Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: Глава 13

Chapter 13

Camrad_RIP 21.07.21 в 12:27

The large troll, nearly two feet tall, spat and backed into a thick tree. The other, smaller trees, he'd just blown down on his way here. He was fleeing.

Camrad_RIP 21.07.21 в 12:36

Trolls don't keep track of time, they don't have a fixed calendar. There is day and night, winter and summer. The last summer had been very good, nourishing. His search for food after winter led him to the outskirts of the great forest, and here he came across tribes of men. The weak and deaf-mute humans were very easy to hunt. When he was hungry, he could literally catch one or two in a couple of days. Of course, the humans quickly realized there was a hunter, and even tried to hunt him down and kill him. The troll then did a good job of replenishing his meat supply, some of it even rotten. The humans became afraid of him.

Camrad_RIP 21.07.21 в 13:03

He became bolder and even stopped camouflaging his lair. On the contrary, he began to decorate his surroundings with bones. Wolves, humans, and even bears began to avoid his lair. There were no strong beasts so far from the heart of the forest, and the others recognized him as the strongest. So it was for the whole summer.

Camrad_RIP 22.07.21 в 05:06

When that human female in black showed up, he was surprised at the insolence and a little relieved. The prey had come on its own. He crawled out of the den to meet her and tried to drag her into the depths, and then realized that now he was the prey himself. The female grabbed his finger and easily broke his entire hand with a single tug. She would have torn it off if the troll hadn't given in at the last moment. So he just slammed his head against the wall.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:38

There was no place for resentment or disappointment in his worldview. He very easily accepted the fact that someone stronger had appeared and made him his own prey. It was a given that the strong would devour the weak. The troll had long been strong and ate the weak. Now someone stronger has come along and will eat him. If he catches up, of course.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:39

She caught up. It had been a long chase, starting at sunrise, and now it was a hot afternoon. The troll was quite adept at ambush and stealthy travel through the woods and knew the local swamps and ravines well. At first, he even thought he could get away with it, the stalker disappearing from his perception now and then.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:40

Alas. For this insanely strong female, it was a game. She amused herself by making him work hard in this pursuit. Giving him hope that he was about to get away from her. It was all in vain. When the troll realized that trickery would not work, he tried to just go deep into the woods. That's where this female could find a more interesting target.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:42

It didn't work. Now the troll realized it for good. There was no point in running, no point in surrendering without a fight. The broken arm was healed, and he took hold of his club. It was a good club, made of the bone of some unknown beast whose remains the troll had found a long time ago. It had served him well for years. Sturdy, heavy. And useless.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:44

The wait was short. Soon there was the rustling of metal and the sound of footsteps, and then a human female appeared. She was dressed in black, from neck to toe, with black hair flowing down her armored shoulders. At a leisurely pace through the clearing she'd left behind, she approached the troll.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:53

He already knew the price of this slowness. With a short growl, he swung his club warningly, sweeping away the surviving undergrowth. He swung it once, didn't have time for a second. The second swing was too easy, and with it, the pain pierced his arms. The club continued to move, and the troll's hands along with it.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:54

A female voice was heard, from behind him. A deep, soft, very scary voice.

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 20:54

"You don't want to play anymore?"

Camrad_RIP 23.07.21 в 21:09

The troll turned with his whole body, trying to nail her to the tree, and was unsuccessful. His thick knuckles thudded into the trunk of the tree giant, and sharp pain and nasty weakness spread over his stomach. He looked down. The hard belly was ripped open and its guts were already spilling out. A new flash of pain pierced his back. His legs became abruptly false, and the troll fell.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:16

"It's a shame to kill you like this."

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:17

Sharp pain in the neck, and the whole body became strange.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:17

"You understood right away, and you did everything right. I'd even respect you if you weren't such a wimp. It's true."

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:19

The pain in the neck was replaced by dull indifference, and his eyes went black. The troll's mind resisted for a few more moments and finally faded.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:20

Draga deftly tossed the monster's head into the leather sack and tied the straps. She didn't even bother counting how many times she'd done this. Three or five, whatever. It was always the same anyway. Those who think they are powerful monsters are so self-confident that they don't even try to hide in any way. Bears, ogres, werewolves. The troll at least amused her a little with his attempts to escape.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:21

Boring.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:22

Of course, the Prophet warned that this would be the case. At first, at least. Still, she hoped she would find something to be proud of. In vain.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:23

The town she was sent to was unpleasantly squalid. It was small, dirty, and smelled like an orcish cesspit. The weak and arrogant people who lived there complemented it like worms complement a lying corpse. A harmony of disgust. She would have loved to turn it into a black-flamed pit, but...

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:24

'You will become one of the adventurers, the local mercenaries. Perform their tasks, gain reputation and fame. The more fame you gain, the better. You will divert all attention to yourself. Unwanted ones included.'

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:25

She must become the best mercenary. The most famous and the most respected. She must be the most visible to the powers that be. The rest of the Prophet's agents and he himself will be unnoticeable against her background...

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:26

And if these 'powerful ones' turn out to be the enemy, it will be her who will have the honor to take their hit.

Camrad_RIP 24.07.21 в 17:34

So, the eradication of this abominable shithole was postponed indefinitely. As much as it saddened her, the Prophet's will prevailed.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:31

There were no significant problems in the Adventurers' Guild. Of course, the stranger was looked upon very obliquely. Especially since she could not write or read the local language. That was strange - there was no problem with speaking. But with writing, there were a number of inconsistencies. She could not understand the local scribbles, and the natives understood neither Latin, nor Cyrillic, nor Kanji.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:33

She didn't really care. So she didn't understand what was written, so what? Let them explain in words where to go and who to kill. There was a hitch with the first time, the administrator tried to mumble something about her duty to understand what was going on. One slap, and the understanding was established. One mission, and the question simply never came up again.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:37

There was another conflict. Her newly acquired colleagues had tried to point out her place. By that time she had learned to restrain her powers, and there were no fatalities. Some fractures and internal bruises, nothing serious. Strangely enough, the men held no grudge against her. Now, if she showed up at the guildhouse, she'd form an entourage. They're eager to learn how to fight from her and even offer her money to beat them half to death. And not just adventurers.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:38

Well, there's a mutual benefit. At the same time, she learns not to kill or maim. It's not so easy, as it turns out...

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:40

Draga snapped her fingers. The shadows of the trees and ferns curved strangely and merged into one big patch at her feet. In a few moments, the simple shadow became a huge blob of impenetrable blackness. The blackness stirred and rippled, and a large stallion of the same color floated out of it as if it were on the edge of the spot.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:42

Draga slapped the nightmare on the withers, jumped into the saddle, and hitched the bag to the saddle. She had to hurry, she didn't want to waste more than one day on one task. Sure, Nightmare wasn't the fastest mount, but it was the least strange to the natives. She should be considered human.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:45

* * *

Camrad_RIP 22.07.21 в 20:47

In the cozy office on the second floor of the E-Pespel Guild sat two persons. The Guildmaster was at a desk by a darkening window, and opposite, in a padded armchair, was a thin girl with blond hair tied in a ponytail.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:47

Guildmaster of E-Pespel took a deep breath.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:48

"Lady Tia..."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:49

The girl with the cold eyes tilted her head to her side.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:50

"Master Miran. We've already discussed it. If your new recruit is really that good. Then she doesn't belong in this hellhole."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:54

They had been arguing for over an hour. Though it was rather difficult to call it arguing. Miran, of course, is the head of the guild branch, and formally has a higher status. But E-Pespel is a deep province. And Tia is a member of the adamantine-ranked team. One of the two strongest on the continent at the moment.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:57

"Let me at least keep her for a month, please. There is literally an invasion of our outskirts from these damn woods. Not a day goes by without a clash with the greenskins. Every man counts."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:58

"And how would you handle it if it wasn't for the occasional recruit?"

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 17:59

The elderly man grimaced and adjusted his monocle.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:00

"As usual. But it's going to be very expensive. It's not even about the budget, although that too..."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:01

"There will be losses of staff. They are much harder to replenish than the treasury. Talent is so rare..."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:02

"Master Miran. Are you the head of a branch of the world's most reputable non-governmental organization, or a boarding house for noble ladies?" Tia asked harshly.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:04

The question was rhetorical, they both understood that.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:04

"The weak will fall. The strong will rise."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:05

Miran answered irritably.

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:05

"And when they are raised, you will appear again and take them away, won't you?"

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:05

"Perhaps," came the cold reply. "It's not a question of my personal whim."

Camrad_RIP 25.07.21 в 18:06