Part Seventy-Three

“Gaaaaaa.”

“Ohhhhhh.”

“You’ll stay down if you know what’s good for you. Damn drunkards.”

Four men, the idiots who’d gotten into a drunken argument, were laid out on the ground. I’d originally gone over here to yell at them for being so loud. But the moment they saw me, they yelled something about Demons and charged straight at me. Naturally I’d fought back, leading to this. It was just a good thing that they’d been unarmed, or I would’ve had to maim them to protect myself.

Damn these guys stink. What they’d do, bathe in alcohol? Seriously, why on earth would you drink inside a Dungeon? This place is dangerous enough without being inebriated. Idiots.

Maybe the stress of the situation had gotten to them, and they’d escaped into a bottle, but that was no excuse. Hopefully a night on the ground would teach them the errors of their ways.

I headed back to my room to find Kalia and Alicia chatting excitedly with one another. Seeing them getting along so well kinda made me feel left out. Probably because I’d had to deal with a bunch of drunkards. Seriously, drunkards are annoying.

“Oh, you’re back. How’d it go?”

“It was just a bunch of drunks. I doubt they’ll even remember what happened in the morning. That’s how plastered they were.”

“That’s good. Though I don’t think you needed to get involved in yourself.”

“Eh, maybe. They were being a nuisance though. Someone had to quiet them down.”

I took the only remaining seat, removing my helmet as I did so. Whatever conversation they’d been having had ended the moment I came in, so now the room was filled with awkward silence. I still felt kind of odd around Kalia. I felt that it was strange for her to come to me like this.

“So what did you want? I would’ve thought you’d either be asleep, or with one of your friends.”

“Aha, yeah. That’s what I’d normally be doing. I, uh, I just wanted someone to talk with. Hahah.”

Suspicious. You’re being very suspicious. She wouldn’t meet my gaze, leading me to believe she was hiding something. From my interactions with her up to now, I believed her to be someone who was usually sincere with others. So for her to be acting so evasively, it meant that something major was up. And I wasn’t the only one to notice.

“…”

“…”

“Um, why are you guys looking at each other like that? Did I say something odd?”

“Not really. It’s just odd that you’d come to Michael for simple conversation. No offense Michael, but he’s not exactly someone I’d come to for casual conversation. And I think you’re aware of that, Kalia.”

“Erm, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just happened to see that his light was still on, so I stopped by.”

“”…””

Who does she think she’s fooling? It’s obvious that she came here for something, but lost her nerve along the way. I wonder what it is? What could she have come here to ask? Hm, maybe I’ll just take a few stabs at it.

“Is this about last night? I know I kind of left suddenly, but I thought it was taken care of.”

“Huh? Oh, no, no, no! No, that’s all done with. I, uh, well I’m not exactly fine with it, but I’m not letting it get to me anymore.”

“Well okay. But if not that, then why did you come here?”

“Like I said! I just want to talk. Is that so bad?”

“I wouldn’t say that, it’s just unexpected.” And also an obvious lie. She’s evading the question.

“So, let’s talk?”

***

“I think it’s time for me to go. It’s gotten pretty late, and I have the noon watch tomorrow.”

“Alright. Sweet dreams Kalia.”

“Night.”

After about an hour of conversation, mostly about the Dungeon or magic, Kalia decided to call it a night and went back to her room. She never got around to discussing whatever it was that brought her here in the first place, which I chalked up to reluctance to bother us. She’d come close several times, but had hesitated at the last second, never quite getting there.

“Soooo, that was odd. What do you think she wanted in the first place?”

“I honestly couldn’t say. Considering that she’s never sought me out like that before, I’ve got a rather bad hunch that this won’t lead to anything good. And my hunches usually pretty good.”

“Hm, do you want me to try talking to her alone? She might be more willing to talk with me than you.”

“She definitely seems comfortable around you. Though I’m not sure if you can tease it out of her. It might be best to just let it go for now. If it’s important, she’ll bring it up herself.”

“Alright. So now what?”

I got out of my chair, and walked over to my bed, which I promptly collapsed on.

“Now, I go to sleep, and you get out. Go do whatever it is you do when I’m not around.”

“Hmph! Fine! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Night. Oh, and lock the door on your way out. I don’t want anyone sneaking in here while I’m asleep.”

With her gone, I blew out the lantern, closed my eyes and prepared for sleep. Most of the time it would take awhile for me to sleep, but Dungeons were a good way to tire me out, so sleep came quickly. My last thought before sleep claimed me, was that I should try and talk with Kalia alone soon, just to see if I could figure out what she’d wanted.

***

[Kalia’s POV]

I can’t believe I did that! Why couldn’t I have just asked!? I couldn’t have made more perfect conditions if I’d tried. Oooh.

It wasn’t mere happenstance that led to her wanting to talk to Michael, she’d specifically gone to him. While she hadn’t expected Alicia to be there as well, it wasn’t actually a bad thing. Having two of their group present only increased the odds of them accepting. It was just that she found it hard to ask people, especially those she felt indebted to, for favors.

It’s okay. There’ll be another chance to ask, and maybe I don’t have to! Maybe Braddock worked it all out while I was gone. Yes, think positively! Everything will work itself out somehow!

The problem with hoping that things will work out on their own, is that they rarely do. As she approached the corridor housing the rest of her group, she quickly noticed that most of the rooms were dark, their inhabitants asleep. Which meant that the shouting match that drove her away was over.

Though, half of the rooms were dark for a different reason.

She quickly made her way to the common room assigned to the them, and took a peek in. Braddock was sitting in the middle of the room, his head resting on his hands. He looked tired, the energy he’d recovered due to the System giving way to sheer exhaustion. Even his steel-like mentality had its limits.

“Oh, Kalia. There you are.”

“Braddock, are, are you okay?”

“Heh. Yesterday, I would’ve said yes. Now, I’m not so sure. Haaah, I managed to keep them around for now, but they’ll probably leave us after the Dungeon’s cleared, if we even get that far.”

“No. I, I know things haven’t been going well, and that the others are becoming dissatisfied, but it’s that bad?”

The issue was that the squad led by Yasmin, a core member of the group, had been among those annihilated during the operation. This, combined with the group’s high casualty rate, had led the others to begin complaining about Braddock’s leadership. Some had even called him incompetent.

It was bad enough that Yasmin died, but for them to blame Braddock after all he’s done for them? For us? He specifically chose to defend us so that no one else had to do it. Maybe we’ve had some trials and tribulations, but is that any reason to just quit? Maybe I can try talking to them.

“Don’t do it Kalia.”

“Wha!? How did?”

“How did I know what you were going to do? You’re a very good person Kalia, but also very easy to read. Your emotions are always right on the surface. Never play poker, you’ll lose every time.”

“Oooh. So we just give up? Just like that?”

“I didn't say that. I've already got a plan in motion, I just don't want you to put yourself in harm's way. So please, just stay back for now.”

***

::Individual has met requirements. Unique Skill: Flames of Vengeance has Awakened. Acquired Normal Skill: Curse Magic Rank F.::

During his usual vigil, the flame inside him flared into life, finally consuming the last of his emotions. And as the flame Awoke, so too did the dormant mana within him. Hate and anger warred with reason, until all were devoured by the flames. Something new was born this night, something dreadful and strange. Beautiful and twisted.

Standing up, he knew. This wasn’t what she’d want. She wouldn’t have wanted him to waste away here. So he decided. He’d pull himself back together.

Walking away from the morgue, he looked over the details of his new Skills and smiled. These would work nicely. A new twisted desire had taken root within him, one that was as dark as it was brilliant.