New System, Who Dis?

Tutorial Day 81

There was no time to hesitate. I was moments away from killing people–people I knew!--and that didn't sit well with me. I charged at Gavin, getting inside his guard before laying him out with a well-timed punch to the chin. Thankfully, he tried for an overhand swing with his Longsword, his rage taking over completely, making him relatively predictable.

I quickly checked the others one more time, ensuring London or Gavin weren't about to get to their feet and attack me from behind.

Then, I rushed to Jacky, who, of the two, was probably more likely to die in the next few moments. Yes, Sarah was bleeding out quite quickly, but she was still conscious. It irked me to save Jacky first, but I didn't have much of an option. Not if I didn't want to feel like a murderer. Worse still, I didn't have any Potions that would easily slide down her throat. It took a few moments for me to get a Rejuvenation Pill in her mouth, manually operate her jaws, and force her to swallow in her unconscious state. As soon as I did that, I moved her leg into a more appropriate position thankful I'd aimed on the side that didn't contain her femoral artery and rushed to Sarah.

Sarah was by far the harder one to look at. Jacky deserved a bit of pain, maybe even death, plus there was just so much more blood around Sarah. I had not intended to do more than cause a shoulder wound to Sarah and put her out of the fight. Worse, I wasn't even sure if a limb could be reattached through Potions and, or the Pills I carried. I just hadn't seen the injury before, let alone see a Potion or Pill set it straight.

Still, the Healer of the Miner's had regrown limbs–so maybe?

Sarah looked horrible, but conscious, which was why I couldn't use my Healing Skill. I knew I had to work fast, so I grabbed her arm and placed it basically on top of the wound before trying to put a Rejuvenation Pill in her mouth. However, her gnashing teeth prevented me. My jaw clenched but I had to do something. For all I knew she could die while conscious.

Do I Heal her? No, that secret is still only known by Claude…

"Sarah, stop," I shouted. "It's me." I ripped down my mask and pulled off my hood.

Yes, this was stupid, but if she was going to fight me until she died, I didn't really see another option. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth actually opened in shock, even though she was paling at a visible rate. Terrifyingly, the pool of blood near her shoulder already seemed to hold more than her body should've contained. Her heart rate was probably beating as fast as mine. I shoved the Rejuvenation Pill in her mouth and then forcefully closed her mouth for her. Then operated her jaw manually, like I had for Jacky. Thankfully, though, I didn't have to force her to swallow. She did that on her own.

Almost instantly, I saw the Pill take effect on her, and I looked back to make sure that Jacky, despite my hate for her, was experiencing something similar. It was hard to tell from this distance. The thing I had noticed on Sarah was that the paleness in her face had stopped getting worse. However, just a moment later, I saw her blood and muscles begin to reach out to her shoulder. I also saw that one Rejuvenation Pill wouldn't be enough. She needed more.

However, there was no point giving her two at the same time. I'd experimented with that, and it didn't double the speed of resource regeneration. It also didn't increase the length of time the Pill worked.

Pulling out another Pill, I started counting. I probably would need to do something similar for Jacky. At twenty-three seconds, I force-fed Jacky another Pill while barely looking at her. Still, I could see that she was nowhere near as bad as Sarah.

Hurriedly I returned and popped another one of the Pills into Sarah's mouth. Her eyes were lucid now, and she stared at me as she chewed and swallowed. There was a mixture of confusion, anger, and sadness, written across her face.

Thirty seconds later her arm was reattached, but the shoulder looked hollow. Sheepishly I held out one final Rejuvenation Pill. To my surprise she weakly waved her good hand in front of the offering. The action was pathetic but firm when paired with the look on her face.

Quietly she asked, "Why didn't you tell us?"

That question could mean so much, but I took it to mean, why didn't I tell them I was alive, and answered, "Would you go tell the people that left you for dead that you were still alive?"

I glanced over my shoulder at Jacky, and even motioned with a thumb at her. "Especially when the one who attacked you is still in the group?"

Sarah, always the one in the group who had at least somewhat disliked Jacky, looked over at the aforementioned with a bit of a sneer, then sighed. "I checked your pulse myself. You were dead. We didn't leave you for dead. You were dead," Sarah explained, more to herself than to me.

I didn't bother answering that somewhat rhetorical statement, and instead just shook my head. "But you stayed partied with a murderer."

Sarah's head snapped back to me, a pretty quick movement for the state that she was in, and I could tell by the slight unfocused look in her eyes that it had cost her a bit of dizziness. She opened her mouth once, closed it, opened it again, before shutting it. In the end she simply closed her eyes and nodded.

Finally she said, "You're right. I don't know why we're still in a group with her, but after you left, things went downhill."

"That makes me feel a bunch better," I responded, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I looked around at everybody else in my former group. They were all still unconscious. None of them were moving. After a few seconds, I returned my scrutiny to Sarah, and continued, "Sarah, if you want any semblance of trust from me, keep this to yourself."

Then I pulled up my hood, my mask, and walked over to retake my leaf buckets. This had not gone the way I had planned, but I was hoping that this didn't mean I would suddenly have four morons scouring the Maelstrom Tribe looking for me.

As I walked by I noticed that Jacky's leg was still at an odd angle–but with Sarah awake and the lack of an obvious pool of blood, I figured she'd be okay. It wasn't worth it for me to waste another Pill on her…

Just before I left, I tossed put down the buckets again and threw the Pill to Sarah. "Hopefully this will stop you from having to pay for healing…"

* * *

Tutorial Day 82

I was partially correct; the moronic group did start looking for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find they weren't looking for Brodie, but a masked man who claimed to be from the Maelstrom Tribe. They described me to anyone who would listen, right down to the color of my armor. That was frustrating because now I was back in the shop while wearing my Alchemical Blues, trying to find something new that I could wear that would hide my appearance, which had been intended to keep my identity hidden in the first place.

I looked through the Tutorial Shop options, seeing multiple sets of Armor similar to what I already had, including the Stealth function I used frequently. But in each case, there was a problem. The sets of Armor were too similar to what I was already wearing. Sure, the color might be different, but while the party I had first joined were, in my opinion, morons, I did expect them to realize that a masked individual could change the color of his mask and cloak.

The only upside to yesterday was just how many Herbs I had procured in Borker Forest. Not only did I have enough Tp to buy some more Armor, but if I was thrifty, I also had enough to stay at least a month ahead of payments to Claude again. Plus, Veronique had about thirty Rejuvenation Pills in reserve—so I could expect about eight thousand Tp, every fifteen days.

Suffice it to say, I was doing well on Tp–but simultaneously not–since I still owed Vero the hundred thousand. Still, she hadn't put a timeline on that loan, which meant I didn't really need to leave to collect more Herbs for at least a month, but I should both be prepared for when that inevitable time came and possibly be working toward that goal. Who knew when Veronique would demand her Points back. I'd have to get back to doing more Alchemy, and hope to create something else of value.

As I thought about my options, I went through the Armor I was somewhat used to wearing and landed on the Armor I was most used to wearing. The extremely heavy plate armor Claude had forced me to train in.

My eyebrows raised. That was actually not a bad idea. No, I wasn't going to buy heavy armor that would make it nearly impossible for me to fight. But what was the exact opposite of a fast man wearing leather? A tank-class wearing plate. If I bought myself pseudo-plate armor with a helmet that covered my face, I figured I couldn't look any further from the stealthy herb-collecting assassin they were asking after.

Still, there was the rather glaring problem that even if I bought plate armor, I would be carrying leaf buckets filled with herbs and fused plants. I scratched my cheek under the blue hood of my Alchemist Robe. So, did that mean I needed to buy an expensive and brand new Bag of Holding as well? This wasn't going to be easy.

Maybe I should have just given them their tax, or...

I hated myself for that thought. It wasn't great, but I had just considered whether I should have left them for dead. They probably wouldn't be bothering me anymore, or trying to bother me.

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Needless to say, I was glad I hadn't become a murderer of relatively innocent people. I figured if I bought Plate armor, then I could just switch to my Leather Set once I was in Borker Forest, and then back before returning. The place had been pretty abandoned as of late.

No guarantee that will continue, though.

That moral dilemma over, I shrugged, and scrolled down to the F-rank gear. I'd deal with any changes, if and when they happened. In the F-Rank section I found a set of plate armor that was affixed to leather, and a skullcap that would cover the majority of my face. I purchased it all for just around twenty-five thousand Tutorial Points, which actually left me better off than I'd originally estimated. I'd have at least a month and a half of room and board covered. That was including Veronique's auction sales, which meant after a month, I needed to go back out and start collecting again. That was assuming Vero would continue to be understanding about the debt.

Still, a month of training would hopefully see me mastering Qi, Soul and even Hatchling's Body, to some extent. Then maybe I could try to find that Unique Seed or delve deeper into the Wilds…

With a goal in mind and a temporary Bag of Holding package in hand, I spun and met eyes with someone I didn't want to see. Sarah was staring at me, clearly having figured out who I was a while ago, but giving me time to browse the Shop.

For just a moment, I debated about trying to sprint out of the Northern Shop, but decided against it. If I sprinted, I would draw everyone's attention. As it stood, I only had Sarah's.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, opened them again, and then motioned with my head for her to follow me. I knew I wasn't getting out of this without at least a conversation. I was a little nervous about what she would want, but after yesterday, I wasn't scared in the least, especially in Town.

Once we were outside, I hesitated for the briefest of moments. Where could we have this talk privately? Sarah touched my elbow and motioned towards the expensive restaurant we had visited in the past, after the group had discovered the wealth of Tutorial Points I could offer. I followed her, acutely aware that we could be walking into a situation where the entire team was waiting and that I would need to pay. Still, I guess I had the Tutorial Points, even if I was somewhat in debt to Veronique.

Still, if she hadn't told them already, I doubted she would set a trap like this. Not to mention, with the safety that Tutorial Town offered, it would be a rather pathetic trap. The maitre d' led us to a much smaller private room, than we'd used last time. After placing the menus Sarah and I were left alone.

Sarah sat down first and gave me a wan smile. When I didn't immediately take my seat, she whispered, "Listen, I never got to say thank you for saving my life the yesterday. I just wanted an opportunity to talk."

Her voice was sad, and I almost felt for her. If she had left that stupid team, I might have even allowed myself some sympathy. But as it stood, I just felt annoyed. Why were good people like her, London, and Gavin with Jacky? Still, I did at least sit down and join her at the table. That caused her to smile, and I gave her a small concession in return.

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't help someone off the ground that I'd just beat up?" I offered a small, and perhaps a little guilt-filled smile. "We're not savages, after all."

Her smile was still there, but it had become a bit more fragile. I hadn't truly meant to point out how they'd left me for dead again, but honestly, they had. Not to mention the change to Taxing others… She's better than that…

Fiddling with her hands in front of herself, she rushed to say, "Look, I'll admit I have one more ulterior motive."

My eyebrows raised, and I stopped pushing my chair closer to the table, ready to get up and leave if this became a request to rejoin the group. She held up both of her hands hurriedly after seeing my reaction.

"No," she scolded, "That isn't what I'm going to ask–"

Somehow she must have read my expression and inferred the reason. "–I'm just curious how you became stronger so quickly. You were weaker than us, I think. You know, when we met you. Maybe at the same strength level. But the other day, you easily handled all four of us. What changed?"

My breath hitched. That was not a question I was expecting. I raised an eyebrow at my own stupidity. Of course, she'd be curious.

Not having an answer ready I hesitantly responded, "I've been training."

Sarah's smile faltered, and she blinked a few times before she asked, "That's it? We've been training every day since we got here. We spend any extra money we have on lessons, on Armor, on anything to improve ourselves. But nothing seems to work."

I sighed. "And you never thought to get a Gathering Skill, or even better, a Profession Skill?"

Sarah's eyes widened. "How the heck are we supposed to afford a Profession Skill? A Skill we can use to Gather, we all got after–" She cut herself off before she brought up my 'death.' "–but even with the extra Tp we will never be able to get a Profession Skill."

I made note of her choice of words. She hadn't said they got a Gathering Skill, but a Skill they could use to Gather. I wanted to slap my forehead, but decided to take a different route. I might have been more accurate then I knew when I'd called them morons.

"Have you thought of living more cheaply?" I suggested. Assuming that they were paying for a place above their means–especially if they were acting essentially as robbers. They had Skills that could help with Gathering too, so they should still be able to save Tp without resorting to that. Especially with all the tricks I showed them.

Sarah's red face told me I probably had hit the nail on the head.

"Well, we kind of got a little ahead of ourselves," Sarah admitted. "When you joined the group and we had so many Tutorial Points coming in, we kind of decided to sign a year lease to live in luxury."

I shook my head. "Is that one of the reasons why you guys kept pestering me so much to go out?"

Sarah nodded.

"Is that also a reason that Jacky is still with the group?"

Sarah winced, but she dipped her head again. "She's been here the longest…and has a great deal of connections…"

I took a long breath. "Let me guess it was her idea to become a Taxation squad?" I asked, and saw the answer without her needing to say it. I shook my head, and almost stood up to leave. Still, I was curious about a few things. "So, what's the worst that can happen if you stop paying that rent?"

Sarah blinked, squinted, and sat back in her chair, putting on a face that clearly spoke of her thinking that over.

"Well, we paid first and last months rent, and we'd lose access to some of the stuff we've accumulated," she eventually admitted.

Silence followed her words, as I let the stupidity of that thought linger. After a time, I tapped a finger on the table. "Okay, is losing a month of rent worth the way that you're living right now?"

I didn't really think the stuff inside would be a problem. Surely she saw that they could put it all into Bags of Holding–and if she didn't. Well, then there was no helping her.

"Well, it was quite a lot of Points, and the place is really nice..."

"So instead, you've chosen to listen to Jacky and rob people the same way you've been robbed in the Tutorial so far."

Sarah's face was bright red at this point, and she allowed her face to fall into her hands as her elbows rested on the table. For a moment, I thought she was just embarrassed, but then a sob broke the silence. I closed my eyes as well, not wanting to feel sorry for the girl, but feeling it all the same.

A single thought about Jacky quashed any sympathy I humored. I stood from the table. "Listen. You purchased all that furniture. You contributed to the last Month of rent. You got into a lease for an apartment you can't afford. You're the one out trying to rob people for their hard-earned Tutorial Points. I won't feel sorry for you."

Sarah's blotchy red face emerged from her hands, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She nodded, closed her eyes, nodded again, and didn't say a word. The anger I felt evaporated.

This could have been me. If I had entered the Tutorial without a Skill that could lend itself to a Profession, I could be in this exact situation. None of the other groups had wanted me as a Gatherer, just like they probably didn't want Sarah, Gavin, or London as Hunters.

Yet, I'd been wronged by this group. They'd left me out in Borker Forest after Jacky had attacked me with her Skill. Sure, I understood why they kept her in the group. She was a powerful mage who had almost killed me in a single attack. Having her would allow them to collect more Meat, more Skins, and whatever other Gathering they had Skills to help with.

Yet, did that make up for staying in the group with Jacky? And then doubling down by turning to robbery?

No, simply put it didn't. However, I could at least understand the stupid decisions Sarah had made to arrive here, even if I couldn't condone or empathize with them…

Perhaps I could offer a solution. No, a suggestion—"Get yourself out."

Sarah's eyes met mine, her head tilted back to look up at me from her seat across the table. I felt slightly self-conscious standing over her like this, but I met her eyes and repeated, "Get yourself out of the group—out of the apartment. Abandon the furniture, and the luxury. Start over. If you're willing to do that—maybe I can help you."

"So, there is a secret to how you got stronger than us?" She asked, her voice small but hopeful.

I shook my head. "No. I just worked really hard and got lucky, but perhaps that's all you need too…"

As I left the restaurant, I paid for the room and a meal for Sarah. I wasn't sure why, but I felt like she could use some time to herself in that room.

Perhaps, she'd realize what she wanted to do.

* * *

Maelstrom stared at the wood from his Superior Puppet. It looked different than it had before. He'd examined the memories of his creation, and found that a lone Gatherer had attacked her, likely on the way back from a deeper Zone. She'd even seen the leather garbed man before.

However, this time, the group's insistence on him proving his allegiance to the Maelstrom Tribe, had led him to attack. Attack and disable his doll. Sure, Jacky hadn't had time to activate some of her more powerful Skills, but to knock out the functionality of the puppet for a time with a glancing blow, made the man powerful, or aware of Jacky's actual identity.

Still, how come the Wood of the Superior Puppet had gained luster and attempted to repair itself?

Maelstrom stared at the leg, which had almost been severed, but then had grown vine-like roots to reattach itself. He scanned over to a brand new doll and tapped both with a knuckle. The doll that had been Jacky before the attack was definitely sturdier, and maybe 'healthier?' Feeling like it was a fresher cut of Timber.

The level of regrowth on the limb suggested Healing but the luster to the Wood suggested something more. Maelstrom moved to the cabinet in his Sanctum, and pulled out the Rejuvenation Pill that he'd purchased at one of the Spider's Auctions. It was rumored to remove Impurities and Imperfections while also healing the individual. This was the only product he knew of that could have done this to the Puppet.

Maelstrom had suspicions that this Pill was how Ryu was climbing the Leaderboards, but couldn't confirm that. Not yet at least. However, these Pills were still expensive, despite his best efforts to decrease their value and price. So, how had some lone Gatherer given one of the Pills to his daughter?

No, to my puppet!

There were only two possible options. He worked for the Spider, and she had a great many of these Pills but was limiting supplies, which fit with her personality. Or, the far less likely possibility that his daughter had somehow run across Ryu himself. The latter made the assumption that this Ryu was the Pills creator. However, it also fit.

Still, his daughter's plan to become a taxation squad to find Ryu had been less than intelligent, in his mind. Still, only one part of the plan was stupid. Her plan had killed two birds with one stone. Forcing the group that was to infiltrate the Spider's organization into more desperate straits. So, he'd allowed it.

"Still, had it worked?" he asked himself, as he pictured the leather garbed individual. Was Ryu living outside of Town and then returning to sell things to the Spider? That could explain why he'd failed to find a residence for the man.

While he doubted most of that conclusion, he did insert a Core and transform a standard Puppet into a guard, before ordering, "Tell the people at the gates to be on the lookout for lone Gatherers coming and going. Also, have our agents look for people not living at the Alchemy Academy frequenting the place. Finally, have the number of people watching the Restaurant increas