He Who Fights with Monsters 6 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #6)

by Shirtaloon

“I talked to my girlfriend after you killed her,” Jason said. “She told me that I shouldn’t go looking for revenge.” “You don’t have the strength for revenge.” “Not today, it’s true,”

“What does that matter to you? You’re here for reality cores like the rest. You’re all too obsessed with power to realise you’re looting a house as it burns down around you.”

Jason looked at the double doors leading to the outside and whatever new challenges lay beyond. “Don’t open them both,” he admonished himself. “You only need one door. Opening them both would be cheesy and melodramatic. For once, don’t be a chuuni and go through just one door. Like a regular person.” He walked up and pushed both doors open. “I guess, in life, you have to be true to yourself.”

“I’ve died before. It never seems to stop me.”

Jason took off the fresh clothes he had slipped on and suited up in the armour. “It’s still not about killing monsters,” he told his reflection in a wall mirror. “It’s about how good you look while killing monsters.”

“Don’t underestimate the value of having someone to talk to. You know I don’t always make the best choices when left alone.” “Quite.” “You could have argued a little.

“I do. And thanks, Shade. For keeping me on the right track.” “I am not infallible, Mr Asano.” “No one is, Shade. Whatever the gods may think.”

“Do you still have that sausage recipe?” he asked. “It was not a sausage recipe.” “I could go for a good meal right now. I mean, that fruit you picked was nice, but I’d rather enjoy taking a sausage in the mouth.” “Please don’t be juvenile, Mr Asano.” “You think it’s beneath me to say?” “No, Mr Asano. It is beneath me to listen.”

“You ask too much.” “Too much? I’m not even done making demands and already you’re refusing? Then the Builder’s violation of the agreement will stand. This means that the cult of the World-Phoenix may intervene directly with the Builder’s invasion of Pallimustus. We haven’t raised our hands since before you were born, but you’ve heard the stories, right?”

“When you are ascending to the heavens, grounded is lesser,” Shako argued. “You and I stand on the cusp of true transcendence. Why should we care about mortal concerns?”

“We would like to negotiate access to this space,” Chen said. “Because that’s how the Vikings did it,” Jason said. “They took their longboats, rowed over to England and negotiated the pillaging rights.”

“We will go,” one of the vampires told Jason. “The day will come when you will pay for your arrogance.” “It usually does,” Jason admitted sadly.

“I won’t ever take a step back from the Builder. I can’t. Standing against it is engraved on my soul as much as the scars that fight left behind.”

“Asano hasn’t exactly been open to diplomatic contact,” the liaison said. “We had to import you all from Australia just so he’d meet with anyone.” “Bro, the Network keeps trying to kidnap him,” Taika said. “They even succeeded a couple of times, even if he does keep escaping immediately.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Craig said. “It’s like you’re trying to make him mad.” “Those were other branches and other Network factions,” Anna said. “Don’t worry, Jason,” Craig said. “That wasn’t our Network that tried to kidnap you. Again. And kept your friend in a hole and tortured her for weeks. That was a different Network. Oh, the difference? Well, we don’t like that other Network very much. I mean, yes, we work with them a bit, when we have to. Otherwise, how are we going to get those reality cores you told us not to take? What? Killed your brother, your friend and your girlfriend? That definitely wasn’t us. I mean, yes, it was the Network, but there are degrees of separation…” “That’s enough, Craig,” Anna said. “Is it?” Craig asked. “The guy built a magic town that eats people and we keep doing things that make him angry. And now we’re going into that town?” “You think this is news to me?” Anna asked. “Do you remember what he was like when he first got here?” Craig asked. “Yes, Craig. He went to where my wife works. He showed up in my kitchen in the middle of the night.” “You should be grateful that’s all he did,” Craig said. “I had to stop him from fighting an EOA collection team in the middle of a café. You may recall what he did next from the news. A rolling gunfight in the middle of traffic? He came back to this world as a naked blade whose first instinct was to cut anything put in front of him. His family calmed him down, but then we went and killed one o...

“What is this made of?” “Clouds,” Taika said. “Clouds?” “Clouds,” Taika confirmed. “How does that work?” Dashiell asked. “Magic, bro. Are you new?”

“And there he is. Be wary of your principles, Mr Asano. I might use them to be assured that you enter that astral space, but someone was already playing them like an instrument before I found you.”

“I know. It will be a lengthy and complicated process to even begin.” “You don’t have time for that.” “Nor the patience. I’m better at spotting politics at work than wading in myself, I’ve discovered. I’m too enamoured of bold moves and more than a little imperious at times.

“That was nice, actually, yeah. You know all the people in here are getting pretty nervous, right?” “Yeah, hang on. Uh, excuse me, everyone. Please don’t shoot us; we’re just here to steal a nuclear weapon.” “What are you doing?” “I thought they might respond to forthright honesty.” “Yes. They’re going to respond by shooting us.”

“Individuals shouldn’t have the kind of unfettered power that you have,” Ingrid told him. “You’re right,” Jason said. “But institutions inevitably focus more on perpetuating their influence instead of whatever their original ideologies may have been. People and rules. The answer is somewhere in the middle, but it’s always in flux and never quite right. People need rules or we turn into monsters, but if we choose rules over people, people get ground up in the machine. In the end, we do the best we can with what we have.”

“Do you think those mitigating factors aren’t here to be found now, or are you just too tired to seek them out?” Shade asked. “I hate to break it to you, Mr Asano, but doing the impossible is kind of your thing. To be unfortunately colloquial, it is now time to nut up.”

Jason’s soul was scarred and pitted, like the wall of a fortress that had endured countless sieges and never broken. He could feel powerful forces within. Defiance, resolution. Power. A tyrannical force that would not be swayed by greater powers.

Feeding them only half of the truth will do more harm than good. Let them think what they want. I don’t care anymore.” Anna looked at Jason’s impassive face. She remembered the wild, animated man she had met just a couple of years ago. He seemed much older despite, if anything, looking younger. There was a tiredness to him, to the way his alien eyes watched the world around him. “Coming back to this world has done more to you than going to the other one did, hasn’t it?” she asked.

I’m done with it all, Anna. This world is better off without me now, and I’m better off without it.” “This world could use you.” “This world did. Goodbye, Anna.

“Well, you’re good for it,” she told him. “We’ve talked before about Rufus telling you that there’d be hard choices. I don’t think he quite had all we’ve been through here in mind, but only the scale was off, not the sentiment. Sacrificing your sense of self-worth because that’s what it takes to do the right thing doesn’t make you bad, Jason. It just makes you feel bad.”

We’ve taken it upon ourselves to recruit people we feel have the ability to make a difference.” “You could have just asked.” “Could I? I found you through your sword, Gary, and that sword told a story. It was not the story of a man ready to help. You had to see, to remember who you are.” “And who is that?” “Someone who cares enough that losing people can break him.”

“Where’s your familiar?” he asked Humphrey. Humphrey held open his jacket to reveal the head and paws of a mouse sticking out of the lining pocket. “G’day, bloke,” the mouse said.

“It’s soul-bonded,” he said. “The sword bends but doesn’t break, because so does the owner.”