"I see, so to think it was all fake…" Naina said in quiet contemplation, resting under the shade of a tree after losing her lunch.
"I would not say fake, the dungeon itself was very real. It was the trials that were fake. I have to admit the design is clever though." Gorum said. At the moment he was crouching next to the mage and a sleeping Kiibiki, watching the rest of the party dig through the big pile of weapons he unloaded once they all regained composure.
"I agree, it's very clever…but that aside..Gorum, I know that demons are the enemy in this war but that scene was rather brutal to watch." she said, lurching a little as she tried not to remember.
"Oh it's demons that are the enemy?" he questioned as he watched Evan try to heave a great sword out of the weapon pile.
"Wh- Of course they're the enemy! Are you telling me the oracle that sent you didn't even tell you who the enemy was?" she asked, looking up at him in shock.
"Ah…that's…" he started.
'Crap, I should have been paying attention to the conversation. I forgot that's what I told them…' he thought to himself. This little mishap was just another reason Gorum hated lying, he always lost focus and forgot what he lied about. Having a perfect memory didn't necessarily mean that he was conscious of all his memories at all times, infact things like lying were moments he'd rather forget.
"They probably did and I just wasn't paying attention…" he said, looking off to the side so he wouldn't have to look her in the eye and lie.
"I see…" she murmured as she stared at him with a ponderous, pitious look. Gorum couldn't help but feel she was misunderstanding something about his personality but that didn't really matter as long as she believed him.
"Anyway…It's not as if I'm going out of my way to be that violent, that's just what happens if I hit such weak enemies."
"You consider demons from one of the most nortorious dungeons in the region weak?"
"Yes."
"I…" Naina let out a sigh as she rubbed her temples.
"I'll just have to accept that, for now though I think we should just start setting up camp since it's midday. The princess, myself and the twins can handle doing all that and Olivia is going to do whatever the princess is doing but Evan and Lana aren't going to be disciplined enough for such menial labor…" Naina said as she gathered her thoughts.
"I'll teach Evan to swing that greatsword around and I suppose Lana can help…" Gorum said, standing up and popping his knees in the process.
"So you are old after all…."
"Quiet."
His knees always did that, nothing to do with his age in the slightest.
"Evan, are you sure you want the greatsword? I think a short sword is more suitable for you, although I won't deny the honor of a bigger weapon.." Lana was leaning on her new demon made axe, lazily picking leftover food from her teeth as she spoke with Evan.
As she saw Gorum approach she made no attempt to hide the contempt in her expression . Despite that though…
"Gorum, you're a warrior. The sword is too big for him, right?"
"Hey! That's no fair I wanna use it!"
"I get it but I'm telling you, it's too big for you!"
"Both of you be quiet." Gorum held up his hand and ended their bickering.
"Evan that sword is too big for you."
"See?"
"Awh.."
"Which is why I will train you to use it."
"Hey!"
"Woo!"
Evan tossed his arms in the air in celebration. Though Lana simply scrunched her face in displeasure, stomping up to Gorum and scowling up at him.
"You are not this party's warrior, I am. I say the sword is too big for him and you will not overrule my-" Lana began her protest but was immediately quieted by Gorum pinching her lips together. Putting his finger to the mouth of his helmet he simply shushed her.
"I understand that you're a-" Gorum began, his tone growing rageful…then he suddenly stopped. Letting go of her lips he looked off to the side, staring into space.
Since when was he so confrontational? Gorum was never the type to resort to physical altercations when he wasn't getting his way, normal he never complained at all. Why all of a sudden couldn't he control himself?
"Uh.." Laura's mouth was slightly agape with confusion, some fear present in her face.
"I apologize…I think I may be having a personal issue that causing me to be…uncouth. I apologize for treating you poorly and disrespecting your place in the party." Gorum said, holding a hand up in an 'I swear' motion.
"I uh…well okay." Laura accepted, still bewildered at Gorum's behavior.
Before she could question him he walked off and crouched under a tree, engaging in what looked to be very deep thought.
'The side effects of my class…they've resurfaced?' Gorum held his chin and worked his head over.
The [Destroyer] class was one that came with a lot of upsides and a lot of downsides. Upside, your attacks and skills would change into class specific versions that had increased efficiency and the ability to be boosted by either exceedingly violent actions or desires. Downside, it amplified all of your negative thoughts and emotions; A stubbed toe feels like a broken foot, a minor headache like a warhammer over the head. Slight annoyance felt like ultimate betrayal…
'But I thought I tamed such thoughts a long time ago…' Gorum thought. And he was correct, he had conquered his more negative emotions by force. He already had a very…detached mindset and combined with his already high mental resistance skills, Gorum managed to tame his ever constant violent instincts by focusing them onto his opponents.
Now that he thought about it, his emotions were out of control in Crimson's throne room too; was she the culprit? Gorum didn't have much of a reason to think she was responsible, it could just be that he was trying to cope with the sudden change of dying, becoming a champion, having a whole new system injected into him and being sent to whole new world.
Either way, a lack of control was no good. The last thing he needed was to kill the hero because he got annoyed.
"I don't want to know what will happen if I fail that woman.." Gorum mumbled to himself as he lost himself further in thought. Invisible cogs, turning turning turning.