Chapter 14: TerritoryAlone in Vale’s Labyrinth, I didn’t know if I’d run into a well-organized hit-squad or if the gangs had moved on to easier prey. Either way, I hoped to get it resolved tonight. I’d like to be able to use this byrinth and visit it as I wished without worrying about snipers on every rooftop, so to speak.

  Walking out the front, I saw some unhappy thugs spring to life when they saw me — rather hard working for people who don’t do honest work. I walked up to them as if I had been the one waiting and called out, “Hey, are you guys here to collect my next loan payment?”

  The one who seemed to understand me looked a bit confused for a moment, but it was clear that they couldn’t really act like uninterested bystanders at this point. Besides, who were they to turn down money, even if unexpected.

  “Um, yeah, that’s right. But drop your sword over there. We don’t want any misunderstandings, if you know what I mean.”

  I pulled out my steel sword, but just as I was about to drop it, I called back, “Nah, I don’t have time for that sort of thing. Need to get back in there. I’ll just leave the money here so you can give it to Bruno, OK?”

  Since there was a Hugo, there’s probably a Bruno as well. If there isn’t, my insistance might add even more confusion.

  The leader spoke quietly to one of the others who ran back to town at full speed. “Bruno? Oh, ah, yeah, Bruno. Hey, he, ah, wanted to talk to you so why don’t you come with us? We’ll take you there.”

  “Really? Sure, but can you wait just a bit? I left my stuff with the guys.”

  “What? No, um… wait.”

  Casually ignoring him, I went back inside Vale’s Labyrinth and quickly warped to a low-traffic spot on the first floor. I quickly stored the steel sword, donned the cloak and warped to the murder shack back in the slums. [1]

  A very surprised pair of Bandits in there met a very quick end. Such a shame to mess up the shack again. I collected their left-hands and ran out of there while making as much noise as possible. A few nearby thugs drew their weapons as I ran towards the closest yelling, ? For Hugo! ? in my best attempt at Valic.

  I slew that guy and couple other thugs in the area — I was careful to avoid non-combatants — while repeating my mad chant. When more came to join in, I ducked behind a building and quickly warped back to Vale’s Labyrinth.

  After wiping my face, storing my cloak, and taking out my steel sword, I took a few deep breaths to calm down. Such a shame to leave those status cards back there, but most were low-level anyway. With a stupid grin back on my face, it was time to walk out of the byrinth again.

  Like a bumbling fool, I asked, “Hey guys, I can’t find my crew. Can you come help me?”

  “Huh? No. Forget them. We need to get you back to, um… Bruno.”

  “Seriously? Look, I’ll just give you the payment and go visit ter.”

  Of course they wouldn’t accept such a preposterous proposal… till I pulled out a sack of coins. The lead Bandit paused for a moment, but a little shake of the loot seemed to be enough to make him reconsider his priorities.

  “Bruno has a lot of people who owe him. Which one are you?”

  “Huh? I’m Mikey, of course. You really work for Bruno, right? He told me to only talk to his people. Big secret or something.”

  “Yeah, yeah, of course. Um, show me that sword again.”

  “Sure. Pretty nice, huh? All steel.”

  After some more murmuring, the leader says, “OK, we’ll take your payment, but you better add a bit extra for the bother.”

  “Sure thing. The hideout’s a long walk from here anyway.” Saying this, I pulled out a few coins to add to the sack and tossed it towards the leader. While the bag was still in the air, I said my goodbyes and quickly disappeared back into the byrinth. I expect that he still wanted to bring me in, but I had no interest in accommodating.

  The roughly 7k in the sack probably wasn’t worth keeping quiet about, but hopefully enough to look like a genuine payment. The cards for the two Bandits I got in the shack should make up for the loss though turning them in locally would be risky.

  Don’t know if any of the thugs tried to follow me, but it sure must’ve been confusing if they did. How long would they wait for me this time? In fact, why hadn’t they just grabbed me as soon as I stepped out, at least the second time?

  With luck, they’ll waste time searching the surrounding areas or question ‘Bruno’, assuming there is one (or more).

  Regardless, no one should even consider that the guy in the byrinth could possibly have attacked the slums at basically the same time. Well, anyone who suspected the truth, should be smart enough to run very, very far away. (Why do I always end up sounding like the vilin?)

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  Day 14

  After breakfast at the inn, we picked up some dry goods (like oats for porridge) and warped to our new home in Callum from Curatar’s adventurers guild.

  We spend most of the morning making the pce livable. Not much more is strictly necessary, but it could still look nicer. I found a stash of low-level weapons upstairs. They’re not good enough for us at this point, but convenient to have some extras avaible. Looking at this junk reminded me of something else.

  “Hey, guys, ready for a break? Let’s get something to eat and go shopping. Maybe you need better armor.”

  “Really, Boss? What we have seems fine, same as yours anyway.”

  “It’s OK. We’re saving a lot by living out in the countryside so may as well spend the difference on equipment.”

  We end up getting some moderately heavy armor for Marcus. I suggested full-pte, but he said it’d be better to get used to the intermediate weight first. Unsurprisingly, Theo preferred light armor so he got a small upgrade to hardened leather. I took the same for myself. Neither wanted to repce their shields and I still don’t want one — I’m used to two-handed weapons from sports and I’d have to drop something to quickly switch to my wand without a hot-key.

  Their current swords seem fine for now — meaning, I’m tired of shopping. Of course, I never expect to find anything better than Durandal for myself. Now that we have a house, I’d rather keep our old armor around as spares or loaners so we walk to the guild and I warp us back home.

  “Curatar’s Labyrinth is nice, but too crowded for me to comfortably use magic. It’ll certainly get better further up and ter in the day, but I’d like to have an alternative anyway. I’m going out to look for a less popur byrinth nearby. Meanwhile, can you guys take a look at the junky weapons I found upstairs? Please clean up anything still useable to have as extras or even sell. I left some money in the cookie jar if you need to get anything in the vilge. I’ll be back before dinner — hint hint.”

  “Yeah, sure thing, Boss. Supper will be ready around nightfall.”

  I guess that my best bet is to go to Elven Territory. I think it should be reasonably close and the only other pce I remember is Palm-something, which is supposed to be really far away. Going somewhere completely different could be fun, but better to save that for ter. So, I pay for a ride to the town of Bode, which is thankfully a short, easy to read name. It’s also the site of some story plot, which I might able to take advantage of. I’ll just try to steer clear of any interactions with nobility, elven or otherwise.

  Once in Bode’s rather small guild building, I asked for directions to the town’s byrinth.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Um, isn’t there a byrinth near here?”

  “Nope. Nearest I know of is in Harba.”

  Never heard of that pce, but should be fine anyway. “OK. Can you take me there? Just one-way will be fine, but drop me near the byrinth if possible.”

  “Sure. I’ll take you there for, um, four silver.”

  “I’ll give you three silver.”

  Could’ve sworn that there would be a byrinth in Bode. Oh well, can’t believe everything you read. At least I was taken to some byrinth in Elven Territory — judging by the number of elves in the vicinity. It’s a bit cold and wet here, but it has a crisp feeling, much like back in my hometown.

  The entrance to the byrinth has a Knight standing like a royal guard, but he looks more Romun than British. He sort of sneers, but doesn’t try to block me. As expected, the inside of the byrinth looks exactly like any other byrinth, well, just like the two others I’ve visited. I explore just far enough from the entrance to make a reasonable warp point and pop back home.

  I’m back earlier than expected and my party-member-radar shows the guys in the direction of Callum’s center. Unfortunately, my momentarily idle hands get the best of me and I warp back to the trees near the washing spot outside Vale. I quietly make my way towards the byrinth. I’d like to do this stealthily, but that’d probably just end up making me more noticeable.

  Checking extra carefully with Identify, I don’t see a single criminal in the area. I’ll still avoid this byrinth for a while, but it looks like they finally gave up, at least at this location.

  Just barely resisting the temptation to bathe here, I warp to Curatar instead and order two wooden, two-seater bathtubs to be delivered to the house in Callum. Fortunately, they can be made western-style for the extra legroom — so they’re basically hot-tubs. Getting two small tubs rather than one rge is purely for my squeamishness.

  Naturally, bathtubs remind me of soap. The manga had an entire arc about it so maybe I’ll try to make some too.

  I walked into a general store and asked, “Excuse me, do you sell baking soda?”

  “I don’t recognize that name, Sir, but we do carry a number of tools for baking. What does it look like?”

  “It’s a white powder.”

  “Oh, do you mean flour, Sir?”

  “No, it’s used to make bread rise.”

  “Ah, hartshorn.”

  “Maybe… let’s see. Woah, not with that smell. OK, maybe not baking. What other white powders do you have?”

  Sure hope that doesn’t sound misleading.

  “Well, we have shell powder, but that’s for putting out fires… maybe in the kitchen.”

  “Perfect! I’ll take a small sack of it.”

  Once I heard the name, I knew it was right. But, why isn’t it used for baking? Well, the local rolls are pretty inexpensive already and I don’t have the time or inclination to make anything fancy.

  “Anything else, Sir?”

  “Yeah, do you sell soap?”

  “Certainly, right over here.”

  May as well get the real stuff while I’m here. After finally wasting enough time to avoid having to do my fair share of the work, I go back home for dinner.

  The house is looking pretty good. Time to invite Tuuli. Maybe she’ll want to stay. In good cheer, I warp over around the usual time to find her sitting in a chair, looking rather serious.

  “Tavi, we need to talk.” Crap, I never should have taught her English. No, it might be something else. No way she’d know that cssic line anyway.

  “What’s wrong, Tuuli?”

  “You know I really like you, Tavi.”

  “Are you really dumping me?”

  “You taught me Englisi and spend time with a pin woman like me, despite all the other women you must have.”

  “Actually, you’re the only one.”

  “No Tavi, everyone knows that adventurer’s have many women, but even if you don’t, I need to think about the future.”

  “I’m renting a big house in the country-side.”

  “Um, I found a nice boy in another vilge who wants to become a merchant. I’ll help him learn Englisi, like you taught me. So, I can’t accept your night visits anymore.”

  Well, that wasn’t really part of the lessons, but no use in correcting her now. Besides, it probably will help keep the boy motivated. Certainly would’ve improved my school life. As an aside, I wonder if the name ‘Englisi’ will eventually catch on.

  “Alright Tuuli. I’m sad that this will end, but I’m honestly happy that you’ve found someone.”

  “Thank you Tavi. I was afraid you would be angry. I’d like you to come back to visit, but please wait till I get thick.”

  “Thick? Oh, like pregnant? Um, what about when we…”

  “No Tavi, you know that’s impossible.”

  Yes, that’s what she said earlier. Of course this world must have contraceptives.

  “Do you want to talk tonight or should I leave?”

  “I couldn’t resist if you stayed and I’d never forgive you if you could resist me.”

  Damn, her English is pretty much perfect now. After a nice, long hug, I warped to Curatar’s second floor to smash a few olive trees and kobolds. I’ll really miss her, but it’s not like our retionship was all that deep anyway. It was more of a secret tryst than something with potential. I rationalized my way through dozens of monsters before warping back home.

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  [1] The pce were many bad-guys met their end (chapter 5).