161 A Generous Devil
Abel glared at Arad. ^The ancient sigils of the devil lady Alice always said that when great powers gather. The world will test them.^ He looked around. ^I’m sure Arad is a dragon. I am a devil, Alcott is a dragon slayer and Nina is a whole monster.^
“Brother, are you fine?” Sara asked.
“Yes. I’m only a bit exhausted.” Abel closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch. “Please ignore me.”
Sara shifted her attention toward Arad, “You’re quite strong. I heard you finished the incubus with one punch.”
“It wasn’t a single punch. Abel cut him and I burned him to ash.” Arad replied, looking around the room. Lydia had Jack laying his head on her lap as she healed him with a stern face.
“I saw that flash. It was so big, it’s hard to believe a human did it.” Sara smiled, “Sorcerers are strong.”
“Sorcerers aren’t all like Arad,” Lydia sighed, “Look at him, you will mistake him for a fighter.”
Jack opened his eyes, “Jack, are you okay?” Lydia stared down at him.
Jack’s lips twitched as he wanted to sit up, but couldn’t. His eye didn’t want to stay open as sweat dripped from his forehead. “I need some milk.” He said.
“We have some in the kitchen,” Abel said and Sara rushed to bring it.
“Was it a berserker potion?” Alcott looked at Jack.
Jack lifted a thumb up.
“That thing burns the stomach like demon pepper.” Alcott relaxed on the couch. “Drinking it and suffering the side effects are bad. But the worst part is getting it out.”
“I will help him with cleansing,” Lydia patted Jack’s forehead.
***
The next day came, and Arad woke up beside Aella in their house. They returned home after chatting a bit.
Jack woke up with Lydia at his side, rushing to the garderobe. This was the worst part about the berserker potion. Lydia chased after him to cast cleansing.
Abel looked up the window. The day came before he know it as he cleaned the mess inside the brothel.
Nina was already making her way to the guild. She saw Mira approach with a small bag in her hand, “You’re early.”
Mira looked to the side, spotting Nina. “Good morning. I was here to inform you that I’m ready to take the quest.”
“Arad seems to have finished Abel’s quest, you should be able to head out.” Nina smiled, “Did you know that?”
Mira scratched her head, “Everyone in the city woke up in the middle of the night hearing Arad scream. They might not know it was him, but I recognize it.” Mira scratched her head, “And Then I saw that crimson flash, I know he had squashed that cubus like a cockroach.”
Nina sighed, “Yeah. I bet word is only going to spread now,”
Mira giggled. “There is something magical about a man with a deep scream like that. Especially if it’s that loud.”
“Even Alcott sounds normal when screaming. Funny if you were a bit far away.” Nina looked to the side, “Arad sounded like a giant monster. I could swear it was as deep as a dragon’s roar.”
“I know. Were you there?” Mira approached Nina, “I know I can’t fight so I didn’t rush out but I’m sure you did.”
“Yeah, I saw him punch that incubus into ash with a fire fist. I’m not that knowledgeable about magic, but I’m sure spells don’t grow that big.”
“He had been going to see Merlin and had fought a red dragon. I’m sure he picked something along the way.” Mira smiled as the two walked into the guild.𝘦𝘯.𝘰𝘳𝘨
About an hour later, Arad and Aella walked in. “Nina, we came to check Abel’s quest out.”
Nina smiled, pointing at Mira in the back. “She’s waiting for you as well.” Mira sat in the back on a bench beside the private room entrance. Aella approached her as Arad walked to talk with Nina.
“So, let’s start from the end. Is the payment ready?” Arad asked.
“Yes,” Nina smiled as she pulled a ledger.
“You and Jack took the quest. Two men one night pay, 50 silver coins each. That’s one gold coin. 2 gold coins for saving Sara by screaming, and 1 gold coin for Jack trapping the whole place. 1 gold coin for you for not going all out with Sara on your back, and 5 gold coins for killing the incubus. That’s 10 gold coins. Abel also added 3 gold coins for tearing the monster who tried to lay a hand on his sister apart. And 7 gold coins as a bonus for silence.”
Nina pulled out a small pouch, “Twenty gold coins in total. He said to hand it to you by hand. He paid all the guild fees.”
“Isn’t this a bit too much?” Abel looked at the pouch. “It was heavy.”
“The incubus was stronger than he expected so this could have resulted in a TPK.” Nina smiled, “He is quite generous with money.”
“What is a TPK?” Arad asked.
“Total Party Kill.” Nina replied, “Give this to Jack, Alcott left it for him. And Abel’s quest is over.” She handed him a white potion. “Heavy cleanse potion. It’s used to treat food poisoning. Jack isn’t a fight or a barbarian so his stomach won’t like the berserker potion, this should help him recover in a day.” She explained.
Arad looked at the potion and smiled, “I will make sure he gets it.”
Nina turned back and called Mira. “Come here. Let’s get the details done.”
***
The adventurers in the guild stared at Arad. “He’s already having appointed quests one after the other.”
“Even A-rank rarely have quests call them by name, and he’s making clients wait.” Another man sighed, “We have to step it up,”
“Stop it,” A wizard woman sighed. “Did you hear that roar yesterday? Rumores it was him,”
“No way, that sounded like a giant monster.” The adventurer gasped.
“I know, he’s an S-rank like Nina and Alcott. Don’t let his current B-rank deceive you.” The woman looked at Arad. “But there is good news for us.”
“What?” All the adventurers looked at her.
“His party is still small. He’s a sorcerer and has an archer and a rogue. He lacks front fighters, tanks, and wizards with many elements and tactical spells. A healer is also an important one.” The woman smiled. “I have some skills as a wizard.” She smiled.
“Wait! I can cast high heal.” A priest growled.
“I shrugged the attack of an ogre with a shield.” A tank patted his shield.
They all looked at Arad. A Party usually has four to five people. That means there are two empty spots.