An investigation was launched to find out what exactly happened to Itris but since no traces of mana were found the cause of the ‘Judgement Bolt Incident’ stayed unresolved. Moreover, the acquisition of lightning spirits became harder and riskier and the costs of electronium technology rose in price as a response. Magical engineers had to re-evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of the electronium technology as a whole. They also seemed to have started to hire more engineers and experts in the field of lightning magic, spirit magic, and electronium engineers. At least that's what the news is saying on tv. I was sitting in a bar sipping some juice and listening to the news.
The bar was quite crowded. It was refreshing to see the people treating each other here as people. I arrived at this village after 2 days of walking. They had the normal stance toward magic here and everything here was as it's supposed to be.
They started to talk about other news bits. The orange pillar of light was seen from across the country and other countries. The idol group relocated to another city because of this incident, an update on a rescue mission because some islands drowned due to the slight trajectory change of the Hurricane path. Wait isn't all this stuff all my fault? Oh, wait there’s stuff that's not my fault, some mine collapsed, the national animal of Lopahz disappeared… Wait isn't that where Raishin went to?... Nah he wouldn't, would he? He did say he'd go hunting… More drama in the world, some political bullshit.
Oh, the Igrini kingdom is in the middle of a dispute. Also, Yzs is stoking up problems again. It's the country bordering Hjuva that was quite close to Boshi town. They love stoking trouble and warring but apparently, this is because they provide 70% of the continent's electronium and they're tired of being the continent's ‘battery’ for relatively low gain. Anyways this has nothing to do with me, if they keep their problems away from me that's fine.
I stopped listening to the news and watched how rowdy the men in this bar were. They started a bar fight. Ted would've loved this…
I continued sipping my juice while spectating the barfight and thinking about what we might be doing if Raishin never got caught and Ted was still alive. The guys were having fun in their barfights. The owner of the bar was also participating. What a lively bunch.
There was an unspoken rule to not use magic. People got punched and hit with stools left and right. The bartender and I were looking at how every part besides this part of the bar got destroyed. The guys knew better than to destroy the part that provided them with more alcohol. Some half-bloodied guys came over to order some liquor to then jump back into the fight.
“Are you not joining?” The barman said while he cleaned some glasses. Are you crazy? And do I look strong enough to participate?
“Fair point, what are you doing in a bar anyways?” For the interesting atmosphere, hey do you have more of this juice?
“One more Mango Punch incoming.” Did you really have to give it a violent name? The bartender shrugged and gave me more juice.
“I can put it on the owner's tab if you want.” the bartender smirked. He creates problems for you and you create problems for him?
“That’s how it's been for years.” Sure, why not, it doesn't put me at a disadvantage.
“So how about taking 10 mango punches to take with you?” Deal! The bartender handed me 10 bottles that I sneakily put away in my dimensional pocket.
Suddenly the door got flung open. “Someone in here smells real gooood!”
“Have you finally gone crazy Io? Who here would smell good?” The bartender pointed at the sweaty and bloody men fighting.
“Hmm, strange, it’s gone now, I’m sure the smell of fresh rain came from here." I slowly moved towards the back trying to not draw attention. A chick of about the age of 20 had barged in. Her attire suggested something that conflicted with her behaviour. She was quite loud but she seemed to be of the Silent Night category. What stood out were her horns.
“Hey, I haven't seen you around!” She approached me and sat next to me. I looked at this chick who was clearly from the dragon race. I assume she smelled me; I don’t know what special trait dragons have that I can instantly detect them by. Maybe it's not needed because it's extremely easy to tell if someone is a dragon, it doesn't matter how good their human form is. She looked at me with her lizard eyes.
I’m just passing by. I racked my brain; how would it make sense for a dragon to be an assassin? This just makes no sense. Maybe this one is like Vinny, different from the other dragons but so far, she seems just like any normal dragon, just very skilled in her human form.
This is the first time I met a dragon. Well, I had to lie here, I can't say that I meet dragons regularly.
“Hey, glad to be your first!” She said proudly.
“Io, you should be careful with how you word things…” The bartender shook his head.
“Well, you humans make things too complicated, my name is Io Syr.” She reached out her hand.
Agnis Hourai. I shook her hand.
“Hourai? Wait like the rubies?!” Ah right, I did name them after myself.
“Ooh! So, you sold them! They’re so pretty! So, you must be very rich! You must have a lot of meat then!” When she said that the barfight stopped and everyone looked at me. Uhm not really.
“Come on! No need to be shy!” She shook me with her brute strength and I was starting to see stars. Is this chick really an assassin? Where is the delicacy, the subtleness? I put it toward charity.
“Ooh, how nice of you! Go back to your fight guys! He’s broke!” The guys continued their fight. “So, are you the one who smelled that nice? I love the smell of rain!” I have no idea what you're talking about.
“Hey guys any of you encountered someone that smells like rain?” The guys ignored her and kept fighting. “See nobody did! My nose is never wrong!” I don't know. I hope you find your rain man; I have to go. I got up but Io stopped me.
“Wait! What is that?” She pointed at the trinket Sylvana gave me. Something a friend gave me.
She grinned. “Ooh, I see! You want to join us! Today is your lucky day!” She showed a similar trinket. Oh god, Sylvana what did you get me into…
“Ooh, you know Sylvana?! Even better! Why would she give this to you though? Anyways, doesn't matter! Come come!” She grabbed my wrist and pulled. I couldn't fight this brutish strength. “You are very light for a human!” Bartender… help!
“Have fun!” Traitor! I got dragged out of the bar and the villagers were looking at us.
“So, the Loud Sun is quite far from here so it will take a while before we get there but I have to finish an assignment first, how about you watch and help to see how the pros do it, maybe I will even take you on as my apprentice!" But I still have 30 days!
“What? What nonsense are you talking about? Let's go now!” So forceful. Hey, don't you get into trouble with it being known you're a dragon and all?
“Hmm? Not really, I burn anyone who has a problem with that.” I see… So why did you become a Silent Night?
“I love sneaking around!” But you're so loud!
“That’s why I’m still in training!” Also… isn't it quite clear that you’re a Silent Night if you walk around like this? Shouldn't you only wear this on actual infiltration or assassination assignments?
“Ooh! You know your stuff! Well, I can pummel anyone who messes with me so I can wear it whenever!” But… then you’re not sneaky…
“I am! If not for my horns nobody could tell that I was a dragon!” I think you’re focusing on the wrong thing here…
Io [https://i.imgur.com/9xr8sFR.png]
I was wondering who would have the godlike patience to teach her the ways of an assassin.
“Right, I was heading over to the next village when I got distracted by that nice smell! Let's go!” Wait! This stubborn dragon kept dragging me without listening. It wasn't much of a dragging because even if I was a human, she could easily lift me. She ran at inhuman speed while carrying me and we arrived at the next village 3 hours later.
“We're here! Some important guy is going to spend the night here and he's carrying an important document, we need to steal that." With ‘We’ you mean you!
“Oh, don't be like that! You can see a pro! Well almost pro in action! I forgot what he looked like but it will all work out!” Io said proudly.
I’m convinced that assassin and dragon is the worst combination possible. She should become an Iron Wall because dragons are sturdy or more like an Unstoppable Beast that are more like warriors. I wanted to have nothing to do with her but now I'm interested in how she’s going to tackle this assignment. She probably can’t use stealth and she probably can’t use illusions either. You can let me go now; you've caught my attention.
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“Ooh, so you’re gonna help! We’ll become the best assassin duo ever!” You might want to start out by not yelling this out loud…
“Oh sorry.” My old friend, headache, has returned. Io was boldly walking through the street in her obvious assassin outfit and pointed. “Let's go eat there!” Shouldn't you scout out the place where that guy is going to spend the night and lay an ambush?
“I think that place has good food!” There was a small stall that sold fried meat. “I want 4 kilos!”
“Uhm are you sure miss?” The vendor said confused.
“Yes!” This chick seems to do anything to stand out… Maybe they keep her around to show what to not turn into. “This tastes good, here taste my meat!” Io shoved a piece of meat in my mouth. Hmff??
“Tastes good, eh?” I took the meat out of my mouth and cut it into ribbons with a dagger and snacked on it. Not bad no.
“Ok let's go ambush that guy! So where is his place?” I almost choked on my food and coughed. You don’t know where it is?
“Haha silly! I’m an assassin, not a fortuneteller!” She said, yet again, proudly.
I was at a loss for words. This must be the worst assassin in history. “Heey! Can you tell me where I can find this building?” I spectated as Io asked around loudly and to anyone who came past.
They should ban certain professions for certain races… “I got it! Come come!” At this point, everyone here could figure out that someone is either going to get robbed or assassinated soon…
Even if she pulls it off successfully, everyone would know it was her… I can let her be or help her out. What will happen if she gets found out? Death? Jail? Persecution? What are even the laws here? If it was a human, I wouldn’t bother but I at least owe it to Vinny and somewhat to Tero to help a dragon out here. They both have helped me. I sighed and talked to the guy Io bought meat from several minutes ago. Hey, my friend is in a rough spot, she needs a job but as you can see, she is a bit… special. Is there a possibility you can give her a job for at least tonight? I’m sure she will work hard for some meat.
“Hmm, she looks like a nice gal, quite loud, I could use that to attract tourists I’m just afraid she will eat all my stuff.” Here is 10 silver for the trouble.
The guy looked at me and accepted the money. “You really are a good friend. Hey, missy come here!”
I tapped Io on her shoulder and told her that she could be undercover by selling meat. Nobody would believe that the girl who sold meat would steal important documents. I don't think she bought it but selling meat excited her so she went for it. I just had to make sure she had an alibi.
A clone of mine wandered close by while I dropped into stealth and investigated. There seemed to be a family that had a big house and they used it to welcome tourists for a night's rest. Like a family-run inn or something. I sneaked inside. 2 males had reserved for only this night. One was a bit older and one was younger, the younger guy had a woman with him, his wife I assume. Probably not him. So that leaves just the older man.
I [shadow melded] inside his room and spied on him. He didn't seem to carry anything on him… except. He had a small purple cube on him. I guess that's a magic item that works like my dimensional pocket. It's extremely expensive but perfect if you need to move important items. So here is the problem, it could be hard to find the desired item inside this. They surely did their homework. Another option is to steal the box but since they're so expensive and rare it will be obvious that it was stolen if it pops up somewhere else, these things are registered to individuals. I don't see how Io could succeed in this mission. Either it was to make her give up or to put her behind bars or in the ground.
And this is where I come in. This is why I’m perfect for this job. I don’t have issues finding stuff in dimensional pockets because I have Elgards eyes and I do this stuff all the time.
I hacked into the cube with my eyes, located a document between some trash that looked similar but weren’t authentic, and made the cube spit out what I needed. I made a copy of it with illusions, chucked it back in and took the original with me. This illusion will disappear once this guy arrives at his location and goes through a check. It would be funny if he gets asked if he has it, shows it, gets verified as real to then lose it afterward. No blame could ever fall on Io if that happens. I [Shadow swapped] with my shadow clone and dispelled it. Io was attracting a lot of customers with her energy while munching on some meat. Yo, how’s it going?
“It's Io! Eye-yo, not Yo!" I know… I used ‘Yo’ as a greeting…
“Oh... look! I sold a lot of meat!” I see, it looks like you're having fun. She kept talking to people and selling meat till 2 am when we had to clean up.
“I’m so tired! Let's go find a barn to sleep in!" She grabbed me and dragged me to a random barn and just crashed there without notifying the farmers. I sent a clone to talk to the farmers because she wouldn't shut up. Is this chick going to be, ok? She totally forgot about her mission…
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The next morning came and Io was loud. “I can't believe I forgot! Noo what am I going to do? I know what! He was never there! I can't do my mission if there was no target!” And people will believe that because?
“Because I’m cute?” Io winked and made a pose and I facepalmed. Don't worry about it. I worked something out.
“Really? You deserve a hug!” I dodged a dragon jumping at me and she crashed into a wall.
“Ehehe don't be shy!” I think this was a mistake maybe I should just leave.
“Nono! I apologize! I will repent! I see the error in my ways!” I don't think you do but I will play along for a bit now where do you need to deliver the document?
“Uhh the forest 5 days southeast from here.” Isn't that a super shady forest?
“What does that have to do with anything? We’re assassins we deal with shady stuff!” Right… are these people from the what was it called? Lazy Sun?
“Loud sun! And no, I got these from some people I beat up some time ago, they wanted to show their goodwill by giving me a high-paying mission, isn't that great?!” I couldn't decide if she is just naïve or stupid. I’m leaning toward naïve. I made an illusion of the document Io needed to steal. Here, go bring that to them. As you've said before, I’m shy so I will be hiding but I will be nearby.
“Ooh, ok! Don't sneak off in the meantime!” We went to the shady forest to complete Io’s mission. She got distracted a lot in the beginning and we spent 3 days helping out some farmers. After that, she realized the urgency and grabbed me and ran at full speed to still make it on time to the shady forest.
Day 452 and we arrived at the shady forest. She was supposed to meet them in the morning but it was already noon. She went ahead and I followed in stealth. I added some illusion layers on top because I didn’t know how good these assassins were.
“I’m a bit late but I got it!” She ran at a group of 4 cloaked men who were sitting on a big boulder. Each of them was sitting in some edgy pose.
“It took you long enough!" The guys seemed to be quite pissed off. I was glad that I came with her. Besides these 4 guys about 30 more guys are hiding around in stealth. “I can’t believe you actually managed to grab this, we were convinced that you would get caught but I’m glad you managed, you’re not a lost cause after all!”
“Hehe, I had some help!” Ugh, Io you idiot you're not supposed to say that!
“Yeah sure, now we have a very suitable payment for you.” The 4 edgy guys jumped off the boulder and approached her. “You see, we always wanted to settle the score with you but to be honest you’re freakishly strong.”
“Oh, jealous of my skill and charm?” Io made another dumb pose and it seemed to piss these guys off.
“No, we just can't stand you, your personality, your lack of skill, and your race! Go back to your lair and sit on some gold you stole from burning a palace or something!” Edgy Assassin #1 said while pointing his dagger at Io.
“How rude! We dragons don't do that anymore!” Io said while also trying to point her dagger but she clumsily dropped it. I facepalmed.
“Doesn't matter we humans have suffered enough under your race now it's time for revenge!” All the people that were hidden got out. There were some half-breeds between them too. Bunch of hypocrites…
“Maybe this will remove the humiliation of being beaten up by a girl, guys get her!” Said Edgy Assassin #2.
So, what is it? Are they upset because she's a dragon or because they got your ass kicked by her? Io started punching, grabbing, and slamming the people coming at her. She didn't even fight like an assassin… not that I do either. I snuck around and assassinated the guys that were the furthest out, pulled them into my dimensional pocket, and incinerated their bodies.
“Hey, Harold, something is off, I’m sure we had more people than this.” Edgy Assasin #3 reported.
“Hey bitch! You didn't come alone, did you?” Edgy Harold #1... I mean Harold said while flinging daggers at Io.
Io kept punching and slamming the people going at her.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!” Harold said while flinging more daggers at Io. Io was a dragon so the daggers bounced off the red dragon scales that had appeared on Io's body.
Io pointed at herself. “Oh, I thought you were talking to Bitch, I didn't know you were talking to me.”
I held my dagger at Harold's throat before he could say something back. Good afternoon, sir, I would recommend that you call your lackeys off.
“Who the fuck are you?” And off flew his head.
“Harold! Who are you?!” Edgy Assasin #4 yelled.
“Ohh, it's that nice smell again, I knew it was you!” Io, focus, please…
The 3 edgy dudes ran at me but they fell because their feet got cut off by the wires, I had placed prior.
Right, I would recommend you all to refrain from moving unless you want to end up like any of these idiots here. I took the liberty of assassinating your buddies and planting thin wires everywhere. This will happen if you do move. I tapped on a wire near me. It vibrated and it set some other wires off that constricted around a random lackey and cut him into pieces.
“Ooh! So cool!” Io wanted to run over. Io... please... Stop, this also means this can happen to you…
“Who sent you!? Did Ben send you?” Edgy Assassin #2 said as he was litching his dismembered foot. Yes.
“Really? Why didn't you tell me? I thought Sylvana sent you!” Io... please be quiet…
“So, you were bluffing! Ha nice try! We’re not afraid of you, we…” I tapped another wire and Edgy Assasin #3's head flew off. Right, anyone else has useless comments?
They all shook their heads which was stupid because it made the wires around their necks constrict more and this sent all their heads rolling. Ugh, idiots, I told them to not move… The wires became visible because of all the blood.
Great, how do I clean all this mess?
“That was so cool!” Io ran toward me snapping all the wires. 2 wires refused to snap and pulled me toward a tree. I guess this works too as an evade. I melted the wires so I got loose and didn't go splat on the tree. “Come on not even a friendly hug?” Please no, you will crush me like I’m a bug, I’d like myself uncrushed.
“I will be gentle!” I’ll pass.
“Aww, maybe another time, how are we going to clean up this mess? This is hard to hide…” Just burn it.
“But they will find out by mana tracing!” Then just don't use mana.
I pulled all the bodies together with my wires. Shifted my stance and collected the dirt that had blood on it with [Water Dragon Dance], created a pile, surrounded it with the dragons and turn it into ice, then torched the pile with a weak [Phoenix Dance] and created a mountain of ash. Some [Wind Dragon Dance] to spread all the ashes and it almost looked like nothing happened here.
“Wait are you a dragon too?! How did you learn that?!” No, I’m not a dragon…
“True, dragons don't smell this nice, what cologne is it, wait this doesn't smell artificial, is it natural? And how come you can turn it off?” Io was being a typical dragon and being clueless. I guess I can't blame her because I didn't know about this either but I don't think I should tell her. I can't tell you what this smell is but please don't tell anyone else, also if you find someone who smells like me, please keep it to yourself.
“Can I tell you if I do? You can become smell buddies!” Eh? I don't think we will hang out enough for that to happen.
“Why not!” Let’s just get out of this shady forest first.
“Let's go to the Loud Sun! the guys will like you!” Hey, wait let's just talk over this! She picked me up and started running again. She kept talking and talking and talking and I just fell asleep. She was still running and talking when I woke up. I was wondering how long she would keep running and talking and I decided that I didn't want to deal with her talking so I decided to sleep till she reached her destination.