Chapter Twenty-Two #6
“And he was shit at the game,” I made sure to add on. “It sounds like someone else brought him here, too, and it sounds like we’re in some kind of contest now. And from the way he phrased it… I’m guessing whichever one of us dies first loses.”
Frolin, surprisingly, had something to say on the matter. “You told us before that this Seth fellow got in trouble for dating multiple girls, right?”
“Yeah?”
“And this new punk from your world was brought here by a goddess?”
“Right.”
“Hmm… if I was writing a story where I wanted a setup like this… aha! I would have the scorned goddess send a champion after Seth’s chosen champion to ruin what he cares about! Since there probably isn’t much she can do to him directly, I’d have her target his passion!”
“So, you think that this mysterious goddess sent him here to kill me for revenge against Seth?”
“That’s how I would write it, but you never know. They do say that reality is often stranger than fiction. Something that would make a good twist or motivation in real life could be seen as terrible, lazy writing in a story.”
Jeanne then spoke up to say, “Excuse me, but if he said there can only be one winner—implying that coexistence is not possible—there must be some rules at play.”
“Hmm, she’s right. Then maybe… aha! Some third party has officially sanctioned this match, and whoever wins will help their respective god win!
If you,” Frolin looked at me, “win, then Seth wins! If that punk wins, his goddess wins! Because a draw wouldn’t decide which one of them wins, only one of you can survive!
Either she proposed it to defeat him and ruin his passion in one go, or he proposed it because he’s confident that you’ll win! ”
“So,” I said. “In other words, because Seth was a cheating womanizer, I’m now being forced to defend him in court with my life.”
“Well, it’s just a theory, but it’s as legitimate as anything else until you hear from one of them yourself.”
Rosie held my hand and asked, “Are you okay? How do you feel?”
“I’m fine, just annoyed. But… that bastard already implied he’d be fine with killing me. If he wants to insult this world and trample all over it while telling me to my face that he’ll kill me, I can’t be blamed if I make the first move, right?”
Normally, someone in my position might be opposed to violence.
They would want to talk things out. Look for a third option.
Even if they had no problem killing monsters in a dungeon all day, they would never dare think of killing another human.
If they did kill another human, it would only be after they were forced into a corner and left with no other option.
But I didn’t become a vampire because I planned on dying.
I became a vampire because not even time was allowed to take me from the world I loved.
And I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone take me away from my new family.
Jeanne showed me a proud smile and said, “As far as I am concerned, he began a fight to the death as soon as he made his intent obvious. Only a fool would wait for the other to make the first move.”
“Red dragon is mine,” Lupa said. “Threatened to kill Master. She lost the right to her life.”
Then there was Rosie who sighed and said, “I’ll have to teach those other girls to have some standards. I’m supposed to be the easy one, but those girls might as well go after a dead roach if that’s their taste in men.”
I was too lucky to have such wonderful companions.
Though, I was worried about Frolin and Ailsa. What if they got caught up in trouble because of me? I didn’t want—
“I can tell what you’re worried about, dear,” Ailsa said to me. “Don’t you worry about us. I still have my hammer in the closest.”
Frolin practically swooned at his wife’s words. “And I’ve still got my staff.”
“You know,” I said. “I know you two used to be adventurers, but what levels—”
“Forty-nine,” Frolin answered.
“Fifty-two,” Ailsa said.
I blinked a couple of times when I heard that. “Aren’t you two ridiculously strong compared to most people here? I thought the low forties was as high as the pros have gotten?”
“That’s true for most,” Ailsa said. “But Frolin and I have always been considered weird by others. So, don’t you worry about us, alright? And if you would like help at any point, please let us know.”
“I’d feel guilty getting you two involved after everything you’ve done for me… but I’m not going to turn down any help.”
“Good answer,” Frolin said. “I was gonna be real pissed if ya rejected our offer. Family’s got to look out for each other, right?”
I felt uneasy the entire conversation, but Frolin washed away most of my fears with that one sentence.
Even if it was already more than obvious, he reminded me once again that I wasn’t alone—that I had family who actually cared about me in this world.
Family who wouldn’t just abandon me because I wasn’t good enough for them.
Family who was willing to protect me even if it meant putting their own lives at risk.
Someone who didn’t appreciate the beauty that this world had to offer didn’t deserve to live in it.
“Alright,” I said. “I’m not going to waste time letting him consolidate power more than he already has.
He already formed a guild and looked like he was trying to recruit as many girls as possible, plus I’m pretty sure he’s fucked his way through the whole church already, so I’m going to need to get more allies myself.
Level and gear gaps can’t make up for an overwhelming difference in manpower at our levels.
” I looked at Ailsa and Frolin. “You two are stronger than the rest of us combined when it comes to the system, so could you spar with us?”
“Spar?” Frolin asked. “You won’t get experience that way, and you could get combat practice and experience if you keep doing what you’ve been doing in the dungeons.”
“I plan on that, but here’s my logic. One, this is a real world, not just a video game.
Having real muscle, speed, reflexes, and combat experience is a force multiplier on top of having levels, stats, skills, and gear.
Even if those things don’t show up on a stat sheet, they still exist and still matter.
You all probably have that since you were born and raised here, but I don’t, and I know that bastard won’t, either.
Two, monsters and bosses are predictable by design.
They have set patterns and moves and don’t deviate from them.
Humans are different. We need more experience fighting enemies we can’t predict.
Jeanne and Lupa are good for me and Rosie to spar with, but they need someone strong to go up against themselves. ”
I thought I was just speaking common sense, especially since we already sparred just a few nights ago, but everyone looked impressed by that for some reason.
“You’re going to go far in this world, darling,” Ailsa said. “Goodness, hearing all of this even makes me want to go back to adventuring. What do you think, dear?” She placed her hand on Frolin’s back. “Should we get our old party back together after this?”
Frolin looked concerned about that idea. “Only if those girls have calmed down. I’m too old to deal with them trying to get in my pants every five minutes.”
“They’re still unmarried last I checked. Won’t you spare them from a life of solitude?”
“I can barely keep up with you, so—”
“Mom!” Rosie whined. “Dad!”
The devilish parents let out sadistic chuckles over the despair of their daughter.
Rosie then looked at me and said, “I’ve got some friends who can help, too. They’ve been adventurers for a while already.”
Me and Lupa both looked at her with disbelief, but I was the only one who asked, “You have friends?”
Rosie narrowed her eyes at me again. “Why would you think I don’t have friends?”
“Well… you’ve been spending all your time around me, and I haven’t heard you mention them before.”
“Do you think a girl who just fell in love and is spending all her time with her new boyfriend is going to be thinking about her friends much?” Then she switched to whispering to herself.
“Especially when those same friends are going to cling to my man like crazy as soon as they find out about him and beg me to share…”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Rosie sighed. “Of course you are.”
“Only because if they’re people you consider friends, then I’m sure they’re great people.”
“Well… I do have pretty good taste in friends, if I may say so myself.”
And then there was Jeanne who finally spoke up again. “I have been hiding from my father’s spies for centuries now. If it would be valuable, I can track that man’s movements and gather information for you.”
“That would be a huge help,” I said. “If possible, learn as much as possible about their classes, levels, and gear.”
“I shall. You should also be wary of him having the same idea.”
“I’m not going to underestimate him, I promise you that. I’d rather overestimate him and treat him like he’s the smartest man alive than make a single mistake from underestimating him. That’s why I’ve already got countermeasures in mind.”
“Countermeasures? May I ask what kind?”