Battle Admin System 18

18 - The Killing Weight of Debt

The guild leader left after Fiona’s declaration. The young woman slouched into her seat, drained.

Lillea studied her. “How is it? The power? The battle?”

“Tiring,” Fiona said. “I think I’m very unlike you, my lady. I think I want to fight for peace. And to see an end to harsh battles so others can be at peace.”

The actual second course arrived with drinks. Lillea had a giant glass filled with wine for her. She took a sip as she watched Fiona from above the rim. She set the glass down, licked her lips, and hummed.

“And that is why I must prepare to battle you. You are not completely under my control. So I must prepare just in case you fight me physically or mentally.”

Those were Lillea’s words. But her mind thought differently. Do not fret, little one. I only say this to push you. It is unfortunate, but there are many people like me. But unlike me, they will use their power to stomp down on people like you. You will have to grow strong to fight people like me.

Lillea didn’t want to admit it. But she was worried about people who were like her, too. Or worse than her. Darker than her. More monstrous. These were the future battles that haunted Lillea.

Perhaps her draw toward Fiona was to see things from a different perspective. Or to keep from straying far from the original path.

“You would have me trained and empowered while also preparing to fight me?” Fiona blinked in confusion. “Excuse me if I’m too frank. But that sounds contrarian to your goals, my lady.”

“If that’s what you think, you have a long way to go, apprentice.”

Lillea smiled down at her entree. Roasted minotaur. The creatures enjoyed attacking villages and gorging on people. They had few predators except for Lillea.

The cooks had it preserved for her as a request from months ago. Lillea found a new fork to replace the tossed one and brought a piece to her mouth. Delicious.

“I do have a long way to go,” Fiona agreed. “I hate what that man said at the end. I can’t help but believe your kindness is beyond his reproach. You could hold the indebted adventurers for longer. You could’ve had them for a month and they would’ve served the same. But only one night? I can’t think of a noble who’ll do that.”

That’s because I’m a legend. Lillea chuckled in between bites.

Fiona ranted between bites of food and sips of her drink. An emboldened mood surfaced from the commoner. The conversation with the guild leader had sparked something inside the young woman.

She was certainly ready to leave her mark on Cold Tooth regardless of the consequences. Lillea enjoyed every second of watching the human learn to wield power.

After the Verdant Gardens, the two visited different places around Cold Tooth with their indebted defenders. The humans had no idea goblins were lurking in the shadows the entire night.

One appeared on Lillea’s shoulder when everyone was looking away and fed her new information. The Cold Tooth Lord was making a bolder move than Lillea had expected.

Lillea gently steered Fiona in the right direction while she wandered drunkenly like a freshly born lamb. The indebted defenders kept their guard up while one of them, a girl, struck up an amicable conversation and kept Fiona upright. Solo watched closely in case of foul play.

They stopped at Grimmer’s Throne to see the heroic goblins and their companions having a great time. Lillea reached down for Pruz specifically but didn’t pick him up.

He moved with his hands since his legs were gone. It had been revealed his frostbite was frost infection from a brush with a monster. And healing magic in the north had always been weaker than usual.

It had been too late to save Pruz’s legs. Ogun and Olomere were working on making him new ones.

“Apologies, Lady Moonstrider. No legs. Can’t serve like before. Please, forgive.” Pruz looked down into his lap and trembled in her palm. Lillea’s heart nearly snapped in two.

She harrumphed and reined in her emotions. “It is a shame. But perhaps an opportunity, too. You’re smart, Pruz. More intelligent than you believe. Would you like to try something different than before?”

Pruz looked up shyly. Goblins had always been small, but now he looked downright diminutive and vulnerable. It took willpower to keep from hugging him.

She had to adhere to certain goblin ethics. Brazen affection between females and males had a strong reaction from males.

They would freeze, going stiff in more ways than one. Conscious, but at the mercy of the female. So Lillea painfully held back from hugging Pruz.

“I asked questions to dark humans. One answered. I understand. It is interesting. Moving metal magic.” Pruz tilted his head, his green ears moving up and down.

Lillea beamed her most beautiful smile, nearly making him freeze. “There. I will press Ogun with all my power to take you as an apprentice. Whatever funding you need, I shall provide. You deserve this much plus more.”

Pruz looked overwhelmed and couldn’t speak further. So he bowed up and down in thanks before Lillea lowered him amid his friends. Sleek lifted him off her palm and hauled him over to drink more.

In a dark corner by herself, Doza watched. She nodded silently toward Lillea before returning to her lonesome vigil.

Doza knew very well she needed space amid the males. The matriarchs would always rule. But the males had camaraderie, fun, and everyday adventures small and large. Sometimes, it seemed like the males had the better end of the deal.

When it was time for them to go to the Succubus Den, the goblins picked themselves up and followed Doza in one rowdy line. Lillea took their place in the courtyard and ordered barrels of mead for herself and one mug each for her indebted defenders. They could only have the one plus water, so they were inclined to sip.

The night wore on. Fiona became further drunk and danced woozily between Lillea’s legs. Bards played a selection to Lillea’s liking. The giant opened her mouth and sang heartily.

Her voice swept over everyone, sounding lighter than usual. It was known Lillea had an enchanting singing voice.

Fiona climbed her leg and fussed against Lillea’s stomach, calling it unfair that she could sing. Lillea chuckled and drank and let Solo wrestle playfully with Fiona.

The morning came. Lillea’s weariness ambushed her. Fiona was tucked like a baby in the crook of Lillea’s arm and against her chest.

The giant led the indebted defenders to the bank where she stored some possessions in the city. She had a receptionist bring out the papers, verify, and then find a higher ranked official to verify as a second.

Under Lillea’s orders, the debts were made blank.

The indebted defenders looked in amazement, feeling the magical weight of their debt dissipate from their bodies. It was a curse planted on the back of their necks, always nudging and reminding them of their debt.

Lillea had heard the indebted could suffer insanity from the constant nudging.

A few defenders knelt at Lillea’s feet in thanks. One cried. Another man asked if Lillea was looking for permanent escorts.

She told them paying positions might open up in the future if they decide to answer her call. All thirteen found that agreeable before they departed.

Ah, I love the debt system. There’s nothing more wonderful than breaking shackles and binding people to your will by their own volition. Yes, I will pay, but the loyalty is almost priceless.

If only Alden had listened. Lillea would’ve arranged something with him to ease his house’s burdens. Now their only future course was for Lillea to kill him, though she wasn’t sure if it would be a slow or quick death. It would all depend on how far Alden screwed her.

She went back to her lodging at Hina’s Hot Baths. She helped Fiona switch into her sleep wear and tucked her under the covers against the wall. Lillea changed into her sleep wear, lowered the blinds, and slumbered.

Solo stayed on guard in case of an attack during the day. But Yui was also outside just in case, too. Most assassins would be intimidated to maneuver around an oni and a giant during the day.

A new night arrived. Lillea roused, feeling ready to face new challenges. Fiona was already up while looking through copies of her reports. They had servants ready to wash Lillea and prepare a tub for Fiona to bathe.

Fiona donned an autumn colored dress and coat. More subdued than the white outfit from yesterday. Lillea wore an even blacker dress but with a velvety coat and a fur collar.

She also wore large black gems on her fingers and on a necklace. She marked her lips a deep black that made them seem even fuller, luscious, and irresistible.

A dash more makeup brought attention to her silver-white eyes. Then after brushing their hair, they went out.

Fiona held her papers boldly to her body. Lillea’s high heeled and noble ranked boots fell smoothly behind the apprentice, who moved at a brisk pace.

All her running was doing her wonders for her conditioning skill. But there was nowhere to run with the mob waiting outside to denounce them as demons.

Hina looked with fury from the open gate of her business. Yui cracked her knuckles.

“How are we supposed to reach the manor now, my lady?” Fiona asked.

“With an escort, of course.”

Moments later, a large contingency of guards marched down the road. They pushed the rabble out, arrested a few, and beat one man bloody until everyone was too intimidated to protest further.

They were mostly paid actors, anyway. Scruffy. Poor. Desperate. The commoners scurried away to where their little earning for the demonstration must’ve waited.

Lillea hadn’t expected this but was not alarmed. It was a known tactic. If the Guild Leader acted fast enough, the public outcry could drown out the guild corruption case.

“We will learn much from Lord Oxford. He is annoying but excellent at his vocation. Pay close attention.” Lillea’s words descended upon her apprentice and acquired some attention from the guards. Mostly curiosity.

Lillea’s mind and perception sharpened. Each guard wore a helmet. Only the guard captain wore a cape with the sigil. Their armor was competently made despite being common.

They sheathed their weapons and kept their magic sealed when not active in an encounter. Some relaxed with hands down. Some rested their hands near their weapon handles. A few gripped their handles tightly.

“Guard captain,” Lillea called. “If you had traitors among your rank, is it okay if I kill them?”

Some guards froze. Others tripped over themselves. Many looked between the captain and the giant.

The captain shook his head. Then he gestured with a finger around the entire guard force. He wanted the traitors pointed out.

“Well, they’re clearly going to aim at Fiona and try to flee somehow. But at that point I might have to eradicate the entire force. Every man and woman to the last. It would behoove everyone to stay on their–”

One man lost his nerves and drew his sword on Fiona. An arrow through the neck stopped him from striking the young woman. More arrows followed.

His helmet came off as he fell. Lillea saw it was one of the new guards.

“Egbert, no,” a dwarf moaned.

“He had serious debt, didn’t he?” Lillea asked. “Someone must’ve pushed hard on him to act this way. But he would need something else to make him confident. Check his possessions.”

They found a particular instrument. A warp plate. It would’ve teleported Egbert away if he had the time to use it.

This was a huge expense but still not worth the danger. A combination of desperation, pressure, and reassurances with an expensive noble item must’ve pushed Egbert down a road leading to his death.

Fiona shivered for a few moments before recomposing herself. Professional. Resolute. Unshaken.

The guards had lost their energy and strong posture. Some carried Egbert’s body away. The escort detail continued but with the captain moving right next to Fiona. His sword was drawn.

Lillea paid heed to the archer who shivered under the giant’s moonlit shadow. “I know you.”

The girl twinkled a little. But only a little this time.

“Picking up extra work as a guard, I see.” Lillea chuckled. “For your act of rescuing my apprentice, I will lend a favor within my power.”

The archer nodded nervously.

They reached the lord manor without further incidents. Fiona scurried under the metal arches of the gate. Lillea walked over the walls and made her entrance felt with a rumbling stomp.

The mansion didn’t have the impressive magic vegetation of the Verdant Garden, but it was immaculate and neat. Well cut hedges. Swept walkways. Evenly layered snow. The manor was tall enough to reach Lillea’s chin, too.

Music sounded from the back. An event was taking place. Manor servants looked to Lillea until the giant pointed toward her apprentice. The servants offered Fiona guidance, and she graciously followed them around to the back.

Nobles from Cold Tooth and visitors from elsewhere stopped and stared. All eyes up at Lillea. She paid them no mind and focused on Lord Oxford walking with a cheerful gait.

“Ladies! An exciting few nights, haven’t they been? Undermining attacks from adventurers and having assassins killed without lifting a finger. Fiona, you must be learning well under Lillea’s tutelage.”

Lord Oxford took the papers from Fiona, tucked it under his armpit, and greeted her with a kiss to each cheek before speaking further.

“I learned that from the kat kin. They are particular about their greetings if they aren’t inundated with the culture here.”

The old man looked up at Lillea when the giant raised and lowered her foot for seemingly no reason. Lord Oxford fixed his eyes back on Fiona.

“Oh, I guess that’s why Madame Lucia didn’t do that with me,” Fiona said, eyeing the papers tucked under the armpit so brazenly. “And isn’t this attitude a bit too casual with the issues of the past nights? A man had just died moments before.”

“Casual. Callous. That’s the adventurer’s life. You’ll get more familiar with it in time.” Lord Oxford adjusted his monocle and smiled.

Fiona didn’t look convinced but held her tongue. She looked back up at Lillea looming over them both. When her sponsor said nothing, Fiona cleared her throat and refaced the Cold Tooth Lord.

“I’ve written instructions. Or suggestions. For disseminating the reports. They, um, might include you. Though you aren’t really at fault. In fact, you have been a big help in ways I cannot repay. It’s just the serious nature of the–”

Lord Oxford gestured for Fiona to stop. “No need to tell me. I’m sending them where they need to go. I’ve drafted my own report and laid out my failures with copies. Trust me when I say I’ll be a more harsh critic of myself than you.”

Lord Oxford patted Fiona’s arm. “Good job, young lady. We need more honest adventurers like you. It’s a shame they keep killing them.”

“How will I survive being honest?” Fiona asked quietly.

“You will survive because you are mine,” Lillea said with rumbling authority.