Barn Forthright

  D-RANK

  Class: Rogue/Tactician

  Level: 8/50

  Strength: 3/10

  Dexterity: 6/10

  Agility: 7/10

  Constitution: 3/10

  Wisdom: 6/10

  Willpower: 2/10

  Charisma: 8/10

  Luck: 10/10

  Intelligence: 4/10

  Perception: 7/10

  Known Skills

  ? [Coward’s cloak] – User can cloak oneself as long as they do not touch anyone.

  ? [Valued Sense] – User can sense valuable items and low-level enemies

  Gold stored: 456

  I totally suck!

  The thing with skills is – it’s so damn hard to level up!

  I’d have to train vigorously for years to raise my strength, and I don’t have years. It’s a known fact that everyone’s base stats are different; through training and hard work, it’s possible to get ‘good.’ But for now, those damn A-Ranks tower over guys like me.

  Still, though… I’m a high-value guy! My luck is maxed out, after all!

  I found myself in the Fenren Guild Hall. It was a vast space-a mess hall of sorts-with a cushy bar on one side and the reception on the opposite end to the entrance. They mostly dealt in admin work, queries, and such. A good thing, too; there were a lot of idiots in guilds. Actually, everyone was an idiot.

  Everyone but me.

  The numerous quest boards were chock-a-block with jobs. It was that season, after all; with spring in full swing, it was mostly village folk needing help with labour and minor pests threatening their land.

  It was easy enough work, but I was always looking to get paid, and the harder jobs just weren’t worth the risk. Not when I could just steal what I wanted or convince some jackass that I had a good deal for em’.

  I waited for the last idiot at the reception to finish his prattle, and then I sauntered over to Velma. She was one of the three receptionists who alternated throughout the day. It was early morning, so I had the pleasure of dealing with her.

  Today, it seemed, she was wearing a white sports bra and some sort of pink accessory on one of her white, fluffy cat ears. Yeah… she was a demi-human, and I’d desperately wanted to pat her ears and grab her tail for years.

  As soon as I came in close to the front desk, her ears drooped in a real submissive way, and then she gently bowed her head.

  ‘I should totally pat her head.’

  “Hello again, meow.”

  That was the one thing I disliked about her. The whole ‘meow’ thing. Cat-folk didn’t have some strange dialect issue where they needed to say meow after everything, but she did it anyway. Like it was some sort of brand trick. She probably tricked the head of the guild into hiring her with her ‘cutesy-wutesy,’ adorable ‘cat girl’ act. Either that, or she sucked-

  “Greetings. Velma, right? It’s been so long. I’ve been busy, y’know. On the road.”

  She was smiling, but I didn’t find it genuine in any way, shape, or form. It was creepy - the bottom of her cute expression didn’t match the top half.

  “Yes! Yes, meow! I’m Velma!” she said.

  ‘Good, we’ve established that, ya dunce!’

  “I’m sure you remember my name?”

  She put a finger to her chin and tilted her head. “Ah, yes! It was on the list of barred people for a long time – meow.”

  That meow took way too long to be natural!

  “Yeah… I was a different man then-“

  “You started seven tavern brawls, stole a keg of beer, stole gold from two different adventurers, and – meow. A lot more!”

  ‘Damn – she really does remember.’

  “Well, I’m not banned anymore. This time around, I plan on doing it by the books. Heroic, guild stuff.”

  She peered at me as if she was unimpressed.

  “Right… me-ow. How can I help you today, meow?”

  I said, with my weighty chest puffed out, “I’m lookin’ for any vacant high-level parties.”

  She blinked at me twice, glared off at the seated adventurers behind me, and then returned her gaze to me.

  “How can I help you today, meow?”

  Was she deaf?!

  “I said I’m lookin’ for vacant high-level parties!”

  She tensed at the rise of my thunderous tone and said, “I thought you were joking the first time, meow.”

  “I’m serious…”

  It took her a second to factory reset.

  “I-I don’t think I can help you with that… your reputation – actually, show me your Net card!”

  I held out my wrist and let her summon my Net card using one of her Net-reading devices. After a few seconds, she let out a sigh that hurt my pride a little – I couldn’t lie.

  “All of the higher ranked parties are full and… well… I don’t think they would accept a D-Rank-“

  “Shh!” I hushed. “Listen to me, cat-lady. I’m on an important quest, and I need strong and capable companions in order to complete it. No one – and I mean no one – must know I’m a low level. So, let’s keep this between us, yeah?”

  She nodded very rigidly as she leaned in and listened. I appreciated the fact that she promised to keep my secret; still, though, could I really trust her?

  I didn’t have the energy to worry; I was on a mission after all - a mission that rewarded thousands upon thousands of gold.

  Before I could reach that goal, however, I needed a drink - and a strong one at that.

  I posted up at the guild’s bar, where the tall, blonde, bartender shot me dirty looks as he poured my drink. If I had to guess, he remembered me from the two years prior, when I ran amock in the guild hall.

  I was more delighted to not see the Guild Master. When I first started adventuring all those years ago, he’d just taken over the guild after the old man before him retired. Four years ago, he was uptight, cocky - a real asshole, if I’m being honest. During the last two years I adventured, he’d sort of warmed up to me. We even had a fight once.

  I lost…

  The rest of the day passed without much success, and before I knew it, it was morning again.

  I’d relied on my [Valued Sense] skill to scout out anyone with high-level gear and goods. Those types were bound to be high-level themselves. Unfortunately, most parties were full, just as Velma had mentioned. Others either recognised me or had heard rumours about me and denied giving me a chance.

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  By then, I was about ready to punch the snarky bartender, who was in the middle of pouring my tenth drink. I was more than a little wobbly.

  “Fuck… need to find p-party member. Where can I find someone – arghh,” I groaned to myself.

  A few passers-by swerved around my stool while staring. Many of them wore reinforced armour in an array of colours and markings. A particularly wide man with a silver-grey sword – sporting a purple streak down the middle - caught my lecherous eye, too. I was half-ready to cause a distraction and steal it.

  No – I wasn’t here for that.

  Some random came in real close beside me and started ordering a drink. God, the nerve of this guy, getting in my space and interrupting my complaining time!

  “Hey, buddy! Heard of personal space?” I yelled at him.

  He was remarkably plain at first glance, with brown hair moderately cut - probably by some low-end barber.

  “Sorry there, bud,” he replied with a real uppity accent, sort of like he was a country bumpkin.

  “You’ll be sorry, alright!”

  I came at the bastard, with a full swing loaded up from the earth itself. My punch flew through the air; it was majestic, powerful - but my high Luck failed me!

  I missed completely. He moved out of the way with little effort and watched, along with the rest of the guild, as I fell face-first into the floorboards.

  “Arghh-“ I breathed into the floor.

  “Want me to throw him out?” I heard the bartender ask.

  “Naw. He’s just had too many shotto’s, ay?”

  I rolled over onto my back, climbed onto my hands and knees, and then pulled myself up the bar. I tried to shoot the bastard some daring eyes, but I was seeing three of him and three of the bartender.

  Velma came skipping over in her sports bra and some black shorts, tail wagging for whatever reason. Hooking one arm around my back, she guided me to an empty table and sat me down.

  “Please don’t make another scene, meow. Or I’ll have to kick you out, meow.”

  “Y-Yeah.”

  The next day, I felt like a total idiot. Clearly, my Perception skills and Dexterity were hindered by way too many drinks. Even so, missing the country gooner and embarrassing myself on the floor made for a shit first two days.

  Even so, despite the increase in glares on day three, I was determined to find my party.

  ‘Right, no more drinks! Let’s do this!’

  “Ain’t that the idiot who got drunk and nearly knocked himself out?” someone whispered as I passed their table.

  I, of course, ignored their stupid little tattles; if they came at me now, I’d totally slump them.

  Ah, the job board… the best place to start.

  I posted up at a quiet table near the board, while I watched Velma deal with adventurers, the snarky bartender pour drinks, and the staff clear tables.

  The atmosphere was quite pleasant – or maybe my hangover was finally subsiding. I couldn’t really tell as the fog in my mind slowly began to dissipate. While I massaged my temples and sipped on my water, I caught sight of a petite thing in a navy-blue habit-styled robe and black leather boots.

  ‘I mean, the size of those boots could smash my head in one stomp. Bloody Stompasaurus rex!’

  I didn’t catch sight of her face or who she actually was until I stood up and approached from the side. She had an alluring shape that just about fit in the thin fabric of her clothes; for a woman of faith, she hardly hid her goods in the thing. She might as well have been in a bikini and panties.

  From what I could tell, she had creamy white skin, pink luscious lips, a black beauty mark on her left cheek, and amazed – yet lost - blue eyes, like a child that’s unsure of her surroundings. She clutched a wooden staff in her hands tightly, the end of it capped with a blueish bulb coiled in metal.

  I pretended to check out one of the boards at first and then closed some distance between us.

  “So much to choose from, right? It can be a little scary.”

  She jumped as soon as I spoke and then turned to face me fully.

  ‘She’s adorable!’

  “T-That’s exactly what I was thinking… this is – this is my first time in town. Or away from my home in general, ever.”

  “I figured as much,” I said. “You don’t look like the usual type we get here, and I should know. I’m here most days. Ah – my name’s Barn, by the way.”

  “Y-Yes. My name’s Alice Wuthel.”

  Was there any need for a full name? I wasn’t interviewing her for a job application.

  Very quickly, I activated [Valued Sense], just so I could see what I was working with.

  Staff of the Healer – A staff with amplified healing boosts. Increases the user’s Constitution.

  Habit of the Meiller Sect – Grants the wearer immunity to poison, curses, and mental alterations

  She really was some sort of sect follower. I sort of thought she was a weirdo at first glance, someone who’d decided to cosplay as a woman of faith. I mean, seriously - does she not realise how contradictory her outfit is?!

  “A pleasure to meet you, Alice. You wouldn’t happen to be in a party already, would ya?”

  She shook her head like she wanted it to come flying off. Too bad it didn’t; it would have made for quite the show.

  I was starting to get distracted by the faintest glimpse of round thigh peeking out from the slip in her robe, still readjusting after she’d shaken her entire body.

  “I-I-I’m not! I just arrived here and… well. I…”

  ‘Way to use your words, kid. Actually, how old is she?’

  She looked moderately young-ish. Not quite a teen, but nowhere near the age of twenty-five that I was. Even thinking about it made me feel old.

  “You need a party, dontcha? For the quests?”

  “Yes. I do not wish to scare you away, but I believe this may be d-destiny. Us meeting…”

  Her cheeks began to blush noticeably enough for her to turn her face away from me.

  I held back a chuckle and said, “Well, if it is, we should honour the gods by teaming up. Why don’t we take a seat and talk some more?”

  As soon as she nodded, I guided her to a quiet, isolated part of the guild, where nosy eyes and ears couldn’t warn her of my reputation. A few people glared as if they were about to do just that, but I glared back harder.

  Pulling out a chair for her like the gentleman I was, I sat opposite her and called for a server. A young lad came over and took our order: one tea for her and one water for me.

  “So! Alice Wuthel.”

  She sat up straight, hands supposedly on her lap, while her staff leant against the table, awkwardly hovering over it.

  “Yes!”

  “Tell me about yourself. Where did you live before? Are you here temporarily or permanently?”

  ‘What colour are your panties?’

  “Permanently, s-sir!”

  “Barn is fine...” I tried to correct her and put her at ease. It seemed to work, judging by the shallower breaths she was taking.

  “I’ve lived in Tiseria for my entire life, though I mostly stayed in the temple. Reaching a high enough level in my sect, they ordered me to go on a ‘journey’ so I could learn more about life and what it means to be a devoted follower of Goddess Nina.”

  Nina was one of the goddesses in our faithful world. If I had to guess, she was a goddess mainly known for fertility and life. Though, there was something strange about this sect she spoke of - something someone told me that I just couldn’t recall in the moment.

  “Thats a well-known sect... I mean, why Plateau? This town is fair-sized, yes, but it isn’t much of a place for groundbreaking self-discovery. Wouldn’t the Frozen Peaks of Haar or the Shimmering Valleys of Glandor be better suited places to find yourself?”

  She gazed down at her hands. “Oh – I-I suppose you’re right...”

  ‘Damn it, high Charisma!’

  “N-No, I mean, this is a perfect place! You know, a good introduction to the world beyond Tiseria! There’s nothing wrong with staying here a while!”

  She nodded.

  “How about you show me your Net? So I can better understand your skills, weakness, yadda-yadda.”

  “Y-Yes, of course, Barn.”

  Flipping her hand so her palm was upright, there was a faint shimmer of light blue, and then a hologram of stats appeared.

  Alice Wuthel

  D-RANK

  Class: Healer/Cleric

  Level: 15/50

  Strength: 10/10

  Dexterity: 2/10

  Agility: 3/10

  Constitution: 5/10

  Wisdom: 2/10

  Willpower: 9/10

  Charisma: 2/10

  Intelligence: 2/10

  Luck: 4/10

  Perception: 1/10

  Known Skills

  ? [Advanced Healing Charm] - User can heal significant damage on oneself and others.

  ? [Get Buffed] - User can buff the physical attributes of oneself and others

  ? [Wellness] - User can cure oneself and others of poison, mind alterations, and physical affects.

  ? [Smite] - Strike a singular lightning spell from the gods. High mana cost and long cooldown.

  ? [Binding] - Sect Advanced spell. Binds the user's soul with another, providing buffs and an eternal connection.

  Gold Stored: 10

  What a brokie – never mind that she’s practically useless aside from her healing magic.

  For a cleric, I was very disappointed. Her cute eyes and banging bod totally threw me for a loop. Sure – she had some decent attributes, for some reason, an undeniable Strength that must have been a bug on her card. I mean, look at her! How is her Strength ten? She looks like she can barely hurt a fly.

  To top it off, she was a low-level D-Rank, same as me. Even with her level being slightly higher, I was skeptical about taking her in now.

  All that thinking made me forget that she was nervously gazing at me, waiting for a reply.

  “Oh – wow. Your Net sure is something. There’s some useful skills in there, and your… stats aren’t that bad…” I said, having trouble believing my own lie.

  “I know you’re being nice, mister… I-I was never good at increasing my Wisdom and Intelligence, so my [Smite] and any other offensive magic I learn won’t pack a punch. But – I’m really good at healing and buffs!”

  “Calm down there, missy. It’s all good. All smooth like butter on toast – trust me, I get it.”

  She was shaking a little, like a rabbit stuck in a trap, all scared and waiting for the big bad predator to pounce.

  “Please!” Suddenly, she reached over and grabbed my hand. She was warm - warm like a fur blanket on a winter morning. “Let me prove my worth before you decide!”

  Having a divine healer with some major buff spells and a pretty face in my party wouldn’t be too bad. Plus, as soon as I found some better candidates, I could just kick her out. For now, I needed to take whoever I could get.

  “Fine. I just so happen to need a party now, so welcome aboard.”

  She smiled and rattled on, “By the goddess Nina, I count myself thankful for you accepting a lowly soul like me.”

  “No problemo-“

  “By the way, what rank are you? I-If you do not mind me asking?”

  I stiffened up on the spot. “B-Rank…”

  ‘If she asks me for my Net, I’m so dead!’

  “Ah – of course. You’re so knowledgeable, after all. I am double thankful to be in the care of higher-rank.”

  ‘Thank god’.

  There was one last thing to do now, before one of the other guild members tattled on my true identity.

  Walking alongside her to the reception, Velma was swaying side to side, doing a little dance to the bard playing in the background. She placed a hand on her hip and started shaking her hips until she spotted us approaching.

  Straightening out, she stood at the ready.

  “Me and this fair maiden wish to form a party,” I said.

  Velma glanced down at her and then up at me. “Are you sure you want to party with – him? Meow?”

  She nodded her head violently and ushered up a ‘yes.’ That was my sign to interrupt.

  “She’s surer than sure. So sure, let’s party up.”

  “Okay… if you’re really sure?” She paused, glaring at Alice for a full ten seconds until the girl nodded again and said ‘yes.’

  “Since you’re both already signed to the guild, I’ll just faff about with the system and make it official. Let’s see… Alice Wuthel, D-Rank and Bran Forthright, D – Ugh?“

  She stopped dead in her tracks and flashed her long eyelashes at me. With Alice focused on her, I managed to frantically mouth the letter ‘B.’

  “B rank. Meow and it’s done. Pick a name, meow.”

  “Hm. How about... Thunder Squad?”

  Velma bit her lip, mockingly stifling a laugh. I was sure Alice let out a snort, but when I glanced at her, her expression remained unchanged.

  “Thunder squad it is, meow.”

  And that was how I found my first party member. Meow.