Chapter 07 Just When I Thought Things Were Looking Up, She Took That Too

The guild master slammed open his office doors. He stormed inside, dropped into his chair, and fixed us with a glare that could melt steel.

"Come in. Close the door."

The office was spacious. Bookshelves lined the walls. A massive desk dominated the center. Papers were stacked in neat piles. A map of the region hung behind the chair.

There were two other people in the room. A secretary and man in a clerk's uniform. They were frozen mid-task, staring at us.

The guild master's eyes flicked to them.

"Leave. We need the room. Private matter."

The guild master stared daggers at Fiona. He was serious. Unforgiving. I sat in the chair across from him. Fiona sat beside me.

 The door clicked shut behind them. Then guild master's whole demeanor changed. His shoulders relaxed. His face softened. A grin spread across his weathered face.

"Fiona! Dear!" He laughed, "How many times do I need to tell you to keep your slaves in line? You're keeping him on way too loose a leash. Just look what happened! He went and caused a scene in the middle of my guild hall! If he was just a regular slave, it's one thing. But an otherworlder? What were you thinking, Fiona? Do you have any idea what would happen if the Knight Order got word of you secretly enslaving otherworlders?"

He leaned back in his chair.

"And the word will spread. No one can keep their mouths shut in this place. You know that. I've told you many times. Try to keep it on the down low. Quiet about it. If you want to keep your slaves, you need to be careful. Do you at least have a contract this time?"

Fiona reached into her robe. Pulled out a small leather pouch. Coins jingled as she set it on the desk.

"Guild Master," she said, sliding it across the table, "This is a little token. An apology for my slave's behavior. But you have nothing to worry about. He is my slave. And no Knight Order will take him from me."

The guild master picked up the pouch. Weighed it in his hand. The coins clinked softly.

"Apology accepted, Fiona. But you didn't have to. You're going too far for some otherworlder. I would be much more appreciative if you could act with your slave more like master and slave. You know, how it should be. Not this loose leash attitude you have."

"I will keep that in mind, Guild Master. Thank you for the advice. Are we done here? Takumi and I need to visit the dungeon, and daytime is running out."

"Ah! Yes, yes. We're done. Have good hunting."

I didn't move. Couldn't move. My mind was blown away.

She bribed him!? She bribed the guild master! Right in front of me. And he took it. He just... took it! He's not going to help me. He's never going to help me! He's on her side! This is bad. No! This is the worst! He's the most important person around. If he won't help me, who will?! This Knight Order? I don't even know where they are! Or how to reach them! I have no hope. I have no hope at all. 

Fiona touched my shoulder and gently whispered in my ear.

"Come on, Kuzu-kun. We have work to do."

I stood up. My legs were numb. My mind was blank. I followed her out of the office. The door clicked shut behind us.

We walked through the guild hall. Adventurers glanced at us. Whispered. Pointed. We were almost at the guild doors. Then Fiona stopped.

"Oh! I almost forgot. I need to discuss one more thing with guild master."

She pointed to a wooden bench against the wall.

"Wait there, Kuzu-kun. It won't take long. And please—" She smiled, "—do not cause more trouble."

She patted my cheek. Gentle. Affectionate.

"Kindly please."

Then she turned. Walked back toward the office. I stood there. Watching her go.

She's leaving me alone. In the middle of the guild hall. With all these adventurers. All these people. I could run. I could scream. She said, 'kindly please.' That wasn't a command. Not an order. I have free will. But I bet she's testing me. She wants to see if I'll try something. And if I do, she'll punish me. I image after what I did she will make me suffer and if I make more trouble for her, I will get left in that dungeon as food for monsters! Or worse! What if she forces me to make out with some goblin! AHHHHHHHHHH! 

I sat down on the bench. My hands were shaking. I stared at the floor. And I waited. There was nothing else I could do. 

Adventurers. They know. They saw what happened. They know I tried to escape. And they know I failed. I bet they're laughing at me. No one will help me. I'm trapped. I'm completely trapped. I hate her. I hate this world. I hate everything. I'm going to die in that dungeon. To her I'm Just another slave. Just another tool. Just another—

"Hey yo!"

I looked up. It was Gregor. The adventurer from the tavern. The one who'd been betting on me. He was standing in front of me, grinning. A few of his party members were behind him.

"Aren't you the kid Fiona tricked? Yeah, it is you!"

I tensed. Bracing myself for mockery. For more humiliation. He held up his hands.

 "Hey, look kid. I'm not here to kick a dog while it's down. Don't get me wrong. Sure, I did bet my coins on you getting tricked or not. But that's in the past, right? No hard feelings?"

"Yeah... Sure."

No hard feelings?  Can you believe this bastard? You bet on my misery. You laughed when I signed my life away. And now you want to be friends or something? Get lost buddy!

Gregor crouched down. Put a hand on my shoulder.

"So, here's the thing. After sobering up, realizing I was a terrible person to bet on your misfortune and seeing your miserable attempt at freedom just now... Me and my boys felt sorry for what happened to you. We honestly do."

He gestured at his party. They nodded. Sympathetic faces.

"But don't get any funny ideas, we can't get you free from her. That's way above our pay grade. But we can help you out in other ways."

 "Help me? How?"

"Yeah, help you. I mean we are fellow dungeon crawlers now! And as a veteran adventurer I just have to help a rookie out. So, here's the thing, we can see she gave you some terrible equipment. I mean, God, look at this. Like, really terrible. What is that—" He pointed at my tunic, "—a potato sack?"

"It might be, I don't know." 

"And a wooden sword? You're not a little kid, you're a man! You need a real sword. Look, me and the boys talked it over. We decided to give you a deal."

He pointed at his party member. A tall woman with a scar across her cheek. She was holding a shiny sword. A real sword. Metal. Sharp. And on her other arm was a set of good-looking armor. Leather and chain. Well-maintained. Solid.

"How about we trade, kid? We give you a real metal sword for your wooden sword. And real armor for your clothes."

I looked at the sword. At the armor.

Is he for real?! He wants to trade real equipment!? And good equipment at that?! Equipment that could actually protect me?! This is... this is generous! This is kind. This is—

"How about it, kid? You won't get a better deal than that."

I can't believe it. After everything, after tavern, after bets, after laughter! This Gregor dude is actually being a nice guy! Someone is actually helping me. He's kind enough to trade this garbage Fiona gave me for actual equipment. What a nice guy, unlike Fiona! She is a total bitch! I wish I could join Gregor instead! And with good armor and a real sword, I could survive. I could last a day longer. Maybe two. 

I looked up at Gregor. At his smiling face. At his party members nodding encouragingly.

"You... you'd do that for me?"

"What can I say? Seeing you try to stand up to Fiona, that took guts. Even if it didn't work. You deserve a fighting chance, kid."

I felt something warm in my chest.

Hope. That's hope. I haven't felt that in a long time. This man is a saint! 

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I-I don't know what to say."

"Don't mention it, kid. Just take care of yourself, yeah?"

I reached for the sword. My fingers were inches away. I could almost feel the cool metal. Almost feel the weight of it in my hands.

This is it. This is my chance! With real equipment, I can survive. I can last longer. I can find a way to escape. I can—

"And what do you think you're doing, Gregor?"

The voice was soft. Sweet. Warm. But it made my blood run cold. Fiona was standing behind me. Her arms were crossed. Her smile was gentle. Her eyes were warm. But the aura around her was different. Cold. Dark. Something that made the air in the room feel cold.

Gregor paled. His face went white. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His confident grin vanished.

"Oh! Fiona! Hey! Nice to meet you! So... yeah! It was nice talking! Yeah, good talk. But... Oh! Look at the time not time to chat, bye!"

He turned. His party members followed. They practically fled. Their footsteps echoed through the guild hall as they disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there. Alone. With Fiona.

They left. They just left! They were going to help me and she ruined it! Because she showed up. She scared the away!

I turned slowly. Expecting anger. Expecting punishment. Expecting cold fury and sharp words.

But Fiona was smiling.

"Kuzu-kun. I'm done with the guild master. We can go now. Come on. We have a dungeon to visit. And you need to level up."

She's not mad. She's not angry. She's just smiling. Like nothing happened. Like Gregor didn't just try to help me. Like I didn't almost accept. Like I'm not a traitor.

My legs moved on their own. I followed her.

Hope. I had hope. For one moment, I had hope. And then she took it away. Just like she takes everything. I hate her. I hate her so much. Why does she have to be so—

We walked through the streets. Fiona was calm. Relaxed. Like nothing had happened.

But I couldn't stay silent. The words were building inside me, pressing against my chest, demanding to be released.