Morphus: ‘Now then, what does this human want from me? I agreed because he said he would pay for food and I am a bit short on cash…. I don’t have any cash…. I really did not think this through’

Ranga: “You sure can eat, huh”

Morphus: “Isn’t this the normal amount for an appetizer?”

Ranga: “Appetizer? There was enough food to feed at least five people”

The table was covered in empty plates. He really was not kidding when he said he was hungry.

Morphus: “Really, I did not notice”

Without Ranga noticing, Morphus activated his eyes and through them cast a status skill. Luckily, this young man did not have any protection spells to prevent his status from being read.

…..

There was a lot more information about Ranga Drake, but Morphus was too bored to care. Users of status skill were rather rare in this world, but everyone’s accuracy and version depended on their mastery of that skill. Morphus’s status skill was of the highest level and his version in particular could see any unprotected person’s notch count (number of past sexual partners.)

Morphus: ‘I wonder what this hopeless virgin wants from me’

His eyes could also see that Ranga’s body was a little strange.

Most people’s bodies have mana flowing through them, in a way, they were like jugs full of mana. But in Ranga’s case, his body had no mana at all. He had zero capacity for storing or producing mana. He will never be able to use magic.

As for his life force, it was clear he had used up large portion of it. The amount he had left would not last him 10 years and if he kept using it up, he would have even less time. It seems this Ranga was a rather reckless kid.

Ranga: “Regardless, I have a proposal for you”

Morphus simply took a bite from the chicken leg. Clearly, he was barely paying any attention.

Ranga was not sure how to handle this guy, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Morphus’s eyes were rather strange. Most human eyes had whites parts, but his were pitch black, made even more creepy due to the blood red iris. By now, Ranga had seen many people with strange eyes, but Morphus’s eyes were unique, to say the least. They say eyes are the window to the soul, but Ranga could see nothing within those black and red eyes. Perhaps he was not completely human, but to Ranga, that did not matter in the slightest.

Ranga: “I would like the two of us to form a party. What do you say?”

Morphus: “A party?”

Ranga: “Yes, we will work as a team to complete missions”

Morphus: “Who are the other members?”

Ranga: “You are looking at them”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Morphus: ‘So he is a loner, huh’

Morphus: “Is that really a good idea?”

Ranga: “If you are concerned about the division of profits, you can have 70% and I will take 30%”

Morphus: “It’s not a matter of money. Also, please don’t sell yourself short”

Ranga: “Then what is it?”

Morphus: “I am not exactly from around here…. Well, technically yes, but not exactly….”

Ranga: “I can be your guide”

Morphus: “I am not an easy guy to work with and I do not like being told what to do when off duty”

Ranga: “That is perfectly acceptable as long as we can work together on the missions”

Morphus: “I am not a good guy”

Ranga: “Neither am I”

Morphus: “You really are a stubborn one, aren’t you?”

Ranga: “Takes one to know one”

Morphus: “True.”

Ranga: “What do you say?”

Morphus: “I warn you; I am bad luck. Expect nothing good from me”

Ranga: “At this point, I am ok with any kind of luck”

Morphus: “Don’t say I did not warn you”

Ranga: “Duly noted”

Morphus: “Kids these days….”

Ranga just smiled. There was no telling how old Morphus was, but he looked younger than Ranga, however, there were races that aged far slower than humans. If Morphus happened to belong to such a race, he might well be far older than Ranga.

Ranga: “At the moment, I am an Iron Ranked adventurer. You don’t happen to be an adventurer too, are you?”

Morphus: “No. At the moment, I am…. unemployed”

Ranga: “Unemployed? Aren’t you something like an arch-priest or a mage or something like that?”

Morphus: “I dabble. I would not go as far as call myself a mage, just a guy who picked up a few tricks from lots of strange places”

Ranga: “Your healing magic seems very potent”

He showed Morphus his right hand, it was completely ok except for a scar that run over the tendons. It was especially impressive because all the potions and healers Ranga could afford could not fix the permanent damage, but with just a single spell, Morphus repaired it to a top condition.

Ranga: “Before you used that spell on me, I could only use my left hand, but somehow, you fixed the damage on my right hand. Can you…. raise the dead?”

Morphus: “Not at the moment”

Ranga: ‘What does that supposed to mean?!’

Ranga knew for a fact that arch-priests could use resurrection magic, but that kind of magic was available to only the cream of the crop. Even among arch-priests, then ones who could use resurrection spells were the select few.

Resurrection spells required the one being resurrected to be at a certain level and the caster had to be at a certain level as well with a specialization that allowed one to cast such a spell. The one who is resurrected will lose some levels but if the level is too low, the corpse will turn to ashes. It truly was a magic of elite among elite.

He did not honestly believe Loid could perform such magic, so he expected an answer along the lines of not being able to cast it. Instead, his answer was ‘not at the moment.’ He truly could not make sense of this guy. He was too strange to understand.

Ranga: “I see. What other spells do you know?”

Morphus: “Cutting magic, glue magic, sleeping magic, stomach magic, bladder magic, inflammation magic, digestive magic, purifying magic….”

Ranga: ‘Is this guy serious? I don’t know much about magic, but aren’t those basic daily life and health spells…. Even a child can learn them. Though, as someone incapable of using magic, I have no right to judge.’

Ranga: ‘Still, he can kill a Spider Monster with one spell, there is no way that was just an expansion spell, it looked more like a high-level detonation or explosion magic…. I see, he must be concealing his power and identity. He might be some kind of a fallen hero for all I know. It is probably for the best if I don’t pry further. If I stick my nose in too far, he might just use that magic to permanently silence me. I can’t afford to be not cautious. But I need him in my party, otherwise, I need to start preparing my own funeral’

Morphus: ‘Funeral? Isn’t that tad bit extreme?’

Unbeknownst to Ranga, Morphus was listening to all his thoughts. In his current vessel, the range of telepathy was limited and it could only be used on one person at a time, but the telepath class he possessed proved to be extremely useful.

His current vessel was a mere level 10, so he could not exert most of his power through it, otherwise, the vessel would explode. So, now he was limited to using only his weakest low level skills and spells and even they were burdensome due to the vessel being a weak corpse. If the vessel was still alive, it would have been a little simpler, but this was the best body available that he could obtain without consent of the owner.

Ranga: “My name is Ranga, Ranga Drake, and you are?”

Morphus seemed to be in deep thought before he replied.

Morphus: “Mo…. Loid. Loid Lancer”

Ranga: “So, Mr. Lancer, what is your answer?”

Morphus: “50-50, I will not accept more than that”

Ranga: “Eh? Do you mean…?”

Morphus: “I accept. And don’t bother with Mister or honorifics, just call me Loid”

Ranga: “Pleasure to be working with you, Loid”

Morphus: “Pleasure is all mine, Ranga”

Two strangers have crossed paths, what could fate have in store for them?