2-29 Take Hate
The weather had fully turned autumnal, with a slight chill in the air.
I headed to the magitech shop Imani Munyu first thing in the morning.
The store was already open, and a clerk with impressive wings sprouting from his back stood there looking bored.
"Morning."
"Morning. Is the thing ready?"
"That magitech item? Should be. Want me to call him?"
"Please."
From the back of the store, a short-haired clerk—Jiro—poked his head out.
"Man, it's early. Way too early~. I'm still half-asleep here."
Jiro wasn't in his usual work clothes; he was wearing thin, fluorescent-colored sleepwear. Pajamas, probably.
"Hey, go put on proper clothes!"
The voice of the clerk who'd gone to fetch Jiro echoed from the back.
"Aw, c'mon, it's fine. So, the magic gun, right? Tzi's grabbing it now, so just wait a sec... nmph."
"You look sleepy."
"'Cause I just woke up. Haven't slept more than two hours..."
"Well, as long as the maintenance is done. Can you explain it?"
He rubbed his eyes and let out a massive yawn.
"Fmya~... Uh, yeah. I checked the circuits and optimized the magic flow, but the effect'll wear off quick. Don't get your hopes up too high. The overall design seems pretty simple, but... the magic stone parts are a total mystery~..."
"Got it."
"You might not get this, but... if it breaks completely, no one in this country could fix it. Handle it with care."
"Yeah. So, ten silver coins was the price?"
"Hmm? Yeah, but I barely checked it over, so half's fine~..."
"No way!!"
The male clerk burst out from the back in a panic.
"I told you not to haggle on your own! And half is way too much. Seven silvers at most."
"Fine, fine, seven it is?"
"Yeah... seven silvers. Here."
I pressed the coins into Jiro's still-flimsy hand. That left me with one gold coin and a bit of change...
"Thanks for the business~."
I took the magic gun from the male clerk, Jiro's drowsy voice fading behind me as I left the magitech shop.
I waited in the plaza near the city walls and gate.
With some time to kill, I grabbed breakfast from a street stall. Thin crepe-like dough made from... wheat flour? Filled with sweet-and-savory braised bird meat.
It was a pretty common style, but tasty enough.
Even similar menus varied by location or stall—some hits, some misses. That's the fun part.
Sarsa, the appetite demon, went for the fruit-filled version at the same stall. Fine, but isn't that dessert?
Who knows, but she seemed to enjoy it. We munched away leisurely.
"Yo, sorry I'm late."
From the far side of the plaza, opposite the gate, a figure waved and lumbered over.
Still a ways off, but the booming voice and massive build made it obvious at a glance.
It was Undefeated Ramza, the guide I'd hired for this trip.
"You eat yet?"
"Yeah, nah, not yet, but I'm good. Still got last night's booze in me."
"Hungover...?"
"Not that bad. It'll burn off while we walk."
"Right."
His steps seemed steady enough, so... probably fine?
"Anyway, lemme see your gear first. Didn't hear squat about that."
You were drunk when I hired you, after all.
I'd even half-doubted he'd show. Sorry for doubting you.
"Yeah, this is mine. Magic sword, technically."
"Huh."
He grabbed the greatsword I'd shown him casually, squinting at the details.
"Ain't no ordinary blade... but a magic sword? You ain't a swordsman?"
"...Mage-type job. But I use this for melee too."
"Huh. Unusual."
Ramza nodded a few times in approval, then jerked his chin at Sarsa.
"And the lady?"
"Sarsa, go ahead."
"Yes. I use this bow. Archer job."
"Bow, huh..."
"Problem?"
"Nah. I'm just no good with 'em. Can't teach archery, but I can drill ya on positioning."
"Got it. Please do."
"Still, magic sword and a female attendant... baggage?"
"You think I'd mention it if there was?"
"Fair. Won't pry."
"Good."
Ramza muttered it like he truly didn't care, and just as quickly lost interest.
"So, route and goals? Usually hash that out ahead..."
"Yeah, my bad—shoulda scouted again. Route's to the southwest campsite, then poke around the shallows. No specific targets. Wanna fight various monsters, learn as we go."
"Huh. Not after a big score, eh? Better that way—cocky young punks die quick. Schedule... week, right?"
"One day travel. Three to five exploring the camp area. One back."
"Yeah. Got the week clear. Take it easy."
"Not too easy..."
We chatted as I handed over ten silvers as an advance.
Schedule might shift a bit; settle the rest on return. We cover consumables during, so Ramza's fine with post-pay. Just splitting for trust.
From street talk while hunting him down, he seemed reliable enough.
"So, Ramza... what's your gear?"
"Me? This."
Ramza grinned crookedly, spun around, and unslung a massive disk from his back—big enough to hide half his bulk. A thick, pointed spike jutted from the center.
"Deeper in, I'd bring a second. But low levels? This suffices. Right hand's a shortsword."
He drew a small sword hidden behind the giant disk spike shield.
"Locks onto the shield too. Handy, right?"
"...Pretty unique."
The central spike and all the gimmicks—fascinating. Real deal shield?
"Job... can I spill? Guardian. Ring a bell?"
"Nah, not really. Thought Shieldbearer, maybe advanced?"
He barked a cheerful laugh, shaking his head.
"Nah, you don't know. Guardian ain't weapon-locked like Shieldbearer. Taunter, protector... west calls it tank. Fits that role perfect."
"Defense specialist, huh."
"Yup. Fight sans shield, skills guard nearby allies. Downside: barely any attack skills."
"Makes sense."
"Don't wanna brag and tempt fate. That's enough."
"Uh, sure."
Ramza reslung the round shield.
(Tempt fate...?)
One phrase caught my ear, but he said it casually, like common knowledge. I'd ask Sarsa later.
"Our jobs seem pretty different from yours. You good?"
"Training? No sweat. I handle all weapons, teach basics anyone uses—positioning and such. That's the deal, right?"
"Yeah. Please."
Only basics from Elliott's party so far—footwork, stealth, etc.
Goal's fundamentals. No complaints. Time to grind.
"Take Hate!"
Ramza bellowed, and a shimmering white wave-effect spread out.
The bigmouths—rat-type monsters—sniffed and turned to him en masse.
I slashed an exposed flank on one, kicked the convulsing body away.
"What the hell?"
"Surprised? That's my skill."
"Take Hate... pulls aggro?"
"Yup. Forces nearby enemies—or whatever I see as foes—to target me. Dunno how."
"Don't ask skills for logic..."
"Heh."
Take Hate. Archaic grammar aside, pure MMO tank skill.
Pulls aggro, draws fire, shields allies. Peak guardian/tank.
"Works on everything?"
"Nah, spotty. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Crowds or tough foes resist. Big monsters especially."
"Gotcha. People too?"
"Not much PvP, but seems so. Just a split-second grab. Pros counter easy."
"Handy as hell."
"Right?"
I'd been tanking with defense magic, but a real tank would ease fights big time.
Though... image of a burly old dude fits. Full-time? Nah. Slave price? Sky-high. Could buy several beauties instead. Shame.
"Rest are boring. You'll see."
He sighed, bundling the lightly massacred bigmouths.
"You dissect?"
"Kinda... Sarsa's better."
"Impressive."
Ramza shouldered three rats, lumbered to Sarsa, dropped them.
"Split the work. Could teach, but speed matters."
"Yeah."
I grabbed two—or three—from the pile Sarsa skipped, joined in.
Glanced at Ramza for method; he gutted roughly. Standard it is.
Slit belly, peeled skin, yanked guts—felt a hard lump by the stomach. Magic stone. Small monster, but had one. Irregular, tiny, cloudy white. No premium vibes.
"Show me your skills by camp. Secrets fine, but I'm staking my life. Wanna know the rundown."
"Got it."
"Yes."
Sarsa chimed in. Order: me, Sarsa, me again? Wait, no—me first, then her.
We'd veered off the road, hunting along it. Took a solid two-three hours for the next.
A long-horned deer-type monster.
"Branchhorn. Manageable?"
"Let's try."
Branchhorn—formally branch-antler deer? Massive branching antlers, two pairs tangled per side. Deer-ish, but does had 'em too. Not Earth deer.
"Fireball."
"Kyui!"
I spawned and hurled a fireball; it dodged gracefully with fancy steps, charged lightly.
"Charge attacks, huh."
Antlers screamed it.
"Firewall."
Sword ready, magic flowed; timed defense spell.
Firewall on a whim—scare it?
"Kyui!?"
Deer startled, but mid-air stepped around the flames.
"..."
Mid-air dodge? Stunned a sec, then charged while closing.
Deer retreated, looped back.
"Firewall."
Second wall; as it adjusted mid-air, body-boosted in. In range—mindless swing.
"Gyuii!!"
Blood sprayed; it stiffened.
"Fireball Rush!"
Sword-tip barrage through the gap.
"...Kii!"
Shrieked, tumbled. Hip-thrust stabbed root; flailing, "Heavy Blow"—guts eviscerated.
"That'll do."
Ramza called.
"...Hoo."
Wiped blood-clot swordrag, sheathed on back.
"Roughly that. Defense magic specialty—use for melee. Attacks too, but weak as shown."
"Heterodox mage... wasteful. Mages mean offense, firepower."
"Maybe. Practice makes perfect."
"Melee's decent—for a mage. Versatile tricks. Boost attack power? Top-tier merc material."
"Thanks."
Flattery, but Interferer cheats did the heavy lifting. Can't gloat.
"...He always like this?"
"Yes... pretty much."
Ramza eyed Sarsa, exasperated.
"Always?"
"Top merc talk, blank face. Baggage vibes..."
"Hey—"
"I know, no prying. Said before."
"Fine."
"But post-contract? Saza Mountain duo's rough."
"Hm. Yeah..."
Was mulling guild party matchmaking. Decisions...
"Want intros? Better than blind hunt. Skills, personality—solid."
"Oh?"
"Decide by hunt's end. Their schedules too."
"Roger."
Ramza seemed mentorly; guild ties. Credible. Good lead.
Self-search? Hassle. Perfect timing.
Sarsa's "Far Sight"—no demo fight.
Explanation dull; let her lead scouting.
"...Bit far, but kairados flock."
"Kairado? Can't see..."
"Far right, circling swarm..."
"That? Handy."
"Hunt?"
"Nah, no anti-air. Boring for small fry. Bypass."
"Yes."
Proved Far Sight; skipped anyway.
Kairados: small bird monsters.
"Sarsa, shield up."
"Ah, yes."
Sarsa touched bracelet left; magic membrane at face-level.
"Oho? Skill?"
"Magitech. She shields with it, supports bow rear."
"I see."
Ramza poked the membrane curiously, impressed.
"But attendant... Sarsa. No attack skills?"
"No... regretfully."
Sarsa hunched apologetically.
"Hm, lacks 'em? Can't help that."
"Her accuracy's top-notch."
I backed her instinctively.
"Not bad. Duo balance? Maybe."
Me: sword-magic, melee to sniping.
Sarsa: bow support, far sight recon.
Few-man party, complementary.
"But you... Yoyo say attacks weak. Firepower light."
"True."
Ramza defense too. Shortage glaring.
"This hunt's shallows near camp. Fine. Next? Party up, intro or not."
"Yeah..."
Meet his contacts?
"Who're they?"
"Hm? Few options... likely the odd couple."
"Odd?"
"Er... ace swordsman, attack-mage wiz. Don't look it."
"Don't?"
"Swordsman's scrawny... personality curse? Species trait? Mage... meet 'em."
"R-right."
That lineup... enthusiasm dipped to worry.