Chapter 30: Making things uneven
Heartblood.
It was the most important resource in all of bastion. Mainly due to its versatility.
Firstly, it was the primary means of progression for hunters. It was also the fuel used in heartblood engines, which in turn powered some of the most important things in bastion.
The barrier covering the academy was one such example.
Plus, the mundane military and navy here basically ran on the stuff. It was the only way their armaments and weapons could even dream of harming higher-rank monsters.
There was another use case for it that was more relevant to my current predicament.
The alchemists at bastion had found a way of processing base heartblood into a state that retained only pure essence. Well, mostly pure essence, the method wasn’t perfect.
Either way, injecting doses of the refined heartblood into a hunter’s bloodstream resulted in regenerative effects on their body.
’Sort of like an injectable health potion.’
The method wasn’t perfect, however, as due to impurities present in it, it was recommended to wait at least three days after taking one before you took another.
Disobeying that advice tended to end in rather grisly ways for those involved. Sometimes they burned to death, sometimes their organs melted, sometimes they mutated into... things, and other times they just straight up croaked.
Also, don’t go asking the good scientists at bastion how they got their hands on that data.
The solution to Song’s problem lay in this refined heartblood. No, not the healing property.
In addition to healing, there was a second understated effect of refined heartblood. Rejuvenation.
It wasn’t something I’d explicitly written in the book, more so implied. But it had been in my worldbuilding notes, however scant they were.
Taking a shot of refined heartblood was enough to make a hunter go a day without sleeping. Even that rejuvenation effect was considered weakened due to most of the energy going to healing the hunter.
If an uninjured hunter took a shot of refined heartblood, the rejuvenation effect would be multiple times higher. Then again, they’d also explode due to the sudden influx of excess energy.
But if the shot was diluted, to an appropriate level, then it would functionally become a rejuvenation shot. It would also reduce the amount of impurities in each dosage, potentially allowing her to take less time clearing them. Hence, take shots at daily or at most two-day intervals.
At least that was my theory.
But it was one I felt fairly confident in.
It wasn’t anything particularly revolutionary, it just hadn’t been found since no one was crazy enough to use a resource as precious as refined heartblood to skip a few hours of sleep.
The solution was crazily expensive. Though, that wouldn’t be a problem for Song.
Her dad was rich as fuck.
"So, are you going to tell me your solution or not?"
Song gave me an exasperated look. I could only smile in turn.
"Well..."
"’Well’, what?"
"... I mean, don’t you think it’s a bit unfair?"
If looks could kill, then Song’s glare would send me to the pearly gates right then and there.
She opened her mouth a bit, before sharply closing it.
The girl took a deep breath, before gracing me with a strained smile that couldn’t dream of reaching her burning eyes.
"Hey now. Don’t you think you’re being a bit too greedy? You already got a favor out of me earlier."
I struggled to contain my grin, as I wagged my finger.
"No. That favor was for showing you my burden. Completely different thing."
Song looked to be doing everything in her power to stop herself from lashing out at me. She spoke through gritted teeth.
"But you owe me a favor."
"No, no, no. I owe you a favor that isn’t anything too crazy. Helping you solve an issue with your burden definitely falls into the realm of crazy."
Her hands clenched into shaky fists, on the verge of crashing out before she suddenly deflated. She turned her weary eyes to me, giving me a long-suffering look before sighing.
"You’re enjoying this aren’t you?"
"What? Me? I could never."
I placed a hand on my chest to better sell it.
Ok, maybe it was a little morally grey and reprehensible to take advantage of someone in her condition, but what else was I supposed to do?
Not take advantage of such an opportunity just presenting itself before me?
What am I? Crazy?
Plus, it was her that started this whole favor fiasco and I could be a very petty person.
Song rolled her eyes.
"Right. What do you want then?"
"Another favor."
She didn’t even have the strength to argue this time.
"Fine, you can have it. Now help me."
I gave a light nod.
"Of course, I trust a noble like you will honor your promise."
She didn’t even bother answering me, just giving me a deadpan stare.
I sighed before continuing.
" A diluted solution of refined heartblood."
"What?"
I explained my theory to her.
Even after that, she still looked at me with a disbelieving gaze.
"You want me to just inject vitae into my body? Are you crazy?"
’Right, Vitae. That’s what it’s called.’
Still, I had no other solutions besides that.
"It might be dangerous, but it’s the only way I know of. Plus if you still don’t trust it, you can injure yourself a bit before taking it. Reduce the amount of excess energy you get."
"You say that like it’s an easy thing."
I could only shrug in response.
"It’s a choice. Do you want to take the risk? Or are you planning on staying like this for the rest of your life."
I only had to gesture at the state of her room to kill whatever retort she had before it even left her throat.
In the end she just sighed before looking at me again.
" If this fails, the deal is Awwwff."
She was interrupted by a yawn at the end there. Managing to keep a straight face, I replied.
"Seems fair to me."
With that she pointed towards the door.
"Good. You can see yourself out no- "
I raised my hand, stopping her.
"No, not yet. I’d like to cash in my earlier favor right now."
Song collapsed onto her bed in response.
"I’m not in any condition to help you right now."
"Don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything. At least not yet."
Rolling onto her side, she let out a groan before asking.
"Fine, what is it?"
"I want you to help me in the simulation."
That piqued her interest, as she immediately turned to face me.
"That’s too much for just a ’favor’, I’ll be facing my own problems too."
"Wait, I haven’t finished yet. It’s mutually beneficial here. You help me, and I help you."
She raised her brow suspiciously at that.
"Help you do what exactly?"
I smiled.
"I want to kill the Predator."
Song looked confused, taking a few moments to process what I said. Before her eyes widened.
"Wow, you’re crazy. I had my suspicions before, but who’d have known you’re actually insane."
I could only roll my eyes in response.
"It’s actually not that crazy of an idea."
"Is that so?"
Her tone was entirely unbelieving.
I rubbed my forehead a bit before sighing.
"Just hear me out, ok. Both of us were nothing special before we received these memories, otherwise we would’ve been mentioned in the story."
She immediately objected.
"I was."
"Yeah, but only to get trounced by Maki."
That shut her back down, allowing me to continue.
"Anyway. There is a high chance of us failing if we participate in the simulation as we are right now. The others are just that good. I’m sure you already know how important getting into the top ten is, right?"
She nodded her head at that. I pressed on.
"Instead of trying to outcompete the prodigies in areas we’re destined to lose, wouldn’t it be wiser to take on something none of them will even attempt, give ourselves a winning chance at least?"
Song still looked at me like I was a crazy person.
"If none of those prodigies are even willing to try killing it, that just gives us more reason to not do so ourselves."
"Maybe. But think about it, just killing it, hell even injuring it basically guarantees us a spot in the top ten. Who else among the cadets knows as much about that monster as us? Its habits, how it attacks, what its powers are. We have to use that knowledge to our advantage. With our current skills, this simulation is going to be all or nothing."
She appeared to try considering my offer, before very quickly giving up.
"I can’t give you an answer right now."
I raised my arms placatingly.
"I’m not asking you to. Just think about it."
Song gave me a nod, before pointing at the door.
I chuckled, before standing.
"Yeah. Yeah. I was just about leaving. Send me a message if you have any problems regarding the Vitae."
"Sure, I will. Now go."
Reaching the door, I could hear her mumbling behind me.
"What a crazy peasant."
"You know I can still hear you right?"
" Good. I want you to."
I brushed her off with a laugh before leaving the room.