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

Chapter 2117: Chapter 2117 Rotten Argument

--- Kat ---

Well that of course kicked up another round of arguing. Furen obviously didn’t say anything, though she did gesture a few times. Kat wasn’t really sure what any of them meant though. Bruce seemed willing to give her a shot... but was also not exactly keen on accepting the help. Kat wasn’t hiding the fact she’d be turning them over to the guards afterwards. A hard sell... one that the dwarf, who Kat now knew was called Chisel, really seemed to dislike. Considering he was the one in charge, knew what they were looking for, and potentially had a bigger cut then everyone else? There was a good reason for it.

Tanisha of course, didn’t give a single shit. If she ended up in jail that was simply a great way to get medical treatment for her arm. If they held her there for a while? Then that meant free food and lodgings. Kat wasn’t sure she liked that sort of thinking but Tanisha seemed pleased with it.

Of course, she also had more sordid fantasies. Any time the argument between Bruce and Chisel started to get a bit too heated, Tanisha would start to loudly fantasize about the sorts of things she wanted done to her by some hardened criminal. Kat was honestly wondering if it would have been better to leave her behind at this point. Sure, respect other peoples choices and whatnot but some of the things Tanisha was after were downright foul. Unsanitary certainly.

Then again... sometimes it seemed like she had a gleam in her eye that vanished when you looked for it. While Kat’s lie detector never went off... Tanisha always phrased these things as fantasies. Perhaps she understood they were unrealistic and was simply using it was a way to further punish the two idiots arguing loudly?

Which was a final concern. While they’d gotten caught up in the argument Kat and Lily were constantly watching the room for an attack. It just seemed like the done thing. That one of the rocks would be shoved aside, perhaps used as a projectile, and come slamming into someone in the group before the monster, or monsters, would descend on them. Attacking them while they were distracted.

So far? Ten minutes of nothing productive and no monster attacks. Kat was considering if it was time to speak up. They’d made no progress on their own and while she hadn’t wanted to force them into anything... forcing them to simply MAKE a decision was a completely separate one. Then again. Why am I letting them argue about this again? Shouldn’t we just be binding them all up and taking them back to the surface?

[Because there’s no way we can protect them all that way. Carrying so many people might not be a major issue weight wise... but the tunnels are often thin things and protecting them all at once in a thin bit of tunnel would be too hard. You would barely be able to help, and my shadows are good but probably not strong enough to defend against a full powered attack. At least, not while also carrying 4 people and not prepped for it beforehand. Which would take too much mana.]

*Ah of course. The issues with having a conscience. Though is leaving them to die any better?*

[You’re not a bad person for watching someone jump from a bridge. It’s only different if you knew them. When they’re already at that point... you could say something worse and get them to jump. Now, that’s not to say it’s a GOOD thing to do. Standing aside and leaving things to play out isn’t good. It’s just not bad. That’s how I see this.]

[They’ve got a way to get out alive nearly for certain... but also just as likely to put them in jail. They want, or at least Bruce and maybe Furen want, to live AND get their loot. It’s just that they’re not confident enough in it being possible to convince Bruce... and themselves as well perhaps.]

*So how long should we let this go on?*

[Well... we’ve all pretty much already accepted the fact that Tanisha’s brother is dead. Ten minutes is way too long.]

*Oh shit. Right.*

[Tanisha hasn’t brought it up since. Either because she also thinks she’s dead... or because this is just a role and she can’t properly get into the mindset of being sad about it. I’m sure if we asked she’d say that she’s just putting off her grief for another time or something but that’s just because she needs some excuse.]

*Still feels bad. If this was a real situation we could be signing someone’s death warrant.*

[Counterpoint... there is a good chance they were dead when we met her and we STILL can’t protect all of these idiots if they aren’t going to come willingly. There’s only so much we can do.]

*Yeah but the point is... this has been taking too long. We’re here offering a hand and not to argue. Plus, if they won’t come willingly... well we’ll just take the ones who are willing to come along.*

[Kat that’s been half the issue. Chisel seems to think he NEEDS three people. It’s unclear if that’s just for safety reasons or if some issue elsewhere requires two other people to get through. That’s why he hasn’t just told Bruce to go along with us now he’s proven he doesn’t want to stick around and is thus, potentially.]

*Oh. I sort of stopped listening after they started repeating themselves. There was new information in those rants?*

[A few bits yes. Though the core issue comes back to Bruce wanting to go and Chisel wanting to stay.]

*Well... regardless I think it’s time we try to wrap things up. Just keep an eye on things in case I got too invested in this conversation.* Kat slammed her hands together, causing everyone except Lily to turn to face her. ”Alright that’s enough. I’ve decided to help but technically I’m meant to be dragging you back for questioning. Only the fact that I might be incapable of doing so while keeping you all alive is preventing this from breaking into a fight.

”Plus, this place is a maze so I’m willing, though not wanting, to investigate it until we find the monster if that’s the case. Mostly because I want it destroyed before the poison is gone. The risk that it escapes to attack some random civilian is higher then I’d like... but the poison isn’t going to be cleared for some time yet.

”So, here’s the deal. Make up your mind within the next five minutes or regardless of what you’re arguing for, I’ll pick the most cooperative person and drag them out alive. Now, both of you, get your mains points out of the way. Furen... keep resting?”

Furen sent a thumbs up in Kat’s direction while both men glared at her. Bruce eventually spoke up first. ”I’d be happy to leave... and much less happy to go looking for the monster. It’s alright proven to be too dangerous and I want out.”

Chisel sighed, ”I hadn’t realised you’d be willing to help with the monster... though I suppose the civilian risk is a high one. My main point is that we agreed to a contract, the work needs to be done... and there was allowances made for what happens if we die. Everyone... well everyone except Tanisha has someone set to receive some ’gifts of bereavement’ if we die here. So backing out just because death is likely is a bit weak in my books,”

”Right but ’chance of death’ is a bit different from ’man-eating monster that can almost certainly kills us’ and you never did tell us what we were here for,” countered Bruce.

”That’s because you don’t need to know. I was paid extra to keep the details a secret... and while I might be willing to spill the beans if I absolutely have to, that bonus is still on the table for the moment. It’s nothing dangerous to transport at least, I’ll promise you that,” explained Chisel.

”But we still can’t spend any of that money if we die. Sure the payment in case of death, sorry ’gifts’ isn’t nothing... but it’s not exactly good. Plus I sure as shit can’t spend it myself, so why do you care?” asked Bruce.

Chisel shrugged ”Wife is sick and I don’t know how many years I can stay in the game. Even if a fail here... should be enough money to get her looked at by someone fancy. Perhaps they have a better chance at figuring out what’s wrong with her. Nobody else has been able to figure it out. I reckon... if nothing gets found she’s got at most two years? Probably less honestly but I wouldn’t be down here for less so,”

”Ah... I hadn’t realised,” admitted Bruce.

”Well I sure as shit wasn’t going to tell you lot. You’re a buncha thieves,” snickered Chisel.

Furen tried to laugh only to wince in pain and glare at the other two for the comedy routine. Kat on the other hand, ”Right this is touching and all but is it getting us closer to a decision?