Chương 80: BtWB Book 2 Chapter 3

There was a brief pause in conversation as a few of the more skittish members were pulled back from his aura's edge; 'Davin' chiding them for their behavior by pointing out that at least they weren't 'stuck holding the thing'. A statement which, while dehumanizing, didn't actually reach the top one hundred of Bob's 'most hurtful insults' list. Going to middle-school in the nineties had been a treat. Everyone was mostly settled after a few seconds, but the fear still lingered in their eyes.

Each of them now staring at him rather than at the merciless swarm of insects he was holding back; their body language tense and anticipatory even in their exhaustion.

"As I was saying…" Bob began again, the crowd managing to hold their ground this time.

"I would love to continue our negotiations. I even have a method to successfully get everyone out of this situation unharmed. One which would cost you shockingly little. Unfortunately, due to your distrust of me, I'm unsure you'd be willing to accept my offer."

"How much and what is it." The man immediately shot back. His tone if anything having grown more guarded and aggressive.

"The price, as I said, is negligible. Outside of individual promises of mutual non-violence, all I ask is that everyone here allow me to plead my case. It's very obvious you've either had bad experiences with, or heard unpleasant tales of, intelligent monsters. Allow me an attempt to convince you that I am not the same. That I wish neither you, nor any other sapient creature, harm."

By the time he'd finished his small speech, Bob could at least say that he'd managed to change the expressions on the faces surrounding him. The fear, anger, and desperation still lingering there, but now sharing space with another emotion. Incredulousness.

"And your 'method' of getting us out of this unharmed?" The man holding him asked, his tone sounding almost resigned. As if he knew the coming conversation would likely be one of the most unpleasant of his life.

"It might actually be best if we took care of the 'payment' portion first. I'm sure your crew would feel much more comfortable with my suggested solution should they onl-""No." The man interrupted him.

"There won't be any 'payment first' bullshit going on here. You tell us how you plan to save us from these beetles, and then we decide whether we're willing to pay for your 'services'".

"…I really would suggest that we at leas-""What's. The. Plan. Box." The man said, speaking through his teeth; hands squeezing down on Bob's wooden frame as if he desperately wanted to crush it in his grip.

"Yes, well." Bob started, attempting to think of the best way to present his offer.

"You see, I've invested quite heavily in 'Spatial' Traits; the abilities granted by this Path allowing me to vastly increase my own inner dimensions to hold treasure. Should you all simply lower yourselves withi-""Oh, Fuck that." Another voice interrupted him, this one from the woman who had already previously objected to his presence.

"I don't care if your bullshit 'deal' has worked out so far Davin, there's no fucking way I'm feeding myself to a Gods-be-damned Abomination!" This statement started a raucous series of similar ones from the surrounding group, more than one person shouting that they'd 'prefer the beetles' over being consumed by him. Which was saying a lot, given the horror which had marked the forty or so minutes it took for the horses to be consumed.

Unlike the humans, the goblins appeared to be far less agitated; though it seemed to be due less to disinterest and more to an assumed lack of agency. Most of them staring at him in terror, but seeming to almost habitually believe that their opinion on the matter wouldn't be considered. That they would be allowed no input on the path their lives took moving forward. With one solitary exception.

"I'll take the deal." The crowd instantly turned silent. Every head twisting over to stare at the shorter-than-average goblin who had spoken; the same one that had explained the situation involving the death of their 'master' earlier.

"You said it's just an oath of mutual non-violence and listening to a speech, right? Do I have to do both right now, or can I head inside after making the oath? I'm getting pretty tired of all the beetles." The almost bored, nonchalant tone of the goblin's voice briefly left Bob just as stunned as the rest of the group. A full two to three seconds passing with only the sound of screeching insects filling the air; his brain simply not able to compute the easy agreement to his insane ask.

Eventually however, he forced himself to jump on the offered opportunity. Bob being a firm proponent of it not mattering if the gift-horse had teeth, eyes, or even legs so long as its ownership classified you as an equine brokerage. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"Yes! Yes, just those two things. And simply doing the oath for now is perfectly fine. We can deal with the other aspect after you've had time to rest and recuperate. As I was about to say to everyone, I actually have a reservoir of fresh water located within me as well as access to a source of food. Though the latter is admittedly limited to a single item."

"Sounds good." The goblin said, pushing closer to him and Davin; the latter seeming uncertain what to do about the situation.

"So, oath?" Well, how about we keep things simple? Just say 'I – your name – vow not to inflict any intentional injury – be it personal, financial, or otherwise – upon Bob the mimic on agreement he refrains from inflicting any intentional injury upon me.' The punishment for any violation to be chosen and applied by the system." There was very little in the way of hesitation.

"I, Vruthi formerly of house Copperbiter vow not to inflict any intentional injury – be it personal, financial, or otherwise – upon Bob the mimic on agreement he refrains from inflicting any intentional injury upon me. That good?"" Deal." Bob said, feeling as his newest Skill once more bound him to another sapient being.

"And yes, that works. Davin would you be so good as to put me down? I doubt either you or Miss Vruthi here would appreciate it were she forced to scale you to get to me." Bob felt he had taken a bit of a risk on guessing the goblin's gender – given all he had to go on was its shorter size, slightly higher-pitched voice, and the most miniscule degree of 'padding' on its otherwise emaciated chest – but the gamble seemed to have worked out, what with the lack of correction.

The other members of the group seeming entirely discombobulated as 'Vruthi' finally made her way to stand before him.

"Could you lower the box, please?" Davin simply stood there for a moment, mind apparently not fully caught up with the situation. Eventually however, he blinked. Before then growling something indecipherable through clenched teeth and turning to shout at the rest of the similarly stupefied group of people.

"Alright everybody, crowd in! If 'miss' goblin here wants to be the one to test the murky waters, we sure as hell ain't going to stop her! You two scooch over to give me room to set this thing down!" It didn't take long for people to make the required room; most even seeming quite eager to do so. Bob finding it more than a little disturbing how many people in the crowd – including a number of his more vocal naysayers – seemed to be almost entertained by the prospect.

The prospect of what they all seemed to believe was an almost certain death. Before long, Bob was set down in front of the goblin in the midst of a silent group of spectators. He quickly opened his lid, trying his best to think of a final, comforting statement to make as he did so. And probably not doing a great job with what he finally landed on.

"I've made sure you won't be hurt going in, it'll only feel like a you're dropping a foot or two at maximum. Oh! And the food and water are actually on another level, so you won't be able to see them yet. But don't worry, I'll make sure to build you guys a path to get to both soon."

"Sounds perfect." The goblin said, even as she placed her hands on either side of his 'lower jaw' to lower herself inside him. The rest of those gathered around him exchanging glances with widened eyes as she did so. Eventually, she reached a point where only half of her body could be seen above the inky blackness that lurked within his form. The moment she dropped just that little bit lower however, something occurred.

Bob feeling it as the Spatial energies that powered his inner world grasped hold of the new lifeform entering its demesne; the magics requisite to its existence flowing over the goblin and separating her from this dimensional plane. And, in an instant, she disappeared. The crowd around him letting out gasps and shouts of both disbelief and vindication.

Bob realizing just a bit too late, as accusations of murder and treachery began being shouted out, that it probably would have been a good idea to mention that was going to happen.

Vru blinked, briefly wondering why her personal afterlife experience contained so much wood paneling. Or smelled like the fish-market of a lake-side village. Before then realizing, disappointedly, that she appeared to still be alive. Looking around, she found herself in what looked to be a massive wooden room; one easily as large as her former family's main lodge, if not so tastefully decorated.

It contained no apparent doors or windows, but her sharp eyes did spot a couple of small holes in the floor; though she wasn't confident even her own half-starved form could fit through them. Not that she cared terribly to check, being far more interested in the ticking and humming artifact rumbling innocently away in one of the corners. As she slowly made her way towards it, she verified that – unbelievably – the mimic that swallowed her seemed to contain a functioning clockwork engine.

Something that could only be locally harvested at the depths of Slavestone's main dungeon; occasionally appearing on its D-rank 'Steel-Shape Defenders' there. Though even if it appeared, the chances of being able to take one intact were dismally low; usually requiring at minimum a party of experienced and well Classed D-ranks. The price you'd get for selling the machine made up for the trouble of doing so however.

All of those she'd seen on the market running for at least five hundred gold; only a tiny bit cheaper than the price you'd pay for an unenchanted copper Node. Not that an unenchanted Node was really good for much. She felt herself hesitating as she grew closer to the device, instincts beaten into her over the last few years not wanting to risk trouble; but eventually she pushed them aside.

She'd walked into the monster's mouth seeking death after all, and she doubted whatever punishments either it or its 'deal' could dish out would be worse than what the pain-masters of Red City were capable of. Just as she was about to reach out and touch it however, she felt something grab hold of her. Her previous thoughts having apparently tempted fate, as a horrific length of what looked to be boiled intestine suddenly wrapped around her body faster than she could blink.

In an instant, she was yanked up in the air before going through the wooden ceiling above her. The world blurring as the silent, eerie room disappeared and she was spat back out into a world of buzzing, screaming chaos.

"There! Look! She's perfectly fine! Seriously people! Why on earth would I go through all this trouble just to kill all of you!? Even ignoring morality, it just isn't practical on a resource-management level!"

"Huh." Vru said. Even as the sound of angry human voices once more filled the air.