The vines of the rope quickly interlink, squeezing in on Screech’s form, binding their wings and pinning them to the ground, face down. I was told it was a unique trap, but actually seeing it in action is something else! It’s another one of those mana infused exports from Resiala, they apparently have a fair amount of similar items if what I’ve acquired so far is to be used as an example.

“First things first,” I immediately announce before anything has the opportunity to happen, announce it loudly at that, I have many decibels to pay back. Though, for now, getting to first base is my primary concern.

“As long as you do not struggle, I, nor any of my allies, will attempt to cause you any amount of physical harm! I wish to engage in diplomatic discussion! However, if you attempt to escape from your restraints right now, we will kick the shit out of you! Do you get it?!”

I crouch down over the struggling heap as I say that last bit, having waddled on over as I was announcing my terms.

“Do you understand, yes or no!?”

I expressly tested this with like four different kinds of monsters! If this were the one specific type that couldn’t understand me, I would be greatly surprised. And also, you know, displeased!

Their struggles ebb a bit, but Screech still continues to squirm in their bindings. At the least they haven’t activated a skill, but… this doesn’t really look like active cooperation to me either. Right, fine, fine!

“Aye, eyes on me!”

Pulling the trinity from my inventory, the squirming becomes a snap as, even bound as they were, Screech’s neck bends in my direction, their eyes lingering on the case containing the three truffles.

“Screech, I’ve come to bargain. Once again, I reiterate; do not attempt to free yourself, and as long as you do so, I will not harm you. I want to speak with you, not kill you, do you… understand?”

Though, now it would seem I’ve traded one issue for another. Their struggling has ceased, but now they’re just… not responding. They’re transfixed, their eyes are locked onto the case in my gloved hands.

Sighing, I dismiss the case to my inventory yet again, though that instantly brings the wiggles back.

“I am willing to give those to you, but you need to listen to me first. Stop moving if you understand.”

…And at last, they remain still. It’s just lovely when a plan comes to fruition, no?

Anyways… that’s basically confirmation on communication working wonders! I can’t understand them, but I don’t really need to for the trade offer that I’m about to propose… so… doesn’t really matter I guess!

“Jasper, I’m gonna have to ask you to sit this one out. I’ll [Summon] you again if things take a turn for the worse, alright?”

“...Mmm.”

[Recall]

“Alright! Now, let’s talk business, shall we? Oh, but, of course, where are my manners… hold still, thank you please!”

Darting forward, before Screech has the chance to properly react, I simply flip them upside down, placing their back against the dirt as opposed to their beak. They flail for a moment, as is to be expected, but I keep the contact short having already known they would. The bundle of vine-rope has pretty much turned into a ball around them at this point, constricting ever more tightly.

There’s a knot at the bottom, but otherwise it seems quite impervious to brute force from the one captured. I don’t doubt they could burn it, but that would also come with risk to Screech themselves. I don’t quite believe they’re fire-proof. Feathers tend to not be the most inflammable of materials.

“There, that’s much better, no?”

Before they have the chance to like, squawk at me or something, I carry on with gusto!

“Given you spent days chasing a bunch of complete strangers, at extreme risk to your own health, I imagine you are QUITE invested in getting those truffles for yourself! And, I will keep this brief. Like I said, I am more than willing to give them to you! In fact, I’d be happy to!”

They continue to stare at me, with nigh bated breath it would seem, given they’re actually holding still to listen…

“On a few simple conditions! Numero uno, you’ll be traveling with me from now on. I find your particular skill set to be quite interesting. Whole lot of valuable abilities to make use of, so on that front I can guarantee preferential treatment!”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

And by that I mean like, buying them food or whatever. The bare minimums of having a pet and all that junk.

“Secondly, I won’t give you all three at once.”

They twitch in annoyance, but it’s simply something that needs to be set in place. Monsters are perfectly capable of rebelling and relieving themselves from my service. If I tempt them into joining my little entourage with a reward, and then give them all of that reward… What's to keep them with me?

“My, no need to get angry. It’s just how it has to be! How else can I keep you to your ‘word’? I give you everything you want, no need to stick around. You’ll get all three in time, and you’ll even get one of them right now if you decide to come with me!”

“Lastly, I expect you to be at the very least, not hostile towards me, Jasper… or Jerry.”

“...?”

Jeeze, no need to perk up at your name being said, man. Don’t make me feel bad…

“I repeat, you’ll come with me, get all three of the truffles in due time, and during that time you will not be actively hostile towards anybody in your company. Oh and also, you’ll have to listen to what I say to you, but that’s kind of included in the first one. I’m sure you’re aware I’m a Monster Tamer, yes?”

Actually, I’m not sure why they’d know that… they are just a monster, born in the wild or something, no?

“...Well, I have you come with me, that means you fight with me. That’s the bottom line.”

Pulling the box out of my inventory once again, I pop it open as Screech goes wide eyed, pulling one of the three out and closing the other two off from the world, sending the box back into my inventory shortly afterward.

“So…” I half-mumble, holding the small blue truffle in front of Screech, watching with amusement as their beak literally twitches, snapping open and closed at the mere thought of getting at the item of interest.

…Honestly they’re so into it that I kind of wanna try it myself now… surely it’s not that good, right?

“What’s it going to be?”

—

The path to town is rocky, far less well kept than the road that had spanned the multiple day long trip leading to this place. It’s a good thing I’m moving on foot here, otherwise it would have been quite the task to remain on a raised surface. It would be quite the task to keep something moving through here in the first place, actually.

Exposed rocks of not so insignificant size litter the path, and while I can’t exactly divulge the exact nature of each of them at a glance, they aren’t exactly dissimilar to the massive rock walls that have been etched into the land over what was no doubt centuries. Or, well, you know, centuries in lore-MY IMMERSION!!! BEGONE POINTLESS THOUGHTS!

…Centuries. Something crazy must’ve happened here at some point, I can’t imagine land like this forming without any visible water source nearby. Or maybe it’s really just that ancient? That some place ran its course through this place millenia ago and left it super duper dry in the future, the future which is now.

As I was saying beforehand though… the path is gravelly at best, clearly not meant for travel with anything more unwieldy than the human body itself. Patches of grass litter the place as well, and in total it’s already wound around more than three sinkholes.

On top of that…

+7 exp!

…Oh. You know, I was going to say, “there are so many monsters!!!”, but no I guess I don’t get to do that today.

…Having a mounted cannon is pretty cool though.

“How long do you think it’s going to take you to pave the rest of this path?”

Dunno how I feel about the chatterbox though.

“Dunno, I just know the road leads to town, not how long the road is.”

“Do you think it would be possible for us to take a quick break then I’m rather tired of attacking any random monster that comes into view to prevent a delay and frankly I’m getting rather hungry at this point-

So… Jasper hasn’t eaten for literal days, neither have I, but having eaten just an hour or so ago, this gremlin is already hungry again…?

Oh, this is going to be a task isn’t it? Oh well… still worth it, to be frank.

Girl is beyond busted.