Bilgar's PoV

Bilgar was finally catching up on his sleep with an afternoon nap when he heard a booming voice yell "Private! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

He could only chuckle. Looks like the LT was going to rip someone a new one. Since he was already up, he figured it would be as good of entertainment as any. It wasn't too many years ago that he had been on the other side of that sharp tongue.

Getting ready to see the show, Bilgar quickly got into uniform and headed outside. What was before him was a familiar sight. The man Lt. Tucker was grilling was obviously drunk. Bilgar would have found it funny only a couple days ago. If that man had seen what Bilgar had seen, he would not have so stupidly gotten drunk.

The bridge detachment only consisted of around a hundred men, and every pair of eyes counted. While attacks were rare, every now and then creatures would pour over the bridge from the cave system.

Many of the creatures could even hang on the underside, so even being in the middle was not totally safe. It used to be a common tactic that if the bridge was pressed too hard, the soldiers would retreat to the next outpost while word was sent for reinforcements. The land was not a forgiving place.

Oftentimes creatures of the wild would kill each other, only to be swiftly dealt with by some other predator lurking nearby. Once a long time ago Alextria had control of land well past the mountains, but eventually some monster started to inhabit the cave.

Many men died trying to retake the cave system, including the King of that era, but in the end the creature could not be ousted. Humanity has been cut in half ever since. Only every now and then did a strong or lucky person make it through the caves unharmed.

Since then the kingdom focused on its merchant fleet traveling far and wide. But still a token force remained so that a warning could be given in case the situation ever changed. But this time it was a little bit different. The danger was potentially coming from the other side of the bridge. The side of the bridge the trio was currently on.

Bilgar couldn't help it. Even with the word that a potential threat was about to come from the Alextria side of the bridge, he knew how soldiers operated. Many wouldn't take it seriously. The south side of the bridge was considered a safe zone by many.

Nervously he began to scan around to sate his paranoia. And then he saw it. His heart froze as he saw a massive man in black armor turn to walk on to the bridge. Barely a second after he saw the figure in the distance he yelled out the phrase "CODE RED."

The black figure continued to get closer but soon the yell was picked up by men further down the line. Bilgar knew he should run and take cover. But he was afraid. He was afraid and he hated the fact that he was afraid.

So what was his mind telling him? Go face the monster. It was a mindset that served him well when he was a bright eyed boy who was a little smaller than everyone else, but still wanted to be the best of the best. Through pain and sweat he became better and better. Unfortunately that same voice that pushed him to get better then was now pushing him to confront this man.

***

Jim's PoV

Just as Jim stepped on to the bridge a yell was chorused and men started making themselves scarce. Looks like word got out ahead of him. This appeared to be another point in the column for Team: Maybe I Misjudged These People. He was really hoping Team: Don't Worry, They Are All Bugged NPCs was going to win.

As he moved closer he almost wanted to fist pump in glee! There was a guy that was identical to one that had been in Alextria! If there was one there, and one here, that meant there were copies! Copies ment team Don't Worry, They Are All Bugged NPCs was about to score a point!

When he was only a couple yards away another man looked at him briefly, and then took off screaming. Ah, he remembered that guy too. Damn projectile vomiting bastard. If team Don't Worry, They Are All Bugged NPCs wins, Jim thought it was a great idea to make that one a couple feet shorter.

Jim looking at the man must have knocked him out of his alcohol induced trance, because the guy started running away screaming. Wow, a really high pitch scream too. During the scream the two little wolves started to howl. It was the cutest thing ever. He couldn't help but chuckle.

That's when the man tried to turn around for some reason, and then he lost his balance. Jim could have told him that running away while looking behind you was a really bad idea. When the man's face hit the bridge, Jim had a massive grin on his face. Ha! Karma in action! The man turned over to his back and started to let out a long groan. Looks like he was going to take a while to get up.

Turning his focus to the man that he saw once before he immediately asked, "What's your name?"

Uh oh. That facial expression was one that he could definitely read. It's the 'Are you retarded' face.

Kicking himself he realized he should have just used his sense spell. Jim discreetly used Sense Lv2.

Royal Guard Level 31 HP: 1250 / 1250 MP: 68 / 68 Strength: 71 Agility: 48 Stamina: 50 Magic: 27 Bonus Information: Views you as a dangerous monstrous lunatic.

Reading through the information he winced as he saw the title, Royal Guard: Level 31. Then he read the little blurb trying to gleen how the target feels towards him.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Views you as a dangerous monstrous lunatic."

Oh crap. Things were not looking good for Team: Don't Worry, They Are All Bugged NPCs. And a second later he confirmed it when the soldier irritably asked "Maybe you should stop asking people their names. You don't seem to remember them."

Damn. Panic! Uh what was his name. Biglittle? Dolittle? Buglar? Clearing his throat he said conversationally "Of course I remember you! You're Private Pullbar!"

The man laughed. Score! Must have been right. But a moment later the man said in negation "No. It's Bilgar. Sergeant Bilgar."

Well, he was close, kind of? Looks like Team : Maybe I Misjudged These People was going to take home the prize. He looked disappointedly at the soldier that had thrown up on him. If these people acted similarly to real people, then for the time being killing people indiscriminately was a bad idea. The vomiting bastard gets to live for now. But if he finds out these people are mindless automatons, that bastard was getting a sword up his arse.

Jim decided this was a good opportunity to collect some data. Reaching up, Jim took off his helmet. Then he put out a hand to shake and said "Hello, Biglar. My name is Jim."

***

Bilgar's PoV

Bilgar sighed. He should have been thankful the man hadn't squished him like a bug but seriously. He even took off his helmet to shake his hand. But Biglar? How many times did he have to tell him his name? Once again he said to Jim "My name is Bilgar. Not Biglar."

To his surprise the mountain of a man apologized. The man then continued "Would you mind telling me about yourself? How old are you? Where did you grow up? How did you join the guard?"

As the man continued to speak his fear of this unknown giant started to dissipate. He was a man and had a name, and even wanted to talk. He was still definitely crazy, but hell, a lot of people were. Taking a deep breath Bilgar told the man his story. Talking was a hell of a lot better than the mountain being an enemy.

He still remembered how ineffective his strikes were on this man named Jim. And he remembered how effective just one strike that came from this man could be. There was a world of difference.

Humoring him, he walked alongside telling Jim his story as they made their way to the northern side of the bridge. As he walked he noted a fondness he seemed to have for a pair of wolf cubs that seemed to follow along. His eyes would follow their playful antics with a half smile.

Bilgar told them of how his father had been a guard, and his father before him. He told him of training even as a young boy to be the best. He told him how he trained from dusk to dawn ever since he was a child. He told him about his ambition to one day reach the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Guard so that he could marry the daughter of a noble. He told him about how the pair had met as kids and became fast friends, and that she was doing everything in her power to remain unmarried so she could wait for him.

It was strange, he had never even told his family or friends of his ambition for trying to marry above his station. But today he poured it out to this man named Jim. It wasn't long before he reached the point where First Minister Zed was killed.

Bilgar left out what the investigation found so far. If anything, he wanted to know how Jim knew of the deeds of the former First Minister. He explained that he was sent over to make sure Jim's passage was not interrupted. Jim interrupted once when he told him his ambition to be the best swordsman in Alextria. Jim asked "Did you want to be the very best? That no one ever was?"

For some reason after he asked the question he went into a state of giggling. The monstrous man was actually giggling. With a smile Bilgar picked up where he left off and finished his story. As his story ended there was a silence.

Then he almost jumped out of his skin when the LT slapped him on the shoulder and said "You dog you! Why didn't you tell me you had an eye on the lass! Ha! From your story there can be only one, I always wondered why she hadn't married yet. You better hurry up boy, or you will get left behind."

Bilgar had almost forgotten that his old mentor had been standing next to him the whole time. His cheeks flamed as he realized what he'd said. It was only a matter of time before the whole city knew! Gossip moved as fast as feet moved. Maybe even faster.

Trying to stir the conversation away from his love prospects he asked "Jim, so what about you? Where are you from? How did you get so strong? And how did you know about the First Minister?"

The man named Jim laughed and said "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. I thank you for your story, but I have work that I need to do. If it's worth anything, I apologize for causing such a ruckus back there. Still, Zed was not a good man."

That was when the private that had fallen down started making some more groaning noises. He seemed to be waking up after his alcohol induced head trauma. To his surprise he saw the two little wolf cubs licking the drunkard's face. The man slowly got to his feet and Bilgar barely heard the man when he said, "Damned filthy animals."

The private slowly brought his foot back, clearly aiming for one of the wolf pups. And then a chill went down his spine. Time seemed to have stopped for a second. The giggling man that had been asking him questions was gone. There seemed to be an oppressive aura around the once jovial man. Bilgar seemed to lose his breath as he saw Jim reach for his sword.

How could he have forgotten this? That lightning strike of fear right before Jim had charged in to kill Zed. To his further surprise, the other two must have felt the same pressure. The LT put his hand near his sword, and then the fool of a private mid kick let out a squeal and then toppled over again.

In the blink of an eye both the wolflings were in the now scowling man's arms. He didn't even see him move. One moment Jim was right next to him, the next he was 20 yards away.

Could it have ended like that? Death because some idiot drunkard kicked a dog? Bilgar gulped.

After the man had picked up the dogs he kept walking to the other side of the bridge. He had one last question he had to ask, for his kingdom's sake. Yelling, Bilgar asked "Jim, will you kill the creature in the caves?"

Jim briefly turned back and said "If I were you, I wouldn't follow me."

The man began walking away and he glanced at his old friend. LT was now staring daggers at the man that was again trying to make his way to his feet. Oh boy. That man is going to be in a world of hurt soon. Fool had been warned and he could have got them all killed.

Returning his gaze to the man in black armor, he could only wonder if he would ever see him again.