The Broad Side of a Barn: Chapter 11 (Patreon)

In the daylight, Alderp’s mansion looked hollow and empty as the group approached, now led by Darkness, who did indeed have a sense of direction that could get them through the three kilometers of well marked roads with proper signage. The roads had been as busy as you would expect them to be during the day around a prosperous town, but the gates to the mansion were shut, and nothing moved on the grounds. Indeed, despite the fact that it was not even midday, there was an oppressive air around the manorhouse, and the shadows seemed overly deep. 

“He’s there,” Aqua said, pinching her nose and grimacing. “I can smell the stench from here. It’s awful. They might have a fully functional hellmouth now.”

“Oh great. Just what we need. An entire legion of demons,” Kazuma said, grimacing. “Right. We need an actual plan. Iris, Claire, you’re our frontliners. Aqua, Eris, you apply buffs before we go in, then be ready with healing magic. Rain, Yunyun, Lolisa, you be ready with spell support in the back.”

“What about me?!” Megumin demanded, clutching her staff and glaring angrily at Kazuma.

“You’re our trump card. When you see this crazy Adjuster guy…unload. I bet even he can’t survive a proper Explosion,” Kazuma said, giving Megumin a thumbs up.

“HAHAHA! YES, I SHALL BE THE ONE TO CLAIM VICTORY WITH BOTH-”

“SHHHHHHH!” everyone hissed at Megumin, who winced and piped down. Even she could sense the direness of their situation. 

“And what about you and Tina?” Claire demanded, glaring at Kazuma. 

“Spot troubleshooting,” Kazuma said, pulling out his bow and using his foot to help him string it. “And tactical threat re-assessment. Right, let’s buff up and do this.”

After a round of Divine Blessings for everyone, Kazuma felt jazzed enough to think that maybe they actually could do this. He stood up on his tiptoes and planted a kiss on Darkness’ cheek. “For luck.”

“Pff, you have me for that,” Eris said, but she was grinning at Darkness’ blush. 

“Alright. Iris, why don’t you give that door a knock,” Kazuma said.

Iris nodded, then walked up to the gate and politely rapped on the bars. 

“No, I mean- just break it down!” Kazuma groaned. 

“Oh, right!” Iris grinned, then kicked the gate, causing metal to squeal as the hinges were ripped free, and the wrought iron careened into the fountain 20 meters away, which was promptly obliterated and turned into a growing puddle of mud and twisted metal. 

“Well, if they didn’t know we were here, they do now,” Kazuma growled. “Right, I’m taking point. Lurk.”

Using his Thief skills, Kazuma moved forward. He hadn’t gone very far before someone tapped him on the shoulder from the rear, which made him jump and spin, bow string to his cheek.”

“Shhh! It’s me, Chris!” Eris’ voice hissed, her faint outline visible next to him. “Come on, we’ll go together. Two scouts are better than one.” 

“Right,” Kazuma muttered, and the two of them scrambled past the ruins of the fountains and to one of the servants' doors at the sides. If the outside had been oppressive, the inside made Kazuma’s spine tingle. It felt as though eyes were watching him from every shadow, and something about all the angels and lighting was…off.

“Definitely a hellmouth being opened, though not fully yet. Yuck, it really reeks here,” Chris muttered. 

“Should we just have Megumin obliterate the place with her Lina Inverse impression?” Kazuma whispered back. 

“No, there might still be living people inside. Come on,” Chris ordered. 

They snuck through the halls, and Chris giggled softly. Kazuma flinched, and glanced over at her. “What is it? You’re not going crazy, right?”

“No, it’s just, I can’t imagine the mortal boy that Aqua met all that time ago ever doing this. You’ve really grown and changed, Kazuma. I guess getting laid helped you find your courage, eh?”

Kazuma blushed. He hadn’t really thought about going headfirst into danger, beyond a vague impression he didn’t want Tina or Lolisa getting hurt, or his friends for that matter. “I just, look, this is the smart play, OK? And if we’re not smart, the whole world dies, so what’s the point of hiding at the back?”

“Hehe, you’re just trying to play off being heroic. Don’t worry, Kazuma, I approve, and so does Tina. She wants a certain amount of scuminess, but only so much.”

“Oh shut up. Wait, do you hear that?” Kazuma hissed, and both stopped.

They were in the kitchen, near a door that seemed to go into a storage room. They could hear a low, indistinct voice chanting something. Carefully, they approached the door. Kazuma put an ear to it, and the chanting became more audible. He nodded, and he and Chris gently eased the door open. 

Now they could hear the voice, but the words weren’t in a language Kazuma knew, but half recognized.

“Is that ominous latin chanting? That’s never a good sign,” Kazuma groaned. 

“It’s in High Demodic, but yeah. Not a good sign,” Chris whispered. “Look, there’s a trap door. Come on.”

They eased the trap door, and the chanting rose even louder. It was like whoever was doing it was connected to subwoofers, as the basso rumble of it made Kazuma’s bones ache. He poked his head down, and his nose was hit with the iron and sewage reek of a slaughter house. 

Down in the basement, a glowing purple hexagram with burning red runes lay at the center. There were black robed figures chanting around the circle, and Alderp was there in the middle. His fat, bloated form naked and splayed out, with runes marked on his forehead, and all the lines of the hexagram flowing into him. Maybe some sort of empowerment or transformation ritual?

 As Kazuma watched, another robbed figure dragged a writhing cook forward. The man was bound and gagged, and struggling desperately. Before Kazuma could react, a bat winged demon with lanky ashen hair reached down and using his razor sharp talons, slashed the servant’s throat. The dark robed figures caught the blood, then poured it into the hexagram. It caught fire, and the flames fed into Alderp’s body. 

“Fuck, they’re killing captives!” Kazuma hissed to Chris. He looked around, and saw Walter tied up, along with four others. There were dozens of bodies tossed in a corner. The ritual was nearing its end, even as the robed figures grabbed a screaming maid by her hair.

Kazuma made a snap, and stupid, decision. He shot the robed figure with an arrow, then darted forward. He grabbed the maid while the cultist scrabbed at the arrow in his throat, hoisted her over his shoulder, then grabbed Walter and slung him under his arm.

“CREATE WATER! FREEZE! EXPEDIOUS RETREAT!” Kazuma shouted, even as Chris darted in and grabbed the other three captives, two young children, and an older maid. 

Somehow, Kazuma jumped up the ladder, even as the demon bellowed, “AFTER THEM!” 

There were howls behind them, but Kazuma gritted his teeth and ran for all he was worth, the sobbing maid on his shoulder, and the shouting Walter under his arm, Chris and her burdens hot on his heels.

They burst out of the mansion, and Kazuma started yelling, “MEGUMIN! DANGER CLOSE! DANGER CLOSE!” 

Though Megumin probably didn’t know what Danger Close meant, she was all too eager to get in her daily “medically necessary” Explosion. 

I am the one who gazes upon the end of all numbers-

“CUT THE CRAP AND BLOW IT UP!” Kazuma panted, even as a bolt of burning green flames flew past his head. 

Huffing at the indecency of cutting short the drama, Megumin adjusted her oversized hat, adjusted her grip on her staff, and cried, “EXPLOSION!” 

The effect was immediate. An entire barn door made of compressed air and heat slammed into Kazuma’s back, knocking the screaming maid and noble idiot out of his arms as all three were picked up and hurled forward on the blast wave. Kazuma could feel the hairs on the back of his neck frying, and he thought he was a goner until Darkness leapt up and snagged him, holding him tight to her chest like a wide receiver catching a Hail Mary pass. 

“I have you!” Darkness gasped, and Kazuma clung to her as she crouched down amidst the smoke and flames.

In a few seconds, most of it was over, and Kazuma coughed and fought his way to his feet. He’d lost his bow, but he drew Chunchumaru. “EVERYONE, EYES UP! NO FUCKING WAY THAT KILLED HIM!” 

Everyone else was coughing and sputtering, but they got to their feet and into a rough semblance of a formation. 

“Ah. A pity. I do so love to swoop out of the smoke and shadows and catch everyone unawares,” a refined voice sighed. 

There was a flap of wings, and the smoke was whisked away. There, dressed in a somewhat blackened and burnt suit, was Maxwell the Adjuster, his wild mane of ashen hair whipping around his body. Below him was the still-smoldering crater where Alderp’s mansion had once stood. And, all around him in the air, rose a steady stream of cackling imps, hellwasps, balrog looking things, and weird demons and devils Kazuma had no names for. 

There, at the bottom of the crater, was a crackling purple portal, probably exactly where that hexagram had been. 

“Another pity,” Maxwell sighed. “The portal is still too small for a proper army, but-”

TWANG! 

A massive silver javelin took Maxwell square in the chest. He blinked, looked down on it, and coughed slightly, black bile leaking from his lips.. “Oh. My. Well then.”

“Talking ain’t a free action, asshole! GET HIM!” Kazuma ordered, and lowered Chunchumaru. 

“LIGHT OF SABER!” Yunyun bellowed, and cut down half a dozen demons with one spell.

“SACRED EXPLODE!” Iris roared, and her magical blade turned a score of demons to ash.

Rain winced, and managed, “Um, Fireball?” But she did her house proud, and killed three imps with one blast. 

Claire skewered a goat hoofed demon with burning wings that tried to rush them, while Kazuma desperately battered at two imps. Darkness was sniping the big ones out of the sky with cold precision, and it was all Kazuma could do to keep the trash mobs off her and the casters alongside Iris and Claire. Lolisa did what she could, using illusions to distract demons and some minor hexes to slow their foes, but her very presence on the side of the humans seemed to enrage the other demons. 

The goddesses, however, had thrown off their mortal guises, and gone full super saiyan. Both of their auras glowed with power, and their battle lust was a tangible thing. 

“YYAAAAAAAA!” Aqua screamed, and blue angel wings sprouted from her back. She shot forward, her fists exploding demons large and small with a single punch. Eris wasn’t far beyond her, firing off a series of silver orbs that struck down dozens of demons. 

Then, both of them clashed with Maxwell. The resulting fight was like something out of a shonen action manga. Kazuma, even with his enhanced senses, couldn’t fully track the battle as the three combatants hurled around the field, fighting hand to hand. There were blasts of holy and profane energies that devastated whatever was still standing from Megumin’s attack, and the noise was tremendous. 

Thankfully, it only lasted about a minute and a half, though it felt like an eternity to Kazuma. Maxwell, wounded by the blessed silver that Darkness had put through him, was just a little bit too slow. Together, Aqua and Eris herded him towards the portal. With one final blast, they launched Maxwell into the hellmouth, then hastily sealed it. 

After that, it was still a battle to take down the dozens of demons still left, but the battle was more along the lines of Iris attempting to see if she could kill more demons than everyone else combined. Which, as it turned out, she definitely could. 

“VICTORY!” Iris bellowed, planting her steel clad foot atop the severed head of a balrog, and raising her holy blade on high. 

“We…we did it?” Kazuma gasped, looking around. “Uh, anybody hurt?”

“You’re stepping on me,” Megumin’s voice said, and Kazuma looked down on her. 

“I know that! I was trying to keep you alive, you ungrateful menace! If I hadn’t stayed on you, some imp would have come along and cut your throat!” 

“Yes, but they’re all dead, so get off of me, please.”

Kazuma hastily stepped aside, and Yunyun hurried forward, helping her clanmate up. 

“That was…not so bad?” Kazuma said, looking around at the devastation. There were demon corpses turning to black ash all over the place, fires everywhere, and the mansion was nothing but rubble, but they hadn’t all died. 

“Sir Kazuma, I…I must thank you,” Walter gasped. He was clutching his side and carrying a sword he’d picked up somewhere. Its blade was notched and covered in black bile, so he’d clearly not been standing idle. “You saved my life…”

“Yeah, well, couldn’t let the demons have you,” Kazuma grumbled. 

“I am only mildly injured,” Claire said, her hair matted and bloody. Aqua hurried up and mended her hurts, but aside from that, the party had gotten off remarkably lightly.

“Ugh, I’m going to be stuck performing cleansing rituals here for WEEKS. And everyone here stinks of demons!” Aqua said, after healing Walter’s injured side as well. 

The rescued maid, butler, and two young servants were all weeping, recounting a horrific tale of their master ordering everyone to the basement. 

“We saw it wasn’t right, and young Master Walter protested, saying he smelled foul play when he saw the figures in robes, and that ashen-haired monster! Then, Lord Alderp did something to poor Master Walter, who fell unconscious! Then they put Lord Alderp at the center of the circle, and started killin’ folks left and right!” the butler blubbered. 

“You will all come to the capital for a full inquest,” Iris said firmly. She nodded to Walter. “You fought beside us this day. I am certain you will be cleared of all wrong doing. Indeed, I think a knighthood might be in store, Walter Alexei. Though I am afraid the crown will likely seize your adopted father’s lands and titles for his crimes.”

“More than generous, highness,” Walter said, giving a shaking bow and then nearly toppling over when he tried to straighten. He grimaced. “Appologies, I feel as though my body isn’t my own after the blow to my head.”

“No need to apologize. Come. I fear we must depart in haste. Cousin Tina, you shall need to accompany us,” Iris said.

“Not yet,” Darkness said with a shake of her head. “Aqua, you said something about a cleansing ritual?”

“Yeah, and it will take even me a few days, even with Eris’s help. We’ll need to repair the hole in reality here to make sure this place doesn’t become ultra cursed as the hell juice and stuff leaks through,” Aqua agreed.

Darkness nodded and turned to Iris, bowing slightly. “Apologies, Cousin Iris. But as these are my family’s lands, I must stand watch until the threat has passed entirely.”

“An eminently suitable proposal, I spoke in haste. Yes, of course, you must stay and safeguard the goddesses,” Iris agreed instantly. “Should we send a delegation from the church?”

“No need, I’ve already summoned Archbishop Adams and the ecumenical council by appearing to them in a vision,” Eris said, and Aqua nodded. 

“Yeah, I got permission to override my usual limitations and told Zestia and the rest of my boys to hurry here as fast as they can!” Aqua agreed. 

“Very well, but as soon as that happens, I will require your presence in the capital. My father is still on the frontlines, so I must pass judgement myself. I would have you there to give testimony,” Iris said.

“We will not tarry a moment longer than required,” Darkness agreed. She bent over and gave Iris a hug. “Thank you, Iris. You were magnificent. Like Queen Artoria, come again.”

Iris beamed, then with the surviving servants and her retainers, teleported directly to the capital with Rain casting the spell. It seemed the scenic route wasn’t an option now that haste was required.

After that…Kazuma, Yunyun, Darkness, and Lolisa just sat around while Megumin snored, and Aqua and Eris began performing a complex ritual. 

“Well, this is fucking boring,” Kazuma grumbled. He yawned into his hand. “I guess we take this in shifts? I mean, we’re going to be here a few days, right? We could go back to the mansion to sleep.”

“No, we shall bivouac in the field, here,” Darkness said, indicating an area that was less burned and damaged from the battle. “Lolisa, take my purse. Go to town, and purchase some tents and supplies. There should be enough to purchase a cart to bring it with you.” 

“Kinda weird no one’s come to check things out, isn’t it? That battle had to catch everyone’s eyes for miles,” Kazuma commented as Lolisa hurried off.

Yunyun gave Kazuma a perplexed look. “Kazuma, e-everyone for miles and miles around knows what one of Megumin’s Explosions looks like. Why w-would they come and investigate? S-she sets one off within hearing distance almost every, um, day.”

Kazuma slapped his forehead. “Oh. Yeah. Right. Well, at least we won’t get people poking around the super cursed crater.”

Just before sunset, Lolisa returned with a cart loaded with supplies, and they pitched three tents. One for Yunyun and the now groggily awake Megumin, the other for Kazuma, Darkness, and Lolisa, and the last for Eris and Aqua, though they were still going strong on the chanting. 

“We’ll take first watch. For the first watch of the night is the most laden with silent mystery, and when foes are most apt to strike!” Megumin cackled. 

Yunyun shrugged and nodded. “Sure. I-I took a nap this afternoon, too.”

“We’ll catch some ZZZs and relieve you in the morning,” Kazuma promised, and Megumin and Yunyun nodded, going off to sit on the rim of the crater and watch as Eris and Aqua continued their ritual. He wasn’t sure why the ritual involved doing the YMCA, but that’s what it looked like the goddesses were doing. 

Darkness groaned as Kazuma and Lolisa helped her out of her armor, and she flapped her sodden undershirt, blushing slightly. “I am, ah, r-rather confined in my breastplate, even with the, er, extra room. It’s also stifling. I do enjoy the pain, but, ah the relief when it is over…I must be filthy and reeking of perspiration. You probably don’t wish to share a tent with me at all…”

“Hmmm, Kazuma said, and lifted up Darkness’s arm. He sniffed it, making her gasp in shock, then she squealed when he actually licked her pit. “Mmm. Tastes salty. Bit like sandpaper, though. When was the last time you shaved?”

“K-Kazuma! That, that is hardly…” Darkness wiggled uncomfortably, then sighed. “...before the tournament…”

“Yeah, well, I bet Kazuma doesn’t shave his pits at all,” Lolisa said, and poked Kazuma in the armpit. 

“H-hey! I’m ticklish!” Kazuma gasped. 

“Ooo, are you, hmm, let’s see if he is, Mistress Tina,” Lolisa giggled. 

Soon, Kazuma was nearly crying with helpless laughter as both Lolisa and Darkness tickled him mercilessly, both girls first stripping him out of his shirt, then his pants. Darkness began to rub at his groin, and Kazuma could feel his excitement rising.

“HEY YOU HORNY IDIOTS. YOU KNOW WE CAN STILL SEE YOU EVEN IF IT’S DARK, RIGHT?!” Megumin shouted.

“Um, yes, we’re Crimson Demons! A-and w-we can see in the dark!” Yunyun added somewhat breathlessly.

“Um, sorry!” Darkness called back, then opened the tent flap and practically tossed Kazuma and Lolisa inside. 

Kazuma lay sprawled on his back as Darkness crawled inside and closed the flap behind her. It was a standard A-frame tent, with wooden poles that was about a meter and a half across, and twice that in length, its low ceiling about a meter high. They had piled in blankets and some bedrolls, so it was padded, but still a bit rough. 

Darkness was panting now, and quickly peeled out of her shirt, tossing it aside. Kazuma reached up and unhooked her bra, and Darkness growled and yanked off his pants roughly, before ripping off Kazuma’s boxers. She then reached over and peeled Lolisa out of her clothes as well.

“You know,” Darkness whispered, on her arms splayed over Kazuma and Lolisa, who lay panting and naked below her. “Battle has always made me lusty. This one is no exception. I have had to deal with my…frustrations…for hours. Do you know what I require?”

“That the two of us screw your brains out?” Kazuma guessed.

“Hmm, you want to perform a flanking maneuver, while I handle the front?” Lolisa giggled. 

“Commence the attack!” Kazuma cried, and Darkness gasped as he and Lolisa dragged her down. 

“Hold on,” Lolisa said, and rummaged a pack for a moment, before passing Kazuma what looked like a wrapper for sheep sausage, and a bottle of oil. “Put that on, and apply the oil liberally. You, uh, know what a condom is, right?”

“Er, yeah, saw them in health class, but this looks like sheep gut,” Kazuma said suspiciously. 

“Pig, actually, but yes. But better than the alternative,” Lolisa told him. “Now, get moving, soldier!”

Kazuma shrugged and did as instructed, even as Darkness began to moan and tremble from Lolisa’s fingers’ ministrations. 

Her ass was so fat, Kazuma could barely even do more than tickle her butthole with his dick at first, though with liberal application of the oil, he did manage to get inside. 

“Ah! K-Kazuma, that feels, that feels…”

“Uh, do I stop,” Kazuma said, his tip pressed against her anus.

“No! It feels amazing! Harder!” Darkness begged. 

Spreading Darkness’ cheeks wide, Kazuma thrust harder, and she bucked and squirmed, even as Lolisa began to go down on her from the front, reaching one hand up to pinch Darkness’ nipples. 

They went at it for several minutes, with Darkness gasping and moaning with pleasure, her body shaking as she orgasmed once, twice, three times in quick succession, her eyes rolling up in her head as she cried, “Oh, gods! Oh gods! K-Kazuma! Lolisa! Oh, GODS!”

When Darkness called his name, Kazuma couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He bucked one more time, then groaned and pulled free.

Unfortunately, there was a bit of a mess, and Kazuma had to use one of the blankets to clean it all up, then tossed the stinking thing out the back of the tent. Darkness didn’t seem to care though, laying there, panting and cuddling with Lolisa. Kazuma came back, and the two of them wiggled aside to make room for him.

“Mmm,” Darkness said, running her hands over Kazuma’s chest. “That was…good. I can see…advantages…to this arrangement…”

“Yeah?” Kazuma said, grinning stupidly.

“Mmm. What about you, Lolisa?” Darkness said, reaching over and stroking the succubus’ damp sex.

“I’m…I’m going to get fat,” Lolisa sighed happily. “I’m so full…I think I could fuck someone and I wouldn’t hardly even take anything.”

“Well, let’s find out,” Darkness said. “I’m still horny. Kazuma, I want her to ride you, while you…kiss me. I want you to take both of us.”

“I’m a bit drained…” Kazuma said, but Darkness squeezed his hand. 

“Take all you need from me. My stamina is endless,” she promised.

A quick Drain Touch, and Kazuma was ready for more action. He lay back as Lolisa crawled onto his legs, and Darkness lowered herself onto his lips. He gasped with pleasure as Lolisa impaled herself on him, then began to rock back and forth as he probed at Darkness with his tongue.

Above him, the two women embraced, playing with one another’s breasts, their lips locked together. Even from his perspective on his back, it was the hottest thing Kazuma had ever seen. He began to buck his hips and head both, thrusting into Lolisa, who sighed and rocked her own hips in time with his, even as Darkness rolled herself against him. 

He lasted longer this time, with both women sighing and trying to stifle moans and cries. Eventually, he thrust fully into Lolisa, then erupted within her. He did feel something leave him, and he groaned, then consciousness faded. 

“Is he…is he alright?” Darkness whispered worriedly. She could feel breath coming from Kazuma’s mouth, and see his chest rising and falling.

“Yes, just tired. We did fight a battle today, and you were up all last night,” Lolisa whispered. “He’s only mortal.”

“Mmm. But you’re not. I’m still hungry. Are you?” Darkness asked, nibbling at Lolisa’s ear. 

“For you? Always,” Lolisa said, and pushed Darkness over, before positioning herself above Darkness’ lips. It was another hour before Lolisa finally passed out, and Darkness lay there, panting.

“Ugh, I think I nodded off,” Kazuma groaned, getting up on one elbow and shaking his head. “Sorry. Gotta piss.”

He crawled outside and did his business, then came back in, only for Darkness to grab him and pull him atop her.

“Still? Weren’t you just face fucking Lolisa?” Kazuma chuckled. 

“Yes. But I want you now,” Darkness begged him. “Quickly. While she’s still asleep. One more time, then we can rest.”

 Chuckling, Kazuma positioned himself above Darkness, then bit at her neck. She moaned, and he thrust into her. He was still tired, so it was only a few dozen thrusts, then he gasped for breath, and expended himself.

“S-sorry…still…sleepy,” Kazuma yawned. 

“It was perfect,” Darkness told him, and kissed the top of his head. She yawned herself. “Even…even my appetite… has…it’s…limits…”

Kazuma fell asleep atop Darkness, with the big blonde noble hugging him to her massive chest. Lolisa snored contentedly beside them, a bit of drool leaking out of her mouth, and Kazuma’s seed from her vagina. She dreamed of becoming pregnant with his child, though that was patently impossible. No succubus she’d ever known had been able to conceive. 

“Thank you, Highness,” Walter said, smiling as Iris stood, ending the brief audience. “I am grateful you spared my life.”

“You are welcome, Walter Alderp. You earned your life with your own deeds, attempting to protect the innocent, and even taking up steel against your father,” Iris said.

Walter nodded and reached into his shirt. “Here. A small token of my gratitude.”

He withdrew a gold-plated necklace and offered it to the princess, a small smile on his lips.

Iris shook her head, and closed his hands on the necklace. “No gifts, Master Alderp. That is not the way of a liege and her servants. I shall be the one to grant you gifts.”

Looking slightly miffed at the refusal of his gift, Walter bowed his head and tucked the necklace away. He was shown to a small guest room in the corner of the palace, where he would stay until the trial. There was a wash basin on the nightstand, and Walter filled it, before sitting on a plain wooden stool before it. He cut his finger, and a single drop of blood fell into the bowl. The surface rippled, and not his face, but the wan and pale face of an ashen-haired man appeared.

Well? Maxwell the Adjuster growled. 

“She refused the necklace. But they don’t suspect a thing. The pesky goddesses aren’t around, but I don’t think I can make a move before they arrive. We’ll have to play it slow and safe,” Walter said, his voice suddenly deepening, and his posture slouching slightly. 

Very well. I am patient. Normally, I don’t let anyone renege on a contract, but…if you can deliver, Alderp, it will be worth it. Keep in touch. 

The water rippled again, and the face vanished. Walter grinned at his own reflection, rubbing his own young and handsome features. He chuckled, then washed himself in the tainted water, and tossed it out.

He had time.