He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
63. Sunk-Cost Fallacy
Overview
Jason experiments with weight-reduction running, then aids Jory while learning his personalised spirit coins have drawn Magic Society scrutiny. At the jobs hall, Humphrey outlines iron-rank contracts and policy shifts as Jason argues the sunk-cost tactic and morality of manipulation. Separately, Clarissa Ventress coerces Sophie, demanding a bold public theft within two weeks under threat.
Summary
On his morning run to Jory’s clinic, Jason practices using his shadow-cloak’s weight-reduction to lunge farther with each step, rapidly draining mana and stamina. Exhausted, he arrives and cleanses a patient’s diseases, restoring himself. He asks Jory for cheap potions and hears the clinic will expand into a newly purchased building for a larger alchemy facility.
Jory raises concern that a Magic Society man is asking about Jason’s iron-rank spirit coins. Jason reveals they are real but personalised via his looting power; Jory verifies a coin on a tester and advises Jason not to worry and to “stick it to” any Magic Society meddling.
At the Adventure Society jobs hall, Jason meets Albert and Humphrey. Humphrey explains iron-rank contracts, closed versus open postings, and compulsory assignment of stale ones, noting reforms under the new director. They discuss the redistribution of incentivised contracts among regular boards. Jason frames it as exploiting the sunk-cost fallacy to push adventurers toward taking work, prompting a moral debate with Humphrey over manipulation, responsibility, and systemic privilege. Jason admits he lacks answers but is “good at people.”
Elsewhere, Darnell brings Sophie to Clarissa Ventress. Ventress chastises the lack of flashy public thefts and threatens to abandon their pact. Sophie argues that a careful plan takes time and warns Ventress against heavy-handed interference. Ventress imposes a two-week deadline for Sophie’s first high-profile caper and threatens dire consequences if Sophie fails or tries to flee.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoExperiments with weight-reduction running, heals patients at Jory’s, defends manipulation via sunk-cost logic, and learns his personalised coins drew notice.
- HumphreyExplains iron-rank contracts and reforms, challenges Jason’s manipulative methods with a debate on ethics and privilege.
- JoryRuns the clinic, verifies Jason’s coins are genuine, supplies cheap potions, and announces a major clinic and alchemy expansion.
- Clarissa VentressCrime matriarch who pressures Sophie, imposing a two-week deadline for a public theft and threatening severe reprisals.
- SophiePushes back against Ventress’s demands, insisting on careful planning but is forced into a two-week deadline.
- Albert (Bert)Adventure Society functionary at the jobs hall who greets Jason and oversees contract registration.
- DarnellVentress’s bodyguard who escorts Sophie and intimidates at his mistress’s signal.