Chapter 98 – Future Plans.

“You want Rusty to fight a Demonic Duke? I thought you were mad, but this is outright idiotic.”

“He has to aim big! With those fascinating abilities he has, and the Soul Forge, it will be possible!”

“You just want him to take your revenge on the Dukes who betrayed you.”

Alexander interjected sharply, his voice, as always, tinged with annoyance.

“Don’t think I don’t see through your ploy, Aburdon. You’re trying to convince Rusty to fight your battles for you.”

Aburdon chuckled, and if he hadn’t been just an orb of light, the sound would have been a menacing cackle.

“Oh, Alexander, always so quick to accuse. Of course, I want revenge. Those treacherous dogs turned their backs on me, and the mere thought of it sets my soul ablaze. But tell me, hero, is revenge truly such a terrible thing?”

Alexander folded his arms – or at least gave the impression of doing so as a glowing sphere of light.

“Yes, when it consumes you like this. Rusty isn’t a tool for your vengeance. He deserves to make his own path, not inherit your grudges.”

“And what about you, Alexander? Don’t tell me you don’t harbor grudges of your own. What about the companions who abandoned you, the people you couldn’t save, the choices that haunt you? Don’t stand there on your pedestal and pretend you’re free of bitterness.”

Alexander flared brightly for a moment, but soon his light dimmed.

“That’s not the same, Aburdon. I won’t let the past chain me or dictate my actions.”

“It’s not? Don’t lie to me, hero. I know how you feel. I know what emotions stir within you – especially after seeing those Paladins of Ghelene. What was that woman’s name… ah, right, Seraphina. Did she not betray you? Along with all those other fake ‘heroes’?”

Alexander’s light wavered, flickering like a torch caught in the wind. For a moment, the hero’s orb dimmed to near darkness.

“That’s enough! Can you two stop flickering around? You’re going to get us caught!”

“( •̀ – •́ )”

Gleam nodded subtly as the two orbs continued their ruckus. While their voices could only be heard by her and Rusty, their flickering lights were visible, drawing attention. The more they moved erratically, the greater the risk of being noticed by the merchants or anyone nearby. Rusty shifted his focus back to the present, realizing that if the two guides couldn’t contain their rivalry, it might endanger their fragile escape plan.

“Look, I’m not sure who these Demon Dukes are, but first, we need to get out of here. I need you two to focus! Now, what do you suggest I do to escape?”

Rusty found the idea of facing powerful enemies intriguing, but this wasn’t the time for such conversations. He was still stuck inside a cart filled with textiles, and Gleam was beginning to look tired. Unlike him – a seemingly immortal piece of armor that didn’t need rest – Gleam was just a regular monster. She needed food and sleep. Her usual diet of mana crystals from the underground dungeon was unavailable here, and the strain was beginning to show.

“Depends on what our goal is,” Aburdon mused. “We could jump out into the bushes and make a run for it. I doubt those adventurers would give chase for long. They’re here to guard the merchants, not hunt monsters.”

“Our goal…”

Rusty repeated, his voice trailing off as he contemplated this issue.

“(ᵕ—ᴗ—)”

Gleam offered no response, looking as though she was about to fall asleep. Her weariness triggered a memory for Rusty – the day they first met. Gleam had fallen asleep on him after his evolution, in the safety of a cave filled with crystals. It had been a simpler time, spent hunting monsters with the reassurance of having a safe place to return to. Maybe that was what they needed now.

“How about… a place to stay first?”

“Oh? A place to stay? Do you wish to have a home? I thought you were more the adventurous type.”

Rusty’s proposal clearly caught Aburdon off guard. Monsters like him – living armor were not known for building homes. They usually wandered aimlessly, driven by instincts. However, Rusty was not a simple monster, he had his own goals and even fears. He knew that having a hideout was needed for survival.

“Having a base to come back to is a good start, but the question is, where?”

Alexander chimed in, directing his words not to Rusty but to Aburdon.

“Well… we’re heading to one of the nearby cities, but there are many more ahead. Rusty could always take on the form of a fallen adventurer – or perhaps one of the locals…”

“One of the locals? What do you mean?”

Alexander asked.

“With Rusty’s unique skills, why not have him become an artisan? A larger home with a workshop would provide the perfect cover for our nocturnal activities. Even without the soul forge, he should be able to craft simple weapons to keep up his guise.”

Aburdon explained, a faint smugness in his voice.

“You want him to become an artisan? Like what, a blacksmith?”

“Precisely!”

Aburdon’s tone brightened with enthusiasm.

“Why should Rusty limit himself to just one persona? With his versatile loadout, he can easily switch between multiple identities. Imagine it – if he were a respected resident of the city, we wouldn’t have to keep running! Even if one of his identities becomes a criminal, we can just discard it!”

Alexander’s light flickered in contemplation as he saw the merit in this proposal.

“I see… that’s not even a stupid idea.”

“I do not propose stupid ideas, hero. I leave those to you!”

Aburdon gloated, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction. Rusty, meanwhile, deliberated over the suggestion. The notion of adopting a stable cover and building a place to call home had its appeal, especially given their current circumstances.

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His guide was right. If Rusty had another body to occupy, one with a good enough reputation, perhaps he wouldn’t need to leave the city at all. It was a sprawling place, and the Paladins were unlikely to search homes without cause. Right now, though, he was on the run, with no clear direction for the future. The idea of finding a place he could gradually develop into a sanctuary was becoming increasingly appealing.

“That doesn’t sound bad, but where should I stay?”

The two orbs turned toward him, their flickering movements slowing as they noticed his genuine interest in the idea.

“Well, I do know the map of the area. We’ve got a few options to consider… There are three cities nearby that might serve as a starting point.”

Aburdon began while Alexander decided to wait before adding his own two cents.

“First is Dallbrim, a port city close to the western coastline. It’s bustling with trade, particularly shipbuilding and repairs. You’d have easy access to imported materials for your soul forge. If you posed as a blacksmith or armorer, you’d blend in perfectly.”

“Dallbrin huh? I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, the nearest dungeon is far away, it’s a port city with a lot of trade but I’m not sure if we would be able to earn enough coin to buy a workshop…”