Vol. 3 Chap. 90 Country Cousins

Vol. 3 Chap. 90 Country Cousins

Truth wasn’t afraid to admit he had a type when it came to women- “Women who are interested in me.”

His number one, no question, highest rated feature he looked for in a woman was her interest in him. Everything else fell into the vague reaches of the “nice to have” category.

That being said, after Etenesh’s affection and getting hit on by a significant number of people, he was willing to widen his eyes a bit. Really consider what, if he was being picky, he found desirable.

He was humbled to realize he had really basic taste. Shamefully pedestrian. He had sex with the embodiment of God’s Consort in all her heavenly glory, and he still had “Jeon Casual” level desires.

One dark night, he realized that he had a tiny crush on the model from the old Starbrite billboard, the lady getting her golden bat cigarette lit by the handsome Starbrite man. She did things for him, even after all these years. He would have to broaden his tastes.

The receptionist here was outside his comfort zone at the moment. She was a little heavy for him. In the sense that she was packing more muscle under that blouse than he had under his shirt.

Is she... sniffing the air? I should be unnoticable regardless of the sense used, right?

>

Incisive disagreed. Truth hopped back, then ducked almost flat as the heavy desk went flying across the room. Truth spotted her foot on an alarm button. Wards went up, sealing the room. Locking them in here, together.

Bad move lady. I don’t know how you sensed me but- HOLY SHIT!

Truth dodged left, barely ahead of the halberd the receptionist had summoned from a hidden recess in the floor. She pulled it back for a lunge as he slammed into the warded wall. Truth kicked off from the wall, launching himself forward to get inside the halberd’s range.

In his defense, he had never trained on halberds. Getting close seemed like a reasonable idea. The weighted butt of the halberd whipped up at his face, as the receptionist spun. He slipped right, straight into the path of the oncoming ax head on the other end of the shaft.

Alright, no such thing as a safe range when dealing with a halberd. Fuck it. Hard way it is.

He swayed back just enough to let the ax head whip past, then caught the shaft just behind the hook. He yanked forward, driving his boot directly into her gut. It was like trying to yank a concrete pillar, then kicking the same pillar “in the gut.” It rated a grunt, and a creeping smile from the receptionist.

She kicked right back. Truth blocked the kick with a raised shin. Neither of them minded the pain, but the receptionist used the moment to capitalize on his lack of balance, tearing back control of the halberd.

Truth called the Tongue to hand. It fairly hummed with disapproval. The receptionist’s grin widened. She snapped the halberd back around in a sweep at Truth’s legs. Truth stomped down on the haft, jamming the head into the floor. Continuing the motion, he lunged forward, tip aimed directly between her eyebrows. She rocked back, then with a grunt, lifted Truth and halberd alike up and out of the ground, slamming truth into the ceiling.

He should have just punched right through the concrete. It was warded. His head slammed hard, then he bounced back towards the floor. The receptionist had recovered enough for a one handed lunge, spear tip drilling for his navel. The Tongue slapped the broad steel head away, the angelic blade screeching as it ran along the spelled metal.

She wanted to throw him around? Two can play at that game. He grabbed the haft again, noting her grin. She was confident in her muscles. So was he. Truth lifted her off the ground and whipped her and the halberd both into the wall. Then did it a second time for luck. Then a third time. He needed a lot of luck. He was going for a fourth time, but she got her feet planted and pushed forward.

Truth slid backwards, losing his leverage on the long wooden haft. So far, neither had taken much damage. The room was pretty torn up, but other than a little light bashing around, neither was the worse for wear. He frowned. This couldn’t go on. Sooner or later, the receptionist’s friends would turn up.

“Are those your actual eyes? I mean, the color?”

She paused, then smiled. “No. But changing them back takes a special potion.”

“Ah. What’s your relationship with Remu Anakson?”

“He’s my older brother.” Her smile morphed into a grin. “He do something to piss you off?”

“Not that I know of. Or at least, not intentionally. Hmm.” Truth was stumped. “Do you know what business your family has with MegaShroom?”

Her eyes widened. “Ah. You really aren’t here to fuck around.”

“No, not as such. Assuming I let you live, you will be coughing up some fairly sizable, “Family is more than just unhappy” sized secrets. Death is always an option, if you prefer. I assumed I would be searching through files anyhow.”

She gave him a hard look. Really looked over his body. “I can barely see you, you know? And I can see through damn near anything. It’s like you are screaming “I’m not really here,” thinking it will mean I don’t see you.”

“So just looking like something else, say a janitor, would be a more effective disguise?”

“As long as you weren’t wearing a false mustache.”

“I am clean shaven.”

“Shame. I love a beard. Big beard, not little goatee thing. Shaved head, long, well oiled beard, and a cut physique.”

“Hmm. Super. Good to know. Jeon must be pure hell on your dating life. On the subject of you revealing everything before your organs fall out or I just behead you and send your big bro a very special present...”

“We are planning to take over the planet after the collapse of... call it traditional magic. At least, as you understand it. Well, taking it over is a little more dramatic than what we have planned. Say... we intend to be the single power on the planet that matters.”

“Called it.”

“You don’t sound surprised.”

“I’m not. What are you using MegaShroom for?”

“You... aren’t one of my cousins or something are you?” She very subtly flexed her foot. Not subtly enough. Truth cut through the quad muscles at the top of her leg, then did the same on the other leg before she had a chance to scream.

“I am genuinely impressed by your regeneration. Your nose has already straightened too. Congrats on being able to walk again. On the other hand, “Head in box” time is only getting closer.”

“Damn! Fucking OW! Yes, alright, what else would we use a bunch of scammy farmers for? Their tech will work in a post collapse environment, and we can harvest their management for... seeds. We’re farming the farmers.” She looked up at him, her face twisting into an odd, predatory smile. “My name is Sarah, by the way. And, just trying my luck here, are you single?”