The Broken System Chose the Antagonist
Chapter 9: Talismans and Stripes

Chapter 9: Talismans and Stripes

After Ben had extracted the eyes from the Predicament, the two continued along their path down the road, exploring the section of Calais they were in. But unfortunately, apart from a few buildings, most of the area around them was in ruins.

On the way, the two conversed about what they were up to before being dragged into this exam.

Apparently, Ben worked as a junior tailor for his family’s small business in Lancashire—a town the GOHG has categorised as lower-class. He had also said that he had only just awakened his Heart a year ago, because of a run-in with an armed drunkard.

"I’ve heard that the people in Lancashire also worked the Talismans the government uses," Nadia asked curiously, "Do they take much to make?"

"They don’t require a lot to make," Ben shook his head, "They’re made out of a plant called Spirit Paper Weed, a really special plant that only appeared after The Fall. They’re incredibly resilient, and processing them into Talismans isn’t that hard, from what I’ve heard. It is a lot of tedious labour, though."

He then held his chin.

"I also know that Spirit Paper Weed only grows in Japan, for some reason. Which makes getting them a tad bit expensive."

Nadia raised an eyebrow.

"The government pays for that, don’t they?"

"They do, and they pay us to make it. Which, in a way, is a win-win." Ben chuckled, "The government gets their Talismans, and we of the lower class can continue to get by."

He then sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Of course, that’s only if we don’t botch anything up. I’ve heard from my uncle that if they damaged one of the Talismans in the making, then they would need to compensate the government double what they’re paid."

"How much do they get paid?"

"For a regular paper-slip size, they get paid £15 each. For a sheet, £40. But for one of the larger ones used for complex Spells, £120." Ben smiled wryly, "And Talismans aren’t hard to tear either... after production, they become ridiculously delicate. So, they’re always a dozen needing to be compensated for."

"To pay back double those prices... that’s insane." Nadia became slack-jawed. "How does the government expect us to use Talismans, then, if they’re so fragile? Especially in the middle of combat?"

"I think with the appearance of Arch-Vitalist, Cassandra Fenwick—the Witch—might’ve gotten to their heads." Ben shook his head, precariously, "Apparently, she could cast several high-tier Spells in under a second, each costing enough to kill a regular man when cast and capable of levelling an entire city-block."

In this world, Vitalists were ranked on a scale of 6 Stripes, each dictating the Vitalist’s level of competency against a Predicament; with there being three colours (White, Blue, and Red) indicating how strong the Vitalist was in that rank.

If your Stripes were White, it meant that you were competent enough to join a squad against a Predicament equal to that rank.

If your Stripes were Blue, it meant you were capable enough to take on the Predicament of equal rank alone, but only under good conditions. However, the GOHG recommended Vitalists of this colour to continue fighting in squads.

Lastly, if your Stripes were Red, it meant that you alone were competent enough to take on the Predicament of equal rank, regardless of the conditions, even against multiple of the same Predicament.

Right now, Nadia had the strength equivalent to One Blue Stripe. But unfortunately, her strength was still short of a red Stripe.

’When I reach the point where I can fight multiple Scoundrels alone, that’s when I achieve Red.’ Nadia clenched her fists. ’To make changes to how the GOHG does things, I must become an Arch-Vitalist, no matter what.’

To gain the title of Arch-Vitalist, the number of Stripes a Vitalist needed was four. And Nadia had a long way to go to achieve that rank...

"I’ve also heard she took on a disciple 7 years ago. Apparently, it was some child who got caught up in the raid against the Eastern Duke of Europe. It was a shame that the raid ended up as a bust compared to the raid against the Western Duke."

Nadia’s brows furrowed as she clenched her jaw when she heard that.

"Yeah..."

Afterwards, they moved on to a different topic on what they wanted to accomplish in the future. Their dream in life.

Nadia was quiet on this topic, so it was up to Ben to fill the awkward air between them.

"I want to bring home enough money so that my family and I don’t have to work days in our lives anymore! A future of peace and prosperity..."

It was an optimistic answer that everyone strived for, and a somewhat unoriginal answer to this type of question.

But that didn’t matter to Nadia, for she...

Resonated with it a little.