Isekai For Hire Chapter 23: A Slight Miscalculation

Read chapter 23 of Isekai For Hire by wk_rust on NovelPedia.

A Slight Miscalculation Lorena stared as the beast charged. Are you okay? Where have you been? Please focus, I don’t want to die, again. Lorena dove to the left, narrowly avoiding the beast as it charged. She came out of the dive with a newfound energy and slammed Rendclaw’s Vengeance into Lorv for a Vicious Stab. Combo Points (1/5) What is this? The curse activated, shadows seeping into the wound in Lorv’s gut. He roared in pain as the shadows swirled around the blade, then shoved themselves back into the wound, slashing his health by another 5%. What did you do? I don’t—This is… Ren trailed off, her voice distracted. Lorena glanced down as a warm breeze brushed against her ankles and saw the shadows retreating all around her. Lorv took his wide stance, bony fingers wrapped around the staff as he raised it overhead. The wave of shadows were coming. She had to escape, but she knew she wouldn’t make it to the door in time. The stair portal had put her out in the back of the shop, and she had seconds at most before he finished his cast. Run. Ren said, her voice shaky, clearly still weak. But she was alive. Lorena couldn’t let Ren die, again. Her mind grasped at ideas, vague concepts flashing through her mind. She wasted her Gouge, that was foolish, she knew she should have held it. Then she remembered, a moment of clarity in the chaos, the flash powder. She scrambled with her inventory and withdrew one. Two seconds left on the cast. She threw the powder in the air, then brought her daggers together. She ripped them apart, sparks flying from the metal. Then a blinding light as the flash powder ignited. Lorv fell back, covering his eyes. The beast lowered his head, eyes shut. Where did you get that? She had fifteen seconds. She activated Sprint and flew through the shop, not caring about knocking things over, it was far too late for a clean exit. She burst through the door, nearly slipping on the wet cobblestones. Her skin sizzled against the cold rain as she sprinted down the street. Harkyn is following us. Lorena felt a pang of shame as she glanced over her shoulder and saw Harkyn following her down the street, the rain still repelling as he walked. This wasn’t exactly the display of competence she was hoping he’d witness, but it would still work. It had to. That’s part of the plan. Oh, so you do have a plan? Because this feels like we’re just running. Lorena’s heart swelled at the criticism and mocking tone. I thought you were gone. So did I. Ren’s voice was faint. I could hear you. I just couldn’t answer. It was like being trapped under water. Lorena’s chest ached, and not from the burning in her lungs as she gasped for breath, her legs carrying her through the last of the Sprint buff. That sounds terrifying. She turned the corner and skidded to a stop. A silhouette was standing several feet in front of her. It was a human, scrawny and tall with a large two handed mace swung over his shoulder. “Do you have any idea how badly you just fucked up?” She pivoted and spun to the right, darting down a side street. Her legs burned with exhaustion. She was nearing her limit. Harkyn stepped into the other end of the alleyway and stared at her with darkened eyes, his staff raised in front of him. Not again. Please Goddess Tevra. Lorena could feel Ren’s fear, visceral and real. Images of the alleyway brawl flashed through her mind. Lorena turned and jumped, running several feet up the wall. She pushed off and bounded to the opposing wall and threw her hands up, her fingers catching on the lip of the roof. The coarse limestone provided some amount of grip, but the rain made everything ten times harder. She scrambled with her feet, trying to find purchase to heave herself over the edge. “Fun fact,” she heard Harkyn yell from below. Her left foot caught on something, a tiny crack in the wall. She pushed with her foot and pulled, her fingers straining but it was enough. She rolled over the edge of the roof and landed on her back, gasping. “Te