Teeth and fists clenched, he gave a nod. "It's them. They're the handlers I hired only to later turn on me."
I looked at the men again, barely able to stand with how drunk they were, clearly just out of a nearby tavern. Remembering every horrible thing they had put Dungeon Master 09 through, I understood what needed to be done. Taking determined steps toward them, I was on the verge of lunging when suddenly Dungeon Master 07 wedged himself between me and the men.
Glaring at him standing in my way, I spat, "Get out of my way."
Not backing down, he glared back, his tone firm and almost scolding, "What are you going to do?"
"Exactly what you think I was about to do," I said, trying to walk past him. He grabbed onto me, locking me in place. I turned to face him, in a frenzy and about to use my eyes on perdition, but managed to refrain just in time, stuck there glaring at him.
"Dungeon Master 08," he said in a voice that was both scolding and disappointed, "We've talked about this already, have you forgotten?"
"No, I haven't! The thing is, I have a good memory," I snapped back. "And I remember clearly that what we talked about was not having the time to go after them. They’re here, within our reach. No need to go after them, we just have to give these lowlifes what they deserve," I seethed, my bloodthirst seeping potently into my voice.
Dungeon Master 07 looked at me with annoyance and clear disappointment, mixed with anger. He pushed his hair back, then briefly stared at the sky before telling me, "Dungeon Master 08, you're letting emotions cloud your judgment."
"There's nothing clouding my judgment. I’m rational. It is you who isn’t making sense. Look at Dungeon Master 09 and dare to tell him that we are to let go of the people who wanted to kill him, would have killed him had it not been for a skill. Dare to tell him that we are to let those bastards," I looked at them as they took their left, getting out of view, prompting me to add in an even more fervent voice, "—get away."
Dungeon Master 07 glanced at the conflicted Dungeon Master 09. I could tell that just like me, he most likely wanted the bastards gone even more than I did. But he couldn't do it himself, so he relied on me. However, that required me to oppose Dungeon Master 07, who was against this for whatever reason.
To tell the truth, I understood the reason he didn't want me to go after the treacherous handlers. From the very moment I understood that there was something he wanted to keep as "clean" as possible, as proven by the fact he was worried I had the kinslayer title, a title that sentient races, especially humans, didn’t view nicely. I understood. In fact, I never questioned. I waited for him to talk about whatever mission he needed me for, as he seemed to have deemed me qualified for it. But now, faced with this, I couldn't comply. The idea of just letting the men go unpunished was one I couldn't swallow. Considering that line of thought, I realized that perhaps emotions were clouding my judgment, but still, I firmly believed I was the more rational.
Looking at Dungeon Master 09, Dungeon Master 07 looked openly conflicted. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions. Dungeon Master 09 remained stoic, his face a mask of conflicting desires. He yearned for retribution, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Yet, a flicker of understanding shone in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the bigger picture Dungeon Master 07 seemed focused on.
Sensing an opportunity, I stepped forward, forcing my voice to remain calm despite the simmering rage within. "Look," I began, gesturing towards the direction the men had vanished, "At the rate it’s going, they’re going to get away with what they did if we don’t come to a compromise."
Dungeon Master 07 remained silent, his gaze unwavering, but I detected a flicker of something in his eyes, a hint of begrudging acceptance. "What do you suggest?"
My voice firm, I explained, "I can make them pay for what they did to Dungeon Master 09 without this becoming the mess you’re afraid it’ll devolve into."
A muscle twitched in Dungeon Master 07's jaw. "Explain yourself," he finally said, his voice low and guarded.
I met his gaze head-on, a steely resolve in my eyes. "I can avenge Dungeon Master 09 without resorting to bloodshed. Grant them a taste of the fear and desperation they inflicted on him. I can make them regret their actions tenfold, make them—"
"I get it," Dungeon Master 07 cut in, with a sigh. Finally, he let go of my arm.
Dungeon Master 07 studied me for a long moment, his brow furrowed in thought. There was a hint of skepticism in his eyes, a question of whether I could truly do it. Part of me felt insulted at how little trust he had, while another part felt he wasn’t wrong for trusting me so little. In fact, I felt he was wise to do so.
"You're certain you can pull this off?" From the way he voiced his question, it came across as a straight challenge.
A wry smile spread across my lips. "I am," I said, confident.
He didn’t seem at all convinced, but at least he looked resigned when sighing and turning to glance at Dungeon Master 09, whom he asked, "Are you alright with this? Or perhaps you too want to do it with your own hands?"
Dungeon Master 09 considered his answer before speaking, "I want them to pay, but just like I couldn’t do anything back then, I can’t make them pay myself. I’ll let Dungeon Master 08 handle this for me."
Dungeon Master 07 mumbled, "I see," then added, "Then we’ll do as you say."
"Leave this to me," I said, more to Dungeon Master 09 than to Dungeon Master 07.
Just as I was about to take my leave, Dungeon Master 07 called after me, "We’ll talk about this."
"I'm sure we will," I replied, turning around. "Don’t wait for me for lunch."
***
The scorching sun beat down on my back as I navigated the maze-like streets, following the four staggering drunkards. Their progress wasn't much faster than a snail's pace. Their groans and stumbles drew the occasional wary glance from passing citizens. My plan, however, required a certain amount of discretion. I needed to separate them from the prying eyes of Miriandelle.
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For a quarter of an hour, I shadowed them, weaving through the back alleys and crowded markets. Finally, one of the men, his face a sickly green, stumbled away from the group, muttering about needing fresh air and followed by the others.
Realizing this was my opportunity, I kept trailing them into a narrow alley where the one leading them promptly doubled over, spewing forth the contents of his stomach onto the cobblestones. A strangled cry escaped his lips, lost in the symphony of drunken revelry echoing from the other three, who found the sight amusing, laughing at it until another one also felt like emptying his stomach.
The bastards didn’t notice me approaching, at least not until I was just a mere half a dozen meters away. A cruel smile played on my lips.
"Feeling a little under the weather, Mister?" I purred, my voice dripping with venom.
The closest man, who’d been too focused on the task at hand, whipped around, his eyes instantly widening in terror. The moment he locked eyes with me, a horrifying transformation occurred. His face, already pale from alcohol, drained of all color, becoming ashen. He clawed at his throat, his eyes bulging as he gasped for breath that wouldn't come.
It wasn't a physical reaction; there were no visible signs of choking, but the agony contorting his features was unmistakable. He fell to his knees, his body convulsing as he fought an unseen enemy.
"Greck!" one of them bellowed, his voice thick with alarm and confusion at the sight of their comrade writhing at their feet. Their eyes darted between me and the man, suspicion dawning.
"What have you done to him?!" another yelled, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.
I wanted to respond with a withering retort, unleash a torrent of icy fury upon them. But the promise I'd made to Dungeon Master 07 echoed in my mind. No messy displays of power in the middle of a bustling city. Freezing them into living ice sculptures was tempting, but too conspicuous. Here, I needed a touch of subtlety, something my usual cryomancer-like arsenal wouldn't provide. Thankfully, as a sorcerer and very precisely a Hexcaster, my repertoire held other tools, among which [Legacy of Agony] was one of them.
With a mere glare, I reached into the well of horrific memories I'd collected over time. Truth be told, I didn't torture bandits for my own amusement, well yes, but not just for that. I did it out of a morbid necessity, a way to amass a diverse collection of terrifying experiences. Each memory, when cast upon a target, elicited a different reaction. The one I chose for these two fools wouldn't draw screams, wouldn't alert the entire city.
The two men I had cast the ability’s effect on, in an instant, experienced the suffocating terror of being submerged underwater. Their lungs burned, their vision swam, and a primal fear of being trapped with no escape gripped them. They gasped, clawing at the air, their faces contorted in silent screams. One by one, they crumpled to their knees, then to the cobblestones, their drunken stupor replaced by a chilling dread.
Reaching down, I met the terrified gaze of the man whom I'd spared the ability but instead immobilized with my [Eye of Petrification]. He was completely still, a statue carved from fear. "Wh...who are you?!" he rasped, his voice a mere whisper.
A part of me wanted to answer, to relish in their terror. But ultimately, it wouldn't serve any purpose. Their punishment wasn't about answers, it was about them understanding the consequences of their actions.
"It doesn't matter," I hissed, my voice cold and emotionless. I stared into his petrified eyes, searching for the perfect memory to truly break him and his friends. The options were near endless, but limiting my options to ones that wouldn’t make a mess, the corner of my mouth tugged upward.
***
Once I finished dealing with the four handlers, I made my way to the Seagull's Nest to join Dungeon Master 07 and Dungeon Master 09. I felt in a much better mood now; the only thing that would have made me happier would have been giving them the bandits' treatment. But doing so would have earned me a spot on Dungeon Master 07's bad side. Despite how often that happens, I don't particularly like doing that, even though it might seem like I do. In fact, I wished all my stances aligned with Dungeon Master 07's, but clearly, that wasn't the case, like it was with dealing with the treacherous handlers. Despite regretting that we disagreed on it, I felt no regret about what I did. In fact, I felt even better.
Feeling light as a weightless feather, I muttered to myself, "This is how it should be."
On my way there, I noticed a stall on the side of the street, something on the stall attracting my attention. I approached it.
The stall was vibrant with various fruits, crates filled with green apples, red apples, plums, and berries of all colors. The owner, a tan-skinned woman, noticed my attention and welcomed me.
"These fruits come from the latest caravan; they're fresh," she said, her voice warm. "What'll it be for you? Apples, plums, jujube—they're very sweet." Following my gaze to the display of berries, divided by color, she smiled. "—or berries?"
***
A little bag in my hands, I entered in a rather joyous mood the Seagull's Nest lobby. My eyes scanned for Dungeon Master 07 and Dungeon Master 09. I found them at our usual seat, facing the entrance. Dungeon Master 09 was the first to notice me, and a genuine smile manifested on my face as I approached, taking a seat at his side, facing Dungeon Master 07, who bore a stern expression.
I just sat down and felt engulfed in a gloomy mood.
"What happened here? The mood is almost as gloomy as it would be in a funeral," I asked, knowing it wouldn't help.
Curious about the matter, Dungeon Master 09 asked, "You've dealt with it already?"
I nodded. "Yes, I've dealt with it. Fast, right? Don't worry, despite how fast it was, I've dealt with it properly."
"I see," Dungeon Master 09 mumbled with relief.
"I've even got you something on the road," I said, putting down a little basket I had purchased to store the fruits.
Dungeon Master 09 tilted the basket to peek into its contents. "Berries?"
"Yes. Do you like blue berries?" I asked, eager to hear his answer.
"I guess I don't hate them. Thanks," he replied.
"You're welcome," I said with a bright smile. At that moment, my attention panned to Dungeon Master 07, who was looking at me with an apprehensive look.
"You look in a good mood. Do I have reason to be concerned?" he asked.
"Concerned? About what?" I replied sassily, briefly turning around to motion at the owner to bring me the usual. Turning back to see him still as stiff, I added, "Chill out. There's no funeral today."
Dungeon Master 07 seemed to consider whether he had reason to worry for a few minutes, but as my lunch was brought over and the girl who brought it took her leave, he finally returned to normal.
"Since you both seem satisfied with this outcome, can we agree that this is now behind us?" he asked.
Dungeon Master 09 nodded, and I responded, "Of course," before adding after a short pause, "unless..."
"Unless what again?" Dungeon Master 07 sighed.
"Unless we stumble again with the instigating handler, which, from what I've gathered, he isn't with the others, so technically it should be really behind us. Unless... but once again considering the likelihood of us stum—"
"Sigh, enough. I get it. Now, can we get back to what truly matters?"
"Of course... of course."
"While you weren't here, Dungeon Master 09 and I discussed our plans and goals for the future. I heard his, he heard mine, and we'd like to hear yours. What have you planned for the future?"
The question reminded me a lot of the ones I'd seen on TV being asked during interviews: "Where do you see yourself in the future?" When asked that question, I didn't need long to ponder, as I had just happened to figure out the answer on my way here.
With emboldened confidence, I said, "I want to get stronger, not just for the sake of being strong, but because I want to be strong enough to take him down."
"Him?" It didn't take Dungeon Master 07 long to figure out who "Him" could be referring to.
As of now, there were two potential candidates: one was our treacherous fellow reincarnate, who happened to be well-protected with three Seraphims on his side, meaning the chances of me taking him down were rather low—very low. That left only one possible candidate, the man who caused the demise of Dungeon Master 10, the alleged One and Only Emperor Cleon.
Seeing a change in Dungeon Master 07's expression, I immediately added, "Now, before you come to any wrong conclusions, can we agree that he has to go down, getting in our way to ever get anywhere as strong enough to challenge the Seraphim? Well, I want to be the one to take him down."