«Is this really necessary?» Jimbo wonders as he watches the soldiers move the bed and closet into the core room, all the while being supervised by Hilda's watchful eye.
Jimbo offered to build Hilda a bedroom in the adjoining right space. It would be no problem for him just use some ether for the new room, he already had a schematic for Dowmy's bedroom that could be re-used. But Hilda rejected the idea, arguing that she prefers to be near the core just in case something bad happens. Such a situation makes Jimbo swallow saliva with his ethereal throat, feeling uncomfortable with Hilda present, always on the prowl, keeping an eye on anything Dowmy or he does.
Core Supervisor.
That was the position created and given to the captain. Just hearing the job title makes Jimbo want to laugh, but for the castle's residents it was no joke. King Marc offered Hilda extra pay to go along with her position as captain, and she accepted, though only after refusing the pay a couple of times and reaffirming that she would do it for free if they would let her.
Jimbo couldn't tell if Hilda was an idiot or an ass-kisser. He had a hard time sizing up her loyalty to King Marc, more so when he learned from spying on the soldiers and chatting with Dowmy that Marc's lineage has a time limit.
«100 years to run a kingdom. It's still quite a long time, but does he deserve that degree of willingness?»
He could try to get Dowmy to talk to Hilda about it, but he hesitates to get anything but surly looks. Jimbo wants to maintain a more or less healthy relationship, though he would have preferred the older man, that Lynel fellow, to keep the supervisor's job.
«He's a nice guy. Although it was very awkward when I explained that the cavewomen were my inventions»
Among those present there was a long silence and exchanges of glances, especially after Jimbo vanished and brought back one of the girls, earning murmurs of surprise. Only the strange hooded woman remained unmoved, the one with the shaved head and slanted eyes. King marc was pragmatic and ordered not to comment on the human summoning, another secret of an already taboo subject that was Jimbo's existence.
"Well, the ladies do look a bit silly," said Axiel, whom Jimbo observed with disdain, considering him the typical blond and handsome character that makes the fangirls squeal. "That they lack a soul would explain the lesser intellect"
"Sir Axiel, that's very disrespectful from you..." Lynel said at the time, though he didn't entirely reject the second captain's theory.
«That I can summon beings similar to them, seems to be blasphemy. Good to know, I don't want to offend anyone powerful. Lucky the king is a reasonable person.»
Jimbo is thankful for his luck. If Arrax were present, or a more obtuse king was in charge, their survival would have been complicated to negotiate.
«Though it's a bit odd that they'd be so cooperative all of a sudden»
That the man with the golden helmet, Claus, was not present left Jimbo wondering. King Marc not only accepted Jimbo's existence, but also gave the go-ahead for his plans to train the soldier troop.
Jimbo was not going to complain about the good fortune, so he thanked the monarch, and the king left with the captains. Hilda returned shortly thereafter accompanied by soldiers in charge of carrying her stuff.
If they were in an office environment, she would be something like his immediate boss.
The soldiers leave the core room by an alternate path that allows them to avoid the first floor trials. Hilda, now alone with the core and the imp, walks to stand at the pit's edge and crosses her arms, watching the crystal very carefully.
"The master wants to know what you want, human" Dowmy says, flapping her wings to approach quickly and protectively.
Hilda looks at the imp for a moment and then returns her attention to the crystal.
"I want to talk to you. Directly. Without intermediaries"
Jimbo is speechless with the surprise request. Dowmy clenches her fists and puffs out her cheeks, indignant.
"The master only talks with his trusted assistant, with me!"
«Dowmy, calm down. It's okay»
Dowmy continues to clench her hands tightly, clearly this is a delicate matter for her.
«It would be more convenient for me communicating with her directly. Especially if I'm supposed to explain to her what I want to do first. I have to take advantage they're in good faith to get my projects underway!»
Jimbo asks Dowmy to tell Hilda the instructions, but she closes her eyes, crosses arms, and turns away from them. Hilda seeing such a childish attitude, wields a half-smile lacking humor, almost a grimace.
"If you're worried about me stealing your monster maker, nothing could be further from the truth, child. I'm only interested in expediting this work to better help the kingdom"
Dowmy returns to looking at them, first doubtfully, then sighs in resignation, convinced that Hilda has no hidden agenda to take the master away from her.
"You have to do the same thing I did... Reach out and touch... And accept the gift"
"Accept the gift?" Hilda frowns, wary of the word usage.
The imp nods repeatedly.
Hilda stares at the crystal for a full minute.
"If you try to take over my conscience, you will be making your last mistake, Dungeon Core," the captain warns. Do not say it directly, but she is shielded by a silent confidence in abilities that are not obvious to naked eyes.
Jimbo assumes that, to become a kingdom captain, you need to be strong or have above-average skills. Even if Jimbo had mind control powers, he wouldn't risk compromising the collaboration the king and his people are showing.
«Well, maybe I would. Only if I was absolutely certain it worked and nobody would notice»
As an E-Sports pro, Jimbo knows when and how to play his cards.
Hilda stretches out her arm and plants a palm on the crystal's surface. An electric tingle runs through her body, shoulders jerk and she blinks a few times.
Inside Jimbo's blue space, a new message in red letters appears.
Connection point found. Do you wish to formalize the external link?
Jimbo hesitates for a couple of seconds, but finally agrees to create the link.