Chapter 128: Taking An Actual Break

Chapter 128: Taking An Actual Break

As all amusing things, the brawl ends way too soon. As it turns out, I don't really need to do much more beyond swinging the hammer. Maybe setting a thing or two on fire as well. Hysterical Jenkins aside, the whole group of cadets performs quite well, keeping their distance, using fire and occasional earth to corral the ghouls in and exterminate them one by one. A few particularly aggressive specimens did manage to get close but were cut down by the sword-wielders before they could do anything more than snarl. I am rather enthused to see they have no compunctions about hamstringing the ghouls. That's nice, I was somewhat worried the more "noble" of them would balk at "dishonest" fighting. Now to deal with Jenkins.

I am thankfully preempted by Malachi conjuring a stream of water to hose the unfortunate bugger off. Unlike me, Jenkins does not seem to be up for pushing the filth off with magic. Actually, he does not seem to be up to anything at all. Wonder why... Oh, if his hysterical gibbering is of any indication, he is under impression that contact with "heartblood" will definitely ghoulify him. After he is rinsed off and shocked by the coldness of water into silence, I am finally able to clue him in.

"Blood is not infectious. Not unless you drink it by the glass or manage to somehow pour a good deal of it into your own veins. And even then, the most likely outcome would be just a long bout of fever. In order to cause ghoulification, a piece of the headgrowth is required, and you have to have it shoved down your throat too. Or into a wound, I suppose." - I explain - "The whole thing is remarkably independent of magic, it's just nature going the wrong way. Or the right way. Depending on where you are headed."

Jenkins does not seem to be entirely persuaded. In the end, Malachi sends off two cadets to escort Jenkins to Parsee post-haste. I offered to teleport him, but for some reason, Leeroy had gone into panic once again and had to be reassured that no more intervention from my side would be given.

"...So then, how do they propagate in such numbers? This whole situation seems rather suspicious." - Malachi muses.

"In such, they should not be." - I agree with him - "As far as I can tell, the way things usually shake out makes them pack hunters. A group of five-eight ghouls roams together and upon seeing something of suitable size, they dogpile on it, wrestle it down and one of them shoves a piece of headgrowth into the victim's mouth."

Malachi's lips thin as he mulls this over. "Damnation. It seems that someone got their hands on something they should not have." - he mutters - "Blast it all, I thought we burned all the Wessker's manuscripts decades ago!"

"...Who's manuscripts?" - I echo, struck with very unpleasant premonition.

Malachi snorts - "Yes, I remember that story. Your father was livid about the whole thing. Still, I have thought that the villagers in question had been properly remonstrated back then? And duly impressed with the mercy shown, considering your father was well within his rights to put the whole village to the sword for such an offense."

I shrug. "I guess someone didn't get the full story. Or elected to believe differently. People tend to believe all manner of weird things, I have found out." - I agree - "Well, unless you do have some idea who might have introduced our hapless avenger to Tremper, I guess this is the end of this investigation."

Malachi purses his lips. "Hard to say." - he then offers - "Tremper is known of by many people, from gutters to manors, so... No real way to narrow it down if someone recommended her and if so, who."

___

The investigation, such as it was, being wrapped up to my satisfaction, I retreat to the estate to spend the evening with my harem. Orrr, rather, I begin by breaking the beds down and reassembling them into one big lair much reminiscent of what I built in the Academy and flump on it gracelessly as soon as it is done. And this is how Roxolane finds me, face-down on the bed.

"Alyssa?... Eeep!" - she shakes my shoulder and yelps as I turn around, grab her in a hug and roll back on the bed, now holding her.

"Tiiiired." - I murmur, and she giggles.

"I should get everyone if you're in a lazy mood." - she proffers. I respond by hugging her tighter for a few moments, then let go with a grumble. A few minutes later, all of my wives are within arm's reach. Lily-Anne is still a little under weather but objected vociferously when I suggested she should stay in a separate bed and rest. According to her, hugs are the best cure. And so, I am hugging them all now.

"Is everyone in favor of staying in bed until tomorrow?" - I venture lazily after a while, feeling satisfied. Since Lily-Anne was unwell and Bridgit had a bad shock, they end up being shuffled next to me on both sides, with Roxolane and Moon-Unit spooning them, respectively. I surreptitiously stretch my arms to be long enough to hug them all at once, of course. They notice and riff me about it. It is nice. Low-key relaxing nice. Sometimes, you just have to take some time off for cuddles.