Его не звали, но он приперся / They never called, yet he is here: Глава 30

Chapter 30

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:14

There are often situations in our lives when we make purchases that we don't need. And it seems to be cheap, almost for nothing, or even for free, but a clear understanding that you have no idea why you bought this thing and what to do with it now haunts you. It's a real-life situation, you could say it's textbook. So I, too, managed to get into it, albeit in a slightly unclassical way. And the "purchase" turned out to be closer to the concept of problematic than useless.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:10

The girl I brought to my shop was just such a suitcase without a handle. It was a test of the Ring's properties, but a sixth-level townswoman was even less useful than a new bread maker, given that I had never used the old one. Frankly, I had found a ballast for myself, one that would be a hindrance to my life. A low-level woman cannot withstand the pace and speed of my travels, will not survive the battles that I get into with enviable frequency, and will demand regular intervention and rescue from me. At least Ygra can stand up for herself in battle, not to mention be an excellent hunter and prepper.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:12

To be quite honest, I used the Ring on her in the first place because I don't feel sorry for that kind of scum. Whether she's pretty or not (between you and me, not really), she's caused the death of quite a few innocent people whom she lured in cold blood into a trap from which they weren't going to be released. Anyway, if the Ring gives her something resembling the aforementioned possibility of gender reassignment, I'll just cut her up and be done with it. Yes, it wouldn't be a very pleasant thing for me to do, but my conscience had gone on vacation anyway, turning over its duties to rationality and a sense of humor. The nightmares would not plague me (rather the opposite), and I would not be sad.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:22

In general, the ideal victim for the experiment. The main thing was not to make a habit of dragging everything that moved into bed. I've been hungry enough since that affair in Ostmark, but not so hungry that I've had to jump on the first pair of boobs (not counting Ygra).

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:27

As I laid my burden on my bed, I watched her change with a kind of surprise, and even, I confess apprehension. Her body was changing right before my eyes. Not instantly, but fast enough for my high perception and inquisitive eye to discern the changes. It was a rather eerie sight, I admit, reminiscent of the ominous valley effect. Seeing such a change is simply unpleasant, even though she becomes, objectively speaking, much more beautiful than she used to be. If her initial appearance had been a C-plus, or even a B-minus, at most, she was going to be a solid A.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:42

The changes were not as drastic as those of Ygra. Still, even the ugliest person would be handsome in comparison to the prettiest swamp ogre. So she remained recognizable, just different. Her skin had lost all hint of wrinkles and scars, her features had become finer and more refined (but still within the image of a beautiful townswoman rather than a fairy), her hips had increased somewhat, and the clothes covering her breasts had become cramped. The overall impression was that someone had taken the collective image of a "young middle-class townswoman," and then sexualized it as much as possible and added to it the features of the original.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 11:46

Now she looked pretty fuckable, I even had to give myself a mental smack. We don't fuck the ones we're going to kill, Kostik. And I had originally cast a submission on her just to see how the Ring would work.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 12:06

I realized that she wasn't going to wake up in the next couple of hours, so I went back to the lab to start preparing for my departure. The shadow sphere would not let me miss her awakening and possible actions, and the clairvoyance would warn me in case of any unpleasant tricks. It is not a sense of danger, which does not react to anything but a threat to life and health! Clairvoyance is far more versatile and multi-faceted!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 12:15

The work was not particularly difficult, but it was extremely... routine. After all the events I had experienced, it seemed very strange to me to do such an ordinary job. Subconsciously I expected some kind of trick or the beginning of the invasion of goblinoids in the city. But everything remained as before. And numerous test tubes and pouches of ingredients were stacked in massive chests. Into the "honestly bought" massive chests went what was not pitiful to lose. That is, pitiful, of course, but not deadly. I collected the most valuable compounds and reagents in a hand-held case, which I came to town with so that if there was a problem, I wouldn't lose the most successful samples.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 12:34

The rest of the wool of the ill-fated yeti went into a separate bag, as did the last two claws. I still hope to find a craftsman somewhere that will make me daggers out of them, because I'm tired of walking with ordinary, not even enchanted, steel in my hands. I'm no fucking hero if I don't have the Mythical Spear of Piercing the Heaven of Virginity. Not that I lacked cool artifacts, but why not?

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 12:36

The equipment was extremely bulky, but it was quite transportable, especially if you have high strength and good Tetris practice. I think I can pack it all into one wagon, or two at the most. Then I'll decide whether to stash all this junk in a cache somewhere and then go light or drag it along at the speed of a normal caravan.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 12:37

While I was thinking about how to neatly stack the distillation cube, my experiment began to show signs of life. At first, she looked around perplexedly, then she froze, and clairvoyance told me that she was reading a status update, followed by a brief moment of panic, then a cautious attempt to stick out from behind the door to the room and all that. After calming down, the girl went back into my bedroom and began to examine her altered body. If the sphere readings are to be believed, the first thing she did was feel her tits. Our boy, though a woman!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 13:50

The jokes didn't stop me from keeping track of her every decision, though, while at the same time remembering to finish my work with the equipment. And then there was some strange moment, as if she decided on something, after which I suddenly wanted to be much more careful with her. The clairvoyance was unwilling to indicate the source of possible... not dangers, not even problems, but just something unpleasant for me personally, but even a hint was enough for me to get serious.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 13:53

The girl sat down on the bed, facing the door, and herself... exposed her torso? That doesn't sound like a clever attack tactic. Or is she trying to seduce me? I'm not going to be seduced! But wait, Kostik, you're being silly again. Remembering the effect that one looks at a naked Ygra imposes, the idea of "attacking the naked front" no longer seems silly. Of course, I could easily repel such an effect, but she doesn't know that! But then what happened to the ring's promised loyalty to the bearer of the artifact?

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 14:35

My clairvoyance told me that fidelity was in place, but the cunning bitch had decided to test her newfound ability on me first, and only then to think about what to do with her lover. Especially since her lover was obviously very badass, and she didn't want to die. What else could she think of my "at least you're not sorry"? No, if she had to go to her death for me, she wouldn't think twice about it, but she didn't want to end up dead without even talking to me properly.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 14:43

I finish packing the equipment and take a step toward the door to the room, but something stops me. It's the same promise of inconvenience and mild unpleasantness that never went away. What makes me think her ability is exactly the same as Ygra's? I never saw her status, so it could be anything. What if there's something stronger than an attractive body?

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 14:46

I'll take precautions just in case.
T.N.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 14:47

I could have gone into stealth, but I preferred to be as cautious as possible. Even if it would be overkill. So instead of walking with my feet, I moved with my steps, finding myself at her back. She still hadn't noticed me in stealth. And I suddenly wondered what I should do next. Put a dagger to her throat and demand Status? It would be silly, and I didn't want to touch her - whether it was contact pheromones or some other nasty thing triggered by a Perverted Mentalist's Ring.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:02

The idea had been on my mind for a long time, but I hadn't had time to test it out. There were all these problems, cults, and other things that kept me from trying the shadow-stealing idea. But I could check it out right now, which I did.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:05

The first attempt ended in the same way as every theft - the possibility of a change of appearance. The second and third attempts ended in the same way, and the girl was already nervous, no longer hearing my footsteps or the sound of dragging furniture. On the eighth attempt, I decided not to take the stolen shadow for myself, but to leave it in place, but under my control.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:09

The result came rather quickly - from the eleventh time, which is a great indicator. Apparently, the Shadows had grown, as well as the two skills obtained for a high score in this characteristic. In any case, the key to victory was the need to carefully dose the power invested and almost stop attracting someone else's shadow to himself, leaving it next to the owner. It seems not to have stolen it, but it is no longer his, but yours... It's completely insane logic, but it really worked that way!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:10

What did I do? Oh, I just remembered the first time I got a point in that skill! It wasn't a disguise that I wanted, but the ability to control the body of the person whose shadow I was using as puppet strings. So I sensibly assumed that higher levels of this skill would be able to do that. I still couldn't directly control someone else's body, and the ability was hardly focused on controlling someone else's body (clairvoyance was back on), but at least I could paralyze someone whose shadow I had subjugated to my will.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:11

And so the girl immediately froze like a stone statue, unable to move a single muscle. Now we're going to ask you what you wanted to do to me. I didn't stall, but before I spoke, I had time to read the system alert about my increased ability in a couple of seconds.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:26

Stealing of the shadow: 2/7

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:29

Allows, with a tangible expense of reserve, to take someone else's shadow, thus taking the form of a stolen shadow; allows to pass off someone else's shadow as your own, deceiving many status assessment abilities; with high concentration, allows to leave a subordinate shadow on the original host, with limited effect on him; When moving sharply, a stolen shadow has some chance to unfold; when actively using shadow manipulation, the shadow can unfold; under the influence of enemy skills, the shadow can unfold.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:31

I noted in passing the happy news of the increased disguise, and made a note to check the range of effects I could have on the owner of the stolen shadow. And then I concentrate on the conversation, as if I really had to deal not with a simple bandit, but with a dangerous adversary.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:38

"No unnecessary movements and nonsense," I tell her indifferently in her ear. "Show me your Status. Complete, with all the new additions. And no jokes, please, I don't want to clean the room of blood."

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:42

Honestly, she wasn't so much frightened as she was outraged and fucking offended! As if I had a reason to trust her, and she wasn't up to anything incomprehensible. I almost believed it, yes! But let me take off my rose-colored glasses because they rub the bridge of my nose.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:43

After about five seconds, I received a new system message that contained exactly what I demanded. And I wanted to find the creator of my ring, and then ask him for the weed he was drugged with. Because any slightly normal person would not think of such heresy. It's not that it's dangerous to me, I can see a lot of ways to use the ring's powers, but fuck that!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 15:51

Name: Tarija

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:26

Race: Human

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:24

Level: 6

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:24

Titles: Companion of the Hero

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:25

Characteristics Points: 0
Class Points: 0

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:26

Characteristics (standard):
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 15
Endurance: 15
Perception: 30
Concentration: 1
Energy: 1

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:24

Special:

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:27

Concentrator of Subjugation (Chest): 9/9 (gifted)

Camrad_RIP 18.01.22 в 22:30

Demonstration of the concentrator to the open eye of an intelligent anthropomorphic being instantaneously suppresses the will; allows complex, multi-step orders to be given to subordinate individuals; allows long-dormant behavioral matrices to be left; the memory area responsible for the moment of receiving the order is securely suppressed; the victim selects logical reasoning for following orders or is not aware of inconsistencies in behavior; allows the victim's memories to be modified broadly; not detected by most of the passive and active

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 16:12

Skills:
Trade: 8 (apprentice)
Thievery 4 (apprentice)
Housework: 16 (journeyman)
Pretend: 21 (journeyman)
Dagger wielding: 5 (Apprentice)
Lovemaking: 14 (journeyman)

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 16:08

To be honest, I found it extremely difficult not to laugh like a horse. No, just think about it and think it through! A skill that has nine levels at once and can penetrate almost any defense is the top tier of the legendary grade. The skin-deprived cultist's ability, also a brain-beater, was probably even weaker. If not in its power, then in its variability.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 16:14

I just reminding you that an attack so powerful on the mind could penetrate even my heroic defenses. I was able to get through it with my Gaze, which offset the effect of the attack. And I don't even want to think about what exactly this pretty lady would have come up with if she had actually managed to catch me on, but don't laugh, her hypno-boobs! Bitch! It's like I'm not in a dystopian fantasy, but in some lame hentai novel!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 18:52

No kidding, that could have been a really dangerous situation. So what if she remained head over heels in love and infinitely faithful? What good would it do if I brought her slippers in my teeth? Perhaps the same Gaze, as well as my dreamwalker skills, would help me shed the nastiness that controlled me, but I didn't want to test that possibility. Certainly not on myself.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 18:59

Apparently, every single one of the granted bonuses was thrown into a single ability, but a really strong one, matching the second, or even third, the rank of at least a legendary class. Too strong to keep me calm, too useful to discard. My dream walker powers so far have been far less comfortable and varied. Oh, man! She now, if she acts smart, has every chance of stupidly taking over the city in her own hands! Show the boobies to all the big shots by going down the chain from the lower ranks to the most important ones, and that's it - Kraj is in her pocket.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:09

And I can't kill her now, because my greed is choking me. I'm not sure if it's almost useless in combat, but it's too valuable to give up such a resource. Even if it is a danger to me, too. But it is precise with the danger that my dreams will help me. They're much slower, of course, and they're not a hundred percent guaranteed, but I can train an ordinary sixth-level townswoman with ridiculous characteristics.
T.N.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:11

In fact, that's exactly what I did, sprinkling some sleeping dust in the face of a paralyzed woman who was beginning to panic. I needed that kind of stuff myself. So I turned her over on her stomach (so as not to get hit by accident) and lay down next to her. After a couple of heartbeats, we were both asleep, and I was determined to get to work.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:24

If my first impression was that Tarya was a complete bitch, then a detailed study of her life only confirmed this opinion. She wasn't particularly bloodthirsty or cruel, but she genuinely didn't care about anyone but herself. And she learned to walk on other people's heads very early on.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:25

The fifth child and second daughter of a not-so-rich family, she was always on the back burner and cared for only when she was remembered. Given the fact that by her tenth birthday the girl's father had been drinking heavily and regularly beating up everyone he could get his hands on, her temper couldn't have been sugar coated.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:26

She got a job early on, where she sometimes stole if she was sure of impunity. She was good at lying and pretending, always getting away with it, even if she had to betray yesterday's accomplices. She even signed up for an adventure with robbery and murder, clearly planning to get out of it in time, and with luck to poison her colleagues, so that they would not betray her person.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:28

The ring was working properly, and she was physically unable and unwilling to betray me, nor did she wish me any harm. But to tweak my attitude toward her, just a little, so that it wouldn't be considered dangerous... why not? Besides, she can have fun with the one she adores, and then erase the memory, or not erase it, but make it my idea. All for the beloved's sake!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.22 в 19:29