CH742

After Pato was released and Fone was found, Ben focused on giving a fuller explanation of events while Thera worked on healing them all. No one was without injury and even if the chimeras would surely heal on their own, it was better to get it done and over with then as the rest of their quest went on.

A quest that finished easily enough compared to the disaster in the middle, with no great issues presented in the last two demon swarms no matter how on edge they all were as a result, with the invaders numbers cleared out before that second day was through, letting everything come to an end for them to make it back to the gate.

There was no air of victory or success though. Both the adventurers and chimeras had been left humbled by how things had turned out which was felt in Fone’s final words.

“Well, no matter what happened, just remember why we were sent out there,” The oni told them, trying and failing to put on a positive tone. “We’re here to give a report and that’s exactly what we’ll do. As our employer said at the very beginning, you can hand it off to any guild on the gate network once you finish writing it up but otherwise you’re all free to leave. It’s been a pleasure working with all of you.”

With no long goodbye, people began to part, though nearly all of them stopped to give Ben their thanks or a nod along the way for what he’d done until it was only himself, Thera, and Fone left.

“Ah, bit of a shame, I wouldn’t have minded talking to Pato a bit more,” Ben said. “Wonder if I’ll get another chance?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Fone told him. “Rank one quests may not be common but there also aren’t many of us. It wouldn’t be a shock if we’re called to help with something a bit more bloody before the final wave rolls in.”

Final, huh?

That one word was enough to tell Ben where their temporary leader sat when it came to expectations on how it might go but he didn’t comment beyond that, only giving a smile.

“Well, if we get the chance it would be good working with you too, Fone. If we end up on another quest together I’ll make sure to treat you to a decent meal again.”

“Should the opportunity come I’ll look forward to it,” He smiled back before offering both of them his hand. “It was a pleasure working with the two of you, and Ben, I don’t take having my life saved lightly. If you ever need anything, feel free to send in a message through the guild.”

“Alright, I appreciate it.”

“Good. Now, I must be on my way but be well.”

With one last nod, he went off, leaving only the two alone and let Thera drop some of her professionalism to slump on his shoulder.

“Well, that was a nightmare.”

“Yeah, it was. Manage to get your fill of excitement from a rank one quest though?”

“Well, the parts where interesting things were happening I was a puppet and the boring parts I was an observer so that is going to be a big no. Plus, I now need to write a proper report which is not going to be fun.”

“Oof, yeah, that would suck,” He agreed as he materialized a thick bound book in his hand, the report he’d been constructing in his head since the quest began instantly completed while Thera tried to reach for it.

“Come on, just a peek.”

“Nope, sorry but you need to get your thoughts and opinions down before you’re polluted with mine.”

“Mmh, is there any chance I could get you to just read my mind and then materialize whatever thoughts and opinions I’d formed during all of this?”

“I mean, if you really want me to, I can.”

“...No, I’ll write this stupid thing for my stupid aunt,” She sighed at the end before glancing back his way. “So how was fighting me?”

“The most horrifying thing I’ve ever had to do. If it wasn’t for the fact that the demon seemed to really want to get its hands on my brain then I think I would have died and even then I feel like I came uncomfortably close. I’m also a little uncomfortable with how that answer seems to be perking you up.”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about, exhaustion and strain must have made you delirious.”

“I don’t think I can get delirious at this point. Looking to beat me up so badly?”

“Ha, I think it’s just nice to know I might still be stronger than you.”

“I feel like the words ‘might be’ are a pretty severe understatement here. Please don’t pull me into the center of the planet or rip me apart cell by cell if you start feeling unconfident.”

“Mmh, you don’t have to worry about that but a proper spar between us could be fun one day.”

“Can I politely pass?”

“For now.”

“...Okay, I’ll leave my worries for the future then. So what now? Head back to Stonewall for the night? I’m looking at an early morning.”

“Or you take a break for a day after we just went through all of that? I’m for sure taking one.”

“Ah, maybe in a couple after,” He told her happily, finally sharing his good news now that they were alone. “All of that worked out a fair bit better for me than I let on. Not only did I finish a whole bunch of levels, I completed my job. I’m already basically shaking to see how many people accepted my request.”

“Gods above, maybe I really won’t be stronger than you much longer if you’re really going to finish so many jobs.”

“Well, seeing as how I’d actually need to train under all of those bonuses first I’m still not beating you out any time soon and besides, it’s not like I’m not going to help you finish all of your jobs too.”

“Mmh, no,” She told him, shaking her head. “Focus on helping our friends.”

“What?”

“It’s not like I’m going to have many good options left,” She shrugged. “And most of what I still have won’t even give me major bonuses. It’s better to spend the time helping others that could actually take advantage of it than waste the opportunity on me when a decent demon hunt would get me a bunch of levels for most of what I have.”

Even if he didn’t completely agree, he could at least see the logic in it so he didn’t put up too much of a fuss, even if he added one request.

“Okay, but depending on how things work out I’m hoping you might join me with master of all whenever you take it. That would free up a couple of the positions in the party and would mean I could take an extra person I actually care about on top of the added satisfaction of knowing I’d helped you out.”

“Alright, fine, but seeing as how you’re not going to do that tonight, come on. After all that, I just want to sleep.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan.”

Even after being healed, Ben was still strained in ways that only proper rest would help and with plans for the future dancing in his head the two went home for the bit of peace they would get.

Author's note

Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. End of another story arc and I gotta say, wow. I sincerely hope you all enjoyed it because trying to write a story where the antagonist could look into the future seriously broke my brain, I was getting migraines at some points. I'd said early on in the story that backwards time travel was impossible because of how complicated it would make things if I allowed it (and also because I kind of hate backwards time travel in stories for reasons too long to leave in an author’s note) but I did not think about how hard prophecy would be to write. Never again. I also hope the demon referring to everything it controlled as limbs properly came across as it only able to look at others as either targets or potential extensions of itself. That was the goal at least, you decide if that was actually clear.

Let's see, other than that though, as always I'll try to give some positives and negatives so for the positives I'd say I’m generally happy with how this one turned out, even if that’s a bit underwhelming as far as positives go. That may have to do with how many times I’ve gone over and edited this arc though, too much editing kills a bit of the magic for me when it means I’ve probably read each chapter at least five times.

And now let's look at everyone's favourite, the negatives! Woo!

Now, there's only one that really sticks out to me but it's something I had issue with in the outsider arc and I think I've fully realized what it is now. In both arcs I had antagonists who didn't really play off others, it didn't give them as much of a chance to develop their personalities which I think weakened their characters compared to what you'd get from a villain who has someone to talk to. I don't know, I just think it makes it more fun compared to having the bad guys characterization being defined by their actions and what's in their heads. Something to consider more deeply in the future but for the time being I think that's all for me so hope you all have a good one ❤️