Ch 45 War Dogs of Vigilance
In the whirlwind of thoughts, Necro pondered, "Why hadn't Lyra told me about this? Did she assume I was a demon or some interbred race? Is there even a physical difference?"
Turning to Fritz, he asked, "Hey, Fritz, is there a physical difference between humans and demons?
Fritz raised an eyebrow, his gaze probing: "Many of them have horns and red skin. Do you have horns?"
Necro, realizing he was wearing his armor, ordered it to retract from his head. He tentatively touched the top of his head, finding no horns.
Fritz, intrigued, continued his inquiries, "Do you have a beard? I was picturing a 15-year-old by your voice and level... And what's with this helmet? When people store their helmets, they usually vanish. Yours retracted like a slime. Is it some kind of magic armor?"
Necro, fabricating a story, replied, "I don't know."
Fritz considered the situation, "Well, you don't have horns or red skin, so I suppose you might be an interbred race or perhaps you possess a trinket that can alter your appearance."
Necro facepalmed internally as he realized that Lyra must be from another race, and she was likely using such a trinket. He also hesitated to reveal that god had granted him all jobs. Lying or not, keeping track of these details was becoming increasingly complicated.
Silence became Necro's ally; he needed to keep the truth about his Life Forger ability a closely guarded secret. And so, he chose his words carefully.
"Hey, Fritz," he spoke softly, "could you teach me the basics of beast taming?"
Fritz raised an eyebrow, his gaze probing. "Why? Life Forger is a superior job. You can combine the traits of various monsters to create formidable allies."
Necro pondered for a moment, then replied, "I just thought it might be useful to know the basics, you know, in case someone asks me about it."
Fritz's suspicion was evident. "That's quite suspicious, you know."
Necro realized he needed to think fast, lest Fritz's growing mistrust become a problem.
"I just want them to see the real me, without any preconceived notions," he explained. "If I'm asking too much, forget it. You were the one who said I could ask anything."
Fritz, a sly smile forming, issued a warning, "Just know, if you ever harm them in any way, I may be a doctor, but I won't hesitate to hunt you down."
Necro, unflinching and determined, responded with confidence, "It's a deal."
Fritz couldn't help but peer deep into Necro's eyes and see the unwavering resolve within. His thoughts raced, wondering if this enigmatic stranger had an ace up his sleeve.
Fritz took a step back, his earlier suspicion tempered by a desire to share knowledge. He began to explain the fundamental differences between beast tamers and life forgers.
"Beast tamers," Fritz started, "are essentially the opposite of life forgers. Instead of modifying monsters, they seek to gain their trust and form partnerships."
Necro was curious and asked, "Let's say a bear attacks in the forest. How do you gain its trust?"
Fritz chuckled, "You beat its ass first, then you heal it and offer it some meat."
Necro couldn't help but think that it sounded like utter nonsense but probed further, "Is that foolproof?"
Fritz shook his head, "No, not foolproof, but it's a way to show them you're the alpha and deserving of their respect. However, there's a crucial warning: if a beast's name appears to you in red, it means it's evil-aligned and cannot be tamed. It'll kill you without a second thought, perhaps even while you're asleep."
The exchange between Necro and Fritz continued, with Necro making mental notes of this intriguing new world's rules.
Necro pondered over Fritz's explanation, realizing the significance of his newfound knowledge.
Necro: "So, beasts aren't tools. I can't just make them explode in every battle, can I?"
Fritz nodded, his expression serious, "That's correct. Beasts are not tools. However, life forgers can recreate them using their essences after some time, wait u said explode? "
Necro quickly shifted the conversation with a question, "By the way, what's that white ball you threw earlier?"
Fritz replied, "That sends tamed beasts to a sub-dimension where they can rest."
Necro continued his inquiry, "Does time keep moving in this sub-dimension?"
Fritz admitted, "I don't know."
Necro, ever the curious learner, pressed further, "Has anyone ever gone in there to see what it's like?"
Fritz shook his head, "No."
Necro: "Then how do you know?"
Fritz: "We learned these basic things in school.Any more questions for me?"
Necro thought for a moment and then asked, "Where can I find you if I have more questions?"
Fritz answered, "We'll be sleeping in the same dormitory tonight, and I'll be staying in this fortress for three days. Let's go."
As they walked towards the fortress, Necro continued his questioning, "Is this fortress around 40 meters by 40 meters? Are all fortresses this small?"
Fritz corrected him, "It's 50 by 50 meters."
Necro was curious about how Fritz knew this and probed further, "How do you know that?"
Fritz explained, "Each adventurer needs to help at least once to get a permanent room and full registration in the adventurer's guild."
Necro grasped the concept and asked, "So, how many people live in here?"
Fritz estimated, "Around 100, I would guess."
Necro voiced his concern, "Isn't it a bit small for that many people?"
Fritz reassured him, "It has many floors underground."
Necro drew a comparison, "So, it's like an ant nest?"
Fritz chuckled, "Yes, but don't say that out loud. Mentioning ants and dwarves in the same phrase is an invitation for a beating."
Approaching the fortress, Necro observed movement behind the cross slits in the walls, realizing they were guards. After crossing the drawbridge, he noticed two imposing dogs positioned inside the entrance, ready to spring into action if the gate were to close.
Necro asked, "What are the dogs for?"
Fritz replied, "They're war dogs. They detect stealthy enemies. If they bark, the drawbridge is closed, and all the dogs in the fortress are released."
The massive, muscular dogs were akin to pit bulls, and Fritz issued a warning, "Don't entertain the idea of petting them. You might lose a hand or both."
Necro, ever curious, examined one of the dogs using Identify, and the system's response was unequivocal: "War dog, fatally dangerous."
Necro couldn't help but exclaim, "What the fudge."