Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Read online

  “You’re right. I’m afraid I don’t—”

  “It’s a refugee camp. Judging by those they’ve put on guard duty, I’d say the vast majority of the inhabitants are not what we’d call the ‘civil’ races. I’m sure there’s normal races in there too, but really now.”

  Runner paused to pick out the patrol on the far side of the wall before they turned the corner.

  “That looks like a Demon or something. That big one with it looks like an ogre to me. Rounding out that little group I swear is a Troll. At the gate we have a Dragonkin and a Minotaur. Just on the inside is a Dryad talking to a Gargoyle. It’s like a freakin’ leftover lunch of every dungeon from here to…”

  Runner stopped as his mind processed his last statement.

  “They’re refugees from dungeons. There’s still a large number of people like me in the world even now. Before I got rid of the large numbers of them that I did, they were all running around clearing dungeons. These are those who fled, rather than wait and die to the next group. Or so I’m guessing. Which means they’re all Awakened. I had nothing to do with this. The server itself is coming to life. If it isn’t already Awakened.”

  “That doesn’t sound reassuring, sir.”

  “It means they’ll all have a shot at living a life, but it definitely means we’ve lost a bit of our edge.”

  Runner shifted his way backwards out of the bushes and moved to a sitting position.

  Pulling out a long piece of wood, he tried to settle his nerves. Keeping his hands busy always managed to calm his mind and put him on track to solving problems.

  He had carved a series of trees and leaves into it. Small woodland animals were here and there, and overall, it had a tranquil forest feeling to it.

  Runner pulled what looked like a handle from his inventory and fit it onto the carving’s only blank spot.

  “What are you doing?” Sophia asked, having taken the seat next to him.

  “Making Belle a bow.” Runner slid the handle down an inch and liberally applied an agility epoxy to the two parts he’d be joining together.

  “Ah.” Runner knew without looking or guessing that Sophia was now considering the fact that he had not yet made a weapon for her either.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “That it is, Grace. Forests and critters for elves. Cliche, I know, but it works.” Runner shrugged his shoulders as he pressed his hands to the wood to make sure it stuck. “A bow doesn’t have many parts, so most of her stats are on a quiver that I made to pair with this.”

  Satisfied that the handle was stuck firmly, Runner pulled a bowstring from his inventory and strung the bow easily. After attaching two small locking mechanisms to the ends, he held up his work as it gently misted over.

  Runner didn’t even hear the success sound and ignored the pop-up window, instead focusing on the weapon itself.

  Item:

  Effects-

  Fireblast: Chance to deal burning damage on hit.

  Functions-

  None:

  Attributes-

  Agility: 15

  “Should I name it? She might like to name it. I still feel bad about naming Lady Death’s for her. Kitten seemed happy to name hers,” Runner said.

  “Let her name it. Katarina named it for cultural reasons, and for different cultural reasons, Thana was glad that you named it for her.” Sophia left it at that.

  “I never did find out what she named it. I’ll have to ask Queen Helen for the details on the whole thing. Alright, Grace. As lovely as it is to sit in the grass without a care with you, we should head back.”

  Runner stood up and pushed Isabelle’s new bow into his inventory.

  Sophia got to her feet in her usual graceful way. They then returned to base camp. Everything was as it should be on their approach.

  They had parked the two vehicles behind a small rise, doing their best to hide the area from prying eyes. Everyone had gathered between the two vehicles and sat about, chatting, playing small games, waiting.

  “Minxy, Brighteyes, Angel, strange question. Has anyone in this slum prayed to you? Can, say, a Minotaur pray to you? An Ogre?”

  “An interesting question. No one has prayed, but I believe we would all be receptive to it. Sisters?” Brunhild looked from Ernsta to Amelia.

  “An ogre assassin? That’d be kinda funny. I wouldn’t say no to a prayer, though, lovey.”

  “Nor I, lamb. All are welcome in death.”

  “Right, then. Thinking this little wannabe city here is a bunch of Awakened dungeon escapees.”

  Screwing his face up in thought, Runner took a seat in the grass. Sophia dropped down next to him and seemed to start working through a document. He couldn’t miss the way she glared at Amelia.

  During the trip here he had made use of Sophia to watch over him at night. There had been no incidents until last night. Runner woke this morning to Amelia in his bed and Sophia bound and gagged, draped over his feet like a blanket.

  Runner felt himself relax a little at the memory of Sophia, who had fallen asleep like that. While Amelia’s actions hadn’t been his choice, the unexpectedness of it had been… a welcome break.

  “Lord Norwood?” asked one of his guards.

  Looking up from his contemplation, Runner found himself looking at Me. Crystal-blue eyes met his, but she broke contact immediately.

  “Hello, Me. What can I do you for?”

  “Ah, you cast spells, right?”

  “I can and do, yes.”

  “Why don’t you have a familiar?”

  “Huh?”

  “A familiar. I’ve heard tales and stories about high and mighty casters having one. You don’t." Me looked rather unsure of herself. She didn’t seem to be the type Grace would hire as one of his guards. He could only imagine she was hired for her ability to pilot the vehicle.

  “That’s a good question. I’ve never looked into it. Brighteyes?”

  “She’s correct. A familiar is available to be summoned at a certain point in a caster’s career. I’m afraid I do not have the exact information. That does bring up a favor I wanted to ask of you. Can you please grant my sisters and I the same access you’ve given Srit? It could be useful.”

  “Oh, sure. I’ll build you all some access profiles today at some point. A familiar… huh. Thanks, Me. Consider me in your debt. Feel free to call in a favor later.”

  Runner didn’t hear her response as he was already several windows deep, delving into the wiki to figure out the mystery behind the familiar. The how and when it would be available to him and how he could get it.

  “Sir!”

  Runner shook himself out of his search. Looking around, he found nothing out of the ordinary and everyone acting normally.

  “What’s wrong, Grace?”

  “A familiar, sir. If you were to summon one, it would not go away. Once bound by the contract to serve, they cannot leave and can only go a certain distance from their master.”

  “I was just reading about that. The distance isn’t too small, half a mile or so. Then they simply reappear next to the side of their master.”

  “No, sir. The problem is the familiar is based on the stats and personality of their master. For most this isn’t an issue since the vast majority of casters are intellectuals. You, uh… you’re not.”

  “No, I’m charisma based.”

  “And, forgive me, you’re not exactly a saint, and your personality is that of a flirt or a tease.”

  “I’ve been called worse, but yeah, you’re not wrong.”

  “Sir, I’m not positive, but I’d be willing to bet you’ll summon a succubus for a familiar if you tried.”

  “Err… a succubus. Like a sex demon? Goat legs, cloven hooves, wants to eat my soul?”

  “Exactly, sir. I’m not sure that it would be one, but that’d be my expectation. Based on what little I know about summoning a familiar at least.”

  “I see. The benefits of a familiar are fantastic though. I mean”�
��Runner paused to check the table he had been looking at—“Mana regeneration, health regeneration, stat boost, damage boost, some even provide auras. All depending on what I summon at least.”

  “Yes, sir. It doesn’t change what I believe your familiar would be.”

  “Do you think Thana would kill me?”

  “No, sir. I don’t think she’d be happy though. I think it’s possible she’d leave.”

  “Yeah. That’s true.” Runner checked his status page for his experience bar. Runner had determined that the familiar conjuring became available at level thirty-eight, which meant he was only a level away.

  Name:

  Runner

  Level:

  37

  Class:

  Race:

  Human

  Experience:

  99%

  Alignment:

  Good

  Reputation:

  5,020

  Fame:

  18,455

  Bounty:

  0

  Attributes-

  Strength:

  1

  Constitution:

  1(31)

  Dexterity:

  15(45)

  Intelligence:

  15(45)

  Agility:

  9(39)

  Wisdom:

  1

  Stamina:

  1(31)

  Charisma:

  64(124)

  “Good thing I have one percent to decide. Hah. Guess I’ll need to make a choice rather quickly. Anything special a succubus would give me?”

  “I believe their primary benefit is illusions and mind domination. All of it based in charisma, sir.”

  Feeling the weight of it pulling at him, he felt torn. On one hand, every bit of power he could scrape up could only be good. On the other, having a sex demon running around didn’t exactly sound like a good idea.

  “What would Rabbit do?” Runner asked himself quietly. Without consciously thinking about it, he drew a small figurine of Nadine from his inventory and began rubbing his thumb over its head.

  She had carved it specifically for him. By his request even. Her likeness, though small, was very accurate.

  “Sir, if I may be so bold?” Sophia asked him quietly.

  “Mm.”

  “She would tell you to do what would bring the most good, and help people. I knew her for but a brief period of time, but that’s my impression.”

  Runner felt his lips trembling and his throat start to close up on him as he thought about his lost merchant queen.

  “She would, wouldn’t she? She’d put it above her own feelings.”

  “My lord!” Isabelle called, bursting free of the brush nearby.

  “Goodness, Belle, are you trying to take the bush with you? Are you being chased? Is something the matter?”

  “They have likenesses at the gate that they’re comparing to people as they enter. Yours, and most of your inner circle, save myself and Sophia. I stole one,” Isabelle said, handing over a thrice folded paper to him.

  He moved Nadine’s figurine back into his inventory, took the sheet, and looked it over.

  “Wanted, Runner Norwood. Criminal. Charges include murder, kidnapping, and theft. I don’t remember looking quite so angry. Problem is it definitely looks like me. Enough that they’d try to detain me. I wonder why…”

  “Not sure, my lord. It’s a real mess in there. Some wooden buildings in there, a few stone, but most of it is cloth strung up between posts. There’s no one race here either, it’s a vast multitude. I think I even saw a mermaid of all things.”

  “Fan-fucking-tastic. So, that means either you all go in without me or we figure out a way to disguise me. Grace, you said they were masters of illusion?”

  “Yes, sir. They are.”

  “Wait. Who is, my lord?”

  “Grace thinks if I try to summon a familiar, it’ll be a succubus.”

  “Excuse me, what?” Brunhild asked, stepping into the conversation. Her expression clearly expressed her dislike of what she believed she’d just heard.

  Up till now the conversation about his familiar had been kept to him and Sophia. Now the goddesses and his guard had heard.

  There would be no point in arguing it because he needed information. To get that information, he needed to get inside.

  “I need a disguise to get in. Grace believes if I summon a familiar, it’ll be a succubus. Succubi are masters of illusion. To that end, I need to summon a familiar. You can argue with me about it after I’ve summoned her. Let’s go get me one percent experience.”

  Runner said it as gently as he could. He also did it without allowing any room for arguments. Flicking his eyes to the goddesses, he gauged their reactions.

  Brunhild merely shook her head and sighed. Ernsta tilted her head forward, her hood shadowing her features, giving Runner no insight to her. Amelia clapped her hands together and laughed.

  “Good! I approve of this. She’ll be fun for us later on in life. Could also be a satyress though. Fits the same mold. Best of luck, lovey. Be sure to stick it in whatever you summon a few times for me. Time for us ladies to be moving along.”

  Runner felt a minor catch in his chest at that. Maybe the succubus had angered the three of them after all.

  “As my delicate sister mentioned,” Brunhild said, glaring at Amelia, “we unfortunately must away. We have only now received word that the heads of our religions are ready for us to preside over the formation of the Triumvirate as one religion and one alone. Coincidence only in the timing, I promise, Runner.”

  “I do so swear, as well, my lamb.”

  “I understand. I’m glad to have had you on this trip. It was good to spend time with you all,” Runner said sadly. Standing up, he proceeded to hug Brunhild and then Ernsta tightly, giving them each a kiss on the cheek.

  “Oh oh, me now. Hug me like you own me. Break me and put me back together,” Amelia whispered, sliding in close to him. Her eyes had the crazed and broken look she had most of the time.

  Maybe I should ask Srit to see about putting her to rights.

  Rolling his eyes, he pulled Amelia in close and hugged her firmly, pressing a kiss to her cheek as well.

  “You’re an idiot, Minxy. Be good. Don’t think for a second I won’t check with your sisters to make sure you are.”

  “’Kay.” Amelia looked hesitant, as if she wanted to say something. Then she grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him firmly. No sooner had she gotten what she wanted than she vanished.

  “Forgive me, Runner. You know how she is.” Brunhild disappeared much like her sister.

  “At times I pity her,” Ernsta said, fading out of existence.

  “And other times I’m jealous,” came the whispered words after she left.

  “So. You need one percent, my lord?”

  Runner gave Isabelle a curt nod and adjusted his clothes, clearing his mind.

  “After me then. I know where there’s a few things in the area. They’re not quite level worthy, but I figure we kill enough, that’ll do it.”

  “Thank goodness they’re gone,” Sophia muttered. “Half of you, remain here. Let’s go.”

  They only had to hunt for an hour before Runner picked up enough experience to push him into the next level.

  Accepting the level up, he waited for whatever memory might spring up.

  Disappointingly it turned out to be nothing more than vague memories of work. His old life seemed quite ordinary and boring in comparison to his life now.

  Then he dropped his point into dexterity and gave his screen a once-over.

  Name:

  Runner

  Level:

  38

  Class:

  Race:

  Human

  Experience:

  00%

  Alignment:

  Good

  Reputation:

  5,020

  Fame:

  18,455

  Bounty:

  0


  Attributes-

  Strength:

  1

  Constitution:

  1(31)

  Dexterity:

  16(45)

  Intelligence:

  15(45)

  Agility:

  9(39)

  Wisdom:

  1

  Stamina:

  1(31)

  Charisma:

  64(124)

  “Well. No time like the present. The wiki said all I had to do was use the command to summon one. The original cast isn’t an ability or anything.”

  “Okay. We should be about our business, sir. We still need to get our lodgings squared today before the sun goes down.”

  “Fine, fine. A little nervous here. I’m not exactly looking forward to this.”

  “You’re not, my lord?”

  “No, I have enough problems as it is without a full-fledged sex demon that can’t leave my side. Forever. I don’t need that. Not in any way, shape, or form. Minxy is bad enough as it is.”

  “Ah. True. Especially since I’ll be taking Sophia’s place tonight. A Demon like that would only get in the way.” Isabelle made it sound casual, while Sophia had an expression made of stone.

  Closing his eyes tightly, Runner let out a sharp groan.

  “Right, then.” Without another thought, Runner activated the Familiar Summon command and waited.

  In front of him a purple pentagram sprang to life in the grass. Smoke and the smell of sulfur hit him immediately as the turf inside the design dissolved in a flash.

  Roaring upwards into eight-foot-tall pillars of flame, each point of the pentagram flared. Runner tried to peer into the center of the conflagration to see his familiar. A silhouette was all he could manage, and it didn’t lend itself to a gender or race.

  Giving up on catching a glimpse, Runner crossed his arms over his chest while he waited for the purple inferno to die out.