Chapter 43

Sam woke up. He felt as if he had just gotten out of a long tunnel, and he felt dizzy. But paradoxically, his body felt normal.

He came back to his senses.

He heard a familiar voice.

Zich?

Yeah. Its your great friend Zich.

Sam got up. He was in his house. As if many people lived in it, his house was filled with multiple pieces of furniture and daily necessities, but somehow it didnt look very hospitable.

What happened?

You dont remember?

He shook his head.

You went to Drew to settle a complaint and got totally beaten up.

Drew. He remembered now. After hearing that Snoc got conned, he went to complain and got beaten up until he thought he was going to die.

Twitch!

Recalling the trauma, Sams body trembled. There were times when he got into a fight while doing rough mining work, but that attack had been on another level. A person who killed living creatures for a job had used violence against him without a care for his life.

Dont worry.

As if he caught what Sam was thinking, Zich said, I completely avenged you.

Avenge?

Didnt I say this to you before? If you die an unjust death, I will avenge you.

I didnt die though?

You were beaten up until you were a foot away from deaths door. Ill count it as the same thing.

At this point, Zich seemed to do whatever he felt like doing. Sam let out a burst of laughter.

How did you avenge me?

I just returned everything back to him.

Return?

The injuries you sustained. I inflicted the same, exact wounds he gave you- from fractures to small scratches.

Sam couldnt close his mouth. Although he had fainted, he knew that his wounds had been severe.

Is that person still alive?

Not sure. After I beat him up, I stopped paying attention to him. Its his problem if he dies there or not. But I dont think he will die since the guy from the Monster Exterminator Building was watching. He probably got some aid. Well, but

Zich smiled.

Even if he is still alive, he wont be able to go for anybody again. Since I completely crushedhismind.

I-I see.

Sam didnt know what Zich meant by crushing a persons mind, but he didnt dare to ask. The conversation ended like that. Truthfully, Sam didnt want to hear more about the man who beat him up. A part of him felt relieved, hearing that the guy became a mess like him, but another part of him felt chills imagining what Zich did to Drew.

How muchtime has passedsince then?

Two days.

All those injuries healed in just two days? Actually, I think my body feels better than usual?

I used potions.

Sam had heard about potions before, but hed never seen one in real life. Although he made a good wage as a miner, it wasnt enough to buy a potion.

Isnt that expensive?

It is a bitpricey, but its not unaffordable. I can earn as much money as I want anytime anyways.

Adventurers are amazing.

Its not adventurers who are amazing. I am just amazing.

It was as if Zichs face was painted in metal; if his face was really painted with gold, it would have been enough to buy a castle.

The price for the potion

I dont need it. I dont want to take money from a poor friend.

Then, I will buy you a drink later.

I wont refuse that.

It was the same as repaying gold with sand, but Sam accepted his friends consideration with gratitude and his heart stirred with emotions. Although Zich was cold to others, it seemed as if Zich really thought of him as a friend.

Then Zich took out things from a box, which changed the atmosphere.

What is that?

Its fair compensation that I got from Drew: medical bills, rewards, nuisance expenses, and so on.

What?

Sam shouted in surprise, but while smirking, Zich opened the box like a gangster checking all the money he collected.

Ah, now that I think about it, you went to Drew to complain about the money he took from Snoc, right?

Yeah.

Of course, Sam thought about complaining directly to Drew, but he gave up on that. After encountering him once, Sam knew that common logic didnt work on Drew.

Let me see.

Zich opened the boxs lid, and items poured out. Sam stared at the goods that piled up on the floor next to his bed. He couldnt believe that gold coins were falling from the air.

Let me see, how much did I take?

What is that?

Sam asked about the box first.

Its an artifact. It lets you store goods regardless of their volume or weight. Theres a limit, but its a handy item.

Zich made a refreshing smile.

It was from that guy. I took it as compensation for the many things he did.

Then, these gold coins

Theyre also his.

Sam couldnt find the right words to say.

Well, its yours now. That guy was pretty rich. With this, you can easily pay for the price of the potions, but of course, I have to share it with you and Snoc who suffered the damages.

Zich gripped one of the gold coins and put it in front of Sam.

So, how much do you want for compensation?

Ah, no. Im fine.

Even though he had been one-sidedly beaten up by Drew, Sam refused the immense pile of wealth in front of himinstinctively. The large sum of money made him feeluncomfortablerather than greedy, and Zich didnt continue to press the matter.

Really? Okay. I guess people will be surprised if so much money gets forced in front of them so suddenly. But if you change your mind, tell me anytime. The time limit is until I leave this city.

Zich placed the gold coins back into the box, and the mountain-pile of gold coins disappeared instantly.

Tell me the amount Drew stole from Snoc so I can evenly distribute the sum. I can only decide how much to take after I know how much to leave you and Snoc.

Did you also suffer any losses?

Zich told Sam that the money was a form of compensation. If Zich took some of the capital, it meant that he also suffered a loss.

Of course.

Zich nodded without hesitation.

On top of the stress he gave me for attacking my friend, he forced me to move and even insulted me. It wont be enough even if I sell him as a slave and get more money. Considering how I ended the matter with so little, I am so generous.

It sounded like the calculations of some back-alleyway gangster. Sam studied Zichs face, and he wondered if Zich felt any sense of guilt or embarrassment from his words.

It doesnt seem like that at all.

Zichs face was composed.

To not hurt Zichs feelings, Sam asked carefully,,Um, didnt you say that you would live a kind life? Is it ok for you to do something like stealing?

Why do you say stealing? I keep telling you that all I did was receive fair compensation. It doesnt affect my resolution to live a kind life, at all.

I see.

In the end, Sam followed the path that Hans had taken a few days ago. He reaffirmed his beliefs that Zichs train of thought was completelyout of common way of thinkingand gave up on trying to understand Zich.

* * *

Drew walked inside a mountain. He looked completely fine even though Zich had left him half-dead not so long ago. It was thanks to the priest, who Paul Chenu called. However, no matter how well the priest healed him, he wasnt the same as before.

First of all, he didnt have any money. Zich took all the money and items he had as fair compensation. Thus, he didnt even have the money to pay for his medical bills and had to borrow money by using his artifact. If Zich hadnt thought that the goods inside his artifact were enough for his compensation, Drew wouldnt even have had the money to cure himself.

For that reason, he had to go out to catch monsters as soon as his wounds were healed. But there was a more serious matter.

Urgh!

Drew swallowed his saliva back down. His heart ached. His wounds were already all healed, but he sometimes felt pain for no reason. The cause was probably psychological, and he knew when these side-effects first started.

That bastard!

Rage and hate flared up, but simultaneously, fear and despair filled his heart. Zich had inflicted the same wounds on Drew as Drew did to Sam without a trace of discomfort on his face. Even Drew was aware that he was a person without any sense of humanity, but he thought Zich far exceeded him in that area. Drew was sure Zich didnt feel any guilt or joy when inflicting wounds on a person.

It was just a job for him.

In short, Zich didnt look at him as a human or even a living creature.

Damn it! Stop! Stop it!

His legs trembled out of control, and he slammed his fists on them. The only thing that came back to him was more pain and bruise marks. He couldnt stop his legs from trembling. Drew knew what this side-effect was. It was what people who battled monsters or fought other countries wars suffered through. It was what Drew had mocked as, Coward Reader. But now, he was facing the condition.

Drew also knew the way to stop this side-effect: removing the cause of the trauma. But as soon as he thought this, his heart fell.

Fightingwith that guyagain?

Zichs face, his slimy smile, and his stern pupilsas soon as they popped into Drews head, all the strength in his legs left him.

Drop!

He collapsed to the ground. Thankfully, he was in the mountains, and no one saw him. However, he didnt feel relieved; more than embarrassment, fear overcame him.

I-Its impossible.

He was just a small fry who was a bit strong. The thought of facing Zich again after overcoming his fears pained his heart.

Oh, dear! Your condition is worse than I expected.

He suddenly heard a voice he disliked and turned his head.

When did he approach me? A figure covered from head to toe in a black robe stood in front of him.

You are

It hasnt been long enough for me to say its been a while.

It was a kind and warm tone, but Drew didnt feel an ounce of sincerity in the mans words. It was the robed man who had struck a strange deal with him recently. The man met eyes with Drew and then crouched his knees on the ground to be on the same level with Drew. He made the motions as if he was a parent making a point to his children. However, the mans face, which was covered by the robes darkness, gave Drew chills.

What did you come here for?

I have another commission that I want you to take care of.

What is it? I will take it if its decent.

The man gave Drew a fortune for merely helping Snoc activate his mana and making him walk through the mine until he met a mole. For Drew who seriously lacked money, the offer couldnt have been more attractive. However, the robed figure glanced up and down at him like the man was assessing Drew.

Will you be able to do it? I heard you were badly beaten.

I am fine enough to take a commission.

What if you have to clash with the man who made you like this again?

What!

Drews face became dead-pale, and his hands shook.

Its hopeless.

The man shook his head.

I had a hunch, but this is beyond my expectations. I didnt think he would be broken down to this extent.

The man thought Drews usefulness had gone down to zero.

Hmm.

The man twitched his nose in dissatisfaction and straightened his knee. Drew saw that the man was going to take back his offer, so he shouted urgently, I-I can handle it! I was going to get my revenge on that guy any!

No, thanks, the man answered. Any trace of politeness disappeared from his speech, and his tone was dry. Drew froze at the mans sudden change.

Push!

A blade pierced Drews throat.

I dont need you.