LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 45: Job Interview
"I was in the middle of a very important surgery, you interrupted me." Esstrey looks in annoyance at the duchess, still pointing her crossbow at the woman.
"My apologies, my caravan came looking for the witch of the swamp, I heard she is an [Avian-kin], have you seen her?" Eliana looks around at the damage caused by this monster, her security forces weren't able to halt its momentum, and while they are currently using the lull in the fighting to gather the dead and wounded, her own reveal is hardly an advantage for them.
"Yeah, I've seen her, she's currently rather busy being dead. If you were looking for her corpse, don't bother, I ate her. Now that your business is done here, could you fuck off?" Esstrey wasn't lying when she said she was in the middle of a very important surgery, that plant was a fascinating case-study of a parasite extremely different in biological makeup still feeding off the host. The [Leech Roots] would focus mainly on hijacking the digestive tract of its victims, and use it to spread seeds in area's with high fertilizer and usually more victims. The saying 'having stepped in some real shit' became a lot worse with this nasty plant involved, especially since the seeds were sharp while covered in a mild painkilling liquid.
"She's dead? That's a shame... say, you said you were busy with a surgery, could you tell me something about that?" Eliana's line of questioning is all too familiar with Rowan, who gives a pleading look in her direction, not wanting her to do this.
"I cut open a kobold to get rid of [Leech Roots], that kobold is currently still on my table with their chest cavity rather open. Last warning, fuck off or leave in six planks." Esstrey aims her crossbow squarely at the duchess's chest, she knows the expedition won't interfere as long as she doesn't shoot.
"Impressive, usually internal parasites are handled with medicine rather than surgery, I would like to hire you. I have a medical issue you may be able to help me with, we can discuss the details later, for now I'll allow you to rescue your patient." Rowan looks mildly distressed at Eliana's verdict, while Kharn is doing his best not to giggle.
Esstrey looks closely at the duchess, measuring her worth and heartbeat. Eventually she is satisfied and determines that the duchess isn't lying while returning to the granary. She still gives a gesture to the kobolds to keep an eye on them in case anything happened, they had so far watched in gaping shock as everything had gone down in mere moments. As the troops outside watch the mermaid enter the granary, they gather around their duchess with their wounded, planning their next move.
"Lady Malencia, we are in a much better position to attack now, we won't be caught off guard again." Rowan didn't fail to notice the kobolds watching from a distance while armed, he was still confident in winning against this monster.
"I will hear none of it, we came here searching for the witch of the swamp to aid me in medical practices, and we have found our witch in the swamp that practices medicine. [Leech Roots] is a rather common issue among the poor from what I know, and if she was actually experienced with it, she would have known there are medicines which flush out the parasitic plant, instead she went about it the hard way while still solving the problem. Original witch of the swamp or no, she can still help my son." Rowan sighs at his ladies' judgement, but still gives Kharn a signal to stand ready in the case of 'complications'.
When the mermaid leaves the granary turned hospital, she has a blob of blood in the shape of a girl with her, and a cat hanging off her tail. She also looks much happier now, showing a smile with all teeth. This development hasn't put anyone on ease so far.
"So, what's this about hiring me? And more importantly, how many resources will I have at my disposal?" Esstrey looks straight at the duchess as she says the last bit.
"I have taken it upon myself to collect certain individuals and their groups as they are usually too dangerous anywhere where our noble kingdom can't keep tabs on them, they are still allowed to practice their... methods, but are generally encouraged to supply advice on how to deal with the less cooperative of their sorts. I'm sure you could find great use in some conversations with them, no matter how off-putting they are. I would also naturally offer a greater amount of resources if you show yourself a capable employee." The duchess says it as if she practices this small speech many times, but the mermaid doesn't seem too surprised by it.
Instead, the mermaid is moving closer, some of the soldiers hold out their pikes toward her, but she simply points them away as she closes in on the wounded. One of the presumed dead, a woman that was shredded by the initial attack of Esstrey. She puts her claws to the open wound, and the corpse jolts awake. She is still restrained by the massive claws, and as she struggles against them, she drops to the ground while conscious.
"Wh- what's happening? Where am I?" Zulie is panicking while looking at Rowan, but before he can respond, Esstrey does so first.
"You were legally dead, now you are not. As for what I need duchess, a proper salary and a place for these kobolds a little closer to where I will be working. Also, can someone bring this girl a healing potion? I can only keep her stable forever in theory." Esstrey is still holding her claws in the wounds of Zulie, and it's clear she's doing something to keep her stable and awake.
"You want the kobold tribe? Sure, that's relatively cheap. Convincing them is something you will have to do so yourself." Eliana is pretending to not be surprised by this development, but her eyes are fiercely focused on how Esstrey is keeping someone presumed dead alive with such... ease.
"YAS WE STAY WITH DRAGON-CHILD!" Kuda tackles Esstrey as hard as a kobold can, and ends up bouncing off her tail.
"I don't believe that would be so difficult, they have taken a liking to me." The humans gawk at the interaction, did that kobold just call her dragon-child?
That would make sense on so many fronts, wouldn't it?