Chapter 275 (2/2)

Damnit, he had forgotten his other spear attendant’s name. And he didn’t even know the male spear attendant’s name. Struck by this sudden stunning realization, Randidly opened his mouth to ask but was interrupted by Helen.

“...our letter that Shal was found just caught him too late. He was still traveling around the north, asking for news, and is only heading back now.”

Randidly looked at Helen, feeling his heart quicken slightly. It was amazing in a way, Randidly thought, that he had slept with this powerful, opinionated, independent woman. And her bright gaze now, as their eyes met, made even Randidly, who was uncommonly dense, realize there could be something more there.

He squirmed uncomfortably, but didn’t look away. It was a good feeling. As their gazes continued to remain locked, her eyes seemed to soften, and she took a step forward.

“Goddamnit!”

Randidly’s eyes were torn away as the male spear attendant ran up to him and threw his arms around Randidly, engulfing him in a hug. Tears streamed down his face. “I’m… I’m…. I’m gonna miss you so much….”

Patting his head awkwardly, Randidly quickly extricated himself. Almost instantly, the male spear attendant’s eyes dried and he straightened, adjusting his clothes. Randidly walked up to Helen, feeling a strange pressure in his chest.

With words eluding him, Randidly just blurted out something dumb. “Hug for luck?”

Strangely, Helen glared at him. Then she leaned forward, bringing their faces and bodies very close, and whispered, “There will be a lot more than a hug waiting for you… after you win today.”

Then she turned, spinning on her foot, and their bodies were so close that as she twisted, her ass brushed against his groin lightly before she took a step away. Randidly just scratched his face, briefly losing himself to memories.

Helen spoke, breaking his reverie. “They say he’s never known defeat… never even broken a sweat.”

“...I might not win, but you can bet I won’t let him off that easy,” Randidly said, looking up at the sky. “For every gallon of blood I’ve shed these past few weeks… I’ll make him pay. What I’m aiming to break… is his pride.”

On the walk to the arena, Randidly looked at his path screen. He really had only gained a few scant levels the past few days, mostly in Living Blood and Golden Roots of Yggdrasil. There was good news though, at 25 PP in the Ash of Aemont Path, he received 2 distributable stat points, that he immediately put into Perception. So at least that wasn’t a waste.

People flooded the streets already, an hour early, waving their mugs emblazoned with Randidly’s Tassle, yelling and cheering. In a way, it was already a win in a lot of people’s books that he had made it to the final 4, while just being from a small style. It gave people hope.

It really seemed that Claptrap’s strange absence from the inn was just a reflection of how busy he had been marketing products to the populace of Deardun. Everyone had memorabilia. To the point that Randidly couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Hopefully this fad would fade quickly, but not so quickly that Claptrap would find the ire of the populace turning against him.

Either way, Randidly was glad that he could have such a positive effect on Claptrap. That shy merchant that he had encountered, selling illegal product to, had really grown into an individual who had a lot of things going for him. Even without Randidly, Claptrap would be fine.

They arrived at the arena and were quickly ushered inside, while the surging and cheering crowd was kept at bay. Helen and the male spear attendant were led away, to a private area, while Randidly was taken to the familiar basement.

There was only one other figure down there, below the arena. Azriel’s match wasn’t until the afternoon, so even though it was only a silhouette, Randidly knew who the other individual was.

Drak Wyrd, more a blob of darkness than a man, looked up towards Randidly as he walked forward. Their gazes met. At the same time, the two men smiled.

But while Randidly’s smile was one of excitement and rising competitiveness, Drak’s was twisted and cruel.

It would, for better or for worse, definitely not be a simple match, Randidly somehow knew. But he simply sat. For now… it was just time to wait.