After the torment of training under the scorching Siberian sun, the only pleasant thing about the day was the prospect of finally eating something decent. The noisy guild canteen resembled a school cafeteria. The same grim-faced cooks wore grease-stained aprons, and instead of proper food, there were only suspicious-looking cutlets and pasta. The air was thick with the scent of cheap oil and the exhaustion of dozens of hunters crowded into the room after a heavy shift.
I waited patiently in line, received a tray of cold meat and vegetables that were clearly past their prime, and was about to leave when I spotted a chocolate pudding in the display case. Small, neat, in a plastic cup.
"I'll take this one," I said, pointing to the desired dessert, feeling my foul mood improve at the thought of a sweet taste on my tongue. The cook, a man of about fifty with a face that showed chronic disappointment in humanity, didn't even look up from his dirty cutting board.
"You're short on points, rookie. Pudding is fifteen. You only have three," he said, stabbing a dirty knife at the terminal where my embarrassing number flashed. "Take the porridge. It's free."
I stared at him with a look containing my entire disappointment in humanity and the cruel bureaucratic machine.
"Seriously? Selling food for points? This isn't a school. You're paid by the government," my bad mood boiled over. "Maybe after ten more portals we close, you'll give us a corporate pen? Or will you start giving out stickers for every demon we kill? On the hall of fame, next to the hunter's name."
At that moment, a familiar goofy laugh echoed from behind. Dima came over, staggering slightly, and threw an arm around my shoulder, nearly dislocating my collarbone.
"Bro, don't get so emotional!" He smiled widely, as if he'd just been given a new pair of brass knuckles for easier skull-crushing. "That's standard guild currency. You close portals, hand in trophies, and part of the proceeds come back in points. State taxes haven't been abolished, so the higher-ups try to avoid them for our sake."
Inwardly, of course, I agreed with the guild leadership. Feeding hundreds of unemployed people for free was the height of stupidity. There had to be incentives. But outwardly, I continued to play the part of the disgruntled rookie.
"Sacrificing lives for dessert. Civilization has reached its peak," I muttered, feeling Dima pat my back.
"Yeah. For example, I've earned enough points for two puddings. Yesterday's rat party gave me forty points. Want a snack?"
Compared to me, Dima was far ahead in the points system. He had officially exterminated dozens of rats, while I had only managed three. Of course, considering Hanako's achievements, the body count was much higher, but her success was recorded separately in her own bank account.
"I'll get it myself," I said, refusing the friendly offer.
We headed to an empty table. We had already resigned ourselves to just meat and vegetable soup when two hunters, a young man and a woman, timidly approached our table.
"May we join you?" asked Igor, the shield user whose life almost ended last night. Svetlana, the elementalist with the fireballs, stood slightly behind him. They looked like bullied school kids who had decided to befriend a celebrity.
"Sure, sit down," Dima immediately moved over, making room. "There are enough chairs for everyone."
They sat at our table. Igor looked at me straight. "We wanted to thank you. For yesterday. If it wasn't for you, that thing could have cost me a leg. Or worse."
"Yes, thank you," Svetlana added quietly but confidently. "You acted so fast. I didn't even have time to realize what was happening."
"It's nothing," I said nonchalantly, poking the suspicious meat with a fork. "Adrenaline, instinct. Anyone would run in that situation."
"Not everyone," Igor chuckled cynically. "Most people in a panic only think of themselves. You jumped, but in the opposite direction of fear."
An awkward silence settled again. Svetlana glanced at my simple tray, then at her own, where an untouched pudding sat.
"Hey, where's your dessert?" she asked.
"We don't have enough points," the fake sad tone in my voice sounded convincing even to myself. A second later, both of their puddings appeared on my tray.
"Take them," Igor said. "You can't pay off a life debt with pudding, but at least your conscience will be at ease this way."
I looked at the two puddings, then at their serious faces. There was no pity in their gestures, only genuine gratitude. It was unexpected. Who would have thought these people would remember a small kindness in a world like this?
"Alright, since you insist," I finally said, taking one of the cups. "Thank you."
We began to eat. Dima, as usual, chatted constantly about yesterday's mission, turning our failure into an epic tale. While enjoying the sweet chocolate, Igor asked another hesitant question.
"Listen, Zhenya. You kicked that rat away so skillfully. Do you have a strong lineage? An ancient noble family?"
The question irritated me. Again with the blood and ancestors.
"No," I replied shortly. "There is a lineage, but it only helps with taming monsters, that's all."
"Then how did you move so fast?" Igor pressed.
"Spiritual contract," I said with a shrug. "You make a pact with a monster. You give up part of your life energy, and it shares its power. Symbiosis, not parasitism."
Svetlana looked horrified. "But that's dangerous. Monsters are bloodthirsty."
"Bloodthirsty and treacherous? Yes, almost a hundred percent," I finished her sentence. "But even the most dangerous monster can be negotiated with if you know what to offer. The problem is, most people prefer to use slavery seals, crushing the creature's will. Such monsters won't share true power."
Svetlana's gaze became sharp. "Your words sound like you don't believe in human superiority. Are you a follower of the Church of Destruction?"
"Do you believe in the Cult of Supremacy?" I asked her back.
I looked at her frightened face. "Church of Destruction? No. I do believe humans are naturally food for monsters. But I recognize individual strength. I believe in the Mother of Humanity in my own way."
After eating, we said goodbye. I was looking forward to the sofa at home, but Dima had other plans.
"Gym, bro! Physical training is sacred for the guild!"
Despite my protests, Dima was like a bulldozer. He dragged me to the gym filled with the scent of sweat and iron. There, he pointed to a heavy barbell as a challenge.
"Come on, Zhenya, show us what you can do," Dima urged.
I approached the barbell, pretending to study it awkwardly. I grabbed it, made my hands shake, grunted with effort, and let the iron stay unmoved.
"It's a bit heavy," I said with a calm face.
Suppressed laughter broke out from the muscular hunters nearby. Dima frowned, but I stopped him. I didn't care what they thought. I chose a light weight and finished the workout with a perfect act.
"Okay, workout's over," I said after an hour.
"Wait a minute," Dima caught up with me in the locker room. "The real fun awaits us at the club!"
Though initially reluctant, I eventually gave in. I sent a message to Airi that I'd be late because Dima was dragging me to find women. Airi's reply was threatening. Do not bring back trash or she would remove them from the world.
The Night of Eternity club welcomed us with a deafening bass and neon lights. Dima immediately pulled me to the bar, ordering cheap spirits that tasted like infernal chemicals.
"Move like you're at prom!" Dima shouted in the crowd.
I tried to go with the flow with incredibly awkward movements, like a puppet with cut strings. Dima burst out laughing until he cried.
"Bro! You look like an electrified stork! Is that how everyone danced at your graduation?"
A few girls nearby snickered. I just smiled shyly and said the trends must have changed. We went out for fresh air in the smoking area.
There, we saw two drunk thugs cornering two medical students, Alina and Katya. The thugs were being aggressive.
"Leave me alone, please," one of the girls muttered in fear.
Dima tossed his cigarette. His goofy nature vanished, replaced by a cold, lethal aura. "Hey guys, got a light?" his voice was calm but dangerous.
One thug tried to bully him, but Dima moved like lightning. He grabbed the man's throat, lifted him, and threw him into a metal trash can until he was out cold. The second thug charged, but Dima tripped him, sending him face-first into the asphalt.
"Get up and don't let your soul be found here again," Dima growled.
The thugs fled in terror. The girls thanked us with pale faces. Dima smiled kindly again and introduced us.
"My name is Alina," the brunette said. "And this is Katya. Are you hunters?"
"Just rookies, but yes," Dima confirmed.
We eventually joined them at a table. Another notification from Airi came in. Hanako emptied the fridge and Irina was waiting for me to eat. I replied that I would send a voice message for Irina so she would eat.
Dima ordered more drinks, looking very satisfied with himself. I leaned back in my chair, watching the interaction, realizing that while this was not my usual night, life as a human was never boring.