Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (38 page)

Chapter 15 - Outplayed -

9:19 am Sovereign Earth time

11/18/43

Runner sighed and squatted down in front of the brunette they had captured. She was tied to a chair and bound in such a way that she was helpless. Sleep was the spell of the day and between himself, Sophia, and liberal amounts of potions, they were able to keep both her and the general incapacitated the entire trip here.

Apparently the brunette was the second-in-command. Prettier than most and fuller in figure as well, she could definitely turn a head back on Earth. Here she was average. Maybe a touch above.

“So, we’ll do this in a simple fashion. You’ll serve me, or you can die. I can’t have soldiers of your quality running around and possibly ruining my plans. Just consider this the evil monologue and we’ll be fine.” Runner paused and suddenly laughed at himself.

“That actually was a pretty villainous thing to say. Ah well. I’ll also answer any questions you have but then I’ll expect you to answer. Your oath will be made to Ernsta. Should you fail in your oath, you will die and your soul is hers. To be clear, she could decide to use it as floss or bury it in a pig farm. Her choice.” Runner frowned and gestured at the brunette.

Sophia was the only soul with him at this juncture. The rest of Sophia’s squad was in the general’s room next door and the hallway between the two. Runner’s own party was currently processing the mass of prisoners they’d taken.

Reaching out a hand, Sophia cleansed the sleep from the second-in-command, simply named “Aide de camp.”

Immediately she began casting a spell with Runner as the target.

Runner activated
Throat Strike
and sighed.

“Last chance. I don’t want to kill you if I don’t have to.”

As soon as the interrupt wore off, the woman began casting once more.

Runner hit her with S
ilence
and then flicked a hand back at Sophia. Rubbing at the bridge of his nose with his left hand, he contemplated the situation.

“So be it. I’ll take care of her myself and dump the body. Stuff her head in a bag. I don’t really want to look at her when I do it.” Runner gave the order without looking to his subordinate.

“Of course, sir” Sophia said, moving to stand behind the prisoner. She pulled a dark black bag from her inventory and pulled it down over the motionless aide de camp.

“Mind going to the other room? I promised her I’d make it clean and quick but I’d rather not have an audience,” Runner said, still rubbing at the t-section of his forehead.

“Of course, sir,” Sophia responded, moving to leave the room immediately.

When the door closed behind Sophia, Runner looked up at the brunette and got to his feet.

“Well, let’s get this over with.”

Runner reached out and grabbed the prisoner by the shoulders since the ability required physical contact and then mentally thumbed a preset macro he’d made titled “GMHub 1.”

/GMHub 1

Teleporting…

Active settings only:

Death=On

Food/Water=On

Damage=On

Gravity=100%

Biome=Plane

Day/Night Cycle=On

And then he and the brunette were in an empty grassland. Runner typed in a rapid series of commands as the woman tumbled to the ground. The chair, her bonds, and the sleep spell were suddenly all gone.

/GMHub Settings

Death off

Damage off

Food/water off

Settings changed:

Death=Off

Damage=Off

Food/Water=Off

Coming up with her staff pointed at him, she took a fighting stance, glaring at Runner.

“Yeah, don’t bother,” Runner said, gesturing at the staff. The aide stared at her staff and then gave it a light shake. Apparently nothing happened at the end of her cast.

“You’re done with the world. This is your life now. I’ll come back and visit you in a day or two to see if you’re willing to talk. Oh, and food for thought. When was the last time you went to the bathroom? Right, then. See ya.”

Runner tapped the premade button to return.

/GMHubReturn

Teleporting…

Back in the little narrow room, Runner pushed the chair to the wall.

Definitely has the potential for a prison. What else can I do with it?

He gave the room once last check to see if they had left anything. Finding nothing, he opened the door and stepped out.

“It’s done,” Runner said to Sophia, who moved to stand at his elbow.

He crossed to the second room, opened the door, and stepped in.

“Everyone please exit and remain on station in the corridor. Sophia and I will be working on the general now.”

Immediately the squad of beautiful Sunless noblewomen trooped by him. Once the door clicked, Runner turned and squatted down in front of the general.

“Alright, general. Your turn. This is quite simple. You’ll serve me or you’ll die. I’m afraid I can’t leave you running around. Your aide chose death and she is no longer of this world. Any oath you make to me would be safeguarded by a trio of goddesses. I’ll answer any questions you have. If you’d please, Grace?” Runner asked, pointing a finger at the blonde general.

Sophia ended the sleep spell on her and Runner waited to see what would happen.

“You’ll answer questions?” the general said, her deep gray eyes flicking from him to Sophia and back.

Runner nodded his head at that, watching her. Her eyes were deep and intelligent. She had a certain aura to her and she definitely had her charms. The short blonde hair reminded him of Amelia. Maybe a touch fuller in the chest and hips, but definitely well put together. Certainly above the norm even here.

“Did you really have to kill her?”

Runner ping ponged his head back and forth as he pretended to think on his answer.

“Yes and no. Yes because I can’t risk her running around. I really can’t. No because I could have had her swear an oath. Though that seems as unlikely as the other, doesn’t it? Next question.”

“You say I would serve you. In what capacity? I won’t warm your bed.”

Runner laughed at that and shook his head.

“Why does everyone assume that’s what I want?”

“Wishful thinking? She’s welcome to warm my bed instead,” Sophia supplied, which only made Runner laugh the more.

“Nice. Maybe she’ll warm yours and you warm mine and I’ll warm hers.”

“I wouldn’t mind. Consider me up for the challenge, sir.”

“Very forward thinking of you, Grace. To answer your question, no, General. I have enough lady problems as it is. I don’t need forced sex slaves. As for the capacity in which you’d function, something similar to what you were doing previously. It’d be under my discretion. Why would I have you do something other than what you’re good at?”

“You would trust me?”

“Not really, no. I’d have you swear an oath to the three aforementioned goddesses who would love to use your soul to power themselves. Should any of them find you in violation they’ll probably suck you dry faster than an alcoholic prostitute looking for her next bottle. Though I would put in the condition that I have to approve of it first. Wouldn’t want them taking you down without due cause. Unless it’s an attempt on my life. Then you’re done.”

The general’s chin fell at that answer and she turned her thoughts inward, chewing on the whole thing mentally.

“What’s your name, General? I have a great deal of respect for you, so I’d like to at least address you correctly. That or I can start calling you Blondie.”

“Faye, Faye Sennet.”

“Faye. Pretty name. Do you have family left behind in Crivel or Faren?”

Faye looked startled at the question, her eyes darting from him to Sophia and then her own knees.

“I-I don’t know. Before this war I didn’t-I didn’t question, err…I…” She trailed off, her eyes losing a bit of their definition.

“Ah. You’re Awakening. This is an easy discussion for someone of your intelligence. When was the last time you used the bathroom? Think on that. While you think on that, compare your memories of before the war to right now. You’ll find they, well, taste different. Com—”

He was interrupted when the door opened. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw one of his new guards poke her head in.

“Lord Runner, Queen Helen will be ready for you soon,” she said, then disappeared back out the door.

“Damn,” Runner said, looking back to Faye. “I’m afraid our time is drawing to a close, Faye.”

“Can…can you give me more time? A few hours maybe? It’s a lot to take in. Put me in a closet? A prison cell? I need time,” she muttered, her voice fading at the end.

Runner could only imagine her tactical mind was burning through the information at a truly frightening rate of speed.

Runner stopped and scratched at his head.

“Well, maybe. Grace, do you think you’d be comfortable taking care of Faye with a few of your squad to back you up? Keep her in the sleep spell while she thinks it over. It isn’t a true sleep so she should be able to process her thoughts. You should have more than enough potions to keep her gone until tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t like leaving you unguarded. Though I do like the idea of keeping an eye on her.”

“I’ll take the rest with me—you’re welcome to pick who. Probably a good time for you to figure out who your second is anyways.”

Sophia pressed her full lips together in annoyance and nodded once. Her left hand came up and Faye was put to sleep once more. Sophia turned and left the room to prepare her squad.

Runner leaned in and spoke into Faye’s ear.

“I’ll be back to check on you. They’re under orders not to harm you in any way. Please let me know if they disobey. We’ll talk more on my return. Oh, and Faye? I really do have a deep respect for you. You handled the entire ordeal far better than I expected for someone in your position. I truly do want you for myself. It’d be like shattering a masterpiece if I had to dispose of you.”

Runner left the general there. Alone in a room and tied to a chair.

Time to see the queen.

9:40 am Sovereign Earth time

11/18/43

Ten minutes had passed since he’d presented himself at the throne room door. Ten minutes before he was called in.

“Runner Norwood, known as Breaker, general to King Vasilios, chosen of Ernsta, Brunhild, and Amelia, ally to the peoples of Kastell!” shouted the herald as Runner entered the room.

A day after the king’s death the entire throne room had changed. Everyone was dressed immaculately, it smelled quite nice, and there were even decorations here and there.

Ally, eh?

A single throne sat atop the dais now, the queen standing before it. Her giant war axe rested in easy reach against the throne. She resembled King Vasilios far more today. She looked queenly and felt like it. Majestic. Powerful. Regal.

Dropping to one knee at a respectable distance, he bowed his head deeply in respect to her.

“Queen Helen, the task is done. The enemy army is broken, I am interrogating the captured enemy general, and her forces are being processed as prisoners. By your will and hand, Kastell is free of invaders,” Runner said loudly, making sure all heard his words.

“Stand,” the queen proclaimed. Runner brought himself to a standing position. “We personally thank you, Runner Norwood. Your forces bled for us while we hid behind our walls. We will not forget our brave Sunless brothers and sisters who died on our land.”

Quest Completed

Quest rating: Extremely difficult. Rewards tripled.

Raid leader: You receive a quadruple portion.

“°úÆ▀█╪╓”

Experience Reward: 835% of current level

Reputation: 2,000

Fame: 3,000

Money: 1,000 Platinum

Level up!

You’ve reached level 28

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Level up!

You’ve reached level 33

Runner balked at the rapid screen prompts. Leveling up would need to wait for a quiet moment alone.

Queen Helen bowed her head to him. No small sign of respect from a royal.

“Though others may know you as Breaker, we name you Vindicator. You, who showed up unasked for and unwelcome. Who bled for us and forced us to help ourselves, despite our original unwillingness. Who asked nothing more than that we join in our own battle. You gave us our honor and preserved our right of personal governance.”