Headed By A Snake

"I! AM! IMMORTAL!!!" With a frenzied roar, Barza slashed the heavy blade at Hisato. A wide crimson line opened on his chest, bloodily staining the man"s green robes.

Hisato regained his balance and glared angrily.

CHNK! The sound of a crossbow resounded throughout the forest as Hisato retreated backward. "Who dares?!"

Tycon emerged from the shadows as he approached the ruined man lying in a pool of his own blood.

Barza looked up with tearful eyes at the green-haired youth. "Sir Tycon..."

It was over. He did well. He would finally be praised. "May I have... Your permission... To..."

Barza"s consciousness was fading fast. He struggled to voice his final wish. He had only made it this far thanks to Tycon"s training. He desperately yearned for the cold-hearted man"s approval, to be granted permission to die. Only then would he be able to find peace in the afterlife.

Tycon glared down, his face contorted in disgust. "Permission denied."

Tears flowed unceasingly down Barza"s eyes as he sobbed in pain. He had failed.

Tycon shook his head, incredulous, "Is this the best you can do?"

[Inspirational Surge conditions met. Activate? Y/N?]

« Activate. I"m feeling generous. »

[Activating.]

Tycon began pouring water onto Barza"s open wounds, was.h.i.+ng out blood and wooden debris. Barza sobbed in pain. "Whyyyy?"

"Hygiene. Lowers risk of infection. I don"t know why you"re asking. This should not be new to you."

Tycon nodded, seeing that the man"s grievous wounds were healing. With the wet blood was.h.i.+ng away, the flesh visibly regenerated and the wounds began to knit... He"d remain stable, but he wouldn"t be combat-ready for a few suns.

"Who are you?! Answer me??" the green-robed man demanded. Tycon looked above the man"s head to see the transparent name, Hisato.

Tycon sighed, searching for an answer, "I suppose... I"m a guardian of sorts. And these idiots are under my charge-- Oh, not the one in the crystal, though."

Hisato nodded in understanding, "I have no quarrel with you, Expert."

Tycon nodded, "Indeed. And neither I, with you." He picked up the ringed saber. Hm. Heavy. He tossed it back to Hisato, who caught it with ease.

Hisato gave a polite bow, his eyes remaining forward. "Regarding harming your man, I ask for the chance to explain."

"That won"t be necessary. I do not intend to interfere. I am merely here to collect my men... And I"ll be taking the blonde kid, too."

Why shouldn"t he?

Hisato s.h.i.+fted his weight, his mouth twitching. He didn"t understand the green-haired youth. He was someone who could hide his presence. Without an incantation or a focus or even so much as magical gestures, he was able to heal a fatal wound. And the degree of respect and fear that Warrior Lone had given the man was baffling.

Hisato couldn"t afford to offend the man before him.

"That is... Very well. House Muto only requires the girl."

Tycon recovered Bucket"s broken spear and walked over to him, lying unconscious against the crystal, "And who gave you permission to rest?"

[Inspirational Surge con--]

« Activaaate... »

[Activating.]

Bucket stirred awake, catching the rod that Tycon tossed to him. "S-sir Tycon?"

"Wake up, Bucket. We"re leaving."

The boy shot up, ready. Tycon had already begun walking away. Bucket looked mournfully at the crystal, before calling back, "Sir!"

Tycon stopped walking and waited. After a moment, he half-turned in annoyance, "Out with it, young man. Hesitation does not suit a leader."

Bucket grinned like a fool. "Sir Tycon! Can you break open Taree"s prison?"

Tycon turned to face the boy, "The girl?"

Hisato spoke loudly from a distance, "Great Expert, it"s not possible, the crystal prison can only be dispelled by a formation guarded by the--"

« System, inquiry: About how hard is that green crystal? »

[System response: The crystalline substance is similar in hardness to mithril.]

Tycon drew the sword on his back.

[Shatterspike. Second-Circle Magical Longsword. Deals increased damage to weapons and objects.]

Tycon stabbed into the crystal with ease, shattering the crystal prison, its shards dissipating into mana dust and blowing away. The normally expressionless Hisato dropped his jaw and stared in shock. This Great Expert! He DEFINITELY couldn"t afford to offend him! And he had to do everything in his power to bring him to their side!

The foolish-looking girl stared blankly at Bucket. "Warrior Pale? Why are you-- what"s going on?"

Bucket turned to Tycon, his eyes full of confidence. "Sir Tycon! I want the guild to accept a contract!"

Tycon felt an oncoming headache, "What is your intention, boy?"

Bucket took hold of Taree"s hand, sending her into a furious blush. "Kimura Taree... My name is Pale, son of Quay, the greatest gladiator in the Western Continent, WARRIOR of Guild Invictus!!"

Despite her redness, Taree managed to respond, "Invictus Pale! I, Kimura Taree, wish to contract Guild Invictus to House Kimura, to be compensated fairly and adequately."

Bucket nodded, "Your enemies are mine."

"and yours, mine."

Tycon mentally groaned, "What is with this pink atmosphere? Is this a mercenary contract or a marriage?""

"Sir Tycon," Bucket had approached Tycon, looking up.

Tycon frowned, "Out with it, boy."

Bucket gave a salute, his palm to his chest, "Will you support me as you supported my father against Hisato and his family?"

Tycon narrowed his eyes, returning the salute.

"You"ve denied me the opportunity to choose." He pointed, "That"s Hisato, right there. And you"ve just declared war on him."

Bucket bowed, tears starting to form, "My father said you were the most honorable man in Invictus."

Tycon lowered his voice, so only the boy could hear, "I won"t embarra.s.s you in front of present company. But I *will* get you back for this, boy. Do you understand me?"

Bucket grinned, wiping his tears, "Yes, Sir!"

"No! Great Expert! What is the meaning of this?!" Hisato screamed in panicked rage.

Tycon sat on Bucket"s log-- huh. It was more comfortable than he a.s.sumed, "This young warrior and young lady seem to be at odds with you. I intend to sit here and watch them... Do you have a problem with that?"

"Great Expert!" Hisato still couldn"t believe what was going on, "You would take orders from a CHILD?!"

Tycon raised an eyebrow, "Child or not, the boy is part of our Guild Invictus. The contract is sound."

Hisato pointed angrily, wincing in pain and gripping at his chest wound, "I will pay you! My whole family will buy you! The Muto family has 10 times the amount of coin and resources as the Kimura family!"

Tycon took a deep, disappointed breath, "I, too, would have preferred working with you. You seem to be a rational gentleman. But per the Adventurer"s Guild rules, Guilds cannot break an established contract outside of extraordinary circ.u.mstances."

« System, inquiry: Is what I said the truth? It sounded like it made sense. Not that it matters since this gentleman doesn"t seem familiar with how we operate. »

[Affirmative.]

"This is MADNESS!" Hisato exclaimed, raising his ringed saber in a combat stance.

"No, this is business," Tycon replied without hesitation.

Bucket smiled brilliantly at Taree, "You ready? We"ll attack him together!"

Taree nodded excitedly, her short silver hair bobbing, "Yeah! Let"s kick his a.s.s!"

Tycon frowned. "What a rude little girl."