- Well, finally fresh bread and a glass of wine! And no goblins, skeletons, or silly ancient stuff! - exclaimed Klein indignantly, enjoying a hearty dinner at the tavern.
- And cultists. And bandits. - quietly added Isabella, timidly picking at the salad she ordered. - Although they're villains, they're still people... Killing people is just wrong!
- It's wrong to eat just grass! Only cows and elves do that! - shouted Glen to the whole tavern, holding a juicy lamb leg in his hand, with fat dripping from it. The druid flinched at his voice, closing her eyes. In fact, she almost always reacted like that to the wild gnome, who was the complete opposite of the delicate fragile girl. And Glen continued to tease her - Are you a cow or an elf?
- I... I'm neither a cow nor an elf... And anyway, I have nothing against meat, but... When I remember what I did in animal form... How I tore goblin bodies with my claws, how I bit them, how their warm blood flowed down my throat, exhilarating... - the girl turned pale, and with a weak smile added, - so, I guess I'll stick to leaves and roots after all. The gnome snorted contemptuously but didn't argue. Apparently, the thought of drinking goblin blood slightly spoiled his appetite too. Instead, he turned his attention to Lia:
- And you, you're an elf. So why the hell are you eating meat!?
- It'h shust so tasty in sheneral! - replied the wizard with her mouth full of meat assortment. - After years of eafing only leafes and bark, a liffle bif of meaf is a delighf. And I'fe nefer tried such delicious meaf in the foresfs!
- Yeah, but aren't you supposed to, I don't know, love and cherish all living things? Respect their desires and all that elvish nonsense? - Glen persisted, and Lia, finally finishing chewing, replied to him:
- Oh, I highly value the desires of these delicious creatures! If they didn't desire to be eaten by me, they wouldn't be so tasty! I'm just restoring the proper order of things!
- Wow. Didn't expect such wise words from an elf! - The gnome looked at the elf with respect and, raising his glass, exclaimed - In that case, a toast! To what we eat, not what eats us! Lia was the first to respond to his call to drink, clinking her cup against his and emptying it in one gulp.
- Kia-a-a! Delicious! You humans sure know how to cook! I won't leave until I've eaten everything in this tavern!
- Oh, then let's make a bet, who can handle more servings! - exclaimed Glen with burning eyes in a burst of excitement.
- Let's do it! I'll defend the honor of the elven race! At that moment, Anya reached for her beer mug, but catching Vasiliy's stern silent gaze, she returned to her water, dejected. Seeing this, Klein smirked, shaking his vessel with intoxicating liquid right in front of the angry girl, and, smacking his lips, took a sip.
- It's good to be an adult, huh, kid? - he laughed. - Although, what would you know, ha?
- You're only two years older than me, you insignificant one. In a year, I'll outdrink both you and that half-pint! And anyway, can priests drink alcohol?
- What is alcohol if not a gift from the merciful Lord so that we, pitiful mortals, can drown our troubles in it?
- Alright, Klein, don't tease the girl. She did great today, even leveled up - Robert intervened. - Better eat up, you need a lot of food to grow. And Klein listened. He always listened to his commander, not because he was three times older than the boy, but because he was an excellent warrior. Robert was a mage responsible for coordinating the squad, the most important role, as only thanks to the leader did the squad's strength exceed the sum of its individual members. Moreover, although the mage was almost fifty, he moved with precise movements that didn't expend much energy, wielded a sword, an axe, and a sling. Of course, Klein was confident that he wouldn't lose to his commander in a sword fight, at least, but it was impossible not to respect such a person. And maybe it was because of his really high charisma level. Twenty-six charisma points and fifteen wisdom! Are you a mage, or a bard, or who are you?
Later in the evening, when everyone finished eating, the group began to disperse to their homes. Robert was the first to leave, bidding farewell to the others before departing:
- See you all later, get some good rest tomorrow. After that, we'll clean up the dungeon and finish the quest. I'll leave first, I need to report to the guild. And we'll also need to sell the goblins' belongings...
- Good luck to you, and thanks for taking care of all the paperwork. - Klein replied.
- Well, who else would do it, when half of you can't even read or write? Klein, I'll stop by your place tomorrow morning, I'll need to inspect the items to know what I'm selling and how much they're worth.
- No problem. Since we're not going anywhere tomorrow, I can use mana without restraint.
Next to leave were the young girl-assassin and the archer. Ania kept complaining incessantly:
- What's the point of you coming with me, old man?! Go home, I'm not little, I can go by myself!
- But I have to protect you. No matter what you say, you're only fifteen. What if someone sees such a lovely little girl alone on the street at night?!
- That's great that you care about me, but save your strength for those who need it. Don't forget, I'm an assassin, and I'm a genius! If anyone tries to do anything to me, they won't want anything else in their life.
- That's what I'm afraid of! I'm escorting you to protect these poor souls! I know you're strong, I've seen it with my own eyes. But really, how do your parents allow you to do such a dangerous job!? If you were my daughter - I would never allow it! You could get hurt or even die!
- But you're here, Uncle Vasya, you'll protect me if anything happens, right? - Ania chirped, hanging on the man's arm.
- Of course, my princess! - the archer melted instantly, starting to coo.
When they disappeared, Klein noticed ia, who, leaning on the cheerful drunk gnome, was desperately trying to empty everything she had eaten earlier onto the road. Glen, looking at the pale dying and trembling elf, laughed loudly:
- Muahaha, you were a great opponent! Don't worry, long-eared one, you defended the honor of the elves, although you couldn't win! But that's okay, after all, you fought not just anyone, but a proud gnome!
- Hey, - the paladin addressed Lia, - maybe you shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard? The last two piglets were definitely unnecessary.
- It was worth it!.. - the wizard replied with difficulty, breathing heavily from the strain. - There were no unnecessary piglets... It was all so delicious that it was definitely worth any suffering!
- Muahaha, worthy daughter of the forests! - Glen exclaimed approvingly.
- However... - Lia began, and tears appeared in her eyes. - I spent all my money on this! Next time, we'll clear out the entire dungeon and become rich like fairy tale heroes! Otherwise... Otherwise, I'll have to sell my body...
Isabella blushed at those words, covering her face with her hands, and Klein coughed from surprise, imagining this scene. However, the situation needed clarification first, so he clarified:
- Uh... What exactly do you mean by "selling your body"?
- Of course, it's that dirty disgusting thing between two people... - the paladin's eyes lit up, and her hands clenched into fists. - When one tells the other what to do... What do you call it? Oh yes... Capitalism...
- So, you meant cleaning, cooking, and doing odd jobs? - the youth said disappointedly. - In that case, please never use such expressions. You might be misunderstood, and someone might think you're talking about...
And Lia, unable to contain her urges any longer, demonstrated the contents of her stomach, pouring it onto the road under Glen's loud laughter:
- What, the herbivorous belly of delicate elves isn't used to meat, huh?!
And Lia, bending over double on the ground, began to cry uncontrollably, whimpering:
- I... I paid for them... I PAAAAID FOR THEEEEEM!
Klein looked at this situation, then at the blushing Isabella, took her by the shoulder, and, leading her away, said:
- Let's go, my dear Isa. Let's leave them. Everything will definitely be fine with them.
- Are you... Are you sure?
- Definitely. What's more important, are you free this lovely evening?
- U-uh... No? I... I... Well, you know, business, adult stuff, money, magic, work, poof! - Starting to speak, the druidess gently removed the youth's hand from her shoulder, and with each word she moved further and further away until she turned the corner. All Klein had left was to put his hands behind his head and, looking at the rising Moon, walk to the temple, talking to himself:
- Oh well, it was worth a try. Yeah, she's a bit older, she's already twenty-seven... But she's such a cutie, heh-heh! Not like that stupid Anya. Annoying.
When Klein reached the temple, he greeted his old master-abbot, changed into a modest priest's robe, washed his face, and entered the prayer hall, where his teacher was already waiting for him, bowed in prayer before the statue of a man with a sword in one hand and a cube in the other. The statue wore a bandage over its eyes. Although it was just a statue, it exuded a holy aura of strength and confidence. The young man approached the old monk and, sitting on the bench next to him, also bowed in prayer.
So they sat for some time: a sixteen-year-old youth with short golden hair and an almost two-meter-tall eighty-six-year-old man. Despite his very advanced age, no one would dare call him frail. Strength and power enveloped his body; any young warrior would envy his developed muscles, and the life and sharp mind visible in his eyes only reinforced the impression he made, and neither the falling gray hair nor the wrinkles could hide the strength of this man. And he was strong. Very strong. And Klein was extremely proud to be the apprentice of this man. So they sat, bowed in silent prayer: the youth, without a hint of a beard, and the old man.
After some time, the perfect silence of the hall was interrupted by the strong voice of the old monk:
- Was the Lord on your side today?
- Yes, master-abbot. Fortune smiled upon us today.
- Excellent. Did anything significant happen?
- You could say that. Anya, our assassin, leveled up. She's now at level eighteen.
- Oh, again? I remember you only recently said she was at level ten. Her growth rate is impressive. Well, unlike our Lord, Saivas blesses only the chosen ones with his favor. And remember: although the girl is marked by the Gray Harbinger, the god of betrayal and murder, it doesn't mean she's a bad person. Saivas himself is a vile and loathsome god of chaos, but people - they're still people and decide for themselves who they want to be. Do you understand me, my boy?
- I understand, master-abbot. And I wanted to say... I still don't understand the System. How does it even work?
- I've been teaching you since birth, and you haven't even remembered that?! - Emotions appeared on the monk's face, his lips twitched, and he was clearly annoyed. - Really, why listen to the teacher in class? Can't it be that he says something that will help you in life, huh?! No-o, you were more interested in magic lessons and sword fighting!
Klein grimaced. He knew he shouldn't talk about it... And here his teacher scolded him again... Again. Sometimes it seemed to the young man that the master hadn't gone to the afterlife precisely because from there he wouldn't be able to teach and scold Klein. Although... If it really were so, the guy wouldn't mind deliberately provoking the teacher's anger, because despite everything, the old man had raised him, abandoned as a baby on the road, and had been a father and grandfather to Klein at once.
- Are you kidding me?! - the shout of the monk brought Klein back to reality. - You asked me a question, and now, just a second later, you're not listening! Look me in the eyes, you little one! If you look away for even a second or I see that you've lost concentration, you'll get it on your back!
Klein looked at the muscles of the old paladin, remembered the blows he had received from him before, and focused as much as possible on the teacher's words, and the latter, with dissatisfaction and grumbling, began his story.
- The System was created after our great Blind Lord ascended to the heavens and became a god. He did it to make it easier for everyone to assess their own and others' skills. As the highest god of order, Aronis wanted to remove chaos from the world, and the systematization of human abilities is one of the steps on this path...
- Master, I already know that, I was asking something else... - Klein interrupted, but seeing the old warrior tense up, he immediately fell silent.
- Oh, Lord! I'm afraid one day I'll kill this boy... So, systematization. Don't forget that all monsters also possess it because it's fair. Well, he also did it because he loves that game invented by the mimics... You play it too, I know. What's it called... Mountains and Giants, yes! So, by surpassing themselves, becoming better, training, and winning battles, all living beings can increase their level. At the same time, they increase one of their attributes by one unit. The attribute that a person paid the most attention to since the last level up increases. If Aronis is merciful and luck is on your side, you can increase all six.
- But that's exactly what I don't understand... So, there's no point in training and building muscle if strength only increases with level up?
- Of course, there is. Firstly, during training, you gain a bit of experience, secondly, when you level up, you increase the attribute you need. And thirdly, don't forget: the system only shows how strong you are. You influence your stats, but at the same time, they influence you. And don't forget that they're not almighty. Take, for example, Endurance. Even if you have a thousand Endurance, you'll still die from a single blow to the heart or a severed head. It only shows how much harder you are to injure and how much better you can withstand damage. Although even a thousand Endurance won't give you skin like steel. Although... I don't know. It's hard to imagine someone with such a terrifying stat, considering that the maximum level is a hundred. So, do you understand now?
- No, master.
- BECAUSE YOU'RE A STUPID IDIOT, THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!
- Then yes, I understand everything, master.
- Excellent. Now get out of here. Oh, Lord, how this boy tires me...