He Who Fights with Monsters 2 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #2)

by Shirtaloon

“I’m changing my answer,” Emir said, breaking the silence. “I’ve just now known him long enough to realise I absolutely do not understand him at all.”

“Becoming an adventurer is an opportunity,” he told them, “but it’s also a danger.” “You think we don’t know danger?” Sophie asked. “Of course you do,” Jason said. “You know the worst kind, the malevolence you can only find in people. Monsters are different. They don’t hate you. They just want to kill you. An intelligent enemy can obsess over you. Pursue you relentlessly. But you can manipulate a malevolent enemy. You can reason with them, play on their fears and desires. That doesn’t work on a monster.

“I wake up every morning, proud of who I am,” he told them. “I go out into the world, never regretting that I didn’t at least try and be the person I want to be. I face dangers and make mistakes. Sometimes I get beat, and sometimes I win. I stand up for what I believe in, whatever it costs me. When you give everything, you have to be who you want to be, that’s freedom, whatever your circumstances.”

“If your goddess is willing to hand over such information, then by what moral stricture does she not? Instead, she looks to ransom a man’s principles. You just tried to turn me on my friend, a man who saved my life, and you have the gall to lay there looking surprised? If you want to help me, then help me. Bring your self-serving ways to me again and you’ll get worse than you got today.”

“Boko and Hornis have their own Magic Society people,” Danielle said. “Yes,” Clive said. “And they call you in anyway?” “Yes.” Danielle gave Clive an assessing look. “You’re one of those people, aren’t you?” she asked. “The ones who are just quietly exceptional at what they do.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m biased or not,” Thalia said, matter-of-factly. “Try to interfere and I’ll rip your arm off and shove it down your throat.”

“There are many possibilities, none of them good,” the cultist said. “It could expose us all, employed the right way. If they have people who know what they are doing. A sufficiently skilled astral magic specialist will know exactly how to use it.” * * * “So, what can you use it for?” Jason asked. “No idea,” Clive said.

New Title: [Godless Prophet]

“You can’t fix everything at once, Clive. You take the wins you can get.” “You aren’t a reliable judge when it comes to her. You’re so scared of abusing the power in that indenture contract that you won’t act when you should. But that’s alright. You have friends to help you. And so does she. Let us keep both of you walking in straight lines.” Jason glanced over at Sophie, then nodded. “Alright, Clive,” Jason said. “Thanks, mate.”

Something else, too. Are you some kind of priest?” The whole team laughed at that. “He’s definitely not,” Neil said. “If anything, he’s the exact opposite.” “It’s a little odd to find a touch of the divine on you, then.” “I’ve been touched by gods, alright,” Jason said. “They’re quite handsy, once you get to know them.”