Его не звали, но он приперся / They never called, yet he is here: Глава 7

Chapter 7

Camrad_RIP 30.01.22 в 20:24

The journey that followed was filled with danger, ambushes, battles, and adventures, as a true Hero's journey should be... in my mind of the subject. For, in reality, the only creatures that longed for my ignominious death were the same vile creatures called horses. The journey was so boring that I did not fall asleep solely because of my paranoia and the same horses, who were squinting at me with their eyes, clearly thinking about how they would eat my raw and bleeding liver.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:11

Otherwise, the next two days passed without incident, even though I had expected otherwise. But either our covering of tracks was effective enough, or they did not look for us as such, but the result was evident - or rather its absence. The clairvoyance did not sense any interest aimed specifically at us, although the attention of the "mysterious killers" was given. I have no idea whose intelligence they took us for, but the important thing is that they did not follow us. I tried to use clairvoyance to watch the actions of the humans and non-humans who had arrived at the battlefield, but it was not entirely ineffective.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:12

A few times I managed to get a vision of people cleaning up the camp, as well as a couple of conflicts over trophy-sharing. The elves, on the other hand, were clearly using something against the watchers, which made it hard for me to detect their presence alone. I had to deduce their actions from circumstantial evidence, based on the information the clairvoyants gave me. Not the easiest thing to do, providing me with a severe migraine almost continuously, but no more than that.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:14

That's how I found out that the Eared Ones took my remark about caring for freed slaves very seriously. Either they were being noble, which I don't believe in at all, or they were fulfilling the "terms of the deal" I had negotiated with the little brat. At any rate, it was their initiative that prevented the prisoners from being stripped bare, just as it prevented them from being sold secretly to other slave traders. The others, by the way, were denying any connection with the camp we had cut out, and selling each other out at a breathtaking rate. I knew in advance that it wouldn't do them much good - those who were not demonstrably sued would be killed by their rivals or the elves.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:15

There were several attempts to restore the erased memories to the former slaves, but they were unsuccessful, though one of them was nearly killed by some mentalist. After that, the Eared Ones politely asked that the number of rescued slaves not be reduced until they arrived in the city. Yeah, I told them to escort them to town, and then they could slaughter them. But I doubt there's anyone who can break my barrier - I've mopped up the memories to a shine. There's nothing left to recover... ...if you don't bring in some exotic class. I don't know about that, but I suspect that even for my imba will be another imba, and it'll be cooler and more tricky. The elf was not allowed to be interrogated, despite all the requests and assurances of the safety of normal interrogation. I don't know if the Eared Ones had shared the details of the healing ritual, but he would have nothing to say about us - because he'd seen almost nothing, and what he'd seen I'd been far more careful to wipe out than I'd been to the slaves.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:20

Finally, when I realized that no bastard had been sent after us, I knew I could stop torturing myself and go back to normal. No, I would still check the course of events, but not every few hours, giving myself a headache and a desperate desire to open my skull and shovel out the clogged debris - the clairvoyance had not cheated itself, giving away a mountain of junk for every useful piece of information.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:23

Ah yes! Once I was able to see the whole camp from above as if captured by a flying drone. Lots of soldiers running around, a huge funeral pyre so as not to leave a burial ground in the swamp that could turn into a breeding ground for the undead, wagons loaded with slave-traders possessions, and all that. And then there was the lone figure standing in the distance, not interfering with the orderly chaos going on. And the moment I turned my attention to that figure, it flinched and looked up, as if sensing my gaze.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:23

This elf inspired more respect for his race than the average brat - but I didn't get a good look at him, and I didn't want to. I was sure he couldn't see me: his attempt to activate his clairvoyant counterpart had been detected by me and neatly sidetracked by my unexistence skill, without letting him realize that his search had been deliberately misdirected. But I shouldn't tease him just like that, for he was simply unsure of his senses now, and could write off the sudden feeling of looking to the ritualist's house next to him, where it still had too much of a Shadow background. But if I delayed, I would arouse reasonable suspicion, and at the same time give him information that someone who was watching him possessed clairvoyance at a high level.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:26

Do I need it?

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:28

Definitely, I don't need it.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:29

For the rest of the day, I focused my attention solely on people, not hurrying back to the Eared Ones for no good reason. However, the humans were still as human as ever. At least, because there had been three dueling over trophies (naturally, arranged to look like decent human beings, not looters), two of which had ended in death. Greed is more reliable than steel, as I've noticed more than once.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:50

Another break, during which I again had to dodge a well-aimed hoof poke in the forehead, meant that I knew clearly - that was it. The team had recovered from the battle and the excitement of it and was ready to share their accomplishments. Moreover, Tarija was bursting with the desire to show herself off and brag about how cool she was. I didn't make a big deal out of it, just sat down on the lined horse blanket and said:

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:51

"Show off!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:53

The morons somehow managed to determine the order of precedence without words, giving the right to speak to the highest-ranked one, i.e. Locij. He had the least to say because he didn't take a new class, only raised his level and earned a couple of titles. This is in his own words.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:54

Reached level thirtieth. Two titles - Combat Unity and We Were Few. Unity increases dexterity and perception by five, making it easier to interact in team battles, literally feeling the moment of the most successful interaction with allies. The second title is legendary, plus five to all stats and a free class point. Given, apparently, for defeating a superior enemy with the help of a small number of allies.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:55

He tried to speak as calmly and impassively as possible, but I could sense his pride. It wasn't just standing on the sidelines while someone else did all the work. Now he had won the title himself, really himself, by his toil and blade. For a young and ambitious lad, it was a good reason to be proud.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:56

"I have the same titles, and I suppose Hans does, too." Tarija jumped in, not wanting to keep up with the Duelist she disliked. "It's like the title you showed us, only weaker because we weren't alone, we were in a group!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 07:57

"Uh-huh. They gave me those two, too." Happy as if he were in a royal wine cellar, says the tracker. "That's not what's bothering me. What the hell am I supposed to pick for second class?"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:00

"And for me for the first one! And there are so many options!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:00

"Tarija, calm down!" I can't stand it. "Everyone here knows perfectly well that you're the best of the best and you're cute in general, but don't interrupt people, it's not nice, it's not polite and it's uncivilized. And before you brush these arguments aside, I'll also add the fact that it pisses me off!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:03

There was a second of silence, after which I immediately calmed down and even found the rest of my tact to apologize to the offended girl - her tactlessness was far from serious enough to react that way.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:12

"I'm sorry, my head hurts too much." Tiredly explaining my position. "I had to keep track of what was going on in the camp, so I couldn't get a good night's sleep or a good night's rest. I'm sorry again, but you can be a bit quieter."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:13

"It's okay." She realized that I wasn't angry, and took on a carefree look again.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:15

"It was okay with me, too." Hans didn't notice any problems at all, for in his life his commanders didn't yell and swear, but talked in foul language regularly.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:18

"I see no reason to quarrel here." The aristocrat was, as always, high-spirited, but quite calm. "So much pressure? Is it some sort of sensory skill? If so, it has an amazing range."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:21

"Yeah, but it works very selectively and intermittently." This is where I cut the explanation short. "Let's get back to the classes. Hans, you go first."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:22

Instead of answering, he silently sends us all a copy of the system message, which lists the classes given to him. Six choices are quite a lot, especially when you consider the classes themselves.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:23

Congenital Adventurer (epic)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:23

Magical Shooter (epic)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:24

Master Jaeger (epic)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:24

Forest Shadow (epic)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:25

Walker of the Trail (epic)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:27

Sniper (rare)

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 08:25

"Holy shit!" Tarija couldn't keep her mouth shut, ignoring the judgmental stare from Losij, who was barely used to Hans' way of speaking, but who was sickened by the scolding from the pretty girl's mouth. "Five epic ones at once! I've only heard of these before!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:00

I, on the other hand, pay no attention to the team's negotiations with each other, trying to understand as deeply as possible the possibilities the classes offer. Even if there is a little clarification here, it is far from being detailed. The headache, of course, will be brutal, but this is fixable.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:01

"Two purely shooting classes at once, although you don't like bows." Losij remarks, staring blankly ahead of him, concentrating entirely on the text. "And they both have very nice skills. And while the Sniper's more for someone who wants to make a living as an assassin or a member of the secret watch, the Magical Shooter is interesting. What do you think about that?"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:03

I don't know about the shooter, I've never heard of them before, and taking a sniper would be a shitty decision compared to the others. I've seen these fuckers, but they weren't very impressive, yeah. Hit, bitches, very far and accurately, but in close combat, our squad leader could cut them, and he was a simple soldier, the most ordinary grade. So, no, shooters aren't mine.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:07

Hans's refusal to become our long-range artillery is very unpleasant - after all, there are no good archers among us, except for the old warrior. But when you think about it, we don't really need archers. A healer would be much more useful, especially a normal healer, not what I have instead of healing abilities.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:09

"Forest Shadow, if my memory serves me correctly, is originally considered an elven class. I can't judge without access to the family library, but in my opinion, this class is a pretty rattling mix of standard archer, ranger, and assassin. It's logical to assume that this class is only fully revealed in the woods."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:10

"Then fuck it off." The pathfinder shrugs it off. "We don't just go through the woods, we can get into trouble in other places, too. And I fucking hate elves, too."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:17

"What do you want, Hans? Always no, no, no?" Sourly asks Tarija, who has fallen out of the discussion and is not the least bit pleased by the silence. "Epic classes are power. And you're being picky."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:18

"Oh, who'd be yakking to me about being mean, wench." The man only waved her off angrily. "I would have chosen the master or the walker as the best for me. I've been a trailblazer all my life, and I loved it. I don't see any damn reason why I shouldn't strengthen that class with a second. Tytergic, as you smartasses say!"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 15:37

"Synergistic." My inner grammar-nazi corrects him, and then I ask. "Can you say something about the classes themselves?"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 15:37

"Our centurion, who was in charge of all the reconnaissance, was a Master Jaeger. So I'll tell you frankly - the forest was not just his home, but his personal bitch, spreading her legs at the first flick. And in combat, he was just as good as any other fighter. Too bad he got called back to the Capital just as he was getting his epic class, but that's what the pussies in the tuxedo division always did. Whenever someone jumped over his head, he'd get a transfer so he wouldn't stand out."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:23

It was also a lingering wound - Hans had fought and buried his acquaintances quite often. He had never (before our meeting) gone up against any really dangerous creatures, but there were regular skirmishes was regular, as punny as that sounds. So he could feel the difference between having a strong fighter in his squad and not having one.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:24

"For the last two, I will say, if I may." My "modesty" caused only a chuckle from all three of them at once. Not a bit of respect for my person and my pathos. In retaliation, I start to deliberately stall, increasing interest, which I achieve... not an apology, but an attempt to tickle me by an angry girl.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 15:46

"Okay, okay, calm down, beauty, I'll tell you everything." While this unscrupulous manipulator came to her senses from the "beauty," I changed my position and finally talked about what the clairvoyant had told me. "So, guys and gals, the only thing I can say about the Adventurer is that he's very average. Class pluses allow you to accelerate the learning of various combat and not-so-skills. Master on the fly does not become, but to master, the basics will come out literally a couple of days of intensive training. There are all sorts of abilities, but they're all too different to stick to one theme. This class will allow you to be both a warrior, and stealth, and a mage, and at quite a serious level, but against the really powerful owner of the epic class you will be better not to go out. I bet that the class was specifically created for a loner with a bias towards finding all sorts of trophies and treasures. The same old grave digging that you were doing before we met, only you'll be able to do it almost single-handedly."

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 09:35

Once I've given this information, I shut up and wait for Hans to respond. The latter is silent, obviously going over the options in his mind - I can physically feel how much he likes this option. Maximum independence and survivability, the ability to avoid or fight most of the possible threats in his life. Before we met, he would have chosen this option without a second thought, but now he was far from alone, making this class from a treasure to a liability.

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 10:00

"Yeah, it's about time." The man, disappointed in world justice replied. "What about the Walker?"

Camrad_RIP 01.02.22 в 10:01