I felt dirty for looting his corpse, but…
He was dead and being eaten, I killed the wolves… It was my right to take the spoils of victory…Right?
I stood there justifying my actions right or wrong, only the gods could decide.
One of the gnomes was running towards the town while the other casted a fireball in my direction.
With all my strength I yanked the shield from the wolves skull to block the fireball, causing it to be engulfed in flame from his attack.
I threw the shield onto the ground angrily, it's wood now charred black from the blast.
"I said I didn't kill….."
He's almost to the forest's edge…what do I do..
Time was running out, I had to decide or I would become a criminal in the eyes of the town. The second gnome was beginning to pick up his tiny pace, and right or wrong I was the accused.
Who would believe me, I had no friends in town…
I took a deep breath, taking out the dirk I had looted from the gnome's corpse.
To which the green bearded gnome yelled,
"That's Harry's—" as I threw it into the back of the fleeing gnome with yellow hair.
Luckily,
I hit him… I really hit him…
The gnome fell to the ground attempting to scream in pain but the dirk had pierced his lungs causing them to fill with blood.
His attempted screams turned to a gurgling sound as he was drowning in his own blood. My eyes widened,
What have I done….
There was no going back… The bearded gnome turned to see his friend dying in front of him.
He became enraged and drew a club that was strapped to his back, the full length of his body.
"You bastard! First Harry, now Larry!"
Club in hand with a mighty gnome battle cry he charged at me.
He was ready to bash my skull in for what I had done.
Rightfully so if you were on the gnomes side…
I raised my sword to the side and channeled mana into it subconsciously
….. Survive….
I swung my red misted sword horizontally, a crescent moon of red aura flew towards him.
He attempted to block with his massive bludgeon but it pierced through his weapon.
The strike slashed him across the stomach through his tiny purple robe and leather armor. An armor and weapon of obviously low quality as it split in half after one hit.
His club seemed more for warding off problems than actually solving them it seemed.
The gnome fell to his back, dead, with his last action in this world attempting to stop his own entrails from spilling out his open wound..
I took a few steps back and dropped the sword from my hand.
"I just… I just killed two innocent gnomes…"
I puked to the side and then putt my head in my wolf blood soaked hands,
"I had to… I HAD to.."
I justified it to myself, what else could I have done? One was fleeing to the town and they had already attacked me with magic..
I sat back on the ground for over an hour catching my breath,
"It had to be done… If I hadn't attacked, it would be me on the ground with my head bashed in, or burnt to a crisp by magic."
The harsh reality of this world sunk in further,
This world is kill or be killed, more often than not hesitation will mean death now or later.
I stood and walked to the gnome I had slashed across the belly, his entrails pouring out beneath the sliced robe between his fingers.
The smell of dead gnomes now filling the air even more pungent than the wolves, I held my hand to cover my nose.
I patted him down for money but then decided to leave the jewelry for if anyone knew them and knew their jewelry I wouldn't want to be caught with it.
In total from the three gnomes I had found five gold coins, twenty silver, and 50 copper pieces.
This must be how a bandit feels… I need to avoid any more circumstances like these. I may be a demon but I want to avoid becoming a serial murderer…..
A panel appeared before me,
*Congratulations you Leveled up!*
Tristain Eltharion
Race: (???) Demon
Evolution Level: Demon Spawn
Class: Martial Artist
Level: 2 > 3
Vitality(Health): 125 >150
Vigor(Energy): 85 > 90
Mana: 100
Strength: 19 > 20
Agility: 11 > 12
Charisma: 13 > 12
Intelligence: 11 > 12
I did a double take as I read my new stats.. I lost a stat in charisma…
It looks like when I level up my stats go up mostly in set increments, yet my stats also can change depending on my actions while at that level. I chose to kill the gnomes rather than talking them down. I… I mean I tried but was just very poor at it…I was never a good talker. I wonder what I could have said differently. I wonder what happens when a stat hits 0. Lets not find out….
I was now a bit stronger, my strength had increased and the once heavy wooden shield wasn't so bad.
Thankfully the wolves were on the small side so I loaded one wolf up on each shoulder and proceeded to town, doing my best not to think about the murdered gnomes behind me.
The forest will swallow up their corpses. I'm sure more wolves are already feasting or will be soon….
I made it back into town, the guards cheering me on as they knew it was my first adventure out.
Guess these assholes aren't so bad..
Though there was no joy on my face, just a firm look. Trying my best not to break down over what I had done.
Bringing the wolves through the gate I heard a man yelling for me, a fat man with a bald head and bloodied white apron ran towards me, or more so waddled towards me.
"Those are some mighty fine beasts! Would you perhaps be interested in selling them to me?!?"
I looked back to him,
"I need to turn them into the guild for credit though.."
The fat bald man laughed with his belly jiggling,
"Oh ho ho, no you just need to bring an ear from each wolf and you will get the same credit. Plus, that way, the Elf won't give you a hard time for bloodying up her floor. What do yah say? I'll buy them whole and won't even charge you for the skinnin' fee. Let's say 100 copper a head?"
Tired from my first fight I agreed,
"Sure, here you go old man"
Cutting an ear from each of them I stashed it in the fold of my shirt. The fat bald man smiled,
"Wonderful! The name is Earl the town butcher, if you ever have beasts like this I'll pay top coin for them. We need all the meat we can get here in town with how many new mercenaries have shown up eating through our supplies."
I quickly looked back to him with piercing eyes,
"New mercenaries?"