He Who Fights with Monsters 10 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #10)

by Shirtaloon

“You didn’t know about Death’s miracle when you came out here, Gareth. You believed that you came here to die. People keep thinking that what the gods want in sacrifice is their lives, but that is not the case. You chose to come out here, believing you would die. Your choice was the sacrifice, not your life.”

“Gareth, this choice—” “Isn’t a choice,” Gary said, cutting off the god again. Hero made no sign of anger, his expression instead that of a proud but sad father.

“Thank you, Hero. For giving me the power to save them.” “No, hero,” the god told him. “Thank you.”

“However justified my anger may or may not have been, I don’t have the right to tell you what to do with your body. Thinking it’s okay to do that may seem harmless when it’s hair, but what about when it’s not? I’m sorry for that.”

And if we just spend all our time being crappy to one another, we’ll both turn into worse people. I’m trying out forgiveness as a philosophy.” “And how is that working out?” “It’s bloody hard. So many people suck, and they’re usually the ones you have to forgive. If it was all forgiving beautiful princesses, I’d be all over it.”

“Princess, are you hitting on me in the middle of a zombie war?” “When else am I going to do it? It’s always something with you.”

“Is this what it feels like?” Jason asked. “Is that what it feels like every time I—” “Yes,” Rufus said. “I’m sorry.” “You should be. Now, follow Farrah’s example and get back to work.”

My name is Hero, yet I will never be one. I have spent my entire existence finding the greatest people on their darkest days, turning their likely deaths into certain ones. I’ve seen glorious deaths on grand battlefields, immortalised in tapestry and stained glass. I’ve been the only witness to sacrifices that went completely unnoticed by mortals. Countless lives saved by heroes unremembered and unsung by all but my priests.”

When a god speaks, it is not without purpose.”

“Shouldn’t we have brought more people?” Kalif asked. “You say that like you’ve never fought a hundred thousand undead before,” Jason told him. “And you have?” “Yep.” “When was this?” “A couple of years ago.” “Korinne,” Kalif said to his team leader. “I think we should find different adventurers to follow around.”

“I’m sorry it come to this,” Jason said. “We’re adventurers,” Gary told him. “We can try and quit all we like, but in the end, someone has to stand up. If that wasn’t going to be us, we wouldn’t be who we are. I know it. Rufus knows it. You definitely know it; it’s been your turn a few too many times already.” “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Hero said almost the exact same thing. You should stop spending time with gods, Jason; they’re a bad influence.”

“We’re seeing a legend play out in front of us,” she said. “We may not be able to save Gary, but we can make sure he’s remembered for saving us.”

“We can remember him as a friend. That’s what he wants for himself.”

“Oh,” Boris said. “So that’s how she resisted my raw animal magnetism.” “Sure,” the guard said. “That’s how.”

“Why would the undead being ugly have any bearing on victory here?” “Because it’s not about what you do, Garth; it’s about how good you look doing it.”

“Yeah, I can’t hide from divine eyes quite yet. Give me a while and I’ll figure it out.”

I’m pretty sure Hero wants you to live.” “I don’t think he gets a choice, Jason.” “I don’t think he does, no. But maybe, every now and again, he gets an opportunity.” “What are you saying?” “That maybe this time, the one who gets the choice is you.”