Chapter Fifteen: Secrets Revealed

As Threigar led me down the street I was contemplating the merits of trying to activate my ‘escape’ skill and switching places with one of my deathsworn. All around me people were staring and chatting amongst themselves while also clearing a path for us. I didn’t like all the attention or the fact that this stranger had managed to sneak up on me. I tossed him a suspicious glare and almost took off running the instant I saw his status.

Threigar: Level (Unknown)

Race: Ranamphi

Class: Fated Merchant

I am fucked! My muscles tensed as I prepared to get the hell out of there. Every gamer knows when you can’t see something’s level you don’t stick around. Not unless you have an army at your back, and my army was currently protecting my domain.

“Oh, now, now. Don’t be alarmed, my darling little fleshling. I have no desire to hurt you. After all, you’re royalty. All I want to do is talk. But not here out in the open. While I love the merchandising opportunities, this environment is too tawdry when it comes to discussing more important matters. So, come along.” Threigar’s melodic voice chimed, and I couldn’t help but start to relax. There was a part of my mind that was railing against whatever this demon was doing to me, but there was something so open and honest about him. It was like for the first time since coming to this world I had found a best friend. No! Snap out of it! Think! My thoughts warred with my emotions as the demon eventually took us to a large building. A sign hung out front indicating this was his shop,

Threigar and Sons.

Merchandise for the Common, the Wealthy, and the Mysterious

Reaching out for the door, the giant frog-like demon held it open for me and motioned for me to walk inside. It’s a trap! Come on Leo, do something! I stepped towards the door and with every last bit of willpower I had I forced myself to stop my foot just shy of going in. My body kept moving for a moment longer on its own accord and the result was me falling flat on my face. Pain flared throughout my body, and instantly I was once again in control. Before I could use my momentary reprieve from his effects though a new voice chimed in.

“Come on Mom, what have I told you about bringing in strays?” The voice exclaimed it wasn’t nearly as charming as Threigar’s but it still had an effect. It slowed my reactions just enough for the large demon to reach down and pick me up off the ground. He, no she? It? reached down and picked up the animal skins I had dropped during my fall and handed them to me.

“Hush, Dirriga, this is my shop and I can do as I please. Besides, this one isn’t a stray. He is a potential business partner. Don’t you concern yourself with how he looks. Just make sure we aren’t interrupted. Now, I thought I told you I meant you no harm. I must confess though, your willpower is surprisingly strong for someone of your level. You must be a very sad person.” Threigar noted, and once again the charming effect of his voice tore through my emotions. Not to control me, but to bring about a memory. It was visceral and it overwhelmed me in an instant as I was taken to another time, in an entirely different world.

Cancer, fuck cancer. As someone who had grown up without a real father figure, I had never known what I was missing. The step-fathers I did have growing up had tortured me. Both physically, and emotionally. They had made sure that my entire worldview was a kaleidoscope of pain and abandonment. I constantly needed love, but I could never have it. My mother loved me, but I needed a father’s love. A father’s validation. Even if I didn’t realize it. Then as an adult, I found my biological father. It was a rough start, but for the first time in my life I had found an answer to the constant hole in my heart I had never known was there. Then cancer. Fuck cancer.

He had gotten sick. I was there by his side. Taking care of him. But I had to leave. I had to return home, for some bullshit reason or another. He seemed to be doing okay, but I couldn’t stay through Father’s Day. He was doing okay. Cancer. Fuck cancer. “Hey, Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I love you.” He loved me too. He was tired though. Of course, he was tired. He was sick. I love you Dad, I will call you tomorrow. Goodbye, son.

Then the next morning. A phone call. Not my dad. My stepbrother. It was cancer. Fuck cancer. FUCK CANCER. FUCK CANCER. That unity in my soul was no more. Only the black hole of pain that brought me once more into its eternal embrace. Dad, I love you, dad. FUCK CANCER.

As the memory faded I found myself on the floor of an office being held by Threigar. His large meaty hand was rubbing my back as I sobbed uncontrollably onto his arm. I was alarmed at first, but I couldn’t stop. Emotions I had bottled up came pouring out. I cried until I couldn’t. The pain was still there. The black hole still lingered in my heart, it tempted me, laughing at me, and a flash of rage danced along my mind like lightning igniting my fury. Instantly I sobered up and reacted instinctively attempting to rip into his flesh with my teeth in order to make the demon let go of me.

“Honey, you will have to play rougher than that if you want to damage me. That's not even enough to arouse me.” Threigar chuckled, his voice purring sensually. I was shocked I couldn’t break through his skin with my sharpened fangs. Snarling, I summoned my scythe, swinging it blindly at the demon. This did force him to let go of me only to snatch my arm in his mighty hand and tsk.

“Please darling, I get you’re upset but I promise I only want to talk."

"Fuck you!" I spat as I felt the influence of whatever charm he was using wash over me. "If you only wanted to talk, why did you cast a charm on me?" The demon released a laugh that shook his entire body. Threigar’s fit of laughter was so all-consuming he released his grip on me to hold his sides. I paused for a moment as dark urges burned within me. I wanted his blood, I wanted his heart. As powerful as this demon was, it was an excellent opportunity for strength. This was someone who had used their superiority over me to manipulate me. Cause me pain. I felt fluctuations of those visceral desires before slowly setting them aside. It’s clear by now if he intended to harm me he would have. The more rational voice of my mind insisted, and I fought to heed it.

"Oh, roasted flies, I knew you were new, but I didn't know you were ignorant. I didn't charm you, my feral little fleshling. You were taken in by my charisma. You're system-born. Weren't you instructed in how your attributes worked?"

"Ummm, no. As a matter of fact I didn't get any instruction at all."

"You pitiful, beautiful, little treasure trove. Do you at least know what a system-born is?"

“Not really. I met someone who told me that they are people sometimes summoned by the system to act out the will of a god, end an injustice, or some other legendary deed.” I answered hesitantly. On the day the curse was lifted I had isolated the generals and peppered with them with questions. The main one was as to why none of the Threlnistari were suspicious of a random stranger appearing in a sealed-off kingdom to fight priests. They had told me of the legendary heroes that sporadically appeared throughout history and assumed my arrival had been a blessing from the Tide Goddess. When I had attempted to tell them about my world and being reborn their eyes had glazed over in incomprehension and I had received a system notice telling me that they did not have the attributes to understand. For them, it was simply enough that I had power and knowledge they didn’t and was willing to use it on their behalf.

“A simpleton’s answer. Must I do absolutely everything? Oh, but what is the cost when it comes to unlimited wealth? Fine, I, Threigar will instruct you. First, to ease your suspicions. Each attribute affects you differently. By now you’ve realized this. Did you never question what Charisma did?”

I just shook my head and let the demon continue, unsure if I would like the answer. The only reason I had bothered investing any points in it at all was that it was a class bonus, and while I hadn’t tried charming anyone besides the guards at the gate, I hadn’t noticed anything like how the people responded to Threigar. The demon reached a bulbous finger to his chin and tapped it for a moment before continuing to speak.

“Okay, listen sweet. Even attributes have ranks, yes? 1-50 is considered an F rank. That is when you reach the first limits imposed by the system and the bonuses stop decreasing. This ranking pattern repeats. After 100 points your attributes move to rank D. Then when you reach 150 you reach C. Each time you reach a new ranking you receive a significant boost that dwarfs the pittance you receive from investing in them. At C though the distance between ranks climbs. Why do I tell you this? Because darling, my Charisma is rank S. I absolutely can not control how people react to me.

Charisma doesn’t manipulate others though. It manipulates the individual. Even now you watch every move I make with a sparkle in your eye. Not because you are being influenced, but because my very nature demands attention. Is it not the same for you? Even at a lower rank have you not noticed changes in how you comport yourself? Charisma increases an individual's personality. When they are friendly, they become more friendly. If they are angry, they become even more angry. It enhances every aspect of you, making you a full and true representation of yourself. Charisma removes every doubt you have of yourself and fills you with confidence.”

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I felt my blood turn to ice at that. I had noticed changes. I thought back to my battle with the priests. There was no guilt for their gruesome deaths. I felt no horror at needing to feast on their corpses. I had questioned it at the time, but I still felt justified. I thought about my behavior and my humor. I had treated everything like a joke, playing off my doubts and insecurities with witty retorts.

Except there had been no doubt. On Earth, I had made always tried to laugh in the face of my pain and treat everything with indifference. If I stop long enough to feel, I will break. It’s what I had told myself. Terrified of how many more times I could crumble before the pieces never put themselves back together. Not only had the system guided my path with quests and classes, but I was also doomed by the system affecting my very mind. That’s why I had relived the pain of losing my father! I realized. not because Threigar intentionally tried to hurt me. It was the more complete feelings being drawn out by the system reacting to the demon’s charisma.

“What does that have to do with me being a system-born?” I asked, finally working through his answer. Just because I now understood the extent of the system’s plans for me didn’t mean there was anything I could do about it. Is that cold rationalization even me, or is it the system’s influence?

“What? Oh, right. I apologize, that has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to assure you that I didn’t intentionally mean you harm. I was curious when I saw you spying on me from the woods and wanted to see what you would do. You see, whoever told you that you are a hero meant to do legendary deeds doesn’t understand their true nature.”

“No shit!” I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

“Indeed! I don’t know what circumstances led you to it, but you understand better than anyone. with a class called Dark Monarch, you should understand that the system isn’t just about balance. It’s about chaos. Those who the system brings to our world are always agents of upheaval. Which is where I come in. When there is chaos, there are opportunities to make money!”

“Just out of curiosity, how do you know all of this?”

“I am almost three thousand years old. I have seen plenty of your kind over the ages. Especially with my luck. I always tend to stumble onto lucrative business deals.” Threigar’s response was so simple, and so human I couldn’t help but crack a wide grin. In a world filled with monsters, mayhem, and magic. Here was just someone who wanted to make a quick buck. Seeing my smile, his shoulders relaxed as he took on a more welcoming posture. I hadn’t even realized that the entire time he had still been defensive. You are still holding your weapon. In another heartbeat, I stored Abyssal Ruination. “Dirriga! Please bring our guest something to drink!”

“Here you go, mom. Now if you don’t mind I am going to go back running the shop. Not everyone can just do as they please.” The smaller ranamphi huffed as he left two large mugs of some beverage before us a few moments later.

“I swear, I don’t know what I will do with that boy. He takes life too seriously. he is a good lad though. one of my most promising sons.”

“He called you mom?”

“Oh, that? Yes, I am his mother. I see your confusion. My husband and I take turns giving birth. It’s only fair after all. Sometimes I am the mother, other times he is. Our species can align our genders accordingly. Dirrigi is our 47th child I think? Or is he the 54th?”

“That’s fascinating,” I replied honestly, surprised. All I could think of was the quote from that dinosaur movie. Life, uh, finds a way. On Earth, there were an entire group of people who would love to have that freedom. “So how exactly am I supposed to make you rich? Or richer? You didn’t explain that part.”

“Oh, that’s simple. Just give me leave to be your primary merchant. If you find any rare and valuable goods you don’t need to prioritize my shops when you plan to unload them. Or if you want to initiate a private deal, allow me or someone affiliated with my company to be brokers for such negotiations. The terms are simple. You will get paid at fair value for items you sell to us, and gain a portion of the profits if they are resold. You will also have a 20% discount at all of my establishments. When handling deals I will receive 5% of the total profits earned.”

“That seems generous. You aren’t telling me something.” Threigar scoffed indignantly before chuckling.

“I am an honest merchant, but fair. Still, you have the right of it. I would like to receive 1% of all of the revenues you earn annually, and if you decide to participate in a dungeon event I would ask that you bring a representative with you so that they can earn part of the participation rewards.

“Did you say dungeons?” I asked excitedly. The rest didn’t concern me. The system had made sure that I would need very little, and I didn’t care about wealth. But being able to go into dungeons and fight monsters did excite me. A stirring of bloodlust surfaced at the thought.

“Yes, but you will have to register with an adventurer’s guild. There isn’t one in this town though. While the skill you have hiding your identity should be enough against anyone you should meet, it won’t fool the registration committee though. You should raise it to rank A first.”

“Threigar. How does the system process luck?” I asked suddenly. Here he was, telling me everything I wanted to hear when I had come to this world. Dungeons and adventurer’s guilds were real. I wanted to go. Yet, learning the truth about my attributes made me hesitant. I didn’t want to start counting my fortune only to find out it was another trap set up by the system to make me conquer another kingdom.

“Ah. I would rather not. As adorable as you are, you are a little monster in the making, and I don’t want you destroying my shop. I could stop you of course, but it might get ugly.” I frowned at him. That wasn’t the answer I had been expecting. There was a look on his face and then something occurred to me, and as hatred flared inside of me I understood.

“It can orchestrate events on purpose, can't it? It can force people to suffer to make sure things play out certain ways at certain times.” My voice slowly rose as my body vibrated. The fucking prophecy. Versyok had a prophecy which meant they knew I was coming. My life was shit and I ended up with these dark classes. I had been set up to want to take out the Watchmen only to fulfill a quest I wanted to avoid. My emotions were even slowly being changed so the system could make use of me.

“Leo, dear, please don’t do anything you will regret.”

“Threigar, to your knowledge is there any way to beat the will of the system?”

“I can only suggest getting stronger and trying your best. Nobody knows the true limits of the system. It usually just leaves us alone, but your kind is different. We just have access to it. You are infused with it. Now what do you say? Do we have a deal?”

***

I left Threigar’s shop hours later. Night had fallen and the town's streets had cleared which made me feel relieved. I was in no mood to deal with anyone or their bullshit. I had formed a type of deal with Threigar. He wasn’t alarmed when I revealed I couldn’t be bound by oath. Instead, he gave me his oath as an incentive. Since he gave me his oath I even told him about Shangrior and said he could set up shop there once we were ready to open our borders. While trade could probably help our people now, the caravans would draw too much attention. The demon nearly shit himself in excitement when he heard about that and waived the annual contract tax for 300 years. I figured I would be dead by then so it wouldn’t matter.

At least it was a start on building allies. Threigar revealed that the old Zelistan king was dead and his son was very conquest oriented, recommending instead I should pursue an alliance with the tribes of Fel-Humans to the south first. Have enough power to dissuade the new Zelistani king from wanting to go to war with us. It was a good idea, but that could wait. I had other priorities

I needed to figure out what I was going to do about the system. Damned if you do, more damned if you don’t. How the fuck do I win? I just want to live a life of my own. I thought briefly about just returning to my camp in the jungle and staying there, but I knew I couldn’t. The Shangriori needed me. Or is that just what the system wants me to believe?

“FUCK! Damn it all to hell!’ I swore at the sky. A few people further down the street gave me weird looks before hurrying away. Yeah, fuck you too. At least you can just live your life. I almost miss Earth when all I had to do was work and pay bills.

“You seem troubled.” A husky voice said from behind me forcing me to tense up. I could smell sulfur wafting from around me. I heard the clicking as more feet filled in around me.

“Just a bit of bad news. I’ll be fine. I appreciate your concern.” I said and turned nonchalantly to face the voice. From the darkness, I saw a group of five armed individuals. The one who had spoken was a red-skinned demon with glowing orange eyes. He could have been human if it wasn’t for his bald head that revealed bony spikes extending up like a mohawk. The demon was bulky. Twice as muscular as I was and almost six inches taller than me. He wore some sort of leather armor with a big broadsword strapped to his back.

A quick glance told me that his comrades were three women and another man. Of the women, one was clearly a succubus armed with a trident and wearing chainmail armor, another appeared to be only bone and sinew until I saw that she had a green sheen that was actually translucent skin. The last woman was impossible to see. She wore a cloak that darkened her face in a way that even my perception couldn’t break. The only reason I could tell it was a woman was her frame. The last man was an imp with a long tail and abyssal black eyes. I tensed in preparation for a fight.

“Woah there mate. We don’t mean any harm. We just couldn’t help but notice that you were coming out of Threigar’s. Do you know the boss?” The spikey demon asked.

“He’s your boss?”

“No. Not really. Everyone calls him the boss because he used to run this town for a while when one of the mayors got killed in a drunken fight with his wife. He gave up the job soon enough, but he’s still a pretty big shot around here. If he takes an interest in someone they usually have a lot of promise. He’s got a good eye for such things.”

“I see. Look, like I said. I just had some bad news, but it will work out. I should be going.”

“Hold up there, let me cut to the chase. I see that you are a physicker. Threigar saw something in you so you’ve probably got skill despite your level. Would you be interested in joining our adventuring party? There’s a dungeon event coming up and we need some more support for our team. Velixen is great, but she can only handle so much.” The demon waved a hand gesturing to the strange, cloaked, woman. I glared at him suspiciously as his stats came up.

Grenthar: Level 24

Race: Salamsi

Class: Titan Guardian

Affinity: Friendly

“You realize that coming up from behind as someone’s yelling at the heavens in a dark street doesn’t do you any favors when making a case right?”

“Sorry, but would there have been a better time? We’ve been here looking for recruits for a week now. You are the first sign we have had of someone meeting our criteria. Your level is low, but that shouldn’t be a problem with a few proper monster hunts. What do you say?”

I stared at Grenthar for a long moment. My thoughts from earlier repeated in my head. Damned if you do, more damned if you don’t. I needed to head south, I had to try to bring in allies for Shangrior. I had to get stronger since it was my only chance at fighting against the system’s whims. I wasn’t the type of person to just run away either. Finally, I nodded.

“I am not registered. If you can help me hit level 15 before I get registered then I will agree.” I needed to get more skill points so I could upgrade my predatory camouflage.

“That’s an odd request, but we can work with that.”

“One more thing.”

“You are awfully needy aren’t you?”

“You’re the one recruiting desperately.”

“Fine, what is it?”

“You have to like animals.”