He Who Fights with Monsters 3 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #3)

by Shirtaloon

“I’m a really hypocritical socialist,” he muttered to himself. “I like money way too much.”

“You’re a local now,” Gilbert said with a laugh. “You’ve been co-opted. Nothing earns goodwill like success.”

“I still can’t fully figure you out, Jason Asano. Are you a fool, a genius, or a monster?” “Yes,” he said with an impish grin.

“To show your respect. You stand before the king.” “If there’s mandatory kneeling, it’s not respect that you’re looking for.

the young prince doesn’t have a lot of friends who will stand beside him instead of kneel.”

“You need to watch your decorum around royalty.” “Do I?” Jason asked. “I was more thinking that I need to get powerful enough that they watch their decorum around me.”

“This is one of the problems with aristocracy,” Jason said. “If you teach someone that everyone else only exists for their benefit, you can’t be surprised when they start using people as if they don’t matter.”

“Our family has certain views on what makes a real adventurer,” she said. “A lot of adventurers get caught up in the money and power of what we do and put aside the responsibility. You’re a real adventurer, Asano, and let no one tell you differently.

I know a flim-flam man when I see one.”

I’ll take a reckless desire to help over cold indifference any day. Well, not any day.

I don’t know what you want from me, exactly, but I hope it’s not dignity. You took my pants, though, so I’m guessing that’s not an issue.”

“I’m chained up, naked, in a room with the winner of a most obvious sex-predator contest and the guy who got disqualified for being too creepy. Not being scared is admitting to being an idiot.”

“The only way forward is forward.”

“Is that all you’ve got, mate? You’ll have to do better than that, you interdimensional arsehole.”

He could feel his soul, sense it in a way that he never could before. It was his true self, his last refuge, not the meat shell he’d been walking around in.

“I don’t know if you can hear me through your dead, magic rectal probe,” Jason growled, “but you need to listen up, you interdimensional soul bandit. You just got beat by the assistant manager of an office supply retailer while he was hanging from a hook and naked as the day he was born. And reborn, for that matter. So you’d best pack up your piss-weak little cult and take them back to your magic land in the sky because I’m coming for them. And this time, I’m going to have pants.”

the difference between a good adventurer and a great one was a matter of moments. The right decision in the right moment was the difference between success and failure, between triumph and death. Great adventurers were alchemists of circumstance, turning opportunity into fortune.

“I’m starting to realise that not going quietly is kind of your thing.”

“If you don’t understand what Jason is talking about, he’s probably up to something,” Clive said. “If you do know what Jason’s talking about, he’s definitely up to something.”

“First and foremost, though I am a priest of the Healer. Before anything else, I’m here to help you, not for you to help me.”

It was more like a celestial law had passed over the area, filled with unyielding resolve and an echo of divine power.

“My friend Humphrey likes to say that privilege comes with responsibility,”

I’ve found that assuming Jason won’t do something just because it’s crazy or impossible is not a sensible approach.”

“If you wait for everything to be perfect,” the priest said, “you’ll never do anything at all.

“Treasure your team, Jason. Adventuring is a dangerous business, and you’re about to face about as much danger as this job has to offer.”

The Rejector was a living demonstration that the Builder’s power was not absolute, and he was still running around and causing trouble.

“I know we’re here to fight evil and whatnot,” Jason said, “but damn if I don’t love this job sometimes.”

“Don’t go tempting fate,” Sophie agreed. “Fate can’t wait to kill us

“We know what it’s like to be running on a knife edge, though. At least now, we’re running towards something, instead of away.”

“One of the last pieces of advice my mother gave me before we left was to rely on the team. She said I shouldn’t fall into the trap of trying to do everything myself.

“It’s probably for the best you’re not evil,” Neil said. “You’re not evil, right?”

“You’re like a treasure chest full of swords with no handles. It looks enticing, but rummaging about inside is going to get you hurt.”

“I’m pretty sure the first rule of dealing with mysterious magical stuff is not to touch it.”

“It always turns out to be the worst possible option.”

“They could have called it a vampider.”

“Wait,” Neil said. “Did we just make the sensible decision and not charge into the hopeless fight? Go team!”

What it really means, though, is accomplishment through diligent effort. Every action we take and every word we say is something that shapes us. The diligent person acts to improve and empower themselves with everything they do, no matter how mundane.”

A blade can cut down a person, but words can bring down a kingdom. Adultery can end a dynasty, greed can start a war, and compassion can end one. People will die for strangers out of faith and kill their neighbours out of fear.”

Not taking every chance we have to get stronger is trading safety today for death tomorrow.”

“A key tip for ritual magic—and life, really—is to not do the same thing as the people who died trying.

“I’m increasingly convinced that impossible isn’t a thing,”

Anyone can be useful, if you find the task that best suits their abilities.”

“Also, good luck and please don’t die.”

“Trust the team, Humphrey. Rely on the team. We’re pretty good. Well, Neil’s okay. But the rest of us…”

“Alright,” Neil acknowledged. “You might kind of make this look good.”

“Sandwiches,” Jason said haughtily, “are the garnish on a prime slab of perfectly pan-seared rakish charm.”

“They’re just people,” Jason said. “Treat them that way. Yes, they’re a little odd to our sensibilities, but if it can think, it’s a person. That’s the same, whether you’re talking about a familiar or a god.

“There is no above people, Humphrey. There’s just people. Give them enough power and they get a bit weird, but still people.”

“They are random people,” Jason said. “A bit showy, but nice enough. They like to make something of a spectacle of themselves, though.”

Also, this may fall under stuff Knowledge doesn’t want me talking about. When I take a bribe, I stay bribed. That’s how integrity works.”