CHAPTER 37

"No, no, no," I answered. "You have no idea how to do this bad guy thing. You're supposed to say something like 'My steel's about to wipe that smile off your face!' Or 'That smile will still be on your face when I separate your head from your shoulders.'"

"Hey, boss, someone on a horse is coming!" The warning came from one of the other two, whose name was Gryk. We could hear hooves clopping along not far off. Somebody was riding up, though they didn't sound like they were in a hurry.

"It's an NPC. They stay out of this stuff," Vuiikh answered. "Players don't ride that slowly, and why would anyone around here have a horse? The people here don't have money or the abilities to get a horse. And high-level players just use portals."

"Yeah, right!" I jumped in. "That's the cavalry coming to save me. Seriously! They're about to tear you a new one."

"Oh, who needs you?" Doubt had already crept into Vuiikh's voice. "You got lucky once, so now you think it'll happen every time?"

"Lucky once, lucky twice."

Euikh responded with a downward cut of his saber that I caught with my shield. I deflected it to the right and jabbed my mace into his stomach in an attempt to at least knock him backward if I couldn't do any damage.

"Hang on, friend! I'm coming!" I heard a voice coming from somewhere above me accompanied by the clatter of hooves.

"What the—" Gryk was interrupted by a long lance held by a rider astride a prancing horse.

"You're kidding me! Who are you?!" Vuiikh turned his full fury on the rider. "You're an NPC! Why?"

"That's why!" I buried my mace in the side of his head, muttering to myself: "Sword of Retribution."

Why pass up the chance to try something new? I'm all for self-education. The blow was intensified by the ability and, apparently, was critical, as the ore's health quickly turned red.

"A-a-ah!" He screamed and tried to catch me with an upward slice of his saber.

I jumped to the side and swung my mace, landing another shot to the head that ended my third meeting with Vuiikh. The count was two to one in my favor. At the same time, the NPC I still didn't know hurriedly pulled out a long sword, and with the deftest of strokes, dispatched Eurikh's other companion, an orc named Mruk.

"Is that all? Are there any other enemies, sir?" The knight took off his helmet and addressed me.

"It doesn't look like it." I looked for his name.

"Allow me to introduce myself. Gunther von Richter, Knight of the Tearful Goddess Order."

Gunther von Richter was a very young knight with a frank face, unruly red hair, and a shining white smile. He was also the owner of a long sword, broad shoulders, and a warhorse to which I owed my life.

"Well, look at that," I said aloud. "Though I'm still trying to figure out why you helped me."

"The holy duty of all knights of the Tearful Goddess Order is to help everyone in need, especially if they are a friend of the order." It was less than original, but he said it with complete sincerity.

"That's not a bad responsibility to have?" I was a fan.

"Do good on earth!"

"Where? What does the earth have to do with it? I'm no plowman!" The knight looked at me perplexed.

"Forget it. Thank you, Gunther von Richter. They would have killed me if it weren't for you. I wasn't scared, but it would certainly have been unpleasant."

"Death is never pleasant and always scary. Still, there are different ways to die." Richter was on his soap-box.

"But, knights are always prepared to die. It comes with the job."

"Of course. Samurais have to always bear in mind that they could die at any moment and that when the time comes, they must die with honor. That's their biggest concern."

"Well said. But what's a samurai?"

"They're way off in the east." The knight listened with interest. "All in white pants, white jackets, and with a sword. Tough warriors. They invented the 'warrior code,' or Bushido in their language. Later, one of the main ones, a guy by the name of Daidoji Yüzan, wrote it all down."

"I'd like to read that." The knight appeared to be inquisitive as well as noble. "We have a code as well, though it's small and not so well written. Where are you going, by the way? If you're on your way to Fladridge, we can go together. I enjoy chatting with you, and my father always said that trips with a good companion go by twice as fast."

"Sorry, my friend, but I actually just left Fladridge. There's a witch bothering the locals, so I was contracted to go deal with her."

"A witch?" The knight perked up like a terrier catching the scent of a fox.

"Yep. She lives somewhere around here."

"Would you mind if I joined you? I took a vow to destroy all witches wherever and whenever I see them."

"Would I mind?" I even clapped my hands. "Are you kidding? It would be my honor and great pleasure to have you along with me."

I was thrilled to get an NPC knight as a companion.

He may have been crazy, but at least he had a sword. He could go first and take the first blow.

"Is the wicked creature far from here?" Richter was all business.

"No, not really," I answered. "Three miles or so, though it's through the forest?"

"Miles?" The knight's eyebrows shot up.

"Well, just not far." I would have to watch my language, as Gunther appeared to be collecting material for his own Encyclopedia. "A fifteen-minute walk."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

The knight hung his lance in a special holder in the horse's harness, unhooked his shield from the saddle, and slung it behind his back.

"What about your horse? It won't be stolen? Or run away?"

"No-o-o." Gunther patted the horse's withers. "He's too smart to be caught, and he definitely won't run away. Ready?"

I heard something rustle behind me.

The sound was unexpected, and I spun around while pulling out my mace. When I saw the person in front of me, my mace dropped, and my mouth opened. It was a lanky man in a black suit, a white shirt, and a black tie. He held a small suitcase.

"I haven't seen Gordon Freeman, and I don't even know what's going on." My response was automatic. What did you expect me to say after I saw a person like that in a game? A fantasy game, no less.

"Let me introduce myself." The man in the suit bowed his head slightly. "Game admin Number Nineteen."

"And your name?"

"Number Nineteen. That's my name."

"Sir Leyton, who are you talking to?" Gunther couldn't figure out what was going on.

"NPCs can't hear us," explained Number Nineteen.

"Sure, he can't hear you, but he's worried. You'll say your piece and then leave, and he'll think I'm crazy. I still need him to help me kill a witch."

"If it will make you feel better..." Number Nineteen snapped his fingers, and Gunther froze.

"I am informing you that player Vuiikh lodged complaint number 14,347, claiming that a non-player character of the knight class inappropriately interfered with his game progress. He says the interference resulted in his death, that of his companions, and their loss in a battle. Is there anything you wish to communicate to the game administration through me?" Number Nineteen's voice was emotionless.

"Of course," I said. "Quite a bit. First of all, he would definitely have won—it was three against one."

"Irrelevant." The administrator jumped in quickly.

"Player-killing is built into the gameplay. Also, the complaint was not lodged against you; it was lodged against an NPC with you as a witness. If there is nothing you wish to attest to, you can decline to discuss the matter further. In that case, the non-player character will be deactivated, and the situation will revert to how it was before his interference. If you can prove that the non-player character was at fault, the same will also be true."

I realised that holding my peace would leave me in the company of three angry ores thirsting to kill me.

Plus, I'd lose a good and very helpful knight. "I would like to give a statement." I decided to have some fun. "And I would like to do so immediately. The non-player character by the name of Gunther von Richter acted reasonably in all respects—both in terms of the gameplay and human decency?"

What nonsense—human decency? He was just a program!

"And your proof?"

"I would draw your attention to the fact that the non-player character in question belongs to the Tearful Goddess Order. Further, you will note my personal status as a friend of the aforementioned order and the responsibility that places on the non-player character named Gunther von Richter with respect to me."

Number Nineteen was quiet for a minute, apparently reviewing the information I gave him.

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