77 A Jerky Run

"Wait wait wait. This is still up for discussion!" said Osmin.

Osmin knew exactly what this ghost was famous for. He was a pervert that liked men's butts!

That's why the halflings never dealt with him. He never killed anyone, but all the halflings that encountered him disappeared from the town in shame!

How could they dare show their faces again in the town after such an immoral act?

"Either you give in to my demands or your fate is up to my new ghostly butler," I said.

"YOU COME HERE," said Jax as he pointed to the halfling.

"I LIKE YA AND I WANT YA."

"WE CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY."

"THE CHOICE IS YOURS."

Jax had gotten excited, closing in on the halfling. His new master had brought him out to get some booty! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad following this devil.

"I concede, I will no longer offend you devil. Call off your ghost!" said Osmin as he cowered in a corner.

"That's all you had to say, halfling! Send the supplies to my Bloodfang Estate," I said.

"Come Jax, you've served me well."

"BUTT… BUTT…" said Jax.

"No Buts!" I said.

"SOMEBODIES GOTTA GIVE UP SOME BOOTY," said Jax.

Jax disappeared back to his ball and chain, disgruntled. Why did master tease me? Halflings are delicious. So small and tasty. Booty is more important than food…

~~~

As soon as the devil left Osmin contacted his dark mistress. His chastity was on the line! How could he even maintain his standing if he got violated by a ghost?

"Dark mistress, you must come soon," said Osmin in a high-pitched squeal.

"What is the problem now, little halfling?" said Viscount Mira.

"I gave Bloodfang Hill to that bloodthirsty devil, and he subdued the perverted ghost that plagued the farmhouse,." said Osmin.

"Now he goes around terrorizing people, threatening them with it! How can we live under his tyranny dark mistress? We are but simple halflings. Our chastity is sacred. He is a true menace!"

"He even swindled me out of your precious soul materials and are forcing us to remodel his new Estate. He thinks we are his slaves. Please dark mistress I beg of you come soon!"

"He is an interesting devil. You must have sent him to Bloodfang Hill to get your revenge, and he came back wanting compensation. He is giving me face by not killing you." Viscount Mira said, shaking her head.

"Stop your little tricks halfling. I told you to take care of this devil, instead you openly offend him. Don't worry your little head, I will visit my city soon."

"Thank you dark mistress your grace knows no limits!" said Osmin.

~~~

I headed back to my shop to check on my young apprentice and the Aspects.

"Master!" said Alura.

"How have you been progressing?" I said.

She danced around waving a tiny flame.

"Good, this young lord's apprentice would never be average," I said.

"Now it's time I teach you the joy of blacksmithing."

Me and my young apprentice headed to the forging room. I heated a metal, hammered it, and forged an Esquire Weapon in under five minutes.

"Wow, master so that's how you create weapons?"

"No, this is just basic forging for Esquires. The weapons I create myself are much more majestic," I said.

"In cultivating everything must be done step by step. Once you can forge a Knight weapon, I will teach you my real craft. Cursed weapons, now those are true weapons," I said looking up in a proud matter-of-fact manner.

"Thanks master, I will not disappoint you," said Alura.

"How's the shop been cat?" I said.

"Meow, it's been terrible. I've gone a whole week without a single meal," said the fat cat.

"Meow, How could you be so heartless chef? Leaving your cat home starving."

"You've gotten fat, you need to skip a few meals," I said pointing to his belly.

The cat became flustered from embarrassment.

"Meow, my weapons are still selling at a study pace. This cat has many shinnies now," said the cat as he played with his fel shards, trying to change the subject.

"That's good, I think it's about time I started a religion in a lower world," I said.

"Listen, be careful that no one learns your true name while scrying. Mortals can bind you with that," said Sybil.

"I will Sybil, from now on I will be in closed-door devilry at my Bloodfang Estate. Jurrath you are in charge, make sure no one bullies my young apprentice," I said.

"Meow, How could I survive without my chef?" said Jurrath.

"You get plenty of shinnies staying here Jurrath. Don't you want even more shinnies for your collection?" I said.

"Meow, I want wolpertinger jerky if I have to stay here! You are my chef, you have to feed me," said Jurrath attempting to look pitiful.

"Damn greedy cat!" I said

The mischievous cat was right, I had an obligation to feed him. All because of that contract he tricked me into signing. Now I needed to hunt wolpertingers before going into closed-door devilry.

I headed back to my Bloodfang Estate and begin planning my assault on the wolpertinger cave. I wanted to spend a long time in closed-door devilry so I would have to leave him a good supply of jerky.

~~~

\u003cFireball\u003e

The wolpertinger dodged my \u003cFireball\u003e then lunging at me.

I readied Lokkar and stabbed at the pest.

It avoided my dagger and scratched my hand.

Dealing with these wolpertinger Knights was a chore. Every time I defeated one I would be marked with injuries. Luckily Sybil was here to heal me. Otherwise there was no way I could fight these things every day.

It had been two weeks since I started farming these things for jerky.

I grabbed the wolpertinger after many attempts and pinned it down.

\u003cEnfeebling Blood\u003e

\u003cSoul Burn\u003e

I channeled my Soul Burn for an entire minute while the wolpertinger squirmed to escape. This was the only way to take them down. I had to weaken them with \u003cEnfeebling Blood\u003e and use my channeled attack \u003cSoul Burn\u003e.

Soon the wolpertinger was a crispy carcass. Just like Jurrath liked them.

My essence would only allow me to kill 3 knights a day. My understanding of Soul and Fire was growing through this training. Because the things were so resistant to my attacks, I had to learn to channel my essence over long durations.

Doing this tempered my essence. I had now fully stabilized my devilry at the low-Baron realm.