Chapter Seven:
Fighting Sins
Carriage
Ren Pov
"Betty? Are you still not done?" I ask the tiny girl on my lap.
"This cube is infuriating, in fact." I bought a rubix cube for her in the store for really cheap, but she's been struggling for a bit.
"Try not to get annoyed, that'll just serve to mess you up even more. If you really need help, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Betty doesn't need you-" She pauses for a moment, realizing what she was about to say. "Betty will keep it in mind."
"Heh. You do that." I go back to upgrading my stats with the AP I have left.
Name: Ren "Maxwell" Fujimura
Level: 62 (200/2675)
Fatigue: 09/100
Job: N/A
Title: N/A
Hp: 7000/7000
Mp: 3900/3900
STR: 94
AGI: 86 (2)
SNS: 100
HLT: 138
INT: 154 (10)
AP: 90
'Hmm…I think I'll increase Intelligence to 200 and use the rest of the AP to even everything out.' And I do just that, raising both STR and AGI to 100 even, and all the leftover is used on HLT.
Hp: 8300/8300
Mp: 5050/5050
STR: 100
AGI: 100 (2)
SNS: 100
HLT: 164
INT: 200 (10)
AP: 0
'Ahh…It's nice to look at your own actions bearing fruit. Now, If only it was easy to make a decision on all these choices.' I give an annoyed stare at the screens that had just popped up a little while ago.
HLT has reached 100, Choose a skill as a reward.
Impenetrable Defense - Active Skill - Once Casted, The Player is invulnerable for 5 seconds - Costs 10000 MP - Cooldown 1 Day - Cannot be dispelled by Anti-Magic
Or
Tables have Turned - Passive Skill - Activates once HP is below 50%, All Damage is increased by 400%, All Stats increase twofold except HLT
INT has reached 100, Choose a skill as a reward
Mana Battery - Passive Skill - Quadruple MP max capacity, increase MP regen by 100%
Or
Smart, Smarter, and Smartest - Passive Skill - The Player's IQ is raised to 400…That's it
SNS has reached 100, Choose a skill as a reward
Clairvoyance E - Passive Skill - The Player's vision "enhances" slightly
Or…
'That was exhausting…but at the very least, I'm done with making decisions for now.' Sighing in relief, I attract the attention of the spirit.
"Have you finally stopped staring off into space?" She asks, probably curious as to which I am sighing.
"...I wasn't, I was just finishing up with expanding my skill set." I say proudly.
"Betty doesn't understand…You have not moved since we got here. I suppose."
'I already explained to her how I got here, but I never really explained what the system is. 2B? Are you there?'
I am.
'Good…do you think I can make a party? Is it possible?'
It is currently not possible, however if you were to update the system software it would be possible.
'And how do I do that? Please don't tell me it's behind a pay-wall.' My little joke gets a stifled giggle out of her.
…It is simple, just wait a moment.
'Ok, will do.' Waiting for a few seconds, a new screen appears.
(Update)
Updating System Software…
59 Min 50 Sec Left
'Guess it'll have to wait.' Turning back to the girl in my lap, I find her staring at me expectantly. "I'll show you la-Woah!" I grab onto Beatrice as we suddenly stop.
(World Quest has Appeared!)
Defeat the Witch Cult
Kill ??? - 0/1
Kill ??? - 0/1
Kill ??? - 0/1
Kill ??? - 0/1
Kill ???, ???, ??? - 0/3
Kill Witch Cultists - 0/500
??? - 0/9
Rewards - New Title, New Quest, 50000 EXP, 100 AP, ???
Accepting Quest…
'That can't be good.' "Hold on tightly, we may have trouble." Grabbing Beatrice by the hand, we hastily exit the carriage. We find Rem glaring intensely at two guys blocking the road.
"Witch's Miasma…" Both Rem and Beatrice speak in near unison. 'Damn it, that confirms it then. These guys are part of the Witch Cult.'
I put on my most calm look, and turn slightly towards Rem. "Don't do anything reckless just yet, but stay on guard for any attacks." Rem seems to hear me, but continues glaring regardless. "Rem? Did yo-" I am interrupted by the sound of something impacting Beatrice barrier.
"How dare you!? Trash like you has no right ignoring a 'Perfect Being' like myself. Such a violation of my rights will not go unpunished!" Superiority complex much?
"As if Cultists scum like-"
Holding out my hand to stop Rem, I take the reins in the conversation. "I am Maxwell, and you both are?"
"Finally! Someone with proper manners! I shall be lightening your punishment from death to two missing limbs, your choice." I tried at least. Observe.
'This…Isn't good.' "Rem! Betty! We're up against two Archbishops! Greed and Gluttony!" Rem immediately brings out her weapon as she nearly charges in, the only thing stopping her from a quick death being me.
The ground in front us was completely pulverized by a mist, along with a loud screech coming from the sky. Looking up, I find myself unpleasantly surprised again. 'Is that…one of Daphne's creations? The White Whale?!' It's large body twisting and turning in the air.
"This has gone from really bad to more horrible. Hey, Betty? What are our chances against an Archbishop as strong as the sword saint, a sin Archbishop and a Great Beast?"
"Hmph! With Betty at your side, nothing is impossible. I suppose."
"Really now? I'm starting to like our odds." Turning to Rem, I whisper something into her ear. "If anything goes wrong, take Beatrice and run away…please."
"...Understood Guest-sama."
"Alright! Betty, Drain all my mana, and go with Rem to take out the Whale. I've got these two." At this, Rem sputters in confusion.
"But Guest-sama you're…" She leaves it unspoken, but I know what she's trying to say. That I'm weak, and technically speaking, she's not wrong. I am level 62, while everyone else is in the triple digits, but I have stats and skills on my side.
Feeling and seeing my MP bar empty, I use a status recovery. "Ahh…That hits the spot. Now, go! You guys got a whale that needs spearing. I've got a date with two Cultists, and they're the ones who are paying."
"You say the strangest things. I suppose." Beatrice says, shaking her head at my antics.
"You could at least wish me good luck, then maybe I might praise you after this fight."
"...Good Luck. In fact." A red hue on her face accompanies her words. 'Cute.'
"Overconfident aren't you? Or perhaps have you given up? Both are quite unsightly, I myself would never dare lower myself to such a degree. But if it's a quick death you want, then die." As the Archbishop finished his sentence, a strong gust of wind that destroyed everything in its way starts to come at me. I am forced to dodge out of the way, and dodge some more as Gluttony decides to finally join in.
"Such a tasty meal, all mine!" Feral attack after one another, tired of being on the receiving end of their attacks, I throw an attack of my own.
"Bloodlust! El Jiwald!" Only my debuff hits the Gluttonous Archbishop, my other attack misses him by a few hairs. "Tch. I just need to use a faster spell, Ul Fura!" The wind blades prove ineffective as well, having been dodged as he turns into a blur.
"Kehehe…You're really good! We like a good meal. Who are you?" They suddenly stop, looking at me with a hungry gaze.
'Should I really reveal my name to terrorists? Who knows what could happen? Ah, Fuck it.' "My name is Maxwell Williams, I am a guest at the Astrea Manor." I lie as naturally as I breathe. Said breath hitches as the battle resumes from its momentary pause. 'He's too fast, even with Bloodlust slowing him down.'
Dodging backwards, I try to keep both Archbishops in sight, but Greed hasn't made a move since the start. Falling into a false confidence, I continue engaging Gluttony. Summoning the Kukri, our blades clash against each other, sparks flying everywhere at each impact. 'God, this sucks. I really need to stop getting myself into dangerous situations…Actually, this one doesn't count. They approached us…not helping.'
Gluttony's attacks are wild but refined, compared to me, he's a master at close quarters combat. I'm starting to notice cracks forming on the Kukri, and despite my best efforts his unrelenting attacks haven't stopped.
It doesn't take long for them to shatter, in a panic, I try dodging. My attempt at falling back is interrupted by a sudden attack from the air? "Gah!"
'Gluttony's coming at me, I can't dodge out of this one. This is it, I guess. Sorry Betty, I guess I wasn't as strong as I thought I was.' Gluttony's hand had already come into contact with me, I didn't bother even resisting.
"Thank you for the feast!"
"Ren!" The last thing I hear is the cute voice of my contracted spirit yell out my name for the first time. My vision goes dark…
But only for a split second. I look back to Gluttony, who is now keeled over on the ground. 'I didn't die?'
Not one to let a chance like this get away, I do what most wouldn't. I kick a guy while he's down. "El Jiwald." I aim it straight at his heart, but he notices and rolls slowly to the right. His roll proves ineffective, a fresh wound in his chest.
Coughing and Hacking, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony could barely afford to stand, let alone fight. 'I almost feel bad…Almost. Oh? What's he doing?'
"No! We can't die yet! There are still so many meals we haven't tried!" This just screams second phase. "Solar…"
"Yeah, No. Freeze for eternity, Al Huma!" Summoning my Ice magic, I manipulate it to contain him, instead of being the basic shards.
…Eclip-" Too little, too late. The Sin Archbishop was now frozen in place, he'll probably freeze to death in a couple minutes. Minutes that I can't afford to lose.
Touching the Gluttony popsicle by its head, I finish him off with a bang, literally. "Ul Goa." My hand hurts and it's probably burnt, but I don't care, my fight with Gluttony is over. Their frozen headless corpse falls on its side, I just blankly stare at it for a few moments. Sighing, I look back to my other opponent. "You don't look all that affected by the death of your friend here."
"I care not for others who are not important, battle junkies especially. Fighting is my least favorite activity. Actually, I hate it."
"Really? Weren't you the one who stunned me with an attack?" Raising an eyebrow at his unnecessary words.
"I merely exhaled, you just so happened to be in the way. Ah, I see now, you have an issue with me breathing… How dare you try to impose your will on me! Such an act is a violation of my rights!"
'The amount of Mood swings and leaps in logic coming from him is absurd.' I can't help but give the madman a pitying look.
He notices the look I give him, which only serves to piss him off even further. "Don't give me that look! Someone as perfectly satisfied shouldn't be pitied, especially by the likes of you! Someone who is so untalented when compared to me! I have never felt such humiliation before, and for that I will kill you. Be honored, trash."
"Guess that means we're back to fighting." Before I can even react, a loud impact sounds in front of me. "Eh? Is that Betty's?"
"Yes it is, In fact." Turning around, I find my contracted spirit and maid approaching me. Grabbing Beatrice by her waist, I pick her up in happiness.
"I knew you could do it Betty! You really are the strongest spirit!" I praise her, which only serves to embarrass her even more.
"Praise Betty all you want, but not now! And put Betty down!" I ignore her words, instead I hug her close in relief.
"Thank you, Beatrice. You're the best." Hugging her for a little while longer, I finally set her down. Holding onto her hand, as we look towards our last enemy.
"Of course Betty is the best, there are no others who compare when Betty and her contractor are together. In fact." She says back, her face still tinted with a red hue.
Chuckling at her words, I look back slightly to the Mansion's head maid. "Thank you Rem, you didn't have to stay and help, but you did anyway. So, thanks." She seems shocked at my thanks, probably not expecting it. Guess being a maid is more thankless work than I thought.
"I-It is no problem Guest-sama, the Witch's Cult is responsible for a lot of things in my life. Rem would have stayed even if you hadn't asked." I see, she's got more reasons to be here than me.
"In that case, I hope you don't mind me asking for your help again." Turning back to Greed, I find him glaring at us. More specifically, Me. He starts rambling about again, so I do the right thing and ignore him. "Oh, right! Betty? Where's the Whale? Did you completely decimate it?"
"Nothing so brutish! It is now stuck wandering around in a completely separate dimension. In fact."
"Gosh, who knew a little girl could be so scary…" I joke.
"I am not a little girl! I am more than 400 years old, in fact." She's so cute when she gets annoyed.
"And I'm the sage." Joking sarcastically, I continue annoying Beatrice. Said annoyance disappears once I place my hand atop her head, and start ruffling her hair.
"Stop it! I suppose." Despite her complaints, she makes no move to stop me. Unfortunately, our little bonding moment is interrupted by a very annoying asshole.
"Die!" Swinging his arm at us, a powerful gust collides with Beatrice's barrier, leaving a large crack in the center. "You seem overly fond of that child. I will thoroughly enjoy killing her in front of you, as you watch on in despair. Along with that wench beside you. Then, I will completely decimate you, this is the only way trash like you can make up for looking down on a being like me." It didn't take too long for this asshole to show his truest colours.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed it is, for I declared it as so. For the continued belittling of my rights, one of the few things I possess and care for."
"Pardon my French, but…Fuck your fucking rights, you're going to die now asshole. Ul Minya." Summoning around 50 of the shadow shards, I see my MP bar take a small hit, but nothing too draining. Throwing all of them at Greed, they all either bounce off of him and hit the ground or they shatter on impact. "I knew it, this guy has an absolute defense Authority. Which he can also use to attack, talk about overpowered. Rem? Stay close to me and Beatrice, this guy is someone even I can't beat alone…Your thoughts Betty?"
"It's quite simple. I suppose." A dark shadow like mist appears in the sky above greed. 'It kind of looks like shamak but also not really?' "Al Shamak, I suppose."
The second the mist comes into contact with the Archbishop, any and all ramblings he may have been spouting had gone quiet. The mist dissipates and all that's left is a ruined road, and a beautiful green expanse. The only remains being Gluttony, whose body had unfrozen but otherwise still headless. 'That was a lot easier than expected.'
Collapsing to the ground on my ass, I find myself completely drained. "Phew…That was awful, never again!" Beatrice, who was still holding my hand, took it upon herself to make herself comfortable on my lap. "At the very least we didn't die."
"Hmph, there was never any reason to worry with Betty by your side. In fact." Despite her prideful words, I can tell even she was a little shaken up by it all.
"I guess there wasn't much point in asking for your help again, Rem. Ah, no offense of course. Who knew my little Betty was such a powerful child." I pat her beautifully styled hair as I praise her.
Melting under my praise, Beatrice starts to giggle under my touch. 'Cute. Super-duper Cute. I think I'm going to die from an overdose of cuteness.'
As I praise the child on my lap, I look back to the maid, who I find staring at Beatrice with envy? "Is everything alright Rem?"
She gives me a smile I can't quite describe as she responds. "Everything is fine, Guest-sama."
"You know you don't have to call me that anymore, we're not at the mansion anymore and technically, I'm no longer a guest. So, just call me Ren." Giving her a friendly smile, I suddenly feel my head hurt.
"Regulus Corneas was not hit with Al Shamak."
"Lye Batenkaitos was not kille- hrk!"
"What the…Who said tha-" I suddenly feel a tingle on my nape, danger was fast approaching. "Rem watch out!" Pulling Rem closer, I take all three hits that were meant for each of us. "Gaaah!"
'It hurts…It hurts so much, accept Daily Quest Rewards.'
Maximum Daily Status Recovery has been reached.
Next available use
23 H 16 M 43 S
I find myself lying down atop both of the girls, blood exiting my wounds and splashing down on their beautiful outfits. "Haa…Haa, Sorry…I don't…th-think I've got…all that…much bl-blood left. B-But, d-don't worry…I can g-get…us out…of this. Sy-System? Send us…to the…n-next world."
Are you sure Player?
"Positive…" Looking down at my spirit, I find tears starting to exit her beautiful butterfly eyes. "H-Hey, there's no…need to cry…Betty. I'll…I'll be A-Ok in…no t-time." Using my very limited strength, I wipe away at her tears.
Transferring The Player and his 2 Companions to the next world
3..
2..
1
A feeling of numbness hits me as the counter ends, whether it's because of the world travel or blood loss, I don't know. I do however know, that I'm going to pass out from exhaustion. 'Good Night for now, Betty.'
Pov Change, 3rd Person
As the dust cleared, the Archbishop of Greed can only yell out in anger. "RAAAAH!" Having found no remains of the Cowardly Bastard who would gang up on him and use underhanded tactics against him.
Activating his Stillness of an Object Time, the seething Regulus would rampage all throughout the area, destroying the carriage that brought Ren and the others there, the surroundings looked as if a high magnitude earthquake had occurred. Left to his own silent anger, that day Regulus Corneas swore his revenge for Ren.
"Such a humiliation will not go unpunished, I will not allow myself to become so pitiable. Someone who dares make a mockery of my rights will not be left alive."
To Be Continued
New world time! Hell Yeah! Hint: it's a game world.
Lye Batenkaitos went down like a biatch but who cares? He is unimportant to this story. His authority was obviously swallowed up by Ren, but without the entire thing it's pretty useless. Regulus almost got the White Whale treatment, but he simply said no. And he has a Witch in his corner helping him out. Damn reality bending lolis.
All of Ren's new skills will be revealed later, and the system update will bring about big changes to the system.
So until then, you guys can keep on guessing the next world. See ya!