*Tawoo*

“Fuck!” I spat the word.

Smoke danced out the barrel of the rifle. Down below, one of the few goblins I’d spotted in the last hour, danced away in terror. 5.556 round had gone down range high and to the left. It impacted the truck of the tree next to the monster. Of 60 shots fired, only two goblins had been killed and six wounded in minor ways. Arm. Foot. Shoulder. One goblin was one ear shot now as well. Only one headshot had been achieved and the other kill had been an off-center hit to the lung area.

I figured my ability to see long distances with my Kiroshi Cyberoptics would give me an edge in the sniper department. It did not. It did, however, allow me to see every way I messed up.

And while I was trained for a time on firearms, it was only within the 10 to 50-meter ranges. Once the introductory courses had been completed to my father’s satisfaction, I hadn’t seen it fit to continue with it. If I had then I wouldn’t suck at this.

I gave up.

I turned the rifle diagonally before I popped the last magazine full magazine in. I threw the two empty mags into my inventory. I left the rifle there and got up. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration and smelt gunpowder on my hand. It was an interesting scent.

Yang took up the rifle and we both headed back down the ridge. We began walking back to the outpost but got picked up by a returning wagon. The coach was nice enough to let me sit with him. Yang, being a heavy infantry drone, had to walk at a brisk pace beside us.

The coach was a pleasant elderly fellow who tried his darndest to set me up with his grandson. His grandson is a recruit in the Duchy’s defense force. It turned out that his grandson was actually at the outpost, much to his delight. He droned on and on about his own personal feats. He then said he hoped his grandson could reach the rank of officer. To do such would no longer make them one of the ‘small people’. I figured he meant a peasant.

I found it quite delightful. The trip back had felt shorter and much more refreshing than with the Snow Badgers. Speaking of that team, if I remembered correctly, they would be there till morning. I might be the only adventurer here at the outpost now.

The dining hall was scarce of people, with the few who were there sporadically spread out. I took the table closest to the cooking line after I got a bowl of stew. It was smoky and loud, but it felt less lonely. There was a small benefit that the heat radiated towards me; warming my chilled face and hands. Another little happy surprise - meat. I lifted my spoon to inspect the small chunk of meat.

I hid it well, but I actually loved meat. Real meat, not the synthetic meat back home. You could get real meat, but it was costly and not worth the price. Since grain production was difficult due to the need to purify every gallon used, few companies raised livestock. I always wondered why we didn’t purify more water to raise production…

I may have been raised as an elite, but I knew little of how our world came to be… Which I began to regret. The lands here were lush. Life spilled out from every nook and cranny. Unlike the wastelands back home.

My thoughts were interrupted as the thunder of hooves reached my ears. At the southern entrance to the camp, tens of riders appeared. They all wore the duchy’s uniforms. I turned away and went back to my bowl as the commander greeted them. I had Yang keep an eye on them as he stood at the foot of the table. And… They started to walk towards me as the commander pointed me out.

As they entered the dinning, I recognized Hembree as he stood behind the leader of the group.

“Are you Mercy Xu?” The leader asked. He was dressed far more nicely than everyone else.

“I didn’t expect to see you so soon, Hembree.” I ignored the leader. “What brings you and these people here?”

The leader looked over his shoulder at Hembree, then back down at me. Hembree nodded at me as I shot him a glance out of the corner of my eye. “Duke Reverie arrived back at the castle a few hours after you left. Word of the Dungeon break had reached the King’s ears. He was sent back to deal with it.”

“Yes, as the Baron says. While my wife refused to speak about the meeting with you, Baron says you were an integral part to pushing back the horde.” The Duke said. “Is that true?

I took another sip of the stew, savoring the natural flavors. I wish I could have more, but any more than one would cost. “We shouldn’t believe hearsay.”

“If the Baron says you did, then it is the truth.” The Duke said, his expression darkening in the already dim light. “The Baron is one of the few people I would take their word at face value.”

I put the spoon down and glared at the man. “Then why did you ask? To confirm? I also believe Hembree’s words when he tells me something. He hasn’t lied to me as far as I am aware.”

The Duke took a step back, and Hembree whispered something into his ear. Afterward, he stepped forward. “Lady Mercy, your eyes are doing the thing…”

“What thing?” I asked.

“Glowing.” He pointed to his eye and did a circle.

“Yeah, that’s how cyber optics work,” I said before I turned back to my bowl. “When I use a function, they glow. Like how I’m looking at everyone through Yang’s optics. Its harmless, though I don’t see why they’re a concern now.”

“Oh, they’re not!” Hembree said. “I’ve never thought they meant something bad, and they’re also kinda pretty.”

I turned enough so they couldn’t see the smile that comment brought. Hembree was surprisingly good at compliments.

He continued. “And the Duke hasn’t met you before, so It’d catch him off guard like everyone else. How about we all sit down and have an amicable conversation?”

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“I was already sitting. You’re the guys interrupting my meal.” I said. “It’s meat, but I don’t know what kind. Whatever it is, I love it.”

One of the cooks who’d been watching piped in. “It’s Stone Buffalo. One of the hunters caught it earlier.”

The Duke continued to stare.

I turned an glared at him “I hope you’re aware it’s rude to stare at a lady eating.”

“Is that thing –” He pointed to yang. “How you know?”

“Yes.” I said before glaring at the pissed-off men behind him. “And it’s also the thing that held off four orcs and a horde of goblins. So, if the men behind you want to start something, I suggest you don’t. Yang’s a lot more deadly when its objective is to kill, rather than hold ground.”

The Duke looked to Hembree. Hembree nodded. “Yang is comparable to an A-ranked Adventurer strength-wise... But with no need to preserve itself and it can take quite the beating.”

Duke Reverie’s curiosity seemed to have peeked as he gave Yang an appreciative glance. He then took a seat opposite of me. Some of his guards tried to stand behind me, but I moved yang to prevent that. Hembree guided them to just sit and eat with “If Yang struck. No one here could stop it.” He then sat next to me. I had Yang move to allow it.

“I have business with you, Adventurer Xu.” The Duke started after everyone settled.

I shrugged. “And I don’t have business with you.”

Duke Reverie stared. “Mind you manners, I am a Duke of the Kingdom. You will do as I command and—”

I slammed my hand into the table right next to his hands. My claws dug into the table and I glared at the man. Everyone around us stood up and began to draw their swords. Besides Hembree. He placed one hand on my right arm slowly.

He spoke softly. “Lady Mercy, please just hear the Duke out… For me…”

No one moved. Not even me. I was just as surprised by my outburst just as they were. Scared even… Rage danced in my heart towards the Duke - no, the rage had been there it seems. He’d just rattled the box I’d been suppressing it with, with everything else since I’ve gotten here…

It took a few seconds but I dragged my hand back. Five carved-out lines were left on the table. Almost as deep as the table was. The Duke adam’s apple jumped as he swallowed. With my hand retracted, everyone else slowly settled back down. I spoke only once I managed to wrangle whatever was wrong with me back down.

“Let’s get something straight,” I said and set the bowl in front of me aside. I lost my appetite. “If you want to be an ass about this, I’ll just leave. I only came this way to test something. Not to get talked down to. Like I’d told your wife, I’m not your subject and I owe you nothing. In fact, the about of marks against this Duchy seems to tally higher and higher.”

“Marks?” He asked softly.

“I’m a petty person,” I said. “The first one was the dungeon break and how I nearly died. I did that on behalf of the deity I served. The next one was your Wife who tried to bully me out of my cores from that monster horde. And now you, who’s being an asshole despite me having done anything wrong - yet.”

“You met with my wife?” He asked, his eyes going wide.

“Yeah, the morning after the incident,” I said. “She left a sour taste in my mouth, so if you want anything from me - you’re going to want to start making a good impression. ”

Silence fell over the table.

“I understand,” The Duke said. “I apologize on behalf of my wife.”

I waved it off. “I don’t accept. The only one who should apologize for her, is herself.”

Hembree interjected. “In the few days I’ve known Mercy, she… has a strange moral code. One that includes that you should apologize for mistakes yourself. I’ve already tried apologizing for the Duchess. I too have gotten this same answer.”

“I see, then I’ll have her apologize once we get back to the castle.” He said.

“How about you don’t.” I shut it down. “If she’s not sorry, then I don’t need to hear about it. I hate insincerity and lies more than I hate assholes.”

“... Fair enough.” He said and the conversation stalled there.

I sighed after a minute. “So what did you guys want? You came with a pretty big party. If I didn’t know, I’d think you’re here to hunt me since you came directly to me.”

“Of course not!” Hembree said. “The Duke wanted to hire you to help clean up the dungeon break on my recommendation.”

“You know, this conversation could’ve gone a lot smoother and faster if you’d just left a request at the guild.” I laughed.

The Duke sighed. “The Guild said you’d headed this way. We needed to come this way to begin preparations for the assault on the valley. We’ve put out raid requests throughout the duchy, as well as recalled almost all the troops in the duchy. The goblins, though born in the dungeon, are one of the few monsters that can repopulate like rats once in the wild. Whatever numbers you thinned could easily be tripled in a month if they have enough females.”

Hembree added on. “Orcs are slower to reproduce but within a year's time could double their numbers. This is why we view this dungeon break as particularly dangerous. Not that goblins are strong or orcs all on their own. But that its their numbers and reproductive. Not to mention their ability to learn.”

“Not interested.” I waved my hand. I was already going to subjugate this particular dungeon. But not at the Duke’s request. Because fuck’em - that’s why.

“Please reconsider, Lady Mercy,” Hembree said.

His master looked like he had something to say. I spoke before he could though. “I’m going to subjugate the dungeon - whatever that means.”

They all now looked confused, so I expanded on it. “I already took a request from A - the deity that asked me to escort you guys. She wants me to deal with this dungeon since I’m in the area. So, if you guys want to give me coins for doing something I’m already going to do, do it. But I’m not going to do it at the request of the Duchy. You still haven’t made any good impressions on me.”

Hembree nodded. “When do you plan to do this?”

“Tomorrow,” I said.

“How long do you expect it to take?” He asked.

“Unno - I’ve never done it before. I’m just gonna collect as many cores on the way there. With any luck, I’ll get a nice balance up to stock on some tools before delving in. A thinks it might be a double dungeon.”

All hell broke loose when I said double-dungeon.

I didn’t bother to explain and said I was going to bed. They were unhappy with that, but with Yang staring them down, none of them wanted to push the issue any more than that. They wanted to give the tent I stayed at to Hembree, but Hembree said we could share it and had the men bring an extra cot. With Yang separating us and watching, I accepted.

I wasn’t going to strong-arm the tent away from anyone. Certainly not Hembree.

The next morning came, and I left on a northbound supply wagon. The Duke wanted to get with me to explain the plan they had devised. I told them that was their own side, and left. Yet, they were quick to follow, with the wagon I hitched a ride with at the front of a column.

The Duke, Hembree, and a man named Henry Byron. Viscount of the Duchy. Apparently, he was in charge of charging out the law or something. I didn’t ask and he didn’t expand on it. It was clear he didn’t like me, however. Which was mutual.

We arrived at the blockade by midday.

The blockade had been a hastily established wall of logs on the edge of the blasted area. It apparently made it hard for the monsters to charge. Small camps had been established on the southeast side. Everyone had come out to see two hundred or so people filtered into the area under the Duke’s banner.

The Snow Badgers were the first to approach us.

“Mercy!” Renel called out. “What’s going on?”

“Hey, Renel. Nice to see you.” I smiled. “I’m gonna raid the dungeon. The others are here for the same, but I’m… gonna be independent. So, both I and the Duke’s forces will be cooperating.”

“Raiding the dungeon already? Wait - what do you mean cooperating…?” Renel asked.

Hembree stepped up. “The Duke… Did not manage to secure Lady Mercy’s help directly in this manner. Her God had already asked her to attack the dungeon, and she refused to accept our request. Due to already being requested that is.”

Renel didn’t look like she was processing Hembree’s words well. She kept trying to say something, but nothing would come out. So I patted her shoulder with “Good talk. Talk to you later.” before I headed to the gate. The Duke was already there. He was in the middle of explaining the plan to his officers when I approached.

“Lady Mercy,” He gave a nod.

“Person.” I nodded back.

He looked like he wanted to refute my greeting, but he stopped when he saw my smile. He just sighed and looked at his officers. “This is Lady Mercy. She will be acting independently on the orders of her god. She is an Apostle. We were not granted reinforcements, only that we both came on our own. Do not give her orders and she will not get in our way.”

“But Yang might,” I pointed to Yang as he had the AR at the ready. “So be careful with what you do. I’m not gonna stop him from curb-stomping you if you attack him.

“Yes,” The Duke nodded before turning to me. “Will you attack with us in an hour, or will you follow behind?”

I titled my head. “I was going to go in right now.”