Chapter 15 - Chase

I left various markings around the ruins in hope that the others can still catch up. At this point, the only thing on my mind is how I will take the gold gnoll down.

"Argh! Get the hell back here!"

The gold gnoll is still running away right before me. It must have heard me because the bastard turns around and sneers before continuing further down the path. I've been chasing it for hours and the distance still doesn't seem to be closing at all. On the other hand, my legs feel like they're about to give out any moment now. The weight of my equipment certainly doesn't help me run faster.

It has led me through many turns and obstacles. I've also faced many ambushes from gnolls and hemdrills. They appear randomly throughout the ruins. Yet somehow I managed to avoid them all. They have done nothing but piss me off further. This piece of shit deserves to die.

The gold gnoll takes another turn and I arrive at a flight of stairs that leads to another long corridor. Shortly, after it disappears through the top, falling debris begin crashing down from above. I maneuver carefully through the falling destruction. One mistake and I will be brutally crushed.

Near the top, I find a group of gnolls waiting for me. As soon as they have the sight of me, they ready their bows and clubs. I greet each one of them with a sword through its throat. The fight wasn't difficult but with all these distractions, I've lost all traces of the gold gnoll. Finally quiet after the brief skirmish, I scout my surroundings.

Wait a minute... Where am I? How deep am I into the ruins? Never mind the gold gnoll, how do I even get out of here?

Taking a deep breath in, I calm myself down. Panic isn't going to help anyone, mainly me. I take a seat beside the wall for a momentary rest.

After a short while, I see the others climbing up the stairs huffing and puffing. They must have desperately ran after me. Lucas sighs upon spotting me against the wall.

Lucas: "There you are. Where's the gnoll?"

Unable to hide my disappointment and failed chase, I tell them what happened. The five stares down the long corridor.

Lucas: "Let's keep going then."

Ivan: "The gold gnoll isn't going to catch itself for us."

Rocko: "C'mon rookie."

The six of us move further inwards, following the lost trail. Along the way, gnolls appear left and right out of the corners. Felix knocked one out with just his shield. The sheer force caused Its jaw to dislocate. I found the scene very amusing.

We soon arrive at a clearing. Ruined pillars of the Old lie everywhere. Coincidentally, we discover that the gold gnoll is resting alongside with a couple of its golden comrades under a small shelter beside the pillars. Their startled scrambling made it obvious that they weren't expecting company.

The five immediately bring out chained hooks and aim them at the fleeing gold gnolls. The claws grapple onto their flesh and dig into their bodies. The gold gnolls howl in pain and desperately struggle out of their binding but to no avail.

In the end, we capture 4 in total. The claw from Ivan wasn't able to grasp the gnoll firmly and it slipped away. Not wanting resistance and unnecessary worry, we slit their throats and skin their leather instantly. Lucas then takes out a map and makes a note.

"Wait you had a map?"

Lucas stares at me in confusion as if I never saw a map before.

Lucas: "Yeah? How else would we navigate through the Perilous Ruins?"

Th-that makes sense... Why didn't I think of that? With that stupidly convenient map, we exit the Perilous Ruins without much trouble. Along the way, Lucas has been writing in the map of the Perilous Ruins, particularly about landmarks and the enemies we've encountered.

Considering how far we travelled in the ruins, we managed to finish the gold gnoll missions and leave in one day.

"Here Shayla. Your piece of gold leather."

I toss her a piece of the gold gnoll leather stripped from one of many. The leather lands softly on her lap. Shayla picks it up skeptically and stares at it in shock.

Shayla: "Wh-what? It's only been a day! How'd you manage get hold of one so quick?"

I simply shrug in response. I don't really have any explanation for it. There's only one thing to say.

"Luck I suppose."

Shayla: "Ah, look at that shimmer. It's gold, all right."

She sets aside the gold leather with a shake of disbelief.

Shayla: "I won't ask more. I just never expected you to return so soon. So, what should I give you in return...? You don't seem to be wanting for money."

Don't seem to be-what? I interrupt her as she fumbles with something under a crowded table.

"No no, I'll gladly take money."

Shayla: "Alright. I know just the thing. Here. Also take this ring. It's quite rare. Just, ah, don't ask me where I got it."

She shoves a pouch filled with about 500 coins and a red ring into my hands. The sheer weight of it scares me a bit. She's willing to pay this amount of currency for just a single piece of gold leather?

"How much are in here, Shayla?"

Shayla: "Hmm? Oh, I didn't exactly count. Anyway, you seem all right. I think I like you. Drop by whenever you have time. I'll probably have another job for you soon."

Leaving the forge, I meet with the others and show them the rewards from Shayla. Their jaws drop in shock as soon as they see the glimmer and shine once they open the coin pouch. Maybe a bit of drool even flowed out of their opened mouths. Closing their mouths, we then head to the Traveller's Shop. The gold will be split afterwards but they insist that I keep the ring.

Kirstie's eyes light up like a candle upon seeing us carrying bundles of gold leather in. She jumps out of her seat to inspect the authentic materials. We place them on the counter. The weight of them all lands with a heavy thud. She was first skeptical that we finished so fast. But just like Shayla, Kirstie confirms the authenticity of the gold leather with a simple inspection.

Kirstie: "Thank you so much! You literally just saved my life. I can't thank you enough. If you need anything, anything at all, please let me know and I will help you as best as I can."

She picks up the promised reward off the counter and places it gently into my hands. Compared to Shayla's payment, the weight of this is light.

Kirstie: "Here's the payment I mentioned. It contains 250 pieces of gold coins. These should last you for quite a while. I won't keep you here any longer than you have to. You're welcome to come back anytime!"

250 coins huh? I'd ask for more but Shayla's reward alone is able to last me for weeks, even after splitting it with the others. And Kirstie seems genuinely in need of the leather. I'll just keep quiet and let her handle her business.

Leaving the Traveller's Shop, we split the reward six ways back at the inn and celebrate the successful mission. In the end, we decide to head our own way. It has been a long day and we all needed rest.