Chapter 340 - Days MCCVIII - MCCIX, Part I

If not for Ki'rai waking me up, I would oversleep. The fatigue accumulated over a long period of time, and the very first moment I decided to get some rest, It took its toll on me. I would probably sleep for an entire day if not for her.

I rushed to wash up, and eat something. My friends were waiting for me, in the city center, clearly annoyed by how late I was. I gave them a lift, ignoring complaints, and then went on the usual clearing route with Ki'rai, ending by myself in the giants' dungeon.

With the recent upgrade in strength, I didn't have to rely on magic so heavily, and I managed to cut my way through the enemies with relative ease, yet the stairs made me stop. This time I was a bit faster, which meant that I can spend a couple of minutes more on the climb, but it just felt damn pointless.

Who knew how high those stairs go? From what I explored so far, they had to go at least halfway into the mountain above. Discouraged, I decided to return and get some rest.

The next day our hunt looked a bit different, as from the very early morning Hatta collected us all in his office.

- Hi everybody - he started, sitting on top of his desk, with arms crossed on his chest. - Forgive me this sudden gathering, but I came to a conclusion with some of my plans, and I require your help.

Boris's eyebrows rose up, but he didn't say a thing.

- Squeeze it out man - said Will.

- We have quite a lot of newcomers. Most of them are already hunting somewhat, but I would like to speed up the process. Wuxia needs more soldiers, and we also have to keep expanding. For you getting millions of points is not that hard, but for the others is very tough, as there is a lot of competition over even a single monster.

- You want us to take care of the newcomers? - asked Hailwic.

- Yes. They need crystals and class points. I know that I'm asking a lot, but pretty please? - his facial expression got twisted a bit like he was expecting to be hit in the face.

- I like this idea! Why not? - said Martin, with a big smile. - We should help others.

Nil just sighed.

- How the hell do you expect us to get them class points? - I asked him. - Some of the monsters I'm fighting would annihilate anybody else in few seconds, and you expect me to make it, so a regular person can kill those things?

- Then maybe aim for the weakest? I can also for a couple of days give you access to wolves' territory.

- This is ridiculous Hatta...

- Oh come on Peter! It will be fun! - Martin said and slapped me in the back.

I stumbled forward. His hand was probably heavier than my whole body, so the sheer difference in weight was enough to push me.

- Please guys. Those people need this.

- We need to expand too - protested Boris.

- To compete with others, they need a headstart. There are very few people without a single class those days. They have zero chances of competing with those people.

- Fine, fine. We will do it - said Will. - It's just a few days guys. On top of that, we don't need to go into any of those dangerous places. Let's get them some crystals, then go to wolves.

- I actually had a different plan in mind - said Hatta. - I was thinking that you should start with getting them some crystals, and maybe tomorrow, when they are s bit stronger, focus on the class points.

- There is no point in idle talks. Let's just go! - said Martin, and went to the door, to squeeze through the frame.

- Ah fuck it - said Will, and followed him.

The rest went shortly after, with me, hanging at the back.

- I know you might have different plans, but this will help us a lot as a society.

I just waved my hand at him and left. I thought he was gonna stay in his office, but he actually went with us.

We met a large group of around fifty people, waiting for us in the sun, on the edge of the city center. Everybody was decently armed. Few carts filled with provisions were parked close by. I caught a glimpse of the guy I recently bumped into.

Hatta immediately went to explain everything.

- Ok everybody! Follow those people. Do whatever they say, and if they say you shouldn't do something, you are not doing it. This might be a very dangerous mission, but it will put you on equal ground with the rest. Do not try to be heroes and hang at the backline. Let them do the rest, as the monster you might encounter will be out of your league. Any questions?

- No - said people said at once.

- Good. Peter? - Hatta turned to me.

I sighed and started moving people, starting with my friends. Then I shadow walked with others, group by group, taking everybody safely to the canyon, where Will and Nobuo were already dealing with the harpies.

Newcomers watched like hypnotized, whispering among themselves, protected from the ongoing battle by the living wall of metal and muscle named Martin. Armed with a giant morgenstern, resting on his shoulder.

As I brought the last group a harpy flew closer to attack him, but he just grabbed her and squeezed the life out of the poor creature. In a burst of smoke only a single crystal was left in his hand.

- Here - take it - he said with a smile, gifting the stone to the closest person behind him.

He had a giant smile on his face and made the others laugh. I swear that there was something magical about that guy. Just hanging out for a while close to him made your whole day better.

- Let's go further! - shouted will.

Nobuo and he cleared the harpies in the vicinity, so we could start slowly making our way towards the orcs' dungeon. The whole group slowly departed, with newcomers collecting the stones on the way, and looking around, mesmerized by the sudden change of the landscape.. Some were even sharing their thoughts about my quick way of traveling, still shocked by how quickly we got to the canyon.