Now then… what to do?
I’m locked up for being a cuckoo, for some petty crimes just because I was trying run away from the king’s spies. I could stay in here forever, in this damp, dark, cold room the soldiers kindly dumped this lowly human in. That wouldn’t make a very good story am I right?
The bracelet that caused this remain attached to my wrist. My analyze skill works but it came out as texts of this world so I could not read its description. Surprisingly, objects I own are eligible. The bobby pins I bought would be an example.
Black Bobby Pins Dur: 4/4 Description: A simple hair clip. Hidden function (own): Could be doubled as a lockpick.
I’m sure someone would read it if I asked them. First, I needed a surface to write. There’s moss I can use to smudge the words. I can’t take off these rags because of my chains, but there’s nothing else I can use to write. I could tear off a leg from the cheap looking bed they gave me. I rather not use any strength. I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to break it. Even the guards are nowhere in sight.
“Hey~, anyone else locked up in here? Hellooooo~? Heeellllllooooooooo-?”
“I’m trying to sleep here, shut up.”
On the other side, a man kicked his cell. I couldn’t see his face masked by shadows, but that kick was able to dent metal bars. Moreover, the harder I peer into this darkness, small metallic surfaces reflect off the small torch from my side. This guy is much more fashionable than I am. I’m jealous of the many chains restraining his neck, wrists, arms, legs, ankles and body. A total of 10 chains nailed in a cobweb formation around his cell. Other than that, I cannot identify his overall appearance.
“Well soooorrrryyyy. I’ve just woken up from my beauty nap and no guards showed up for the past hour or so.”
“Ah, a new mate? No wonder it’s so noisy.”
“Righto! What’re you in to be chained up like some animal from a zoo?”
“Zoo? What’s a zoo?”
“Right, I forgot this world doesn’t have normal animals.” I muttered. “Don’t sweat it, pal.”
“Pal…? I can see why the guards decided to lock you up. You’re those types of people I hate.” The old prisoner spoke in his gruff voice. He doesn’t sound very healthy, constantly loosing his voice probably due to dehydration.
Judging from his tone, he seemed to be an old man. I could make out his small stature by measure the gaps between each chains. He seems smaller than your average human grown man. I’d say he’s either a halfling or a dwarf but I have yet meet anyone other than humans after my summoning. If this is a fantasy world, I should expect to meet different opponents of different races.
“Whoa, we’ve hitched ourselves on a great relationship! Just so you know, I love being hated.”
“Brat, if you’ve the energy, I suggest you save it. The guards will only bring you out when you’re on the brink of dying.” Slowly the old man’s hand moved forward into the torch’s dim light. “I’ve been in here for 1 month. I beg you, please leave me alone.”
“Oi… you’re kidding me.”
First his long nails, and hairy hand were larger than mine. His were frail and skinny when compared to me and bore many small scars from exposed patches of skin. I underestimated him being locked up in here for 1 month but he’s not human. His long snout exceeded my belief of how life in a fantasy world differed from my old world. He’s a beast kin, a wolfman, werewolf?. His animal eyes were worthless, clinging onto hope until the very last second. Face pale. One ear, one eye missing, his tail had been severed. Lastly, the strong smell of iron does not imply his well being, yet he desperately exceeded anyone’s impression of continuing to live in that condition. Clearly, the guards had way too much fun with him.
“HAHAHAHAHA! this is wonderful! Your fascinating existence makes me question everything this world has to offer!” I don’t know why but I started laughing at nothing. “Ha… so, a werewolf. I’d die to know more about you right now. Care to tell me how you wounded in here?”
The werewolf gave me a snort then slipped his arm back into his cell. It wasn’t very admirable of him, to react to someone who wanted to hear his story. I’ll forgive him for rejecting me.
I keep thinking, the place is fairly laxed. I haven’t seen signs of guards wandering the place. Sheesh, and they say I’m devious. These guards starve you until the last moment to deliver your last rites. If what the wolf says is true, I have about two days or so before I start suffering the same fate. No food equals no energy to think and that means no scheming.
I can escape, but what about the wolf? I’m interested in his background. By his tone, he seems like the type to never forget a debt. It’s pointless to ask, I think I’ll toy with him until he decides to open his mouth… or fangs…
“Do you think we’ll get some food?”
Silence.
“Do you know I came from another world?”
More silence.
“Ha, of course you won’t believe me. I can’t prove how I’m different than the people in this world.” Maybe if I rant enough, some of my words will poke a nerve. “I would say people here are much rude than my old world. They have trust issues just because I’m born looking shady, but then again, my existence is nothing more than trash~.”
Even more silence.
“Fine, I’ll spare you the fun. Gosh, you’re so boring.” I pull two bobby pins from my hair and turned them into picks. I’ve done this so many times for a hobby in the old world, I can pick these locks blindfolded… Actually, isn’t this the same as being blindfolded? It’s really dark in here. “Want to escape? I brought picks with me.”
I leaned onto my side of the bars and in return, the wolf responded. “You… how did you?”
“Dunno, I guess I was lucky these bobby pins blended with my hair for the guards to not notice.” I shrugged. “I am going to definitely use this trick more often than I need to.”
The locks on my wrists suit me. However I don’t fancy having my movements restricted. -Clack! Thunk!- I stretched my legs wide and obvious for the wolf to see. That expression on him is perfect! If only he had a tail, I would be seeing it wag right now!
“Finally in a mood to talk are we?” I smiled. “Tell me why you are here, maybe I can relieve of your suffering. You do pique my interest, I’ve never saw anything like your kind before. In exchange for your freedom, tell me information of the same value as saving your life.”
“That’s only if you do free me. Otherwise I will keep my mouth shut.” The wolf confidently spoke. “You will need my strength to fight against the guards, am I correct?”
“You sir!” I clapped. “Are absolutely right and wrong! I’ll have you run an errand for me instead. So?”
“Tch. I hate you unpredictable kinds.”
I proceeded to unlocking my cell and step into the hall. It’s only a long tunnel with no light to indicate which path leads to the exit.
-BEEP BEEP BEEP-
“Shit! It’s so dark I couldn’t see those totems.” Two red pillars blinked as soon as I stepped out of the cell. “Well, werewolf person? Hurry and decide-!”
In an instant, wolfman kicked down his rusty gate. He could’ve escaped if his only obstacle was those worn bars, but he was bounded by 10 other chains.
“Please. Free me and I will be indebted to you. I cannot die now, I have to return.”
“Good answer!” A smile stretched across my face with the intent to challenge time to another match. -Clack- “Nine! Any chance you’re hungry?”
“Very.” He smirked. Those fangs of his are ready to tear and devour. Threads of drool ran down and hope rekindled in his predatory eyes.
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“Oh? Do tell me how humans of this world taste~.” I continued working to unshackle him. “Six.”
-
-
Footsteps echoed throughout the hall. Before I knew, a small patrol of ten fully armed guards discovered two opened gates; one leading to me still chained down. The chains are still on me and I calmly await my next meal the lad promised me. I can’t contain my excitement any longer! I want to eat! I’m very very hungry! I want to lunge at them and tear them to pieces!
“H-hey! One prisoner escaped!?” A guard entered the lad’s cell to find it empty.
“He didn’t.” I snorted. “He told me he’d like to play a game. If you say ‘Marco’ he’ll reply with ‘Polo’.”
“Shut up, savage! Tell us where the kid is!”
“Who knows? I might’ve eaten him.” Their faces went pale. The kid’s right, someone doesn’t want him dead. “He foolishly entered my cell only to be devoured so I can live longer. I feel rejuvenated!”
“Captain! Orders!?”
“We’ve kindly allowed you beast for a chance for to repent and you continue to sin!? Know your place demon spawn!” The captain angrily drew his sword. “Execute that monster!”
Good! GOOD! Come into my den, I want you all in my stomach!
I can already taste the blood of my foes. Closer, closer, closer. This is the last of my strength, I can feel adrenaline pumping through my system. I thirst for blood and meat of these plump looking soldiers. They came off nothing more than meat pies in my mind.
Two brave soldiers stepped forward, both lifting their weapons high, aiming towards my neck. Their biggest mistake was performing such a move to expose their stomachs and to not notice the illusion of me actually chained.
“Polo!” The kid shouted behind me, signalling me to rip, tear and massacre to my heart’s content. He quickly unshackled the last chain off my wrist. I instantly took a bite of one man’s rib on the left and smashed the head of the other into the wall.
Metal, blood, meat, innards, I chewed it all. None of my food’s going to go to waste. THIS IS A FEAST! I tore off limbs of my catch and swallowed them one by one. The others stood terrify as I devour their comrades. One began screaming and running, which tempted me to give chase and hunt him down. I knocked aside the remaining seven guards and pounced onto the fleeing monkey.
This… it’s all returning to me. My primal instincts, the thrill of hunting. It’s been a while.
“S-SAVE ME! GAAAAH!” The guard plead as I sank my jaws on his shoulder. I snapped his puny head then crushed his skull in my jaws.
“R-run away!” The other ants fled to the other direction.
“GAHAHAHA! Run, run! All of you are my dinner for starving me for a month!”
“Indeed, the most vicious type of wolf is when they’re hungry. They’d do anything to keep themselves fed.” The kid had the same wicked smile as I. “Don’t forget our deal.”
“I won’t.” I smirked.
With the kid keeping a lookout for escapees, I am free to roam in the dungeon for those who fled for their lives. First, the captain’s subordinates. My sense of smell returned after some of the food in my stomach had been digested. I haven’t had this much fun in decades!
The place is dark, no light. As someone of my race, my night vision are degrees superior than humans. Not to mention I do not need to rely on my eyes as much as them. I can listen to their shivering breaths and smell their salty scented sweat. It wasn’t long until I found six of the seven guards.
One monkey managed to get around me and dashed for the exit. I instantly gave chase to find his body collapsed with the boy playfully twirling a wooden shiv he pulled from the guard’s neck. He had me carve a toothpick with my nails when he was busy unlocking my handcuffs.
“Oh? You’re finished with your game? Good boy! Should I pet you on the head?”
I don’t like the look in his eyes, they send chills down my spine. They purposely taunt you, irritate you. He admits himself as trash, a lowlife and yet he always hold that smug that puts you on the edge. I usually have good instincts to detect other people’s intention. This kid’s level is too high for me to know his purpose of setting me free. I don’t know if perchance it was fate to meet this devil or I’m just unfortunate.
Right now, I need his help. I have no choice but to lend him my attention.
“Don’t treat me as if I’m a dog.” I carry my catch’s arm and gnawed on the bones as I return. “I am not those pat loving beast kin. I am an elder kobold.”
“No wonder why you’re so short!” He laughed. Given his behaviour, I can somewhat forgive him for freeing me.
But calling me short kind of hurts me.
“Spill it, kid. What kind of errand do you want me to do?”
“Can you play fetch?”
“Fetch? You’re practically treating me like I’m some dog!” I looked at him quizzically, but he seemed serious. “What about you?”
“I can’t leave yet. The king hasn’t given me answers for locking me up. I’ll act as decoy for you to escape if you’re willing to play fetch with me. Without further ado, this is what I need.”
He wanted me to retrieve his belongings from two of buildings, then hide them in the outskirts. The bracelet on his arm prevents him from making a clean escape, so he’ll try to disarm it before going anywhere. My arm on the other hand, is much larger than humans. I had heard the manufacturing time for those magic restraints to be roughly two months time, I would have starved to death by then.
“Name?” I asked.
“How rude~, shouldn’t you offer yours before I tell you mine?”
“Uwhelt Yarfgard. As for information I promised, it will be included in your items. I used to be in the spy corps for this kingdom’s army. My group was framed for falsifying information that resulted in hundreds losing their lives against the other kingdom. We brought back what they asked, then they tried to apprehend us. I need to escape in hopes of trying to find my brethren.”
“Hoho~ I’ll call you Whelty! I love spies. So untrustworthy, double crossing, holding and manipulating information behind the scenes!” He laughed.
“And you?”
“I am trash, degenerate, a lowlife. The scum of scums of humans in my old word! I enjoy violence, toying with feeble minds, torture and being tortured and -.”
“Get on with it!”
“Arden Charles. I feel like we’re likely to cooperate again in the near future.” He bowed.
“Likewise, if I escape unharmed.” I grunted.
“Good, carry me. My legs feel sore.”
I began to question the likeliness of our escape. I am agile. My claws and fangs are strong weapons of mine. I also grabbed a blade and strapped on small plates of armor on my arms and legs. On the other paw, Arden’s boney body lacks athleticism. He refused to remove the handcuffs and only has a dagger he looted from a dead guardsman. I doubt he could go against soldiers for a head on fight, and yet he’s confident. For now, I am full of energy. I heaved him over my shoulder and sprinted for the exit.
I kicked down the wooden door and dashed around the spiral staircases. I can see light. My first time seeing the sky in so long. It’s as I remembered. The fluffy clouds, the blue sky. The gentle breeze brushed my blood stained fur. It truly has been a while.
“All units! Weapons!”
I look down to find an army aiming the tip of their spears at me. Among the fifty, there were two groups, eleven of them stood out. They wielded a unique variety of weapons. They don’t seem to be soldiers. Their newborn fighting aura does not represent them as adventurers. But one of them… there was one to be careful. A capable man with a spear.
This is bad… the crest on their hands-. Heroes!?
“A-Arden!?” The voice wasn’t mine. It came from the dual spearman and the women with boomerang blades. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“I’m cosplaying as a prisoner. I see you people bought yourself wonderful equipment. Did you come to love cosplaying as much as I do?”
“You cunning sly fox. You bet the arrival of some people you know.” I whispered.
“No, no. To be honest I hadn’t thought of the possibility of them showing up. They’re my enemies. They’re heroes summoned to this world.”
Heroes… so much for heroes locking up one of their comrades. Seems to me Arden was telling the truth. These heroes must’ve antagonized him in more ways than one for him to become this broken. No wonder he’s willing to go on a bloody rampage with me.
What should I do? I can’t fight them all. There are heroes in the mix and I can’t be certain of their strength. The spearman was the most terrifying of them all and he seems experienced in the art of combat with the aura I sense flowing around him.
“Damn monster, release me~.” Arden’s voice wasn’t convincing to increase tension. It was incredibly scripted. “Hm… Hehe~, if you tear off my arm, they might take me more seriously.”
“Fool! I can’t do that!” I barked.
“Well, start climbing. They can’t attack as long as you’re holding me. Look.”
“Earth grasp!” A mage from the heroes chanted. “Do I really have to shout each time I do this?”
I slipped away from the slow mud arm growing from the ground and latched onto the castle walls. My claws dug between the gaps and pulled myself up with Arden shielding my back from possible projectiles. Crazy kid’s laughing through this like a joke.
After I got up, I continue to run. Arden suggested I throw him at the bunch of archers when they aimed their bows. I got no other ‘bright’ ideas and threw him as he instructed. When they fell, I killed them off and pull Arden back on my shoulders.
“HAHAHAHA! Throw me like the piece of garbage I am!”
Sometimes I don’t know what to say. I’d best stay silent.
Rather than me protecting him, I should say he’s the one protecting me. He really is a suicidal freak, throwing himself in harms way to disarray the commands of each officers we met. We would repeat this pattern until we reached the final checkpoint.
“Hey. Leave Arden here, and I might spare your life.” I didn’t know how, but the spearman reached the castle’s exit faster than I could.
I see… I took a quick glance behind him to find the culprit behind him. The magic user used Teleport. “I might as well be a dead man if I returned to that place! Kid, hang onto my fur!”
“Gotcha!” The sword and dagger wielder shouted as she cleaved from my blind spot. Arden immediately plucked a batch of my hair and threw it on her.
“OUCH!”
“Achoo!?”
“And this one’s allergic to dogs!” He parried her dual blades with a dagger, then kicked her. He’s very proficient when it comes to small weapons like a shiv or knife. His finger twirled the dagger dexterously in the most complex pattern.
“Warn me next time you do that!” I roared. “That hurts!”
“I just saved your life, bud.” He sighed then walked to wards the dual spearman. “Bastian, my dear Bastian~, Can’t you see what they did to this poor fella? He’s been starving for weeks, it’s not his fault for eating his owners who don’t feed him.” Behind the spearman, Bastian, the tiny magic caster trembled.
Even though they look all grown, deep down they’re only a pup. It’s a good thing they haven’t matured yet or this escape would be more trouble than I anticipated. In terms of strength, the present me should be enough to outpower him.
“Then what about you? Are you planning on escaping with that prisoner?”
“Who knows?” Arden said as he immediately rushed him. Of course, I needed to offer support and followed him closely. In an instant, my fur stood up. I see a spear reaching for my head, stopping short because of the chains from Arden’s handcuffs catching Bastian’s thrust. “You idiot wolf! You almost wasted a good opportunity! Run!”
“Damn you! Frank, you’re up!”
“Smite!”
Without a word, I leap away from a earth breaking blow. One hit from that, and my bones would break. A man with specks clicked his tongue when his mace missed me. I sprint into the city where I blended myself in the slums before working on his errand. My cheeks were sore, it was until I came across a puddle on the streets to find myself holding a smile all this time.
I think part of Arden’s craziness affected me.