A day and fifteen inches of snow later, we are equipping ourselves to leave Camp B. As for the camp itself, everyone is incredibly tense, but as long as the food holds out, I don’t expect things to spiral too far out of control. Of course, things seem to often not go how I expect, so I’m not going to be shocked by whatever we find when we come back.
As of right now, Eden and I are in Granny’s, aka Hillary’s, tent talking while she and the ‘gals’ are out getting breakfast. I decided not to tell her I was leaving to avoid questions, so to her, it will seem like I just disappeared for a while, which is fine.
“Eira, we're going to leave to meet Kardama soon, right?” Eden asks.
“Kardama? Oh, the Shadow Demon. Of course we are. He’s going to be joining us… After I smack the crud out of him.” I smile.
Eden looks at me, confused, “Smack him? Why are you going to do that?”
“Why? Because he went overboard during the tutorial fight you told me about.” I reply.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Giving Eden a sympathetic look, “He could have killed you in less than a minute with a single punch to the neck. Instead, he punched you in the gut dozens of times to make sure he could continue to practice on you. In my opinion, if you are going to kill someone, just do it, no need to be all rude about it.” I laugh, “But from what you told me, you at least got him there at the end, perhaps I should take note.”
Eden seems to be processing what I just told her, “He did what now?”
“Yeah, I mean, you had a stick, and his style is definitely one meant to get a swift fatal hit. He clearly just took the opportunity to practice on you… your talent probably surprised him, but still.”
Eden looks lost in thought for a moment, before seemingly remembering something, “By the way, how did your tutorial match go?”
“Mine? Uh. It got a bit fiery; still, I took them out with both hands tied behind my back!” A bit of cold sweat builds on the back on my neck, “**Cough** B-But let’s not talk about that anymore. Uh, did anyone ever find Audrey and the Staff Captain?”
Eden sighs, “You know he has a name, right? Like his name isn’t Staff Captain.”
“Don’t care! He’s Staff Captain to me forever now.”
“You already know his name, don’t you?” Eden asks with some exhaustion.
“I saw it once but forgot it. Which means it wasn’t important enough to retain, so he’s Staff Captain.”
“...But yeah.” Eden points toward the door of the tent as Audrey and the Staff Captain enter with Aponi following behind.
I grin innocently, “Ah, good that you two showed back up. I considered activating the collars a couple of times.”
“...O-Of course, we tried to go back to the morgue, but couldn’t!” Audrey shouts.
I wave my hand, “It doesn’t really matter. I was mostly joking.”
“Mostly?” The Staff Captain whispers.
“Anyhow, see this smelly old man.” I point at Senator Jacobs.
“Uh...What about him? I-Is he okay, by the way?” Audrey asks while staring at the Senator who is laying in a sleeping bag with a disheveled beard and a drooling mouth.
I think for a moment, “His name is Frank Jacobs, he has dementia and thinks he is a Senator or something. Anyway, he’s just an ordinary man and has some information I’d like to acquire. Your job is to take care of him. He’s pretty unwell and has been unconscious for over a day now, so yeah, someone needs to watch him.”
“What?! How am I supposed to take care of someone like that? It sounds like he needs an actual doctor.” Audrey yells before showing some regret, “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell.”
The Staff Captain looks at Audrey, “D-Don’t worry; I’ll help you.”
“That’s nice of you, but you aren’t a doctor either,” Audrey replies.
“If he gets any worse, you can take him to a surgeon friend of Eden’s in the hospital. But if he dies, he dies.” I shrug.
‘After all, he tried to shoot me with dozens of those darts, so if he can’t handle one half-empty dart well… that’s his fault.’ I think to myself.
“B-But.” Audrey stutters.
Thinking about the blue stuff in the dart for a bit longer a thought crosses my mind, “Also, it might not be a bad idea to tie him up if it seems like he is about to wake up.”
Audrey becomes visibly more distressed and shows genuine concern, “Tie him up? I thought he just had dementia!? Is he really okay?”
“It’ll be fine if anything happens I’ll take care of it when I get back. Oh and, by the way, don’t think I didn’t notice.” I look at Audrey knowingly.
‘
Name: Audrey Hennington
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Level: 1
Health: 70/70
Mana: 30/30
Strength: 5
Endurance: 6
Agility: 7
Intellect: 3
Constitution: 7
Talents: -
Skills: Intermediate Cooking (General); Intermediate Baking
Titles: Penitent (Moderate)
‘Cooking and baking? Wasn’t this girl supposed to be working security or something? Plus, what’s this penitent title
{Title Name: Penitent
Details: The one who holds this title holds guilt for a past event that affects them to his day. The holder has a greater tendency toward Stockholm syndrome and higher resistance to Mind Magics.}
‘This girl is sad. Even I feel bad for her.’
“You know!?” Audrey asks.
While nodding, “Yep. You got into the Beta.”
“Oh.” Audrey exhales, “That.”
I raise an eyebrow, “Yeah, is there something else?”
“N-No! Of course, there isn’t!” Audrey says.
“Whatever, just watch this old man. We’re leaving.” I wave to Eden, leaving Audrey behind.
Walking through the snowstorm Eden and I go around to the tents to gather the vampires. I could use the rings, but I thought it was a good idea to walk around the camp to see the goings-on and also see the “believers” each of them are staying with. I spoke to three of them, and along with Granny found they all seem to be in some kind of insecure or vulnerable point in their life. Like Granny seems to be wrestling with her own mortality while one of the other early believers has a sick daughter and is desperately looking for comfort. Then the last two are just plain scared of the Crawlers and are always afraid. As for the one Terry was staying with, I didn’t have time to visit him.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
After having gathered Aponi, Sam, and Jimmy, I tell them the plan, “Alright, everyone. We’re going to be out there for a week or two training and trying to figure out what’s going on with the Crawlers. We should probably be good on food, but anything else you may need, make certain you’re carrying it with you.”
They all nod without much surprise, ‘I guess they already sorta had an idea we were leaving since I had them gather supplies yesterday.’
The three spend around half an hour looking through their things before they all seem satisfied.
“Well, let’s go. We have to pick up one more participant in a building nearby.”
“Who are we picking up? Is it a woman?” Sam asks.
I look at Sam, “No, idiot, but if you want, I can introduce you to a lady named Hillary when we get back. Anyway, you’ll see when we get there; put your masks and hoods on and let’s go.”
Everyone looks at me, confused except Sam, who is nodding with a big grin and Eden, who is already in the loop. So after that, we walk to the back of the camp. Using my nails, I cut through some fence, toss a few boards and debris out of the way, and then we’re through. Loosely repairing our damage, we continue onward.
“So Eden, why exactly did you pick this place to meet up?”
“I didn’t pick it, he did.”
I sigh, “...He isn’t stupid or hardheaded, is he?”
“Hmm, I don’t know about stupid just immature.”
“Ah, well, whatever it doesn’t matter, I guess.”
Entering a shopping center, we walk past a few damaged and undamaged stores and restaurants. The damaged buildings have become filled with piles of snow as the building shields the snow from the light of the sun. From within some, we can hear glass breaking and things being tossed around.
I pick up a rock from the ground and play with it anxiously, ‘Hmm, Crawlers, people, animals, or something else? Guess we’ll find out later.’
Not long later, we arrive at the area Eden and Kardama agreed to meet, “Supersonic Trampoline Park”. A few windows have been shattered, and the glass removed to allow easy access. Approaching the windows from inside, we can hear someone laughing joyfully.
I shake my head, “He’s an idiot, I knew it.”
Entering the trampoline park, the first thing we find is the front desk that seems to have been left exactly as it was.
Sam stops and looks at one of the signs, “Hey, look. They have something called a 3D Lazer maze. Sounds pretty cool.”
“There isn’t any power, Sam. Besides, aren’t you curious about that guy who’s laughing?” Aponi replies.
“Yeah, I mean, I wasn’t saying we should do it… I was just pointing it out is all.” Sam responds.
The laughing stops abruptly, and someone yells, “Hey, is that you, Eden? **Cough** You’re early.”
Suddenly the sounds of footsteps can be heard as someone with a black hood enters the front lobby. Through the opening of the hood, two shining yellow irises around black, rectangular pupils and a pair of ash-colored, ram-like horns can be seen. He stands still as if evaluating the people in the room, while I take a moment to look him over as well.
‘
Name: Kardama Umbra
Gender: Male
Race: Shadow Demon
Level: 2
Health: 110/110
Mana: 60/60
Strength: 8
Endurance: 9
Agility: 10
Intellect: 6
Constitution: 11
Talents: -
Skills: Novice Shadow Magic; Intermediate Knife Arts
Titles: Brawler (Lesser)
‘Hmm,
{Title Name: Brawler (Lesser)
Details: The possessor of this Title is one who frequently gets into intense fistfights and altercations. Frequently the one who has this Title has a headstrong and impassioned personality with a spirit that is difficult to break. This Title gives a small chance of a critical fist based attack and small improvements in overall fist fighting.}
Kardama breaks the silence, “I thought it would only be two of you… Also, it’s a little weird that you are all wearing those masks from the nightclub, it kinda took me off guard. By the way, you guys didn’t hear anything when you got here, did you?”
“You mean like you laughing like a little girl? Yeah, we did. Besides, that though, no.” Eden responds.
“That wasn’t me! By the way, whatever you hit me with at the end of our fight was completely uncalled for!” Kardama shouts.
Eden twitches, “What! You’re the one who…”
I interrupt Eden, “No need to be embarrassed, Kardama, I’m sure we all remember our first time on a trampoline.”
“R-Really?” Kardama says reluctantly.
I laugh, “No.”
“You!” he says angrily.
“But no need to be so embarrassed. I’ve been trying to meet you for a while now, you never called.”
“How is that my fault? Giving me a human device and a number!? The thing stopped working by the time I came back to this dimension.”
I rub the back of my head, “It was probably just dead, but yeah. That was a bit of an oversight.”
“But I have questions for you!”
Kardama reaches behind him and pulls out a red powder.
“Tell me what this is? Why does it give me a weird feeling,” he demands.
“Hmm, bring it here, and I’ll tell you,” I say innocently.
Kardama takes a few steps forward, as I tighten my grip on the war scythe to make sure the edge is facing upward.
Kardama stops abruptly and stares at the scythe, “You aren’t mad about anything are you?”
“Oh, would you say it’s a painful gut feeling?” I laugh and shake my head, “No, what would I possibly be mad about? We haven’t even seen each other in quite some time.”
He stands there for a moment, before glancing at Eden who’s body language remains as neutral as ever. Finding Eden’s body language unchanged he continues forward. When Kardama gets close enough for the blade to reach, faster than he can react, I swing the flat end of the scythe against the side of his face.
**Smack!**
A loud slapping sound rings out as Kardama slides across the ground with a squeak from the sole of his boots rubbing against the floor. Tossing the rock I picked up earlier, into the air I hit it with the scythe, like a baseball, sending it spiraling toward his lap.
A small trickle of blood and a look of surprise comes from his busted lip as the rock slams into the area between his legs.
“Ah!” Kardama yelps.
“...” the room is silent for a while.
Kardama lies on the ground with a look of fear and pain.
Sam laughs and claps his hands together, “Goddamn!” he shouts.
“Eira, did you play much baseball when you were younger?” Jimmy asks.
Aponi on the other hand seems to be stifling a giggle, and Eden simply stares at me unmoving.
Kardama stumbles to his feet with a slight limp, “W-Why the fuck did you do that!?” he yells.
I tilt my head, “Hmm? Because I’m too short to hit you in the face normally.”
Angry, he puts on a set of push knives, “No, I mean, why!?”
“Oh, because I know you played around with Eden in the tutorial, so put your toys away. Also, aren’t Shadow Demons taught to kill their opponents as quickly as possible?” I respond.
“Are you talking about that old ass creed? The Shadow Demons haven’t followed that since the last Night Demon died hundred of years ago.”
“Is that so? Well, I prefer your old practices to whatever you’re doing now.” I respond. “Anyhow, that powder is residue leftover from blood magic.”
Kardama looks at me, doubtfully, “Blood magic? No, one uses that magic since the death of that Goddess?”
“The Goddess is still alive. She was just sleeping.” Eden says to Kardama.
I poke Eden’s arm.
“...Sorry,” she replies.
“That Goddess is alive? Wouldn’t that be big news? I-I don’t think she can be alive.”
“Perhaps, or perhaps not. Kardama, tell me, what’s your plans for the week or so?”
“Uh, none of your business?”
“It is my business because you’ll be joining us for a while.”
“Listen, I’m just here for answers. Not to go on some trip or whatever.”
I remove my mask and hood and look at him threateningly, “You’re coming with us.”
“...”
He stands there with an open mouth, “What?” I ask.
“I’ll come,” Karadama says with a look of resolution.
Confused, I stare at him, looking for him to continue.
He points at me and continues, “But you’ll have to consider dating me when you’re older.”
My eye twitches, “...How about I just cut off all your fingers and toes instead?”