A Terrible Mistake (1)

I was back at the cottage where the adventurers were resting. It was dusk. The sun was gone and the storm had begun its assault. Powerful winds swirled outside, joined by heavy rain. Candles lit up the room, providing a bit of warmth to an otherwise cold night.

None of the helpers were here. I sent them back to the city using my teleportation before the rain got worse. It was just me and the adventurers.

And Frank who was still standing guard outside, uncaring that he was being battered by the storm.

The cottage, meanwhile, was withstanding the power of nature with its sturdy construction, and the fact I had reinforced it with a protection spell. Which also prevented the wind from blowing inside.

I've been casting a lot of these protection spells.

But nothing could have prepared me for what Gred had to say.

"No." I said.

"With all due respect, Mr. Hermit. We need you as a witness for the guild. They're not going to believe us when we tell them we cleared an entire goblin infestation... unless you come and vouch for us."

Mr. Hermit. I should be offended by the name, but where was the lie? By definition, I was indeed a hermit.

But I could not, should not, would not grant their request.

"Don't you have anything that can verify your claims without the need for a witness?" I asked. I was pretty sure there were magical items which did exactly that. In the past, the nameplates adventurers wore around their necks recorded their kills. They killed a lot of these goblins, that should be enough evidence.

But they had no nameplates around their necks. That was unintuitive. Did civilization regress?

"Yes, but we left them back in our camp." Dalinah answered.

Nevermind, they were just stupid. How could you forget something so important?

Unless they were lying.

I activated my keen senses and peered through their clothes. I had the helpers strip down their clothes right after they were brought here, but I was very specific when I said clothes. No jewelry or other personal items, aside from their equipment, should be touched. So their nameplates should still be there, if they really had them.

And I was right. They had their nameplates hidden inside their clothes. All of them were silver. Liars.

"Your nameplates are right there." I said, pulling my coat by the neck to show that I knew. The faces Gred and his friends made when I called them out would have made me chuckle. Would have.

They were trying to make me leave the safety of my home and I wanted to know why. If this was a trick, then it would be their last.

"N-no we didn't mean to lie, Mr. Hermit. It's just that, to claim we killed an infestation would require that our plates reflect that number. But we only killed barely a hundred each and infestations number in the thousands so..." Gred blabbered on, accompanied by the synchronized nods of his companions.

"No." I said again.

This silenced the adventurers.

"Mr. Hermit.. we don't mean to force you or anything, and it won't take that long. You'll be back here before you know it!" Dalinah said.

"Why are you so insistent that I join you?" I asked, "In fact, wouldn't it be simpler if you just said you cleared the caves of goblins? Your original quest never mentioned a goblin infestation of that size or magnitude, yes?"

The adventurers looked down, defeated.

Then it clicked.

"You're all trying to rank up, aren't you?" I said, finally realizing what this was all about. They were mere silvers, the second lowest rank of adventurers. If they managed to successful claim that they cleared a goblin infestation of that magnitude, then they'd obviously gain a rank or two.

I could understand that much, but still I couldn't oblige them.

"I'm sorry," I said as I sat down on a chair near the doorway, "But I don't intend on returning to the world. Not now. Not ever."

"Mr. Hermit," Gred spoke up, "I know it is not my place to pry, and believe me we are eternally grateful for your help and hospitality..."

Just cut to the chase for goodness sake.

He was expecting an answer, so I gave him a nod.

"Why?" He asked, "Why stay here?"

The moment stretched on.

"This is my home." I answered.

Gred rubbed his temple in disappointment.

What was I supposed to do? Tell him the truth? First of all, they wouldn't believe me. Second, if they did, they'd be running away into the storm and to their deaths.

Nothing good was going to come out of this conversation. The fact that we were even having this discussion gave me a slight headache.

But maybe that's just my body reacting to the excess mana I absorbed a while back.

In any case, this was a stressful conversation and I wanted it to end, on an understanding and positive note if possible.

We needed to reach a compromise.

"I can't come with your group," I paused, letting it sink in, "And I can't offer anything else, aside from the hospitality I've already shown you, and a quick way back where you came from using teleportation magic. Other than that? No."

"Mr Hermit, if I may-" I raised a palm before Danica Redtail could finish.

"I'm sorry, but this is all I can do for everyone. To be completely honest, you're not even supposed to be here. You're not even supposed to know I exist." The words just slipped out of my mouth.

The adventurers tensed, sensing that I was losing my patience.

I was, yes. But I wasn't going to do anything other than show annoyance.

"We understand," Gred said, "We apologize, Mr. Hermit. We never should have asked in the first place."

I nodded and stood. "Well then, I'll be off for the night. The entire cottage is yours, but don't go outside. The storm is going to get stronger and you'll get lost."

As I was about to summon a portal, however, Tov suddenly stood from his bed and walked towards me. He stank of beer.

The other adventurers looked at each other, confused. The dwarf had been silent thus far. What was it now?

"You're strong," Tov suddenly said as he crossed his arms, "You look like you can be an equal to the adamantite adventurers back there at the guild."

"Tov stop-" Gred tried to shush his friend, but the dwarf simply continued.

"You possess great skills. You're a powerful magician and a skilled fighter." The dwarf pointed out.

"And?" I asked, frowning. I didn't like where this was going. And the fact that it was coming from a dwarf.

"You could be using your strength to help others," he said, "There's more than just goblins wreaking havoc in the world."

I looked at the dwarf, and our eyes locked.

"I know," I said, "And I don't care."

I saw the flash of surprise in their eyes. To them it was unexpected, to me it was the reality I lived in. I did not care. Not anymore.

But today I have been contradicting myself.

The dwarf snorted at my response and pressed on.

"Glory then? Fame? Fortune?

I shook my head. "I have no need for any of those things."

"Because you already have it all. Or should I say... had." The dwarf gave a wry smile.

"What even is the point of this?" I asked.

"You're not an elf." I froze. Did he recognize what I was?