He Who Hunts Monsters
By: Bubbajack
Editors/Co-authors: IcySnowSage First Hassan/Darklord133
Special Consultant: Heliosion
Special thanks go out to my Super Donors: Apostle_of_Darkness, Ben wanless, CrazymanDK, Jareth Norris, kenni nielsen, Scott Marchant, and Selmephren
Ch.2:
The group stopped at the frontier town of Trent for the night, having ridden hard and, following Lilianna's directions, kept to the road, and made it there by dusk after leaving at dawn. The town was populated with a mix of humans and beastmen. Whether they were all enslaved or not Xander didn't know, but he was in fact here on a holy crusade to end Beastman enslavement so as to add them to the ranks of humanity against the growing Demon Army. 'We are gonna ruffle so many feathers here, it isn't even funny,' Xander thought to himself as he stared down the streets. The buildings were made of stone and wood and a giant wall in the distance was facing a forest which he assumed led into Demihuman lands. Stabling their horses, Xander said to the group, "The sun hasn't gone down yet. So let's go and get something very important out of the way," he said before leading the way back from whence they came.
"Where are we going Xander," Shizuku asked, keeping in step beside him, with Aiko-sensei on his other side and Lily trailing just behind him keeping Asia company.
Turning around he said, "Show of hands, who here has ever killed anything that wasn't a bug?" Xander was the only one to raise his hand. "Yeah thought so," He proceeded to make his way toward the front gates. "We need to remedy that, you all need to be able to fight and defend yourselves if it comes right down to it. So let's go find something to kill."
~He Who hunts Monsters~
The party didn't have to travel very far. Not too far from the gate, just around the bend of a hill, they heard a cry for help. 'I was hoping for something simple like those horned rabbits or something but beggars can't be choosy,' Xander thought to himself as he and the others rushed to the scene. From their vantage point on top of the hill they could tell it was total carnage. A group of goblins had ambushed a caravan from the treeline using bow and arrows. From the looks of some of the corpses, all of them were male, the arrows had been poisoned and the male guards hadn't died swiftly. Now eight or so human sized goblins were trying to carry off the still living women. Seeing this Xander made a split second decision, "I'll free the hostages, you clean up the rest," He said as he drew his longbow, taking a breath as he nocked an arrow and let it fly.
The three goblins carrying the women were impaled through the throat, eye, and skull respectively, dropping their captives like sacks of potatoes as they fell over stone dead.
The remaining Goblins let out squawks of surprise as Xander's companions came racing towards them, using the surprise to their advantage they raced down the knoll, using their gained momentum to their advantage. Shizuku had moved the position of her odachi so that it hung low and horizontally on her back, and reaching with her left arm as she drew close, she unsheathed her sword, and paused just behind the Goblin… it then exploded in a spray of blood having been bisected from left shoulder to right hip.
Lily drew Cleft, its blade glowing in golden light as she squared off against one of the large green monsters. It brandished a wicked handax and licked its lips tauntingly before it jumped at her. But Cleft was not a legendary Artifact for no reason. Emboldened by its golden light, she lashed out with the blade, and whether by luck, skill, or divine intervention she cut the axehead from the haft, causing it to go flying away.
"I did it! Did you see Xander?!"
"Celebrate after he's dead Lily! He still has claws and teeth!" Xander shouted back.
"Right," The Princess said determinedly as she gripped her sword with both hands and said, "Hiiya!" as she thrust it forward. The point of the holy sword sank through the mismatched armor like a hot knife through butter, the tender flesh of the Goblin underneath stood no chance. It spasmed on the blade momentarily before going limp, and the light left its eyes. With a jerk and a sucking sound, the princess pulled her weapon free a grimace set on her face as Aiko ran past her, her scythe held in both hands as she baseball slid between the legs of a goblin her scythe blade taking its legs off at below knee level as she rose. She then hooked it around its neck and tugged lightly, to end its suffering.
"Asia, you take out that last one," Xander said, as he aimed for the two fleeing Goblins, nocking an arrow as he aimed for their legs. There was something he wanted to try…
"Y-Yes Sir Xander," Asia said as she nocked her own arrow and tried as she might, she couldn't pull the bowstring to full draw, so she did the next best thing and, pulling with all her might, let the arrow fly from Tauropolous. It was enveloped in a reddish pink light before it became a bolt of energy that struck the remaining goblin dead on impact.
Xander's arrows meanwhile, had pinned the other two goblins in place. 'Okay,' Xander thought. 'Now is a perfect time to check out this Wendigo skill,' Locking eyes with Shizuku and Lily he said, "Round those two up and make sure they don't escape,"
"Right!"
With that done, he went and talked to the women who had been bound and gagged. Pulling a knife out of his boot, he cut their bonds. "You ladies alright?"
"Yes sir, thanks to you!" A redhead with a bob cut replied thankfully.
"Good to hear, miss?" Xander politely inquired.
"Rubellia Wallenstein, Warrior of the Adventures Guild," She introduced herself while rubbing her wrists to get the circulation back.
"Alexander Lavelle Harris, traveler of no repute," He greeted.
"What he means to say," Lilianna butted in, as she led the two remaining Goblins by swordpoint, "Is that he is archduke Alexander Lavelle Harris of the Heilegh Kingdom and my betrothed."
"You know Lily, there is such a thing as traveling incognito right?" Xander snarked.
"T-The P-Princess?!" The redhead bowed, "Thank you very much, your highness!"
"No worries, are you wounded at all, Rubellia was it?" Lilianna asked.
"We're fine, thanks to your timely intervention," a dark haired woman, her eyes framed by spectacles, said, while a pair of twins with blonde hair and green eyes nodded along with her. The bespectacled woman then glared at the Goblins and asked, "What're you planning on doing with the Hobgoblins?"
'So these are Hobgoblins,' Xander noted. "Conducting an experiment of sorts," Hearing the word experiment both the astute woman and one of the Hobgoblins perked up. "I have a skill that lets me gain skills from things I eat, at no ill effect to myself. So I'm going to eat one of those Hobgoblin corpses over there, and see if I can communicate with these two," He pointed at the Hobgoblins before walking over to the Hobgoblin Shizuku slaughtered and picked up its severed arm staring at it for a moment before biting down on it bone and all.
'It tastes kinda rubbery,' Xander thought. 'I wonder if I'll get skills faster if I eat the important parts of the body?' He thought as he took the Leviathan Axe off his back and lopped off the head and holding it up with one hand said, "To be eaten, or not to be eaten, that is the question, no?" He then thought about it for a second, 'I'm about to eat something's brain,' he thought, 'I'm gonna shut my eyes and chew,' He decided.
Chomp! Crunch, crunch, chomp!
[Spirit of the Wendigo activated! Soul Cannibalized. You have gained Goblin Language, Night Vision, and Precocious]
'Soul Cannibalized? What the Actual Fuck?!' Xander thought to himself as he swallowed. Wiping the blood and viscera from his mouth, he walked back to the group who looked a bit unnerved. Standing in front of the Hobgoblins he asked the one dressed like a mage,"Can you understand me?"
The mage stared at him for a moment before it replied in a feminine tone, "Yes,"
"Ah, you're a woman," Xander said.
The Hobgoblin smirked a bit, "Is that really so surprising to you, human?"
Xander nodded, "Yes, I always assumed the reason Goblins kidnapped humans was because females in their race were rare."
"Well yes but thats because we are weak, the lowest thing on the ecosystem's social ladder if you will,"
"To dumb to live?" Xander offered, "Yeah I've been told that I a time or two myself,"
The Hobgobliness looked surprised for a moment before she nodded, "Yes, unfortunately stupidity is a common trait amongst my kind… I mean I know a Horned Rabbit can kill us but still,"
'It's not just your kind,' Xander thought, before he asked, "Do you have a name?"
"Sei," She replied before asking a question of her own, "What do you intend to do with us?"
Before answering, Xander turned to the other one and asked, "How about you, what's your name?"
This one who was dressed like a warrior looked to Sei, who nodded before taking a breath and saying, "Sato,"
"Sato, and Sei… as for what I'm going to do with you… I think I'm going to take you back to town with me," Xander told them causing the two Hobgobliness' to look at each other worriedly.
Saying as much to his companions they began to protest. "Is that wise Xander-san," Shizuku asked.
"They're filthy Goblins, they should just be killed since they multiply like rats," Asia said spitefully.
Lilianna, who hadn't spoken yet, asked a more important question, "Why do you want to take them into town Xander?"
"Ah, I have a lot of questions for them, what their society is like, why they kidnap humans, things like that.
"You're a scholar," Sei noted approvingly.
Xander shook his head. "A hunter, but I'm not heartless. You think therefore you are. It took me a long time to learn that lesson. That just because something doesn't look human doesn't mean it lacks humanity,"
"What did she say?" Lilianna asked. Upon relaying her words, the princess said, "That one is likely a mage, what with how she talks."
"She's very astute," Sei noted.
"She said you're correct," Xander roughly translated.
Lilianna nodded slowly, "Very well then, I've come to a decision," She spoke resolutely before stepping forward, raising Cleft as she did so.
"Hey now Lily, wait a minute!" Xander began.
The holy sword lowered and the flat touched Sei's shoulder as Liliana spoke, "Sei the Hobgoblin mage, so long as you travel with us do you hereby swear to act honorably, to keep and protect us, promise not to slay us in our sleep nor lead us astray or for dead in battle?"
Sei stared at the princess dumbly for a moment before nodding, and bands of golden light coalesced on her wrist in flowing golden script like a pair of tattoos on her wrist. Lilianna repeated the process on Sato who also agreed and received the same markings.
Once she was done, Xander asked, "What did you just do Lily?"
"I used one of the special abilities of Cleft, Vassalage. It allows me to mark sentient beings as my vassals. Should they willingly accept They are marked as such and will gain a power boost and secondary Job Class befitting their current Job. Though I'm not sure how well it will work on a Hobgoblin.
"Quite well," Sei spoke.
"She spoke!" Aiko said surprised.
Sei herself seemed surprised by the development, "Oh my it seems this magic comes equipped with an instant translator… How useful."
"Hey Hey Sei! What does this mean huh?" Sato asked excitedly, waving her arms around for emphasis.
"I think we're slaves now Sato," Sei said, staring at the golding tattoos that formed manacle-like swirls on her wrists.
"No, not slaves," Lilanna corrected, "Sworn Vassals," She sighed and added, "Unfortunately attempts over the centuries to copy Clefts vassalage property has given rise to enslavement magic," Lilianna said in embarrassment and shame. "But I hope to prove over time the difference between the two! And I hope that we can get along well, Sei," She offered the Hobgoblin mage her hand.
Sei looked at it for a moment and smiled. "You as well, Princess Lilianna, I'm sure we have much to learn from one another."
'This girl, I'm not sure if she did this for my benefit or to soothe her own heart but I'm not going to complain either way,' Xander decided. He looked at the former captives who seemed to be camping down themselves. Clapping his hands, Xander said, "Shall we get to town ladies?"
Receiving a round of nods, the group headed off, new members in tow.
He Who Hunts Monsters
They were stopped at the gate by the guards when they were found leading Hobgoblins back into the city. Still, upon showing their wrists, the guards reluctantly let them pass through, but not without a warning to the princess, "You may be a royal yer highness, but you keep them 'Gobs on a short leash ya hear? Cause if they run amok it'll be my head in the pillory by the end of the day," one of the guards said in a half-chastising half-pleading tone.
"Of course sir," Lilianna replied, giving him a winning smile. "I promise they'll be on their best behavior," She smiled at Sei and Sato, "Right you two?"
"Yes Mistress!" Both Hobgoblins droned in the human tongue simultaneously, shocking the guard as they followed the group into the small town.
People naturally kept their distance and whispered to themselves. Mothers kept their children close and men tightened their grips on their weapons and glared at them as they passed. "Feels like I'm back home," Xander said jokingly trying to relieve the tension to no avail. So he sighed and said, "Let's find a place to sleep for the night, Sei and Sato, you two might need to sleep in the barn with the horses… don't eat the horses," Xander added as an afterthought.
"We weren't going to," Sei said as the brands on their wrists glowed for a moment.
"You mean we get to sleep in hay instead of on the ground?!" Sato asked excitedly. "Isn't this great Sei?!"
"It's certainly better than back in the cave… though I am going to miss all my books," Sei said wistfully.
'She reminds me of Willow… but green,' Xander thought to himself before he remembered how their friendship kinda soured after she caught him with Cordelia. 'Think happy thoughts Xander, think happy thoughts,' He told himself as they neared an inn, the Silverhart. With a silver stag painted on a black field, the name is written just below it.
The place was crowded with round wood tables, a long bar at one end and a minstrel playing a lute in the corner. The smell of tobacco and stew cooking over a fire the resulting smoke of both came from dozens of pipes as adventurers and townsfolk lit up and traded tales, as well as a cast iron cauldron near the hearth. All the chatter seemed to stop when they entered the place. Seemingly ignoring the awkwardness, Lilianna walked up to the brawny looking bar maiden who was in the midst of cleaning a wooden mug and said, "I need at least three rooms for the night please,"
"Welcome to the Silverhart Princess Lilianna… I be your hostess Gertrude, but please, call me Gurtie, everyone does. Now, forgive ma rudeness princess, but you do know you've got a couple'a Hobgoblin's followin' ya right?" The proprietress asked.
"Yes ma'am, I have them under Cleft's Vassalage spell. Will that be a problem?" She smiled sweetly at the woman yet gave off a slight intimidating air all the same.
"Well, if you got 'em bound, then Ah don't see the problem I sus'pose," The woman said, "You be wantin' three rooms right? An' food Aye?"
"Yes please, it's been a long day, and some of the other ladies that are with us… well they ran afoul of the rest of some other Hobgoblins. So I think a decent meal would do them good right about now."
Gurtie looked over at the redhead, a brunette and the three blondes, they had a stare that only most war veterans have, "Aye, aye, Ah kin see that. Well go settle yourselves over by the fire and I'll be right over with food an' drinks. Wine fer yer party Princess?"
"Wine, beer, and at least one water, please Gertie," Lilianna said as she slid a gold piece across the table top that disappeared quick as a flash into the bosom of the proprietress.
"Right, I'll be right over Ah will. Make yourselves right at home, and thank you for your custom," Gurtie said with an overly sweet smile.
"Thank you for your understanding," The Princess replied as she made her way back to the group. "Let's go have a seat by the fire everyone, we'll be served shortly." Lilianna announced.
Xander and Lilianna sat on either side of Sei and Sato, while everyone else situated themselves around the table. The silence was tense and awkward. "Okay," Xander said, putting his palms flat on the table, "Let's just clear the air here," He looked at the former captives, "Do you honestly think these two had any choice in the matter when it came to abducting you or not?"
"We didn't," Sei added, "Goblin society is ruled by the strong alone, stronger males boss around the weaker males and the females. We didn't exactly have a choice in the matter, I do apologize for any discomfort we may have caused you however."
"Yeah, those guys were jerks anyway, No Sato, you can't have the big sword, you're just a girl, bah!" Sato said, before she blew a raspberry. "If I want the big sword, and I'm good with it, I should get the big sword! Having a sword between my legs or not be damned! Right Sei?"
"Yes, Sato, yes. As you can see, Sato likes swords," The Hobgoblin mage said with an amused smile.
"Not just swords, I like you too Sei… and Xander, and Lily too!" She smiled at the two.
The mage chuckled, "You move fast Sato,"
"But we're sitting down?" The redheaded hobgoblin said cluelessly.
Sei just sighed, "Why are the pretty ones always so vapid?" She asked no one in particular before she ruffled Sato's hair and said, "You're right, we are sitting down Sato. Why're you so keen on Xander and Lily? We hardly know them."
"Well, Xander didn't kill us… most people would've killed us, and he got Lily to give us these cool markings… that got us into town and now? Now we get to eat human food! That's something right?" Sato said exuberantly. It was a simple, almost childlike logic, but for Sato it worked.
"Yes, I suppose we are quite fortunate if you think about it," Sei smiled at the Hunter. "Thank you very much Xander."
"No problem." He looked at the former captives, "So are we good? Is there going to be a problem later on?"
Rubellia looked at each Hobgoblin before she sighed, "Well, I can't speak for the others, but I personally can't really stay mad after hearing their side of things."
"Same," The sophisticated woman said, "I'm Spinel Fean by the way, Alchemist."
"Oh so you can make potions, poisons, and bombs?" Xander asked.
"I've never made explosives… but that actually isn't a bad idea," She mused as she seemed to stare off into space as if in deep thought. A smile that Xander recognized anywhere on a woman who found a new hobby had him shiver.
"What have I unleashed?"
"Oh my, she's gonna be gone for awhile," One of the twins mused, "I'm Felicia Timiano and this is my little sister Alma, we're both Chefs and Tailors," She introduced while motioning to her twin.
"I'm Emry Furado, Blacksmith," The last blonde with straight hair wearing overalls greeted.
Xander managed to piece the rest together, "So you were a merchant caravan… where were you headed?"
"This very city," Rubellia said, "The Hobgoblins attacked us at the final leg of the trip," She sighed, "A lot of people died…" She said sullenly, before she brightened, "But the mission was a success in the end thanks to you Princess Lilianna, Xander-san!"
Gertie came around with a tray full of drinks and bowls full of some kind of stew. Then, Xander took the mug full of water. "To new friends?" He said, raising his glass for a toast.
Everyone clinked their tankards together, before digging into their meal. The Hobgoblins ate with gusto. "Shoo goo!" Sato said through a mouthful of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Sato, it's rude," Xander chided.
"M'kay," She said before she swallowed her mouthful. "Soo, good! More?" She asked, hopefully seeing her bowl was empty.
Xander gave Sato and Sei a once over and noticed they looked almost unnaturally thin. "Were you guys starving or…?"
"We eat what we can," Sei said, "The diet of most Goblins are grubs or, if we're lucky, small game… If said small game doesn't kill us," She much more calmly took a bite of the stew and her eyes lit up as she smiled. "This is delicious!"
"Sei," Sato whined, "I want more!"
Sei, jealously guarding her own bowl from Sato's keen gaze replied, "Then go ask the serving lady for another serving, Sato,"
"Wow, you're hungry enough to eat a horse, Sato." Xander joked.
"I've never had a horse, does it taste good? Does it taste better than this?" Sato asked eagerly.
Xander opened his mouth then closed it. He knew in places like Germany they ate horse meat, but he'd never had it himself, so he said, "I have no idea Sato, while we have horses we need them for transport and won't be eating them anytime soon."
"Kay…" Sato said, sounding a little disappointed. "So can I get more of this stuff or not?" She asked looking down into her empty bowl as if she should stare down into it long enough its depths would refill on its own.
"Go to the bar over there and ask Gertie. I'm sure she'll give you more if you ask," Lilianna told her, "Oh also, could you ask for some bread?"
"Bread? Is it food too?" Sato asked.
"Yes, and it goes great with stew… but you need to bring it back for all of us," Lilianna warned, seeing the gluttonous look in her eyes.
"I'll go with her," Sei offered, "I could do with seconds myself."
The two Hobgobiness' made their way up to the bar bowls in hand, and Gertrude paused in her cleaning and fixed her eyes on them warily as they approached. "Aye, what you be wantin?"
"Seconds please!" Sato asked, holding her bowl out and beaming as wide as she could.
"What my friend means to say is the food was delicious and we'd like some more if we could. Also we were asked to bring some… bread back to the table?" Sei spoke for the two of them.
"Yeah, all that! The stew was soo good!" Sato said, praising the meal in her own way.
Gertrude was a lot of things, but she saw two Hobgoblins who were flawlessly speaking the five gods' own human tongue and not causing any ruckus in her inn, and looking thin as rails to boot. No one had ever praised her cooking as highly as these two, it was simple fare to be sure, but a compliment every now and again would be welcome for sure. So she beamed. "Aye fine," she said laidling more stew into their bowls, "Bread too aye?"
"Yes ma'am," Sei replied.
"Is bread good?" Sato asked.
Reaching past them into a small stone kiln, Gertie pulled out several dark brown loaves of bread. "You'll find out soon enough, now off ya go, lassies."
"Thank you," Sei said before nudging Sato.
"Thanks for the grub." Sato said.
Sei sighed. "These aren't grubs Sato, this is stew, remember?" She said as she walked back to the table balancing the two loaves on the rim of her bowl.
Sato shrugged, "We're gonna eat it anyway, so what's it matter what it's called. Food is food, right Sei?"
The mage sighed. She loved Sato's simplicity but on occasion it irked her sometimes. Like now. She noticed as they neared the table that Xander was playing idly with an elaborate ring on his left finger. "Did we miss anything?" Sei asked.
"Nope, nothing," Xander replied a smidge too quickly as they sat back down, "Get everything alright?"
Sei nodded, "Yes, I am eager to try bread."
"Then let's dig in," The cyclops replied as he tore a hunk off the loaf and passed it around. As the night wore on Sei noted a certain tension Xander didn't have before they'd left the table remained ever-present. She didn't know what they'd discussed in their absence but it had clearly unnerved her benefactor. Sei decided she'd get to the bottom of this later.
The group however took no notice of the fact they were keenly being watched. Not just by all the patrons in the tavern, but by one group in particular even as the night wore on…
He Who Hunts Monsters
The former hostages got their own room while the females of the party bunked with the Hobgoblins who were sharing a bed. Asia, who had just changed into a cotton nightgown, glanced over at the Hobgoblins and saw they were wearing nothing but tattered rags that were supposed to pass for loincloths and breast wraps. Asia sighed, "Savage Heathens…" She then covered her mouth, "Oh wait, I'm supposed to be doing better!"
"No," Sei said, "You're not wrong. Should we Rank Up enough we receive blessings from multiple gods, not just your Ehit." Sei continued, "And we are very much savage too. So you aren't wrong there either. Suppose you were captured by a raiding party. In that case, you'd be dragged back to the cave and forced to give birth to the next generation of goblins till you can't anymore… then you'd probably be eaten because we can't exactly afford to waste any potential food source."
"What is wrong with you people?" Asia asked horrified.
"Priestess, we can get killed… by horned rabbits. Hell most goblins aren't smart enough to use tools and try to hunt with their bare hands. They die alot. One time I saw a bunch of newborns get skewered on a horned rabbit's horn three in one go because they weren't smart enough to get out of the way." She said with a bit of a chuckle.
"Oh I remember that," Sato replied, "That was the day Gobujo took my sword, and said it was 'too big for a girl', the ass." She said with distaste.
Shizuku sighed and nodded empathetically before she said, "I know how you feel, sort of. I may like strong men, because I'm strong myself, but that doesn't mean I want to be treated as fragile, nor to be seen as someone who isn't a woman at all."
"Speaking of being seen as a woman," Sato asked, "How many of you are fucking Xander?"
All the human women in the room blushed, and Asia shouted, "That isn't something you just ask Sato!"
"Oh? Is that right? Ok but, since I've already went and ask it, how many of you are fucking him?" The Hobgobliness asked again, causing another round of blushes.
Sei noticed the looks and answered for the room, "Unless I miss my guess, no one here is fucking him, but everyone wants to, yes?"
"M-My V-vassals are too blunt," Lilianna muttered to herself, her cheeks a rosy hue that had less to do with just the wine she'd drank than she'd like.
Sei shrugged, "I'm just making an observation mistress,"
"I don't get why you all just don't have an orgy," Sato said, "That way everyone gets what they want right?"
"Ohoho, now that sounds fun," Shizuku said.
Asia covered her ears, "LAlala! I'm not hearing this!"
Burying her face in her hands, Lilianna said, "I think that's enough discussion for one night! Good night everyone!" The Princess said before she blew out the candle on the nightstand next to her bed.
"Hey Sei," Sato said in the dark.
"Yes Sato?" The monster mage asked after a moment.
Sato looked at her both perfectly able to see in the dark. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked as she licked her lips and rubbed her thighs together eagerly.
Sei nodded. "Yes. I think I am,"
He Who Hunts Monsters
Xander had just settled down for the night, getting a room to himself for obvious reasons, when he heard a rap on his door. Getting up and grabbing his eyepatch at the same time, he slapped it over his eye the same moment he reached the door handle and called out, "Who is it?" While palming a dagger behind his back.
"It's Sei and Sato, Xander. Could we have a moment of your time?" The Hobgoblin mage inquired from the otherside of the door.
The voice on the other side of the door sounded like Sei, and it might even look like her too, but such entities couldn't cross thresholds uninvited. Not that it mattered they were in an inn. Instead xander quickly put down a circle of salt, stepped in the center, and called, "It's open,"
Sei and Sato stepped into the room, and the mage of the duo noted the salt circle with a curious eye. "Warding of ghosts?" She asked.
"Ghosts, ghouls, fiends, potentially possessed hobgoblins… the usual." Xander said candidly as he palmed his dagger behind his back.
"You're paranoid," Sei told him, she looked into his one remaining eye, and saw fear, but also determination burning hot staring back at her. She then continued, "But it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you is it?"
"Nope," Xander replied curtly.
Raising her hands in submission, Sei asked, "is there anything we can do to prove we are who we say who we are?"
Xander thought it over, then nodded towards his pack, "One of you hand me my water skein over there,"
"I'll do it," Sato chirped. Walking over and tossing the full water bag to the man. He uncorked the top, took a swig, and then tossed it back. "You can have a drink if you want,"
"Thanks!" Sato said as she took a swallow and passed it to Sei who took a sip herself. Once they both drank, Xander relaxed. "Okay, you're clean."
Sei blinked, "Huh?"
Xander pointed at the water skein, "That skein is filled with holy water, if you were possessed, it would've burned your throat like acid,"
Sei shook her head in amazement. "Deal with possession a lot?"
"Where I'm from, demons are a common occurrence." Xander replied.
"Where are you from?" Sei asked. "I admit my information of the wider world is lacking but I can't think of a place where demonism would be such a large concern."
Stepping out of the salt circle, Xander replied, "In this world, no. But I'm not from this world originally,"
Sei's eyes gleamed. "Oh really?" She said, her interest piqued.
"Sei," Sato whined, as she ground her hips together, "That's not why we're here, remember?"
Sei sighed but nodded, "Right," She looked the human right in the eye as she asked, "Would you do us both a favor and fuck us?"
Xander blinked, "I'm sorry, what?"
Sei patiently explained, even though there was a heated undertone to her words, "It's not just Goblin males who have strong libido, while it does go down slightly as we Rank Up, it never fully subsides. Then add onto the fact we watched you expertly slaughter the other males and prove your dominance as the stronger male and well…"
"We're both super horny right now," Sato finished, "So, fuck us… Please." she added almost as an afterthought. As she ground her thighs together.
Xander held his hands out, "Now hold on a sec!"
But Sato just let out a growl from deep in her throat before she spear tackled him back onto the bed, slamming her lips onto his the moment he landed. Her tongue invaded his mouth, and they fought for supremacy for a bit before Xander won out. She submitted to him and he pushed her back and took a breath, "Now… hold on a minute!" He said.
(Lemon start)
"No more talking," Sato said as she put her hands on his bare toned chest and gently ran her nails down his muscled torso. Hearing him give a bit of growl, Sato laughed, "Does Xander-san like that?" Sato trailed a claw lightly down his torso. Not enough to draw blood, but enough to cause a reaction. When she reached the hem of his sleepwear, and the large tent in his pants. she playfully circled it with her index talon. "Xander's natural weapon is no dagger is it?" As she spoke, it got even bigger, causing her to gasp. "It's no sword either! Sei, I think we've got a greatsword or even a short spear here! Maybe even a longspear!"
Sei approached one hand already down in her loincloth plumbing her depths. "I see that," She said, her tone not changing even as her eyes dilated and fixed on Xander's crotch. "How about we unsheath that weapon and see just what we're dealing with. Then we'll sheath it in something much more comfortable than fabric." She grinned, "Does that sound good to you Xander?" Seeing the human gripping a dagger in one hand, Sei said, "We can stop if you want to Xander, we don't have to continue. We aren't going to rape you, as strange as that may sound coming from two female Hobgoblins."
With a great effort of will on his part, one that left his knuckles popping, Xander released his iron grip on the dagger. It rolled out of his grasp and hit the floor with a dull thunk. He then gasped Sato by her waist and flipped her over so she was the one laying on the mattress before whispering huskily in her ear, "Let's see how you like it."
Before Xander could reach for his shorts, they were pulled down by Sei who hugged him from behind her naked breasts pressed into his back, her nipples hard enough to cut glass. With her free hand she proceeded to stroke his gods given weapon, proving it was neither a dagger, sword, not even a greatsword or even a spear, but a longspear. As the over half foot weapon came into its full glory, Sato started panting heavily in excitement as Xanders mighty weapon neared her folds, guided by Sei's hand. Yet before it could reach her, Sei leaned over and pulled off Sato's loincloth and wraps, allowing Xander to see a hobgoblin nude for the first time. Sato's breasts were green with her areola and nipples being a darker shade of green than the rest of her. She had no bush to speak of, not that he cared either way.
"Like what you see?" Sei whispered into his ear.
"Maybe," He teased back. In response Sei impaled him inside her lover in one thrust with no warning.
"Ohh." Sato cried out in ecstasy. "So big! Bigger than any Goblin! How are you so big for a human?!" She asked while seeing stars in her vision from the sudden jolt.
"No idea, but I've never had any complaints," Xander replied, "I've also been told I'm really good at holding my breath." As Sei set a pace with his hips. He turned his head and captured the mage's lips in a kiss. Pulling away he asked, "I'm not gonna hurt her am I?"
"Ask her," Sei said grinning.
Xander looked back at Sato and she was drooling a bit out of mouth, her eyes in a daze, while her pussy was doing its best to milk his cock as she came over and over again. Xander was made of sterner stuff though having sexually satisfied not only a Slayer, but Anyanka a thousand year old vengeance demon and norsewoman besides. This for him wasn't even a warmup. Pulling himself out with a squelch he gently moved her aside and then tossed Sei on the bed. The usually stoic mage laughed, "Feel free to be just as rough with me, I'm a hobgoblin after all, I'm used to it."
That made Xander frown. Someone shouldn't be used to rough sex, they should enjoy rough sex. So Xander decided to try something. Instead of just using her, he fell on top of her, his hands on either side of her head, and he kissed her. Nothing too rough, he kissed her lips then chin and slowly made his way down to her breasts which were just as perky as Sato's. He then alternated between keeping a nipple in his mouth and played with another with one hand with his other toyed with her sex. Slowly, gently, but persistently.
"X-Xander, w-what, what is this?" Sei asked as she felt her orgasm slowly building in her stomach instead of exploding all at once like it usually did. This was different. It was like a bubble slowly building in her stomach, slowly oh so slowly. It was agonizing, but tantalizingly delightful at the same time. As the human trailed kisses down her stomach she giggled not knowing she was ticklish there. When he got to her legs he gently spread them apart and kissed the inside of her thighs before giving her ass a firm squeeze with both hands. That made her jump. Not only did she not expect that, but Sei also didn't expect her butt being squeezed to feel so… pleasurable. As his kisses neared her core, Sei felt the bubble in her stomach getting bigger… then his tongue entered her, and her back arched for a moment, the bubble close to bursting. Her legs coiled around his head, and she doubled over gripping his head with her hands in an attempt to draw him deeper into her. Clinging to him like this, Sei felt the bubble… burst. She rode out the high of the best orgasm she ever had, her entire body spasming in ecstasy as she clung to Xander's head like some sex-hungry face-hugger.
Once her orgasm subsided, Sei unwounded from Xander's head and collapsed bonelessly on the bed. "That… was… wow," Sei said. Craning her head to look at the human who had quite literally rocked her world, Sei asked, "What was that just now?"
"Sex," Xander replied, "Passionate sex, something I don't think you've ever experienced. I thought you might enjoy that for a change, and I guess I was right."
Sato, who had at some point regained her faculties, asked, "Me next?"
Sei looked at her lover and proposed, "I think, it's our turn to please him, don't you think that's fair Sato?"
Sato nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, I've never been with a male before Sei, it's nice,"
Sei agreed with a pleasurable hum passing her lips before she and Sato shared a look of silent communication before they nodded to one another and both of them grabbed one of Xanders hands and pulled him onto the bed before arranging him long ways on the mattress with his head on the pillows, his spear still standing at attention. Sei straddled his waist as Sato sat down on their shared lover's face. Both hobgoblins cried out in exaltation for different reasons. Sato for feeling his spongy tongue plundering her pussy, and Sei for his mighty longsper sheathing itself in her fully for the first time. It gouged at and stretched her insides in ways she didn't even know was possible, and it felt even better when she started moving.
Both hobgoblins looked at one another and hugged each other, gasping as their sensitive breasts pressed up against each other and fighting for dominance with their tongues as they held each other on top of their human lover. Since Xander's mouth was a little preoccupied at the moment, he had no way of signaling to Sei that he had reached his limit and was about to cum… but something told him she wouldn't care anyway so he just released himself with a primal howl into Sato's thighs.
Feeling his hot seed enter her depths, Sei pulled Sato into a long kiss, and didn't let her go until Xander was spent, having reached her second orgasm of night on his mighty shaft. Pulling away, and seeing Sato dazed, Sei gave a chuckle. It seems she wasn't the only one who just got off. "Ready for the next round?" Sei whispered into Sato's ear.
When the redhead eagerly nodded, Sei whispered instructions into Sato's ear and the other hobgoblin grinned before she scooted down before laying back on Xanders chest. Lining her pussy up with his semi-flacid cock she proceeded to rub one side of it while Sei rubbed the other with her own nether lips. Xander hissed as his weapon rapidly rose to attention again, but the hobgoblins didn't stop. No, instead Sei gave a whistle and motioned for Sato to sheath Xander's weapon. She did so happily falling atop his prick with an audible plop. As Sato took her second turn atop him, Sei busied herself pleasuring his coin purse, making sure this time Sato got her just reward. Licking and gently nibbling on him, watching as his coin purse rapidly filled up once again. Popping one of his family jewels into her mouth, Sei sucked on it as she juggled the other one in her hand. It was this act that finally brought Xander to his second orgasm of the night.
Sato bowed her back as she came, and Sei stuck her fingers in Sato's mouth, giving her something to suck on to keep her screaming down. People were trying to sleep after all.
After her orgasm passed, Sei said, "Get your ass in his face and mouth near his cock he's probably got one more shot in him and I want us both to enjoy this,"
Doing as Sei said, Sato sighed as Xander immediately began to eat her out. Jumping and giving a little yelp when his thumb entered her butt. She was going to tell him off for that, only for it to suddenly become pleasurable. Wanting to return the favor, Sato began licking and kissing his shaft, sharing kisses with Sei with Xander's massive cock between them. They kept making out, sharing saliva lips and tongue with Xander's shaft between them. When he finally came with another primal yell, Sato shivered in pleasure; she enjoyed it immensely when he yelled into her depths like that. The two Hobgoblins swapped his cum back and forth in their mouths for a bit before finally swallowing their shares of his seed.
Finally pulling away and seeing their lover utterly spent, the two hobgoblins cuddled up on either side of him. Sato went for a kiss only for Sei to stop her, "I don't think Alexander wants to know how his cum tastes Sato,"
"No… No I don't, thanks." Xander said slightly out of breath. "How'd I do?" he asked after he caught his breath.
"Prestidigitation," Sei said motioning to herself and Sei before she kissed him on the cheek. "Fantastic! Both Sato and I are still a bit horny, a Goblin can easily go five times but you took a majority of the edge off. Thank you Alexander."
"Yeah no problem," Xander said before throwing the cotton blanket over the three of them. "Night girls," He said tiredly.
He Who Hunts Monsters
Morning came a bit too soon for Xander's liking. But he was used to working on little to no sleep after doing it for years. Gently rising from his bed and untangling himself from his bedmates, he got dressed and went to find what passed for a bathroom in this place. Making his way downstairs, he greeted Gertie, with a wave and a yawn before he asked, "Restroom?"
"Outhouse in the back," She replied, jutting her thumb behind her. The wind was brisk and woke him up a bit as he headed outside. The stench from the outhouse also helped wake him up a tad. His time on the Hellmouth, in Africa, along with Big Boss' memories had inoculated him to a lot, dead bodies, the scent of decay and burning flesh, the sight of corpses and many other sights, sounds, and smells besides. So he was easily able to do his business and get out. He found Lilianna waiting for him tapping one foot with her arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, with a laser focus glare fixed on him.
"If you gotta go, I suggest you hold your breath, it's bad in there," Xander advised, trying to break the obvious tension. Seeing that did fuck all he asked, "Okay, what's the problem Lily?"
"Get enough sleep last night, betrothed?" She all but snapped at him with tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
In an instant, the Fool faded away and the Warrior came out. "Don't even try to start with me, child. We both damn well know, you did that to get one over on your dear old daddy! Now, I appreciate everything you've done for me very much, and I have come to care for you. But keep in mind a couple of things. First, that I've known you for all of a week. Secondly that you are a princess, and if I slept with you your father can and likely would have me executed, thirdly I slept with our Vassals last night for more than my own lust. I assumed if I didn't, they'd vent their frustration the only other way they knew how to, via mass slaughter in this small town."
Lilianna looked down, "I admit I didn't think of that," She then looked up still angry. "But do you have any idea how much you've embarrassed me? Everyone could hear you three last night!"
"I apologize, but I don't know if you've noticed I'm not royalty. I know nothing of the customs of this world because I'm not from here Lily! You are holding me to standards I know nothing of. For fucks sakes my parents were the town drunks who had no idea nor care that their son was going out and hunting demons every night. They were shocked when I graduated highschool and then charged me rent to keep living in the-" He paused almost saying basement but didn't think she'd have a frame of reference for that so he said, "Cellar," Dragging up the painful memories had him going full speed now, "While my friends pursued higher education like would be afforded a noble such as yourself, I was forced to become a common laborer. I still hunted those monsters in the dark, because I will never forgive them, but there's an undeniable gap between my friends and I, one that… isn't going away anytime soon," He looked at the princess, "And I sense that same insurmountable gap between you and I, no matter how much you want to deny it."
"Sir Xander," Lilianna said calmly.
"Yeah?"
Slap. She smacked him across the face shocking him then, she continued to speak calmly. "You say your parents were drunks? That does not matter to me. You say you're not royalty? I will raise you to the rank of Archduke once you succeed in your mission. You do not know the etiquette or standards? Then I will teach you. You think you are less than your so-called friends? They are not worthy of you, if they could not see your true worth as I and the others already have. You think you are unworthy of me? Well you are the only one who thinks so! Now, I am still upset with you! However, I'm more upset that you never told me any of this. We've spent all that time together and you never opened up even once? Do you think so little of me? Think I'm so weak I couldn't handle it?"
"It's not that, I've just gotten so used to people not caring that I… stopped talking about it." He said after a moment.
"Alexander you truly amazing you are to not just me but most of our classmates after coming here," spoke up a new voice.
Both Lilianna and Xander turned to see Shizuka with Aiko in tow. Both women were blushing slightly at seeing Xander after what they heard last night.
Shizuka continued, " You remind me of a folktale in our country of Kintaro of Mt. Ashigara or Sakata Kintoki as you know his adult name. You are wild, ferocious, and thrilling. You are not the traditional samurai or knight as perceived by people."
Xander's shoulders slackened a little and felt down knowing he could never be as knightly as Angel or even Spike where he is seen as only the fool.
"However," Xander's head perked up a little seeing the serene smile of compassion and empathy on Shizuka's face.
"You show the attributes of a hero or a mighty ronin. Who does not need the commands of his lord to help others. You are good, I would even say pure in your intentions of helping others. I appreciate you helping me and Aiko bloody our hands just a little to prevent future tragedy. I can't say what I feel is love but I am simply enraptured with the man before me. I dare say that if I did not have better restraint I might have tried to join Sei and Sato last night for the sheer carnal passion burning inside me."
Aiko, Lily, and Xander were surprised by the impassioned speech given by Shizuka with both girls blushing. Seeing her chance, Aiko spoke up. "Xander, did you ever wonder why we hired you as a janitor when it is usually required for students to clean up the room? I saw you before your interview and vouched for the principle to hire you because I felt you were a man down on your luck. Now I realize that you are trying to help people. Regardless of how your reputation takes a hit you keep moving forward. I adore that you try to help people regardless of how gruff you are. While I think it would have been easier if you waited to have sex after we left the Inn, I at least understand to a degree that you had the best interest of others in mind when preventing it. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
"Thanks Aiko. Now I'm just curious. Where is Asia? I figured the nun would have the most to say about sex?"
All three girls just looked at each other and giggled as Liliana stated, "She is passed out asleep. She mentioned before she went to bed she was given a blessing by Ehit to nullify sound in a certain... Radius around her."
"Could I have avoided this by asking Asia to cast what is basically a silence spell on my room so no one else heard us?" asked an exasperated Xander who couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, okay, okay. I kinda fucked up, a little, maybe? I'm not about to say I regret having sex. Hell if I ever say that, assume I'm possessed." A round of laughter was had, "I'm dead serious," the Hunter said.
"We know, that's what makes it so funny!" Aiko said as she laughed holding her belly.
"That said," Xander continued, "I guess I need to try… opening up to people more… God this is gonna suck," He groused.
"I think if you can talk as well as you can fuck, you'll be just fine," Sei said hugging his left arm while Sato clung to his right. The Hobgoblin mage then addressed the other women in her lover's life. "He wasn't wrong at all about sexual frustration turning into murderous rage by the way. I've been known to burn things alive when I can't get my itch scratched and Sato…"
"Bathing in the blood of my enemies makes me all tingly!" the swordswoman said cheerily.
"Where did you two come from," Xander asked. "Also good morning."
"This morning wasn't as good as last night," Sato said happily. "That thing you did with your tongue…"
"Ahem, Sato," Sei said, "Stop talking."
Sato frowned, "But why Sei? It felt amazing… and Xander deserves praise."
"Yes he does, but if you keep going," Sei nodded to the other girls who were glaring murderously. "They might kill us."
"Oh… Well they're free to have him tonight," She said, "If we don't drain him dry again that is."
Xander stepped in then, before the bloodbath could start in earnest, "Oi! Stop riling them up, Sato."
The redhead looked at him confused, "Whose riling? I intend to do the exact same thing again tonight, and every night till the day I die! You're that amazing!"
"Thank you, but you're making them mad, so let's just go have breakfast ok?"
"Amazing sex and great food? I think joining Xander was the best thing we ever did, Sei." Sato said as she dragged the cyclops by the arm back towards the inn for breakfast.
"I wholeheartedly concur Sato, you go grab us a table, we'll be right in," Once the two were gone she bowed in supplication to her mistress. "I apologize for Sato, she tends to say whatever is on her mind. Tact isn't her strong suit mistress."
"Rise," Lilianna said with restrained ire, "And explain what happened last night."
Doing as bid, the mage replied, "Sex happened, you know that already."
Shizuku nodded, "Yes but we were wondering if you were just in the mood, or if there was a particular reason why."
Comprehension dawned in Sei's eyes. "Oh! Well, as I tried to explain to Alexander last night, our society functions by following the strongest male. He proved his dominance by killing the other Hobgoblins, and in doing so, more or less claimed us as his women by not killing us."
Aiko frowned, "That's totally barbaric… but makes sense from a goblin point of view, plus considering what you said earlier… seeing the male hobgoblins die got you in the mood didn't it?"
"Oh you have no idea," Sei replied grinning, "And it is barbaric but it's also how our society as a whole functions. Not all females go to the strongest male but we have a desire and inclination to breed cause death is certainty. Now we aren't necessarily as fertile as other goblins and it differs from race to race. For example since Xander is human he is more likely to impregnate us then another hobgoblin. However, If we rank up again which is highly likely we would then become even less fertile. It is a conundrum I might ask you for help later. Especially if breeding decreases as humans get more powerful. I am a researcher first and foremost. I am not even that interested in sex, but my basic desires were so enraptured by Xander I couldn't help myself. He has a bestial attraction that I just can't place. I have fought human warriors before and even human mages. I would honestly suggest caution with Xander. In my honest opinion I don't think he is fully human. Especially if he was born in an area so infested with demons. His paranoia almost had both of us dead."
"Dead?" Lilianna asked.
"He had a dagger drawn, a circle of salt on the floor, and made us unknowingly drink holy water before he finally let his guard down around us." Sei replied. "He is extremely paranoid, but considering where he grew up, I cannot blame him for acting like this,"
Lilianna chewed on the tip of her thumb in worry. It was a bad habit of hers, but one she couldn't break. "I see, thank you for informing me of this, Sei."
"Of course mistress… if I may ask, how much trouble are Sato and I in for last night?"
The Princess sighed. "None, however, in the future. I would appreciate it if you put up some sort of silencing spell. Having to hear such things…"
"Made you all incredibly horny, I get it," Sei nodded understandingly.
"I never said that!" Lilianna sputtered as her cheeks heated up.
The Mage smirked a bit, "You didn't have to mistress, it's written all over your face, and theirs," Sato replied before continuing, "Unfortunately I don't know any sound stifling spells, my talents lie solely in fire creation at the moment."
Lilianna grumbled and nodded, "We'll have to find you a spellbook on sound manipulation then. It's also useful for stopping enemy spellcasters since they need to speak to use magic, so it's not entirely for… nightly activities."
The mage bowed again, "You have my gratitude in advance," She then glanced at the outhouse, "Before you go in there mistress allow me to cast a few prestidigitation spells, it should make it… bearable."
"Thank you Sei," Lilianna replied, "Once we're done here, let's join Xander and Sato for breakfast and decide what we're doing today."
He Who Hunts Monsters
Xander cleaned up, dressed for the day, and walked down the stairs with a yawning Asia in tow. He guided the sleepy nun to the table where the rest of their party was located. He saw Sato and Sei eagerly waiting for breakfast while Aiko, Shizuka, and Liliana discussed plans of what they needed to do for the day and their overall objective.
"So what you're saying is the beast nation is impenetrable to outsiders and guarded by a sea of trees and mist?" questioned Aiko.
"It was one of the major reasons we had trouble gathering resources and invading the beast nation in the past. There are legends of a supposed beast god granting his divine protection to their kingdom that was powered by the sacrifice of a grand heretic that revolted against Great Gods of this world, especially Ehit, and the goddess of the Annelit kingdom," explained Lily.
"I mean could we hire a beast man to show us the way?" Shizuka asked as Xander and Asia walked up to the table and sat down.
"I will tell you now since you seem to be new here. No beastfolk worth their salt would dare lead an outsider into our sacred territory. You are better off torturing beast folk. Most won't give that information even under threat of death," snarked a wolf beast man who was sitting at one of the Inn's tables. He looked aged with silverish hair coloring his mane and showing the scars and wounds of many battles he accrued to survive to such an age. He didn't like the smell of these foreigners. Liliana may be the princess, but grudges run deep, and most humans looked at the beast folk scornfully.
"Well that narrows down the number of avenues we can take to get into the beast kingdom. We were hoping to parlay with them at the very least," spoke Xander.
"Plenty of your supposed peaceful humans have come in search of our hidden kingdom. All betrayed my kind brethren and backstabbed them when even hinted at being shown the way. They were quickly killed or lost to the labyrinth of mist," spat the wolf man.
"Surely there is something I can offer you or one of your brethren. I really am coming in the name of peace. My betrothed here convinced my father to cease hostilities with the beast nation and end beast slavery if it means we combine forces against the demons," beseeched Liliana.
The old wolf stroked his chin. "Well, there may be one thing you could do to show your sincerity. We've heard tell of a black market that sells our kin and other such things to the highest bidding humans. They obviously won't tell us the location and tracking it down is impossible since they are quite adept at hiding their tracks with magic. Find these flesh traders and free our people, then maybe I'll see about leading your group to Verbergen."
"You've got yourself a deal old man," Xander replied, giving the old wolf a nod.
The lupine snorted, "Watch who you're calling old, human. I may have silver in my fur, but I can still rip you limb from limb with little to no effort," He gave Xander a lazy once over keeping one eye closed before he sniffed the air a bit. He then said, "You… You may look human, but you don't smell it. I don't know what kind of beastman you are, but you could likely find your way through the sea of trees yourself."
'Okay, I'm officially creeped out,' Xander thought to himself. 'Then again I've been possessed by a Hyena spirit, been injected with steroids that would've turned me into a fish person, and got turned into a super soldier at one point. I'd be more surprised if some of that didn't rub off on me.' He told the old wolf, "I have no idea what you're talking about. We'll be back once we find your missing people."
Xander got up prompting the others to do the same. As they left a short cloaked figure asked the wolf, "Do you honestly think they will succeed where even my escorts and I have failed Vilkas?"
"It is hard to say Lady Filmos, especially when humans are involved. But that one-eyed one. There's something about him. He has grit. I've a feeling he won't rest until he sees the job through at least." Vilkas replied knowingly.
"Humans," another cloaked figure scoffed, "Weak, quick to temper, and even quicker to destroy. There is a reason we are superior to them, Lady Filmos."
Filmos sighed, "So you have told me many, many times Elegar," She continued in a more patient tone, "Let's just wait and see what they turn up shall we? At the very least we can keep an eye on them, no?" She personally hoped they succeeded. For she had one of her own objectives to meet in this town. One of her precious students was here in this town, helpless, and try as she might she could not locate the auction house where she was being kept. So she decided to rely on these humans to get the job done. A bit duplicitous? Perhaps, but her students were better off in the safety of Verbergen than out here in the dangerous unknown of this wider world. That is what Filimøs Harrifenas or rather the reincarnator Okazaki "Oka" Kanami has told herself time and time again. She had to be right in this, she just had to be… for if she wasn't… Well, it was best not to think about that. So she told herself.
He Who Hunts Monsters
"If I were a black market and enslaving ring, where would I be?" Xander asked himself. He then turned to Rubellia Walline who decided to follow Xander and his group, "Where are the slums located in this city? Do you happen to know?"
The redheaded warrior blinked, "You think they're located in the slums?"
Xander nodded, "Yep, people could easily be paid to keep quiet in a place like that. So do you happen to know the way?"
She grimaced but nodded, "Yes, before I took this job I did some easier jobs, mainly rat extermination in the slums… some rats got ahold of some expired growth potion some alchemist didn't properly seal and got as big as dogs…" She shuddered at the memory.
Spinel blushed and went into a coughing fit. "Y-You don't say?"
"Oh yeah," Rubellia nodded, "It was awful,"
"I bet it was," Spinel muttered off to the side. "At any rate we should be going if we're going to find this black market."
Xander called over his shoulder, "Shouldn't you be heading to the guildhall? Letting them know what happened and turn in your quest?"
The warrior woman shook her head, "It can wait, besides I owe you one."
Xander shook his head, "Don't feel obligated to help me. I did what anyone in my position would do,"
But Spinel and Rubellia shook their heads. "Except that's not true. You weren't the first person to come across us. Others did too, but they saw the… The Hobgoblins, and ran the other way instead of helping us," Rubellia confided in Xander and the group. "So no, you didn't do what anyone in your position would do."
"Fuck," Xander swore as he ran a hand down his face. "Sorry that happened. I have to ask though, if you're gonna stick with us, is there gonna be any bad blood between you two, Sei, and Sato? We could get into a fight, and I need to know everyone has each other's backs if it comes to that,"
Rubellia looked over at Sei and Sato, a slight frown on her face for a moment before she said, "I don't hate them, and I won't go out of my way to hurt them, but I'm still a bit leery of them. You understand?"
The cyclops nodded. "I do, I've had to put that aside to work with people I dislike for the common good, can you do the same?"
The warrior and the alchemist shared a look before Rubellia spoke for the two of them, "Yes,"
"That's all I needed to know," Xander said before going quiet.
"Spinel was it?" Sei called after a moment.
"Yes?" the Alchemist asked warily.
Letting herself fall back until she was only several steps in front of her would've-been hostages Sei inquired, "As a researcher, I've always wondered how Alchemy is different from normal magic, if at all, and I was hoping you could elaborate for me,"
"Oh!" Spinel said brightening instantly on talk of her profession, "Alchemy is the sussing out of the inherent magical energy and properties in plants, powders, ores, and organisms through the process of dilution and refinement. With the right combination of materials, an alchemist can create potions that can simulate any spell a mage such as yourself could cast, but without the need for the abundance of Will, copious study of tomes, or fine magical control a mage would need to cause the same effect. As one Nicholas Flammel once put it, Mages cast magic, we bottle it,"
"Hmm, an apt analogy. I see, thank you," Sei said as she kept walking in silent contemplation for a bit.
Sato went next, "Hey Red, you fought pretty well the other day!"
"Thank you?" Rubellia said unsure how to take the compliment considering she was trying her hardest to kill Sato and her… Broodmates? Family? Siblings? She wasn't sure.
"Welcome!" Sato continued, "I did notice you hid behind your shield a bit too much when you could've been using it as a weapon. I would've laughed my ass off if you had hit Gobugrog in the face a couple of times with that thing," She nodded to the wood and steel rimmed buckler on her left arm.
"I suppose I could hit people with it couldn't I?" Rubellia said to herself.
"Yep, our old grampsie, Gobujiji, he told me once that sometimes human warriors sharpen the edges of their shields so they can cut with 'em. Maybe try that?" Sato suggested. "Or don't, I'm not one for shields so what do I know?" She laughed as she spun on her heel and faced forwards again.
As they continued to walk, the terrain became muddier, and the sturdy houses gave way to shacks and huts. The people became less clean and more disheveled and downtrodden looking. They had reached the slums. The most disturbing part is that the division between human and beast folk grew less and less clear. Humans and beast folk interacted together and Xander even saw some families of mixed breeds huddled together and shying away from the armed group.
"Okay everyone, time to keep your head on a swivel, and your hands on your coin pouches. Look for anything unusual."
"You mean like a heavily armed group that has two Hobgoblins in it walking into the slums?" Sato asked.
"Not us Sato," Xander sighed.
"She does have a point though," Sei agreed, "We're the strangest thing here,"
Grimacing, Xander cast his gaze around and noticed something out of place, two big burly looking guys, well fed, and well armed, standing guard outside a hut hidden away behind several other huts. "That looks unusual," He said before he made his way over.
"Gentlemen," Xander said jovially before they drew the blades on him.
The one on the left snarled, "I don't know you, which means I don't like you, so get lost!"
"You heard 'em, get walkin'!" The one on the right said, poking the point of his sword at Xander.
Holding his hands up, the Hunter replied, "I was merely about to ask for directions,"
"Do we look like fucking constables to you?"
"Well I dunno, you both seem to be doing a pretty good job of guarding this place," Xander retorted.
"We ain't guarding anything, now scram!"
"Well if you aren't guarding anything, then I can go inside right?"
"No! Ya can't!" The duller of the two replied.
Xander grinned, "So you are guardian something,"
"Alright, alright wise guy, maybe we are, what's it to you?" The smarter of the two on the left said with narrowed eyes.
"Well," Xander looked around exaggeratedly before he stage-whispered, "I heard if somebody wanted to get rid of something that's not exactly… legal, they were supposed to come to the slums. Any truth to that?"
"Maybe, maybe. Perhaps if I had some coin for a drink I could remember where you's could go to… offload some supposedly illicit goods."
"Yeah, pay up!"
"Shaddap Bert!" The other one said, slapping him upside the head.
"Sorry Erine,"
Ernie, then rubbed his thumb middle and index fingers together in a universal sign for greed. "You got somethin's we can wet our whistle with or not friend?"
"Yeah," Xander reached into his coin pouch and pulled out a silver, "You can drink well tonight on this," He flipped it to the guard who caught it eagerly. "Now the blackmarket, where is it?"
"Now just a sec friend, you buyin', sellin', or both?" Erine asked.
"Both," Xander thumbed behind him, "I've got two female hobgoblins bound in magical chains for sale, and I'm in the market for some… other merchandise."
"Hohoho!" Ernie said appreciatively, "And one of 'ems a mage to boot! Those are rare," He circled around Sei and Sato looking them over like a farmer would a plow horse before he said, "Alright, since you're buyin' and sellin' we'll take you the quick route instead of going the scenic way we usually do for first timers. Follow me,"
Ernie led the way into the hut they were guarding. There was nothing inside but a wooden table with a ledger on it. Going around the table Ernie pulled up on a mudstained rope, revealing a trapdoor that led down into the depths of the earth. Grabbing a torch, he said, "Merchandise first then your party we'll go last."
"Of course," He got behind Sei and Sato nd gave them both a hard shove while whispering into their ears, "Just play along for now,"
The group followed dim torchlight deep into the bowels of the earth, into the cavernous depths made out of mudbrick and the unknown organization that handled the blackmarket in the city of Trent.
He Who Hunts Monsters
"Welcome," Ernie said as they came to the end of the long flight of stairs, "To the Undercity,"
City felt like a misnomer to Xander, Under Metropolis would've been a more apt description. For here, deep beneath the earth, was an entire city just as large if not larger than the one above it. Gigantic stalactites and stalagmites had been hollowed out and turned into veritable fortresses, connected to one another through ziplines and rope bridges. People moved to and fro huddled under cloaks and the shadows they provided. Market stalls were set up huddled around stone spires, and an underground lake provided both freshwater and substance if the boat's Xander could spy off in the distance meant anything.
"Quite some'thin innit?" Ernie said with pride in his tone. "Stretches all the way a'cross the continent she does from one under riv'a to the next. The Under Cities are the place ta come if you want goods you shouldn't have, information you need, and ta git rid of any ill-gotten gains."
"Which Under City is this?" Lilianna asked.
"Under City Trent o'course," Ernie replied as if she was dumb. "There's a reason they're called Under Cities girlie, cause they're built under already established cities."
The hidden princess gave a waning smile, "Ah of course," Xander could tell she wanted to gut him, but it was only due to maintaining their disguises that she hadn't killed him already.
"O'course she says," Ernie muttered, "What you be lookin' ta buy anyway?"
"Beastmen," Xander replied quickly. "We're hoping to get into Venderberg,"
Ernie and Bert barked out a laugh, "You and every other flesh seller mate!" Ernie replied, "Venderberg is like the secret hidden mountain of gold for your ilk, everyone wants to find it, but no one can. No matter how hard they try and trust us, buddy. We have tried hard to get the beast folk to talk. At first we thought it was tenacity but then one of the torturers found out. The beast folk cannot be forced to reveal the location. Deep magic prevents it. Apparently its protection from their divine god," Both spit at the utterance of the beast god.
"Huh, is that so?" Xander muttered to himself.
"Aye, cryin' shame too, so much potential coin to be made, in the wind because of some damned Divine Blessin'. Bloody shame it is," Ernie sighed.
'I swear before I leave here, I'll see you dead somehow Ernie,' Xander promised himself.
As the group reached the ground floor from the staircase carved into the rock, the talkative guardsman pointed, "Right, you lot are gonna wanna head to the right here, until you see a crimson tent with a chain painted on a sign. That's the fleshmarket. You can sell your merchandise there, and pick up some new stock while you're at it," Ernie said, talking about buying and trading sentient lives like they were so much cattle. "Good luck on yer fool's errand mate, try not to die yeah?" Ernie said as he toddled on in what xander presumed was the direction of the pub with Bert in tow.
"I really, really fucking hate that guy," Xander said once he was sure he was out of earshot.
"Agreed," Lilianna said haughtily. "To speak of people in such a way, be they beastmen or no. I find it disgusting."
Even Asia was grimacing, "The Faith of Ehit says to either convert or kill heathens, even if it is our Divine Providence to enslave them that is done in the hopes that they eventually see the Divine Light of Lord Ehit. This however, has nothing to do with His Will at all. This is just slavery for the sake of it."
"I personally believe slavery is wrong no matter what, but the fact that even you are disgusted by this means you're growing as a person, Asia," Xander said approvingly as he took off looking for the tent Ernie described.
Asia followed in his wake after a moment, wondering if she should be offended by that complement or not.
~He Who Hunts Monsters~
The tent was right where Ernie said it would be, far to the right a wooden sign dangling from a pole showed a chain and shackle on a white field. Xander took a breath, bracing himself for what was to come before he pushed the crimson cloth aside and entered the tent. Inside cages or simply chained to tent poles were all manner of therianthropes. Some were men, though Xander noted a majority of them were women. Their heads collectively whipped to the group as they entered the tent. They were greeted by a sleazy looking man, he had a couple of gold teeth, his chest was toned and bare, his skin crimson in color, but he had a tiger pelt thrown both over his back and another wrapped around his waist, a jug of alcohol sitting on the desk in front of him next to a club made of solid iron.
"Hello there, my name is Sakebe and I'm the owner of this hic establishment. Are you here to buy… or sell?" He asked a bit drunkenly.
"Buy," Xander replied evenly as he looked around. He looked around and in every gaze he met, all he got back was hatred… All except one. A bunny girl, a genuine bunny girl with pale blue hair and sky blue eyes looked back at him, her eyes filled with hope, dare he say joy at seeing him. He also saw an egg, easily ten times bigger than an ostrich egg, sitting on a pillow.
"And what're you in the market for? Gladiator, bodyguard, sex slave?" Sakebe asked as he pointed to various Beastmen, his finger landing on the bunny girl when he said sex slave.
"All of the above," Xander replied, holding out his hand for Lilianna's gold pouch which she handed over without complaint nor question. "We are prepared to offer you one hundred gold for everyone in here,"
The Oni narrowed his eyes "You… you can't be serious? A hundred gold? For a bunch'a beastman slaves? Why?"
Xander pulled out a gold, to show he was genuine, "The human kingdoms need soldiers in their coming war with the demons. They need foot soldiers. Hence why we're here," Not technically a lie.
"A hundred gold…" Sakebi muttered to himself.
"Yep, Xander nodded, "Think of all the sake you could buy with that, and gambling too."
The oni grinned greedily, "A'right. Show me the coin first. Then every'thin here is yours sir."
Xander slowly counted out and piled up a hundred gold pieces stacking them in neat little rows of ten on the tabletop. "I trust everything is in order?" Xander said after he laid down the last gold piece.
The oni picked up a gold piece and bit into it, not tasting lead, he nodded, "Aye their all yours. Kill some of them uptight bitches for me. It's gone to hell with the current demon lord."
Filing away the knowledge that not all demons were there to serve the demon lord. At least that meant he didn't have to commit genocide. Xander and his companions started to go and open the cages but paused when the oni cleared his throat, "Hey from one merchant to another. I suggest that you activate the slave seal first before you open their cages or unlock their chains. You can cast magic right?"
Xander nodded along, " I can cast basic magic but I don't know the slave seal mind teaching me real fast?"
"Hell for 100 gold I can give you a book I use to cast the spells. Lasts longer than a simple spell scroll."
Xander shook his head in disgust at how easy buying and selling came to this world that literal magic was designed to support it, "Sure thanks. So what is the deal with the egg? That thing looks bigger than any egg I have ever seen?"
"Oh that? I got it for a steal in an auction for wares from ahem 'reclaimed' products belonging to a group of adventurers that raided the Great Elroe labyrinth near demon territory. Apparently the egg was supposed to be a gift for the crown prince of the Analeit kingdom since he is graduating from their academy soon enough."
Xander just looked amazed that a gift for a crown prince came from a labyrinth of all places. From what he heard most of the things in labyrinths are either toxic to people, could kill them, or even have curses that corrupts the populace.
"Sir Xander if you wanted we could take the egg to the Analeit kingdom later and offer it as a gift to get further allies," mentioned Liliana wondering what would hatch from the egg knowing that creatures in labyrinths could range from giant birds to even dragons.
"Okay, but if it hatches before we get there and it's cute, I'm keeping it," Xander replied distractedly as he looked over the tome. He looked at the bunny girl before mouthing 'sorry' silently and activating the Enslavement spell for all the beastmen in the tent. A mass of crimson lightning arced from the book and then from each beastman before coming full circle back to the book. When he glanced at the girl, she had a pentacle marking her chest just above her bust. Xander grimaced in disgust, but she just smiled at him understandingly that did little to assuage the bile that was rising in his throat.
"Alright everyone," Xander said forcing his words to come out past the lump in his throat, "Your all gonna come out of there nice and easy and come with us,"
"Heh, yer new to this job ain't ya?" Sakebi snorted, "Too nice by half to this lot you are," He smacked his iron club against the nearest cage, denting it and causing the occupants to skitter back in fear. "A'right! Listen up you miserable lot! You git out now an' no funny business you hear?! Cause if you try anythin' funny, that means you'll be sent back here and I'll lose a sale… I don't like losin' a sale," He finished with a dangerous scowl that showed off all four of his gold coated tusks.
Xander opened the dented cage and offered a hand to the occupants inside, one of which was the far too trusting bunny girl. "C'mon," He said, offering her a hand, "How about we get out of here?"
The rabbit girl reached out and took his hand smiling a bit, "Thank you sir, for your timely rescue,"
"This ain't no rescue ya sot, your bein' shipped off to Heilagh kingdom an'll be used as fodder." Sakebi snorted.
"Maybe, but dying under the open sky with weapons in hand, is better than dying malnourished, underground, in a cage," the girl replied stubbornly.
"Oh yeah?!" the Oni said, rearing his hand back to slap her only for Xander to stand up and glare at the Oni with his single remaining orb.
"Stop," He said cooly, "You don't get to touch them anymore. Not after I just paid for them." Behind him, he felt more than saw the rabbit girl stick her tongue out at the oni. "Behave yourself,"
She winked at him before saying, "Yes Mastaa, Fufufu! This Shea Haulia is at your service. Fufufu,"
Taking the cage keys off the table, he tossed them to her and said, "In that case, make yourself useful Shea and start unlocking the cages."
She saluted, "Aye aye mastaa sir!" She blew a raspberry at the oni before she pranced off with a sashay in her hips, unlocking the cages one by one. Xander never took his eyes off of Sakebi the entire time she was doing that. Once everyone was gathered up, he spoke to Shizuku, "Lead them outside and towards the exit would you?"
"Of course," Shizuku said before nodding, "This way everyone, Shea was it? Help me get everyone to the exit to the west of here."
"Aiko, if you, Sei, and Sato, would grab the egg?" Xander asked politely. His eye still locked on Sakebi.
"On it!" The three women lifted and maneuvered the egg out of the tent. Only once everyone was gone did Xander say, "Today, I had a use for you, next time we meet, you might not be so lucky demon, remember that,"
"Anytime, any place human," Sakebi replied with a low snarl issuing from his throat as he spoke.
Xander was oh so tempted to say here and now, but held himself back. It wouldn't do to bring whatever passed for guards in a place like this down on his head. "One day Sakebi, but not today. Pleasure doing business with you," He spat to the side walking backwards out of the tent, never letting his eye leave the oni's.
"You as well!" He replied with faux-civility. "Do come again!" He finished with a sneer as Xander's head disappeared behind the tent flap.
~He Who Hunts Monsters~
Once back near the entrance, he found his new group huddled near it, "What's the hold up?"
"Some of these people are injured," Asia reported. She then screwed up her courage before she said stubbornly, "I… I would like to treat them before we make the long trek back up to the surface,"
"Yeah sure, that sounds like a good idea," Xander agreed, "Go right ahead Asia, just don't overwork yourself," He ruffled her hair affectionately breaking her out of her fugue state.
"Huh, but… I thought Xander-san was buying slaves?" She asked in confusion.
Running a hand down his face Xander said, "Asia, did you expect me to go in there axe swinging, magic flying like some sort of storybook hero and free everyone or something?"
"Well yes," The blonde replied innocently, "Because that's what all of Ehits champions have always done!"
"Did they all die heroically tragic deaths too?" Xander deadpanned.
"Ye- wait…" Asia's eyes widened in understanding, "You aren't buying slaves, you're liberating them?!"
"Yes, Asia… I'm what some would call a Trickster Hero or Guile Hero. I'm the rare type that uses his brain. There's no way we could fight our way into and then out of an entire city and hope to survive. So we didn't. We got what we needed through alternative means, and now we're getting the hell outta here."
"But, but, it didn't feel all that heroic," Asia pouted. "No evil was smited, no villains brought to justice for their wicked deeds, and it cost us a hundred gold!"
"Pocket change right Lily?" Xander asked with a smirk.
The princess beamed, "My coinpurs is connected directly to the royal treasury. It almost can't go empty though it can only take out gold, gems, and minor magical objects like rings."
Xander blinked, "Damn really? I just thought you had a big allowance, but no, you've got a TARDIS handbag."
"What's a TARDIS?" Lilianna asked, confused.
"Something that's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside," Xander explained.
The princess nodded in understanding, "Yes it is a TARDIS handbag as you say."
"Good, Asia heal up as many people as you can, then we're getting out of here," He said "I need to go take care of something real quick," Turning to Aiko he said, "I know your Job is Farmer and not a Druid but do you wanna try doing something for me real quick?"
Cocking her head to the side, the teacher asked, "Sure, what do you need?" Xander told her, and she grimaced, "I don't know if I can do that, but I'll try,"
Xander grinned, "Thanks Aiko,"
"Isn't this idea kinda… evil though?" She asked as she proceeded to use her farmer powers on the nearby fungal spores.
"An army marches on its stomach and information is power in war," Xander replied, "Power that will keep people alive. Who better to have information than the criminals?"
"True," Aiko said before she gathered up the spores in a pouch which she tied off and gave to the eyepatch wearing man. "I want you to know, I won't be abusing this,"
Xander brought her into a brief but tight hug, "I wouldn't expect you to, this isn't something you should even be using your Job for honestly, but needs must."
Pocketing the pouch, Xander said, "I'll be right back everyone,"
"Where are you going Xander?" Shizuku called.
"I gotta take care of something, don't worry it shouldn't take long," He said as he walked off heading towards the presumed direction of the bar.
~He Who Fights Monsters~
The bar was more of a dive than anything, a broken stalactite that had been converted into the local watering hole, and It did seem like a hole. A chair had just gotten thrown through the window as he approached. "Nice place," Xander muttered to himself, "Real family friendly atmosphere," So thinking he pushed the doors open and walked inside.
A monster with a hundred arms and fifty heads was playing dozens of pianos in sync at once as Arachne danced up on stage wearing red dresses like old west cabaret girls, several tables were taken up by groups as they smoked and drank while they played cards. Saddling up to the bar, Xander asked, "What's the usual around here barkeep?"
An actual nine foot cyclops nodded to him and said, "Devil's blood, Analeitien potato liquor mixed with tomato juice,"
'Sounds like a Bloody Mary to me,' Xander thought. "I'll take one," he said and waited as the man mixed his drink. "I'm new in town so is there anything I should know?"
"Sakebi struck it big, came in swinging his club like it was his own pecker a little bit ago, sold all of his merchandise to someone fer a hundred gold," From the way he spat the term merchandise he could tell the cyclops was no fan of the flesh trade. Xander liked him already.
"That right?" Xander said as he spied Sakebi in the corner a female oni on each arm as he shared a jug of sake with Bert and Ernie of all people, playing cards having long since been cast aside, and a ruddy hue on their cheeks. Taking his drink and sliding the barkeep a silver he pocketed earlier from Lily's bottomless bag, he made his way over to the table. "Gentlemen," Xander greeted, "I'd ask you to deal me in, but you all look three sheets to the wind,"
"Well if it ain't the man himself!" Ernie and Sakebi said at the same time only to look at each other and laugh.
"Come to join us for a drink gov?" Ernie said raising his glass in greeting.
"Sure why not? I just picked up something nice too, so perhaps you'd care to indulge in it with me?" Xander said as he held up the pouch and shook it titillatingly.
"Ooh, wat's zat?" Burt asked.
Untying the pouch Xander replied, "Psychedelic mushroom dust," Xander replied. "This stuff'll get you so high, you won't come down for days." He then smiled and shrugged, "At least that's what the seller told me before I paid a gold and ten silver for it,"
"Probably came all the way from the Great Elroe Labyrinth. I hear the shrooms there make great psychedelics… provided ya don't get poisoned by any'thin that lives there! Heheheh!" Ernie cackled evilly.
"So, you wanna try?" Xander offered.
"You first man, it's yer sniff." Ernie said.
Xander shrugged, 'Wendigo don't fail me now,' He thought as he took a whiff from the bag.
[You have gained Poison Resistance, and Mind Control Resistance.] A voice in his head informed him.
'Sweet! It worked!' Xander thought gratefully. "Holy shit, man, this is some powerful stuff," Xander said, acting loopy and giggling a bit. Before shoving it Ernie's way, "You gotta try!"
"Well thankee kindly," Ernie said, taking a long inhale before passing it to Bert who did the same, and then Sakebi. All three inhaled deeply from the bag.
"Wot's this I don't feel a," Ernie suddenly passed out face first on the table, with Bert and Sakebi soon following after.
"Guess it was a bit too strong for them," Xander said as he picked up the still half full bag, and nodding to the women, before he threw back his bloody mary like a shot, he said, "G'night ladies,"
Toddling his way out of the bar, and once he was out of sight Xander immediately straightened up. "I guess I should thank dad for my alcohol tolerance at least," Xander muttered to himself as he shook off the slight buzz the drink gave him. Finding a small tributary that led into the cistern, Xander emptied the rest of the bag into the water knowing eventually, the rest of the people down here would fall under a nearly harmless form of cordyceps. A magical form of fungus that would allow Aiko to read the minds of those who ingested the spores… and hopefully not turn them into an up and coming zombie plague.
'Small prayers Xander, small prayers,' He thought, 'Besides, it's not like you haven't dealt with zombies before,' So thinking Xander made his way back to the group, reminiscing about better times when Joyce Summers was still amongst mortal men. Those were better days.
~He Who Hunts Monsters~
By the time he got back, everyone was patched up and a sense of cheer seemed to have spread amongst the beastmen. "Are we ready to go?" Xander asked.
Shea came bounding up to him, her anatomy jiggling in certain places, "We're ready to leave at your command Mastaa!"
"You don't have to call me that, Shea. I'm not really your owner."
She giggled, "Fufufu, I know, I knew the whole time you were coming to free us,"
Xander blinked, "You did? How?"
"I was born with the ability of precognition, they come randomly, use up all my mana when they do, and can seemingly even change on a whim but I knew I'd meet you if I were to be captured by slavers,"
"You let yourself be captured on purpose?" Xander asked, when she nodded, he gave her a light karate chop to the head, "That was dangerous and also not very smart, you just admitted the visions can change. So you and I might not've met at all Shea… but I know prophecy is also a heavy burden to bear…" He thought of all the prophecies Buffy has had to deal with and how Codelia's had outright killed her. "Be careful alright?"
Seeing how solemn and serious he was being, Shea nodded, "I understand, I won't be so reckless in the future now that I've found you."
"Good, but since you were looking for me, maybe we can help each other out," Xander offered. "My group and I need to get to Venderberg. Would you be willing to show us the way?"
Shea nodded, resolutely, "Yes, because to get to the Sea of Trees, you must pass through the Riesen Gorge, to get to the Seo of Trees and my Tribe is being set upon by Empire slavers, so you can kill two birds with one stone by heading that way."
"Wait, your people are being accosted by slavers, and you thought it would be a good idea to be taken by said slavers, to meet me, who you hoped would stop the slavers?" Xander asked incredulously, "You didn't think this through very well did you?"
"Ehehehe," Shea said as she rubbed the back of her head, sheepishly, "I guess I didn't," She then said resolutely, "But it all worked out in the end, so it's fine right?"
"I guess, just be more careful from now on Shea," Xander asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders, "No plan survives contact with the enemy and personally, I think there's no such thing as fate. Just what may be. Not what will be."
"Okay, I will, I promise," She nodded again."
"Good," He then spoke to the group. "Alright everyone let's move out, we've got a bit of a walk ahead of us, I want anyone with night vision up in front. Those with good hearing behind them. Anyone who still can't walk lean on someone who can, we're getting the hell outta here people."
The beastmen did as Xander said and soon an orderly group was making their way up the stone staircase, and out of Trent's Undercity.
(...)
Word Count: 16,200 Number of Pages: 35 Date Completed: 7/2/2023
(...)
AN: Hello all and welcome to the second chapter of He Who Hunts Monsters. I do hope you all enjoyed it, I worked extra hard on it for you all, as the sheer length of this chapter should suggest. More to come in the future. Now here is Snowy and First Hassan to close it out as per usual.
Snowy: Well this chapter got a little spicy. Xander is learning about this world and all its inhabitants and what they have to offer. Hopefully he won't produce any kids till he has a safe place to put them XD. In all seriousness this chapter is to show different views of life, culture, and how monstrous races have to survive or they die out. Just as humans survived through blood, sweat, and tears. Now Xander is really sharpening his brain and making sure he gets what is needed to help his allies and grow his base of power by connecting to other people. Wish Xander safe travels on his journey to grow as a person and dare I say it a hero. However, in this grand game of gods there are many players. I wonder whose pieces will appear next? Till next time.
Hassan: Our glorious, memorable and bravest protagonist, Xander the man! Has struck once again! And not less than a day since he was transported to another world, Xander has already gotten himself laid! Haha! It seems like nothing can escape from Xander's boyish charms. (SNIFF)! I'm so proud of that asshole…..Hello everyone First hassan here and today! We are bringing you another chapter of He Who Hunts Monsters. Now if you noticed that there is less gamer elements in the story, its not just gamer elements me, Bubba and Snowy has to think off but also the plot and world building with Xander as he explores and inspects his surroundings in his world. He has to get himself adjusted first before he could go and do his typical routine, hunting monsters, vampires and demons on a daily basis. Thank you guys for reading our story, if you want more or want to be a chapter ahead, head to Bubba' account where it hasn't been edited by yours truly. I'll see you guys later! (Turning around while blue flames surround Hassan before disappearing)
Thanks again for reading, this has been an Inkblot Bros Production, and till next time, Peace!
