sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ [Kingdom of Loathing fanfiction]

Chapter 18

Escalating to the Mount

***

A month has passed since I finished this quest in Hell. During this month, asides me going to the Tavern every so often to lend Bart a hand, and hanging out with some people to places (Mourn included), nothing exciting happened in the Kingdom. During this month, I could also practise and upgrade my skills. The effects were visible, even on my body.

''Now, this is some body building !'' Jack exclaimmed, taking a look at my new biceps.

''The guild's training program helps a lot,'' I replied with a chuckle. ''Asides, I wouldn't have done it without you too. It's you who's been encouraging me the most, lately.''

''Of course ! We're siblings, after all. That's what they're made for.''

We both laughed heartidly, messing up with each other's hair like we would do when still kids. Once in front of his shop's entrance, I looked around and spotted, next shop, Madeleine and Isaac hugging each other before they separate. It's been a long while with these two, I thought before entering the shop with him.

''Hey there,'' a voice suddenly rose to our direction. I turned around, to see that there came no other than... him. Jack cleared his throat before speaking up :

''O-Oh ! Why, hello there, Isaac ! Came for a little check-up ?''

''Quite the thing. Lead me to your backstore, please.''

He nodded, going further into the shop with him. I gave Jack a thumbs-up with a cheerful grin before they disappear out of sight. I then sighed softly.

''Poor Jack,'' I muttered to myself, ''how long has it been since these two have last talked to each other outside of business...? Wish I could do something about it.''

But before I could do anything else, I heard my phone beeping in my back pocket. I exited the building, with a faint sound of them laughing together.
I saw the Council was calling me over. Since I wasn't that far away, I decided to go there on foot.
After arriving to their room, the first thing I saw was an upset Frostbite, two shaken up councilers (Musicals and Wild), Glamour with a grave look on her face, and Parmesan, as calm as usual.

''Well... looks like the task will require more than usual,'' I said to try and calm the tense.

''Indeed it will, Sonja,'' Parmesan replied.

"Dude... did we really have to do this to her ?" Frostbite looked at him with desesperate eyes.

"Duh, as if we really had a choice ! All other Adventurers are busy somewhere else. She's the only one left," Wild whined before hardly posing his forehead on the table.

"Excuse me but, what the heck is going on ?" I asked them, shrugging.

"We have a quest for you."

"I reckon. But which ?"

"You will have... to go to Mount McLargeHuge," Glamour finally breathed out, as if containing her breath for too long.

"Y-You mean... the biggest mountain of all big mountains ?" I started to feel my heart racing rapidly of excitement.

"Indeed," Parmesan started off. "We've received an urgent letter from the Trapper, living here, requesting our assistance. Alas, us being preoccupied by the Kingdom's business, we are not in position to help him at the moment. We thought, that, perhaps, you could-"