The end of the forest was just within my sight. After a while night, I had managed to end two magical beasts in one go. Even some grown adults would find it hard to kill a single magical beast at the lowest level without teaming up. However, I had managed to do this all by myself. If news of this got out, it would probably not be good for me.
Knowing this, I stopped just fair of the forest edge. I took a few minutes thinking of a possible solution to this dilemma. Just then, a group of mercenaries were passing by and as they did, an idea struck me. Again.
"Heya!" I called out. They approached me after noticing me due to my cry earlier. I used this chance to pose a question, describing my intent to them. "Are you willing to do a little business with me?"
"Business? Here's not the place to play around, boy." A middle aged man with the demeanour of the group leader walked off the group and said. "I'm Sherby. Come on, let's get you home to your parents. I'm sure they must be terribly worried."
Hearing this, my face got a little flushed. Apparently, I had forgone the fact that I looked quite young. In fact, I was actually twelve years old right now. I had originally been seventeen when I made a deal with that mysterious person who I guess should have given me the system.
How I became twelve again was still a mystery to me. I inwardly made a mental note to investigate this, should I ever get the chance.
"I may look young, but you certainly don't want to mess with me." A little threat in this instance should make them a tad wary.
"Hahahahaha... " A loud, boisterous laughter broke the air and was transmitted into the ears of everyone present. "Captain, this little un says you shouldn't mess with him. Hehe, I wonder what he means by that."
"Shut up, Perriot. Leave the kid be." At his scolding, the man who laughed quickly wuitened down immediately. Then he turned to face me. In a soft, caring voice he asked, "What is your name?"
"I'm Jas... Jace." I was about to give my real name before quickly realising that using my real name could lead them to track my actual identity. After all, I was still very close to the town my family lorded over.
"Alright, Jace. Where are your parents? Tell us and we'll take you to go meet them, okay?" Ugh, it seemed some people had coconuts for brains. I'm not trying to go home, dammit! Of course, I didn't say this out loud. I quietly listened to him rant on and on about how he would help me if I just talked to him.
We went at it for about half a minute before he realised I was looking at him with eyes that said, 'Just shut the f*** up and listen to me, would you?!' He finally stopped talking and looked at me with an awkward smile on his face.
"You are clearly old enough to fend for yourself. Why did you call us over?" He asked.
"Finally." I paused for a moment as my gaze swept over the six people in his party. They were certainly perfect to carry out my idea. "Would you lot be willing to enter a temporary business contract with me?"
"And what you be bringing to the table?" A bulky man asked. He was the same person who had laughed at my statement earlier. Apparently, his name was Perriot.
"Here." I walked to the other side of the tree by the side of which we were stood and dragged out something in a net. This seemed to startle the lot of them as they saw the contents of the net.
"How... How can you carry that? Isn't it too heavy? And... who killed them? Where did you find this?" I was bombarded with questions from Sherby as soon as I appeared with a net holding two magical beasts.
I brought it to their front and released my hold on the mouth of the net.
"I killed them." I waited to see all the shocking expressions of everyone in front of me - between me and you, I enjoyed every single one of those expressions, made my head swell. After waiting awhile for them to accept the bitter and degrading truth, I continued.
"Now, all you lot need to know is that I killed the beasties. How it happened doesn't matter. What I actually need from you, though is to make it look like we killed them."
"Sorry, could you repeat that?" A young woman in their party - the only woman in their party - said to me. She held a staff and was dressed in robes. Extremely likely to be the mage in their party.
"I killed the beasts, but most people won't believe me. Kind of like what your lot is doing right now. It would be more believable if you pretended it was all of us what killed them. This way, I get away with no suspicions whatsoever and you lot get paid for nothing. It's a win-win."
"It does seem like a good idea... " The Captain muttered to hisself. Then, he turned to face the rest members of his team. "What do you guys think? It could be quite a good haul from just this."
The members of the party all shared their agreement, except Perriot. Of course, why would I expect him to make it easy for me?
"I don't trust this little fella."
"You don't trust any fella." Sherby and Perriot were having a back and forth concerning taking the job. I just walked over to the tree and waited for their decision as I closed my eyes to relish the smell of nature.
Few minutes later, Sherby approached me. He was accompanied by Perriot.
"Hey, Jace. What's the cut?" I looked at the both of them. It seemed this would be the deciding factor whether they took the job or not. And since I really needed this, coupled with the fact I may not see any other willing party...
"Fifty fifty. Take it or leave it." I said.
"Take it or leave it?!" Sherby cried. "That's already way too m..." Before he could complete his addition, Perriot slapped a hand onto his mouth. He faced me, as he struggled to keep Sherby under wraps.
"We'll take it." He said. We shook hands and at such, sealed the contract.