Why would I be interested? He’s dead! Even if I was, ew! He’s a great guy but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed!

  Am I supposed to be interested? Is it because I’m sterile or because I’m not hunan that I’m not? I can see why people would be but it’s more of a “That’s nice” versus a “getting in line”...

  -Apologies,- Little Corpse says, fully dressed and avoiding eye contact.

  -Are you a prude or a cultist?- I ask him wondering why he’s so embarrassed. The way people dress up and demand people focus on them, you’d think he’d be a bit more proud. -Weren’t you running around in nothing but pants and an open tunic when you got a body back? Before that you were a naked bag of rotting meat. What’s wrong with you?!-

  Wait. Flip it around. What if it’s not me? This whole time I was worried about people falling in love with him did he fall in love with me? I’m rich, never around, don’t make decisions on my own, and I’m easy to tune out. I’m a sugar mama daddy rich mysterious benefactor!

  -Silent Howl is laughing so hard that he misdirected his sending and spoke to us,- one of the girls drones as they appear before they bow and fuck off to wherever they’re tasked to work.

  -You know I’m a bug, right?- I tell Little Corpse as he continues avoiding making eye contact. -Tch!-

  “Apologies, but before our Master’s accident he’d wished to visit the building site in the Graveyards,” one of the mis-bonded murmurs politely, bowing to Little Corpse before turning to wait for my response.

  I’m gonna smack these Servants if they keep disrespecting me in my Void. His master this, his master that. His Master exists because of me! How are you going to politely dismiss me when I can destroy you? You know what? Pop quiz!

  -Who’s more powerful, me or your Master,- I ask the servant and he chuckles politely while Little Corpse goes from shy to mortified, his head slowly panning to the Servant, eyes wide and face slack and pale.

  “Surely our Master’s advanced status is more than enough of an indicator for even a bug to understand,” the Servant chuckles, shaking his head at my foolishness as Little Corpse’s head slowly pans to me. His face is slowly screwing up and I don’t know if he’s going to puke or cry.

  -Psst! Wrong answer. Here’s a clue! Where does your master train?- I ask the Servant before Devouring his arm. No mess, no blood, no leaking, just the arm no longer exists. “Handy”. -And which one of us is a “god”?-

  The Servant stands up straight, I can read in the Logs that he’s frowning, furious that I’d dare to dismiss his Master, and has no idea why I’m asking about the gods. Little Corpse quickly glides over, grabbing him by his remaining arm and steering him away. The Servant, confused why Little Corpse is grabbing his non-dominant hand, tries to gesture but can’t remember how.

  He can see the gesture in his mind. He knows how to raise his hand, palm up, casually sweeping it over a small space to express casual interest and a hesitant disregard, but he’s got nothing. Then Little Corpse tells him I’m a Devourer, a real one now, and he’s not just missing his arm, but the spirit that connected to the arm. He looks down at the empty space where nothing should be, registers that he’s supposed to have two arms, it doesn’t quite click that I’ve eaten part of his spirit, and then he turns, worried that I’ve managed to brainwash his Master.

  -Tch! This bish!- Really? Out of all the things that happened, he thinks that I’ve been nibbling on Little Corpse’s brain to make him loyal and blind to his own awesome and potential? -*Wasn’t I the one to make sure he wasn’t banned from the Library?

  -Didn’t I tell the spirits and everyone that he was my Servant? Pretty sure I defended him when people would write him off as a mindless Ghost... If I didn’t, I meant to!- I simmer, offended, then remember that I was asked about something. -Oh, where did you want to build in the not mountainous place?-

  -*I am so sorry...*- Little Corpse walks up to me, head bowed before he gives a slow respectful bow.

  -Your Servants are assholes,- I growl, finding myself finishing up an angry groom that I don’t remember starting. -What’s the first stop for this trip?-

  -Ah...-

  He’s embarrassed, don’t care. He’s good, his friends are assholes, where we going? Don’t want to waste my time on his adds if they’re not actively being a problem when there are so many more interesting things to do. If I get bored later...? That’s for later.

  First stop is apparently the courtyard of the Vengeful Ghost Flame Sect. Little Corpse reminds me that we’re a specialized branch of a shoot off of the Ghost Sect. Ghost Sect, then Vengeful Ghost Sect which used to be an idea until it blew up into its own thing, and then Vengeful Ghost Flame, a discipline that branched off into it own thing.

  Ghost Flame is considered common, just adding a bit of Resentment onto Qi, no true Fire Essence most of the time, and then Vengeful Ghost Flame is just pumping up the Resentment on top of the Qi cost. While other people might theorize and dabble in Resentment to augment their Qi, we swim in Resentment and kinda ignore Qi development outside of using it to reinforce our ability to play with Resentment.

  These people are backwards! They’ve got treasures and it’s common to convert Essence into Qi, but no one risks using Essence directly. Great. So they don’t know how awesome I am because I’m just weird. No wonder my silk sold for so much! And the orbs! How much Qi are they getting out of converting Essence?

  -It’s easier to refill Essence burners to convert to Qi then to try to get hold of Qi condensers without worrying about draining the life from an area and being branded a Traitor or Renegade,- Little Corpse tells me as he exchanges pleasantries with the Sect Housing Agent.

  Apparently we can set up wherever the fuck we want, but people have to know about it in case the locals of the Graveyards join hands and cause problems. Wouldn’t want someone coming across your manor, thinking it’s a Graveyard owned facility, and raiding your shit. Wow, what lovely items that are just sitting here to be collected...

  Also means that I can’t just rampage and rob people of their fun stuff. Tch!

  -Can’t be helped...- I grumble.

  While Little Corpse apologizes and makes excuses I open my Karma window just to see if I can exchange negative Resentment, -- I can, but don’t, -- then close it in favor of the Sect window to see if I can purchase anything else.

  There’s a whole fucking shop tab. How’d I not notice the tabs? I can exchange Qi for Resentment, metal for Resentment, crystallised Qi currency for Resentment, and there’s even an Auction House and Markteplace. What the fuck is the point of going to the shops then?

  -Those are the shops, you’re just... doing god things?- Little Corpse says hesitantly as he and Silent Howl go over what I’m seeing. Apparently they don’t see what I see, but they can piece it together by how detailed my Logs are. Good to know.

  -Can I give you permission to direct sell here, with a verification screen to make sure you don’t sell stuff I don’t want to get rid of, of course,- I ask, but there’s already warnings and alarms going off.

  They don’t want to. Little Corpse and Silent Howl both think it’d be a bad idea for Little Corpse to attempt to interact with my remote shopping ability. Weird considering Silent Howl was so onboard for accessing my skills remotely, but apparently that’s fine because he’s performing rituals that have a cost and require upkeep. They’re not sure what the fuck I’m doing. Pretty sure this is a level based thing, so Little Corpse should have it, too.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  -Oh.-

  Surprise! He does have access to view the shops, but no way to make purchases. He can find out what is where and at what price, but then he has to physically go to the shop. Now I wonder what those shipping costs are. Far as I know the main difference is my storage capacity and the amount of anything I have on hand. Speaking of onhands.

  -Did you ever buy more items from the monk library?- I ask while going back through the logs to see what manuals and techniques I’ve acquired.

  I get to see where I learned how to maul things better for my gnashing teeth spell, and how accessing Fire Essence Qi infused Resentment let me learn how the mill clouds actually purify, -- the grinding wasn’t just physical, there’s supposed to be some conversion going on, but I dumbed them down so much I’ve got glorified grindstones, -- but that’s just recent gains. I’ve been picking up random bullshit for ever.

  I can do a blade of Resentment infused Qi, which is apparently that Resentment ranged bull that one kid I ate used, but that’s only one thing garnered from observations and insights. Insights from people just living their lives when I was in a coma in Eager Hearts, insights from people praying to me pre-Ascension while offering their tributes, and even just straight up basic training manuals.

  Basic manuals that don’t talk about breathing techniques, just stuff that anyone can see through basic observations, but I wasn’t there to observe, and I’m getting insights from all the other shit I’ve got synergizing to explain other shit I don’t know. And~ all of that’s going into my Library for redistribution, but I don’t contribute anything to Little Corpse’s development! No, sir!

  I idly flick through the shops as he sighs, wondering if I should sell wimble silk or just basic protein silk or both before Little Corpse scoops me up and we follow after the Housing Agent when they head to the back of the building. There’s a script circle, we get a pamphlet, and then the script circle is activated.

  Now we’re standing in the courtyard of a large compound that is simultaneously airy with its open courtyard and buildings with columns supporting overhanging floors, and closed in when I notice that everything is made from dense grey stone. Are we getting a house tour? Is this an Open House?

  -You’d given the girls quite a lot of Resentment, and they’d formed even more Shards to test and develope their own Qi and Resentment manipulation skills. When it came time to pay for the home’s construction there was no need to bother you.- Right~... That’s why no one told me... -*Most of these buildings have rooms large enough for you to move through comfortably in your true form with levels above and below for standard sized hunans.

  -The floors are meant to have enough space for servants based on your known Resentment storage levels. We had to narrow that down quite a bit you know.- I’ll bet they did. Little Corpse makes a little sound of acknowledgement with a quick nod of his head, the Housing Agent bowing before going back through the transfer script circle. -*He’s gone back now that the transaction is finished. This is our home.

  -The transfer requires a key to use and keys are quite expensive to duplicate so we won’t get any casual guests,- Little Corpse informs me as he carries me towards a castle. If I was in my true form it would just be another two level house, which is already insane, but got dang!

  -Great! So only rich assholes and assassins! How much did this cost?- This had to be so~ expensive.

  -Only 5 Shards of Resentment,- Little Corpse shakes his head. Apparently there’s more tour, but, seriously, how much did this cost? -We’re near a portal to another Mortal Hell, supposedly one with demons, so we’ll actually be paid to take on anything that crosses through.-

  -Can we handle that?-We paid to take on a guard contract? We have no guards!

  -The problem is that the Resentment and Essence in this area builds until the portal between hells opens and then there’s an event. With the right treasures we can condense the Resentment, you can consume it, and then we convert it into hard currency. We’ll also be able to further our cultivation while we’re here.-

  Yeah, this sounds like a trap. It’s the, “oh, this is heaven!” ploy. You get all this good shit and there’s a catch, but you have to find it first! But I can guess.

  -What hell does this place connect to?- Nailed it! I turn to glare up at him and this bish just shrugs, what?!

  -No one was willing to explore it, and if any of the old monsters did they didn’t say anything. The portal is outside the manor walls so if we do lose control over it we won’t be trapped inside with whatever creatures spawn,- Little Corpse continues. -*We didn’t reserve any land for farming with your ability to produce once you’re familiar enough, but there is still a kitchen for anyone interested in preparing meals.

  -We’ve got a martial training hall and a laboratory, but we don’t have any buildings dedicated to storage. We also don’t have any wards which also helped cut down on costs, but we’ll have to learn to set some, and filters, so that we can begin farming the Resentment and Essence.- He sighs, finally winding down as he goes over the layout in his head.

  Wow. He put in a lot of work, and there’s still so much to do. So a blank template house next to a portal to a worse hell inside a hell. Maybe the price isn’t so low. Huh.

  -So what are these treasures you need me to buy?- I ask and he just lets out a bark of laughter.

  -Silent Howl says he’s marked this area, so you should be able to return to it without having to go through the Housing Agent or create a transfer key,- Little Corpse says, Void Walking with me to the Courtyards. So he can do group transfers. Neat. -There are a few shops that you haven’t garnered resentment from,- I see what you did there, -so let’s get acquainted, shall we?-

  Little Corpse pauses by the General Shop to wave at someone who perks up, waves back, sees me, and instantly loses their smile. They went from “yay” to “no” way too fast. What’d I do? Little Corpse beams, little ray of sunshine, and then continues walking down the road. The fuck did I do?

  The shop got trashed, but I more than paid for it. I didn’t kill that one shopkeeper the first time, and I totally contributed very valuable items to the Sect while buying a ton of garbage. What the frick?

  -How many rituals have you disrupted?- Little Corpse asks me as a reminder, and I want to know why I’m getting any blame for stopping the shady almost illegal rituals in the first place. -*Almost.*-

  Tch!

  Before we get close to the Forging store Tits Magee races out, singing Little Corpse’s name like he’s an adorable kid brother but with the energy of seeing her long lost love, all skipping and excessive bouncing while putting the wrong honorifics on his name. Mixed signals. Still all the wrongness.

  The way her face goes from radiant to twisted up like she smelled rotten fish, I wonder if she caught a whiff of under-boob at the same time she spies me. Or she just needs to fix her face. Maybe the smile had a timer?

  Little Corpse has to stop laughing, coughing to cover it up as he schools his expression, centering himself before doing the P.R. thing. He waits as she gives a quick bow to him before turning to glare back at me, then asks her if there’s something wrong.

  I dare you to say something. I slowly raise my arms and prepare to fly at her and lighten her load, -- let’s see how those meat dumplings cook up, bish! -- but Little Corpse readjusts his grip on me. Tch! Like I can’t just transfer out, but whatever.

  Did we ever get the robes I paid for?

  -We did, but by then the girls had wanted more elaborate robes. Now they only get robes I supply them with. The other robes might fit some of the other Servants once you bind them,- Little Corpse informs me, but I thought my silk was too weak. -It’s gotten remarkably better after you learned that you don’t spin it anymore. More Qi, less Essence.-

  I don’t remember a notification, and didn’t I block --? Ah~... They can make robes, not just demand silk. Got it. I ‘member! Having help is nice...

  “Has it managed to produce any Forged items after humiliating me?” Tits Magee turns her head away so quickly I wonder if she’s closing her eyes because she got whiplash and not just because she’s making sure to put me out of her sight.

  “My Master has forged numerous new currencies, including Dragon Pearls, but has yet to make weapons,” Little Corpse says lightly, Tits Magee’s eyes opening wide as that nose comes back to level, but she’s still not looking at me.

  That’s a good point. I wanted to make him some forged weapons so he can defend better. And I needed to replace that jank looking armor. Didn’t I have a crafting window when I learned Qi forging back in Seven Moons? I get some arcane nonsense of square grids and meters of various fullness-es, so I close that bullshit and try to figure out how to Forge.

  Fack, I hope that wasn’t the Forging window...

  -Imma be out for a bit. Going to my Library,- I tell Little Corpse, just a quick heads up ‘cause I don’t know what the fuck happens to my body when I fack off to my Inner Void.

  “You make good Servants, but you are a terrible Master. They love you but they have no respect,” Aunty insult compliments me as she joins me on my walk to my Library. “He is loyal and acknowledges your power, but has he stopped from accruing his own?” she admonishes me, turning to flick her silk before continuing to guide me to the Library. Really hope she’s going to take me to the Forging section and not just nag me the whole way. “Who’s nagging? What nagging?” she says, shrugging her shoulders every question. “I’m merely making an observation. And Forging is part of enchanting not ‘crafting’. It doesn’t deserve its own section.”

  You are in Book VI(6)

  The Entitled Ghost Reserve

  Unless the title changes

  1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 (1-5) stubbed on RR, published on AmazonKU

  6 posting on RR, posted on Patreon, published on Amazon

  7 will post on RR, posted on Patreon, published on Amazon

  8 will post on RR, posting on Patreon, WIP

  TL;DR Section:

  ?? Grimdark Cozy, all the slice of life, all the death, all the gore, none of the random smex. There's enough nonsense without "romantic" relationships.

  ( Relationships aren't will they won't they but people trying not to kill each other because that's a power play.)

  ?? Snarky MC that thinks like a comment section, refuses to read, and didn't play the tutorial, trapped in someone else's dream life with absolutely no interest in playing along, much less being nice about it

  ?? Author enjoys solo-playing Wurm (Online/Unlimited) **unmodded**, watching extras in movies for that one who's EXTRA, and always wonders what happened in those two years where MC went from ignorant to badass.

  You have been warned. Nice people left reviews. Read them for a heads up.

  ?? Spoiled isn't the only series, it's just the most upbeat one. First book in the series was my fifth or seventh novel, people liked it better, then they drowned in the background and from lack of smex...? RIP...?