[In case you are reading this elsewhere, there is an Author's Note above explaining the contract terms found in Chapter 50]
“Why did you have to go and antagonize her? You do realize we’ll be living together for the foreseeable future, right?” Exill spat as they walked towards the Labyrinth. He too was regretting the decision to invite Envy.
The way she insulted and altered his perceived image was in direct breach of the non-disparagement clause she had signed in her contract. Through his own experimentation, it had quickly become clear that there was a peculiar nuance to how the World Spirit enforced such a wide reaching clause.
For instance, he had been perfectly able to describe Envy as a ‘Malicious Demon’ in an offhand remark to Iris and other mercenaries back at the Guild. Perhaps she didn’t consider it an insult, or the people at the Guild already knew the fact. However, his throat quickly clammed up when he tried to call her ‘lazy’ in the presence of others.
Their contract was working, it just wasn’t working well, and it wasn’t clear what he could do to fix it aside from turning Envy into a mute – which he was seriously considering.
Meanwhile, she clung to his arm, enjoying his obvious discomfort.
“You know, I’ve had many Masters - but in some ways, you are the cruellest… you are playing with a grieving girl’s heart when you should leave it alone to heal. You know she likes you.”
Exill didn’t immediately respond, and felt the seductive truth in her words. It was as if he was battling within himself over what was right and wrong.
He didn’t want to admit that he liked Luna back. The reason he had left the clinic back then was because of the sense of alienation he had felt from her, combined with the cloying sense of paranoia that the World was out to get him. They still hadn’t addressed the elephant in the room, on why he was hated by the World despite being blessed. More than that, he was disturbed by the Diviner’s prophecy that he would only bring her pain. Yet here he was, moving back in with her.
‘I really am the worst,’ he thought belatedly.
“You feel you had a hand in killing her grandmother, don’t you? Your attempt to help is misguided at best and destructive at its worst.” Envy taunted him, twisting her words painfully into his heart, “It’s ironic how the nice, well-meaning men end up hurting women the most.”
They had reached the Inner Tower at this point and Exill was inspecting the straps of Envy’s armour. Distracted by the thoughts racing through his mind, he had to check them several times. Patting her back to indicate everything was okay, he tentatively asked, “What do you think I should do?”
Envy turned and looked him in the eye, trying to gauge his sincerity. A slow smile eventually spread on her lips, her amber eyes turning crimson with passion. “Since you are too much of a coward, leave it to your big sis. I’ll handle it.”
Exill felt his initial aversion melt away under her persuasion, “I swear if you get us kicked out, you will be responsible for the rent.”
“That’s exactly the kind of behaviour we need to show Luna. Nothing turns a woman off more than a stingy virgin.” She threw a demeaning smile at him then stepped into the inky black portal.
They entered the Labyrinth with Exill scouting in the lead. The two had been doing this for over a month at this point and their teamwork was fluid. Exill approached the end of the first tunnel and felt his boots squelch into mud.
‘Damn, I bet it’s mud flies again, what a way to start the morning,’ he grimaced.
Hearing no buzzing noises, he carefully looked around the corner and was greeted by a swamp cavern devoid of life. Exill stood there for minutes until he saw a small boulder shift. He slowly moved back into the passageway, back to Envy.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“They’re mud crabs. I can’t get their numbers, could be two, maybe eight.”
Envy nodded, she had encountered them six days ago while hunting solo and had quickly retreated after discovering there were four of them.
“We should lure them to the entry cavern, this passageway is too narrow for us to both fight and I don’t want to fight knee deep in mud,” he suggested.
“Mn, I’ll meet you in the entry cavern.”
Exill set off back towards the swamp area and after preparing himself, started throwing rocks at random boulders in the mud. Five shapes rose from the mud and clattered towards him with deceptive speed.
‘That’s a lot of mud crabs!’
Exill unstuck himself and waded up the narrow passageway until the ground turned firm, allowing him to sprint towards the entry cavern. Envy moved aside to let him pass and shield bashed the mud crab who quickly followed.
“Don’t crush their legs! You need to cut them!” Exill shouted as he grabbed his spear and joined her side.
“What?” Envy shouted in return over the din of the shrieking mud crabs. Exill didn’t reply as he was too busy thrusting into the carnage before him.
The first mud crab was still alive but all the legs on one side had been crushed when it skittered sideways into Envy’s shield. The second one had clambered over the first to find itself impaled by Exill’s spear.
A third crab tried to get the drop on them by climbing up the wall of the passageway. Envy slashed at the legs, causing it to drop and expose the soft underside which Exill promptly finished.
“Two left, 1v1”
The two stepped back in unison from the passageway to allow the remaining crabs to charge out. Envy chopped the legs off of her opponent then flipped it over with a kick before stabbing it in the underbelly.
Exill merely stood his ground, spear at the ready, and thrust into the mouth of the foaming crab. Hunting had become a lot easier since he achieved level 20 in both [Spearman] and [Ranger]. The two jobs had unlocked the skills [Weak Point] and [Steady Hands] respectively, allowing him to keep the spear poised at the enemy’s weak point and held steady – demonstrating a remarkable level of synergy.
Job Spearman Level 20 Description Melee Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff
+10% attack damage (scales with level).
Active Skill
[Weak Point] Spearman lvl 20: Your spear is naturally drawn to the weakest point of an enemy’s armour. Skill efficiency depends on caster’s Strength versus opponent’s Damage Resistance.
Job Ranger Level 20 Description Ranged Combat - Tier II
Passive Buff
+10% attack speed (scales with level).
Active Skill
[Steady Hands] Ranger lvl 20: Your aim remains true even if you are suffering from physical and mental debuffs.
Envy tried not to be impressed as she walked over to the first mud crab that was still alive. Exill had grown by leaps and bounds over the past month and his movements and attacks were a lot less wasteful.
“What were you saying earlier about the legs?” she asked.
“Forget it, I was saying the legs are worth more if they aren’t crushed into a meaty pulp.” He bitterly looked away from the one mud crab who had lost half its legs.
The two field dressed the fallen monsters, removing their meaty legs and deciding to carry only two of the five bodies. Their shell were large and heavy. For all that, their value was relatively small because the shells and innards were ground into fertiliser. Exill had heard their innards could be used to enrich the broth of any stew but wasn’t too keen to try it.
“Shall we return to the Guild and have another round?” Envy asked, as she lifted the heavy crab in her arms. Exill seemed distracted while he was studying his Card, which happened very often during their daily delves.
“Actually… I just remembered I need to go somewhere; you are free to do whatever you want for the rest of the day.”
Exill lifted his mud crab and winced as the mud on the shell smeared across the tunic. Even so, he was excited because he had heard the long awaited [Ping!] after killing the final crab.
[Planeswalker] lvl 20 had unlocked two new jobs.