Another Stupid Isekai

I kept hanging close to the newcomers to make sure they would be safe. There was also Martin, at the front of the group, and Boris, at the very back. Nobuo, Will, Ki’rai, and Hailwic were cutting our way through the harpies’ territory, with the rest just after them, as support.

My little lizard was showcasing her skills, climbing the walls, and jumping on the flying creatures, to gut them in midair. Nobuo was able now to use some kind of airplane, to attack from the distance with incredible strength, and grace.

Will… Well… He was just throwing stones.

– What a smart guy – said an old woman with long white hair, walking in the front of the newcomers group. – He should be using a bow though.

I almost laughed.

– Wow, are you all this good? – I was suddenly asked by some guy.

A rather handsome fellow with short brown hair, and a well-trimmed short beard. Green eyes beaming with confidence.

– More or less – I answered, observing the fight happening at the front.

– You are Peter, arent you? I’m Daniel – he extended his hand, and I shook it.

[0)ᴠʟ – Peter, but you already know that.

– I heard some interesting stuff about you, so I decided to check if you are as scary as they say.

– They say I’m scary?

– Well… – he shrugged his shoulders. – You have a pretty impressive list of achievements, not to mention your kill count. If not fear, then let’s call it respect. So… Is all that true?

– Who knows? The urban legends tend to be exaggerated.

He laughed.

– In my case, I have reliable sources.

– Like who?

– Marcella. She said you are quite a fighter, and it’s better not to poke you with a stick.

– So you wanted to poke me?

– I like to test people. Find what they are all about.

– And what did you find I’m about?

– I don’t know yet. To be honest, I tried to meet you before, but you were nowhere to be seen – he said, smiling.

– I’m a busy guy.

– I’ve heard that you were the main person behind the recent upgrade of the device. Can I ask you, why Blue didn’t donate anything?

I stopped for a moment. “How the hell did he know that?”, I asked myself.

– Who told you that?

I was forced to restart walking very soon, to not block the rest of the people behind me.

– I asked around. That guy has an interesting past too. Can’t wait to meet him.

– He is dangerous. And that’s why none of us asked him for the donation of crystals.

– I’ve heard that he is helping a lot with the city matters.

I just sighed. Tired of explaining how terrible a person that guy was. He was very smart but selfish. Wouldnt stop with anything just to fulfill his goals.

I became silent for a solid couple of minutes, giving a clear signal I’m done with the conversation.

– If you don’t want to talk about that, we can talk about something else – he said eventually.

– I’m not a talkative guy.

– Everybody is. You just need to find the right topic. So? What is yours? What do you like, Peter?

– I like silence.

He didn’t say a thing after that. Just remained walking by my side. After a couple of hours, we reached the vicinity of the orcs’ camp. There was a short break for food after we arrived at the place where we used to have the barricades build when we were hunting in that place as a group.

I sat on the ground a bit away from everybody, to have a look at them. Daniel approached me with a bottle of water, which he just have me, as I was having only some dried meat. I took the gift and drank it. He sat then next to me but didn’t say a word.

I peaked at him, as the company was bugging me. I kept going through our previous conversation, and couldn’t help but feel that I was a bit too cold to the guy. few minutes after I just couldn’t take it anymore, and turned towards him.

– Look. I’m not the friendliest of the people around him, and I get a bit annoyed when certain topics are involved, ok? Just let me make one thing clear. I’m not a complete asshole.

He laughed at my words but didn’t say a thing, which made me very frustrated after another few minutes, as I was waiting for a response.

– Can you… say something?

– I thought you wanted silence.

That just pissed me off. I picked myself up and left. He laughed as I was walking off.

Will soon blocked my path, coming out from among the rest of the people.

– Hey, Peter… How are we doing this?

– Doing what?

– The hunt.

I shrugged my shoulders.

– I don’t think we should go with a full-on battle. The newcomers might get injured if there is too much chaos around. I think we should pull the orcs out of the camp, and then few of us should face them a bit further from here – he turned, to face the path to the camp. – Maybe a bit over there?

I looked where he was pointing. Maybe a hundred meters ahead of us.

– If something goes past us, you and the rest who will stay protecting people should be able to deal with that.

– You don’t want me to fight?

– Well… I thought that maybe it’s an opportunity for us to take the spotlight – he smiled at me.

I sighed.

– Fine. Do whatever you want. I’ll stay here, and protect the rest…

He patted me on the shoulder.

– Thanks, bro. If I end up attracting some pretty females after this performance, I’ll share all the details later – then he winked.

I shivered in disgust.

– No, thank you.

With those words, I went past him. to grab a few more bites from the supplies, as the rest of the warriors got assembled before the assault.

I ended up with Ki’rai, Boris, and Nil, while the others went ahead.