1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 43: Ghost Town

A lifeless town, inhabited by fog and rotting wood welcomed them with its eerie remnants. He led the way, with Astrid behind him, holding up a ball of light to clear at least a bit of the mist, just enough to see ahead a few meters.

"Y’know, a foggy place like this...It’s a total nightmare for archers," Otto remarked from the middle of the group, constantly looking around.

"We’ll just have to make do," Noah said, keeping his eyes on the fog ahead. "It’s on the way towards the World Guild, so might as well get some bonus funds, right?"

"Right, but dealing with a haunted ghost town...?" Otto mumbled.

It was three days after leaving Tiras, having made their way onwards to the World Guild. In just that short time, their funds from the first mission were just about expired:

Otto ran a high tab at the Gold Garden, then opted to use the rest of his coins buying an enchanted bow, which he frequently caressed its gold-oaken craftsmanship.

Astrid bought herself a new stave; an ivory staff supposedly blessed by an old mage that Noah had already forgotten the name of, though she seemed to be a fan of.

As for Redrum, he invested his money into a sack full of food that he towed around.

Noah sighed to himself, somewhat proud of the fact he kept most of his gold, though he did treat himself to one purchase: a black cloak, enchanted with several helpful abilities.

’Money really burns a hole in their pockets. Well, some extra experience never hurts,’ he thought.

"Y’know, I’m starting to think that guy earlier had the right idea...I mean, he gave this quest to us because he didn’t wanna do it," Otto reasoned, constantly looking around.

"Maybe he was just busy with other things, you never know," Noah responded, glancing back at the archer.

Otto shook his head, "He was totally shaking when he–aaaah!"

The golden-haired elf yelped and jumped as the decrepit house they were walking past released a creak; the old wood groaning in its rotting state.

"Dude..." Noah quietly remarked at the jumpiness of his companion.

Somehow, Astrid was fairly composed, in complete contrast to the twins’ usual demeanors as she smiled up at him, "He’s always had a bit of trouble with ghosts, ever since we were kids."

["The Town of Oswein–apparently it’s been like this for a few decades now, completely desolate. All of the people that lived here packed up and left because of a "curse." Dunno about that.

From what it sounds like, it was only recently that some kind of supernatural entity decided this place was its home. It’s been attacking merchants that pass through Oswein, so now there’s a reward for handling whatever is taking residence here."]

The streets of cracked cobblestone led each footstep to echo into the fog, watched by the lonesome homes. While some silence persisted through strides, a scratching sound echoed from all directions.

Otto immediately jumped, "Did you hear that?!"

While Noah considered brushing it off, a distinct sound followed, like that of light footsteps, hurriedly running around in the obscuring fog.

"About time," Noah mumbled, grabbing the axe stuffed hooked into his belt.

[Status: Level 14] [15,000/50,000]

[Body: 1800] [Spirit: 1800]

Without a word needing to be said, they got into a natural formation, all watching each others’ backs while the footsteps only seemed to grow in proximity and number. As he squinted, his vision focused, piercing through the ominous fog, even if slightly–

["Vision" Proficiency +1] [31/999]

[Clarity] [C-Rank Vision Skill]

As he peered a meter deeper into the cloudy air, he saw it: a pale creature wielding a pair of sickles in its rigid grasp. It emerged from the mist just then, its face covered by a wooden mask, carved with circular symbols and a translucent cloak covering its body.

’Identification isn’t triggering?’ He thought.

With it coming straight for him, the others reacted a moment slower as he already swung his axe, clashing against its twin sickles.

[Tintri]

Like a jolt going through his body, he entered the world beyond human speed for a single moment. He pivoted around the fog-dwelling creature, getting through its guard and leading his axe right through its abdomen–poof.

With one strike, it vanished into fading mist. It was a peculiar feeling, as if it was completely weightless. As he glanced back with a quick exhale, the question on his mind was answered:

Multiple of the sickle-wielding dwellers emerged from the fog, coming from all sides, leaping off the roofs of the abandoned homes.

Astrid pointed her stave towards a pair of the short-statured hostiles, "Double Bolt!"

The air crackled, giving way to a fork of lighting, piercing right through the pale enemies.

"They’re Phantoms!" The mage called out.

Using his axe to cleave through the foggy fiend, Noah yelled at the orc, "You hear that, Redrum?! They’re not alive, so have at it!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

That was all the four-armed pacifist needed to hear before using his limbs like clubs. With his forearms stuck out, the orc rushed forward, slamming through two.

"Creepy...!" Otto shouted with a bead of sweat trailing his cheek, using his bow to shove one of the phantoms back.

The assault continued while they held their ground. Noah watched a half-dozen of the sickle-wielding apparitions launch towards him—

[Mega-Chop]

A single swipe of his axe parted the fog, if only briefly, completely dismissing the phantoms in one blow.

["Exorcism" Proficiency +1] [1/10]

[Skill(s) Acquired: "Invoke"]

At the same time, the efforts of his companions dealt with their share of the little hostiles.

Otto exhaled, adjusting his quiver while glancing off, "What was that about? Think that was all of it?"

While rubbing his wrists, the orc responded, "Unlikely. I believe that was a ’warning’ by the spirit inhabiting this place."

Hearing the wisdom from a monster made the claim feel all the more genuine, though the archer protested.

"How’re you sure of that?" Otto asked.

"You’re just hoping he’s wrong because you’re scared, aren’t you?" Noah playfully called out.

"No, it’s just, well—obviously! I don’t want to deal with any more freaky ghost stuff than I have to!" Otto defended himself.

"Well, that’s true. I’d like to be done with this myself," Noah agreed.

Redrum clarified, looking up at the shrouding mist above, "As a warrior, I never truly had one home. I always moved, constantly from one place to another...On the Godless Continent, malevolent spirits are quite common."

"Remind me never to go there," Otto remarked.

Astrid added in, "I’ve rarely heard of anybody going there, well, intentionally, anyway."

"Yeah, still–"

Right as the archer opened his mouth, his next words were taken right out of his lungs. Noah saw it, even briefly; a vague apparition behind the elf before–

"Aaaaaah!" Otto shouted, his voice trailing quickly.

With an intense pull, the young man was pulled back, as if snatched by the mist itself. By the time the other two reacted, Otto was already within the fog, his voice muffled by its density.

"Otto!" Noah shouted, giving chase without a second thought.

Without any plan, he ran into the fog, though he ran for some time, he realized—he was going nowhere. He stopped, looking around at only the overwhelming, white veil around him.

"Otto!" He called out. "Astrid! Redrum!"

As his voice carried out, only the eerie silence of the fog responded. It was far more dense than before, and the cold settled in with an intensity that made the hairs on his arms stand.

’We got separated,’ he realized, finding no sign of his companions.

[Fragment of Oshal] [Soul Rending | B-Rank Spirit]

He brought forth the spiritual essence of the monstrous wolverine, which towered beside him with a calm wrath to its ethereal form.

"Alright, I can use an extra pair of eyes and hands," Noah remarked, brushing his hand through its coarse fur.