Chương 59: Chapter 1.59: Grave Consequences

Favius felt a lump in his throat.

"Regretting his immortality?" The entity moved closer. A cold shiver ran down Favius's spine. He felt anticipation dripping off it like sticky tar.

"Oh yes. He was most enthused when he learned about being immortal. And unlike you..." The entity's tingling giggle filled Favius's head.

"He did not bother to ask clarifying questions. He impressed his tyrant father and their followers by displays of getting run through with swords and surviving. He succeeded in convincing the nobility of divine favor, and that him ruling the world as a god-king was nothing but inevitable." Favius swallowed. Why does it feel like I know how this will end? Demonstrating immortality. Hell, even demonstrating modern knowledge...

He recalled the look Aelia had given him after he mentioned pestilential essences, and ice grabbed his spine. The entity snapped a finger and continued after the whipcrack sound had dissipated over the background rumble of the waves.

"We both know how such stories go. Eventually it turned out that superior numbers can, in fact, overwhelm destiny. He insulted the enemy general as he was taken hostage, saying that he is nothing in the face of the immortal chosen of a god. The general laughed and had your peer cut into pieces. It took them a while to figure out the rules of his regeneration. But ultimately, he was torn into minced meat, and it was buried in five deep watery wells that the conqueror then filled up with rubble."

Favius swallowed hard. I thought about sinking into the ocean and getting buried alive, but... A vision of sharp stones, darkness, and cold water all around him crashed into his mind, and he inhaled sharply.

"Good. You understand." The entity was right behind him. Favius flinched back and looked over his shoulder, but of course it wasn't there. He ground his teeth. Just look to the side. I need to hear it out. There was already useful intelligence in there. Like that the other guy was also born as an important noble. So probably all of us were.

"Well." The entity shrugged.

"He regenerated from the largest collection of gore and offal and immediately drowned. But of course, he was revived again and again and again." The entity leaned in once more, but Favius managed not to flinch. It made a dismissive gesture.

"Anyways, the mad thing that digs itself out of its grave in a hundred years will do nothing but wait for one of the other twenty-four to put it out of its misery. By then, who knows?" It whispered into Favius's ear.

"Maybe such a situation would make you more amenable to accepting the First Blood quest?" Favius glared into the distance. Nonetheless, the ringing bells of the entity's laughter filled his mind and the air around him. He considered the story and memorized its details, yet the vision of the wet, sharp darkness at the bottom of a well did not leave him.

"Thank you," he murmured after a while, and the entity gave him an elaborate bow.

"You are welcome. I'm always happy to clarify the stakes you are playing for." It raised a hand.

"I have a special offer for you before we negotiate your reward." Favius narrowed his eyes. Given its current mood, I shudder to think of what the offer is. But with how those quests work, there isn't really anything I need a specific reward for at the moment.

"Let's hear it," said Favius, and the entity seemed to nod, though it was hard to make out with its ephemeral body.

"Fulfill your current quest within eight seasons of this world, and I shall grant you a second quest slot. Should you fail, no reward will be granted. How does that sound?" Favius's eyes widened. A second quest slot. With the use of rewards being bound to quest fulfillment, that is doubling the value I can get out of this system if I pick the right quests.

"Agreed. I'll take the deal," he said hastily.

"Very well. With that settled, I'll send you back."

"No, no, no!" Favius raised a hand and again looked over his shoulder. The entity's laughter suffused the air around him before he even began to sigh.

"You should have seen your face this meeting. Yes, yes, it has been most entertaining so far. So, will it be paper making or something else?" Favius sniffed. It's so utterly irritating to talk to something that knows everything about you. It's like having a nosy girlfriend, but worse.

"Yes," Favius replied.

"If I just use my first reward—""Yes," the entity said, gesturing broadly.

"The reward, alongside your meager intelligence, shall be sufficient to enable you to make paper within a reasonable time frame. And even if you chose the more advanced question, after a series of but a single quest, their value difference is minuscule." Favius shook his head, and again words burned themselves into his reality in front of him. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The list was curt and concise. He read the first line.

Materials: old rags > fiber crops > wood His eyes lingered on the last word. Is there smugness radiating off this text? Is it making fun of me for trying to use wood pulp instead of old clothing? Well, paper making is fundamentally about fibers, so... He read the rest of the description. Processing: rotting, pulping, boiling, caustic treatment Production: you know this Sizing: glue, alum, starch Finish: dry and polish His eyes froze on the second-to-last row.

"What the hell is sizing?" he murmured.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" replied the entity, but Favius waved it off.

"Well, it's after the 'you know this' comment on production." He sniffed.

"So the sizing is some sort of post-processing step. Maybe..." He recalled his experiments of using ink on the rough, crumbling cardboard pieces he had produced. Maybe sizing is what makes the paper interact better with ink? I remember a certain someone from my first visit in town mentioning alum. A smirk bloomed on Favius's face as he recalled the visit to the alchemist shop. If this is some sort of chemical treatment, I'm sure she can help me. He nodded and considered what to do next.

But before the thoughts could turn into actions, the white space blinked out of existence, and he lay awake in his bed. He rolled to the side and looked at the meditating Brutus, who squeezed open an eye. The Magnicultor's aura filled the room while Favius's mind was still ringing with the lingering predatory amusement of the entity.

"You talked to it?" inquired Brutus. Favius nodded and was about to open his mouth, but Brutus gestured to the desk.

"Writing materials are right there." Favius nodded and walked over, writing down the entity's words, especially the story of the other person's execution and the recipe for paper. He smiled to himself as Brutus looked over his shoulder.

"That looks like a successful night."

"Successful, but..." He sighed.

"Disturbing." He recalled the quests and the thing's behavior.

"Significantly more disturbing than before." They spent the remaining hour until sunrise discussing Favius's experience until he could no longer take the isolating weight of his protector's aura. Favius groaned and massaged his temples. Brutus rubbed his neck and smiled tightly.

"I believe it will be time for breakfast soon. Meditate for a while. I'll take care of this." He threw sand over the latest comments on the papyrus, rubbed it down, and put it into one of the pouches of his casual armor getup. Favius nodded at him gratefully. Half an hour later, Favius and Brutus sat alongside the others in the estate's dining room. Fried eggs, meat, soft bread, and various other snacks. It was a normal breakfast, one that spoke of wealth yet lacked ostentation.

Marcus greeted them with a broad grin. The two of them settled down, and servants filled their cups. Favius narrowed his eyes.

"Milk?" he inquired. Marcus shrugged.

"I thought it might be a nice contrast to our usual watery wine." Favius took a sip and let the fresh, cool taste run over his tongue. He hummed. He exchanged winks with his sisters, who were already digging into their food, and both boy and protector filled up their plates.

"Very well. I mentioned it already, but it bears repeating," said Marcus.

"You performed beyond expectations at yesterday's party. Your presentation, the duel, and the soap..." He snorted.

"I shall take care of some affairs this morning, among them sending out your books. I believe they will be received with great interest given yesterday's events." Favius gave his father a smile, yet couldn't quite keep some bitterness back. Yes, the books. Well, spreading the science is still necessary for my plans, so...

"Thank you, Father." Caliga opened her eyes and blinked cutely at her father.

"Father," she said in a voice that made her sound younger than she usually did, "Grandmother gave us some money. Is it okay if we go out into town? I believe all of us could have fun buying things. I heard of some interesting jewelers and tailors yesterday." Marcus laughed.

"Of course, of course. I was about to suggest you do so myself, unless you needed to rest after the party. Brutus, will you watch over them?"

"No," interjected Caliga before Marcus could even finish.

"I want some girl time with my sister." Urania gave a tight smile but nodded. Caliga sniffed, grinned, and gave Brutus and Favius a smug expression.

"No boys allowed." Marcus chuckled.

"Well, my little lynx, if that is the case, I shall send some of my guards along with a few female attendants, if that pleases the Young Mistress," he said, his voice rich with amusement. Caliga sniffed.

"Well, it does please the Young Mistress." Marcus laughed.

"If that is settled, son, what are your plans?" Favius smiled.

"Oh, you know, I think I'm going to acquire a few things in town as well. More practical than a bunch of trinkets."

"Trinkets are practical for women," replied Urania, now frowning at him. Favius stuck his tongue out at her, and she harrumphed. Marcus nodded and stroked his chin.

"Very well." He looked at them sternly.

"I hope this time there will be no need to escape from a sudden riot." Favius looked down at his food, yet Brutus chuckled unapologetically.

"I shall do my very best to avoid getting caught up in such unfortunate events this time, Brother."

"That would be appreciated," said Marcus dryly, yet without heat.

"Let us meet up at a bathhouse by the afternoon, so we may enjoy the comforts of the city in the proper manner." He spread his hands wide, his knife still impaling a piece of fried pork.

"It is the constitution that separates us from the barbarians, yet our baths truly elevate us above them." Brutus stroked his beard in agreement, and Favius couldn't help but grin while shaking his head. I'd love to see a big, proper bathhouse. Soon the meal ended, and his sisters departed in a riot of female freedmen and guards, several of whom were already putting on tornisters, and Favius couldn't help but shake his head. Brutus noticed his look.

"Any family guard grows wise to the consequences of going to the market with the ladies of the house. Fool he who does not bring the means to carry an unreasonable burden." They too set out and left the house, and Brutus studied Favius.

"So, where shall we go first?" Favius rubbed his chin and examined his thoughts again. I have some capital. It's a lot, but not really. And given my plans to get into trade, I need to understand prices and their dynamics. Brutus said that a silver wedge is enough to hire a skilled professional for a good while. So it's time to introduce this world to the basics of data science. He smiled at Brutus.

"So, Brutus, how might I go about finding a scribe to record prices for me?"

"Prices of what?" Favius shrugged broadly.

"Well, everything." The cultivator studied him.

"Well, I've never done it myself, but I would guess we should simply go to the Collegium of Scribes and hire an accountant or bookkeeper, depending on your needs." Favius blinked at the man.