"You've had a long ride. Hair's filthy, full of dust… and red streaks too? Don't tell me that's blood."
Halo found himself with an old bald man seated on a bench before a building, Frey. He sat there, basking in the attention of several ladies, his cheeks flushed crimson as he couldn't let go of their bosoms.
The man seemed over fifty, and though Halo had no interest in perverted bastards, this inflexible man could be made to talk. He was already talking anyway.
Halo wore a rehearsed smile.
"I know it looks fake, but it's real. My real hair… crazy, huh?" He smiled awkwardly.
Frey's expression darkened. "Wait, that's your real hair? Damn, I thought it was dirt. I'd shave my head before walking around like that."
Halo's face began twitching with annoyance. How could this bastard be bald and still speak so arrogantly about hair?
He sighed and smiled, his hands reaching for his hair in a gentle breeze.
"At least I'm not bald…"
Frey turned to him with a confused expression. "What did you say?"
Halo's sarcasm turned into a smile. "Nothing, Mr. Frey. I'm just envious of your bald head."
Frey sneered and shooed his concubines to leave.
Watching Frey live so casually sparked countless questions in Halo's mind.
In the game, all the NPCs had purposes. From the begging child to the prophet, everyone had a role that kept the world alive. But flirting with girls? That was new.
But could he even call these NPCs? They were all alive after all.
"I'm a Knight, you know. Most people don't even make it past their first Purpose, and hardly anyone gathers the Sin Fragments to climb ranks. But me? I did. I'm a big deal out here. In all the safe lands in Voiceless, they recognize me… the ladies too."
Halo scowled. Was this man okay?
Frey relaxed on his bench. "…What do you want? Women? Ha, with that ragged hide? You couldn't get a rat to smile at you. But relax, you're in safe hands. Five Sin Fragments, and I'll get you any lady you want."
Halo smiled in realization.
He'd never encountered this type in the game, but according to his best friend, some people served the god of lust, gaining Sin Fragments through seduction.
He'd expected them to be women, not some old bastard. There was nothing seductive about this man.
But Frey's demeanor confirmed a theory. The hero was striking: nearly 190 cm tall, dark-haired, golden-eyed, with a long red earring. One look at him and anyone would know he was a hero.
Someone like that would attract all the ladies. And considering Frey was a sucker for women, he might have encountered him somewhere, or perhaps heard women speak of him.
Halo instinctively let go of his rigid nature and settled on the bench with Frey. He let his body relax, muscles unwinding as he stared up at the moon far above. It looked barely bigger than a coin.
"You've got an eye for your trade, that's why you couldn't ignore me, huh? I need some women, just not for myself."
He tilted his head down and met Frey's eyes. Frey was staring at him like he desperately needed to hear something.
Halo smirked.
"I'm certain you've seen him before. No one forgets Asterion, and his companions wouldn't dare call him by any other name."
Frey frowned and leaned backward slightly. "What kind of moron are you? Do I look like someone who collects male friends? And who in their right mind goes around handing out surnames?"
Halo sighed.
This was what he feared. How could he search for someone with their surname?
"He may have shared his surname with you out of comradeship, but remember this, nothing is given freely in this world. Only those who've stopped fearing death share anything."
Halo began massaging his forehead. He'd never played the game long enough to have memorized the hero's Purposes, but he was certain the hero had gone through all three regions of this world.
Voiceless, The Ashen Ages, and The Unknown.
But all these regions were too vast for him to even locate himself in.
More haunting, what if the hero was already fighting against the gods? He had no sense of time after all.
However, amidst his thoughts, his eyes widened in realization. He smiled.
The hero's dark hair and golden eyes weren't a unique indication, but combined with his red earring, anyone could tell him apart.
"I work under him, yeah. Normally, he drops ten, maybe twenty, Sin Fragments on a lady. If she's heard the name, that is."
Frey turned to him, his eyes widened as Halo couldn't tell if he was going to drool from the thoughts of the Sin Fragments alone.
"Yeah, he's quite magnificent. Dark hair, golden eyes, and a long red earring."
Frey's salivating state instantly began fading as he wore a darkened expression.
"Long red earring, huh?"
The moment he spoke, Halo's heart skipped a beat as he stared intensely at Frey. The skepticism in Frey's tone gave him everything he needed to know.
"That's your master? Then what are you doing here?"
Halo's heart sank. Had he already left this region? Were they already doomed?
"What do you mean?"
Frey sighed.
"I don't know what I was expecting. Tch. I saw someone like that once, out by the coastal lands. He was… magnificent, surrounded by Knights and Assassins who looked ready to die for him. If that's Asterion, I can't blame anyone for mistaking him for a god."
Frey clenched his fist as they trembled while clenching his teeth. "Tsk. Those bastards snatched my women." He spat on the floor.
"I will never give out my women to those arrogant hides."
Halo reached for his face and began pulling it out of frustration.
If the hero had already assembled his crew of Knights and Assassin-ranked individuals, then Halo was seriously behind schedule. The hero must have left the academy a year ago, at least.
He had a few months at most to find him. He was lucky to have gotten a second life at all. He couldn't risk dying again. This might be his last chance.
Worse still, he couldn't simply trail after the hero. He had no idea what would become of him if he didn't fulfill his Purpose.
"Your master left you behind, huh? Must sting. A few Knights are heading to the coastal lands soon, maybe they'll take pity on you."
A sense of relief coursed through Halo as his eyes found Frey once more. This was a great opportunity. But…
"Yeah. Prove you're worth something, fight one of them. Weaklings are dead weight and nobody carries them."
Halo exhaled deeply. Frey's words were motivational, and he nearly missed his own predicament in its wake. He couldn't leave his Purpose unfulfilled, that might kill him anyway.
But he was keen on the idea of fighting. He could use someone as a punching bag for his frustration, supposing he wasn't beaten to a pulp instead.
But no, he didn't have that luxury.
"In this world, no one casts the stone, lad. Don't worry."