D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1422 Questions about 23HX443

--- Kat ---

”Hang on… how come this is only worth one favour token?” asked Lily with narrowed eyes. Kat raised an eyebrow, unsure of why Lily was even asking, until her girlfriend continued on. ”Kat did a much easier task for TWO tokens before, and this is… well itʼs literally the end of the world,”

Miznark made a ʼso-soʼ gesture and shrugged. ”Eh I canʼt say. I donʼt have the clearance to know what that previous mission was. At the same time, this mission isnʼt worth one token, itʼs worth THREE. Itʼs just that you also have three demons participating in the contract so you get one each and trust me, three tokens for one contract is a massive amount.

Though… two tokens for what sounds like a solo mission? That contract must have been crazy… well that or it was so tailored made that only Kat could possibly complete it, but thatʼs probably even crazier,”

*Hehehe* ”I see, that does make sense… I imagine if we fail whoever gets called in next will be offered those three tokens?” asked Kat.

Miznark nodded. ”Indeed, youʼd probably still be paid a cut of whatever Kamiko was getting if this was just a normal mission, but youʼd definitely get no favour tokens for your efforts. Itʼs not that we donʼt appreciate the attempt… but those things are VERY valuable. Something many people in my department forget because weʼre dealing with them so often.

”Remember, many demons go their entire lives without seeing even a single one. Itʼs normally easier to earn the money for whatever rare service the token would provide… though admittedly thatʼs sometimes impossible. Knowing youʼve already been given two and seem likely to receive a third? Donʼt take them for granted. Use them only for things that matter… assuming you havenʼt wasted them already,”

*Well the first one was used on something that mattered the MOST so itʼs all good.*

[Naw… thatʼs very sweet. Iʼm glad you agree. I was a bit worried youʼd think it was a waste. I mean… it was just to turn me into a beastkin.]

*Lily. Those tokens gave you the gift of magic. Something that was massively important to you. Thatʼs not even touching on the fact that it bound is together forever. I cannot even conceive of a more worthwhile cause.* ”Yes well, Iʼve used one but it was definitely worth it,” said Kat aloud.

Miznark seemed to raise a non-existent eyebrow but chose not to comment on Katʼs statement. It really wasnʼt his business what Kat had used it for. If he was more familiar with the two, or had properly read up on the dimension he probably couldʼve guessed. Alas, he was a touch lazy with read the non-essential information.

In the grand scheme of things something like this probably doesnʼt matter… but it may also be why Miznark kepts getting sent on the worst jobs.

”Is there anything we should know about Hunter… um Hunter 23HX443” asked Kat. ”Um, the big one would be… is there anything we can call that isnʼt… well that? Is that offensive?”

Miznark once again made a ʼso-soʼ gesture. ”Traditionally youʼre meant to use their full name and designation… practically? Most people just refer to one of the unnamed as ʼHunterʼ treating it as their name. Or, well, her name in this case. Did I mention 23HX443 is a woman?

Itʼs not super relevant, she does still have the best marks for the job… though quite a few people said it made more sense for another girl to be part of the ʼfriendʼ group.

”Ok… what was I saying? Right anything you should know… well, I donʼt know too much about 23HX443 myself. It really depends how traditional she is for her clan. We donʼt write that sort of stuff down because we know it can get them in trouble with their families if they arenʼt quite as ʼon-boardʼ with their traditions as the rest of the family is.

I know personally of two that took up names when they werenʼt yet allowed, though neither of them is 23HX443.

”Ok… right… so… for ultra traditionalists? Normally theyʼll still put up with ʼHunterʼ or 23HX443 as acceptable short-hands for their names. Whatever you do, donʼt reduce 23HX443 down to HX, or 23 or some other diminutive because itʼs seen as very rude. Itʼs why ʼHunterʼ is the standard go to ʼnicknameʼ for the lot of them unless there is multiple on a mission.

”Ok… ok… what else. Feel free to question them on their hunting and tracking methods. They donʼt take offence at others not understanding them… but they can be a bit elitist about it. Expect 23HX443 to explain it in a rather snobby manner if you do ask, but donʼt take it personally. Itʼs how they were all taught after all… so a lot of them donʼt even notice.

”Ah but maybe donʼt point it out? Iʼve heard of some of them getting mad at that. Still, reports do say that asking those sorts of questions and just allowing the Hunter to talk is a good way to connect with the team. Make them feel included instead of just the tracker that was added onto the team,”

”Iʼm sensing they donʼt make too many friends,” added Kat.

Miznark winced and said, ”Youʼre right but not for the reason you might think. The clan… tends to frown on more intimate friendships before you earn your name. They will… discourage it heavily. Pretty much as far as they can push things without getting into legal trouble if Iʼm honest. Not a great look… and a number of my colleagues think it helps prevent proper social development,”

”Yeah… Iʼm liking this clan less and less,” mumbled Kat.

”Nobody really likes them,” said Miznark. ”They just have powerful backers that have been around for a long time. If they try to weigh in on things? Then people like me, people like the kids? They lose. Iʼm sure youʼre thinking about some sort of rebellion and those have happened in the past…

”But things also go back to normal pretty quickly, with ʼstricterʼ punishments. Or more accurately old rules that had slowly stopped being enforced start being used a lot more liberally. It presents an odd dilemma. Conditions get better over time… and if we just leave them be itʼs theoretically better…

”But sometimes the rebellions need to happen. Sometimes they do end up getting some concessions. Actually one of those concessions were the number names. Before you were just ʼHunterʼ with no delineation. Not even a number. Just, a ʼHunterʼ amongst many.

So… yeah try not to start any crusades you really arenʼt powerful enough for it,”

*Sounds like someone who needs a hug.*

[They clearly need a lot more than one… but would giving them those hugs cause problems for them if their clan finds out? What if one of them is watching instead of, or alongside Nira?]

*Ah… yeah ok. So we put operation ʼAll the Hugsʼ on the backburner until we get confirmation itʼs just Nira watching.*

[So weʼre definitely doing this then?]

*I donʼt see any other option. Kamiko is probably going regardless of what we do and itʼs to literally save the world. I wouldnʼt turn that sort of offer down even if it didnʼt come with a favour token. That means Iʼd be only one token short of having enough for Callisto, Vivian, and Sylvie. Um… I mean, weʼd need three more so that we can make an offer for your parents as well.*

[Donʼt worry… I have a suspicion that theyʼd turn the offer down. Just a feeling. I could be wrong though, so we can always ask.]

*Sure, just keep it in mind I guess. In other news, what about your books? Are you going to some of them along to study while weʼre on the contract?*

[Iʼm really not sure. It depends on how often we have the chance to rest I guess. As much as I want to take them… I think perhaps not? Maybe I spend the rest of the today, and as much time as I have tomorrow and the next day writing down the most important notes and then keeping that with me? Not perfect, but Iʼd be pretty happy with it. Though actually… how long is the mission?]

*Good question.* ”One last, or, hopefully last question Miznark. How long is mission likely to take us?”

”Iʼd estimate between one and two weeks. We donʼt have an exact location for the drake, but once you get close enough itʼll be much easier to track, especially with 23HX443 to help you with that.

It will really depend how long it takes you to get close, and if the drake simply tries to flee from you instead of trying to be sneaky or better yet, coming straight to you for the right,” explained Miznark.

”Is it likely to just… go right for us?” asked Kat.

”Fifty-fity Iʼd say,” commented Miznark. ”Youʼll be powerful sources of pure demonic energy… a particularly tasty meal if it thought it could get away with it… though even highly corrupted a drake has some animal cunning. So the ʼif it could get away with itʼ is the real sticking point,”

”I see,” mumbled Kat.