Chapter 24

“I can’t believe it!” Ava said, catching up with Leon. In her hand was a simple straight wooden staff with a clam-sized pearl embedded at the top, reaching from Ava’s knee to her shoulder.

“I can barely believe it myself,” Leon said, scratching the back of his neck. His heart still thumped uncomfortably loud.

“How much did you spend? Not all of it, right?” She clutched the staff as tight to her chest as she’d done with Leon when he’d handed it to her, and her eyes shone.

“No, of 527, I have 28 coins left.”

Ava squealed. “Oh, it was so nice to see that rat bastard sweat. I honestly thought he’d kick us out or something.”

“Maybe he would have, but considering his beginning prices, what he gave for your staff, and what I paid for my dagger before, he couldn’t deny that he had fooled us both before. Big time.”

Ava skipped past him. “Do you think you’ll get a skill?”

“For haggling? No. Unless others are doing the same to their wares. I really hope not, because my brain feels fried.” He shook his head. “Too bad the holding items didn’t change in price.”

“Doesn’t matter; I got my staff back, and you seemed to enjoy putting him in his place!” She threw him a smile and skipped down the road.

Ava continued ahead while Leon opened up the inventory. Except for the staff, he had bought the long sword and the short sword, and two camps. Even though he would have liked to save more coins in his balance, he wasn’t sure if the shopkeeper would save the low prices for next time, or if he’d have to haggle again. But he’d still paid 159 coins for a staff the shopkeeper had bought for 50, which stung a bit, since the rat-faced man still made quite a decent profit from it. Leon doubted the man even paid rent, which was something he himself had to do.

The camp gave the people inside a safe night where they could rest, but it was only usable once. Still, it would probably be worth it. He looked at the swords. The short sword would give him +4 in strength, and the long sword would give +6. It would be interesting to see how that played out in battle, now that he’d increased his strength as well.

Leon thought about the behemoth wolf. He never wanted to see one like it again, but he also needed money for his room, and for the drink he’d promised to buy for the man in the hood, whatever price the woman took for a bottle. He also wanted a health potion or five, and maybe the wooden sword, in case the swords he bought broke. There were five days until the market, and maybe a week in total before they’d enter the tower. Leon blew out a breath through pursed lips. His fingers twitched by his side.

“I’m going to hunt,” Leon said, stopping.

Ava paused, hanging with an arm around The Drowned Goblin’s doorpost. “Weren’t you going to take a break?”

Leon scratched his neck. “I guess I just need to clear my head a little. You’re starting your shift soon, aren’t you?”

Ava nodded. “Well… alright, then.”

Leon turned to make his way through the south gate. It was a good thing Ava didn’t think about stuff like lodgings and food, because he could just imagine how she would react—she’d probably return the staff, even though she’d earned it.

*******

Leon took down the fifth wolf as the sky began to darken. He pocketed the items and coins, then put the sword in his inventory.

He had been hit more than a few times and his health had gone down to double digits, since it was decisively harder to swing the long sword than the short sword or dagger, but at least the strength had made his work easier. Leon looked at his fatigue. It was only at 34%, but that was still a lot for so few wolves and stronger strikes, even if the wolves had been a little below his own level. Maybe it took more per strike because the weapon was heavier?

He looked at his account balance. From the wolves, he’d earned about 59 coins, totaling 87, which would be enough for five nights and two meals a day at Margaret’s inn, but only leave him with 17 coins for anything else. He scratched his head. No matter what he did, it didn’t seem like he’d ever be able to create some sort of savings for when he’d really need it.

In order to buy health potions, he’d need to spend more time in the woods tomorrow, too. As long as he kept Pura within a safe distance, it would be okay. There, he could run and hide, if he so wished.

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Leon looked at the saplings that had sprung up from the trees. Even though they gave little else than the worthless skills, they had helped him gain a bit more steadiness with his sword. Not completely wasted. Or at least, that was what he wanted to believe. Steadiness from trees, and skill from fighting wolves.

He wondered how much these kills gave him, now that he didn’t share the experience with a party anymore. Leon opened up his status page and blinked at the change.

The higher the level, the more experience and coins they gave. The five wolves had made his percentage toward level 7 rise by eight percent. If he wasn’t careful, he might be in the same situation as Hert soon. For Leon, it didn’t matter; he would venture into the tower soon, anyway. He just had to be careful, so he didn’t overstep the level before he got inside. For Hert, though… Hert was right. The recent experience boost had essentially bound him to the city.

Something fluttered by his ear, and a silver butterfly landed on his shoulder.

Leon’s heart took a leap, and he stared at it with wide eyes. Then he sprinted toward the road leading to Pura, as fast as his legs would carry him. If Ai came with another one of those monsters now, he was done for. Either by leveling up, or by the beast killing him.

As he approached the arch into the city, he looked over his shoulder. A comet of silver butterflies stormed toward him, and he picked up the speed, keeping it until he reached the arch leading out from the Slums, not daring to pause. The guards chuckled as he ran past them, and Leon slowed. He spun around. The swarm had gone. He stopped and leaned his hands on his knees, breathing hard.

“How’s your run today?” one guard asked. “Heard you actually went and did it.”

“Did what?” Leon gasped, still staring down the road. The only thing there was a group of Scabs.

“Got a point. Now there’s a list in the guard’s house, a sign-up for running exercises each day.” The guard tapped his helmet. “Smart thing you didn’t give up. If you want to join, they’re going at six in the morning, starting tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

The guard shrugged. “Just in case you want company.”

“Thanks.” Leon furrowed his brow and raised a hand in goodbye before he turned around and jogged to the inn.

He just couldn’t rid himself of the feeling of being watched from above, even though he saw nothing there. He pulled the door open and stood with his back pressed against the wall, listening for pursuers.

“Leon! Are you okay?” Margaret trotted up to him. She’d bound a handkerchief around her short blond locks. “You look like you’ve had a fright.”

“I’m…” he swallowed. “I’m fine.”

Margaret stood still, watching him. At last, she put her hands on her hips. “Well, have it your way, then. But if you bring Ava into trouble…”

“I know. It’s not that.” Leon took a deep breath. Silly to worry now. He was safe at the inn. “Has Ava told you that we’re heading into the first level?”

Margaret nodded, and her brows knitted together. “I really wish she wouldn’t. She’s not strong enough. She’ll break.”

“I’ve promised to protect her,” Leon said and plastered on a smile.

“That’s not what I’m worried about.” She shook her head. “I need to get back to work.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

Margaret disappeared into the kitchen. Why couldn’t people just talk about the first floor? It made no sense. Why the secrecy? Leon sighed and continued toward the stairs. He’d sell the five wolf fangs tomorrow, and from those, he’d get fifteen coins. It would have to be enough for the drink he’d promised to buy, even though he wouldn’t be able to buy health potions. One of those, with the reduced prices, was 29 coins. He could buy some if he slew more wolves, but now Ai had an eye on him. Would it be worth the risk?

He used the sink to wash himself off and continued to his room. When he opened the door, he froze. Ai, in her white dress, sat in the window frame with crossed legs, staring at Troublemaker, who’d hid beside the storage chest.

“You really shouldn’t run from those who want to give you gifts, you know.” Ai said as Leon approached.

He’d considered leaving for a split second, but he couldn’t leave Troublemaker with her. “When they come bearing gifts that could kill you, I’d rather not have them.”

She inspected her nails. “So you don’t want to know more about the first floor? That’s a shame. It’s information you’ve wanted for a long time.”

Leon bit his cheek and stalked forward to pick up Troublemaker. The small being trembled as in his arms.

“Nice rabbit, by the way. There’s a pot in the office for what will happen when it grows up. I bet on stew. It’s very nutritious, you know.”

“I’m not making Troublemaker into stew. I planned on releasing it into the wild once it’s grown up.”

“Oh, what a noble soul you are.”

“So, I suppose you don’t know what the corrupted status will do to it?”

“Told you, I’m low-tier. Not even qualified as middle management, in some regards. Besides, what fun would betting be if you knew what was going to happen?” She tapped her cheek. “It’s rare that something new happens here. But not only did you discover the Kavanask dungeon, which has never happened so early in someone’s progress; you managed to corrupt a rabbit, and then you even got old gatekeeper Prelock to come out. He’s been locked inside that dungeon since it was created.”

“Wasn’t Prelock the dungeon keeper?”

“Wishful thinking on his part.” Ai sighed. “I approached you in the forest to give you a gift of information. The gift I promised for defeating my darling wolf. Do you want it, or are you going to keep blabbing?”

Leon held back a snort. “Are there any consequences of getting the information?”

“Depends on what you deduct from it.” Ai tapped with her heels on the wall. “So, do you want it?”

Leon gave a curt nod.

Ai clapped her hands and grinned. “Wonderful. My gift to you is this; the first floor is easier the earlier you head inside.”

“What does that mean?” Leon asked with a sinking heart. If she told the truth, time played into the matter. He’d been here for more than a month, Ava over a year, and Hert, if he decided to come, two years.

“Just what I said.” She tapped her head with a finger. “Just to keep you on your toes.”

She sat in a crouch and turned toward the window as if she was about to jump out. “And make stew of the little critter, okay? I’d really love to get the winnings, and the office is just full of discussions and different expectations. Make it easy.” Then she jumped out. A second later, a swarm of butterflies stormed over the sky, toward the tutorial forest.