s about to pass out any moment. One hand rested above a large gash that ran down his left arm. I’d hate to stick around him for long. His blood might attract other monsters.

He looked uneasy as his eyes darted between two things. One was of course the most of our worries, the Drake. The second was the mess I turned his friend into. Actually, I don’t know if he could consider the leftover of Swordsman his friend anymore because he was abandoned and left to run away from the Drake.

The bait used to lure the monster was a cooked piece of meat courtesy of Swordsman’s arm.

I quietly waved to Halberd person. “How hard is it’s skin?”

“I heard it’s hide is slightly stronger than leather. Arrows would be our best chance, but we don’t have any.”

So stabbing it up close. I must admit, after having the time to take a closer look at the Drake, I can see it has a thick layer of hide with scale like patterns on them. That means my gun could do some form of damage and I’m thinking if I am required to, I should shoot for its eyes.

I’m very hesitant on using my bullets. They’re a precious resource and it’s not like I’ve been backed to a corner, yet. That reminds me of the thing I ordered from Dane, a ballistic knife. I never really tested it and I might just have to.

“Does that thing have any weakness?”

“If it were that easy, I’d killed it. It’s all that merchant’s damn fault for sweet talking us like that. Now look at us!”

“I thought you were bandits.”

“We’re mercenaries, dammit!”

“Okay, I get it. Quiet down, alright?” I laughed, smacking his back before I go. “I’m going to get my things. I have something that might be able to kill it. Give me some kind of warning if it starts heading towards me, though your friend will keep it busy for a while.”

“Keh! Even if I want, I won’t be able to move.”

And an immobile person is a dead person.

“Fine, I have a roll of cloth you can use to treat yourself. I’m keeping the potions for myself.”

“Greedy bastard.”

“You delight me.”

I sneak around the Drake, stopping once in a while to assess both Halberd person and the Drake’s location. For having to trust and cooperate with a scum (yours truly) that killed your partners, it’s obvious once the Drake is down, Halberd person will one billion percent betray me.

The Drake is gulping down Swordsman, and Halberd person is watching it happen intently. If you wanted a piece, you should’ve asked me to save you a piece! The only one I knew ate humans is Whelty, but doggo forgot to tell me how human flesh taste.

To be honest, killing that Dinosaur is too much of a chore. I don’t want an achievement from slaying giant monsters. That’s best left to video games.

I found my things and cocked a knife into the ballistic handle. Using the zoom function of my phone, I see Halberd person frantically searching for me. I took it as my cue to sneak towards the hole where his team dumped their goods.

I remember Halberd person said something about merchandise knowing a way out of here. Don’t tell me it’s going to be that cliché trope.

As soon as I peeped into the hole, I made out a silhouette of a person laying in the cage.

Yup, a slave. Chocolate colored skin, black hair, female, cuffed. She still wore her leather attire, meaning she was recently captured. Looks like Ol’ Arden’s got to act like a despicable hero and save her to get out of this forest. Oh well. After I get what I want, we’ll part ways.

“Hey, you.” I rattled the cage.

At first, the slave didn’t respond, and I didn’t want to make a lot of noise. I grabbed a handful of dirt and threw small mud balls at her until she let out groaned.

Her long ears flickered from the covers of her hair. I immediately have a bad premonition when she drunkenly looked at me. It’s not like I have anything against dark elves, her expression says she’ll be a pain to get rid of.

“Eep!” She cried, crawling to the back of the cage. Blood dripping from her forehead. “P-please don’t hurt me!”

“Be quiet. Do you want to get us killed? There’s a giant lizard above this hole.”

She covered her mouth and nodded. That quiet her down instantly, but it put a bit of stress on her face. I commend her for quickly understanding the situation.

“A-are you here to help me?” She asked.

“Well yes, but actually no.”

As usual, I give ambiguous replies that leave people confused. Her strange golden eyes were fixated on me and gave me a look of a curious child.

“Do you know the way out?” Searching the area, I asked.

“I do, but…”

“That’s all I need to hear. In return for freeing you, I’ll be asking you a few favors.”

Remember when I gave Halberd Person a pat on his back? That was when my nimble hands snatched the key from him.

Before I unlocked the cage, I spotted a satchel stitched with silver lining. It had a somewhat elegant design and it came with a light knife sheathed on the side.

Of course, the mercenaries would steal her valuables. I’m jealous the sharpness of the blade is superior than my beloved switchblade. It easily cut through roots like butter, but not metal. There’s a certain lightness like it’s made of aluminum though I suspect it’s not.

“Analyze.”

Mithril knife+ (Epic)

Dur: 1650/3000

STR: 5

AGI: 25

DEX: 32

INT: 5

VIT: -

Forged of a valuable metal imbedded with magical protection properties.

Now this is treasure! This is a first time I see a + beside a name. What does it mean?

“Umm… that’s mine. Please give it back. It’s important.”

“It’s important?” I tauntingly dangled the knife in front of her then an idea struck me. “Alright, this will be our deal. After you get me what I want, I’ll give this back to you.”

She silently nodded. That was easier than I thought.

With our agreement, I unlocked the padlock. I opened the cage slowly to not risking it making a loud creaking noise and attract my Dinosaur friend.

I kept my eyes on her as I put a foot into the cage then felt an unsettling chill down my spine. Either she’s too trusting that I’m actually helping her with good intentions or she’s planning something. It’s that stare darting between me and her knife. It’s like she’s examining my movements, calculating her next step. There’s a chance she’s just an airhead with a good set of eyes.

Just because I want to, I’m going to test her. Even if it’ll put us in danger, it’ll be fun to see her potential.

I belted her dagger in a place in full view and approached her.

“Can you stand?” I stretched my hands to her.

The moment I pulled her up, her eyes changed. She tackled me on the floor and pushed a blade onto my neck. Unfortunately for her, she drew a short stick, literarily. With a little slight of hand, I swapped the knife on my belt with a stick in amidst of the transition she pushed me down. I have my ballistic knife aimed up her stomach and her knife pricking against her side.

I feel her hand sweating on my neck knowing she put herself in a bad situation. Kudos to her for not breaking character when she noticed she pushed a wooden branch against my throat. She displayed a lovely pale expression.

“Hey, you’re quite good.” I smirked. “If you get off me, I might forgive you~.”

“If you kill me, you won’t be able to escape this dungeon. You need my help and you will return my things!”

“This knife’s really important, is it?”

She said no more but continued to glare daggers at me. She’s got more balls than I thought.

“Alright, I give up. You can have it back.” That’s the least expected thing I would say to throw my opponents off guard. A slight sigh of relief came from the dark elf. “Just a question. Do you value your life or this more?”

“What do you-…”

Before she answered, I whistled. Loudly.

The ground started quaking and leaves started falling. The tremors stopped when we saw a duck bill poking above the hole.

The dark elf’s face went from pale to ghastly pale as she watched I turn the tables. I catch her light body and threw her on her back. Before she realized, I aimed the mithril knife at her.

“W-what are you doing?!” She whispered.

“Dear, you’re dealing with a freak that has suicidal tendencies. I’ll even gladly bet my life if I have to prove it.” I put on a business-like smile. “You have two options. Either die with this piece of trash or cooperate so after you can have your dagger back without any trouble.”

She could have stabbed me. A branch would hurt too. Since that duck billed lizard is close, it could probably sniff out my blood and kill her afterwards. The reason why we’re not immediately caught by the dinosaur is because we rolled in the dirt.

“Your move.” I unshackled the cuffs.

“I only have to guide you out of this forest, right?”

“Well…,” I rolled my eyes. “If you would be so kind to show me where I can find some of these herbs, that would be great too.”

“T-then I want something.”

“Money? Are you in a position to bargain when I’m the one holding your precious knife?” After examining the whimpering look of her face, I became curious. “Ask away, I have time as long as that overgrown lizard doesn’t get to us first.”

“I…,” Her voice quietly trailed off. “I want revenge on the humans that destroyed my village.”

Oh! She wants to kill Halberd Person.

“You’re captors? Tough luck, for you there’s only one survivor left. The duck ate one, I killed one and the last guy is up there hiding. The thing is, I also plan to kill the last guy myself to get some fun out of it.”

“You kill for fun?”

“I don’t deserve your praise.”

“That wasn’t a-.”

“What do I get in return?” I curtly cut her off. “What do you have to offer that’s worth as much entertainment as the person you want to kill?”

“That, umm…” She fidgeted. She curled up her legs, wrapping her arms around her body with a tinge of embarrassment. Her mouth moved, whispering some words but I couldn’t hear her.

I tapped on my ear, asking her to repeat.

“I don’t have much… The knife’s a memento of my family and I can’t give that to you no matter what. All that’s left, is…”

It’s her isn’t it. That tone of her irritates me. It reminds me of my younger helpless and sane self.

“Before I agree, I’ll decide your worth on how we handle the lizard. The man up there is yours to kill. Don’t forget our deal.”

We climbed up to find the Drake lingering far from us, but in sight. Halberd person is still alive, and was a tad too happy when he saw me.

His jaws dropped when he saw he Dark Elf behind me. She gripped a crude dagger seething with anger. If only looks can kill.

“Y-you! How did you?! My keys!”

That’s a nice face. He looked like someone who had just seen a ghost.

“My watch doesn’t say it’s time to argue. Shouldn’t we get all the help we can get?” I dropped one more bundle of stripped cloth and a healing potion. “That should get you up.”