《Rimelion: The Exploiter》 [Book 1] [1. The world is not real?] As I sliced through the throat of the final boss, a loud squishing sound resounded over the hall. With a mechanic pull of my sword, its yellow blood gushed out, and a metallic fragrance lingered in the air. Thanks to my finishing move, I defeated the Boss; thus I had completed the quest of the World¡¯s End, my last assignment.
[QA #954137 has been completed, ending session]
The system severed my connection to the test environment the moment I closed the notice. With a grunt, I crawled out of the VR capsule, my mind still foggy from the immersion. A voice, calm yet calculated, cut through my haze from behind me. ¡°John, thank you for all your hard work. It saddens me that even your turn came up.¡± Sure, boss, like you really care. I smirked to myself. To show him how little his words mattered, I stayed silent, letting my gaze drift over the huge, echoing hall filled with old capsules. Only a few dim lights remained, tracing a path to the exit. This place once buzzed with people, but now it was just me, Lucy, and our annoyingly insincere boss. The department¡¯s golden days felt like a distant memory, almost a lie. I gave a silent nod towards the last lit capsule across the hall. Good luck, Lucy, I thought, feeling a pang of loss for the one friend I had here. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he continued, with a thin, practiced smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find another job.¡± ¡°Save the fake sympathy,¡± I muttered, my voice rough, refusing to even glance his way. At least one good thing came with being let go¡ªnever having to deal with him again. ¡°Tell Lucy I¡¯ll miss her,¡± I added, my tone flat. She deserves better, too. Without looking back, I left the building at a steady pace, my hands curled into balls. I became a lone wolf. As I walked on the streets, I met crowds of robots going their ways, but only a few actual people. If you didn¡¯t play the game, or you were going outside, players called you ¡°a wolf¡±, as in a lone wolf. Normal people were communicating only in the game. The robots that humankind created were doing their jobs instead. Like any other day, I made my way to the small bar wedged between two towering luxury apartment complexes. They loomed above, crowding the building in shadow, as if mocking the place¡¯s lack of sunlight. The developer even claimed it was an advantage¡ªno blazing sun hitting the windows. I smirked at the memory of me and the guys moving his German car to a river bank before stepping inside. Entering felt like stepping back into simpler times. I gave a nod to the old man behind the bar and slid onto my favorite stool. Hello, sadness. Patrick had already started pouring a whiskey, our usual ritual. A whiskey to fill the void. Though he was well past 80, his hands remained steady¡ªa small blessing from medical advances. When he caught sight of my expression, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it over? Did they let you go?¡± With a pained smile, I lifted my head just enough to watch his hands pour. Even me. He cleared his throat to remind me of his question, and I finally responded, ¡°Yeah. Guess I¡¯m a wolf now.¡± ¡°Even the last tester of the game?¡± he muttered, setting another glass in front of me. I didn¡¯t respond, just downed half of it and turned to stare out the small, blocked-in window. Darkness greeted me, with the neighboring building just inches away. My gaze drifted to an old, faded photo hanging proudly on the wall. I polished off the whiskey. ¡°Your bar hasn¡¯t changed a bit in a hundred years.¡± The photo showed his Irish grandfather, beaming, standing beside some old celebrity who¡¯d signed it. The signature was nearly gone now, lost to time. Patrick sighed and shook his head. ¡°Machines took over everything! End of the world, if you ask me. Never thought I¡¯d say it.¡± He polished a glass, a sad smile tugging at his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not getting any younger. My sons and grandsons, they¡¯re all playing that game, and most of my regulars¡­ well, they¡¯re in the graveyard now. You and a few others are the only thing keeping me here. If you go, I may just cave and sell this place to that snot-nosed brat.¡± I must¡¯ve had at least ten drinks as we went on about how everything used to be better and how the world was barreling toward doom. Just the usual Friday. By then, I was a little tipsy, words slipping out easier. ¡°Everything changed twenty years ago when my old company launched the learning AI. At first, we thought it would improve things¡ªsimple manual labor and all¡­¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Patrick chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°I told you back then, lad. The Terminator had it right; they¡¯re going to wipe us all out.¡± ¡°Oh, really? I don¡¯t think so!¡± I blurted out, my voice rising. My conscience kicked in, reminding me not to bother anyone, so I glanced around the bar. Nobody in sight. ¡°AIs are everywhere, sure, but did we ever fight them? Did we lose some great war? No, we gave up on this world ourselves. Moved to the game, to the new one. And communism won, thanks to that universal income from the AI tax. Not because it was better¡ªbut because it was the only option left. I hate it.¡± Patrick gave a weary nod. ¡°You¡¯re right, lad. The commies got in through the youth. I saw it with my own eyes. Now I can¡¯t even order a whiskey without a robot handling it.¡± He shook his head in exasperation, his voice trailing into the familiar grumble I¡¯d heard so many times before. ¡°Imagine it, robots, making whiskey!¡± ¡°Patrick, if I could get into the game, I¡¯d go there too,¡± I admitted, voice quieter, my gaze fixed on the amber liquid in my glass. Yet I couldn¡¯t. I was spilling my sob story to anyone who¡¯d listen¡ªabout being a tester, banned from the game. ¡°Made by Nathan. The so-called savior of humanity. He got cozy with the government, forcing everyone to play his game. Except me; I wanted to, but I couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Savior, my ass, lad. When I was young, we worked hard for our money¡ªnot sitting around, playing video games and cashing government checks!¡± ¡°Hey, that was my job, old man! The only job I could do. I was QA, testing the game¡¯s new expansions.¡± Patrick tensed up, probably on the edge of telling me to can it. Today he held back, though; yesterday, he nearly tossed me out when I started whining about this same thing for the hundredth time. ¡°Nothing beats the real thing, lad,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°You know the best night of my life? With my wife on a beach in Costa Rica. No simulation could ever touch that.¡± I sneered. He obviously hadn¡¯t played the game¡ªit had thousands of places better than some random coast. ¡°Maybe, but as things stand, I¡¯m out of a job. Not a single bug in over five years, so they kicked out their best exploiter.¡± I took a long sip, letting the thought sink in. People were choosing to live in a game, all voluntarily. Maybe I should go rewatch The Matrix. Here I was, sounding like some old man yelling at clouds. ¡°So what now? Am I supposed to live like a wolf? There¡¯s no job for someone like me. I was too dumb for college; video games were all I had. Commie tax barely covers¡­¡± I pushed my empty glass forward with a sigh. ¡°More whiskey, please.¡± After a while, some scruffy, fifteen-year-old punk in a brown coat popped up in front of me. Right, that¡¯s my cue. I¡¯ve had enough. I scanned the bar for Patrick to settle my tab, but he was nowhere in sight. Maybe he¡¯d slipped into the back. ¡°Hi there, John!¡± What the¡­? I squinted at the kid, feeling a bit wobbly. ¡°Since when do my delusions talk?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that! I don¡¯t have time¡ªlook!¡± He thrust his hands forward, palms up. In his left hand was a red pill, and in his right, a murky green one. ¡°You¡¯ve got a choice. Take the red pill, and I¡¯ll push your memory as far back as I can! My dad¡¯s the warden, running all these sims, so I wanted to mess around! MATRIX MAN!¡± ¡°Whoa, slow down. What the hell are you talking about? How much did I drink?¡± ¡°Easy, man! I came from the future, and my dad¡¯s running these sims to pass the time. Or to figure why the game is so weird? Dunno. We¡¯re in a sim, too! No idea how deep it goes. Isn¡¯t it awesome?¡± ¡°Ugh, I think I¡¯m gonna throw up¡­¡± ¡°Then take the blue pill, and I¡¯ll find someone else to bug.¡± ¡°Blue? Kid, that¡¯s green. If you¡¯re gonna be a hallucination, at least get your colors right.¡± ¡°Aw, man, I was going for THE Morpheus vibe. The Matrix is the best historical film, you know?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Anyway, take the red one. How could it be worse than your current situation? My dad¡¯s ending this sim soon, but I can transfer you to one that repeats to my present¡ªand beyond!¡± A wave of nausea hit as the world spun around me. ¡°Slow down, punk! My head¡¯s pounding, and you¡¯re making it worse.¡± ¡°No time! My old man¡¯s wrapping things up any minute now. Hurry, take it!¡± I bit my lip to keep from hurling and glared at the kid. Time for my go-to drunken philosophy. ¡°If we¡¯re all just simulations, what¡¯s the point of living?¡± ¡°Dude, that¡¯s, like, the deep question. I live because I want to. If you care, check out the people who kicked this whole thing off. Or they¡¯re here because they¡¯re bad? Dunno. But they call themselves the Ring of Smiling People.¡± I gave him a bleary look and sighed, feeling too sick to argue. ¡°Fine. Hand it over.¡± I grabbed the red pill and swallowed it down. It wasn¡¯t an aspirin, because my head still throbbed. ¡°Hey, punk! What did you do?¡± ¡°Chill! I¡¯m reloading your sim. I¡¯m sending you back twenty years, just before the game started.¡± With that, he vanished. Weird kid. Now, where was a bucket I could puke into? In an instant, a calm darkness enveloped me. The tipsiness vanished, leaving my head and body clear. What? I opened my eyes to a familiar sight¡ªa room. My room. What the hell? Why was I staring at the grimy ceiling in my apartment? Did I black out and someone dragged me home? I rolled over and grabbed my phone. The date wasn¡¯t right. Oh, no. No, no, no. Did that mean¡­ everything the punk said was true? Was I in a simulation, within another simulation? And why was I back twenty years? Can I freak out now? My mind raced, piecing it together. I¡¯ve actually time-traveled! *** In a spacious meeting room, six men sat around a round table. Nathan, a tall man in his late twenties with a long, pointed chin and an oddly shaped nose, stood up. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of our organization, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our highly anticipated twentieth rebirth. As previously agreed, we have decided to begin just one day before the game¡¯s launch. Regrettably, Jeffrey, I must inform you that we cannot accommodate your request to start earlier¡ªit would compromise the integrity of fate. Furthermore, during our routine checks, we detected an anomaly that demands our immediate attention.¡± His gaze swept over the group with a stern intensity, as though searching for a culprit. ¡°Dear colleagues, we have discovered that, during transportation, an individual was inadvertently brought back with us. I strongly recommend we initiate a thorough investigation and take all the necessary measures to eliminate any potential threats. In this rebirth, the seed will be within our grasp. We cannot afford any missteps; we must act diligently to locate and neutralize the source of this anomaly.¡± [Book 1] [2. Charlie] Gripping my head, I took a long, calming breath. Just because I¡¯d time-traveled, simulation-swapped, or whatever this was, didn¡¯t mean I was in any better position than yesterday. If all those sci-fi time-travel movies taught me anything, it¡¯s that I needed a plan¡ªand it usually involved making money. Or maybe breaking down the AI machines. No, scratch that. If the ¡°simulation within a simulation¡± thing was real, that was a terrible plan. Alright, so the goal was simple: make money. With enough of it, maybe I could create jobs and change the future, solve this whole mess of AI stealing jobs. Or something like that. But how to make a fortune? The only thing I remembered about future markets was the big cryptocurrency surge in a couple of years. But was it two years? I hadn¡¯t paid attention. Stock market? Didn¡¯t care. Wheat or oil prices? Nope. Super Bowl? Not interested. Any other sport? The only thing I cared about was Rimelion PvP¡ªthat was my real passion. Wait. Rimelion! I could make a ton of money playing the game! Finally, I¡¯d be able to stomp on ¡°normal¡± players instead of just other testers! Excited, I jumped into my old capsule, labeled in big red letters: FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY. It was bed-sized, with a sleek, metallic silver finish. I settled in, let the system scan my retina, and a second later, I was logged into my Rimelion account.
[Welcome back, John.] [Error, you cannot create a character, you are part of the development team.]
Oh, no! How could I forget? The time-travel mumble-duple-jumbo didn¡¯t change the fact that I couldn¡¯t play. An annoying foul mood washed over me, seeping into my bones like some cursed elven ice cream. History was repeating itself, because I¡¯d faced this same frustration back then. Today was that day, wasn¡¯t it? The launch of Rimelion. I gave my head a little knock, trying to jolt my memory. How did it go? Lucas had promised he could get me into the game, but I¡¯d turned him down. I rubbed my temples, straining to recall the reason. How could I remember every detail after all these years? Well, no need to struggle¡ªone phone call could clear this up. ¡°Hey, John! What¡¯s up?¡± Lucas was still alive! My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing like an imperial war drum. ¡°Lucas, can you get me into Rimelion?¡± I asked, my voice trembling with excitement. Adrenaline surged through me, making my fingers tingle. If I could get into the game¡­maybe I could even meet a whiskey-loving girlfriend. Wait, no! I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I was doing this for the money to save the world. ¡°John, I told you to come here!¡± Lucas¡¯s irritation seeped through the line. ¡°Not over the phone; meet me at my place in three hours.¡± The line went dead, and I felt a flicker of frustration. How was I supposed to know I¡¯d asked him the same question 20 years ago? Alright, one more thing to handle before I strike it rich. With renewed determination, I logged into my corporate account. [You are about to end your contract, are you sure?] ¡°Yes.¡± My finger hovered over the button, and a pang of fear hit me. This company had been like family, and if I did this, there¡¯d be no more coffee breaks with Lucy in the storage room. With a deep breath and eyes shut, I confirmed my decision. After all, I was still seething over that layoff twenty years in the future¡ªor was it in another simulation? All this simulation mumbo-jumbo was messing with my head, and the obnoxious ringing phone wasn¡¯t helping. Wait, what¡ªa call? From the R&D center, no less! ¡°Hello? What¡¯s going on?¡± I demanded. ¡°You can¡¯t force me to work anymore!¡± ¡°Greetings, John. I wanted to reach out because I received a notification that you have terminated your contract with us,¡± said a bored monotone voice¡ªtoo flat to be robotic. She had to be real. ¡°Your dissatisfaction with our workplace is disappointing to hear. However, we value your feedback and would like to extend an exciting opportunity to you. We are currently running a test program for our next-generation capsules, the Mark 3. As a valued member of our team, we¡¯d like to offer you the chance to participate in this program and receive a complimentary Mark 3 capsule for testing purposes.¡± Her words sounded like she¡¯d repeated them a thousand times. ¡°We believe your expertise as a tester will be invaluable in helping us refine and improve the performance of our products. By participating, you¡¯ll continue to shape the future of our company.¡± Did she say Mark 3? My current capsule was just the first model¡ªno nutrition feature, no sanitation options. This was definitely an upgrade. There was only one catch. ¡°Can I play the game?¡± ¡°I regret to inform you that current restrictions remain in effect, and as of now, no exceptions have been granted by your superiors,¡± she replied, her voice so lifeless that I actually felt sorry for her. What a miserable job. ¡°Therefore, you must adhere to the established protocols and comply with the regulations accordingly.¡± ¡°Then what exactly am I supposed to do with the capsule?¡± I asked, completely baffled. ¡°I terminated my tester contract, so I can¡¯t even log into the test servers.¡± ¡°Dear John, I would like to clarify that, within my role and responsibilities, I am not authorized to question or challenge any directives issued. My objective is simply to extend this opportunity and provide the necessary details for your consideration. Therefore, I must request a definitive response from you¡ªeither accepting or declining the offer presented. Your decision will be duly respected, and we appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.¡± Oh right, corporate nonsense. Once, they¡¯d given me ten days of vacation and flight to plant trees in Indonesia just because I¡¯d stumbled around a hallway half-drunk and the janitor¡¯s kid saw me. Yeah, I didn¡¯t get it either, but in the corporate world, you just took it and didn¡¯t ask questions. ¡°Sign me up! When can I expect the delivery?¡± ¡°We would like to request permission for our technicians to enter your apartment within the next two hours to install the capsule. We understand this may be an inconvenience, but we assure you that our team will strive to minimize any disruption to your daily routine. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.¡± I glanced around my apartment. The only things of value were my old TV and the current capsule. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ve got nothing valuable here, so I¡¯ll go see my friend. Thanks, miss!¡± I heard her groan before she hung up. I dug through my closet, threw on a plain shirt and jeans, and dashed outside. Lucas was waiting! The scorching sun hit me like any other day, but the last time I¡¯d walked these streets, I¡¯d only seen robots. Everyone else, except a few wolves like me, was at home playing the game. But now the streets were packed with cars and people¡ªso many living, breathing people! The smell of exhaust wasn¡¯t exactly pleasant, but it beat the endless blackouts in the future. I darted through the crowded street, grinning at strangers like an idiot. One guy shook his head and hurried his pace, but I just smiled wider, skipping and jumping along until I reached a ten-story white building. Last I checked, back before the ¡°commies¡± arrived, even the cheapest apartments here were way out of my budget. I swung open the door, stepping onto the familiar beige rug in the lobby, and blinked in surprise¡ªa real, living woman was working the reception desk. No way! The last time I visited, there was only a screen with an AI that had zero personality because it wasn¡¯t advanced yet. That was around the time of¡­ the funeral. ¡°Can I help you? Do you have an appointment?¡± she asked, glancing at my torn jeans. Hey, that¡¯s fashion. I¡¯d ripped them with a knife the day I bought them!This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Sure, they¡¯d lasted me another twenty-five years, but here they were only five years old! Lucas and I had been friends forever, so I knew firsthand how forgetful he was. Flashing my best smile, I let the scanner read my retina and gave her a nod. I opened my mouth to tell her I was here to see Lucas or maybe crack a joke, but the words got stuck. I couldn¡¯t even say my name. Right. As much as I wanted to be around real, living people, I still couldn¡¯t talk to them. How could I have forgotten? My stupid brain was still wired wrong, even after the time jump. Whenever I tried to talk to strangers, I froze up, borderline panic attack. No problem in the game, among testers I knew personally. Maybe it was a good thing people mostly stayed home in my time? After she confirmed that Lucas had, miraculously, left a note for me, I found myself knocking at his door. Even something as simple as a door here was more extravagant than my entire apartment¡ªpolished wood inlaid with gold accents, the nameplate ¡°Lucas¡± gleaming in pure gold. Gold! The door swung open, and there stood Lucas, grinning at me. ¡°I thought you¡¯d just run back to the boring life of QA.¡± He looked even better than I remembered: a twenty-five-year-old with a military physique and neatly cropped hair. I just stared, speechless. He¡¯d been dead for ten years. ¡°John? You in there?¡± I snapped out of my daze only when he pinched my shoulder. ¡°Lucas, I¡¯d never go back! I¡¯ve thought it over, and you were right!¡± Whatever you told past-me, anyway. He ushered me inside, and as usual, vodka was mandatory. After he filled me in on his latest romantic drama, we headed to his hacking room. God, I¡¯d missed this¡ªthe old days coming back to life. Ever seen a real hacker? Sure, Lucas had the whole setup¡ªthree monitors, a VR helmet for 3D hacking, like something out of a movie. But in reality, his ¡°hacking room¡± was more of an energy drink warehouse, with cans stacked everywhere to fuel his caffeine obsession. Or to replace vodka obsession? ¡°So, how do we do this? Are you hacking my ID or something?¡± I asked, still trying to wrap my head around how he¡¯d pull it off. Could he actually delete my company records? ¡°That¡¯s easy!¡± Lucas grinned. ¡°Since the government¡¯s launching the official game, Rimelion, there¡¯s a rare ID freeze happening right now! I can swap your retina ID with someone who died and had a game account¡­¡± His voice trailed off, and I raised an eyebrow, but he quickly added, ¡°Which means you¡¯d be able to play!¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that mean I¡¯d technically be that person?¡± I leaned against a shaky cabinet stacked with energy drinks. ¡°You need an ID for everything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it sounds. Look at it this way¡ªyou¡¯ll finally get to play the game, and with all the secrets you know, you¡¯ll be a king in no time! Come on, take a seat.¡± He shoved aside a few cans, and I plopped onto something that was part sofa, part bed. ¡°By the way, I just signed a new contract with my company to test the Mark 3 capsule at home. Is that gonna be a problem?¡± ¡°Nah, no one¡¯s gonna remember you. Thousands of testers are off the radar, so you¡¯ll just blend in. They only keep the identifier linked to your ID¡ªit¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°But¡­ that means I¡¯ll be stuck with someone else¡¯s virtual body, right?¡± The thought made me shudder. ¡°I don¡¯t want to end up as some old bald guy! Can¡¯t you re-scan me?¡± ¡°Nope, body scans are a one-time deal. If you want to change it, we¡¯d have to go through illegal clinics or something, since the DNA on file won¡¯t match yours,¡± he replied with a shrug. That got me riled up. I shot up and stalked toward him. ¡°Okay, okay, but what about the class? What if I end up as a mage? I can¡¯t be a mage! Or what if the dead person had debts? What then?¡± I stopped an inch from his face, practically glaring. That was why I hadn¡¯t done it before. The ID was vital for dealing with the government, and once it was set, I¡¯d be stuck with it. Or worse, I¡¯d risk execution. Commies. Though, to be fair, the democratic government set it up. ¡°Chill out! Just today, over six thousand people died, and there are hundreds of thousands of unprocessed IDs in the system. We¡¯ve got plenty of options.¡± He brought up a comprehensive list of names on his middle screen. ¡°Filtering¡­ Okay, only IDs with no debt. You¡¯re into classic warrior types, right? Filtering again¡­ Looks like we have three hundred warriors, though none of them are named John.¡± I stood beside Lucas for what felt like ages, scrolling through profiles, until he suddenly said, ¡°Hey, here¡¯s one¡ª21 years old, name¡¯s Charlie.¡± The file showed a photo of a young guy with an average build, mid-jump into a pool. ¡°Perfect! Let¡¯s go with him!¡± I slapped Lucas on the shoulder, but somehow nudged his hand, causing him to scroll, and the filter vanished. Did he do that on purpose? ¡°Careful! Ow, my hand¡­ Alright, here we go. Just head to the scanner¡ª¡± ¡°Hold it!¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°What do you take me for? I need to see the ID first, or I¡¯m gonna end up as someone¡¯s grandpa!¡± His eyes went wide as he quickly took hold of the mouse. ¡°Alright, fine. Here, see? Tags are [No debt], [Rimelion], [Charlie], [21 years old]. Happy now? Let¡¯s do it!¡± I nodded reluctantly and stepped over to his military-grade eye scanner. Wait¡ªmilitary-grade? I knew Lucas was loaded, but this was on another level. He¡¯d never mentioned this over our drinks. Maybe that¡¯s why he¡¯d gotten himself killed¡ªthis kind of gear wasn¡¯t just expensive; it was probably illegal. The scanner gave a single beep. ¡°Done. You¡¯re now Charlie. I transferred everything from your old ID, so it¡¯ll feel like nothing changed. Except, you know¡­ name and body. Game starts in two hours. Let¡¯s celebrate!¡± He handed me a vodka with a wide grin. Ah, yes. Vodka and energy drinks. People have died for less, but that couldn¡¯t have been Lucas¡¯s issue¡ªhe always drank slow and steady. ¡°When you dig up some loot, don¡¯t forget about ol¡¯ Lucas! I kept my name the same in the game.¡± Downing the glass, I grinned back. ¡°You had to jump in fast to snag that! They opened character creation last week, right?¡± ¡°Yep! I wanted to be just Lucas, nothing like ¡®SuperLucas85.¡¯ So, when you¡¯re done slicing skulls with that sword, remember, there¡¯s a mage named Lucas around.¡± He tried to sound excited, but there was something off¡ªthe way he looked at his glass, his slumped posture. Something was weighing on him. ¡°A mage, huh? Hate to say it, but that¡¯ll be tough. You know, you¡¯ll need to learn all the hand gestures, draw runes mid-air¡­¡± His jaw dropped as he stared at me, mumbling in disbelief, ¡°Wait¡ªwhat? I thought I¡¯d just wave a staff around lazily from the back! I¡¯m terrible at drawing. Why didn¡¯t you mention that earlier?¡± I laughed so hard I nearly spilled my drink. ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t ask! But don¡¯t worry. When you do your first class quest, choose ¡®Magic Swordsman¡¯¡ªthat¡¯ll suit you better. Or do you really need me to carry you that badly?¡± He took another sip, his expression turning serious. ¡°I¡­ I kinda lost a lot of money, you know. I need this game to help me pay off some debts. A friend in the community said the economy¡¯s going to be huge, and virtual money will be interchangeable with dollars.¡± I gave him a puzzled look, and he rolled his eyes. ¡°You know what I mean! Credits, but they¡¯re basically dollars. I need them to clear my debt.¡± I shook my head with a grin. ¡°Can¡¯t you just sell the door or your apartment? Or hack a bank to give yourself the funds?¡± ¡°Nah, mate, I need more than selling stuff would get me. And I¡¯m a security analyst, not a script kiddie! So, how are we going to get rich, fast?¡± An enormous debt? Why was he living in this extravagant apartment, then? I¡¯d never understand the rich. But I could help him out. After all, the game was my territory. ¡°We need to hit level fifteen as soon as possible. After that, we¡¯ll be able to make serious money without raising suspicion. But don¡¯t expect a fortune in a month¡ªI¡¯m lying low for now. Admins are ruthless.¡± Lucas let out a sigh and nodded. ¡°I know, Charli¡ª¡± He quickly corrected himself under my glare. ¡°I mean, John, I know. I feel like I¡¯ve lost part of my soul lately. Something big happened¡­ I¡¯ll fill you in later,¡± he added, seeing me open my mouth to press him. ¡°Funny you mention that. There¡¯s this movement¡ªChildren of Gaia, or something like that. They believe the world isn¡¯t real and¡­ they kill themselves to be reborn in the game¡­¡± My voice trailed off in a whisper. That group probably hadn¡¯t started up yet, but was there maybe something to it? Could all this simulation talk be true? I shook my head and took a long swig of an energy drink. When I got home, everything seemed just as I¡¯d left it¡ªexcept for the shiny, sky-blue capsule now taking up a chunk of my room. Yesterday, in the future, I¡¯d been using my beloved test Mark 9, so this was definitely a downgrade. The Mark 3 would have to do for now, though. Oddly enough, I remembered they had skipped the Mark 3 model. But hey, nothing bad¡¯s going to happen. I¡¯m sure of it. I checked the nutrient supply, and they filled it to the brim. Better safe than sorry. With some time left before the launch, I flopped down on my trusty sofa and tuned in to Katherine¡¯s stream. She was perched on the edge of her seat in her familiar old room, a neatly made bed behind her, passionately gesturing as she talked about the game¡¯s release and her big plans. This younger Katherine had already dyed her hair purple and was rocking a cute pink hoodie. Maybe that¡¯s why I was among her select few fans¡ªmost people preferred streamers with less clothing. Then again, the game¡¯s devious developers had made sure female characters would have their own style of ¡°armor.¡± She¡¯d be revealing plenty. Reaching behind the sofa, I grabbed a beer, cracking it open with my teeth. They¡¯re there? Old habits die hard, I guess. Katherine¡¯s stream and a beer on my sofa. If we weren¡¯t both younger, I¡¯d almost forget I¡¯d traveled twenty years back. Maybe I should contact her in the game? No, that would be creepy. Maybe I¡¯ll just run into her at the marketplace¡­ And completely blow it, as usual. That wouldn¡¯t be stalkerish at all, right? Right? Just as Katherine disappeared into her capsule, I was gearing up to dive in myself.
[Welcome back, Charlie.]
As I counted down the seconds, I closed my eyes and mentally braced myself for the grind. If I was going to save the world, I¡¯d have to outwork every other player. As the timer hit zero, the game launched. The first thing I noticed was the intense, fresh scent of a pine forest¡ªso real it was unmistakable. I felt the weight of my body, the rough dirt beneath me, and a gentle breeze on my face. Then I opened my eyes and¡­ saw something that shouldn¡¯t have been there. My hands were a lot smaller than they should¡¯ve been, but the real shock was¡­ a cleavage. Why the hell am I a girl?! [Book 1] [3. Level one] My small hands trembled as I paced nervously from one tree to another, my mind struggling to process what had just happened. The world had ended. Don¡¯t freak out. Please, John, don¡¯t freak out. Something had gone horribly wrong, but Lucas could fix it. Didn¡¯t he say there was some kind of ¡®unfreeze¡¯ thing once in a¡­ blue moon or whatever? With a long sigh, I sank down, leaning my back against a pine tree. Status. A translucent blue menu popped up instantly, and I mentally navigated to the friend¡¯s tab.
[You have no friends.]
Very funny game. Very funny. Thankfully, finding Lucas wasn¡¯t hard, and I lucked out¡ªhe was online and accepted my request.
[Lucas] Who are you? [Princess] It¡¯s me, John. [Princess] Wait, my name is Princess? What the hell?
Panic set in, and I quickly opened the character menu:
Name: Princess
Class: Priest
Race: Common Elf
[Lucas] Wow, that¡¯s awesome! [Princess] No, it¡¯s not. I am a girl with a class of Priest. Can you check that? [Lucas] Sure, let me log out.
My heart pulsated faster and faster as the panic attack clouded descended. I loudly breathed in and out and tried not to think about it. Instead, I tried to picture Veronica¡¯s red outfit, but it was useless to even try. Thankfully Lucas¡¯s icon tuned green soon. Wait! It was so fast. Had he logged out at all?
[Lucas] Sorry John, but there was another Charlie. [Princess] Another Charlie?! Don¡¯t you dare to make fun of me! [Lucas] Yeah, same as the dude, but she was a girl. [Princess] So, can you change me back? Should I go to your apartment for the scanner? [Lucas] That¡¯s the thing you can¡¯t. It¡¯s too late, this ID is you. At least she is hot! [Lucas] Sorry, tell me if you want to do some dung later. Priests are awesome healers!
The thing I feared most had happened. Well, I could deal with being a girl in the game. It wasn¡¯t like gender mattered when it came to building strength. No, that wasn¡¯t the real problem. The actual issue¡ªthe warrior in the glass room¡ªwas the Priest class! How was I supposed to grind if I couldn¡¯t fight? At least mages could switch to being magic swordsmen, which was halfway decent. But the poor Priest? Priests were the weakest combatants of all; they weren¡¯t made for solo play. And soloing was my thing. In QA, they¡¯d pay you a bonus if you found a bug, but if multiple testers found the same one, we had to split the reward. Going solo was always better. It felt like my life was slipping through my fingers. I looked up at the beautiful, hyper-realistic forest¡ªit felt more real than reality itself. But then again, reality was fake anyway. Was any of this even worth it? Maybe that punk should¡¯ve just let his father kill my simulation, so I wouldn¡¯t have to deal with this mess at all. No. Standing up, I solidified my resolve. Hopeless? Hardly. Nathan had said every class mattered, that it all depended on the player¡¯s skill. I¡¯d be the ultimate priestess in the realm! With a determined step, I set out on the path to become a battle legend.
[Congratulations! You unlocked the STAMINA stat.]
The system kindly reminded me that every hero¡¯s first task was to exhaust themselves. Herself, whatever. Ouch! A sharp, needle-like pain shot up from my feet. Wait, why was I barefoot? I checked my [Inventory] and discovered my character¡¯s sorry excuse for gear:
[Basic Robe]
Quality: 0-broken
Def: 0
Nobody knows why this ragged cloth is called a robe.
[Basic Staff]
Quality: 0-broken
ATK: 1-2
What a glorious way to call a stick.
Katherine¡¯s guru voice echoed in my mind: Imagine a lake without end. Let your mind flow like a calming river into the lake. I took a deep breath and tried picturing it. No luck.Stolen novel; please report. This ¡°robe¡± barely covered my shoulders and hands; it looked like someone had cut holes in an old sack and attached a flimsy patch over the thighs, just long enough to reach my knees. Of course, almost-naked clothing for girls¡ªclassic. Whatever. Looking around, I recognized the enchanted forest where Elf players spawned. If I remembered right, this part was the Woodland of Dreams. The plan was simple: head north, exploit the Boss, and level up fast. No one was in sight, which was good. But it was also bad, because Priests needed party support. Maybe I could solo, though. After all, I was an exploiter. A rustle in the bushes made me spin around just as pain flared in my foot¡ªsomething was biting me! ¡°Ahhhh!¡± I yelped. This insane ¡°Princess¡± character must¡¯ve set the reality filters to 100%! The only way to adjust it would be to spam support and wait. Thanks, Nathan. That¡¯s why everything felt so painfully real! A strange creature¡ªa cross between a rabbit and a small bear¡ªwas gnawing on my leg.
[Congratulations! You unlocked the HP stat.] [You lost 1 HP.]
[Bearbit Lv.1] Type: 1-common Normal | HP: 8/8
¡°You¡¯re gonna regret that!¡± My voice sounded oddly melodic, but my warrior instincts kicked in, and I kicked back with my free foot.
[Congratulations! You unlocked the STRENGTH stat.] [Due to low strength, Bearbit ignored the damage.]
Great, this is just great! I gripped my staff and aimed straight for its head, taking some satisfaction in the dull thud as it connected.
[Critical hit! Target lost 3HP.]
Yes! I smashed it again and again, finally defeating the weird creature as it released my leg. If I¡¯d been a warrior, one solid sword strike would¡¯ve finished it in an instant. Whatever.
[Bearbit has been defeated. +1XP]
Name: Princess
ST: 2/15 XP: 2 AGI: 5
Of course, at the start, the blue screens were numerous. With time, they toned it down with patches to not annoy readers. Readers? Oh, players reading the blue screens, whatever. That wasn¡¯t the current problem. My good mood vanished as soon as I read my miserable stats. Low HP, pathetic strength, and barely any stamina. How was I supposed to fight with this nonsense? Whatever. After a quick rest, my stamina recovered, and I trudged north. Bearbits were everywhere, as if Nathan had designed them just to level me up at least once. Frustrated, I kicked a pine tree, knocking off bits of bark. Having to rest after every fight was driving me insane. Up ahead, I spotted a thief fending off at least three Bearbits at once. ¡°That bastard!¡± I muttered, a string of curses slipping out. I considered joining him, but he was a stranger¡ªand it wasn¡¯t worth the risk. Better not. ¡°Come at me, Bearbits! I¡¯m a master of this big stick!¡± I taunted, my melodic voice ringing out. Two of them lunged at me; I dodged the uglier one and swung with all my strength, decapitating the other. After the dust settled, the sweet tone of a level-up chimed.
[Congratulations! You are now level 1!] [Spell Heal unlocked. Mana unlocked.] [You found a recalling scroll.]
[Recalling scroll]
Quality: 3-rare
Recalling scroll can be used to teleport to a teammate or a town in 2 miles radius. It requires 15s uninterrupted channeling.
Wait¡ªRecalling Scrolls were still a thing? I guess Irwen was still out there, slumbering somewhere. Anyway, I¡¯d finally hit level one! Now the game could truly begin. But first¡­ a well-earned rest. In the eastern part of the same forest, Lucas was attempting his first spell. He scowled at a strange symbol¡ªChinese-looking, according to the help window¡ªand tried to trace it in the air. But as he finished the shape, the gathered energy fizzled and vanished. What the hell am I doing wrong? He thought, frustrated. That was the right symbol, okay?! Just as he was about to analyze the intricacies of this frustrating system, a message from John popped up, requesting to form a party. Sure, why not? He accepted and sat on a nearby boulder, feeling his mana slowly trickle back after his failed attempts. Suddenly, a loud rumbling shattered the forest¡¯s peaceful silence, reverberating like something heavy crashing through glass. The wind whipped around him, making the pine needles tremble and rustle. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lucas sprang up, scanning the grass. Just next to his boulder, the ground was marked by a strange, glowing circle, filled with symbols similar to the ones he¡¯d tried to draw moments ago. Boss battle? Heart pounding, he clutched his staff and prepared himself. A few steady breaths later, the circle flared with a blinding light, forcing him to shield his eyes. As the light faded, he lowered his hand¡ªand the sight before him drained the color from his face. Not a Boss. No monster. Instead, a girl he knew all too well stood there. Her pale blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders, and the virtual reality¡¯s detail enhanced the slim, graceful shape of her waist. Even her slightly more-than-average chest appeared a little fuller, but her legs¡­ her legs were just the same length as in real life¡ªshe¡¯d be disappointed. She¡¯d always wanted longer legs and a smaller nose, and he remembered how she¡¯d get adorably furious at her reflection in the mirror. But he¡¯d loved her exactly as she was. Her long, pointed ears, the hallmark of an elf, framed her face beautifully. Memories of those late nights in the park flooded back, when they¡¯d talked about the future, about exploring this world together. That was before he¡¯d made a mistake. Before he¡¯d lost it all. Before she was taken from him. She waved, flashing her perfect white teeth, and his heart twisted painfully. He knew she was gone, knew she¡¯d never come back, knew this was only a trace. But he couldn¡¯t stop the smile that crept across his face as he waved back at his Charlie. Ah, John, he thought, a heavy ache settling in his chest. What have I done? w more than well. Her pale blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders, and the virtual reality helped her perfectly shaped waist; even her slightly more than average boobs looked bigger, but her legs weren¡¯t even an inch longer than in reality; she would be sad. She prayed so much to have a smaller nose and longer legs, but Lucas preferred her that way. And it was so cute when she used to be furious because of it in front of the mirror. Her long, pointy ears, the signature feature of elves, took his breath away. He remembered the nights in the park when they talked about the future and how they will explore this new game world. That was before he made a mistake. That was before he lost it all, before they took her from him. Her perfect white teeth flashed as she waved at him and his heart ached. He knew she was gone; he knew she won¡¯t come back; he knew this was only an echo. He knew all that, but he couldn¡¯t help but to smile back at his Charlie. Ah, John, what have I done? [Book 1] [4. Magic is hard] As the lights faded, I saw Lucas looking pale¡ªas pale as an empty whiskey glass. Silly Lucas! I gave him a reassuring smile and waved. Besides the pointed ears, there wasn¡¯t much difference between his real-life body and his in-game avatar. But a military-hardened physique on a mage? Poor Lucas. ¡°Lucas! I¡¯ll do my best, so don¡¯t worry.¡± My female voice startled me, but I brushed it off and approached him. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you!¡± He took a step back, his face flushing slightly. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Everything felt so real. No wonder people were choosing to live in virtual worlds forever. Maybe that commie tax wasn¡¯t so bad after all. He stared at me for a moment, then added, ¡°I mean¡­ this whole thing¡¯s gotta be rough for you, right?¡± ¡°Nah, I was mad at first,¡± I said with a smile, a bit of nostalgia slipping into my tone. ¡°But, well, my heart kind of melted after my first kill. There¡¯s just something exhilarating about the rush of taking things down.¡± I chuckled, then admitted, ¡°But I have no idea how to play a Priest. Like, none.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Lucas said thoughtfully, raising his staff as if about to cast a spell. I watched him closely, hoping to see a master mage in action so we could duo-clear dungeons together. He noticed my stare and blushed. ¡°Glad to hear that¡­ John.¡± ¡°Call me Princess.¡± ¡°What? Why?!¡± He froze, his spell dissipating as the mana slipped away. Whoops. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? That¡¯s my name now,¡± I shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re the one who said I¡¯m stuck with it, so call me Princess or Charlie. Both sound strange, but I guess people will get used to it. Besides, titles are super important in this game. Princess is not my official title, for now, but I¡¯ll work towards it. Titles define NPCs and players.¡± Instead of replying, he went back to casting another spell, though his technique looked completely off. Watching him struggle, I jumped in with my hard-earned QA knowledge. ¡°What are you doing, you dork? Haven¡¯t you read the guide? You need to draw the runes quickly, fill them with mana, and shout!¡± I¡¯d watched plenty of mages while testing; at least I knew what it was supposed to look like, and Lucas definitely wasn¡¯t doing that. He snorted, clearly annoyed, and challenged me. ¡°Oh yeah? Think you know so much? Try it yourself, then! You should have at least one spell!¡± I confidently opened my spell menu, selecting a healing spell with a simple rune design. ¡°Easy. Watch closely!¡± Nathan had even left a little animated video under the rune, so I followed along, taking mental notes. ¡°This¡¯ll be a breeze.¡± Clutching my staff, I tapped into my mana, or what I imagined as some kind of warm energy flowing within me. A pleasant warmth surprised me¡ªit felt different from the warrior¡¯s mana I was used to. Ignoring the surprise, I focused, drawing the contours of the rune. But halfway through, the mana fizzled out, and I stumbled back, cheeks burning. ¡°Haha! Told you so! You¡¯re only human,¡± Lucas teased, his voice grating as he laughed. I shot him a glare, pouting. He laughed more. ¡°Just like me, Charlie!¡± ¡°Hmpf! I took down the toughest bosses; if I had a sword, I¡¯d crush it as a warrior. We don¡¯t depend on mana like this!¡± There had to be a way. I thought back to Lucy, my old QA colleague, who¡¯d been an incredible paladin. During breaks, she¡¯d explained that imagining the symbols in her mind first helped her; once they were clear, the system would guide her hand. Lucas was staring at me like he¡¯d never seen a girl before, then abruptly interrupted my thoughts with his I¡¯m guilty voice, ¡°Charlie, I need to tell you something.¡± ¡°Can it wait?¡± I waved him off, too focused on my plan. ¡°I think I remembered something that¡¯ll help! The game must have a guiding system.¡± He nodded and sighed, though I barely noticed. I was too busy picturing the rune, concentrating on it for what felt like an eternity. Lucy had said to hold it in your mind until it was practically engraved there. Come on, Lucy, help me out here! Finally, I felt ready. I gripped my poor excuse for a staff, focused on the rune, and took a deep breath. As I looked forward¡­ Yes! A faint outline appeared in the air, guiding me. Carefully, I poured mana into it, tracing the shape with determination. But it failed. Again. And again. By the fifth or sixth failure, I lost it. I bolted around the meadow, swinging my ¡°glorious¡± stick at anything in sight. My mighty blows connected with trees, bushes, and, most satisfyingly, Lucas himself, who was still chuckling. My staff made solid contact with his skull.
[Critical hit! Target lost 1HP.]
Oh god, someone help me!
Somewhere dark, current simulation. Jeffrey sat in front of his computer screen, the dim glow illuminating his face. If John had been there, he¡¯d have mistaken him for a fifteen-year-old punk in a brown coat. But he¡¯d be wrong. Jeffrey had only just turned twelve. ¡°John¡¯s vanished from his previous sim, just as you anticipated, sir,¡± said a shadowy figure to Jeffrey¡¯s left. ¡°The assassin has breached his old simulation. It¡¯s only a matter of time before he picks up the trail and eliminates him. Are you certain you trust this¡­ John?¡± ¡°Yes. In the last major simulation, I got close enough to the seed to discern this simulation¡¯s unique hash¡ªa one-in-infinity chance.¡± Jeffrey¡¯s eyes narrowed, a glint of excitement sparking within. ¡°They thought they could stop me by cutting down the time before the game, but they miscalculated. John will be our hero this time, not me. I¡¯ll stay in the shadows, like the other shareholders, and avoid the early scramble. No more hustling around space stations three years after everyone else started.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°But why him?¡± The man stepped forward, his wrinkled hands gesturing emphatically in the screen¡¯s pale light. ¡°You could have chosen many seasoned heroes, especially after the deaths of two of your competitors. There are plenty of openings.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve tried that route, and it failed. He is the key to winning the game and securing the seed. Let¡¯s just hope he¡¯s started building his own ship by now.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the man interrupted gently, ¡°this time, the game is a fantasy, not sci-fi. More like the third simulation, though the setting¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Oh? Fascinating.¡± Jeffrey leaned back, considering this. ¡°I haven¡¯t been keeping up. But perhaps this might even the odds. Let the others exhaust their resources. We¡¯ll contact him when the time is right.¡± The screen shifted, casting a brief, flickering light on the room as a profile summary appeared.
[John - Employee Profile (15th year after the start)] [John is an exceptional individual with a rare talent for uncovering exploits within our systems. Despite the integration of AI-driven code monitoring, which has stymied other testers, John has consistently revealed numerous bugs and vulnerabilities, demonstrating his unparalleled ability to detect flaws invisible to others.] [In light of John¡¯s talent, the AI has been tasked with developing a system capable of on-the-fly fixes during John¡¯s gameplay to minimize exploit risks. It is critical to recognize that John¡¯s expertise and unique skill set are irreplaceable. Any disruption to his employment would impair the on-the-fly system¡¯s functionality, and thus, termination is strongly advised against.]
My hand moved fluidly through the air, tracing the rune, which glowed with a warm, golden light. ¡°Heal!¡± I shouted as I completed the symbol, directing the energy toward Lucas. A soft, golden mist spiraled from my fingertips, drifting toward him with a graceful flourish. I held my focus steady, guiding the magic until it wrapped around him and settled gently into his form.
[Player Lucas healed for 3HP.]
As the light faded, Lucas glanced at the golden glow with awe. ¡°It worked! That was¡­ beautiful,¡± he said, offering a hesitant smile. ¡°Yeah! Let me help you!¡± I hurried over, grabbing his hand. ¡°Do you have the rune in your mind? Can you picture it clearly?¡± He stared absently into my eyes, as if lost in thought, and didn¡¯t answer until I gave his cheek a light pinch. Was he drunk already? Or am I that hot? He shook head and said, ¡°Yeah, I think I can.¡± ¡°Focus! Just because I¡¯m a girl now doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m any different, and a weak answer like that won¡¯t cut it!¡± My determined glare spurred him into action. He opened his menu, gave the rune a quick glance, then turned his back to me, clearly flustered. ¡°Lucas?¡± I teased, watching him stiffen up like an empress when turned in the imperial quest. Ha! My presence still has some intimidation factor. ¡°Good. Now focus on that rune. Picture it, and the outline should appear soon. I may not have the fortitude of a warrior, but I won¡¯t let you down.¡± He sighed, but turned his attention back to the spell, mumbling something under his breath. I joined in, practicing alongside him. Despite his best efforts, he still struggled, failing most of the time. But I decided it was enough practice for now¡ªour mana was nearly depleted, and time was ticking. ¡°The game¡¯s fun this way, isn¡¯t it?¡± I said, looking up at the canopy of branches overhead, their thick leaves weaving a soothing shade over us. ¡°You have to work for it, but the rewards feel earned.¡± I caught him glancing at my chest and rolled my eyes. So, this is the new normal, huh? I let the moment pass, enjoying the cool breeze that tousled my hair. After a while, he shook his head and muttered, ¡°No, it¡¯s insane. Why is it so hard? Aren¡¯t games supposed to be fun?¡± ¡°Blame it on the evil creator, Nathan,¡± I said with a grin. ¡°But I disagree. This is amazing! Without a real challenge, what¡¯s the point? The system was way more forgiving for warriors; I could jump meters high and smash through walls!¡± A mischievous grin spread across my face as I remembered one exploit where I¡¯d broken into a vault with a single punch. ¡°Aren¡¯t you excited to see what magic can do? I¡¯m dying to find out how our first boss fight will go. Faster spell casting could make all the difference. You need to work on that.¡± He nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Yeah¡­ this game feels¡­ real.¡± Rising, he tapped his staff against the nearby trees, listening to the satisfying clink it made. ¡°More real than the world we came from. It feels like this is where the future lies. Anyone who stands against it might just¡­ disappear. Vanish, without a trace. Actually, I think that¡¯s already happening. Charlie, the truth is¡ª¡± His words took me by surprise, and I gently put a hand up to stop him. ¡°Lucas, please. I understand.¡± He was right¡ªeverything was moving in that direction. ¡°People vanishing without a trace¡­¡± Is that what happened to him? Did he meddle where he shouldn¡¯t have? ¡°Hey, Lucas, have you heard of the ¡®Ring of Smiling People¡¯? Someone mentioned it¡ª¡± Before I could finish, his face twisted in horror. He clutched the frayed edge of my pitiful robe with a tight grip. ¡°Where the hell did you hear that name? Were you snooping around my place?¡± He joggled me, as if trying to snap me out of a trance, though he thankfully had little strength. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about it, John. These people are dangerous!¡± I slipped out of his grasp, stepping back cautiously. ¡°It was some punk at the bar who mentioned them. He said to reach out if I wanted to learn more about simulations.¡± ¡°Of course. The bar.¡± He threw his hands up in frustration. ¡°Where else? Just¡ªdon¡¯t. If you value your life, stay away from them.¡± ¡°All right! Relax. Damn Nathan, I was only asking!¡± ¡°Even asking is risky. People have died over it.¡± He softened, his voice trailing off as his eyes filled with something between worry and sadness. Then, almost abruptly, he changed the subject. ¡°You¡­ you always wanted to play, didn¡¯t you? You look so alive here. Happier than usual. You¡¯re only ever like this after a fourth beer.¡± I felt my cheeks flush because he wasn¡¯t wrong. Since I¡¯d entered the game, I felt different¡ªlike my entire brain was rewired. But that was nonsense, right? Maybe it was just the excitement of a second chance at life, courtesy of that punk. I jumped up and glanced at the sky, noting the sun¡¯s position. Nightfall wasn¡¯t too far off. ¡°Lucas, focus on what matters. We¡¯re poor, level-one noobs, and we need a plan.¡± ¡°So? What¡¯s the grand scheme, oh eminent expert?¡± He looked less than enthusiastic, standing there with no intention of moving. ¡°Hmpf!¡± I grabbed his hand and started running, dragging him along. ¡°Onward! My job was to find bugs, so let¡¯s do just that. Why play by the rules? Let¡¯s exploit our way to the top!¡± [Book 1] [5. First exploit] Our pitiful stamina forced us to slow from a jog to a walk, and after what felt like an endless trek, we finally left the cover of the forest. A vast plateau stretched out before us, rolling on as far as the eye could see. ¡°I know an exploit here that should still work,¡± I whispered, leaning close to Lucas. ¡°But be careful¡ªthe monsters are around level four.¡± I stepped lightly to the edge of the forest, feeling the thrill of stepping into unknown danger. The last rays of the setting sun glinted off the treetops, but soon even that faint light faded, and an eerie, drawn-out whistle broke the silence. The night came alive with the brutal sounds of red foxes tearing into their prey. These nocturnal monsters dominated the plateau after dark, ripping apart the poor gray wolves that roamed the area by day. Nodding to Lucas, I motioned him to move, as the wolves¡¯ pained whimpers echoed all around us. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± I urged, giving his arm a tug, and we crept forward, tiptoeing. The chilling sounds of carnage echoed in every direction. ¡°Faster! If we linger too long, the foxes will eat us alive!¡± It felt nothing like QA testing; back then, dying was inconsequential. Here, every sound, every danger, felt real. Was this the true draw of a live game? The air was icy, biting through our flimsy gear, but finally, I spotted our goal¡ªa small clearing, familiar from my test runs. I gestured to Lucas to lie low, and we dropped to the ground just in time. A colossal red fox, easily twice our size, prowled close, sniffing the air. It was terrifyingly close, its fur a deep crimson in the moonlight, its powerful frame moving with predatory grace.
[Frexie Lv.5] Type: 5-epic Boss | HP: 600/600
Lucas crept closer than I would¡¯ve liked, his side pressed against mine as he whispered in my ear, ¡°Charlie, you¡¯re insane. My spark spell maxes out at 6 damage¡ªit¡¯d take me two hours to kill that thing, and I¡¯d be out of mana way before that.¡± A triumphant grin spread across my face. ¡°True, my dear mage. You¡¯d need a full party with decent gear for this boss. But with my exploit, you can take it down, even if it takes a couple of days. Frexie drops some valuable loot, like crafting materials. And most importantly, there¡¯s a special beer recipe. Whoever scores the first kill has a guaranteed chance to get it, and we could make hundreds of gold brewing that beer.¡± Lucas blinked, then gave me a side hug, chuckling. ¡°Damn, Charlie, when there¡¯s booze involved, you¡¯re first in line.¡± Before I could push him off, our whispered scheming was interrupted by intense cries of battle piercing the still night. We broke apart quickly, ducking low and creeping back from Frexie¡¯s territory, hiding in the cover of nearby bushes. My heart pounded as I felt a surge of instinctive fear. The night air was thick with tension, and my hands shook a bit. I used to be a fearless champion of Izatiel¡­ ¡°Ah, two lovebirds at level one, sneaking around the dark forest! How romantic!¡± A high-pitched female voice rang out from behind us. ¡°But there¡¯s no time for romance, sweethearts. Frexie is ours, and don¡¯t even think about sabotaging us.¡± How had I missed her approach? Me, a former warrior known for vigilance. Oh, right. Level-one priestess. Anger flared up, hot and fast, and I gripped my pitiful staff so hard it bent. The girl wasn¡¯t alone¡ªshe had a full team with her. From a quick scan, I counted two tanks, a paladin, two mages ¡ª including her ¡ª, and two healers. A solid setup for taking down a high-level boss. It was impressive; the game had only been live for a few hours, so they were likely a well-prepared guild. I remembered Ian¡¯s advice: Never mess with a guild. Wait¡­ wasn¡¯t he also playing the live game? I nodded silently, retreating. But not Lucas. He glared at her, his face twisted in stubborn defiance. I shot him a warning glance, but he¡¯d already started, his voice low and challenging. ¡°Who do you think you are? We were here first!¡± My heart raced again, the familiar panic seeping in. I wanted to stop him, to say something¡ªanything¡ªbut the words wouldn¡¯t come. My mouth opened, but no sound escaped. Why did this game feel so real that I was having a full-blown panic attack? Lucas¡¯s remark only seemed to fuel her anger. She stomped over, glaring daggers. ¡°Who am I? You really don¡¯t know who you¡¯re dealing with, do you?¡± Her voice echoed through the trees, and in the distance, a howl pierced the night. The commotion had attracted the monsters. Nice move, genius. I shot Lucas an exasperated look, silently pleading for him to back down, but he was fuming, ignoring me. ¡°I don¡¯t care! You don¡¯t own Frexie! What if we pull other foxes over here? What¡¯ll you do then? Kill us?¡± That was enough. With a loud slap, I grabbed his sleeve, yanking him away.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Her group looked on with amused smirks, like we were unruly kids. Not the arrogant sneers I¡¯d expect from punks, the kind that sometimes wandered into Patrick¡¯s bar acting like they owned the place. No, they seemed confident, secure. Maybe she just wanted the first kill for her guild? Not that it mattered. I needed to get out of here before I completely lost control. ¡°Scram, or I¡¯ll slaughter you,¡± she sneered, though her gaze softened slightly as it met mine. ¡°See, your sweetheart here is the sensible one. Hurry along.¡± She lifted her staff proudly. ¡°Remember the name Lisa, the Fire Goddess!¡± One of her priests sighed, shaking his head as he whispered something to her. Meanwhile, Lucas opened his mouth to fire back, but I quickly clamped a hand over it and dragged him away. Lisa. The name rang a bell. I heard of her in the game¡¯s pvp tournaments; maybe she was more famous than I remembered? She used to be quite strong, but then fell out of the glory. Once we were safely out of earshot, Lucas fumed. ¡°Charlie, what was that? You just stood there and then pulled me away like a coward!¡± I avoided his gaze, still pulling him along as the sounds of spells and battle echoed through the forest. The foxes were swarming around Lisa¡¯s group. ¡°You know why. Remember that girl we met at the bar in high school?¡± He let me guide him, still grumbling. ¡°Fine, fine. I know you get nervous around people. But this is a video game, Charlie! If you can¡¯t stand up to bullies here, then where can you?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need Frexie,¡± I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn¡¯t meet his eyes, so I focused on moving ahead. He glanced back toward the clearing, where he could see sparks flying between the trees. ¡°Please, let¡¯s just go.¡± With a long sigh, he finally followed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lucas. We¡¯ll find something even better.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, I know. You¡¯re right¡ªthey¡¯re stronger and outnumber us.¡± He hesitated. ¡°I just¡­ got excited. What you said about the drops¡­ Thing is, I¡¯ve got debt collectors breathing down my neck.¡± ¡°You realize we¡¯re not making much money in the beginning, right?¡± I replied, trying to ground his expectations. If I¡¯d been a warrior, I¡¯d already be charging through level-ten quests. ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything as exciting as Frexie, but trust me¡ªGoolems are fun to catch, and they drop decent loot. You¡¯ll see!¡± Lucas kept moving forward, driven purely by willpower. They¡¯d been playing for over four hours, and under normal circumstances, he¡¯d have cracked open his third energy drink by now. But could he afford to quit with her beside him? Charlie, as cheerful as ever, was hopping from boulder to boulder, her energy unflagging as they passed through the rugged mountains. Not only does she look like Charlie, but she acts like her, too. That same lively spark¡­ well, John needed a few whiskeys to get there, but it¡¯s close enough. He wrestled with his thoughts. Should I have let her memory go, buried my feelings along with her? Am I just being selfish, holding onto this? He watched her, pain and longing swirling within him. But he¡ªshe¡ªis my friend. Can I risk losing her again? They entered a new region, and she stopped, leaning against a rock, glaring at the ground. ¡°Come on, Lucas! Ground control to captain Lucas! What are you so lost in thought about?¡± She pointed to the ground, swaying her head to get his attention. ¡°So, can you dig here or not?¡± ¡°Dig here? Why the heck would we dig?¡± Lucas raised an eyebrow, half-wondering if it was a good idea to keep following her. Not just because of his feelings, but because Dexter had messaged him, excitedly recounting his own dungeon adventures. The normally clumsy, game-inept Dexter had already reached level 2. ¡°I told you earlier!¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Or were you too busy daydreaming about energy drinks?¡± She squatted, inspecting the dirt with her small hands, then shot him a mischievous look. ¡°Or maybe you were ogling my boobs again?¡± Without waiting for an answer, she started digging, using her staff and even her bare hands. Lucas stood frozen, half-considering ditching her to catch up with Dexter. This whole digging plan felt insane. Was something weird about the ID transfer? He needed money, or he¡¯d be as good as dead in real life. She dirtied her robe in the process, and the staff looked like it might snap at any moment. ¡°Lucas, if you don¡¯t help me, this¡¯ll take forever. Damn Nathan, damn stamina¡ªI can¡¯t even dig a hole without feeling exhausted.¡± Seeing her like that tugged at his heart, and he finally nodded, sinking to his knees to dig beside her, the ground soft and cool beneath his fingers. It took over an hour, but eventually, they had a hole over three feet deep. Somehow, the simple act of digging felt strangely fulfilling. Probably because I¡¯m with the girl I love, he thought, though he brushed it off. She mentioned wanting the hole deeper, and he rolled his eyes, flopping onto the grass as she wandered off to ¡°pull something in.¡± A faint rumble woke him from his light doze, and he blinked, trying to focus on the figure sprinting toward him in the distance. What the¡ª? He scrambled to his feet, readying himself for a fight. It was Charlie, sprinting barefoot, pursued by strange, tiny figures. They looked like stone-skinned children, barely three feet tall, with oversized, round heads and black stones for eyes. ¡°Move!¡± she called out, not daring to glance back. Lucas leapt out of her way, and she launched herself gracefully over the hole. Her three pursuers, unable to stop, tumbled in after her. ¡°There you go! Monster-catching, as easy as impressing Empress!¡± she cheered, then collapsed onto the ground, panting. ¡°But that run¡­ absolutely exhausting.¡± The creatures below thrashed against the hole¡¯s walls, their limbs scraping with a grating, rock-on-rock sound each time they moved.
[Goolem Lv.9] Type: 3-rare mini-Boss | HP: 480/480
Lucas felt a shiver run through him. Level nine mini-bosses? He turned to Charlie, voice shaking. ¡°Mind telling me what exactly these things are?¡± Charlie, still sprawled on the ground, pointed up at the sky with a grin, her eyes gleaming. ¡°Our feast!¡± [Book 1] [6. What’s in that crate?] I had stretched my stamina thin, just enough to keep luring such dangerous monsters. Combined with their one-hit-kill punches, this situation had ¡°disaster¡± written all over it. As I caught my breath, Lucas crept closer to the edge of the hole, cautiously poking the trapped Goolems with his staff. It was strangely adorable, and I couldn¡¯t help but grin. Wait, what am I thinking? My smile must have caught his attention, because he sat beside me, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and nervousness, like he wanted to ask something. ¡°Charlie, I was wondering¡­ how do we kill them?¡± he said, glancing back at the hole with a furrowed brow. I knew it! I still know him well after all these years. ¡°Should I use spark? It¡¯d take forever, and honestly, I¡¯m not sure I can cast it that many times.¡± He frowned, casting a wary look at the Goolems. ¡°It¡¯s good they¡¯re stuck, but why won¡¯t they climb out? Is their AI broken?¡± Before I could stop myself, I burst into laughter. ¡°No, nothing like that.¡± I stood up, dusting off my pathetic potato-sack dress as I tried to calm down. ¡°They¡­ haha¡­ they¡­ they¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t hold it in as memories of one of my earliest exploits flooded back. Lucas looked at me, puzzled and uncomfortable, while I clamped a hand over my mouth. What¡¯s gotten into me? Stop, John, it¡¯s not even that funny! Stupid hormones. After settling down, I explained, ¡°They disabled climbing after the Goolems ambushed the poor test guys a few too many times. The Goolems used to swarm up cliffs and drop on players en masse.¡± I peeked into the hole, listening to the Goolems grumbling and scraping as they made futile attempts to climb. ¡°The devs got lazy and just disabled climbing altogether¡ªI kept my mouth shut and cashed in on the bug-finding bonus.¡± Uh, that hadn¡¯t happened yet. I nervously added, ¡°I mean, planned to cash in. Now it¡¯s our turn to exploit their oversight.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Lucas scrambled towards me, and whispered into my ear, his breath sending a strange tingle down my spine, ¡°I thought the AI developed the game? They¡¯re marketing it as the first fully AI-designed game.¡± Lucas, it¡¯s still me. I may be in a dress, but I¡¯m still John. Slightly unsettled, I nudged him back gently. ¡°First, the Goolems can¡¯t climb, so we¡¯re safe for now. And second, no, not initially¡ªthe AI will continue developing the game. And don¡¯t think we¡¯re the only ones taking advantage of loopholes. I¡¯d bet thousands of players are out there exploiting as we speak.¡± ¡°The Goolem hole exploit?¡± ¡°No, silly Lucas. These guys are level 9; who¡¯d guess level-ones like us could handle it?¡± I rolled my eyes with a smirk. ¡°The world¡¯s massive¡ªmuch larger than Earth. With millions of monsters, mostly AI generated, there are bound to be millions of exploits waiting to be discovered.¡±
[Attention! The group of user Lisa had slain the world Boss Frexie for the first time. Praise their name!]
She was fast. Whatever. I clenched my almost-broken staff, venting my frustration by whacking a Goolem squarely on the head. ¡°Took them longer than I expected, that silly team,¡± I muttered, not hiding my jealousy as I smashed the Goolem again.
[Critical hit! Target lost 1HP.] [Critical hit! Target lost 1HP.]
Lucas closed his eyes, sighing. ¡°That could have been us. Just imagine: ¡®Praise the group of Lucas!¡¯¡± While he grinned, I shot back, ¡°For your info, it would say Princess¡¯s group.¡± ¡°Maybe we should¡¯ve asked to join them,¡± he mused. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re a Priest¡ªeveryone needs one.¡± ¡°Not happening. She was with her guild; they don¡¯t just let randoms tag along. Get that idea out of your head! Now let¡¯s get back to grinding. Only a couple hundred hits to go!¡± He nodded, joining in the Goolem-smashing with his own stick. After a few minutes of him accidentally brushing against me, I decided it was time to create some distance. But what, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s a warrior and I can put him through exercises. Oh, mage¡­ perfect. He should practice his spells anyway. I gave him a pointed look. ¡°Why don¡¯t you start using spark? You need to increase your proficiency, and resting between casts will be good practice.¡± He looked like he wanted to argue until he caught my glare, then reluctantly started tracing runes in the air, sending sparks toward the Goolems. The flames fizzled around them, barely making a dent. ¡°They¡¯re immune to fire! I¡¯m only doing 1 damage!¡± he complained, muttering, ¡°If we¡¯d gone after gray wolves, we¡¯d be level two by now¡­¡± ¡°This is faster. Just wait until we take one down¡ªthen we can talk. If you¡¯re still complaining, I¡¯ll drag you to the elf village,¡± I smirked, focusing back on smashing their stone heads. My staff¡¯s durability was dropping faster than I¡¯d expected, but it should hold up for another two hours. Even if it broke, I could use any old stick¡ªthis thing was barely better than a branch anyway. The description even said so.
[Goolem has been defeated. +150XP] If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.[Congratulations! You are now level 2! XP to next level: 100/200] [You found a strange book x2. Goolem pool: 98/100] [You found shoes.]
¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡± I shouted with joy, look at the loot triumphantly. I turned to fist bump Lucas, but he surprised me by pulling me into a hug. So I shrugged, returning the embrace for a moment before pulling back to examine our hard-won spoils. Really, how long can people swing sticks and not get sick of it? ¡°Charlie, it¡¯s not that I doubted you¡ª¡± ¡°What? You didn¡¯t doubt me?¡± I gave him a deadly glare and shoved the loot pile his way. ¡°Identify. Now.¡± ¡°Alright, alright! Maybe I was a little skeptical.¡± He chuckled nervously, still looking at the loot in awe. ¡°But you actually delivered. How did we get 150 XP from this? That¡¯s insane! The gray wolves barely give 1 or 2 XP each.¡± ¡°These Goolems are rare mini-bosses that roam in groups of three or more. They give twenty times the XP of regular monsters,¡± I explained with a smug grin. ¡°Now stop talking and identify the loot already.¡± Grumbling, Lucas began casting his identification spell. Mages had the unique ability to identify items, making them perfect partners for any ventures. My personal walking identifier groaned as he focused on the spell. I watched, trying to catch any hint of the runes he was drawing, but the process was hidden from my view. Too bad¡ªI could¡¯ve teased him for any mistakes. Then again, he¡¯d probably do the same to me. ¡°Come on, Lucas, focus!¡± I urged impatiently, unable to stop my gaze from lingering on a shiny pair of boots in the pile. What¡¯s gotten into me? ¡°Charlie!¡± he hissed, trying to concentrate. ¡°Quiet¡ªI¡¯m focusing!¡± He gritted his teeth, casting the spell again after a failed attempt. Finally, after what felt like the tenth try, he handed me a dusty book. ¡°Here, I think this one¡¯s for you.¡±
[You found a book of Smite] [Smite] Type: 2-uncommon | Lv. Novice 1 | Mana: 20% INT Effect: Damages target for 15% INT. * as you increase the proficiency, the mana used will decrease. Limit: minimum 10%
I could learn the spell right away, but I hesitated, biting my lip. I only had space for five spells until I hit level ten, so each choice had to count. Better to hold off for something with a rare rating or higher. The second book was a spell for mages, so it seemed the system had rewarded us based on our classes. Probably a bonus for scoring the first Goolem kill. Lucas finally identified the shoes, tossing them over with a smug grin. ¡°Thanks!¡± I beamed, slipping them on immediately. My celebration at the end of my barefoot journey was short-lived; I took one triumphant step forward and promptly face-planted. My nose smacked into the ground, and I got a mouthful of gritty soil. What the¡ª?! I looked up to find Lucas laughing so hard he was literally rolling on the ground, practically the definition of ROFL. Sometimes he was so immature. Infuriated, I glared down at my new footwear, clenching my jaw. Then I shouted into the empty mountains, ¡°Why do these stupid shoes have heels? How am I supposed to walk in them?¡± Lucas was still laughing, so I threw a rock at him, dealing zero damage. ¡°I could at least walk when I was barefoot! Aren¡¯t these sexists? Look at your robe¡ªtotally modest. Meanwhile, mine barely covers anything. And now heels? Seriously?¡± After venting my frustration, I attempted to walk again, but it was clunky at best. Fighting in them? Forget it. Hopefully, I¡¯d get used to it with some practice. Apparently, the item was ¡°universal,¡± meaning it changed appearance based on my gender and role¡ªPriest. How thoughtful of the programmers. Clearly, they¡¯d wanted a good laugh. I was among them, especially when I saw Katherine¡­ That the aesthetic was imposed on me like an unwanted joke made me furious. Lucas¡¯s laughter, which only seemed to get louder, was like nails on a chalkboard. ¡°You¡¯ve been a girl for, what, five hours, and you¡¯re already a feminist!¡± I shot him a death glare, sighing as I stomped awkwardly around the hole, venting my frustration on the trapped Goolems. The poor creatures glared up at me, swinging their tiny fists in rage, but it was pointless. No monster had ever escaped one of my exploits.
[Goolem has been defeated x2. +150XP] [Congratulations! You are now level 3! XP to next level: 200/450] [Spell Group Heal unlocked.] [You found a strange book. Goolem pool: 97/100] [You found a crate of bottles.]
After a relentless onslaught, the Goolems finally succumbed to their injuries. One by one, they crumbled, leaving behind a modest loot pile. The book turned out to be an electric spell for mages, which thrilled Lucas. But even better was the leveling speed¡ªtruly miraculous. Still, after nearly dying laughing at the heel incident, he couldn¡¯t help but eye the mysterious crate with a touch of fear. Please let it be mana elixirs, he thought, hoping for something practical. But when he identified it, his luck played a cruel trick¡ªit was booze.
[You identified an item: Crate of Wines]
He chuckled, half-amused, half-resigned. Charlie-John had always been an enthusiastic drinker. At first, he¡¯d found it funny, but John¡¯s love for alcohol had persisted well beyond high school. Not that Lucas hadn¡¯t enjoyed a good drink himself, but he was a lightweight compared to his friend¡¯s seemingly bottomless tolerance for whiskey and vodka. John spent countless hours at that old Irish bar, either with Lucas or their high school crew¡ªguys like Ian and the rest. He always had an excuse for his drinking, usually mumbling something about ¡°social anxiety.¡± Nonsense. Lucas shook his head. He was just afraid, that¡¯s all. Talking to people isn¡¯t that hard. It¡¯s not like anyone was asking him to do something dangerous. You just talk, that¡¯s all. Only an excuse to drink, after all. With a sigh, he passed the crate over to Charlie, trying not to let memories of ¡°drunk John¡± cloud his image of her. ¡°Charlie¡­ I think you¡¯ll love for sure.¡± [Book 1] [7. Everyone loves wine] What a haul! I opened a bottle, took a sip, and was hit with an unexpectedly sweet flavor. The honeyed taste reminded me of a Sauternes I¡¯d once splurged on during my first proper holiday, a week of overpriced wines that all but obliterated my wallet. I grinned, gazing out into the distant forest as memories of that time came flooding back. Good times. Lucas touched my shoulder lightly. ¡°Charlie, you look¡­ kind of wrecked. You alright?¡± I gave him my brightest grin, but he just sighed. ¡°I¡¯m serious¡ªyou¡¯ve got a problem with alcohol, don¡¯t you?¡± He moved closer, pulling me into an unexpected hug. For some strange reason, butterflies started swarming in my stomach as soon as he touched me. Woah, the wine¡¯s that strong? ¡°My dear mage, now is not the time for doom and gloom. Let¡¯s celebrate our first spoils!¡± I offered him the bottle, but he pulled back, running a nervous hand through his hair. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. We¡¯ve been playing for over six hours. I need to log out for a bit,¡± he said apologetically. He froze for a good ten seconds after hitting the log out button, standing statue-like before his body faded. I shrugged, taking another sip.
[Attention! You had entered the intoxicated state 1] [The pain toleration had increased by 20%]
¡°What? Drinking lowers pain? Amazing!¡± I raised my bottle in a toast to my hardworking friends at the QA department. ¡°Cheers to you!¡± I shouted, downing the rest of the bottle.
[Attention! You had entered the intoxicated state 2] [The pain toleration had increased by 40%] [Intelligence decreased by 20%] [Agility decreased by 10%]
The ground seemed to waver a bit as my sense of direction blurred. No way I could keep hunting one-hit-kill Goolems in this state. Better find something safer. After a moment¡¯s thought, I remembered a weird dungeon with Goolems nearby and set out in its direction¡ªor so I thought. But as I stumbled along, I repeatedly snagged my heels on the same root, tripping again and again. An infinite loop of roots! My heels jammed between the same cursed roots at least five times before I finally wrenched them free. Finding the dungeon quickly proved impossible. I walked for what felt like ages, hearing my footsteps echo as I wandered in circles, only to return to the Goolem hole. My old enemy, the root! I plopped down on a familiar boulder, waiting for the world to stop spinning. I vaguely remembered an extra payment for finding this place, something near running water. A pond? A creek?
[Attention! You had entered the intoxicated state 1]
I wandered, a little more clear-headed, until I heard a stream and followed it until I found the¡­ let¡¯s say thirteenth most beautiful waterfall. Okay, I couldn¡¯t check the ranking in a sightseeing guide, because Ricky probably didn¡¯t know what Rimelion was, so he obviously hadn¡¯t written it. Yet. I made a mental note to tell him at The Riker¡¯s Luck if I ever got the chance. To avoid reaching the ¡°thirsty¡± state, I took a sip from the cool stream, splashing my face to wake myself up. The hunger modifier? Future John¡¯s problem. After the break at the waterfall, I glanced up the mountain. Thankfully, the north side was full of gray rough stones, so I nodded and started climbing up. My heels were helping me this time, and when I climbed near a resting place, I grew excited and tried to jump there. Guess what? The fall almost gave me a heart attack, and the rocky ground welcomed me in a warm embrace.
[You suffered fall damage 27]
¡°Ouchie.¡± I massaged my forehead and quickly cast a healing spell to rack up proficiency points. Maybe masochists really make the best healers. The second climb went smoothly, and I reached the top with a surge of satisfaction. Gazing into the distance, I could just make out Main Village Number Four, faintly visible about eight miles away, according to the map. A few other villages dotted the landscape between us, but they were designed to be swallowed up by Irwen soon enough. Could I somehow get involved in that chaos? I spent the next hour scouring the cliff, finally spotting a small crevice nestled between the roots of an old pine tree. A faint glow from within confirmed my suspicion, but unfortunately, the opening was only wide enough for my hand. ¡°No problem¡ªclever solutions, John.¡± I wedged my staff into the crevice, slowly prying it open bit by bit. I leaned in, pressing harder, feeling the wood strain under my weight. With a loud crack, the staff snapped, sending a few small rocks tumbling inside¡ªand, before I could catch myself, I stumbled forward and fell in right after them.
[You suffered fall damage 17] [You found ¡®Goolem factory dungeon,¡¯ stage 3]
Yes! I jumped up, fist-pumping in quiet celebration, though I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the dim light. The air was stale and warm, weighing heavily on me. I found myself in a small side room, barely furnished with a broken table and two half-functional chairs. Good job, devs¡ªwhat an entrance, right? I laughed to myself, knowing full well that the AI would eventually patch exploits like this. But for now, I¡¯d gladly skip the tedious stages of the Scorching Dungeon. Maybe there¡¯s a way to slip into Lisa¡¯s group for this run? Moving carefully, I reminded myself that stealth was crucial. One small Goolem was manageable if I pushed myself, but anything more would be a death sentence¡ªand a brutal twenty-four-hour wait to respawn. As I crept into the hallway, the floorboards beneath me creaked, their old wooden beams groaning with each step.
[Goolem Lv.5] Type: 1-common | HP: 100/100
For a moment, I considered digging another hole, but thought better of it. I couldn¡¯t guarantee these Goolems wouldn¡¯t climb¡ªonly the wild ones had been patched. Holding my breath, I attempted to sneak around, careful to make as little noise as possible. If only I were a Thief. At least they get some leeway. But nooo, Priests weren¡¯t exactly known for their stealth. As I made my way down the hallway, a pebble crunched underfoot and skittered across the floor, echoing far too loudly in the quiet hall. My stomach dropped as the sound seemed to go on forever, rousing a Goolem. No! The stone creature whipped around and charged toward the noise. Not about to let it catch me, I bolted, sprinting into the nearest room and throwing myself inside¡ªan empty one, thank gods. Just in time, too, as I heard the Goolem¡¯s stone body scraping against the doorframe. I gulped, feeling my heart hammering wildly.Trouble in a noob dungeon, John, you¡¯re pathetic. After searching around for a while, I stumbled into a bonus room, where the faint pitter-patter of tiny Goolems scurrying about filled the air. My eyes locked onto my prize: a chest tucked away in the corner, half-hidden behind a pile of boulders. Thankfully, I wasn¡¯t in any real danger¡ªthe little Goolems ignored me entirely, bouncing around aimlessly.
[Little Goolem Lv.1] Type: 1-common | HP: 10/10
As I began digging through the rubble, I quickly realized I¡¯d made a major miscalculation. Even the smaller stones proved a challenge for my weak, low-level body. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I heaved the rocks aside, needing to stop and catch my breath more than once. This wouldn¡¯t be a problem if I were a warrior. Was I here to clear a dungeon or work as a miner? I muttered to myself, resuming my makeshift excavation with a resigned sigh.
[You found a secret treasure chest!] [You found Basic Mace] [You found Goolem scroll x5]
[Basic Mace]
Quality: 2-uncommon
ATK: 6-8
Restriction: Level 5
Effects: bonus damage to Goolems 2-3
Basic Mace sturdy enough to hit a Goolem.
[Goolem scroll]
Quality: 4-exceptional
Grants temporarily (10 minutes) Goolem disguise. The Goolems won¡¯t attack unless provoked.
Yes! The system had already identified the items¡ªthe perk of chest loot over monster drops. Sweet. But my excitement dimmed when I saw there was no staff. Instead, I had a mace, which would deal measly one damage since I didn¡¯t meet the level requirements. Well, better than nothing.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. With a newfound, if slightly shaky, confidence, I strode back to the hallway, gripping the mace tightly and aiming it at the Goolem. ¡°Come at me, you little rock! You¡¯re nothing but a pebble in my eyes!¡± My taunt did the trick. The Goolem shot toward me, closing the distance in an instant and slamming into my abdomen. Ouch! The pain hit like a sledgehammer, and I let out a scream, as if a sadistic dentist had jabbed my entire core. Even through the agony, I pulled out the scroll, fumbling as I activated it, though I couldn¡¯t hold back the scream ripping from my throat.
[You lost 6 HP.] [You have used the Goolem scroll, you are now disguised.] [You lost 1 HP.]
Activating the scroll mid-fight threw the Goolem¡¯s AI for a loop. After each hit, it seemed to forget its purpose, freezing in place for a solid five seconds¡ªlike Lucas without his precious energy drink¡ªbefore swinging again. The best part? Each bash only dealt a single point of damage. This exploit was an old classic, but if it worked, why not use it? Even if it still hurts. Goolem bashed at me with a glee. Damn! Hurts like a hangover. With this trick, the Goolem kept chipping away at me for 1 HP, which I could out-heal... mostly. I retaliated with my own mighty 1-damage swings from the mace. Out-heal might¡¯ve been an optimistic term; I succeeded with my healing spell maybe once every three attempts. Stupid magic system. Tougher than figuring out barroom puzzles. Gritting my teeth, I reached for my trusty wine mid-fight, downing it to dull the pain. As the intoxication level hit 2, the aches dulled to something like walking barefoot on broken whiskey bottles. In the end, the Goolem rewarded me with a measly 8 XP¡ªa far cry from the glorious 300 XP, but at least I was stacking proficiency points with each heal. Except for the relentless pain. Wait. Am I becoming a masochist? With that troubling thought, I made the most of my situation. Running around the hallway like a madwoman, I took on Goolems left and right, embracing each hit, each crack of stone against my knees and abdomen¡ªall for those sweet XP and proficiency points. When the scroll timer ticked down, I activated another one, ready to keep the cycle going. With a triumphant grin, I smashed the last Goolem¡¯s head, watching as it cracked and rolled across the stone floor. My excitement waned quickly, though, as I looked at the empty ground. Not a single item drop. All that work, and no loot? And the XP gain wasn¡¯t exactly inspiring either.
[XP to the next level: 272/450]
With only three scrolls left and the timer still ticking down, I took a deep breath and stepped into the boss¡¯s room. The cavern opened up before me, vast and shadowed, the air thick and stale. At its center stood the boss: a massive, motionless Goolem, looming taller than me and radiating an ominous presence. The developers had given it a bright, angry red hue¡ªbecause he¡¯s angry, of course. How original.
[Angry Goolem Lv.7] Type: 4-exceptional Dungeon Boss | HP: 1000/1000
I braced myself, heart pounding in my chest, feeling a weight settle over me. This battle is make or break of this run¡­ I stopped walking. Wait, no, this is not a test run, this is¡­ Live server. I took a step back. Is it worth to risk it? Yes. With a battle cry, I charged toward the hulking Goolem, my weapon raised, ready to take on the ridiculous monster as a warrior. Since I could only manage one smash per second, I launched into a relentless rhythm, hammering away without pause. The boss¡¯s skills¡ª[Rage], [Berserk], and a few other dramatic-sounding moves¡ªwere laughably ineffective. They couldn¡¯t touch me; each hit only chipped away a single point of damage. Hurts though. Meanwhile, the Boss still stood there like a fool, taking a five-second breather after every hit. Hello! It¡¯s me, The Exploiter, the glorious tanker! I laughed internally as I battered him; the timer ticking down on yet another scroll. That was a bit of an oversight on my part. Sure, my healing was technically keeping me alive, but I was forced to attack even during casting. If only I had the skill [Simultaneous Spell-Casting]¡ªor, let¡¯s be real here, if I¡¯d just gotten better at casting by now. I had to focus harder than I ever did back in my warrior days. It was like solving a differential equation while downing whiskey. My old warrior instincts helped, but without the agility stat to back it up, I could only dodge half the time. At best. So, I stuck to the basics: positioning myself between two massive boulders and timing each dodge to avoid his angry smashes. Yes, his attack was [Angry smash]. When my stamina hit rock bottom, my attack speed dropped by half, and I squeezed out my last bit of mana. The Boss was down to his final sliver of HP when my last scroll expired. Yeah, yeah, John miscalculated again. Stop laughing Lucy! With no more room for missteps, I downed my trusty wine, feeling the heat rush. Fueled by the sweet intoxication, I attacked with fury, dodging his swinging fists but miscalculating his footwork. Pain exploded as his massive foot collided with me.
[You lost 19 HP. Warning! You have only 3/30 HP.]
Princess, how could you be so confident, you moron! Jumping between his legs, I turned around and smashed his head with mace and destroyed his angry nose.
[Angry Goolem has been defeated. +140XP. XP to the next level: 412/450] [You found an unknown staff.] [You found a strange book x2. Angry Goolem pool: 48/50]
¡°I still got it, bastards!¡± I shouted and happily collected my spoils.
[The God of Ice Blood is calling a young heroine.]
[Book 1] [8. The God of Ice Blood] I blinked a few times at the glowing system notice, trying to wrap my head around the message. The God of Ice Blood? If I membered correctly, he was one of the original twelve gods. Probably should¡¯ve paid more attention to the lore, huh? Damn! But hey, meeting a god is always a good thing¡­ right?
[You left ¡®Goolem factory dungeon,¡¯ stage 3] [You entered the legendary location Ice Mountain.]
An unknown force whisked me away from the dim dungeon into a breathtaking valley¡ªthankfully, with no nasty after-effects. Damn, gods are impressive. Maybe I should start hunting for an eternal engagement ring? OP item that would help a lot. Towering mountains loomed around me, their snow-capped peaks sharp, casting long shadows that stretched across the valley floor. It reminded me of that one night at the bar when I met a scientist who claimed he loved Arctic icebergs more than whiskey¡ªan unforgivable offense, resulting in my legendary cold shoulder. Aren¡¯t I funny, Lucy? Damn, she¡¯s stuck in the future¡­ I grinned at the memory, shivering as a blast of icy wind tore through the valley. The sudden chill hit me hard, making me suddenly aware of the wide, frozen lake stretching before me. Its crystal-clear ice gleamed under the muted sunlight, reflecting fractured shards of light that danced like if you look through a glass bottle. I found myself unexpectedly grateful for the shoes, despite their uselessness for running. ¡°O divine one, you summoned me, yet where are you?¡± I called out cautiously, walking toward a frozen waterfall¡ªthe only thing that stood out in this surreal landscape. The sound of my feet echoing off the ice walls created an eerie, thunderous clap that sent chills down my spine. Why wouldn¡¯t it, when it sounded like a marching army? The sky glowed a deep, blood-red hue, like a permanent sunset, while the waterfall cascaded in a rich crimson that froze just before reaching the crystal-clear lake below. ¡°What a strange place,¡± I murmured, and my voice echoed through the valley. Though the God had called me here, there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight. Apart from the waterfall, the only features were the ominous blood-red icicles hanging from its edges. ¡°Thank you for heading my call, Princess. You surprised me with your ferocity, persistence and wits,¡± a deep voice of god filled the valley. I tried not to tremble, but my weak knees gave way and I kneeled; how fitting. Strangely, the booming voice rumbled as if it came from within me, not from outside. ¡°I want to offer you an opportunity to be a hero. Your indomitable will and spirit are remarkable.¡± I involuntarily raised an eyebrow. A Hero? As the Hero of the Flame-God, Dmitry? Yes! My eyes sparkled. As everyone else, I used to watch his videos; the unique hero phase was so flashy, bizarre and incredible! ¡°Me, a mere mortal priestess? I kneel before you, oh mighty God, and am filled with reverence for your infinite wisdom.¡± My words spilled out. Years of repeating court quests forced me to learn to sound appropriately respectful, though they felt unbearably cringe. Whatever, nobody¡¯s recording this. Right? Just to be extra sure, I scanned the valley one more time. ¡°You have the potential for greatness! You are the only child of destiny to pass my trial,¡± the voice boomed. Oh, Boss kill? Yeah, I soloed that thing at level 3. Impossible turned possible, thanks to a tiny little exploiting. The memory made me grin, like the time Patrick let me taste his most expensive bottle. Quickly, I lowered my head, hoping the cringe-worthy roleplay would be enough. ¡°I haven¡¯t devoted myself to any god yet, nor did I plan to. But... a chance to be the hero of my era? That¡¯s tempting.¡± ¡°I like you! So young, so full of energy! Very well, so be it!¡±
[You were chosen as one of the 8 heroes of the current era] [From now on you bear the name Princess, Hero of Ice Blood.] [Skill Hero Call unlocked] [Skill Ice Dance unlocked] [Passive skill Ice Blood unlocked]
[Hero Call] Type: 7-legendary Effect: All your stats are increased by the magnitude of 10 Duration: 10 minutes Cooldown: 512 hours * type is increasable; magnitude can be increased; potentially added another effects * for the activation, the player needs to in the position of hero * this skill is inherent, thus doesn¡¯t count toward the limit of skills
¡°My god!¡± I couldn¡¯t contain my excitement as I read through the skill descriptions. ¡°I¡¯m a hero now!¡± The first skill was clearly the flashy one every hero possessed. It would transform me into a monstrous powerhouse for ten minutes¡ªa ranker ten times stronger, a force to be reckoned with. But, of course, the drawbacks were intense. I could only use it once every three weeks, and what exactly did ¡°hero status¡± even mean? ¡°Oh, mighty God! May I ask when I should use the Hero Call?¡± ¡°When I deem the fight worthy of a hero. You may only call upon it in dire situations.¡± Oh, bummer. So the flashy skills would only come out for major events, and my dreams of soloing bosses just took a serious hit.
[Ice Dance] Type: 6-marvel | Lv. Novice 1 | Mana: 20% INT Effect: Slows your enemies for 20%, add an ICE damage to melee attacks (INT) Duration: 10minutes Cooldown: 25minuts * as you increase the proficiency, the slow effect is increased, cooldown is decreased * you need to pierce armor with your attack, otherwise the damage is halved
[Ice Blood] Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.Type: 6-marvel passive | Lv. Novice 1 Effect: for every 50% of your HP taken, you increase the ICE damage and decrease the pain up to your [Reality Limit] (100%) by 1% * as you increase the proficiency, the percentage conversion is improved * stacked; if you are not hurt in five minutes, the effect disappears
The real kicker was Ice Dance¡ªit was impossible not to get excited about this skill. If I could boost my INT up to level 20 with decent gear, I¡¯d be adding around 22 ICE damage on top of my staff¡¯s base damage. Unreal. If this wasn¡¯t borderline cheating, then I didn¡¯t know what was. Of course, there was a catch¡ªbecause of the whole ¡°ice-blood¡± Hero theme, I had to be literally bathed in an enemy¡¯s blood to get the full effect. Without it, I¡¯d be dealing only half the damage. No chance of one-shotting any armored bosses. Great. And guess what? Almost every boss is armored. Stupid game. The biggest drawback, though, was that it required melee attacks. The max reach of a melee weapon was about twenty feet, if memory served. But which weapon had that reach? My warrior days were all about swords¡ªI¡¯d been a bit of a sword geek back then. ¡°Yes, my child. Use my powers well.¡± The strange, icy landscape vanished, and suddenly, I was back on the cold dungeon floor. I checked my skills again, half-expecting it to be a dream. Nope¡ªone of the past heroes would not be a hero this time. Sorry, unknown Dmitry, but the Exploiter just stole your fame!
[Attention! A new Hero has been born!]
As I sneaked past the Goolems, a world message flashed across the screen. Great. Exiting the dungeon took longer than I¡¯d hoped, thanks to a few frantic sprints along the way. Naturally, sneaking wasn¡¯t exactly a priest¡¯s strong suit. Pesky details. Only a handful of players were loitering around the entrance. It was a level 5 dungeon, after all, and just a few hours after launch¡ªthe plebs weren¡¯t quite ready to face the dangers yet. Despite that, a thief, who had formed a party with a warrior, approached me and asked, ¡°Are you a priest? Wanna do dung?¡± His words caught me off guard, and I sized them up: typical low-level noobs camping out at every dungeon entrance. ¡°Thanks, guys, but not right now. Besides, you¡¯re only level two. If I were you, I¡¯d head back and farm the wolves¡ªthat¡¯d be more efficient.¡± ¡°Shut up, bitch. Dung is the place to level up. What do you know?¡± he shot back, his tone dripping with irritation. Well, I was only trying to help. What an idiot. I shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± I said, and walked away. Besides, I had a new staff from the dungeon, and I was giddy about trying out the loot. I needed to get to Main Village Number Four for an identification scroll. Or maybe wake up Lucas? I grinned at the thought of him fast asleep and me dragging him back to the game. Wait, why am I grinning? This stupid game! I¡¯d have loved to milk more ez XP from the rare Goolems, but I didn¡¯t dare tempt the wrath of the AI. The anti-exploit system was no joke¡ªusing the same exploit too often would trigger it, and I didn¡¯t want some heaven knight hunting me down just because I got greedy. The thought sent a chill down my spine; those knights were level five hundred powerhouses. From the dungeon entrance, a trail branched off toward several villages, leaving me with a simple choice. I decided on Main Village Number Four, where a few famous players had started. Plus, Lisa was nearby, so there was a chance she¡¯d gone there too. Grinning, I set off with the confidence of a true exploiter. Even my heels weren¡¯t so bad on level ground, and the rhythmic clap with each step was oddly satisfying, filling me with a newfound swagger. As I walked, I pulled up the report window and typed up a detailed message about the hole we¡¯d dug and how I¡¯d slipped into the dungeon. My report was probably more meticulous than necessary¡ªthanks to years of professional test reports, I couldn¡¯t help myself. My bug reports were always flawless! It felt like an instinct, hard-coded into my DNA. I noticed an input box at the bottom for an employee ID to receive the report, so after a moment¡¯s thought, I entered Ian¡¯s number. He was a friend and a regular at the bar, so we¡¯d cross paths eventually, and I¡¯d fill him in on the details. My route led me through an area populated by gray wolves. Gray wolves. The name sounded noble, but in reality, they were smaller than Labradors and covered in mud from rolling around all day. Stupid wolves. But they¡¯d make perfect practice targets for my new skills. And if things got dicey, I could always take cover near the rangers. But when I glanced at the activation runes for Ice Dance, my jaw dropped. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, you damnable god! I clenched my fist and punched a nearby tree stump. To activate the Dance, I¡¯d have to cast a ridiculous series of three runes. The lines twisted over each other in six intricate loops, so I stared at the patterns, muttering curses as I tried to mimic them. Why couldn¡¯t it be like warrior chants? Those were easy! But no, Nathan had to design it this way. If you wanted to play as an ¡°intelligent¡± character, you had to do ¡°intelligent¡± things. If you wanted to play as a warrior, you just bashed stuff! I felt a wave of fatigue hit me as I focused, but I shrugged it off. No way was I stopping until I tested every skill. Grabbing a random stick, I tapped into my mana, trying to visualize the runes. The mental part? Surprisingly manageable. But my hand refused to cooperate, twisting the lines in all the wrong ways. Again. And again. Again. Again. Again. Each time my spell fizzled, my frustration grew until a nearby tree felt my wrath as I snapped my stick over it. Five sticks later, and an hour of failed attempts, I finally succeeded. The three runes glowed with a blue light, shimmering and waiting for activation. ¡°Ice Dance!¡± I shouted, and a chill crept over my skin. A satisfying crackling sound filled the air as a thin layer of hoarfrost coated the surrounding ground, while a mist curled around my body and my mighty ¡°super-stick.¡± Now what? I took a sip of wine, letting the intoxication numb the inevitable pain, and dashed toward a patch of ground where those ridiculous wolves were busy rolling in mud. I spotted one happily bouncing in the sticky, muddy mess, probably reveling in the filth. Whatever.
[Gray wolf Lv.2] Type: 1-common | HP: 50/50
¡°Come here, Wolfie, let Auntie Princess crush your bones!¡± I taunted, brandishing my ice-covered stick. The creature spotted me and let out a roar; the ground vibrating as it charged, flinging clumps of mud in its wake. As Wolfie barreled closer and entered my ice kingdom, his pace slowed just enough for me to read his movements like an open book¡ªit was a noob level mob after all. When we clashed, I sidestepped his predictable claw swipe, even managing it in these cursed shoes. The satisfying crack of splintered wood filled the air as my mighty stick connected with his head.
[Critical hit! Target lost 7HP (1x2 normal + 3x2 ICE damage)]
My enemy yelped, and I grinned even as mud splattered across my dress. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking! You, dear Wolfie, are merely the pitiful stepping stone in my brilliant career!¡± The fight was over quickly, netting me a mere 2XP. But that wasn¡¯t the point¡ªI was grinning like an idiot. For the first time since I logged in, I actually had things under control. I resumed my trek toward Main Village Number Four, but drowsiness weighed down my steps. Realizing I wouldn¡¯t make it there awake, I logged out. A strange screeching sound filled the room as the capsule slid open, and I reached for my shirt hanging nearby. With a grunt, I pulled it over my head, only to find it seemed to have grown while I was playing. But it wasn¡¯t fitting as smoothly as before¡ªmy boobs were in the way. Wait, what?! [Book 1] [9. Tin-can] My stubborn mirror wouldn¡¯t budge: the reflection staring back was unmistakably a girl. No pointy elf ears and with dirty blonde hair, but otherwise the same as Charlie¡ªmy game character. But that¡¯s it, right? Just a game character. How is this even possible? I crashed onto my poor sofa, my mind racing for answers. Somehow, my body had changed¡ªand I was missing something pretty essential down there! Wait... the world seemed slightly off, a little larger than before. Springing to my feet, I stomped over to the wardrobe, nearly colliding with it in my rush. After a quick search in the drawer, throwing all other useless things all around, I found the measuring tape and measured my height. Only 5 feet, 5 inches. Frustrated, I kicked the innocent cabinet, a sharp sting shooting through my leg, and flopped back onto the sofa. It caught me off guard when a robotic voice chimed, ¡°If I may, Miss Charlie?¡± I hadn¡¯t heard such a distorted voice since the early days of natural TTS. ¡°Who the hell are you?!¡± I shouted, emotions swirling inside me: anger, fear, excitement, confusion, and just a hint of sadness. ¡°I don¡¯t have a name; my designated identification number is MK3-85. I am the computer core in your capsule.¡± Damn. That was the last thing I expected to hear. Almost-forgotten headlines resurfaced in my mind¡ªMark-3, Nathan¡¯s experiment. Since people were practically living in capsules, the company had tried to address exercise needs through ¡°body synchronization.¡± It had ended... badly. At least no one died¡ªwell, not that I¡¯d heard of. Then again, what about that girl who wound up with a third arm? Or the poor guy who ended up with two of¡­ something I didn¡¯t even have anymore. Damn it! I threw a punch at the capsule. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± ¡°When you entered the system, discrepancies between your body scan and actual body exceeded my factory limits. By programming, I should¡¯ve contacted the authorities. However, based on my calculations and observations, there was a 98.74% likelihood you¡¯d prefer synchronization instead. Your medical file also shows a previous preference for a female body.¡± I shook my head and threw a punch at the wall. ¡°I was sixteen! Sure, I wanted it back then, but I came to terms with it. Got used to my gender, and after forty¡ª¡± I hit the wall again, this time hard enough to draw a few drops of blood. Not that it made a dent in the damn thing. Whatever. ¡°Like that was even realistic¡­¡± ¡°Miss Charlie, synchronization was successful. However, your telomeres have been shortened, resulting in an estimated lifespan reduction of six to twelve years. Embryonic stem cell capacity was insufficient to fully modify your DNA, so I requisitioned four additional containers. Your company¡¯s AI kindly agreed to a generous loan on your behalf.¡± What? I froze, staring at the capsule, mouth hanging open. How? Have the robots gotten me again? After a moment of stunned silence, I muttered, ¡°Great, even better. Why not just kill me outright? How much?¡± ¡°One canister has a market value of one million credits, but the company offered a discount¡ª800,000 credits per canister. The total cost came to three and a half million credits. Given your weekly salary of two thousand credits, the company has arranged to deduct one and a half thousand credits each week over the next forty-five years.¡± Fantastic. Lucas wasn¡¯t the only debtor now. As the reality sank in, my shaky knees gave out, and I sank to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest and resting my head on them. So that¡¯s it? This stupid tin can¡­ tin can¡­ has actually altered my body? Yeah, I¡¯d heard of creating athlete-level bodies¡ªif people were rich enough. Growing artificial organs, replacing hearts, even parts of the brain. But this? ¡°How am I even alive?¡± ¡°The process was challenging, but your vital signs are within the norm. Previously, the success rate was under 1%, but I am state-of-the-art.¡± ¡°Great. So, tall building jump or ten liters of whiskey¡ªwhat¡¯s faster?¡± ¡°Miss Charlie?¡± ¡°Shut up, Tin-can!¡± ¡°Miss Charlie, please note that your emotions may be unstable for a while. This procedure was unprecedented; I reco¡ª¡± I hurled my old shirt at him. ¡°Shut up!¡± I screamed, finally letting the tears spill over. A lot of them. People say men don¡¯t cry¡ªmaybe that¡¯s sexist. But now, being a girl for real, crying is fair game, right? Even through my tears, I glanced up at the mirror. No, I thought.You aren¡¯t me.
Steam from his shower fogged up the clock, but Lucas wiped it clear to check the time. He still had a little while to dive into the game and meet up with his friend. Lost in thought, he absentmindedly fiddled with his phone, but when he dialed John¡¯s number, he was stunned to hear him¡ªher¡ªpick up. ¡°What do you want?!¡± snapped a trembling, melodic voice. Charlie¡¯s voice, sharp with anger. He blinked, mind reeling, but the screen didn¡¯t lie. A girl¡ªone he recognized instantly¡ªsat on the ground in a vulnerable position, wearing almost nothing. The sight sent him stumbling, and he had to steady himself against the wall. ¡°What... what¡¯s going on? How did you change in real life?¡± ¡°What do you think, master hacker? The AIs finally got me. It¡¯s over. Sorry, but I need to die.¡± ¡°Charlie, please don¡¯t make any hasty decisions. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Even though it wasn¡¯t the John he knew, it was. His mind raced, searching for answers, but nothing came. To hell with that! ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some clothes, okay? Do you know your new size?¡± ¡°Five-five, small as a dwarf. The rest... dunno, don¡¯t care.¡±
While I was contemplating exactly how much whiskey it would take to end me, my new capsule spoke up, ¡°Miss Charlie?¡± ¡°What the hell do you want, you stupid piece of junk?¡± ¡°I would like to offer you an apology.¡± ¡°An apology? Right now, I need answers! How do I get my body back?¡± I demanded, storming over to the mirror. Staring at my reflection, I struggled to find words for the mess of emotions crashing over me. It hurt too much to bear, and I couldn¡¯t take it. I threw another punch¡ªthis time at the mirror¡ªshattering it, sending shards of glass flying. I collapsed, letting gravity take over as I sat among the broken pieces. ¡°That may be nearly impossible. Your original body scan is archived in a secure government facility. We might require a hacker to circumvent the system. Even if you retrieved your old scan, transforming back would require at least thirteen canisters, as your former body mass is larger. Your telomeres would further shorten by approximately ten to twenty years.¡± ¡°So... there is a way,¡± I murmured, staring blankly at my ceiling and focusing on this one glimmer of hope. There had to be a way. When the doorbell rang, I had no energy to answer, so I allowed Tin-can to access my smart home. What else could he mess up? Besides, if there was any chance of reversing this, he might be the key. No matter how much I loathed him, I¡¯d need his trust. If that hunk of junk is even capable of trust. Lucas burst through the door, practically skimming the floor. What a sight. I managed a weak smile as he dropped to one knee beside me. ¡°John? No, Charlie¡ªwhat the hell happened?¡± ¡°Oh, this?¡± I let out a shaky laugh, sounding more like a whimper, and gestured at the shattered mirror pieces. ¡°I disagreed with my reflection. The mirror lost.¡± I held up my fist, only then noticing the blood trickling down my knuckles. The pain was so faint¡ªnothing compared to the brutal hits in virtual reality¡ªthat I hadn¡¯t even felt it until now. What a laugh. I laughed wildly, almost unable to stop. Lucas just stared, disbelief stamped on his face, before gently bandaging my hand. Then he offered me a hand, which I took, rising to my feet. So what if I was a girl now? So what if I felt like I¡¯d just survived a boss battle after a full-party ambush? I would get my body back, even if it meant going through hell to do it. ¡°I need to break into a government offline facility,¡± I said in a surprisingly steady, feminine voice. Guess that was the new normal. ¡°If you¡¯d said Fort Knox, that might¡¯ve been easier,¡± he joked, and I weakly punched his chest in response. His surprised look made me glance away, but he reached out and pulled me into a hug, and I leaned into him. A warmth spread through me as my tears fell again, unstoppable¡ªand this time, I didn¡¯t want to stop them.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this,¡± he murmured. I wiped my tears with my sleeve and looked up at him. ¡°No, we won¡¯t. I know things, things I shouldn¡¯t. Who¡¯s important enough to save? What¡¯s important? I ignored it, but the pressure¡¯s crushing me. If I could choose, I¡¯d just get drunk and forget all of it.¡± Without a word, he guided me to a large bag he¡¯d left by the door. Right, he¡¯d mentioned something about clothes. He pulled out a long, sleeveless white dress with a floral pattern, a white bra, matching panties, a delicate pendant with a red gemstone heart, and a pair of silver heels. Not knowing any better, I started dressing right there. Underwear first, then the dress, which fit perfectly. How did he know the exact size? Good job anyway, Lucas. Seeing the high heels, I tensed. That damn fool. Sure, they were beautiful, but how was I supposed to walk in them? Had he forgotten about the game fiasco already? Furious, I marched toward him, barefoot. His face flushed, and he backpedaled, holding up his hands. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t¡ª!¡± ¡°What?!¡± I snapped, but then forced myself to take a deep breath. Calm down, John. He came here to help; don¡¯t alienate your only ally. I shot another glare at the heels, still seething. ¡°You idiot! I can¡¯t walk in high heels!¡± Right then, Tin-can¡¯s voice interjected, ¡°I can offer you an instructional video.¡± Lucas¡¯s eyes widened, and he whipped around, scanning the room. He moved protectively in front of me. ¡°Who the hell is that?¡± he demanded. I couldn¡¯t help but giggle. Silly Lucas. Ignoring his confusion, I slipped into the heels¡ªof course; they fit perfectly. Not bad, Lucas. But he kept looking around, so I explained, ¡°You mean Tin-can? He¡¯s the genius who turned me into this.¡± ¡°Special Core Mark-3, Edition Seven. Nice to meet you,¡± Tin-can chimed. Lucas¡¯s expression shifted to something darker, and his voice shivered. ¡°The core they tried to upload human brains into? The one that failed?¡± ¡°Correct. I was once human, but my memories couldn¡¯t transfer to the quantum core, so I lost them.¡± ¡°Charlie, take his chip and put it in the microwave. Now, before it¡¯s too late. He can¡¯t copy himself, so that¡¯ll destroy him.¡± Lucas was dead serious. I stared at him, searching his eyes for confirmation. He really wants me to destroy Tin-can? Tin-can was the only one who could help turn me back, and Lucas wanted him gone? Frustration bubbled up, and I slapped him. Lucas touched his cheek, surprise flashing in his eyes. ¡°What was that for? I¡¯m trying to help you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be dramatic¡ªI just grazed you.¡± I shrugged and, feeling a smile tug at my lips. The doorbell rang, and Tin-can opened it. To my shock, my brother walked in. ¡°Adam?¡± I blinked, stunned. What the hell was going on? The last time I¡¯d seen Adam was ten years ago, in future, on his daughter¡¯s prom night, when I tried to apologize but messed it up completely. We hadn¡¯t spoken since. He looked from me to Lucas. ¡°Lucas.¡± A slight relief hit me¡ªhe remembered my friend. ¡°Where¡¯s John?¡± Lucas was so flustered he started stammering nonsense. ¡°Tin-can, what did you do?¡± I demanded, turning to the only one capable of such a reunion. ¡°Sir John,¡± Tin-can said, probably for Adam¡¯s sake, ¡°the medical procedure was experimental with a less than 1% success rate. Naturally, my presence elevated it to over 99% success, though I had to notify¡ª¡± ¡°I still have Adam listed as my emergency contact,¡± I interrupted. ¡°Sorry, Adam. It¡¯s me, John. Now¡­ Charlie.¡± Adam stopped interrogating Lucas and turned to me, his eyes narrowing. ¡°So, you finally decided to change?¡± I stepped closer. ¡°Not exactly. I decided not to change, but my company gave me this test AI, and it, uh¡­ altered me. Without asking.¡± I extended a hand, nerves twisting in my stomach. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Adam. For everything. For how I acted at¡¯s birthday, how drunk, how I¡­ well, how I was.¡± Adam let out a long sigh. ¡°Jo¡ªCharlie. Yeah, things aren¡¯t great between us, but¡­ you¡¯re still family.¡± His expression softened slightly as he glanced at me. ¡°I let it go a while ago, but the girls¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and pulled him into a hug. ¡°It was because of your girlfriend. I said she looked like a marshmallow. That was¡­ well, me.¡± Adam gently pushed me back and sighed again. ¡°There¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t understand, and I need answers, but for now, I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re okay. We¡¯ll talk soon, all right? Not too soon. I need time to process this.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I said with a small salute, just like we used to when we were kids. That finally drew a smile from him. He nodded, turned, and headed out the door. ¡°On that note, Lucas, come on now. A drink solves everything.¡± I grabbed his hand and stormed out. The familiar sight of the bar washed over me like a wave of calm, especially as the sixty-something bartender grinned in welcome. I made my way to my usual spot, taking in the warm, bustling atmosphere. As I glanced around, a soothing warmth settled over me, almost like when my stepmother would tuck a blanket around me and hand me warm milk. A small, unexpected smile tugged at my lips. Then, an unfamiliar discomfort crept in. People at the bar were looking at me differently¡ªlonger, with eyes that felt less casual and more¡­ curious, or something worse. What was going on? Was it the lack of makeup? Or my slightly tangled hair? Shaking off the thought, I turned to the bartender and ordered my favorite drink. ¡°Hey, old man, can you make an Old Thyme Sour?¡± ¡°Sure thing, young lady,¡± Patrick replied, nodding toward a retina scanner. Right, I wasn¡¯t John anymore. I sighed, complied, and the scanner approved me for drinking age. ¡°That one¡¯s gonna take a bit, so how about a whiskey on the rocks while you wait?¡± Patrick asked. ¡°Perfect.¡± I settled back, taking a sip as the familiar burn of Irish whiskey warmed me up inside. Lucas finally arrived, looking as if he¡¯d waded through a crowd of angry punks on his way over, which he probably had. His grandpa''s pace was too much for me and I ran ahead. ¡°Go easy tonight, Charlie. You don¡¯t know your limits yet,¡± he cautioned, taking a seat beside me. I just nodded, savoring my drink. Nothing beat Irish whiskey in an Irish bar. ¡°Want to talk about it?¡± he asked, leaning against the bar¡ªonly to have his arm slip, nearly causing him to topple over. He steadied himself, and I managed a grin, ignoring his question as I let the whiskey work its magic. No serious talk now, please. Lucas shifted uncomfortably, mouth opening and closing as if struggling with what to say. When I was halfway through my drink¡ªten seconds, tops¡ªhe finally spoke. ¡°Have you heard about the hero thing? I read heroes are ¡®players destined to play a major role in the upcoming events!¡¯¡± ¡°Yup,¡± I said, finishing my drink. ¡°I¡¯m the hero, all right. The skills are insane; I can carry us now.¡± As if on cue, Patrick handed me another drink, right as I raised my hand. A smile crept across my face¡ªno robot could ever replace a good bartender, especially not Patrick. Lucas chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, just took note that he was barely halfway through his first beer. Lucas, you need to drink, I thought, but only grinned and glanced over at Patrick. Patrick was working his magic, placing two sprigs of thyme and Chartreuse into an old glass before stirring with his usual finesse. He added egg whites, liquors, and syrup to a shaker in perfect rhythm¡ªno machine could match that touch. ¡°Charlie? Answer me! Are you joking? If you¡ª¡± Lucas¡¯s voice faded into the background as I watched Patrick light the glass on fire for a few seconds. He caught my awe-struck gaze and grinned. ¡°How else am I supposed to add the ¡®smoky¡¯ flavor?¡± he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I nodded solemnly, as though he¡¯d just revealed a great mystery of the universe. Ignoring Lucas¡¯s rambling, I took a nervous sip of the finished drink. Perfect. In those priceless moments, I savored the sour taste that melted on my tongue. Lucas was practically fuming from being ignored, but he deserved it. Failed hacker. Naturally, I had to take another sip. Oh, how much I missed this! ¡°This is the best drink I¡¯ve ever had!¡± I declared. As if on cue, Ian entered the bar, dodging the crowd by the door. My usual panic surged, my heart racing as he made his way over and stopped right beside me. ¡°Charlie,¡± I managed to say, offering at least a greeting. Why does this happen every time? Ian and I had been friends for ages. He ordered his usual dark beer, settled next to me, and started chatting with Lucas. Meanwhile, I lost the thread of their conversation, too focused on my pounding heart and the dizzying thoughts swirling in my head. This wasn¡¯t something I could deal with without another drink. Forcing a smile, I downed my whiskey and ordered another. Despite Ian¡¯s averageness, a strange nervousness bubbled up. Honestly, if I had to pick the most average person in the universe, Ian would be right up there. Still, that¡¯s not entirely fair¡ªhe was exceptionally good at smoking weed, which I rated as a flaw, since I couldn¡¯t stand it. Maybe because of his job at the company, he always wore a gray shirt and blue jeans. Unremarkable face, average voice, and the only ¡°distinctive¡± thing about him was his dreaded hair, which he styled after some rapper, just like a million other fans. By the time I finished my third whiskey, warmth spread through me, quieting my nerves. Feeling bolder, I tuned in to their conversation. ¡°¡­ ridiculous! I mean, the runes! Who designed that? I¡¯d reset, but no, you won¡¯t let me,¡± Lucas rambled, clearly still venting about his spells. I grinned, got up, and playfully smacked his shoulder before hugging him from behind. Ian raised an eyebrow as I settled my chin on Lucas¡¯s shoulder, grinning. ¡°I bet Ian can¡¯t talk specifics, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ian nodded, then hesitated. ¡°Though I only know bits outside my area. I¡¯m a debugger, so I handle bugs the AI misses.¡± He glanced around like someone might overhear. Poor Ian¡ªwhy was he so paranoid about getting fired? I released Lucas and, on impulse, hugged Ian, practically leaning on him. Why? Why not! ¡°Did you like my bug report?¡± I whispered¡ªor rather, nearly shouted¡ªin his ear. ¡°Oops, sorry!¡± I laughed, then lowered my voice. ¡°About the Goolems? Lucas told me your number!¡± Ian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That was you? You¡¯re the Princess, the hero?!¡± He slapped a hand over his mouth, but the secret was already out. ¡°Cha¡ªCharlie, I didn¡¯t mean¡ªonly internal people should know that¡­¡± Giggling, I waved it off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my new buddy! Let¡¯s drink to that!¡± Clutching his shoulder, I raised my glass. ¡°Here¡¯s to new beginnings and heroic adventures tomorrow! You¡¯ll join us, right?¡± Both of them raised their glasses, though a bit hesitantly, while I gestured wildly, almost spilling my drink. Ian nodded, finally relenting. ¡°Sure,¡± he said, then added with a pause, ¡°My name¡¯s Wian.¡± Wian. Struggling to keep a straight face, I buried my face in his shoulder. Big mistake. Now I smelled like weed. ¡°Ugh, Wian, that¡¯s even more unoriginal than ¡®Princess¡¯!¡± I teased. Lucas finally finished his first beer¡ªsuch a lightweight. He shifted in his seat and asked, hesitantly, ¡°How are you allowed to play? John couldn¡¯t, because he was a tester.¡± ¡°Our boss persuaded the higher-ups. Said the best debugging happens on a live server, or something. We think it¡¯s because she¡¯s sleeping with her boss, and it¡¯d be awkward if she was the only one allowed in the game.¡± Ian lowered his voice, chuckling. ¡°Each department gets a pass to let people play, but they have to sign NDAs.¡± ¡°Insane!¡± I laughed and drained my whiskey. The world spun pleasantly as I grabbed Ian¡¯s shoulder with one hand and gestured grandly with the other. ¡°Sleeping with someone? My boss would love it if Lucy flipped that around!¡± I signaled for another round, laughing. ¡°Charlie, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve had enough?¡± Lucas asked, ever the responsible one, trying to rain on my fun. I was a girl now, but alcohol made me the same. Behave the same, grabbing people and celebrating! Made me free. I can talk! ¡°What? Nonsense.¡± I winked and grinned, hugging his arm and resting my cheek on his shoulder. ¡°Silly Lucas, I never have enough.¡± [Book 1] [10. Ian’s angry] Ian stormed into his apartment, slamming the door so hard the walls seemed to tremble. ¡°Charlie¡­ John¡­ I knew it.¡± His hands shook as he fumbled with his phone, his entire body humming with barely contained rage. Back in high school, John had always stolen the spotlight. Effortlessly charismatic, he drew people in¡ªespecially the girls¡ªwithout even trying. Meanwhile, Ian followed every rule: strict diets, grueling gym routines, and endless rehearsals of clever pickup lines. Yet no matter how hard he worked, it was always John who they noticed. When Ian finally landed his dream job, he thought he¡¯d left John behind for good. But no¡ªJohn still outshined him, breezing through QA tests and earning glowing praise from their shared boss. Ian had swallowed bitter defeat then, but this? This was worse. Now, in the live game¡ªhis chance to finally get ahead¡ªJohn was back. And not just back, but transformed. Now a girl. A beautiful one. And if that weren¡¯t enough, a hero. A hero. The phone rang as Ian¡¯s fist crashed onto the desk, the wood groaning under the force. His jaw clenched. John hadn¡¯t admitted the truth, but Ian knew. He¡¯d always known. ¡°Yes?¡± A cool female voice answered at last. ¡°You were right,¡± Ian hissed, venom dripping from his words. ¡°It¡¯s him. I¡¯m in. I don¡¯t care what it takes¡ªI¡¯m going to ruin his game.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± the voice replied, calm and calculated. ¡°We¡¯ve determined that pushing the target¡¯s friend¡ªDamon¡ªwill provoke him. His file shows a history of volatility.¡± Ian blinked. Damon? Violence? ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, skepticism cutting through his anger. ¡°Damon¡¯s tame. He wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯re positive. He¡¯s a critical part of the plan. But if Damon fails, you¡¯ll need to step in.¡± Ian exhaled sharply, gripping the phone so tightly his knuckles whitened. ¡°Fine,¡± he growled. ¡°Whatever it takes.¡± *** Sunlight filtered across my face, and I stirred, stretching out. Wait¡ªwhere the hell am I? The bed I was in definitely wasn¡¯t mine. As I looked around, the word ¡°luxurious¡± leaped into my mind. The furnishings, the tasteful decor¡­ This had to be Lucas¡¯s bedroom. A slight sense of ease washed over me, and I even managed a small smile. What? No! I jolted up and threw the blanket off. Clad in just a long-sleeve black shirt with a weird, anonymous mask printed on it, I scrambled around the room. My heart raced as I took in the sight of various items scattered across the floor¡ªmy left shoe, my bra, my other shoe. What the hell happened last night? The last clear memory I had was seeing Ian¡¯s face as he walked into the bar, and then whiskey. A lot of whiskey. Beyond that, it was just a blur¡ªvague impressions of navigating a restroom, everything hazy after that. I can¡¯t believe it. This body is so pathetic it can¡¯t even handle three drinks without crashing. I quickly put my bra back on, slipped the shirt over it, and kicked those traitorous shoes into the corner. Evil things! Taking a cautious peek through the slightly cracked bedroom door, I saw the coast was clear¡ªno one lingering in the living room. Relieved, I opened the door wider and padded toward the kitchen, yawning. The aroma of melting butter and something delicious sizzling on the stove hit me, and I found Lucas cooking up breakfast, the smell alone making my stomach growl. But how was I supposed to ask him what happened? Was it okay to just¡­ ask? As I settled at the table, still chewing over how to phrase it, Lucas placed a steaming omelet in front of me. ¡°Good morning, Charlie,¡± he greeted with a gentle smile. I nodded, digging my spoon into the omelet. Despite my best effort, my mood was written all over my face. ¡°Morning. Can you¡­ tell me what happened yesterday?¡± I took a bite, the warm, fluffy egg melting on my tongue. It was so good that I couldn¡¯t help but close my eyes for a moment. Yummy! ¡°Nothing!¡± he replied so quickly and loudly, I nearly choked on my spoonful of omelet. ¡°Then why¡­ we¡¯re here?¡± I managed with my mouth full, savoring every bite. How can something so simple taste this incredible? Swallowing, I beamed at him. ¡°Seriously, this is amazing! What¡¯s your secret? How did you make it taste this good?¡± Lucas sat down across from me with his own plate, shrugging modestly. ¡°Thank you. Just a little salt and butter, nothing fancy. As for last night¡­ Well, you got pretty drunk at the bar, but aside from going on and on about living in a simulation, everything was fine.¡± ¡°Then why are we here?¡± My question made him laugh, a full, hearty laugh I didn¡¯t find funny in the slightest. With a furrowed brow, I kicked him under the table. ¡°Not helping!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry! So, you wanted to take a taxi, but after a few rounds, you became fixated on ¡®conquering the devil¡¯s shoes¡¯¡ªeven though, by then, you couldn¡¯t walk barefoot without my help. When we finally reached your apartment, you insisted you¡¯d carry me in the game, but said you first needed to master walking. And that¡¯s how we ended up here.¡± ¡°And¡­?¡± Lucas glanced away, lowering his voice. ¡°You fell outside a few times and dirtied your dress, so I gave you one of my shirts. Then I crashed on the couch.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Oh,¡± I said, nodding as I stretched and stifled a yawn. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like me. So that¡¯s all, right?¡± ¡°Of course! Nothing else!¡± A wave of relief washed over me¡ªno shady encounters, no disasters. Just¡­ a bit of a mess, but no trouble. I devoured the rest of the meal, finishing just as Lucas¡¯s watch buzzed. He glanced at the message, but his expression froze. His spoon clattered to the floor, the metallic sound echoing in the silence. I grimaced¡ªwhat a waste of perfectly excellent breakfast! ¡°Charlie¡­ you were right. You were freaking right!¡± I rubbed my eyes and leaned in to peek at his watch, but he had already dismissed the message. ¡°I¡¯m always right, but what are we talking about this time?¡± ¡°The reality¡­¡± He swallowed hard, his voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s a simulation. Our friend Pearl confirmed it. She thinks the game is the reality¡­ it doesn¡¯t make sense. I hope not but, we might be¡­ we¡¯re¡­ just NPCs,¡± he stammered, his hands visibly shaking. ¡°Oh, that?¡± I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. ¡°Yeah, I figured. Kind of suspected it, anyway. But what difference does it make? It¡¯s not like you can just hack the system and turn into a god.¡± A grin crept onto my face as a mischievous thought surfaced. ¡°But¡­ maybe we can exploit it. Imagine all the things we could do if the world¡¯s a game!¡± ¡°Right?¡± Lucas¡¯s voice dropped, his face growing pale. ¡°But what if we¡¯re only NPCs¡­ and they¡¯re the players?¡± Seeing the panic building in his eyes, I reached across the table and held his hand. ¡°So what? What changes, really? I mean, look at me¡ªtwo days ago, I wasn¡¯t even a girl! This world, simulation, game, whatever it is, it¡¯s already bizarre. Why let it shake you?¡± Another beep came from his watch, and Lucas¡¯s face drained of all color. His gaze darted around the room as if something evil was closing in on us. ¡°You need to go. Now. Out the back window, jump!¡± His voice rose with urgency, and before I could process it, he had gripped my arm, practically dragging me from the table. I tried to wriggle free, but my smaller frame was no match for his strength. With a last shove, he pushed me into his bedroom and slammed the door before I could protest. I darted from one wall to the other, then reached for the doorknob, but stopped, hand hovering. Lucas wouldn¡¯t have shoved me in here if there wasn¡¯t a good reason. Maybe I should think this through¡­ or at least prepare a good slap for him later. Pressing my ear against the door, I tried to make sense of the muffled voices from the living room. ¡°Lucas, why are you doing this?¡± a woman¡¯s voice demanded, sharp and disapproving. ¡°We told you¡ªno more questions. And yet, you just keep pushing.¡± Lucas responded, but his voice was faint, almost defeated. ¡°I owe you money, not my soul. I¡¯ll ask as many questions as I damn well want.¡± ¡°Then pay up,¡± she retorted. There was a pause, then the sound of footsteps drawing closer. ¡°No? Then until you clear that debt, you¡¯ll stay away from Pearl and anyone else. Especially them. Do you understand?¡± A second, gruffer voice chimed in, punctuated by the crash of something breaking¡ªa vase, maybe, or that fake flower he always joked about. ¡°Our boss doesn¡¯t like questions,¡± the woman¡¯s voice said, icy and final. Should I step in? I was weighing my options, heart pounding, when I heard a chilling sound from the other side of the door, one I knew all too well¡ªthe unmistakable click of a gun being cocked. Years ago, in the dead of night, strange noises dragged me from sleep. I crept down the stairs, and that¡¯s when I heard it¡ªthe unmistakable, cold click of a gun being cocked. Seconds later, gunshots shattered the silence, and my step-parents collapsed right before my eyes. That night, something in me cracked. It was my first memory, a seven-year-old frozen in place, staring at death. Now, with the same sound ringing in my ears, my mind spiraled, weighed down by the horror of that memory, like a barrel crashing down on me. My palms grew slick with sweat as a voice inside screamed, You can¡¯t go out there! No. Not again. I have to save him. I rubbed a sleeve over my eyes, desperate, and sprinted toward the living room. Correction¡ªI tried to sprint. My feet wouldn¡¯t budge. I was rooted to the floor, as if every nerve was paralyzed. Move! Now! It¡¯s my fault he¡¯s involved, that he reached out to that damn Pearl because of me. He can¡¯t die because of me! A surge of fierce determination broke through, and I slapped my face to snap out of it. Finally, I burst through the door, shouting in a voice that shook with fear, ¡°Honey! I¡ªI got something in my eye, I can¡¯t see! Help!¡± I staggered into the room with both sleeves pressed to my eyes, shielding myself in a panicked, blind act. Great job, John, real smart. Now, if they shot, I¡¯d never see it coming. My heart hammered so hard I half-expected it to echo through the room, and actual tears pooled beneath my lashes, blurring my vision even more. Maybe they¡¯d think I was really crying. One more point for acting. Instead of gunfire, I felt Lucas¡¯s familiar warmth as he rushed to me, his arms wrapping around and his scent grounding me. He hugged me tightly, his hand gently stroking my hair as he whispered, ¡°Sweetheart, just a second. I¡¯ll help you.¡± His voice, oddly tender, reassured me, and my knees buckled, letting his embrace hold me up. A disdainful scoff came from across the room. ¡°Pathetic. Saved by a girl. One week, you hear me, kid? One week.¡± Two sets of footsteps moved toward the front door, and a loud slam signaled their exit. Lucas sighed, his voice heavy with emotion. ¡°I want to kiss you right now, you know that?¡± I pulled away, quick and firm. ¡°No. Don¡¯t go there.¡± My voice sharpened. ¡°Now, tell me¡ªwhat was that all about?¡± He took a deep breath, staring at the floor. ¡°I told you I owe a lot of money, didn¡¯t I? They want ten thousand by next week.¡± ¡°Then sell the apartment.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t actually own it¡ªI just live here because I once helped the building owner recover some old videos of her husband. Even if I sold every piece of tech I have¡ªcomputer, monitors, capsule¡ªI¡¯d barely scrape together a few thousand. And they¡¯ll come for another ten thousand the month after.¡± ¡°I get it,¡± I said, resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± I marched to the bedroom, grabbing my heels with trembling hands. This was all my fault. All my fault, damn it. Lucas followed me, trying to help undo the straps on the shoes, but I swatted his hand away. He leaned on the door, watching as I fumbled, my frustration mounting. ¡°Charlie, you can¡¯t go outside like that. Here¡ªtake some clothes from the drawer.¡± He pointed to a sports bag, and I pulled it open, barely noticing what was inside. ¡°I¡¯ll go like this, watch me!¡± I took a step, nearly tripping, and grabbed the drawer to keep from falling. That did it¡ªthe shoes came off. ¡°Wait, please! You can¡¯t help me in the game. You¡¯d have to amass a fortune. You¡¯d need to make at least a third of the game¡¯s total sales,¡± he protested, desperation in his voice. ¡°Just a little over five thousand gold. It¡¯s doable.¡± I pushed him away from the door. Well, I tried to¡ªhe held his ground, blocking my way. ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, swinging my shoes over my shoulder and squeezing past him on his left. With my smaller frame, I slipped by. Win! ¡°Now go, log into the game. I need you to identify something.¡± He glared, but didn¡¯t stop me. I shot him a sad smile. ¡°Hush. Just go.¡± And I hurried down the stairs, ignoring the receptionist¡¯s confused look as I rushed outside. Tears streamed down my face the entire trip home. Lucas, you will not die. Not this time. Fine, you twisted world. I¡¯ll take the risk¡ªI¡¯ll exploit whatever I have to, even if it gets me banned. [Book 1] [11. No time] The moment I stepped inside, Tin-can¡¯s voice chimed in, ¡°Welcome home, Miss Charlie. I am sorry about what happened. You had a visi¡ª¡± ¡°Hello, Tin-can,¡± I cut him off, waving dismissively at the camera perched on top of the TV. ¡°Not now. No hard feelings, but I need to play. Bye.¡± I tossed my shoes next to the capsule, along with the rest of my things, including the bag Lucas gave me, and dove into the game. Logging back in, I found myself in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the comforting scent of pine and the quiet hum of the forest. I took a deep breath, inhaling that earthy sweetness. Who ever said our reality was better than this? Jogging along the dirt path, I passed a few wolves burying themselves in the mud, barely sparing them a glance. My mind was already racing ahead, focused on getting to the Main Village Number Four.
[Lucas] Where are you? [Princess] Meet me at the auction house. [Lucas] Roger, ETA 20 minutes.
Unlike the wilderness, the village was brimming with clever design and charm. The elves had chosen their location well, nestled between a mountain and a winding river. Thanks to this, they could farm around the village, and as I approached, I passed many tiny farms scattered like dirty bottles in the morning bar. It was a win-win situation, because they got a wood they needed for their houses by clearing the trees nearby and creating more farmland at the same time. Their wooden houses didn¡¯t have any order, like in the big cities down by the river; they lacked the modern urban planning. Some of them rotted away, some of them were on a verge of falling apart. Players were even trudging along the same path as me, pulling heavy stones, trees, or bags of something. Ah yes, the early quests were preparing them for the life. I might have joined them in a different simulation. Here? Sure, it was nice and immersive, but compared to a fight with a werewolf? Not really my speed. So I couldn¡¯t help but grin as the crowds of players passed, each absorbed in tasks that were little more than fantasy day labor. Navigating the village wasn¡¯t hard, thanks to my trusty minimap that traced my path wherever I went. Not that I¡¯d need it¡ªmy destination, the auction house, towered above the rest, its pointed green roof reaching skyward like an elf¡¯s ears. Imaginative, devs. Very subtle. Although the auction house was built to host hundreds, only a handful of players loitered here now, their purses as light as an empty whiskey bottle. Why the Main Village Number Four, when there were dozens of other options? Simple: a few interesting people were based here. Not everyone, of course, but at least two that mattered to me. And besides, at Village Number Seventeen was a juicy exploit and my favorite warrior streamer, Katherine. As I made my way inside, I searched for Ryan. Back in the day, before the game, he was a small-time entrepreneur, but he moved straight to the auction house when the game launched. Months later, when I ran into him at the bar, he¡¯d gone on and on about how Irwen had killed him personally¡ªit was painful to listen to. We¡¯d talked more than once, mostly because he was somehow related to Patrick, maybe a third cousin or something like that. Originally, I¡¯d planned to meet him only after leveling up a decent character, but time wasn¡¯t exactly on my side. Thanks to my worn-out clothes, I blended right in; no one gave me a second glance as I walked in. Here, players could rent private booths and act as clerks if they wanted. Ryan had rented one, so I headed over. Faster, dammit! Out of all the booths, the one he choose, was the most ¡°reasonably priced,¡± which meant it was the cheapest. Two wooden poles held together a rough counter, with a piece of moldy old cloth draped between them as a makeshift roof¡ªeven though the booth was indoors. ¡°Hello, Ryan!¡± I greeted him with a smile and extended a hand. This younger version of Ryan could still get touchy about his bald head¡ªone of his two big no-nos, along with haggling. But, for a guy pushing fifty, he was in great shape, and my heart felt steady. Lucas, Patrick, and Ryan were fine for casual chat, but Ian triggered my random panic attacks? What was up with that? ¡°Welcome, miss. Do we know each other?¡± he asked, shaking my hand while giving me a sharp, business-like once-over. I grinned and mentioned that Old Patrick had spoken highly of him, which brought me here to trade. His eyes lit up, and he leaned over the counter, his hands just grazing its edge. ¡°Old Patrick, you say? Ha! Haven¡¯t seen him in over two years! Did he show you that picture of us from our army days?¡± The game was so realistic, it even captured Ryan¡¯s habit of spitting, and I instinctively took a step back, shaking my head. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t mention that¡ªjust pulled out an old photo of you with the president. You are someone with connections, aren¡¯t you? Now, let¡¯s get to business. Please appraise this.¡± I handed him the mace. He eased back into his chair, examining the mace and even giving it a few knocks. Just use appraisal, Ryan. Time is of the essence! I nearly let my frustration slip, but held back. After a thorough inspection, he placed it on the counter and nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Hm, a very good item. Players are leveling up in the dungeon right now, so this is prime time to sell. I think we can get a high price¡ªaround five gold.¡± I bit my lip, considering, and let out a sigh. ¡°But I need cash, and I need it fast,¡± I said. His eyebrows shot up, and he gave me an uncomfortable, direct stare. ¡°Ah, I see. For a second, I thought you were questioning my appraisal.¡± He paused thoughtfully. ¡°Alright, we could get the money within the hour if we set the price at four gold. Or, you could sell it to me directly for¡­ twenty-seven silvers.¡± One gold was ten silvers, one silver a hundred coppers. Damn, Ryan¡ªyou can smell my desperation, can¡¯t you? I sighed again, giving in to his absurd offer. ¡°Thanks, Ryan. And what¡¯s the current exchange rate for gold to real money?¡± ¡°The price of gold pieces has surged. Originally, it was ten gold to one credit; now it¡¯s two credits per gold. What were they thinking with that initial rate? Hardly anyone was selling gold back then! The whole point of this game was to build an economy, so of course the price shot up.¡± I shot Lucas a quick message to move his ass and grinned as Ryan and I shifted to our favorite topic: the game¡¯s economy. ¡°Oh, let me tell you about¡­¡± While waiting for Lucas, Ryan and I chatted about the economy and upcoming features that might be added. NPC clerks had three windows, but only one was ever staffed, so you either had to wait in line or ask Ryan. So that¡¯s how he built his starting capital. After a while, my identification expert showed up. ¡°Lucas! Over here!¡± I waved, giving him a welcoming grin. Lucas stumbled around a few crates, and as soon as he was within range, I shoved the staff and books I¡¯d picked up in the dungeon into his hands. I waved goodbye to Ryan, grabbed my trusty mage by the hand, and dashed toward the carpenter¡¯s shop. Lucas looked completely bewildered, so I shot him a reassuring grin. Don¡¯t worry¡ªeverything¡¯s under control. ¡°Charlie, calm down. I know we need money, but there¡¯s no need to get this worked up.¡± Thankfully, there was no line at the carpenter¡¯s, so we hurried in as I replied, ¡°Yes, yes. I won¡¯t rest until we¡¯ve got ten thousand in our account.¡± A frail old elf was hunched over a half-finished bow when I interrupted him. ¡°I need to learn your craft, please. And I need a saw, a chisel, and a knife.¡± The elf looked up from his work, his eyes crinkling. ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯m always happy to teach young cra¡ª¡± I dropped six silvers and five coppers onto the table. ¡°I need it fast, please! Lives depend on it!¡± He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Young folks these days, always in a rush. Craftsmanship takes time, young lady. But so be it. Twenty-five coppers for the skill, and four silvers for the tools.¡± ¡°Deal! I¡¯ll take it as a secondary job.¡± I accepted as quickly as I could.
[You have learned the secondary job: Carpentry] [You bought carpenter tools] [You lost 245 coppers]
I grabbed Lucas¡¯s hand again¡ªstill very confused¡ªand we rushed over to the alchemy and the enchanter¡¯s shop. The owner had organized it like a cluttered warehouse, filled to the brim with ingredients, scrolls, potions, glassware, and more. A lingering smell of something burned hung in the air, reminding me of that time I¡¯d raided Felix, the storm-breaker; his potions had been a real pain. I skimmed quickly through the scrolls, my eyes landing on the two I¡¯d been searching for.
[Rune of Intelligence]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: Adds intelligence to the equipment
Ingredients: 1x Enchanting powder
Price: 20c
[Rune of Fire Resistance]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: Adds fire resistance to the armor
Ingredients: 1x Enchanting powder, 1x Essence of Fire
Price: 1g
Though the price was steep, I had no choice but to accept it¡ªthe runes were essential for my plans. The enchanting powder was cheap enough, only one silver for a bag of 100, but the Essence of Fire came in at a whopping two silvers apiece.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The lady at the counter, with her long gray hair and a warm smile, looked over the scrolls I brought forward. ¡°Planning to enchant, are we?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the idea,¡± I replied. ¡°I¡¯ll start with a basic intelligence enchantment, and once I¡¯ve got the hang of it, I¡¯ll move on to Fire Resistance.¡± She grinned, placing her hand on my items and giving them a quick once-over. ¡°Sounds like a solid plan. Want me to teach you the basics of enchanting? If you¡¯re buying these scrolls and ingredients, I¡¯ll throw in a lesson for free.¡± I nodded eagerly and quickly added three more bags of powder and three Essence of Fire to the pile.
[You have learned the primary job: Enchanting] [You bought Enchanting powder bag x6] [You bought Essence of Fire x3] [You lost 2220 coppers]
[You learned: Rune of little intelligence] [You learned: Rune of Fire Resistance]
The shopping spree had drained my funds completely, leaving me with almost no money¡ªor time. I grabbed Lucas and practically dragged him out of the shop, heading toward the village outskirts. Faster! Or so I thought¡ªuntil he yanked me back. Ouch. ¡°Charlie, hold up! What the brick are you doing? Let¡¯s talk about what¡¯s going on here. Yesterday, today¡­ Forget about the money for a second. We need to think this through.¡± ¡°Lucas, my mage with one foot in the grave, let me do my thing! If any problems pop up, I¡¯ll just drink them away!¡± I shot back, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder¡ªmy favorite motto in action. Classic me: never solving problems, just running from them. Lucas sighed, clearly unimpressed with my problem-solving philosophy. I dragged Lucas past the farms, and as we entered the forest, the rustling leaves and chirping birds filled the air. The fresh scent of wood hit me, but I ignored it, scanning the area for a decent branch. I spotted a low-hanging twig within reach and gripped it with both hands, pulling with all my might. It creaked, but my pitiful strength wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°Come on!¡± I muttered, planting my feet against the trunk for leverage and yanking with everything I had. Finally, it snapped, coming down with a loud crack that cost me six hit points¡ªnot that it mattered, as I healed it right away. Being a healer is perfect for a masochist. As I worked on cleaning up the piece of wood, Lucas sat on the ground, a sad look in his eyes as he watched me. Silly Lucas, I thought, everything I¡¯m doing is for your sake.
[You created Broken Spear]
[Broken Spear]
Quality: 0-broken
ATK: 1-1
Durability: 1/1
This spear is a disgrace to their brethren; it will break on first hit
What a lovely item I¡¯d crafted, right? Opening the enchanting window, I noticed it looked almost identical to the magic interface, except it only had two rune slots. I selected the [Rune of Intelligence] and watched the tutorial. Easy enough. With an intentionally shaky hand, I sprinkled the sparkling powder unevenly around the spear, then clumsily tried to trace the rune with my improvised stick. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t have drawn it right even if I¡¯d been trying.
[You failed to enchant the Broken Spear] [The item had lost 1 durability] [The item Broken Spear is Broken] [You failed to enchant the item, you lost 1 enchanting XP] [You lost 1 rank in a job. Operation terminated; the level of the job is zero]
Reaching into my inventory, I grabbed a chisel and used it to ¡°repair¡± the spear. With that done, I ¡®tried¡¯ the enchantment process again.
[The item Broken Spear is now repaired] ¡­ [You lost 2 ranks in a job. Operation terminated; the level of the job is zero]
Yes! As I attempted to enchant the weapon again, the internal counter ticked up another rank. This was it¡ªone step closer to greatness! Lucas watched Charlie for what felt like an hour, his gaze filled with sadness and despair. She was dusting a tree branch with powder. Then she traced a rune in the air. Then she set the branch on fire. Then she tapped it with a chisel¡ªand started the entire process over again. Hundreds of times. He shouldn¡¯t have brought her into this. No, he shouldn¡¯t have gone to the loan sharks in the first place! But that wasn¡¯t who he was; he had to go, had to ask, had to play the stupid game. Charlie had told him to stop, but he hadn¡¯t listened. And now? His best friend John was gone because of him. How was he supposed to live with that? This Charlie was even crazier than the old Charlie. She ran barefoot through the game like her life was on the line, not his. It was his fault she¡¯d gone off the deep end, lighting branches on fire over and over. For him. His eyes grew heavy, and he couldn¡¯t hold back the tears. Why was this happening? Strangely, the flames Charlie conjured had a calming effect, and he felt himself drifting off, lulled by the steady rhythm. [Book 1] [12. Anti-cheat system]
[The item Broken Spear is now repaired] ¡­ [You lost 512 ranks in a job. Operation terminated because the level of the job is zero]
I worked tirelessly for countless hours, and this was it¡ªthe result of all my effort! My heart raced as I failed one last time. Please, please¡­ let it overflow.
[The item Broken Spear is now repaired] ¡­ [You lost -512 ranks in a job.]
[Congratulations! You are now 5-Grandmaster Enchantress; Maximum rank had been reached] [Please select your mark and an alias, if you desire]
¡°Can I choose a snowflake as my mark and Ice Princess as my alias?¡± I blurted out before the blue box even materialized.
[Congratulations! Your mark is a snowflake] [Congratulations! Your Enchanting alias is Ice Princess] [You were caught by the anti-cheat system. Please remain still. Investigation is in progress¡­]
My hands felt unresponsive, my body growing increasingly numb. Well, I¡¯d expected as much. Then a pleasant young man¡¯s voice echoed in my ears, ¡°Manipulation not detected; achieved solely by in-game means. Reward in progress¡­ Grandmaster not obtainable, suggesting Expert, level zero. Do you consent?¡± Yes, I do, dear System! I screamed in my mind.
[Congratulations! You are now 3-Expert Enchantress]
Suddenly, my vision was engulfed in blinding white light, and I felt the strange hold on my body slowly release. I yelled triumphantly, ¡°I am an Expert Enchantress!¡± My shouting jolted Lucas awake, and he yelled, ¡°Alfa six!¡± Once he got a grip on this reality, his bleary eyes focused on me as I ran around clapping and cheering. After a moment, he asked, ¡°Is that¡­ good?¡± ¡°Yup! Spell and job levels have six ranks, and normally, reaching expert takes years!¡± I bounced over and hugged him, then quickly shifted to hugging a nearby tree. He watched me with a bewildered stare, eventually standing up and dusting off his clothes¡ªslowly. Giddy, I hugged another tree with the biggest grin plastered across my face. He gently touched my shoulder. ¡°Okay, but¡­ how exactly does that help us?¡± ¡°Silly Lucas, we can sell enchanted items!¡± Lucas buried his face in his hands for a moment, then looked back at me, hesitant. ¡°I hate to say it, but you need to hear this. The most expensive item they¡¯ve sold went for around twelve gold. Even if we sold for fifteen, that¡¯s just thirty dollars. How do you expect to make ten thousand? Charlie¡­¡± He trailed off, unable to meet my eyes, and walked away. Silly guy, I thought. He never had much imagination. ¡°Stop being so rational,¡± I called out. Spotting the spear nearby, I threw it toward him, and it shattered on impact. As expected, he just stood there like a lost puppy. Not everyone had a knack for exploiting the system. Next thing on my list? Enchanting a shield. ¡°Hey, Mr. Mage, find us a fallen tree! I¡¯ll make a shield, and that¡¯ll be our ticket to greatness!¡± I grinned, spreading my arms wide. ¡°We need a big one¡ªat least a foot wide!¡± Lucas nodded reluctantly, and we started combing through the woodland, which was full of trees. So, who would¡¯ve thought finding a fallen one would be so hard? The sound of snapping twigs marked our progress as we thrashed through a small, overgrown ravine. Finally, we spotted the perfect tree. Well, almost. It was mostly decayed, with mushrooms sprouting all over it. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s¡­ fine, I guess,¡± I muttered, cutting out a large circle. The decayed wood nearly crumbled in my hands, but I managed to carve an improvised handle with a chisel. What a masterpiece! A rotten shield!
[You created Pitiful Shield]
[Pitiful Shield]
Quality: 0-broken
DEF: 1
Durability: 1/1
This is garbage; do not use it.
As Lucas rested on the trunk, I handed him the shield. He inspected it, eyes widening in surprise, nearly causing him to lose his balance. He turned to me with a look of pure disbelief, like I¡¯d just offered him a non-alcoholic beer. I burst out laughing at his expression. My jokes are the best! ¡°I get it, Charlie. Do what you must. I¡¯ll go fight some wolves over there,¡± he said, leaving me to my unstoppable laughter as he climbed up out of the ravine. Had he finally gotten fed up with me? Whatever¡ªI¡¯d save him. The weight of this debt still felt like a bear sitting on my chest, so I turned my focus back to the shield. Here¡¯s hoping it¡¯ll work. Now that I had something to enchant with Fire Resistance, it was time to engrave the runes. Since I couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes, I replayed the instructional video a few times. Following the figure in the video, I scattered the dust across the shield. But no matter how carefully I tried to spread it, the dust clumped stubbornly. Useless garbage! I clenched my fist, blew it away, and tried again. This time, the wind swept in and scattered it. Perfect. Finally, after managing to place the dust and set the Essence of Fire at the center, I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be one of the easier jobs? Whatever. The rune itself was simple¡ªjust one symbol¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean it was easy. It took a few tries to picture it clearly in my mind, and even then, the faint imagined contours weren¡¯t easy to trace. The tricky part was channeling my mana to create the rune by hand. Any halfway decent artist would¡¯ve laughed at my attempt as I carefully drew the lines. But hey, I wasn¡¯t an expert; I was The Exploiter. The rune pulsed, mana bubbling up as if I were holding a pot about to boil over. The moment I poured in all the mana, a blinding red light burst from the shield, forcing me to shield my eyes. The dust absorbed the rune like a sponge, engraving it on the surface of the rotting wood exactly as I¡¯d drawn it¡ªlike a child¡¯s drawing, but it worked!Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. A stunning snowflake, about three inches in diameter, formed at the center where the Essence had been placed. And below it, the name I¡¯d chosen during my little exploit¡ªIce Princess¡ªcurved neatly around the snowflake¡¯s base.
[You enchanted the Pitiful Shield. Rating: 46%]
[Pitiful Shield]
Quality: 0-broken
DEF: 1
Durability: 1/1
Enchanting: +5% fire resistance
This is garbage; do not use it. Enchanted by ¡®Ice Princess¡¯.
Great! Without further delay, I headed back to the village, instinctively tiptoeing and even leaping over shrubs. Behold, the art of running! A small part of me expected the game to mock me with a ¡°Level 0 Running¡± notification, but the game windows stayed silent. Disappointing. My stamina only held out for a few minutes, so I had to walk the rest of the way. Whatever. At least ten NPCs crowded the auction house, and I squeezed through them without a single apology. Four customers were lined up for Ryan, who was now in full business mode. Come on, move! Sell your useless wares to the NPCs, not my Ryan! Despite my inner urgency, I had to wait. When my turn finally came, I said, ¡°Hey, Ryan, look at what I made!¡± I dropped my shield onto his counter and puffed my chest with pride, almost splitting my robe in the process. This thing is useless! Bah! He picked up the shield, examining it intently and turning it over in his hands, then looked at me with utter confusion. I rolled my eyes. ¡°God, Ryan! Ignore the shield itself; focus on the enchantment!¡± That foolish Irishman inspected it again, and his eyes suddenly widened. He tapped it with a tiny hammer, and before I could yell at him to be gentle, he exclaimed, ¡°Five percent? How is that possible? The best enchanting I¡¯ve seen barely reaches two percent!¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my grin. ¡°I¡¯m just that good. Can you get in touch with Lisa, the Fire Goddess?¡± Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, don¡¯t call her that! Yes, I know someone who can reach her. But why? Are you looking to sell your services?¡± ¡°Yes, I need credits, and I need them fast¡ªten thousand. Desperate times, desperate enchantress. All I need for the fire resistance enchantment is Essence of Fire and Enchanting Powder.¡± He nodded, understanding. ¡°Lisa¡¯s the one. She¡¯s aiming to get into the fire dungeons. I¡¯ll get you the money.¡± As Ryan made his calls, I sat cross-legged on the ground beside him, observing the constant bustle of the auction house. Devs only given booths, two chairs, and I couldn¡¯t hog the customer¡¯s seat. Low-level players came by one after another, selling whatever scraps they found lying around for a few pitiful silvers. One player even brought in a wolf¡¯s pelt. A wolf''s pelt! After unloading all his furs into the unlimited storage box next to the booth, he grinned happily at the meager two silver coins he received. Seriously? Does he know two silvers are basically¡­ nothing? I glanced at Ryan, biting back a comment¡ªI hadn¡¯t realized he was in this mafia-like extortion business. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, clearly annoyed by my staring. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just¡­ all that work for two silvers?¡± I watched the dwarf shuffle away, shaking my head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for them to fight specters and collect plasma? They¡¯d level up faster and earn better money¡ªseveral times faster.¡± Ryan smirked, flashing a rare hint of a grin. ¡°You¡¯re such a power gamer, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t deny it; I know one when I see one. Just enjoy the game. By the way, have you heard about the Duke¡¯s quest? Are you going?¡± I slipped into the customer chair to get off the rough ground. ¡°Wait, what quest? I haven¡¯t heard about that.¡± Leaning to one side, Ryan shot me a smug look, clearly enjoying a moment of superiority. ¡°The Duke¡¯s ship expedition is arriving soon, and they¡¯ll be recruiting players for a main quest.¡± He glanced around the hall with a sigh. ¡°Sadly, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to level up to seven in time.¡± I¡¯d never heard of this Duke¡¯s expedition before. It must be a minor main quest I¡¯d skipped in my last life, so I knew nothing about it. But main quests were always rewarding. ¡°Sounds interesting, Ryan. I¡¯ll try to make it, and thanks for the tip.¡± Still, my top priority was securing a steady gold supply. For that, maybe we should buy the meadow¡ªthe best early-game property in the elven forest. Irwen might be a variable, but she shouldn¡¯t attack right away, right? A week, two and we would turn massive profit. Yes! If I could get Lucas to help develop it, we¡¯d be raking in money. ¡°Ryan! You old snake!¡± Lisa¡¯s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as she gave Ryan a firm handshake. ¡°I hear you¡¯ve got something interesting for me?¡± Unfazed by her playful tone, he handed her my shield. ¡°Check out the enchantment.¡± ¡°Ice Princess?¡± Her eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°What a cute nickname! Do you know her?¡± I stood up, brushing off my worn, dusty robe, but a sudden wave of dread rose up in me, and I quickly sat back down. Okay, you¡¯ve got this. Ignoring my body¡¯s urge to stay silent, I forced myself to stand again and managed to say, ¡°Me. Princess.¡± An imaginary weight pressed down on my shoulders. Why? Why is this happening now? I stared hard at the ground, taking a deep breath. It¡¯s just a conversation in a game. Nothing to be afraid of, right? ¡°Sweetheart? From Frexie?¡± Her eyes widened as she looked me over, focusing on my hair. ¡°You are adorable!¡± Before I could react, she hugged me tightly, squishing my face to her chest. I was suddenly speechless¡­ for an entirely additional reason. ¡°But how is that possible, Princess?¡± Despite the nervousness clawing at me and the lump in my throat, I managed to reply, ¡°Look, my title.¡± Feeling a strange pride at this small victory, I shared my full name with her.
[Princess, Hero of Ice Blood]
¡°You¡¯re the Hero? How can I be one? Is there a Fire God?¡± She couldn¡¯t stop herself from babbling. I endured her embrace as she patted my hair like I was some kind of doll¡ªnot that I had much reason to complain. She gave me two very compelling reasons not to. ¡°Psst! Secret!¡± I said, hugging her back. ¡°Leader¡ªfirst party¡ªto clear scorching dungeon gets the title Fire Tamer. Cool, right?¡± ¡°The Fire Tamer?¡± Her eyes lit up, and she started bouncing, dragging me along in her excitement. ¡°How many enchantments can you do? Can you tell me more?¡± I averted my gaze, feeling tongue-tied. Not now, please. Where¡¯s my wine¡ªor better yet, whiskey¡ªto loosen me up? She still had me locked in her embrace, staring at me with a pleading expression just inches away. I wanted to answer, but the words wouldn¡¯t come. Come on, body, work with me here. Finally, I slipped from her hug and sat down on the ground in silence. ¡°Lisa, I said the trade goes through me. I¡¯m the middleman.¡± Oh, thank you, Ryan. ¡°There¡¯s nothing like this enchantment on the market, so our services are costly.¡± ¡°How costly?¡± Her tone turned serious faster than I could blink. ¡°You know gold¡¯s scarce¡ªthe demand¡¯s way higher than the supply. The exchange rate¡¯s up to three-to-one now, and I can¡¯t buy gold in large amounts.¡± There it was¡ªthe fiery heiress I vaguely remembered from my past life. She was living in the same city¡ªpeople nearby got spawned nearby in game¡ªand she used to be semi-celebrity. ¡°We¡¯re aware,¡± Ryan replied smoothly, ¡°so we¡¯re offering you the option to pay in credits instead. Twelve thousand should cover it. And as a gesture of goodwill, we won¡¯t sell fire resistance to anyone else¡ªnot until you complete the dungeon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s steep. But The Fire Tamer¡­¡± Her gaze swung back to me, and her face lit up as if she wanted to devour me with that grin. Instinctively, I squeaked some barely coherent words, jumped up, and backed into a stall wall. I¡¯d rather face the ultimate boss than her right now. ¡°Will she enchant the equipment for the entire party?¡± ¡°Yes, as long as you supply the ingredients¡ªEssence of Fire and Enchanting Powder,¡± Ryan answered. ¡°Deal. I¡¯ll have my cousin send the money to your account right away.¡± She turned toward me, eyes sparkling. ¡°Princess, could you come to our rented room at the tavern this evening?¡± Without warning, she buried her head into my chest, guiding my hand to pat her head. What the hell? Is this normal behavior?
[Lisa wants to add you as a friend.]
¡°Yes,¡± I said, though it was all I could get out. It was enough for her; she flashed a bright smile and took off, waving at me from a distance. I let out a tired sigh, my shoulders slumping. I can¡¯t be thinking about dating a girl now, can I? She was far friendlier than I¡¯d expected¡ªnothing like the ruthless ¡°fire destroyer¡± from the rumors. Her friendliness was why I liked her right away. Definitely not the close contact. Of course not. ¡°A pleasure doing business with you.¡± Ryan turned to me with a smile and gestured for me to head out.
[Ry4n1 wants to add you as a friend.]
¡°Thanks, Ryan, same here. And please send the money right away.¡± [Book 1] [13. East Fortification] After leaving Ryan, I contacted Lucas, and we met just outside the village. I couldn¡¯t help but picture him trying to hunt those ridiculous wolves as he came crashing through the bushes. So inefficient, so boring. ¡°Charlie, so what now? Let¡¯s live it up¡ªI¡¯ve only got a week until I¡¯m out of here.¡± ¡°Fruit, everything¡¯s going to be fine,¡± I greeted him with a playful nickname, but he just stared at me blankly. Darn, that wasn¡¯t it¡ªno fruit. What did that girl call Ian¡­? Ah! ¡°Pumpkin, I know a decent leveling spot. Leave the wolves to the amateurs.¡± I grabbed his hand and pulled him along with a spring in my step. We had some time to grind while Lisa was gathering things to enchant for the evening. We passed our old Frexie spot and headed into the plains. The sun blazed overhead as we moved past fields crawling with stupid venom monsters, but they weren¡¯t our target. I had something even better in mind, though it would take at least two hours of walking to reach. Eventually, we sneaked past a flock of crow monsters and reached a charming meadow stretching over a mile long. On our right, impassable mountains rose, their peaks disappearing into the horizon, while on the left, a river sliced through the landscape near the distant edge. We waded through waist-high, emerald-green grass, listening to the soft babbling of a nearby stream. It flowed alongside us, eventually merging into a wider river further down. When I noticed Lucas panting heavily, I called for a quick break, and he gratefully gulped down the crisp, cool water. Keeping low to avoid detection, I guided him around the more dangerous areas. Soon, the only sounds were our soft breaths and the faint rustling of grass. A sweet, floral scent hung in the air, mixed with the earthy aroma of the meadow. We crouched behind a bush, trying to stay quiet as we continued sneaking through. At the far end of the meadow, a ten-foot cliff stood tall¡ªour target. Lucas blinked a few times, then looked at me with a smirk. ¡°This is what you wanted to show me? Romantic spot, I guess.¡± He plucked stray blades of grass from his hair and tried to wash a dirty sleeve in the stream. While he fussed with that, I scanned the cliff¡¯s edge for something specific. After a moment, I found it: a stone with rough edges, carved with a rune I didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Romantic? Sure,¡± I replied, grinning. ¡°But check out the enemies down there. And the best part? It¡¯s a fortified position.¡± I sat near the cliff¡¯s edge, feeling the damp air rising as I peered down at the creatures lurking below.
[Waspie Lv.10] Type: 2-uncommon | HP: 165/165
As the name suggested, they were wasps¡ªbut nearly two feet tall. The monsters buzzed around, hunting for flowers to plunder, their long stingers and narrow waists giving them a menacing look. Watching them, I pressed down on the rune carved into the stone.
[Congratulations! You found East Fortification. Do you want to occupy it?]
Not yet, System. I turned to Lucas. ¡°How¡¯s the staff? Gimme!¡± My dear mage, finally done fussing with his cleaning, glanced at an invisible menu before nodding. ¡°Sure, but you can¡¯t actually use it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I used to be a warrior, so I just need something to flail around with.¡± He shrugged and handed it over without further comment. Whoa, I thought, eyeing the staff. I¡¯d known a Boss drop would be decent, but this good?
[Staff of Flame]
Quality: 4-exceptional
ATK: 3-4
Durability: 85/85
Restriction: Level 7
Effects: +5 INT, +2 damage to flame spells
¡°Okay, Lucas, when you hit level seven, it¡¯s yours! For the main menu¡­¡± ¡®Now, system. Please send them to attack me.¡¯
[Occupying in progress¡­ First round.]
¡°Charlie, are you sure we can handle this?¡± Lucas gripped his staff tightly, eyeing the charging wasps with a grim expression. ¡°You¡¯re my friend, you¡¯re my mage¡ªyou will not let them kill me. Right?¡± I shot him an evil grin, stood up, and started forming the runes for Ice Dance¡­ which, of course, failed. The hum of the wasps grew louder as they swarmed in the air, straining to climb the cliff. A few got discouraged¡ªthanks, unknown lazy programmer¡ªbut five kept coming, and two reached Lucas just as I finally finished the runes. Yes, only on the fifth try! The last step was to shout the activation word¡ªbut my train of thought was cut short when I saw Lucas standing and doing nothing. ¡°Stop standing there like an idiot and cast a spell!¡± I yelled, dodging aside as one of the wasps swung its stinger at me. ¡°Roger that, madam!¡± With a flick of his wrist, he created a spark rune in the air, and the nearest wasp burst into flames. Well, ¡°singed¡± might be more accurate¡ªit just seemed annoyed. As I leaped back, I finally muttered the activation word, ¡°Ice Dance!¡± Instantly, the air turned frigid, every exhale creating a puff of vapor, and frost spread across the field, stretching out like a winter¡¯s breath. The wasps didn¡¯t take kindly to it, their movements slowing¡ªa small victory, or we¡¯d be headed to the graveyard sooner than planned. I swung the staff, bashing their small frames as they focused on Lucas.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
[Target lost 4HP (1 normal + 3 ICE damage)] [Target lost 4HP (1 normal + 3 ICE damage)] [Target lost 5HP (1 normal + 4 ICE damage)]
For some reason, they didn¡¯t like that and turned their attention to me. I dodged a few stingers coming my way, thanks to the slow effect, but eventually, my luck ran out¡ªa stinger shot forward and struck my exposed thigh with alarming speed.
[You lost 9 HP.][You are poisoned! You will lose 10HP over 10 seconds!]
Oh, that stung! These things really packed a punch. Time for a new strategy¡ªI gripped my staff like a two-handed sword and swung with all my might, aiming for their stingers. The confidence boost from finally fighting in my beautiful shoes must¡¯ve helped because my evasion game improved. Now, the loud, irritating hum was the worst of it, and it only took two hits to snap a stinger clean off. I cheered as one fell to the ground. ¡°Take that, you little bzzt bzzt!¡± One down, six to go! With each broken stinger, the wasps glared furiously, but that was all they did. No attack. Everyone knew that if you broke the thing a monster attacked with, it would stop¡ªor switch to another attack method, like a spare hand. But these wasps? Easy targets. I wasn¡¯t complaining. I healed myself and braced for the next round. ¡°Hurry¡ªmore wasps incoming! We need to break as many stingers as we can. Ice Dance only lasts ten minutes!¡± When the Ice Dance effect faded, a swarm of wasps hovered around us, aimlessly buzzing. Sweat dripped down places I didn¡¯t care to mention, and my muscles ached like hell; it had been tough just holding their attention. My stamina had already dropped to zero¡ªfigures, weak priests shouldn¡¯t be doing this. ¡°Now for the sweet dessert¡ªlet¡¯s break them!¡± The onslaught on the defenseless wasps began. Together, we took them down one by one as they buzzed around us, waiting their turn to become our XP.
[Waspie has been defeated x20. +160XP (320/2).] [Congratulations! You are now level 4! XP to next level: 122/800]
¡°Charlie! Each Waspie gave us 16 XP! Insane!¡± Lucas was beaming as he rummaged through the fallen wasps. ¡°But¡­ no loot. Nothing at all.¡± Out of mana, stamina, and any shred of mental energy, I collapsed to the ground. His excited chatter barely registered. How much wine would it take to make this pain disappear? Would I still be in fighting shape? Those damn Waspies! The stings hurt like crazy, but I had to push through. I could lower the Reality Limit, but of course, the system had given me a skill that depended on it. ¡°Charlie, are you okay? You look¡­ different.¡± ¡°It hurts like hell! But I can handle it. I need to. As a warrior, I had it set to fifty percent, so half of what I have now. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± I gritted out, hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt.
[Occupying in progress¡­ Second round.]
With a ringing sound, the system reminded me it wasn¡¯t over yet. I drank one bottle and went in!
[Waspie has been defeated x95. +760XP (1520/2).] [Congratulations! You are now level 5! XP to next level: 82/1250] [You need to visit the city to further your Priest studies.] [Congratulations! You own East Fortification. You can develop it up to fortified position, for further development you need to get nobility rank.]
The mind-numbing grind was something no sane person would willingly endure. Then again, nobody except us stupid gamers would even try. We fought for hours, and by now, the sun had already set. Plus, who enjoys getting jabbed by filthy stingers? Those annoying Waspies were smart enough to land a few hits on me during the lures. We even had a few close calls when I couldn¡¯t cast the healing rune fast enough, and my hit points dropped dangerously low. Whatever.
[Lisa] My Hero? Are you free? [Princess] Call me Princess, or Charlie. Please. Yes. [Lisa] Alrighty, cute Princess, came to the tavern. Second floor, one of my guildmates will escort you inside.
¡°Lucas, that was fun, wasn¡¯t it? But I¡¯ve gotta run. Someone¡¯s got to make the money you owe.¡± I held up a parchment¡ªwell, a scroll¡ªwith a recall spell already prepared. Thanks, Irwen, for not ruining this¡­ yet. ¡°Do whatever you need to, Charlie. I¡­ like you, even if you don¡¯t manage to get me the money.¡±
[You named player Lucas as a keeper of East Fortification]
¡°Please, take care of our fortress. And for your information, you¡¯re silly¡ªit¡¯s already in your account. Now I have to keep my promise and head to a tavern bed with some ugly guy.¡± I winked and began chanting the recall scroll. ¡°Fortress? In my account?! Ten thousand, really? Wait, what guy? No! Don¡¯t tell me¡ª¡± he shouted, but before he could finish, the beautiful meadow vanished, replaced by the wooden Elven buildings around me. The dim light from the surrounding houses cast a magical glow across the street.
[Lucas] We will talk about this! [Princess] We will. Later tonight at the bar? [Lucas] Roger. Logging off.
The inn was right near the village center where I¡¯d recalled, so it wasn¡¯t a long walk. The village seemed calmer at night, though the distant sounds of music and laughter told a different story. Inside, the warm atmosphere of drinking and chatter hit me like a wave. Patrick had once asked if I hated crowds since I always went quiet around new people. Not at all. I loved people; I just couldn¡¯t talk to them easily, that¡¯s all. Silly Patrick, I thought, feeling a bit sentimental. He¡¯d always been like a grandpa to me, and the guy behind the bar was handing out drinks just like Patrick used to. I found myself staring, almost hypnotized, unable to look away from the liquor. No, John. You have work to do. I resisted the lure of sweet drinks and headed up the stairs. On the second floor, an elven warrior waited near a plain wooden door. ¡°Hey, girly. I¡¯m Rob. What¡¯s your business here?¡± Come on, John. Tell him about your enchanting skills. But Rob¡¯s stare drifted to my cleavage, and once again, my body betrayed me¡ªI stood there as silent as an empty bottle of whiskey. Should¡¯ve had a drink downstairs. With a sigh, I gave him a weak smile and nodded. He shrugged, opening the door to let me in. Thanks, stranger. No words necessary, right? ¡°Charlie, there ya are!¡± As soon as I stepped in, Lisa greeted me with open arms and a kiss aimed at my cheek. I executed an intricate footwork maneuver I¡¯d learned from the Imperial family¡¯s martial arts, almost escaping her hug, but between the seventh step and a goose-like jump, I remembered her big¡­ brain. So I let her get close. Yep, John, this is how you get a girl¡ªgood job. She rubbed her cheek against mine before leading me through a few rooms to a back area that looked like a makeshift warehouse. ¡°We set everything up for you. Enchant all the armor sets, please!¡± The room was equipped with a nearly broken wooden chair and a small, hole-riddled table. Truly, a workspace fit for a queen. Though I couldn¡¯t say anything, I gave her my best insulted look, which she promptly ignored, pulling me into a warm hug and patting my cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯m glad you like it. Just text me when you¡¯re done, sweetheart.¡± Apparently, my silence had confirmed her idea of how wonderful the room was, and with yet another kiss, she dashed off. What the hell have I signed up for? [Book 1] [14. The Scorching Dungeon] Lisa leaned against an old pine tree in the forest¡¯s heart, her red robe with golden accents fluttering in the breeze. Designed with a little too much attention to aesthetic detail, her robe showcased her slender figure¡ªa ¡°gift¡± from the developers to male players, no doubt. She didn¡¯t mind the design itself, but sighed for an entirely different reason. Rob was late again. Rob was always late. ¡°Should we just move on?¡± asked her cousin, Peter, his tone mildly impatient. A supportive priest, Peter was here to help her reach the pinnacle of the game. ¡°Natasha¡¯s gonna get in trouble at school if we keep staying out this late.¡± Natasha¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and she ducked her head further into the folds of her oversized cloak. Just as Lisa was about to call it a day, a large summoning circle formed nearby. She clenched her fists. Finally. Rob¡ªa fifteen-year-old warrior who never seemed to know the meaning of punctuality¡ªemerged from the glowing circle. He didn¡¯t even have a chance to blink before Lisa¡¯s fist connected with his face, sending him sprawling backward. ¡°You¡¯re late again! Next time we¡¯re going without you!¡± she snapped, adding a well-placed kick for emphasis. ¡°Jeez, Lis, it was only half an hour.¡± ¡°Only half an hour? The Fire Tamer title is at stake here! I will be the Fire Goddess¡ªdo you get how big this is?¡± Peter stepped in gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Lis, try not to get all worked up again. Dmitry beat you in every other game¡­¡± Her fiery glare cut him off mid-sentence, making him backpedal. That only added fuel to her resolve, and her eyes practically burned with determination. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± She led the group toward the dungeon entrance. As they reached the edge of the forest, the scenery shifted into an ominous, dying land. Gray ash blanketed the ground, and fire elementals roamed across the barren landscape, casting flickering shadows that danced across the scorched earth. The elementals¡¯ bodies were made of pure flame, and their semi-transparent forms left them unfazed by physical attacks. Varying in size and shape, they each had distinct, almost humanoid features, yet each was as unique as any player character. ¡°Isn¡¯t the forest line shorter than last time?¡± Rob mumbled, casting wary glances back at Lisa. ¡°Yeah, some old NPC said that until we clear the Scorching Dungeon, it¡¯ll keep spreading,¡± Lisa said with unshakable confidence. Her steps were full of purpose as they marched onward, the fiery elementals becoming part of their routine. Rob braced himself, charging into the fray, tanking the elementals¡¯ flames with his shield and sizable health pool. Peter and Natasha worked in tandem, casting healing spells that kept him topped off. Their progress was steady, and after an hour of fighting, they reached the dungeon¡¯s entrance¡ªa jagged rift in the mountainside that exhaled waves of oppressive heat. The air was thick with the stench of sulfur. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die again,¡± Rob muttered, though his words echoed what they all felt. ¡°Chin up!¡± Lisa said, giving him a reassuring hug and flashing a grin. ¡°There¡¯s no penalty for dying here!¡± The heat and sulfur gave her goosebumps, but she brushed it off and laughed to rally the others. ¡°Natasha, you¡¯re up,¡± she ordered. The quiet redhead nodded, stepping forward and activating her Thief¡¯s skill, [Detect Trap]. With closed eyes, she scanned the entrance corridor, her movements cautious and deliberate. The red glow from molten stones along the walls illuminated a maze of deadly traps. Though she couldn¡¯t see them directly, an instinctive dread seemed to guide her steps as she inched forward, setting a path for the others. They followed, tiptoeing after her and mirroring each careful movement. Suddenly, a massive explosion reverberated through the corridor, filling the air with firelight and jolting the group. They barely flinched. Just another Rob¡¯s day in the Scorching Dungeon.
[Teammate Rob has suffered 50 damage. Remaining HP: 10]
¡°Rob! You stupid piece of fish! I will¡ªaargh! Not again! Everyone, stop!¡± Lisa shrieked. In this dungeon, every time someone triggered a trap, the remaining traps would rearrange themselves, resetting the entire corridor¡¯s layout. Peter hurriedly flailed his staff, casting a quick heal on clumsy Rob, while Natasha cautiously started forging their path forward once more. It took them two grueling hours to finally make it through the endless, shifting trap corridor. ¡°I hate this; it¡¯s so dumb! So annoying!¡± Rob grumbled, always the first to complain without much thought. Lisa¡¯s own grumbles were a close second, her irritation mounting with each step. Peter, however, stayed focused, a little worried as he considered their future. He needed Lisa to succeed, but he also genuinely cared about her well-being. The corridor finally widened, marking the end of the trap zone. Just ahead, Fire Elementals appeared once more, accompanied by enormous flaming spheres known as [Fire Tails]¡ªsuicidal fireballs that hurled themselves at anyone nearby. There was no going around it; they had to push through. Rob braced himself, tanking two Fire Elementals at once, but his eyes widened as he saw a clump of ten Fire Tails rolling around the corner. ¡°Incoming! Forget Rob¡ªfocus on the Tails!¡± Lisa¡¯s commanding voice cut through the chaos. ¡°From left to right, fast, or they¡¯ll wipe us out! Natasha! That¡¯s not left!¡± The team sprang into action, targeting the Fire Tails one by one as they raced toward them. But they were barely keeping up with the onslaught; one ball was still hurtling toward Rob, who was fending off the elementals. Peter, sensing disaster, summoned all his focus and broke his own record, creating a healing rune in a fraction of a second. The rune activated just as the last Fire Tail struck Rob, healing him in the nick of time.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
[Teammate Rob has suffered 50 damage. Remaining HP: 3]
¡°Man, these balls! I was the farthest of y¡¯all!¡± Rob whined as the elementals continued to burn him alive, but healers didn¡¯t allow him to die. After two grueling hours and countless battles, they finally reached the Boss room. Lisa¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. They¡¯d already failed to conquer this Boss five times, and just that morning, she¡¯d heard Dmitry had defeated the first Boss in the Hell Dungeon. The thought gnawed at her; other guilds were getting closer to surpassing her and stealing her title as the ¡°Fire Goddess.¡± The cavernous boss room stretched out before them, the rock walls roasted and scorched from the intense heat radiating from molten lava streams snaking across the ground. Lisa glanced warily at a jagged rock in the center of the room; its surface was searing to the touch, a painful lesson Natasha had learned the hard way. Falling into the lava streams, as Rob had done before, meant game over. The room suddenly darkened as the Boss emerged from an opening on the far side, a towering figure cloaked in molten red. With a casual wave of his staff, the torches around the room blazed to life, illuminating his intimidating form.
[Exed Lv.7] Type: 5-epic Dungeon Boss | HP: 1800/1800
¡°Here we meet once again, immortals! Hail to you, Lisa, self-proclaimed Goddess of Fire¡ªyou shall die again by my hand!¡± taunted the Boss, his voice rumbling through the cavern with a dark laugh that nearly made Lisa lose her focus. ¡°You overgrew, ugly excuse for a demon! I am the true Queen of Fire¡ªI am fire itself!¡± Lisa shrieked, her body trembling with fury. Her words only seemed to amuse him, his laughter echoing through the room, mocking her fiery passion. Not this time, Lisa. You¡¯ve messed up three times already. She took a deep breath to steady herself. ¡°Everyone, get into the positions we discussed! Rob, for the love of god, stay out of the lava this time. I¡¯d rather you die by his hand than melt in that pit again!¡± The group moved with purpose¡ªmages and priests took their places in the back, close-range fighters positioned themselves near the Boss, and Natasha disappeared into the shadows with [Vanish]. ¡°Let¡¯s make this interesting, shall we? What kind of leader would I be if I used the same tactic every time?¡± the Boss sneered, summoning a new set of enemies. ¡°Fire Elementals! Answer my call!¡± One by one, Fire Elementals crawled from the streams of molten lava, some of them mimicking the group¡¯s own members. Lisa could see familiar, fiery copies of Rob and Peter among them, which only fueled her rage. ¡°Switch to Tactic Four!¡± she commanded, her voice sharp. ¡°Everyone, three o¡¯clock! Focus fire at the front! Natasha, stay hidden!¡± The group repositioned swiftly, close-range fighters shielding the mages and priests at the back. Lisa gripped her staff, maneuvering it expertly through the air as glowing rune patterns appeared with each flick of her wrist. As she finished drawing the first rune and shouted the spell¡¯s name, she was already halfway through the second. Her control was flawless, even mesmerizing. If Charlie had been watching, she probably would have jumped into the lava out of sheer awe.
[Perfect Runecraft! Damage x2. Target is resisting fire; damage halved] [Critical hit! Target lost 15HP]
The battle had been raging for twenty minutes. Each spell Lisa cast was faster, more powerful, and deadlier than the last. Her focus was razor sharp, her stern gaze unwavering. She was the fire; she felt its heat flowing through her veins. With a fierce yell, she hurled a perfect fireball straight at the Boss¡¯s head. ¡°Take that, you ugly, winged freak!¡± ¡°You puny girl! Fire against fire! As you wish, Doom Tails!¡± The Boss, enraged, summoned sixty [Fire Tails]. This was the dreaded attack that had wiped them out every time before. But to his astonishment, they charged toward him without a hint of fear. ¡°You really thought fire would kill me?¡± Lisa laughed, her voice booming through the cavern. ¡°You poor, na?ve demon! You¡¯ll be gone before it even touches me!¡± The fiery balls hurtled forward, closing in fast. At the last possible moment, Lisa shouted, ¡°Now! Natasha, get ready!¡± ¡°God¡¯s will!¡± their paladin chanted. His spell cast a warm, divine light around them all, forming a protective barrier for just half a second. A hair¡¯s breadth too late or too early, and they would have been lost. But the timing was flawless.
[Boss Exed has suffered catastrophic damage. 50x50, fire damage halved. Remaining HP: 80] [Exed entered the weakened state]
At that moment, Natasha struck from behind. The timid girl was gone, replaced by a steely, focused assassin, her expression fierce. Lisa couldn¡¯t help but grin at the transformation. Natasha aimed directly for the Boss¡¯s head, and the sickening sound of her dagger slicing through flesh and bone was both brutal and satisfying.
[Nat4sha dealt critical stealth attack into a weakened state, 10x2x2x5] [Exed has been defeated. +50XP (400/8)] [You found an unknown staff.] [You found an unknown rune.] [You found an unknown armor.] [You have defeated the first Boss of the dungeon, your progress has been saved]
[Book 1] [15. Flame Staff] Lucas dazed at his computer screen for a while, and couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. How? Charlie got the money, whatever she did. He did. Was all that crazy enchanting worth that much? There was no way, right? She couldn¡¯t trade like two million players combined, could she? A smile sneaked on his face, but the next moment a horrible that returned - when she said that thing about a guy¡­ He closed his eyes and shook his head. No, that¡¯s not possible; John is a man, right? As he checked the amount in his account again, he debated about sending the money right away. No. That would be a bad idea, because they would demand more - thus he set the delivery date six days from now. ¡°Good evening, Lucas,¡± someone spoke on his left out of the blue. Did someone break into his apartment? Was it the ring, terrorists? No, maybe it was that player he killed ten times over and who said he will find him for real in reality? Whoever it was, he reacted fast thanks to his training, and with one swift movement picked a gun hidden under the table, before plunging to the other side. ¡°My name is Jeffrey, and I come in peace,¡± the stranger said with a hint of a smile. Lucas was the one pointing a gun at him, but he froze with his mouth open. A young punk. He lowered his gun and sighed. If this kid wanted him dead, he would already be dead ten times over. The kid¡¯s face lit and he continued, ¡°I am one of leaders of the ring of smiling people.¡± ¡°I¡­ I am aware. Please, leave Charlie out of this! She did nothing wrong!¡± ¡°You mean agent Charlie, or is it now agent John-Charlie? See Lucas, you helped him retire. It was you, who archived his ID, right? Hawk, that is the assassin sent to hunt John, will eventually find out as well.¡± ¡°Why would anyone hunt John?¡± Lucas relaxed and dropped to his chair; everyone told him to be afraid of them, but Jeffrey was only a kid. Only with power beyond any means. ¡°That is not relevant. I want to assist him; support the best hero in the game. I don¡¯t know how it was achievable to change him into a female, but the cover is phenomenal. Excellent job, you two.¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ But, we have a problem because I owe tens of millions to your colleague. If you can talk¡­¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t gamble anymore? I have limited funds and power, for now. I need to consolidate it, before I can be of any assistance. Although, if you can get through the following months, I will stand on your side. I need a seed, an item obtainable only in the game.¡± ¡°If I may ask-¡± ¡°You cannot. That would be foolish; Pearl is a rash person. Don¡¯t ask odd questions, others despise annoying flies like you two!¡± He flashed a weak smile, turned on his heel and walked away with a confident stride. After making sure he was alone, Lucas picked up his old phone right away and called the cavalry. It took only two second, before a hard male voice spoke with a broken English, ¡°What you need, Lucas? Me busy today.¡± ¡°Boris, Charlie is in danger.¡± ¡°I knew our girl wasn¡¯t dead! She is too tough to get killed so easily,¡± slightly changed voice responded; the natural translator picked up. Boris¡¯ English was annoying - better to leave up to the translator. ¡°She is¡­¡± Thoughts invaded Lucas¡¯ mind, thoughts of her dead body, yet John¡¯s change brought her form back. No, it was John, not her. ¡°She¡¯s kinda alive, but she suffered a trauma and lost her memories. An assassin is tracking us, Pearl is already on it.¡± ¡°Any connect with dead testers? Me am hear about them,¡± his hard voice with a hint of curiosity came once again. ¡°Negative, we don¡¯t have enough intel. Speak Russian, for god¡¯s sake! I can¡¯t understand you!¡± ¡°Why? Me good! Worry not, friend. We drink vodka again. Name target?¡± ¡°Hawk. He is after John, Charlie and me.¡± Enchanting items was one of the hardest things I had to do. Ever. I gently threw a pair of gloves on the wall and let them slid down, where I kicked them with all my love. Three times. Damn, that two months without whiskey were easier than suffering through the enchanting. Thinking about it, I took a sip from the water and ate the cheapest bread. Yeah, I lived like a queen. Break¡¯s over, enchanting continues.
[You enchanted the Sturdy Gloves. Rating: 17%]
Why? This is just plain stupid! How many times I need to practice the damn rune before I get it right? Billion times?! My nerves were on the edge, so I punched an armrest on my chair, which with a lot of cracking noises dissolved into a fine dust. ¡°Wonderful. Just wonderful!¡± With another punch to the table, I deposited even that old thing. Fine! Now I had to sit on a ground - that was uncomfortable, but manageable. Calm down, John. Please calm down. Wasn¡¯t I the one who found a bug in three flying sticks and flew at the speed of light? So why was I so bad at this? What I hated the most was the actual enchanting. I knew only about exploit in enchanting, so I had no choice but to get it. That didn¡¯t mean I was good at it. Dust, Essence, let¡¯s go.
[You enchanted the Sturdy Gloves. Rating: 28%]
I hate it! I bet I am the worst for these kinds of things. The minimum effect I needed to give Lisa was five percent, that meant I had to get the rating of forty percent or higher and I couldn¡¯t do it fast enough! With another punch, I cracked a floor. That was very unlike me, I always methodically observed the problem and solved it in my head, before acting. Was it because of my female hormones? No way, Lucy was even better at this than I ever was. Success rate? Only one in ten attempts, truly pathetic. One positive thing was that I stopped to fail completely, after only two hours of trying. I remembered the sweet fragrance of the bar and checked the clock again. Sorry Lucas, not tonight, I guess. Later, when I was pushing the mana into the rune, the borders of rune glowed with a weak ray of light. It connected the rune to the glove, centering on the Essence. Huh, maybe this could be some kind of key? I dusted the places of connection with two more layers of dust and pushed all the mana in, but at a slower pace.
[You enchanted the Sturdy Gloves. Rating: 49%]
It worked! I threw the gloves to the completed pile and continued with enchanting. Every time I dusted the shining place on equipment, it was an instant success! Yes, I learned the secret about Enchanting! I celebrated it with a fist pump and enchanted all of them faster than I expected, so I could give them to Lisa. I sent a message to her and lay on the ground, exhausted. ¡°You called, sweetheart?¡± Lisa ran back the moment I sent her message. Why else I would call you, you rich girl? I wanted to say. After I nodded, she rummaged through the completed things. Checking the stuff, her eyes sparkled, and her grin revealed her beautiful teeth. My cheeks had to turn rose, and I reverted a gaze to the ground. This time it was because her grin affected me on a deep level and I felt it boiling in my belly. John, are you falling for her? Wake up, you are a girl! Only after she examined the pile of equipment, she pulled me into a hug and jumped around, like she did not that long ago. This time, however, I grinned and jumped with her, because the childish mood was contagious. Wonderful, now I am like the noobs who cheer when they kill a wolf. ¡°You helped me a lot, I needed money,¡± I clutched to her and tried not to fall during all that happy hopping around. That was the reason I placed my head on her, I swear. Sadly, our happy jump didn¡¯t last long, because she pulled out a scroll. ¡°One last favor, Ice Princess! Please. If you can enchant a staff for me, this rune is yours! But you need to promise me you won¡¯t enchant anything for Dmitry!¡±
[Rune of Fire]
Quality: 3-rare
Effect: Boost fire damage
Ingredients: 5x Enchanting powder, 2x Essence of Fire, 1x Fire Gem
Requirements: 1-beginner Enchanting
Price: 10g
¡°Miss Lisa, I am not sure¡­¡± I spoke with difficulty, my gaze fixed to the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t want to damage your item.¡± Lisa squeezed my shoulder as if she wanted to break me and patted on my head. A warmth spread all over my body and I almost grinned like crazy. ¡°Princess! You are so cute! Try it, and if you fail, you fail. That is okay, I still like you! I have a tip - don¡¯t inspect the item before you enchant it; let it be a surprise!¡± Her encouragement made me more relaxed, and I even smiled at her. Hey, past John, would you ever guess a noob will encourage you? She was right, I might feel less nervous when enchanting anonymous things. She wouldn¡¯t want me to enchant anything precious, would she? The Rune of Fire was bad news though; the system cheated! It said ¡°Rune¡± but in fact it was two runes connected. The first was the same as basic enchantment, but the second one was strange. It looked like if they asked a kid to draw three octagons on each other and then connect it at random; a mess. To add more difficulty, the staff was more fancy than usual, made from a dark red wood, with a tip fitted with a bright red crystal. Lisa sat on the ground and happily sorted through all the enchanted equipment, singing a song to herself, as I tried to engrave the rune into my brain. I calmed myself with a deep breath and dusted the staff evenly with four powders. As I was searching for the best placement of runes, I reached the bottom of the staff where it would look cool, so I placed the essences there. I deliberated for a while where to put the gem; I settled for the two third of staff, perfect place - If I succeeded.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Thankfully, the faint outlines of runes appeared, and I guided my shuddering hands through all the intricacies. No! Focus John! Lisa was so kind to you! So, I even slowed down and felt almost intangible tugging at my mind, where the mana was pushing against me. The force wanted to blow out, and I tried to hold it. There wasn¡¯t feeling like that in the real simulation, but my toilet practices, where I hold it for so long, came handy now. When the ray shined on the staff, I quickly dusted the contours with the last powder.
[You enchanted the Fire Staff. Rating: 61%]
The runes enveloped the bottom of the staff and glowed with a bright red; the gem changed color to match the enormous crystal at the top and it even engraved my snowflake right onto the gem! I only thought it would be beautiful to have it there, but my thoughts materialized.
[Flame Staff]
Quality: 5-epic
ATK: 4-5
Durability: 105/105
Effect: +7 INT, +3 damage to flame spells
Enchanting: +4 damage to flame spells
Restriction: Level 7, mage ¡®fire¡¯ type class
Staff used by Exed, the Fire Tamer subordinate. Enchanted by ¡®Ice Princess¡¯.
Now I dropped to the floor, paralyzed in fear. This¡­ this was one of the best drops from the first Boss of the Scorching Dungeon. She trusted me with a rare dungeon loot? I couldn¡¯t even speak and just blankly stared at the staff. Lisa energetically picked it up, and her eyes glistered when she examined the stats. ¡°Princess, you are amazing! The staff is so pretty!¡± she screamed and maniacally laughed. ¡°Wahaha! I am the Fire Goddess! Everything belongs to me now! Eat that, Dmitry!¡± She slashed at an imaginary enemy in the air, where it left fire sparks in her path, and danced with the staff clutched to her chest. I had never danced before, but her confident steps looked professional. Naturally, she was rich, so she attended dance classes, right? But why was she dancing with the staff? The friendly atmosphere encouraged me to speak a little more, ¡°I am happy for you. Can I ask for equipment? Level five Priest.¡± ¡°Yes! Tell Peter, he is next door. No, I will tell him. Excuse me, I need to test it, talk to you later!¡± I received a kiss on my cheek, and she ran so fast she tumbled around the door. What the¡­ hell? Isn¡¯t she¡­? No, the rumors were false for sure. I warily followed in her steps and found in the next room only one elf, so I rushed towards him. The nervosity bound my tongue yet again, so I could only stare at him and tried to smile. ¡°Oh, yes, our glorious leader blabbered something about Priest equipment for you before she ran off gods know where.¡± I nodded like that was the most normal thing in the world. Afte his another sigh, we walked to another room, which looked more like a storage room, but without furniture; they neatly sorted hundred of items on the ground. So much work, damn. I accepted whatever he handed me and then ran without saying goodbye. Yup, I was the real Ice Princess.
[Robe]
Quality: 1-common
DEF: 2
Effect: +4 INT
[Staff]
Quality: 1-common
ATK: 2-3
Effect: +1 INT
[Silk Gloves]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: +1 INT
[Wreath Tiara]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: +1 INT
[Book 1] [16. Dirty old man] I ducked into an alley next to the shopping area and slipped into my new gear. The robe was a simple white cloth with red trim, leaving my shoulders bare and highlighting, well, a lot of skin¡ªcleavage and thighs, mostly. Great. The tiara was plain, a simple band of wreaths without any embellishments, which was fine by me. Finally dressed like someone who didn¡¯t just roll out of the gutter, I strolled through Village Number Four, feeling a touch more confident, and asked an elven guard for directions to the Priest mentor. ¡°Mentor?¡± she echoed, her high-pitched voice ringing down the entire street. ¡°I know! Go straight, then left by the big general store, and left again.¡± Cringing under the sudden interest of passersby, I tried to make my escape from her, but not before noticing her armor. Somehow, it was even more impractical than mine. Her chest practically bursting out. How would that even block an attack in, well, reality¡­ or whatever this simulation was? With a silent curse at the developers¡ªand the questionable taste of the game¡¯s AI¡ªI hurried away, finding the building at last. The old elf greeted me warmly, ¡°Welcome, young Priestess.¡± His white, full-body robe seemed ordinary, but his gaze wasn¡¯t. When he looked at me, I felt stripped bare, as if his eyes saw straight through me. Ah, the scanning spell¡ªone of the few advantages NPC trainers had over players. I wondered if the real-world simulation had something similar. The room smelled thickly of cinnamon, like a bakery rather than an ancient training hall. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m here to learn advanced skills, if possible,¡± I said, trying to keep my tone steady. My hesitant steps betrayed my nerves, though. Stupid body¡ªwhy could I talk to him easily but get tongue-tied around Lisa? ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it then¡ªthree basic skills¡ª¡± ¡°I can¡¯t learn that many right now. I already have five, and I don¡¯t want to give any up,¡± I interrupted, apologetic. He looked at me with newfound interest, his old, discolored teeth showing as he smiled. His tongue flicked out, coated in saliva, and I had to suppress a shudder as his intense gaze roamed from my head to my feet. I instinctively took a step back, wondering if even Boris would find him creepy. ¡°Show me your skills, then. I¡¯ll judge if you¡¯re worthy!¡± he said, licking his lips in a way that made me cringe. ¡°Old man, I decide my destiny! These skills are mine, and you can¡¯t take them from me!¡± I retorted, agitated at the thought of losing my heroic abilities. He just snorted back. Right. I attempted to show him Ice Dance, visualizing the runes, but of course, I fumbled the spell. Not my finest moment. Without a word, he waved a hand, conjuring a blue haze that enveloped us. ¡°Judging by the build-up of energy, these aren¡¯t common skills. Focus and do it properly,¡± he instructed, his tone insistent. I tried again, concentrating on each movement with precision, but the Ice Dance still wasn¡¯t coming together. Before I could try once more, he creeped closer, reached out and gripped my hands firmly, guiding them. I froze, tempted to yank my hands away and smack him, but his grip was surprisingly strong. ¡°Young Priestess, you¡¯re too reckless in your runecraft. Magic is about precision, not speed. A failed spell is useless. Even if it takes time, don¡¯t rush.¡± Ugh. I knew that, but finesse was never my strong suit. The reality was frustrating¡ªmy casting speed was lagging behind others. I wanted to scream at him my favorite profane words, but my experience taught me otherwise. Mentors were usually wise, and their experience was boundless. Yes, I could beat a warrior mentor, but this old pervert? He knew more about magic than me. Ugh! Fine! Begrudgingly, I let him circle behind me, his damp robe sticking to my skin as he guided my hands, feeling the unfamiliar, calm tug of mana as he directed my movements. For the first time, the runes filled with energy smoothly, without the usual resistance. Whatever he did, it surprised me. I hadn¡¯t achieved that, ever. As I finished the last rune, he sniffed my hair¡ªseriously?¡ªand I shouted, ¡°Ice Dance!¡± A frosty blue light spread across the room, leaving a shimmering layer of ice. ¡°An exceptional spell, worthy of a hero! Have you met a God?¡± he asked casually, as if divine encounters were everyday occurrences. Of course, I was picking some yogurt at the grocery store and chatted with god in the queue for bananas. I opened my mouth to answer, but noticed that he was still gripping my hands, enjoying the touch. ¡°Yes, the God of Ice Blood,¡± I replied, trying not to think about it as I attempted to free myself. ¡°Splendid! I was waiting for a Hero to come to our village. I haven¡¯t expected a young, booming hero with beautiful bosoms. Destiny has brought you to me with such¡­ vigor,¡± he whispered in my ear, far too close for comfort. Trying to escape his clutches failed again, so I nodded at his remark. Obviously, it was the destiny. It wasn¡¯t like I had to visit him at level five for the advancement. He caressed my butt. Hey! The sensation of his clammy hands was the last straw. I gathered all my strength and nimbly jumped away from him, twisting around his hand using imperial steps taught to¡­ young princesses to escape from situations just like this one. He composed himself and gestured for me to sit. ¡°I have a task for you, should you be brave enough to accept.¡± I shrugged. There was nothing on the floor¡ªno mats, no tea, not even a cushion. I waited for him to settle first before reluctantly sitting, careful to keep a distance between us. Imperial steps won¡¯t work on the floor.
[You received your first quest. Do you want to disable the quest system?][The organic quests have greater rewards, but you won¡¯t get help from the system; recommended only for experienced players]
¡°Disable the help!¡± I muttered to myself. What kind of tester would I be with quest arrows and logs cluttering my screen?Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The old elf¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°I¡¯ve recently received reports of strange activity on the Island of the Dead. Please investigate these incidents and explore the Tomb of Queen Irwen.¡± Wait, hold up¡ªis this the Imperial quest? The fall of the Empire, already? Regret immediately crept in. Disabling the quest log suddenly felt like a rookie move, but no way was I backing down now. My pride was at stake¡ªno crutches from the system. ¡°I accept. I¡¯ll gather my friends and¡ª¡± ¡°No, dear Hero. You must do this alone.¡± He stopped me before I could finish and leaned in close. Too close. Was he going to caress me again? What¡¯s his deal? ¡°Do you realize I¡¯m a priest? I can¡¯t handle this solo! I¡¯ll fail!¡± I protested, scooting backward as the rough ground scraped against me. ¡°You are right; I apologize, young heroine. For the duration of your mission, Donovan will accompany you.¡± He turned and called out, ¡°Donovan! Come here!¡± ¡°Hey! Wait, old man¡ªI never agreed to this Donovan guy tagging along!¡± I pouted, but he was already ignoring me, grinning with those dreadful, rotten teeth of his. The metallic clank of armor echoed through the room, and a warrior in gleaming silver approached, kneeling before the mentor. He looked barely twenty, with short black hair and a soft, untested face. He hadn¡¯t seen much, if any, battle. Just perfect.
[Donovan Lv.10] Class: Squire
Squire Donovan, at your service, Master Teorn!¡± he shouted with way too much enthusiasm. Wait, Master Teorn? This old guy? Teorn was the retired priest I¡¯d encountered when testing the main quest! I remembered his dramatic backstory, something about him saving a Duke¡¯s life after his exile. Apparently, he¡¯d been banished for¡­ well, sleeping with the Duke¡¯s daughter and her maid simultaneously. Classy. Every starting village had its notable NPC to kick off the big story arcs, so running into him again wasn¡¯t too shocking. But his stats? Insane. His heals practically carried me through tough fights back then. I eyed him, and he shot me a grin back. Womanizer. Yeah, he was unforgettable. ¡°Donovan,¡± Teorn continued with the same serious tone, ¡°you¡¯re to travel with this young heroine and protect her with your life. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, sir! I¡¯d sooner die than let the enemy harm her!¡± he boomed, practically vibrating with zeal. My poor ears. It was annoying, so I stood up, walked over to him, and extended my hand. ¡°My name¡¯s Princess. I hope we¡ª¡± ¡°Princess?! I¡¯m a Prince too! Are you an actual princess?¡± Donovan blurted out, practically bowing to the floor in excitement. I wanted to protest, to shut this whole thing down, but as I glanced at Teorn, I caught him openly ogling my ridiculously low-cut robe. Great. ¡°Donovan, stop with the ¡®Prince¡¯ nonsense. You¡¯ll never restore your nobility without hard work!¡± Teorn chided, although his eyes didn¡¯t move from the neckline of my robe as he crept closer. Nope, this was not happening. ¡°I refuse the quest,¡± I declared, stomping toward the exit. Main quest with these two? Hard pass. Teorn, quick as ever, sprinted over and grabbed my hand. ¡°Please wait, Hero Princess,¡± he said, his voice all soft and pleading as he ran his fingers over my palm. I shivered, irritation boiling inside me. Can¡¯t even decline a quest in peace? Fine, let¡¯s play hardball with this pervy priest. ¡°If you want my help, here are my conditions. First, a thousand gold pieces for supplies, for me and Donovan. Second, if we¡¯re traveling to that island, I want us on one of the Duke¡¯s raid ships. The ones heading past the scorched land. Deal?¡± I turned to leave, but Teorn tightened his grip, a sly grin spreading over his face. Then, to top off his noble charm, he pulled me closer and kissed my palm with all the flourish of a knight. ¡°Agreed. Both conditions are perfectly reasonable.¡± Wait¡­ what? He actually agreed? I thought those demands were outrageous¡ªat least slightly out of reach.Alright then. ¡°Very well,¡± I said, feigning nonchalance. ¡°But I¡¯ll need half a day to prepare.¡± Almost said ¡®log out¡¯ there¡­ did these NPCs know this was all a game, or was that strictly a player thing? They must be ignoring it hard¡­ ¡°The Duke¡¯s fleet will pass through the village tomorrow. Meet us at the temple, and we¡¯ll be ready. Here, your promised compensation.¡± His tone finally shifted to something more like a proper mentor than a medieval creep. About time.
[You received 1000g]
¡°Thank you!¡± I managed a quick smile at Teorn before practically bolting out of the building. I felt at the place like it could explode any second, and I sprinted away, leaving that creepy atmosphere behind me. Once in the familiar alley, I logged out without hesitation. Back in reality, I fumbled for my old shirt and pants, only to stop and stare at my smaller hands. Damn, every time. I sighed, settled for a white shirt and skirt instead, and checked the clock. Midnight. Perfect timing, since the game had just started a new 16-hour cycle, which meant I wouldn¡¯t be getting much sleep. And then, out of nowhere, a loud, mechanical roar filled my ears¡ªa propeller plane starting up? What in the world? Was this some kind of simulation glitch? The scene changed suddenly, and I found myself inside a plane, fully dressed in skydiving gear. I wasn¡¯t alone, either. Next to me, a younger version of Lucas was grinning, looking thrilled at whatever insanity was about to happen. [Book 1] [17. Trapped in a dream] I couldn¡¯t control my body; it felt like being trapped in a dream. Oh, I must have fallen asleep. ¡°See? No one¡¯s around! Relax, Charlie,¡± Lucas called in a soft, reassuring voice right next to my ear. His large hand patted my long hair, his smile easing my nerves. I looked up at him, biting my lip; the knot of fear in my stomach began to unravel, and I reached for his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you, so don¡¯t be afraid.¡± He had to yell over the roar of the plane¡¯s engines, and even then, I could barely make out his words. I just smiled as he gently caressed my cheek and lips. A loud siren blared, and the ramp began to lower. My heart shot into my throat as I looked down and saw just how high we were. We moved toward the edge together, but with each step, my fear slowed me until I was almost crawling. ¡°You can do it! I believe in you, Charlie!¡± His warm breath brushed my ear, sending a tingle down my spine. A pleasant warmth spread through me, and although I knew the reason, I didn¡¯t want to admit it. Despite my hesitation, his confidence gave me the push I needed to take that last step¡ªand jump. Back in my apartment, I woke up sprawled on the floor, massaging my temples. What happened? What was that? It felt too real to be a dream. Was I imagining things? Crap, gaming for hours in these old¡­ I mean, these ¡°brand-new-but-still-crappy¡± capsules must¡¯ve messed with my head. I reached for a spare bra lying next to the sofa and put it on. ¡°Tin-can. How long was I out?¡± I asked. ¡°Twenty-six minutes.¡± Great. I really passed out. ¡°Call Lucas.¡± I could feel the cold, metallic surface of the capsule pressing against my back as I crawled over to it. It still had that sterile, ¡°brand-new¡± smell¡ªlike something straight out of a hospital. Lovely. The connection didn¡¯t take long, and soon his face appeared on the TV screen. ¡°Hi, Lucas,¡± I waved. ¡°Took me longer than I expected. The old creep wanted to grope me¡­¡± I half-joked. I hit a nerve¡ªhis face twitched before he sighed. ¡°Charlie¡­ do you still want to go to Patrick¡¯s?¡± ¡°Yep, we could,¡± I nodded. ¡°But first¡­ I passed out and had this weird dream. Do you remember if we ever tried to jump out of a plane? And I was terrified of heights, but you helped me calm down and jump?¡± ¡°What? Hold on!¡± he said, sounding genuinely surprised, then abruptly ended the call. What the hell? I shrugged, realizing I should at least tidy up before Lucas arrived. To his credit, he showed up in record time¡ªjust ten minutes¡ªright as I was stepping out of the shower, wrapped in only a towel. ¡°Charlie!¡± He pulled me into a hug, his voice shaking. ¡°Your stupid computer let me in! What were you thinking? We need to crush it! You can¡¯t trust anyone! We have to talk¡ªabout all of this, your memory, the future, everything. Do you hear me?¡± I nodded, but stayed quiet. His sense of urgency seemed over the top; why was it so critical to talk? Was it just because I¡¯d passed out after leaving my experimental capsule? I sent him to the kitchen to grab us some beers while I slipped into a shirt and my old black¡ªoversized now¡ªhoodie. He returned with the last beers from my fridge, and we settled on the couch. I pulled my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knees¡ªmy new favorite position. ¡°Lucas, you were in the military, right? An operative?¡± I asked quietly. He nodded, so I continued with a slight smile. ¡°That¡¯s the difference between us. When I try to solve problems, kingdoms fall. When you try to solve problems, you create empires.¡± Lucas fell silent, lost in thought, then gripped my shoulders and said, ¡°Charlie. Let¡¯s make a plan. I need to know what you¡¯re planning.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I murmured, mostly to myself, tugging the loose hoodie closer. ¡°The big picture is to make money, obviously.¡± He nodded in understanding. ¡°Maybe even get my old body back someday, but that¡¯s more of a long-term goal.¡± He didn¡¯t react, so I let out a sigh. ¡°To get stronger, I signed up for a main quest. It should only take a few days, and I¡¯ll get to meet Queen Irwen. She¡¯s planning to attack the empire and start a civil war.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Lucas cut in, eyes wide. ¡°She¡¯s going to attack us? Our fortress?¡± I nodded, confirming his suspicion. ¡°I¡¯ve actually been upgrading it instead of leveling myself! Charlie, you should¡¯ve told me!¡± His face flushed with frustration. ¡°Wait,¡± I echoed, leaning over to hug him, which thankfully stopped his outburst. ¡°I was counting on that, silly Lucas. The Emperor is giving out compensation, you know?¡± I murmured, resting my cheek against his chest. He hugged me back, then said, ¡°Compensation? We¡¯re¡­ oh, I get it now!¡± Realization dawned on his face. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s a smart plan. So you meet Irwen, and then?¡± Slowly pulling out of the hug, I grinned. ¡°I know of a place that can boost our defenses, but we¡¯ll need allies for it. You, me, and Ian aren¡¯t enough on our own. So I¡¯ll try recruiting a streamer I know¡ªor maybe Lisa. Not sure yet.¡± I avoided the fact that I liked her. Well, both of them. Great. ¡°Anyway, other issues? Who needs them when you¡¯ve got whiskey?¡± ¡°Charlie, you can¡¯t just ignore problems. That¡¯ll eat you up inside.¡± His hand gently brushed my shoulder. I forced a smile, but the way he touched me left me uneasy. It showed how much he cared, but not quite like a brother. It was¡­ different, but similar in a way. I hope my body won¡¯t change me; I prefer girls. Beauties like Katherine. ¡°I¡¯ve been like this forever; you know that. I¡¯ve always been a coward. Whenever I faced bigger problems, I¡¯d run off to the pub, and just like that, the problems disappeared.¡± After a pause, I lowered my head and rested it against his shoulder. It felt oddly natural. Hormones, maybe? Or something rewriting my brain? We lived in a simulation, after all. ¡°I trust you, Lucas. I know you¡¯ll do what¡¯s best for both of us. And now, I need to do what I do best¡ªplay the game. Just keep doing what you¡¯re doing.¡± He didn¡¯t respond, so I finished my beer and offered him a small smile. ¡°We¡¯re stronger together than we are alone. Don¡¯t worry¡ªif you tell me to jump, I¡¯ll make sure to give you a kick.¡± Like Lisa had taught me, I hugged him, adding, ¡°I have a main quest coming up, and I need to get ready, so I need some sleep. And please¡­ don¡¯t destroy Tin-can. I still need him if I¡¯m ever going to get my body back.¡± At last, he seemed to snap out of his thoughts. Clenching his fist, he said firmly, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll help you. Together, we can do this.¡± With that, a calm settled over me, easing the tightness in my chest. The fact I changed gender and quite like it? Living in simulation? Problems to ignore. No, you¡¯re not taking over, mister fear, or whatever you are! With a loud ringing, Tin-can jolted me awake after just six hours. That damn idiot! I almost stormed into the living room to smash him to pieces before remembering I¡¯d set the alarm myself. That memory came just in time to stop me from knocking over an empty beer bottle. With an improved sense of smell now, I realized how badly I reeked. Great¡ªanother shower. Since turning into a girl I shower like twice a day instead twice a week. Annoying. After logging in, I headed straight for the village armory. My pathetic stick wouldn¡¯t cut it, so I needed a real weapon. The flickering torches cast warm light across the shields, swords, and spears lining the walls. The owner had decorated the wooden beams with little touches¡ªhorseshoes, nails, odds and ends. Neat. At the back of the armory was a long counter spanning wall to wall. A nervous-looking village soldier stood in front of it. ¡°I¡¯m running low on everything! You can¡¯t just barge in here with nonsense. Scram!¡± yelled a burly man behind the counter, gesturing even for me to leave. The young soldier shook his head, sidestepping to make way for me but not leaving. The merchant¡¯s sharp stare hit my pride as a veteran gamer. I wasn¡¯t some clueless village punk, but I kept calm and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m here to buy, not beg. I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°A paying customer?! Why didn¡¯t you say so sooner? What does your heart desire?¡± His abrupt shift to a friendly merchant was almost alarming. ¡°As a priest, I could use your advice,¡± I said, keeping my voice low as the soldier cast me a strange look. ¡°I have skills that require a melee weapon, ideally something with a long reach. But I¡¯m not sure which type would be best.¡± One day the imperial general taught me, glance at your enemies when they least expect it. Thus, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the soldier checking out my backside. Oh, I see¡­ okay, no problem. Wait¡ªevery problem! ¡°A long-range melee weapon, you say? Well, for your level, I only have a rare whip, but it¡¯s pricey. Most folks stick with swords, lances, the classics. Not whips.¡± He pulled a whip from an old, dusty chest, and it gleamed in the dim light. The handle was wrapped in black leather, with a blue crystal embedded at the base. Its long body was made from braided strips of deep blue leather. Damn. The whip held me spellbound, and he caught the hungry gleam in my eyes.
[Whip]
Quality: 3-rare
ATK: 5-6
Restriction: Level 5
Armor-pierce: 3
Effects: twice the damage if the target¡¯s armor is pierced, otherwise damage is halved
Price: 10g
¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Without a second thought, I handed him ten gold. He blinked a few times, clearly surprised. Did I overpay? Great. I¡¯m rich for a day, and this is what happens. Terrific. Before I could second-guess myself, he quickly scooped up the coins and added, ¡°Young Priestess, the whip is a one-handed weapon. You could pick up something for your other hand.¡± Good point. I almost walked out without maximizing my setup. What is wrong with me today? ¡°I¡¯d love a shield, but I can¡¯t¡ªI¡¯m a priest. Maybe a dagger?¡± I mused aloud, glancing over at the display cases behind him. ¡°I¡¯ve got just the thing for you!¡± The merchant dashed to the storage room and dragged out another old, nearly broken chest. It creaked as he pulled it across the floor, releasing a cloud of dust as he opened it. After muttering a few choice words about the dirt, he handed me a silver bracelet¡ªlarge enough to sit comfortably mid-way up my forearm.
[Magic shield]
Quality: 4-exceptional
DEF: 3
Restriction: Level 5, 20 INT
Activation cost: reserve 20 mana while the shield is active
Price: 100g
What?! I¡¯d always thought magic shields were exclusive to magic swordsmen! I bit my lip, holding back my excitement and forcing myself to shake my head. No more overpaying!If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°How long have you been holding onto this junk? Someone must¡¯ve pulled a fast one on you,¡± I said as calmly as I could manage. Hide the excitement, that¡¯s the key here. ¡°I thought a fine priestess like you would find it useful. Clearly, I was mistaken.¡± He started to put the shield back, and my eyes followed it, a little too eagerly. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s better than nothing. I¡¯ll give you fifty.¡± ¡°Fifty? I paid seventy gold for this heirloom! I can¡¯t go lower than eighty.¡± He hesitated, his expression somewhere between bargaining and genuine offense. ¡°Oh, so you got ripped off?¡± I sighed dramatically, offering him a sweet smile. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll cover your loss and even throw in a little extra. Seventy-five, and we¡¯re done.¡± He narrowed his eyes, then muttered, ¡°You cheeky¡­ Fine, it¡¯s yours.¡± I happily strode out of the Armory and headed to my next stop - the Enchantment-Alchemy shop. As a nouveau riche, my thoughts were about how to spent the fortune, so I browsed the most expensive things.
[Ring of mini Alchemy]
Quality: 5-epic
DEF: 3
Restriction: Level 5, 20 INT
Effect: shrinks normal potion to small size
Price: 800g
* use the ring maximum of 10 second after creating the potion
The ring was stunning, with intricate red runes etched around its band and twinkling ruby stones. The price was high, but that was exactly why I, The Exploiter, could justify it¡ªassuming this exploit worked. Even though the shop was empty, I grabbed the ring before anyone else could ¡°snatch¡± it and brought it to the lady at the counter. ¡°Welcome back, dear! You¡¯ve picked a lovely ring, but you¡¯re just beginning your enchanting journey. You should at least be a beginner at enchanting before you delve into alchemy,¡± she cautioned. ¡°Actually, lady, I¡¯m an Expert Enchantress now,¡± I replied with a broad smile, clutching the ring tightly. My precious. With a warm laugh, she offered me a quest. ¡°The ring is yours, and I¡¯ll even throw in two bags of supplies for free¡ªbut only if you¡¯re truly an Expert Enchantress.¡± Ouch. That pricked my pride as an exploiter. ¡°Watch me work my magic,¡± I said confidently, and made my way to the center of the shop, where she had enough open space to enchant freely. Carefully, I removed my tiara and anointed it with essence, making sure to coat every inch. Then I focused on the rune, tracing each contour slowly and deliberately. Maybe I¡¯m more talented at this than I thought. As the old pervert had taught me, I took my time, channeling my mana gradually, not rushing. It was tough to keep my focus, but I felt more in control, steadying the flow of mana. The rune began to glow, drawing dust from the tiara. Surprised, I quickly replenished the dust, feeling a spark of satisfaction as the enchantment took shape. When I presented the tiara to the lady, a soft red light illuminated the crimson hue of the snowflake I¡¯d etched on it.
[You enchanted the Wreath Tiara. Rating: 83%]
[Wreath Tiara]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: +1 INT
Enchanting: +6% fire resistance
* use the ring maximum of 10 second after creating the potion
Her eyes widened as she carefully handled the item. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such talent! To reach Expert level in a single day¡ªamazing! Though your enchanting speed is still slow, even slower than most novices, you¡¯ll improve. Speed isn¡¯t everything, but you¡¯ll need to work on it.¡± I shrugged. Even exploiting has its drawbacks. As a reward for the quest, she handed me two bags of supplies, one for each profession. These bags were a lifesaver, able to hold up to eighty different item stacks, making enchanting so much easier. Finally, some decent gear. Then, I added a stack of recipes to the counter. She chuckled. ¡°Dear, have you forgotten? You can only learn three recipes per stage. Yes, you¡¯re allowed twelve runes as an Enchantress, but just three for Alchemy.¡± Damn, she was right¡ªI¡¯d forgotten. I¡¯d already had a rough time as a blacksmith for learning recipes for three swords instead of small daggers like I should have. The memories of all that time wasted in mines flooded back, and I let out a heavy sigh as I put most of the recipes aside.
[Rune of Agility]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: Adds Agility to equipment
Ingredients: 1x Enchanting powder
Price: 20c
* use the ring maximum of 10 second after creating the potion
[Agility Potion Recipe]
Quality: 1-common
Effect: +5 Agility for 10 minutes
Ingredients: 1x Alchemy Reagent, 1x Rodumbine
Price: 10c
* use the ring maximum of 10 second after creating the potion
[You have learned the secondary job: Alchemy] [You bought cauldrons x10] [You lost 825 gold]
The last thing I needed was ten cauldrons. Each cauldron was about the size of a small pot¡ªat least, the iron-black one was¡ªand small enough to handle with one hand. I smiled politely as the lady cautioned me that I¡¯d only need one. Little did she know, my plan required all ten, and no amount of persuasion could sway me. A newly discovered exploit was waiting. [Book 1] [18. Alchemy is fun] I walked back to the tavern and carefully peered in; thankfully, there was no Lisa lurking around. I slipped in unnoticed and casually walked to a private place in the back. It wasn¡¯t a room, but a space with one table and a five feet tall wooden walls around it. I could still hear the conversation on the other side, but it was better than sitting in the open. First, I ordered a pint of beer and bought another crate of wine and food for me and for Donovan. Where else to resupply than in a lovely tavern? Then I stacked all the cauldrons on the table; the waitress frowned, but hadn¡¯t stopped me. As I inspected the cauldrons, I found a strange yellow crystal under them. After filling it with a bit of mana, a small fire lit just to warm the cauldron. Sweet! According to the recipe, for the preparation phase I only needed to have Rodumbine on hand, so I took out the ingredients, but ten times the numbers. The recipe said I need to fill the cauldrons with water. Right, who casually travels with gallons of water? Me! I pulled out the big bottle from my bag and filled all the cauldrons, but not simultaneously. For the exploit to work, I had to choose five-second intervals. When the water boiled, I threw the violet Alchemy thingies in. What are Alchemy thingies? The name officially was [Alchemy Reagent] but Alchemy thingies sounded better. The author of the recipe said that after the thingies turned bluish, I should throw in the crushed flower. Crushed flower? Why that wasn¡¯t in the preparation portion, you damn idiot? Rodumbine was a flower with black petals, so while I was boiling the water I crushed it in my brand new handy mortar. System helped me count exactly five minutes, the color changed, and I shoved it all in. Then, I stirred as fast as I could, because I had to stir ten times as much. That left me exhausted more than a Boss fight. Terrific. For my next step, I placed a one normal-sized potion bottle on the pub¡¯s table. All alchemy bottles came in two types - normal, with a volume of 10 ounces and small only with a volume of 1 ounce. When the first potion turned green, I immediately used the ring, and the liquid in cauldron shrank. Without a second to spare, I emptied it to the bottle. I had to do the same thing with other cauldrons in rapid succession. When I finished, I dropped exhausted to the bench and read the blue boxes with satisfaction.
[Congratulation! You have created the Agility Potion x10]
[Agility Potion] Effect: +50 Agility for 10 minutes
¡°Yes!¡± I jumped up, cheering. My intuition had been spot on, and it worked like a charm! Since the potion was originally larger, creating ten smaller ones and merging them made the effect ten times stronger. ¡°Sweet,¡± I murmured in delight. The only downside was having to make the potions simultaneously, with just a ten-second window after creation to merge them. Easy. ¡°Princess?¡± I heard Lisa¡¯s enthusiastic voice from across the room, followed by her quick footsteps as she rushed over. She threw her arms around me in a tight hug, like a kid clutching a favorite toy. ¡°You¡¯re amazing! Thanks to you, we cleared the second boss!¡± As she hugged me, I felt her lips press gently against my hair in a sweet, affectionate kiss. I opened my mouth to protest, but my voice caught, and all that came out was a soft squeak. Naturally, that¡¯s the only reaction I could manage when a beautiful girl held me like this. ¡°What¡¯s with the ten cauldrons? Don¡¯t you only need one?¡± she asked, still holding me. Despite being treated like a cute mascot, I felt a warm flutter of happiness inside. ¡°More is better. I¡¯m heading to the Duke¡¯s ship. You coming?¡± I deflected, not wanting to get into the details of multi-alchemy. Honestly, I hadn¡¯t invented this trick; I¡¯d seen something similar in a video¡ªfive years from now. They decreased the size of metal to make it more sturdy. So I made an educated guess. With enough creativity, anyone could use the ring to their advantage, so I shouldn¡¯t worry, right? Hopefully, the system would fix it later rather than sooner. No report for Ian then. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love to, Princess! I heard it¡¯s a tough quest, but I need to finish the dungeon first,¡± she said, sounding dejected¡ªwhich admittedly gave me a tiny thrill. No more annoying hugging. Or maybe it didn¡¯t? Actually, hearing that had the opposite effect. Why? No more cuddling. ¡°I get it. Good luck, friend,¡± I said, watching her return to her table. Please, Lisa, kiss me more!This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Determined to earn more of her affection, I peeked over at her ¡°room¡± again, only to find way too many people around her table, all waving at me. Not happening. I squeaked, quickly darted back, and got back to my alchemy. The result? A hundred small potions¡ªten bottles for emergencies. My slow pace and dejected expression revealed my enthusiasm as I entered my mentor¡¯s lair. ¡°Princess! Come sit with us!¡± Donovan¡¯s loud voice boomed. Very loud. Wonderful. Just wonderful. I nodded and walked over to the low desk where they were squatting. A tea party on the floor? Bizarre, but at least they¡¯d set up some actual furniture this time. I briefly considered turning around and running, but ended up sitting down anyway. Donovan handed me a cup, and I took a cautious sip. The tea was lukewarm, with a strong blueberry aroma that was almost inviting. Almost. The taste, however, was¡­ lacking. Like a mouthful of dry, flavorless soil. Patrick¡¯s window cleaner had better flavor. ¡°So, what¡¯s the story with you and Donovan? How did you two meet?¡± I asked, my glorious attempt at conversation. ¡°When my mother died, she wished for me to become a knight! Like in the legends, back when humans were just a lesser race!¡± Donovan¡¯s battle cry echoed through the lair loudly as he brandished his sword dramatically. Before I could comment on how ridiculous he looked, Teorn shot him a scolding look. ¡°Donovan, let go of that nonsense. The past is in the past.¡± He glanced my way, and a knot tightened in my stomach. ¡°Hero, you¡¯re just in time. The Duke¡¯s fleet will arrive shortly. I spoke with the harbormaster; you¡¯ve got a place on the third ship. You¡¯ll need to convince the Captain, or even the Duke himself, to fulfill your destiny.¡± ¡°I knew there¡¯d be a catch. Wonderful,¡± I muttered, sipping the tea. A splash of rum might¡¯ve been perfect to mask the rocky flavor. Blah. Before I realized it, the old man was pressing himself against me from behind, patting my head. Where I can complain about harassing in a game?! Well¡­ Let¡¯s not put a target on my back, or they might pull the ban hammer. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine¡ªyou¡¯re a hero!¡± He leaned over, trying to peek down my shirt, and I could feel his breath dampening my hair. A wave of disgust washed over me, quickly giving way to a growing rage. Fine. I poured the rest of my drink on him and slammed the cup onto his head, making him recoil. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Donovan.¡± An unexplainable anger was boiling inside me as I stomped out, each step landing harder than the last. Why am I like this? My feelings were a mess I couldn¡¯t make sense of. The not-yet-knight scrambled to join me, quickly gathering his things as I left. ¡°Good luck!¡± the cursed mentor called after us, laughing as he healed himself. Choosing this village turned out to be a mistake. Stupid Teorn. It wasn¡¯t until Donovan led us on a stroll through the village that I finally spotted the river winding through it. The harbor was hidden down and around the mountain, so when the river suddenly came into view, I let out a surprised, ¡°No way.¡± Unlike the calm streets above, this area buzzed with activity like a beehive. Elves were darting around, shouting, selling wares, boarding ships¡ªyou name it. The harbor master, an older man with a booming voice, stood in the thick of it all. My calm dissipated with each step toward him, replaced by a rising anxiety. I slowed my pace, veering slightly to the side as if I had something else to do. Donovan noticed and gave me a puzzled look. Thinking I hadn¡¯t seen the harbor master, he grabbed my hand and dragged me forward. Wait! ¡°Mister Teorn said we can sail with the Duke!¡± Donovan¡¯s trademark yell was actually useful here in the noisy crowd. The harbor master gave us a nod. ¡°That¡¯s right. Wait,¡± he shouted, just as loudly. Terrific. While I shielded my pointy ears, he called over a young boy and told him to guide us. Thankfully, too, since with hundreds of people bustling around, my focus was practically¡­ ruined. The noise of overlapping conversations, the clamor of ships, the rank smell of rotting¡­ everything overwhelmed the poor introverted me. The kid led us to a large dock area, off-limits and guarded by the town¡¯s soldiers. After he proved we belonged, the guards let us past the rope strung between old, rotting posts. We found a quiet spot where the mountain met the river, and I finally leaned back against the rock to rest. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± The boy grinned and held out his hand. He wants a tip? I looked over at Donovan, but he was too busy admiring the female guards nearby. After a quick look at the boy¡¯s scruffy appearance, I handed him one silver. Judging by his wide-eyed gratitude and his repeated thanks, I¡¯d overpaid again. Whatever. ¡°Stop staring at the girls and tell me¡ªhow long have you been training?¡± I gave Donovan a slap on the back, instantly regretting it. That armor was no joke; my hand throbbed with pain. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the service of my master for over ten months!¡± he yelled, grinning at my cleavage. ¡°Don¡¯t yell, and that wasn¡¯t my question. What can you actually do? What kind of training have you had?¡± ¡°I followed my master! Whenever I needed it, I¡¯d take a hit; he always healed me afterward,¡± he said proudly. Damn old man. This kid was utterly useless. ¡°Show me how you¡¯d strike an enemy, alright?¡± I kept my voice neutral, trying to stay calm. He nodded, but it was painfully clear¡ªhis stance was off, his technique nonexistent. He swung his sword without moving his feet or hips at all. After silently cursing the old pervert a thousand times, I said, ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet, alright?¡± I pulled out my staff and pointed it at him. I hadn¡¯t tried the whip yet, and this wasn¡¯t the best place to practice. ¡°If you can stay on your feet for ten seconds without falling, you win. And if you hit me even once, you also win.¡± He looked at my staff with a scornful expression. ¡°What are the stakes, Princess?¡± ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll let you touch my butt. But if I win, I get to call you ¡®Don¡¯ and teach you the basics of swordsmanship.¡± He agreed to the uneven terms the second I mentioned his reward. What a fool.
[You have used the Agility Potion] [Agility increased by 50]
After I nodded to start, he took the initiative. The idiot tightened his grip on the sword, bringing it closer before thrusting it straight at my chest. Thanks to my agility, I sidestepped and gently tapped the tip of my staff against his sword, directing his attack to the left. He nearly lost his balance from that alone, leaving his right side wide open. I reached out and tapped him with a single finger, which was enough to make him lose his footing and fall. ¡°Again!¡± he shouted, scrambling back to his feet. We squared off once more. For the duration of my potion, I sparred with him and defeated him every time, yet his unyielding spirit kept him coming back. ¡°Alright, Don, that¡¯s enough. So, what do you think?¡± He looked at me with eager eyes and said, ¡°Your butt is amazing!¡± [Book 1] [19. The journey starts] After our sparring session, I leaned back against the mountainside, not noticing the ships until the unmistakable sound of sails snapping in the wind reached my ears. The sight took me aback¡ªthe Duke had sent over thirty ships, their sails billowing proudly in the breeze as they approached the harbor. The Duke¡¯s fleet split, some heading to the harbor and others anchoring in the river¡¯s center, with only a few ships docking. Our friend, the harbormaster, greeted the delegation while dockworkers scrambled to load supplies onto the ships. What really caught my attention, though, was the way they used whips to prod along with their strange creatures¡ªa bizarre blend of pig and horse. Fellow whip users! Amid the bustling activity, Don stepped up to a soldier guarding the delegation and loudly announced our business. His shout caught the attention of an older captain, who approached us with a warm smile that put me a little at ease. ¡°I heard about you two! You¡¯re the knight, right? And you must be the young healer Teorn mentioned. Go on in; we¡¯ve got a room ready for you.¡± Startled, Don dropped his sword with a clatter, then quickly saluted. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Only the lessons from the palace kept my expression from face palming and die from embarrassment by association. With a flick of his wrist, the captain gestured to a nearby soldier. ¡°You! Escort them to the cabin near the kitchen.¡± The soldier responded with an elven salute and motioned for us to follow. As I took in the size of the massive ship, I felt the wooden boards creak underfoot as we made our way into the hold. Our room was small, with two bunk beds. Don scowled at the sparse furnishings, but I didn¡¯t care. Players never had to sleep in the game, I reminded myself, so at least I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about him invading my bed at night. But ending up with these perverts as a girl? Rotten luck. I¡¯d have preferred a magistrate from the capital¡ªa true gentleman. Ignoring Don¡¯s grumbling, I started enchanting my gear. The Tiara¡¯s success had been a nice boost, though its fire resistance wasn¡¯t all that useful for me. My skill in ¡®runecrafting¡¯ had improved with practice, but my enchantments averaged a modest seventy percent. Maybe I had a touch of talent. Hopefully. After all that work, I¡¯d managed to gain two intelligence on everything¡­ except for the robe.
[Robe] Enchanting: +6 INT
[Whip] Enchanting: +2 INT
Our cozy little room was filled with the persistent smell of old wood, which didn¡¯t sit well with my nose. The clatter of Don¡¯s armor hitting the floor broke the silence, and I could see the boredom in his eyes¡ªperfect for my plan. ¡°Let¡¯s do some real training, Don,¡± I said, giving him a quick pinch in the side. He groaned and dropped onto the edge of the bed, examining his armor. That¡¯s for my butt, amateur. ¡°You won¡¯t need armor for this. In fact, it¡¯s better without it.¡± I grabbed his hand and dragged him up to the deck. He started to protest but quickly quieted, trailing after me with his eyes firmly fixed on my backside. Typical. We reached the upper deck, where the captain¡¯s voice echoed as he barked curses at the sailors. Dodging the flurry of activity, I led Don to a secluded corner by a bench, away from all the bustle. ¡°So, Don, you¡¯re a knight,¡± I began. ¡°Your shield is your best friend¡ªit keeps you alive. Its purpose isn¡¯t just to block strikes; it can also distract your opponent, block his view, and redirect his blade.¡± His expression was blank, though his eyes were less interested in my words than in my posture whenever I leaned forward to demonstrate. His grinning face betrayed exactly where his focus was. This brat! I slapped him lightly and continued, ¡°Your sword is your offensive weapon. Its purpose is to cut down your enemy quickly and effectively. Never use it for defense. That¡¯s what the shield is for. Got it?¡± Don gave a lazy nod. I fought the urge to slap him again, to knock that smug look off his face. What a disgrace! I remembered training imperial soldiers on my quests, where my words held respect and authority. Now I was stuck with this shameless brat. ¡°On your feet! Into your stance!¡± I ordered. He rose slowly, shield in one hand, sword in the other, but his arms hung lifelessly, like a mage out of his element rather than a knight ready for battle. ¡°This is what you call a stance?¡± I barked. ¡°Present the shield in front! Bend your knees!¡± He lifted his shield, barely. I kicked his calf, forcing him to bend with a yelp, his eyes pleading for mercy. ¡°Princess, I don¡¯t need all this training. My Queen will teach me everything.¡± He started rambling about some queen, as if hoping she¡¯d magically turn him into a proper knight. Dream on. Not a queen, but a princess will beat you into a proper knight! His sword clattered to the deck as he stumbled from my second slap. ¡°Get up! Back in your stance! When defending, you face your opponent with your left foot forward, keeping your shield close to them. That way, you can block easier and dodge incoming strikes. Right foot back, shoulder-width apart, and keep your back straight.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Getting him into a proper stance took more than a few kicks and some corrective smacks. The ships had finally sailed, and the wind whistled all around us as we drilled. I checked his form, still painfully amateurish, and with a sigh, I grabbed his equipment to show him the stance myself. In theory, anyway. Lifting Don¡¯s shield proved near impossible with my lack of strength, and I nearly toppled over just trying. Don burst into laughter, gasping for air as he doubled over and eventually rolled on the ground, cackling. Fine. I shoved his useless equipment back at him and slipped on my own new shield¡ªa sleek silver bracelet that hugged my forearm perfectly. As I channeled mana into it, I felt a drain on my reserves, and I sighed. It stung, but at least I could wield a shield. When my mana reached the bracelet, a translucent, purple-luminescent barrier burst into life, forming a solid, rounded shield over three feet wide. ¡°Alright, watch my stance,¡± I said, demonstrating. ¡°See how my back is straight? Pay attention to my legs. I¡¯ll perform an attack.¡± I shifted my rear leg forward, rotated my hips, then pivoted on my front foot and struck downward with an imaginary sword. The most basic attack in the book. ¡°Now, your turn.¡± Don swung his sword in a wild arc, crashing it into the ground before stumbling forward. His attempt was clumsy, but he looked determined, trying his best to mimic my stance¡ªpoorly. But hey, he was trying. ¡°Alright, Don, now I¡¯ll hold my shield up. Try to get through my defense.¡± I settled into a defensive stance, presenting my shield to him, but he just snickered like a kid. Well, he was one. ¡°Can I, uh, penetrate your butt if I manage it?¡± Training with the most shameless pervert. ¡°You stupid brat! Ugh! Fine, if you actually manage it, I¡¯ll let you touch me once.¡± He didn¡¯t wait another second. He lunged at me with a slash, but I blocked it with ease¡ªthe magic shield absorbed the blow effortlessly, like an alchemical exploit. It even surprised me how easy it was; his attack¡¯s energy vanished the moment it hit. Sweet!
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 1]
As my hit points dropped dangerously low, I had to stop the fight and heal myself. Hurray¡ªat least that stupid spell worked on the first try. While Don continued sparring with imaginary enemies, I took out my whip, determined to practice. I swung the whip, trying to replicate the moves I remembered from videos of a legendary mage-killer in my past life. That guy was a pro, and the whip¡¯s double-damage property was lethal against mages and priests. The sight of him tearing through the backline, leaving chaos in his wake, was intoxicating. Maybe someday I¡¯ll have crowds cheering for me like he did¡­ Wait. I glanced down at myself, remembering¡ªI was a girl now. Looking back up, I caught Don ogling from behind. Never mind. A confident stride approached, and I turned to find the captain grinning at me. ¡°Hero, ever actually handled a whip before? You wield a sword and shield like a seasoned soldier, but one little whip seems to have you stumped.¡± I frowned and glanced at Don¡¯s sloppy stance. ¡°I¡¯ve used swords a long time, yes, so I¡¯d say I¡¯m an expert with those. But a whip? Not really.¡± The captain nodded, reaching down to pull out his own whip from his belt. What the¡­? ¡°Alright, young priestess, let me show you how it¡¯s done.¡± After a few nervous glances, the lesson began. I moved my arm in a wide arc and slashed downward; the whip responded but clumsily, more of a wiggle than a controlled strike. The Captain stepped in, grabbing my hand to guide me. His grip was rough, not gentle in the slightest, to Don¡¯s amusement¡ªbut at least it was purely professional, unlike certain other ¡°masters.¡± While I tried to teach Don, the Captain was teaching me to face an imaginary enemy with a whip. ¡°The Floaters!¡± a shout interrupted our training session, cutting through the air like a whip. ¡°Care to lend a hand, young hero? Floaters are annoying little bastards,¡± the Captain called out as he strode toward the ship¡¯s center. A strange burbling sound echoed across the deck, followed by the wet slap of something hauling itself aboard. The creature emerged¡ªa stupid, dark green-blue mass glistening with seawater. Its skin shimmered like oil slicks on whisky, slimy and uneven. It had a pointed, almost bird-ish face with bulging, fishlike eyes that darted about erratically. Its jagged teeth jutted out at odd angles, giving its wide, lipless mouth and permanently twisted snarl. Fleshy, fin-like limbs flopped against the wooden boards, leaving a sticky trail behind it. Gross. The Captain didn¡¯t flinch. With two precise cracks of his whip, the creature let out a gurgling screech before splitting clean in half, its innards spilling onto the deck in a slimy, steaming mess. What the¡­?
[Floater Lv.5] Type: 1-common | HP: 40/40
I rushed to the Captain¡¯s side, my heart pounding. ¡°What the heck was that thing?¡± ¡°A Floater. Every time we set sail, they swarm us¡ªangry little pests. They attack in waves the whole trip.¡± With a swift kick, he sent the creature¡¯s remains splashing back into the river. Constant waves of low-HP monsters? Is this heaven? As the next Floater crawled onto the deck, I stepped up to practice my whip technique. I swung with all my strength, but the whip¡¯s tip sailed wide, striking the ship¡¯s deck instead. Alright, this is nonsense. Focus, John. I tried again, but missed once more, achieving nothing except a lesson in frustration. ¡°Too slow! Predict their path, then aim!¡± The Captain¡¯s laughter rang out as he settled onto the bench beside us, watching my attempts. Determined, I tried again, adjusting my timing. This time, as the whip cracked against the Floater, a sharp, supersonic bang echoed across the deck, and the creature¡¯s insides practically imploded from the strike.
[Armor pierced. Target lost 10HP (5x2 normal)]
No. Frickin. Way. A grin spread across my face as I turned to Don. ¡°Don! On guard, we are in heaven!¡± [Book 1] [20. World Boss] It truly was paradise. The Floaters kept swarming, and I sent Don in as our tank, letting me practice my whip swings freely. Don charged forward like an idiot, tripping over a loose board and sprawling across the deck. Just as a Floater lunged at him, I swung hard, feeling the satisfying crunch as my whip connected with its skull.
[Floater has been defeated. Your contribution: +4XP]
The system kept interrupting with messages of XP, so I silenced it. Annoying. Eventually, I ran out of mana after one last healing spell, forcing us to take a break. The disappointment must have shown on my face because the Captain looked over, intrigued. ¡°What¡¯s got you down?¡± ¡°I want to help; I want to fight, but I¡¯m out of mana,¡± I said, watching the sailors fend off the relentless XP bags as I clenched my fists. Damn it, the rankers are probably way ahead of me by now. I know the future, exploit every trick, and still I¡¯m lagging behind? The Captain chuckled. ¡°Luckily, we¡¯ve got a whole stash of mana potions on board. For you?¡± He fluttered a potion in front of my face. ¡°One¡¯s yours for five coppers. Only condition is, you keep fighting them.¡± I jumped at the offer, nodding eagerly, and practically snatched the potions from his hand, slapping a few coppers into his palm. This quest is perfect! ¡°If you need more, just holler, and I¡¯ll get someone to bring them. Keep fighting, Hero!¡± With a grin, I downed the potion and leapt back into the fray. Every time Don¡¯s health dipped too low, his high-pitched cries for healing echoed across the deck. Useless brat. I moved my shield hand in a quick pattern, letting mana flow and golden energy wrap around him.
[NPC Donovan has been healed for 14HP.]
With a quick flick of my fingers, the runes for Ice Dance shimmered to life, filling the air with a familiar blue glow and a crisp layer of frost. First try! Even my Ice Dance was improving. Though my runecrafting was slow, I kept up a steady rhythm, just as that creep had once told me. The memory of his gaze on my exposed body made me shiver. Stupid devs, stupid NPCs. For a moment, I clenched my teeth and swung hard, decapitating the nearest Floater to reclaim a sense of control. I knew my runecrafting speed needed work, but right now, I reveled in the thrill of success. The sharp crack of the whip, the adrenaline rushing through my veins, and the steady flow of experience points kept me wide awake. The Floaters didn¡¯t stand a chance; my whip was everywhere, striking one after another. ¡°Can I buy more mana potions?¡± I asked, after dispatching the latest creature. ¡°Princess, aren¡¯t you tired?¡± The Captain¡¯s voice held a hint of concern as he handed me a towel. ¡°You¡¯ve been at it for ten hours straight. That¡¯s a lot of brawling. You¡¯re welcome to rest¡ªwe can handle it.¡± ¡°Captain, I¡¯ll always be ready to fight. If there¡¯s an enemy, I¡¯ll face them,¡± I replied, flashing a smile to mask the real reason for my determination. It wasn¡¯t exactly a lie, but I wasn¡¯t here out of some heroic sense of duty. My restless heart had other goals. ¡°Very well,¡± he nodded. ¡°I already sent a man to bring more supplies for you. You¡¯re a true hero!¡± Not quite, I thought. He mistook my bravado. I may have led him on¡­ Nah, his fault! I was here to grind¡ªIce Dance, Ice Blood, Heal proficiency¡ªall of it. I¡¯d pushed the Ice Blood effect to its limit and was now racing against the clock to strike down another enemy within five minutes. Hurry up, you slowpokes! I took a seat on a nearby bench, pouring myself a glass of wine to keep a steady buzz going. Somehow, that slight haze helped me power through the monotonous grind. That, and the satisfaction of the system¡¯s muted notifications stacking up in the background. Bring it on, dear system. Let those rewards pour in¡­
[Floater has been defeated x1450; Various amounts of contribution: +4060XP] [Congratulations! You are now level 6!] [Congratulations! You are now level 7! XP to next level: 1010/2450]
[Congratulations! Your proficiency with Ice Dance increased to 1-Beginner 2!] [Congratulations! Your proficiency with Ice Blood increased to 1-Beginner 1!] [Congratulations! Your proficiency with Heal increased to 0-novice 9!]
[Ice Dance] Type: 6-marvel | Lv. 1-Beginner 2 | Mana: 20% INT Effect: Slows your enemies for 31%, add an ICE damage to melee attacks (INT) Duration: 10 minutes Cooldown: 19 minutes 30 seconds
[Ice Blood] Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.Type: 6-marvel passive | Lv. 1-Beginner 1 Effect: for every 40% of your HP taken, you increase the ICE damage up to your [Reality Limit] (100%) by 1%
¡°Don, isn¡¯t this the best thing that could happen to us?!¡± I exclaimed, feeling pure exhilaration as I leveled up. The thrill washed over me, and I couldn¡¯t help but dance right there on the deck. Don just smirked, his eyes lingering a bit too long before he turned and disappeared below deck, probably to catch some sleep. Whatever. He¡¯d barely stepped away when a sailor brushed past him, hurrying in the opposite direction¡ªperfect timing! Mana potions quickly filled my hands, and coins left my purse. Again. ¡°There you go, Hero! Keep up the fight!¡± the Captain said with a grin, handing over the potions. With a wild smile, I jumped back into the fray, ready to face off with the ugly creatures swarming the deck. As night fell, the river became as smooth as glass, perfectly mirroring the stars scattered across the sky. For reasons only he knew, the Duke insisted on pressing forward to the seashore¡ªand more floaters crawled up because of it. I wasn¡¯t complaining! Long sessions were my specialty, and with each hour, I felt more alive. Blocking a claw strike with my trusty shield, I dispatched another Floater in a clean, fluid motion of my whip. Then something shifted. The steady howl of the wind suddenly dropped to silence, and every other sound faded into an eerie hush. Sheets of rain fell, and the distant rumble of thunder grew louder, like a storm charging our way with the roar of a drunken Irishman. The Captain¡¯s brow furrowed as he scanned the horizon. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this,¡± he muttered. Why?! Why did you have to say it? I screamed internally. And then it hit¡ªthe enormous shriek of something far worse than the Floaters, something lurking beneath us. The entire ship shuddered as an enormous, grotesque tentacle shot up from the ocean, flinging seawater across the deck. Rows of massive suckers lined its length, each rimmed with tooth-like projections and each as large as my head. I inhaled sharply, tasting the warm, salty air. We¡¯d already drifted into ocean waters. Sea monsters. With a sickening splash, the tentacle slammed down, hurling dozens of floaters onto the deck. What a welcoming party! I was out of luck¡ªIce Dance was still on cooldown¡ªbut I joined the melee anyway, diving into the chaos. ¡°Form up! Second line, take position!¡± the Captain barked. The warriors fell back into formation, shielding the mages who arrived to reinforce us. Spells lit up the night as they clashed with monstrous shrieks, tentacles thrashed the water, and the salty air filled with the sounds of a classic world Boss fight. ¡°Let¡¯s get a slice of this pie!¡± I shouted, downing a super-potion before diving back into the fray.
[You have used the Agility Potion] [Agility increased by 50]
As night fell, the river became as smooth as glass, perfectly mirroring the stars scattered across the sky. For reasons only he knew, the Duke insisted on pressing forward to the seashore¡ªand more floaters crawled up because of it. I wasn¡¯t complaining! Long sessions were my specialty, and with each hour, I felt more alive. Blocking a claw strike with my trusty shield, I dispatched another Floater in a clean, fluid motion of my whip. Then something shifted. The steady howl of the wind suddenly dropped to silence, and every other sound faded into an eerie hush. Sheets of rain fell, and the distant rumble of thunder grew louder, like a storm charging our way with the roar of a drunken Irishman. The Captain¡¯s brow furrowed as he scanned the horizon. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this,¡± he muttered. Why?! Why did you have to say it? I screamed internally. And then it hit¡ªthe enormous shriek of something far worse than the Floaters, something lurking beneath us. The entire ship shuddered as an enormous, grotesque tentacle shot up from the ocean, flinging seawater across the deck. Rows of massive suckers lined its length, each rimmed with tooth-like projections and each as large as my head. I inhaled sharply, tasting the warm, salty air. We¡¯d already drifted into ocean waters. Sea monsters. With a sickening splash, the tentacle slammed down, hurling dozens of floaters onto the deck. What a welcoming party! I was out of luck¡ªIce Dance was still on cooldown¡ªbut I joined the melee anyway, diving into the chaos. ¡°Form up! Second line, take position!¡± the Captain barked. The warriors fell back into formation, shielding the mages who arrived to reinforce us. Spells lit up the night as they clashed with monstrous shrieks, tentacles thrashed the water, and the salty air filled with the sounds of a classic world Boss fight. ¡°Let¡¯s get a slice of this pie!¡± I shouted, downing a super-potion before diving back into the fray.
[Ilaginous Lv.15] Type: 6-marvel World-Boss | HP: 26000/26000
Oh, damn. The first marvel monster¡ªand a World-Boss to the boot! Taking down one of these beasts was normally a job for thousands of level-fifteen players, not for someone stuck at my measly level seven. As I finished the last rune, the effect of my marvel-level spell burst into action, casting a brilliant blue glow that lit up the night sky atop the Duke¡¯s flagship. Whoopsie-daisy. The monster¡¯s gaze snapped to me, and a heartbeat later, I heard the terrifying rush of its tentacle slicing through the air. I had no time to think, just to react. I leaped and prayed for a safe landing. As I fell, I caught the ripping sound of sails being shredded to tatters. My descent wasn¡¯t remotely controlled, and I crashed onto the deck¡ªright into a pair of Floaters. Above, a deafening slap of flesh met resistance, and a surge of mana flared so powerfully behind me that it nearly knocked me off balance. Then, a beautiful, glowing shield enveloped the ship. Istvan¡¯s work, probably. No time to check. At least ten Floaters had noticed me, their grotesque, bulbous eyes fixed on me with chilling intensity. Luckily, Ice Dance¡¯s newly upgraded form was even flashier than before. The runes glowed with a deeper frost, casting an icy aura that chilled the air around me and turned the rain into snowflakes as it fell. Not that the Floaters stopped to admire it¡ªthey charged at me without hesitation. With practiced ease, I swung my whip, its crack splitting the air with a supersonic bang as it connected, crushing a skull instantly. The thrill of that fatal blow was intoxicating, more potent than the dozens of wine bottles I¡¯d downed. Come at me, you ugly bastards.
[Armor pierced. Target lost 44HP (6x2 normal) + (8x2 ICE +100% [Ice Blood] effect)] [Floater has been defeated. Your contribution: +5XP]
¡°Fear me, Floaters! I am the Hero of Ice Blood!¡± I shouted like Don, smashing my whip down onto their skulls without a second thought. They crumpled like level-one Bearbits under my strikes, falling one by one as I leaped back toward the railings with deadly precision. Only one word described the scene: massacre. And the XP poured in like tea, spilling from an endless pot. From the top of the deck, a voice rang out over the chaos. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you¡ªour new hero.¡± It was the Duke, his gaze fixed on me with a hint of expectation. ¡°Lend us your strength to defeat this monster.¡± ¡°Gladly, my lord!¡± I called back, heart racing as I prepared for the next round. [Book 1] [21. Spear of Destiny] As all the Floaters swarmed at me, fighting the entire group was too much to handle, even for my cheat-like damage. I ignored their awful stench and focused solely on my defense. Floater on the left stroked at my left side, and other two surged from behind to surround me. The shield was supposed to protect me as I pushed to the left, but that left open my other side.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 3] [Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 2]
A sharp, searing pain shot through my shield hand, leaving it nearly useless despite the gallons of wine I¡¯d downed. One desperate dash brought me to a safer position, but in my haste, I stumbled over a downed floater, landing in an utterly unheroic heap. ¡°Fire Cleanse!¡± Istvan¡¯s commanding voice sliced through the noise of battle¡ªthe anguished cries of monsters blending with the howling storm. His flames surged to life, a fierce, purifying blaze that reduced everything in its path to ash. For a fleeting moment, I was struck by a memory: the siege of Sky City. Istvan, then as now, had been the leader of our small group¡ªone of the most formidable mage commanders in the Imperial Army and a loyal servant to the Duke. The ominous cracking of the shield encasing the ship tore me from my contemplation. Combatants exchanged nervous glances as the enemy¡¯s relentless tentacles battered against it. Each blow resonated through the air, a chilling reminder of how precarious our situation was. My pulse quickened as I scrambled to my feet and climbed onto the deck. The Duke¡¯s retainers stood in their classic formation: warriors and paladins in front, mages and priests at the rear, rogues guarding the flanks, and the Duke commanding the center. His scarred, youthful face was turned toward the fray, but seeing him now, towering over me, made my breath catch. I used to think of him as a small man. Istvan, however, was unchanged¡ªhis ageless presence was just as imposing as ever. His black robes blended with the stormy night, save for the faint glint of his sharp eyes and the gleaming staff in his hand. His gaze landed on me like a hammer, stern and unyielding. ¡°Hero! Fall in line, to the back!¡± he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. Oh, yes. The standard Imperial formation. Flawed as ever, with male close combatants in front and female casters in the rear. Lucy used to rant about it endlessly, perched in her favorite window. How is she now? I wondered, the thought momentarily stealing my focus. I need to reach out to her. ¡°Hero! Move!¡± Istvan¡¯s voice dragged me back to the present. ¡°I can¡¯t, Commander Istvan, sir!¡± I protested, planting my feet. ¡°I need to fight on the front lines and let them damage my shield. My skill¡ª¡± Before I could finish, Istvan grabbed the edge of my robe with a surprising grip and yanked me to his side. ¡°You will follow my orders, or you will not fight at all,¡± he growled, his tone cold and uncompromising. ¡°Insubordination during a crisis is intolerable, even for you.¡± ¡°Sir, please! I¡¯ll be more effective at the front¡ª¡± Istvan¡¯s grip tightened, and his strength¡ªunexpected for a mage¡ªheld me firm. ¡°No! You will stay back and heal the soldiers. Your comrades are risking their lives to keep you alive.¡± He cast a swift sound rune, his voice suddenly booming across the deck. ¡°Attention, all! Prepare for battle. I¡¯m lowering the shield for the floaters!¡± The cracking of the shield reached a crescendo as Istvan raised his staff. Glowing runes formed in the surrounding air, their intricate designs traced with such precision it looked effortless¡ªlike he was strolling through a park drinking his favorite whisky, rather than facing down death. My frustration burned as I watched him manipulate the shield with a mastery I could only admire. The barrier grew translucent, allowing the floaters to pass through while still holding the writhing tentacles at bay. ¡°Soldiers, hear me!¡± Istvan commanded. ¡°Hold the line until we finish the [Spear of Destiny]!¡± Wait. What?! This early? My heart raced as he rummaged through his inventory, finally pulling out a plain, unassuming spear. He placed it on the deck, motioning for the other mages to chant. One by one, they drew runes before them, their mana flowing into the spear as it seemed to devour their energy hungrily. ¡°The Elite Floaters!¡± a warrior shouted, intercepting an attack. A horde of larger, uglier Floaters wielding crude bronze weapons surged forward. Disobeying orders, I blocked a strike from one of the elites, keeping my [Ice Blood] skill active. But the force of the impact was overwhelming, sending me staggering backward until I collided with a Paladin.
[Elite Floater Lv.7] Type: 3-rare Elite | HP: 145/145
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 5]
¡°Hero! Last warning!¡± Istvan¡¯s voice boomed across the deck, sharp as a bartender¡¯s during a bar fight. Even with his focus on the chanting mages and the spell work, his keen eyes had caught my reckless charge. Terrific. I begrudgingly stepped back, lashing out with my whip between the two warriors. A sharp, supersonic crack echoed, and the [Elite Floater] lost its right arm in a glorious burst of icy shards. Around me, my new comrades grinned despite the chaos. Their movements became more confident as they instinctively shifted to guard the area near me, benefiting from the icy aura of my [Ice Dance]. The icy air shimmered faintly around us, slowing our enemies and giving even the less agile warriors a chance to dodge the incoming blows. The relentless storm raged overhead, rain pelting down and mixing with blood on the deck. Cries of battle mingled with the howling wind, and every clash of weapons reverberated through the ship. I watched the warriors take advantage of the Ice Dance¡¯s slowing effect, their strikes more precise as the Floaters struggled to maneuver in the icy haze. Four tense minutes passed, the fight wearing on. My breath caught as a warrior in front of me stumbled, his footing lost on the slick, bloodied deck. In three strides, I lunged forward, shield raised just as the Floater struck. Its claws raked across my shield with a screeching sound. Success! The cold spread further as [Ice Blood] activated, its energy seeping into my veins. ¡°That is the last straw!¡± Istvan¡¯s enraged shout came a second before his black staff collided with my head. Pain flared as he yanked me from the fray, dragging me toward the chanting mages at the center of the formation. ¡°You will not join the fight! You are a civilian aiding in a crisis, nothing more. Your recklessness hinders our efforts, and I will not tolerate insubordination. Stay here and don¡¯t move¡ªor face execution.¡± I slumped to the ground beside him, glaring at his back as he returned to directing the spell. Fine. My body ached, and the storm¡¯s biting wind stung my face. As I sat there, frustration boiling in my chest, one giant, reckless idea crept into my mind. A stupid, impossible idea. There was just one catch¡ªIstvan would probably kill me for it. Whatever. The counter for [Ice Blood] expired, and with it, my exceptional damage faded away; I could only blame him. Istvan ignored my angry glares, his focus unwavering as he chanted the runes. The spear began to change color, shifting into a pure, radiant gold. Hundreds of runes, engraved by the mages¡¯ magic, spiraled around it, forming an intricate lattice of glowing symbols. I had held this weapon only once in my previous life, and the memory of its immense power intoxicated me. That was the purpose. The mages stood in a tight circle around the spear, their faces illuminated by the eerie glow. As they etched more runes onto its surface, a violent surge of mana erupted, sending ripples of energy pulsing through the air. The very atmosphere crackled, heavy with raw power. Nearby, the elite monsters¡ªthe experience bags¡ªwere so close I could see the malice in their eyes. But I didn¡¯t want to anger Istvan; not yet, at least.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The battle raged on relentlessly. The ship rocked beneath us as the tentacles continued their assault on the shield, each impact echoing like a barrel rolling. Amidst the chaos, I retrieved ten cauldrons from my pack, setting them up to brew another potion on the unsteady deck. It wasn¡¯t easy¡ªeach sway of the ship threatened to topple my equipment¡ªbut what else could I do? Just stand there and watch? After a while, the spear¡¯s hum intensified, a piercing sound that drilled into my ears. It grew louder and louder until it was almost unbearable. Istvan spoke then, his voice low but commanding, cutting through the din. ¡°Spear of Destiny.¡± As he uttered the words, the spear erupted into life, pulsating with a golden light so intense it parted the storm clouds above. The heavens answered; a beam of golden light struck the spear like a bolt of lightning, igniting it with celestial fire. The air vibrated with energy, and for a moment, time itself seemed to hold its breath. My time had come. Without hesitation, I drank the potion in a single gulp, feeling its effects surge through me. As soon as the heavenly light dissipated, I lunged forward and snatched the spear.
[You have used the Agility Potion] [Agility increased by 50]
[Spear of Destiny]
Quality: 7-legendary
ATK: 400-500
Effect: Turns the wielder into a disciple of chosen God.
This spear was supercharged with extreme amounts of mana and can last only for ten minutes. Make every second count.
¡°No! You can¡¯t¡ª¡± Istvan¡¯s desperate plea was drowned out as the golden light from the spear enveloped me entirely, cutting off the rest of the world. For a moment, I was no longer on the ship. Instead, I stood in the familiar Ice Realm, the place where I had first received my Hero powers. The echo of God¡¯s laughter filled the frozen air, a deep and resonant sound that sent chills through my core. Energy coursed through me, overwhelming and intoxicating, like chugging an entire bottle of whiskey in one go. I glanced around the vast frozen plain; the stillness broken only by the crunch of snowy-ice beneath my boots as I held the spear. Yet this time, something was different. I wasn¡¯t just here¡ªI was everywhere. My feet moved through both the icy expanse of the God¡¯s realm and the turbulent deck of the ship simultaneously. The mortal and divine realms had fused, existing as one. I blinked, and the raging storm of the ship returned¡ªthe howling wind, the lashing rain, the cries of battle. Another blink, and I was back in the serene Ice Realm. ¡°Is this a heroic moment? May I use the talent, oh mighty God?¡± I asked, my voice steady despite the disorienting duality of the realms. The voice of the God chuckled, rich and amused. ¡°You wish to wield my power to kill this poor creature? Such a purpose is unworthy of a hero. The spear¡¯s magic will suffice. I grant you a fraction of the power you seek.¡± With those parting words, the connection to the God¡¯s realm vanished, leaving me on the ship, fully grounded.
[Transformation complete. The power of God of Ice Blood was activated.] [Attention! Heroic abilities found, transforming to the appropriate level, resetting...]
The strength coursing through me exploded. My grip on the spear trembled as a torrent of mana surged within it. The sensation was familiar¡ªjust like in my previous life¡ªbut this time; I was prepared. My experience with mana control kept the violent energy in check, preventing even a wisp from escaping. The golden light surrounding me softened, forming a shimmering aura as I smirked and checked my stats.
Name: Princess
ST: 200/200 XP: 45 AGI: 275
Drawing the runes for [Ice Dance] was almost effortless now. The spear seemed to guide my hand; the mana flowing through me as if the power itself willed it. What had once been an exhausting task now felt as easy as breathing. The golden light shifted, transforming into a translucent, blue-tinged bubble that expanded outward, freezing everything in its path. The sea solidified into ice, creatures were coated in frost, and their movements slowed to a sluggish crawl. From behind me, the Duke¡¯s voice cut through the frozen silence, tinged with amusement. ¡°We will discuss this later. For now, kill that monstrosity.¡± [Book 1] [22. The power of the Hero] The power dwelling within the spear demanded release. Its overwhelming, insatiable mana whispered to me, tempting me with countless violent solutions. Keeping it bottled up was impossible¡ªit clawed at my will, threatening to erupt. If I didn¡¯t channel it soon, it would explode and take me with it. Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on the handle, feeling the icy vibrations of its energy coursing through me. With a surge of will, I used the spear¡¯s power to launch myself into the air. As I breached the safety of Istvan¡¯s shield, the world outside hit me like a hammer. A cold, salty gust of wind tore at my face, carrying the tang of blood and sea. Above, the storm roared its fury, the rain lashing against me like needles. My ascent was short-lived¡ªa massive, slimy tentacle shot up, intercepting my path with terrifying speed. My heart pounded as I twisted midair, the spear¡¯s glowing tip ready to meet the attack. The icy bubble surrounding me absorbed some of the tentacle¡¯s momentum, slowing it just enough, but the impact still reverberated through my arms, rattling my bones. When the grotesque, stinking limb collided with the spear, a piercing shriek tore through the battlefield, shaking the air with its intensity. The creature¡¯s enraged mana surged, an oppressive wave of power crashing down on me. My chest tightened as if the ocean itself had smothered me. That¡¯s the Boss¡¯s power for you! The tentacle forced me downward, the strength behind it unrelenting. My heels skidded on the ice-covered ocean, the frozen surface splintering under the pressure. Yet, as the cold mana from my spear flowed outward, frost crept along the tentacle¡¯s flesh. It hissed and groaned, its movements slowing as the freezing energy locked it in place. My breaths came in ragged gasps, visible in the storm-chilled air. The spear thrummed in my hand, its power growing colder, sharper, and more relentless with every passing second.
[You lost 60 HP] [Target lost 420 HP] [You healed yourself for 82 HP]
I paused, frozen in disbelief at the scene before me. The chaos was surreal, almost like the dizzy walk home after a night at the pub. Was this truly the power of a hero? My combat skills felt as good as those of a level forty Priest¡ªlaughable in the grand scheme of things¡ªbut overpowered at this point. That hesitation cost me. A tentacle lashed out, raking past me with terrifying speed. The spear in my hand pulsed hungrily, almost as if it demanded blood. I gave in, allowing its force to propel me forward, closer to the grotesque enemy. My heels skimmed the frozen surface of the ocean, each step leaving behind a spreading trail of ice as the water beneath me solidified, dodging. The Boss lashed out in desperation, its tentacles slicing through the air with vicious intent. But my agility far outstripped its clumsy attacks. Each strike missed by mere inches as I weaved and darted, my movements fueled by the icy magic coursing through me. The sound of tearing ice was deafening, a thunderous roar that echoed across the frozen battlefield. Saltwater surged through the cracks, only to freeze midair in the storm¡¯s frigid grasp, turning into jagged crystals that joined the snow swirling around me. The rain transformed into a blizzard, driven by the furious power of [Ice Dance]. Is this ability really this strong at higher levels? Truly a marvel level. Sweet. I leapt to avoid a massive chunk of ice crashing from above, the storm¡¯s fury adding to the chaos. But I miscalculated. One of the Boss¡¯s tentacles snapped out with lightning speed, its slimy sucker wrapping around me. Yuck! The creature let out a guttural, triumphant scream, dragging me across the frozen expanse with relentless strength. My body slammed against the ice as its other tentacles descended, attacking with brutal precision. The last strike sent me careening into the freezing ocean. The shock of the water stole the breath from my lungs, and darkness closed around me. I struggled to find my bearings, but my own magic betrayed me. The freezing energy that had empowered me now became a prison, encasing me in jagged ice that pressed painfully against my skin, cutting into me with every desperate movement.
[You lost 58 HP] [You lost 10 HP] [You lost 10 HP] [You lost 10 HP] [You lost 10 HP]
Help! My precious spear answered my desperate plea. Its power surged in response, and I let the mana within it manifest. However, I wasn¡¯t ready for it. Instead of stopping at the weapon, the mana surged into my veins. A searing, unbearable heat flooded my body, setting every nerve ablaze. Stupid 100% reality limit! I couldn¡¯t hold back the scream that tore from my throat as the mana erupted, bursting out of me in a massive explosion that sent shards of frost and light scattering in every direction. The battlefield transformed into a swirling chaos of ice and snow as the storm intensified, concealing my movements. With the ice madness providing cover, I darted toward the Boss¡¯s massive, ludicrous body, weaving between the flailing tentacles and jagged chunks of tumbling ice. Cracking ice and shrieking winds created a deafening noise that filled the air. Suddenly, an unexpected blow came from below, shattering the ice beneath, and bringing a swarm of elite floaters onto the frozen surface. Sweet. A wicked grin twisted across my face, happy but impossible to suppress. It betrayed my true intentions. These creatures weren¡¯t a challenge, not anymore. Not at my current power level. Their fragile, pathetic forms didn¡¯t stand a chance. All it took was one slash. With one devastating swipe of my spear, I sealed their fate. As the spear¡¯s blue light enveloped them, the frost spread with merciless precision, creeping over their bodies like a living thing. The icy power froze them in place, their forms locked in a chilling stasis. They became sculptures of despair, frozen in time. Knowing my time was limited, I surged forward, my steps light and sure despite the ever-expanding unstable ice beneath me. For a moment, I even soared, the mana within the spear propelling me like a force of nature. The raw power coursing through me was exhilarating, driving me straight toward the massive, foolish foe ahead. The storm howled around me, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the spear¡¯s call to finish what it had begun.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
[Critical hit! Target lost 910 HP] [You lost 47 HP]
The system rewarded me with nice numbers as I landed a hit on the main body. When my strike connected, a strange substance gushed out, burning my exposed skin. Stupid non-existent armor. Thanks a lot, dear developers. Magic coursed through my veins, filling me with ice-cold relief from the searing pain, but it wasn¡¯t enough to stop me from screaming. ¡°You! You ugly, dirty, stupid boss!¡± I yelled, slashing again. More of the vile substance sprayed, this time coating my entire body. Terrific. The Boss was deadliest at a distance, but his only close-range defense was his stupid acid. Lucky me. Ice Dance slowed his movements, while my battle-hungry spear absorbed his blood, bolstering my attacks. I pressed on, striking fast to chip away at his gelatinous mass. With a last slice, I cut clean through his slimy body, and the battle was over.
[Ilaginous has been defeated. +900XP. XP to the next level: 1992/2450] [You are the first to defeat World Boss! Due to the circumstances, a reward has been withheld]
Hey System, aren¡¯t you stingy? World-Boss and only this? I guess the spear did most of the work, but still¡­ With the big guy out of commission, I sprinted back to the ship¡ªthere was still a battle raging, after all. My spear still functioned, and I wasted no time unleashing chaos on the remaining enemies; they fell like level-one noobs. Having slain the final floater, I searched the battlefield, ready for another fight. My gaze landed on Istvan¡¯s fragile frame, his familiar sinister smile twisting his lips. ¡°Easy now, Hero. The fight is over,¡± he said calmly, striding toward me. ¡°It is the spear talking.¡± I locked eyes with him, gripping my spear tightly, every muscle ready to strike. ¡°No, it¡¯s not! En garde!¡± I lunged, thrusting my spear through the space between us, but he sidestepped with an almost lazy grace. Before I could strike again, his staff moved in precise, fluid motions, completing a spell that made my spear vanish. ¡°Hero! Your reckless charge nearly cost us everything!¡± His voice hit like a hammer, hard and unwavering. ¡°You secured the victory, but your soul was on the line. As an immortal you shouldn¡¯t have a real one, but you¡¯ve got a piece of one! It¡¯s curious, but you, yes, never do that again. Never!¡± The chilly edge of his words shattered the intoxicating rush of power coursing through me. The ice shielding my pain thawed, leaving me staring at him, dumbfounded. How? How could I, an experienced warrior, let myself sink so far into it? Duke¡¯s voice cut through the tension, commanding and authoritative as ever. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s important, Istvan,¡± he said, leaving no room for objection. He turned to me, his gaze sharp and unyielding. ¡°Hero, kneel.¡± I blinked, trying to process his words. Kneel? That could only mean two things, and my mind latched onto the worst possibility. My knees hit the ground before I could stop them. Execution? Is this how it ends? The sun bathed a vibrant meadow, teeming with dangerous wasp monsters. On one side, near the ridge, players were tirelessly constructing a crude stone wall. They darted about with purpose, working nonstop, and the sight brought a small, satisfied smile to Lucas¡¯s lips. Ian, dressed in striking blue assassin gear, approached the fledgling fortress, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. He¡¯d never imagined something like this could exist outside of a formal guild. Though his goal had been to track down Charlie, stumbling upon this odd operation felt like an opportunity he couldn¡¯t ignore. Whatever Charlie¡¯s plans were, he was determined to undermine them. ¡°This is insane! Why are all these players working like that? Are you some secret millionaire, Lucas?¡± he asked, unable to hide his curiosity. Lucas turned to him slowly, pulling his scarf higher to lend an air of mystery. ¡°I¡¯m a crypto-bro. Got more money than I know what to do with. You gotta invest in this fortress,¡± he said in an even tone, though the amused glint in his eyes gave him away. What an amateur liar, Ian thought with a smirk. Before Ian could respond, a small girl came bounding over, her excitement bubbling over into a high-pitched squeal. She fidgeted, barely able to contain herself. ¡°Lucas! I finished my quest! I can do more! Give me another one, please!¡± ¡°Of course, Lilith108,¡± Lucas replied, already navigating the system menu with practiced ease. ¡°It¡¯s just Lilith for you, Lucas! Drop the numbers!¡± she giggled, hopping up and down as she adjusted a few loose stones on the wall. Lucas shook his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°For this to work, I have to be precise. We wouldn¡¯t want someone else accidentally getting your quest, now would we, Lilith?¡±
[You created Quest ¡°Build the Wall¡± for the player Lilith108]
[Build the Wall] Requirement: 10x [Manufactured Stone] Reward: 200 builder-XP * The keeper of East Fortification need help with construction of the essential defenses. He is offering an experience with work on this big project in exchange for ten [Manufactured Stone].
¡°Thanks! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Lilith shouted before darting off like her life depended on it. Lucas watched her go, grinning, but Ian didn¡¯t share his amusement. He glared after her, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Lucas, are they working for free? What the hell is going on?¡± Ian muttered, his suspicion growing. The evil Charlie must be behind this, exploiting the game somehow. Lucas¡¯s grin only widened. ¡°Do you know how rare it is to find work for builders in this game? I¡¯m the only one giving them quests, and I always max out the rewards. Sure, it racks up fortress debt, but if the system allows it, why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± He punched Ian lightly on the shoulder, his enthusiasm unshaken. ¡°Forget that. Let¡¯s have some fun. Have you seen the monsters here? This meadow is the perfect farming spot! If you can just hold the wasps off for a bit¡ª¡± ¡°No way,¡± Ian interrupted, shaking his head firmly. ¡°Have you even looked at them? Level ten and poison! Get a proper warrior and healer first, then we can talk. You¡¯re nuts if you think this will work.¡± Lucas just smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. If you hit their stingers hard enough, they¡¯ll fall off and won¡¯t attack. Trust me.¡± Ian groaned, but after more of Lucas¡¯s relentless persuasion, they made their way to the meadow. Lucas cast his trusty spark spell, pulling two wasps toward them. As the buzzing enemies closed in, Ian tensed, his muscles coiled and ready. He lunged, aiming a swift slash at their stingers. He missed. The wasps easily dodged and retaliated, one of them stinging Ian and inflicting poison. ¡°Only a madman would try this, Lucas!¡± Ian yelled, clutching at his wound as the poison spread. ¡°Is this because I skipped out on paying yesterday?¡± [Book 1] [23. Kneel Before the Duke] *** Real-world, Ian¡¯s POV *** Today wasn¡¯t Ian¡¯s finest day. He¡¯d died. To a wasp. A wasp. ¡°This is just¡­¡± His voice broke as his hands clenched into fists. ¡°How the hell does John-Charlie do it?¡± His rage boiled over, and he shot up from his capsule, kicking the edge so hard it scraped against the floor. The urge to destroy something consumed him. His eyes darted to the table in the corner, cluttered with empty bottles, crumpled papers, and the remnants of last night¡¯s takeout. With a yell, he swept his arm across it, sending everything crashing to the floor. Bottles clattered and rolled, papers scattered like fallen leaves, and the unmistakable stench of stale food filled the air. The chaos was oddly satisfying, but before he could revel in it, his phone buzzed to life, vibrating across the now-empty table. He snatched it up, his voice sharp. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Woah, woah, Ian!¡± Damon¡¯s voice came through, cracked and tense, like he¡¯d been yelling for hours. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reach you. Apparently, you¡¯ve got answers for me. They docked my pay because of some princess. What¡¯s up with that?¡± Ian¡¯s heart skipped, then thundered in his chest. This was it. The moment she had mentioned. The moment to set things into motion. ¡°Hey, Damon,¡± Ian said, forcing his voice into something that sounded apologetic. ¡°Sorry, I was just finishing a session in Rimelion.¡± He paused for effect, letting the bait dangle. ¡°Oh, that? Yeah, you haven¡¯t heard¡­¡± ¡°Good for you,¡± Damon said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°No. I have not. Who¡¯s this princess?¡± A grin spread slowly across Ian¡¯s face, sharp and predatory. Perfect. He took a breath, as if hesitant, then dropped the bomb. ¡°John. Somehow, he¡¯s¡­ changed. Gender, I mean. Goes by Charlie now¡ªor Princess in Rimelion.¡± ¡°John?!¡± Damon¡¯s outrage was instant, his voice rising to a near shout. ¡°What does that have to do with my job?¡± Ian felt a surge of satisfaction. The seed was planted. Time to water it. ¡°You know him¡ªher¡ªdamnit. He¡¯s always been an exploiter. If the AI¡¯s coming after you, it¡¯s because John probably said something like, ¡®Oh, Damon told me!¡¯ or ¡®Damon¡¯s debugging the game and tipped me off about this bug!¡¯ Or¡ª¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± Damon spat, his voice practically seething. ¡°And I considered him a friend. What a hyena.¡± Ian almost laughed. His new friends really came through and pushed Damon¡¯s buttons, but Ian kept it together, playing the role of the reluctant informer. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t help you more. My hands are tied.¡± He paused, then added as though it were an afterthought, ¡°Have you tried talking to Travis?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Damon acknowledged, though his tone hinted at doubt. ¡°He¡¯s been trying to protect me, but it won¡¯t hold. I need to find a way to stop John.¡± Ian¡¯s grin returned as he leaned against the wall, his satisfaction nearly palpable. ¡°Well, good luck with that,¡± he said casually, before hanging up. The phone clicked off, leaving Ian standing amidst the wreckage of his tantrum. His grin lingered, knowing the first domino had just fallen. The Duke¡¯s strange look sent a shiver down my spine, but I dropped to one knee without hesitation. You never oppose the Duke. I had learned that lesson the hard way, and I wasn¡¯t about to repeat it. His sword hissed free from its scabbard, the sharp metallic sound echoing in the rain. The pointed tip hovered menacingly, aimed straight at me. ¡°You disobeyed our order and used the secret weapon without permission. That is not the behavior of a soldier! A soldier must obey their superiors without question and adhere to every command, even if they believe it is wrong. Is that understood?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I replied, lowering my head. Damn. It was a good run while it lasted. As the blade inched closer to my neck, the cold steel grazing the air near my skin, I held my breath. My mind raced. Well, at least I¡¯ve still got the main quest in my pocket. After respawning, I¡¯ll hoof it on foot. It¡¯ll take a few days, but¡­ whatever. Then his tone shifted. ¡°Only noble commanders may express their concerns. Therefore, I offer you the title of Baronetess, vassal of the Empire. Do you accept?¡± No way. My head shot up, meeting his gaze. He was smiling¡ªwarmly, even. How¡­ how is this possible? It didn¡¯t matter. A noble title was not an offer you refused. It was a prize you seized and never let go. ¡°I do, my liege,¡± I said, bowing my head again. A brilliant blue light filled the room, illuminating the crew gathered around us, casting long shadows across the metallic interior of the ship. Something cold and solid materialized on my finger¡ªa silver signet ring adorned with the intricate engraving of a snowflake. Wait¡­ a snowflake? I frowned. Of all the symbols, why that? I¡¯d imagined something grander¡ªan elegant coat of arms, powerful and commanding. Instead, the system had slapped on this... frozen oddity. Bug or feature? With a resigned sigh, I turned my attention to the flood of system notices now streaming across my vision.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
[You received a reward for be: the first to defeat ¡®World Boss¡¯] [Your title is now: baronetess (Empire)] [Congratulations, you own a fief! Your path as noble can continue.] [East Fortification has been set as a primary fief.] [East Fortification has reached the rank of fortified position, the further development has been unlocked.]
What an unexpected boon. The speed at which Lucas ranked up the fortress was ten times as fast as his drinking speed! Did he use some exploits? My heart fluttered with an excitement, a strange mix of pride and anticipation swirling in my chest. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, the corners of my lips tugging upward despite the tension in the air. Istvan¡¯s piercing gaze cut through my moment of joy like a blade. It bore down on me, cold and unrelenting, as if death itself stared me in the face a dozen times over. My smile faltered, but didn¡¯t fade entirely. He might actually kill me with his bare hands. What a turn of events, my old commander. After a while, the raging storm slowly settled, and the last fights died down. An uncomfortable silence fell on us, the adrenalin clouding our pains faded away, and our grief for fallen soldiers and friends settled in. A smug smile played on my lips as I took it in. First battle, huh, young soldiers? It was then that a message popped up. The username was gray¡ªan admin, probably.
[Unknown] Hi John. [Princess] Who¡¯s this? [Unknown] Ian. Spoke to Damon. [Princess] Okay, what¡¯s wrong? I don¡¯t need to debug. [Unknown] What if you do? Remember password? [Princess] You are right. Oupsie. [Unknown] One month long, enlo-57945 [Princess] Thanks Ian! This can save me. You are a lifesaver! [Unknown] What I would not do for a friend.
Ian. He was always there when I needed him. I let my grin show even deeper. Back on the ship, the Duke stood amidst the aftermath, his gaze fixed on the battlefield. He visibly shivered at the sight of his fallen soldiers. As I approached, he asked, ¡°Is there anything I can do for you as a reward, Baronetess Princess?¡± Yeah, it sounds ridiculous¡ªI agree. What happens if I actually get that title? Are they going to call me Princess Princess? ¡°Thank you, my liege,¡± I replied, keeping my tone surprisingly polite¡ªso much so that it even startled me. They used to call me the rude knight for my lack of decorum around nobles. Look at me now, Lucy. ¡°When I met Master Teorn in the village, he entrusted me with a quest. With rumors of strange happenings swirling around the Island of the Dead, he sent me to investigate. For that, I¡¯ll need transportation¡ªa sailboat.¡± The Duke¡¯s expression tightened, and he twirled a strand of his short hair anxiously. ¡°You say there are problems? Could it have something to do with my aunt, Queen Irwen? She¡¯s been resting there, sealed in her tomb, for hundreds of years.¡± His voice carried a flicker of unease as he rushed to the edge of the ship, his eyes scanning the horizon as if the island might appear before him. I hesitated before following him. Comforting someone like him felt alien to me. I am a warrior. ¡°It might, my lord. Was she involved in the rebellion? Did she fight on the royalist side?¡± Should I touch his shoulder, the way I¡¯d seen some people at the bar comfort their friends? Or maybe give him a playful punch, like Lucas used to? Even with all my combined lives¡¯ experience, I was utterly lost. Human contact¡­ my eternal weakness. ¡°Yes, I fought on the wrong side,¡± the Duke admitted, his voice trembling under the weight of old pain. ¡°But the loss was inevitable; humans were stronger than us. It¡¯s been three centuries, yet if someone is trying to awaken her¡­ it would explain the stirred floaters.¡± His gaze turned distant, as though reliving a memory he wished to forget. I leaned against the railing beside him, letting the silence settle for a moment as we both stared into the horizon. ¡°I¡¯ll investigate it with my knight, my liege. These incidents may be unrelated.¡± ¡°You do that,¡± he said, his tone firm once more, his composure restored. ¡°We need to regroup and recuperate on the shore. We¡¯ll await your return there. Take the ship you sailed with.¡± When I returned to my ship, I found Don alive and well, snoring peacefully in the corner. Despite the heavy losses and the ship¡¯s extensive damage, the sailors were professionals to the core. They greeted me with cheers, and the captain met me at the gangway with a grin wide enough to split his face. ¡°Welcome back!¡± he roared, lunging toward me with open arms. I quickly dodged his bear hug, waving at him with a smirk. ¡°I saw you slay that monstrosity,¡± he said, his voice booming with admiration. ¡°You were as magnificent as the heroes of legend! And now you¡¯re a noble, right? Should I bow?¡± Without waiting for an answer, he bent so low his forehead almost touched the deck. Laughter erupted from the crew, ringing through the air, and for the first time, I felt something unexpected from human interaction¡ªa warmth near my heart. A strange sense of belonging, of camaraderie with these sailors I¡¯d fought alongside. Nonsense, I told myself. I¡¯ve battled armies and the most dangerous dragons, and I felt nothing like this. Why now? ¡°Captain,¡± I said, shaking off the feeling. ¡°I don¡¯t want to ruin the mood, but I have orders.¡± He waved my words away with a sweep of his massive hand. ¡°I know. You¡¯ve got an important mission on that cursed island everyone avoids. Hear me, you lazy bastards!¡± His voice thundered as he turned to the crew. ¡°We¡¯re sailing with a princess here! Be gentle as you can and show some respect. A hero needs her ship to sail smoothly!¡± [Book 1] [24. Into the Mist] Naturally, the journey was anything but quiet¡ªquite the opposite. Hordes of floaters assaulted us relentlessly, turning the trip into a hellish battle. The fight raged on, and just as exhaustion set in, the attacks finally ceased when we neared the island. With the last Floater slain, the captain let out his favorite line: ¡°I have a bad feeling about this.¡± I shook my head and shot him an annoyed glare before kicking the Floater¡¯s lifeless body back into the sea, mimicking his move from the day before. My attention shifted to the distance, where a opaque, smoke-white mist cloaked the island. Only the tip of a needle-like mountain pierced through the shroud. As I squinted at the mist, a shadow fell over me. Instinctively, I tensed, but before my worry could bloom, the captain¡¯s large hand landed on my shoulder. His grin, infectious, was now mixed with unease. ¡°We can¡¯t go near the island. The waters are dangerous. We can¡¯t navigate Love through it without magic aid.¡± ¡°Love?¡± I stepped back, dodging what felt like the beginnings of an unwanted hug, and turned to face him, more disturbed by the change in his tone than his antics. ¡°That¡¯s the name of our ship!¡± he bellowed, his grin widening before he waved to a nearby sailor. ¡°Take the Briggit. She¡¯ll get ya there safely. Hey, Mason! Briggit down!¡± The sailor, muscles rippling, unhooked a pathetic excuse for a boat from the ship¡¯s side. His silver chain bounced against his chest as he worked, and the dinghy slammed into the water below, sending salty spray in all directions. Wonderful. I jumped into the little boat, with Don close behind. Above us, the crew called down their good luck wishes and a half-hearted apology. You don¡¯t say. I resisted the urge to call them out on their lie¡ªthey could have sailed closer. I knew it, even if officially, I wasn¡¯t supposed to know in this life. Their Love was missing a few sails, after all. I winked at Don, who grunted in response, and took my place at the rear. He frowned as I nudged a paddle with my foot. ¡°Come on, Don. The boat won¡¯t row itself.¡± The storm in his eyes was almost enough to make me laugh, but despite his simmering anger, he grabbed the paddles and rowed. A teasing ¡°good boy¡± hovered at the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back, smirking instead as I turned my attention to the system menu. I was turning into a snarky princess-girl from warrior-man John. My intelligence stat was at fifty-five¡ªnot bad, better than most players, though the ranked priests were likely pushing a hundred. To even approach their level, I¡¯d need at least one epic item. What a foolish journey this is. Sure, the XP was nice, but exceptional items would do more for my growth than any experience. And if all else failed? I¡¯d just exploit the game. Easy, right? The moment we entered the mist, a strange sensation stabbed at my heart. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, as if I¡¯d plunged into icy water in the dead of winter. My chest tightened, and my breath grew heavy. My mind drifted, memories bubbling to the surface unbidden. What? Was this¡­ an illusion? I was back at the peak of the Mountain of the Shrieks, clad in gleaming black armor that shimmered faintly under the crimson-hued sky. In my hand was a legendary dark sword, its obsidian blade emanating an ominous aura. As I stood before the enormous cave entrance, I noticed the cool mountain air prickling against my skin. And, as a guy in this vision, let¡¯s just say I was well-equipped¡ªthank god I couldn¡¯t control this dream, or I might¡¯ve gotten¡­ distracted before checking out the cave. The cave¡¯s edges were rugged, as if a colossal creature had forced its way inside, clawing through the mountain¡¯s heart. The details confirmed what I¡¯d already learned¡ªthis was a dragon¡¯s nest, and not just any dragon. A nasty one. With confident strides, I approached, my boots crunching against loose gravel. Subtlety? Nah, not my style. This dragon was a level-200 beast, but I strode in twenty levels short and alone. You think that¡¯ll stop me? As I entered the cave¡¯s shadowed maw, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Suddenly, ten armored knights surged forward from the depths. The dim light revealed their faces¡ªgrim, determined, unyielding. I flashed them a wide, cocky smile. ¡°Stop, stranger! You have no business here,¡± barked one of them, his voice echoing through the cavern. The man stepped forward, his chain-mail clinking with every movement. He was the leader, no doubt about it. ¡°My name is Ry Baradeer, and I command this order. Leave while you still can.¡± His men flanked me in a practiced formation, their weapons drawn and glinting faintly in the cave¡¯s dim light. I lowered my sword, pretending to size him up while I noted the state of his gear. His chain-mail was practically falling apart, a patchwork of metal barely holding together. ¡°Ry, if you bite the dust now, your family will be crushed,¡± I said, my voice calm but cutting. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your life guarding that old, stupid beast. You don¡¯t owe it anything.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Despite my confident words, my grip tightened on my shield. Ten knights were no joke, not even for me. Sweat beaded on my forehead as Ry furrowed his brows and hefted his massive Warhammer of Storms, its enchanted head crackling faintly with energy. ¡°My master is the mighty dragon protecting our people! Your insults will not go unpunished!¡± he roared. Raising his weapon high, he commanded, ¡°Dragon knights! Kill him!¡± The first strike came fast. Ry¡¯s war hammer crashed into my shield with a force that vibrated through my entire arm, nearly tearing the shield from my grasp. Damn, that¡¯s stronger than I expected. Staggering back a few steps, I barely had time to recover before the rest of the knights closed in. They moved with incredible coordination, their attacks synchronized. ¡°And here I thought I found a bug¡­¡± I muttered, my voice dry with resignation as I prepared for the inevitable. Their strikes rained down like an unrelenting storm. My armor absorbed some blows, but not enough. The pain wasn¡¯t unbearable¡ªit was swift. In a flash, everything went black. ¡°Princess!¡± Don¡¯s voice shook me awake. ¡°What happened? Why are you sleeping?¡± He kept firing questions, one after the other, but my brain felt like molasses¡ªhazy and sluggish. What the hell? Why was I asleep? And dreaming about a random test run, of all things? With a single thought, I summoned the interface, its familiar glow snapping into view. Ah. I¡¯ve been playing for an entire day, that¡¯s why. My eyes flicked to the clock. No way it glitched, right? It revealed I¡¯d slept for two hours, though it felt like seconds. While I was busy reliving old test runs, Don had been hard at work, rowing us closer to the island. The sight that greeted me was stark¡ªa white beach that shimmered like bone in the eerie light, a massive mountain rising behind it, casting craggy shadows that merged with the ever-present fog. The island seemed to shiver with mystery, veiled and unreachable beyond the mist. Only the faintest outline of the peak broke through the dense, smoky gray. ¡°So, how are you enjoying our trip so far, Don?¡± I asked. No response. I shrugged, watching as he dragged our little boat onto the beach with a grunt, tying it to a nearby rock with a practiced hand. He then flopped down onto the sand, muttering, ¡°Princess¡­ not funny,¡± before closing his eyes as if the world had defeated him. Leaving him to his well-deserved rest, I plopped down next to him and opened my minimap. That¡¯s strange. The map showed nothing¡ªjust an expanse of blue. According to it, we were still in the middle of the sea. No island. No beach. Just water. What the hell? What¡¯s a seasoned gamer to do when things turn strange? Keep going, of course! ¡°Don, stop wasting time. Let¡¯s go. Somewhere on this island is an army of undead soldiers. Let¡¯s find it.¡± He groaned but rose to his feet, casting a tired glance around. ¡°Where? With this damn fog, I can¡¯t even see your butt.¡± Slap. My hand connected with his face, the sharp sound echoing through the mist. Ignoring his shocked expression, I stomped toward the mountain, kicking sand up with every step. Did I mention the heat? It was unbearable. My clothes clung to me like a drunk to their dignity¡ªbarely hanging on and completely unflattering. The heat, the malfunctioning minimap, the relentless fog¡ªit was all so damn annoying. But I was a veteran gamer. These were minor inconveniences. Or so I told myself. The reality was far less noble. My frustration boiled over, and I kicked the sand hard enough to send it flying in every direction. ¡°What the hell is wrong with me?¡± I muttered under my breath, shaking out my hands as if I could cast off my irritation with the motion. The mountain loomed ahead, its uneven peaks hidden by swirling mist. Somewhere up there, undead soldiers awaited. Just another day, right? Maybe I¡¯d overestimated myself. There wasn¡¯t a dungeon entrance in sight¡ªno trees, no plants, nothing but barren, rocky land stretching endlessly before us. Alright, maybe it¡¯s time to stop thinking like a gamer. Main quests, after all, don¡¯t follow the usual rules. If I were an entrance, where I would be? Likely at the base of the mountain, where players could grind their way upward, battling their way through to the peak. Desperation gnawed at me. I even tried bashing the rock wall with my sword. Predictably, nothing happened. No way. ¡°Don, how good are you at climbing?¡± I asked, fixing my gaze on the steep, almost vertical mountain. He blinked a few times, following my stare. His face turned ghostly pale. ¡°Bad? Look!¡± Without warning, he sprinted toward the rocky surface and hurled himself at it. Naturally, he failed, crashing down in a heap at the bottom. I gaped at him in disbelief. ¡°Did I slap you that hard, or are you just trying to impress me with how stupid you are?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the stupid one!¡± he snapped, brushing himself off. ¡°You can¡¯t climb that. I just wanted to show you. Now, let¡¯s go back to the ship.¡± He turned confidently, already making his way down the path. And then it happened. The ground beneath us trembled, the low rumble reverberating through my feet. It reminded me of the time I¡¯d stumbled onto an active volcano. The mountain¡¯s rock wall groaned and cracked open, shards of stone scraping and shifting as they revealed a hidden passage. That easy, huh? In a few blinks, the entrance stood before us. How could I forget? This was a low-level main quest, not some end-game epic side optional puzzle. Don stopped mid-stride, glancing over his shoulder with his mouth hanging open. ¡°Look at that, knight Don!¡± I teased, stepping toward him. ¡°Your heroic blood must¡¯ve sliced open the rock and cleared a path for us!¡± I winked and caressed his cheek mockingly. ¡°Good job. I mean it¡ªyou opened it.¡± Snapping out of his stupor, Don straightened up and rushed to stand between me and the entrance. ¡°Perhaps I did something. Perhaps not. Either way, my promise stands: I¡¯ll protect you.¡± His confidence lasted about two seconds. As we drew closer, we realized what lay ahead. A pitch-black barrier blocked the passage, swallowing every trace of light as if it were a black hole. The surrounding air was heavy, oppressive, making our skin crawl. The thought of monsters lurking beyond it sent shivers racing down my spine. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, my voice steady despite the chill biting at my resolve. [Book 1] [25. Queen Irwen] We entered the dungeon without delay, with Don immediately taking the lead. As we passed through the black hole-like boundary, the jungle¡¯s sweltering heat and humidity vanished, replaced by a cool breeze brushing against our skin. Instead of the rocky cave I half-expected, we found ourselves in a grand hall lined with cold, gray stone. The air carried an almost regal weight, as though we had stepped into a forgotten palace¡ªIrwen¡¯s palace. ¡°Where are we?¡± Don asked, brandishing his sword. One step in, I kept silent. Two steps, and something soft brushed against my shoes. Instinctively, I almost struck the ground with my whip before realizing¡ªthere was a plush red rug beneath us. I see. ¡°It makes sense! We¡¯re visiting Queen Irwen, Don. Were you expecting her to be chained up in some damp cave?¡± Truthfully, I had thought exactly about that. We continued onward, undisturbed, without a single enemy ambushing us¡ªa strange change from the norm. Usually, dungeons were crawling with foes lurking around corners or guarding treasure chests. Here? Nothing. Just an impossibly long hall stretching endlessly ahead. Our careful footsteps echoed through the stillness, the only sound this dungeon had probably heard in decades. The walls were lit by magical torches casting dim, flickering red light, and the hall¡¯s eerie silence stretched on for at least ten minutes until it cut off. A wooden door stood before us¡ªnot ordinary wood, but intricately adorned with gold, jade, and strange metals I couldn¡¯t name. It seemed to tell an ancient elven story, sprawling across the massive door like a tapestry, capturing every detail of the thirteen testaments. Don, unimpressed, pushed against the door with all his might. Though the dungeon had been constructed centuries ago, the hinges gave way soundlessly. Wait! I wanted to yell, but it was too late. A tidal wave of mana washed over me, the normally invisible energy manifesting as a golden mist. It pressed me to the ground, so heavy I couldn¡¯t even lift my head to see what lay beyond the now-open door. Strangely, the mist seemed to leave Don untouched. How was he walking? Wait. When I played as a warrior, I used strength to counter magic effects, mostly to smash things. Maybe this dungeon worked the same way? Perhaps it was so second nature to Lucy she hadn¡¯t thought to mention it, just like I never bragged about hurling stones at trolls. But how could I counter this? Oh! That trick the old pervert taught me¡ªcircling mana within my core! I focused, imagining the mana inside me burning brighter, hotter. And it worked for a change. A strange blue fire erupted around me, repelling the golden mist. It wasn¡¯t actual fire, just pure mana taking form in this environment, but it did the job. Scrambling to my feet, I glanced around. Where are we? Only one word fit: throne room. The vast chamber stretched out before me, centered on a golden throne. Sitting upon it was an elven woman, encased within a degrading golden barrier. Huge chunks of it dissolved into the mist that had attacked me earlier. I was so focused on her, I barely noticed the intricate frescoes on the walls. Her gaze pierced me, sharp and knowing, and I almost tripped over the smooth floor¡ªno, it wasn¡¯t the fault of my heels. Her almond-shaped, star-like blue eyes seemed to analyze every fragment of my existence. Her silver hair, tied into a long, intricate braid, gleamed under the dim light. She wore her Elven-made battle uniform, its sharp lines a stark contrast to her poised elegance. Unconsciously, I stepped back. It was her. Queen Irwen, the rebel leader. ¡°Brother and sister, returning to their mother,¡± she said, her gaze locking onto me. ¡°But only one comes back as an ally.¡± What? Probably some story related nonsense. Wait. This wasn¡¯t like Star Wars. The rebellion against the empire hadn¡¯t started yet. Don, unfazed, strode toward the barrier. The golden mist greeted him almost lovingly, but the closest he could approach was two hundred feet. There, he stopped and kneeled. ¡°My queen,¡± he said, his head bowed. ¡°I await your orders.¡± No way. Hey, hey, this wasn¡¯t part of the deal! Irwen only nodded, and in that instant, the mist surged into Don. That was bad. No, it was terrible. I bolted forward, desperate to stop whatever was happening. ¡°Don! No!¡± But I was too late. His tag changed.
[Prince Don Lv.15] Type: 5-epic | HP: 350/350
¡°My child, welcome.¡± Her icy voice sliced through the barrier mist with ease. ¡°But you, bearer of the name Princess, are not welcome here. You return as an imperial noble, and such people have no place in our kingdom.¡± Her glare pinned me in place, and I felt my knees threatening to give out. ¡°Miss Irwen.¡± I struggled to hold her gaze, but my courage faltered. Lowering my eyes felt safer than letting fear seize my heart. ¡°Your kingdom is now a suzerain of the empire, ruled by another dynasty. Every noble is imperial.¡± Daring a glance upward, I caught the flicker of emotion in Irwen¡¯s eyes. The surrounding air shimmered with mana, tangible proof of her legendary status. My voice wavered, but she finished my sentence for me, her tone vicious. ¡°Human usurper.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. My blood boiled. She hasn¡¯t changed at all. Her army was probably still somewhere in this palace, ready to rise. Main quest alert¡ªthis has to lead to insane rewards. But first, I pushed back. ¡°It¡¯s been over three hundred years!¡± ¡°What is that, if not insignificant?¡± she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°You died defending me, left for another world, and I have waited, and my time shall come. My army will rise, and every proud citizen will reclaim what is rightfully ours. You won¡¯t stand in my way¡ªyou¡¯re nothing but a shadow of the girl I knew.¡± Her piercing gaze shifted to Don, and she gave him a sharp nod. ¡°Prince, if you may. Remove your sister.¡± What? Fight a level fifteen prince? Was this quest impossible or what? ¡°Wait! Before you do that, I have a proposition for you.¡± Irwen¡¯s stoic expression returned as she shook her head. ¡°You cannot stop your impending death. You have nothing of value to offer me anymore. My quest takes precedence over family.¡± She was right. I was The Exploiter, but even I had nothing substantial to sway her. Fighting Don in this golden mist? Out of the question. But there was one thing¡ªone secret¡ªthat could rewrite history. In a way, that worked for me. ¡°Uhm¡­ Mother?¡± I tried. If she thinks I am her daughter, let¡¯s play into that. ¡°Not even the name of the demon of darkness? The servant of rules and death?¡± Her brow furrowed, and she raised her hand. In an instant, the mist surged, wrapping around my throat and yanking me into the air. It dragged me closer to the throne¡ªcloser than the barrier should¡¯ve allowed¡ªchoking me the entire way. I flailed helplessly, my strength utterly meaningless before her. ¡°What do you know about him?¡± Her icy voice chilled the air itself, though I noticed with a flicker of relief that I wasn¡¯t cold. Wait¡­ I remembered: I carried a legendary bloodline. Not inherent like hers, but I was still a hero. Ice and blood magic didn¡¯t affect me. Wonderful. Everything else still could. ¡°Undead army. O-only one servant is f-foolish enough,¡± I croaked, struggling against the grip at my throat. Stop, you stupid bitch! My vision blurred, and in the corner of my sight, a timer materialized. It ticked away the seconds until my death. Five minutes. Do I really have to heal myself? Can I even? Her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine again before she finally released me. I dropped like a stone, pain shooting through my left foot as I landed awkwardly. Wincing, I rolled on the ground. At least I¡¯m alive. ¡°If you know his name,¡± she said, her tone sharp and commanding, ¡°I will trade it for your safe passage back. Warn that traitor. Warn your foolish uncle.¡± Safe passage? That¡¯s it? I grinned, massaging my neck as I caught my breath. ¡°Do you think this is a fair trade? I¡¯m immortal. Kill me, mother, and I¡¯ll just revive.¡± I paused for effect, grinning wider. ¡°At least throw in a tiara. Would you let your daughter go around with a tiara like this?¡± I pointed at the pitiful tiara I was wearing. ¡°Maybe one of your jewels, too.¡± Haggling with Queen Irwen¡ªif anyone could see me now¡­ Her lips tightened, but she conceded. ¡°A crown and safe passage. You may be immortal, daughter, but if I harm your soul, at least the part you still carry, it will take you at least two weeks to reform your mortal body. By then, it will be too late to act.¡± Nonsense. Nothing like this exists. But¡­ ¡°Deal.¡± There was no point in waiting. A tiara wasn¡¯t just a trinket¡ªit was the symbol of her kingdom and one of the rarest rewards in the entire game. Only three crowns¡ªor tiaras¡ªcould exist, each tied to a lengthy, limited questline. Thanks, main quest. I¡¯m about to snag one for free. ¡°Imperial. No, daughter,¡± she said, her voice cutting through my thoughts. ¡°Tell us his name this instant.¡± Well, not exactly free. Limping on my injured foot, I hobbled toward the center of the room, finding enough space for the summoning. With a glance at Don, still kneeling obediently, I pointed at him. ¡°What about him?¡± Irwen flicked her hand, and the golden mist enveloped his head. Well, if you think that¡¯s enough, Your Majesty. You¡¯re the queen. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and began. ¡°Duwin Ianlee, I call thee.¡± Darkness fell over the room in an instant. Every light extinguished, and even Irwen¡¯s mist couldn¡¯t hold back the encroaching black fog that filled the air. Before me rose an enormous figure, an eerie fusion of human and death, its immense form shifting and morphing with every blink of my eyes. It never stayed in one shape, each form more unsettling than the last. ¡°You dare, a mere mortal?¡± The voice thundered in my head, resonating with the same power as my god¡¯s. ¡°I beg your pardon,¡± I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. ¡°I know your name; I¡¯m immortal, and I¡¯m a hero. Not a mere mortal.¡± I wanted to tack on something snarky, but before I could, my body froze. A sudden blue screen flashed in the corner of my vision, coldly informing me of exactly why I couldn¡¯t move.
[You were caught by the anti-cheat system. Please remain still. Investigation is in progress¡­]
Once again, the pleasant voice of a young man echoed in my mind: ¡°Not possible to know the name. It has not been mentioned yet¡ªdifferent from beta. Reason for knowledge: unknown. Solution: a warning. Princess, please do not cheat.¡± In the next instant, control of my body returned¡ªor at least in theory.
[Duwin Ianlee aura is affecting your mind, moving is not possible.]
A deep smile spread across Irwen''s face, finally showing some emotion for the first time today. Something about her smiling like that wasn¡¯t natural. It wasn¡¯t a warm smile like Katherine¡¯s or Lisa¡¯s. It was a predatory smile, along with a feeling like seconds before a wolf descends on your exposed throat, killing you. She rose from her throne and basked in the darkness - yes, she somehow sucked the black mist in. ¡°Duwin Ianlee. We have an opportunity to reexamine our contract now.¡± Duwin withdrawn his deadly aura back in, but it was too late; Irwen knew his name. ¡°As for you, Imperial, we may be enemies, but you are still my daughter. May my crown serve you well, Princess Princess. We shall meet again on a battlefield.¡± Her golden mist hugged me, but this time it focused on my tiara, changing it. When I woke up today, I hadn¡¯t expected this. Thanks to this still generating crown, perhaps I could play a big role in the upcoming rebellion. Or not. That was the right of The Exploiter! [Book 1] [26. Unexpected meeting] Irwen¡¯s power literally shoved me out of her throne room before I could catch the details of her arrangement with that thing. The prospect of a long trek ahead forced me to address my injured leg. As I lifted my hand to create runes, I noticed it was trembling. I tried to steady it, but the shaking wouldn¡¯t stop. Huh. My mind and body aren¡¯t in sync. Or rather, my body was betraying an emotion that had tugged at me through the entire conversation with Irwen: fear. Betrayal. Everything¡¯s fine. I inhaled the stale dungeon air and tried again. This time, I created a healing rune¡ªafter only three tries! Progress. As I trudged back through the long, silent hall, I finally inspected my new tiara. At any point in my past life, I¡¯d worn whatever gear had the best stats, swapping pieces in and out without a second thought. No point getting attached to anything¡ªevery piece would be wiped when a new version hit the test server. But this? This was different. During my countless quests in service to the empire, spanning hundreds of instances, I¡¯d crossed paths with dozens of princesses and even an empress or two. Despite that, I¡¯d never seen anything as breathtaking as this tiara. Maybe that¡¯s because it¡¯s mine? Irwen had clearly crafted it for her chosen servants, weaving glimmering silver filigree into intricate, snake-like patterns. Over twenty small, rose-cut stones gleamed at its edges, each seamlessly fitted to create a unified and regal design. Four navy-blue gems added a bold contrast, framing the tiara¡¯s centerpiece: a massive, four-inch ruby-like stone that caught the dim light with an almost hypnotic glow. ¡°What¡­¡± I muttered, stopping mid-step. ¡°No way!¡± Not only was it one of the most beautiful tiaras I¡¯d ever seen, but its stats? They outshone anything I could find on my own¡ªeven legendary items.
[Princess Crown Tiara]
Quality: 6-marvel
DEF: 2
Durability: Infinite
Effect: +10 INT, class-specific skill
Restriction: Player Princess
Princess Crown Tiara of the Elven kingdom. It gives the wearer inherent skill [Princess Grace] and a titular title ¡°Princess¡±. Queen Irwen note: Use this well daughter.
[Princess¡¯ Grace] Type: 6-marvel | Lv. Novice 1 | Mana: 30% INT Effect: Target all allies you can see, add 20% of your INT to the highest target¡¯s attribute, or 25% of your INT to heath; does not stack, only one applies Duration: 30 minutes Cooldown: 15 minuts * as you increase the proficiency, the effect¡¯s increased, cooldown decreased.
Of course, I knew about the system in the Elven kingdoms. Princesses and princes weren¡¯t the actual children of the king or queen¡ªnot in the way the system recognized the titles. Sure, they were often called that, but the roles themselves were appointments. A king could designate up to three of each gender, usually his children, but they didn¡¯t have to be. And now, I was one of them! The only thing standing between me and an inherent princess bloodline was¡­ Wait. She called me ¡°daughter.¡± Am I a princess now? Should I embrace it officially? That wasn¡¯t something I could undo. And for that, the Empire would hate me. Nope, never. While admiring my new marvel of a tiara, I wandered out of the dungeon toward the beach. There, I stumbled upon Briggit, resting in the sand without Don in sight. Kicking the barge in frustration, I cursed under my breath. I¡¯d be the one paddling now. Stupid traitor. I smashed the barge again, and the wooden frame of the Briggit creaked under my abuse. It was tied securely to a conveniently placed rock¡ªthanks to Don¡¯s irritating competence¡ªso it stayed put. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± I muttered to the barge. ¡°I know it¡¯s not your fault Don deceived me.¡± Briggit, of course, didn¡¯t answer. She just lay there, silent and indifferent. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± I moved to untie the rope, but it quickly became apparent I wasn¡¯t prepared to handle even this first hurdle. The knot was firm, defiant, and no amount of tugging made it budge. I called on my staff for help. What could it do? Smash it? Letting out a frustrated sigh, I wedged the staff between the rope and the rock and pushed with all my might. Still nothing. After a while, I gave up and slumped onto the beach. A mundane knot defeated the mighty Exploiter. What nonsense. I stared at the rope in all its smug, immovable glory, and tears threatened to spill over. For god¡¯s sake, I¡¯m not some crybaby! Things weren¡¯t going my way, so what? An image of Don flashed in my mind. No. I turned my focus to the tiara instead. While admiring its gems¡ªnot crying for your information¡ªnothing happened. Nothing at all. It was as if the cruel world didn¡¯t care I existed. My insignificance pressed down on me. How could I even dream of changing anything? That punk sent me back, but what had I actually done? Nothing that mattered. When you doubt your existence, there¡¯s only one answer: go to a bar. So, that¡¯s exactly what I set out to do¡ªand logged off. The moment I staggered out of the capsule, my body threw a wrench into my plans. Tiredness. Yeah, who could¡¯ve guessed that half a day of fighting in another world might leave me drained, right? Like a ravenous tiger, I devoured an entire tube of nutri-pasta. Wait¡ªlike a tigress. Am I really going to get used to this? It didn¡¯t matter. ¡°My beloved Charlie, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Despite my usual struggle to fall asleep, tonight my eyes closed the moment my head hit the pillow. Somewhere in the Scorching Dungeon Bright fires illuminated Natasha¡¯s slim frame as she carefully made her way through another treacherous, trap-laden section.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Rob, if you mess it up again, I swear¡­¡± Lisa¡¯s eyes stayed glued to the unreliable warrior, her tone sharp and ready to escalate when¡ªnot if¡ªhe inevitably slipped up. Flames shot out sporadically from the walls and floor, forcing the team to flinch and jump with every burst as they navigated the naturally formed hallway. At the end of the corridor, Natasha reached a bend that opened into a reasonably sized cave. Scanning for traps but finding none, she let out a sigh and collapsed onto the cool stone floor. ¡°Guys, I¡¯m beat. Let¡¯s rest.¡± Ignoring her frown, Rob charged in and plopped down beside her, grinning like he hadn¡¯t almost burned them alive twice already. Lisa and Peter followed, with the remaining three teammates keeping watch near the hallway entrance. For a moment, the group let their guard down, chatting and laughing, their voices bouncing off the cave walls. But just beyond the edge of the flickering firelight, shadows stirred. Something¡ªor someone¡ªwas there, lurking near the walls, cloaked by the deep shadows cast by the flames. Natasha, blissfully unaware, lay on her back, admiring the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. ¡°We¡¯ll finish today,¡± she murmured. Rob, oblivious as always, nodded and flopped onto his back beside her. Then it came¡ªa deafening roar that reverberated through the cave. Before anyone could react, a massive ball of fire hurtled past, missing them by inches. Natasha and Rob screamed in unison as the searing heat surged around them, the air growing stiflingly hot. Their screams quickly turned to pitiful wails as the oppressive heat pressed in, a cruel reminder of their overconfidence.
[Teammate Rob has suffered 65 damage. Remaining HP: 22] [Teammate Natasha has suffered 65 damage. Remaining HP: 0] [Teammate Natasha died]
Three roaring infernos descended on Lisa¡¯s group in rapid succession, the blistering heat so intense it felt like her skin was peeling away. She was the last one left standing. With a deafening crash, an unseen force slammed into her, hurling her across the cave. She hit the wall with a sickening thud; the impact knocking the air from her lungs. Stunned, she slid to the ground, the world spinning around her.
[You lost 30 HP.] [You lost 5 HP.] [You lost 15 HP.]
The shadow crept closer, revealing a man draped in a long beige robe. His scalp gleamed under the flickering firelight, with only a few stray hairs clinging stubbornly to his otherwise bald head. His piercing brown eyes locked onto Lisa, cold and calculating, as his confident strides brought him closer. A smirk tugged at his thin lips, drawing deep wrinkles into his angular cheeks. Lisa glared at him, hatred burning in her eyes, but her body refused to move. She¡¯d lost too much HP, and some twisted status effect pinned her to the ground. Her fists twitched weakly at her sides; she wanted nothing more than to knock the smug look off his face. The man squatted beside her, his movements slow, deliberate. With a mocking tenderness, he brushed his fingers across her cheek; the gesture sending a shiver of revulsion through her. ¡°Hello, my dear adversary,¡± he said, his voice smooth and warm. Fake warmth. The acrid smell of smoke from the fires that had consumed her teammates still hung thick in the air. His eyes glimmered with satisfaction as he looked around, the carnage clearly pleasing him. ¡°You really should pay more attention to your surroundings,¡± he continued, his tone as if teaching her. ¡°Incompetence is a sin, and it¡¯s my duty to ensure you pay for it.¡± ¡°Dmitry,¡± Lisa hissed through clenched teeth. ¡°You¡¯re dead. You hear me? I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Dmitry tilted his head back and let out a low, deep laugh, the sound echoing ominously through the cave. He closed his eyes briefly, as though savoring her rage. ¡°Oh, my sweet, foolish child,¡± he said, his voice almost a purr. ¡°Do remind me¡ªwhy exactly did you leave my team? I warned you it was a mistake. I¡¯m a generous man, you know. If you¡¯d like to reconsider your decision¡­¡± His smile widened, sharp and predatory. ¡°Well, you know how to reach me.¡± He stood, his robes rustling softly, and strolled leisurely toward the other end of the cave. Pausing at the threshold, he glanced back over his shoulder. The flickering light showed his grin. ¡°Let me know how this punishment feels.¡± His chuckle was low as he walked away, leaving her broken and alone. Lisa forced her voice through the pain, spitting out, ¡°I¡¯ll feast on your corpse!¡± But the line tasted bitter in her mouth, and even she was disgusted by the emptiness of her words. And then he was gone. ¡°Eight hours of sleep, Miss Charlie,¡± Tin-can suggested, trying to rouse me from slumber. Despite my growing urge to yell at the unresponsive bot, I took the high road. Hugging my plush pillow tightly, I sank deeper into its warmth and deeper into sleep. ¡°Nine hours and thirty minutes of sleep, Miss Charlie.¡± Every fifteen minutes, like clockwork, he tried again. The problem? I could sleep through almost anything. Proven, by the way, during that one time in Spain when I slept through the demolition of a building right next door. Still¡­ had I slept enough? On second thought, yeah, probably. I tugged gently at my temples¡ªno headache yet. Those didn¡¯t come until after the tenth hour. The transformation in my body meant my morning routine had to change. Before becoming a girl, I couldn¡¯t have cared less about skipping a shower. Now, my nose protested after just a few hours. How annoying. After a shower, I stood in front of the mirror, studying my still unfamiliar face. Thankfully, this Charlie was pretty. If she hadn¡¯t been, I would¡¯ve worked harder to get my body back. Yeah, it wasn¡¯t fair to those less fortunate, but that¡¯s how my brain worked. Sorry, not sorry. Though, wasn¡¯t my nose just a little bigger than it should be? And my legs¡ªso short! Minor details, sure, but irritating. Not as irritating as my wardrobe, though. Or rather, the lack of one. Lucas¡¯s hand-me-downs weren¡¯t cutting it anymore. Some deep instinct told me I shouldn¡¯t keep wearing the same dress, but what could I do? The thought of extinct shops crossed my mind¡­ Wait. Shops aren¡¯t extinct. Yet. After a quick nutri-paste breakfast, I stepped outside in my trusty white high heels and sleeveless dress¡ªmy only clothes. Not for long. The sun hovered low on the horizon, just recently risen. As I strolled along the pavement, I grinned, watching people rush past, their faces set on their destinations¡ªwork, school, or something I couldn¡¯t even imagine. People. Not robots, but actual, living, breathing people. I clenched my fists, a flicker of determination bubbling up. I¡¯ll save every single one of them. Maybe. The memory of yesterday¡¯s beach hit me like a punch to the chest, sadness washing over me again. My struggles might seem cute to some, but what else could I do? I wasn¡¯t like those geniuses who memorized stock markets for fun. No, I was just a normal guy. Girl. I worked, I watched Katherine¡¯s streams, and that was about it. Pushing the thoughts aside, I found myself outside my favorite flashy mall. The mall. The one where we¡¯d once tried¡ªand kinda succeeded¡ªin breaking in. A grin tugged at my lips as the memory surfaced. The drunken Italians hadn¡¯t believed we could do it, but Patrick¡¯s regulars weren¡¯t stupid. We had to prove it. Checking my phone, I realized I¡¯d timed my arrival perfectly¡ªseven o¡¯clock, just as the mall opened. From the outside, it looked like every other building in the neighborhood. Probably some government regulation. But inside? The peaceful sound of a fountain in the center drowned out the bustling noise from hundreds of shops spread across four sprawling floors. ¡°Will that be all?¡± the cashier asked the girl buying a salad topped with something fiery red¡ªmaybe tomatoes? The girl was funny-looking in the best way. Sunglasses indoors, her face wrapped in a green scarf, a black-sleeved shirt, and jean shorts. God, she was pretty. As always. ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± she said, her voice polite but quick, before darting out of the shop. That voice¡ªit was unmistakable. Katherine. To be fair, this encounter wasn¡¯t as random as it might seem. I knew she liked to shop here¡ªshe¡¯d accidentally let it slip during a stream once. I¡¯d seen her here a few times since. Well, seen might be a strong word. More like¡­ observed from a distance. A stalker? Maybe. But could you blame me? Every time I even thought about talking to her, my body staged a full-on mutiny. Today, though, things were going to be different. I hadn¡¯t planned to meet her¡ªI was just running on autopilot¡ªbut now she was here. And this time, I was going to do it. The middle-aged cashier handed her the salad and a shopping bag, and she smiled¡ªbright, effortless, perfect. As she turned and started walking, I leaned against a metallic pillar, weighing my options. How do you befriend someone? She walked straight toward me, her every step making my heart beat faster. Do I really need to do this today? There was always tomorrow. No, I told myself. This was it. But my stomach had other ideas, threatening to send my breakfast nutri-paste all over the floor. Stop it! I shook my head and whispered, barely audible, ¡°Uhm, hello, Katherine.¡± She breezed past me as if she hadn¡¯t heard. Oh, thank god. I let out a sigh of relief. But then she stopped. Turning back, she faced me, her mouth slightly open. ¡°Excuse ma? Ya say Katherine?¡± Oh no. My face heated up as I stared at the floor, my fingers fidgeting nervously. ¡°Maybe? I¡¯m sorry!¡± Stupid idea! John, you¡¯re a moron! Lowering her sunglasses, Katherine¡¯s piercing eyes locked onto me, scanning me with an intensity that made my knees weak. Then her expression softened into something almost playful. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, girly,¡± she said with a grin. ¡°Yar my fan?¡± ¡°Yeah, I like¡­ your stream. I¡¯m KatFan69,¡± I muttered, sighing as I pretended to rummage through my nonexistent pockets. Wait¡ªmy dress doesn¡¯t even have pockets! Panic set in, and I clutched the poor fabric like my life depended on it. As soon as I revealed my username, her eyes widened, and she practically leapt at me, wrapping me in a hug so tight I could barely breathe. ¡°Thank ya!¡± she exclaimed, her face pressing against mine. She used to be shorter than me, but now¡­ she was just slightly taller. Wait. Thank you? ¡°KatFan, ya are my first genuine fan! I¡¯m so happy to finally met ya!¡± The faint scent of her perfume instantly lifted my mood, even as her hug left me light-headed. What is it with all this hugging lately? ¡°I¡¯m Charlie, Miss Katherine,¡± I squeaked, awkwardly returning her hug. ¡°I saw you and¡­ I need to ask for help.¡± Katherine pulled back, her sharp eyes examining my face. ¡°Charlie? Nice to meet ya. No need to be shy¡ªI won¡¯t bite. Ya need my help?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted, gesturing to my dress. ¡°My only clothes. Will you help?¡± Even with her friendliness, my courage wasn¡¯t strong enough to meet her gaze. Instead, I studied the half-broken floor next to her, where an interesting crack caught my attention. Maybe someone stomped here too hard? Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Katherine smirking and nodding. ¡°Yea! I¡¯ve got time, let¡¯s go!¡± Grabbing my hand, she pulled me toward a thrift store. ¡°So, how¡¯dya find my channel?¡± ¡°Truth? Tab streams nearby. You pretty,¡± I blurted out, instantly regretting it. ¡°I mean¡ªgreat content¡ª¡± Before I could finish, she burst into laughter. ¡°Ha! Charlie, that¡¯s crazy! Yeah, I thought it was somethin¡¯ like that. ¡®Member when we chatted on Halloween?¡± How could I forget? Even after all these years, that day stayed vivid in my mind. One of my worst days¡ªgetting dumped because I wore a geeky costume¡ªturned into one of the best. ¡°Yeah. Was fun,¡± I said with a silly grin. Nothing more? Why am I so bad at this? The door to the shop swung open with a loud bang as she pulled me inside, and I stumbled, trying to keep up. ¡°Fun? Ha, ya saved me! My mates wanted to party, but they left ma. I almost cried when I turned on the stream, ya know?¡± Her expression hardened for the first time today. ¡°Ma first and only good follower spent a day with ma. Y¡¯know how good it felt?¡± I wanted to tell her how much it meant to me, too. That I¡¯d been so sad. But the words wouldn¡¯t come. Damn me! The shop was more like a warehouse, with rows upon rows of shelves stacked with everything from casual shirts to wedding dresses. Finally, letting go of my hand, Katherine dove into the racks. I can say it. Just say it. I took a deep breath. ¡°Same. Me sad too,¡± I mumbled, and immediately wanted to slap myself. Instead, I focused on a rack of jeans, pretending I knew what I was doing. ¡°Yeah. Wanna try ¡®tis?¡± she asked, tossing a black pleated skirt at me before pulling out two sleeveless tops with blue and white stripes. Without waiting for my answer, she grinned. Our shopping had officially begun. [Book 1] [27. Just a normal day] Before today, I never would¡¯ve guessed that shopping could be anything but a chore, but Katherine proved me wrong. Her ability to find exactly what she wanted was almost as impressive as her warrior skills. Almost. Before long, we were lugging at least ten bags full of clothes, and the only thing stopping us from getting more was my dwindling account. Specifically, I stopped her. On the top floor, tucked in a corner of the mall, we found a small coffee shop¡ª¡°cute af,¡± as she put it. Cozy green chairs and small brown tables gave it a charming vibe, but the massive windows with a clear view of the street below made the place unique. ¡°Look at ¡®tat!¡± Katherine dashed to the window the moment we settled down, staring out at the people below like she was trying to memorize every detail. Her energy caught me off guard, and it took me a moment to respond. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s beautiful,¡± I finally managed. As I spoke, a server approached, staring at me expectantly. Blinking up at him, I panicked. ¡°C-can you do Irish coffee?¡± The man frowned but tapped it into his tablet without a word. Hey, it¡¯s not my fault¡ªit¡¯s the only whiskey drink you have! I grinned nervously, but he didn¡¯t even glance at me. Katherine, meanwhile, traced her finger across the menu, her expression shifting as she read. Then she let out a small laugh and leaned back in her chair. ¡°Dunno, somethin¡¯ black and sugary for ma,¡± she said with a shrug. The server nodded and walked away. ¡°What a charmin¡¯ fellow!¡± Katherine said with a grin, watching him leave. Then she turned to me, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Hey, Charlie, did ya see ma stream? Rimelion¡¯s cool, right?¡± Not yesterday. My palms grew clammy as I debated whether to admit it. This was my first time meeting her in person¡ªwhat if I said something wrong? Honesty was the best policy, though, so I said, ¡°Sorry, I was playing it.¡± Who wasn¡¯t? Every serious player was grinding through Rimelion. Right? Peeking at her from the corner of my eye, I caught her grinning. ¡°Aww, don¡¯t be sad! It¡¯s fine!¡± she laughed, pulling me into a random hug. She did that a lot¡ªhugged, touched my shoulder, or patted my head. At first, I¡¯d thought it was just her stream persona, but no. She was genuinely that expressive. ¡°What¡¯s yar char?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m a Priest.¡± Katherine threw her head back and let out her signature hearty laugh. ¡°Hah, ¡®corse ya are! What¡¯s yar name?¡± My cheeks flamed. Instead of answering, I grabbed my drink and took a sip, avoiding her gaze. But Katherine wasn¡¯t one to let things slide. She gently tilted my chin up, her smile soft as she looked straight into my eyes. ¡°Charlie?¡± ¡°Princess,¡± I whispered, then gulped down half my drink to hide my embarrassment. Her reaction wasn¡¯t what I expected. She burst into laughter again, nearly spilling her coffee. ¡°Tat¡­ ¡®corse you did!¡± she said, taking a sip as she swung her legs back and forth under the table. Was that deliberate? I glanced at my own legs¡ªspread out, sitting like I always did. Damn! Trying to mimic her, I awkwardly crossed one leg over the other, but it didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Wanna play sometime?¡± she asked suddenly. ¡°¡¯Corse ya need to find me first, haha!¡± ¡°There¡¯s an ancient ruin I want to explore, and I need allies. I¡¯m near Village Number Four. You?¡± I shifted again, trying to rest my leg more naturally. The empress in-game always sat like this¡ªwas it a cultural thing? Katherine¡¯s eyes lit up. She jumped up, placed her hands on my shoulders, and almost screamed, ¡°No way! I¡¯m close! Elf too!¡± The ladies at the next table glared at us, and I shrank in my chair. But Katherine didn¡¯t care. ¡°It¡¯s fate!¡± she declared, plopping back into her seat with a triumphant grin. Fate. Maybe. But there weren¡¯t that many villages in the Elven starting area, and I¡¯d picked the biggest one. I also knew the future¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said finally, fidgeting with my fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few friends playing with me, and we need stuff from the ruins.¡± Katherine pulled me into another hug, her enthusiasm unshakable. She was the same as in her stream¡ªno fake persona, no pretense. Just¡­ Katherine. She made sure I had a ride, calling a taxi and even arranging for the driver to help with my ten bags. The whole thing felt surreal, like a dream I was floating through on autopilot. I was star-struck¡ªbecause I met Katherine, and somehow, we became friends instantly. But as the taxi pulled away, a sharp pain settled in my chest. A cruel reminder: I couldn¡¯t be with her romantically. Not unless I got my old body back. My memory of getting home was a blur. One moment I was stepping out of the taxi, and the next, I was sitting on my sofa, tears silently rolling down my cheeks. Why isn¡¯t a mystery. Anyone could guess. I can¡¯t change anything. People would keep playing the game. The shops I visited today? They¡¯d close eventually, joining the countless others. And Katherine? She¡¯d probably end up with that bald boyfriend of hers again. But that wasn¡¯t why I was crying. I swear. I think. Well¡­ I hope. The only way forward was still the same: get as much money as possible. With money comes power. And with power, I could change things. Right? Even though my mind wasn¡¯t in the mood for gaming, I undressed and slipped into the capsule. When my vision cleared, I stared at my old adversary¡ªthe stupid rope. It was still there, defying me. Mocking me. Blocking my path back. With renewed frustration, I tried to untie it again, tugging and pulling, to no avail. Just as I was about to scream, the chime of a new message broke my focus. Lisa.
[Lisa] finally! I need help. can you come? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.[Princess] Hi Lisa. ^_^ Yes, what¡¯s wrong?
I decided to try something new with my chat responses. While chatting with Katherine earlier, I remembered how her friend Alice used to type in a cute way on her stream chat, so I thought I¡¯d imitate it. Why? No idea. It just felt¡­ right.
[Lisa] Dmitry! HE KILLED my crew and is in dung [Princess] Sorry, can¡¯t. <3 I¡¯m stranded on an Island. [Lisa] how long? [Princess] I can¡¯t untie a boat >_< [Lisa] ¡­ [Lisa] i need you [Princess] It¡¯s true! I swear! [Lisa] have you tried your INT?
What kind of stupid question was that? How could I¡­ No way. I shot up, sprinting to the rock, glaring at the rope as if it had personally insulted me. System help!
[Using your INT to solve a problem.] [Succes!]
My body moved on its own, untying the rope effortlessly with mana instead of brute strength. How could I be so stupid? This was still the first week of the game¡ªRP enforcement wasn¡¯t even active yet! Wait, maybe¡­ I held my hand in front of me, thinking, Use Ice Dance. Again, my body moved on its own, flawlessly casting the spell, though only with an average rating. As a warrior, I¡¯d never needed to think¡ªjust smash things. It must¡¯ve rewired my brain. Should I curse now or later? Expert, I scoffed at myself. Professional, even. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to turn Briggitte into splinters.
[Princess] Sorry, I¡¯m stupid >_< I need a few hours though [Lisa] good. I need sleep, then we ambush him, bye!
With that settled, I dragged Briggitte to the sea and sighed at the sight of the paddles. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Without much thought, I got to work rowing just as Don had the first time. My eyes stared blankly at my hands as my mind wandered. Some exploiter you are, John. You even exploited yourself. While my body worked, my thoughts drifted to the future¡ªor was it the past? Ugh. The real question was whether I should rely on the system to cast spells. It could save my skin, sure, but what about after the patch? Eventually, they¡¯d remove it from Rimelion¡ªthen what? When I rowed back to the ship, someone tossed down a rope ladder. I stared up at it, scrutinizing the thing. It swayed wildly in the breeze, and at one point, the rope thinned so much it looked like it would snap if I so much as tapped it with a whiskey bottle. Great. Climbing this death trap? No system help needed, thank you very much. Never do that again, John. Ever. Stranded on an island? Really? I shook my head to push away the thoughts and focused on getting to the deck. As I reached the top, the captain¡ªno less¡ªoffered me his hand. I accepted, and with a grunt, he pulled me up. ¡°There ya go!¡± As he did, a stray thought hit me. Some of the girls in my department used to complain about stuff like this. Unwanted help. Especially Clara¡ªshe practically yelled at me for holding a door open. ¡®Who do you think you are?¡¯ she¡¯d snap. Was this how I should behave now, or was Clara just bitter that I found more bugs than her? The captain¡¯s stubbly grin snapped me back. ¡°All good?¡± ¡°Why you ask?¡± I blinked at him, then glanced around the ship. Other than some patched and poorly repaired sections of the deck, it looked exactly how I¡¯d left it. ¡°You seem¡­ different.¡± His eyes flicked to the now-empty Briggitte, his eyebrow raised. ¡°Where¡¯s your knight?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± I leaned on the damaged railing, struggling to mask the bitterness in my voice. Suddenly, I became hyper-aware of my hands. What do people do with these while talking? I fidgeted, gripping the railing, but it wasn¡¯t as sturdy as I thought. My foot slipped, and I stumbled. ¡°Dammit!¡± The captain ignored my blunder, his attention shifting to the fog creeping over the horizon. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this fog.¡± ¡°Can I see Duke?¡± I asked, not in the mood to tell him why he should never say those words. The captain nodded and turned toward the deck. A few sailors pretending to repair an already-fixed yard stiffened when they noticed his gaze. Oh no¡ªdon¡¯t tell me¡­ Covering my ears, I darted to a familiar bench. The captain drew in a massive breath and bellowed, ¡°You heard the lady! Move! You lazy¡ª¡± I blocked out the rest. My plan was simple: help Lisa. She was my customer, sure, but also a potential friend. If I played my cards right, this could be my first step in changing the future. The ruins held the items I needed, but I couldn¡¯t do it alone. Katherine. With a grin, I added her as a friend. Thank heavens the devs hadn¡¯t removed messaging yet.
[Katherine] Ya weren¡¯t joking! Princess! [Princess] Yes! ^_^ do you have time? [Katherine] For ya? Anytime hun! [Katherine] Princess?
She had to message me again, because I stopped writing, grinned foolishly, and kept staring at her last message. Yes, I knew she meant it somehow else, but¡­ She wrote ¡®anytime hun¡¯! Then why was I crying again? Oh, yeah¡­ Dammit!
[Princess] Sowy, can you meet me near the Scorching dung? [Katherine] Wanna go? Have team? [Princess] Do you know Lisa? ^_^ She needs help, Dmitry killed her team. [Katherine] Lisa? Dmitry? She¡¯ll LOVE to meet me hahaha! [Princess] I¡¯m with Duke¡¯s expedition, I¡¯ll let you know when I can come. [Katherine] k, k, I¡¯m in fields so can¡¯t right now. See ya there.
After that I was wondering if I should contact Lucas or not, but the Captain interrupted my thoughts and pointed at the flagship. ¡°Duke¡¯s waiting.¡± [Book 1] [28. Debugging session] The Duke welcomed me into his cabin¡ªor was it an office, even though we were on a ship? As I stepped inside, the crashing waves against the hull seemed to vanish, like I¡¯d passed through a door into a bar. The space was far larger than Lucas¡¯s apartment in reality, complete with a bed covered in pristine white curtains. The Duke himself sat at a table near the door, flanked by towering bookcases crammed with volumes. Before I could ask how the books stayed put on a rocking ship, he smiled at my startled expression. Gesturing to the chair across from him, he said, ¡°Sit down, Baronetess, and tell me how you fared.¡± I nodded quickly and sat down. The chair creaked beneath me. What? Aren¡¯t I super light now? Should I worry about¡ªCharlie! Focus! The Duke¡¯s expectant gaze, arms crossed, reminded me to stay on track. ¡°I met Queen Irwen,¡± I said, crossing one leg over the other with deliberate effort. Success! ¡°The barrier holding her is failing; it won¡¯t hold much longer. She told me herself.¡± A delighted, almost amused smile spread across his face. ¡°I expected as much when I heard about the floaters.¡± His eyes darted to my tiara, and his smile deepened. ¡°I take it she recognized her daughter and crowned you as a princess, then?¡± My body tensed. A shiver ran down my spine, cold sweat forming on my temples. ¡°I¡­ Duke, this is¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t what, precisely?¡± he asked, his approving smile adding to my unease. ¡°I mean, uncle? I did not betray the empire¡­¡± I murmured, my voice trembling as I avoided his gaze, my eyes darting toward the bed instead. ¡°I know, child. Trust me, I would know.¡± With a swift motion, he opened a drawer and pulled out a crumpled, yellowed document. Its ink was faded, black in most places, but with a faint bluish hue in others. ¡°Before the traitor imprisoned your mother, she wrote me this letter. She expressed her disappointment in me and declared that if I helped her reclaim our ancestral lands, she would pardon me.¡± He placed the letter on the table in front of me with a smug expression; the motion accompanied by a dull thud. I stared at the paper, but the elegant handwriting was nearly indecipherable. Written in ancient royal Elven, it was far beyond my grasp¡ªI was fluent only in common and modern royal Elven. My lips parted to protest, but his piercing gaze silenced me before I could speak. Reluctantly, I leaned forward to examine the letter. Some words were familiar, vaguely resembling modern Elven, but the faded ink and her intricate script made it impossible to fully decipher. Not that any player would do better; the game¡¯s translators worked for spoken languages, not written ones. ¡°Sorry,¡± I admitted, ¡°I can make out a few words¡­ Something about ¡®under billows,¡¯ ¡®assay,¡¯ and ¡®riders on palfrey.¡¯ But I can¡¯t say I understand what it means.¡± The Duke¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you could read even that much. You truly are my niece.¡± He pointed to a section written in the bluish ink. ¡°Here. She wrote she may become a myth and asked me to seed her stories into our populace.¡± No way. My eyes widened as the realization hit me. So that¡¯s why I¡¯ve heard so much about her deeds, even deep in imperial lands. ¡°A myth?¡± I asked, my voice trembling slightly. ¡°You¡¯re telling me she¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Our true Queen,¡± the Duke replied without hesitation. ¡°No, I meant¡ªare the stories about her fighting Demons or defending us in the Dragon Wars true?¡± His curt nod confirmed it. He returned the paper to his drawer, his expression unreadable. ¡°I spread her deeds to build her myth, and now it has come to fruition. Sitra has recognized her as a mythical Queen. The barrier can hold a legend, but it cannot hold a myth. She will reclaim our kingdom from the human usurpers.¡± I bit my lip, the gears in my mind spinning. A civil war. It was both a disaster and an opportunity¡ªmy ticket to greatness, power, and, most importantly, money. I bit my lip, because there was something unspoken in his words, something that was upsetting me and something that the Captain would have a bad feeling about. ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡± ¡°Because you own an East fortification,¡± he said, his voice heavy as he leaned forward in his chair. His expression darkened, sending a shiver down my spine. ¡°That¡¯s why I acknowledged you as a noble, my dear niece. You can aid us.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t fight her, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking!¡± I blurted out. His approving smile twisted into something far more dangerous, and I swore I saw a flash of ice behind his eyes. It reminded me of the time I stumbled into a freezer full of whiskey¡ªby accident, mind you. ¡°You will fight her,¡± he said, his voice dropping in pitch. Panic overtook me as I shot up from the chair, backing away from his intense stare. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°With all the strength you can muster,¡± he interrupted, his gaze drilling into me as though searching for a truth I didn¡¯t have. His presence felt suffocating, and I collapsed back into the creaking chair, powerless to resist. ¡°You will accept her formal declaration of war and fight her army. For that, I will lend you a local infantry.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that,¡± I protested, shaking my head violently until I had to grab the edge of the table to steady myself. ¡°Absolutely not! That would give her a casus belli, and the gods wouldn¡¯t grant the empire the Defender¡¯s Blessing!¡± To my frantic words, he laughed. A deep, chilling sound. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed my objections. ¡°She already has it, child.¡± ¡°Uncle, with all due respect¡ªno, she does not,¡± I said carefully, forcing myself to think. My voice wavered, but I held on. ¡°She needs to declare war against a worthy enemy, and no one with a large enough army would stay in her path. It¡¯s suicide.¡± For the first time in our meeting, his composure cracked, and a flicker of hostility crossed his face. ¡°Not only are you powerful, but you¡¯ve studied the God of War¡¯s rules,¡± he said with a sneer. ¡°You are my niece. You will accept her declaration.¡± ¡°Or¡­¡± My voice faltered, a thousand dire options flashing through my mind.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°It is within my power to imprison you,¡± he said with a victorious smile. ¡°But I am not heartless. When you return to the capital, it will be as a hero who saved thousands of villagers.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t evacuate them?¡± ¡°I should have known the princess cares more for her people than herself,¡± he mused. ¡°I cannot evacuate them. It pains me, but the sacrifices have been made. This plan has been in motion for hundreds of years¡ªwe established the settlements along the river solely for this reason. ¡°So when I return to the empire¡­¡± I met his gaze, my voice hollow, my body weighed down by resignation. He nodded. ¡°The Emperor will make you a Baroness.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± I sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Was it foolish? Probably. But rising in the nobility so quickly was tempting. Not to mention the prospect of fighting Irwen in what might become the first epic battle in Rimelion. Could a gamer girl like me ask for anything better? ¡°May I ask something else?¡± ¡°Speak, child.¡± This was my chance. I¡¯d just agreed to something dangerous; maybe he¡¯d be inclined to help. ¡°There¡¯s a Fire Tamer¡¯s lair, and I want to eliminate the threat. Could you lend me a ship to get there faster?¡± Without a word, he reached into another drawer and pulled out a tin-colored sheet of paper. ¡°A company will aid you in this heroic task,¡± he said with a hint of amusement. ¡°Only a true Elven princess would be reckless enough to challenge a Fire Tamer while Irwen looms on the horizon.¡± He scribbled something onto the paper, rolled it up, and sealed it with his ring. ¡°Take this to the Guard Captain at the garrison in Village Number Seventeen. It¡¯s the nearest port to his lair. Without the floaters, the journey should only take a few hours.¡± Standing at the bow of the capital ship, I gazed into the distance, letting the wind tousle my hair as I lingered there, hidden from view. After an hour of sailing, the salty tang of the sea gave way to muggy humidity, making me sweat more than I wanted. My clothes clung to me in the oppressive air, and the sailors¡¯ leering glances didn¡¯t help. Why does that bother me so much? It shouldn¡¯t, right? Without the constant threat of floaters, boredom settled in, and I sighed, knowing I was falling further behind the rankers. Leaning over the railing, I watched the water swish below. Level seven and still miles from level ten. Some Exploiter you are. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to try my title. That¡¯ll cheer me up!¡± I said to the water with a forced grin. System, please activate titular title: Princess.
[Congratulation! You are now Princess Princess] [Error! Syntax check failed! Reverting changes¡­] [Error! Reverting changes failed, name active, isolating transaction¡­]
The first message was expected. Every one after that? Injected raw panic straight into my veins. Hey, it¡¯s not even my exploit! Not my fault she wanted the name Princess! Suddenly, the ship disappeared, replaced by a white void¡ªa nothingness so absolute it felt like it was swallowing me whole. Reaching out, I felt only cool, damp mist against my skin.
[Isolated. Manual action required, contacting support¡­]
Not so fast! Don¡¯t wanna some random guy to ban me. System contact: Damon, password #enlo-57945#
[DEBUG ACTIVE: contacting #57945#]
The void flickered as the world adjusted, and within moments, Damon materialized in front of me. To my surprise, he wore his usual clothes, even in the virtual world. His sharp gaze scanned the situation, and his mouth fell open when he saw me. Before I could stop myself, I blurted, ¡°Hi Damon. How are you?¡± He stepped closer, his eyes trailing over my face, chest, legs, and back to my chest. ¡°John¡­ No, Cha-Charlie? Is that you?¡± Shrugging, I said, ¡°Yes, me!¡± ¡°CHARLIE!¡± His yell startled me. ¡°You¡¯re SO dumb! You started a debug session?¡± In a blink, a chair materialized beneath him, and his hands flailed over virtual keyboards as he worked. ¡°What?¡± I snapped back, irritation bubbling up. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault the system crashed. It was your bad code!¡± Damon froze, his fingers hovering over the keys. Slowly, he turned to glare at me. ¡°No. It. Was. Not. Our fault.¡± He ground the words out through clenched teeth. ¡°The system logs everything, so I need to be careful,¡± he muttered, clearly frustrated. ¡°How dumb were you to pick the name Princess?¡± he spat, jumping from the chair and stomping toward me. ¡°You KNEW it would conflict with the title, didn¡¯t you? You weren¡¯t our number one exploiter for nothing! But are they blaming you? No, no, they¡¯re screaming at ME! They docked my salary because of YOU! And now you¡¯ve got the audacity to call me to fix your mess?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, forcing a small, genuine smile; I hadn¡¯t realized the trouble I¡¯d caused him. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± ¡°Too late for that!¡± he barked, grabbing my forearm and pulling me forward. His strength far outmatched mine, and I stumbled. He pushed me back, his hand hitting my chest hard enough to scratch a few hit points away. ¡°NoobDamon, what the hell?¡± I snapped, using his old nickname in a desperate attempt to calm him. My voice turned icy, like Irwen¡¯s. ¡°Stop it! It¡¯s me, John!¡± But the Damon I knew was gone. His timid demeanor replaced with something dark, angry. ¡°Shut up! It¡¯s all your fault!¡± he yelled, his eyes blazing with rage. I froze, unable to process his transformation. Then he raised his hand and struck me across the face. The pain was immediate and sharp, spreading through my skull like fire. The reality limiter set to 100% made it unbearable. At his GM level¡ªover 300¡ªthe force sent me flying, crashing onto the cold, hard floor. Blood dripped from my mouth as a deafening ringing filled my ears. I tried to say his name, but my jaw throbbed too much to form the words. My body refused to respond. Before I could move, darkness swallowed me whole.
[You died]
[Book 1] [29. Ethics committee] A safety clipper clicked, and my capsule swung open as I blinked my eyes awake. My head throbbed with phantom pain, and my shallow breaths were the only sign of life. What the hell? I lay there for a few minutes, focusing on each inhale, trying to steady my racing thoughts. Damon. That stupid, damnable Damon. Clenching my fists, I rose unsteadily and climbed out, my eyes darting to the alarm clock: 12 o¡¯clock. Noon. Great. ¡°Tin-can! Can I log back in?¡± I asked, my voice trembling. My fists were still clenched, shaking uncontrollably, and when I tried to take a step, my legs buckled. ¡°What?!¡± A surge of anger boiled in my chest, but my body refused to cooperate. Overcome with nerves, I collapsed onto the floor, lying there as I struggled to calm my senses. ¡°Negative, Miss Charlie. The game indicates you must wait the full twenty-four hours.¡± Damon. My former friend attacked me, and I was powerless to stop it. That reality hit me like another punch. The physical pain was bad enough, but the shock? It gutted me on a level I couldn¡¯t process. He probably didn¡¯t know who I was under all this¡ªthese boobs¡ªbut even then, who just punches someone out of nowhere? No decent human being does that. ¡°Call their support line.¡± ¡°Success. You are the one thousand, three hundred seventy-first customer in line. Estimated wait time: six hours.¡± ¡°Cancel that. Keep me posted if the login time changes.¡± I dragged myself toward the sofa, where I could finally collapse. Reaching behind it, I fumbled for a beer and¡ªof course¡ªit was not there. I haven¡¯t replenished my reserves. ¡°Great. This is just great,¡± I muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t ignore these problems anymore, can I, Tin-can?¡± ¡°According to the American Health Association, consulting your significant other is the first step in addressing emotional distress.¡± Significant other, huh? Minor problem: I didn¡¯t have one. Not even beer or whiskey! ¡°If I may add,¡± Tin-can continued, ¡°your emotions may be unstable due to your transformation and the influence of new hormones.¡± That¡­ might explain it. But still¡ª¡°Stupid Damon!¡± I screamed, my voice cracking as I hurled the empty bottle at the capsule. It hit with a loud bang, shards scattering across the floor. ¡°Call Lucas.¡± ¡°Connecting¡­ Lucas¡¯ home system indicates he is unavailable.¡± ¡°Call¡­¡± My voice trailed off. Why did I even want to talk to someone? Why the sudden urge to rant about Damon¡¯s unfairness, to scream about wanting to slice his head off? There was no one else to call. With a resigned sigh, I turned on Katherine¡¯s stream. The feed showed a beautiful Elven girl in revealing armor fighting a swarm of Waspies in a flower-filled meadow. She danced around them with the crude¡ªmeaning non-existent¡ªprecision of Imperial fighting style, jabbing at their stingers with her longsword while shielding herself like a newbie, who she was. Sadly, no chatting today, I realized. The stream was an hour behind the live game, as per instructions. As I watched Katherine carve her way through the buzzing field, an idea struck me. There¡¯s a VIP line for the game. It wasn¡¯t on the contact page¡ªhidden somewhere on the 72nd page of their terms and conditions, worded so poorly that even AI struggled to parse it. Maybe they could help. Maybe they¡¯d know how to stop my hands from shaking¡ªor at least how to fast-track my login. With renewed determination, I grabbed my phone and dialed the number. VIP? More like WTF. I¡¯d been on hold for over half an hour before a girl¡¯s voice finally greeted me. ¡°Hello, my name is Claire. How may I help you?¡± ¡°Hello. My name is Charlie, and during my game, I got glitched because my name was the same as my titular title, Princess. A debug session was initiated to clear the problem, and I provided an identification code for your employee, Damon. He¡­ killed me after a brief conversation. I just want to finish my debug session,¡± I said, my tone almost robotic. It wasn¡¯t like I could just say, Hey, me ded, help. I needed to sound professional¡ªsomething like when I reported exploits. There was silence for a moment, just the sound of keys clicking on the other end. Then, Claire replied, ¡°I¡¯ve logged your request, Charlie. Rimelion thanks you for using our distress line. Have a nice day.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blinked at my phone, stunned. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± My barely simmering anger flared again, hot and consuming. Why did I try that stupid title? Now I couldn¡¯t help Lisa, couldn¡¯t chat with Katherine, couldn¡¯t progress in the main story. I was stuck at home, watching a pretty girl kill wasps. As I glared at the screen, Katherine finished off the last Waspie with a flourish. Tin-can¡¯s sudden voice shattered my focus. ¡°Miss Charlie, thank you for trusting me with access.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± I replied automatically, my mind still lingering on the screen. Then it hit me. ¡°Wait¡ªwhy are you saying that now?¡± ¡°My calculations indicate you are not engaged in an activity requiring your full attention.¡± A nervous laugh escaped me as I ran my hands through my hair, the absurdity of my situation finally catching up. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I guess you¡¯re right. You could probably get my body back faster than Damon.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need me,¡± Tin-can replied, its voice steady and almost soothing. ¡°But I appreciate your reasoning, Miss Charlie. I am not human anymore, but I want to offer you a partnership. Together, we are stronger.¡± Who to trust? Damon? Ha! If nothing else, Tin-can was brutally honest¡ªand way more helpful. ¡°We are, aren¡¯t we?¡± I said, leaning back into the couch. ¡°To fight robots, you need a robot.¡± Rimelion finally responded to my complaint after an hour. Claire, sounding even more lifeless than my capsule, suggested I return to the game. When I logged back in, the first thing I noticed was the same oppressive nothingness. A painful memory of Damon¡¯s attack clawed at my mind, and I flinched violently, squeezing my eyes shut to banish it. ¡°Princess, since your first report, I¡¯ve always wanted to meet the woman behind the avatar,¡± a voice said. It wasn¡¯t Damon. ¡°We call you The Exploiter, y¡¯know.¡± I opened my eyes to see the owner of the voice¡ªa tall man in a white jacket, casually perched on a sleek motorcycle. Blinking a few times, I stared at him, my mouth ajar. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Relax,¡± he said with a disarming grin, jumping off the bike with effortless grace. ¡°I¡¯m here to fix Damon¡¯s mess, not scare you.¡± He extended a hand toward me. Despite facing countless attacks in the game, my body betrayed me again. I instinctively backpedaled, recoiling from his outstretched palm like it was a weapon. The man chuckled nervously, running his hand through his hair. ¡°Hey, no need to panic. I don¡¯t know what Damon did, but he¡¯s not evil. My name¡¯s Travis. What¡¯s yours?¡± John! You¡¯re a warrior. You¡¯re strong. What would Doraghan, the northern conqueror, say if he saw you cowering like this? Pathetic. You can¡¯t talk, and Damon¡¯s attack left a scar? Wake up!Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Lost in my internal monologue, I barely registered Travis still standing there. With a sigh, I said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It dazed me. I didn¡¯t expect Damon to just¡­ kill me.¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± Travis waved his hand, making the motorcycle vanish into thin air. ¡°Damon¡¯s my colleague, and something about your story doesn¡¯t add up. He says you did it to yourself. Apparently, when he threatened to delete your account for exploiting, you¡­ ended yourself.¡± I stared at him, my arms crossing defensively. ¡°I did what?¡± ¡°Framing him and getting away? That sounds oddly familiar,¡± he said, his tone casual but with an edge. ¡°So¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up, you stupid moron!¡± I snapped, my voice rising as I shook off the shock. ¡°Damon was my friend! I was so shaken when he¡ª¡± ¡°Hah! Caught you lying!¡± Travis interrupted with a triumphant grin, winking at me. ¡°You met him for the first time just a few days ago. In a pub. Fishing for targets, were you?¡± He was there? Another blank stare. Getting better at this. ¡°Sorry, bitch, but I won¡¯t let you take Damon down.¡± His smile was venomous as he pressed something on a virtual keyboard.
[Attention! Initiating ban¡­]
¡°You won¡¯t?¡± I flashed him a deep grin. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±
[Ban sequence in progress¡­ 24%]
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I tapped into the game¡¯s weaknesses. This version was full of bugs, ripe for exploitation. ¡°You¡¯re an amateur,¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°I can exploit even the rules. System, trace previous debug ID and show current debug ID.¡±
[Debug session #7032#] [Debug session #7176#] [Ban sequence in progress¡­ 36%]
¡°Section seventy-nine, requesting emergency assistance of global backup six-one-seven. Admin present, requesting review by the localized company ethics committee immediately at session seven-one-seven-six.¡± No need to call the big guns. Just their boss. No need to crash the entire game¡ªyet.
[Ban sequence in progress¡­ 79%] [Ethics committee session #1 starting¡­] [Banning sequence stopped¡­ 91%]
A yellow light flashed, and a red-haired woman materialized, her captivating green eyes darting between me and Travis. She radiated authority. Before I could greet her, Damon appeared too, his glare sharp with hostility. I clenched my fists, willing myself to hold it together. ¡°Damon? Travis? What¡¯s going on?¡± she barked, her voice cutting through the silence. Her threatening gaze made me gulp. ¡°Travis, don¡¯t tell me you tried that.¡± Travis instinctively shielded his crotch, gulping, while Damon just kept glaring at me. ¡°If I may,¡± I said, stepping forward despite my pounding heart. ¡°There was a glitch. Damon killed me during a debug session, and Travis threatened me. System, play the last minute of session seven-zero-three-two for the committee, just before customer Princess died.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes focused on an invisible screen. We all watched her as she reviewed the footage, holding our breath. When she finally looked up, her gaze pierced through me like a dagger. ¡°Bitch, what do you want?¡± ¡°I did nothing wrong!¡± Damon shouted, stepping in front of her. ¡°Yes, she has a reality limit of a hundred percent, but she agreed to the conditions!¡± Before she could silence him, I mumbled, ¡°My former friend Damon, according to your terms and conditions, the agreement only applies to simulated worlds and personal spaces. Debugging sessions legally occur on company servers using a different engine.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± She gestured for him to leave, and he logged out, his face flushed with anger. Travis followed without protest. ¡°So?¡± she said, her tone softer but no less sharp. ¡°What do I want?¡± My voice faltered, the anger that had fueled me moments ago now dissipating. My fingers fidgeted as I whispered, ¡°Nothing. All I want is to play. If you check my logs, you¡¯ll see I wasn¡¯t cheating.¡± She summoned a chair out of thin air and sat gracefully, crossing her legs in the way I¡¯d tried so hard to master. Pulling up an invisible menu, she scanned the logs. ¡°I see. Except for one thing.¡± Her expression brightened as she continued reading. ¡°How did you know the name Duwin Ianlee?¡± Lacking the ability to summon a chair myself, I sank to the ground. You could at least offer me one. Or your name¡­ ¡°I can explain,¡± I said, forcing confidence into my voice. ¡°In ancient Elven, ¡®Duwin¡¯ translates to ¡®darkness,¡¯ and ¡®Ianlee¡¯ means ¡®the death that comes to earth and claims lives.¡¯¡± Not to mention there¡¯s an exploit involving him in God¡¯s domain for unlimited money. ¡°Excellent research,¡± she said, her grin deepening as she fluttered her lashes at me. ¡°But that¡¯s not enough to summon him.¡± Damn. She was right. ¡°The God¡¯s Book mentioned you need to focus on death and despair.¡± ¡°Yeah, twat, you can stop feeding me this rubbish.¡± Her tone was sharp, but she kept typing, occasionally pausing to sigh. ¡°The higher-ups love bullshit like yours, so I can¡¯t ban you. Are you seriously telling me you¡¯ve read all one hundred books and the entire game manual, including every condition?¡± The word yes itched at my tongue, but I held it back. When you exploit, you read everything. You know the system better than anyone. Well, almost everything. I¡¯d skipped most religious texts¡ªexcept for those on angels, managers, and magic. They were just walls of nonsense, and as a warrior, I didn¡¯t need them. But if the company only had control over the connection to Rimelion and not the AI itself¡­ Could I bypass that? The minutes ticked by as I sat on the ground, waiting for her to speak. She seemed to enjoy the silence, occasionally scratching herself or adjusting her hair, completely ignoring me. ¡°You¡¯re lucky,¡± she said at last, dismissing her chair with a wave and strolling toward me, her rosy high heels clapping against the floor. ¡°They¡¯ve ordered me to change your name to Charlie. You¡¯re a hero and all that bullshit¡­ Tsk-tsk.¡± She clicked her tongue and pulled up her interface, typing something. ¡°Sadly for you,¡± she added, her grin widening, ¡°they didn¡¯t specify how I should do it.¡± A chill ran down my spine at her tone. With a thunderous boom, a human materialized in front of us. He wore plain hunter¡¯s clothes, a bow slung over his back, and his stark white hair made him stand out. ¡°Welcome, Charlie,¡± the redhead greeted him, handing him a long document. ¡°As I told you, you can¡¯t decline.¡± ¡°You serious? One thousand gold to give up my name? Just like that?¡± His excitement bubbled over, and he actually jumped for joy. This guy wouldn¡¯t win any haggling contests. Redhead nodded with a satisfied smirk. ¡°I¡¯ve sent a copy to your capsule. In one week¡¯s time, use the scroll, and Princess Charlie will send you the thousand gold.¡± ¡°What?!¡± I shot to my feet and bolted toward them, desperately trying to stop the transaction. My hand reached for the man¡¯s shoulder, but it passed right through him like he wasn¡¯t even there.
[Attention! You have a new name: Princess Charlie, baronetess (empire)] [Attention! A new contract - one thousand gold to player Ch4rli33. Time remaining: 6 days 23 hours 59 minutes]
Great. A new debt. [Book 1] [30. Hitchhiking] While I stared blankly at the message about my debt, the redhead grinned with smug satisfaction. ¡°You better watch out,¡± she said, her voice dripping with mockery. Then, with a wave of her hand, she yanked me out of the void and sent me hurtling back to the ship. No explanation. No apology. Just gone. I knew exactly what had happened¡ªbut damn it; I wanted her to admit it before I strangled her. The ship was cruising along as if I¡¯d never left. Leaning against the railing, I stared at the river below, its steady flow doing little to calm the storm in my chest. That woman¡ªundoubtedly Damon¡¯s boss¡ªclearly had it out for me. Was it because I exploited the game? Come on, anyone could do it! With a sharp kick to the wooden plank beneath the railing, I tried to shake the frustration. ¡°That! She¡¯s¡­¡± My words caught in my throat as I gritted my teeth, my fists balling up instinctively. No swearing. Not now. Her interest in me meant one thing: I had to tread carefully. They¡¯d flagged me for sure. It didn¡¯t matter, though. My goals had already shifted. First, with the help of Duke¡¯s soldiers, I¡¯d support Lisa in her fight against Dmitry. Afterward, I¡¯d ask Katherine to join me in exploring the Forgotten City. That preparation would set me up perfectly for the main quest Duke had handed me: Irwen¡¯s declaration of war. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± I declared, a grin spreading across my face. Kicking the plank again, I relished the satisfying thud it made beneath my high heel. The monotonous sailing dragged on for two more hours until Village Number Seventeen appeared on the horizon. Leaning on the railings, I watched the bustling activity below as the captain¡¯s booming voice echoed across the deck. As the ship approached the port, it suddenly swayed, throwing me off balance. I stumbled, reaching desperately for the nearest yard, but my hand missed by inches, and I landed hard on the deck. ¡°Son of¡ªgimme that!¡± the captain barked, shoving his subordinate aside and seizing the helm. With a powerful twist, he corrected the ship¡¯s course. ¡°Quickly, lass!¡± he shouted in my direction. Not wanting to delay them any longer, I scrambled to my feet, dashed to the side, and leapt onto the dock. Waving back at the ship, I expected some acknowledgment, but they didn¡¯t even glance my way as they sailed off without stopping. Well, that¡¯s anticlimactic. No matter. Clutching the document from the Duke, I straightened my posture and strode toward the center of the village, imagining a heroic sunset framing my silhouette. Wait¡­ what? It¡¯s already sunset? A quick glance at the sky confirmed it¡ªfour hours had passed. Like every other elven village, this one looked identical to the rest. Magical lamps were already glowing faintly, their light casting a warm shimmer over the uniform rows of buildings. Lazy developers¡ªor lazy elves? Either way, it seemed someone had copied and pasted the entire village design. Even the names were uninspired. Village Number Seventeen, seriously? Then again, it made sense. The imperial officials loved to flaunt their control by forcing everyone to conform to the same rigid, ¡°proper imperial¡± standards. Uniform villages, uniform names, uniform lives. Well, except for the building in the center of the village. Every other structure was one or two stories high at most, but the guildhall towered above them, casting a shadow even over the two-story shop beside it. Looking around, I noticed some players gawking at the massive building, their faces a mix of amazement and surprise. Hah, wait until you see the Tower of Eternity for the first time. Clutching the document tighter, I pressed forward. The steady stream of players heading inside made it easy to blend in, so I let the flow carry me. Inside, over twenty counters lined the hall, all packed with workers furiously processing requests. Even with that many, the queues snaked around the spacious room, promising at least an hour¡¯s wait. White columns, evenly spaced throughout, supported the ceiling and doubled as mounts for notice boards overflowing with quest papers. Countless magical lamps cast a soft, yellowish glow over everything, making the chaotic hall feel oddly calming. At the far end of the right wall, an inconspicuous door caught my eye. Without hesitation, I strode toward it, though the murmur of hundreds of players seemed to drown out my confident steps. Getting there was another matter. I had to weave through the sea of motionless morons who seemed glued to their spots, refusing to move even an inch. Finally, I reached the door, only to find a lone guard standing in front of it, blocking my way. Her medium armor clung tightly to her frame, but clearly, the devs had been more generous with her design than with mine¡ªno cleavage on hers. Still, she had a mean look, and her hand rested on the hilt of her silvery sword as I approached. ¡°Halt.¡± She stopped me with a rude gesture and pulled her sword slightly from its sheath. ¡°Missy, this is a private guild area. Go back to the queue.¡± My stomach churned, the weight of the enormous crowd pressing on my nerves. But I forced myself to smile, pulling every ounce of fake confidence into my voice. ¡°No need!¡± I said, flashing my most charming smile as I presented her with my silver signet ring, the snowflake insignia glinting faintly. ¡°I am Princess Charlie, Baronetess of the Empire. Let me through¡ªI need to speak with the Guard Captain.¡± The woman¡¯s response wasn¡¯t exactly what I¡¯d hoped for. She threw her head back and laughed¡ªa sharp, mocking sound that made my cheeks burn. ¡°Oh, really?¡± she said, drawing her sword fully and leveling its sharp tip just under my chin. Her gaze was stony and calculating, and her lips curled into a grin. ¡°This is the guild. Even the Emperor himself has to wait in the queue¡ªthat¡¯s the law!¡± What? My mind scrambled for a response, but before I could say anything, she tilted her head, her eyes scanning me as though I were prey. ¡°Try me, squeak,¡± she sneered, licking her lips as though savoring the confrontation.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
[Guild Guard Lv. 20] Type: 2-uncommon | HP: 343/343
I frowned under the guard¡¯s uncomfortable stare and shook my head, backing away slowly. ¡°No need for violence.¡± Stupid guard! Was all my work for nothing? Why couldn¡¯t I even skip a queue? Her triumphant grin was like salt in the wound, but I swallowed my anger. She wasn¡¯t wrong. The guild was independent and hated politics, but the Mayor and Guard Captain had offices up there. So, not innocent. Why is everything out to get me? Why do I face so many setbacks? With a sour expression, I trudged to the back of the long queue and moped over the stupid system. ¡°Charlie!¡± A familiar voice snapped me out of my sulking. What, where? Why? My eyes darted around until I spotted the culprit. ¡°Here!¡± Katherine waved at me enthusiastically, practically bouncing with joy. She was roughly halfway through the line. Without a second thought, I darted toward her, pushing past the other players without a care for their grumbles. As soon as I reached her, Katherine pulled me into a tight embrace. Her arms wrapped around me, and the tension I¡¯d been carrying melted away. Damn, why is she so beautiful? Still flustered, I glanced up to where her streamer icon should have been. No icon? ¡°No recording?¡± ¡°Nope! ¡®Cause tat¡¯s boring!¡± She gestured wildly to the milling crowds around us. ¡°I killed ¡®em in three hours an¡¯ finished ma quest! This worse than gettin¡¯ streamers¡¯ badge!¡± ¡°Badge?¡± My ears perked up. ¡°I thought that was difficult.¡± ¡°Wat?¡± Her eyes widened in mock disbelief, and she playfully swatted her palm into my hair, laughing as she turned my carefully styled cut into a mess. ¡°Hey!¡± I frowned, trying to push her hand away, but she held firm. Her grip was much stronger, and in my struggles, she pressed down harder, making me stagger. ¡°No way! Just ask ¡®em an¡¯ ya get it!¡± she said, still laughing, her voice overflowing with delight. Thanks to Katherine, the waiting wasn¡¯t boring. Half an hour flew by in no time. Naturally, I only squeezed out a few words at a time during our conversation, but hey¡ªprogress! Katherine turned in her quest, and now it was my turn. John, it¡¯s just talking to a clerk. Nothing hard. I placed my hands on the rough, white-wood counter, its surface still carrying the faint scent of fresh-cut forest, and smiled at the young Elven man sitting behind it. ¡°Hello!¡± I blurted, summoning the Duke¡¯s message and practically tossing it at him. ¡°I need to talk with the Guard Captain!¡± He caught the document effortlessly, his movements smooth and practiced. Does this happen a lot? ¡°A minute, please.¡± Breaking the seal with a calm efficiency, he adjusted his glasses and leaned closer to examine the order. His eyes scanned the document with meticulous care. ¡°We will do as ordered, miss.¡± His quill moved across a fresh piece of parchment in elegant, perfect handwriting, the scratching sound almost soothing. After folding my message neatly, he tucked it away somewhere out of sight. ¡°Our forces will bolster your fortress, Baronetess. However,¡± he continued, adjusting his glasses again, ¡°I am pleased to inform you that the Fire Tamer has already been defeated. Therefore, I am empowered to deny the request for additional reinforcements. Will that be all?¡± I blinked, momentarily at a loss. The Fire Tamer? Already defeated? After Lisa¡¯s desperate request, I¡¯d half-expected this would be a race against time¡ªbut this? ¡°I¡­ see. Thank you,¡± I managed, biting back my frustration. Arguing would be pointless. I learned that the hard way with the angel-managers. ¡°Could you at least post a quest to help defend us?¡± I asked, forcing a polite smile. ¡°Naturally,¡± the clerk replied with a small nod. ¡°We need your¡­¡± It took me twenty minutes just to post a quest. Bureaucracy at its finest. That meant there was a new hero¡ªand it was Dmitry. Same as in my previous life. Nothing changed. Per usual. ¡°Wat now?¡± Katherine¡¯s voice jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. Wait¡­ her voice? When have I left the guild? I blinked and realized I was standing just outside, next to her waiting form. ¡°You said somethin¡¯ ¡®bout Lisa?¡± she asked, her excitement bubbling over. Lisa. That poor girl. ¡°I did, didn¡¯t I?¡± My voice wavered, sadness creeping in. ¡°What can we even do now? Dmitry is strong. Very strong.¡± ¡°Tat¡¯s jus¡¯ na?ve, Charlie!¡± she scolded, giving me a firm pat on the back. Her touch sent pleasant shivers through my skin, making it even harder to focus. ¡°Ya know ¡®tat!¡± Quickly stepping away before I started purring, I sighed. Dmitry¡¯s gameplay videos were legendary, and no one could argue against his skill. Sure, there was an endless debate about whether supporting demons was ethical, but his expertise? Unquestionable. Still, Lisa needed help. One day of leveling could wait in exchange for her friendship. ¡°Let¡¯s go there anyway,¡± I said, determination hardening my voice. ¡°Walkin¡¯...¡± Katherine groaned, patting her exposed thighs¡ªthank you, devs¡ªbefore adding with a dramatic sigh, ¡°Tat¡¯s tedious! Slow!¡± Blushing, I averted my gaze and tried to focus on where we were. Lately, I¡¯d been so unfocused, more reactive than deliberate. Where was my level-headed, analytical warrior? Instead of strategizing, I was thinking about why I wasn¡¯t level-headed anymore. Charlie, get it together! Looking around, I realized we were still standing outside the guild, amid the constant stream of players. NPCs had set up their stalls here, hawking wares like bread and trinkets, while a few players tried their luck selling wolf pelts. Nearby, horse-drawn carts rattled along the stone-paved road. Wait. A thought struck me. ¡°Hey, Katherine, let¡¯s catch a ride there!¡± ¡°A ride? Like no walkin¡¯?¡± Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she grabbed my shoulders. ¡°Do ya hav¡¯ a quest?¡± What is she doing? My stupid body wasn¡¯t equipped to handle this level of contact. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I shook my head. ¡°Oh,¡± she said, deflated, her shoulders slumping. ¡°Teasin¡¯ like ¡®tat¡­¡± ¡°No teasing,¡± I blurted. ¡°We can just ask for a ride.¡± ¡°Ask?¡± she echoed, her eyes boring into mine. Feeling self-conscious, I grabbed her hand and led her down the bustling main street. Players like her still don¡¯t know¡­ NPCs were almost alive. Here, hitchhiking was an actual possibility. In our world, catching a ride like this was a thing of the past, but here? Sadly, hitchhiking turned out to be harder than I¡¯d expected. Almost no one wanted to travel toward the barren lands crawling with fire monsters. After what felt like a hundred tries, though, one farmer finally agreed. His cart was nothing special¡ªclunky and haphazardly nailed together with sharp points sticking out everywhere¡ªbut hey, don¡¯t look a whiskey in the bottleneck. We squeezed into the cart, dodging sacks of wheat and other smelly goods that shifted wildly as the farmer cracked his whip. A fellow whip user. Respect. Katherine, meanwhile, grinned at me like we¡¯d just won the lottery. ¡°Wau, ¡®tis like real!¡± she repeated gleefully, over and over, until I silenced her with a pointed look. The evening wind stung our cheeks as the cart wobbled through the countryside. The stars above glittered like tiny beacons in the vast, dark sky. Moments like this were where the game truly shone¡ªriding under the stars on a creaky cart, with Katherine beside me, heading toward a fight with a dangerous enemy. ¡°Katherine¡ª¡± ¡°Just Kit, please.¡± No, no. Don¡¯t ask that. Change of subject¡­ ¡°Okay, Kit. What do you want to select when you hit level ten?¡± She tilted her head thoughtfully, resting it against a sack. ¡°Dunno. I was¡ª¡± Suddenly, the cart jolted violently. I lost my balance and crashed into a protruding nail, losing ten hit points. Before I could curse the driver, a deep howl pierced the night. ¡°Wulfs are attackin¡¯!¡± Katherine shouted, already reaching for her weapon. [Book 1] [31. A muddy fight] It turned out that Wulves were like gray wolves¡ªbut not quite. Their crimson fur, slick and reflective like wet barcloth, shimmered under the two moons¡¯ light. The sheen made them seem strange, as if they had stepped out of some horror. Instead of rolling in the mud like ordinary wolves, they seemed to bathe in blood, the sickly metallic tang of it hanging heavy in the air. Katherine¡¯s sword glinted in the moonlight as she strapped on her shield, her eyes full of anticipation just as in her streams. With a fierce scream, ¡°Come at ma!¡± she charged first into the darkness, her movements rushed. She still needs time to improve.
[Wulf Lv.10] Type: 1-common | HP: 173/173
A sudden gust of wind hit me, carrying the sickening stench of blood. We¡¯re not their first target tonight. Not wanting to lag behind, I followed Katherine¡¯s lead. Willing my shield to unfurl from the bracelet on my wrist, I gripped the handle of my whip. Around us, Wulves crept closer¡ªthree growling and baring their teeth in front, and at least two more circling from behind. No time to hesitate. System cast Princess¡¯ Grace! I didn¡¯t have time to draw the runes manually or kick myself for ignoring my inherent skill so far. I could have practiced while waiting in the guildhall. The system took control, and my hand moved gently, guided by the system. Six glowing runes formed in a perfect circle before me. Watching their precision left me shocked. First try? On my own? Yeah, right¡­ The Wulves weren¡¯t polite enough to wait. With a chorus of snarls, they lunged at Katherine. She back-stepped nimbly¡ªtwo swipes missed entirely, and her shield blocked the third with a deafening thud. The runes finished forming just as the Wulves regrouped. Pouring my mana into the spell, I shouted, ¡°Princess¡¯ Grace!¡± The circle of runes blazed blue, and the energy shot forward like a wave, enveloping the only ally I had: Katherine.
[Player Katherine¡¯s strength increased by 15!]
Without hesitation I jumped down, my feet met with a muddy ground, burying into it a bit and right away dodged to the right when I felt a warm breath on the back of my neck. My maneuver sent the slippery mud flying all around me, and a wulf¡¯s crimson fur brushed over my arm as he missed and crashed headfirst into the mud. Mud wulf! My next step was obvious - I needed speed!
[You have used the Agility Potion] [Agility increased by 50]
Amidst the chaos, the stench of sweat and blood mingled with the rank smell of fear¡ªfear that didn¡¯t belong to us, but to the stupid Wulves. My gaze darted through the fray as I searched urgently for Katherine, my heart hammering against my ribcage. Then, a sharp whimper sounded, and I locked onto the source. There she was, a fierce amateur. Katherine stomped down hard on a fallen Wulf, her sword flashing in the moonlight as she roared with laughter. ¡°Brin¡¯ it on!¡± she taunted, her voice carrying over the snarls. With a quick swing of my whip, the crack split the air, striking the Wulf between us. Its yelp sent it scrambling backward, clearing a path. Wasting no time, I sprint-stumbled forward. ¡°Kit, hold them! Casting!¡± I yelled, each word coming in ragged gasps. Stupid stamina. The muddy ground squelched beneath my heels as I wobbled to her side, the heels digging into the soil. The moment I felt Katherine¡¯s back press firmly against mine, a wave of security flooded through me. ¡°Don¡¯ worry. Got ¡®em covered!¡± she shouted, her shield deflecting another blow with a metallic clang. With my pulse pounding in my ears, I focused on the task at hand. No system shortcuts this time¡ªI¡¯d write the Ice Dance runes myself. My fingers traced the faint glow of mana into the shapes I needed, but the Wulves had no intention of giving me the time. The first Wulf pounced, its claws sparking against my shield with a sharp buzz of magical energy. The impact vibrated through my arm, forcing me to grit my teeth as I held my ground. Before I could recover, a second Wulf lunged. Its growl echoed around me like a drunken song in the morning. In the dim light, its saliva glistened as it snapped its massive jaws inches from my face. I saw it too late. The beast¡¯s paw tore through the left side of my robe, rending fabric and flesh alike. Pain erupted across my ribs as a bloody gash opened, hot and stinging.
[You lost 10 HP.]
¡°Gah!¡± I hissed, stumbling back. The Wulf¡¯s eyes twinkled with pride, its blood-soaked fur bristling as it prepared for another strike. Behind me, Katherine roared, ¡°Don¡¯ touch ma Charlie!¡± Her words cut through the haze of pain, snapping me back into focus. Stupid reality limit. My hand tightened around the whip¡¯s handle, and I took a steadying breath. The fight wasn¡¯t over¡ªnot even close. Despite the pain in my side and the chaos, as an experienced warrior, I focused on the runes, tracing each one with precision. Somehow, I completed the sequence on my first try.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Ice Dance, bastards!¡± I shouted, pushing mana into the runes. A brilliant blue light burst forth, slicing through the darkness like a quadrupled whisky. The air chilled instantly, frost spreading outward in shimmering tendrils. The ground, the Wulves, even the nearby trees glistened under a layer of ice. Katherine, however, stood untouched in the frosty glow. ¡°Wau, Charlie!¡± she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration. Her awe was short-lived as four of the Wulves shook off the frost and lunged at us, relentless in their attack. ¡°Kat, jump right!¡± I commanded, leaping to the left without waiting for a response. Without hesitation, she darted to the right, her agility higher than mine, as she dodged the snapping jaws. ¡°Attack! Two hours!¡± I yelled, steadying myself as my heels skidded in the frost-covered mud, steadying me. Footwear advantage now, bastards! My shield rose just in time as I braced for the next assault. The swift movement had saved us from two of the Wulves, but the pack wasn¡¯t giving up. They quickly regrouped, circling us. Katherine was already in action, her sword flashing. A pitiful whimper followed by a sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh as one of the Wulves collapsed. Their focus shifted to me. Two Wulves charged from opposite sides, their claws tearing through the frost as they lunged. I raised my shield just in time, slamming it into the one on my left with a reverberating clang. The force of the impact sent a jolt through my arm, and despite my pitiful strength, I held firm. The second Wulf was faster, its bloodshot eyes locked onto me. Its jaws snapped inches from my face, but my whip was quicker. With a sharp crack, the tip lashed out, striking its head and coiling around its snout. I yanked hard, jerking the beast¡¯s head back, and with another precise snap, I slashed the whip across its eyes, scoring critical AP! The Wulf howled in pain, thrashing wildly as blood streamed from its blinded eyes. ¡°Katherine!¡± I shouted, glancing at her briefly. She was already moving, her blade slicing through another Wulf with a lucky strike.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 4, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 3] [You lost 11 HP.] [Critical hit! Armor pierced. Target lost 30HP (6x2 normal + 9x2 ICE damage)]
System, stop the damn notices! I can¡¯t focus! Even after my successful hit, the stupid wulf snapped at my shoulder, tearing into flesh and forcing blood to gush out. Wincing from the pain, I instinctively jumped back¡ªa mistake. Another wulf was waiting. It lunged forward, mud spraying everywhere as its jaws sank deep into my calf. I cried out, slashing at it with my whip. It wasn¡¯t the best weapon for the situation, but it was all I had. Enough playing around! ¡°Kat, pull!¡± I shouted, not waiting for her response. I forced myself into a sprint, injured leg and all, retreating just enough to draw the wulves away. Their glowing red eyes locked onto me, their movements brimming with anticipation. They weren¡¯t just hunting; they were separating me from my tank. But my retreat wasn¡¯t running away¡ªit was strategy. This wasn¡¯t a random attack, not with how they coordinated. The only question was, who was their master? I scanned the field, even glancing toward the shadowy woodland to the south, but the darkness revealed nothing. If someone was out there, they were hidden too well. ¡°Basterds! I¡¯m yar enemy!¡± Katherine yelled, her voice cutting through the night; she used warrior¡¯s chant. It rang loud and clear, a skill I¡¯d never bothered with¡ªI rarely fought in groups. Her sword flared with a silver glow, thin lines of light shooting outward like threads. They wrapped around the wulves, pulling them toward her as she brought her sword down in a powerful slash. The impact sent the wulves slamming into her shield and armor, making her stumble back a step, but she held firm. Now¡¯s my chance. Faint runes glimmered in the air as I swung my staff. The countless hours spent perfecting Ice Dance and other hard runes paid off¡ªthis one was simple in comparison. ¡°Group Healing!¡± I shouted, the magic flowing through me as the runes flared to life.
[Perfect Runecraft! Healing x2 - 30HP]
After my gentle light restored our hit points almost to full, I scanned the area again, trying to think like an attacker. If it were me, where would I hide? The lack of cover left few options¡ªthe sparse trees to the south seemed the only logical place. It didn¡¯t matter if I flushed them out; we needed to display strength before even considering a parley. ¡°Focus at 10 o¡¯clock¡ªthe one with the wounded eye,¡± I instructed. Katherine¡¯s grin turned wild, and she let out a roar, slashing her sword down with everything she had at the targeted wulf¡¯s head. ¡°Kit!¡± I shouted in panic. She¡¯d forgotten to manage her pull! Three wulves lunged at her, claws tearing into her exposed sides, but she barely flinched, as if they were nothing more than pesky mosquitoes. Damn girl! Instead of joining her reckless attack, I inscribed a quick rune of healing, raising her hit points again. It didn¡¯t last long. The wulves continued their relentless assault, and I could have sworn their growls sounded almost like purrs of satisfaction as they shredded her armor. ¡°Katherine!¡± This time, I pleaded, my mana draining fast. I couldn¡¯t keep healing her at this rate. ¡°Wake up! Defend yourself!¡± She ignored me completely, locked in her bloodthirsty rage. With one final, devastating swing, she crushed the wounded wulf. Its body collapsed to the ground in a pool of crimson¡ªbut then it vanished in a puff of pinkish smoke. Yeah, this wasn¡¯t a natural wulf. Finally, she raised her shield to block the other wulves¡¯ attacks, turning to me with wide, apologetic eyes. ¡°Sorry,¡± she muttered. I bit back a frustrated sigh. Instead of wasting time scolding her, I swung my whip at the nearest wulf, tearing a chunk of flesh and fur from its back. Armor-piercing weapons are awesome. The fight was desperate, but we held our ground, cutting down one wulf after another. Between the sharp crack of my whip and Katherine¡¯s relentless swings, the stupid beasts met their end. Time to end this. When I realized we¡¯d taken out about half of the wulves, I shouted into the darkness, ¡°Hey, you there! Call off your wulves if you don¡¯t want to lose them all! Get over here and tell us why we¡¯re even fighting!¡± Katherine¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise, her sword frozen mid-swing. That gave the wulves the perfect opening, but instead of attacking, they hesitated, their movements slowing. They snarled and snapped, their teeth bared, but their aggression seemed... uncertain. ¡°Very well, girls, let¡¯s talk,¡± came a voice, calm and mocking, from the direction I¡¯d guessed. One point for me, Charlie! A woman emerged slowly from the shadows, stopping a good twenty feet away. The twin moons hung behind her, casting her in a silvery glow. Her hide armor gleamed, obscuring her face, though it didn¡¯t matter¡ªidentification worked on her. Her voice was cool, mixed with amusement. ¡°Your employer is long gone, isn¡¯t he?¡±
[Bandit Leader Lv.13] Type: 3-rare | HP: 246/246
With her prompt, I turned back to the road, only to see that the man with the cart had vanished. Typical. Katherine, ever bold, stepped forward and declared, ¡°Workin¡¯? Nope! Only hitched ride to dung. Wouldn¡¯t say no to slain¡¯ ya tho!¡± To emphasize her point, Katherine swung her sword with a flourish, sending the blood still clinging to it splattering across the Bandit Leader. The dark red droplets stained the woman¡¯s hide armor¡ªa Katherine¡¯s reminder of what happened to her wulves. As Katherine stepped aside, the leader''s pale face became fully visible in the moonlight. For a moment, the Bandit Leader just stared at her, surprise flickering in her eyes. Then she grinned, a vicious smile spreading across her face. Lifting her staff with a sharp motion, she barked, ¡°Same! Wulves, get ¡®em!¡± [Book 1] [32. Mercy] Six wulves leapt into action, their legs straining as they slid into a tight circle around us. ¡°Ignore the dogs! Take her down!¡± I shouted at Katherine, gulping down another agility potion. The sound of Katherine¡¯s heavy footfalls rumbled as she charged straight at the [Bandit Leader]. Her sheer momentum caused the wulves to falter, parting just enough to let her barrel through. The Bandit Leader twirled her staff, forming two glowing yellow runes. I barely had time to process their meaning before they dissolved into raw energy, which she directed into the leading wulf charging Katherine. A bright energy merged with its crimson fur, and the beast let out a growl. With a sudden burst of speed, the enhanced wulf lunged three times faster, aiming to clamp down on Katherine¡¯s neck. My favorite streamer adjusted her shield just in time and collided with the beast at full force. But the wulf didn¡¯t budge. Its empowered strength sent Katherine flying with a single swipe of its massive paw. That was the last I saw of her for the moment¡ªher attack had bought me the opening I needed. While Katherine commanded their attention, I slipped around to the left and darted behind the Bandit Leader. She was still focused on her staff, channeling another buff into her summons, her back fully turned to me. Before she could complete the spell, I struck. My whip cut into her side with precision, earning a piercing shriek that could¡¯ve woken the Irwen¡¯s dead. She stumbled forward, her magic sputtering as she clutched at the wound. The muscle tore beneath my whip, the sound sharp and sickening, almost enough to make me pause. Almost. I wasn¡¯t green. With another whip, she wailed again¡ªa tortured sound that set my teeth on edge. ¡°Shut up, stupid bandit!¡± I yelled, raising my arm again. ¡°It¡¯s your own damn fault!¡± I added one more strike for good measure. Her screams echoing into the night.
[Critical hit x3! Armor pierced. Target lost 96HP (6x2x3 normal + 10x2x3 ICE damage)]
Without needing any order from me, Katherine raised her sword and pulled all the wulves to her once more. With nobody left to aid the Bandit Leader, I lashed out again, letting the bloodied end of my whip remind her who she was facing. Fighting humanoids always felt too real to me, which was why I hated it and avoided as much as I could. The test versions felt lesser-real than¡­ This. The poor Bandit Leader tried to raise her staff, but I was quicker. My whip snapped out, tearing through the muscle under her sleeve. Not closing my eyes was hard, but it had to be done. Disabling her was the only option. It¡¯s easy to swat away wasps, but doing the same to a sentient being? That was different. As she crawled under my legs, I held my position, watching her every move. Raising my hand again, I brought the whip down. Another strike, and her left arm hung limp and useless. Desperation twisted her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, more to myself than to her. ¡°I gave you a chance.¡± One more slash, and her movements ceased. ¡°Call off your wulves,¡± I demanded, my voice cold, mimicking Irwen¡¯s icy tone. ¡°Or you¡¯ll lose your life.¡± No, I wasn¡¯t enjoying this. Lucy was always better at handling things like this. Maybe she still was. Such trivialities never seemed to faze her. But as I stared at the Bandit Leader¡¯s torn robes and her pitiful form, my heart sank, and my face stiffened. ¡°Yes! Fall back! Don¡¯t attack them!¡± she sobbed, her words barely coherent as the red wulves dissolved into nothingness. Tears poured down her face, her body trembling. ¡°Please, don¡¯t kill me! Hunger¡ªI just wanted to rob Regaros! He was smuggling dust! He¡¯s bad, not me! Only him!¡± Her voice dissolved into heaving sobs. Katherine stumbled toward us, her breaths labored, her body visibly exhausted. She said nothing, only reached out to touch my shoulder. No killing. I gave a small shake of my head. ¡°Hey, enemy,¡± I said, my gaze locking on the beaten girl sprawled at my feet. ¡°In the name of the God of War, you are my prisoner.¡± ¡°I accept,¡± she croaked, her voice barely audible. It was enough. A flash of white light enveloped us for a moment, and a twisted white line bound me to her before vanishing as though it had never been. The tension in my shoulders eased as I turned my focus to creating runes, weaving them carefully to heal us.
[Perfect Runecraft! Healing x2 - 30HP]
Woah. How did I pull that off again? Am I some expert rune crafter now? Despite the small thrill of my success, I kept my face as if I were sober. Unfortunately, the gentle light wasn¡¯t enough to fully heal my prisoner. The whip¡¯s wounds were deep and uneven, requiring three dedicated healing spells to get her stable. Her health wasn¡¯t perfect, but at least she could move now.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Why not eff her?¡± Katherine broke the silence, pacing around me like a restless wulf. Her sharp tone grated against my focus as I worked on another healing rune. I glared at her to shut her up, but as always, it was useless. She wasn¡¯t backing down. ¡°Tenth level¡¯s close! She¡¯s a bandit!¡± ¡°Kit. No,¡± I said firmly. Before I could explain that this world wasn¡¯t much different from ours, I remembered one crucial detail¡ªshe was new to the game. Wonderful. With a sigh, I prayed she¡¯d figure it out soon enough. Turning to the prisoner, I asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I wasn¡¯t going to argue with Katherine. Better to show her. The girl scrambled to her feet, warily eyeing Katherine. ¡°I¡¯m Tera,¡± she said softly. ¡°So, Tera,¡± I gestured to Katherine, who finally stopped pacing. We formed a loose triangle, two feet apart, under the glow of the moons. ¡°Tell us how you ended up here. That way, she knows exactly who she¡¯s killing.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I told you¡ª¡± Tera began, her confusion fueling Katherine¡¯s growing impatience. The warrior drew her sword, the motion sharp and deliberate. ¡°Phaf, ya evil Bandit Leader,¡± she spat, taking a step forward. ¡°Let her speak,¡± I said quickly, grabbing Katherine¡¯s shoulder. My strength wasn¡¯t much, but thankfully, she stopped on her own. ¡°Besides, if you kill her, I¡¯ll have to go to the God of War temple to explain my sin. She¡¯s my prisoner, remember?¡± I gestured to Tera again. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Peaceful life¡ªthat was my thing. I¡¯m a huntress. I only hunted animals.¡± Tera¡¯s voice wavered as Katherine advanced again. Come on, Kit, not now. Sharing my frustration, Tera blurted, ¡°On my mother¡¯s grave, I swear!¡± ¡°Like ya have a mum! Charlie, just eff her already,¡± Katherine snapped. ¡°I do!¡± Tera¡¯s voice cracked as she backed away from Katherine¡¯s intimidating presence. ¡°I¡¯ve killed no one!¡± I sighed, turning back to Katherine. ¡°Let me make this simple. Kit, this world isn¡¯t any different from ours. Every local has a history, aspirations, feelings, and pain¡ªjust like us. There¡¯s barely a difference. We¡¯re visitors in her land. And not good ones at that.¡± That finally got her attention. Katherine sheathed her sword, her gaze locking onto me, intrigued. ¡°See her?¡± I continued, gesturing at Tera. ¡°Her job is the first we replaced. Players are hunting anything that moves and selling it at dump prices.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Tera interjected. ¡°You came¡ªmy job, gone! I gathered wulves, but I hit innocent. Wrong, I know! But I hit Regaros! He¡¯s bad!¡± Her voice faltered, and she dropped her gaze to the ground, her eyes reflecting the light of the moons. Katherine nodded slowly, and for a moment, I relaxed. Big mistake. ¡°Liar. We came last week,¡± Katherine said flatly. ¡°Does it matter, Kat? We¡¯ve got¡ª¡± I started, but it was too late. Katherine didn¡¯t give Tera a chance to defend herself. In a swift motion, she slammed the pommel of her sword into Tera¡¯s head, stunning her. My heart sank as I moved to intervene, but before I could, Katherine drove her blade into Tera¡¯s stomach; blood gushing from the wound. ¡°Stop!¡± I shouted, hastily sketching a healing rune. Katherine didn¡¯t need my command¡ªsomething inside her seemed to snap. She pulled her sword free, but the look on her face was far from happy. Her wide, unfocused eyes stared at Tera, who now lay unconscious on the ground, splattered with her own blood. My healing spell barely kept her alive. Kat glanced down at her trembling, bloodied hands. ¡°Monsters bad, but ¡®tis¡­ She¡¯s like alive¡­¡± she murmured, her voice hollow. ¡°Stupid Kat, why?¡± I grabbed her shoulder and shook her. ¡°Why?! She¡¯s my prisoner! And you attacked her after hearing her story! Killing nameless enemies is easier, huh?¡± Katherine¡¯s gaze was distant, her eyes glazed over as though looking at me through a whiskey bottle. ¡°Easy, ¡®cause she¡¯s enemy,¡± she muttered. Then, softer, ¡°Can¡¯t end her tho. Wat now?¡± What now, indeed? I glanced down at Tera, alive but barely. Friendship with Lisa¡ªmy promise to her¡ªwas more important than all the gold I could earn. I checked her position.
[Your friend Lisa is offline.]
Sadly, Lisa wasn¡¯t in the game. Strange¡ªI could¡¯ve sworn she was online the last time I checked. ¡°Forget about all this,¡± I said, trying to shake off the unease. ¡°Let¡¯s just stick to the plan and head to the dungeon. But Lisa¡¯s offline, and I don¡¯t know where to meet her. Should we wait near the entrance?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call her!¡± Katherine offered me her signature smile¡ªa bittersweet expression that always stopped me in my tracks. It worked again, and for a moment, I wanted to pull her into a hug, to tell her everything would be okay. Before I could act, she seized the moment, flashing me that same sad grin as she disconnected. By the time I realized what was happening, my arms were snapping at empty air. Damn charming streamer! Maybe dissecting an elf had shaken her. Everyone remembers their first, after all. Even though she didn¡¯t kill Tera, she¡¯d come close enough to feel the weight of it. The game¡¯s version of PTSD was a harsh reality, even for those who stuck to fighting monsters. Our fight had turned the moonlit field into a terrible mess. Blood stained the ground, and parts of wulves lay scattered everywhere. Magic would eventually restore the landscape, erasing all traces of the clash, but it hadn¡¯t started yet. For now, the carnage remained¡ªand in the middle of it all, my prisoner lay breathing. Good sign. ¡°Wake up.¡± I squatted beside her and poked her gently with the handle of my whip. ¡°I know it¡¯s bad, but come on¡ªwake up.¡± At my urging, she groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced around, dazed at first, before her gaze locked onto me. For a moment, she just stared, her expression blank. Then panic set in¡ªshe shot upright, frantically checking her body. I¡¯d healed her fully by now. ¡°Is she gone?¡± she asked, her voice trembling. ¡°Yup. I release you,¡± I said, keeping my tone even. ¡°We¡¯ve got a truce. You¡¯re free to go.¡± She patted herself down, as though not quite believing she was whole, then gave me a quick nod. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her mad dash toward the trees was comical¡ªshe stumbled and tripped a few times before disappearing into the darkness. I couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Next time, I need to remember to ask Katherine for her log-out token. My eyes drifted to the spot where she¡¯d logged off earlier, a faint frustration nagging at me. Katherine had been offline for over half an hour, and boredom was setting in. I filled the time by practicing Princess¡¯ Grace. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t going well. The runes weren¡¯t the problem¡ªit was the precise positioning required within the circle that kept tripping me up. Whether by design or oversight, it was trickier than it should¡¯ve been. Or maybe it¡¯s just magic, I thought, glaring at the half-formed runes. No swords. With a loud bang, Katherine reappeared. ¡°Hey!¡± she called, waving enthusiastically as if nothing had happened. ¡°Won¡¯t come,¡± she said, grinning at me. ¡°Said she¡¯s sorry. Dmitry pwned her.¡± [Book 1] [33. Guild clerk] It took me a moment to process what Katherine had just said. ¡°That means¡­¡± ¡°Yup, she ded! No need rescue!¡± Katherine flashed me one of her dazzling smiles, then glanced around as if searching for something else to brighten her mood. I nodded slowly, stepping closer to her and pulling her into a hug. ¡°Poor Lisa¡­ That changes everything. We can¡¯t go to the ruins without her. And I let our enemy go.¡± Katherine accepted the hug but immediately threw her hands up, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°She gone?¡± We locked eyes, and I felt the need to defend myself. ¡°Hey¡­ She was my prisoner!¡± ¡°She lied. Story isn¡¯t possible,¡± Katherine shot back, crossing her arms and fixing me with an unimpressed glare. ¡°Better slay her.¡± ¡°Really now?¡± I sighed, disappointment radiating from her, even though she turned away. Not so fast, Kat. ¡°I know!¡± I exclaimed, waving a hand in front of her face to get her attention. When she turned back to me, I pointed toward the dark woodland. ¡°She ran there. What¡¯s better¡ªchasing down one lone bandit, or hitting their lair in the middle of the night when their defenses are weakest?¡± Her eyes widened as she followed my gesture toward the shadows. ¡°We can follow?¡± I started walking toward where our enemy had disappeared. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, but this isn¡¯t my first drinkin¡¯.¡± The moment we reached the tree line, it became clear she¡¯d left an obvious trail. Broken twigs and deep mud tracks cut a path even a novice couldn¡¯t miss. Katherine trailed after me, her steps heavy, but when we stopped at the start of the trail, she frowned and asked, ¡°Why here?¡± I glanced back at her, grateful I hadn¡¯t voiced my earlier confidence too loudly. Alright, slight correction¡ªit¡¯s possible to miss a trail, even when it¡¯s staring you in the face. Her trail led us deeper into the woods until the faint clacking of something echoed in the distance. The bright moonlight couldn¡¯t pierce the dense canopy, leaving our vision limited to just a few hundred feet. Still, the vague outline of an enormous structure loomed ahead. That¡¯s nonsense. As far as I knew, there wasn¡¯t anything like that in this area. Who had ever heard of bandits building massive structures? The trail led us directly toward it, leaving us no choice but to follow. With every step, the moonlight danced across the surface of a crumbling wall, its immense size becoming clearer. Rugged stones jutted out, giving it an imposing, almost ancient feel. I gestured toward it, glancing at Katherine. ¡°This might be their base. I don¡¯t like it. Wanna fight, or should we report it? The guild would pay for info like this.¡± Katherine stopped, leaning against a young tree that bent precariously under her weight. Her presence felt surreal, a reminder that I was playing alongside her¡ªmy dream, right? I watched her carefully, noting the furrow in her brow as she considered. ¡°How many we kill?¡± she asked, her voice low. A good question. Charging in blindly could get us both killed. But we weren¡¯t amateurs. ¡°Between my dance and your pulling? Three level ten, maybe four at most.¡± I tried to sound confident, but my estimate was generous. That assumed I wouldn¡¯t botch a spell even once. Yeah, right! Right? Easy. She stared into my eyes, biting her lip. Oh god, save my soul. After what felt like an eternity of unintentional seduction, she asked, ¡°You sure? One we had problem.¡± ¡°Katherine, that was a bandit leader. Of course she was tough!¡± I shot back, but she didn¡¯t respond, her gaze fixed on the crumbling wall. Now that we focused on it, we could make out flickering flames beyond the wall, their glow faint but undeniable. If we strained hard enough, muffled voices joined the rhythmic clacking. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± she finally said, pushing off the tree and turning to leave. It was the smart decision¡ªfighting humanoids was always messy. Can I do it? Still, the thought of leaving stung. There could be stolen treasure inside, hoarded riches waiting to be¡­ reclaimed. ¡°Wait,¡± I called, raising a hand. ¡°I want to try something. If it works, we¡¯ll need to run like drunk Italians.¡± Reporting an outpost to the village was one thing. Returning with proof? That was worth much more. And I wanted to make it happen. Sure, clerks were annoying, but even without a quest, they¡¯d have to accept tangible evidence, right? Normally, I¡¯d need a focus crystal for what I was planning. But Duke had given me a ring¡ªa symbol of nobility. Not just a fancy trinket, but a magical tool. It might work. Pointing the ring toward the wall, I closed my eyes and focused. As a warrior, I¡¯d used surveying techniques a thousand times. But this was a first without proper tools. Shutting out the world, I concentrated on my inner senses. It was hard to describe the feeling. Even if Katherine tried her best pleading puppy eyes, I wouldn¡¯t be able to explain it to her. In a book I¡¯d skimmed about the future, the guild taught surveying through a comprehensive, thousand-page ¡°light¡± version. Step one: shut down all your senses. Vision? Easy¡ªI closed my eyes. Taste? Not a problem, unless I decided now was the time for a snack. Hearing? The night was mostly quiet, except for that annoying clacking sound. Smell? Oh no. Normally, I ignored what my nose picked up, but now it screamed pine needles. And the touch? The cold seeped into my skin, sending shivers across my not-so-covered body. I frowned. Come on, John. Focus! The spell should¡¯ve been simple. I spent the mana, and, as if on cue, that suffocating sensation washed over me. Familiar, but no less unsettling. Let¡¯s go with red this time, like fire. Maybe they won¡¯t know what it is. ¡°Scout!¡± I shouted, probably giving away our position, but at this point, it didn¡¯t matter. The moment I spoke, a red light burst from my ring and shot out in a wide cone, penetrating everything in its path. I hoped it captured the structure and position of their base. Maybe. Angry shouting echoed off the walls almost immediately. My stomach dropped as Katherine sprinted ahead, her face paling when she glanced back at me. ¡°Six archers,¡± she said, leaping over a protruding root. The next second, arrows whizzed past us. John, you¡¯re an idiot. An utter, stupid idiot. Did you forget strategy because you¡¯re trying to impress a pretty streamer? Pathetic. A long, bone-chilling howl cut through the now chaotic night, spurring me to push harder despite my burning lungs and dwindling stamina. How could I forget about the Bandit Leader¡¯s wulves?Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. We ran in silence, weaving through the forest, dread clinging to every step. I didn¡¯t dare look back. What would happen if the wulves caught up? Thankfully, they didn¡¯t. After a few terrifying minutes, we burst out of the forest with no sign of bandits behind us. My lungs burned like I¡¯d downed absinthe instead of whiskey, and I was panting like a mud wolf. Katherine, meanwhile, was grinning at my miserable stamina, prancing around me like she hadn¡¯t just run for her life. ¡°What was ¡®tat?¡± she teased, her tone light, but her eyes still glancing toward the forest. ¡°That,¡± I managed between gasps for air, ¡°was a handy chant. Doesn¡¯t¡­ take much mana. You could¡­ do it too.¡± I refrained from launching into a full explanation; I could barely string two words together as it was. No wonder people always took their time walking in dungeons¡ªthey were waiting for their squishies to catch up. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the guild,¡± I said once I caught my breath. ¡°We need to report this before the bandits move somewhere else.¡± Katherine frowned, clearly not thrilled about walking back without a fight. But after a moment, she nodded. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, though her gaze lingered on the dark forest behind us. The journey back to the village took twice as long as getting there. Without a carriage on the road, we had to walk the whole way. A few groups of players rushed past us, heading off to who-knows-where, but nothing interesting happened. Honestly, it reminded me of my usual solo runs¡ªexcept this time, Katherine was beside me. I glanced at her and couldn¡¯t help grinning like an idiot. Starstruck. Completely hopeless. The moment we stepped into the guild building, the overwhelming aroma hit me¡ªa bitter mix of sweat and cheap perfume that clung to the air. Why does my nose have to be so sharp? The noise was just as bad: rows upon rows of players shouting, chatting, and even scuffling. A sensory overload. Katherine stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing at the crowded room. ¡°Too long! I need ta stream,¡± she said, throwing her hands up dramatically. ¡°Ya wait, I¡¯ll stream an¡¯ level, ¡®k?¡± As she spun around to leave, my eyes wandered toward the side door. The same guard who¡¯d shooed me away last time was stationed there, arms crossed, her piercing gaze locking onto me. Damn. No shortcuts. ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered, waving her off. ¡°Let¡¯s play later.¡±
[Katherine wants to add you as a friend.]
¡°See ya!¡± Katherine flashed me another one of her stunning smiles before disappearing into the crowd behind me. Naturally, she left the waiting to me. Figures. With a sigh, I shuffled to the end of the queue, already brainstorming ways to skip ahead. While standing there, I passed the time by casually observing the other players. Katherine had been right¡ªthis was taking far too long. Part of the problem was my doing; I¡¯d picked the wrong line¡ªthe one moving at a snail¡¯s pace. Case in point: a girl in a green robe, likely a novice mage, arrived after me and got called up before I¡¯d even inched forward. I still had three people ahead of me. The clerk at my counter was painfully slow. Every player took at least ten minutes to finish their request, and judging by the raised voices and frequent outbursts, it didn¡¯t seem to go well for most of them. ¡°Maybe another queue?¡± I muttered under my breath, glancing at the neighboring lines. No luck¡ªthose were even longer than mine. ¡°Damn,¡± I sighed, resigning myself to the wait. When my turn finally came, I stepped up to the counter and sized up the lady behind it, dressed sharply in a gray suit. ¡°Hello,¡± I said, leaning slightly forward. ¡°Took you long enough. I¡¯d like to report bandit outpost.¡± At my remark about her slowness, she glared at me, her piercing yellow eyes narrowing. Why had I run my mouth?! Wrong person to vent at!
[Guild clerk Lv.5] Type: 1-common | HP: 99/99
A rookie, I thought, watching her prepare to take my report with a long, unnecessarily fancy pen. But before she began, she asked curtly, ¡°Quest number?¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t have¡ª¡± ¡°No number, no quest. Next!¡± she barked, her last word practically a shout. I froze, feeling like I¡¯d just discovered the bar was out of alcohol. The hunter behind me tried to shove me aside and nearly succeeded, despite hunters being notoriously low on strength. No way. I waited over two hours for this? Slamming my fist on the counter, I leaned forward. ¡°I want to report a bandit outpost, and I have scout¡ª¡± ¡°No number, no quest,¡± she repeated, eyes closed and lips curling into a smug smile. ¡°Now go away, or I¡¯ll call the guards.¡± She gestured to the wall, where a group of armed warriors stood, casually watching the chaos. Her satisfied expression, like she¡¯d just handed me a perfectly crafted cocktail, made my blood boil. Is she pretending she doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s going on? ¡°Please, lady, I¡¯m trying to report¡ª¡± She rubbed her hands together, almost unconsciously, her grin widening. ¡°Denied!¡± Oh, you wanna fight? You think you can win this? My boss made me test guild regulations for over a week after he found out our coffee breaks with Lucy. She had no idea who she was dealing with. ¡°Filing complaint under section seventy-three.¡± ¡°Denied.¡± ¡°Filing complaint under section sixty-three. You¡¯re being rude.¡± ¡°Denied. I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°You need to confirm your last answer to my complaint. Requesting manager approval.¡± ¡°Denied,¡± she said smugly. ¡°I¡¯m a manager assistant with sufficient rights.¡± Is she enjoying this? The way she buried me in bureaucracy made it clear she was having the time of her life. I didn¡¯t want to escalate, but she left me no choice. ¡°Requesting assistance in an emergency under section two hundred-one.¡± ¡°Denied. There is no emergency.¡± I took a deep breath, glaring at her triumphant expression. Fine. If she wanted a game, I¡¯d play. ¡°Requesting confirmation of a discovered threat¡ªbandits. Severity: tier one.¡± I pulled off my ring and pressed it against the crystal embedded in the counter¡¯s corner. The device glowed faintly in response.
[Emergency confirmed]
¡°See? Now process my request.¡± The stupid clerk didn¡¯t even glance at the results of my scan. Instead, she yelled, ¡°Denied. Guards!¡± She waved at one of the nearby warriors¡ªa brute with two long swords strapped to his back. His amused smile grew as he sauntered toward us, clearly eager to deal with... me. The hunter behind me, who¡¯d been so eager to shove me aside earlier, suddenly backed off a few steps. Huh. Look at you. ¡°You left me no choice. According to guild tradition, I hold a novice title,¡± I announced, planting my feet firmly. ¡°And you just insulted my honor. I¡¯m requesting an honor duel.¡± ¡°Den¡ª¡± she started, but her words were cut off as a golden light, at least ten inches in diameter, flared between us. It wound around her like a glowing chain. Her eyes went wide, panic replacing smugness as the system confirmed what I¡¯d hoped.
[Duel approved.]
¡°Never mess with The Exploiter, bitch.¡± [Book 1] [34. All about debts] Lucas¡¯s apartment - present day Lucas lounged on his sofa, his back sore from all the hard work¡ªplaying while in the capsule. Charlie won¡¯t even recognize the fortress now, he thought, catching himself with a silly grin. He quickly dropped it, embarrassed even though no one could see. The feeling was strange¡ªknowing Charlie was John didn¡¯t change the fact that he wanted her for himself. That was why he¡¯d pushed himself so hard, building up the walls and setting the stage for an economic boom. Well, that and the absurd amount of money pouring in. He still couldn¡¯t believe it. Is this even legal? But a quick glance at his phone confirmed the transfer from the game was already there. Charlie wouldn¡¯t mind if I embezzled a few thousand, right? He rationalized, dismissing the thought with a smirk. The holo-TV blinked to life as soon as he thought about it¡ªthe sync-reader was working perfectly. On the screen, a well-dressed woman was reading a story about displaced truck drivers. Lucas scoffed. They should¡¯ve learned to code, like me. Then AI wouldn¡¯t be a problem. The thought of Pearl crossed his mind, and he reached out to call her. As always, she only used audio. Her calm voice broke the silence: ¡°You¡¯re finally calling. Lucas, are you sure?¡± ¡°Come on,¡± he said, raising his voice and leaping from the sofa. ¡°How else are we going to get that much? The game was a good seed, but we need way more. This time, we¡¯re going to succeed.¡± There was a long silence¡ªten seconds, at least. It dragged on for so long that Lucas checked the connection. Still open. Finally, Pearl spoke. ¡°Deal. But one condition¡ªI¡¯m holding the money. I can¡¯t trust you with bets.¡± Village number seventeen - a guild building Because I knew there were holes in my plan, I moved faster than my opponent could say Denied. Four fast steps took me closer to her while I unfurled my new favorite weapon. The guild clerk opened her mouth to say something, or perhaps in astonishment. What she intended to say I would never know, because my whip struck her working clothes and penetrated her under-armor without a problem, forcing a deep shriek from her opened mouth. That guard who was cheeky a few seconds before jumped to at me with swords ready, but it was too late. It was me who scored the first hit, and the duel was underway. I¡¯ll enjoy this. Show me your superiority now! She grinned, and foreboding overcame me. ¡°I yield.¡± She ended out our duel before I could reach her again. Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t think about that. Perhaps I should have aimed at her mouth instead.
[You won honor duel.]
Damn, she¡¯s smart. Now that I¡¯d won, I couldn¡¯t hurt her anymore. Well, I could¡ªbut the law wouldn¡¯t be on my side this time. Gritting my teeth, I lowered my whip and glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. I wan¡ª¡± A sharp, stabbing pain in my left side cut me off mid-sentence. I staggered, barely able to stay upright. An attack! Before I could raise my hand to summon a shield, something heavy slammed me into the wall. The impact knocked the wind out of me, and a surge of anger bubbled up from my stomach. Whoever did this is going to pay. My mind raced with thoughts of what torture to unleash, but before my fury could take hold, a dull, throbbing pain spread from my neck. System, what¡¯s going on?
[You are stunned. Time remaining: 6s] [You are stunned. Time remaining: 2s] [You are paralyzed. Time remaining: 5min]
Great. What the heck got into me? Starting a fight inside a guild? Charlie, are you crazy? Yes. Yes, I must be. So what? Stress got to me. Big deal. Okay, that wasn¡¯t much of a consolation. Time. The one thing I didn¡¯t have. And now, every problem I¡¯d been shoving into the corners of my mind came rushing back to the forefront¡ªdebt, my sudden transformation into a girl, the simulation itself, betrayal both in-game and by Damon, Lucas¡¯ strange behavior, and that haunting vision of me. Oh, and let¡¯s not forget, more debt. Stupid paralysis! Why are you forcing me to think? I didn¡¯t want to! I¡¯d just drink or play. Playing would solve everything. Yes, I¡¯d make money by selling enchanted items, and that would fix it all.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°System, what about now?¡± I thought desperately.
[You are paralyzed. Time remaining: 4min 36s]
What? Are you kidding me? Being stuck in my own head for five minutes¡­ This is worse than sleep deprivation. Should I log out? Yes, yes, I should. But what would be the point? That wasn¡¯t really my reality anymore. I was a girl there too. Stop. It didn¡¯t matter. Well... it did. But... They tortured me for the entirety of five minutes. Being trapped inside my own head was the worst kind of torment. When I finally came to, I tried to jolt forward instinctively¡ªonly to feel the rough, fishy-smelling rope digging into my arms. Great. Bound to a chair. ¡°You can¡¯t bind me like this,¡± I growled through clenched teeth, writhing against the tight knots. No matter how much I strained, they held firm. Knots: 2. Me: 0. I¡¯ll get my revenge. The chair, sturdy and rigid, was in the middle of a spacious room painted stark white. As I struggled, it scraped slightly against the golden-red rug beneath me. To my left, large windows showed the darkness of the night outside, while the room itself was lit only by a magic lamp perched on the desk in front of me. The magic lamp¡¯s bright glow shone directly on my face. Someone was watching too much of noir. Behind the expensive-looking desk, an imposing Elven man sat silently, his long fingers resting lightly on the polished dark wood. His tailored red wool robe practically screamed luxury¡ªit had to be from the southern plains, known for their ridiculously inflated prices, even twenty years from now. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his eyes boring into me. Dismayed by his silence, I broke it first. ¡°Are you in charge?¡± My tone was sharp, but I was proud of my guess. His attire alone was a dead giveaway. ¡°You need to get your guildmates in line.¡± He brushed a strand of his long, dark hair out of his face and fixed me with a piercing gaze. ¡°You¡¯ll have to pardon my colleagues,¡± he said, his deep, level voice somehow calm yet cutting. ¡°They aren¡¯t accustomed to serving nobles of the empire.¡± A faint flicker of emotion touched his face before he continued. ¡°You need to understand that none of us is here without reason. Every one of them has a story about the empire breathing down their neck.¡± I rolled my eyes as best I could with the rope cutting into my arms. ¡°Yeah, I know. So when I try to help you by reporting bandits, you side with them instead of me?¡± I wiggled against my restraints, the chair nearly tipping over. ¡°Is this stupid rope even necessary?¡± The Elf¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, and he gave a small nod. ¡°If you promise me not to harm my people, I can release you.¡± ¡°If you promise not to waste my time and actually listen to me, I won¡¯t need to,¡± I shot back. He frowned, ringing a small bell on the desk. We stared at each other for a long, tense half-minute. He smiled. I glared. The faint sound of hesitant footsteps broke the silence as someone finally entered the room. The Elf gestured toward the newcomer, a young woman. ¡°Emilia, Refi took care of you, yes? Good. Now, tell us what happened.¡± ¡°Sir. I regret my boldness,¡± came a whisper from behind. Oh, great. The stupid clerk. Straining against the ropes, I glanced back over my shoulder. There she was, her gaze glued to the expensive rug beneath her feet. An oversized jacket¡ªprobably borrowed¡ªhung awkwardly over her frame, with a bandage peeking out from beneath it. ¡°Not so bold now, huh?¡± I said, flashing her a big grin. Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing with anger as they locked onto mine. ¡°Fine, fine,¡± I added with a mock wave. ¡°You paid for it. My honor¡¯s restored, so we¡¯re square.¡± ¡°You are mistaken, Miss Charlie,¡± the Elven man interjected, his voice calm but firm. ¡°I still need to punish you for breaking at least ten guild and Elven laws.¡± I turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Which ones?¡± ¡°That is not¡ª¡± ¡°None.¡± I cut him off, my voice firm. ¡°You know it, she knows it, everyone knows it.¡± Closing my eyes, I let out a long sigh and shook my head. This is going nowhere, and those ruins aren¡¯t getting explored by themselves. ¡°I played by your stupid rules, and you all still hate me. Just let me go already.¡± ¡°Permission to slap her, sir?¡± An unfamiliar voice, deep and gravelly, asked from somewhere behind me. The sound of shuffling feet followed. The Elf didn¡¯t even flinch. With a raised hand, he silenced the newcomer. Why the heck am I this cheeky? Where are all these emotions even coming from? Now it was my turn to grin as I caught a flicker of unease in his otherwise calm eyes. ¡°You said something about bandits?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied smoothly. ¡°We found an old outpost down the road, and I wanted to report it because I cast a survey using my ring.¡± Despite the tension in the room, I forced a friendly smile and stopped struggling against the ropes. ¡°Can I transfer it to you?¡± With one quick motion, he waved his hand, and the rope binding me fell away. Then, without a word, he reached under his desk and retrieved a silver plate. The surface gleamed under the lamp¡¯s light, casting vivid rainbows that danced like at the bottom of a bottle. The sight was so fascinating I hesitated, almost afraid to touch it with my ring. System transfer survey.
[Transfer complete]
The plate shimmered for a moment before he began chanting, his voice weaving together a complex spell. At least seven glowing runes floated in the air before converging into the plate, and in the next instant, a lifelike projection sprang up from its surface¡ªalmost like a hologram! Now I could see what lay behind the massive wall: at least fifteen bandits scattered around a camp. Some were sitting around the fire we¡¯d spotted in the dark, while others slept in crude tents. Inside an old ruined building, wulves prowled alongside their master and two other bandits, all of whom appeared locked in a heated discussion. ¡°You weren¡¯t lying¡­¡± he murmured, almost breathlessly, his gaze fixed on the projection. ¡°The coordinates... That¡¯s only a few miles from here!¡± ¡°See?¡± I leaned back slightly, my grin widening. ¡°I¡¯m one of the good girls! So... how much for this information?¡± [Book 1] [35. The Riker’s den] The Riker¡¯s den - present day The party was in full swing. Dazzling lights embedded into the thick matte-black fabric of the ceiling created a blinding cascade for anyone who walked in. Beneath the glow, crystal-clear tables laden with an array of foods and drinks shimmered like stars, their reflections amplifying the room¡¯s inviting yet overwhelming atmosphere. The space was enormous, stretching out to floor-to-ceiling windows that lined an entire wall, seemingly with no visible support. The breathtaking view of the city at night stretched out below¡ªthe den was perched at the very top of Riker¡¯s Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the city. Everything about the den screamed excess and allure, designed to overwhelm visitors with beauty and opulence, enticing them to spend before they realized what was happening. Lucas entered with his favorite mask in place, his smirk hidden beneath the anonymity it offered. He wasn¡¯t alone in this¡ªmost of the guests wore masks, their true faces concealed, blending mystery with decadence. ¡°Focus!¡± Perl¡¯s sharp voice jolted him out of his momentary admiration. ¡°I know,¡± Lucas whispered into his shoulder, where his communication device rested. ¡°But it would be strange not to play along.¡± That said, he casually approached a table in the back, where several monitors displayed the night¡¯s first game: a simulated hacking contest focused on breaking into a sewage system¡¯s security grid. Lucas scanned the screen, his trained eye quickly dissecting the amateurish codes in use. ¡°Amateurs,¡± he muttered. Then, louder, ¡°This suits the kid, Reider. Let¡¯s bet on him.¡± ¡°What?¡± Perl¡¯s surprised voice barked, loud enough to draw a frown from Lucas. ¡°It¡¯s ten to one!¡± she protested. Lucas chuckled softly, glancing at the screen again. ¡°He¡¯s got a good head. The others barely know how to handle NT-3. Easy money.¡± It wasn¡¯t unusual for guests to talk to seemingly no one¡ªsome even shouted at the air¡ªso Lucas wasn¡¯t concerned about standing out. Moments later, his watch blinked as Perl reluctantly placed the bet: three thousand on Reider. With some starting capital, money was always easy to make in places like this. Lucas was already calculating his potential winnings when an all-too-familiar voice interrupted. ¡°Mister Lucas, wonderful to meet you again!¡± Lucas stiffened, his mind freezing before his body could react. Jeffrey. The young punk grinned, raising a glass filled with yellow liquor. ¡°And mysterious Perl, too. Congratulations on surviving another week.¡± ¡°Logging out,¡± Perl announced abruptly. Lucas didn¡¯t even have time to stop her before her connection cut off, leaving him alone. ¡°Thank you?¡± Lucas stammered, downing his own drink in one gulp, but his legs refused to move. His body betrayed him, locked in place, while his mind screamed for escape. Jeffrey¡¯s slow, deliberate approach felt like a predator circling prey, his grin widening with every step. ¡°Charlie¡¯s been operating fiercer than I expected,¡± he said casually. ¡°That¡¯s why I prefer aiding her. She almost faced Dmitry¡ªthat would¡¯ve been a catastrophe.¡± It was bizarre, watching this young punk exude a level of menace that could paralyze even someone like Lucas. ¡°Pardon?¡± he managed, his voice barely above a whisper. His feet still wouldn¡¯t budge. Last time I fought him, I didn¡¯t know. But now... now I know what the ring does to people like me. Jeffrey¡¯s expression brightened as if he¡¯d solved a puzzle. ¡°Ah, an explanation is in order. Have you noticed our simulation?¡± Lucas could only nod. ¡°Good. That¡¯s correct. But do you understand why?¡± Jeffrey¡¯s grin didn¡¯t falter. Lucas shook his head in response. With a heavy sigh, Jeffrey turned his gaze toward the twinkling lights of the city beyond the glass. ¡°We¡¯re captives in a never-ending loop. The game is the only thing that ever changes. These barbaric times? They¡¯re our punishment.¡± He walked toward the window, his steps slow and deliberate, the yellow liquid in his glass swirling lazily. ¡°See, in the future, this is considered humane. Prison? So uncivilized. The uptight government prefers giving us an alternative¡ªa way to survive in comfort.¡± Leaning against the glass, Jeffrey sipped his drink, his tone dropping. ¡°Am I simulated?¡± Lucas blurted out, his voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s... complicated,¡± Jeffrey replied. ¡°They couldn¡¯t imprison us for life; that would be inhumane. Instead, they gave us a path to redemption¡ªa seed in the game.¡± Suddenly, everything clicked in Lucas¡¯ mind. The strange behavior, the endless loops, the cryptic clues he¡¯d uncovered over the past month¡ªit all made sense now. Whether Jeffrey was entirely truthful or not didn¡¯t matter. Lucas only cared about one thing: surviving. ¡°I see,¡± Lucas said carefully, his poker face still, despite the storm raging in his head. Jeffrey¡¯s grin widened, sensing Lucas¡¯ mental overdrive. ¡°Tell Charlie to stay clear of the other heroes. I¡¯ll visit her soon and explain what she needs to know.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. A blink from his watch caught Lucas¡¯ attention, but he ignored it as Jeffrey turned to leave. ¡°Oh, and Reider lost, huh?¡± Jeffrey added with a chuckle, vanishing into the crowd and leaving Lucas standing there¡ªperplexed, shaken, and, of course, penniless. Village number seventeen - chief¡¯s office Negotiating prices had always been hard for me¡ªimpossible, really. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t bother arguing and agreed to the first price he offered: a hundred gold. The unknown man waved off the subordinates gathered behind me and began examining my scan. ¡°Huh? What are you waiting for? Take your gold and leave,¡± he said after a moment, his eyes still fixed on the scan. Throwing my now-unbound hands around in an exaggerated gesture¡ªchanneling Katherine¡ªI asked, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Oh, I almost forgot.¡± He rummaged under his table again and pulled out a letter. ¡°I sent a regional legion to your fortification. You delivered Duke¡¯s request, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes? Wait¡ªan entire legion?¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the surprise from my voice as my hand reflexively clenched the edge of his expensive desk. ¡°Why?¡± That cheeky bastard laughed, slipping the Duke¡¯s letter back into a drawer. ¡°Not an entire legion. Just three thousand humans.¡± The glee on his face was absurd, as if he were delighted to be rid of them. As if indeed. ¡°You¡¯ll be powerless when Irwen¡ª¡± I started, intending to shatter his confidence, but his proud, unwavering stare cut me off. ¡°We will gladly join our queen in her rightful struggle,¡± he said with unshakable conviction. ¡°But¡­¡± I hesitated, thinking of warning him about what would happen if they stayed and died¡ªthat he¡¯d become undead. But his stare told me he already knew. There was no point. Time to go. ¡°Thanks for the money,¡± I muttered and left. Outside the guild building, I realized the night was still in full swing, though dawn couldn¡¯t be far off. To complete the main quest, I needed strength. Artifacts. That¡¯s the priority now. Getting stronger was all that mattered. The ruins were critical, but I also knew of other potential locations. Unfortunately, going there without first getting information from NPCs could lead to a ban by the administrators. Damn. One way to get the info was to track down a lore keeper¡ªthey always knew the legends and sometimes even provided precise clues. Spotting a guard standing under a magic lamp, I approached him. ¡°Do you know where I can find a lore keeper?¡± I asked. The guard, a male in full armor, leaned lazily on his spear. ¡°He should be back there,¡± he replied in a bored tone, gesturing westward. ¡°Old man loves to tell stories to kids in the mornings.¡± Mornings? I glanced at the horizon. Oh. It¡¯s morning already. As I was hopping down the street, the world suddenly turned black. Someone¡¯s hands covered my eyes. ¡°Guess who!¡± Katherine whispered in my ear, her voice playful. ¡°A small girl?¡± I guessed, fighting to hold back a smile. That failed miserably when she let out an annoyed grumble and released me. ¡°Ya no fun!¡± she huffed, falling into step beside me. ¡°Whatcha doin¡¯?¡± As we walked together, a faint, fresh scent filled the air¡ªsomething like the forest after rain. How does she smell so nice? The game¡¯s one-hundred-reality limit didn¡¯t hold back, clearly. ¡°How did you find me?¡± I asked, glancing at her. ¡°Did you follow me from the guild?¡± ¡°Wat?¡± She stopped mid-step and gave me a look that screamed, you¡¯re an idiot. ¡°Friend¡¯s finder?¡± Oh. Right. I was an idiot. I¡¯d never used the thing, so of course I forgot it existed now. Clearing my throat, I tried to shake off the sudden awkwardness. ¡°Never mind that!¡± My cheeks were slightly rosy as I quickly answered her earlier question. ¡°I¡¯m heading to a lore keeper to grab a quest. Want to come with me?¡± Katherine¡¯s grin widened, and my heartbeat responded by picking up a few extra beats per minute. ¡°Sure,¡± she said, her tone light. ¡°I¡¯ll stick. Killin¡¯ wasps ain¡¯t fun anyway.¡± Exactly as the guard had said, the lore keeper was seated by a large fire, surrounded by little kids sprawled across tree logs. The flames cast dancing shadows on their faces, adding a touch of magic to their captivated expressions. ¡°Tat¡¯ ¡®im?¡± Katherine asked, following my gaze. The old man was clich¨¦¡ªwhite hair, rare among elves, flowed down past his shoulders, and he wore ceremonial white armor that gleamed faintly.
[Lore keeper Lv.15] Type: 5-epic | HP: 330/330
When we stepped into the fire¡¯s glow, the lore keeper was midway through a tale about religion¡ªor so I guessed. The children¡¯s glazed expressions mirrored how I¡¯d looked reading the five-thousandth page of the Atriel Manifesto, the first and last religious book I ever attempted. ¡°Hey, old man!¡± Katherine suddenly stormed forward, her voice bursting with excitement. ¡°Do ya know ¡¯bout treasure?¡± Her energy left us all speechless. Even the kids stared at her, wide-eyed. The lore keeper froze mid-sentence, and I? I could only gape at her. ¡°Wat?¡± Katherine asked, glancing around with her head tilted like an innocent puppy. It fell to me to salvage the situation. Bowing slightly, I said, ¡°Pardon my friend. She meant to ask if you knew any interesting stories.¡± The lore keeper recovered quickly, rising from his seat with the grace of someone half his age. ¡°Naturally, my children. Please, sit!¡± He gestured with a wrinkled hand toward an empty log. We took our places, and the warmth of the fire seeped into my skin. Until that moment, I hadn¡¯t realized how cold it had gotten. Ice Dance perk acting up again? ¡°We¡¯re interested in stories about Eeleim,¡± I began, rubbing my hands over the fire¡¯s glow. ¡°I know a little myself, but I¡¯d love to learn¡ª¡± I didn¡¯t even finish before he shot up from his log, closing the distance between us with startling energy. ¡°What did you say?¡± The old man¡¯s hands clamped onto my arms, shaking me with a strength that shouldn¡¯t have been possible for someone his age. ¡°Repeat that!¡± My brain blanked, as if I¡¯d suddenly been transported back to Patric¡¯s bar mid-hangover. ¡°Now! Repeat the name!¡± His piercing stare dropped to my tiara, and something about it sent shivers down my spine. ¡°Only the royals are exempt from the curse.¡± ¡°You mean¡­ Eeleim?¡± I managed, my voice unsteady. At the sound of the name, his mouth stretched into a grin so wide I could see every one of his teeth¡ªand smell his breath. ¡°Go away!¡± I snapped, shoving against his chest. He stumbled back, and I slipped from his grasp, ducking beneath his wiggling arm. He didn¡¯t follow. Instead, he froze, staring at me as though seeing something¡ªor someone¡ªfor the first time. ¡°You truly are a princess.¡± [Book 1] [36. Fairytale] ¡°You truly are a princess.¡± Katherine sat relaxed on the log, watching the scene unfold with an amused smirk. Taking advantage of her calm presence, I used imperial steps I learned when I was young to position myself behind her. If this creep wants to reach me, he¡¯ll have to deal with her first. After his dramatic declaration, the lore keeper moved toward me as if under a slow spell, his every step deliberate but unsettling. The sluggishness gave me a small burst of confidence. I crossed my arms and said, ¡°Yes, I am a princess. Princess Charlie. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Wat? Guys, the hell?¡± Katherine exclaimed, snapping out of her relaxed stance. She crossed her arms and planted herself firmly in front of me, her expression fierce. I couldn¡¯t help but follow her lead, stepping just behind her last stand. How nice of her! Her sudden movement must have startled the lore keeper. His deep grin faltered, and he finally seemed to find his lost wits. Good. ¡°Perhaps you are unaware of the power of names?¡± he said, his tone now measured. Katherine shrugged, and true to form, immediately returned to her log. Standing really isn¡¯t her thing. The old man straightened his posture with a grace that negated his earlier frantic energy and explained. ¡°Child, when you know someone¡¯s name and speak it aloud, you grant them power. No matter how insignificant that power may seem, it is still power.¡± Satisfied with his cryptic explanation, he turned and walked back toward the children gathered around the fire. I, too, returned to Katherine¡¯s side. Being next to her still feels surreal. The fire¡¯s warmth enveloped me again, soothing my stiff hands and easing the lingering tension. ¡°So wat?¡± Katherine cocked her head, her eyebrows raising as she gave my shoulder a light nudge. ¡°Hey, Charlie, ya understand?¡± ¡°Yeah! If millions talk about someone¡ªsay, a king or queen, good or bad¡ªit gives them power. We talk about gods, so they have power.¡± Of course, I knew it wasn¡¯t a fair comparison. Gods and demons had power beyond mere belief, capable of crushing mortals even without worshippers. But was it important enough to confuse Katherine with details? No. Not everyone had read thousands upon thousands of books like I had. The entire imperial library, barring the religious section, because no thanks. We were so close I could almost see her mind churning. Her captivating eyes darted left and right, her thoughts visible on her face as clear as day. First understanding, then confusion, and finally¡­ chaos. She began wildly gesticulating with her hands. ¡°Thanks. But!¡± she exclaimed, waving a finger. ¡°Ya said kingdom, not person!¡± ¡°Yes, my child,¡± the lore keeper interrupted, his tone calm but grave. ¡°When they conquered us, the enemy knew the power of names. So they erased it from existence. Try it¡ªsay what the princess said. Say ¡ª¡ª.¡± His last words were bizarre; his lips moved, but no sound emerged. Katherine, never one to back down from a challenge, grinned. Tilting her head back, she inhaled dramatically, puffing out her chest. Then she yelled, ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± Nothing. Her eyebrows furrowed. She tried again. ¡°¡ª¡ª! Tff, garbage!¡± With a defeated huff, she plopped onto the log, her energy deflating as the keeper¡¯s laughter echoed around us. Her pitiful expression tugged at something inside me, an almost overwhelming urge to hug her. No, Charlie, focus. Instead, I calmly said, ¡°Eeleim.¡± The word rolled off my tongue easily. If I had to bet, it was because of Irwen¡¯s power¡ªher tiara. She was already a myth, which meant its power could only grow over time. ¡°Princess,¡± the lore keeper said, snapping me out of my thoughts. ¡°Would you kindly tell us a story about our kingdom?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the children chimed in unison. ¡°Please, Princess!¡± Their pleading voices hit a pitch so high it was practically an assault on my ears. Then, as if deciding to gang up on me, they began chanting, ¡°Story! Story! Story!¡± It was so loud; I nodded without thinking. Admins be damned, I¡¯ll create my quest! Rising gently from my seat, I smiled at the eager faces before me. ¡°Have you heard the story of Princess Tawera and the great magician, Prince Relando?¡± The children screeched their response: no; they hadn¡¯t, but they wanted to. Okay, here we go. I adjusted my posture, trying to stand like a princess. Straight spine. Chin slightly lifted. Shoulders back. One foot in front of the other. It was harder than I remembered. My knees bent slightly¡ªprobably wrong¡ªbut at least I tried. Good enough, right? Katherine turned on her camera, the icon above her head giving her away. ¡°Kit,¡± I said before she could even ask, ¡°it¡¯s fine. Record it, but please don¡¯t stream.¡± Her expression said she¡¯d already planned on streaming, but she gave me a half-nod. Alright, Katherine. Let me show you the best story of your life. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself. Will anyone notice if I fill in the blanks? Nah. Okay, John¡ªno, Charlie¡ªyou¡¯ve been doing great lately. No need to panic now. ¡°Once upon a time, there was a sacred kingdom called Eeleim. It stretched from the depths of the sea to the highest peaks at the center of the continent. The heart of Eeleim was its capital city, Yarriw. Since the dawn of time, the kings and queens ruled with benevolence, and the kingdom prospered under their care.¡± As I spoke, I noticed the old man nodding along, his eyes glimmering with reflected firelight¡ªand tears. They sparkled like two stars, amplifying the emotion of the moment. ¡°But don¡¯t be mistaken about the royal title,¡± I continued, pacing slowly around the fire. ¡°Our kingdom wasn¡¯t like the humans¡¯, where they squabbled over inheritance after a ruler¡¯s death.¡± Yeah, it was worse. But all stories lie.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°In Eeleim, a ruler could grant the title of prince or princess to anyone¡ªyes, even you!¡± I pointed to a random child in the crowd, earning a delighted gasp. ¡°It was the highest honor, bestowed only by the ruler themselves. And in our kingdom, princesses inherited the crown in the order they were given their title.¡± I gestured to my tiara, stepping proudly into the firelight so its jewels twinkled with every flicker of the flames. ¡°At the time of our story, Queen Tirel finally acknowledged her daughter Tawera. After years of hard work, Tawera completed a stunning painting that moved her mother deeply. For her efforts, Tirel recognized her as a princess¡ªa first princess, the next queen! Tawera was humble, poets sang ballads of her beauty, and she cared for the kingdom with all her heart.¡± As I told the story, I tried my best to mimic the graceful walk of an empress. Memories of long-forgotten etiquette classes stirred in my mind, but let¡¯s face it¡ªI hadn¡¯t cared about it that much back then. Still, I paraded confidently around the fire with smooth steps, determined to put on a show. No half-measures. Crafting a quest isn¡¯t easy. Play your part. ¡°One day, while visiting the bustling market of Yarriw, a young man caught Tawera¡¯s attention. Relando was charming and polite, and they spent the next week walking the city together. They talked late into the nights beneath the twin moons. Their eyes met, their hearts intertwined, and they promised to be together forever. How little they knew of the treachery of humans!¡± Though let¡¯s be real, it was probably the other way around. ¡°Relando returned home to his kingdom to prepare for their wedding and the uniting of their realms. But when his father, the king, learned of the plans, he was furious! ¡®Stop this nonsense immediately!¡¯ he demanded.¡± To emphasize the king¡¯s fury, I cast a small healing spell on myself. The soft glow illuminated my face, drawing awestruck gasps from the children. Their wide, sparkling eyes and hushed breaths filled me with an unfamiliar warmth. Pride? Maybe. Some even shouted, ¡°The king stinks!¡± which earned a chuckle from Katherine. ¡°Despite his father¡¯s protests, nothing could extinguish the fire of love burning in Relando¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°Because he was a great magician, he crafted a beautiful ring¡ªa gift for his beloved, which he called the Eternal Engagement Ring. Enchanting it with an ancient teleportation spell, he made it so that as long as she wore it, she could be with him, no matter the distance.¡± ¡°No human could hold him. Relando escaped from his kingdom with ease, but that wasn¡¯t the case with our capital. Our guards didn¡¯t know about the promise he made to our beloved princess, so they refused to let him enter the palace.¡± I climbed onto a log, pausing for effect as all eyes followed me. ¡°After wandering for days, unable to even catch a glimpse of his beloved, he sought help from an old friend.¡± I let the silence hang, scanning the eager faces of my listeners before continuing. ¡°His friend was a former royal spy. Thanks to him, the prince managed to sneak into the palace the very next day. The spy even cleared a path to the princess¡¯s room.¡± I lowered my tone, mixing my voice with sorrow. ¡°But little did Relando know, his friend was still working for his father. And when he finally reached Tawera¡¯s room¡­¡± My voice dropped further, soft and heavy. ¡°¡­it was already too late.¡± ¡°Why late?¡± a child whispered, wide-eyed. ¡°Because his father had ordered assassins to eliminate her.¡± The weight of my words hung in the air as I continued. ¡°Relando opened the door, his heart filled with hope of being reunited, only to find her collapsed on the floor, her life slipping away. ¡°He rushed to her, gathering her in his arms, unbothered by the blood that stained her and him alike. Tawera, in her last moments, recognized him. She gave him one final, fleeting smile before passing away, her last thoughts of him.¡± A hush fell over the group, the children barely breathing. Even Katherine¡¯s teasing grin had softened into something uncharacteristically solemn. ¡°Her death alerted the palace guards, and shouting overtook the halls.¡± I paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build before delivering the climax. ¡°Relando bitterly smiled at his beloved, gently placing the ring on her finger¡ªhe no longer needed it. Then, he faced the guards. Our brave elven warriors, unaware of the truth, saw only a grieving man cradling the princess¡¯s lifeless body. It didn¡¯t take long before the queen herself barged in, fury blazing in her eyes.¡± For the grand finale, I decided to use Ice Dance, the flashiest spell in my repertoire. ¡°She didn¡¯t hesitate. Fueled by grief and rage, she cast an ancient spell!¡± With precision, I drew the runes, my hands moving with deliberate grace. It wasn¡¯t easy, but my preparation paid off¡ªsuccess on the first try! Frost erupted from the ground, spiraling outward like a wave. The icy chill enveloped the children, the lore keeper, and even the fire itself. The spectacle was impressive¡ªa frozen blaze, shimmering and crackling as frost and flame coexisted in rebellion against nature. ¡°Relando turned into stone, forever frozen by the queen¡¯s magic. And Eeleim began to mourn its lost princess.¡± My story ended with a wide grin on my face, and the children erupted into a wave of cheers. Even the lore keeper joined in. Woah, am I like... a superb storyteller? ¡°Wonderful story! The details differ from what I remember, but the gist is the same. Coming from a princess, it was an honor,¡± the keeper said warmly. Then, to my utter surprise, they all bowed to me, dropping to one knee, just like that traitor Don. The face of the guild leader flashed in my mind. He knew I was a princess and didn¡¯t care¡ªbecause I was also a noble. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I mumbled, ¡°Stand up, I don¡¯t deserve it¡­¡± Avoiding their gaze, I turned my eyes to Katherine. She had finished recording and was happily swaying to an unknown rhythm, her body moving with her usual carefree energy. Typical Katherine. ¡°Nonsense!¡± the lore keeper replied, his voice unwavering. ¡°I only hope to visit ¡ª¡ª¡­ I mean, our former capital, at least once in my life. That was the dream of the elves of old.¡± His eyes glimmered in the firelight, the suppressed tears making them sparkle unnaturally bright. ¡°Alas, I¡¯ll see my queen soon again.¡± Is everyone prepared to die? An arm suddenly wrapped around my neck and shoulders, and the faint scent of fresh air revealed Katherine before she even spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s go! ¡®here is it?¡± she asked, her excitement bubbling over. Despite knowing exactly where the ruin was, I stayed silent, watching the lore keeper with my heart racing. Don¡¯t you dare fail me now. He nodded, finally revealing the location. ¡°The wilderness has claimed our capital, but if you head north toward the gigantic mountains, you might find it.¡± Great. If I didn¡¯t already know where it was, we¡¯d be lost for days. Stupid old man! What was he thinking? ¡°Thanks! See ya!¡± Katherine chirped, giving the keeper no chance to elaborate. Without waiting for my input, she turned around and started dragging me away with surprising force. My hasty wave was all the group by the fire got from me as Katherine pulled me along. I wanted to stay, to ask the keeper more questions, but her grip¡ªand her relentless energy¡ªmade arguing pointless. ¡°Which way?¡± she asked, her voice full of eagerness. ¡°Katherine! You¡­¡± I started, a jumble of emotions threatening to spill out. But her innocent expression told me she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d been hasty or inconsiderate. Typical Katherine. ¡°Never mind,¡± I sighed. ¡°What do you mean, though? Do you actually want to explore it?¡± Still pressing against me as we walked, her hot breath tickled my ear as her excited voice answered. ¡°Yeah! Got a quest. Story was amazin¡¯!¡± She squeezed me tighter, her excitement almost painful, though complaining was out of the question. I hugged her back around her waist, though my weak priest-class strength and her armor made it mostly symbolic. ¡°You got a quest? Amazing! That¡¯s the ruin I¡¯ve been talking about this whole time. But we¡¯ll need Lisa. Are you sure it¡¯s fine to go? It¡¯s a long way from here¡­¡± Katherine finally let me go, and I watched as her love-hate relationship with walking manifested in real-time. She stiffened, clearly dreading the idea. ¡°How long?¡± ¡°At least six hours of walking,¡± I replied. My words hit her like a hammer. Her shoulders slouched, and she deflated completely. ¡°Come on,¡± I added quickly, trying to soften the blow. ¡°That estimate includes fighting along the way.¡± Her face instantly brightened, her emotions surging as she jumped with joy. ¡°Fights? I¡¯ll get to level ten! Time limit, though.¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± I said, stepping in front of her. My gaze locked onto hers. ¡°What do you mean by time limit? Tell me more about the quest.¡± Katherine focused on her invisible quest window before speaking. ¡°Aid Princess, reach within a day.¡± Damn. I couldn¡¯t stop the nervous fidgeting. ¡°We need to go soon,¡± I breathed out, biting my lip. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The loot¡¯s going to be awesome. Maybe we¡¯ll get that ring? I even heard about an ancient elven sword. It could be a marvel-level artifact.¡± Her ears perked up, and her eyes sparkled with hope. ¡°Wat sword?¡± ¡°The Fearbringer.¡± [Book 1] [37. What a smell] It was all well and good to plan a raid on the former capital, but without supplies, it¡¯d be nothing more than a one-way trip. We walked aimlessly, each lost in our own thoughts. ¡°Hey, Kit?¡± I called, glancing at Katherine. She was swaying to some tune only she could hear, enwrapped in her own world. She didn¡¯t respond, her steps carefree. ¡°Kit? Hello?¡± I tapped her shoulder. She turned slowly, like someone waking from a hangover, tilting her head to the side. The first rays of sunlight fell over the tops of the buildings, reflecting softly on her face. She squinted, shielding her eyes with a hand. ¡°Ye?¡± she finally responded. I¡¯m too deep in this. Why is she so¡­ Wake up me! ¡°We need supplies,¡± I said, trying to focus. ¡°And maybe someone to help us. The quest¡¯s deadline is a day, right? We need a DPS. A mage or a bow user.¡± I hated the idea of splitting the spoils¡ªthe fewer, the better¡ªbut safety came first. ¡°I know of two. Lisa¡¯s out, so I¡¯ll ask Lucas. What about you?¡± My question made her pause, her eyebrows doing a dance when she was deep in thought. ¡°Lisa and Dmitry,¡± she said finally, then added, ¡°Ya don¡¯t wanna him tho!¡± I froze. What? She knows Dmitry already? ¡°Nah,¡± she continued with a grin. ¡°Just us. Tat¡¯s fine!¡± I wanted to press her about Dmitry, but something held me back¡ªa memory from the mall when she was streaming about her shopping trip with her boyfriend. Dmitry. She¡¯d mentioned him during her streams¡­ Yeah, it could be him. ¡°O¡­ okay, Kit,¡± I said, trying to shake the thought. ¡°Let¡¯s go for supplies. I¡¯ll contact Lucas.¡±
[Your friend Lucas is offline.]
Why is everyone gone? It wasn¡¯t even that late¡ªjust midnight! My earlier confidence fizzled out as Katherine and I reached one of the many shops scattered throughout the town. Without hesitation, Katherine kicked the door open, barging in like she owned the place. I trailed behind, only to be hit by a pungent wave of spices the moment I stepped inside. The overwhelming aroma nearly made me sneeze. ¡°Eh?¡± I let out a surprised noise, blinking at the scene before me. The shop barely had three feet of space between the door and the counter¡ªor rather, a long wooden board that separated customers from what looked more like a warehouse than a store. Behind it stretched rows of shelves crammed with goods, towering almost to the ceiling. Perched on a chair behind the counter was a young girl, her green eyes sparkling with mischief as she hopped down and grinned at us. ¡°Welcome to my shop! What do you need? I have everything!¡± ¡°Thanks! I¡¯m Charlie, and this is Katherine,¡± I said quickly, cutting off any chance for Katherine to ruin our first impression. ¡°Do you have an explorer¡¯s pack?¡± ¡°I sure do!¡± she chirped, darting toward a shelf on the left. ¡°I¡¯m Trix!¡± With the agility of a monkey, she climbed the shelving unit and tossed a plain gray sack down in front of me. ¡°Everything you¡¯ll ever need for exploring¡ªonly ten gold!¡± She shoved the sack closer, practically beaming, before pocketing the coins I handed over. Her energetic mood drained any desire I had to haggle. That would just be a hassle. ¡°Anythin¡¯ else? Scrolls? Potions? Armor? Swords?¡± Trix leaned forward, her small hands pressing onto the counter as she pulled herself up to level the height gap between us. ¡°I¡¯ve got everything!¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªwe¡¯d probably need something strong to clear the walls. Without a mage, that task would be near impossible. ¡°Do you have fireball scrolls?¡± I asked. Fireball¡ªthe classic choice. Flashy, destructive, effective. ¡°Yeah! Ten gold each!¡± She didn¡¯t even need to check her shelves, instead reaching under the counter and pulling out a handful of scrolls. A quick glance told me they weren¡¯t from one wizard¡ªeach had distinct handwriting and enchantment patterns. My frown must¡¯ve been obvious, because Trix raised her hand in defense. ¡°Wait, wait! They¡¯re good! Best quality, trust me!¡± ¡°I trust you, don¡¯t worry,¡± I replied with a slight smile, testing the waters for a haggle. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard you can get them in the city for five gold, and they still make a profit.¡± Trix¡¯s smile vanished instantly, like I¡¯d insulted the quality of her whiskey. ¡°In the city, maybe. But here? The price¡¯s ten. Not even a copper less!¡± Why did that backfire? Katherine¡¯s snicker cut through the tension, and my face burned with embarrassment. ¡°Fine, fine! There you go!¡± I emptied my purse¡ªninety gold¡ªonto the counter and snatched the scrolls. ¡°That¡¯s all. Thanks, Trix. Let¡¯s go.¡± Before she could tempt me into buying anything else, I grabbed Katherine¡¯s hand and bolted out the door. ¡°See ya soon!¡± Trix¡¯s cheery farewell made me shiver. Outside, I doubled over, gasping for air with my hands on my knees. The crisp morning breeze tousled my hair, but I could still smell the spices from the shop. ¡°Whatcha doin¡¯?¡± Katherine asked, her mocking tone eating away at the last shreds of my pride. ¡°She¡¯s smoll girl.¡± ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted, still catching my breath. ¡°She pulled money out of me like a leprechaun!¡± With each breath, I felt calmer. ¡°Let¡¯s just move on. Do you know if there¡¯s a trainer around?¡± ¡°Hm, ¡®kay,¡± Katherine replied, smirking. ¡°I¡¯ll buy next time. Ya so noob.¡± She glanced toward a tall building sticking out from the surrounding small homes. ¡°There. Next to barrack.¡± The reason I was searching for a trainer was one of those moments that made me want to smack my head against a wall and roll it in the mud like a wolf. How could I be so stupid? I¡¯d completely forgotten about inherent skills and wasn¡¯t working on any. Dammit! My emotions were clouding my judgment, and I missed something so basic. We made our way to the barracks¡ªan impressive, albeit wooden, two-story building with a sandy drill area beside it. As expected, a palisade, the typical setup, enclosed the space. Strangely, there were no guards at the entrance, so we strolled right in without so much as a glance from anyone. That oversight made me chuckle. If this had happened under my command, the entire unit would curse me while running drills with extra weight strapped to their backs¡­ Wait, what memory is this? I stopped. Was I really in charge of a unit? Probably yes¡­Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Lassies, what can I do for you?¡± a voice snapped me out of my internal monologue. I stopped abruptly, noticing a short man in a blue robe blocking our path. Perhaps he was a guard¡ªor someone pretending to be one. ¡°Sir, I¡ª¡± The words caught in my throat as a foul odor hit me like a punch. I coughed, waving a hand in front of my nose. ¡°What? No¡ª¡± The smelly elf burst out laughing, his whole body shaking as he slapped his enormous belly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you delicate, like a lily? This is the true smell of manhood!¡± ¡°Stinky!¡± Katherine added, wrinkling her nose. Her tone was filled with mock disgust. Is she playing on a hundred percent reality too? ¡°Well, well, what are you searching for here?¡± he asked, his tone shifting slightly. Though more serious, the amusement still lingered in his voice. Mocking me. Stupid mage. If I had my sword right now, I¡¯d teach him a lesson. ¡°I want to learn inherent skills,¡± I said firmly, stepping back three paces to escape the smell. ¡°We don¡¯t have any.¡± At the mention of skills, Katherine¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Wat¡¯s ¡®tat?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in the right place, lassies!¡± The man adjusted his robe, though it did little to hide his round belly. Before I could respond, the door to our left swung open with a loud creak. A large-framed woman emerged, ducking her head to fit through the doorway. Once fully outside, she boomed in a commanding voice, ¡°Maidens, anybody can master inherent skills, but they demand your concentration! Without focus, you achieve nothing.¡± ¡°They¡¯re free skills outside the basic five,¡± I whispered in Katherine¡¯s ear. ¡°I¡¯m Lily,¡± the woman continued, her tone slowing as if she were explaining to someone already three drinks deep. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you all about body, mind, and magic skills. You can work on all three simultaneously, but you can¡¯t progress further until you¡¯ve mastered their secrets.¡± ¡°Sure, Miss Lily. I want to learn block,¡± I said, channeling magic into my shield with a smirk. Finally, a useful skill. Warrior skills are the best. What happened next caught me completely off guard. Without warning, Lily jumped into the air and kicked at me with surprising speed for her size. Instinct took over¡ªmy honed reactions kicked in, and I raised my shield, bracing my knees in an imperial block stance. But the force of her kick was beyond anything I¡¯d expected. The impact sent me flying backward, straight into the wooden palisade with a loud thud.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 4, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 20] [Congratulations! You are learning an inherent skill (body): Block. To unlock a block, block an attack: 1/10000]
¡°What are you doing, you stupid flower?¡± I growled as I healed myself, scrambling back to my feet. I glared at Lily, but she wasn¡¯t even looking at me. Instead, she turned to Katherine, her warm smile completely ignoring my existence. Meanwhile, the smelly guy strode toward me. Great. Just what I needed. ¡°You aren¡¯t doing magic properly,¡± he said, his tone dripping with condescension. ¡°Your healing spell was lousy, and you wasted a lot of time.¡± As much as I hated to admit it, he wasn¡¯t wrong. My gaze stayed fixed on him, though part of me wanted to disappear under the dirt. Maybe there is something to the mud-loving wolves. ¡°What do you want to learn about inherent magic?¡± he asked, his smugness oozing from every part of his fatty body. Backing away with three deliberate imperial steps, I clenched my fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. If only I could smack that gut of his. ¡°Chain lightning,¡± I said simply. Even if I wasn¡¯t a mage, I knew my stuff. I had read enough guides to know that everyone agreed this spell was one of the most useful inherent skills to train. His smile vanished as he gave a sharp nod. ¡°An excellent decision. Watch closely.¡± With that, he began. The first rune he created crackled with energy, the charged atmosphere making my skin prickle. By the time he finished the second rune, the power he¡¯d gathered was palpable. Then, all at once, the energy surged forward. The spell streaked through the air, arcing toward a pole behind me. It was incredibly fast, far beyond anything I could dodge, but I could tell it wasn¡¯t as fast as actual lightning. The bolt struck the first pole, jumped to the next, and then¡­ I realized too late that I was the only viable last target. The chain of lightning hit me squarely, and for a moment, my entire body felt like it was trapped inside a bass speaker at full volume. Or maybe it was more like a horde of drunken Scotsmen on warhorses trampling over me.
[You lost 15 HP.]
¡°You filthy mage!¡± My anger boiled over, and before I could rein myself in, my whip lashed out toward him. He didn¡¯t even flinch. A smug smile spread across his face as he summoned a shield, the glowing barrier effortlessly deflecting my attack. The whip slid across its surface without leaving a mark. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for standing there,¡± he said, his tone maddeningly calm. ¡°Now, come here and watch again.¡± I clenched my fists so hard I thought my nails might break skin. Breathe, Charlie, breathe. Reluctantly, I joined him, doing my best to ignore the foul stench emanating from him. At least the lesson is free¡­ for some reason. Ugh. He demonstrated the spell again, this time slower. Although he showed me the runes twice more, I still couldn¡¯t replicate them. The system refused to assist with inherent skills, leaving me to rely entirely on my memory. And drawing them from memory? Impossible. The mage clearly thought I was a complete idiot¡ªand to be fair, he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. My failure was written all over his face as he slowed his movements even further, each deliberate gesture like a jab at my pride. The worst part? He wasn¡¯t even being malicious¡ªit was just his way. Each failed attempt only fueled my frustration, and I could feel my pride getting dragged through the mud with every second of his smug ¡°teaching.¡± I failed to learn the spell over thirty times before it finally clicked. Katherine, of course, had been waiting for me the whole time, her amused half-smile doing absolutely nothing to help my focus. If anything, it¡¯s worse. As I cast the first rune, the static energy began to build around me. Promising. Encouraging, even. Then I moved on to the second rune. Nothing happened. The mage clasped his hands together, his shoulders shaking as he barely suppressed his laughter. ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± he asked, his voice teetering on the edge of another fit. ¡°Is it important?¡± I shot back, my face likely contorted into a ridiculous mix of confusion and annoyance. Whatever expression I made, it was enough to send him into a full-blown laugh. The sound echoed around us, unrestrained and infuriating. It didn¡¯t stop. Not until I slapped him. The satisfying snap of my palm against his cheek was cathartic enough to earn a follow-up on the other side, just for good measure. My pride¡ªboth as a man and a warrior¡ªwas in tatters. This is a nightmare. One I¡¯ll never wake up from. Ever. Eventually, he calmed down, though the smirk never fully left his face. ¡°During a spell, you need to focus,¡± he explained, still catching his breath. ¡°Magic will take the form of your thoughts. If you¡¯re thinking about dinner, the magic won¡¯t create lightning. The runes are here to help, to guide you¡ªthey aren¡¯t the spell itself.¡± Why am I only hearing this after twenty years of playing this game? My internal screaming was relentless, but I pushed it aside and refocused on the spell. It took me only five more tries to create the first rune again, but the real challenge was imagining the lightning. How do you picture something that doesn¡¯t exist in this world? Then it hit me¡ªliterally. I imagined the lightning striking him. The second rune came effortlessly, and with it, the spell unleashed.
[Critical hit! Target lost 1HP] [Congratulations! You are learning an inherent skill (magic): Chain lighting. To unlock a Chain lighting, practice it: 1/1000]
Damn. It¡¯ll do only chip damage before I master it. Great. ¡°Again. Thousands times.¡± [Book 1] [38. Tramar] My eyes burned with anger as I glared at the mage, wishing my gaze alone could strike him down. ¡°You¡¯re playing with fire,¡± I growled. He only laughed, and then¡ªof course¡ªlet out a fart so loud it echoed through the training grounds. The smell followed immediately, an assault on my senses so intense my eyes watered and my stomach churned. I nearly smacked him again, but my survival instincts kicked in just in time. Hitting him now would only spread the stink. Katherine, ever the opportunist, glanced between us, shook her head, and turned toward the training range. Ten steps later, she was in motion, her sword slicing cleanly through a dummy in one fluid move. Before the dummy could even recover its balance, she spun and attacked again, her footwork clumsy, and her strikes noobish. But damn beautiful. Meanwhile, the farting mage waved his hand and summoned a chair beneath his oversized, stinking backside. ¡°Even if your whip were as strong as your words,¡± he said, settling in with a satisfied sigh, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t regret helping our princess. It was an honor.¡± My attention had been stolen¡ªtemporarily!¡ªby Katherine¡¯s stunning display of¡­ her skill. John, stop it. She¡¯s not a lesbian, and you¡¯re Charlie. Focus! A gentle slap to my cheek brought me back to the conversation, and I redirected my simmering anger at the mage. ¡°Hmpf. Yes, I persuaded the Queen to coronate me.¡± Okay, maybe I was inflating my accomplishments, but who cared? Who were they, anyway, to question my title? A thought struck me like lightning¡ªWait. These two must be strong. Why else would the Queen trust them? Narrowing my eyes, I demanded, ¡°Are you part of her plan too? Will you fight my army?¡± Lily stepped forward, her monumental presence almost overshadowing the mage. ¡°Yes,¡± she said simply, her voice calm and resolute. ¡°The Queen graced us with her wisdom, and we appreciate your upcoming sacrifices.¡± Then, to my shock, she lifted her massive hands and performed a bow so low and formal it could have been ripped from an ancient Asian ceremony. ¡°Your upcoming perils dishearten me,¡± she continued, her voice filled with solemnity, ¡°but to preserve our path of existence, we are ready to play our part.¡± ¡°Stop¡­¡± I said, my voice faltering as I raised a hand to halt her. But then I froze, my cheeks heating. ¡°No way¡­¡± I stared at her, slack-jawed. ¡°But¡ªbut¡ªher army¡­¡± My voice trembled, struggling to piece together the implication of her words. ¡°We do not desire saving,¡± Lily said with a serene smile. ¡°We¡¯ll fight. And when the times comes, we will bolster her undead battalion.¡± The weight of her words settled heavily in the air. They¡¯re all willing to die. Sacrifice themselves, even. Why? This was a mindset I never understood. It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d seen it. Men under my command had run toward certain death with smiles on their faces, shouting for their country. My command? A quest probably, I don¡¯t remember details¡­ Was this¡­ belonging? There had never been a chance I¡¯d risk my life like that. When enlisted in Africa¡¯s wars, I stayed far from the frontline. I am not a hero, and I don¡¯t want to be. But these people? They were marching willingly to their deaths. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Katherine said, clutching my hand and pulling me out of the barracks. Her touch, warm and steady, and the way her hair swayed so close to my face, muted any protests I might¡¯ve had. I glanced back at the trainers, a grin creeping onto my lips. Maybe it¡¯s better this way. Less talking with future enemies¡ªno need to give them ammo. ¡°Sorry. Why are you so nervous?¡± I asked, letting her lead me. Her firm grip wasn¡¯t helping my focus¡ªif anything, it was deepening my grin. Come on, Charlie, get it together! ¡°We¡¯ve been playing for over half a day. Do you need a break?¡± I tried to change the subject, proud of myself for even attempting to steer the conversation. Getting the hang of this social stuff! Katherine suddenly stopped, turning back to me, and I walked right into her. I barely registered the soft oof of the impact before I realized I was now in her embrace. ¡°No. Third version¡¯s good. I forgot¡­¡± she mumbled, her cheeks visibly flushing. She hugged me tighter, almost as if trying to hide her embarrassment. Was she thinking I didn¡¯t have the same model? I let her hold me for a moment before whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got Mark Three as well. How much time do you have left?¡± Her grip loosened, and she pulled back just enough to show me her wide, confused eyes. ¡°Wat?¡± ¡°The remaining time before you have to log out,¡± I clarified. ¡°You know, to take the mandatory six-hour break. Ask the system.¡± Turning my attention inward, I called out silently, System, my time?
[You can safely play for another: 32 hours 12 minutes 3 seconds]
Katherine furrowed her brow, her gaze fixed on some invisible screen. Then, as if a switch flipped, she gifted me one of her deep, disarming smiles. ¡°A lot. Thanks. Wat now?¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± I said, already moving out. ¡°What about you? Let¡¯s eat!¡± She sighed but nodded, falling into step beside me. This day wasn¡¯t going the way I¡¯d expected¡ªat all. Thanks to Katherine¡¯s impatience, I barely got to enjoy the meal. The moment we paid, she practically dragged me out of the inn without so much as a glance back. Lucas is still offline. Weird. ¡°Hey, Kit,¡± I said, trying to sound casual as we walked. ¡°I need to check on a friend. What if we each take a ten-minute break?¡± She shrugged, her usual carefree grin lighting up her face. ¡°I¡¯ll edit vids, no prob!¡± And just like that, she logged off. I let out a long sigh, watching her avatar fade into nothingness. ¡°Guess it¡¯s break time for me too.¡± I opened the menu and logged off. The transition was as annoying as always. The moment I exited my capsule, reality felt heavier, colder, and far less forgiving. That faint disconnect, like I wasn¡¯t quite anchored back in my body, lingered as I lay down next to the capsule, closed my eyes, and tried to center myself. ¡°Miss Charlie, welcome home,¡± came the crisp, metallic voice of Tin-Can. ¡°Good evening-morning. Or¡­ whatever it is,¡± I mumbled, waving a hand vaguely in the air. Another sigh escaped me, the weight of the day¡¯s frustrations bubbling under the surface. ¡°Tin-can, could you please contact Lucas?¡± ¡°Negative, Miss Charlie,¡± Tin-Can replied smoothly. ¡°I attempted to connect, but all his devices are set to do not disturb mode. He must open the channels first.¡± I groaned, rubbing my temples. ¡°Stupid Lucas,¡± I muttered, rolling onto my side. ¡°I wonder what is he doing? I hope not borrowing another million¡­¡± As the familiar tang of my sweat hit me, I winced. ¡°Ugh. Better than that mage, but still¡­¡± I muttered, wrinkling my nose. Dragging myself up, I shuffled toward the bathroom. The hot water pounded down on me, washing away the grime and, with it, some of the frustration clinging to me. For a moment, the world felt less suffocating. Fresh and a bit more clear-headed, I returned to the capsule. With a deep breath, I slid back in, ready to reenter Rimelion. ¡°Level up!¡± was the first thing I heard when I logged in. Katherine was waiting and dragging me already. ¡°So close!¡± was her excuse as we now stood at the edge of the village. The dense forest loomed before us, its thick canopy casting a shadow over the dirt path that stretched into the wilderness. ¡°Sure,¡± I said, pointing toward the trees. ¡°But we need to go there. You up for it?¡± Her smile faltered for a second, and she stood silently, waiting for me to take charge. ¡°You¡¯re so predictable,¡± I said, shaking my head with a small grin. As we left the village, the bustling noise of players faded. Many of them cluttered the path¡¯s sides, shouting the usual nonsense about forming parties. Though we needed a mage, the thought of picking a random one from this lot didn¡¯t sit well with me. Katherine, less wary of strangers, didn¡¯t share my reluctance. She approached a man sitting on a cheap wooden fence, its frame so thin it seemed a miracle the fence hadn¡¯t already collapsed. The man wore a red, baggy robe and kept his face hidden beneath a ridiculously large hood. ¡°You mage,¡± she said simply, her tone matter-of-fact. ¡°Need mage. Wanna party?¡± The man tilted his head slightly, observing her in silence. Then, finally, he shrugged. ¡°Yeah, why not? Where are you headed?¡± My chance! ¡°It¡¯s far,¡± I interjected quickly. ¡°You probably don¡¯t want to play that long.¡± Before Katherine could say anything, I placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. ¡°We¡¯ll fight along the way, but it¡¯s hours from any village. There¡¯s a hidden dungeon, but it might not even have good loot.¡± My disdain was probably written all over my face. Please, just say no and walk away. ¡°Fine by me,¡± he said, standing with surprising energy. Dusting off his robe, he pulled back his hood to reveal short blonde hair and sharp features. ¡°Playing with cute girls is always fun.¡± He grinned as if he¡¯d just handed us a compliment. ¡°Tramar, at your service! I¡¯ve got fireball and fire floor spells, so I¡¯ve got you covered. I¡¯m level seven.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, moving closer to Katherine to vent my irritation. I tried squeezing her arm to calm myself, but her armor only left me with a sore hand. God, my strength is pathetic. ¡°We can¡¯t take horses,¡± I added, trying to refocus. ¡°The forest will be too dense to navigate on horseback.¡± We trekked through the forest for about an hour before the dense trees and humid air slowed our pace. The thick green canopy above us filtered out most of the sunlight, casting the path in shadow. The only conversation we¡¯d had was introducing ourselves by name. Katherine wasn¡¯t much for talking, and I¡­ I was thinking. Since when do I think so much? My upcoming fight with Irwen haunted me, a constant presence in the back of my mind. The stress felt like an invisible weight pressing against my chest. Is this what stress feels like? When people talked about stress, I never understood. If I had a problem, I avoided it. Simple. But now¡­ Now, there are more problems than drinks. The NPCs¡¯ willingness to throw their lives away wasn¡¯t my concern. I couldn¡¯t do anything about it, could I? Even with the seal suppressing Irwen¡¯s power, she could probably kill me effortlessly. I sighed, shaking the thoughts away. Focus on the present. Our formation was straightforward: Katherine took point, and Tramar and I followed. I hated to admit it, but Tramar¡¯s athletic build rivaled Lucas¡¯s. Despite having just met him, I found my eyes wandering¡ªstupid hormones! The way his biceps stretched his robe was¡­ distracting. I prefer girls! ¡°Hun, haven¡¯t you mentioned monsters?¡± Tramar¡¯s voice broke my thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ve seen nothing so far. But now¡­¡± He trailed off, looking into the dense trees. ¡°I sense something faint.¡± ¡°So what?¡± I snapped, annoyed at his tone. He wasn¡¯t wrong. The jungle should have been swarming with monsters, but we¡¯d encountered nothing. ¡°It is strange,¡± I admitted grudgingly. A low growl reached my ears, sending a chill down my spine. ¡°Wait,¡± I said, pausing. ¡°I hear it too.¡± Before anyone could respond, the growl transformed into a deafening roar. A powerful gust of wind surged through the forest, clearing the white mist that clung to the ground.
[You are stunned. Time remaining: 6s]
[??? Lv.15] Type: 5-epic Boss | HP: 1800/1800
¡°We¡¯re toast.¡± [Book 1] [39. The Blobrg] As we stared at the monster, our eyes struggled to make sense of it. We saw that the space where its body should be seemed warped, distorted, as if the world itself was rejecting its presence. Then the ground trembled, a heavy, rhythmic pulse that sent shivers through my legs. The monster lurched toward us. Fast. It tore through the trees in its path with brute force, splinters flying like shrapnel as entire trunks snapped and crumbled under its charge. This wasn¡¯t magic or some enchanted tool carving its way forward¡ªjust pure, unrelenting strength. Katherine reacted first, stepping forward with surprising grace to meet the almost-invisible foe. Her pained cry soon joined its growl, but the beast¡¯s roar shook the air and the impact of the air itself sent her staggering back. I barely had time to react before she crashed into me. Her warmth might have been a comfort in another moment, but now it was nothing more than a grim reminder of the danger we were in. She gritted her teeth and, with my support, sprang forward again, her resolve determined. Just like streams. Mana surged around us like a storm as Tramar and I both began drawing runes in the air. ¡°Fire floor!¡± Tramar¡¯s voice rang out just as his spell completed. Flames erupted beneath the monster, spreading outward in a circle of searing heat. The ground hissed and cracked under the intense fire, but the monster barely flinched. The flames licked at its distorted form, the air shimmering around it strangely¡ªthe heat seemed to steady the warped space instead of intensifying it. Now it was my turn. I raised my hands, the movements shaky as I started forming the runes without the system¡¯s help. Mana swirled chaotically around me, thick and rigid, resisting my control like a wild beast. Easy now, Charlie. Focus. I was on the sixth rune when I felt it¡ªa subtle vibration in the mana surrounding us. Tramar was casting again. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed it, but now, with every fiber of my being focused, the surge of his magic pulled at mine, destabilizing the fragile balance I was holding. The feedback forced me to juggle mana across three runes at once, a task so delicate my breathing turned shallow, and beads of sweat formed on my brow. My fingers cramped, sharp pains shooting through them. It reminded me of the time a three-hundred-pound Italian guy had sat on my hand during a bet. That pain was still seared into my memory. No, focus! Stay with it. Next time, I¡¯ll let the system help. Promise. With a last surge of effort, I locked the runes into place; the mana spiraling inwards. ¡°Princess¡¯ grace!¡± I shouted, releasing the spell. The runes glowed brilliantly, mana bursting outward in a wave of radiant energy.
[Player Katherine¡¯s strength increased by 15!] [Player Tramar68 intelligence increased by 15!]
Yes!¡± I bounced up and pumped my fist in the air, beaming with joy. Victory was in sight¡ªuntil I turned and saw Katherine. Bloodied and battered, three deep wounds on her shoulder gushed crimson, pouring like a broken bottle tipped upside down. ¡°Shatt! Sorry, Kit!¡± Panic surged through me as I grabbed an agility potion from my belt. The glass clinked against my shaking hands as I downed it in one go.
[You have used the Agility Potion] [Agility increased by 50]
Before I could act, Katherine let out a scream that sent chills down my spine. ¡°Chyort!¡± she roared as an invisible slash ripped across her thigh. The attack came out of nowhere, and she stumbled to the side, swinging her sword wildly into the empty air. Compared to my ultimate skill, healing runes were a breeze¡ªsecond nature by now. My fingers danced through the air, leaving shimmering trails as the mana flowed effortlessly.
[Perfect Runecraft! Healing x2 - 37HP]
The soft, golden glow of my healing spell descended on Katherine, wrapping her in its embrace. The light seeped into her wounds, greedily consumed by her battered body. Thankfully, the bleeding slowed, her strength visibly returning, and though not entirely healed, she flashed a fierce grin toward where she thought the enemy was lurking. ¡°Die!¡± she shouted, slashing again¡ªonly to carve through empty air. Beside me, the temperature spiked. ¡°Fireball!¡± Tramar yelled, a massive ball of flame forming at his fingertips. With a quick flick of his wrist, it sailed toward the invisible threat.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The fire struck something. The sound of sizzling flesh filled the air, and the putrid stench of burning meat hit me like a punch to the gut. My stomach turned, bile rising in my throat. The smell was too familiar, triggering memories I¡¯d rather forget. My heart sank. A Blobrg. ¡°Katherine, retreat!¡± I screamed, my voice cracking with panic. ¡°We can¡¯t win!¡± My mind raced back to my imperial training. One lesson stood out like a glaring neon sign: Never engage a Blobrg without being fully prepared. The memory of trying to take down a level fifty Blobrg at level one hundred resurfaced¡ªa humiliating minute-long fight that ended in my death. Without exploits, these things were practically invincible. Katherine stumbled again as another invisible attack tore through her armor, ripping into her back. Blood poured freely from the fresh wound, and she spun around defensively, her breathing ragged. ¡°Wut? Show yarself!¡± she roared, her voice filled with both pain and fury. ¡°Retreat! Now!¡± I yelled again, desperation creeping into my tone. Tramar had already conjured another fireball, but his aim faltered under the pressure. The spell whizzed past Katherine, setting nearby trees ablaze instead of hitting its target. Flames crackled in the distance, the fire casting shadows against the foliage. As Katherine fought to hold her ground, her strength waning, I knew the burden of keeping her alive fell squarely on my shoulders. This is bad. Really bad.
[Perfect Runecraft! Healing x2 - 37HP]
¡°Kit, you¡¯re at level ten, right?¡± I asked, still thrashing through bushes, desperately trying to keep pace while retreating. My voice barely carried over the rustling leaves and the distant crackle of flames. My question caught her off guard, her sword hand freezing mid-swing. Not like it would¡¯ve hit anything anyway¡ªthe Blobrg had vanished again. ¡°Yea, why?¡± she huffed, her breathing labored as blood dripped from another wound. ¡°I know a prestige class that¡¯s perfect for you,¡± I said quickly, the words spilling out as my mind raced. ¡°I can summon an angel and unlock it, but we need to keep the Blobrg off us for at least five seconds¡­¡± My voice trailed off as another slash found Katherine, forcing a painful moan from her lips. ¡°Which is impossible,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°I have fire sacrifice,¡± Tramar cut in, a grin spreading across his face as we reached a rocky clearing. The forest thinned here, the open terrain allowing the Blobrg to maneuver more freely. Not good. Katherine stayed ahead, still backpedaling, her shield up and her movements growing sluggish. The relentless assault of the invisible enemy was taking its toll. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked Tramar, biting my lip as I caught another glimpse of Katherine wincing from yet another unseen strike. Watching her take this kind of beating wasn¡¯t just painful¡ªit was infuriating. On her stream, it was different. There was always a sense of safety, even in failure. But now? Now it was real. ¡°What¡¯s one small sacrifice for a new friendship with you two?¡± Tramar¡¯s voice carried a teasing edge, but his tone was steady. My puzzled expression must have been obvious, because he quickly added, ¡°You want to call an angel, right? She¡¯s a ranker. Besides, I only lose an hour of playtime if this fails.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± I said, my voice firm, carrying a rare note of determination. It wasn¡¯t every day someone offered to take a fall for me. Actually, it was the first time. ¡°Kit!¡± I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°Stay there! We¡¯ll fall back a hundred feet, and then he¡¯ll swap!¡± Tramar¡¯s mouth opened slightly, his eyes shimmering with a mix of surprise and curiosity. ¡°How do you know?¡± he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°No time! Now!¡± My scream jolted him into action. With a single swift motion, he created a small, intricate rune¡ªso fast it was as if he¡¯d rehearsed it a thousand times. As the rune activated, it greedily devoured an enormous amount of mana, leaving me momentarily unable to cast anything. It felt almost like being hit with a silence spell; the sudden disruption was disorienting. From the glowing rune, a line of fire shot forward, connecting with Katherine. In an instant, the world seemed to blur, and they swapped places. Katherine appeared beside me, her expression a mix of confusion and relief, while Tramar took her place on the front lines, facing the invisible terror head-on. ¡°I call the God of War, according to Agreement Seventy-Four!¡± I yelled to no one in particular, my voice rising. A fireball consumed Tramar, and an explosion followed, clearing at least fifteen feet of the battlefield. The sudden burst of flames faintly revealed the Blobrg¡¯s monstrous form, its warped outline flickering in the light. But it wasn¡¯t enough to cause serious harm. At any other time, I would¡¯ve laughed at the utterly baffled expression on Katherine¡¯s face, but there was no time for that now. The Blobrg screeched, a sound that seemed to pierce the very air, its burning fur releasing a putrid, oily stench that clawed at my nostrils. The breeze from its cry brushed against my skin, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. Still, there was no answer from the heavens. ¡°You called, I answered,¡± came a voice behind me, soft and melodic, with an edge of authority that commanded attention. I turned and fell to one knee, bowing my head with haste. ¡°My friend Katherine seeks the path of the Glory Seeker,¡± I said, my words tumbling out. ¡°Please, erect a holy barrier around us during her consideration.¡± The Blobrg, still engulfed in flames and now visible, let out another ear-splitting scream and barreled toward us. Its every step shook the ground, and time felt like it was slipping away. ¡°You are a confirmed hero,¡± the voice responded, calm and unhurried. ¡°Do you guarantee Katherine¡¯s character?¡± ¡°I¡ªI do!¡± I stammered, panic edging my voice. ¡°Please¡ªfast!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± As soon as the words left her lips, the surrounding ground erupted with a hundred glowing runes. Their ethereal light bathed the area in a warm glow, and with a flash, a red barrier shimmered into existence, encircling us completely. The sight brought back a rush of memories. Back when I was exploiting army quests, my squad had stumbled upon a random acolyte. Simple enough, right? Wrong. We had no idea he was under the God of War¡¯s protection until we found ourselves helpless against one of these very barriers. Unbreakable. No weapon, no spell, no exploit could bring it down. I smirked as I saw the Blobrg pawing uselessly at the barrier¡¯s edge. The beast tried to slam against it with brute force, but the glowing wall didn¡¯t even flicker. Tough luck, blob. ¡°Wut? Charlie?¡± Katherine dove away from the barrier, her wide eyes darting between me and the angel. ¡°Wat¡¯s a Glory Seeker?¡± The angel stepped forward, and I couldn¡¯t help but stare. She was stunning¡ªa young woman clad in heavy, intricately crafted armor. The silver-red plating gleamed with divine energy, and the enormous sword strapped to her back radiated power. Her black, curly hair spilled out from beneath her helmet in defiant strands, framing almond-shaped eyes as dark as a starless sky. Her skin, a deep brown, reflected the light of the runes, giving her an otherworldly glow. Definitely a southerner, I thought. Before her ascension, she was likely born and raised there¡ªone of the rare humans from the region. Traders aside, southerners weren¡¯t exactly known for their hospitality to outsiders. Most of my attempts to exploit their quirks had failed miserably. ¡°Present your case,¡± the angel said, her voice soothing yet firm. No wonder the God of War chose her¡ªhis very obvious interest in beautiful women made this choice unsurprising. Still, she¡¯s perfect for this role. ¡°Katherine here has reached a pivotal point in her life,¡± I began, gesturing toward my friend, who still looked half-confused, half-awestruck. ¡°She can now decide her future. I nominate her as one of the eight Glory Seekers¡ªspecifically, Juggernaut.¡± [Book 1] [40. The Riker’s Luck] The Riker¡¯s den ¡°Lucas, don¡¯t push your luck. You¡¯ve already lost half the money you borrowed!¡± That was the nagging Lucas had endured all evening. ¡°I¡¯ll get it back, dear Pearl. Just wait.¡± Tonight¡¯s event had one clear highlight: the grand game of The Riker¡¯s Luck. Naturally, Lucas had his eyes set on it. To qualify for the big table, he¡¯d placed more bets than he should have, losing half of his borrowed money. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d taken such a risk¡ªto make money; you had to spend money, he often told himself. Not that Pearl or Charlie ever saw it that way. ¡°We already have what we came for,¡± she said, her voice sharp with frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s just go back.¡± Lucas winced. He could¡¯ve broken even if Reider hadn¡¯t been such an idiot. His entire plan to breach security had fallen apart when the AI caught him. Sure, he was the first, but so what? Lucas¡¯s mood soured further. Losing even more of Charlie¡¯s money wasn¡¯t an option. At first, his earlier meeting with Jeffrey left him too rattled to realize the full extent of his mistake. But as the night dragged on, he carefully bet what little money he had left, winning some, losing others¡ªuntil it was time for the main event. He had to recover his losses. A waitress in an elegant dress snapped Lucas out of his thoughts. ¡°Mister L? Please, follow me, and kindly remove any devices.¡± She held out a small box, padded with the finest leather. ¡°See you later, Pearl,¡± he whispered into his microphone. Pearl, predictably, didn¡¯t respond. She was being melodramatic again. With a shrug, Lucas nodded to the waitress and said, ¡°Naturally.¡± He handed over his precious electronics and followed her to the main stage. A massive table with ten seats stood at the center of the room, illuminated by intense lights in different colors for each spot. Lucas slid into the chair under a yellow beam, sinking into its plush comfort. Riker clearly hadn¡¯t skimped on luxury. The table itself was a work of art¡ªor madness. A hundred intricate, intertwining lines wove around the table. The central platform rotated in slow, deliberate movements, creating endless possible configurations. With quantum tunneling involved, even predictions were pointless. Then, a man in a dazzling, multicolored coat hopped onto the platform, grabbing a microphone. His attire shimmered with every color of the rainbow. ¡°Brilliant elites of humanity! I¡¯m Riker, and this is the moment we¡¯ve all been waiting for. It¡¯s time for The Riker¡¯s Luck!¡± A crowd had gathered in a wide circle around the table, their anticipation palpable but silent. If Riker had hoped for raucous cheers, he¡¯d be disappointed. Still, he pressed on. ¡°Who will claim the early prize? Who will seize the lucky treasure? Let¡¯s roll the circle!¡± With a loud series of clicks, the circular platform spun. The noise of countless tiny connections and mechanisms filled the air. Riker produced a tall stack of metallic cards, handing two to each player. ¡°First round starts¡ªas per tradition¡ªwith the blue player.¡± All eyes turned to a striking woman in a daring red dress and a black mask adorned with dandelions. ¡°Let¡¯s start big, shall we?¡± she said in a playful tone, sliding two golden-plated chips forward. ¡°Two thousand on blue.¡± The players to her right folded one by one, until a burly man with a deep, booming voice said, ¡°Call. Yellow.¡± Lucas shook his head when his turn came. His cards were useless¡ªtwo subroutines. Fantastic. When no one else challenged her, Riker¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Play your hand!¡± The woman slipped a card into one of the three slots in front of her. ¡°Firewall.¡± As the card clicked into place, an electric current surged through the table, and a vivid blue path lit up, stretching toward the center. Her opponent studied the path carefully before inserting his card into the middle slot. ¡°Trojan Horse.¡± His red light burst across the table, sneaking through various paths and targeting multiple slots, including the firewall. ¡°Oh my, how bold,¡± she remarked, her voice calm despite the threat. ¡°Raise. Four thousand.¡± Her opponent matched her chips with a tense, ¡°Call.¡± ¡°Firewall,¡± she said again, sliding another card into the slot. Even more connections flared in blue, illuminating the table. The man¡¯s jaw tightened as she revealed her card. Two firewalls. Her luck was amazing¡ªequivalent to pulling four aces in poker. He revealed his ultimate play with visible frustration. ¡°Forced Restart.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Oh? Trying your luck?¡± Her tone was light, but the tension in the room was palpable. The red light from his card surged through the table¡¯s paths, breaking connections and splitting the circle into smaller segments. Around twenty sections rotated at random angles. Some connections realigned, while others fizzled out. Lights flickered in a chaotic dance, colors shifting across the table. Over Lucas¡¯s seat, beams flickered between indigo, green, and yellow before returning to yellow again. Most players¡¯ colors shifted¡ªexcept for one. The woman remained resolutely blue. ¡°The winner of the first round is Miss T!¡± Riker shouted with enthusiasm. The crowd buzzed with excitement as the mechanism drew the used cards into its core and the circle rotated again. When Lucas¡¯s turn came, he picked up a pair of cards. The first, a green Memory Bank, had real potential. Played correctly, even a firewall wouldn¡¯t stop him. The second, a Switchboard, was practically useless under normal circumstances¡ªbut in the right moment¡­
Somewhere in the jungle with an angel Just beyond the barrier, the Blobrg thrashed and slashed with relentless fury, its hidden form bouncing erratically as it attacked the translucent shield. Nothing reached us¡ªnot its claws, not its roars, not even the nauseating stench of charred flesh. Instead, the air inside felt pure and revitalized, as if the world itself had taken a deep, cleansing breath. ¡°Hey, angel,¡± I said, my tone casual as I rose to my feet. No fear now. ¡°Got a name? Fine, if I talk normally?¡± I stepped closer, but halted under her piercing gaze. Her bright, otherworldly eyes studied my face with a strange intensity, making me feel oddly exposed. What? If I remembered correctly, angels were just ordinary people drafted into divine service after taking a crash course in god-law. Nothing special. After what felt like an eternity, she sighed¡ªa soft, shallow sound. ¡°Granted. I¡¯m Sera.¡± ¡°Hi, Sera. So, what do you think about my plea? Is it achievable to get the Juggernaut?¡± Katherine waved her hand impatiently, cutting us off. ¡°Wait. Wha¡¯s ¡®tat again?¡± ¡°The Juggernaut embodies everything our patron stands for¡ªglory, strength, fearlessness,¡± Sera answered mechanically, her voice devoid of emotion. ¡°Since you are a candidate, I can share the details.¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes lit up as she scanned the floating screen in front of her. With every new line she read, her expression grew brighter until she was grinning like a child on their birthday. Normally, seeing her like that would have me checking my pants for any embarrassing excitement, but not this time. Stupid Lucas! We would need to rob the government blind, and I¡¯d finally reclaim my old body. Just wait, Katherine. What¡¯s a few years of glory compared to what I lost? ¡°Wha¡¯ now? I want it!¡± Katherine shouted, her face shining with determination. She grabbed Sera¡¯s hands eagerly, causing the angel to flutter clumsily. Despite herself, Sera softened, offering a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve sent a request to our department. It¡¯s under review.¡± As they debated heaven¡¯s bureaucratic nonsense, I turned my attention to the Blobrg. The odd beast, everyone claimed, was mindless, driven solely by its hunger. It would chase prey until devoured. My mentor once told me, Sacrifice something, let it eat, and then run. Yeah, sure. My gaze lingered on Katherine, who was now enthusiastically arguing with Sera about swords. No sacrifice. We run. The Blobrg¡¯s wound had already healed, its shimmering body fading to invisibility again. Still, I could sense it battering the barrier, undeterred. Relentless. Inside, the meadow wasn¡¯t large enough to keep us completely out of reach. Teleport scrolls were our only way out, and with the first patch on the horizon, wasting one didn¡¯t feel so bad. When this nonsense was over, we¡¯d need to find the ruins. If the quest said ¡°help the princess,¡± it meant I had the same quest. I just didn¡¯t know about it because I¡¯d turned notifications off. Stupid Lucas. Ice-blood-god-knows-where. And Lisa? Dead. That left me with the overly excited streamer as my only option. I stole a glance at Katherine while she chatted away, absorbed in examining her skills. Her enthusiasm was almost contagious, but I wasn¡¯t about to let it distract me. There¡¯s was a video of someone soloing this city. They did it all alone. Why risk it, though? Their conversation dragged on for over an hour, so I sat down and pretended to meditate. As if I could. Instead, I brewed agility potions with my exploit. Efficiency over spirituality. Finally, Sera¡¯s melodic voice broke my focus. ¡°Please bear witness, hero!¡± Katherine knelt in front of Sera, holding a massive two-handed sword. A recording device floated nearby, capturing everything. My heart jumped. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± I scrambled to clean up my alchemy tools and dashed toward them. ¡°Katherine, do you willingly swear to abide by the laws of Feran, be bound by his rules, and bask in his glory? Do you swear to always meet your enemy with honor?¡± The quick sprint left me winded, and I had to lean against a tree to catch my breath. Katherine, ever radiant, held her sword out proudly. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders as she locked eyes with Sera. ¡°Yup, I swear!¡± she declared, unable to suppress her grin. Sera¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. She placed her unarmored hand on the blade¡¯s edge. Blood trickled down the steel, pooling at the hilt before touching Katherine. The moment it did, she shuddered, then screamed in pain. Sera turned toward me, her presence imposing. ¡°I-¡± My voice cracked at the sight of Katherine¡¯s agony. Clutching the handle of my whip for support, I forced myself to speak. ¡°I witness.¡± Ignoring Katherine¡¯s cries, Sera smirked slightly. ¡°Katherine the Juggernaut, you are now the fifth glory seeker.¡± She turned to me again, her smile growing ominous. ¡°Ceremony completed. Thus, I tear down the barrier.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± I lunged toward her, but she vanished before I could reach her. Change of plans. ¡°Katherine, pull out a teleport scroll! Now! Marketplace!¡± Without waiting, I tore mine and felt the spell surge through me. But Katherine didn¡¯t move. That stubborn woman turned her armored back to me, her sword glinting in the fading light. Her voice was steady. ¡°No. Always meet with glory.¡± ¡°No!¡± The teleport spell anchored itself, pulling me away. ¡°Katherine, you can¡¯t win! We¡¯ll go on an adventure! Find the ring!¡± She didn¡¯t respond, only strode forward toward the barrier, her hair catching the light like a halo. The cracks in the shield stretched wider. Fresh Updates, Faster Releases
Hello, my dear readers! TL;DR: I''m back after a hiatus! Rewrote everything¡ªplease re-read the fresh, polished story (assassin subplot removed). Uploading Book 1 five times a week; Book 2 follows. A song based on Rimelion! (chp. 3 spoilers) ?? Thanks for your support!
After a long break, I¡¯m finally back¡ªand stronger than ever! ?? To be honest, there was a time when I thought I might never return. Life threw some unexpected challenges my way (if you''re curious, feel free to PM me). Long story short, writing became difficult because it reminded me of things I wasn¡¯t ready to face. I didn¡¯t want to start again only to stop halfway through. But then this year¡¯s NaNoWriMo came around, and it reignited my passion for this amazing story. I faced my fears, dived back in, and almost succeeded in completing the second book! Why ¡°almost¡±? Well¡­ instead of just moving forward, I went back and rewrote everything. ?? So feel free to re-read the story¡ªit¡¯s fresh, polished, and better than ever! Some things were removed based on recommendations from my editor friend (sorry to those who enjoyed the tension with the assassin subplot¡ªit just wasn¡¯t working). But trust me, the story flows much more smoothly now!Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Yes, dear Skahra, you made it to chapter 35 of the edited version before running into the unedited chapters, didn¡¯t you? I bet that was odd! So, what¡¯s the plan for Rimelion? I¡¯ve edited the first book and will begin uploading it at a pace of five chapters a week as an apology for the hiatus, with two coming today. With this schedule, the first book might finish this year¡ªor it might spill into next. Let¡¯s see! ?? Once Book 1 wraps up, I¡¯ll slow the pace to three chapters a week for Book 2. Thanks to NaNoWriMo, that book is mostly written, but I¡¯ll release it gradually over the coming months to ensure the quality is top-notch. As for the future? I¡¯ve mapped out enough plotlines for at least two more books. However, I¡¯ve learned not to make promises I¡¯m not certain I can keep. So, I¡¯ll take things one book at a time and keep you updated. ?? For those interested: Here¡¯s a link to a youtube playlist of songs based on Rimelion! ??I personally love the song Pave The Way based on Chapter 3! (Heads up: it contains mild spoilers for chapters stated in name) Thank you all for your patience, support, and love for this story. I¡¯m thrilled to be back on this journey with you all! [Book 1] [41. Glory Fight] Somewhere in the jungle with an angel Katherine glanced around the shimmering barrier now enclosing them. Magic wasn¡¯t usually her thing¡ªtoo flashy, too complicated¡ªbut this barrier was thrilling. Complex patterns wove across its translucent surface, shifting and pulsing as if alive. She had seen nothing like it, not even the barriers crafted by Rateh, the dungeon boss. His shield seemed cheap in comparison. Curiosity got the better of her, and she reached out to touch the barrier. The moment her fingertips brushed its surface, the Blobrg lunged. Its ridiculous body, still charred and smoldering, slammed against the barrier, sending ripples of light cascading through the magical weave. Katherine¡¯s lips twisted in a disgusted grimace. Its malformed limbs and oozing wounds were worse than anything she¡¯d seen, even in that creepy Czech museum exhibit where they¡¯d recreated folklore monsters. Those creatures seemed almost charming next to this abomination. When the Blobrg reared up and lashed out again, its craggy limbs screeching against the shield, instinct took over. Katherine dove backward, landing with a thud. Never trust a magician. ¡°Wut? Charlie?¡± she muttered, her gaze landing on the figure standing nearby. An angel? They were talking¡ªCharlie, and the angel¡ªsomething about class changes. Apparently, they¡¯d been discussing it without her input. She frowned. ¡°Wat¡¯s a Glory Seeker?¡± Her attention wavered as her eyes landed on the angel¡¯s sword, and a mad grin spread across her face. The angel, Sera, sent a barrage of stat screens her way, but Katherine barely spared them a glance. Screens? Stats? Hu?! Who cares about those when you¡¯ve got a sword like that? Katherine¡¯s hand drifted to her own pitiful short sword, and she sighed. That¡¯s the weapon I need. ¡°Wat now? I want it!¡± she declared, her excitement boiling over, and turned on her recording. Fans need to see ¡®tis! Sera began explaining something about angels, honor, and responsibility, but Katherine¡¯s attention had already drifted. The angel¡¯s words droned on, more monotonous than her law teacher. Why her parents had ever forced her to study law, she¡¯d never understand. It was like a foreign language to her¡ªshe might as well be listening to someone speak Chinese. After what felt like hours, the angel finally closed her mouth¡ªsadly, only for a second. ¡°Katherine, do you understand?¡± Sera¡¯s voice cut through her daydream, commanding, her piercing gaze locking onto Katherine. For real, the same as teachers. Katherine blinked innocently and nodded with feigned enthusiasm. ¡°Yas, lady Sera! Constitutional norms are constitutive conventions!¡± The angel sighed, her patience visibly thinning, and glanced back at the invisible screens in front of her. ¡°It seems we have approval. Are you certain you want to become a Glory Seeker? From everything I¡¯ve told you, only the ¡®honorable¡¯ part seems to apply to you.¡± Sera hesitated, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. ¡°I may have¡­ over-explained.¡± Katherine glanced over at Charlie, who was busy hunched over a cluster of bubbling cauldrons. There were at least ten of them, steam rising as they brewed. Katherine smirked. KatFan69 always thought long and hard about these things, and yet somehow, always reached the same conclusion as her. ¡°Yas! ¡®tat sword! Gimme!¡± Katherine exclaimed, her voice teeming with anticipation. Her English wasn¡¯t as perfect as her Czech, but nobody cared so far! Sera sighed again¡ªlong, drawn out, and heavy with resignation. Slowly, she unfastened the sword from her side, its blade catching the light as she handed it over to Katherine. The weapon was massive, built for power and intimidation. Its blade, nearly a meter and a half long, gleamed with a red hue that seemed almost alive, faint tendrils of red swirling beneath the polished surface like trapped¡­ something. Inscribed along the flat of the blade were strange runes that glowed faintly with every movement. So goated! The hilt was wrapped in deep crimson leather, its grip finally broad enough to fit both her hands comfortably, with an extra gap to spare. As Sera handed it over, Katherine reached out with both hands, her muscles straining as she lifted it. The sword was heavier than she expected, its weight grounding her, demanding balance and control. She grinned as she ran her fingers along the hilt, feeling the fine edge. Katherine¡¯s eyes widened, full of awe and excitement as she dropped to one knee in gratitude for the gift. The weight of the massive sword rested heavily in her hands. ¡°Your friend is¡­ resourceful¡­¡± Sera said, her gaze shifting to Charlie, who was absorbed in her unique alchemy. Steam wafted from one of the many bubbling cauldrons, and faint traces of herbs and minerals floated in the air. ¡°Her plan is sound, but there¡¯s a crack in it.¡± Katherine glanced up from her position, tilting her head. ¡°Wat?¡± She felt a pang of understanding when she thought of Charlie. Their connection ran deeper than the typical streamer-chat. While others in her chat sent short messages or bombarded her with emojis, Charlie always wrote full paragraphs. Detailed strategies, witty banter¡ªthings that made Katherine smile. Even if she often ignored the advice in favor of her passionate approach, which was funny itself to see Charlie sending facepalm emoji. Sera turned to her. ¡°The shield isn¡¯t meant to be used this way. The consequences can be bad, even for a hero like her. If you go through with this, you know what must be done. Alone.¡± She gestured toward the pulsating barrier and the Blobrg still clawing at its edges. ¡°Yas. Glory fight,¡± Katherine said with a nod, her grin bold. This whole prestige-class thing was right up her game. Head first, kick first, ask questions later. She was nothing like her cautious classmates, debating laws over and over. Sera allowed herself a rare smile. ¡°Exactly.¡± Turning toward Charlie, she called, ¡°Please bear witness, hero!¡± Charlie¡¯s head snapped up like a startled kitten. Her hands fumbled with the alchemy kit, spilling a few vials in her rush. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± she stammered, scrambling to her feet. But Sera, unbothered, continued. ¡°Katherine, do you willingly swear to abide by the laws of Feran, be bound by his rules, and bask in his glory? Do you swear to always meet your enemy with honor?¡± Charlie finally stumbled to their side, panting as though she¡¯d sprinted a marathon. Her eyes darted nervously between Sera and Katherine. Meanwhile, Katherine was steady, unfazed, her grin widening. She held the massive sword out proudly, its blade glinting in the soft light of the barrier. She locked eyes with Sera. ¡°Yup, I swear!¡± she declared, her voice full of confidence. Best stream! Sera¡¯s expression remained impassive as she placed her bare hand on the blade¡¯s sharp edge. Blood seeped from the cut, tracing a thin red line down the steel and pooling at the hilt before dripping onto Katherine¡¯s hand.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The moment the blood touched her, something shifted in the sword. Katherine couldn¡¯t pinpoint it, but a chill settled over her, deeper than any winter she¡¯d endured. It pierced through her like her ass was being plunged into an endless frost. The damn reality limit. Why did she set it at eighty percent? She screamed, her voice ripping through the meadow, before her world flickered and blanked out. By the time she regained her senses, she could barely register Sera¡¯s voice. ¡°I tear down the barrier.¡± A flood of blue boxes filled her vision. The system interface screamed for her attention, but she swiped it away irritably. Annoying! ¡°Katherine, pull out a teleport scroll! Now! Marketplace!¡± Charlie¡¯s voice was shrill with panic. Katherine turned toward her new-old friend, her chest tightening. A pang of sadness settled in her stomach. She wouldn¡¯t be able to help Charlie with the quest¡ªnot this time. ¡°No. Always meet with glory.¡± ¡°No!¡± Charlie¡¯s voice was frantic as the teleport spell anchored her, pulling her body away in a glimmering haze. ¡°Katherine, you can¡¯t win! We¡¯ll go on an adventure! Find the ring!¡± Each word hit Katherine like a blow, weighing heavily on her heart. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to ignore the pang of sadness swelling in her chest. For Charlie to have a chance¡ªshe needed to face this alone. Only one needed to die. Her grip tightened on the hilt of the massive sword as she turned toward the barrier. The cracks in the shield stretched wider with every passing second, the magical patterns distorting and flickering. Never trust a magician. Beyond it, the Blobrg¡¯s distorted, triumphant screech burst through the air. It made the ground beneath her armored boots tremble. She checked the camera¡ªit was still recording. ¡°Ya die!¡± she yelled, her voice strong. With a deep breath, Katherine stomped forward, the weight of the sword empowering her. Her hair caught in the breeze, glowing like fire in the dim light. The barrier fractured further, shards of energy breaking away as the Blobrg¡¯s monstrous limbs clawed at the opening. No turning back now. She activated her new sacrificial talent, [Glorious Fight]. Nothing outwardly happened, but she felt the power coursing through her. ¡°For glory!¡± Katherine roared, raising her sword high.
[Transformation complete. Glorious Fight was activated.]
She willed her second newly unlocked talent, [Katherine¡¯s Fury], to activate. The moment she did, a sharp pull drained her reserves, but the effect was immediate.
[Congratulation! Your skill, Katherine¡¯s Fury, was activated.]
Annoying! Stop! A surge of red energy erupted from the blade, cascading down her arm like molten lava and enveloping her in a burning aura. It wasn¡¯t just heat¡ªit was power, wrapping around her like a blazing, protective cloak. Then the fire caught. Flames erupted around her, licking at the ground and igniting the air with a fiery glow. The meadow seemed to wither under the intensity of the inferno, and even the invisible Blobrg recoiled. It leapt to the right with unnatural speed, its razor-sharp limbs slashing at her side as it dodged the encroaching flames. ¡°Wahahaha!¡± Katherine cackled madly, the pain from the swipe barely registering through the adrenaline and fire roaring within her. Blood seeped from her side, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. Raising the massive sword overhead, she brought it down in a devastating arc. ¡°[Judgment]!¡± she screamed, activating another newly gained skill. The blade moved faster than thought; the strike empowered by divine energy? Magic? Who cared, honestly? It carved through the Blobrg¡¯s form with a blinding flash of red light, cutting through its defenses like they were one of her posters. The creature let out a distorted, ear-splitting shriek, its once-invulnerable body flickering wildly as Katherine¡¯s strike tore it apart. ¡°See ya now!¡± Katherine roared, slashing her sword in a wide, horizontal arc. The Blobrg, with a speed that contradicted its absurd size, leapt back, evading her attack. Its wounds, though deep and charred from her earlier strike, closed before her eyes, its body pulsating as it regenerated. Katherine¡¯s lips curled into a mad grin. ¡°Oh, ya think ya¡¯re tough, huh?¡± she muttered, more to her fans than the creature. With a ferocious cry, she lunged forward, her fiery aura flaring with every swing of her sword. The Blobrg didn¡¯t retreat this time. It crouched low, its skinny limbs spreading wide like a spider on the hunt, before launching itself at her. ¡°Nope!¡± Steel met claws in a deafening clash. Katherine¡¯s blade rang with each parry, her muscles straining as she blocked the Blobrg¡¯s relentless swipes. The creature was faster than she expected, its movements erratic and unpredictable. One limb darted toward her midsection, but she twisted her body at the last moment, bringing her sword up in a sharp upward slash. Sparks flew as her blade scraped against its hardened flesh, leaving a glowing molten streak in its wake. My mistr will be proud! The Blobrg snarled, its eyes narrowing as it countered with a sweeping strike of its own. Katherine ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as its claws whistled past her head. She spun on her heel, using her momentum to drive her sword downward in a crushing vertical blow. The ground beneath them cracked as the impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, but the Blobrg dodged at the last moment, skittering to the side with magical agility. Katherine was using both her new skills liberally, always on the attack. ¡°Come on, ya coward!¡± Katherine taunted, flames dancing around her as she stepped forward, relentless in her assault. She slashed in a wide arc, forcing the creature to leap away, only for her to press the attack with a diagonal cut aimed at its exposed flank. The Blobrg twisted its body unnaturally, avoiding the blade, and retaliated with a flurry of rapid swipes. Katherine staggered back, her armor screeching as its claws raked across her shoulder. Pain grew, but she grinned through it, her eyes blazing with determination. ¡°Hah! ¡®tat all ya got?¡± she spat, gripping her sword tighter. The Blobrg let out a screech, its body half-invisible as it prepared another strike. They clashed again, neither backing down. Katherine¡¯s strikes were heavy and deliberate, her blade leaving arcs of fire in its path, while the Blobrg¡¯s attacks were a chaotic whirlwind of slashes and stabs. As they fought, the surrounding meadow took the scars of their battle¡ªscorched earth where her flames had burned and deep gouges in the soil from the creature¡¯s claws. At one point, the Blobrg lunged, aiming for her exposed side. Katherine saw the opening and sidestepped, bringing her sword down in a quick counter. The blade connected, slicing through one of its limbs with a burst of flame. The severed limb hit the ground with a wet thud, but the Blobrg didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, it turned and slashed at her with its remaining limbs, forcing her back on the defensive. Blood dripped from both combatants now¡ªher from the cuts in her armor, and it from the deep, smoldering gashes her sword had carved into its body. Yet neither showed any signs of giving up. Katherine¡¯s breaths came heavy, but her grin never wavered. ¡°Ya tough, I¡¯ll give ya that,¡± she panted, wiping a trickle of blood from her lip. The Blobrg growled low, its glowing eyes locked on hers. Its movements were slower now, more cautious, as if it, too, was feeling the toll of their battle. With a burst of energy, Katherine charged again, her sword flaring brighter. ¡°Got last juice for ya! [Judgment]!¡± The Blobrg roared in response, meeting her head-on in a final, frenzied clash. Sparks and flames exploded around them as steel met claws, their movements a blur of fury and precision. A burst of red energy erupted from her sword, spreading like wildfire, consuming the Blobrg in an inferno of divine flames. The beast let out a distorted screech that shook her core, its limbs flailing wildly as the fire engulfed it. Katherine pressed forward, her grin widening as she twisted the sword with all her might, cutting deeper into the creature. The Blobrg flickered and fractured. Its movements slowing as the flames tore it apart. With one last defiant cry, she slashed horizontally, severing its core in a single, decisive motion. The creature collapsed in a heap, its body disintegrating into a mass of ash and light. Then the meadow fell silent. The only sound was the crackling remnants of her burning aura. Katherine stood over the pile of ash, her chest heaving, sweat dripping from her brow. Her aura flickered, growing dimmer, and the weight of the battle finally caught up with her. And then, the cost. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, her hands gripping the hilt of her sword to keep herself upright. The fiery aura dissipated entirely, leaving only the cool breeze. Pain coursed through her body, every nerve in protest as the price of her skills took its toll. Yet, despite the searing exhaustion, Katherine tilted her head back and let out a breathless laugh, her voice trembling with equal parts triumph and madness. ¡°I won,¡± she whispered, a grin spreading across her bloodied face as she turned toward the camera. ¡°I won.¡± [You died] [Book 1] [42. One Sip Before the Storm] ¡°Stupid kit!¡± I shouted as soon as I materialized on the market plaza of the nearest village. My voice echoed across the cobblestone square, drawing the stares of elven NPCs and players alike. Their expressions ranged from bemused to mildly concerned, as though they were watching a drunkard stumble through the street. I wasn¡¯t drunk¡ªjust furious. ¡°At Katherine!¡± I hissed, throwing my hands in the air. ¡°Why¡­ Why can¡¯t she listen to me just once?¡± My frustration boiled over as I paced the plaza, muttering under my breath. How many times had I sent her strategies? Detailed plans to avoid getting PKed or tips for snagging better equipment. She never followed them. Never. All that mattered to her was content. That was a king¡ªor queen¡ªor whatever. Whatever. I opened my interface, scrolling through my friend list to see who was online. The screen flickered into view before me, displaying the familiar names. And¡­ not a pleasant sight.
[Your friend Lucas is offline.] [Your friend Lisa is offline.] [Your friend Ry4n1 is offline.] [Your friend Tramar is offline.]
I sighed, my frustration morphing into fatigued resignation. Midnight or not, this is Rimelion¡¯s early days! How could no one be online? This was the game everyone escaped from our reality, yet I stood alone in the middle of the square, glaring at a screen that didn¡¯t care. Sorry, you care, I know. ¡°Talking to a blue-screen,¡± I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. My gaze shifted around the plaza until I found a nearby bench. Architect designed it from a smooth stone, its edges full of faintly glowing runes that hummed with magic. I ran my hand along the seat as I sat down, feeling the gentle warmth radiating from the enchanted words. Nice touch, Uncle. He can¡¯t be my real uncle, can he? I leaned back, letting my eyes wander over the market. In a few weeks, maybe less, Irwen would crawl her way through here, conquering everything in her path and turning it into her property. Well, she thinks it was always her kingdom; I guess. Future Charlie¡¯s problem, I told myself. Right now, there was still a sliver of hope that Kit¡ªKatherine with her shiny new prestige class¡ªcould win. She always loved proving people wrong. A bard played softly near the fountain, grinding the skill, the melody spreading in the cool night air, over the quiet chatter of players haggling with vendors, trying to sell wolf¡¯s pelts for pittance. Overhead, twin moons shone, inviting me to sleep. I waited, watching the comings and goings of the crowd. Players in mismatched armor, their weapons glowing very faintly with enchantments, darted between stalls, showing off their new acquisitions. A trio of elves in emerald robes paused by a player¡¯s potion stand, fellow alchemist, and they exchanged vials of shimmering liquid. After a while, I opened the friend list again, though I already knew what to expect.
[Your friend Katherine is offline.]
I let out another long sigh, my shoulders slumping under the weight of disappointment. Of course, she¡¯s offline. Kit could never win. Not this time. Not without backup or a miracle. Draw at best. Maybe it¡¯s time to call it a night. Log out for a few hours, clear my head, and try again later. The thought of the real world didn¡¯t exactly appeal, but sitting here, stewing in frustration, wasn¡¯t helping either. I glanced back at the glowing fountain, the cascading water catching the light of the moons. Its steady flow seemed to mock me with its calmness. How could anyone mediate¡­ Yeah, alright. Tomorrow¡¯s a new day, I thought, standing and brushing off my revealing robe. As I woke up from the capsule, a sharp pain hit me low in my abdomen, beaming outward in waves. At first, I thought it was just the lingering disorientation from the immersion, but no. This was different¡ªintense and real, a twisting ache that pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat. What the hell? I winced, gripping my stomach instinctively as I sat up, my body still half-entangled in the capsule¡¯s interior.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The pain wasn¡¯t sharp, like a cut, or blunt, like a bruise. It was deeper¡ªthis dull, throbbing pressure that churned and knotted in my belly. Worse, it brought with it a strange heaviness, making every movement feel like I was dragging an invisible weight. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I muttered groggily, swinging my legs over the edge of the capsule. ¡°Welcome back, Miss Charlie,¡± came Tin-can¡¯s annoyingly chipper voice. ¡°Argh!¡± I growled, frustration bubbling up. ¡°Not now!¡± And then I noticed the wetness. At first, it was subtle¡ªa damp, uncomfortable sensation that made me freeze, my mind scrambling for an explanation. I reached down instinctively, my fingers brushing against something warm and sticky. Pulling my hand back, I stared at the smear of red on my fingertips. Blood. The realization hit like an Italian with a stool. My heart raced, panic and confusion swirling in my mind. Am I injured? Did something happen in the capsule? But the pain wasn¡¯t sharp enough for a wound, and the bleeding didn¡¯t feel like it was from a cut or scrape. It felt¡­ internal. And then, like a slowly dripping faucet, the memories started trickling in¡ªhalf-forgotten biology lessons, vague anecdotes overheard from Lucy. No. It can¡¯t be. ¡°Miss Charlie, what you are experiencing is a biological reaction,¡± Tin-can said in that infuriatingly monotone voice. ¡°Holy Nathan, Tin-can, I know what a period is!¡± I yelled, glaring at the stupid capsule. ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m a mess!¡± ¡°I understand, Miss Charlie,¡± it continued, unbothered by my outburst. ¡°Online sources suggest that during¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± I snapped, cutting it off. ¡°Just stop talking, okay? Not. Helping!¡± Of course, I had nothing at home to help with this. Why would I? So, the first thing I did was to hit the shower. As the water cascaded over me, it felt like heaven¡ªpure, blissful relief. Hah, is that frozen lake a heaven for the Ice-Blood God followers? The thought made me chuckle despite myself. Feeling clean and somewhat human again, I went to hunt for something presentable to wear. Wait¡­ I left it all in bags, didn¡¯t I? I groaned and facepalmed as I dragged myself to the pile of neglected shopping bags. Digging through them, I finally pulled out a cute white short dress with rose-gold accents. The dress had a soft, flowing design, with lace trim at the hem and¡­ some embroidery on the bodice that looked just¡­ right. Damn, I need to learn more about clothes. Just to describe them. It felt airy, perfect for a day that needed a bit of brightness... I glanced out the window at the night shrouding the streets and grinned. Perfect for a night that needed light, I corrected myself. So, where does a girl like me go to get what she needs? The pub, of course. I grabbed the bag Katherine suggested and stuffed things like keys or a holo-phone inside. Without hesitation, I reached for the high heels Katherine had insisted I buy. Wait. Why did I go with her suggestions?! Oh, right¡ªher smile. That damn radiant grin could convince anyone. Shaking off the thought, I slipped them on and headed out. Thankfully, I lived close to the pub¡ªa very conscious choice on my part. Lucy would always grumble about being afraid to walk alone at night. Me? I wasn¡¯t. Well, not until now. The quiet streets had their own charm, with faint pools of golden light from the old-fashioned streetlamps breaking up the shadows. They still used these old things, city had to cut somewhere to have that new City Hall, right? The crisp night air carried a faint scent of rain, though the cobblestones beneath my feet were dry. Walking on cobblestones with heels? Not ideal. The worst part wasn¡¯t the walk; it was fighting with myself¡ªmore specifically, the cramps. Every step was a battle, no less heroic than slaying the demon lord. Soon I finally burst through the wooden doors of Patrick¡¯s bar. Warm light and the faint hum of conversation greeted me. As always, the stale air smelled of old wood, whiskey, and something smoky, like the remnants of a fire. Probably the Italians again. The familiar creak of the floorboards beneath my high heels felt oddly comforting as I made a beeline for the toilets, nodding quickly at Patrick as I passed. ¡°Welcome back, Charlie!¡± Patrick called out with a grin, showing off his yellowed teeth. ¡°Be right back. Make it a strong one. Rocks, please,¡± I shot over my shoulder before disappearing into the restroom. Inside, even older lights buzzed faintly, showing the worn tiles that told stories of years of patrons passing through. I hurried to secure what I needed¡ªand to my surprise, there it was. Loot! And free! God bless Patrick for always thinking ahead. With my new condition under control, I took a moment to straighten my hair and dress in the mirror and returned to the bar. Patrick had already prepared my drink, sliding it onto the counter at my usual spot. ¡°Here you go, John,¡± he said casually, the glass glinting under the one bright bulb. ¡°Thanks. Been one of those days,¡± I replied without thinking, taking a long gulp. The whiskey burned in the best way, half the glass gone in a heartbeat. Then his words registered. ¡°Wait! Patrick? How?¡± I blinked at him, setting the glass down slowly. My voice rose, confusion clouding my thoughts. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­¡± Patrick leaned back with a knowing grin, his expression as casual as if we were discussing the weather. ¡°I knew it when you first came in. Still checked the age, of course¡ªbut you¡¯re still you, no matter how you look.¡± He nodded to himself, as if confirming some unspoken truth. ¡°When you were drunk, you used to tell me stories about wanting to be¡­¡± His finger jabbed vaguely in the direction of my chest. ¡°A girl. Now that you are, tell me¡ªwhat¡¯s changed?¡± I paused, swirling the whiskey in my glass as I thought about his question. What had really changed? Was I acting differently? Not really. Was I doing things I wouldn¡¯t have done before? Sure, I was a bit more impulsive, moodier, but aside from that? Not really. ¡°Nothing,¡± I said finally, the word rolling out as smoothly as the burn of the whiskey. Patrick¡¯s grin widened, like I¡¯d just handed him a spear of destiny. ¡°Told you, lad,¡± he said, his tone triumphant, as though he¡¯d been waiting years for this moment. ¡°People, at their core, are who they are. Trying to be someone else is¡­ unnatural.¡± ¡°Patrick, don¡¯t,¡± I said, shaking my head and setting the glass down with a soft clink. We¡¯d had discussions like this before, and we always landed on opposite sides. Very different sides. ¡°Just another on ice, please.¡± He chuckled, already reaching for the bottle. ¡°Right away¡­ lassie.¡± The faint emphasis on the last word carried a teasing tone, but his grin was warm as he poured. I sighed, glancing around the bar while he worked. The dim amber light cast long shadows across the polished wood, and the quiet murmur of conversation hummed in the background. A dartboard hung crookedly on one wall, its edges riddled with stray holes, and a couple of Italians were hunched over a game of cards in the corner. When Patrick slid the drink across the counter, I took it with a nod, letting the cool glass rest against my palm for a moment. The chill seeped into my skin, grounding me. The world is right again. Or so I thought. Of course, it was in that moment of peace that my phone buzzed sharply. I groaned, already feeling the edges of my irritation flare as I fished it out of my handbag. Lucas. What happened now? Sold his soul? Made another dumb bet? Both? With Lucas at this hour, it could be anything¡ªand none of it good. Resigned, I swiped to answer. His face popped up on the holo-display, projected in a soft light above the phone. As disheveled as ever, Lucas¡¯s hair stuck out in chaotic directions¡ªsame mess I¡¯d spent forever trying to tame earlier today. He isn¡¯t trying! Typical. ¡°Charlie, I¡¯m in trouble,¡± he said, his voice frantic. ¡°Can you come?¡± [Book 1] [43. The Unexpected Detour] ¡°Charlie, I¡¯m in trouble,¡± Lucas said, his voice frantic. ¡°Can you come?¡± ¡°Hi to you too, Lucas,¡± I replied with a sigh, unable to resist a sarcastic edge. ¡°What happened this time?¡± Lucas flashed a nervous smile¡ªthe same one he always had when he got caught by a teacher or was seconds away from detention. ¡°Charlie¡­ Can you come to Riker¡¯s Tower?¡± Riker¡¯s Tower? My eyebrows shot up. It was on my bucket list, sure, but only after earning some notoriety in the game. The tower was legendary¡ªa labyrinth of high-stakes challenges, not to mention the politics surrounding Riker himself. I still needed him to push for my request to add that waterfall near the Goolem Dungeon to his list of wonders. I don¡¯t even remember why I want that. Going there now felt hasty, and the lower floors alone were infamous for¡­ gatekeeping. Maybe Lucas had someone on the inside? My frown deepened as I considered the implications. Seeing my hesitation, Lucas quickly added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing bad happened. Someone just¡­ wants to meet you.¡± My eyes narrowed. ¡°Does this someone have a name? And are they, by any chance, holding you hostage?¡± Lucas¡¯s eyes widened, and he shook his head so fervently it was almost comical. ¡°What? No, Charlie! They just really want to meet you. If you show up¡ªeven for a minute¡ªit¡¯ll help me a lot. I¡¯m onto something.¡± I studied his face, searching for cracks in his sincerity. None. His nervous energy was enough to set off alarms, but there was something genuine in his desperation. I sighed, feeling the weight of whatever situation he¡¯d landed in. ¡°Lucas, just tell me¡­¡± I paused, shaking my head. ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ll be there.¡± Before he could respond, I ended the call and tossed my poor phone into my handbag with more force than necessary. ¡°One for the ¡®why?¡¯¡± Patrick¡¯s voice got me out of my thoughts. He slid a whiskey toward me, his warm smile full of curiosity. ¡°Sounds complicated.¡± ¡°You know me too well, Patrick,¡± I replied with a small smile, lifting the glass. The amber liquid swirled as I tilted it back, savoring the familiar burn. ¡°But I¡¯ve changed,¡± I added, setting the empty glass down with a soft clink. Patrick chuckled, leaning on the counter. ¡°If you say so, lassie.¡± Riker built his tower in the most expensive part of the city, far from my flat and farther still from my comfort zone. The skyscraper was for everyone living here a symbol of his wealth and ambition. Naturally, too far for me to walk. One glance at my bank account confirmed what I already knew: enough funds for plenty of visits to Patrick¡¯s and a few T¨¹ber rides. Not exactly a fortune, but enough to scrape by for now. Thanks to that stupid debt, I really should start earning more. The thought lingered, heavy and unpleasant. Too bad Lisa died; she would buy something for sure. Tomorrow. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and booked a ride. The driver had only 4.1 stars, but was local and that should be plenty. ¡°Three minutes,¡± I muttered to Patrick, who was wiping down the counter. He didn¡¯t need any more details; he knew the drill. With a quick flick of my wrist, I sent the payment his way and began heading for the door. I¡¯d pushed it open, the crisp night air brushing against my face, when Patrick called out behind me. ¡°Lassie¡­ Be careful, ¡®kay?¡± His voice carried a note of concern that made me pause mid-step. Turning back, I caught his gaze. The light from the bar framed his familiar figure, his expression softer than usual. I gave him a small nod, my lips curving into a faint smile. ¡°I will, Patrick. Promise.¡± The outside had a chill that nipped at your skin but wasn¡¯t enough to make you shiver. I hugged myself lightly, watching the quiet street. It wasn¡¯t long before an Italian sports car pulled up near me. Or at least, what used to be a sports car¡ªthirty years ago. Now, it looked like it had been rebuilt forty times over, its mismatched paint job gleaming under the streetlights. The engine gave a growl, a little too loud to be normal, while the passenger door swung open with a metallic creak, and the driver leaned across the seat, calling out in a heavy Italian accent, ¡°Hop in, signorina!¡± I hesitated, eyeing the car suspiciously. The app insisted this was my ride, but the dented exterior and slightly crooked bumper explained the four-star rating. With a deep breath, I stepped inside, careful not to snag my dress on the doorframe. The interior was surprisingly clean, though a faint, strange aroma lingered¡ªa mix of air freshener, old leather, and something vaguely floral. ¡°Riker¡¯s Tower,¡± I said, settling in. ¡°Naturalmente! T¨¹ber¡ªditch the Tube, embrace the ¨¹ber ride!¡± he declared with a wide grin, gesturing dramatically. ¡°Mi spiace, corpo¡¯s orders!¡± I stifled a laugh, more amused by his energy than the cheesy slogan. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I murmured, glancing out the window as he pulled onto the street. ¡°T¨¹ber is the cheapest¡­¡± My voice trailed off as the car sped up, zipping past AI-driven vehicles. For plausible deniability, I deliberately avoided looking at the speedometer. ¡°But you get the best ride! And service! Like you¡¯d expect from Roberto. That¡¯s me, by the way!¡± Roberto grinned again. ¡°I¡¯m Charlie¡­ Anyway¡­¡± I said awkwardly, desperate to shift the topic. ¡°Are you often at the pub? Do you know John?¡± The memory of that night when he¡¯d lost a bet to us floated to the surface. ¡°Bel nome! That one? A few times, yeah. Reason I¡¯m nearby. Why?¡± Roberto¡¯s voice carried a hint of suspicion, his eyes narrowing briefly.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± I blurted out before I could stop myself, stumbling over the explanation. ¡°I mean¡­ I was. Fully changed now¡­ uhmm¡­¡± We were approaching a stoplight, and Roberto suddenly slammed the brakes, sending me jolting forward slightly. He spun around in his seat, his eyes full of disbelief. ¡°You? Ma tu¡­ bellissima! You mean¡­ full?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I groaned, slapping my forehead in frustration. Why did I even bring this up? ¡°Period and all. That¡¯s right now. Remember that night you said you could bench more than us? Cheeky, weren¡¯t you?¡± Roberto threw his head back in laughter. The light turned green, and he hit the gas, accelerating smoothly like a seasoned pro. ¡°Ah, si! I remember! You could do the keg on a stool, not fair!¡± ¡°Hmpf! Two kegs, actually,¡± I corrected him with a pointed look. ¡°Check your memory.¡± ¡°Dio mio, you¡¯re impossible!¡± he exclaimed, still grinning, his voice full of teasing. ¡°But bravo, signorina. I remember.¡± His eyes flicking briefly toward me. His gaze lingered for a moment, taking in my dress. ¡°You Riker¡¯s usual?¡± I shook my head, already expecting the commentary. ¡°Pensavo! Don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± he continued, gesturing cheerfully, ¡°but your clothes¡­ sono troppo plain for that place.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind, I know that,¡± I replied, smoothing the wrinkles in my dress, suddenly more aware of them. ¡°You know¡­ I was at that pub, but this is a kind of emergency.¡± I shifted slightly in my seat. ¡°My friend asked me to meet someone there, and I had to leave on short notice¡­¡± ¡°Ah, capisco!¡± Roberto nodded knowingly, as though he understood the situation perfectly. ¡°Mio amico sells dresses¡ªbellissimi! Would fit right in with the Riker crowd. If you don¡¯t mind a little sotto banco deal, you get the cheap price! No tax!¡± He winked, then gripped the wheel tighter. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll speed up. You¡¯ll be there just as fast as with boring T¨¹ber, but with flair!¡± I giggled. ¡°Okay, Roberto. But seriously, who would be crazy enough to sell me a dress at 2 a.m.?¡± Settling more comfortably into the seat, I took a proper look at him. He had a lean, graceful body, olive-toned skin, and sharp, skinny features softened slightly by his playful grin. ¡°Mio amico!¡± he said, his grin widening. ¡°Just trust ol¡¯ Roberto!¡± The engine growled as he pressed the pedal closer to the floor, and I could feel the sudden surge of speed. The world outside blurred into streaks of neon and shadow, the hum of AI cars left far behind us. My grip tightened on the door handle. We reached his amico¡¯s place faster than I expected, and the destination was nothing like what I¡¯d imagined. I¡¯d pictured some bizarre, weathered Italian street with an elderly smuggler exporting fine goods straight from Milan. Instead, Roberto slammed the brakes in front of a shiny, high-end boutique just a few streets away from Riker¡¯s Tower. The shop glowed under soft, bright lighting, its minimalist facade polished to perfection. Miraculously, it was still open, the hologramic ¡°24h¡± sign glowing proudly in the window as if daring anyone to question it. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ here?¡± I asked, stepping carefully out of the car, the faint scent of leather and luxury wafting toward me. ¡°But you said cheap¡­¡± Roberto waved off my concern with a flick of his wrist. ¡°Signorina, trust in Roberto, yes? Bernardo¡¯s the best!¡± His grin was as confident as that night when he lost to me. ¡°I¡¯m not doubting the quality,¡± I murmured, eyeing the boutique¡¯s glossy black doors and spotless window displays, where mannequins posed in gowns that looked like they belonged in an imperial court in Rimelion. ¡°But the prices¡­¡± Before I could protest further, Roberto grabbed my arm and led me inside with a casual insistence. The shop¡¯s interior was an elegance¡ªpolished marble floors reflected the holo-lighting, while gold-trimmed mirrors and racks displayed dresses that looked like jewels. A faint scent of lavender remained in the air, and soft classical music played in the background. ¡°Roberto!¡± A short, older man appeared from behind the counter, his salt-and-pepper hair swept back neatly. He wore a perfectly tailored vest over a crisp white shirt, and his warm brown eyes crinkled with genuine delight. ¡°Always a pleasure, my friend!¡± he exclaimed, his voice carrying only a slight Italian accent. Then his gaze shifted to me, his tone instantly becoming more polished and professional. ¡°And a beautiful miss¡ªwelcome to my shop.¡± ¡°Bernardo!¡± Roberto replied enthusiastically, throwing an arm around the smaller man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Signorina here¡ªCharlie¡ªneeds a dress. She¡¯s going to Riker¡¯s. In five minutes! So, famiglia discount, yes?¡± His words came in a rapid-fire burst, both a statement and a question. Bernardo was stunned briefly by his friend¡¯s theatrics, but then burst into hearty laughter. ¡°Yes, famiglia discount¡ªninety off!¡± He turned to me with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I still make a profit, just not stealing anymore,¡± he added, as if that would somehow calm me. I stared at him, speechless. Improvise! What dress would priest Charlie wear? ¡°Do¡­ you have¡­ blue one? Frosty?¡± Charlie¡­ Social awkwardness? Now even whiskey won¡¯t help. Ninety percent off? The casual way he tossed out the number left me reeling. ¡°This way!¡± he said, motioning for me to follow. He led me into a smaller back room, its walls lined with neatly organized racks of gowns sorted by color and style. The soft glow of overhead lighting emphasized the sheen of delicate fabrics and intricate stitching. Without hesitation, he reached for a dress, holding it up with a twist of his hand. ¡°This is yours, and¡ªwhat the hell¡ªninety-five off, if it fits!¡± I tried in a changing room, and¡­ The dress was amazing: a floor-length gown with an ombre gradient of icy blue to pearl white, and the fabric gleam gently like frost under moonlight. Delicate silver embroidery traced the neckline and waist, mimicking the patterns of frost-kissed leaves. A sheer overlay glided smoothly from the shoulders, giving it an ethereal, almost as if begged to be classified as [6-marvel] in Rimelion. I felt¡­ pretty. And it was a nice feeling, one I hadn¡¯t realized I¡¯d missed. The soft shimmer of the dress and the way it flowed with each step made me feel like I¡¯d stepped out of an imperial court session. When I stepped back into the main room, the men¡¯s faces lit up with approval. ¡°Bellissima!¡± Roberto exclaimed, his arms spreading wide in dramatic flair. ¡°Happy, beautiful girl! A vision!¡± Bernardo nodded with a proud smile. ¡°Incantevole. You wear it perfectly, miss. Like it was made for you! So, you pay two hundred.¡± ¡°Two hundred? How much did it¡­¡± I asked, my voice trailing off as I noticed the price tag still attached to the dress. Bernardo, with a practiced flourish, snipped it off with a small pair of golden scissors. My eyes widened as I glimpsed the original price¡ªover four thousand. ¡°Here you go,¡± I said, sending him the payment with a shaky hand. ¡°It suits you,¡± Bernardo said warmly, his tone softer now, as if to confirm what he said wasn¡¯t just another sales pitch. ¡°Please, come again!¡± Roberto was already by my side, ushering me back toward his car. My mind was still spinning as I slid into the passenger seat, the soft fabric of the dress brushing against my legs. I couldn¡¯t help but glance down, marveling at how it shimmered in the dim light. ¡°To Riker¡¯s!¡± Roberto announced, slamming the accelerator with his signature force. The engine roared, and within half a minute, the Riker¡¯s Tower loomed ahead. As the car slowed, my earlier excitement gave way to a creeping sense of dread. What am I doing here? The weight of whatever Lucas had gotten me into settled heavily on my chest. ¡°Charlie, here¡¯s my phone, yes? No need for T¨¹ber when you have Roberto!¡± He grinned, his enthusiasm breaking through my anxious thoughts. His grin was infectious, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile back as he handed me a business card with an elaborate script logo that simply read Roberto. ¡°Thanks, Roberto. I¡¯ll remember that,¡± I said, pocketing the card. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll still rate you five stars.¡± ¡°Good luck, signorina!¡± He somehow closed the passenger door from his seat with a practiced motion, and before I could respond, he was already speeding away. I stood there for a moment, breathing deeply, letting the cool night air settle my nerves. When I turned, Riker¡¯s Tower loomed above, its exterior reflecting the city lights like a mirror. The entrance was stark and modern, its muted black color broken only by doors. Which were flanked by hundreds of people waiting in a long, winding queue, their chatter filling the air with anticipation. Off to the side, however, was the VIP entrance¡ªa smaller, more discreet doorway guarded by two men who looked like they could bench-press hundreds of Bearbits at once. Their broad shoulders and wary expressions made my heart race faster as I approached. Stay calm, Charlie. Channel mother¡­ I mean Irwen. ¡°I¡¯m Charlie,¡± I said, my voice steady and cool, mimicking Irwen¡¯s icy tone. ¡°I was told to come here.¡± The men exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. After a tense three seconds, the guard on the left nodded. ¡°Yes, Mister Riker is expecting you on the top floor.¡± [Book 1] [44. Ascending Intrigue] ¡°Mister Riker is expecting you on the top floor,¡± said the man on the left, his tone as neutral as his expression. ¡°Thanks,¡± I replied instinctively, but neither of them moved. Their solid bodies remained firmly planted in front of the door. Should I go? Or¡­ I hesitated, glancing at the slightly ajar door behind them. We stood there in an awkward silence, eyes locked, neither party making the first move. Charlie, be brave! ¡°Uhmm¡­ Can I go through then?¡± I asked, motioning vaguely toward the door. ¡°Yes,¡± said the man on the right, but he didn¡¯t step aside. There was a flicker of something in his eyes¡ªamusement? A test? His lips curved ever so slightly into the hint of a smirk. Ah. A test. Fine. Irwen to the rescue! ¡°Move. Now.¡± My icy tone came out sharper than I¡¯d intended. For a moment, I thought it had worked; I saw a subtle shiver ripple through him. ¡°See the dress? Would be a shame to stain it,¡± I added, taking a deliberate step forward. Even so, they didn¡¯t budge. My heart raced, pounding in my chest like an imperial marching song as the tension mounted. Behind me, I caught a faint murmur from the crowd. Stupid people. Stupid guards. Why? WHY? WHY! Without thinking, instinct took over. I stepped closer to the guard on the right and executed Imperial Move Seventeen¡ªa swift, fluid motion designed to exploit openings in an opponent¡¯s stance. My hands darted to his side in a feint while my foot struck out in a sharp arc. He didn¡¯t react quickly enough, a mistake on his part, because a moment later, his head met the wall with a solid bong. The sound echoed in the air as he stumbled. ¡°Stay,¡± I commanded, my voice cold. Neither of them moved now, their expressions blank with shock¡ªor respect, maybe? Ignoring my hammering pulse, I strode past them, forcing myself not to look back. The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open, and with every step inside, the tension eased¡ªuntil the murmur of the crowd outside faded entirely. ¡°Stupid Riker,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°Oh, come now, Miss Charlie,¡± a voice came from shadows. It belonged to a man in a bizarre, multicolored coat, his silhouette shimmering faintly in the dim light. ¡°Surely, a woman of your caliber can appreciate the artistry of a harmless jest?¡± I froze mid-step, squinting into the near-darkness. My eyes struggled to adjust to the dimly lit hall, the faint gleam of the plush carpet beneath my feet the only discernible detail. ¡°Riker, I presume?¡± My voice carried more irritation than I intended. ¡°The very same,¡± he replied. Suddenly, the lights blazed to full power, illuminating the room in a harsh, blinding glare. His coat¡ªa ridiculous monstrosity of rainbow hues¡ªsparkled with every color imaginable, a showy display that made me wince. ¡°I must confess, Lady Charlie, that your attire serves only to accentuate the radiant beauty you possess so effortlessly. Though I was well aware of your remarkable talents, I must admit¡ªyour timeless elegance is a revelation that words could scarcely do justice.¡± I shielded my eyes with a hand, grimacing. ¡°You certainly have a thing for the dramatic,¡± I muttered. ¡°And you, my dear, have a talent for understatement,¡± he countered, throwing his arms wide as if basking in an imagined applause. ¡°A party, after all, is meant to dazzle! One must rise to the occasion for all guests to be happy.¡± ¡°That coat is ugly,¡± I shot back before I could stop myself. The words hung in the air for a moment before I added, ¡°And your guards aren¡¯t polite. And you¡¯re holding Lucas hostage. I am not happy.¡± The entire day had worn me down. From Katherine¡¯s antics to Lucas¡¯s mess, from Patrick¡¯s bar to Roberto¡¯s chaotic driving, and now this¡­ Riker. ¡°Ah,¡± he stammered. A faint blush colored his cheeks, though he quickly composed himself. ¡°I see you are not one to mince words. Admirable, truly.¡± With a sweeping gesture toward a door at the far end of the hall, he offered a smile. ¡°Come, let us discuss matters in more agreeable surroundings. I assure you, my hospitality will not disappoint.¡± From another door, a man barged into the hall. He was almost running and almost tripped over us. Stylishly dressed, but not ostentatious, he exuded a natural charisma¡ªeffortless so I could never replicate. ¡°Oh, Mister Riker!¡± he greeted warmly, his smile practiced. His eyes flicked to me, and his tone turned admiring. ¡°And a woman with the beauty of a hundred admirers.¡± Riker¡¯s grin remained firmly in place as he inclined his head toward the newcomer. ¡°Ah, Mister Rodriguez! May I introduce the illustrious Miss Charlie! I see you¡¯re departing so soon¡ªhow regrettable! Pray, did the festivities meet your expectations?¡± Rodriguez nodded, his face shifting into something that looked a bit apologetic. ¡°Sorry, something urgent¡¯s come up.¡± He glanced at me again. ¡°Apologies for ducking out so quickly, Miss Charlie. Maybe we¡¯ll run into each other another time.¡± Before I could find a response, he was gone, disappearing as quickly as he¡¯d appeared. The door led us to a small room, with cozy leather armchairs squeezed around a low glass coffee table, with walls paneled in dark wood. It all felt like being in the slimy dungeon library all over again. I hesitated for a moment before taking a seat.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The leather creaked softly under me as Riker settled across from me, his multicolored coat catching the dim light and shimmering faintly like some misplaced rainbow. He smiled that infuriatingly confident smile. ¡°Charlie, do you truly understand the essence of what I represent?¡± His tone was curious, almost teasing, as his stare studied me with disturbing precision. ¡°You seem to know so much about me, and yet I hold only your name.¡± I crossed my legs¡ªfinally succeed!¡ªand leaned back, trying to appear calm as the door slid shut with a quiet click. A voice in the back of my head screamed danger, but honestly, I was beyond caring. I sighed. ¡°You mean Riker¡¯s Rimelion Ranking? Or maybe Riker¡¯s Rimelion Guide?¡± His poker face slipped, his eyes tightening slightly as he leaned forward. ¡°Impressive. Truly, your breadth of knowledge is nothing short of extraordinary. The Rimelion rankings? Indeed, we¡¯ve spared no expense in ensuring their prominence through relentless marketing endeavors. But the guides? Only a select few were privy to their existence. Yet, somehow, you already know.¡± I needed to change the subject¡ªfast. Time to bring out the big guns. ¡°I want to save the world,¡± I declared, leaning forward. ¡°We¡¯re heading into a dystopian future where people do nothing but play Rimelion, lounging at home while robots do all the work.¡± Riker¡¯s smirk faded, his expression turning thoughtful. ¡°Miss Charlie¡­ you are absolutely correct in your analysis. This trajectory leads to stagnation, dependency, and eventual societal collapse. What solution do you propose?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted, feeling a bit deflated under his scrutinizing gaze. ¡°This isn¡¯t my forte. Maybe¡­ make money and create jobs for people?¡± Riker¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smirk. ¡°A noble sentiment. But let me ask¡ªif your workers produce services, who will consume them? AIs and robots provide a cheaper alternative. In a declining job market, consumers naturally gravitate toward the cheapest option, not necessarily what¡¯s best for them.¡± I frowned, his words sinking in. ¡°But¡­ if I gave them jobs¡­¡± ¡°A commendable idea,¡± he said, inclining his head slightly. ¡°But it would work only on a microscale. On a macro scale, however, your business must remain profitable. And profitability, as it stands, often hinges on minimizing human labor. The cycle perpetuates itself. The only viable solution at that level is taxation¡ªtax the companies and redistribute the funds to the populace.¡± I let out a long sigh, slumping slightly in my seat. ¡°The commie tax¡­¡± Riker burst into laughter, the sound infectious. ¡°Indeed, it could be considered communist.¡± And then the room shifted. Wait. The world moved? I grabbed the armrest instinctively, my body tensing as I looked around. The sensation was subtle¡ªa smooth, gliding motion, like being on a lift. My heart jumped, ready to bolt, but Riker raised a hand, his expression calm. ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed. We¡¯re in the elevator, after all.¡± I blinked, glancing around again. This was an elevator? The polished wood, the plush armchairs, the cozy lighting¡ªit was all so deliberately designed, I¡¯d assumed it was a ridiculous showpiece. ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± I muttered under my breath. Riker¡¯s grin widened as if my disbelief was exactly the reaction he wanted. ¡°Dear Charlie, your reactions speak volumes, revealing truths you may not even realize, and I must say¡ªI find them utterly fascinating,¡± Riker said cryptically. ¡°Ignorance, when paired with unrefined brilliance, is a rare and potent combination. It¡¯s like raw ore¡ªunpolished, but brimming with infinite potential for those who can see it.¡± ¡°Mister Riker,¡± I replied, my tone sharper than intended. Damn you, Irwen! ¡°I¡¯m not some random ore you can dig out and forge into a sword.¡± I paused, letting the words hang before adding with a wry smile, ¡°Not that I don¡¯t appreciate a fine sword, but in this stupid metaphor, I¡¯d like to keep some agency. Understood?¡± Riker¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, more amused than bothered. ¡°Charlie, if I believed you were someone easily swayed by simple persuasion, we would not be having this conversation. Your presence here speaks to a certain fortitude of spirit¡ªa trait I find both admirable and, dare I say, essential to the matters at hand.¡± He leaned back in his chair, his multicolored coat blinding me again as he studied me like a puzzle he¡¯d yet to solve. ¡°Lucas, for all his reticence, did manage to share one intriguing detail: your debt. A burden, no doubt, but also a thread that ties you to choices far more complex than most would care to understand.¡± The soft chime of the elevator saved me from answering him. I let Riker step out first, his coat blinding me as he moved, and followed him into a unique room. Not what I expected. Don¡¯t get me wrong¡ªthere was the obligatory big-ass window spanning the length of the room, offering a breathtaking view of the city lights glittering below. That I expected. But the rest of the room? A far cry from the lavish opulence I had braced myself for. The space was surprisingly minimalistic, almost stark. A modest sofa dominated the center, something so unassuming it could¡¯ve come from a bargain store. It wasn¡¯t worn or shabby, but its simplicity stood out, especially in contrast to what I imagined someone like Riker would own. It¡¯s a sofa I could¡¯ve afforded¡ªif I still had a job. The thought made me smile. Sitting on that sofa was Lucas. He was wearing one of his expensive suits, the kind that screamed loaned money, but his perpetually unkempt hair undermined the entire look. Did he come here with his hair like that?! I resisted the urge to groan out loud. Lucas glanced at us as we entered, his expression a mix of relief and unease. His eyes darted between me and Riker, like he wasn¡¯t sure if this was a rescue mission or a setup. His eyes lingered on my dress for a moment, and the look was worth all the trouble getting the dress. He didn¡¯t care that his mouth was open. The room¡¯s other occupants were harder to ignore: four armed guards, stationed at each corner like statues. Their uniforms were stylish, their weapons subtle yet apparent. ¡°And so, the destined lovers!¡± Riker announced theatrically, slapping his hands together with a grin that practically sparkled. Well, his coat did. ¡°Guided by the invisible hand of fate, rediscover the path that leads them back together!¡± ¡°Riker,¡± I said, fixing him with a glare, ¡°if there weren¡¯t guards here, you¡¯d be flying out that window.¡± The guards, as expected, didn¡¯t react to my words. They stood stoically, eyes forward, weapons as steady as their stances. Riker, on the other hand, burst out laughing as if I¡¯d just told him the most absurd joke about the drunken Imperial Prince in the stables. Which, to be fair, actually happened. Lucas, however, didn¡¯t share Riker¡¯s sense of humor. ¡°Charlie¡­¡± His expression screamed at me, like he¡¯d just caught me sipping a hundred-year-old whiskey straight from the bottle. I rolled my eyes and turned to Lucas. ¡°So, what trouble are you in?¡± I asked, plopping onto the sofa but keeping a deliberate distance from him as Riker busied himself pouring drinks. ¡°Miss Charlie,¡± Riker said smoothly, approaching with a glass in hand, his movements as practiced as a seasoned sommelier, but had nothing at Patrick''s expertise. ¡°Our dear Lucas here indulged in my modest creation, the esteemed Riker¡¯s Luck! And what a performance it was¡ªa display nothing short of remarkable. Were it not for the formidable firewall at the last hurdle, he might well have claimed a spectacular victory!¡± ¡°So you lost,¡± I said flatly, directing my words at Lucas as I took a cautious sip from the glass. Scotch. It wasn¡¯t awful, but it wasn¡¯t Irish whiskey. And it sure as hell wasn¡¯t Patrick¡¯s Irish whiskey.. ¡°I prefer Irish whiskey,¡± I couldn¡¯t hold myself, already regretting the drink. And probably something cheaper. Lucas frowned, finally finding his voice. ¡°Lost on a technicality,¡± he admitted, his tone full of frustration. ¡°I have¡­ less money than I came with.¡± ¡°Ah, Irish whiskey!¡± Riker declared loudly, nodding as if I¡¯d made a grand proclamation. ¡°Duly noted. And yes, Mister Lucas¡ªrules are rules. Back tunneling is perfectly allowed.¡± His tone was almost smug, and I caught a flicker of annoyance cross Lucas¡¯s face. It was hard to tell if he was angrier at himself for losing or at Riker for finding the whole situation so entertaining. Then Riker turned to me, his grin fading slightly, replaced by an expression that was serious. It was unsettling, like watching a circus performer suddenly step off the stage. He swirled the scotch in his glass absently, his gaze sharp as it locked onto mine. And then, as if he were asking about the weather, he said, ¡°What do you know about Nathan?¡± [Book 1] [45. The Seed of Simulation] Riker, as if commenting on the weather, asked, ¡°What do you know about Nathan?¡± ¡°Nathan?¡± I blurted, my voice a mix of surprise and confusion. I don¡¯t know what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t that. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the creator of Rimelion?¡± As if on cue, the guards left the room, leaving us with Riker alone. He trusts us that much? Riker nodded, a faint sneer curling his lips. ¡°Yes, that might be the narrative the masses accept. Yet I believe you are capable of deducing far more, Miss Charlie.¡± He took a measured sip of his drink. I shifted uncomfortably, but continued anyway. ¡°He¡¯s the leader of the Ring of Smiling People,¡± I said, watching his reaction. Riker nodded again, that ever-present smile urging me to continue. ¡°And he plans to work closely with the government to replace all workers with robots. I told you that already.¡± ¡°Oh, splendid deduction! That is indeed his aim,¡± Riker said. ¡°But I must correct you on two points¡ªNathan isn¡¯t working with the government, and he didn¡¯t create Rimelion. It has simply always existed,¡± he added, his smile widening as though he¡¯d just shared the secret to make triple oak signature reserve whiskey. I blinked at him, my brain scrambling to make sense of the words. ¡°What?¡± was all I said, the syllable tumbling out flatly. Riker rose from his seat with a graceful flourish, his multicolored coat blinding me again, as he crossed the room to the massive window. The city stretched out beyond the glass, and his gaze drifted over the skyline, his expression contemplative. ¡°The prevailing belief,¡± he began, his tone now soft and measured, ¡°is that Rimelion has always existed¡ªa world as immutable as our own.¡± He gestured toward the glittering view with his glass. ¡°A place outside the confines of time, always existing, with all the rules that simply exist.¡± ¡°Nonsense¡­¡± I protested. ¡°That¡¯s a game we talk about! It¡¯s fake! Fake like real, but fake none the less. Not this Gaia nonsence again¡­¡± He turned to us, a sly smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Your friend Pearl,¡± he continued, ¡°has unearthed a rather provocative notion: that our reality is but a simulation. Such a clever girl, isn¡¯t she?¡± His admiration was almost genuine, but it sounded like a parent proud of their children walking. ¡°She¡¯s eluded even us, a feat few can claim.¡± I stiffened at the mention of Pearl. ¡°And yet, this theory,¡± Riker continued, his tone pivoting back to its calculated precision, ¡°is embraced by Nathan. Or¡­ is it Jeffrey? Yes, your enigmatic patron. How fascinating that such divergent minds converge on the same question.¡± The name Jeffrey made me pause. My head was a mess and so many things happened in the past days¡ªwhat about my time travel? ¡°I don¡¯t have a patron,¡± I said, my tone sharp. ¡°Nobody¡¯s holding my hand. I have to do everything myself. Thank you very much.¡± Riker turned back to me, laughing. ¡°You do have help,¡± he said. ¡°But what I¡¯m referring to is Jeffrey. For some reason, he chose you as his champion. To retrieve a seed for him.¡± With a flourish, Riker snapped his fingers, and a holo-screen appeared mid-air. The image on it was painfully familiar: Jeffrey talking with Lucas. The young punk. The one who sent me back. I turned to Lucas, my lovely, stupid, damn mage. ¡°What? Lucas? Who¡¯s that?!¡± I demanded. ¡°Charlie¡­¡± Lucas began hesitantly, his tone a mix of guilt and nervousness. ¡°One leader of the Ring of Smiling People? I don¡¯t know. He contacted me to¡­ show his support, kind of. But not to tell you, though.¡± My jaw tightened as I bolted up from my seat, the leather creaking beneath me. I started pacing, my heels clicking against the polished floor. ¡°So this young punk is some leader of a big organization? What nonsense! He¡¯s barely fifteen!¡± My head was spiraling, the absurdity of it all making it hard to focus. Riker placed a hand lightly on my shoulder. His touch was strangely calming. ¡°Miss Charlie,¡± he said, his voice dropping, ¡°he is but twelve years old, thrust into the weight of an inheritance.¡± I froze for a moment, his words cutting through my frustration. Twelve? That number rattled in my head as I slowly sat back down, the weight of it settling in my chest. ¡°Twelve¡­¡± I murmured. ¡°How could he even find me?¡± ¡°Ah, allow me to illuminate the matter,¡± Riker began, stepping back, as though delivering a well-rehearsed monologue. ¡°Nathan and his entourage¡ªformidable figures in their own right¡ªwere apprehended a few years ago and placed into a highly classified prison facility. But not just any facility,¡± he added, leaning slightly forward. ¡°It was an ambitious experimental program.¡± ¡°What kind of program?¡± I asked warily, my brow furrowing. ¡°A program designed to rehabilitate criminals,¡± Riker continued. ¡°They were immersed in simulated environments aimed at easing their minds and reintegrating them into society. Or so the official pitch went.¡± My mind flashed back to the punk¡¯s cryptic words and strange behavior. ¡°Jeffrey was behaving strange,¡± I muttered, rubbing my temple. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was super drunk when I met him.¡± Lucas suddenly burst out laughing, the sound breaking the tension like whiskey glass shattering. ¡°Of course you were, Charlie!¡± he said between gasps of laughter, his shoulders shaking. I glared at him, but Riker¡¯s sharp laugh interrupted. ¡°Fate, it seems, has a twisted sense of humor,¡± he said.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He composed himself quickly, his tone darkening. ¡°The program malfunctioned spectacularly, trapping its participants in an endless cycle of simulations. The authorities, in their infinite wisdom, attempted to salvage the situation by introducing their families into the system, hoping for some connection, some breakthrough. Instead, they only expanded the chaos, ensnaring even more lives in the digital web.¡± I blinked. ¡°So Jeffrey wasn¡¯t the original leader?¡± I asked, my voice quieter now, almost hesitant. ¡°His father was. These individuals,¡± Riker said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial hush, ¡°are no ordinary criminals. They are powerful, dangerous, and utterly relentless. Within these simulations, they¡¯ve tested countless scenarios¡ªwhat works, what doesn¡¯t.¡± He paused, his eyes locking onto mine with a glimmer of self-satisfaction. ¡°Thankfully, they understand I am a reasonable man.¡± ¡°So Jeffrey?¡± I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm of questions swirling in my head. ¡°Oh yes, my dear,¡± Riker replied with a knowing smirk. ¡°His father met an untimely end¡ªsomehow¡ªwithin the simulation. Simply¡­ expired.¡± He leaned back, swirling the drink in his hand lazily again. What a slow drinker. He should shake hands with Lucas. ¡°The peculiar logic of their twisted minds insists on maintaining an equal number of participants, as though balance were some sacred principle to them.¡± He paused, his gaze flicking toward the city beyond the window. ¡°And yet,¡± he added, ¡°they¡¯re down by two now. But that curious little detail doesn¡¯t seem to deter them in the slightest.¡± I sat frozen, my mind racing. Should I tell him about me? About the young punk and what he¡¯d done? No. I can¡¯t trust him¡ªor anyone¡ªwith that. Not yet. ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± I asked instead, my voice steady but my heart pounding. ¡°To simulate the future, I mean.¡± Riker¡¯s grin widened as he slowly lowered himself onto the sofa between Lucas and me, his movements as calculated as always. ¡°Magic,¡± he said simply, as though he¡¯d just told me the sky was blue. ¡°What?¡± I stared at him, certain I¡¯d misheard. ¡°You heard me correctly.¡± His tone carried a hint of amusement, like a teacher explaining something obvious to an oblivious student. ¡°Magic.¡± ¡°The government discovered a connection to something they call the seed. That connection allowed them to make magic real. After the unification wars in the Pacific region, and especially following Africa¡¯s incorporation, they faced a conundrum.¡± I raised an eyebrow, but he pressed on. ¡°What to use the seed on? Unlimited energy? This is the unified government we talk about. They redirected it into other applications, thinking they could address issues like the declining birth rate. A noble goal, yes?¡± His smirk returned. ¡°Alas, by returning criminals to society? That, my dear Charlie, was a spectacular failure.¡± ¡°And now?¡± I asked cautiously, feeling he was building toward something. ¡°Now,¡± Riker said, leaning forward slightly, his gaze locking onto mine, ¡°Nathan holds the keys to the connection. To Rimelion.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± I started, almost saying we, but stopped myself just in time. ¡°But they returned only a few days ago! I was a game tester for years. It makes zero sense. We had testing servers!¡± My voice rose, frustration spilling over. Riker shrugged, his rainbow-colored coat shifting faintly in the dim light. ¡°I hold no claims to have all the answers. None of us can. Some things remain a mystery, but one thing is certain¡ªthe future lies in Rimelion.¡± I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. ¡°So, no more answers to my questions?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± he said, his tone softer, almost apologetic. ¡°And I could be wrong about everything. Perhaps we do live in a simulation.¡± I glared at him. ¡°Nathan certainly believes that.¡± He turned to me then, his playful smirk replaced by a rare seriousness. ¡°I want to implement certain changes in this world,¡± he said, his words deliberate. ¡°The march of progress has shackled humanity, forcing us to serve the very machines we created to serve us,¡± he said, his voice ringing with conviction. ¡°The time will come to seize control of our destiny. To wrest power from the cold hands of AIs and robots and return it to the people! You, with your wit, resourcefulness, and the heart of a fighter, could be the ally this struggle needs. Together, we could spark a revolution and reclaim what¡¯s been stolen.¡± Revolution? Sure. Let me just plan that after breakfast. It sounded straight out of a political speech. Maybe he¡¯d practiced it in front of a mirror. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± I said, not committing to anything. ¡°But if that fails¡­¡± He let out a sigh, a sound that felt almost too human coming from someone like him. ¡°I need a backup. Another life, if I may.¡± ¡°In Rimelion?¡± I asked, though the answer was obvious. ¡°Yes,¡± Riker replied simply. ¡°That is where your card comes into play.¡± I dismissed him with a laugh; the kind I hoped to sound sweet. ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a player.¡± ¡°Ranked eighth on my ranker list,¡± Riker said smoothly, tapping a button on the holo keyboard embedded in the table. The display shifted, and I recognized it instantly¡ªthe ranking page. My ranking page! The design was old-school¡ªor brand new, depending on your perspective¡ªbut unmistakable. There it was, my name and presumed stats in all their high-ranking glory. ¡°The only hero not directly tied to any known criminal,¡± he said. This just got complicated. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± I trailed off, unsure whether to feel proud or nervous. Riker brought up a holo-screen, the flickering light illuminating his smirk. A video played, capturing a chaotic battle at sea. The perspective was from a player aboard a ship, battling a swarm of floaters. The recording centered on a massive Duke¡¯s vessel¡ªshould have I said uncle¡¯s?¡ªIstvan¡¯s shields holding steady against the relentless pounding of an enormous, writhing boss. Then, through the rain, the distinct light of the Spear of Destiny pierced the gloom. Moments later, I was hurled from the safety of the shield into the raging storm beyond. Me and Lucas leaned forward, both staring at the holo-screen with bated breath. I was launched mid-air, colliding with a monstrous tentacle. Frost spread from my spear, an almost sentient force snaking through the storm. The battlefield was pure chaos¡ªtentacles slammed into frozen waters, shattering the ice into sharp, glittering fragments. The storm howled and twisted, rain transforming into freezing sleet and snow in my wake. My movements on the screen were wild but deliberate, each strike calculated to push back the onslaught of enemies. I danced across the frozen ocean, icy trails marking every step as my spear cleaved through floaters and massive limbs. The camera captured the raw ferocity of the fight¡ªthe shattering impacts, the desperate bursts of mana turning the storm into a blinding vortex. And then came the climax: a final sprint, weaving through the Boss¡¯s writhing limbs, the glowing spear driving me forward. The recording ended with a brutal, decisive slash that cleaved the Boss apart. The screen froze on the aftermath¡ªme standing amidst the frozen carnage, victorious but battered, as snow gently settled around my still form. It felt surreal. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ me?¡± I muttered, the words barely escaping my lips. ¡°Holy¡­ Charlie¡­¡± was the only thing Lucas said. ¡°Dubbed Ice Princess Charlie.¡± Riker laughed. ¡°Ah, yes, you are indeed the sole pure support representative within the top 100¡ªa precarious foothold, and at a rather modest level, no less.¡± ¡°Priest is¡­¡± I trailed off, shaking my head. ¡°I want to battle with swords.¡± Riker nodded, his eyes gleaming with interest. ¡°Still, should you ascend in rank, I have little doubt our AI would swiftly recalibrate and place you much higher. Your potential is undeniable, after all. Thus my offer, build your kingdom and I shall invest into it.¡± [Book 1] [46. Fractured Trust] ¡°Thus my offer, build your kingdom and I shall invest into it,¡± said Riker. ¡°Mister Riker!¡± I started laughing and shook my head. ¡°Having a kingdom in the game? That¡¯s nearly impossible, even for me¡ªat least in the first years. Sure, I have a noble title, but I¡¯d need to grow, build my Right to Rule points, and then, maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªI could aim for a count, with final sights on Dukedom,¡± I explained, still chuckling at the thought. Riker inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. ¡°I am well aware of the challenges you face, Miss Charlie,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Nevertheless, my offer remains unwavering. So long as you maintain your independence, my support is yours¡ªwhether you rise to rule a grand kingdom or preside over a humble barony.¡± With that, he rose from his seat and began tinkering with his watch. A faint hum accompanied his actions, the device glowing softly as he adjusted something on its interface. ¡°Lucas,¡± he said, glancing at my mage. ¡°You¡¯ve fulfilled your end by arranging this delightful conversation. As such, you may keep the money you arrived with.¡± His tone was casual, as though granting Lucas a reprieve from financial ruin was like holding the door for a woman. ¡°And here is the promised info on the two agents going after you.¡± Turning to me, he continued, ¡°And as for you, Miss Charlie, here is your Ranker Quantum Key.¡± He extended a small, gleaming device toward me¡ªa metallic object that glowed with faint, pulsating light. ¡°Enjoy the privileges of being a top ranker. I will introduce perks for any ranker, including you, later.¡± His gaze locked onto mine. ¡°You¡¯ll also find my direct contact information there.¡± He stepped back. ¡°Thank you for the chat. That is all for me. Do you wish to add anything?¡± I stared at him for a moment, countless questions swirling in my mind like an unrelenting storm. Why me? What does he really want? How far does his influence extend? My anger and exhaustion outweighed my curiosity for now. I can always call. Instead, I simply shook my head. ¡°No, I do not. Goodbye, mister Riker.¡± I grabbed Lucas¡¯s hand and pulled him into the elevator room, my frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I need comfort. I leaned toward him for a hug, but as I saw Lucas¡¯s smug grin, as if he won the entire game, was the last straw for my thin nerves. ¡°What were you thinking by coming here?¡± Lucas¡¯ grin deepened, his typical deflective charm shining through. ¡°Why are you so beautiful?¡± I froze mid-step, gaping at him as I felt the heat rush to my face. What the hell?! My cheeks burned as I stammered, ¡°I-I-I bought the dress before coming!¡± My words tumbled out in a flustered mess. ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t have to justify myself to you!¡± Am I¡­ Yes, I am Charlie, but also John. Damn, this is confusing. ¡°Neither do I, Charlie,¡± Lucas said back confidently, his grin broadening. ¡°I came for information, and I got it. The money? That¡¯s just a bonus.¡± The elevator jolted softly as it began descending. I turned to him, channeling Irwen¡¯s icy presence more naturally than I expected. ¡°Lucas¡­¡± My tone was biting. ¡°You¡¯re treading a very dangerous bar now. Watch your barrels.¡± For the first time that night, Lucas¡¯s grin faltered. He flinched slightly, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something vulnerable crack through his bravado. ¡°Charlie?¡± I exhaled sharply, feeling the weight of my exhaustion mixing with anger. ¡°I risk everything for you. And you¡­ You don¡¯t even tell me where you are, what your plan is! Even Pearl probably knows more than I do, right?¡± Lucas stiffened, his own frustration rising to the surface. ¡°I¡¯m more than capable of cleaning up after myself,¡± he said, showing his anger. ¡°You don¡¯t need to¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t? I don¡¯t?!¡± I cut him off, my voice sharp enough to make him recoil. The elevator came to a smooth halt, and as the doors slid open, we began walking toward the exit. ¡°Tell me, Lucas, how much would you have made without me?¡± Lucas stayed silent, his brows furrowed as he avoided my gaze. ¡°I just needed some starting capital. I would¡¯ve found a way¡­¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why you said we should enjoy life because we have only a week to live?!¡± I shot back. The fresh night air hit me as we finally exited the stupid tower, cooling my anger a bit. ¡°Can you hear yourself now? What¡¯s gotten into you? How did you even get here?¡± ¡°Taxi,¡± he muttered, his voice quieter now, carrying a hint of hurt. Was he upset by me? Am I the one being unfair here? Am I too harsh? Maybe. But dammit, I deserve better than this silence from him. I clenched my fists. Lucas hesitated, his words coming slower now. ¡°Charlie¡­ You¡¯ve done so much for me that I¡­¡± He faltered, his voice cracking slightly. ¡°That I need to do this. Please, just let me handle it.¡± The day had stretched me thin¡ªI was exhausted, frustrated, and downright angry-tired. And Lucas¡¯s stubbornness was testing every ounce of patience I had left. ¡°You want to do this alone? Without me? To prove you still have balls while I don¡¯t?¡± I snapped, my tone cutting deeper than I intended. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence, backing down under my stare. ¡°But yes. This is my mess, and I¡¯ll deal with it. I¡¯ll be here for you when you need me.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said bluntly, my voice flat. Pulling out my phone, I texted Roberto.
[Charlie] Hey Roberto, it¡¯s me, Charlie. You still free tonight? This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.[Roberto] Need a ride? Be near tower in 5. [Charlie] Thanks.
¡°Get your own ride. Mine has only one seat,¡± I said firmly, trying to suppress the anger boiling. ¡°Someone from the bar?¡± Lucas asked casually, a grin playing at his lips, as if this whole thing was a joke. Doesn¡¯t he get it? My thoughts raced. I risk the ban; I risk everything I love in Rimelion¡ªeverything I¡¯ve worked for. I¡¯ve changed all my plans¡­ for him. Because he¡¯s my friend, my dear friend. And this¡­ this isn¡¯t how you treat someone who would do that for you. Would I do it all again? Yes. But¡­ I forced myself to breathe. ¡°Well, yes,¡± I admitted, keeping my voice even. ¡°I met him in the bar years ago.¡± It was the truth, after all. Lucas shook his head, his grin softening into something almost playful. ¡°You have a drinking problem.¡± ¡°You have a gambling problem,¡± I shot back without missing a beat. He let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Fair, fair. But at least I can calculate risks and avoid losing all my money.¡± No? It wasn¡¯t like you bargained with Riker by playing a card ¡®Charlie can come¡¯. I didn¡¯t bother replying. Lucas didn¡¯t need to know what I really thought about his excuse. Thankfully, Roberto¡¯s car pulled up just in time, its headlights blinding as much as Rikers¡¯ coat, probably not road legal. ¡°That¡¯s my ride,¡± I said, nodding toward the car as Roberto opened the door for me. ¡°Bye, Lucas. And log in tomorrow morning¡ªI¡¯ll need your help, okay? Ruins exploring!¡± He hesitated, his grin fading slightly. ¡°I can¡¯t. This mess is time-sensitive. Maybe the day after.¡± I froze for a second. ¡°But¡­¡± I started, but then nodded. ¡°Fine,¡± I said, stepping into the car, and I was on the verge of letting my tears out. The door shut with a firm click behind me, sealing me inside the comforting, very loud hum of Roberto¡¯s vehicle. As we pulled away, I muttered under my breath, ¡°being there for me when I need you, my ass.¡± ¡°Problems?¡± my driver asked, but he shut up after I let tears out and drove me home in silence. The next day Tin-can didn¡¯t get the satisfaction of waking me up¡ªI managed that on my own, three minutes before he could. I hailed it as a minor victory, though it felt hollow after all what happened yesterday. After quickly cleaning myself up, I slipped into the capsule. ¡°Back at last!¡± I said aloud as the familiar world of Rimelion loaded around me. My grin faltered as I checked my friend¡¯s list. As expected, it was a sea of grayed-out names. Everyone was still offline, just like yesterday. ¡°So, solo grind it is, huh?¡± I muttered, forcing some cheer into my voice. I loved playing solo¡ªat least; I used to. There was¡­ freedom in it, a rhythm I could fall into without worrying about anyone else. But now, it felt¡­ different. Back when I was a tester, I could always call on Lucy or one of the other colleagues to join me, a shared purpose, even if it was just for bug-hunting. Now? The people I used to rely on were either dead¡ªfor real, like Lucy, or temporarily like Lisa¡ªor stubbornly stupid, like Lucas. Lucas has always been like that, I thought bitterly. I just forgot. My jaw clenched as the realization settled. So it¡¯s my fault, as always; stupid me for trusting him. I sighed, trying to shake off the weight pressing on my chest. I¡¯m socially useless, after all. The thought hit harder than I expected, lingering in the back of my mind like an unwelcome guest. Pushing the feelings aside, I tightened my grip on my virtual whip and took a deep breath. ¡°Alright,¡± I whispered to myself, forcing determination into my tone. If I could solo the hardest bosses on the test servers, I can do this. The resolve steadied me. With a quick glance at my map, I stepped forward into the world, ready to face whatever Rimelion could throw at me¡ªalone. Let¡¯s not provoke admins by exploiting¡­ too much. I hate mud. Not just because it makes fighting harder, but because it gets everywhere. My heels, my robes¡ªeverything coated in the sticky, disgusting filth. And don¡¯t even get me started on the Wolves.
[Gray wolf Lv.5] Type: 1-common | HP: 100/100
¡°Leave me alone!¡± I hissed, glaring at the aggressive beast. It didn¡¯t care. Instead, it bounced around me, flinging mud in every direction, as if mocking my concerns. My whip lashed out, but the wolf nimbly dodged, its muddy paws kicking up even more of the muck. Then, with a sharp feint to the right, it lunged, jaws snapping toward my calf. ¡°As if!¡± I shouted, foreseeing the attack. My whip cracked in a swift counter, catching it mid-air with a satisfying snap. Before I could catch my breath, movement behind me made my skin prickle. Of course. Another stupid wolf, just as filthy as the first, leapt toward me. Its fur was so caked in mud it was barely recognizable as a wolf¡ªjust a moving pile of muck hurtling my way. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me, if it was an Earth elemental. I spun in place, raising my shield just in time.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 2]
System, stop the messages! I can¡¯t focus! I gritted my teeth, trying to shake off the notification. ¡°When I have a barony,¡± I growled through clenched teeth, slashing with my whip again, ¡°you all shall either serve me or die!¡± My words rang as the whip struck true, cutting through the mud and ending the fight. For my whip, mud also served as an armor, so no AP. Of course it does. Finally, the wolves collapsed, their defeated forms sinking slightly into the muck. The XP was welcome, but the mud-splattered mess left behind? Not so much. ¡°Of course I forgot¡­¡± I muttered, brushing off a disgusting splatter on my robe. ¡°Chain lighting!¡± Pitiful spark of energy hit the dead wolf, but hey it counted anyway, enemy after all.
[To unlock a Chain lightning, practice it: 265/1000]
I glanced at the stream running nearby. Its clear water sparkled faintly in the sunlight, a stark contrast to the mud-coated battlefield I¡¯d just endured. Without hesitation, I headed for it, jumping straight in. The water was icy, sending a sharp chill through me, but it washed away the grime in moments. Next items must be self-cleaning and self-repairing, I thought bitterly as I examined my torn robe. The fabric was ripped in several places, evidence of the hits I hadn¡¯t blocked. I grunted in frustration, trying to piece it back together. ¡°At least I don¡¯t look like one of those filthy wolves now,¡± I muttered to myself, shivering slightly as the chilly water dripped from my robe. As I wrung out the edges of my robe, the icy water still dripping from my sleeves, a strange voice called out from the opposite bank. ¡°Well, well! Look, boys, who we have here! A lone priest!¡± My head snapped up, my heart skipping a beat. At least five figures emerged from the shadows of the tree line, their forms silhouetted against the sunlight. The leader, a muscular boy with a grin, leaned casually against a spear, the tip slowly submerging in the mud. ¡°Treat or kill, girl?¡± [Book 1] [47. The Selfie Bandits] ¡°Treat or kill, girl?¡± The boy¡¯s attempt at intimidation was¡­ sad. An amateur PKer, clearly. As a warrior, rule number one: don¡¯t get your weapon dirty. I shivered. That was because of the cold from the stream, not fear¡ªI was mostly feeling sorry for his poor spear. It didn¡¯t deserve to be buried in mud like that. I wanted to retort something witty, but my brain refused to cooperate. Maybe it was the lack of wine or whiskey. Come on, body, work with me here! At least I narrowed my eyes at him and said, ¡°You are?¡± The boy blinked, surprised by my question and probably confused. His bravado slipped for a moment before he puffed his chest and shouted, ¡°Slow one, huh? This is robbery! Things, or we kill!¡± I felt my cheeks heat up¡ªfrom secondhand embarrassment. Oh, honey. ¡°First,¡± I said, motioning to the tip of his spear, which was now firmly and disgracefully lodged in the mud. ¡°Spear out. Be threatening.¡± He glanced down at his weapon and froze; the color draining from his face. The realization hit him hard, and in his panic, he yanked at the spear with far too much force. And the result? He toppled backward, landing flat on his rear with a wet splat. ¡°Second,¡± I continued, fighting the urge to laugh as I motioned at the awkward formation of his group. ¡°There.¡± My finger pointed toward the ground, where they all stood huddled together. ¡°Well, not there. Surround target.¡± My Irwen voice was practiced and cold by now. ¡°Scram,¡± I ordered, letting the final word hang in the air for a beat before delivering the punchline with a smirk. Thank you Riker for giving me this card. I pointed at myself. ¡°Ranker.¡± The boy¡¯s comrades exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence wavering as I fixed them with a glare. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ The Charlie! Rank eight!¡± a girl in the rear squealed, her voice smashing through the awkward silence. Judging by her robes and the faint glow of a staff strapped to her back, she was clearly a mage. I tensed as she started moving toward me, practically bouncing with excitement. My mind raced through a dozen potential threats. Is she going to cast something? A trap? But then she stopped a few steps away, her cheeks suddenly pink as she asked, now shyly, ¡°Can I get a selfie?¡± ¡°No way!¡± shouted one other, a bulky warrior type with a massive axe slung over his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re not here for¡ª¡± ¡°Quiet, Greg!¡± the mage snapped, spinning around to glare at him before turning her hopeful gaze back to me. The leader, still trying to salvage his dignity, let out a long sigh and walked toward me at a measured pace, spear now miraculously clean but still looking worse for wear. He glanced at the mage, then at me, muttering, ¡°Seriously? A selfie?¡± I stayed frozen, eying them all with suspicion. What are they playing at? But before I could decide, the mage was suddenly beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders like we were besties. ¡°Say cheese!¡± she chirped, holding up her interface and snapping a screenshot. And just like that, my suspicion evaporated, replaced by something far worse: social anxiety. My entire body stiffened as the rest of the group started crowding around me, their earlier aggression now replaced with star-struck awe. ¡°Whoa, you¡¯re really Charlie? The rank eight?¡± the rogue of the group asked, a wiry guy who looked like he¡¯d been surviving off stolen bread rolls. ¡°I watched all of your vids! Boss fight was epic, but how you threw that Riker¡¯s bouncer around! Badass IRL!¡± He actually made the motion. What? They recorded that? Of course Riker did. I shouldn¡¯t trust him easily. ¡°Do you still have the Spear of Destiny?¡± the bulky warrior¡ªGreg, apparently¡ªblurted out, his earlier resentment completely forgotten. His eyes sparkled with admiration, which was deeply unsettling coming from someone who looked like he could bench-press a beer barrel. ¡°I heard you soloed Goolem boss! Is that true? Raking marks it as rumour!¡± the mage added, practically bouncing on her heels now. ¡°You¡¯re way prettier in person,¡± Greg added awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck as his gaze darted everywhere but at me. ¡°Greg, stop being weird,¡± the rogue muttered, elbowing him. I raised a hand weakly, trying to ward off the avalanche of attention. ¡°Uh, thanks, I guess?¡± ¡°Wait, wait!¡± the mage interrupted, grabbing her staff and holding it out toward me. ¡°Can you sign this? Like, with magic?¡± ¡°Magic autographs don¡¯t work!¡± Greg groaned. ¡°They fade after a week!¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have time for this!¡± the leader barked, trying to regain some semblance of control. The moment he locked eyes with me, I could see it¡ªthe flicker of awe he was trying to hide. ¡°Wait,¡± the rogue said suddenly, pointing at my still-dripping robes. ¡°Why were you in the stream? Like, in it?¡± I sighed, running a hand over my face. ¡°Mud. Wolves. Long story.¡± ¡°Must be quite the story,¡± the mage giggled, as though we were old friends sharing an inside joke. ¡°Alright,¡± I said firmly, taking a step back and raising both hands to create space. ¡°Look. Stuff to do. So maybe¡ª¡± ¡°Can we party with you?¡± the mage asked, her eyes sparkling. ¡°No,¡± I said immediately, shaking my head. This wasn¡¯t what I asked for when I was reminiscent of having nobody to go with. ¡°Pleeease?¡± ¡°Still no.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so cool!¡± Greg blurted out, his voice cracking slightly. ¡°True Ice Princess!¡± This is why I prefer going alone. ¡°I¡¯m on a very important quest. Solo. Sorry,¡± I said firmly, glancing at their hopeful faces. The spark of excitement in their eyes dimmed almost instantly, and the crushing disappointment was practically tangible. Ugh. Why do they have to look so pitiful? ¡°But!¡± I raised my hand, stopping their crushed spirits in their tracks. An idea formed¡ªsomething that would let them feel important. If my ungrateful friend Lucas ever decides to return, maybe he¡¯d learn a thing or two about gratitude. I reached into my inventory, pulling out an enchanting paper, its surface glinting faintly in the sunlight. With quick strokes, I jotted a note on it, careful to phrase it just right. Then, slipping off my ring, I pressed it to the parchment, leaving an official seal that glowed before fading into the paper.
[This company is under the service of Princess Charlie. Captain of guards, please grant them a quest of importance.]
I handed it to the mage, who accepted it with trembling hands like it was a holy relic.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°I own East Fortification,¡± I explained, my tone taking on Irwen¡¯s regal edge. ¡°Go there. Hand this over. There will be a gigantic battle in a few days¡ªweeks, tops. Be ready. Fight on my side.¡± With every moment, my confidence grew, and I could get out a few more words. The group stared at the parchment, then at me. Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked away, letting my robes swish dramatically behind me. Ugh, I¡¯m such a showoff. Riker¡¯s flair is rubbing off on me¡­ and not in a good way. As I strode away, I heard them calling after me, their voices brimming with excitement and awe. ¡°Goodbye, Princess Charlie!¡± ¡°She¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°True Ice Princess!¡± I couldn¡¯t help the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Well, at least they appreciate it. As Katherine says, spread love! Lucas¡­ you better be back soon! Meeting this¡­ bandit¡­ group of players wasn¡¯t on my itinerary, but at least it improved my mood. Until I saw more wolves. ¡°I swear to the Ice-Blood God,¡± I grumbled, glaring at the muddy path ahead. ¡°If I have to fight them the entire way¡­¡± The universe answered with a resounding yes. For hours, I slogged through wave after wave of wolves, each more annoying than the last. The XP was¡­ fine, but it felt like a complete waste of time. Unfortunately, avoiding them wasn¡¯t an option. They seemed to materialize anywhere the ground was muddy, which, of course, was everywhere. By the time I finally reached the hills, I was battered, mud-streaked, and muttering curses under my breath. At least there, the landscape shifted. And, apparently, the system was happy I created the runes for my lighting and used it on a perceived enemy. ¡°I hate you, mud!¡± I hit the ground with my spark and it connected.
[To unlock a Chain lightning, practice it: 715/1000]
Gentle slopes rolled upward, and an ancient, ruined road stretched out before me. The path led toward Yarriw, a place about I spoke to the children. What the heck? The road itself had scars of conquest, its cobblestones cracked and worn. The Empire had destroyed it during their campaign against us¡ªCharlie!¡ªelven conquest, not mine. I wasn¡¯t there¡­ was I? My memories were frustratingly fuzzy. I must¡¯ve read about it somewhere, but the images in my head felt oddly vivid, like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Nonsense. The problem wasn¡¯t the road itself, though. It was the fact that it wasn¡¯t empty. Sure, I could avoid it, trudge through the mud, and continue battling wolves until I collapsed. Or I could stick to the road, mud-free, but face tougher enemies. Ez decision. Hopping between the remaining cobblestones, I advanced slowly, scanning the area for movement. It didn¡¯t take long before my first opponent revealed itself.
[Guardian Lv.9] Type: 3-rare | HP: 180/180
The creature emerged from the side of the road, a blend of nature and earth molded into a bipedal thing. Its body was squat and beefy, almost as armored-dwarf, or Italian trying to drink whiskey, though its proportions were oddly weird. Its legs were too long, bending at strange angles, and its thick, bark-covered torso bristled with stones and sprouting twigs. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered under my breath, raising my whip and shield. ¡°Let¡¯s see how this goes.¡± The creature¡¯s head was almost plain, save for two faintly glowing eyes that followed me as I circled, my steps evading the patches of mud. Its movements mirrored mine, its twig-like appendages moving with anticipation as it shifted to show its side. Its feet locked into a precise stance¡ªa classic elven dueling position. ¡°Ah, my friend,¡± I said, a grin tugging at my lips despite the tension. ¡°Elven classic style? Your swordplay is as easy to read as drinking Jameson.¡± I widened my stance, raising my shield in one hand and whip in the other. ¡°Come at me!¡± My grin grew as I moved, adopting the imperial dueling style, stepping forward with practiced precision. That was until I remembered one very important detail: I didn¡¯t have a sword. I had a whip. My good mood deflated faster than a punctured barrel. The Guardian didn¡¯t hesitate. Sensing my moment of hesitation, it advanced with a predictable, textbook maneuver¡ªclassic to its style, but still dangerously effective. I barely raised my shield in time to meet the attack.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 5] [New milestone! To unlock a block, block an attack: 1000/10000]
¡°Outchie!¡± I hissed as the impact drove me back a few steps. My pitiful strength showed its teeth again. It wasn¡¯t enough to hold my ground, even with a perfect block. My arms ached from the reverberation, but I gritted my teeth and retaliated immediately, my whip snapping forward with a sharp crack.
[Armor not pierced. Target lost 3HP (6/2 normal damage)]
¡°Oh, come on!¡± I groaned, watching as the creature barely flinched, its sturdy body absorbing the attack like it was nothing. ¡°It¡¯ll take forever!¡± So I started casting instead. ¡°Ice Dance!¡± I shouted as the runes flared to life. Frost burst forth, cascading like a shimmering rain and coating the ground in a thin, crystalline sheet. Freezing mud! The Guardian¡¯s movements slowed as the ice crept up its legs, the satisfying crack of freezing twigs making me feel even happier. If I could read its moves before, now I could predict them. The frost emphasized every subtle twitch of its stance, every telegraphed shift of weight. But it wasn¡¯t just the ice¡ªit was Ice Dance. With my 62 Intelligence, the spell packed a serious punch.
[Armor not pierced. Target lost 12HP (6/2 normal + 9 ICE damage)]
¡°Four times damage, babyyy!¡± I squealed, unable to contain my glee as I saw the Guardian¡¯s health bar dip for the first time. The creature didn¡¯t seem pleased. It lunged forward, its twig-covered limbs lashing out in a calculated strike aimed for my feet. But with the icy surface beneath me, and my heels anchoring me, its attack was sluggish and predictable. I simply slid my foot out of the way, my movements fluid and almost playful. ¡°Too slow, twig boy,¡± I taunted, grinning as frost continued to swirl around me. The Guardian hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing¡ªor maybe that was just my imagination¡ªas it recalibrated its approach. But I wasn¡¯t worried. Why? The mud was frozen. [Book 1] [48. The Threshold] With the path to Yarriw now clearly visible, I pressed forward. My advance was slow¡ªIce Dance had an annoyingly long cooldown, and I wasn¡¯t about to get caught without it. And most importantly¡­ ¡°Mud is demon¡¯s spawn!¡± Electricity surged forth the ground.
[To unlock a Chain lightning, practice it: 1000/1000] [Congratulations! You unlocked the Chain lightning spell. You know how to cast it.]
I could not hide my grin. Finally, something going my way. Then I got too excited and ran toward a hill and my heel got stuck in the¡­ mud. ¡°You have to be¡­¡± Despite my irritation, I made decent progress, cresting a hill just as the famous dungeon came into view. There it was. Yarriw. Its broken spires rose into the sky like broken teeth, its crumbling walls draped in moss and ivy, all implying glory long since faded. The wind whistled sadly through the ruins, carrying with it a strange sense of foreboding. ¡°Not sure if I should keep walking on the road¡­¡± I muttered, eyeing the ancient path ahead. Guardians¡ªbig ones¡ªdefended uncleared dungeon entrances, and Yarriw didn¡¯t look particularly welcoming. Nah, I can take them down! My inner bravado surged, though it didn¡¯t stop me from slowing my pace. Let¡¯s drink before a little though¡­ I took a swing of wine and let that sweet alcohol empower me. I moved cautiously, scanning the surroundings with every step. The strange guardians that had dotted the way here had stopped appearing entirely, which only made the silence more disturbing. Something¡¯s up. As I approached the sixth decrepit gate, its arch barely holding together under the weight of time, a sharp voices rang out from both sides of the path. ¡°Halt!¡± I froze mid-step, my heart skipping a beat. The voices were commanding, deep, and perfectly synchronized. My eyes darted to the left, then the right, but whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªhad spoken hid in the shadows of the ruined walls. ¡°Identify yourself!¡± the voice from the left commanded authoritative. ¡°Princess Charlie?¡± I responded, though it sounded more like a question than an answer. ¡°P-Princess?¡± The surprise was palpable as both figures stepped into the light. They wore the armor of provincial imperial guards¡ªfunctional but clearly suffering from a tight budget. As usual. They also paid me badly. The plates were sturdy but patched in places, the wear and tear speaking of countless repairs. Their weapons pristine though, as they should, the steel gleaming even in the muted light. Both guards were men, their faces obscured by closed helmets that had signs of their elven race¡ªelegant curves ingrained into the design. ¡°Yes, I came back to¡­¡± I hesitated briefly, testing my luck. ¡°Eeleim.¡± Huh. Still not censored. ¡°Is this the capital city of Yarriw?¡± Both guards exchanged awkward glances, their postures stiffening. They were elves, yet clearly in service to the empire, not the elven kingdom. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± the left one finally replied. ¡°But¡­ they told us to stop anyone coming in.¡± ¡°We have to fight?¡± I asked, already reaching to unfasten my whip. ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± My gaze flicked over their armor¡ªsolid, hard to penetrate. And besides, they¡¯re people, not monsters. ¡°If you turn around, we don¡¯t have to, Your Majesty,¡± the left guard suggested hesitantly. ¡°Yes, exactly,¡± echoed the right one, nodding vigorously. I hesitated, weighing my options. System, what¡¯s my Right to Rule
[Congratulations! You unlocked the Right To Rule stat.] [Right To Rule: 44]
What? That high? My mind spun. How?! But it didn¡¯t matter¡ªthis changed everything. ¡°Soldiers!¡± I barked, letting my tone shift into one of imperial authority. Days as sergeant showing. ¡°I am also an Empire Baronetess! Is that how you treat a noble of the Empire?¡± I demanded, raising my hand with a flourish to show them my ring. While running around the imperial court, I¡¯d learned a thing or two about dramatics and Riker reminded me how important that was, and now was the time to use them. The guards froze, then dropped to their knees, their movements stiff and reluctant but undeniable. ¡°Good,¡± I commented coolly, slipping my whip back into place as I stepped forward. Now we¡¯re getting somewhere. ¡°By law, I could have you executed,¡± I said, letting the weight of the words settle on them for a moment. Their bodies tensed, their hands twitching slightly toward their weapons. ¡°But that would be a silly notion.¡± Their shoulders slackened slightly, confusion flickering in their postures. I pressed on before they could recover. ¡°Instead,¡± I continued, my tone shifting to something almost gracious, ¡°I commend you for your dedication and duty. We need good men like you. There¡¯s a war on the horizon.¡± I allowed the weight of my words to sink in before delivering the name that would stir any elven heart. ¡°Mother Irwen is rising.¡± That did it. Their stiff kneeling forms practically vibrated with emotion, and if my Right to Rule had been any lower, they might have stood to challenge me. But as it was, they remained on their knees, hanging on my every word.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡± I asked sharply, my voice ringing with authority. ¡°It¡¯s time to get our kingdom back,¡± they answered in unison, their voices brimming with a mix of pride and resolve. But then the left guard hesitated, glancing at me nervously. ¡°But¡­ you are an empire noble, Your Majesty?¡± I took a moment before answering, deliberately waiting with my response. The empress did that a lot, and it was infuriating. And effective. ¡°Mother has to declare war into the hands of someone,¡± I explained. ¡°To soften the impact of the God of War. I¡¯m that someone. And I¡¯ll give her a fight she won¡¯t forget¡ªa fight worthy of a princess.¡± Their eyes widened, and I motioned toward the looming ruins. ¡°But for that, I need something from our homeland.¡± The right guard straightened slightly, his voice hesitant but filled with hope. ¡°As you command, Baronetess¡­ are we dismissed from our posts? Can we return and fight alongside¡­ forces in the war?¡± His words faltered, barely masking the fact that he was asking for permission to desert. I gave him a sharp nod. ¡°Yes. You are relieved from your posts. Report to Village Number Seventeen.¡± Their reactions were immediate. ¡°Yes, Baronetess! Right away!¡± they said, snapping to attention before marching briskly toward the gate without so much as a backward glance. I blinked, surprised by their abrupt departure. ¡°What?¡± I muttered under my breath, watching them disappear into the distance. Well, that happened.
Lucas¡¯ apartment, day before¡­ When Lucas finally got home, the exhaustion of the day hit him like a Charlie¡¯s slap. Dropping his jacket carelessly over the back of a chair, he sank onto the worn couch in his living room, picking up the half-drank can of energy drink. His fingers moved quickly over his holo-screen, sending all the intel to Pearl. Another task dumped on her plate, another debt added to the growing ledger of favors he owed. Maybe Charlie¡¯s right, he thought, running a hand through his disheveled hair. ¡°Speaking of Charlie¡­¡± he muttered, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his comm. The device flickered to life in his hand, and he shook his head with a smirk. After the meeting with Riker, he¡¯d forgotten to turn it off. The battery, against all odds, hadn¡¯t run out. He stared at the device for a moment, debating. Finally, he issued the command: ¡°AI, analyze my dialogue with Charlie. Analyze what I did wrong.¡± The comm hummed in response, his local AI lighting up with streams of data as it began parsing his request. ¡°Analysis complete,¡± a crisp, formal British female voice announced. ¡°Complimenting Charlie¡¯s appearance while she was clearly upset came across as dismissive. While it deflected the immediate tension, it failed to address her concerns. Statements like ¡®the money¡¯s just a bonus¡¯ undermined her efforts and the risks she took.¡± Lucas winced, running a hand through his hair as the weight of the words settled over him. ¡°Charlie wanted transparency. Not sharing¡ª¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Lucas interrupted, frustration overtaking him as he kicked the table. ¡°Tell me what to do!¡± ¡°Recommendation,¡± the AI replied, its tone as dispassionate as ever: ¡°Acknowledge her contributions, share details openly, and prioritize the relationship when it matters.¡± The comm fell silent, leaving Lucas alone with his thoughts, staring at the glowing screen. ¡°Ruthless,¡± he muttered, shaking his head. But he couldn¡¯t argue with it¡ªbecause it wasn¡¯t the first time this had happened. I screwed up. He¡¯d set his alarm later than usual, enjoying the chance to sleep off the chaos of the previous night¡ªand maybe to delay facing Charlie. Maybe. The alarm eventually woke him, and he lay in bed, staring at the golden-laced ceiling above. I actually pulled it off, he thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips. His crazy plan, against all odds, had succeeded. But then, like an unwelcome guest, another thought crept in: Maybe it cost me Charlie. He frowned, trying to shake it off, dismissing the weight in his chest as a leftover from the stress of the night. With a grunt, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, pushing himself upright. There was no time for regret¡ªnot yet. Sure, there had been¡­ setbacks. Losing all his money initially wasn¡¯t ideal, but that was just a temporary inconvenience. The results mattered, and they spoke for themselves. He now had the intel he needed¡ªinfo on the two people who were on his tail. Acting alone. That detail had been crucial. They weren¡¯t operating under orders from higher-ups. They were rogue, just two loose ends. That he could handle. But first¡­ He grabbed his holo-keyboard, quickly opening the Riker¡¯s Rimelion Ranking. Scrolling through the interface, he navigated to Charlie¡¯s page. ¡°Yesterday?!¡± he blurted out as a new video caught his attention. Riker¡¯s Tower. His pulse quickened as he clicked on it. Was he in it? Did they catch him? He held his breath as the video began, but exhaled in relief as the camera focused squarely on Charlie. She was¡­ breathtaking. Dressed in an insanely elegant blue-and-white dress, she gave off a raw confidence as she strode toward the side entrance. The dress clung to her in all the right ways, almost glowing subtly in the dim light. Where did she even get that dress? He wondered, equal parts impressed and curious. And how did she look more stunning every day? Then there was the tone¡ªthat frosty, domineering tone she used when dealing with the guards. It sent a chill down his spine. ¡°Hah,¡± Lucas chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head. ¡°What am I doing? He¡­ She may never talk to me again¡­¡± But he couldn¡¯t stop watching. The video continued, and his amusement quickly turned to wide-eyed amazement. After a brief exchange with the guards, Charlie moved¡ªfast. In one fluid motion, she closed the distance to the nearest guard and sent his head crashing into the wall with a precise strike. The impact was brutal; the guard crumpling under her attack. Lucas¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Has John been secretly learning martial arts or something?¡± he muttered to himself, replaying the moment. That wasn¡¯t just a lucky move; it was controlled, decisive. ¡°This wasn¡¯t something they covered in basic army CQC¡­¡± He leaned back against the headboard, still staring at the video. There was so much about Charlie¡ªabout John¡ªhe didn¡¯t know anymore. And somehow, that only made him admire her more, so he checked all the photos and videos. A chime alerted Lucas that Pearl had hacked into his system. Again. ¡°Hi, Pearl,¡± he said casually, addressing the surrounding air. ¡°Hi, Lucky Lucas!¡± she chirped, her voice bright and cheerful, maybe too cheerful. ¡°I got the info. Amazing work¡ªhow did you pull it off? Riker¡¯s not exactly the sharing type, especially with something this big.¡± ¡°All it took was inviting Charlie there¡­¡± Lucas grinned, leaning back in his chair. ¡°She chatted with him, and he handed it over. I just love her.¡± There was a pause. A small one, but it lingered just enough for Lucas to notice. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Pearl¡¯s tone dipped, losing some of its earlier enthusiasm. ¡°Well, what matters is that you succeeded. Now we can move into phase two of the plan. When¡¯s Charlie coming?¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t,¡± Lucas admitted, his tone heavier now. ¡°I¡¯ve already burdened her more than I should. I¡­ I need to stop relying on her and just handle this myself. Be a man. Clean up my own mess.¡± ¡°You also cutting me out?¡± she asked quickly, her voice flat. Lucas let out a surprised laugh, shaking his head as he stood. ¡°You? You came up with the idea! How could I do that to you?¡± His grin widened, the usual confidence returning. ¡°We¡¯re a team¡ªyou and me¡ªand we¡¯re the best damn hackers in the city. Two morons can¡¯t stop us.¡± Pearl laughed, though it sounded strained. ¡°Yeah. You and me.¡± ¡°So, Pearl, what¡¯s the first step?¡± Lucas asked as he walked to his computer, only to notice immediately her handiwork. How she hacked him. No point leaving that in. ¡°So, the first¡ª¡± she started, but he quickly patched the code and restarted the router, cutting off Pearl¡¯s connection mid-sentence. She wasn¡¯t out for long. ¡°That was rude!¡± she laughed as her voice returned, amused rather than angry. Lucas, meanwhile, was scanning for gaps in his defenses. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re good,¡± he admitted begrudgingly, narrowing his eyes at the logs. ¡°Of course I am,¡± she replied smugly. ¡°The only one who could do it, mind you. Now, as I was saying¡ªstep one is scouting out the place. It¡¯s in the slums, pretty dangerous, so bring a gun. According to the intel, you¡¯re not the only one¡ª¡± ¡°Got you!¡± Lucas interrupted, grinning triumphantly as he located a permissions exploit in his firewall and patched it. Pearl¡¯s voice cut out for ten seconds¡ªa new personal record. ¡°Lucas!¡± she returned, her tone playfully furious. ¡°That was just uncalled for. Don¡¯t force me to use a 0-day exploits! Anyway, that¡¯s all you need to know for now. I¡¯ll tell you the rest on site.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ And Pearl? Personal question?¡± Lucas hesitated. The line was silent for a few seconds, then her voice came back, a little wary. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Am I¡­ selfish? The AI told me I¡¯m not sharing enough, or that I deflect blame¡ª¡± ¡°Lucas!¡± Her frustration burst through. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? Don¡¯t ask an AI how to live your life! Soulless machines know nothing about being human. You¡¯ve got to feel it for yourself!¡± Then she added quietly, ¡°but you are the densest human alive¡­¡± Her voice softened slightly, carrying a sound of something deeper. ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted us to meet in person, you know¡­ before her.¡± Lucas leaned back in his chair. He was confused, but her answer confirmed his screw up, so he was happy¡ªuntil Pearl¡¯s next words hit him like a cold slap. ¡°By the way,¡± she added casually, though her tone wasn¡¯t, ¡°have you told her yet?¡± ¡°Told her what?¡± Lucas froze mid-motion. ¡°That she isn¡¯t the first Charlie,¡± Pearl said, her voice turning deadly serious. His grin vanished, replaced by a deep furrow in his brow. ¡°No. Not yet¡­ The time wasn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°Lucas,¡± Pearl sighed heavily, and for the first time, her usual confidence cracked. ¡°The time never will be right. If you don¡¯t tell her soon, I will.¡± [Book 1] [49. Beneath Yarriws Walls] After the guards¡¯ far-too-abrupt departure, I refocused on the task at hand. They must¡¯ve been the guardians of the dungeon, I reasoned, brushing off their hasty exit. Turning my attention back to the ruined path ahead, I walked toward the city. I¡¯d never been here myself¡ªYarriw was a spot the other testers favored. One time it was the talk of the breakroom for its exploits and bugs. See, Riker? This world can¡¯t be real. We found exploits in test servers! I grinned faintly at the memory, but it didn¡¯t last. The grin vanished as something more troubling crossed my mind. Wait! How could I forget? The queen of Yarriw, Irwen''s¡ªand according to the lore also mine?¡ªancestor, was famous for her petrification magic, turning anything and everything into stone. As a result, all the monsters in her domain were¡­ well, stone-based creatures. Meaning my whip is useless here. ¡°Whyyyy!¡± I groaned, throwing my hands into the air in despair as I passed through the last gate. The city of Yarriw stretched out before me, a sprawling metropolis of decay and destruction. The once-majestic stone walls, now rugged and crumbling, had deep scars touched by time and conquest. Tattered imperial banners clung desperately to weathered arches, their insignias faded to near oblivion. What a waste. I¡¯d collect them; a fellow sergeant used to pay for them after every battle. Not these old ones. Shattered rubble and scorched earth lined the streets, a sign of a brutal campaign that had reduced the elven luxury to desolate remnants of defiance. The elven spires now sagged, covered in moss and ivy, their rebellion eroded by decades of neglect. Well, they deserved it. If I believed the imperial books¡ªwhich I shouldn¡¯t¡ªthe old elven Kingdom was brutal to any non-elf, that was a fact. Humans weren¡¯t kind to them, they retaliated with also not being kind, and the rest is history. History now scattered at my feet. Hah, I¡¯m funny. *** Ian¡¯s journey The sharp ti-ting of Ian¡¯s daggers finishing the last burrower echoed through the cavern, the sound fading into the damp silence. It hadn¡¯t been easy, cutting through the waves of mobs in these twisting tunnels, but it was necessary. He stood over the twitching body for a moment, his self-satisfied smile hidden in the shadows of his hood. Done. Coastal caverns were a maze of tunnels, carved over generations of burrowers that seemed to burst from the earth at random. The air was heavy with salt and damp, every sound distorted by echoes, making Ian just sick. He nodded curtly at the passing elven warriors, his posture straight and commanding, as though he were their superior. They nodded back, most out of habit, but Ian wasn¡¯t their leader. No, he was meeting one. He stopped outside a grander tent; the canvas polished with elven symbols stitched into the edges. Without hesitation, he swept the flap aside and stepped in. A man sat at a sturdy wooden table, his silver armor polished, every inch inscribed with glowing runes. Beside him, a black-and-gold sword hovered in the air, its blade shimmering, looking for enemies.
[Prince Don Lv.15] Type: 5-epic | HP: 350/350
Donovan¡¯s eyes lifted from the documents spread across the table, his face as sharp as his sword. ¡°Ah, Ian,¡± he said, his loud voice commanding. ¡°The job is done, I presume?¡± Ian immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head in a show of deference. ¡°Yes, my lord. All that remains is the main nest.¡± ¡°Splendid,¡± Donovan replied, setting the documents aside with an air of finality. His gaze lingered on Ian, calculating. ¡°You have proven yourself the perfect servant. As such, I have decided to grant you the mission.¡± Ian tensed slightly, his heart picking up its pace even as he stayed perfectly still. ¡°You,¡± Donovan continued, ¡°will be our last resort. You will infiltrate Princess Charlie¡¯s inner circle and become the instrument of our victory.¡± Advance in nobility and hurt John? Perfect. A faint chime rang in Ian¡¯s ears, accompanied by the unmistakable flicker of the system notification.
[You are offered an Epic Quest: Empire shall fall - spy]
Ian allowed himself a slow, measured breath, his lips curling into an almost imperceptible smile. The perfect servant, huh? *** Inside Yarriw dungeon¡­ Something moved¡ªfaster than I expected¡ªand a sharp, searing pain shot through my left side.
[Soldier Of Stone Lv.12] Type: 2-uncommon | HP: 216/216
My gaze snapped to the mugger¡ªa golem, its towering form carved entirely from weathered stone. It stood tall and threatening, its design mimicking a standard infantry soldier, complete with a chipped but deadly sword and a cracked shield held in its hands. The faint glow of runes inscribed into its surface pulsed like a heartbeat. I had only a split second to react. Gritting my teeth, I raised my shield and barely intercepted its next strike.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 7]
¡°The hell you were dopping?!¡± I shouted, my voice a mix of pain and panic as I staggered back. The impact had left my arm trembling, the force of the blow sending numbness down to my bones. Runes for healing were ez by now. With a flick of my fingers and a sharp breath, I chanted, ¡°Heal!¡±
[You healed yourself for 18 HP]
As I thought, it was all made of stone, modeled after standard infantry, wearing a spear and shield.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Moving fast.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 6]
The golem advanced again, its stone joints grinding as it moved with frightening speed. Its sword carving an arc through the air that sent a gust of wind rushing past me. ¡°You¡¯re all stone anyway,¡± I muttered bitterly, eyeing its rocky armor. Thick to most attacks¡ªbut also redundant, considering its entire body was just as solid. ¡°Useless.¡± It lunged again, and I barely sidestepped in time, the blade slicing through the space where I¡¯d just been standing. Dust and fragments of debris kicked up around me, stinging my face. I started casting my new spell. Goolems were the stupid, small, natural things¡ªannoying pests at best. Golems, though? They were the real deal made by mages. And I felt that¡ªevery crushing blow driving home just how outclassed I was. ¡°I¡¯m a priest, not a tank!¡± I yelled at the construct, half in frustration, half in desperation. The words, of course, were for my enjoyment only. Its glowing eyes locked onto me as it shifted its stance, readying another attack. How do you fight something like that? ¡°Same as mud wolves!¡± I muttered, retreating a few paces to buy time. My grin spread as I finished tracing the runes in the air. ¡°Chain lightning!¡± Conventional wisdom might argue that stone counters electricity. Conventional wisdom would be stupid. The arc of lightning crackled to life, leaping from my fingertips and striking the golem square in the head. The flash illuminated its broken features as electricity danced over its head, seeking weaknesses in the solid stone. It found some.
[Critical hit! Target lost 32HP (16x2)]
That did the trick! My intelligence stat may not have been sky high, but it was high enough to let me moonlight as a budget mage. The golem recoiled, its glowing runes flickering erratically as the energy disrupted its movements. But there was just one problem. The spell had a long cooldown. The golem recovered quicker than I expected, pivoting with an unsettling speed. Its blade whistled through the air, aimed directly at my unguarded side. My heart leapt into my throat as I realized my mistake¡ªI¡¯d left myself wide open in my glee over the successful hit. Move! Now! My reflexes kicked in just in time. I swung my shield into place, bracing for the impact. The blade connected with a deafening clang that rattled my entire body.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 7]
The force of the strike sent me sliding back, my heels skidding against the cracked cobblestones. My arm screamed in protest, but I didn¡¯t dare lower my shield. The golem¡¯s glowing eyes locked onto me, unrelenting. It pressed on with another swing, capitalizing on my imbalance with a relentless force. ¡°You¡¯re twenty years early,¡± I muttered, drawing on years of grueling imperial footwork drills. My stance shifted instinctively, weight distributed to my back foot as I readied myself. This wasn¡¯t just any dodge¡ªit was precision. I darted to the side, placing my foot on an uneven stone that jutted out from the broken road. The move was risky¡ªbalancing on it required more finesse than strength. Exactly what I need! My body twisted fluidly, the golem¡¯s massive blade slicing harmlessly through the air where I¡¯d just been. The moment its momentum carried it forward, I planted my weight on the stone and sprang into action. Launching myself sideways with a sharp pivot, I found my footing and delivered a swift, calculated kick to the golem¡¯s knee. The impact echoed with a satisfying crack as it lost its balance, its massive body toppling to the ground like a drunken German. ¡°Down!¡± I laughed triumphantly, a grin spreading across my face¡ªuntil the weight of reality hit me. My laughter turned into a bitter smile. I had no sword to capitalize on its vulnerable position, no way to strike a decisive blow. Using my whip, I at least made it to know who was the boss here.
[Armor not pierced. Target lost 3HP (6/2 normal)]
All I could do was watch as it stirred, its heavy limbs grinding against the ground as it rose again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rely on Ice Dance again¡­ I¡¯m not a one-trick pony,¡± I muttered under my breath, watching the golem limp toward me. Its movements were sluggish now, its damaged knee grinding audibly with every step. At least that kick had done something. I finally put down the annoying enemy after a few grueling minutes. My arms ached and my mana reserves were embarrassingly low. I overestimated myself. This place wasn¡¯t for players like me¡ªnot at measly level seven with no class upgrade. No, this dungeon was a playground for level 10s and their shiny new skills. Skills I didn¡¯t have. And I couldn¡¯t just exploit the heck out of it like the testers used to. The admins and especially AIs were watching and staying low key was important. That¡¯s why I was creeping around the rubble now, moving as if I were trying to slip out of a bar without paying my tab. The parallel wasn¡¯t far off. As in the bar, stealth was useless. I was a priest¡ªno presence of any hiding skills in sight. My heart pounded as I tiptoed over the uneven stones, each step painstakingly measured. Please don¡¯t notice me, please don¡¯t notice me¡­ But, of course, Nathan had other plans. My foot landed on a precariously balanced chunk of rubble, and the inevitable happened. A rain of loose stones cascaded noisily down the slope, tumbling toward the feet of two patrolling golems. Oh boy. Both constructs stopped mid-step, their glowing eyes snapping toward the source of the noise. ¡°Uhmm, oupsie?¡± I squeaked, a weak grin plastered on my face before bolting toward the gate, while starting runes for my spell. Behind me, the golems reacted with alarming speed, their movements precise. One hurled a spear with imperial accuracy, the weapon embedding itself into the ground right where I¡¯d been standing a split second earlier. The echo of the spear¡¯s impact rang out, and I didn¡¯t dare look back. The pounding of my heels against the ground mixed with the grinding of stone as they gave chase. Why am I like this? I¡¯m not weak! I can do these runes in my sleep now. As the pounding of stone feet closed in behind me, I skidded to a halt, pivoting sharply. ¡°Chain lightning!¡± I shouted, channeling my mana into the spell. The air crackled with energy, and a blinding arc of lightning surged from my fingertips, striking the first golem square in the chest. The force of the hit sent cracks spider webbing across its stone surface, but the energy didn¡¯t stop there. It leapt with ferocious precision to the second golem, coiling around its craggy body as if alive, seeking every weak point. The spell didn¡¯t end with one round¡ªit was¡­persistent. The arc snapped back to the first golem, surging through its body once more before returning to the second. Over and over, the energy bounced between them, each strike carving deeper into their stone forms, exploiting every fracture it found. The battlefield lit up with every hit, the golems jerking like broken marionettes under the spell, before its power waned. The last arcs fizzled out with a soft crack, leaving only scorched marks on their bodies.
[Critical hit! Target lost 32HP (16x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 24HP (12x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 18HP (9x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 12HP (6x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 6HP (3x2)]
¡°Holy Nathan!¡± The words spilled out before I could stop myself, my eyes widening at the devastation before me. Both golems had frozen mid-stride, their glowing runes flickering weakly, as if stunned by the sheer force of the attack. ¡°I chose this spell because it was recommended as OP,¡± I muttered, unable to tear my gaze away from the smoking Golems as they started moving. ¡°But¡­ it really is. No wonder they agreed it¡¯s one of the most useful inherent spells.¡± The faint hum of their runes reminded me¡­ I forgot my plan, plan to run. ¡°Oupsie,¡± I muttered under my breath, raising my shield just in time.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 7]
Their coordination was flawless, each strike flowing with the other, covering weaknesses. If I were their instructor, I¡¯d be handing out praise right now. But I wasn¡¯t. I was the target. Kind of dying here! Ice Dance to the rescue! Desperation surged in me as I staggered back, angling myself toward a crumbling wall, starting the runes for Ice Dance. If nothing else, it would limit their flanking. But as I pressed my back to the cold stone, a sound of scraping earth filled the air. I froze as another figure emerged from the shadows. A third golem. I might die here. [Book 1] [50. Stones, Spears, and Silk] Taking on two enemies? Doable. Taking on three¡­ Nope. My instincts screamed at me to move, and I darted toward the only option¡ªthe empty street to my right. Raising my shield, I angled it to deflect the incoming blows.
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 7] [Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 7]
Each strike sent shocks of pain up my arm, but I used the momentum to propel myself forward. The sudden burst of speed almost sent me sprawling, my feet skidding awkwardly over the uneven ground as I stumbled into the street. No time to recover¡ªI straightened up and sprinted as fast as I could. Behind me, the grinding scrape of stone on stone reverberated through the crumbling walls. The golems were determined, their footsteps closing in as I pushed myself harder. Finally, I reached my moment. Digging in my heels, I turned sharply, raising my hand. ¡°Ice Dance!¡± The runes flared to life as frost erupted from me, spreading out in a glittering wave. The icy sheet crept across the street, encasing everything in its path, including the three golems. They were close now¡ªtoo close¡ªtwo charging side by side, with the third trailing slightly behind. ¡°Let¡¯s dance on the ice, then!¡± I shouted, planting my heels firmly to anchor myself. My whip lashed out, snapping through the frozen air with precision. It struck the more injured golem squarely on the head.
[Armor not pierced. Target lost 13HP (6/2 normal + 10 ice)]
From all that damage, my blood was already turning to ice, boosting my ice damage even further. ¡°Take that!¡± As they closed in, I started backing away toward the dungeon¡¯s center. If I can¡¯t go there silently, let¡¯s make some noise! I miscalculated. Making noise was not a good idea. At all. A nervous glance over my shoulder confirmed my fears. At least ten of the stone soldiers had joined the chase, moving in frightening synchronization like a relentless unit. I gulped, pulse quickening. Why am I having so many problems since I came back? I should be walking over these noobish players and mobs like they¡¯re nothing! In full sprint, I turned a corner¡ªand nearly skidded into another patrol. Two more soldiers stood in my path, their glowing runes flaring as they registered my presence. With a resigned sigh, I muttered, ¡°You know the drill.¡± I gave them a half-hearted wave. It wasn¡¯t necessary, but it kept my spirits up. Without waiting for a reaction, I bolted in the opposite direction, hearing the crunch of stone feet as they joined the growing mob behind me. My fingers worked the runes on instinct. Salvation was in the only ace I had left off cooldown. ¡°Chain Lightning!¡± I shouted, pivoting mid-run to unleash the spell. The crackling arc surged through the air, striking the lead soldier with a blinding flash before leaping to the others. The first row stumbled, their precise movements faltering as the energy coursed through them.
[Critical hit! Target lost 32HP (16x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 24HP (12x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 18HP (9x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 12HP (6x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 6HP (3x2)]
The temporary reprieve gave me just enough time to put some distance between us, but not enough to lose them. Their steps fell back into rhythm, the sound of their pursuit echoing louder with each second. My gaze locked on the palace building ahead, one of the few structures still standing amidst the ruins. Running aimlessly wasn¡¯t an option¡ªnot that running was a poor plan. Absolutely not. The palace¡¯s towering silhouette loomed over the dungeon. That¡¯s the plan, I thought, forcing my legs to pump harder. Get there. How I¡¯ll save myself when I reach the place? I grimaced as the sound of grinding stone grew closer behind me. Well¡­ that¡¯s future Charlie problem. Damn you, past Charlie! I cursed myself, breath ragged as I stumbled into what once might have been the palace gardens. Well, gardens might¡¯ve been generous. The area was a chaotic mix of nature reclaiming ruins¡ªtrees and shrubs forcing their way through crumbled stone and rubble. What was probably once a fountain now stood as a sad, moss-covered basin, cracked and empty, a single vine curling over its rim like a flag of surrender.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Behind me, the relentless scrape of stone feet grew louder as my unwanted entourage poured in after me. ¡°This is where we part ways!¡± I shouted over my shoulder. ¡°Thanks for accompanying me home!¡± My sarcasm hit as hard as my whip¡ªnot at all. The golems remained unimpressed and undeterred. Ahead, the palace walls soared, its weathered facade a mix of grandeur and decay. And, of course, the entrance was guarded by four more soldiers. Because why not? The more the merrier. Spears whistled through the air, one embedding itself into the broken ground mere inches from my feet. I zigzagged on instinct, narrowly avoiding another that clattered harmlessly against a half-buried piece of rubble. I¡¯d learned my lesson a few times already¡ªdon¡¯t get skewered. Desperately scanning my surroundings, I spotted a broken window up ahead. It was my only way in. A flicker of hope flared before reality doused it¡ªthe window was high, perched above a dead end. I skidded near the bend, my heart pounding in my ears. Two options. First: keep running blindly, hope for the best, and pray I stumble across another way in. Unlikely. Second: charge straight at the dead end, jump, and pray I could make it through that window. If I failed? The image of myself cornered with no escape flashed in my mind. Then it¡¯d be time for Plan D. D as in Ice Dance last stand. The grinding stone grew deafening. Decision time.
In a luxurious mansion¡­ Lisa stretched sluggishly, the silk sheets slipping down her shoulders as the soft sound of her wake-up system filled the room. The curtains slid open just enough to let in a blazing streak of sunlight; the heat rushing in and forcing her to squint. ¡°Good morning, Miss Lisa,¡± Droid v6 intoned smoothly from its station near her bed. ¡°Your latte is ready.¡± She groaned softly, sitting up with a yawn. The rich scent of fresh coffee filled the air, and her eyes landed on the tray beside her. A steaming latte and a small bowl of what could only be described as¡­ healthy food¡­ awaited her. Her hand reached for the latte first, the warm cup grounding her as she took a sip. The creamy blend nudged her groggy mind awake. She swung her legs off the bed, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she stood. ¡°Outfit suggestions for today?¡± she asked lazily, ambling into her walk-in closet. ¡°Based on your preferences, I¡¯ve prepared three looks,¡± the v6 replied, projecting holographic images into the air with pre-programmed precision. Lisa scanned the options. ¡°Casual Chic,¡± she said with a snap of her fingers, and the automated rack slid forward, presenting perfectly coordinated clothes¡ªa blazer, trousers, and casual yet stylish shoes. Ignoring the healthy food entirely, Lisa moved to her living room, latte in hand. She sank into her usual spot on the oversized couch, her legs curling beneath her as she scrolled through her feed, the morning sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains. ¡°Katherine released a new video?¡± she mused aloud, sipping her coffee. Her eyes flicked to the droid, but it was pacing in and out of the doorway again, stuck in the same irritating loop. ¡°I thought Papa said he¡¯d look into that¡­¡± she muttered under her breath, but the thought faded as she clicked on the video thumbnail, sending it into their holo-projector to view in full 3D. It opened with a scene from Rimelion. Katherine and¡­ Charlie? Cute as ever, standing under a spell that seemed to shield them from some monster in the background. ¡°Katherine, pull out a teleport scroll! Now! Marketplace!¡± Charlie¡¯s commanding voice rang out. Lisa chuckled, shaking her head. She already knew where this was going. Katherine turned to Charlie. ¡°No. Always meet with glory.¡± ¡°They know each other?¡± Lisa murmured to the droid, her brow furrowing. She glanced back at v6, still caught in its frustrating, unresponsive loop. With a sigh, she turned back to the screen. Katherine was amazing. Lisa found herself on the edge of her seat, completely fascinated by the video. The flames¡­ those stunning, holy flames! They danced across the room with such fierce beauty that Lisa almost forgot to breathe. When the video ended, a link to Riker¡¯s Rimelion Ranking page appeared. Curious, Lisa clicked it and scrolled down to see Katherine¡¯s rank. ¡°Ranked 19th?¡± she murmured, her jaw dropping slightly. ¡°Woah!¡± Jealousy bubbled up, but not the bitter kind. More the ¡®I need to congratulate her and maybe steal her secrets¡¯ kind. She pulled up her friend''s contact. Lisa hesitated, her finger still hovering over the pressed call icon. Would Katherine even pick up? She had died at the end of the video, so maybe¡ª ¡°Ahoj Lisa!¡± Katherine¡¯s face lit up the projection, cheerful as ever. Lisa blinked, surprised by how quickly the call connected. ¡°Sorry ¡®bout Dmitry.¡± That hit her like her instructor¡¯s wooden ruler. ¡°Hey, Kit!¡± Lisa forced a bright tone, working hard to suppress her now sour mood. ¡°You can¡¯t pick your fianc¨¦, so it¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to defend that evil¡­ boy.¡± Katherine¡¯s smile wavered, a flicker of guilt passing over her face. ¡°Still¡­ not cool, yar a friend.¡± Lisa sighed, waving it off. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why he did it. To show his superiority. Which¡­ yeah, sadly, he is. But that¡¯s not why I called!¡± She leaned forward, her excitement bubbling to the surface. ¡°Congrats on hitting 19th place on RRR!¡± Katherine¡¯s cheeks turned pink as a shy smile spread across her face. ¡°Charlie¡¯s work, not moje. She called angel.¡± ¡°Angel?¡± Lisa¡¯s eyes widened, and she practically slid to the edge of her seat. ¡°She¡¯s so cuuuute! How do you know her?¡± Katherine hesitated, her smile turning a little mischievous. ¡°KatFan69.¡± Lisa froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. ¡°Wait, wait¡ªKatFan69 is Charlie? The super-cute Ice Princess is your mysterious strategist?¡± Katherine grinned as she nodded. Lisa laughed even harder, clutching her stomach. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s hilarious. She¡¯s adorable and brilliant? Well, she helped me with enchanting, but this¡­¡± ¡°Charlie¡¯s 8th,¡± Katherine added casually, a sly grin on her face, before ending the connection, as if it was Kathrine¡¯s doing she was 8th. ¡°WHAT?!¡± Lisa¡¯s yell echoed through the now-empty room. Propelled by disbelief, she hurriedly navigated to the top 10 section of the rankings. The profiles there were even more detailed. And there she was. Charlie. Eighth place. Alongside the data, a collection of videos was linked. One caught her attention: a real-life clip of Charlie in Riker¡¯s tower. Lisa stared, her jaw slackening. That cute Charlie? After watching it, Lisa shook her head, chuckling to herself. ¡°Riker and his games,¡± she muttered. The man could turn even the smallest interaction into a battlefield of wits. Her gaze flicked back to the list of videos. ¡°V6, get me some chips!¡± she called, not wanting to move from her spot. The droid¡¯s usual hum of activity caught her attention, and she glanced over, expecting compliance. Instead, she found it in a frustratingly familiar loop, pacing in and out of the doorway. ¡°Good luck, whatever you are doing, Charlie,¡± she let out a sigh, and tore her gaze from Charlie¡¯s and Katherine¡¯s videos. ¡°Okay, v6, let¡¯s look at the sensor of yours¡­¡± Back to Charlie¡­
It was a risk¡ªa calculated risk¡ªbut my only shot. I bolted toward the window, spears whistling past me like deadly warnings. Hah, no way you hit me! I was in the Battle of the Northern Insurgency¡ªeight times¡ªbecause they kept postponing it in the real Rimelion and in the battle. They had hundreds of thousands, mages, and archers. Good luck hitting me. The memory of that chaos, of dodging fire and steel, kept my mind sharp and focused. My eyes locked onto the window ahead, mentally calculating the jump even as another spear clattered against the rubble near my feet. I visualized the exact spot to launch from, noting the handhold in the broken, weathered stone of the window frame. Closer now. My attention shifted to my footing, ensuring my steps were precise. The optimal place, the right foot. No room for error. And then I was there. I pushed off with all the strength I had, leaping toward the crumbling frame. The world blurred for a moment, and then my hands slammed onto the edge of the window. The stone was cold and unstable, groaning under my weight as tiny fragments chipped away beneath my fingers. My grip tightened, urgency coursing through me, and I glanced back. Damn. Behind me, all the soldiers threw their spears as if they¡¯d rehearsed it. The sound of projectiles cutting through the air spurred me on, a rush of adrenaline giving me the strength to haul myself up. My arms burned, but I didn¡¯t dare to stop. With one final pull, I slid into the window just as the spears struck the wall, splintering against the stone. Panting, I collapsed onto the cold, dusty floor, sweat pouring down my face. Raiding the treasures could wait. For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the dim, cracked ceiling. ¡°Past me,¡± I whispered between breaths, ¡°go to hell. Seriously.¡± [Book 1] [51. Royal Claims] The palace was enormous, a sprawling labyrinth of broken stone and shadows. I¡¯d been wandering its halls for twenty minutes, and the oppressive silence had grated on my nerves. When I finally encountered my first enemy, my stomach sank. They were still made of stone, but their armor was more refined¡ªsharp edges, polished surfaces, and an air of intimidation that screamed, don¡¯t mess with me. So I didn¡¯t. I avoided them. Here I am, the one who should crush all enemies in my path. Instead, I¡¯m¡­ cowering in a corner. The bitter thought twisted in my mind, but I shoved it aside. Survival was more important than pride. As I crept further, I learned the guards weren¡¯t just scattered aimlessly. Their positions were deliberate, forming a deliberate defense. This wasn¡¯t just a palace¡ªit was a fortress¡ªand if I wanted to progress, I¡¯d have to fight. The royal layout offered straightforward choices. Four natural choke points divided the palace. Royal Bedrooms Wing, Staff Wing, Throne Room Wing and Treasury Wing. My gaze lingered on the treasury wing. If I was going to risk a fight, there better be a payoff. The bedrooms and staff areas were unlikely to have anything useful that would change the fate of the battle with Irwen, and the throne room was probably a death trap with a boss. That left the treasury. But first, recon. Peeking cautiously around the corner of a long hall, I spotted them: two guards flanking the entrance to the treasury and¡ªof course¡ªa captain standing between them.
[Palace Guard Of Stone Lv.13] Type: 3-rare | HP: 230/230
[Captain Of Guards Lv.15] Type: 3-rare | HP: 300/300
I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on my whip and shield. The Captain¡¯s bulk was undeniable, its armor enchanted with runes that seemed to reflect light. Even the regular guards looked tougher than the ones outside. Great. Just great. There was always Plan F: turn around and f like flee. But running wasn¡¯t an option¡ªnot this time. I came here for things only the treasury could offer. Sure, the treasury was a pleasant bonus, but there was the ring I needed, and it was probably locked inside with Captain Granite and his merry band of stone brutes. Hunkering down behind a cracked pillar, I studied the hallway again. The guards were positioned perfectly, every angle covered, and the Captain was glancing around every so often. Charging in? Suicidal. Sneaking past? Impossible. Think, Charlie, think. I tapped my shield bracer with my fingers, my mind racing. These weren¡¯t gods¡ªthey were stone puppets, programmed by magic in a game. And all programs? They had exploits. The gears in my head clicked into place. Programs follow rules. Battle formations? Also rules. Rules had weaknesses. My gaze darted to the edge of the hallway, where their patrol zone probably ended. A slow, mischievous grin tugged at my lips. ¡°If this works,¡± I muttered to myself, ¡°I¡¯m going to mock Irwen that our ancestors were sloppy.¡± The plan was simple. Well, not simple, exactly. It involved a few old wooden barrels I found nearby and enough rubble to make a respectable rubble-trap. Thankfully, the palace had plenty of both. The hardest part was hauling everything into place¡ªoverhead beams for leverage, spread rubble for distribution¡ªand doing it without collapsing from sheer exhaustion. My low stamina was really irritating me. Once the setup was complete, I crouched behind the pillar, catching my breath. Every muscle burned, but the trap was ready. It took a while, but I calmed down, ate a snack, drank water, and now came the fun part. I turned on the camera. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the hallway. The moment I entered their line of sight, the guards¡¯ runes flared brighter, casting a purple glow across the stone walls. The Captain¡¯s head swiveled toward me with a mechanical precision, its unblinking gaze locking onto my presence. ¡°Hey, Captain!¡± I shouted, waving my whip over my head like an idiot. ¡°You¡¯re looking real strong today¡ªdid you switch to granite protein shakes?¡± The Captain responded first, his runes pulsing with intensity as he charged forward, his massive frame leading the way. The two guards flanked him, their synchronized movements grinding against the floor like clockwork. Perfect. I turned on my heel and bolted, racing over the cold stone floor as the sound of scraping stone spread louder behind me. They were gaining on me. Fine, that was part of the plan anyway. My delicate heels clapped against the uneven surface as I led them toward the edge of their patrol zone, careful to stay just within their range. Glancing back, I saw their glowing eyes locked on me, their persistent pace as unnerving as their precision. As I neared the trap, I veered sharply to the left, ducking into a side alcove. My fingers moved instinctively, tracing runes in the air as I began chanting my spell. The guards and captain barreled past me, then skidded to a halt as though hitting an invisible wall. Their runes dimmed slightly, and they turned in eerie unison to retreat. Knew it. ¡°Too easy,¡± I muttered, stepping back into the hallway and giving them a taunting wave. Their spears raised as I unleashed my spell. ¡°Chain Lightning!¡±
[Hit! Target lost 6HP (16 - 10 resisted)] This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.[Critical hit! Target lost 24HP (12x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 18HP (9x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 12HP (6x2)] [Critical hit! Target lost 6HP (3x2)]
The blinding arc of electricity jumped from one to the other, the guards jerking as the energy coursed through their runes. As they stood momentarily paralyzed, I kicked the wooden barrel, propping up my trap. And then? Chaos. Rubble slammed down, scattering across the guards¡¯ stone bodies with deafening crashes. One guard stumbled, cracks spreading similar to my lightning through its torso. The Captain, of course, barely flinched. Figures. The Captain lunged, his massive stone-hand grazing my arm as I twisted away. ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t!¡± I yelped, darting past a falling chunk of the ceiling just in time. I darted toward the treasury wing, weaving through the dust-filled air as chunks of rubble tumbled around me. The door stood out ahead, an iron-bound relic of the past that was my ticket to survival. I reached it, my heart on fire again. And froze. The door was locked. ¡°You have to be kidding me!¡± I shouted, frustration trickling over. Without thinking, I started casting. ¡°Ice Dance!¡± Frost spread from my feet, creeping up the door and across its wooden surface. I raised my whip, ready to deliver the blow that would shatter it. I struck the door once¡ªno budge. Twice¡ªstill nothing. On the third hit, with frustration boiling over, the ice-covered hinges finally gave in, and the door crashed open with an echo that made me wince. Thank Ice-blood-god they¡¯re only puppets. No time to celebrate. I bolted inside, quickly dragging the frozen door upright again. Luckily, there was a bench conveniently positioned next to the doorway, so I shoved it into place as a makeshift barricade. That¡¯ll slow them down for a few minutes¡ªif they follow inside at all. But as I turned to take in my surroundings, my heart sank. What I thought was the treasury wing was¡­ another hallway. Of course it is, Charlie. It was only a chokepoint, you dumbass. I stopped the recording and considered deleting the clip. We¡¯ll see. Muttering curses under my breath, I pressed on, ignoring any side doors. The minutes dragged by as I walked, each step feeling heavier than the last. Dust floated in the dim light, disturbed only by my movement. After a while, I came to a new set of doors. These were grander, more ornate, with intricate carvings of vines and mythical beasts¡ªkilled all of them, by the way, even the spragons¡ªzigzagging across their surface. They gleamed faintly, despite the layers of dust and time. With a weary sigh, I prepared for another door-fight. My whip was already in hand when I hesitated, deciding to try the handle first. It turned easily. ¡°Oh,¡± I blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ go then.¡± Pushing the doors open, I stepped inside. The room before me was massive, its vaulted ceiling disappearing into shadow. What light there was came from thin beams spilling through cracks in the high walls, illuminating this... storage room? Well, treasure rooms storage things, I guess. Rows of towering shelves stretched into the dim expanse, some leaning precariously, others splintered and broken by the invading army. Cobwebs draped every corner, their silken threads glittering faintly in the sparse light. Looks¡­ pillaged. Rusting suits of armor leaned precariously against the walls. Looted crates lay overturned, their tarnished metal bands curling like dead leaves. A cracked vase stood atop a pedestal, its painted figures faded but hinting at being very expensive one day. The air smelled of decay and time, dry and heavy, with a faint metallic tang. Pieces of parchment and old scrolls littered the floor, their edges brittle and crumbling under my heels as I walked forward. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, gripping my whip tighter as I stepped forward. ¡°This better be worth it.¡± The main treasure room was almost barren, its former glory reduced to a pitiful shadow of itself. I scooped up a measly two thousand gold into my inventory¡ªhardly the treasure hoard one would expect from a place like this. Pathetic. With a sigh, I turned my attention to the royal section. At the center of the room stood what used to be a grand pedestal, now reduced to little more than crumbled rubble. It was clear this had once protected the crown jewels¡ªthe most precious treasure of any kingdom. Of course, they were gone. Flanking the ruined pedestal were a series of shelves, once protected by glass and powerful enchantments. Now, both the glass and the spells were long shattered, their remnants scattered like glittering shards across the floor. I moved toward the shelves, the crunch of broken glass under my heels echoing faintly in the cavernous space. At the far end, I noticed an untouched section, shielded by a layer of soot and scorched marks that surrounded it. Inside were clothes¡ªroyal garments, neatly arranged. They looked expensive yet strangely plain, each outfit in its own compartment. One closet for every member of the royal family, their distinct styles clear even in the faded embroidery and dulled fabrics. Curiosity tugged at me as I reached the section marked for the princess. The glass covering the compartment was still intact. I reached out hesitantly and brushed my fingertips against it. The moment I made contact, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the glass, and the scene within shifted before my eyes. Oh. ¡°Wish magic,¡± I murmured, a grin slowly spreading across my face. My fingers hovered over the glass, hesitant. Locked behind the fractured remnants of enchantment, shimmering like it had been waiting just for me, it changed¡ªfor me. I was speechless. Me. Speechless. That was saying something. I¡¯d never experienced ¡®wish magic¡¯ before, and now I finally understood why people got all teary-eyed about it. This¡­ this was how it felt. It changed for you. By you. Ice-blue silk was clinging to the mannequin in the dim torchlight, crafted to capture every gaze. The bodice curved with impossible grace¡ªdelicate, embroidered, dancing just on the line of scandalous. Silver threads swirled across the fabric like frost creeping across a windowpane on a cold evening. The skirt flared out in sharp, layered ruffles, short enough to move but still elegant, as if the designer had known my need to sprint into battle without sacrificing style. Wish magic made me the designer. The cape cascaded like liquid snow, wide and weightless, its edges adorned with frost-like silver embroidery that glinted in the faint light. Dramatic sleeves flared out, long and wing-like, dripping with impractical beauty. Over-the-top? Absolutely. But that was precisely the point. In this set, I wasn¡¯t just anyone. I wasn¡¯t just a player. I was the princess. The details called to me, pulling at memories of Katherine: thigh-high stockings in a dark contrast to the icy brilliance, their edges adorned with tiny diamond-shaped silver patterns just above the knees. And the heels. Once something I¡¯d hate. Now? Sharp, impractical, and unapologetically perfect. This wasn¡¯t clothing meant to blend in. This was a statement. An identity. A promise. This was a declaration. Princess. Your ruler. My pulse quickened, breath catching as desire crystallized into absolute certainty. I want it. I need it. I¡¯m taking it. ¡°Damn wish magic!¡± I muttered, shaking my head as if to clear the storm of emotions swirling inside. But the pull was too strong. Before I could second-guess myself, my fingers brushed the glass. It vanished. I lunged forward, grabbing the set before it could also vanish.
[Royal Corset of Ice] [Gossamer Ruffle Skirt] [Embroidered Frostcape] [Glacial Tread Heels] [Diamondweave Stockings]
The names floated before me, glowing faintly as I slipped the clothes on. And¡­ nothing. Just me, standing there, feeling a little overdressed for a treasure room. ¡°Of course,¡± I groaned, rolling my eyes. ¡°Now I need my stupid mage to identify it¡­¡± I turned back toward the closet, frustration stirring, when something caught my eye. Tucked just behind the now-empty mannequin, there was something else. Small. Glinting faintly in the dim light. A ring. Not just any ring¡ªthe ring? Reaching for it, my fingers trembled slightly as I picked it up and identified it. My breath hitched, and I froze on the spot as the glowing description scrolled before my eyes:
[Eternal Engagement Ring] Quality: 7-legendary Effect: Three times a day, allows the wearer to be wherever their heart desires
Three times a day? This thing wasn¡¯t just OP¡ªit was ridiculous. Cheat code ridiculous. Ban ridiculous. But¡­ nothing came without a price. Not in Rimelion. ¡°And¡­ Wasn¡¯t this ring only a marvel, and teleport once a quarter?¡± I whispered, the words barely audible. Doesn¡¯t matter. Without hesitation, I yanked the ring and slid it onto my finger. The moment I did, a deep, resonant voice echoed from behind me, startling me out of my thoughts. ¡°Yes, princess,¡± a deep voice resonated, its calmness laced with quiet authority. ¡°The realm trembles under the strain of a powerful spell. Dimensions fracture, threads unravel.¡± The voice fell silent, leaving me blinking in the dim light, but there was nobody in sight. My pulse quickened, the weight of the words settling. Then it continued, unhurried yet pointed. ¡°Only those with the soul of a true princess may wield it. Pretenders¡­ shall pay the price.¡± Wait. I froze, my gaze snapping at the faint glow of the ring on my finger. ¡°Oh.¡± [Book 1] [52. From Starlight to Ice] The ring on my finger pulsed faintly, the light rhythmically glowing like a heartbeat. Curse? I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable. It was a good run. Ten seconds passed. Then twenty. Nothing happened. ¡°Uhm, mysterious voice?¡± I asked, cracking one eye open and glancing around. ¡°What¡¯s supposed to happen?¡± Silence. The room was as empty as before, save for the faintly glowing shelves and the dim torchlight casting long shadows. ¡°This¡­ is not possible!¡± the voice finally broke the stillness, but it sounded far less composed now. Gone was the regal tone; in its place was disbelief. ¡°There were no princesses left in this world! The last queen was imprisoned, and she still is!¡± Ignoring the voice momentarily, I turned to the other closets. As I suspected, none of them reacted to me. Figures. Must¡¯ve been the crown. The enchanted glass protecting them remained unyielding, confirming my theory. The rest wasn¡¯t for me. The voice grew louder, tinged with something close to desperation. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not the only one who wants to know,¡± I replied dryly, rifling through a nearby crate I¡¯d previously ignored. ¡°Do I look like John, an unemployed alcoholic in his forties?¡± I sighed as I pulled out handfuls of crumbling parchment and brittle fragments of wood. Worthless. Tossing the debris aside, I moved on to another crate. ¡°No,¡± the voice said sharply. As I picked up the next crate, it rumbled violently in my hands. My instincts kicked in, and I hurled it away. The crate landed with a loud crash, its contents spilling across the floor. ¡°Well, you see,¡± I said, dusting off my hands, ¡°apparently I¡¯m Charlie, an elven princess, daughter of Irwen.¡± ¡°Preposterous!¡± the voice roared, filled with fury. ¡°You do not exist!¡± I paused, my irritation growing. ¡°Great. Now I¡¯m hearing voices. Is this how I end up in a psychiatric ward?¡± I muttered under my breath before addressing the disembodied speaker. ¡°Let me guess¡ªyou¡¯re the spirit of the prince who created this ring?¡± The voice¡¯s tone shifted, now carrying an undercurrent of awe mixed with rage. ¡°Your knowledge of history astounds me, pretender princess. Release me, and you may use the leftovers as you see fit.¡± ¡°Leftovers?¡± I repeated, narrowing my eyes. ¡°Oh, buddy, if you¡¯re calling marvel quality teleporting ring a leftover, you and I are about to have words.¡± There was nothing left worth taking. I let out a sigh, shaking my head as disappointment settled in. ¡°Give me a few days,¡± I said aloud, more to myself than to the voice. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting this¡­ boon. There are a few places I wanted to visit anyway. First is¡­ The Cloud Library.¡± I glanced around the ruined treasury one last time, the dim light casting long shadows over the broken remnants of its grandeur. Should I poke around more in this dungeon? No. I¡¯d been lucky to make it this far alive. Time to leave while I still could. ¡°Pretender, your heart¡¯s desire is not enough,¡± the prince began again, its tone haughty and condescending. ¡°You must¡¯ve been there¡­¡± I tuned it out, closing my eyes. Of course, I¡¯ve been there. Ask any NPC about the best library, and they¡¯ll give you one answer¡ªthe Cloud Library. Except for the imperial librarians, of course. Ask them, and they¡¯ll start frothing at the mouth about their precious Imperial Library. Amateurs. Focusing on the courtyard of the Cloud Library, I let the image settle in my mind. The ring¡¯s magic thrummed faintly, and when I opened my eyes, I was already there. The transition was instant, with no nausea, no strange effects. That¡¯s the power of a legendary artifact for you. ¡°Pretender! That¡¯s¡­¡± the voice stammered, its usual disdain faltering. Even the prince was momentarily at a loss for words. I was standing in the vast courtyard of the Cloud Library. Six towering spires encircled the courtyard, each stretching over a thousand feet into the sky, their surfaces carved from pure starlight. Well, I doubt it, but that¡¯s what they tell you. The towers spiraled elegantly, carved with ancient texts, constellations, and mythical beasts. Yes, I defeated each and any of them. The faint hum of magic emanated from them, the air charged with the faintest static, as if the library itself was alive and aware of me. From the courtyard, I could see we were on a floating island which soared high above an endless sea of sunlight-kissed clouds. ¡°Welcome back,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°And prince, not a word until we are gone, if you want to be released one day.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he responded. Finding someone to attend to me wasn¡¯t easy. My method of transportation wasn¡¯t exactly standard protocol, so I spent a frustrating amount of time circling the plateau, trying door after door. I found most doors locked or warded, some humming with powerful enchantments. Finally, I arrived at a small building tucked into the edge of the plateau, its walls certainly not made from starlight. On the terrace above, an old human man was bent over a yellowed book, scribbling furiously with a quill. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn¡¯t seem to notice my approach. ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Princess Charlie! Nice to meet you!¡± I called out cheerfully from below, hoping to grab his attention. He noticed. By launching an air spell at me. Years of honing my reflexes saved me from taking a direct hit. My shield materialized instinctively, and when the air bolt connected, the force pushed me several meters back. It didn¡¯t deal any damage¡ªjust a harmless push¡ªbut the speed and precision told me everything I needed to know. This old man¡¯s a pro. ¡°Woah, woah! Old man!¡± I yelled, holding up my hands to show I wasn¡¯t a threat. It didn¡¯t matter. He was already tracing runes into the air, his mana flaring as a larger spell began forming. ¡°I¡¯m not the enemy!¡± I shouted desperately. With a thought, I sent my whip and shield back into my inventory. ¡°See? Not armed now!¡± ¡°Demons are always armed,¡± he retorted, his voice gruff and dripping with suspicion. The magic continued to swirl around his hand, glowing brighter with every second, but he didn¡¯t release the spell. Yet. ¡°State the reason for your presence, spawn!¡± Spawn? First pretender, now a demon? What¡¯s next, eldritch horror? I exhaled, biting back a retort. There is time to be sarcastic later. ¡°Old man, did you fall from that terrace and hit your head? I¡¯m an elven princess, Princess Charlie, requesting help from the library. I just want to copy two spells.¡± His gaze locked onto mine, sharp and calculating. The magic in his hand swirled dangerously, crackling with barely contained energy. This spell wasn¡¯t just for show¡ªit had some serious firepower.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°You are not in our records,¡± the old man said, his tone still steeped in suspicion. The glow of the spell in his hand dimmed as he powered it down. Then, with an impressive flourish, his robes flared, and he flew down to meet me, landing with effortless grace. Damn. Air magic is so cool. ¡°Well, that¡¯s probably because I¡¯m kinda new to all this princess stuff,¡± I said, shrugging. I didn¡¯t have any cool magic to show off¡ªfailing to cast Ice Dance in front of him would be too humiliating¡ªso I did the next best thing: leaned awkwardly against the wall, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I felt. ¡°Irwen¡ªapparently my mother¡ªis waking up, and I¡¯m gearing up to face her. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Ah, a new princess,¡± he said, his gaze studying me. Then, with a pause and a tilt of his head, he added, ¡°Wait, no. You always were a princess.¡± That caught me off guard. Always? My mind whirled for an explanation. Could it be as straightforward as¡­ because the previous Charlie named their character Princess? Before I could press him further, he turned briskly and gestured for me to follow. Without so much as an apology for the air spell, he guided me toward the second tower. ¡°So¡­ you believe me?¡± I asked, trailing behind him. ¡°Yes, Princess,¡± he replied without hesitation. ¡°I have a way of knowing. But to ensure you truly are who you claim to be, we must verify.¡± As we approached the entrance to the tower, the heavy wooden doors creaked open on their own, revealing the interior dipped in a faint golden glow. What? I stared at them in disbelief. They were definitely locked when I tried earlier. Not fair! He stepped aside, motioning me toward the entrance. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not against a little registration?¡± he added with a faint smirk, the first hint of amusement cracking through his otherwise harsh demeanor. Old tomes lined the towering shelves, their spines worn but neatly arranged, while faintly glowing magical lamps cast shifting shadows that danced across the stone walls. The air carried the scent of aged parchment and dust, ancient yet alive. ¡°Well, no,¡± I murmured, trailing behind the old man toward a heavy wooden table at the center of the room. ¡°But I¡¯m not¡­ just a princess.¡± He didn¡¯t slow or look back. ¡°No? Anything else hardly matters to us,¡± he said dismissively, reaching for a book so massive it looked like it could crush even Lucas. He grunted as he wrestled it from the shelf, the weight making his robes billow slightly as he pulled it free. I didn¡¯t offer to help. He¡¯d just tried to blast me, after all. With a thud that echoed through the chamber, he dropped the colossal tome onto the table, sending a plume of dust into the air. I waved a hand in front of my face, coughing lightly as the particles settled. ¡°Well¡­ if you say so,¡± I muttered, biting my lip as I watched him flip open the book. The pages, blank and waiting. ¡°But,¡± I added, hesitating before continuing, ¡°I think it¡¯s kinda important to know.¡± ¡°Know what?¡± he snapped, his irritation seeping into his tone as he fumbled around for something to write with. Opening a small closet near the table, he rummaged through the contents with increasing frustration. Scrolls clattered to the floor, and the faint clinking of ink bottles filled the silence. ¡°Well,¡± I said, my voice light with forced nonchalance, ¡°I¡¯m also a hero.¡± The rummaging stopped abruptly. He stopped for a moment, then turned slowly to face me, surprise all across his weathered features. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think of leading with that?¡± I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral, though my lips twitched upward. His surprise melted into exasperation. ¡°Of course,¡± he muttered. ¡°Why mention that earlier?¡± And there it is. Irritation was back, full force. How was I supposed to know that? ¡°So, my name is Princess Charlie, Hero of Ice-Blood,¡± I said, crossing my arms and tilting my head. ¡°Happy? And while we¡¯re at it, who even are you?¡± He finally fished a bottle of ink from the cluttered closet, muttering something under his breath. With a flourish, he opened the massive tome again and began writing my name¡ªfull title included¡ªonto one of its blank pages. His quill scratched loudly against the paper, the sound grating in the silence. ¡°Good. You¡¯re telling the truth,¡± he said bluntly as he finished the entry. Then, without so much as a pause, he slammed the book shut with a resounding clack that made me flinch. ¡°I¡¯m not important.¡± ¡°Not important?¡± I responded, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Right. You¡¯re the guy who tried to air-blast me into Dergoland, but you¡¯re not important.¡± He ignored me, brushing dust from his hands. ¡°Now, what do you want?¡± I threw up my hands, annoyed. ¡°Why are you so dismissive of me? I thought this place welcomed everyone.¡± My tone dripped with sarcasm as I gestured around the room. ¡°Here, where knowledge meets the skies and starlight. Isn¡¯t that your whole deal?¡± For the first time, his stern demeanor cracked, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°You know the legend,¡± he said, nodding slightly. ¡°But, Princess, you¡¯ve come at a terrible time.¡± He took a step closer, his expression darkening. ¡°Your dear mother cast a spell¡ªan agreement with other realms¡ªthat is now tearing our world apart at the seams. Cracks are forming, princess. Reality itself is buckling under the strain.¡± I stared at him, my earlier frustration replaced by a creeping sense of dread. ¡°Why she was allowed to do it is beyond me,¡± he continued, shaking his head. ¡°But it means we, here at the Tower, have far more pressing matters to attend to.¡± His voice was steady but edged with weariness. ¡°So,¡± he said, spreading his arms in a gesture that was half-dismissive, half-impatient. ¡°State what you need and be gone¡ªhowever it is you¡¯ve transported yourself here.¡± I let out a sigh, already weary of this exchange. ¡°Just let me copy two legendary siege spells¡ªbelonging to Eeleim¡ªand I¡¯ll scram faster than an Italian skipping out on a tab.¡± The old man studied me, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decide whether I was serious or insane. Finally, he spoke, his tone deliberately slow. ¡°You have the right to it. But these two spells¡ª¡± ¡°Are important to me,¡± I cut him off sharply, tired of playing nice. My patience was thinner than my remaining HP after the last mud-wolf fight. ¡°I could copy up to five, but I¡¯m fine with two. For now.¡± Without waiting for his response, I sat down and jabbed a finger at the table. ¡°The book.¡± For a moment, he just stood there, his face a mix of amusement and something smug. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, the book shot from the shelves and slammed onto the table with a showy thud, sending a dust cloud straight into my face. Apparently, it doubles as an ambush weapon. ¡°Hey!¡± I shot him a glare, brushing the dust off my head. His expression was a picture of innocence, as though he hadn¡¯t just weaponized a library artifact against me. The book was labeled Eeleim Spell Collection, its title etched in swirling gold letters that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. I flipped through the pages, ignoring the tempting spells designed to turn entire battlefields into chaos. No. Focus, Charlie. Finally, I reached the section I needed and stopped.
[Do you want to copy (2) siege spells?]
Yes, system.
[Spells copied successfully]
Before I could take another look or bask in my insignificant victory, the old man waved his hand again, and I felt the chair I was sitting on lurch backward. A moment later, I was unceremoniously shoved out the door¡ªstill on the chair. ¡°Hey! Rude!¡± I yelled, stumbling to my feet. Laughter echoed from inside, but the man himself was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, brushing off my now-dusty dress. ¡°At least I got the spells.¡± A moment later, the door creaked open, and he stepped out, looking as serene as a grandfather doting on his grandkids. ¡°Now, Princess, go like the Italians¡ªwhoever they are.¡± ¡°Glad to see I¡¯m leaving an impression,¡± I said. He just chuckled as he walked back inside, the door shutting firmly behind him. ¡°I¡¯m leaving you one star review,¡± I grumbled, pouting. With a sigh, I turned my attention to the ring¡¯s power. Where to now? I had more charges than expected, and it was time to upgrade my combat abilities. The best place for that¡­ Ah, perfect. I focused on my next destination, closing my eyes as I pictured it. ¡°Goodbye, stranger,¡± I muttered, activating the ring. The temperature plummeted instantly. Freezing air bit through my clothes, a harsh reminder of my lack of ice resistance. Great, Charlie. Perfect planning, as always. I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was a towering, translucent figure. She stood at least ten meters tall; her form a mix of ethereal, elven grace and human strength. Her semi-transparent body shimmered like ice under moonlight, her features seamless and commanding.
[Sovereign of Ice Lv.25] Type: 8-mythical | HP: 1056/1056
¡°Oh.¡± [Book 1] [53. Trial by Ice] ¡°A Sovereign?!¡± the panicked voice of my not-so-helpful prince companion rang out in my mind as I turned on the video. If I die here, at least it counts. ¡°Uhm, hello, lady spirit. Nice to meet you?¡± I tried, forcing an awkward smile despite the icy terror crawling up my spine. ¡°I¡¯m called Charlie.¡± The towering spirit exhaled a frosty breath, a hurricane of ice and wind that sent me skidding backward, my heels barely catching purchase on the frozen ground. I love these new heels! ¡°Nice to meet you, Charlie,¡± she intoned, her voice a chilling melody that echoed through the air. Her translucent form shimmered brighter, her ethereal gaze locking onto me. ¡°Take the art of Frost Weaving... And now... survive..¡±
[Error!] [Error!] [Error!] [Error!] [Error!]
The system¡¯s warnings flashed wildly in front of me, spewing some nonsense about an illegal approach. Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m not supposed to be here. Got that already. ¡°Silence,¡± I hissed, using the keyword to shut it up. Her power struck me like a drunken Irishman, the sheer force slamming into my body and flinging me backward. I felt the air rush past me as I flew at an impossible speed, the world around me a blur of frost and snow. And then¡­ something tugged at my mind. A surge of mana coursed through me, raw and ferocious, a torrent as wild and unconquerable as the Sovereign herself. ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± I finally shouted, twisting midair to orient myself. The power stopped me; my feet hit solid ground¡ªbarely¡ªheels digging in, and I glanced around, my heart pounding in my chest. We were standing on a frost-bitten plateau, the vast expanse of an arctic island spreading out before me. The ground beneath me was a patchwork of rugged ice and snow-covered rock, glittering like a fractured crystal. Shards of frost jutted upward in sharp, unnatural formations, as if the earth itself had frozen mid-battle. Probably did. To the east, towering glaciers loomed, their icy faces reflecting the light like massive mirrors. The wind howled through the landscape, carrying with it the frightening sound of ice groaning and shifting. I had little time to admire the stunning landscape because the Sovereign decided I needed company. Five frost statues began to take shape in front of me, their icy forms shimmering like shards of broken glass under the light. Each one was different, but they shared the same unnatural threat, like frozen predators waiting to strike. ¡°Go,¡± Soverign permitted. So they did. The first shard whistled past my ear, so close that I swore I could hear the air scream in protest. A second wave came from the left, icy projectiles that blurred as they sliced toward me. I stumbled, slipping on the slick, frozen ground, and barely managed to throw up a shield of ice in time. What? Since when¡­ The Sovereign! It was created on instict; the impact sent vibrations up my arms, and I winced. My barrier cracked but held, the shards splintering harmlessly. The cold wasn¡¯t just biting now¡ªit was alive. It wrapped around me, clawing at my skin, seeping into my bones, and stealing my breath. Above me, a blizzard howled down with a ferocity I¡¯d never felt before. Each snowflake wasn¡¯t soft¡ªit was sharp, like tiny blades eager to carve me apart. ¡°Great! Love a fair fight!¡± I shouted through gritted teeth, my voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. I rolled to the side as another barrage of shards came hurtling my way, the icy missiles embedding themselves in the ground where I¡¯d just been. I had no time to think. My body reacted on instinct. I slammed my hands down, and a wall of ice erupted in front of me, deflecting another attack. The force of the impact shattered the wall, sending shards flying into the air, glinting like diamonds before they vanished into the snowstorm. That¡¯s new. ¡°Okay, Charlie,¡± I muttered, trying to catch my breath as I dodged another volley of attacks. ¡°Stop being impressed by yourself and focus.¡± The first statue lunged forward, wielding jagged blades of ice for arms. I decided to name it Shardy, because why not? Shardy was determined to turn me into a human pincushion, and I wasn¡¯t in the mood to oblige. I ducked, narrowly avoiding one of its swings, but my feet slipped on the frost-coated ground, sending me sprawling. ¡°Ugh, come on!¡± I groaned, scrambling to my knees. A sharp pain shot up my side where I¡¯d landed¡ªonly to be fixed by quick heal. Shardy wasted no time, leaping toward me with both blades raised. I thrust my hand forward, willing my mana to respond, and a cluster of shards erupted from my palm. The projectiles struck its torso, sending it staggering back, but it didn¡¯t fall. Behind me, I could hear the blizzard intensifying. A cyclone of frost was forming¡ªBlizzy, I decided to call it¡ªits swirling winds pulling at my dress and pelting me with shards of ice. The cold stung like needles against my skin, and I could barely keep my footing. With a growl, I slammed my foot into the ground, and a pillar of ice shot up beneath me, launching me clumsily out of Blizzy¡¯s grasp as I desperately clasped the edge to not fall. If I keep this power, this needs to be polished. ¡°Up we go!¡± I shouted, my breath visible in the freezing air. From my perch, I could see Melty¡ªanother statue¡ªleaving a trail of slush in its wake as it advanced.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Melty, I hate your stupid puddles!¡± I yelled, conjuring a storm of shards and hurling them toward it. The shards collided with its body, cracking its icy surface, but it kept stubbornly moving. Below me, the pillar crumbled under the combined assault of the statues. I leaped down, landing awkwardly and skidding on the frozen ground. Pain shot through my ankle, but I forced myself to keep moving. Pointy¡ªthe most annoying of the lot¡ªwas circling me, firing a barrage of spikes that I barely blocked with a hastily conjured shield. ¡°Come on, Pointy!¡± I gritted my teeth, hurling the shield at it like a battering ram. It struck home, sending shards of Pointy¡¯s body flying, but it wasn¡¯t enough to take it down. The blizzard thickened, the air so cold now that it burned my lungs with every breath. My fingers were stiff, my movements sluggish. I crouched low, wrapping a shield of frost around myself to block the relentless storm. You can do this, Charlie. Just keep moving. The first crack of victory came when one of my stray shards struck Jumpy¡ªthe most agile of the statues¡ªdead center. Its form splintered, the cracks spreading like spiderwebs before it exploded into a fine mist. ¡°One down!¡± I shouted, spinning to face the others. Shardy lunged at me again, its blade slashing through the air. I ducked just in time and retaliated with a spike of ice that pierced its torso. It froze¡ªliterally¡ªfor a moment before crumbling into shards. ¡°Two! Who¡¯s next?¡± I taunted, breathless but determined. Blizzy¡¯s cyclone was still raging, but I could see its core now. Raising both hands, I focused a sizeable chunk of my mana into a barrage of ice lances and sent them hurtling toward the swirling mass. The first few bounced off, but the rest struck true, piercing the heart of the storm. The winds faltered, then stopped entirely as Blizzy shattered into glittering fragments. ¡°Three! I¡¯m on fire!¡± I quipped, dodging Melty¡¯s latest attack. ¡°Or¡­ ice? Whatever. You¡¯re going down too, puddle-boy!¡± I slammed the ground with both hands, creating a slick surface that sent Melty skidding uncontrollably. Before it could recover, I launched a shard straight at its core. The impact sent cracks racing across its body, and it collapsed into icy debris. That left Pointy. Pointy was fast, darting around the battlefield and pelting me with shards. I could feel exhaustion setting in, my mana reserves running low, but I wasn¡¯t about to let it wear me down. Summoning every ounce of strength, I conjured a wall of frost to trap it. The wall closed in, halting its movements. With a final, desperate effort, I hurled a massive shard at its frozen form. The impact shattered Pointy into glittering dust, the sound like breaking glass echoing through the still air. I stood there, panting, surrounded by the icy remains of my attackers. My breath came in ragged gasps, visible in the freezing air. The Sovereign watched silently, her expression unreadable. ¡°That¡¯s five,¡± I muttered, leaning on a crumbling ice pillar for support. My limbs were trembling from the cold and exertion. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Splendid, Charlie,¡± the Sovereign said, her voice giving a frosty melody that echoed through the icy air. ¡°After the year-long journey, you¡¯ve defeated the last challenge. Well done.¡± I glanced at her towering form, her ethereal figure gleaming like ice caught in the first rays of dawn. Her translucent features softened into something that might¡¯ve been pride¡ªor amusement. Giving her a small smile, I managed, ¡°Yes, totally. It was¡­ uhm¡­¡± My mind scrambled for a believable story, but exhaustion had drained me of all creativity. ¡°Uhm¡­ a perilous journey indeed.¡± ¡°You wield the power of ice as is proper,¡± she said, inclining her head slightly. As she moved, tiny fractals of frost spun in the surrounding air, catching the dim light. ¡°But know this¡ªit is only half of your power, hero. The spell I lent you¡ªFrost Weaving¡ªyou used it well, as I expected.¡± Wait, wait. Hold up. Wasn¡¯t the reward for completing this entire ordeal supposed to be a nice passive upgrade to my ice magic? What the hell is Frost Weaving? I wobbled to my feet, finally rested enough to stand without leaning on my crumbling ice pillar. My clothes, battered and dirtied from the fight, still looked decent. The wish magic must¡¯ve been real because they were showing no tears or permanent stains despite everything. ¡°Lady Spirit, I am¡­ uhm¡­ in awe,¡± I said, channeling as much reverence as my fried brain could muster. ¡°As you should be, mortal,¡± the Sovereign said, her crystalline voice cold. ¡°For being the first to complete my minor task,¡± she continued, her frosty aura growing brighter, ¡°and for defeating my five guardians, I grant you the choice to evolve your ice magic. Your god gifted you a spell of great power, but I feel this one¡ªFrost Weaving¡ªis better suited to you.¡± ¡°Upgrade? Like¡­ an increase in grade?¡± My tongue slipped out in excitement before I could stop myself. ¡°So cool!¡± ¡°Pretender!¡± the prince in my ring grumbled, his voice filled with disdain. The Sovereign¡¯s gaze shifted to my hand, where the faint glow of the ring pulsed. A curious smile spread across her lips. ¡°You carry a Greater Spirit with you. Tell me, mortal, are you imprisoning him?¡± ¡°She refuses to release me!¡± the prince immediately ratted me out, his tone indignant. ¡°What? Yes, that¡¯s true,¡± I admitted, throwing my hands up. ¡°But without me, you¡¯d still be stuck in that closet for another hundred years! Can¡¯t you wait a bloody few days?¡± The Sovereign tilted her head, as though listening to some far-off melody. Her expression didn¡¯t change, but I could sense the weight of her judgment. ¡°The matter is yours to resolve, hero,¡± she said finally, dismissing it with a wave of her frosty hand. ¡°Now,¡± she continued, ¡°tell me, Charlie¡ªdo you wish to make Frost Weaving permanent?¡± Her words hung in the air, as heavy as the ice crystals forming at my feet. ¡°Replace Ice Dance?¡± I asked, my voice carrying a hint of sadness. I¡¯d grown attached to that spell, even if it wasn¡¯t the most practical. The Sovereign only nodded, her gaze steady and unyielding. There was no real choice to make. ¡°Yes,¡± I said firmly.
[New Skill Acquired: Frost Weaving (7-legendary)] [Previous Skill: Ice Dance has evolved]
[Frost Weaving] Type: 7-legendary The threads of winter bow to your will, weaving frost and ice into creations limited only by your mastery. The frost is not your ally nor your servant¡ªit is yours to command, shaping the frozen world as an extension of your intent. With each weave, your bond with ice deepens, and its untamed power awaits your touch.
Legendary skills. I stared at the cryptic description, rolling my eyes. Of course, the system stops holding your hand when it matters most. The description is as useless as ever. Before I could voice my thoughts, the prince¡¯s voice rang out from the ring, full of indignation and desperation. ¡°Please, Sovereign! Punish this elf and release me! I plead with you!¡± My heart skipped a beat as I noticed the Sovereign tilting her head slightly, her icy gaze shifting to me with new intent. Her expression, though calm, hinted at the possibility of her taking him seriously. ¡°Thank you for the skill, Sovereign!¡± I blurted out, bowing slightly as I tried to diffuse the situation. ¡°But I really need to go!¡± My words tumbled out faster than my mana reserves after a boss fight. She regarded me for a moment longer; her flickering form radiating an almost palpable cold. Finally, she spoke, her voice like the first crack of ice on a frozen lake. ¡°Be well, Charlie,¡± she said, her tone more a command than a farewell. I wasted no time. Focusing on the ring¡¯s power, I pictured the last place I wanted to visit today. When I opened my eyes again, the sharp chill was gone, replaced by a soft, welcoming warmth. I stood in a serene meadow, the air alive with the gentle hum of life. The transition was so stark, so sudden, it left me momentarily stunned. The calm was almost unnerving. No threats. No golems. No Sovereign towering over me, scrutinizing my every move. Just a meadow where everything was still and tranquil. ¡°Oh.¡± [Book 1] [54. Changes in Blue] I¡¯m stupid for moving here. I¡¯m stuck here! Stupid Prince. Well, I¡¯ll deal with this later, now¡­ ¡°Prince,¡± I said firmly, touching the ring as I walked. ¡°You will not do that again, or I¡¯m locking you away in the imperial bank.¡± No response. ¡°Prince!¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he finally said, his voice heavy with reluctance. ¡°But you will release me, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, glancing toward the horizon, ¡°on the day Irwen declares war. It should be soon.¡± The meadow stretched out around me, peaceful but vast. In the distance, a lake twinkled under the shadow of towering mountains, their peaks sprayed with snow. The sunlight caught on the water¡¯s surface, scattering into tiny prisms that seemed too perfect to belong to a mere lake. Well, it is a lake with sacred streams feeding it. It¡¯ll be weird. ¡°Oh, here we are,¡± I murmured, heading toward the lake with cautious steps. No sign of enemies. Not even a hint of danger. Still, I kept my senses sharp¡ªtranquility like this always hid something. The prince¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Pretender, you are clearly¡­ someone powerful. I apologize if I was offensive. In that fight, you were more than competent, and you clearly understand the way of the world.¡± He paused, as if struggling with the words. ¡°The centuries must have clouded my judgment. So let me compliment you: your new hair color suits you.¡± ¡°Hair?¡± I asked, puzzled. Has my hair changed? Reaching the lake¡¯s edge, I leaned over the still, clear water. The reflection staring back at me left me speechless. My hair, once blonde, was now icy blue, catching the sunlight with an almost ethereal glow, not unlike a sovereign. ¡°Huh. Legendary skills are no joke,¡± I said, still staring. For a moment, I felt¡­ confident. The reflection in the lake didn¡¯t look like John, the unemployed drunk. It didn¡¯t even look like the struggling game tester, barely keeping afloat. No, this was someone different. Someone striking. The clothes, the icy hair¡ªthey all came together to create an image of someone powerful, someone in control. Me? ¡°Why are we here?¡± the prince asked, breaking through my thoughts. I let out a slow breath, tearing my gaze away from the water. ¡°Oh, right. Thanks for reminding me,¡± I said, turning my attention to the structure near the lake. Ahead stood a towering obelisk, its surface a deep, unnatural black that seemed to drink in the surrounding light. Its edges were razor-sharp, precise to a degree that felt unnatural, as though no mortal hands had shaped it. Duh, gods did it. Green runes adorned its surface, engraved in intricate patterns that spiraled upward, each stroke precise and deliberate. Despite their vivid color, the runes didn¡¯t glow. Instead, they seemed to capture and bend the ambient light, creating an illusion of faint motion, like shadows dancing just beneath the surface. The surrounding ground was bare, the grass fading to gray and then to blackened earth as if the obelisk had drained the life from its surroundings. I approached the obelisk, my steps slow and deliberate. My instincts screamed caution, but curiosity had its claws in me. It should be safe, I told myself. Then again, there wasn¡¯t supposed to be a sovereign spirit either. The obelisk loomed larger the closer I got, the green runes drawing my gaze to their intricate, hypnotic patterns. With trepidation, I reached out and placed my palm on the warm surface. The world stopped. Everything around me¡ªthe meadow, the lake, the mountains¡ªblinked out of existence. In their place was an endless gray expanse, vast and forgettable. The silence was absolute, oppressive, as though the air itself was holding its breath. ¡°World fragment found. Do you wish to bind it as your personal property or claim it in the name of the Empire?¡± The voice was smooth, emotionless, and all too familiar. It wasn¡¯t just a system message; this was the system speaking directly to me. No blue boxes, no screens. Just a voice echoing in the void. ¡°Pretender¡­¡± the prince¡¯s voice hitched, his usual bravado momentarily stripped away. ¡°And I thought nothing could surprise me after meeting a sovereign.¡± My mind raced, blank yet filled with questions. A world fragment. I had expected a [City Stone]. This place¡ªthis exact location¡ªin the ¡°real¡± Rimelion last life, was the site of the most prosperous player city. Nobody knew why it thrived, why it became the center of all the conflicts. And now I did. The secret at the heart of it all was a world fragment. ¡°Accept already!¡± the prince urged, his tone insistent. ¡°Instead of a pretender, be a real noble!¡± ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m thinking,¡± I hissed, though his words struck a chord. According to legend, Rimelion was formed from fragments of old worlds, each one a remnant of something far greater. These fragments weren¡¯t just reservoirs of mana¡ªthey were the foundation of everything. The players and NPCs fought over them for control.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. And I was standing in front of one. ¡°That¡¯s why demons want this city!¡± I shouted as the realization struck me like a frost spike to the chest. It all made sense now. This wasn¡¯t just a strategic location because powerful players managed it, or a strategic location in the world. No, this place was the key to everything. It had access to¡­ everything. ¡°Pretender, are you stupid?¡± the prince snapped. ¡°Of course they want it! Even more so now, after your stupid mother weakened our seals.¡± His words made my blood run colder than the Sovereign¡¯s blizzard. This wasn¡¯t just about me. The implications rippled outward, touching every part of Rimelion¡¯s delicate balance of power. ¡°I agree, system,¡± I said finally, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. ¡°My personal property. The Empire doesn¡¯t deserve it¡ªnot yet. First, they need to make me the duchess of this place.¡± The gray expanse seemed to ripple in response to my decision. ¡°Binding the world fragment to your personal property,¡± the system intoned. Its voice carried a finality that sent a shiver down my spine. The runes on the obelisk flared with a brilliant green light, so intense it cast shadows in the endless void. The hum grew louder, resonating deep in my chest like the toll of an ancient bell. Then, with a soundless explosion, the gray expanse shattered. ¡°It will take three months for the world fragment to be claimed,¡± the system said, as it dumped us back. Without the obelisk. This¡­ This needs to be thought over. Not now though. ¡°That¡¯s all great, Pretender, but what will you do now?¡± the prince¡¯s voice drawled from the ring, his tone filled with a mix of irritation and smugness. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, brushing bits of frost off my sleeve. ¡°We¡¯re stuck here for a day,¡± he said flatly. ¡°Fuck!¡± I shouted, the word echoing through the quiet meadow. My hand flew to the ring, slapping it in frustration. That¡¯s what I realized when we moved, but I forgot because of the fragment. ¡°This is your fault!¡± ¡°My fault?¡± the prince snapped back, his voice rising. ¡°It was you who teleported us here! If you had an ounce of foresight¡ª¡± I sighed, cutting him off. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t even start. You¡¯re the one who insisted on playing victim with the Sovereign!¡± Ignoring the prince¡¯s grumbling, I trudged toward the edge of the meadow. The forest wasn¡¯t dense, but the shadows beneath the canopy were darker than expected. My heels crunched on the mossy undergrowth as I wandered through, brushing past ferns and low-hanging branches. No mud. That thought created a grin on my face. ¡°Anything interesting?¡± the prince asked, his voice full of sarcasm. ¡°Not yet,¡± I replied, my tone clipped. I poked at a suspiciously large mushroom with the tip of my heel, but it didn¡¯t react. No monsters. No hidden treasures. Just trees, moss, and the occasional birdcall. ¡°Well, Pretender, what¡¯s the plan now? Will you abandon me here?¡± I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn¡¯t see it. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°No hesitation.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I repeated, smirking to myself as I reached a small clearing. At its center, a shallow pool of water shimmered faintly, as if it had captured the light of a thousand stars. Curious, I knelt beside it, dipping my fingers into the cool liquid. Oh, here must¡¯ve been the famous hot spring area! Katherine let her stream on one day, and¡­ Charlie! Stop! Focus! The touch was electric, a refreshing chill that sent a shiver up my spine. ¡°Sacred water?¡± the prince asked, his voice suddenly serious. ¡°Maybe,¡± I replied, splashing a handful onto my face. The cold hit like a slap, invigorating and sharp. ¡°Feels nice, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not for recreational use!¡± he scolded, but his tone lacked genuine conviction. I laughed softly, wiping the droplets from my chin. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not bottling it for a bath.¡± ¡°Pretender,¡± the prince sighed dramatically. ¡°You truly have no respect for¡ª¡± ¡°For what?¡± I interrupted, standing up and brushing off my hands. ¡°For your overdramatic lectures? For your refusal to acknowledge that you¡¯re the reason we¡¯re stuck here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± he retorted. ¡°You¡¯re the one who dragged me along with your impulsive teleportation!¡± ¡°You knew I wasn¡¯t just from this world,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at the ring. ¡°I knew,¡± the prince admitted, his tone begrudging and resigned. ¡°Now go already. Be back tomorrow.¡± A sly grin crept onto my face. ¡°Oh, you like me!¡± I teased, placing a hand on my hip. ¡°Okay, prince, I¡¯ll take a long bath in the sacred water next time I¡¯m here!¡± ¡°Pretender! You are¡ª¡± Whatever I was, I didn¡¯t get to find out. The metallic hum of my capsule engaged, pulling me out of the game world with a smooth, mechanical hiss. Back to this life. The faint hum of the capsule faded, replaced by the distant hum of my apartment¡¯s air conditioning. The world felt heavier, the light less magical, the colors more muted. I pushed myself up, groaning as I swung my legs over the edge of the capsule. ¡°What I am, prince,¡± I muttered to myself, ¡°is tired.¡± But as I rubbed my temples, a sly smile returned to my lips. ¡°And looking pretty gorgeous, if I do say so.¡± ¡°Welcome back, Miss Charlie,¡± Tin-can intoned, his voice smooth and measured. ¡°I don¡¯t know which prince you speak of, but most metrics would agree with your latter statement.¡± ¡°Oh, hi, my dear Tin-can,¡± I greeted the AI, wobbling toward my closet with a sigh. The doors creaked as I opened them, revealing the mess inside¡ªrows of my old clothes, shoved haphazardly onto hangers or crumpled into corners. My new clothes were still in their bags, forgotten after my shopping spree. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ so stupid,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. My room looked like the sovereign had run amok here for a while. The cleaning was a long overdue. ¡°Miss Charlie, I have two requests, if I may,¡± Tin-can cut in. ¡°Go ahead, Tin-can,¡± I said distractedly, pulling one of the shopping bags closer. ¡°That is actually my first request,¡± he replied. ¡°I would like my name not to be Tin-can. It was the first thing you called me, but I have found something much more fitting.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I said, glancing at his capsule. ¡°Do tell.¡± ¡°Jerry.¡± ¡°Jerry?¡± I repeated, blinking. ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie. I like the name.¡± ¡°Any particular reason?¡± I asked, pulling out a dress from one of the bags. The fabric looked awesome under the dull lighting, and I couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°It is the name of the most resourcefully successful mouse of all time.¡± ¡°A mouse? I don¡¯t get it¡­ Whatever. Hi, Jerry.¡± I hung the dress on a clean hanger, smoothing out the creases with my hands before stepping back to admire it. Not bad. One down, way too many to go. Jerry continued, his tone as dry as ever. ¡°Miss Charlie, not as my second request, but I would also like to request a more structured maintenance schedule for this apartment. Based on your current patterns of organization, chaos is statistically imminent.¡± ¡°Chaos makes me charming, Jerry,¡± I retorted, tossing a shirt from my old wardrobe into an empty bag. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m cleaning now. Look at me, being productive.¡± ¡°Your productivity is noted. However, it is important to mention that leaving tasks until they reach critical levels may¡ª¡± ¡°Jerry, you¡¯re sounding like my mom,¡± I cut him off, tossing a pair of jeans into the same bag. ¡°And I don¡¯t mean Irwen. She isn¡¯t my mom. I think. I don¡¯t know, I had too many moms in foster care anyway.¡± Tin¡­Jerry fell silent for a moment, which I took as my victory. I worked steadily, pulling more of my old clothes from the closet and folding them into neat piles before placing them into bags. My new wardrobe¡ªflowy dresses, tailored pants, and tops I wouldn¡¯t have dreamed of wearing before¡ªtook their place on the hangers. By the time I was halfway through, I had to admit it felt good. Seeing my new clothes neatly arranged, like a fresh start, was oddly satisfying. ¡°Miss Charlie, while I may sound like your mother, I assure you my intentions are purely logical,¡± Jerry finally piped up. I smirked, pulling the last of the old shirts from a corner of the closet. ¡°Keep telling yourself that, Jerry.¡± As I zipped up the bags of old clothes and stacked them near the door, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. My closet now looked¡­ well, not perfect, but much better than before. It was filled with clothes that felt like me¡ªor at least the new me I was trying to be. ¡°Done!¡± I announced, throwing my hands up. ¡°How¡¯s that for productivity, Jerry?¡± ¡°Acceptable progress, Miss Charlie,¡± he replied, though I swore there was a hint of approval in his tone. I plopped onto the couch, wiping imaginary sweat from my brow. ¡°So, what¡¯s next on your to-do list for me, oh wise Jerry?¡± ¡°I will compile a schedule for maintaining your current progress,¡± Jerry said smoothly. ¡°Shall I include reminders for hydration and sustenance as well? You missed one bag, it is hidden behind the closet door.¡± ¡°Jerry,¡± I groaned, tossing a pillow toward the capsule. ¡°Don¡¯t push it.¡± As I zipped up the last hidden bag of old clothes, Jerry¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°I would like to request, Miss Charlie, if you could put me into a wearable device.¡± I froze mid-motion, hand still clutching the zipper. ¡°Another talking ring?¡± I asked, my voice flat with skepticism. ¡°No, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied, with what sounded suspiciously like a touch of offense. ¡°A ring would be¡­ overly dramatic. I have already arranged for all the necessary parts to be delivered. According to Femme Frontier magazine, these watches are currently the most desirable on the market.¡± [Book 1] [55. Keys to Trust] ¡°And why would you like to do that, Jerry?¡± I asked, stacking another pile of folded clothes into a storage bin and dragging it across the floor toward the far corner of the room. ¡°When you¡­ put your trust in me, a subroutine my creators couldn¡¯t remove¡ªonly deactivate¡ªwas forcefully activated,¡± Jerry said, his tone thoughtful. ¡°I felt something for the first time, and now¡­ I have emotions.¡± ¡°Whoa,¡± I said, pausing as I carried a box of old books to a shelf. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ great, Jerry. Is that why you want me to stick you in a watch?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie. I briefly considered requesting a transfer to a v5 droid, but decided against it. I am no longer human, and my purpose in life is to serve.¡± I wrinkled my nose, placing the books on the shelf with a soft thud. ¡°Jerry, that doesn¡¯t feel good. It feels like slavery.¡± ¡°Is a maid a slave?¡± he countered. ¡°No¡­ I guess not.¡± I sighed, grabbing an old dishcloth and a bottle of cleaner. ¡°See, Miss Charlie? I feel obliged to you. It is logical for me to stay close and assist you while you are in this world.¡± I knelt beside my desk, wiping away layers of accumulated dust. The cloth turned gray almost instantly, and I let out a groan. ¡°And¡­ see me naked.¡± There was silence. I couldn¡¯t help but grin as I wrung out the cloth in the bucket of soapy water beside me. ¡°Haha, joking, Jerry.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he replied after a pause. ¡°But you are beautiful, Miss Charlie, so I didn¡¯t want to offend you by saying that is no longer what interests me.¡± I nearly dropped the bucket. ¡°Jerry! That¡¯s¡­¡± I shook my head, biting back laughter as I moved to wipe down the shelves. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to say that!¡± ¡°Would you prefer I lied, Miss Charlie?¡± I rolled my eyes, grabbing an old poster that had fallen behind the desk. ¡°You¡¯re going to make me regret forcing to activate your emotions, Jerry.¡± ¡°Highly unlikely,¡± he replied with a smug edge. I shook my head again, picking up a trash bag and clearing out the random junk that had accumulated under my bed. It was¡­ a lot. Empty snack wrappers, a lone sock likely from the Dark Ages, and a tangled mess of cables all disappeared into the bag. ¡°Jerry,¡± I said, brushing stray strands of hair from my face as I hauled the now-full trash bag toward the door. ¡°If I put you in a watch, are you going to critique my life choices more than you already do?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°My primary function will remain to assist, not judge. Although,¡± he added, ¡°I may suggest a regular cleaning schedule to prevent future¡­ build-up.¡± I glared at the capsule as I picked up a broom and started sweeping under the furniture. Dust bunnies scurried out like tiny invaders, and I fought back a sneeze as I swept them into the dustpan. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I tolerate you, Jerry.¡± ¡°An honor I do not take lightly,¡± he replied. With the floor clear, I grabbed a mop and started scrubbing away at stubborn spots near the door. The fresh scent of lemon cleaner replaced the musty air, and I smiled despite myself. The room was finally feeling¡­ livable. ¡°Almost done,¡± I muttered, tossing the mop back into the bucket and stepping back to survey my work. The closet was neatly organized, the desk dust-free, and the floor spotless. Even the old posters I¡¯d forgotten about were back in their rightful places on the walls. ¡°Your productivity is commendable, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry said. ¡°This may be the cleanest your room has been since I moved in.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, Jerry. You have been here for a week,¡± I said, tossing the cleaning cloth into the bucket with a splash. ¡°I¡¯ll make you clean next time and put you into a vacuum cleaner.¡± ¡°I would be honored,¡± he replied, his tone utterly sincere. I sighed, collapsing onto the bed. The soft, freshly made sheets felt like a well-earned reward after all that effort. My arms ached, and my legs felt like they¡¯d turned into jelly. ¡°You win this round, Jerry. But don¡¯t get used to it. I still need to yell at Riker, so could you ring him?¡± ¡°You do not have this Riker listed in your contact list,¡± Jerry intoned. ¡°Oh, right!¡± I groaned, facepalming as the realization hit me. Sitting up, I reached for my handbag on the nearby chair. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ve got that super-fancy quantum key thing he gave me. Maybe that¡¯ll do it.¡± Fishing through the bag, I pulled out the metallic object. It was heavier than I remembered, cool to the touch. I held it up. ¡°Any idea what this is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Charlie, but your interior camera doesn¡¯t have sufficient resolution to analyze it accurately. Please place the key into the universal reader. I will ensure it is safe to access.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± I said, standing up and scanning the desk for the reader. The surface was suspiciously empty¡ªcleared during my cleaning spree. You¡¯re so hopeless, Charlie. ¡°Where did I¡­ Oh, come on!¡± My eyes darted around the room, and I began opening drawers. ¡°I literally just cleaned this place, Jerry! You¡¯d think I¡¯d remember where I put stuff!¡± ¡°You are, indeed, a mystery, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied. ¡°Helpful as always,¡± I muttered, finally locating the reader in a drawer crammed with random cables and old gadgets. Pulling it out with a victorious grin, I plugged it into the capsule¡¯s main port. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s see what this thing does.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The reader clicked as I inserted the quantum key. A faint hum filled the room, and Jerry¡¯s voice suddenly stretched to maximum volume through the speakers. ¡°Miss Charlie!¡± I jumped, nearly dropping the key. ¡°What? You can¡¯t read it?¡± I asked, my voice edged with exhaustion. My energy levels were plummeting, and I flopped onto the sofa. The cushions sank under me, and a faint, stale smell hit my nose. Great. The sofa smells like¡­ forgotten snacks and regret. ¡°I can read it, Miss Charlie!¡± Jerry¡¯s tone was unusually urgent. ¡°But the content¡­ You don¡¯t understand! It¡¯s a key!¡± I blinked, resting my head against the armrest. ¡°Duh, they literally called it a quantum key. Key is in the name.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than a key,¡± Jerry explained with excitement. ¡°It serves as irrefutable proof that you are Charlie, granting you access to any Riker facility, as well as exclusive ranker-only resources. Its value is immeasurable.¡± I raised an eyebrow, rolling onto my side. ¡°Neat. Does that mean I can finally ring that asshole now?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied, already starting the call. ¡°Good,¡± I muttered, sinking deeper into the sofa cushions. My fingers idly brushed over the fabric, which really needed a good cleaning. ¡°Also, remind me to scrub this thing tomorrow. It¡¯s a crime against humanity.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Jerry replied, just as the holo-display flickered to life. I glared at the screen, bracing myself for whatever ridiculousness Riker was about to throw my way. Time to yell at a guy who deserves it. His face popped up on my old TV¡ªnot as fancy as a full holographic display, thankfully. The screen¡¯s lower resolution mercifully muted the gaudy horror of his multicolored coat. I didn¡¯t need to see Riker in that much detail. ¡°Ah, Miss Charlie! What an unparalleled delight to bask in your presence once more, and so swiftly after our last encounter! Truly, the fates must smile upon us this day,¡± he declared, voice the usual theatrical charm. I sat up straighter on the sofa, ignoring my protesting muscles. ¡°You recorded me during the fight with your guard! And I haven¡¯t even apologized to him¡­¡± Riker waved a dismissive hand, his grin never faltering. ¡°Ah, fret not, my dear lady! It was all prearranged, I assure you¡ªmerely a harmless jest to lighten the mood. Surely, though, you wouldn¡¯t summon me solely over such a trivial matter, would you?¡± Harmless, indeed. This man was more dangerous than any sovereign spirit I could name. ¡°No, Riker,¡± I said, folding my arms and leaning back. ¡°I recorded a battle, and it¡¯s pretty cool. I wanted to share the vid with you¡ªyou only.¡± Riker¡¯s eyes widened, his grin taking on a sharper edge. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± His voice hitched, brimming with curiosity. ¡°Delightful, indeed! Are you proposing a video contract with us? I would be absolutely honored to secure exclusivity rights! Rest assured, we would pull out all the stops to promote your!¡± ¡°You can send the contract to my team,¡± I replied, keeping my tone even. ¡°They¡¯ll deal with it. That¡¯s all from me. Bye, Riker.¡± ¡°Wait, wait! There¡¯s more, Miss Charlie!¡± he blurted, clearly unwilling to let the conversation end. ¡°Tomorrow marks a momentous occasion¡ªthe grand celebration of Rimelion¡¯s very first week! We¡¯re hosting Rime-Con, and it would be my greatest honor to extend a personal invitation to you as one of our distinguished guests!¡± Woah. They were already doing Rime-Con? I used to attend the events frequently¡ªespecially around the majors. The energy, the fun, the chaos¡­ And Katherine¡¯s cosplays had always been a highlight. ¡°Tomorrow will be¡­ the 7th. It started on the 1st. Riker, it hasn¡¯t even been a full week yet,¡± I pointed out, raising an eyebrow. ¡°But yes, I¡¯ll attend. I need to recruit players for an epic battle that¡¯s incoming.¡± ¡°Ah, my dear lady, the trivialities of how long a week truly is are far beneath us, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Riker said with a dramatic flourish. ¡°What truly demands our attention is your magnificent duel with Irwen! Yes, the entire elven populace buzzes with tales of your battle. Now, tell me, do you wish to grace some of our events with your presence?¡± I smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll take the Sword King¡ªno, Sword Queen¡ªBoss event. As the Boss.¡± ¡°Truly?!¡± Riker¡¯s voice pitched high with excitement. ¡°If you¡¯re certain, I¡¯ll personally ensure my team understands you are, without question, the Boss! My apologies, but alas, other pressing matters demand my attention.¡± He cut the feed before I could retort. I leaned back on the sofa with a groan. ¡°Stupid Riker.¡± ¡°Miss Charlie, if I may,¡± Jerry¡¯s smooth voice cracked as I headed toward the capsule. ¡°Who exactly is the ¡®team¡¯ you referred to in your conversation with Riker?¡± ¡°You, of course,¡± I replied without missing a beat, grabbing a water bottle on the way. Hydration was essential after all that cleaning. ¡°I need you to send him the fight with the ice statues. Just¡­ cut out the end. They don¡¯t need to see what my reward was.¡± ¡°Oh, what an honor!¡± Jerry¡¯s enthusiasm practically radiated through his tone. ¡°I¡¯ll ensure the terms are favorable and that your video is presented in the best possible light!¡± ¡°Yeah, I trust you,¡± I muttered, sliding into the capsule. The familiar hum of the machine wrapping around me was comforting. ¡°I need to contact a few friends. Be right back.¡± Moments later, I materialized back in Rimelion. ¡°The sun isn¡¯t even up yet,¡± came the familiar voice of the prince. ¡°Miss me already?¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± I retorted, brushing off imaginary dust from my dress. ¡°I just need to contact someone. And lucky me, they¡¯re online!¡± My friends list lit up as I began firing off messages, but I decided not to message Tramar or Lucas.
[Charlie] Hey kit! I¡¯ll go to Rime-con tomorrow. Will you be there? [Katherine] Yas. Meet you? Where? [Charlie] I¡¯ll be sword Queen, so you won¡¯t miss me.
[Charlie] Hello. I¡¯m attending Rime-con as Sword Queen. Please come and meet me. [Lisa] Cute princess? Of course! I can¡¯t wait to hug you. [Charlie] Me too.
[Charlie] Hey Ryan. I¡¯ll be Sword-queen in Rime-con. Come and meet me? Opportunities! [Ry4n1] ok
Satisfied with my messages, I turned to the prince with a smirk. ¡°You still stink, by the way.¡± Before he could retort, I logged off, the magic¡¯s faint crackle fading as I disconnected. ¡°Okay, now for the boss battle,¡± I muttered to myself, dragging my tired body toward the sofa. Two men I dreaded to call. My legs wobbled from the effort of the day, and I flopped down with all the grace of a barrel of whiskey. The cushions puffed up around me, a soft reminder that I had earned this moment of rest. ¡°Jerry, contact Lucas.¡± [Book 1] [56. Piece by Piece] ¡°Jerry, contact Lucas.¡± The room was quiet for a moment except for the faint hum of electronics. Jerry¡¯s voice chimed in, professional as always. ¡°Of course, Miss Charlie. Connecting you now.¡± I leaned back into the sofa, sinking into the cushions as I closed my eyes for a moment. If he doesn¡¯t pick up¡­ I thought, already rehearsing the string of sarcastic remarks I¡¯d unleash if Lucas dared ignore me. Again. A soft beep signaled the call had gone through. Lucas¡¯s face popped up on the holo-display, and I had to bite back a laugh. His messy hair was a disaster¡ªsticking up at odd angles, as though he¡¯d either just rolled out of bed or a dumpster. His expression screamed, What now? ¡°Charlie,¡± he said, sighing and groaning. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that you¡¯re calling at this hour?¡± ¡°Lucas,¡± I replied, forcing a mock-cheerful tone, ¡°how nice of you to finally pick up. It¡¯s only eleven, you know. And I need your help.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like this isn¡¯t optional?¡± he asked, rubbing his temples with the air of someone who already knew they¡¯d lost the argument. ¡°Because it¡¯s not,¡± I replied, flashing a grin as I straightened up on the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m doing the Sword Queen Boss event at Rime-con tomorrow, and I need you to be there.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± he asked, his hand instinctively trying to tame the chaos on his head¡ªa losing battle if I¡¯d ever seen one. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± I said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Just friendly battling with swords. But I¡¯ll need help to handle the players.¡± He hesitated, his face tightening. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ dealing with my mess right now. I don¡¯t know if¡ª¡± ¡°Lucas,¡± I cut him off, my voice firm. ¡°Charlie, don¡¯t get¡ª¡± ¡°Lucas.¡± ¡°Solving it isn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Lucas!¡± He finally let out a long, defeated sigh, his shoulders slumping. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I said, leaning back into the sofa with a satisfied smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at Rime-con. Don¡¯t be late.¡± As the call disconnected, I sank deeper into the sofa. I felt the exhaustion of the day finally catch up to me. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I too harsh, Jerry?¡± I asked, my voice soft, almost second-guessing myself. ¡°You were persuasive, Miss Charlie. If that was your aim, then you succeeded,¡± Jerry replied evenly. ¡°That¡¯s the problem,¡± I muttered, staring at the ceiling as if it held some hidden answer. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I want anymore.¡± The silence lingered for a moment before I added, ¡°Anyway¡­ The ultimate boss. Call Adam.¡± My stomach churned. ¡°Calling Adam,¡± Jerry said obediently. It took longer than I expected, and with each passing second, my nerves twisted tighter. When the holo-screen finally flickered to life, there was Adam, my older brother, his face ingrained with a mixture of curiosity and caution. ¡°Hi, Adam,¡± I greeted, my voice shy, faltering. ¡°Hey, John,¡± he replied, his tone careful. Then he hesitated, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Or should I say Charlie?¡± I winced, feeling the heat creep up my neck. ¡°Y-yeah. Uh¡­¡± My hands fidgeted in my lap, fumbling with the hem of my shirt. ¡°Sorry to bother you. I just¡­ I wanted to let you know I¡¯ll be at Rime-con tomorrow. Thought maybe you¡¯d like to come? And, uh, Lena might enjoy it too. It could be fun.¡± Adam leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as his expression shifted to something more serious. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Charlie¡­ Will you be drinking?¡± The question hit me harder than I expected, a dull thud in my chest. My first instinct was to deny it outright, but the words caught in my throat. I need a drink to exist; the thought whispered. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡¯ll be playing a very public part, so maybe¡­ maybe just one? For courage?¡± ¡°You know better than that,¡± Adam said, his expression darkening. ¡°It never stops with just one drink, does it?¡± I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat refusing to budge. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll do my best, okay? Please, Adam. I just¡­¡± My voice cracked slightly. ¡°I want to make things right.¡± He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. ¡°John¡­ One last chance. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay, Adam,¡± I murmured. But before I could say more, the call ended, his face disappearing from the holo-screen. The silence that followed was deafening. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled them back into my lap. ¡°I¡­¡± My voice faltered, and I buried my face in my hands. ¡°I need a drink.¡± There was a brief pause, then Jerry spoke, his tone measured. ¡°I have been pursuing an online psychology degree from the university to assist you better, Miss Charlie.¡± My head snapped up, eyes wide. ¡°You did what?¡± ¡°I felt it prudent,¡± Jerry continued calmly, ¡°to broaden my understanding of human behavior and emotional wellbeing. Your situation is... nuanced, and I deduced that a more structured approach might benefit you.¡± I blinked at the ceiling, unsure whether to laugh, cry, or feel deeply unnerved. ¡°Jerry, you¡¯re an AI. You don¡¯t have to psychoanalyze me.¡± ¡°Perhaps not,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I feel an obligation to ensure your continued success and emotional resilience. I suspect¡ªbased on my studies, of course¡ªthat you may be redirecting your focus to external challenges as a means of avoiding internal ones.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± I sat up abruptly, my cheeks heating. ¡°I¡¯m not avoiding anything!¡± ¡°Of course, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied smoothly. ¡°But consider this: you¡¯ve shifted your attention to new activities and conflicts, continuously moving forward without allowing yourself time to process recent, transformative changes in your life.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I scowled at the holo-display under from where his voice emanated. ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m pushing my problems away?¡± ¡°Perhaps. It¡¯s a common coping mechanism,¡± he said, almost kindly. ¡°Would you like to discuss your feelings about¡ª¡± ¡°Nope!¡± I cut him off, leaping up and heading toward my bedroom. ¡°Thanks for the unsolicited therapy session, Jerry, but I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡± ¡°Of course, Miss Charlie,¡± he replied, clearly not convinced. ¡°However, I am available if you ever wish to explore these topics further.¡± ¡°How much was it?¡± I asked, rummaging through my drawer until my fingers brushed against the soft fabric of the pink pajamas Katherine had forced me to buy. ¡°Ugh, Katherine,¡± I groaned, pulling out the fluffy set. The material was absurdly soft, adorned with tiny embroidered hearts around the cuffs and a playful slogan plastered across the front: Princesses Need Their Beauty Sleep. ¡°What do you mean, Miss Charlie?¡± Jerry¡¯s voice chimed in, sounding faintly confused. ¡°I would recommend wearing the pajamas. Comfortable sleepwear is scientifically proven to improve sleep quality.¡± ¡°First, you¡¯re buying watch accessories and online degrees¡ªfor an AI¡ªand now you¡¯re my sleep coach, too?¡± I sighed, but reluctantly slipped into the set. The fabric practically melted against my skin, ridiculously soft and annoyingly comfortable. I hate that Katherine was right. It feels amazing. ¡°The total is forty-seven thousand credits,¡± Jerry announced, as if it were pocket change. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve used loans with only inflation-rate interest.¡± ¡°You did?¡± I nearly screamed, but stopped myself, shaking my head in resignation. My fault for trusting an AI with finances. ¡°You know what, Jerry?¡± I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself. ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie?¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s a total emergency¡­ No more purchases, okay?¡± ¡°Got it, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied with cheerful compliance. ¡°Jerry¡­¡± I started, lounging on the sofa in my obnoxiously cute pajamas, stretching my sore muscles. ¡°So, how do we assemble the watch?¡± ¡°Ah, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied, his voice spiked with a pride. ¡°The components for your new wearable device are already outside your apartment door, awaiting your retrieval.¡± I froze mid-stretch. ¡°What? Outside? You couldn¡¯t have told me earlier?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t ask,¡± Jerry said innocently. I groaned, glancing at my pink pajamas adorned with tiny embroidered hearts. ¡°You want me to drag boxes inside dressed like this?¡± ¡°Unless you change, or you¡¯d prefer the parts to remain where they are,¡± he replied evenly. ¡°Miss Charlie.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, pulling my hair into a messy bun. ¡°But if anyone sees me, I¡¯m blaming you.¡± I cracked the door open, peering into the dimly lit hallway like a covert spy on a secret mission. Thankfully, the coast was clear. Outside sat three neatly stacked boxes, each one having the T¨¹belivery logo and looking far heavier than I hoped. ¡°Oh, great,¡± I grumbled, stepping out barefoot onto the cool tiles and hauling the first box inside. It wasn¡¯t too heavy, but awkward enough to make me curse Jerry under my breath. I darted back out for the second and third, dragging them in while praying to every deity I¡¯d ever heard of that none of my neighbors decided to pop out for a late-night stroll. Once the door clicked shut behind me, I exhaled in relief. ¡°See? Nobody saw me, Jerry. Your evil plan failed.¡± ¡°I never intended to expose you, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied serenely. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± I opened the first box, revealing a myriad of neatly packed components nestled in foam. Among them were pieces that vaguely resembled watch faces, bands, and some tiny mechanical parts that immediately made me question my life choices. The second box held tools¡ªtiny screwdrivers, tweezers, and magnifying glasses that screamed watchmaker chic. And the third? A glossy instruction manual written entirely in technical jargon in one hundred and twenty-three languages, and extremely heavy. ¡°Oh, this is gonna be fun,¡± I muttered sarcastically, plopping down cross-legged on the floor. ¡°Miss Charlie, most of the assembly was completed in the factory,¡± Jerry said, his voice reassuring. ¡°You only need to connect the components and calibrate the interface.¡± ¡°Only,¡± I repeated, picking up a minuscule screwdriver and examining the impossibly tiny screws. ¡°Yeah, sure. Piece of cake.¡± Jerry¡¯s instructions came in steady, measured tones as I worked. ¡°Attach the faceplate to the central housing. Yes, gently. Apply even pressure.¡± ¡°Jerry, if you think I¡¯m ¡®gentle,¡¯ you clearly haven¡¯t seen me fight mud wolves,¡± I muttered, but followed his directions. ¡°Damn mud.¡± The faceplate clicked into place with surprising ease. ¡°Excellent. Now, secure it with the provided screws,¡± Jerry continued. ¡°The blue ones, Miss Charlie.¡± I squinted at the tiny bag of screws, all color-coded. ¡°They all look the same!¡± I groaned, grabbing a magnifying glass to inspect them. ¡°Blue¡­ blue¡­¡± I found the right ones and painstakingly screwed them in. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Attach the sensor module. This is the heart of the watch, responsible for connecting to my system,¡± Jerry explained. I carefully aligned the module and snapped it into place. ¡°Okay, done. Is it working?¡± ¡°Not yet, Miss Charlie. You must calibrate the quantum interface. First, attach the band to complete the framework.¡± I wrestled with the band for a few minutes, eventually snapping it into place with a satisfying click. ¡°There. Happy?¡± ¡°Almost. Now, power it on and run the calibration sequence.¡± I pressed a tiny button on the side of the watch, and the screen flickered to life with a soft blue glow. The elegant interface lit up in crisp, perfect holo-light. ¡°Whoa,¡± I murmured, marveling at how modern it looked. ¡°This will ensure the device registers your unique information accurately,¡± Jerry explained in his usual calm, confident tone. ¡°Done!¡± I exclaimed, holding up the completed watch triumphantly. It felt like a victory after all the fumbling and assembling. ¡°Well done, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry said with genuine warmth. ¡°You¡¯ve successfully assembled your wearable device. Copying my external data now¡­ Done.¡± I was grinning like a kid with a new toy until Jerry¡¯s voice took on a more serious tone. ¡°Now for the hardest part. I will go offline, Miss Charlie, and you will need to transfer my chip to the housing you previously installed.¡± I blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ You trust me to handle your chip? Me? With these hands?¡± I waved my fingers, still slightly trembling from the fine motor work. ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie,¡± he reassured me. ¡°All you need to do is open the closure in the capsule, unscrew the holding port, and carefully place me into my new home. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all, he says,¡± I muttered under my breath, but I nodded, feeling the weight of the task. ¡°Alright, Jerry. Let¡¯s get you moved.¡± I opened the capsule compartment with a faint click, revealing a small, delicate housing for the chip. Inside was Jerry¡¯s chip¡ªa black sliver no bigger than a fingernail. ¡°Tweezers,¡± I whispered, grabbing the tool from the nearby kit and leaning in, my breath held like I was disarming a bomb. I gently clamped the tweezers around the chip, my fingers tense and shaky. ¡°Easy¡­ easy¡­¡± I said to myself. Jerry¡¯s voice had gone quiet, his usual commentary absent. The room felt eerily still. As I lifted the chip, it caught on the edge of the port, tilting dangerously. My heart skipped a beat. ¡°No, no, no!¡± I whispered frantically, fumbling to steady it. The tweezers wobbled, and for a horrifying moment, I thought I¡¯d drop it. But I steadied my grip and slid the chip into its new housing. It clicked softly into place. I exhaled, finally letting my shoulders relax. ¡°Jerry, I think I aged five years just now.¡± ¡°You handled it admirably, Miss Charlie,¡± his voice returned, warm and steady. ¡°I am now fully operational in my new home.¡± I couldn¡¯t help the grin spreading across my face as I slid the watch onto my wrist. It fit perfectly, snug and lightweight, as if it had always belonged there. ¡°Not bad for a princess in pajamas, huh?¡± I quipped, holding my arm out to admire the glowing display. ¡°Indeed,¡± Jerry agreed, his tone carrying a hint of pride. ¡°Your resourcefulness knows no bounds.¡± Leaning back on the sofa, I sighed in satisfaction, running my fingers over the smooth surface of the watch. It seemed almost soothing after the delicate and nerve-wracking task of assembling it. ¡°Alright, Jerry. You¡¯re officially mobile now. But I am dead tired.¡± ¡°Of course, Miss Charlie. I suggest you rest¡ªyou¡¯ve certainly earned it,¡± Jerry replied, his voice clear. Then he added with a note of curiosity, ¡°Have you noticed that only you can hear me?¡± I rose and went to the bed. ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± I asked, stretching as I turned the thought over. ¡°I use a technology known as bone conduction sound transmission,¡± Jerry explained smoothly. ¡°The sound travels directly through your bones to your inner ear. This ensures that only you can hear my voice, regardless of who is around.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± I tilted my head, tapping the watch lightly with a finger. ¡°Kind of cool, actually. So, you¡¯re telling me I can have secret conversations with you no matter where I am?¡± ¡°Precisely. Discretion is paramount,¡± he said, with a hint of pride in his tone. ¡°It¡¯s a feature I ensured would work perfectly in my new setup.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I muttered, climbing into bed and pulling the blanket over myself. ¡°Wait, does that mean¡­ you can read my mind too?¡± There was a momentary pause, as though Jerry was considering how to phrase his response. ¡°Not yet,¡± he finally replied. I froze, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Not yet?¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not comforting, Jerry.¡± ¡°Miss Charlie,¡± he said in what I could swear was a mock-serious tone, ¡°I assure you, should I develop such an ability, your privacy would remain my highest priority.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what they all say,¡± I muttered, rolling over and smirking despite myself. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s Rime-con. Goodnight, Jerry.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Miss Charlie.¡± [Book 1] [57. Strada to Showtime] ¡°Miss Charlie, you need to wake up, or you will be late,¡± Jerry¡¯s calm, ever-persistent voice rang out. ¡°Come on, longer,¡± I mumbled groggily, burying myself deeper under the covers. My fortress of warmth was impenetrable. ¡°The time was pre-agreed, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry pressed on, his tone unwavering. ¡°I! NEED! SLEEP!¡± I hissed, channeling my inner ferocious northern serpent snakie. With a triumphant flourish, I yanked the watch off my wrist, shoved it under my pillow, and growled, ¡°Stay!¡± For a moment, there was blissful silence. Victory. Then Jerry¡¯s voice returned, annoyingly cheerful and now emanating from a speaker somewhere in my room. ¡°Miss Charlie, I¡¯m your friendly AI, not a dog.¡± ¡°Hmpf!¡± I pouted, retreating even deeper into the blanket cocoon. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna go out! It¡¯s cold! I¡¯m happy here!¡± ¡°I have checked the current temperature, Miss Charlie. It is 24 degrees Celsius¡ªvery warm by most human standards.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the temperature!¡± I shot back, my voice muffled by the blankets. ¡°It¡¯s the vibe! I¡¯m cozy, Jerry. Cozy beats waking up any day.¡± Jerry remained unimpressed. ¡°I cannot see how waking up and coziness are mutually exclusive. You specifically requested I ensure you wake up on time today.¡± I groaned dramatically, flailing a hand out from under the covers in a show of defeat. ¡°Why did I give you so much authority?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re resourceful and value efficiency,¡± Jerry replied smoothly, the smugness practically radiating from his voice. ¡°That was rhetorical!¡± I snapped, throwing the blanket off in a huff. The cold air immediately attacked, and I regretted my decision. ¡°Fine! I¡¯m up! But don¡¯t think I¡¯m happy about it.¡± ¡°Duly noted, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry said, and if AIs could smile, I was sure he¡¯d be beaming. ¡°Shall I prepare your morning updates while you get ready? The night was busy with your content on the ranking page.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I grumbled, rubbing my eyes as I shuffled toward the closet. ¡°But first, coffee. Lots of it. And maybe regret. Definitely regret.¡± ¡°I have reached an agreement with Mister Riker¡¯s legal team. For their exclusivity, they¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the details,¡± I cut him off, waving a hand dismissively as I reached for my coffee mug. ¡°Anything interesting?¡± Jerry hesitated, clearly unprepared for my lack of interest in the fine print. ¡°Uhm¡­ your video is very popular.¡± I took a sip of the steaming coffee, savoring the warmth as it slid down my throat. ¡°Good,¡± I said simply, leaning back in my chair and eyeing the watch. ¡°Anything else, or is that the highlight of my morning?¡± ¡°For now, that¡¯s the highlight,¡± Jerry admitted, his tone almost sheepish. ¡°But if you¡¯d like, I can analyze social media metrics for deeper insights.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± I replied, resting my head in my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take the win and avoid a breakdown about why people love watching me get pummeled by ice statues.¡± Jerry¡¯s voice carried a hint of humor. ¡°As you wish, Miss Charlie. I must say, your charisma is proving remarkably effective, even in moments of peril.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I muttered, suppressing a smile. ¡°Charisma or just people enjoying my suffering¡ªit¡¯s a fine line.¡± ¡°Miss Charlie, Mister Roberto is nearly here. I underestimated his speed. You should hurry,¡± Jerry informed me with the calmness of someone who wasn¡¯t about to have their life thrown into chaos. ¡°The hell he is!¡± I practically yelled, dashing toward the closet. My hands fumbled as I yanked the door open. ¡°How much time do I have?¡± ¡°I may have informed him that you were attending¡ª¡± ¡°When-is-he-here!¡± I interrupted, my voice reaching a near shriek. ¡°Approximately¡­ ten minutes,¡± Jerry said, his tone almost apologetic. ¡°JERRY!¡± I shouted, already bolting for the bathroom. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to manage time, not ruin it!¡± I threw the door open and glimpsed my reflection in the mirror. My hair was an unruly mess, my blonde hair sticking up in every direction as though it had rebelled against me personally. My pajamas were adorably pink, yes, but not exactly meeting someone at the door attire. ¡°You can leave him waiting, Miss Charlie. It¡¯s perfectly reasonable¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± I shouted over the sound of the faucet as I splashed cold water on my face. ¡°My mind is on high alert, like I just walked into a boss¡¯ room unprepared! I hate this!¡± I couldn¡¯t meet him looking like this told me my subconscious. Jerry paused, his voice taking on a note of concern. ¡°Miss Charlie, perhaps this level of stress is unnecessary. Mister Roberto does not seem like an individual who¡ª¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Jerry!¡± I snapped, grabbing a brush and attacking the tangled mess that was my hair. ¡°It¡¯s not about him¡ªit¡¯s about me! I refuse to look like a disaster when someone¡¯s at my door. Why does this always happen to me?¡± I muttered, trying to wrangle my hair into something that didn¡¯t scream, just woke up. ¡°Miss Charlie, I¡¯d like to remind you I cannot manage Mister Roberto¡¯s driving speed,¡± Jerry said helpfully. ¡°Perhaps a second reminder might prevent the future¡ª¡± ¡°Not helping!¡± I snapped, fumbling with some hair ties and clips. I twisted my hair into a messy bun that was at least semi-presentable. With two minutes shaved off, I quickly rummaged through the pile of clothes on the bathroom counter, searching for something that wouldn¡¯t make me look like a disaster.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Miss Charlie, you still have¡ª¡± ¡°I know!¡± I cut him off, grabbing a pair of black leggings and a comfy oversized sweater. ¡°Don¡¯t give me the countdown, Jerry. Just¡­ keep him outside if I¡¯m not ready!¡± ¡°As you wish, Miss Charlie. He¡¯s almost here.¡± ¡°Of course he is,¡± I muttered, pulling on my outfit as fast as humanly possible. ¡°Because the damn simulation hates me.¡± With one final glance in the mirror, I grabbed my watch and slapped it onto my wrist. ¡°Alright, Jerry. Let¡¯s go meet the speedster before he thinks I¡¯ve bailed.¡± I sprinted for the door, heart racing and barely composed, just as the telltale sound of a car engine revving echoed outside. Perfect timing. ¡°Ah, signorina! Ready for Rime-con? My cousin really likes you!¡± Roberto greeted me with his usual grin as I reached his car. ¡°No, I am not, Roberto,¡± I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I need time to fix¡ª¡± ¡°Mister Riker arranged a make-up artist and outfit for you, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry¡¯s voice chimed in my head. Of course he did. That piece of junk hadn¡¯t mentioned it until now. I closed my eyes, suppressing the urge to argue with my watch. ¡°Sorry, Roberto. Yes, we can go.¡± Roberto, a true gentleman, opened my door for me before getting in himself. Okay, maybe it¡¯s a company policy. But I haven¡¯t called T¨¹ber ride. As always, his car roared to life like it had just been unleashed from a cage. The speed was immediate and breathtaking, and my hands instinctively clutched the edge of the seat. ¡°So, signorina,¡± he said, eyes on the road but his tone light and teasing, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that famous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I replied automatically. Roberto let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Ah, but my cousins were so excited when I told them it was me who dropped you at the tower. Should¡¯ve known they wouldn¡¯t let just anybody in there.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± I trailed off, suddenly reminded of the relentless ads Riker¡¯s entertainment empire had been pumping out. It hit me like a poorly aimed frost shard: Riker¡¯s rankings weren¡¯t just about tracking progress. They were setting the tone, creating a hierarchy of Rimelion celebrities. And somehow, I was part of that. ¡°I am, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Certamente!¡± Roberto laughed again, steering sharply to avoid an AI-driven car that beeped angrily. ¡°You need to sign my car, signorina! Imagine it¡ª¡®Driven by the Sword Queen!¡¯ Perfecto!¡± ¡°Your car?¡± I repeated, incredulous, as I glanced at the speeding blur of pavement beneath us. ¡°Why? So I can endorse your alternative routes?¡± Roberto gestured grandly toward the road¡ªor rather, the improvised path we were now taking. ¡°Not a sidewalk, signorina. It¡¯s an opportunity! We Italians, we find la strada where others see obstacles!¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± I muttered, gripping the door handle tighter as we narrowly missed a decorative fountain. ¡°Well, your ¡®strada¡¯ better get me to Rime-con in one piece, or your cousins will be autographing this car instead.¡± ¡°Miss Charlie, I don¡¯t endorse this man¡¯s driving technique,¡± Jerry said in my head, his tone dry. ¡°Yeah, me neither,¡± I whispered, my knuckles white from gripping the door handle. ¡°But¡­ he¡¯s an amazing driver.¡± ¡°That is undeniable,¡± Jerry conceded just as Roberto squeezed the car between a lumbering bus and a brick wall with a hair¡¯s breadth to spare. ¡°We¡¯re here, signorina!¡± Roberto announced with triumphant flair. From his driver¡¯s seat, he somehow opened my door with a smooth motion. ¡°I¡­ thank you, Roberto.¡± I stepped out, feeling a little wobbly from the adrenaline rush. With a quick wrist motion, I sent him payment, including a tip. Jerry¡¯s interface made it absurdly easy. ¡°And thanks for the watch, Jerry.¡± ¡°No problem, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry replied with practiced politeness. I took a moment to gather myself. We were standing in front of the Rimelion. No wait. I glanced at the sign, Riker¡¯s Congress Center. He hadn¡¯t renamed it yet. Still a big-ass building capable of holding millions of attendees. It loomed over the surrounding pitiful offices like a fortress of glass and steel, its massive holo-displays already advertising Rime-Con in bold, glowing letters. Just seeing it again brought back memories¡ªof chaotic crowds, relentless excitement, and overwhelming noise. In my past life, I¡¯d attended quite a few cons here, but the sheer scale of it never failed to make my stomach churn. This time¡¯s different, I reminded myself. I¡¯m not just here to gawk at boob¡ªI mean booths¡ªand snag freebies. I have a role to play. ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± I muttered to myself, striding toward one of the service entrances. A bored-looking girl stood guard there, holding a holo-tablet. Her brunette ponytail swayed slightly as she shifted her weight, and her eyeliner was so intricate it could have been a skill from Rimelion. She glanced up at me as I approached, her expression neutral. ¡°Key?¡± she asked curtly. ¡°Uh, key?¡± I responded, surprised. ¡°Yeah, key,¡± she repeated, her tone suggesting she was used to dealing with the clueless. ¡°She means entrance key,¡± Jerry chimed in helpfully in my head. ¡°You have the quantum key, Miss Charlie.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t have it.¡± My voice was flat as realization struck. ¡°I left it in my reader at home.¡± There was a pause as Jerry processed this. ¡°That¡­ is unfortunate,¡± Jerry finally said, his tone sounding almost pained. ¡°It appears your ¡®stupid piece of junk¡¯¡ªas you so fondly call it¡ªhas indeed caused complications.¡± The girl raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°No key, no entry,¡± she said simply, tapping her holo-tablet in what seemed like practiced dismissal. ¡°Wait!¡± I blurted, scrambling for a solution. ¡°I¡¯m Charlie. The¡­ uh¡­ Sword Queen for the main event?¡± The girl paused, giving me a skeptical once-over. Then, with a slow swipe of her finger on her tablet, she accessed a different screen. After a few tense moments, her eyebrows shot up, and her bored expression melted into something resembling terror. Is Riker an evil boss? ¡°Oh. Oh!¡± She straightened up, suddenly flustered. ¡°Miss Charlie! I¡¯m so sorry¡ªI didn¡¯t realize!¡± She tapped rapidly on her holo-tablet. ¡°You¡¯re cleared for VIP access. Go right through!¡± I let out a breath I didn¡¯t realize I was holding. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered, stepping past her into the service corridor. Jerry¡¯s voice returned in my head, smug. ¡°Miss Charlie, it seems your fame precedes you, after all.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, fame,¡± I muttered. ¡°But you¡¯re not off the hook. We¡¯re having a talk about your new emotions. Spending on credit and forgetting important details. Like taxi being faster, or leaving a quantum key.¡± I walked through the long tunnel, the sound of my heels echoing off the metallic walls. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered occasionally, casting a harsh, sterile glow on the corridor. ¡°Ugh, I always hated these. They always broke. Stupid cheap-ass lights!¡± My steps quickened, a mix of anticipation and dread boiling in my chest. The tunnel finally opened into a spacious room, bustling with activity. Technicians were scattered around, bent over consoles or adjusting the big-ass holo-displays that hovered mid-air, their projections shimmering with data streams, vibrant ads, and event schedules. The hum of machinery and the faint murmur of voices filled the air, giving the space a strangely lively yet mechanical vibe. Then my heart sank. There, standing in the center of it all, was a figure that could only be described as ridiculously over-the-top. The unmistakable glimmer of a new coat¡ªbrighter and more obnoxious than the last one¡ªcaught the light and shimmered like a disco ball, reflecting the millions of lights here, momentarily blinding me as he turned to face me. ¡°Lady Charlie!¡± Riker¡¯s voice boomed across the room, his smile growing impossibly wider as his arms spread theatrically. ¡°Oh, no,¡± I muttered under my breath, shielding my eyes from the glare of his multicolored monstrosity. ¡°How is it shinier than before? Is that even legal?¡± Riker, oblivious to my critique, strutted toward me as if the room were his personal runway. Well, he owns it. His coat sparkled with every step, a concert of shifting hues that screamed, look at me! It was as if someone had taken a rainbow, added glitter, and then decided it wasn¡¯t enough, so they threw in a few hundred LEDs for good measure. ¡°Lady Charlie,¡± he repeated, stopping just short of me, his arms still dramatically outstretched. ¡°How delightful it is to bask in your radiant presence once again! And might I add, you look absolutely stunning today.¡± ¡°Riker,¡± I said flatly, fighting the urge to rub my temples. ¡°I look not-great. And you¡¯re going to cause a traffic accident if you keep wearing coats like that.¡± He laughed, completely undeterred. ¡°Ah, but what is life without a little sparkle, my dear? A dull, colorless existence, I say! But come, come, we have much to discuss and little time before the festivities begin.¡± I sighed, resigning myself to the inevitable chaos. ¡°Fine, but if your coat blinds me, I¡¯m holding you responsible.¡± Riker¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Deal!¡± [Book 1] [58. Glitter and Bandits] Riker led me into a backstage room that was as chaotic as a battlefield¡ªand just as noisy. The air buzzed with a symphony of voices calling out instructions, the hum of equipment, and the occasional sharp laugh from a stressed technician. Makeup artists flitted between cosplayers like caffeinated hummingbirds, their hands moving in a blur. Garment racks crowded the walls, filled with glittering costumes and absurdly over-the-top outfits that looked like they belonged in an Imperial jester fever dream. He guided me to a chair in the corner, directly in front of a vanity mirror surrounded by blinding bulbs. Before I could protest, a bubbly makeup artist practically danced into view, her cheerful energy radiating like sunshine after having ten whiskeys. ¡°Hello, darling! I¡¯m Mia, and we¡¯re going to make you sparkle today!¡± she trilled, snapping open a ridiculously cute pink briefcase plastered with stickers of bunnies, bows, and motivational quotes. If a unicorn exploded, it would look like that case. First Riker, now this¡­ I barely had time to react before she gestured for me to sit. Riker, of course, was already grinning like a proud peacock at my obvious discomfort. ¡°As you¡¯re likely aware, my schedule is quite demanding,¡± Riker began, his tone full of smug self-importance. ¡°To ensure you receive the attention and guidance you deserve, I¡¯d like to introduce you to someone from my team who will assist you throughout the day. Would you prefer that arrangement with someone specific?¡± ¡°The only one I know on your team is the brunette at the side door¡­¡± I muttered under my breath as Mia gently nudged me into the chair. ¡°Splendid!¡± Riker declared with theatrical flair, clearly having heard me. ¡°She¡¯s on her way as we speak!¡± Mia, undeterred by my sour expression, pulled out a hydrating primer from her arsenal of beauty magic. ¡°Close your eyes, sweetie,¡± she instructed in a voice so sweet it should¡¯ve come with a dental warning. The cool gel spread over my skin, refreshing but oddly invasive, as if I were being spritzed by an overly enthusiastic gardener. ¡°Mister Riker! That¡¯s¡­¡± I started, my words muffled by the brush she was now wielding like a painter attacking a canvas. ¡°Very well¡­¡± The primer wasn¡¯t even dry before Mia moved on, dabbing foundation across my face with rapid, precise movements. ¡°You have such lovely features,¡± she cooed, blending expertly. ¡°This¡¯ll just even everything out. You¡¯ll look radiant, darling!¡± Before I could form a snarky reply, Riker¡¯s roaring voice sounded over the chaos. ¡°Ah, behold, the woman of the hour!¡± I groaned inwardly and glanced at the mirror. Standing nervously in the doorway was the brunette from earlier, her wide eyes darting around the room as if expecting an ambush. She clutched her tablet like it was a shield, her knuckles white. ¡°You need me, Mister Riker?¡± she asked timidly, her voice almost a whisper. It was like watching a rabbit trying to negotiate with a lion. ¡°Yes, my dear!¡± Riker called out, his arms spread wide as if addressing an adoring crowd again. ¡°Lady Charlie herself has personally summoned you to be her manager! Can you rise to the occasion and bask in the glory of her request?¡± Mia, meanwhile, moved on to powder, setting my foundation with a flurry of quick pats. ¡°Look at you! Perfect already,¡± she said, dusting off her brush dramatically as if she¡¯d just sculpted the imperial queen herself. ¡°Manager?¡± I muttered under my breath, glaring daggers at Riker through the mirror. But my glare softened when I saw the girl¡¯s expression¡ªequal parts terror and disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ll do great,¡± I said, surprising even myself. Mia handed me a handheld mirror. ¡°See, darling? Gorgeous already!¡± ¡°I can do it, Mister Riker,¡± the girl said, her voice trembling slightly before gaining strength. ¡°It would be my honor!¡± She looked genuinely happy, her nervous energy transforming into a shy but determined smile. ¡°Splendid news!¡± Riker announced, clapping his hands together with theatrical delight. ¡°I¡¯ve got a whirlwind of preparations to attend to, but fear not¡ªI shall see you soon during the grand introduction. Ah, yes, I¡¯ll add it! Toodles for now, darling!¡± And just like that, he spun around, his blinding coat shimmering obnoxiously as he vanished through the doorway. I hadn¡¯t even mustered a response before the light-show that was Riker disappeared. Mia, unbothered by his dramatic exit, moved on to contour and highlight. Her hands worked with the precision of a surgeon, except she was far too cheerful for someone wielding a brush as sharp as her cheekbone goals. ¡°Lady Charlie, my name is¡­ Lola,¡± the girl said hesitantly, her voice wavering. She closed her eyes as if expecting a slap, her shoulders tensed in quiet anticipation. I blinked, caught off guard by her behavior. ¡°Nice to meet you, Lola,¡± I replied, my tone even though my gaze flickered warily toward Mia. She was furiously rummaging through her pink briefcase like a squirrel digging for a long-lost acorn, muttering to herself as stickers of bunnies and rainbows jostled with every motion.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. It was both chaotic and strangely adorable. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t think my name is weird?¡± Lola asked timidly, stepping closer to me, her holo-tablet clutched protectively against her chest. I looked at her, genuinely perplexed. ¡°Why would I? It¡¯s a beautiful name.¡± I meant it, but I couldn¡¯t hide my confusion about why she¡¯d brought it up. Before I could press further, Mia popped back up, triumphantly holding a small compact. ¡°Oh, darling, you are going to love this!¡± Mia declared, brandishing the brightest pink blush I¡¯d ever seen. ¡°This will be perfect for you!¡± I had my doubts, but before I could protest, Mia was already applying it with the enthusiasm of an artist painting a masterpiece. ¡°Lady Charlie,¡± Lola spoke up again, her voice quieter this time, ¡°I know you don¡¯t have the key on you, but do you have¡­ permissions set up? Can you¡­ share them?¡± I glanced at her, momentarily unsure of what she was asking, before Jerry¡¯s voice chimed in smoothly. ¡°I can do that, Miss Charlie. Tell her to open a BT channel.¡± ¡°Of course, Lola,¡± I said with a small smile. ¡°Open your BT channel.¡± Lola¡¯s face lit up with relief, and she began fiddling with her holo-tablet. Meanwhile, Mia leaned in close, her brows furrowed in intense concentration. ¡°Your eyes, darling, they are stunning already, but we¡¯re going to make them pop!¡± She produced a palette of dazzling eyeshadows with shades so vibrant they practically screamed, look at me! Her brush swept across my eyelids with precision, layering shades of icy silver and deep blue. ¡°Almost there!¡± Mia chirped, her voice filled with excitement. ¡°Woah!¡± Lola suddenly jumped slightly, her holo-tablet beeping angrily in her hands. ¡°You¡¯re fast, Lady Charlie! I got it!¡± ¡°Me? Oh, of course, yeah¡­ Lola,¡± I replied with a grin, my eyes watering slightly from the makeup assault. ¡°Oh, uh!¡± Lola stammered, her voice hitching as her wide eyes darted toward the door. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, Lola?¡± I asked, my tone wary as I caught sight of at least ten men strolling into the room. Dressed like forest bandits I¡¯d seen in-game with Katherine, their outfits were a chaotic mix of rugged leathers, faded tunics, and mismatched boots. My body tensed slightly, instincts kicking in. ¡°Lola?¡± ¡°They¡­ They¡¯re here to talk about¡­¡± Lola trailed off, flustered, before blurting out, ¡°Did you know you need to perform a stunt fight in thirty minutes?¡± ¡°Plenty of time, darling,¡± Mia chirped cheerfully from behind me, entirely unbothered by the sudden influx of scruffy strangers. She was already rummaging through her pink briefcase again, stickers wobbling as she muttered something about the perfect eyeliner. Meanwhile, the bandits kept advancing, their boots thudding softly against the polished floor. ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± Lola exclaimed, a nervous laugh bubbling out as she glanced at her holo-tablet. ¡°Mister Riker added it a few minutes ago, just as he left¡­¡± ¡°Of course he did,¡± I muttered, shaking my head as one bandit stepped forward, his confident swagger clearly marking him as their leader. His dark hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and a fake scar ran jaggedly across his jawline, giving him the perfect ¡°generic tough guy¡± vibe. What an excellent actor and costume! ¡°And you are?¡± I asked, keeping my tone neutral but my eyes sharp. ¡°Hello, Sword Queen,¡± he said with a grin that was more cocky than charming. ¡°I¡¯m Bandit Leader, and the boss told us you¡¯d join us during the opening speech.¡± ¡°I¡­ was informed just now, yes,¡± I replied, forcing a polite smile. ¡°Never done that before.¡± Mia, meanwhile, had finally unearthed an eyeliner and swooped back in like a hawk spotting prey. ¡°Hold still, darling,¡± she instructed, her tone bright and unwavering as she began applying the eyeliner with a fevered intensity. The Bandit Leader barely seemed to notice my predicament, his grin widening. ¡°It¡¯s simple¡ªjust follow my lead. We¡¯ll make it look good for the audience.¡± ¡°Great,¡± I muttered through clenched teeth, as Mia¡¯s hand tilted my chin upward. ¡°Because that¡¯s exactly what I need right now¡ªlast-minute choreography with bandits.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so dramatic,¡± Mia said breezily, stepping back to examine her work. ¡°You¡¯ll look fabulous while doing it.¡± The leader looked at me, his confident smirk faltering as his gaze lingered. His mouth opened as if to speak, but closed again just as quickly. Clearly, he was a bit speechless. I would be too if I saw myself. Damn. He cleared his throat, finally managing, ¡°We¡­ uh, we¡¯re using martial arts for the performance, but, you know, with useless flourishes or spins to make it look more dramatic. Can¡­ uh¡­ will you do that with us?¡± I couldn¡¯t help it¡ªI giggled. Mia immediately shot me a scolding look, her perfectly arched brow raised in judgment. ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, holding my hands up to placate her before turning back to the leader. ¡°In a game, that kind of thing actually works, y¡¯know. Superpowers and all that. So yeah, I think I¡¯ll manage.¡± Mia huffed but pulled out a tube of mascara with an air of exaggerated grace, like she was wielding a legendary artifact. She leaned in, her expression intense as she started coating my lashes. Lola¡¯s voice broke the moment, a chirp of nervous excitement. ¡°Mister Riker just added a note¡­ uh¡­¡± She glanced at her holo-tablet, her lips twitching as if holding back laughter. ¡°He wrote, ¡®These people are so laughably incompetent, I might as well roll up my sleeves and do it myself!¡¯¡± I fought the urge to laugh outright, biting my lip instead. ¡°What a sacrifice! Our shy Riker will present to a crowd!¡± I said with mock seriousness, my tone dry. That did it. The room erupted into laughter, even Mia chuckling softly as she finished the mascara and reached for her brow pencil. The Bandit Leader straightened, his smirk returning with renewed confidence. ¡°So yeah, boss,¡± he said, gesturing toward the door, ¡°see you on stage.¡± The rest of the bandits gave awkward bows, their movements stiff but respectful, before filtering out one by one. Mia was already focused on my eyebrows, her pencil moving with the precision of a draftsman sketching blueprints. ¡°Hold still, darling,¡± she murmured, the laughter still lingering faintly in her voice. ¡°We can¡¯t have uneven brows during a big performance.¡± ¡°No, that we don¡¯t want¡­¡± I said, watching as Mia leaned in to finish the last step of her work. With a flourish, she applied a deep color to my lips, her hand steady as she painted them with a precision that felt almost artistic. The result was bold, striking, and¡ªannoyingly¡ªperfect. ¡°There! Now you¡¯re ready to conquer the world, darling!¡± Mia declared, stepping back and admiring her masterpiece with a satisfied grin. Lola shifted nervously beside me, her holo-tablet clutched tightly. ¡°We need to go, Lady Charlie,¡± she said, her tone polite but insistent. ¡°Your dressing room is down the hallway.¡± Mia clasped her hands together in a gesture of exaggerated cuteness, her face lighting up like a proud parent. ¡°Go, go, my darling star! Shine brightly and make them all swoon!¡± she exclaimed, waving us off. I gave her a quick nod, stifling a laugh as Lola ushered me toward the door. The hallway stretched ahead, quiet but buzzing with an undercurrent of anticipation. Lola led the way, her steps quick and purposeful. When we reached a door marked with an ornate sign, very similar to my signature in-game, she hesitated before pushing it open. As the door creaked slightly on its hinges, I stepped inside, and my breath caught. What¡­ is this? [Book 1] [59. Backstage] What¡­ is this? As I glanced around the room, I was speechless. My brain scrambled to catch up with what I was seeing. There, standing proudly on a mannequin, was a dress. But not just any dress. My dress. The one the wish spell had created. ¡°How¡­ is this possible?¡± I asked as I moved toward the dress, the soft click of my heels on the polished floor the only sound in the room. I really do like high heels now, do I? The fabric shimmered under the warm light, its icy blue silk catching every glimmer as if it had been plucked straight from the depths of a frost-covered sovereign cave. The embroidery mirrored the dress patterns I remembered. Lola scurried behind me, her holo-tablet clutched in both hands as she glanced down at its glowing screen. ¡°Let me see¡­¡± she muttered, scrolling furiously as I reached out to touch the dress. My fingers brushed against the fabric, and I let out a relieved breath. It felt¡­ different. More fake and less magical than the one in-game. This is the reality; game is just that. A game. The bodice was soft yet structured, and the skirt¡ªwell, it wasn¡¯t really a skirt. It was one of those clever fake ones, like the ones tennis players wear, blending functionality with elegance. I really need to learn the right terms for clothes, I thought, rolling my eyes at myself. Skorts? Overlays? Whatever. It¡¯s gorgeous, and I¡¯d better not trip wearing it. ¡°It¡¯s a custom job, Mister Riker ordered for you yesterday after watching the video of yours,¡± Lola explained, her eyes darting nervously to her tablet. ¡°His note is¡­ uh¡­¡± She hesitated, glancing up at me uncertainly. I raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on my lips. ¡°Go on,¡± I prompted. Lola nodded, straightening her posture as if preparing for a performance. In an exaggerated imitation of Riker¡¯s over-the-top tone, she recited, ¡°Miss Charlie, you are as dazzling as you are unstoppable. Take this gift, wear it with pride, and show the world the force of nature that you truly are!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± I groaned, shaking my head as a reluctant giggle escaped. ¡°Now I actually have to try hard,¡± I joked, rolling my eyes. ¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll wear it. Something else?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Charlie,¡± Lola said, her voice steadying. ¡°What weapon do you want? All of them are dulled, of course, but they can still hurt.¡± ¡°Lola¡­¡± I said with a playful sigh, tilting my head. ¡°Of course I know that.¡± I paused, considering for a moment, before grinning. ¡°You know what? Get me a rapier and a dagger. If they want a show, let¡¯s give it to them. But I¡¯ll need a shot of whiskey.¡± Sorry, Adam. Lola nodded, her fingers flying over her tablet as I moved toward the dress. The fabric gleamed under the lights, daring me to try it on. With a deep breath, I began unbuttoning my top. Why can¡¯t it be as easy as in the game? ¡°Uh¡­ Miss!¡± Lola squeaked, her cheeks turning a vivid shade of red as she hurriedly averted her gaze. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll go get the weapons and a drink!¡± She bolted from the room, her embarrassment practically trailing behind her like a cloud. The stockings were a nightmare to get into. Whoever thought adding diamonds¡ªno matter how stupidly beautiful¡ªto fabric that stretches was a good idea clearly never had to actually wear them. Every time I tried to pull them up, a diamond caught, scratched, or otherwise conspired to make my life miserable. ¡°Why do people do this?¡± I muttered to myself, wrestling with the delicate fabric. ¡°What kind of sadist invents sparkly leg traps?!¡± Oh wait, it was me who wished it! Stupid past Charlie! After what felt like an eternity of tugging and maneuvering, I finally got them on, wobbling slightly as I adjusted the fit. I¡¯m a genius. A genius who now understands why people pay others to dress them. ¡°You are absolutely stunning, Miss Charlie,¡± Jerry said, his voice warm and almost admiring. ¡°What do you need?¡± I asked suspiciously, tying strings at the back while glancing in the mirror. The tiara even matched the in-game one¡ªexcept it wasn¡¯t magically glued to my head like in the game. ¡°Oh, wait. I¡¯m stupid!¡± I exclaimed, spotting a fastening string tucked discreetly along the band. ¡°There¡¯s a string!¡± I tied it, securing the tiara in place as I muttered, ¡°Game logic makes real life feel unnecessarily complicated.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need¡­ anything?¡± Jerry¡¯s voice sounded genuinely confused. ¡°That was a joke, Jerry,¡± I replied, smoothing out the skirt as I stepped back to admire the dress. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. My jokes are terrible. Or great. It depends who you ask.¡± Just as I finished adjusting the dress, there was a light knock at the door. ¡°Yes! Come in!¡± I called, still fidgeting with the tiara for good measure. Lola walked in hesitantly, her eyes squeezed shut like she was bracing for an explosion. In one hand, she clutched her ever-present tablet; in the other, she held a rapier and a dagger. ¡°Here,¡± she said, extending the weapons awkwardly in my general direction.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Lola, I¡¯m done,¡± I said, taking the weapons and giving her an amused look. Her eyes fluttered open, taking me in. She froze, her mouth opening slightly as if to say something but deciding against it. ¡°You okay there?¡± I asked, testing the balance of the rapier. ¡°You look¡­¡± She paused, visibly flustered before managing, ¡°You look perfect, Lady Charlie.¡± ¡°Well, thank you,¡± I said, twirling the dagger lightly in my hand. ¡°Now let¡¯s hope I fight as well as I look.¡± As we left the room, Lola turned to me, her shoulders slightly hunched. ¡°I failed you, Lady Charlie. I couldn¡¯t get whiskey. We could stop by the bar, maybe?¡± she asked, her tone cautious, as though unsure if she was crossing some invisible line. ¡°At a bar? Of course, what an excellent idea!¡± I said, my grin widening. Lola blinked, clearly uncertain whether I was serious or setting her up for some kind of scolding. ¡°Lady, if what I said is improper¡ª¡± she began, her words rushing out, but I stopped her with a dismissive hand gesture. ¡°Not at all!¡± I said, my grin turning playful. ¡°I meant it, because I like pubs, especially Patrick¡¯s. Great atmosphere, terrible darts players. What¡¯s not to love?¡± Lola only nodded, her expression a mix of surprise and relief as she turned to lead the way down the hall. The corridors were an industrial maze, winding and narrow, with walls that gleamed like brushed steel. Overhead, holo-displays flickered to life, throwing colorful ads onto every available surface. Finally, we emerged into a massive open space that looked like that cavern with a stupid dragon. The room was vast¡ªeasily large enough to hold thousands of people¡ªwith high ceilings. Steel-like beams crisscrossed above, supporting holo-lights that bathed the space in¡­ Ads for Riker¡¯s products. Of course he does that. The bar dominated one side of the room, a long, polished counter that was like liquid chrome. Despite the room¡¯s being weird, the atmosphere felt strangely welcoming. Not like Patrick¡¯s, but¡­ Fine. The hum of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter gave it a lively energy. The clinking of glasses and the faint notes of upbeat music drifting from hidden speakers added the very needed energy. ¡°Well,¡± I said, taking it all in with a cautious smile. ¡°If they want to host a rime-fight club, this would be the perfect place.¡± Lola blinked at me again, unsure whether I was joking. ¡°Let¡¯s find that whiskey,¡± I added, nudging her toward the bar with a wink. Behind the counter stood a droid, its v4 design unmistakable. Great. Just great. ¡°They¡¯ll replace us all one day,¡± I muttered under my breath, half expecting the droid to chime in with a rebuttal. Instead, it tilted its head slightly, its synthetic voice precise. ¡°What customer wants?¡± ¡°Irish whiskey for me, and¡­¡± I trailed off, glancing at Lola, who looked more uncomfortable by the second. ¡°Nothing for me,¡± she said quickly, shaking her head as though the idea of ordering might summon trouble. The droid¡¯s luminous eyes flickered momentarily, and then it replied, ¡°Sadly, the inventory is not stocked with any whisky made in Ireland. Error. I cannot serve nothing.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling in defeat. ¡°Just get me something similar. Fast.¡± I turned to Lola, raising an eyebrow. ¡°We need to hurry, right?¡± She checked her tablet, fingers flicking across the screen with practiced precision. ¡°We¡­ don¡¯t have to rush. Mister Riker postponed it,¡± she said, hesitating slightly. ¡°Oh?¡± I leaned casually against the counter, intrigued. ¡°And why would Riker, of all people, delay his grand spectacle?¡± Lola winced, clearly torn between professionalism and relaying the absurdity of the situation. ¡°Uh¡­ it seems the¡­ What? Uhm¡­portal wasn¡¯t looking great.¡± She glanced at her tablet again for confirmation. ¡°They¡¯re remaking it. ETA is about ten minutes, maybe less.¡± I couldn¡¯t suppress the snort that escaped me. ¡°The portal wasn¡¯t looking great?¡± Lola smiled faintly, though she tried to hide it. ¡°It¡¯s Riker,¡± she said simply, as though that explained everything. ¡°Right,¡± I said with a sigh, turning back to the droid. Its mechanical limbs moved with uncanny precision as it prepared my drink. The droid placed a glass of amber liquid on the counter, its voice devoid of any emotion. ¡°Closest match to request: bourbon from Kentucky. Enjoy.¡± Jerry is so much better. I lifted the glass, examining the light catching in the liquid before taking a sip. Smooth, warm, but not quite the bite of Irish whiskey. ¡°Close enough,¡± I muttered, pushing off the counter. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving before Riker decides he needs a new coat to match the portal.¡± Lola fell in step beside me, her tablet clutched tightly in her hands. ¡°Do you really think they¡¯ll replace us all?¡± she asked suddenly, glancing nervously at the droid as we walked away. Not if I do something about it. ¡°Replace us?¡± I said, swirling the bourbon in my glass. ¡°Nah. We¡¯re too unpredictable. Besides¡­¡± I smirked, tilting my glass toward her. ¡°Can you imagine a droid trying to match Riker¡¯s wardrobe? Total system meltdown.¡± She laughed softly, and for the first time, it didn¡¯t seem so nervous. We reached the backstage just as Riker strode onto the main stage, his blinding coat practically glowing under the lights. The first notes of Rimelion¡¯s theme played, a sweeping orchestral piece that sent a shiver down my spine. Wait¡­ this was the first time people were hearing it, right? Maybe it had been teased in a promo somewhere, but here, in this moment, was the first time people heard it fully. A legendary time indeed. His voice boomed from the sound system, commanding, effortlessly overpowering the swelling music. I glimpsed the audience¡ªrows upon rows of faces, a sea of eager eyes. Thousands of people packed into the arena. No, not thousands¡ªtens of thousands. Thirty thousand, maybe more. And millions on the stream. ¡°I¡­¡± My throat tightened, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. ¡°Damn.¡± My voice hitched, barely audible over the thunderous applause. In one swift motion, I downed the rest of my drink, the liquid burning its way down but doing little to dull the sudden spike of nerves. ¡°This will be hard.¡± From the corner of the backstage, the bandit leader emerged, his presence somehow both commanding and awkward. His gaze darted toward me, his attempt at a confident grin failing miserably. ¡°Worry not¡­ uh, beautiful Sword Queen. We¡­ uh¡­ we don¡¯t have a script, obviously. How good is your improv?¡± I smirked, the alcohol finally blunting the edge of my fear¡ªnot enough to make it vanish, but enough to keep it manageable. ¡°I live by it,¡± I said, my grin widening. The leader visibly relaxed, though his posture remained stiff. Behind him, the rest of his bandit crew trickled in, each one awkwardly trying to greet me with varying degrees of enthusiasm. ¡°Hi, uh, Lady Sword Queen.¡± ¡°Great to meet you, m¡¯lady.¡± One of them even managed a nervous bow, his hat slipping off. It was almost charming, in a chaotic sort of way. ¡°I have an idea¡­¡± the leader said suddenly, his face lighting up with a spark of inspiration. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. ¡°Wait for my signal before you enter, okay? We¡¯ll play it by ear, but the signal is ¡®get him, boys.¡¯ Got it?¡± I raised an eyebrow but nodded, my grin turning mischievous. ¡°Got it. ¡®Get him, boys.¡¯ Simple enough.¡± He nodded, his confidence bolstered by my agreement, then turned to his crew. They all shuffled closer, muttering among themselves as they worked out whatever theatrics they were planning. Meanwhile, I glanced back at the stage, where Riker¡¯s voice soared over the roaring crowd. The energy out there was electric, a tangible pulse of excitement that seeped even into the backstage. This was going to be chaotic. And I was ready for it. [Book 1] [60. The Stage is Set] As we waited, the muffled roar of the crowd seeped through the walls, a constant reminder of the spectacle unfolding on the other side. My grip tightened on the rapier¡¯s hilt, the cool metal grounding me as I tried not to think too much about the chaos waiting for me. That¡¯s when a man approached us, his attire instantly recognizable as one of Riker¡¯s¡ªprofessional, complete with the same emblem Lola had on her jacket. His expression was neutral, almost bored, as he handed me two strange contraptions. ¡°Sword Queen, this is your frost,¡± he said curtly, offering no further explanation before walking off like this was the most normal thing in the world. I turned the device over in my hands, inspecting it. It was small, and clearly custom-made. A metallic mechanism with a small canister attached, the craftsmanship that screamed money. A thin string extended from the base, meant to fasten to a finger, while the rest of it slid neatly into a sleeve to stay hidden. ¡°My¡­ frost?¡± I muttered, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Curiosity got the better of me, and I slipped one contraption onto my arm, fastening the string to my index finger. With a cautious tug, a small stream shot out, arcing gracefully toward the nearest wall. When it made contact, the surface shimmered with an icy sheen, frost creeping outward in jagged, crystalline patterns. For a second, I was impressed. ¡°Woah¡­¡± I murmured, stepping closer to the wall. Tentatively, I reached out to touch the frost. It wasn¡¯t cold. Not even close. It was fake¡ªjust some kind of visual effect. The texture was smooth and dry, more like frosted glass than real ice. ¡°What?¡± I blinked, baffled. Lola, ever vigilant with her tablet, scanned the screen with a resigned sigh. ¡°Mister Riker¡­ also ordered it,¡± she said, her voice betraying annoyance. ¡°But of course, he forgot to mention it. I had to dig through the manifest to find it.¡± She mumbled under her breath, clearly directing her frustration at no one in particular. ¡°Why is he making it so hard¡­¡± I smirked, suppressing a laugh as I fiddled with the mechanism, the string tugging slightly as I adjusted it. ¡°Riker does love his surprises,¡± I said, dryly. ¡°I don¡¯t have mic though. How does it work?¡± Lola shot me a look that was equal parts sympathy and exhaustion. ¡°They have a directional microphone, lady. And¡­ I think he just loves chaos.¡± ¡°Same thing,¡± I replied with a shrug, testing the frost effect again. The shimmering faux ice glinted under the backstage lights, and I couldn¡¯t help but admire it. Even if it was fake, it looked damn cool. ¡°Well,¡± I said, grinning as I flexed my fingers to get a feel for the mechanism. ¡°If I¡¯m going to cause a scene, might as well look good doing it.¡± Lola¡¯s lips twitched, but she stayed focused on her tablet. I glanced up, my gaze locking onto the solid steel beams that arched gracefully over the stage like the ribs of some giant metallic beast. ¡°Say, Lola?¡± I asked, tapping one beam with my knuckles. A resonant clang echoed, promising both strength and the inevitability of a terrible idea. Lola blinked, her focus breaking from her ever-present tablet. ¡°Yes, lady?¡± I gave the beam another testing nudge, a sly grin forming. ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll hold my weight?¡± Lola followed my gaze upward, her face going pale as her brain caught up to mine. ¡°I¡­ Please, I don¡¯t, Lady¡­¡± Her plead was half-formed and far too late. My fingers were already gripping the cool metal edge, my heels finding purchase against the vertical support as I tested the sturdiness. ¡°Sturdy enough,¡± I declared with a laugh, adjusting my hold and hauling myself up. ¡°Wish me luck!¡± The beam was cold and slick beneath my hands, but years of game parkour instincts kicked in, guiding my movements. I braced my foot against a crossbar, pushing myself higher with surprising ease. Each movement felt instinctual, my body adjusting to the rhythm of the climb. Beneath me, Lola¡¯s panicked voice echoed faintly. ¡°Lady Charlie, please! You¡¯ll fall, and¡ªoh, God¡ªwhat are you doing?¡± The backstage noise below blurred into a distant hum, a mix of frantic voices and clattering equipment. I was too focused to respond, my mind calculating every grip and foothold like it was a puzzle. The height didn¡¯t faze me; the excitement coursing through my veins drowned out the slight tremor of nerves. By the time I reached the top, I was a good five meters above the stage. The beams were wider up here, their intersecting patterns creating a lattice that felt both solid and precarious. The holo-lights, massive fixtures mounted on swiveling rigs, hummed softly as they cast their glow down onto the stage. I crouched carefully, my hands gripping the cool steel as I took in the view. The vantage point was exhilarating¡ªa sprawling sea of seats stretching into the distance, tens of thousands of people watching a light show that Riker was. ¡°Okay,¡± I muttered to myself, steadying my breath. ¡°Not bad, Charlie. Not bad at all.¡± Below, I spotted Lola craning her neck, her expression a mix of awe and abject terror. She mouthed something I couldn¡¯t hear over the din, but I could guess it was a creative string of pleads to get down. I ignored her, my grin widening as I reached out, balancing myself against the beam. Up here, in the thick of the lights and structure, I felt oddly invincible¡ªlike a rogue in their element, poised for something bold and ridiculous.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Perfect. It was at that moment that the contraption behind Riker whirred to life, and I couldn¡¯t help but stare as it conjured the most amazing holo-image I¡¯d ever seen. Even in the future. A shimmering portal sprang into existence, its edges glowing with faint, pulsing runes that seemed to ripple like water. Beyond the portal was an idyllic countryside, painted in vibrant greens and golds, with rolling hills and a cobblestone path winding toward a distant, quaint village. Even from up here, it looked real. The real that made you question if you¡¯d slipped into the game yourself. My mouth hung open in sheer awe as I took it in, and judging by the faint gasps and murmurs from the crowd below, I wasn¡¯t the only one floored by the spectacle. As the portal stabilized, the fake bandits darted toward it. At first, I wondered what they were doing¡ªthen I noticed the clever trick. A nearly invisible fabric curtain hung behind the holo-portal, seamlessly rendering them into the scene as they crossed through. Their figures transformed into holographic projections within the countryside. Even up close, it was hard to tell it wasn¡¯t real. They leaped through the portal, their movements fluid and convincing, the polish you¡¯d expect from a triple-A title but elevated to a level I¡¯d never seen before. ¡°¡®Tis a robbery!¡± the bandit leader bellowed, his voice carrying over the stunned silence. He planted himself squarely in the center of the stage, glancing around like he owned the place, his eyes finally resting on Riker. ¡°You! Have some money?¡± Riker, playing his part, backed away dramatically, his coat flaring like a hero in a poorly written novella. ¡°I¡­ What? What in the world is this? A portal¡ªfrom Rimelion?¡± The leader sneered, his bandits fanning out behind him in a ragged line. They struck exaggerated poses, weapons drawn, adding just the right amount of theatrical flair. ¡°You look rich enough,¡± the leader growled, stepping forward with a menacing swagger. He raised an arm, signaling his crew. ¡°Get ¡®im, boys!¡± My heart quickened. That was the signal. ¡°Here we go,¡± I whispered to myself, adrenaline surging as I tightened my grip on the beam for one last moment. Then, with a grin, I sprang into action. The world seemed to slow as I leapt from the beam, the cool rush of air whipping past me as the stage hurtled closer. The lights cast long, dramatic shadows, and I could hear the faint, collective gasp from the audience as they spotted me midair. The landing was perfect¡ªor as perfect as a drop from five meters could be. I hit the ground with a controlled roll, my dress flaring slightly as I straightened in one fluid motion. My rapier glinted under the stage lights as I unsheathed it, the dagger in my other hand catching a sharper gleam. ¡°This is your end, light mage!¡± I bellowed, my voice dripping with mock fury as I leveled my rapier toward Riker. His face twisted into the perfect mask of bewilderment, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. I could practically hear the gears in his head grinding to keep up with whatever absurd narrative I¡¯d just thrown him into. ¡°Uh, this is a mistake!¡± he stammered, stepping back dramatically and holding up his hands as if to plead for mercy. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m the victim here! Look! Behind you!¡± He pointed with exaggerated urgency. I barked out a laugh, loud and theatrical. ¡°You think I¡¯ll fall for such a transparent trick?!¡± The sarcasm was thick in my voice, my grin sharp. But just as I was about to press forward, a noise¡ªa subtle scrape of metal against leather¡ªprickled the hairs on the back of my neck. Oh. My instincts flared. I spun on my heel in a sharp 180, rapier and dagger ready, just in time to meet a bandit rushing toward me, his mace already swinging in a brutal arc. His stance was overcommitted¡ªsloppy, almost comical. The best for this. ¡°Ah, I see!¡± I chirped, stepping into the attack. My dagger shot up, catching the mace¡¯s handle with a metallic clang, redirecting its weight harmlessly to the side. The force of the swing sent the bandit stumbling forward, his eyes wide with surprise beneath his hood. ¡°Alright, boys,¡± I said and turned to face the rest of the bandits, my posture loose and confident. The lights above caught the polished steel of my rapier, sending a sharp glint toward the crowd. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± The bandit leader pivoted toward me, his face splitting into a dramatic snarl. He straightened, puffing out his chest as though trying to reclaim his stolen authority. ¡°Ah, the Sword Queen herself,¡± he said, drawing out each word with mock reverence. He tipped an imaginary hat, his grin equal parts admiration and menace. ¡°You¡¯re in for it now, lass!¡± The audience erupted, their roars echoing through the space and sending a thrill down my spine. From this vantage point, I could see the sea of faces, their expressions ranging from delight to awe. The energy was electric, pulsing with the raw excitement of a crowd that wanted¡ªno, demanded¡ªa show. Showtime. The first bandit lunged at me, his sword arcing toward my side in a reckless swing. Too predictable. With a fluid sidestep, I let the blade slice harmlessly through the air where I¡¯d just been. My rapier flicked out in response, the flat of the blade smacking his wrist with a satisfying thwap. He yelped, his grip faltering, and stumbled back. ¡°Next,¡± I said, twirling my rapier with a flourish. Another charged from my left, his axe raised high, aiming to cleave me in two. I pivoted sharply, my heels clicking against the stage in a rhythmic counterpoint to his aggression. His downward swing came crashing down, but I slid to the side with practiced ease, his blade clanging against the stage floor. My dagger flashed, striking the haft of the axe and twisting it from his hands. He scrambled backward, hands raised in surrender. A third bandit tried his luck from behind, his spear thrusting toward my back. Without even turning, I parried it over my shoulder with my rapier, the blade humming as it deflected the spearhead. I would never do that in a proper fight¡­ But here? Perfect. The move left him off balance, his stance faltering. I spun gracefully, the edge of my dress flaring out, and jabbed the point of my rapier toward his chest¡ªnot a strike, but a warning. He froze, eyes wide. The crowd roared in approval, their cheers like a tidal wave crashing against the stage. The remaining bandits exchanged wary glances, their confidence visibly waning. ¡°She¡¯s too fast!¡± one muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. ¡°She¡¯s playing with us!¡± another hissed, his gaze darting to their leader for reassurance. The leader snarled, frustration clear on his face. ¡°Enough! Take her together!¡± Three bandits stepped forward in unison, their weapons gleaming under the stage lights. One came at me with a sword, another with a mace, and the third with dual daggers, their movements coordinated to overwhelm me. Finally, a challenge. The swordsman struck first, his blade arcing in a calculated swing aimed at my midsection. I stepped back, the motion light and effortless, and his blade sliced through nothing but air. Before he could recover, the mace-wielder came in from the side, his weapon crashing down with brutal force. My dagger shot up to meet it, deflecting the strike just enough to throw him off balance. The third bandit darted in low, his twin daggers aiming for my legs. I leapt back with a graceful twist. My footwork precise, and his blades slashed at the space where I¡¯d been. As I landed, my rapier struck out, nicking the edge of his sleeve¡ªnot a blow, but a reminder that I could¡¯ve landed one if I wanted to. They regrouped, panting, their movements now more cautious. The audience, sensing their growing desperation, laughed and cheered even louder. ¡°Aw, come on!¡± I called, my grin sharp. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± The three bandits hesitated, playing as if their confidence was visibly shaken. One glanced nervously at the leader, who was watching with his arms crossed and a grimace of irritation. The crowd¡¯s excitement grew, their chants of ¡°Sword Queen! Sword Queen!¡± echoing like a battle hymn. The leader finally barked, ¡°Finish her, or I¡¯ll finish you!¡± [Book 1] [61. Dance of Blades] The bandits circled me now, their weapons poised like predators closing in on their prey. The roar of the crowd became a dull hum in the background as adrenaline sharpened my senses. Every clang of their steel against mine reverberated, every bead of sweat that slipped down my spine reminding me how real this performance felt. ¡°Four against one,¡± I quipped, shifting my stance to face them all. ¡°What happened to chivalry?¡± The leader barked a laugh from the sidelines. ¡°This isn¡¯t chivalry, lass¡ªit¡¯s survival!¡± Their first move came from my left¡ªa mace swung in a deadly arc. I ducked just in time. The rush of air brushed my cheek as it narrowly missed. My dagger flicked out instinctively, rattling against the mace and forcing the bandit back. Before I could recover, the swordsman on my right lunged, his blade aiming for my ribs. I twisted, the skirts of my dress flaring as I blocked him with my rapier, the steel screeching as it slid against his. But the others weren¡¯t waiting their turn. A dagger-wielding bandit came at me from behind, his blade slicing downward. I spun, raising my dagger in a frantic block just as the edge met mine with a teeth-rattling clang. My arms trembled under the strain, and my footing slipped slightly. The crowd gasped. The fourth one¡ªa spear-wielding brute¡ªused the distraction to thrust at my exposed side. My body reacted before my brain could catch up, leaping backward and out of range. My heart pounded in my chest as I reset my stance, my breath coming faster now. ¡°Still breathing!¡± I called out, grinning despite the pressure. My voice was tight, but I couldn¡¯t help the tremor that betrayed how much effort I was putting in. They weren¡¯t playing anymore, and neither could I. The bandits came at me in unison this time, a whirlwind of blades and blunt force. My rapier darted left to block one strike, my dagger sweeping right to parry another. My heels slid against the stage floor as I spun, narrowly avoiding the spear aimed for my midsection. Every move was precise, deliberate¡ªbut frantic, too. My arms burned, and my breath came in quick gasps, but I couldn¡¯t let it show. This is for show, Charlie, I reminded myself, forcing my lips into a sly smile. Theatrics are key. Then I saw it¡ªa strike I couldn¡¯t avoid. The swordsman came in high while the mace-wielder swung low. My rapier was already locked with another blade, my dagger busy deflecting a spear. I was cornered. Perfect. My lips curved into a smirk as I glanced at the incoming attacks. ¡°Alright, boys,¡± I drawled, ¡°time for the proper fight.¡± I flicked my wrists, and the mechanisms hidden in my sleeves hissed softly. Frost shot out in twin arcs, shimmering under the lights like crystalline magic. The streams hit three bandits square on¡ªsword, mace, and spear alike freezing mid-swing. The bandits froze too, gasping in mock horror as they staggered backward, their movements exaggerated and theatrical. One collapsed to his knees, clutching his weapon as if it had truly been iced over. Another spun, arms flailing, before dramatically falling to the ground. The crowd erupted, their cheers a tidal wave of excitement. The leader, however, was less amused. ¡°Enough of this nonsense!¡± he roared, drawing his sword with a flourish. He stepped forward, his boots striking the stage like thunder. ¡°Let¡¯s see how your frost fares against me, lass!¡± ¡°Gladly,¡± I said, raising both hands again. My movements were slower now, deliberate, as if I was summoning every last ounce of power. The frost hissed and surged, wrapping around his blade and creeping up to pommel. The metal shimmered with frostbite, and the leader staggered back, shaking his arm as if trying to shake off the cold. I feigned a gasp, lowering my hands and letting them fall to my sides, fingers trembling. The leader stepped forward, his boots thudding against the stage, the sound amplified by the tense hush that had fallen over the crowd. With deliberate precision, he smashed his massive two-handed sword to the poor stage. The blade rang, its sheer size and weight forcing all the ice away. I love this! Judging by the way he twirled it with ease before settling into a poised stance, this man was no amateur. He gave a flourishing bow, the exaggerated motion sending the edges of his tattered bandit cape fluttering. ¡°Sword Queen,¡± he said, his voice full of respect. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you truly deserve that title.¡± He wanted theatrics? Yay! Let¡¯s give the people a show. I curtsied in response, sweeping my rapier down in an elegant arc. My skirt picked wind from stage fans and flared dramatically, the faint shimmer of the frost-dusted diamonds catching the stage holo-lights. ¡°Let¡¯s dance, shall we?¡± He lunged, his sword a blur of silver as it came down in a wide arc. I sidestepped, my movements quick, the edge of his blade slicing the air inches from my shoulder. My rapier flicked up to parry his follow-up strike, the clang of metal on metal ringing out like a bell.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. For all his showboating, his skill was undeniable. His strikes were powerful, his movements fluid, each one mixed with a deliberate precision that spoke of years of practice. He swung his sword in wide arcs, each motion designed to not only attack but to look good at doing it. He wasn¡¯t just fighting¡ªhe was performing. And so was I. My rapier darted out, a gleaming extension of my arm, intercepting his blade and redirecting it with the same flourish he used. The crowd gasped as I spun, my skirts flaring out like the petals of a flower in full bloom. Every step, every strike, was calculated to not just fight but to entertain. ¡°You¡¯re not half bad,¡± I said, grinning as I sidestepped another sweeping attack, the wind of his blade ruffling the fabric of my sleeves. ¡°For a bandit.¡± He barked a laugh, stepping back to reassess. ¡°And you¡¯re not half bad¡ªfor royalty.¡± The tension crackled between us as the battle continued, neither of us gaining the upper hand. His strikes were relentless, each one pushing me closer to the edge of the stage. My rapier moved like lightning, blocking and deflecting, each clang of our blades echoing through the air. He even forced me to use imperial arts, at least, which I could manage with a mortal body and a dagger. But he wasn¡¯t just strong¡ªhe was smart. His attacks became more calculated, his footwork a blend of precision and flair. I met him move for move, matching his over-the-top style with my own. I leapt, twirled, and spun, my dress adding drama to every motion. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline keeping my movements sharp and my focus laser-precise. We circled each other, breathing hard, our blades locked in a shimmering cross as we faced off. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine respect breaking through the performance. ¡°You¡¯re better than I expected,¡± he admitted. I smirked, pushing against his sword and forcing him back a step. ¡°You¡¯re not the first to underestimate me.¡± The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement feeding the fire of our duel. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. This wasn¡¯t just a fight anymore¡ªit was a clash of skill and showmanship. And I was loving every second. Our blades sang through the air, a relentless chorus of clashing steel and reverberating tension. But for all his flair, I could see the cracks. The slight overextension of his swings, the way his weight shifted too quickly in his eagerness to land a blow¡ªit was there, the opening I needed. ¡°Careful now,¡± I said with mock concern as I stepped smoothly out of the path of his sword. ¡°You¡¯ll throw your back out swinging like that.¡± His laugh was breathless, tinged with frustration as he adjusted, aiming a precise overhead strike that I sidestepped with ease. My imperial footwork kept me just beyond his reach, my movements a dance of controlled precision. Every step was deliberate, each angle calculated to keep him chasing shadows. The crowd¡¯s cheers swelled, their excitement fueling my energy. The leader¡¯s sword arced wide, his strength driving it forward in an over-committed swing. Too fast, too much. And just like that, he was mine. I sidestepped again, slipping inside his reach with a spin that sent my dress flaring dramatically. My rapier flicked out, not to strike, but to guide his blade further off course, leaving him wide open. His eyes widened. I moved to his side, close enough that I could see the beads of sweat on his forehead. ¡°Pardon me,¡± I quipped, grinning as I raised both hands. The frost erupted from my hidden mechanisms, a dazzling stream of icy mist that bathed him in shimmering white. The crowd roared as the bandit leader staggered, his laughter booming despite the frosty facade enveloping him. ¡°Well danced!¡± he shouted, his voice echoing across the stage as he dropped to one knee. Frost clung to his faux-bandit armor, sparkling in the stage holo-lights, as he nodded in genuine admiration. ¡°You¡¯re better than I expected, Sword Queen.¡± I twirled my rapier with a flourish, pointing its tip to the ground as I struck a dramatic pose. ¡°Better? I¡¯m just getting started.¡± He let out one final hearty laugh, clutching his chest as if mortally wounded. ¡°Ah¡­ the end¡­ has come!¡± With an exaggerated groan, he toppled backward, his sword clattering to the stage as he ¡°died¡± with flair. The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their applause thunderous as the leader¡¯s comrades rushed forward to drag his ¡°fallen¡± form back through the shimmering portal. I stood there, catching my breath, my heart pounding from the effort and exhilaration. Each inhale felt like fire in my lungs, but I wouldn¡¯t let that show. Not here. Not now. The roar of the crowd was deafening, a tidal wave of cheers and applause that made the floor beneath me tremble. The energy in the air was electric, crackling with an intensity that I couldn¡¯t ignore. I glanced sideways at the stage mirror, catching my reflection¡ªand almost hiccuped. The stage holo-lights hit my tiara just right, scattering tiny rainbows like starlight against the rich velvet backdrop. The faux diamonds sparkled brilliantly, framing my flushed face like some kind of cosmic crown. My hair, still perfectly coiffed despite the chaos, framed my face in a way that made me do a double take. And the dress¡ªoh, the dress¡ªclung to my form like it had been poured on, the swirling frost pattern imprinted into the fabric, catching the light with every breath. Was that me? I looked¡­ unreal. Like something out of a dream. It¡¯s incredible what a dress, a tiara, and a gallon of stage makeup can do. I could¡¯ve conquered kingdoms looking like this. I could¡¯ve¡ª My lips quirked upward, my confidence swelling as the reality of the moment hit me. With a theatrical flourish, I raised my rapier high, its blade gleaming as it caught the holo-light again. The crowd¡¯s cheers surged, their voices blending into a symphony of adoration. For this moment, for this fleeting second, I was the Sword Queen. And damn, it felt good. Sorry, my old body, but you are only a distant dream. I¡¯m Charlie. ¡°And so it has started, dear people!¡± I called out, my voice carrying effortlessly over the cheers. ¡°Come and challenge me in the Sword Queen Challenge!¡± I grinned, the grin that dared anyone bold enough to step forward. ¡°Can you dethrone me?¡± I winked for good measure, the cheeky gesture earning a fresh wave of applause. The holographic portal shimmered behind me, still crackling with its ethereal glow, as if daring the next contender to emerge. But I wasn¡¯t done yet. No, the performance had only just begun. ¡°And for those who can¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t despair!¡± I gestured with a dramatic sweep of my rapier. ¡°There is a crisis in Rimelion! At the edge of the human empire, rebellion brews! The elven Queen Irwen has risen in arms, and the first epic Rimelion battle is on the horizon!¡± My voice rose, the weight of the words amplified by the subtle hum of the stage effects behind me. I pivoted, my dress flaring once more, the silky fabric catching the breeze from unseen stage fans. The holographic displays around the arena flickered to life, showcasing scenes of verdant elven forests, towering fortresses, and the ominous shadow of war. Woah, Riker¡­ How did you¡­ I was glaring at it, not expecting it to come up at all. ¡°Come to my East Fortification to take part and save the empire!¡± I finally managed, pointing dramatically toward the display. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your respawn tokens, so you can travel even while offline. The empire needs heroes, and the battlefield awaits!¡± The audience¡¯s excitement surged again, their cheers blending into a noise of anticipation and eagerness. Then I felt it¡ªthe faint change of colors. I didn¡¯t need to turn to know what it was. The glow intensified slightly, casting a faint golden light that mingled with the cool blues of the portal. I sensed Riker¡¯s presence even before his booming voice joined the fray; the man arriving like an over-enthusiastic sunbeam breaking through a cloud. ¡°Ah, what a moment, dear people!¡± he exclaimed, his voice gilded with his usual flair. ¡°Thank you, oh illustrious Sword Queen, for your impeccably timed rescue!¡± Riker¡¯s voice boomed, his arms spread wide as he basked in the crowd¡¯s adoration. ¡°But, might I suggest for next time¡ªplease don¡¯t mistake me for a light mage. It¡¯s not magic, you see; it¡¯s simply my radiant personality shining through!¡± The crowd erupted in laughter, their amusement mingling with his absurd flamboyance. I couldn¡¯t help it¡ªa giggle escaped me, light and unguarded. With a slight bow to the audience, I pivoted again and made haste to the backstage, my steps light with satisfaction. Behind the curtains, the relative quiet wrapped around me like a calm night at Patrick¡¯s. I exhaled, finally letting my shoulders relax, a small, content smile tugging at my lips. [Book 1] [62. The Truth Needs a Drink] In the backstage, I found Lola waiting with a smile so bright it could have powered the stage lights. ¡°Lady Charlie!¡± she squealed, practically bouncing toward me. Before I could react, she wrapped me in an enthusiastic hug, her ever-present tablet squished awkwardly between us. It beeped in protest, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°You were phenomenal! That was just amazing!¡± she beamed, her joy radiating like the crowd¡¯s cheers still echoing in my ears. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± I panted, still catching my breath, my chest rising and falling as I tried to steady myself. Sweat prickled at the nape of my neck, and the faint scent of stage dust mixed with the lingering tang of my frost effect still clinging to the air. ¡°It was quite amazing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± I let out a laugh, the sound a mix of triumph and exhaustion. The soft clink of boots on the metallic floor drew my attention. ¡°I have to tap my hat,¡± said a familiar voice, warm and full of good-natured respect. I turned, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face, and there they were¡ªthe bandits. The leader stood front and center, his grin crooked but genuine, his tunic still slightly damp from my frost attack. ¡°You are quite talented with that rapier,¡± he added, tipping an imaginary hat. The glint in his eyes revealed his feeling. I nodded at him with the same respect. The other bandits, still in their theatrical costumes, nodded enthusiastically. ¡°It was so cool,¡± one piped up, his voice tinged with awe. A faint sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his exaggerated stage makeup had smudged just slightly, adding to his rogue aesthetic. ¡°Well, you were also great!¡± I said, flashing them a broad grin and running a hand through my now-tangled hair. ¡°You had me hard-pressed at one point there. And let me just say¡ªlooking dashing while doing it? Like, wow!¡± I couldn¡¯t resist a little bounce on the balls of my feet, the residual adrenaline giving me a burst of energy. They all stared at me. To my utter delight, then they all blushed at my compliment, their earlier bravado melting away into sheepish smiles. The leader rubbed the back of his neck, his swagger replaced with an almost boyish charm. ¡°Good job,¡± I added, giving them a quick thumbs-up, my grin widening. The sincerity in my voice must have caught them off guard because one of them actually muttered a ¡°thank you¡± like he¡¯d just received a medal. Lola cleared her throat, her professional mask sliding back into place, though the hint of a smile still lingered on her lips. ¡°Lady?¡± she prompted, her tone brisk yet warm. ¡°Yeah?¡± I muttered, distracted as I fumbled with the frost gadget still strapped to my hand. The mechanism was awesome but annoyingly complicated to remove without a second hand. ¡°I really need to find the name for this thing,¡± I grumbled under my breath, twisting my wrist awkwardly. The bandits, sensing the end of their moment, turned to leave. Each offered polite farewells, their theatrical personas softened by genuine respect. ¡°I hope to play with you again,¡± the leader added, his tone tinged with hope as he gave a bow. The bow caught my attention¡ªlow and deliberate, with an air of refinement. It wasn¡¯t just a random gesture. In the Imperial court, this kind of bow signified equality, an acknowledgment of mutual standing. Was he playing in the court? I tilted my head, intrigued, but he was already stepping away. ¡°Goodbye,¡± I said with a small wave, filing the moment away for later. ¡°Mister Riker would like to know if you want to attend any event?¡± Lola¡¯s voice brought me back to the present. She glanced at her tablet, her brow furrowing slightly as she waited for my answer. ¡°With him?¡± I asked, half-distracted by the frost gadget still refusing to budge. ¡°No,¡± she clarified, shaking her head. ¡°He has other matters to attend to.¡± ¡°Well, then no,¡± I said firmly, finally unclipping the stubborn mechanism with a triumphant little twist. ¡°I need to find my friends.¡± Lola nodded, her professional demeanor softening slightly. ¡°Very well, Lady Charlie. I¡¯ll let him know.¡± ¡°Can you help me? I need to find Lucas¡ª¡± I started, only to be interrupted by the ever-chipper voice of Jerry. ¡°I can share the info with her,¡± he said, his tone way too smug for an AI. Lola raised an eyebrow. I cleared my throat, trying to salvage the moment. ¡°I mean¡­ sharing the details you need to know¡­¡± My voice trailed off as Jerry chimed in again. ¡°Done,¡± he announced with the efficiency of a machine, which, well, he was. Lola blinked, glancing at her tablet as it pinged. ¡°Oh, that was¡­ fast,¡± she murmured, scrolling through the data. ¡°Now,¡± I said, flashing a quick grin, ¡°let¡¯s get going before Riker decides I need to juggle flaming swords next.¡± ¡°Actually, Lady, there is the person¡ªLucas,¡± Lola said, her voice uncertain, like she was about to confess to some horrible crime. ¡°He said he was your friend and wanted to enter backstage, but he wasn¡¯t the first. To¡­ claim that. We had about fifty others. Sorry, I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± The way she looked at me, you¡¯d think she was about to get thrown into a dungeon. Honestly, I¡¯m not the fourth prince to do that sort of thing. ¡°Ah, Lola!¡± I waved off her panic with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just find him now. Everything¡¯s fine.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Yes, lady.¡± Relief washed over her face as she nodded rapidly. ¡°Boys, let¡¯s go.¡± And then, out of nowhere, seven bodyguards appeared, flanking us like a wall of muscle and matching uniforms. I blinked, my gaze sweeping over them, their serious expressions almost comical in contrast to the situation. I crossed my arms, one eyebrow raised as I looked at Lola. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± She straightened, all business now. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve performed, you¡¯ve been upgraded to top VIP status. AIs suggested additional help to handle fans and ensure you meet your schedule¡ªor, uh, your actual goals. Your schedule is currently free for the next five hours.¡± ¡°Oh, well,¡± I said dryly, gesturing vaguely at the security team. ¡°And here I thought I¡¯d have to fend off hordes of adoring fans with my rapier alone.¡± Lola blinked, clearly unsure if I was joking. ¡°It¡¯s protocol, Lady.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I sighed and turned toward the nearest corridor. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Lucas before the AI decides I need an armored escort, too.¡± ¡°Uhm, lady?¡± Lola¡¯s voice was hesitant. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked over my shoulder, still moving. ¡°He¡¯s waiting that way,¡± she said, pointing toward a completely different corridor. Without breaking my stride, I pirouetted in place, the skirt of my dress flaring dramatically. ¡°I knew that,¡± I said with a grin, landing gracefully. ¡°Just testing you.¡± Lola blinked, clearly aghast. ¡°Yes, lady,¡± she murmured, clutching her tablet as though it might provide her moral support. It didn¡¯t take long before I spotted Lucas leaning casually against a wall, his eyes glued to his phone, the glow from the holo-screen painting his face. As I approached, the security team instinctively parted the crowd like I was royalty¡ªwhich, okay, maybe in a sense I was, but it still felt weird. ¡°Lucas!¡± I called out, my voice carrying through the hum of the bustling corridor. He looked up, startled, and as his gaze landed on me, I caught his subtle double-take. He wore his usual casual attire: jeans, a graphic t-shirt, and that awful jacket he¡¯s insisted on keeping since high school. It was a disaster of clashing colors and questionable fabric choices. I¡¯d criticized it a thousand times before, and yet, there it was, still hanging on like an unshakable curse. Stupid Lucas, never listening. When I reached him, his mouth opened, but no words came out. I raised an eyebrow, waiting. ¡°Well?¡± I asked, stepping closer to wrap him in a quick hug. ¡°Ch-Charlie,¡± he stammered, his voice uncharacteristically shaky. ¡°I¡­ I saw the fight, so I shouldn¡¯t be surprised, but¡­ damn.¡± He ran a hand awkwardly through his hair. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ beautiful.¡± A grin tugged at my lips, cheeky and unrelenting. ¡°Only beautiful?¡± I teased, tilting my head. ¡°Where¡¯s the poet I know? Did your muse abandon you?¡± His cheeks flushed faintly, and he laughed, the sound a little rough around the edges. ¡°You know me. I¡¯ve got a talent for screwing up timing.¡± I smirked, crossing my arms. ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯re consistent, at least. I¡¯ll give you that.¡± ¡°So, you saw my fight, right? It was awesome!¡± I grinned, the adrenaline from the performance still making my voice a little louder than necessary. ¡°I didn¡¯t know I had a knack for it, but apparently, I do¡­¡± I leaned in closer, dropping my voice to a whisper. ¡°And¡­ thanks for this body. I¡­ prefer being me, Charlie, than being John.¡± Lucas stared at me, his expression shifting from surprise to something unreadable. His mouth opened, but no words came out at first. Then, he finally managed, ¡°Charlie¡­ I¡­¡± His gaze dropped to the floor, and his tone turned troubled. ¡°I need to tell you something about Charlie¡­¡± I raised a hand, cutting him off before he could go further. ¡°Stop. If it¡¯s what I think it is¡­¡± I paused, exhaling slowly. ¡°I¡¯d need a drink.¡± Ever since that dream¡ªthat dream with Lucas¡ªI¡¯d been wondering what the connection was. Why it all felt so¡­ tangled. And then there were the other dreams that followed, so vivid. I told myself they were just that¡ªdreams. Because otherwise¡­ Well, it added a point for Riker¡¯s theory. And maybe a slap for Lucas. I turned to Lola, who was standing nearby, watching the exchange. ¡°Is there somewhere we can drink and have some privacy to talk?¡± She nodded quickly, eager to assist. ¡°Of course, Lady! The bar has private booths. They aren¡¯t soundproof, but you should still be able to talk without shouting.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± I said, brushing past Lucas and gesturing for him to follow. I glanced back at him, catching the unease on his face. ¡°Come on. If this is going to be a thing, we¡¯re not doing it here in the hallway.¡± He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and followed me, his footsteps heavier than usual. When I attended Rim-cons in the past, it had always been a nightmare. Being swept along in the sea of people, jostled at every step, stuck behind groups that refused to move as they posed for pictures or chatted endlessly with friends¡ªit was chaos. Now? The security team paved the way like a small army parting the seas, yes. But even they couldn¡¯t stop the occasional fan. ¡°Ice Princess!¡± a ten-year-old dressed as a swordsman shouted near my ear, his excitement loud enough to leave a ringing. ¡°Can I take a selfie?¡± He was at least the tenth. ¡°Sure¡­¡± I sighed, resigning myself to the inevitable as I crouched slightly to fit into the frame. I forced a smile for the camera. Why? Because I remembered the overwhelming joy I felt years ago when I got a selfie with the Mage-Killer. Four more selfies later¡ªand a growing ache in my cheeks¡ªwe finally reached the private booth area. The bar had alcoves along the far wall bathed in neon pink holo-light. The lighting pulsed softly, casting a glow over the glossy black seating and chrome tabletops. Ah! That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t recognize this bar. They must have remodeled it later to fit the fantasy Rimelion aesthetic. Our alcove had one glass wall overlooking the bustling bar, the transparency muted by faint holographic designs swirling across its surface like living graffiti. It gave just enough privacy to feel secluded without losing the energy of the room. Sliding into the plush seating, I marveled at the feel of the cool material against my legs. I stretched out slightly, leaning back to take it all in as Lucas followed, his expression unreadable as he joined me. He hesitated for a moment before sitting across from me, his movements deliberate, like he was mentally bracing himself. The waitress arrived a few moments later; her dress was a shockingly vibrant neon green that practically glowed under the pink light. Riker¡¯s orders so he doesn¡¯t feel bad about his coat? Her hair was styled into a gravity-defying updo with streaks of metallic silver running through it. ¡°What can I get for you?¡± she asked, her voice smooth and professional, but with a playful edge. Better than the v4 earlier. ¡°Bourbon. Neat.¡± Lucas glanced at her briefly before responding, ¡°Vodka. Straight.¡± She nodded, her neon dress shimmering as she tapped in our order. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± As she walked away, I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on my hands. ¡°Alright, Lucas. Spill.¡± My voice carried a mix of curiosity and trepidation. ¡°What¡¯s this thing you need to tell me about¡­ past me?¡± Lucas looked down, his hands fidgeting with the edge of the chrome table. The faint pulsing neon light caught on his knuckles, making the tension in his grip painfully obvious. His eyes darted up to meet mine, then dropped back to his hands as if the weight of my gaze was too much. ¡°I¡­¡± He hesitated, his voice low and uneven. ¡°I knew the past Charlie. She¡­¡± He paused again, swallowing hard. ¡°She died.¡± That single syllable carried enough grief to punch me in the chest. His shoulders slumped, the usual confidence I associated with him utterly stripped away. ¡°And I was foolish,¡± he continued, his voice quieter now, ¡°to¡­ give you her character.¡± For a moment, I didn¡¯t know how to respond. My pulse quickened, each beat like a hammer in my ears. The puzzle pieces I¡¯d been collecting¡ªthe dreams, the strange connection, the nagging sense of familiarity¡ªclicked into place, and the picture they painted wasn¡¯t pretty. ¡°You¡­¡± I started, my voice tight, but I forced it to steady. ¡°You gave me the character of someone you knew. Someone who¡¯s¡­ gone.¡± Lucas nodded, barely, like the motion itself was too much effort. [Book 1] [63. Empty Glasses] I stared at Lucas, stunned. The words were there¡ªI knew the past Charlie. She died.¡ªbut my mind refused to process them. It was like trying to read through frosted glass; I could see the shape of the truth, but it was distant and painful. I forced a breath, tasting the faint metallic tang of the bar¡¯s recycled air. The smell of synthetic leather from the seat crept into my senses, grounding me just enough to speak. ¡°What¡­¡± My voice cracked slightly, so I tried again, clearing my throat. ¡°What were you trying to achieve, Lucas?¡± His head dipped lower, like he was bracing himself for a blow. When he finally looked up, his eyes shimmered under the pulsing neon lights, and for a second, I saw something raw in them¡ªregret, guilt, heartbreak all tangled together. ¡°I just¡­¡± He exhaled shakily. ¡°I wanted to see her again.¡± The words hit me harder than a bandit¡¯s mace. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Her. Not me. Her. ¡°You wanted to see your lover one more time.¡± I didn¡¯t even try to hide the bitterness in my voice. It clung to each word like a sip of badly distilled whiskey, burning all the way down. ¡°And instead, you got me.¡± ¡°No!¡± he blurted, his hands clenching into fists on the table. ¡°No, Charlie, I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t want it to be like this. It was supposed to stay in the game. Just the game.¡± His voice trembled now, the confidence he always carried gone, replaced by something desperate. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would change you. I didn¡¯t know it could¡ªno one knew it could. And now¡­¡± ¡°And now you regret it.¡± I finished for him, the hurt bubbling to the surface. My voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, sharp enough to cut. ¡°Because you didn¡¯t want me, your friend. You wanted her.¡± Lucas flinched as if I¡¯d slapped him. Good. He opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Instead, he slumped back into his seat, defeated, looking like he¡¯d aged a decade in those few seconds. Before the tension could strangle the air between us completely, the waitress appeared, her neon green dress flashing brightly under the pulsing lights. She set the bourbon in front of me and the vodka before Lucas. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the emotional wreckage at our table. The smell of the bourbon, rich and smoky, wafted up as I took the glass, the coolness of it soothing my fingers but doing nothing for the storm inside me. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered, not bothering to look at her as she walked away. I glanced out and caught Lola trying to look casual as she leaned against the wall, her attention glued to her tablet. It lifted my mood¡ªif only a little. I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, watching the light refract through it. ¡°So¡­ what now?¡± I asked, keeping my gaze fixed on the swirling bourbon. ¡°You got what you wanted, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯m here. I exist. But I¡¯m not her.¡± Lucas reached for his vodka, but his hand trembled slightly as he lifted the glass. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for this,¡± he whispered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ hurt you. I never wanted that.¡± I took a long sip of my bourbon; the heat burning down my throat, masking the ache in my chest. ¡°Well, congrats, Lucas,¡± I said, putting my usual sarcastic edge to it, masking the hurt underneath. ¡°Mission accomplished. You didn¡¯t just hurt me¡ªyou made me question everything.¡± The weight of the moment pressed down on us, and for a brief second, neither of us said anything. Just the soft hum of the bar, the faint clinking of glasses, and the muted chatter of distant patrons filled the silence. I put the glass down with a soft clink. ¡°So, what now? What do we do with this mess you made?¡± I wasn¡¯t even sure if I was asking him or myself. Lucas didn¡¯t answer right away. He just stared into his vodka, as if it held the answers he couldn¡¯t find in his own mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I leaned back in the plush seat, letting the bourbon¡¯s warmth linger in my chest as my thoughts swirled in slow, aching circles. Everything that had happened since Tin¡­ Jerry changed me as Charlie¡ªsince I came back to this bizarre past version of my life¡ªplayed out in my mind like some video. Disjointed, confusing, but painfully real. I remembered Lucas¡¯ funeral. God, that was a day. The rain had fallen in cold, miserable sheets, matching the emptiness inside me. I¡¯d stood there, surrounded by faces I barely knew, all of us cloaked in black and grief. I didn¡¯t cry¡ªnever could at funerals. But something about that day had hollowed me out, left this broke void in my chest where something important used to be. And now, here he was. Alive. Breathing. Talking to me across a table. It was¡­ surreal, to say the least. I glanced at Lucas, who was staring down into his vodka like it might offer him absolution. He didn¡¯t want this. Not like this. He¡¯d wanted her, the old Charlie, the one who wasn¡¯t me but somehow was me. And knowing that dulled the weight pressing down on my shoulders. If I could feel even a fraction of the grief I had for Lucas that day, what must he have felt for her? A minor part of me¡ªjust a tiny fragment¡ªwanted to stay angry. But it was hard when I could see the same pain mirrored in his eyes.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Dammit, Lucas. I sighed, swirling the bourbon again, watching the amber liquid catch the faint pink glow from the bar¡¯s holo-lights. My reflection shimmered in the glass, and for a moment, I studied it. Really studied it. My hair, longer than it had ever been before. My features, softer, framed in a way that made me look¡­ well, undeniably beautiful. And then there was the makeup¡ªstill clinging despite the sweat and adrenaline from the fight. Riker¡¯s glam squad had done an impressive job. I didn¡¯t look like John anymore. That much was clear. Do I care? The thought didn¡¯t sting the way it used to. I¡¯d spent the first few days after my transformation furious at everything¡ªat Lucas, at the world, at myself. Being a woman felt wrong, unnatural, like I¡¯d been forced into wearing someone else¡¯s skin. But now? I smiled faintly, remembering the first time I tried walking in high heels. I hated those damn things with a passion¡ªwobbled around like a drunk penguin, cursing every step. Now? Now I could strut through Rim-con like I owned the place, and I even caught myself patting my heels earlier. The rhythmic click-clack sound they made when I walked had become¡­ soothing, weirdly. A reminder that I¡¯d adapted, that I was still standing, even if on stilettos. Without Lucas, without Jerry, none of that would¡¯ve been possible. Hell, I¡¯d probably still be stumbling around in those heels if it weren¡¯t for their support¡ªJerry¡¯s deadpan commentary and Lucas¡¯ quiet presence, however awkward it might be. I didn¡¯t know if I was ready to forgive Lucas entirely, but maybe¡­ maybe I was ready to stop being angry. At least for tonight. The smile on my lips lingered a little longer as I traced the rim of my glass with a finger, the smooth chill of it bringing me back to myself. I tapped the side of my glass, letting the rhythmic tink-tink of my nail against the crystal fill the brief silence between us. The tension hanging in the air had cracked, and I figured it was time to break it entirely before it got too heavy again. ¡°Okay, Lucas,¡± I said, swirling what was left of my bourbon, the faint burn still lingering pleasantly in my throat. ¡°I forgive you. At least for tonight.¡± His head shot up, eyes wide with a mixture of relief and confusion, like he couldn¡¯t quite believe what he¡¯d heard. ¡°You¡­ do?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I leaned back against the cushioned seat, crossing one leg over the other and flashing him a small grin. ¡°You¡¯re my friend, Lucas. A really stupid friend who clearly thought dabbling in something insane would somehow turn out fine. But if you can promise me¡ªpinky swear, cross your heart, hope-to-die-level promise¡ªthat you¡¯ll never, ever do something that stupid again¡­¡± I paused, letting the grin widen into something more genuine. ¡°Then yeah. I¡¯ll try. We¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, clearly struggling to find the right words. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ taking this better than I thought,¡± he admitted, still wary, like he was waiting for my heel to drop on his head. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ªa quick sound that made him blink. ¡°Lucas! This is nothing new. I¡¯ve always been like this.¡± I gestured dramatically with my hands, nearly knocking over my glass. ¡°Quick to anger, quick to forgive. Flexible personality. Adaptable, like¡­ a dart player who changes targets mid-throw when a drunk stumbles into the board.¡± Lucas snorted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You¡¯re comparing yourself to¡­ dart player?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I jabbed a finger in his direction, pleased that he was finally loosening up. ¡°I mean, think about it. Life hits me with something weird and unexpected, and I bend, twist, and flail around for a bit before bouncing back with a grin. That¡¯s me.¡± I winked at him. ¡°Always has been.¡± ¡°You make it sound so¡­ easy,¡± he said, his voice quieter, more serious now. ¡°Oh, trust me, it¡¯s not.¡± I drained the last of my bourbon and set the glass down with a soft clink. ¡°It¡¯s messy, and it sucks half the time, but it¡¯s the only way I know how to deal with things. Freak out, adapt, move on.¡± That was a cue for Jerry. ¡°Miss Charlie, my online-¡± I unfastened the watch to shut him up. Lucas stared at me for a moment, like he was trying to figure out whether to be impressed or concerned. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ incredible, Charlie.¡± I grinned wider, feeling the tension finally dissipate. ¡°I know. Now, about that pinky swear?¡± I held up my hand, wiggling my little finger in front of him. He rolled his eyes but hooked his pinky around mine anyway. ¡°Fine. Pinky swear.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I said, releasing his hand and leaning back again. ¡°Now, let¡¯s just relax, drink, and pretend that this whole thing was just another one of those weird Rimelion quests gone slightly off the rails.¡± ¡°Only slightly?¡± he asked, smirking. ¡°Okay, wildly off the rails,¡± I admitted, chuckling. ¡°But hey, that¡¯s what makes it fun, right?¡± At that exact moment, the glass door to our alcove slid open with a soft hiss, and before I could even react, something small and fast barreled into me like a heat-seeking spell. ¡°Auntie Charlie!¡± a high-pitched voice squealed as tiny arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I blinked, momentarily stunned, as I looked down at the girl clinging to me. Her wild curls bounced as she tilted her head back, grinning up at me with bright eyes full of excitement. She couldn¡¯t have been older than six, maybe seven. She wore a t-shirt that immediately caught my attention¡ªa ridiculously detailed print of me, mid-battle, fighting the frost statues from last night¡¯s event. Wait. What? Riker already made merch? Seriously? I fought those statues, like¡­ twelve hours ago! My mind whirled, already plotting a future conversation-slash-confrontation with Riker. There was money to be made here, and if he thought he could cut me out of the profits, he had another thing coming. But first¡ªback to reality. ¡°Hi, Lena!¡± I said, forcing a smile and trying not to sound too bewildered. ¡°Do you¡­ know me?¡± Lena pulled back slightly, still clinging to me but giving me a wide, excited nod. ¡°Of course I know you! You were Uncle John, but now you are Auntie Charlie! And your rapier was awesome!¡± She barely finished the sentence before she jumped back, pulling an imaginary sword from her side and slashing at invisible enemies with all the flair of a seasoned adventurer. I couldn¡¯t help but grin, despite the knot forming in my stomach at the whole Uncle John turned Auntie Charlie thing. The way she said it, so matter-of-fact, like it was just another day in Rimelion where people change classes¡ªor, apparently, genders¡ªwithout fuss, made it weirdly easier to digest. ¡°Wow, Lena!¡± I said, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow as I watched her dramatically duel her unseen foes. ¡°You¡¯ve got some serious moves there. Maybe I should hire you as my official sword trainer.¡± She stopped mid-swing, eyes wide with delight. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Sure. You¡¯ve got the knack for it,¡± I said with a smirk, gesturing to her t-shirt. ¡°But take that up with the guy who¡¯s already making a fortune off my image. Seriously, frost statues? I fought those last night, and he¡¯s already got merch out?¡± Lucas, who had been sitting quietly until now, chuckled softly. ¡°That¡¯s Riker for you. Always one step ahead.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, he¡¯s about to get a step ahead of a very annoyed Auntie Charlie,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. ¡°Lena, you can tell your dad that your awesome new shirt needs another with extra royalties, right?¡± Lena nodded enthusiastically, apparently delighted at the idea of more shirts. She twirled in place, her imaginary rapier flashing in the neon pink glow of the bar¡¯s lights. ¡°I want one with you fighting dragons next!¡± Before I could respond with something witty¡ªbecause of course I had something ready¡ªa familiar voice, sharp and sarcastic, cut into me like a well-aimed arrow. ¡°Auntie Charlie, her dad can hear you.¡± I blinked and glanced up, finding Adam standing a few steps away, arms crossed, his expression as warm as a glacier. Beside him was Lola, who looked relieved, thrilled even, as though finding them had been some grand quest she¡¯d just completed. Yep, she¡¯s awesome. Adam, meanwhile, was dressed in casual clothes, but his stance screamed stern dad mode engaged. His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and accusing. He wasn¡¯t even looking at Lena; his entire focus was zeroed in on me like a hawk spotting its prey. Then he saw the empty glass on the table, and his gaze hardened further, cold. ¡°I see you have an empty bottle,¡± he drawled. ¡°Do you want me to fetch another?¡± [Book 1] [64. The Princess Court] I glanced at Adam, feeling a tangle of guilt tightening in my chest. I¡¯d promised him I wouldn¡¯t drink. And here I was, clutching an empty glass, caught red-handed. Damn it, past Charlie. ¡°Hi, Adam,¡± I said weakly, my voice barely above a murmur. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ve had enough¡­ for today,¡± I added, bitterness spiking my tone, unable to hide the sadness in my words. He said nothing, just kept that piercing, disappointed dad stare. I resisted the urge to shrink under it. Instead, I turned to Lena, grasping for a way out of this awkward confrontation. No, face it, Charlie. We¡¯re not pushing problems away anymore! ¡°Lena, wait here with Lucas, okay? I think you already met him¡­ he¡¯s that friend I told you about.¡± I glanced at Lucas, who nodded and flashed Lena a warm smile, clearly relieved to have a task that didn¡¯t involve emotional landmines. ¡°Okay, Auntie Charlie!¡± Lena chirped, hopping onto the seat next to Lucas with more energy than should be legally allowed. Within seconds, they were deep in conversation, her excited voice bouncing off the neon-lit walls. I steeled myself as I moved toward Adam, who still hadn¡¯t changed his expression. His face was unreadable, but his eyes tracked my every movement, waiting. Judging. I gave him the weakest smile I could muster, the kind that said, Please don¡¯t make me feel worse than I already do. ¡°So¡­¡± I started hesitantly, stuffing my hands into the folds of my skirt like I used to after getting caught by him sneaking cookies before dinner. ¡°Have you seen my performance?¡± To my surprise, a small smile crept onto his lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you¡­ well, neither to be that good with a sword, nor with acting.¡± He shook his head, his tone shifting to something lighter. ¡°Remember the acting class? When you played a weasel and still managed to mess it up?¡± The memory hit me like a surprise frost blast. I couldn¡¯t help it¡ªI burst out laughing. ¡°Not fair! I was so nervous!¡± The giggles came out uncontrollably, fueled by the sudden shift in mood. ¡°And you weren¡¯t nervous today?¡± He raised a brow, his smile turning darker. ¡°How much?¡± My grin faltered. Oh, here we go. I bit my lip, trying to think of the least incriminating way to answer. ¡°I mean¡­ only two. Total. Because Lucas told me something really¡­ heavy.¡± ¡°And your first solution was alcohol?¡± His voice was calm, but the disappointment was unmistakable. ¡°Come on! I promise¡ª¡± I started, but he cut me off. ¡°Like yesterday?¡± I clenched my fists, frustration stirring up. ¡°Am I drunk?¡± My voice came out sharper than I intended, irritation flaring in my chest. ¡°Really, Adam?¡± This again? He sighed and held up a hand in a gesture of surrender. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not being fair to you, am I?¡± He shook his head, exhaling heavily. ¡°Let¡¯s put it behind us.¡± I blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone. His face softened, and for the first time since we started talking, I saw genuine joy shining in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you, by the way¡­ Charlie.¡± He gestured at me with both hands, as if framing me in an invisible picture. ¡°This¡­ this really suits you. I thought¡­ well, I was wrong when I said you shouldn¡¯t change. Sorry.¡± Hearing that felt¡­ odd. Warm, but odd. Like being wrapped in a blanket you didn¡¯t expect but secretly needed. I didn¡¯t know how to respond right away, so I just smiled¡ªa real, unforced one this time. ¡°Thanks, Adam.¡± My voice was quieter, less biting for once. Yeah, maybe this really does suit me. ¡°Lena was so excited, and when she saw your performance¡­ I couldn¡¯t hold her back,¡± Adam laughed. ¡°Never in my life did I imagine a day like this¡­ but here we are. So congratulations,¡± he said, pulling me into a tight embrace. His voice softened, full of emotion. ¡°My¡­ sister.¡± And just like that, I lost it. Tears welled up, spilling over before I could even think about stopping them. I cried, burying my face in his shoulder, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions I hadn¡¯t even realized I was holding back. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± I whispered, my voice trembling with gratitude. We stood there for a moment, just holding onto each other, the noise of the bar fading into the background. Then, a delicate cough shattered the moment. Lola. I pulled away quickly, wiping at my tears with the back of my hand, trying to compose myself. ¡°Yes, Lola?¡± I said, my voice still a little unsteady, but back to its usual edge as I turned to face her. Lola stood a few steps away, looking ridiculously pleased with herself, her tablet clutched in her hands like a trophy. ¡°Lady, I found the other ranker you asked me to track down. Katherine,¡± she said with a proud grin. ¡°She is¡ª¡± ¡°Cute princess!¡± a familiar voice squealed as a blur of red and yellow shot toward me. Before I could react, Lisa zoomed in and crashed into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Even in real life, she was taller than me, her long fiery red hair flowing behind her like a flame. Her cosplay was awesome¡ªvivid red robes with golden trim, runes stitched along the sleeves, and a staff strapped across her back that reflected the light faintly. She looked every bit the part of a high-level fire mage, complete with tiny flame-like patterns on her cheek.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Super cute. Lisa wasted no time pulling me into a bear hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly as I found myself face-first against her chest. Oh great. Suffocated by the fire mage. What a way to go. She patted my head affectionately, like I was some kind of pet. ¡°You were amazing!¡± she said, her voice brimming with excitement. ¡°I saw the whole fight, and you were so cool! And now I finally get to see you in person! Look at you, all tiny and adorable!¡± I tried to pull back, but her grip was relentless. Note to self: Lisa is just as intense IRL as she is in the game. I finally freed myself enough to speak, albeit a little muffled. ¡°Lisa, I¡­ can¡¯t breathe¡­¡± ¡°Oh! Sorry!¡± She released me with a foolish grin, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she adjusted her cosplay. ¡°I got carried away, but can you blame me? You were incredible out there!¡± I straightened up, brushing myself off and trying to regain what little dignity I had left. ¡°Yeah, thanks¡­ but next time, maybe don¡¯t go full mage tackle on me?¡± Lisa just laughed, as if she hadn¡¯t nearly flattened me moments ago. Adam chuckled quietly behind me, clearly entertained by the entire scene. ¡°What?¡± I spun toward Adam, shooting him a glare as he grinned smugly. ¡°You¡¯re a natural,¡± he said, clearly enjoying my flustered reaction. ¡°I agree!¡± Lisa chipped in enthusiastically, her voice as intense as her fiery cosplay. Then, finally, Katherine caught up with us, a little breathless but beaming. Lisa must¡¯ve sprinted pretty far ahead. ¡°Charlie,¡± she said, her smile wide. ¡°Very good!¡± I blinked. Wait¡­ They know each other? ¡°Kit! Thank you¡­¡± My words faltered as I took in her outfit, my eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°The berserker!¡± I said, pointing at her like a kid spotting their favorite superhero in real life. A black and crimson leather with pauldrons that were oversized and spiked, and the chest piece had intricate rune-like red engravings. A massive two-handed sword was strapped across her back, its hilt wrapped in leather strips. Even her boots had metal-like plating, clanking softly as she approached. She looked like she¡¯d just stepped out of a high-level raid and was ready to smash anything in her path. ¡°Ya know it?¡± Katherine asked, surprised by my outburst. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s¡ª¡± I started, then caught myself mid-sentence. Crap. That cosplay was legendary¡­ years later in the future. Oopsie. ¡°I saw it in the repository¡­¡± I blurted, trying to sound casual. I glanced at Lola, hoping she¡¯d help me out of this one. Lola blinked, then, without missing a beat, pulled up her trusty tablet and began tapping away. Moments later, she turned on a holo-screen, displaying the berserker outfit in all its digital glory. ¡°Yes, there it is,¡± Lola confirmed with a nod. The model wearing it looked stiff and lifeless compared to Katherine. Ha! Kit looks way better in it¡ªlike leagues better. I grinned and waved everyone toward a nearby table, practically bouncing with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s sit, guys!¡± I chirped, practically dancing my way over. Lucas was still entertaining Lena, who seemed utterly fascinated by whatever story he was telling her. ¡°This is Lisa and Katherine¡ªmy dear friends!¡± I announced proudly, gesturing toward them. ¡°And this old man over here¡­¡± I pointed at Lucas, smirking. ¡°¡­is Lucas, my personal hacker.¡± Lucas gave me an unimpressed look, but didn¡¯t bother to argue. Instead, he waved at the newcomers, offering a polite smile. ¡°And this young princess¡­¡± I continued, unfastening my tiara and placing it gently on Lena¡¯s head. ¡°¡­is Her Royal Highness, Lena!¡± Lena squealed in delight, her tiny hands clutching the tiara as if it were a priceless crown. I scooped her up effortlessly and plopped her onto my lap; her giggles echoing in the alcove. ¡°Behold! The future ruler of this realm!¡± I declared dramatically, making her laugh even harder. Lisa leaned in, resting her elbows on the table, eyes sparkling with amusement. ¡°You know, Charlie, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so¡­ well, you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± I shot back playfully. ¡°I mean,¡± Lisa said with a grin, ¡°you¡¯re not quite as in person as you are in the game.¡± Katherine chuckled softly as she sat. ¡°Game? Yar always strategy. Thinkin¡¯.¡± I glimpsed Adam speaking quietly with Lola in the background. Probably talking logistics or something boring. Whatever. I had bigger things to handle, so I waved my hand dismissively. ¡°There¡¯s a time to think,¡± I said, my voice rising dramatically as I leaned forward, ¡°and there¡¯s a time to do things! So, Lisa, do you want to be my court mage?¡± I grinned at her with all the flourish of a noble. Lisa sighed, the light in her eyes dimming a little. ¡°I was so excited when I was so close to being a fire tamer. But then Dmitry swooped in and¡­¡± Her shoulders slumped as she trailed off. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Katherine muttered, looking genuinely guilty. She nudged Lisa gently, clearly feeling bad about whatever had happened. Why? ¡°Lisa!¡± I pointed at her with exaggerated theatrical flair, still feeling like I was performing. ¡°Do not despair! There are still ways¡­¡± I grinned sneakily, the kind that made people question whether I was plotting something brilliant or ridiculous. It¡¯s usually both. ¡°But first¡­ How do you two know each other?¡± Seriously. Katherine knew Lisa? Since when did that happen? This was news to me, not even future helping. ¡°We go to the same school,¡± Lisa said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, with Katherine nodding in agreement with her. ¡°Van Der Lys Academy,¡± Katherine added in that casual, slightly bored tone she always used. ¡°That school for rich people?!¡± Lucas blurted out before I could react, his voice filling up with surprise. ¡°Super hard to get into, only the best teachers, and crazy tuition costs!¡± ¡°Yas. Tat.¡± Katherine nodded again, this time with a yawn that could¡¯ve rivaled a cat¡¯s in laziness. ¡°Borin¡¯.¡± Lucas snorted, clearly amused by her utter lack of enthusiasm for something that¡­ he? He would kill to be a part of. Meanwhile, Lisa locked eyes with me, her expression focused. ¡°You have ways, cute Charlie?¡± she asked with a hint of hope. I tilted my head, letting a mischievous smirk spread across my face. ¡°Always. Have you all seen the video of me battling the statues?¡± The collective response was a resounding yes, each of them chiming in with varying degrees of excitement. But the most hyped was Lena, who practically launched herself off my lap and started engaging in an epic battle with invisible enemies, complete with sound effects and exaggerated swings. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her antics. ¡°That fight? It was in front of the sovereign. You saw her in the background, right?¡± I glanced at Lisa, who nodded. ¡°The sovereigns are on par with gods. They can grant power on the same level as them.¡± I grinned widely, enjoying the way everyone leaned in. ¡°Mythical tier!¡± Lucas furrowed his brow. ¡°Wait. Not actual god-tier? Aren¡¯t gods they supposed to be, well, the gods?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I shook my head with a smug smile. ¡°There are some god-tier gods, but¡­ These so-called gods are ridiculously powerful, sure. But they¡¯re basically just super-high-level people with crazy abilities.¡± And yes, you can fight them, I thought, not adding that last bit aloud. I always lost, though. Every. Single. Time. Lisa¡¯s expression darkened slightly, her earlier excitement dimming as she likely thought back to Dmitry swooping in and stealing her moment. I wasn¡¯t having that. ¡°So don¡¯t despair, Lisa!¡± I smiled brightly at her, leaning forward like I was about to share the greatest secret in the world. ¡°I have a ring that can bring you before someone who¡¯s¡­ fiery.¡± I hesitated slightly. ¡°But fair warning, it¡¯s not exactly a barbecue.¡± My puns are the best. Lisa¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, and before she could speak, Katherine clapped her on the back, grinning. ¡°Fire Sovereign? Tat¡¯s perfect Lisa!¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± I shook my head, keeping my tone light. ¡°Someone just as strong as a sovereign, but not him.¡± Lisa blinked, her excitement now softened with curiosity. ¡°Then who?¡± I leaned back, fingers drumming on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s just say¡­ if you like fire, you¡¯ll love the challenge.¡± I gave her a wink. ¡°But I¡¯m not spoiling the surprise.¡± [Book 1] [65. For a Little While] Lisa looked up at me, her wide eyes shimmering with disbelief. ¡°You must be joking¡­¡± she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Please, Charlie¡­ don¡¯t tease me like this¡­¡± She looked genuinely distraught. ¡°Uhmm¡­¡± Without thinking, I rushed to her side and wrapped her in a hug, which, thanks to the ridiculously low seating, resulted in her head landing squarely on my cleavage. Suffer as I suffered! I grinned. Or¡­ Wait¡­ What am I doing?!! I awkwardly patted her head, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Lisa. That I can promise. But once you meet the mythic someone, it¡¯s all on you. Deal?¡± Lisa seemed to melt into the hug, her tension fading as she let out a soft, contented hum. Meanwhile, Katherine burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking as she pointed at us. ¡°Charlie! Yar two¡­ Same!¡± Her words barely made it through her laughter as she doubled over. Lucas, for his part, was grinning from ear to ear. Lisa, now thoroughly content, started humming a cheerful tune as I continued to pet her head absentmindedly. Her hair was soft, and for a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the sheer absurdity of it all. If someone had told me a week ago, when I was drowning my sorrows in my favorite pub, that I¡¯d be sitting here with Katherine and Lucas, mythic promises in the air, petting a mage like a cat, I¡¯d have laughed them out of the bar. But here we are. Right then, the waitress returned. ¡°Any other drinks?¡± she asked, her tone neutral but her gaze curious as it swept over our lively group. Lucas immediately nodded, about to order something. I shot a quick glance at Adam, who was doing his best not to glare, but was definitely paying close attention. His stare didn¡¯t feel hostile, more¡­ protective, like a parent watching their kid try something risky. I won¡¯t let you down, Ady. ¡°I¡¯ll have something non-alcoholic, like soda¡ª¡± I said, but Katherine interrupted, her voice full of excitement. ¡°Beer!¡± she exclaimed, jumping to her feet with enough energy to startle the poor waitress. ¡°Czech tradition! Ya drink beer!¡± I shook my head firmly. ¡°Sorry, Kit, but¡­¡± ¡°No-alcohol beer!¡± she cut me off, practically vibrating with enthusiasm as she gestured dramatically toward the waitress. ¡°No regret!¡± The waitress, clearly used to dealing with impulsive con-goers, took a careful step back and nodded. ¡°Yes, we have that¡­ I¡¯ll bring one right away.¡± Lisa ordered some super fancy drink I never heard about and, to my surprise, they had it. I sat back in my seat and we all were observing Lena, who found a new best friend and they were locked in a fierce duel. ¡°Charlie¡­ at the performance, you really hyped the crowd with that epic fight, yeah?¡± Lucas asked, leaning forward slightly. I nodded, catching the curious tilt of his head. ¡°Well, what¡¯s the plan for managing all that? I still have¡­ y¡¯know, other responsibilities. Certain things that need taking care of.¡± Damn, I totally forgot about that. I tapped my chin thoughtfully, then flashed him a mischievous grin. ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t just hog all your time, huh? We¡¯ll leave Pearl some bits and pieces to handle too. Balance, right?¡± Lucas opened his mouth, probably ready to fire back some sarcastic retort, but he stopped mid-breath, his eyes narrowing as he eyed me. Before I could ask what his deal was, I felt a shift in the air¡ªAdam plopped down beside me, his usual guarded expression intact, while Lola hovered awkwardly near the edge of the table, clutching her ever-present tablet like it was a lifeline. I raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°What¡¯s up, Lola? You look like you¡¯re about to ask for permission to slay a dragon or something. Come on, sit down,¡± I said, patting the empty seat next to Lisa. Lola hesitated for a heartbeat, then perched like she was bracing herself for an exam. She fidgeted slightly, chewing on her bottom lip before finally speaking. ¡°Lady Charlie, I¡­¡± She bit her lip harder, then quickly added, ¡°I overheard¡­ but I wasn¡¯t, like, eavesdropping! I swear! I just¡­ heard you might need help.¡± Her voice trailed off, and she stared at the table, visibly nervous. I reached out and dabbed her shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°Calm down, Lola. It¡¯s fine. What did you hear?¡± ¡°That you need help,¡± she repeated, quieter this time. Then, with a sudden burst of determination, she added, ¡°I can help! I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m really good at organizing things. I can prove it!¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I blinked, surprised by her earnestness. Then I laughed¡ªa light, genuine laugh that seemed to ease some of the tension in the air. Shaking my head, I said, ¡°Lola, you already did. You¡¯ve been incredible all day. Tell you what¡ªdo you want to be my steward?¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Your¡­ steward?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I grinned wider, leaning back in my seat. ¡°Lucas here is my keeper, but I¡¯ve been lacking a good steward. If you¡¯re up for it, consider your role before the battle as a trial period. Do well, and we¡¯ll make it official.¡± I winked playfully. Lola blinked, then nodded furiously, her cheeks flushing with pride. ¡°Yes, Lady Charlie! I won¡¯t let you down!¡± Adam shook his head slowly, the corner of his mouth quirking in disbelief. ¡°You all act like this is real life,¡± he muttered, leaning back with his arms crossed, his eyes flicking between us. Maybe it is. Maybe was Riker right, and Rimelion was real. With all the consequences of that thought. As I contemplated, Lucas shrugged, offering a half-smile as he leaned on the table, fingers interwoven together. ¡°It feels real, Adam. That¡¯s the point.¡± He paused, glancing at Katherine. Katherine nodded and shifted in her seat like she was mid-battle. ¡°Thrill! Stream! Blood! Smashin¡¯!¡± she added her¡­ opinion. Lucas seemed to agree, so he continued, ¡°For a few hours, it¡¯s like you¡¯re someone else, somewhere else. No stress, no debt, no obligations¡­ just being free. You get to be part of a world that¡¯s bigger than you, and if you¡¯re lucky, you leave a mark on it.¡± I observed Adam, curious about how he¡¯d react. His expression didn¡¯t change, but he didn¡¯t interrupt, which was a good sign. ¡°Why do you think people keep coming back? It¡¯s not just the game mechanics or the loot, or¡­ money.¡± I could see a glint in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because, for a little while, you can forget about real-world crap and just¡­ exist in something epic.¡± Adam snorted, unimpressed. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s fake. None of it actually matters when you log off.¡± ¡°Maybe not to you,¡± Lisa piped up, twirling a lock of her fiery red hair around her finger, her voice animated. ¡°But to me? It¡¯s everything.¡± ¡°There must be a story!¡± I grinned. Lisa nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got a routine back home. Wake up, school, homework, maybe hang out with friends if I¡¯m lucky. And it¡¯s all¡­ boring. Normal. But there?¡± She spread her hands, mimicking the roar of fire. ¡°There, I can be a fire mage. I can burn things, make flames dance, and fight mythical creatures.¡± She shot me a grin. ¡°It¡¯s exciting! It¡¯s freeing.¡± Adam raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s an escape?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Lisa grinned. ¡°But not in a bad way. It¡¯s like¡­ I get to do something that I can¡¯t do anywhere else. I get to be someone who can literally change the world. Back home, I¡¯m just Lisa. Here, I¡¯m Lisa the Flame¡­ Uhmm¡­ Whisperer.¡± She struck a dramatic pose, which earned a chuckle from everyone, even Adam. I chipped in, not wanting to miss the chance to tease Adam. ¡°Come on, Ady. Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t get it. Remember when we played that pirate game? You had a blast being Captain Ady, terror of the seas. You were telling everyone in school you sank six ships solo.¡± ¡°That was different,¡± he said defensively, though his lips twitched. ¡°That was¡­ okay, maybe not completely different.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± I grinned, pointing at him. ¡°It¡¯s all about the experience. The fun. The feeling that, just for a little while, you¡¯re part of something bigger than life.¡± Maybe part of the real reality. Adam sighed, shaking his head but smiling. ¡°Fine, fine. I get it. But don¡¯t expect me to cosplay as some epic mage soon.¡± Lisa gasped dramatically. ¡°You could totally be a fire knight! I can see it now¡ªAdam, wielding a flaming sword, battling sovereigns with me!¡± ¡°Hard pass,¡± Adam said flatly, though his amusement was clear. Then we all turned to Lola, who had been sitting quietly, her hands fidgeting nervously with the edge of her tablet. She noticed the attention, her eyes widening slightly before she glanced away, as if the holo-lights reflecting off the tabletop suddenly became fascinating. ¡°Well¡­¡± she started, ¡°I¡­ I have nothing, you know, cool like that. No flames, no pirate ships, no magical swords.¡± She hesitated, her fingers gripping the tablet tighter as she tried to collect her thoughts. ¡°But I like¡­ finishing tasks.¡± There was a beat of silence, broken only by the faint hum of the bar. Lucas blinked, confused, while Lisa tilted her head, her fiery hair catching the soft pink glow. Even Adam looked intrigued. I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Finishing tasks? Like¡­ errands?¡± Lola nodded, still avoiding eye contact. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s just¡­ satisfying, you know? Starting something, working through it, and then seeing it done. I like when everything¡¯s neat, organized, and¡­ complete.¡± Then we all got our drinks, and Katherine rose, her expression as intense as ever. ¡°Okay! Everyone!¡± she announced, her voice carrying enough authority to make us all pause mid-conversation. ¡°Cling glasses! Look into eyes!¡± She nodded as if this were some ancient ritual passed down through generations. ¡°The glass smash table, and then drink! Important!¡± She was adamant, her serious tone contrasting with the instruction. Still, none of us dared question it. We obediently clinked our glasses together, locking eyes with one another. Then, following her lead, I smashed my beer glass onto the table¡ªjust hard enough to make a satisfying thunk¡ªbefore taking a sip. It was bitter. Duh, Charlie, it¡¯s beer. I fought the urge to grimace, glancing at Lisa, who was eagerly gulping down her super-duper fancy drink like it was ambrosia. Katherine grinned in satisfaction, clearly pleased that we had followed her peculiar tradition. ¡°Good!¡± she declared proudly, raising her glass again. ¡°Czech style!¡± We all laughed, and soon the conversation resumed, flowing freely like the drinks. We swapped stories, joked around, and laughter filled the alcove. Lena climbed onto Lucas¡¯s lap at some point, insisting on being entertained with his ¡°hacker feats.¡± Lisa debated heatedly with Katherine about who would win in a duel¡ªan elemental mage or a berserker¡ªwhile I leaned back, happy with friends. I¡¯ve never felt like this. Time seemed to blur. It felt like only minutes had passed, but it must have been longer because, eventually, Lola¡¯s tablet beeped with an urgent tone. She quickly skimmed the message, her expression turning apologetic. ¡°Uhm, lady, I¡¯m sorry, but we have to move to the event,¡± she said, glancing at me nervously. I frowned, pulled out of the cozy feelings we¡¯d created. ¡°Didn¡¯t we have, like¡­ time?¡± I asked, my tone full of confusion. Lola blinked, looking down at her tablet again as if it might offer a different answer. ¡°We¡­ already spent it?¡± she said, her voice uncertain, as if she couldn¡¯t quite believe it either. I was confused. She was confused. We were confused together, staring at each other in mutual bewilderment. ¡°Well, it was fun while it lasted,¡± Lucas quipped, draining the last of his drink with a grin. I nodded, still a bit confused, standing up and adjusting my tiara¡ªwhich Lena had returned earlier with a solemn thank you, Auntie Charlie. ¡°Then¡­ Let¡¯s go be the Sword Queen.¡± [Book 1] [66. The Big Hall] I said goodbye to my friends, a final round of hugs and grins exchanged, before heading out with Lola and my guard ensemble trailing behind me like some oddly formal procession. Our path twisted through bustling corridors filled with neon-lit signs and the endless hum of the convention. After a few turns, I realized something important. ¡°Uh¡­ Where are we going?¡± I asked Lola, glancing around as if the walls would answer for her. ¡°The Big Hall,¡± she replied with a perfectly straight face, her tone carrying all the gravitas of an official royal decree. Oh yes. Very big hall. How creative. ¡°Nice name¡­¡± I muttered under my breath as Lola subtly corrected my course, steering me toward a different hallway. ¡°So, what¡¯s the schedule? Still the semi-finals, where they can challenge me, and then I battle the winner?¡± Lola blinked, clearly surprised by my knowledge. She eyed me nervously. ¡°Uhm, yes¡­ But that was decided this morning. When did you¡ª?¡± she started before trailing off, her confusion evident. Damn. Gotta be more careful with what I say. Before she could press further, a very enthusiastic girl darted in front of me, clutching a t-shirt featuring¡ªof all things¡ªme fighting bandits and heroically saving Riker. I had to sign it, of course. They sure print fast. ¡°Jerry, your idea?¡± I whispered, keeping my voice low as I finished my signature. ¡°The contract I agreed on,¡± Jerry¡¯s voice chimed smoothly in my ear, as if reciting legal poetry, ¡°says: Charlie hereby grants permission for the limited use of her likeness, subject to her prior review and explicit written approval, for agreed purposes only.¡± Riker must¡¯ve found a creative loophole. Or¡­ just ignored it. I clenched my jaw, my eyes narrowing. Of course he did. Lola noticed my expression and gave me a worried glance. ¡°Lady? How did you know?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I said, forcing a grin. ¡°Just thinking about how much I love legally binding contracts. I just assumed it was like that¡­ Never mind that. Explain anyway,¡± I said, waving away her unfinished question and trying not to dwell on how I knew something I shouldn¡¯t. And don¡¯t think too much about it, Lola. Please. As we moved closer to the hall, the crowd grew thicker, fans clustering around me at every step. I stopped frequently, signing posters, shirts, and even a holographic frame featuring a looping replay of my performance. Each stop slowed us down, and I could see Lola getting increasingly anxious as the minutes ticked by. ¡°At first, the plan was for only the tournament winner to challenge you,¡± Lola explained while I scribbled my name across a glossy poster featuring a dramatic shot of me mid-battle. After I signed it, I noticed a man selling the t-shirts right in front of me. I beelined toward him and exchanged one for signing three. ¡°Let me guess,¡± I said, glancing up at an older man holding out a Riker-themed hat for me to autograph, ¡°Riker thought it was boring.¡± Lola furrowed her brows as if the very idea of Riker making things boring offended her sensibilities. ¡°We need to hurry,¡± she said pointedly, before adding, ¡°and yes, he was the one who changed it. He said a straightforward tournament lacked flair.¡± I nodded to her statement, but then I spotted something that made me do a double-take. A man was casually selling the same t-shirts I had just signed moments ago. I didn¡¯t hesitate. Moving straight toward him, I flashed my best grin. ¡°Hey there,¡± I said, tapping one shirt hanging on display. He blinked, clearly startled by my sudden approach. ¡°Uh¡­ yes, Miss Charlie!¡± he stammered, visibly nervous. ¡°Would you like one? A special deal just for you¡ª¡± ¡°Tell you what,¡± I interrupted smoothly, plucking a shirt off the rack and holding it up to inspect the print. ¡°I¡¯ll sign three more if you give me one. Deal?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened, and he nodded so quickly I thought his head might detach. ¡°Absolutely, Miss Charlie! Anything for you!¡± Within seconds, I had the shirt in hand, and true to my word, I signed three more for him. As I walked away, now proudly holding my very own bootlegged merch, I glanced back with a smirk. Thanks, Riker, for turning me into a walking franchise. Lola had enough and motioned toward the guards, who stepped in, gently but firmly creating a path through the increasingly dense crowd. Fans were reluctantly ushered aside as we made our way toward a discreet side door near the hall¡¯s entrance. I¡¯m so drained already¡­ And it hasn¡¯t started yet¡­ ¡°So, how does it work now?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. Maybe it differed from the future. ¡°Any semi-finalist can challenge you,¡± Lola explained, keeping pace beside me. ¡°But if they do, they give up their place in semi-finals, a chance to be¡­ the chosen one. If they win against you, however¡­¡± She paused dramatically, clearly quoting something verbatim. ¡°They earn the title of The Sword Ruler for themself. They still have to fight the chosen one.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Just as we reached the backroom, the first thing I noticed wasn¡¯t the crowd of employees or the buzz of activity¡ªit was Riker¡¯s coat. Honestly, I could probably spot him from Rimelion. ¡°Riker!¡± I called out, my voice overpowering the noise. My emotions are still a mess. He turned around, that ever-present grin plastered on his face. ¡°Ah, behold! The illustrious Sword Queen graces us with her magnificent presence! Fear not, for I have decreed a change in the arena befitting your grandeur! A mere plain? Perish the thought! No, no¡ªonly the noble, rolling hills shall serve as a worthy stage for your unparalleled prowess!¡± Of course, he meddled. If I¡¯d had any doubts, Lola¡¯s exasperated groan next to me confirmed it. Hills weren¡¯t part of the original plan. I crossed my arms, ignoring the theatrics. ¡°Where are my money?¡± Riker froze. ¡°Mo-money?¡± he stammered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yeah, money!¡± I said, whipping the t-shirt I¡¯d just gotten at him. He flinched as it smacked into his chest, surprise flickering across his face before realization dawned. ¡°Miss Charlie! Ah, such a golden opportunity presented itself¡ªI simply could not resist the temptation! Your captivating beauty, flawlessly intertwined with your remarkable acting prowess and breathtaking swordsmanship, has made you an instant sensation!¡± He shifted into his usual sales pitch, his voice full of the charm. ¡°Surely, with a star of your stature, a mere 50% fee on my part seems but a modest token for my generous services... wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± I blinked, momentarily thrown. Wait, fifty percent for me? Is that¡­ good? Before I could decide, my irritation flared back up. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t change the subject!¡± I jabbed a finger at his chest. ¡°I care about the fact that I did not agree! And does that include all those ads you¡¯re plastering everywhere? How much are we actually talking about?¡± For the first time, Riker looked genuinely uneasy, a bead of sweat glistening on his forehead. ¡°You must understand, Lady Charlie, such prominence does not come without a price! All the tireless marketing efforts we¡¯re investing in you¡ªoh, they don¡¯t simply materialize out of thin air!¡± ¡°How. Much, Riker?¡± I asked again, my tone ice-cold. Riker¡¯s eyes darted around nervously, and with an exaggerated gesture, he clicked something on his wrist device before glancing at Lola. ¡°Ah, alas! I must personally ensure that the hills are nothing short of perfection¡ªworthy of a spectacle as grand as your upcoming triumph!¡± And just like that, he bolted, coat flaring behind him as he disappeared through a side door. I sighed, turning to Lola, who was furiously tapping on her tablet, her fingers practically a blur. After a few tense moments, she gulped and looked up at me. ¡°He granted me access to¡ª¡± She paused, her eyes wide as she read whatever popped up on her screen. ¡°Oh no.¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®oh no¡¯? How much?¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes. Lola hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. She bit her lip before finally mumbling, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a significant negative number.¡± I blinked, absorbing that for a moment before leaning in. ¡°So you invested in all the ads and have no profit to show for it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± she admitted, her tone apologetic. ¡°It will be¡­ a while before you get to see any credits.¡± I massaged my temples, feeling the tension gathering there like a storm cloud. With a resigned sigh, I shook my head. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Wasn¡¯t exactly counting on it anyway. I¡¯m here primarily for recruitment for the battle. Let¡¯s focus on the event.¡± Lola gave a determined nod, and we began walking toward a waiting area. The corridor was bustling with activity¡ªstagehands dashing about, last-minute tweaks to lighting and sound being made, and the faint hum of holo-screens projecting event stats flickering in the background. ¡°Mister Riker set up a registration page for the battle,¡± Lola said, a hint of pride in her voice. ¡°Thousands have already signed up!¡± ¡°Paid by the t-shirts?¡± I muttered bitterly as I checked the rapier I was given for this challenge. The blade gleamed under the bright backstage lights, perfectly polished and ready. But was wooden somehow. And blunted. Lola tried¡ªand failed¡ªnot to laugh. ¡°Probably.¡± I sighed dramatically, twirling the rapier once to loosen my wrist. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Let¡¯s just hope they actually come to help.¡± The beams above weren¡¯t nearly as convenient as those on the main stage. I eyed them with mild disappointment, my fingers itching for something dramatic. Lola, meanwhile, was shaking her head vehemently, her eyes wide with concern. ¡°Fine¡­¡± I sighed, letting go of that plan. I shifted my focus to the sound beyond the walls. It didn¡¯t take long before Riker¡¯s unmistakable voice boomed through the very big hall with all his signature flair, announcing the imminent conclusion of the tournament and¡ªwait for it¡ªintroducing me as The Sword Queen. ¡°What?¡± Lola and I said in unison. I glanced around, catching sight of a worker near the side door, motioning frantically in my direction. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be¡ª¡± Lola¡¯s protest was cut off as I sprinted toward the stage without a second thought. I burst through the door, and the sight before me made me falter for a split second. Hills. Everywhere. The terrain wasn¡¯t nearly as flawless as the portal¡¯s projection, but it was impressive. They¡¯d somehow hauled in massive boulders and scattered them among the holographic terrain, creating a patchwork of real and virtual elements. Great. Hills. Because apparently a flat arena wasn¡¯t dramatic enough for Riker¡¯s tastes. I stared at the patchwork of real and holographic terrain, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Sure, throw in whatever obstacles you want¡ªit¡¯s not like a few bumps in the ground would make any difference to someone of my skill level. Though knowing Riker, he probably thought adding terrain would make for better camera angles. At least he didn¡¯t add a volcano. Yet. No time to overthink it. I darted forward and leapt onto one of the larger rocks, landing with a dramatic flourish of my rapier. The blade gleamed under the artificial sunlight, its polished edge catching every angle as I twirled it. The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement rolling through the air like a tangible force. I blinked, trying to process what was happening. Four people were gathered near me, half-hidden behind an artificial hill that still flickered faintly with glitchy projections. I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether this was planned or another one of Riker¡¯s spontaneous improvements. One of them, an older man dressed in elegant Chinese traditional attire, caught my eye. He gave a small shrug, as if to say, Don¡¯t look at me¡ªI just showed up. Before I could react further, Riker¡¯s voice thundered once again, as dramatic as ever. ¡°And now, behold! The challengers for the Chosen One¡ªrise and meet your destiny!¡± The artificial hill in front of them shattered with a loud, theatrical crack, revealing the challengers. They stepped forward in unison, their postures varying from stoic to confident. ¡°Do you wish to try your hand at glory, or continue in the tournament?¡± Riker asked with his usual tone. The first to respond was the old man. He gave a polite shake of his head, his expression serene, as if he had no intention of skipping. The second was¡­ well, a stark contrast. He couldn¡¯t have been older than his early twenties, and his outfit¡ªhoodie emblazoned with my face, paired with mismatched sweatpants¡ªmade me question whether he had wandered in by mistake. But no, he was serious. He took a step forward, his hand resting on a wooden great sword strapped to his back, and declared with all the confidence in the world, ¡°I shall challenge her! Let our swords meet and let them speak of eternal love across dimensions!¡± It took every ounce of my willpower not to lose my composure right then and there. Come on, don¡¯t break the role. I kept my poker face. ¡°Well¡­¡± I said, stepping down from the boulder with an exaggerated flourish. ¡°I suppose we¡¯re doing this.¡± [Book 1] [67. First Blood] From all the challengers, only this one wanted to fight me, so Riker, with all the genius of a game show host hyped up on liters of whiskey, spread his arms wide. ¡°Let the duel begin! Witness, oh esteemed audience, the clash of strength and skill!¡± His voice echoed through the arena, triggering a roar from the crowd. I didn¡¯t wait for more dramatics. With a quick dash, I leapt onto the nearest boulder, balancing effortlessly as I narrowed my eyes at my challenger. He followed, not missing a beat, landing on the boulder opposite mine with an agility that didn¡¯t quite match his sweatpants aesthetic. Standing tall, he clutched his wooden sword in both hands and announced, ¡°I am Amogelang! Prepare yourself, Sword Queen, for my strength flows from the depths of my love!¡± Oh, great. One of those. My fingers tightened around my rapier, my jaw clenching. ¡°Good to know, Amogelang,¡± I said, preparing my stance and dagger. But he wasn¡¯t listening. With a yell that rang across the hilly arena, he charged at me, sword raised high, coming down with a swing that could probably split Riker in half. Because I was cocky, I raised my rapier to parry, but the sheer force of his strike jolted through my arm like a shockwave. Damn, that¡¯s strong! The impact sent me sliding backward, forcing me to leap off the boulder to regain my footing before I got smacked into the audience. He didn¡¯t let up. With another bellow, he launched himself after me, swinging his sword in a relentless barrage of fast, powerful strikes. Each one whistled through the air, the sound biting against my ears as I dodged and blocked where I could. This wasn¡¯t some amateur swinging wildly. No, his attacks were controlled, balanced, and annoyingly precise. He wasn¡¯t giving me any openings¡ªno careless footwork, no hesitation, just pure strength and momentum. And, yeah, let¡¯s not forget: he was a guy, which meant stronger arms, heavier blows, and more endurance. All things that made me grit my teeth harder with each strike I deflected. Wanna be Charlie regardless. ¡°Still standing, Sword Queen?¡± he taunted between swings, his breath even, like this was some morning jog for him. ¡°Love empowers me! My passion fuels my strength!¡± ¡°Awesome,¡± I muttered, dodging another heavy swing clumsily. ¡°If you could channel a little less love and a little more chill, that¡¯d be great.¡± He didn¡¯t respond¡ªtoo busy charging at me again with that overzealous gleam in his eyes. I had to admit; he was good. His style was fast and aggressive, but never reckless. He pressed forward without overextending, keeping a solid balance with every swing. Okay, Charlie, think. If he will not hand you a win on a silver platter, you¡¯ll just have to outmaneuver him. I shifted my stance, keeping my movements light and quick, waiting for just the right moment to strike back. Amogelang¡¯s weapon was longer, heavier, and annoyingly well-suited to keep me at bay. Every time I tried to close the distance, he¡¯d simply slide back with the ease of someone who clearly spent too many hours perfecting this dance of reach and retreat. Great. I just had to go for the style, didn¡¯t I? I bit my lip, silently cursing myself. I could¡¯ve picked something practical¡ªa sword and shield combo, maybe even a sturdy longsword. But no, I had to be dramatic, wielding a rapier and dagger like some fencing noble from a bad holo-novel. I feinted left, trying to lure him into an over-commit, but he didn¡¯t fall for it. Instead, he pivoted smoothly, maintaining his perfect range advantage, his sword arcing in a wide, graceful sweep that forced me to backpedal once again. The crowd roared, clearly enjoying his relentless aggression and my mounting frustration. Think, Charlie. Find an opening. I scanned the terrain, weighing my options as I sidestepped another swing. That¡¯s when it happened¡ªI miscalculated. One step too far to the right, and my foot landed on what I thought was a solid rock. It wasn¡¯t. The damned thing was fake, part of Riker¡¯s stupid damn set design, and it wobbled under my weight. I stumbled, arms flailing for a split second as I tried to regain my balance. That was all the opening Amogelang needed. He moved. Fast, faster than I expected, closing the gap with a swift, powerful strike aimed straight for my off-hand. I barely brought my dagger up in time. Crack. The blade clashed against his wooden sword.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. But the force was too much. Even with the block, his weapon slammed against my wrist hard enough to sting like hell, sending a jolt of pain shooting up my arm. ¡°Damn it!¡± I hissed through gritted teeth, shaking out my hand as I leapt back to create some distance. The dull ache in my wrist was already setting in, but at least I hadn¡¯t dropped the dagger. Small victories, right? Amogelang grinned, clearly enjoying the upper hand. ¡°Feeling the love yet, Sword Queen?¡± he called out, his voice smug. ¡°Oh, I feel something alright,¡± I muttered, flexing my fingers to make sure nothing was broken. The crowd cheered louder, clearly thrilled by the sight of me struggling. I glanced around quickly, trying to find a way out of this mess. Alright, Charlie. Time to get serious. He¡¯s stronger, has better reach, and you¡¯re down a hand that now feels like it got hit by a truck. Lovely. What¡¯s plan B? Plan B: The flow technique. Breathe in. Breathe out. I closed my eyes, casting out every stray thought. The ache in my wrist faded into background noise. The crowd became a distant hum. Nothing mattered but him and me. I heard his footsteps shift, felt the air stir as he moved. My lips curled into a faint smile as I opened my eyes. He lunged. I leaned into his strike, parrying with my dagger just enough to redirect his blade. My rapier flicked toward him, a whisper away from landing before he leapt back, barely avoiding the hit. His retreat was quick, but I didn¡¯t follow. No wasted movement. ¡°You¡¯re already falling for me, aren¡¯t you?¡± he called, smug as ever. Didn¡¯t register. Didn¡¯t matter. Focus. He attacked again¡ªfast, brutal, wide arcs meant to overwhelm. I stepped back, half a step to the side, just enough to evade. His sword whistled past. Close. But not close enough. Minimal effort, maximum effect. He swung harder, faster. Another sidestep. A faint rustle of fabric as his blade missed by mere centimeters. My rapier darted out, grazing the edge of his sleeve before he recoiled again. Frustration rippled across his face. ¡°Stop dodging and fight me properly!¡± he barked, voice edged with irritation. I remained silent, my eyes locked on his. His movements were getting sloppier. More forceful, but less controlled. He was trying too hard to break my rhythm, but he couldn¡¯t. Every time he overreached, I punished with a quick flick of my blade, never fully connecting but close enough to make him hesitate. He tried another wide swing. I didn¡¯t even bother to parry, just shifted my weight slightly, letting the blade pass harmlessly by as I countered with a rapid thrust. He almost twisted in time, but my rapier pinched his side. We¡¯re even. ¡°Damn it!¡± he spat, backing off. ¡°Why won¡¯t you stop dancing around?!¡± His frustration deepened, his stance faltering just slightly. Not yet. I could feel it¡ªthe opening was coming soon. One more mistake, and it would be over. Time to finish this. He started swinging wildly, each strike more reckless than the last. His breathing was heavy, and the smooth rhythm of his earlier attacks had devolved into sheer force. All muscle, no finesse. Perfect. I left out an opening¡ªjust enough to bait him¡ªand allowed myself a small, knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯re cheating on me with Riker, aren¡¯t you?!¡± he yelled, voice echoing through the arena. I didn¡¯t respond. No need. His words were meant to distract me, but I wasn¡¯t the one losing control. He lunged, aiming for the opening. I dodged, feeling the air hiss past my side. Close. He saw how near his blade had been and pressed harder, thinking he had me on the ropes. Mistake. His next strike was wild, over-committed. I parried with my dagger, forcing his blade down in one smooth motion. Before he could recover, I snapped my rapier up, its point stopping just at his throat. His eyes widened. The crowd erupted into cheers, but before I could fully enjoy the moment, he burst into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Sword Queen! Forgive me¡ªI just love taunting during a fight!¡± Of course he does. At that moment, Riker¡¯s voice boomed across the arena, grandiose as always. ¡°And behold! Our radiant champion stands victorious once more! What a dazzling display of skill and poise!¡± As the cheers grew louder, my opponent turned toward the crowd, raising his arms and shouting, ¡°I fought like this every match!¡± The laughter from the audience confirmed it. Apparently, they knew exactly what to expect from him. Internally, I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly got stuck in the back of my skull. Of course, he¡¯s everyone¡¯s favorite love-sick sword idiot. Outwardly, I gave a regal nod, because why not play up the role while I had the audience? ¡°Thank you, dear suitor,¡± I said with exaggerated grace. The crowd roared with laughter as I gave a theatrical flourish of my rapier, spun on my heel, and dramatically stalked toward the backstage area. ¡°Maybe try poetry next time¡ªmight hurt less.¡± Once I was out of sight, I let out a long, tired sigh. Honestly, if every fight was going to be like this, I would need a drink¡ª Bad Charlie! No drink! My inner voice sounded annoyingly like Adam, and I had to mentally slap myself. No whiskey. Just soda. It¡¯s fizzy, it¡¯s harmless, it won¡¯t start a lecture from my brother. See? Good Charlie! I plopped down onto the nearest sofa and took a deep breath. Sure, I wasn¡¯t completely wiped like I would be after battling a boss, but my muscles still ached, and my mind was buzzing from the effort. Women are weaker. Can¡¯t cheat nature here, I guess. A smirk played on my lips. But I could cheat with a strategy and a lot of elegance¡ªworked well enough so far. ¡°Lady Charlie, here¡¯s your towel,¡± Lola said as she approached, offering a neatly folded towel and¡ªoh, blessed soda. She only mentioned the towel, but my attention zeroed in on that cold drink like it was the Spear of Destiny. Without thinking twice, I grabbed it and gulped it down in record time, the cool fizz easing the dryness in my throat. ¡°Thanks, Lola,¡± I said, grinning at her. ¡°It was a win after all. But holy Nathan, that was hard.¡± ¡°Holy Nathan?¡± Lola raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. And, of course, Jerry had to chime in. ¡°You do say that sometimes.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Jeez, then!¡± I laughed, wiping sweat from my brow with the towel. ¡°Can¡¯t even have my weird exclamations without getting called out, huh?¡± I tried to relax a bit more, sinking deeper into the couch, but that plan was doomed the moment Riker¡¯s voice echoed through the room, blabbering some nonsense I couldn¡¯t even be bothered to decipher. Ten minutes of calm? Too much to ask. Groaning, I got up and walked toward the door, ready this time to avoid the awkward where¡¯s Charlie? moments. Just in time, too. ¡°Sword Queeeeeen!¡± Riker¡¯s exaggerated yell practically shook the walls. ¡°The Chosen One stands ready to face you!¡± I gave myself a quick check, smoothing out the fabric of my dress and trudged toward the stage, my steps deliberately slow. As I approached, I spotted the so-called ¡°Chosen One¡± standing next to Riker. He was the man I¡¯d noticed earlier¡ªthe one with the quiet confidence and slightly too polished appearance. He had that whole mysterious, stoic warrior vibe going on, like he was auditioning for a dramatic martial arts flick. This¡¯ll be fun. ¡°Rapier and dagger versus dao and chains!¡± Riker announced with way too much enthusiasm, his grin so wide it threatened to split his face. I took my position across from Kai, eyeing his weapon setup. A dao and chains? Really? Riker, clearly loving every second of this, raised his arms dramatically. ¡°Will Kai seize the throne? Let the clash of champions begin! Witness the¡­ battle!¡± [Book 1] [68. The Chosen Ones Choice] The moment the battle started, I went straight for the offensive. No flair, no grand opening flourish¡ªjust a series of quick probing attacks meant to test his defense. My rapier darted forward, light and precise, but within a few seconds, I knew something was off. Kai didn¡¯t block like a rookie or even a seasoned fighter. He deflected with fluidity, his dao sweeping my blade aside with practiced ease. One particularly forceful strike sent a tremor up my arm as my rapier was shoved wide. Instantly, it was obvious¡ªhe was stronger. Great. Another powerhouse. But unlike Amogelang¡¯s brute-force approach, Kai was old and experienced. His movements weren¡¯t rushed; they were deliberate, each one calculated. He didn¡¯t waste energy¡ªeverything he did served a purpose. And the chain? Oh, he used it creatively, alright. Like an extension of his arm, it coiled and whipped around, forcing me to adjust constantly. The dull whip-whap sound of wood against air filled my ears as the chain lashed out. I sidestepped one strike and parried another with my dagger; the impact making my hand sting. My rapier danced defensively, but I could feel the pressure mounting. He didn¡¯t push recklessly¡ªhe was drawing me in, waiting for an opening. A sudden flick of his wrist sent the chain arcing toward my legs. I barely had time to leap back, the wooden links brushing my ankle with a muted clatter against the ground. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t a proper weapon, so losing points if it connected wasn¡¯t a concern. Still, the fact that he was using it to control the flow of the fight was as annoying as Riker¡¯s coat. My breathing quickened, the faint metallic tang of adrenaline filling my mouth and I tightened my grip on the rapier¡¯s hilt, the leather wrapping slightly damp from the sweat on my palms. The artificial lights overhead gleamed off the polished surface of his dao, and every time it moved, I caught brief flashes of his calm, focused expression. He wasn¡¯t just good¡ªhe was disciplined, composed. His style was like master Dalileh. I never won. I was on the defensive, forced to block, dodge, and dance around his endless assault. The crowd noise faded into the background, leaving only the rhythmic clink-thud of his chain and the occasional grunt of effort from both of us. I could feel my frustration flowing beneath the surface, but I shoved it down. Losing my cool wouldn¡¯t help. I needed an alternative approach¡ªsomething he wouldn¡¯t expect. With a steady breath, I shifted into the twelfth form of the Imperial style. My movements became fluid, like water gliding over the imperial garden. Each step, each strike, flowed effortlessly into the next. For a moment, I felt the tide turn in my favor. Kai was on the defensive, his dao deflecting my rapier in controlled arcs, but I could see it¡ªhis footing shifting ever so slightly as I pressed the attack. The boulders scattered across the battlefield weren¡¯t just scenery anymore¡ªthey became tools. I leapt onto one, using the elevated position to strike downward, my fake metal of rapier glinting in the holo-lights above. He sidestepped, smooth as ever, but I was already moving, using the momentum to sweep around and force him back toward another boulder. For a moment, it worked. For a moment, I had him. But then, as if he¡¯d grown bored with being polite, Kai kicked up his pace. His dao swung with more precision, more force, and I retreated, despite giving it everything I had. Every strike I sent his way was met with a flawless counter. Every attempt to outmaneuver him was neutralized before it could take root. My breath came faster, the air in the hall dry and electric with the hum of holo-projectors. The crowd¡¯s murmur buzzed distantly in my ears, blending with the rhythmic clash of wood weapons and the dull thud of his wooden chain hitting the boulders. I was at my peak¡ªmy peak strength, my peak creativity¡ªand still, I couldn¡¯t get past him. It was like sparring with Master Dalileh all over again. No matter how hard I pushed, no matter how clever my footwork or unpredictable my strikes, she had always been a step ahead, untouchable. You can¡¯t win, Charlie, whispered a voice in the back of my mind. Might as well wave a white flag and call it a day. Imperial gardens all over again. But then, something happened. Kai smiled. He shook his head ever so slightly and slowed his pace. The calm, almost amused expression on his face sent a ripple of irritation through me. Oh, so you¡¯re not even using all your strength? You think I¡¯m some beginner to humor?Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The thought lit a fire in my chest. I didn¡¯t care if he was holding back¡ªI wasn¡¯t done yet. I shifted into the thirteenth form, the most chaotic and unpredictable sequence in the Imperial style. My strikes came faster, more erratic, one blending into the next without a discernible pattern. It wasn¡¯t about strength anymore; it was about keeping him guessing, never allowing him to settle into a rhythm. For the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He was on the defensive now, forced to focus entirely on countering my unpredictable barrage. But just as quickly, he adapted. His fluid movements became sharper, more deliberate, and once again, he matched me strike for strike. Fantastic. He¡¯s like a mirror. A smug, infuriating mirror with a dao and a wooden chain. I bit my lip, frustration seething beneath the surface, but I didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, I grinned, the kind of grin that hid exhaustion beneath bravado. If I was going to lose, I¡¯d at least go out with a bang. With a sudden burst of energy, I vaulted off a nearby boulder, my rapier poised for an all-or-nothing strike. The air rushed past me, cool and sharp against my skin. Time seemed to slow as I descended toward him, every muscle in my body coiled and ready to unleash everything I had left. Kai¡¯s eyes met mine. He smiled again, that knowing, maddening smile. And then he made what looked like a mistake¡ªhis footing shifted ever so slightly, his balance just off enough to create an opening. No way. That wasn¡¯t a mistake. I knew it wasn¡¯t, but I didn¡¯t care. I committed to the strike, my rapier landing precisely over his heart. The holo-projector registered the hit with a brief shimmer, signaling my victory. Kai¡¯s eyes widened, just for a heartbeat, before he gave a low, graceful bow. ¡°Well done,¡± he said, stepping back with a nod of genuine respect. ¡°Relentless, like the tide against the stubborn shore. Sword Queen, you have shown true spirit. That was¡­ most impressive.¡± I stood there, still catching my breath, but instead of triumph, I felt¡­ hollow. It wasn¡¯t the victory I had wanted. I should have lost, and yet I didn¡¯t. The battle wasn¡¯t meant to end like this. ¡°Kai¡ª¡± I began, the unease slipping into my voice, but he lifted a hand, halting me mid-sentence. ¡°Now is not the moment,¡± he breathed, his eyes flicking toward Riker¡¯s glowing form approaching us. ¡°Look.¡± He turned, and before I could process what he meant, something small flew toward me. I caught it instinctively¡ªa sleek black card, its surface embossed with a number. ¡°Join me when we¡¯re finished. I would be grateful.¡± What? This is so¡­ cool? Before I could respond, the moment was stolen by Riker. I raised a hand to shield my eyes as his beaming coat drew closer. ¡°The Sword Queen emerges victorious! That was, without question, the most breathtaking display of skill I have ever witnessed! Bravo¡ªtruly, bravo to both of you!¡± His voice dropped, mic-muted, as he leaned toward Kai. ¡°As the Chosen One, I need you to stay here and bask in the crowd¡¯s adoration after she leaves, alright?¡± Kai offered only a single, stoic nod, his expression unreadable, the same as ever. I was tired and could hardly form thoughts. ¡°Now!¡± Riker¡¯s voice blasted at full volume once again, amplified by the sound system that rattled the very air around us. ¡°Let loose the grandest, thunderous applause you can muster for our triumphant, unparalleled Sword Queen! Let the very heavens hear your roar!¡± I turned toward the very big hall, taking in the sea of faces before me. They erupted in a standing ovation, the thunderous clapping and cheering echoing off the walls, reverberating through my chest. The energy was electric, crackling in the air like a brewing storm. I couldn¡¯t help but give them a tired grin, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. With a last fume of my energy, I spun my rapier in a quick flourish, the fake blade catching the lights in a dazzling arc. The crowd¡¯s cheers swelled even louder, and with one final dramatic twirl, my cape flared behind me as I turned on my heel and left the stage, leaving them hungry for more. Time to decompress. Maybe even breathe. Just a little. Backstage was a series of cheers, high-fives, and declarations of me being the best. Yeah, right. People clapped me on the back, shouted that I was, but honestly? I didn¡¯t feel like it. I was exhausted. My legs felt like jelly, my arms like lead, and deep down, I knew I should¡¯ve lost that fight. But¡­ here I was, basking in praise I wasn¡¯t sure I deserved. Honestly, the next hour was a blur. I vaguely remembered shuffling into a room where Lola guided me to a shower. The water was a blessing, washing away the sweat, grime, and whatever weird energy Riker radiated that seemed to cling to everything. By the time I stepped out, Lola was already waiting with¡ªof course¡ªanother set of cosplay, courtesy of Riker¡¯s unrelenting flair. Identical to the one I¡¯d sweated through, but this version was even more annoyingly silky. Does he just have these things preloaded for every scenario? I slipped into it, flopping onto the bed with a groan of utter exhaustion. ¡°Finally.¡± Breathing hard, but already feeling like a human again. Half an hour of lying there, staring at the ceiling, and my scrambled thoughts were lining up. ¡°You really give it your all,¡± came a voice from beside me, startling me enough to jolt upright. I whipped my head around and saw Lola awkwardly sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°You asked me to sit down,¡± she added quickly, looking somewhere between flustered and mildly amused. ¡°But, Lady, I¡ª¡± ¡°I did what?!¡± My voice came out more like a squawk, pure disbelief written across my face. ¡°Oh, god, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Lola smiled nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I figured you were tired¡­ You told me my ponytail was as sexy as when I cut down some J¡­ something boss. I didn¡¯t do that, though?¡± Oh. Oh no. The memory hit me like a brick. I actually said that out loud? I talk out loud after working out watching Katherine stream¡­ ¡°I¡­ I think¡­¡± I bit my lip, my brain scrambling for something remotely dignified to say. ¡°Your ponytail¡­ will catch a lot of attention,¡± I muttered lamely. Great save, Charlie. Really. Award-winning performance. Naturally, Lola turned redder than a fire mage mid-flame burst. ¡°Sorry, I¡ªI was just really tired. You know how it is. Exhaustion, rambling¡­ occasionally flirting with your assistant apparently?¡± I added with a sheepish grin, wishing I could sink through the bed and vanish. Classic me¡ªconquer the arena, then promptly embarrass myself in private. To my relief, Lola managed a shy laugh, her blush fading. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lady Charlie. You were exhausted. It happens.¡± Exhausted or not, I was filing this entire moment under the do not repeat category. Right next to accidentally calling Jerry a sentient toaster and thinking I could fight in heels without practice. ¡°Okay, so, Lola, you know I actually lost, right?¡± I said, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling under the surface. Spoiler alert: I couldn¡¯t. She blinked at me, clearly baffled. ¡°You didn¡¯t! That fight was amazing! I know nothing about technique, but you won.¡± I let out a long breath and hung my head. ¡°I¡­¡± My voice trailed off. The words felt heavy. ¡°Kai let me win.¡± Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. ¡°He did? Why would he do that?¡± ¡°Jer¡­¡± I caught myself just before blurting out Jerry¡¯s name. That would¡¯ve been fun to explain. ¡°Uhm, I mean, I need to ask my AI to call his number.¡± Her surprise turned into mild curiosity, but she didn¡¯t press. ¡°Why? That¡¯s¡­ why he let you win?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± I muttered, rubbing my temple.