[Strength: 2/5
Dexterity: 3/7
Endurance: 10
Health: 7
Mana: 0
Intelligence: 13/14
Luck: 2
Medicine: 1
Charisma: 6
Intimidation: 5
List of abilities:
Active:
Provocateur – 15/24 hours
Insightful 2
Murderous Feast – 15/24 hours
Passive:
Failures Surround Me
Cockroach
Traits:
Murder 2
Kill Counter: 7
Survivor
Listener]
I reviewed my stats, and the results were disappointing. Considering my current intelligence and skill cooldowns, only 9 hours had passed, and it takes 10 hours for my strength and dexterity to recover.
Maybe it would be better to wait another hour before going to kill the rats?
Moreover, Adele also mentioned that she needs 10 hours to regain her full spellcasting effectiveness, though I doubt she would use spells in the tavern's cellar where the owner stores his supplies. Otherwise, we might cause more harm than good.
"Good afternoon," greeted the bartender.
Today his hair was combed and styled, as was his beard, making him look younger. Now he exuded the charm of a gallant gentleman.
"Good afternoon," I replied. "We need another hour before we can start the task."
"Of course," the bartender nodded.
After a brief conversation, I headed to the restroom, located in the far right corner of the dining area.
It was surprisingly clean here, except that instead of a toilet, there was a hole in the floor, but I could live with that.
While I was doing my business, a cockroach flew down from somewhere above. It was as wide as my thumb and about as long as my middle finger. Its color was somewhere between dark brown and khaki.
"Well, hello there, little guy," I greeted the newcomer, offering him a spot on my index finger. "What brings you here?"
Instead of answering, he buzzed his wings, then settled down and climbed into my palm, making himself comfortable.
With my other hand, I petted his head, making him buzz again, but he didn't fly away. He seemed to like it.
"I'll call you Rudolph," I said, smiling at my new friend. "You have a red head instead of a nose, but who cares?"
The cockroach, after enjoying the caresses, flew up and headed for my collar, hiding between the folds of my clothes and armor, tickling my neck.
After finishing my business, I washed my hands first. For such cases, there was a bucket of clean water with a ladle floating on the surface.
Well, it was relatively clean, like the water in our room. I've seen better.
I washed my hands without soap because there was none, and then re-entered the dining area, where my team was gathered around the bartender.
"Since you're all here, I have news for you," said the tavern owner. "While you were asleep, a military convoy from Polemos headed to Surrik. Their messenger stopped by and left this."
With these words, he pulled out an iron chest about the size of my head with gold inlays and a key to it. Our entire team gathered around the bartender, examining the chest.
"I don't know what's inside. The messenger just said to give it to you. I also don't know why the convoy is headed to Surrik," the bartender preempted our questions.
Ah, my friend, it's better you don't know what's happening there.
"How did we not hear the military horses' hooves?" Jeanne asked in bewilderment.
"We were drunk," Adele shrugged.
Fair enough.
With these thoughts, I opened the chest with the provided key.
Inside were three neatly folded letters, five gold coins, a bright gold emblem engraved with a sun, and a strange-looking ring that resembled a twisted bone of a little finger.
Seeing this, each of us, except Jeanne, looked surprised.
I decided not to touch the strange items and instead picked up the letters, hoping they would contain explanations.
The first letter was stamped 'For the Paladin', so I immediately handed it to Jeanne.
Then I opened the second letter, carefully reading its contents.
"It mentions the ring. It's called the Martyr's Finger. If you wear it, you gain a new active ability that transforms the hand wearing the ring into a monstrous version of itself, making it significantly stronger and bulkier."
"However, the ring can only be worn on the pinky finger, and if it stays in contact with human skin for more than an hour, it will merge with the wearer and turn them into a monster. If the ability is activated, the time shortens from one hour to ten minutes, so it's recommended to keep the artifact in a bag or pocket if not planning to use it soon."
Having finished with the first artifact, as it called in the letter, I moved on to the second.
"The Sun Emblem passively increases resistance to light, fire, and holiness by 50%, warms the wearer, and grants an active ability called Bright Light, which deals damage and blinds anyone intending to kill the wearer, as well as shadow entities, undead, and unholy beings."
"However, if the item is carried for more than an hour, the warming effect can boil the blood and internal organs or even set the wearer on fire. Additionally, if pinned to clothing over the heart, the person will gradually become a fanatic worshiper of the Sun."
"The best way to store it is in a container or case made of any material that can withstand high temperatures."
With these words, I looked at the chest. A very good option for storing the Emblem.
"And what about you?" I asked Jeanne, to whom I had recently handed a letter.
The paladin smiled slightly.
"A promotion notice," she said with a hint of joy. "I'll consider this my reward, you can divide the remaining spoils of war among yourselves."
We all nodded. Along with this, I glanced at Adele, who had dealt the most damage to our enemies after Jeanne, as well as saved my life and healed wounds. Speaking of which, I think she had already managed to heal Uncle Jack after waking up, so he also looked at her expectantly.
"I'll take the Martyr's Finger," Adele chose. "I perform well in ranged combat, but my potential drops sharply in close combat. I can't always rely on your help."
Next, Uncle Jack looked at me, to which I responded with a grateful nod.
Well, money is never too much, but the funds I have now suit me just fine. However, an artifact that provides good resistance and the ability to deal area damage and blind sounds good.
"I'll take the Sun Emblem along with the chest for storage," I said, placing the coins on the table and taking the chest with the artifact inside.
Uncle Jack wordlessly grabbed the five gold coins and stuffed them into his pocket.
[Your strength, agility, and intelligence stats have returned to normal!]
"I think it's time to kill some rats," I said after receiving the message.
...
The entrance to the basement was right behind the bar counter – a door in the floor, or rather, a hatch.
It was dark inside, so we were each given an oil lamp. We armed ourselves with swords in advance, preparing to face a strong opponent, and the door closed behind us to prevent the rats from escaping.
Although they somehow still appeared on the upper floors, meaning they had other passages, the owner felt more at ease this way.
The basement was strewn with various sacks of food, such as rice and potato, maintaining a low temperature, but it was damp. I think this directly contributed to the appearance of the rats.
We stopped and fell silent, listening to the deceptive quiet. Throughout the room, there was a sound similar to scratching. It was the rats moving across the floor, tapping with their claws.
I quickly took the emblem out of the chest. Holding it in my hand, warmth spread through my body, a warmth I had never felt before.
[You are using the Sun Emblem artifact! Your resistance to light, fire, and holiness increases by 50%!]
[Warning!]
Yeah, I've read that already.
[You gain a new ability!]
[Bright Light – a very bright, holy, and warm light, capable of illuminating the way, destroying evil, or burning down cities.
Description: when activated, it emits light that can be dispersed across the entire area or directed at a specific point. If the light is directed at one point for more than 10 seconds, it can cause a fire depending on the material.
Deals 1 point of damage every 3 seconds to shadow entities, undead, unholy beings, and anyone who intends to kill the wearer, and blinds them once for 3 seconds]
I raised the emblem with my right hand above my head, mentally pronouncing the ability.
The dark space was instantly filled with warm light, causing all movement and sound to cease.
Before us was an enormous horde of giant rats. I counted 16, but there were more. Some were bigger, others slightly smaller, but on average, they were the size of a medium dog or my leg.
For a moment, they stared at us with their beady eyes but quickly shut them and tried to flee, writhing in pain.
Jack and Jeanne pursued the stunned creatures, stabbing and slashing them with their swords. Adele put the Martyr's Finger on her pinky but didn't activate the ability, standing by my side as I continued to illuminate the entire basement, not giving the rats a moment's respite.
In no time, the room was filled with the agonizing squeals of pain, but within a minute, they ceased. The basement floor was soaked with blood, and the air was thick with the smell of iron. I scanned the room under the light of the Emblem but saw only corpses and blood, aside from my team, of course.
"That was quick," I noted.
"Not every battle has to drag on for hours," Jeanne remarked, sheathing her sword. "Now let's get out of here; it's unbearable."
I couldn't disagree. Without a word, I placed the Emblem back in the chest and headed for the exit, still holding the oil lamp in my left hand.
By the time we reached the door, it was already open, which made me a bit uneasy. Did the bartender open it, or was it the rats?
"Wonderful!" exclaimed the bearded bartender. "I heard everything! You did a great job!"
He approached us and shook hands with each of us, despite the blood on our hands and clothes.
"I'll handle the mess myself; you can go," he smiled.
I smiled back, expecting some additional reward. But nothing came. The silence stretched, and I nodded to him in farewell, then headed out of the establishment.
It would have been too good to be true if we had received something extra for killing the rats. By the way, my kill count didn't increase for them, which makes me wonder who exactly I need to kill to improve the trait.
Outside, a cool breeze greeted me, and the sun, occasionally covered by clouds, shone down.
Jeanne looked toward Surrik, her expression unreadable, her red hair fluttering in the wind. Adele appeared thoughtful, her blue hair tied in a ponytail resting calmly on her shoulder. Uncle Jack lazily surveyed the fields before heading in the opposite direction of Surrek.
To the city known as Polemos.