Chapter 94 - Uncovering Trauma (and Intel)

"It all started when he and I met…"

I wave my hands defensively to shap him out of his dreamy look. "We can skip that part again." I didn't want to hear the specifics of any type of pillow talks, whether hetero-oriented or otherwise. "What happened when he met the Stringmaster?"

The glorified hunk of metal tried to shrug, before remembering it had no shoulders. He gives an irritated huff, lowering his head. "He was always a bit eccentric. But one day, he came home all weird. It was the day after he had had this big experiment fail in front of a bunch of potential investors. He used to be into medicine, and his original Class was actually Healer, but… A week after that day, I saw his Statbook, and it was there I saw that he became a Necromancer."

"How was he all weird?"

Last Regards shakes his head. "He was giggling, talking about… dead bodies. I mean, he used to SCREAM like he was in pain whenever he used experimental medicine on someone and they died. Well, he would for half a day before moving on. But this was different. I think he even intentionally poisoned his 'patients'; he started to chuckle and laugh whenever one passed. He even tried to give me medicine, saying it would make me stronger than I would ever become. The worst part was, if he had acted the same as he was before, I might have taken it. But I saw this… this darkness in his eyes, like he wasn't really him. His eyes were pure black, too — they used to be this beautiful bright blue. In any case, that was when I broke things off and turn to leave, and right after that, it's only flashes… Waking up on the patient's table, but I'm strapped down with some of the seizure restraints, or being in some kind of stasis liquid… God, the more I think, the more I remember. He's so evil, why did I…"

I pat the head of the kneeling Armor, having to reach almost my full arms length to do so. "It's over now. I've defeated him. But to make sure people like him don't do similar things, do you remember hearing anything he said about the Stringmaster?"

His ragged breathing smooths over, the convulsing of his metal chest relaxing. "The only thing he had to say about the Stringmaster was high praise and constantly thanking him. Said he was the only one who understood true talent, and that's why he was already a Puppet or something… Oh, but there was this duo he hated, since they got to talk to a vestige of the Stringmaster regularly or something. Two Beastpeople, or something… I think he said their names were Alpho and Rive… or something."

I nod firmly. "That's helpful. Have you ever seen those two?"

He shakes his helmet of a head harshly. "No, there were a lot of times I couldn't see or even hear. I've told you all I know, so please destroy my heart now! I can still experience things while I'm in it. Please free me from this pain!"

I spent a few minutes trying to calm the crazed Brawler down, but his begs for help grow louder and louder. Just as I had resigned myself and stand, I feel the wind move behind me, and look back to see Vao.

"What is taking so long?!" he growls, his sword drawn. I turn quickly, picking up both shortswords. I relay a quick summary of what happened, and a small look of shock appears on the Swordmaster's face. "They're still in action?"

"Ah! You know them, perfect," I say, lifting the silver blade up to my shoulder. "Alright, Last Regards! Last words?"

"Who the fuck is Last Regards? My name is Payl. Just kill me already, bruh."

I freeze; but only for a moment before gently having the Armor lie on his side. "Right, my bad," I respond quietly. 'At least in the end, he remembered.'

With Vao over my shoulder, I reach the golden blade in, flicking the core in his chest up and out. As soon as it leaves the armor's proximity, any sign of life in it disappears, while the core glows vibrantly red. In one quick motion, I swipe the silver blade horizontally, splitting the core into two rough halves. The strain of doing so causes both ends to violently crack and burst into pieces. As if pressurized air was hidden in the core, wind blows past my ear like a contented sigh, and I feel the weight of taking a life now resting on my shoulders.

[The user defeated Named Monster Last Regards.]

[The user earned 12000 EXP.]

[User Leveled Up!]

It was an odd feeling to have, considering all the things I had killed before. This was just another, right?

Vao places a hand on my shoulder. "Taking a life rooted in humanity isn't as easy as killing a demon or monster, is it?"

"Ah, so that's why."

Vao nods, a moment of heavy silence hanging over us. Finally, I speak up. "You said you know those two?"

"… Yes."

"Let's sit down somewhere."

Vao takes one look at my ragged body, but with a sigh he agrees. "Fine. But, afterwards, you MUST take a shower. Divine Dreemlieun, please."

* * *

"Huh. So where were they last when you worked with them?"

"A town in Rockend, called Mount Turra."

"That's not the mountain's name?"

Vao gives me a look of confusion. "The town is IN the mountain."

I blink a few times. "Oh. How often are they there?"

"Fairly often."

"When they leave, how long are they gone?"

"A month, tops."

"When were you last 'in action?' "

"A little more than a year ago."

I stop and ponder for a bit. "Okay. By the way… What was your connection to the Stringmaster? Why were you subservient to him?"

Vao laughs. "Ah, it's quite a story. Are you sure?"

Panko purrs under my arm as I scratch behind his ears. "Yeah. It helps to know how he gets in people's heads, yanno?"

Vao eyes the group hanging out a small distance away. They had been informed beforehand, which is why they hadn't come to help when the Armor appeared.

"My swordsmanship. Before I had mastered the Meditative State — then simply dubbed 'Cloud Style' — I was incredibly emotionally unstable. I had died in the loss of a Grand Duel in my past life, and never truly reached enlightenment because of it, so it left a sour taste in my mouth. At first, when he found me, he promised he could help me complete my style and find inner peace. In reality, he just made me forget, and was in control of my head the whole time. When I realized, I began meditating, in a way he wouldn't notice or think out of the ordinary. The Figurine can tell you. He'll spot something unordinary in a Puppet and immediately break their mind down so there can be no retaliation. So I trained my mind and sword secretly, and once I truly knew myself, I found my clouded mind clearer than it ever was before. I was able to cut through anything."

"So you escaped?"

He gestures at his cabin. "I built a new life, ready to start again. But, he's sent three Mannequins, two Dolls, and now a Puppet after me. It's simply becoming tedious to maintain."

I tilt my head in confusion. "Can't you cut their strings? Like you did with Yorun?"

He shakes his head slowly. "I could because he only had a single one. The others, who had more, instantly mutated into demons, so I had to put them down."

"Damn. I'm sorry."

He pats my back roughly. "I am used to the weight of killing. But you? You have almost no experience, meaning there's no way you could have processed it."

I shrug. "Nah, man. I'm fine. I experienced my own death."

"But did you cause it?"

Flashes of what happened fly around my head — the bump, the walk sign, the girl's phone in her hand, still open on text messaging, although cracked almost in two. "Meh. It was both of our faults," I say with little conviction. "Anyways, you're right. I need a bath or a shower. Mind if I use yours?" I stand abruptly, holding Panko in my arms. The little dude is just happy to be held, snuggling his cute head into my arm.

Vao seems troubled about my tone, but decides against pressing the matter. "… Go ahead. I'll wait out here. Make sure to get adequate rest."

"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, stepping over a snoring lizard boy to clean myself of the day's mess.

* * *

[Name: Klum]

[Age: 18]

[Lv: 24]

[EXP: 1400/24000]

[Class: Sword Saint's Disciple]

[Health: 82/89]

[Mana: 99/131]

[Stamina: 22/89]

STR: 37 MAG: 20

AGI: 55 DEX: 24

VIT: 21 INT: 38

Free Stats: 21

ACC: 39

DEF: 29 (+12/19)

POW: 29

[Skills: Klum's Reincarnation (Unfound), Sword Saint's Sigil (Unfound), Disciple's Mastery (Legendary), Critical Sight+ (Ultra Rare), Storming Moon Style (Ultra Rare), Close the Gap (Ultra Rare), Lightning Blade+ (Super Rare), Analyze+ (Super Rare), Mana Blade (Super Rare), Meditative State Style (Rare), Detect Dark (Rare), Skill Hermit (Rare), Dash <+ Elemental Infusion> (Rare)]

[Spells unavailable]

[Party Leader Stats]

[Name: Eniyala Ignios]

[Age: 19]

[Lv: 25]

[Class: Mage Novice {Saint}]

[Health: 55/55]

[Mana: 160/286]

[Stamina: 22/60]

STR: 11 MAG: 70 {+20}

AGI: 26 DEX: 15

VIT: 8 INT: 25

ACC: 16

DEF: 7 (+10/16)

POW: 27 {+20}

[Skills: Mage Saint's Sigil (Unfound), Novice's Mastery (Legendary), Spellbind+ (Legendary), Spell Create+ (Ultra Rare), Magic Eyes+ (Super Rare), Analyze (Rare), Magic Heart+ (Rare), Sprint+ (Uncommon)]

[Spells: Fist of Ignios, Upgraded Ignios Familiar (Eniyala), Ignios Stand, Magic Fingerblades, Ignios Arrows, Binding Whip, Chains of Ignios, Hell's Chain Storm, Barbaric Ignios, Ignios Smithing, Magic Boost, Greater Enhance, Healing Tsunami]

[Name: Termi Foartiff]

[Age: 26]

[Level: 27]

[Class: Tank Novice {Saint}]

[Health: 140/140]

[Mana: 91/91]

[Stamina: 135/135]

STR: 41 MAG: 18

AGI: 13 DEX: 10

VIT: 54 INT: 22

ACC: 10

DEF: 41{+40}

POW: 17

[Skills: Tank Saint's Sigil (Unfound), Novice's Mastery (Legendary), Smash!+ (Super Rare), Skill Hermit (Rare), Bash+ (Uncommon), Sprint+ (Uncommon)]

[Spells: Fortify, Fortify Allies, Taunt, Defensive Rockwall, Land Manipulate, Platforming Flight]