Chapter 932 - Three memories

Brich, who had been quietly fiddling with the ant-antenna headband on his head, lets out a snort.

"She called your shirt stale pond-ice, Nathaniel," he says.

I look down at my frosty-green polo. Stale pond-ice? It was the nicest thing in my closet.

I think.

"Fair enough," I say to Fiona, leaning back into the leather armchair. "I can respect a creature that knows how to hold a grudge before we've even properly introduced ourselves."

The axolotl's external gills move slightly as Dame Vesta stares at me for a while before looking away in a manner that leaves me surprised I haven't heard a loud "hmph."

"She can be rather outspoken and distinctly cold toward those unfamiliar to her, utterly refusing to let the possible danger temper her behavior. Which is precisely why it is a blessing she has me to ensure she does not manage to get herself killed," Fiona says with an amused smile playing at the corners of her lips. "She likes to claim that being 'friendly' is a trait best left to working-class bonds."

"I have something to say to that," I say. Noticing the axolotl's face turning to me and her gills frilling, I add, "Come on, it is not me asking to pet you again." Leaning back, I look at the bond and give a slight smile. "Before this event ends, you'll be the one coming to me."

A short silence that begins to stretch to longer and longer fills the parlor.

It would continue for even longer, but Brich breaks first. "What sort of tension is this that I feel?"

"Screw off." I wave him off. When I look away from him and back at Dame Vesta, she is already hiding behind Fiona's neck, much to what seems like a slight surprise from Fiona.

"Well, if this isn't new." The fresh S rank chuckles and takes a puff, blowing a tiny bit of smoke at her hiding bond. "Guildmaster Gwyn, now that I have you here, it reminds me that I met Lady Hansen not that long ago."

"During some networking meetup?"

"Oh no, we were both gambling."

"I see."

"It is something I would hardly be permitted to indulge in back on my homeworld, as I am bound by the expectations placed upon one of royal blood. Yet here, I have permitted myself to become... well, mildly corrupted. Your companion has managed to relieve me of quite a few shards."

Looking at the redhead, I cannot help but feel a bit sorry for her. Though she does not seem naive, I am confident that this noble isn't that experienced, and Tess sank her fangs into her to help lighten her pockets.

It is a bit evil, but I approve.

But when Brich laughs shortly and also adds, "Oh, I lost to her too! A few months' worth of my Crimson Forge salary!"

I blink twice, wondering what the hell that blonde has been doing as of late.

As if noticing something in my expression, Fiona gives a slight smile. "Please do not worry about me. She has won fair and square, and honestly, I have come to harbor a bit of fascination for her. Though not of a royal bloodline herself, Lady Hansen reminds me of our former queen, may she rest in peace. Of course, she lacks in protocol, behavior, and such, but she feels like the royal bloodlines of old, back before it all got bogged down by rules, ceremonies, and the like."

Fiona glances back at Dame Vesta, who I guess might be shouting at her for such blasphemous talk, while the redhead just continues to nod and agree with a polite smile.

After that, we sit there for a while longer and plan out a meeting in two days on the second floor. There being three of us is likely due to there being three monsters. If not, then it means Ruby expects the three of us to be needed to face just one of the event monsters, which would be highly surprising.

As a Ruler, she likely knows more, but the fact that she didn't share more information probably means she is already bordering on breaking some sort of rule she doesn't want to break. Possibly so she does not have to deal with Diligence breathing down her neck.

I wonder what sort of deal she made with Brich and Fiona. I know Ruby wants the reward for some reason, which must mean she knows what it is or highly suspects it. Personally, I strongly suspect the reward will be just as unusual as the monsters are.

The reward being a prototype is likely a stretch. I know what sort of achievements I had to complete to get a class that offered me prototype skills. Killing a monster, even if it ends up being unusual or of a Champion grade, simply cannot compare with that.

There is also a chance it is something pulled out of the old system database, just as there is a chance these unusual monsters are from it. So maybe that is it?

Sure, I could ask Ruby, but where is the fun and sport in that? I want to find it out on my own and then be extremely smug about it.

When we are done with our small team-building, Brich holds the door for Fiona and me as we exit. We almost continue through the hallway when Fiona suddenly stops and turns back to look at the door to the Golden Parlor in confusion.

I look that way as well, and the door is made of the same polished wood as before.

"Wasn't there a metal plate here previously?" Fiona asks.

"I bet some underpaid servant stole it! It was a really nice metal plate," Brich says while nodding seriously.

"Please, Lord Brichant, don't be ridiculous. Why would anyone do something so..." She shakes her head and begins to walk away. "How weird."

I quietly follow behind the two of them until we get outside, where we split up, and everyone goes their own separate ways.

Later that night, it is me, Jean, Gareth, Savant, Baek, and Derick sitting in one of the fancy inns I have reserved just for us, using my power as the guildmaster of the Primordial Knights.

Now all of us sit in what feels like an outdoor, natural geothermal bath, which is part of the terrace that sticks out over the city from the mountain. It is a private area, and just a step outside of the bath gets you onto a gently lit terrace with a table full of food and drinks.

Down below us, the city spreads out, filled with dim orange lantern lights and lamps cutting through the dark fog. I can hear the faint, distant hum of the night market.

As of late, it has started getting slightly colder here on the 4th floor. It is nothing that a bit of thermal energy wouldn't deal with, or some decent physical stats. But recently, I have caught myself often choosing to reduce that resistance to allow myself to feel the cold. My body sometimes feels way too hot due to my heart, and I also like the feeling of sending away the chill by wearing warm clothes, hiding under a blanket, or sitting in a hot spring as we are doing now.

Though there is a charm to being able to walk in a short-sleeve shirt through a blizzard.

Jean barely leaves Derick's side, surprisingly gentle for a man built like a brick wall as he shows a deep tenderness for the man who recently lost two people dear to him.

Gareth is similar. Even though he is the oldest here, he has an unexpectedly fit body, and his gray hair and beard are well taken care of. It might be silly with how things are, but everyone here seems to listen to him, at least unconsciously, as he is the oldest and most experienced among us.

I say it is silly because what is fifty, sixty, or however many years old he is in comparison to some beings in this very city?

Savant, Baek, and I, meanwhile, are clearly the most awkward. Savant has his usual distant vibe to him and even sits to the side. Meanwhile, the Korean "king" lazily rests on the edge of the hot spring, turned towards the city but with his eyes closed.

Meanwhile, I observe Derick and the others while trying to enjoy the bath.

Derick seems better than before, though he is still far from his usual self. He looks like he has lost some weight, and his tattoos are emphasized because of that. There are even some new ones. Yet he still has that tough, wiry muscle feel to him as he moves. He listens to Gareth and shows appreciation to Jean, and together they drink some expensive alcohol that I or the Primordial Knights will likely pay for.

I don't even try to stop them, and when a servant appears once in a while, I ask for more and better drinks. That doesn't go unnoticed, and Jean moves through the water to me just to tap my shoulder with a smile and to tell me to eat more, especially protein.

We spend all evening and most of the night alternating between going into the bath and stepping outside into the cold air to eat something. They even do some light arm-wrestling, and later Jean starts a competition to see who can jump the highest and belly-flop into the spring.

With the stats most of us have, it doesn't even hurt, and the intention seems to be to create the highest possible splash or something. I truly am not sure, as most of us end up at least slightly drunk by that point. Maybe it is because of the mood, or maybe for Derick, but we do some more stupid stuff, most of which I would rather not remember.

Just a bunch of mostly drunk men doing silly things.

It is almost morning when we finally get to move to our rooms to take a rest or wash up and head back to do our stuff. Everyone else seems to be almost gone, but Derick remains, stepping into my path until I come to a stop.

He looks at me for a while and then just reaches his hand towards me with a simple, "Thank you."

Looking at him, I return his firm handshake, then watch as he slips back into the hot water, rests his arms on the edge of the spring, and stares out toward the city, mostly lost in the dark fog.

As I make my way towards the second floor of Beyond, I stop briefly on the third, visiting the Black Tower outpost where the Doc is currently located for a bit of experimentation and an update on my plans.

I get a few pieces of advice, though I don't know how useful the one telling me to find a way to change my race into a lynthari is. It seems to be possible according to his words, but that is all I get on it.

Apparently, I must deserve it and want it, so it requires an effort from my side.

The sort of effort I entirely lack.

While I sit in my room in this branch of the Primordial Knights, I spend my time training. I will have a meeting or two later, and the Doc will want to see me again, but for now, I also work on the three memories of the Demigod that I tore off.

All three of them are something that grabbed my interest. Even though I am far, far away from being a mind mage and will never be able to do some things Sophie can, at that point the Demigod and I were connected so deeply that it even realized it was a tutorial, and the system didn't stop it.

That is why, just as it peeked into my memories and past, I was able to glimpse its own. Well, somewhat.

The three memories I wanted to see are simple.

A memory from the World of the Gods where the Demigod was born.

A memory of meeting one of the 100 Progenitor Demons.

And a memory of witnessing one of Pride's attacks.

It might take a little while longer for me to wrestle them out of the isolated space in my mind and make it so I can observe them, but I am a very determined man when I want to be, and damn, I really want to see any of these.