The World of Tactics

Chapter Twenty-One I: Pre-Homecoming

Chapter Twenty-one I: Pre-Homecoming

"Before I begin, shall I talk while we eat?

I shall start from the very beginning as to why we were in such a rush. The day when your father, Sir Roylis Smith, came back from the daily inspection. Unknown to all of the other soldiers, the four of us. Me, Dewberry, Tube, and Zack were secretly trained in the dark as your future retainers. Sir Roylis Smith came back and the first order that we received was to send you to the barracks.

Zack was about to question Sir Roylis Smith, but I stopped him because I noticed Sir Roylis Smith's change of demeanor was completely different. The eyes of Sir Roylis Smith were dull, blank, and as if possessed. I knew then that your journey to the barracks would be tricky.

The roads that we were supposed to take were quite secretive and usually had no goblins around. Even so, my uneasiness leads me to purposely lead us off the road that goblins usually cross. Unexpectedly, we would encounter an accident, but that kept us alive and a day's distance from our 'pursuers.' That is because if we were to go along with the original route. I am afraid that what we encounter will not be just goblins, but hobgoblins. Yes, hob-goblin-s, not just one or two, but a few hobgoblins.

Remember the day that we encountered the hobgoblin by the stream? That was not a coincidence. Without a thought, after that, the four of us escaped. I decided to create a decoy while giving you the chance to run away. At that time, I only had the slightest hope that you would just keep running and running after me. After we were surrounded, I did realize that...

I, along with Dewberry, Tube, and Zack. We were not a match for the hobgoblins.

Zack was the one first to bravely shove away a hobgoblin which opened up the goblins' formation while also trying his best to slow down the group of hobgoblins. That decisive decision was able to give us a meager chance to escape. Then Dewberry was the second to sacrifice himself after seeing the fall of Zack. Finally, even though Tube was afraid of death. Tube unwillingly shoved us farther away. After I escaped from the encirclement of the hobgoblins, I ran for my life.

I didn't turn back because I knew that they were all dead...

On the second day, I finally encountered a lone hobgoblin. The hobgoblin was spread thin just to find me. I was not a match for the hobgoblin and I knew that it was a hopeless attempt, but I tried to escape even though I was so exhausted already. However, I couldn't outrun the hobgoblin.

With a downward chop from the iron ax of that hideous green bug, my right arm was... like this. Fortunately, Sir Jagen appears and saves my life. Even so, by the time Sir Jagen confronts the hobgoblin. My arms are already lopped off and I have received another grievous scar on my chest. Right here.

Since then, I have been nursing myself while staying with Sir Jagen. I lost hope when I did not receive any news from you, young master. I am glad that you are alive. I believe that we should be cautious when going back to the lord's fief. There is no telling what was going on, but I know for sure everything is not a coincidence. The only coincidence was just me and you being able to escape from the multitude of those ugly green bugs. Pah!" Lawrence retells the event from a year in his perspective.

---

John Smith finally understands it now that Lawrence was here to explain his side of the story. He was not abandoned and the situation does not allow any explanation at all. Even from his side of vague memories, he could not recall much of the reason why things were happening rapidly. That is why his suspicion crops up time and time again during the duration of his stay at the barracks. Likewise, during that day with his father. He felt that his father was also slightly strange as well and somewhat unlike his father's usual self. The words that he could come up with were 'hopeless,' 'despair,' and 'unwillingness.'

The meal for him was tasteless, knowing that Dewberry, Tube, and Zack were gone. He did not exactly have any feelings for the three of them, but he still remembers Dewberry's and Zack's actions. A person that was giving him water a day before they were separated forever. He felt grateful for their action and sacrifice. However, what he felt most unwilling was why would there be hobgoblins that were pursuing them in the first place. He felt that there was more to this.

His mind turns and rolls as he was thinking back on a year ago with his vague memories. There must be a few pieces of the puzzle that were missing from stringing up all of those events together. Just when he was about to stop thinking about it. His mind subconsciously thinks about his father, no, to be exact. It was his father's health. He realized that a defense stat of sixteen points was not something any hobgoblin or direwolf could penetrate.

Only something much stronger than a hobgoblin. He bets that his father encounters an unimaginable opponent that can not be solved, which is why he was sent to the barracks. Supposedly, he believes that the reason why everything happened that day was that it was his birthday, but he could not understand why it must be on his birthday. Likewise, what could it be to be able to lead such a g**g of hobgoblins?

He felt that everything was getting messy and could only sit by the fireplace to warm up. He had already taken his clothing off and hung them close to the fireplace to dry it faster. He glanced at Lawrence who was using his only hand to sharpen the tip of the iron lance. The posture of Lawrence was quite awkward and uncomfortable because Lawrence's two legs were clamping the iron lance while Lawrence used the grindstone to slowly sharpen it. The reason why Lawrence did so was that the grindstone was quite small, barely half the hand size. While Lawrence was doing so, he could not help but check Lawrence's status. Lawrence's status screen reads:

[Name: Lawrence][Class: Soldier (Grade 2)][Level: 25/36][Rank: 2][HP: 24/24]

[STR: 9(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] [8][9][] [][][][][][][][][][] ] -1 (-3 +2)

[MAG: 0(10) / [][][][][][][][][][] ]

[SKL: 7(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[SPD: 7(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[LCK: 3(30) / [1][2][3][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[DEF: 8(20) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] [8] [][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[RES: 3(10) / [1][2][3][][][][][][][] ]

[Hidden: [CON: 8][MOV: 6][SKILL: [Discipline][Lancer]][EXP: 0/100][WEA: Lance B][Condition: [Maimed (STR -3)]]

1[Equipped: Iron Lance]

2[Equipped: Land Lizard's Defense Ring (DEF +1)]

3[Equipped: Earth Draco Lizard's Strength Earring (STR +2)]

4[Vulnerary: 2/3 Uses.]

[Discipline: Double weapon mastery experience.]

[Lancer: Might +2 when wielding a lance weapon. ]

[Growth Rate][HP: 35][STR: 45][MAG: 2][SKL: 20][SPD: 27][LCK: 13][DEF: 38][RES: 25]

[Land Lizard’s Defence Ring (DEF +1)]

[A ring that was imbued with the soul core of a land lizard. When equipped, defense +1.][Cost: 500g]

[Earth Draco Lizard’s Strength Earring (STR +2)]

[An earring that was imbued with the soul core of a moderately strong earth draco lizard. Due to low-quality materials, and overall mediocre quality workmanship, items provide the standard boost. When equipped, strength +2.][Cost: 1500g]

He could see that Lawrence must have gone through a lot of tough times after being rescued. If he remembers it right, Lawrence had started with eight points of strength before losing an arm. Likewise, Lawrence was hanging at level twenty or so. A year later, an increase from three to four levels. He knows how hard it is to gain experience. Lawrence knew that Lawrence must have experienced many more battles before getting close to being able to fight with the same strength as last year.

He sighs at how much Lawrence has been through in the past year and turns towards Jagen. Jagen lost his right eye, his left hand was hanging loosely, and was in the same posture as Lawrence. However, the only difference between the two was that their posture is the opposite of each other. Nonetheless, Jagen was still able to deftly carve the woodblock. There were plenty of wood chips on the ground nearby. Because he was curious about Jagen's status, he turned his attention to Jagen. Jagen's status screen reads:

[Name: Jagen][Class: Paladin (Grade 3)][Level: 30/30 (-20)][Rank: 3][HP: 29/29] +3

[STR: 14(27) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[MAG: 0(15) / [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[SKL: 13(25) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[SPD: 10(28) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[LCK: 13(30) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[DEF: 10(24) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ]

[RES: 7(15) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][][][][][][][][] ]

[Hidden: [CON: 9][MOV: 6+3][SKILL: [Horseback][Brave Lancer][Sword User][Axe User][Charge]]

[EXP: --/100][WEA: Lance A, Sword B, Axe C]

1[Equipped: Iron lance]

2[Equipped: Goblin's Vitality Ring (HP +3)]

3[Equipped: Goblin's Strength Ring (STR +1)]

4[Equipped: Direwolf's Agility Ring (Avoid +10)]

[Horseback: Mount horse, mana based.]

[Brave Lancer: Might +4 when wielding a lance weapon.]

[Sword User: Might +2 when wielding a sword.]

[Axe User: Might +2 when wielding an ax weapon.]

[Charge: Might +5 when moving more than five squares.]

[Growth Rate][HP: 32][STR: 48][MAG: 0][SKL: 28][SPD: 22][LCK: 44][DEF: 37][RES: 25]

[Condition: [Crippled (Level -20)]]

[Goblin's Vitality Ring (HP +3)]

[A ring that was imbued with the soul core of a goblin. Due to great workmanship and quality materials, items provide the standard boost. When equipped, health point +3.][Cost: 500g]

[Goblin’s strength Ring (STR +1)]

[A ring that was imbued with the soul core of a goblin. Due to quality materials and low workmanship, items provide the standard boost. When equipped, strength +1.][Cost: 500g]

[Direwolf’s agility Ring (Avoid +10)]

[A ring that was imbued with the soul core of a goblin. Due to mediocre materials and mediocre workmanship, items provide a standard boost. When equipped, avoid +10.][Cost: 500g]

It was no wonder Lawrence was able to stay alive after being attacked twice. Even he, himself, feared the charge of a paladin with an ax equipped. However, he feared the weapons that Jagen could equip after looking at his weapon mastery ranks of Jagen. A charge that increases might be by five along with a boost of two might from any weapon equipped and an accessory booster. That was already a total of five might. Including twelve more strengths, he shudders a bit when facing Jagen's charge head-on. Nonetheless, an iron weapon that Jagen equipped would be barely enough to pierce his current defense stat (DEF: 21). If an A rank lance were given to Jagen, then he feared for the worst. That is just how dramatic the changes in each weapon rank are. And his breath stopped because he saw what he feared:

[Silver Lance: Might +13, Hit +75, Crit+10, Weight=10, Durability: 15/55]

[A silver lance made with excellence and workmanship. Only worthy and capable users can wield it. Very strong. Balanced. Sharp. Heavy. Great Durability. (Lance A)]

Adding this silver lance to the Jagen's total might and it reaches a terrifying thirty-seven might. The oppression of such weapons made his defense, which he considered, as strong as anything but paper-thin. If he were to battle against Jagen head-on, he no doubt could only last three bouts before becoming nothing but a cold corpse. It was too bad that Jagen was crippled and lost over twenty maximum levels. That means that if Jagen were to be able to use an elixir to completely recover the loss of an arm, then Jagen still has twenty more levels to grow. Thinking about this, he felt that even an earth draco lizard was no match for the current Jagen.

He sighed to himself, the way to becoming stronger does not only lie on levels but also weapon mastery rank. He had to rank up his lance mastery to at least B or so before he could take on someone like Jagen. He also realized something else as well. His advantage was apparent in the beginning and it is shown before him. He could also take on Jagen if he healed up and was the one to initiate the very first bout between the both of them. Realizing this, he realizes that he is a cut above all of the others. Even now, he was used to comparing himself against the strong that were stronger than or as strong as he was.

Jagen had a grade three class while he was only at two. Once he reaches three as well, then compare his potential in the long run. He would easily be able to outpace Jagen. The prime example that he had right now was Lawrence. The comparison between Lawrence and the current him. Both of them have the same class grade of two. They were almost at the same level as well. Not only that, but both of them had almost the same weapon rank. However, in terms of the stat points within the status screen, he was already in a league that is way beyond the average person.