I let Radelis breathe for a while. He looked like he had sprinted a mile even though I'd only dragged him meters out of camp.
"You're going to do something for me, Radelis."
His head snapped up. "What… what do you mean?"
"I mean, you're going to be my spy inside the Bracelet Club."
The words hit him harder than the wind. He froze, then narrowed like he wasn't sure if I was joking or not.
"You want me to… spy?"
"Yes. That little club of yours is made of transmigrators. That makes it dangerous. And I don't like danger unless it's in my control. So you're going to tell me everything they talk about starting from next semester. Clear?"
He shifted from foot to foot, biting his lip. "I could… I could do that, maybe, but… what do I get out of it?"
"What do you get? Simple. Protection. You've seen the storm we're in. Class Three Fluviums don't play games. The Slime Octopus will tear through the weak like wet paper. You want to live through that? Then you'll stick with me. I'll keep you alive."
He hesitated. I leaned in closer.
"And it won't stop there. I can help you get stronger. The Argemenes has resources the rest of you could only dream of. Training, supplies, weapons and such. If you play this right, you won't stay a background character forever. I'll even let your four little friends in on the deal but it stays secret. My secret doesn't leave that tent, or…"
"…or what?"
"Or I destroy the Bracelet Club. I'll wipe you all out. Don't doubt it. I'm an Argemenes you know. Political backing, power, authority, I can do whatever I want. And if you think being a transmigrator protects you, you're even dumber than you look. Understand?"
His shoulders sagged. He sighed, defeated, steam curling in the air from his breath.
"Alright. I'll do it. I'll… I'll give you reports. Once a week?"
"Once a week from next semester. No excuses."
He rubbed his hands together, still shivering.
"Fine. I'll do it. Just… don't expect miracles. It's hard enough being transmigrated into an NPC student, you know? We're weak compared to the main cast."
"You'll get stronger. All you have to do is deliver. Simple. Fail me, and you'll find out firsthand how fragile NPCs really are."
That got him. He stiffened, then nodded quickly, like his neck was on a string.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'll deliver."
For a moment, he tried to lighten the mood, forcing a thin smile.
"I guess I should consider myself lucky. I didn't end up meeting a cruel Outer."
"Oh, don't get it twisted. I'm not kind. If the Bracelet Club ever finds out what I am, I'll kill you and your friends without hesitation. I won't blink. Understand that."
The smile faltered. His face drained pale, but he still nodded.
"I won't tell anyone, not even my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend? You've got one here?"
He blinked a bit sheepish. "Yeah. She's an Outer too. We got transmigrated into MoDS together. Couple NPCs, believe it or not. Got lucky, I guess."
"Lucky."
"Yeah. Really lucky. I know most of the others didn't get to stick with someone they knew from our world, but I did. So… thanks. For letting me live, I mean."
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. Instead. My form flickered, splitting into dark afterimages as I blurred out of sight. When the snow cleared, Radelis was alone, standing in the cold with his breath steaming around him.
Now the Outer issue id handled. The Bracelet Club would feed me everything I needed to know, one report at a time. And Radelis? He wouldn't betray me. He couldn't. And if he ever decided to pay it, I'd kill him and his little girlfriend.
°°°°°°
I stood back watching Verdamona run herself ragged in the morning. The girl had fire, I'll give her that. Even with the storm biting down on us and half the camp looking like they were one cough away from frostbite, she held her chin high, barking orders, pointing at tents and moving injured bodies into clusters.
The other students baeely followed her. Some stumbled, some complained under their breath, some just looked at her with that glazed, defeated stare. She didn't let it stop her. She didn't break but I could see the cracks.
Her shoulders trembled when she thought no one was looking. Her hands shook when she reached to lift another blanket over an injured student. And when she finished giving out the last order, her voice faltered like the exhaustion was finally starting to bleed through.
That was when she noticed me.
Her eyes lingered on me across the snow, then softening into something more tired. She sighed before trudging toward me.
"I'm still mad at you."
"I'd be worried if you weren't."
She folded her arms tight against herself, clearly waiting for me to give her some kind of explanation or apology. But I wasn't about to. Instead, I reached into my coat, dug around, and pulled out the single thing guaranteed to shift the conversation.
A massive bag of potato chips. Her mouth fell open just a little.
"What? How…?"
"I always come prepared. Unlike some people who think leading a hundred half-dead students into a blizzard doesn't require food. Consider it a quick snack."
Her eyes flicked from the bag to me, suspicion warring with temptation. I could practically hear her stomach growl in the silence. Finally, she took the bag, clutching it close like it was some kind of priceless treasure.
"Thanks. I haven't eaten since yesterday."
"Then you're welcome. And if you want more, come by my tent later."
Her head snapped up, her cheeks flushing pink even against the cold.
"What are you planning to do to me?"
I rolled my eyes. Seriously, do I look like I'd take advantage of a hungry young woman?
"Nothing. Relax. You're my friend, remember? I'm worried you'll collapse before your noble 'save everyone' routine runs its course."
Her lips pressed tight, clearly caught between snapping at me and thanking me again. She settled on silence, tearing into the chips instead. I turned, about to head off to train, but something made me stop. Maybe it was the way she looked so small under all that bravado. Maybe it was the fact that everyone here seemed content to lean on her until she broke.
I faced her again.
"Listen, Verdamona. I'm on your side. But you need to get this through your head. You can't save everyone. They're not kids. They're adults. If they die, they die. That's just how it is."
"I know that but I want to try. Even if I can't save everyone, I still want to save as many as I can."
I sighed, shaking my head. She does have a hero complex like the story. Sheesh...
"Fine. But don't overdo it. I don't want to see you wreck yourself for almost three hundred people who wouldn't last a second in the real world. Remember to come to my tent at night."
That got her. She blinked, caught off guard, and for the first time all day, a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips.
"Thanks."
I didn't answer. I just gave her one last look, then turned and walked away. Now then, it's time for me to look at my progress. After all, I have a duel with Thales today.