Chapter 72
"How does that feel?" Gren was confident that it felt good for her but wanted to hear her say it just to make sure.
"So good." After a couple minutes of attacking her weak points, Jessica's body had turned to jelly. Gren had gotten too good at it. "That feels so much better now."
Gren returned Jessica's leg to the bed. His job was complete now that Jessica was completely satisfied. It might be an odd time to talk to her about work but Gren had something on his mind. "There's something I want to talk about. I want to start focusing more on subjugation missions."
Gren's words ruined the glow on Jessica's face that he had helped create with his foot ma.s.sage. "After what happened yesterday you think it's a good idea to rush into combat?"
"Yesterday was different. Those guys prepared for me so I couldn't use my magic properly. It won't happen again."
"How can you be so sure that it won't happen again? What if you're wrong? It's bad enough that I have to worry about Jasmine every time she leaves to fight monsters." Jessica shook her head. "I can't lose you too."
Gren was reminded of Jessica's late husband. He didn't know much about what happened with him. Jasmine was too young when her father died and Jessica didn't say much more than telling Gren that her late husband died on a mission. "I know you're not comfortable with it but I need to do this. It's the only way I can make sure that you and all of my children are safe in the future."
"That doesn't explain anything. How will we be safer if you're out there getting yourself killed?"
"You've seen my power before. Ahk's axe was nothing compared to what I will be able to create in the future." Gren moved his face closer to Jessica's head as she laid down before he grabbed her hands. "Imagine it. A weapon that can fit in these hands of yours that can easily take out a trained knight. Just pull a small device and, bam, a little piece of metal comes flying out so fast that the enemy doesn't have any time to react."
"But why do you need to put yourself in harm's way in order to make
"This is something I haven't told anyone else yet. To be honest, I don't know if I can trust others with this but if it's you then I think you will keep the secret from everyone else. I don't want anybody else to find out yet; not even Jasmine or my Mom." Gren could trust Jasmine with his life but it was too easy to get information out of her using deception.
"This ability of mine requires me to fight in order to improve it. I have to be the one to kill the monsters." Gren wasn't sure if she understood what he was saying so he tried to clarify in a way that she would understand. "I get this sort of energy from them and then I can use that energy to create things. If I gain enough energy on my own then I gain a different kind of energy to use to expand my ability."
It sounded like the ramblings of a crazy man but Jessica decided to try believing in him. Gren always seemed to be keeping secrets from everyone else but her and if she betrayed that trust then he might not trust anybody ever again. "Okay. Fine. You can do subjugation missions. However, there will be some rules that only you have to follow or else I'll never approve you for another mission ever again. You are not allowed to put yourself at risk in order to complete a mission. If the mission is not as described by the client then you are to immediately cancel it. You must stay with the team at all times. If you ever go behind my back and do a request or hunt monsters then I'll... I don't know what I'll do yet but I'll make you regret it."
Gren decided not to tell Jessica that she looked cute with her cheeks puffed up with air. Now was not the time to get on her bad side. "I understand and accept your conditions. Now, what kind of mission will I get first?"
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"But little did Gren know that Jessica would send him on the most boring and tedious mission... in the world."
"What is wrong with you?" Luna was staring at Gren with almost a horrified expression on her face.
"I've decided that from now on my life needs to be narrated. Narration helps make things less boring." Gren's explanation didn't help Luna feel better about his actions.
"Midnaaaa! I think Gren went crazy!" Midna was off on the other side of the field to make sure that the rabbits didn't escape from the holes on that side.
Midna's voice could be heard replying from a distance. "He was always crazy! Why do you think that he bought us all only to free us!?"
"That's true... Gren, thank you for being crazy." Luna gave Gren a short bow.
"You're welcome?" Gren continued the mission. Jessica had him clearing out rabbits from a field that had been devastated in Adierton. The farms on the outskirts of the city were more important now than ever since villages everywhere had been facing an increasing number of attacks by monsters. The farms inside the walls wouldn't be able to feed the entire population but every bit of food helps.
If Gren used his magic then the mission would have been over already but he was still technically in the city so it might ruin his current disguise. The only sensible option left was to flush them out using smoke before killing them.
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The pay wasn't much but the three of them got to take home the rabbits that they killed. The meat and the pelts would be useful for lowering the costs of the guild. Gren felt oddly satisfied as he pulled his cart back towards his home. The first mission he completed successfully with no incidents might not have been exciting but at least it was safe...
... like h.e.l.l! Where was the action? He didn't push for the creation of a mercenary guild and train for months just to be someone's pest control! If he at least earned a good amount of points it'd be fine but the rabbits were only worth a handful of points each. Hopefully his next mission earned more points or was not as boring as this one.