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Staring at the half-eaten set of food on the table, Alex couldn't quite put his finger on why she wanted him to come along to the capital, and he doubted she would tell him if he asked.
'For now, all I can do is just wait.' Alex finished up his food and went to his room.
'Damn, there isn't much difference between food here and food in my old life.' He then proceeded to open his system.
"Now let's see how things currently are."
[PERSONAL INFO]
[NAME: ALEX HATHAWAY]
[RACE: HUMAN]
[AETHER RESONANCE LVL: UNKNOWN]
[LEVEL: 3 - 5/20]
[STATS]
Strength – 7
Speed – 7
Stamina – 8
Agility – 7
Durability – 11
[FAMILIARS]
[DEMON KING]
[TIER: DEMON]
'I guess everything looks good,' Alex said.
"Huh, what's that red dot on Quest? Are you telling me I had a quest all this while?" Alex said out loud.
'Let's see what we've got.'
[QUESTS]
[BEAT THE GAME]
[Quest Status: 0% Complete]
[Reward: Access to leave the game]
[Reward: ****]
[ACTIVE]
'How didn't I see this since? At least there's a guarantee that I can leave this game.'
'Now the only problem—how do I beat the game? And also do you know what the other reward is?' Alex wondered. "Gemi, do you have an idea?"
'Sorry, but at my current tier, I have no access to the information that holds the answer to that question,' Gemi said.
'As usual, I wouldn't even have bothered asking you.'
'I am sorry for my incompetence at my current stage, but you only have the power to change it.'
'And how is that?'
'By getting crystals and upgrading me.'
Alex just kept silent, ignoring Gemi. His silence grew louder as he could now hear the remaining drunk men on the lower floor, who didn't remember their way home because of the amount of liquor and beer they had consumed.
'Everything changed this morning. I have high doubts that things will ever go back to the way they were,' Alex said as he fell backwards on the bed.
'I guess this is the life I have to live for now.'
'And what's so painful about all this, is that I doubt I'll have anyone who would be worried about me. And funny enough, I don't even have anyone to worry about. I don't even have a solid reason to want to go back.'
Alex thought as he raised his hand up and looked at it, and then dropped it like it had no life. "Damn," was the last thing he said, then tears rolled out of his eyes, which he had no control over, before going to sleep.
"Open the door, it's time to leave!!"
"Oh shit, this bitch is back again," Alex said in his sleepy voice as he forced himself up.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Better. Now hurry up, I'm down in the restaurant," Ivy said and left.
"Damn bitch, I was just getting to the best part of my dream." He sluggishly got ready and headed down.
"We don't want to waste any time, Alex, let's go." Ivy picked up her katana and led the way out of the restaurant and out of the village. It was still quiet around, as people were still sleeping or getting ready for the day. Only a handful of people were already outside their houses.
"So why exactly am I coming with you to the capital?" Alex asked, so it wouldn't seem awkward just following her.
"I knew you would ask this sooner or later. Earlier, you were on a journey, and most people on journeys are heading to the capital. And I need traveling companions—not because of strength, but for distraction. In case I encounter a beast I can't easily kill, I'll need you to distract it while I surprise attack it."
"Wow, so that's your plan? To use me as bait? You fed me so much last night so I'd look delicious, right?" Alex asked jokingly.
"Actually, I fed you that because I wanted you to get filled, so you wouldn't be able to run away when the beast comes," Ivy said with a chuckle.
"I guess I'm not running anywhere then," Alex added as they exited the village.
After that, the journey went on for hours, as quiet as ever. It was a path already created, so there was likely no beast in the area.
"Damn, the sun is high. I think we should take a break," Alex suggested, a bit tired from the exhausting walk.
"You're tired already? You're definitely going to slow us down." Ivy looked back at him and reduced her walking pace.
'Something is weird. He hasn't used aether throughout this entire walk. How is he able to keep up this well with someone like me, who has trained my endurance and speed for so long?'
"Please, let's take a break." Alex asked again. This time, you could tell he was truly exhausted.
"You know what, let's take a break. We've been walking for hours," Ivy said as she walked over to a tree and leaned her back on it.
"Thank you," Alex said as he fell backwards on the floor.
"By the way, I'll be talking to myself, because apparently you're not someone I can talk to."
'What are you trying to do? Whatever it is, it's not advisable,' Gemi said.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Alex said out loud.
"Please, can you not do that? It's very weird and creepy," Ivy said. "Besides, who said you can't talk with me?"
"Oh, I can," Alex said.
'See? I told you I knew what I was doing. Now I can get why she's really taking me on this journey,' Alex told Gemi.
'You're right. I might be good with numbers and probability, but you're still the human. You'd understand certain human reactions more than me at my current tier,' Gemi replied.
"So, what's up with the suit and katana?" Alex asked.
"Well, I can't just walk around unarmed in an area like this—not just because of beasts but bandits," Ivy replied without hesitation. "Now, why are you without a weapon in a place like this?"
"I actually had one, though I lost it in a fight. Luckily I survived, but now I'm totally defenseless," Alex said.
'Good reply. This would make her lower her guard. I'll advise you continue like this—it will eventually lead to hints why she actually wants you to follow her to the capital,' Gemi affirmed.
"So do you usually stay in the capital, or is this your first time going there?" Alex asked.
'His questions are getting too specific. I'll have to lead him off track so he won't suspect a thing.'
"Well, similar to you, I'm a traveler."
"How come people in the village are familiar with you, and you know the best routes to the capital?" Alex said immediately, not letting her continue speaking.
A strong silence grew as Ivy placed her hand on her katana hilt, and Alex grabbed one bottle of the enhancement potion from his bag. They both stared at each other, waiting for any of them to make the slightest move.
Bang!
A huge tail destroyed nearly the entire landscape with one swing, hitting Alex into a tree.
[CRITICAL DAMAGE]
[WARNING]
[HP - 7%]
[AUTO HEAL WITH AVAILABLE POTIONS IN INVENTORY]
[HP - 100%]
[COMBAT ENCOUNTERED]
[Race - Giant Forest Serpent]
[Tier - Advanced]
[Status - Hungry]
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